After two years of membership engagement and education, and policymaker outreach by the stateās REALTORĀ® association, Indiana now has legislation requiring buyer agency agreements to be mandatory for all real estate licensees, effective July 1st. The timing of the new state law gave Indiana REALTORSĀ® a head start on preparing for NARās proposed seller commission same lawsuit settlement and ensures that all licensed real estate brokers across the state will operate by the standard for consumer protection and transparency.
Big Bear Association of REALTORSĀ® Opposes Cap on Short-Term Rentals
The City of Big Bear Lake is dependent on the tourism that drives its economy, so when the City Council considered capping the number of short-term rental permits, the REALTORSĀ® went to bat ā for property owners, and for the economic welfare of the region. Advocacy Everywhere helped them launch an effective Call For Action.
Land of the Sky Association of REALTORSĀ® Dispels Common Misconceptions About Short Term Rentals Through Data-Driven Public Awareness Campaign
With a Consumer Advocacy Grant from the REALTORĀ® Party, this board serving three counties in western North Carolina is educating consumers on the key findings from recent studies that demonstrate not only the economic benefit of STRs within a community, but also that STRs are not to blame for housing shortages and affordability issues.
New Hampshire REALTORSĀ® Envision Smart Growth for White Mountains
The White Mountains of New Hampshire are a popular tourist region, but affordable housing for would-be service industry staff is not meeting demand. The 150-member White Mountain Board of REALTORSĀ® used a Smart Growth Action Grant to explore possible zoning changes that would permit higher density developmentāand more affordable housing.
NAR Focuses on Fair Housing During Black History Month
Last week, a bill that funded the federal government through Dec. 11 was signed into law; the bill includes a full-year extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and surface transportation funding.
Smart Growth Toolkit
Engage your community. Build coalitions. Advocate for Smart Growth Development. Smart Growth Toolkit: A Guide to REALTORĀ® Involvement in Community Development is a collection of strategies, resources, and success stories meant to inspire REALTORSĀ® and Associations on ways they can help improve their communityās land use and transportation systems for long-term success.Ā The strategies provide fifteen different activities associations can undertake and the resources, both the form of both grants and information, along with actionable steps to get you going.Ā The success stories detail how other associations have executed these strategies.Ā Lastly, the Toolkit profiles four REALTORSĀ® who serve their...
Housing Stabilization
Housing Stabilization ā A Guide for Collaboration and Initiatives assists REALTORĀ® associations with creating a local Housing Stabilization Task Force to help homeowners, renters, and landlords manage the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arizona REALTORSĀ® Rally to Repeal Regressive Rental Tax
Arizona rental households had been paying an average of $51/month in transaction privilege taxes, a burden that negatively affected the stateās property managers, as well as its renters. With housing affordability an increasing concern, Arizona REALTORSĀ® redoubled their efforts to repeal the tax, and with support from an Issues Mobilization Grant, they did.
REALTORSĀ® Association of South Central Wisconsin Advocates for Zoning Changes to Increase Housing Density Near Transit in State Capital
In its ongoing support of the City of Madisonās ambitious āHousing Forwardā plan, the REALTORSĀ® Association of South Central Wisconsin recently faced-down a challenge to transit-oriented development. With help from the REALTORĀ® Party, it won approval for zoning code changes that will now allow missing middle housing in neighborhoods near bus rapid transit line and other major routes.
Midland Board of REALTORSĀ® Supports Economic Productivity Analysis with REALTORĀ® Party Smart Growth Grant
As the City of Midland, Michigan prepared its Comprehensive Plan, it commissioned an economic productivity analysis from Urban3, an innovative land-use consulting firm. The results gave them a clear road map for the kind of development that will bring the most value ā including much-needed housing and tax revenue. A Smart Growth Grant from the REALTORĀ® Party supported the study.