A proposed state sales tax on real estate services would have added $1,500 to the cost of buying and selling a $250,000 home, and the 17,000-member Minnesota Association of REALTORS (MNAR) was determined not to let that happen. Political strategists at NAR helped the state association use an Issues Mobilization Grant to craft a five-month, multi-phase campaign using a dedicated website, newspaper and online advertising, an online petition, patch-through phone calls, direct-mail and emails to homeowners. When the Governor dropped the tax on services from his proposal ā thanks, in part, to the unrelenting pressure of MNARās campaign ā the...
Las Vegas REALTORSĀ® Stop Plan to Use Eminent Domain to Capitalize on Plight of Homeowners with Underwater Mortgages
The City Council of North Las Vegas had nearly been seduced by a private firm into using its power of eminent domain to capitalize on the plight of homeowners with underwater mortgages.
Greater Tampa Association Exceeds RPAC Fundraising Goal With Chili Cook-off Extravaganza
On a pretty spring afternoon in April 2013, the RPAC ābean countersā at the Greater Tampa Association of REALTORSĀ®ā (GTAR) had a real field day, and weāre not just talking chili. The 6,000-member association held its first annual fundraising extravaganza ā featuring a chili cook-off ā that brought in over $14,000, pushing GTARās contributions easily over its RPAC goal for the year. They held the event at a waterfront city park, hired a live band, and added an auction. A $2,500 RPAC Fundraising Grant from the NAR helped to buy prizes, including a television, airfare for a donated getaway, an...
St. Louis REALTORSĀ® Prove Campaign Prowess in Winning Alderman Seat for One of Their Own
The 7,000-member St. Louis Association of REALTORSĀ® put its campaign experience to work, along with mailers and online advertisements from NAR to back one of their own for the Board of Aldermen in Ballwin, Missouri, last April. The successful Independent Expenditure Campaign resulted in a landslide victory for their champion, who has long held leadership positions in both the state and local REALTORĀ® associations.
Greater Rochester (NY) Association Helps Village of Lima Keep the Charm While āGrowing Smartā
The charming village and agricultural township of Lima, in the Finger Lakes region of New York, was in danger of falling victim to reckless sprawl and development. 'Big box' stores of dubious aesthetic value were creeping in, detracting from the architecture that had been in place for well over a century. The 2,500-member Greater Rochester Association of REALTORSĀ® (GRAR) put a smart growth grant from NAR together with one from the National Endowment for the Arts to support a weekend-long community design workshop. By working with other groups in the area, GRAR helped to draw attention to the importance of...
Split Decision on School Funding for Baldwin County REALTORSĀ®
Baldwin County is the largest county in Alabama and one of the fastest-growing in the country with about 31,000 students attending 45 public schools. Despite the help of a REALTORĀ® Party Issues Mobilization Grant, Baldwin County residentsā votes resulted in a split decision on two public school funding issues in March. The Baldwin County Association of REALTORSĀ® is looking forward to grassroots efforts and additional help of the REALTORĀ® Party to ensure funding for their public schools in the future.
Fair Housing Makes US Stronger
Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of the signing of the federal Fair Housing Act. This is a momentous occasion for the real estate industry, and a top priority for NAR this year.
Advocacy Everywhere Helps DC Association of REALTORSĀ® Keep Property Taxes at Bay
When the D.C. Association of REALTORSĀ® learned on the eve of a budget vote that a City Council member was planning to introduce an āemergency amendmentā taxing homes valued at more than $1 million, it dropped everything and called in the REALTORĀ® Party. A timely Call for Action got a strong message through to council members, and the proposal was shelved ā for the time being.
Historic Election, Strong Night for REALTORSĀ®
The 2020 Election was definitely one for the books. There was record-breaking early voter turnout nationally as well as for REALTORSĀ®, and a candidate who received the most votes ever cast for a presidential candidate. Overall, REALTORSĀ® had a great election night! On the federal level, we used considerable resources to run 83 opportunity races, which are member-focused political communications, and 12 independent expenditures directed to the general public. While we are still waiting for results, we are proud to report that we won 65 for our opportunity races and 5 independent expenditure campaigns. It was exciting to see 70...
Oklahoma City Metropolitan Association of REALTORSĀ® Supports REALTOR Champion for Housing
When the REALTORĀ® Champion running to maintain her seat on the Oklahoma County Commission faced a primary run-off, it looked like an up-hill battle: though Carrie Blumert had the advantage as incumbent, her challenger was a former state senator and statewide candidate who had held a slim lead in the primary; when neither won a majority of votes, the challenger was favored to prevail in the run-off election.