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It was great to see so many of you at C5 last month. Some 500 brokers, industry professionals, and economic development experts joined us at the nation’s premier commercial real estate event in New York.

Having spearheaded the effort to create a First-Time Homebuyer Savings Account program in Alabama back in 2018, Alabama REALTORS® revisited the legislation as the end of a five-year sunset clause approached.  A Call for Action reminded lawmakers how important the tax-free savings accounts are for aspiring homebuyers, and the law was not only renewed, but extended and strengthened with fraud protections and transparency measures.

In a push to realize an ambitious raft of housing policy, Utah REALTORS® launched a campaign called Getting Homeownership in Utah Back on Track. The effort was a success: all its priority bills passed, the legislature authorized an additional $20 million in funding for first-time homebuyers, and an innovative partnership was formed to develop affordable housing on excess state land. An Issues Mobilization grant from the REALTOR® Party helped make it happen.

When the City of Hercules, CA threatened to establish a Real Estate Transfer Tax to help pay for services and maintenance, members of the Contra Costa Association of REALTORS® raised their voices in opposition.  The REALTOR® Party’s Advocacy Everywhere program helped to get the message across.

When South Carolina REALTORS® amped up their fair housing program in response to the social unrest that swept the country in 2020, no aspect of the real estate industry escaped their scrutiny. Their efforts to further fair housing and to promote anti-discrimination in housing earned them the 2022 Fair Housing Award from the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials.

In a county characterized by its abundance of beautiful farmland, growth and development need to be approached from a preservation angle. The Lebanon County Association of REALTORS®, in Pennsylvania, brought together the managers of its top growing municipalities to open lines of communication and make sure everyone was on the same page.

With its Home for All of Us initiative that began in 2022, the Long Island Board of REALTORS® is promoting awareness of protected classes, one-by-one. Last year it launched the campaign’s second phase, with a focus on issues pertaining to people with disabilities – from service animals to accessible websites.

Business Insider published an article last week with a provocative title: “The housing shortage is the root of all of America’s problems.” NAR has been shouting this from the rooftops for several years and advocating for solutions that can turn the tide. To make lasting change, we must ensure our policy positions, leadership, and programming include diverse voices and perspectives. Read more about the resources available to your association through NAR and the REALTOR® Party to advance these efforts.

The Sacramento Association of REALTORS® established a new Fair Housing Month tradition this year: a first-time homebuyers expo featuring information sessions, panels of new homeowners, and vendors drawn from its preferred-partner membership -- even Home Depot-sponsored activities to occupy the children! It was funded in part by a Housing Opportunity Grant from the REALTOR® Party.

In partnership with like-minded organizations in rural eastern Wyoming, the North Platte Valley Board of REALTORS® conducted a "Reality Town" program to introduce important concepts of financial literacy to area 8th grade youth. Students from three schools in the region learned about the correlation between grades and earning potential, and real-world living expenses, from participating grown-ups in their community – including REALTORS®.