Washington REALTORS® Campaigns to Defeat Transfer Tax Increase
When multiple bills threatened an increased transfer tax on any real estate sale over $3M that encompassed a commercial development, Washington REALTORS® anticipated the derailment of desperately needed transactions throughout the state. An Issues Mobilization Grant from the REALTOR® Party...
Boise Regional REALTORS® Trains Local Communities in the Basics of Smart Growth Development
With support from a Smart Growth Grant from the REALTOR® Party, the Boise Association sponsored a series of six Urban Plan courses in different communities around the state of Idaho. Developed by the Urban Land Institute, the training teaches the nuts-and-bolts of Smart Growth development, then...
West Hawaii Association of REALTORS® Alerts Property Owners About a Deadline on Open Construction Permits that Could Lead to Prohibitive Unexpected Costs
With help from a timely Consumer Advocacy Outreach Grant from the REALTOR® Party, REALTORS® on the island of Hawaii got the word out to homeowners about the urgent need to check on any open work permits attached to their properties before a critical deadline. The public service strengthened...
Maryland REALTORS® Support State Housing Expansion and Affordability Act of 2024, Codifying Missing Middle Housing
In the recent legislative session, Maryland REALTORS® scored a major victory for affordable housing: The Housing Expansion and Affordability Act of 2024 addresses multiple facets of the state’s housing crisis; a targeted Call for Action helped propel it over the finish line....
Coalition Led by Missouri REALTORS® Achieves Major Legislative Goal: Statewide Authorization of Land Banks to Minimize Blight, Increase Homeownership
With help from Issues Mobilization and Consumer Advocacy Outreach Grants from the REALTOR® Party, Missouri’s state REALTOR® association spearheaded land bank legislation that will provide localities with tools to address vacancy...
Land of the Sky Association of REALTORS® Helps Buncombe County, North Carolina Identify Households Underserved by Broadband Connectivity
Using a Consumer Advocacy Outreach Grant from the REALTOR® Party, Land of Sky Association of REALTORS® created a campaign to help find weak spots in the county’s broadband infrastructure. Once identified and mapped, these areas will become priorities as Buncombe County expands access to this...
Iowa REALTORS® Almost Use Advocacy Everywhere to Oppose Rent Control Measure… but Legislators Saw Reason, Rendering the Effort Unnecessary
The state association representing Iowa’s REALTORS® knew that the negative effects of a proposed rent control bill could far outweigh the benefits. It opposed the legislation through strategic advocacy, ultimately succeeding when, on the brink of a Call For Action, the state legislature cried...
Though Small in Numbers, Adirondack/Champlain Valley REALTORS® Is Making an Outsized Impact on Regional Development
A progression of Smart Growth Grants from the REALTOR® Party has been helping the Adirondack /Champlain Valley REALTORS® bring the sustainable development concept to the upstate New York region. They began with an education effort to create a groundswell of advocates and have now created a Smart...
Maryland REALTORS® Successfully Oppose Sales Tax on Services
Faced with a legislative proposal that would have instituted a sales tax on services, Maryland REALTORS® launched a strong opposition focused on how the measure would increase the cost of housing at each step of development, construction, and sales. In consultation with REALTOR® Party staff,...
Oregon REALTORS® Conduct ‘People for an Affordable Oregon’ Campaign in Support of Key Housing Legislation
With insights gained from REALTOR® Party polling, Oregon REALTORS® launched an Issues Mobilization campaign to persuade legislators to approve critical legislation addressing the state’s ongoing housing and homelessness crises. The resulting passage of SB 1537 brings important land use and...