| 1 | Oregon REALTORS® Rally Public Support for Legislation Lowering Barriers to Condominium Construction | On the heels of significant legislative advances for housing in recent sessions, Oregon REALTORS® kept up the momentum by backing a law that would bring the state statute of limitations on construction defect liability closer in-line with that of its western peers. Their latest legislative success will reduce barriers to building affordable condominiums and expand access to homeownership to more Oregon residents. Their effort got a big boost from the REALTOR® Party’s Advocacy Everywhere program. | Oregon | October 2025 |
| 2 | In rural Oregon, Klamath County Association of REALTORS® Conducts Wildfire Mitigation Symposium | With help from NAR’s Rural Outreach Grant program, the Klamath County Association brought in experts in fire-fighting, insurance issues, and policy to educate members, locals, and elected officials on key matters relating to the risk of wildfires. It was such a success that neighboring associations have been inspired to do the same. | Oregon | October 2025 |
| 3 | Glendale Association of REALTORS® Layers Multiple REALTOR® Party Resources to Oppose Threat of Additional Transfer Tax | A strategic deployment of several resources from the REALTOR® Party, including an Issues Mobilization grant and an assessment by the Land Use Initiative program, helped the southern California association keep an additional transfer tax from being put on the ballot, where it would have been magnitudes more costly to combat. | California | October 2025 |
| 4 | Keeping Legislative Attention Focused on Housing, Utah REALTORS® Achieve Passage of Priority Bills | 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. | Utah | September 2025 |
| 5 | Illinois REALTORS® and Quad City REALTORS® Use Polling and Issues Mobilization Grant to Defeat Threat of Home Rule in East Moline | When the City of East Moline sought to achieve home rule, the REALTORS® recognized that the new status would likely lead to higher taxes. Armed with the results of focus group research, they devised a persuasive campaign that fended off the threat, defeating the ballot measure by 68%. | Illinois | September 2025 |
| 6 | Illinois REALTORS® and Champaign County Association of REALTORS® Successfully Campaign Against Property Tax Increase | Polling conducted by the REALTOR® Party informed a high-stakes campaign against a significant property tax increase in Champaign, Illinois that would have dealt a heavy blow to affordability and brought low-income residents closer to homelessness. An Issues Mobilization grant supported the mailings and advertisements that brought the message to the voters. | Illinois | September 2025 |
| 7 | Nevada REALTORS® Campaign to Defeat Statewide Rent Control Legislation | When rent control legislation was introduced in the state of Nevada, the REALTORS® opposed it with help from an Issues Mobilization Grant that supported a comprehensive ‘Truth About Rent Control’ campaign. The videos, website, editorials, and advertising dispelled the narrative of ‘the greedy landlord,’ and re-framed public understanding of the state’s majority mom-and-pop rental industry. | Nevada | August 2025 |
| 8 | Arkansas REALTORS® Rally Strong Response to Call for Action, Defeating Restrictive Statewide Proposal | Calling on the REALTOR® Party’s Advocacy Everywhere program for a last-minute campaign against a bill restricting transparency on the taxable value of residential properties, Arkansas REALTORS® managed to apply enough pressure in a five-hour period to result in the bill’s withdrawal. | Alaska | August 2025 |
| 9 | Middle Tennessee Association of REALTORS® Uses Smart Growth Grant to Host Community Roundtable on Housing and Zoning | The Middle Tennessee Association of REALTORS® expanded the power of NAR’s Planning & Zoning course by engaging elected officials and community members in a roundtable event the day before. The informative dialogue about growth, infrastructure, and zoning issues helped to facilitate communication and get stakeholders on the same page as the county’s Comprehensive Plan took shape. | Tennessee | August 2025 |
| 10 | A Paradigm Shift for Housing: Delaware REALTORS® Celebrate Landmark Legislative Wins | The 153rd General Assembly marked a transformative year for housing policy in Delaware, and the Delaware Association of REALTORS® (DAR) played a critical role in delivering two major victories that will have a lasting impact on housing affordability and property rights across the state. | Delaware | August 2025 |
| 11 | Anne Arundel County Association of REALTORS® Uses Advocacy Everywhere to Oppose Increased Connection Fee for New Developments | With the power of the REALTOR® Party’s Advocacy Everywhere program, the Anne Arundel County Association of REALTORS® led the successful opposition of a new budget provision that would raise connection fees for developers. A proliferation of emails to county council members made it clear that this was not a good look for lawmakers supposedly committed to creating more affordable housing. | Maryland | July 2025 |
| 12 | With Land Use Initiative Analysis in Hand, Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS® Converts Problematic Ordinance to a Win-Win | When the City of Easton, Pennsylvania proposed an ordinance requiring mandatory annual landlord training, the local REALTOR® association sought legislative analysis from the REALTOR® Party’s Land Use Initiative program. The assessment enabled them to reason with the lawmakers, resulting in a revised ordinance that strengthens the REALTORS®’ relationship with City Hall. | Pennsylvania | July 2025 |
| 13 | Oklahoma City REALTORS® Turned to Land Use Initiative for Help Advancing Urban Core ADU Ordinance | Through multiple drafts, opposition, and compromises, the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Association of REALTORS® shepherded a proposed ordinance that would allow Accessory Dwelling Units in the heart of the city. The REALTOR® Party’s Land Use Initiative program provided legislative analysis that helped clarify key points for its successful adoption. | Oklahoma | July 2025 |
| 14 | Spartanburg Association of REALTORS® Use Smart Growth Grant to Help Fund Planning Charrette for Town of Carlisle | When a struggling community needed help devising a comprehensive plan, the Spartanburg Association of REALTORS® stepped up with support for a charrette – an intensive and inclusive brainstorming, visualizing, and planning exercise – that delivered a framework for the town’s top wishes: medium-density housing and a return of light industry. | South Carolina | June 2025 |
| 15 | Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS® Uses Land Use Initiative Program to Fend Off Steep Increase in Development Fees | The community of Lake County, Illinois suddenly found itself under threat of steep increases for land development permit fees. To combat the fast-tracked ordinance, the local REALTOR® organization stepped in with an analysis by the REALTOR® Party’s Land Use Initiative program, and got the problematic legislation sent back to the drawing board. | Illinois | June 2025 |
| 16 | With Support from an Issues Mobilization Grant, Edmond Board of REALTORS® Defeats Three Ballot Initiatives Threatening Higher Property Taxes | The City of Edmond, Oklahoma, just north of Oklahoma City, is already one of the state’s most costly areas to own a home. A new General Obligation (GO) Bond on the ballot would have made it even more expensive to own, rent, or buy there, so the Edmond Board of REALTORS® launched a campaign to urge voters not to pass it. “No on the GO” did the trick. | Oklahoma | June 2025 |
| 17 | North Bay Association of REALTORS® Defeats Real Property Transfer Tax | When the City of St. Helena, California was facing budget challenges last June, the City Council attempted to ‘solve’ its shortfall by increasing the real property transfer tax. In response, the North Bay Association of REALTORS® launched an energetic campaign to convince the voters to decline the tax increase, as well as a problematic transition to charter city status. | California | May 2025 |
| 18 | REALTOR® Alliance of Greater Cincinnati Advocates for Major re-Zoning Initiative with Help from Land Use Initiative Program | In order to bolster advocacy for the City of Cincinnati’s ‘Connected Communities’ initiative, the REALTOR® Alliance of Greater Cincinnati sought a review by the Land Use Initiative program. With the expert legal analysis in hand, the REALTORS® crafted a position paper, drafted a letter to City Council, and developed talking points for member testimony. Successful passage of the initiative is the first step toward improved housing opportunities and vibrant neighborhoods throughout the city. | Ohio | May 2025 |
| 19 | Greater Nashville REALTORS® Boost Passage of Pro-Transit Referendum | How bad was Nashville traffic? In 2023, Forbes magazine gave the Tennessee capital the dubious distinction of having ‘the hardest commute in the United States.’ Greater Nashville REALTORS® had, in fact, been hard at work with a coalition seeking major systemic improvements to everything from mass transit to sidewalks, and with help from the REALTOR® Party, they supported a successful referendum raising the sales tax by a ½ cent to get it all done. | Tennessee | May 2025 |
| 20 | Lebanon County Association of REALTORS® Uses Rural Outreach Grant to Host Responsible Growth Meeting for Municipal Managers | 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. | Pennsylvania | April 2025 |
| 21 | Rural Outreach Grant Helps Indiana Association of REALTORS® Ensure Rural Residents Will Receive High Speed Internet Service | With a Rural Outreach Grant from the REALTOR Party, the Indiana Association of REALTORS® partnered with a coalition that mapped the internet capabilities of rural residents through targeted internet speed tests, revealing an 11% statewide deficiency in service. Thanks to the survey, as federal infrastructure funds are disbursed by the state, service providers will know exactly where high-speed broadband is needed. | Indiana | May 2025 |
| 22 | Iron County Board of REALTORS® (Utah) Offers Online Water Rights CE Course, Extending the Reach of Critical Information | In Utah, as in many western states, water rights are highly complex, and conducting transactions without a complete awareness of their ins-and-outs is highly risky, both for agents and their clients. Last year, the Iron County Board of REALTORS® used a Rural Outreach Grant to offer a three-hour course online, providing REALTORS® and affiliates throughout the state with manuals, forms, and three continuing education credits at no cost. | Utah | April 2025 |
| 23 | Wyoming REALTORS® Support Passage of Legislation to Create Separate Residential Property Tax Tier | Property values in Wyoming have skyrocketed in the past several years, taking residential property taxes right along with them. With help from an Issues Mobilization grant from the REALTOR® Party, Wyoming REALTORS® launched a campaign in support of adding a fourth tier to the state’s property classifications, separating residential properties from commercial and agriculture, and enabling the legislature to set or cap tax rates accordingly. | Wyoming | April 2025 |
| 24 | Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® Supports Affordable Housing Development with Thirty-Day Video Campaign | Using a Consumer Advocacy Outreach Grant from the REALTOR® Party, FAAR produced video testimonials highlighting the severe lack of affordable housing in the region to help create a civic environment sympathetic to boosting development. The timing of the campaign helped ease the way for a local nonprofit rezoning effort to build one hundred affordable units. | Virginia | April 2025 |
| 25 | Florida REALTORS® Successfully Oppose Short-Term Rental Legislation by Stacking Multiple REALTOR® Party Resources | Faced with Short-Term-Rental legislation that would have restructured regulatory control, placing undue burden on property owners and significantly expanding the authority of local governments, Florida REALTORS® rose in opposition. Using the Advocacy Everywhere program, REALTOR® Party Mobile Alerts, and an Issues Mobilization grant, they provided strong support for the governor’s veto. | Florida | March 2025 |
| 26 | In San Francisco Bay Region, Five Associations Band Together to Advance Fair and Attainable Housing | With support from a Fair Housing Grant from the REALTOR® Party, five local REALTOR® associations united to host ‘Navigating Modern Real Estate for All,’ a second annual regional conference exploring DEI issues in the industry. Its focus was on appraisal bias, and plans for the next forum are already underway… | California | March 2025 |
| 27 | After Hurricane Helene, Land of the Sky REALTORS® Tackle Water Safety for Members and Communities | Whether residents of the Asheville region were on the city water system or wells of their own, Hurricane Helene made water safety a top priority. The local REALTOR® association held a forum addressing critical concerns, with speakers including an attorney, a plumber, and a home inspector. Everyone went home with water testing kits, and a Rural Outreach Grant from the REALTOR® Party helped make it possible. | North Carolina | March 2025 |
| 28 | Reaching Residents of Ventura County California Where They Are, the Local REALTOR® Association Demystifies Complex Housing Issues with Webinars and Podcasts | Even before the massive devastation of housing stock by the fires in southern California, Ventura County, like much of the nation, was experiencing a serious housing shortage. The issues affecting the creation of new and affordable housing are too complex to fit on a mailer or a social media post, so the Ventura County Coastal Association of REALTORS® has embarked on an education campaign of webinars and podcasts. A Consumer Advocacy Outreach Grant from the REALTOR® Party is supporting the project. | California | February 2025 |
| 29 | East Tennessee Association of REALTORS® Taps Land Use Initiative Program to Defeat Proposed Down-zoning in Knoxville | When an unprecedented and arbitrary attempt to over-rule a recently adopted zoning determination was made by a Knoxville County Council member, the East Tennessee Association of REALTORS® turned to Robinson & Cole, LLC for expert analysis of the proposal. The law firm, retained by the REALTOR® Party to review zoning documents for state and local REALTOR® associations, returned a report that formed the basis of the REALTORS®’ successful opposition. | Tennessee | February 2025 |
| 30 | REALTOR® Association of Central Massachusetts Hosts Fair Housing Trivia Night to Reach More Members and Colleagues with Essential Education | Seeking a way to make fair housing education less a classroom experience and more a fun collegial event, the REALTOR® Association of Central Massachusetts hosted a Fair Housing trivia night at a nearby brewery for members and colleagues from the local NAHREP chapter. The content prompted much discussion and engagement, and by the time the scores were tallied at the end of the evening, even the winning team had learned a thing or two about fair housing. | Massachusetts | February 2025 |
| 31 | Campaign by Greater Boston Real Estate Board Educates Public About Realities of Rent Control and Convinces Medford City Council to Reconsider | With support from an Issues Mobilization Grant from the REALTOR® Party, the Greater Boston Real Estate Board faced down a proposed rent control measure in the City of Medford with the power of information: a multi-faceted campaign showing the voting public – and the City Council – that the city hadn’t maximized the tools already at its disposal to increase affordable housing. | Massachusetts | November 2024 |
| 32 | Battle Creek Area Association of REALTORS® Deepens its Commitment to Addressing Housing Discrimination and Attainability | With Fair Housing and Housing Opportunity Grants from the REALTOR® Party, the Battle Creek Area Association of REALTORS® has been steadily raising awareness of housing discrimination, and improving homeownership accessibility to historically underprivileged groups. Its latest effort brought authors Leah Rothstein and Sheryll Cashin to join a panel on racial healing. | Michigan | November 2024 |
| 33 | Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® Reaches Readers of Regional Publications to Demystify the Homebuying Process, Advocate for Local Assistance Programs | Using a Consumer Advocacy Outreach Grant from the REALTOR® Party, the Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® produced a colorful, accessible 8-page editorial insert for two widely read local magazines to spell out the homebuying process and promote local initiatives that help aspiring buyers. | Ohio | November 2024 |
| 34 | Heartland Association of REALTORS® Brings Economic Development Insight to Bangs, Texas | In west-central Texas, the city of Bangs (pop. 1,600) received a boost of economic development expertise thanks to a Transforming Neighborhoods assessment secured by the Heartland Association of REALTORS®. The project has spurred growth activity and elevated the profile of REALTORS® as committed community partners. | Texas | October 2024 |
| 35 | St. Louis REALTORS® Push Back on Questionable Zoning Proposal in the City of Maplewood, Missouri | Using the legal analysis provided by the REALTOR® Party’s Land Use Initiative program, St. Louis REALTORS® discouraged city officials from adopting new Height and Bulk Standards intended to discourage tear-down development, but which would have prohibited any additions in a neighborhood characterized by housing affordability. | Missouri | October 2024 |
| 36 | St. Paul Area Association of REALTORS® Supports Wayfinding Plan to Enhance Walkability in Farmington, Minnesota | With a Smart Growth Grant from the REALTOR® Party, the St. Paul Area Association of REALTORS® partnered with local entities and the state department of transportation to develop a system for nonmotorized transportation in a suburban Minneapolis community. | Minnesota | October 2024 |
| 37 | 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 engages participants in proposing a mock-development of their own – built with LegoTM. | Idaho | September 2024 |
| 38 | 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 helped them voice a strong argument against the problematic legislation. | Washington | September 2024 |
| 39 | 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 engages participants in proposing a mock-development of their own – built with LegoTM. | Idaho | September 2024 |
| 40 | 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 their reputation in the community, and their relationships with elected officials and the Chamber of Commerce. | Hawaii | September 2024 |
| 41 | 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. | Maryland | August 2024 |
| 42 | 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 challenges. | Missouri | August 2024 |
| 43 | 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 now essential utility. | North Carolina | August 2024 |
| 44 | 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 ‘uncle.’ | Iowa | July 2024 |
| 45 | 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 Growth Developer’s Guide. | New York | July 2024 |
| 46 | 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, they created a Call For Action campaign that helped to kill the bill in committee. | Maryland | July 2024 |
| 47 | 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 permitting reforms to the housing production process. | Oregon | June 2024 |
| 48 | With Help from the REALTOR® Party, Northwest Vermont REALTOR® Association Promotes Reforms to the Dated Land Use Policy Stifling Housing Production | REALTOR® Party polling helped the Northwest Vermont REALTOR® Association understand the disconnect between local perceptions about housing supply and affordability, and the impact of Act 250, the state’s longstanding land use regulation. With a Consumer Advocacy Outreach Grant, the association developed a campaign to clarify the issues: Unlock Housing Affordability Options for a Thriving Environment. | Vermont | June 2024 |
| 49 | Illinois REALTORS® and the Chicago Association of REALTORS® Conduct Campaign to Defeat Transfer Tax Referendum | With help from an Issues Mobilization Grant from the REALTOR® Party, Illinois REALTORS® and the Chicago Association of REALTORS® fought a misguided referendum seeking to use an increase in real estate transfer taxes to fight homelessness. Understanding that the proposal would be detrimental to the local economy, the REALTORS® launched an energetic effort to persuade voters to oppose it at the ballot box. | Illinois | May 2024 |
| 50 | Greater Piedmont REALTORS® (VA) Use Rural Outreach Grant for Onsite Septic Field Trip | Last summer, in addition to the CE course it normally offers on well and septic system regulations in its rural Virginia region, the Greater Piedmont REALTORS® hosted a field trip: with support from a Rural Outreach Grant from the REALTOR® Party, they put participants on a bus and took them to see three different kinds of septic systems, up-close and personal. | Virginia | May 2024 |
| 51 | Oregon REALTORS® Host Annual Fair Housing Summit | Building on the success of its first Fair Housing Summit, which featured Richard Rothstein’s groundbreaking book, The Color of Law, Oregon REALTORS®’ second annual summit provided a deep dive into the history of fair housing and housing access in Oregon, how fair housing impacts business, and supporting fair housing in the community. The keynote address was again by Richard Rothstein, this time joined by his daughter, Leah Rothstein, in discussing their new book, Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law. | Oregon | April 2024 |
| 52 | Charleston Trident AOR® Summer Conference Addresses How Artificial Intelligence Affects Fair Housing | From drafting correspondence to conducting background checks, artificial intelligence can make business tasks much more efficient, but it also presents fair housing pitfalls for the real estate industry. With support from a Fair Housing Grant from the REALTOR Party, the Charleston Trident AOR® brought a national expert to its summer conference to address how REALTORS® can be aware of the risks and learn to use the technology safely. | South Carolina | April 2024 |
| 53 | Wisconsin REALTORS® Rally Support for Legislation Addressing Discriminatory Deed Language | In Wisconsin, where the minority homeownership disparity is the broadest in the nation, new legislation allows homeowners to note their disapproval of racist covenants in their real estate deeds and release offensive restrictions from the title. A Call for Action by the Wisconsin REALTORS® helped support the bi-partisan measure, leaving no doubt as to where the REALTORS® stand on fair housing. | Wisconsin | April 2024 |
| 54 | Long Island Board of REALTORS® Fair Housing Campaign Focuses on Access for People with Disabilities | 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. | New York | April 2024 |
| 55 | Salt Lake REALTORS® Work with City to Implement Innovative Affordable Housing Incentives | Using a Smart Growth Grant from the REALTOR® Party, the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® convened a panel of experts to present facts, figures, examples, and answers regarding the process of developing accessory dwelling units, now permitted in much of the nation’s capital. | District of Columbia | March 2024 |
| 56 | District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® Hosts Workshop on Accessory Dwelling Units | Using a Smart Growth Grant from the REALTOR® Party, the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® convened a panel of experts to present facts, figures, examples, and answers regarding the process of developing accessory dwelling units, now permitted in much of the nation’s capital. | District of Columbia | March 2024 |
| 57 | Award-Winning Initiative in Spokane Spurred by Housing Opportunity Grant | Spokane, Washington, was in a housing crisis. A National Association of REALTORS® grant is helping to change that—and earned the city a 2023 Smart Communities Award from Governor Jay Inslee, to boot. | Washington | March 2024 |
| 58 | Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® Supports New Zoning Ordinance Aimed at Correcting Racial Inequity and Increasing Inventory of Affordable Housing | When a racist rally occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017, it prompted the City Council to focus on municipal policies through a lens of racial inequity. City leaders revisited the comprehensive land use plan with an eye toward improving affordable housing, an area that had always been intimately linked with race. The Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® endorsed the major zoning reform and used grants from the REALTOR® Party to support its passage. | Virginia | March 2024 |
| 59 | Austin REALTORS® Leverages Multiple REALTOR® Party Grants in Support of Missing Middle Housing | With strong support from Austin REALTORS®, in 2023, the City of Austin approved the Home Options for Middle-income Empowerment (HOME) Resolution, initiating code amendments to reduce the minimum lot size to 2,500 square feet or less and allow for up to three residential dwelling units per lot. Backed by a variety of REALTOR® Party resources, the REALTORS® are maintaining the momentum toward increasing ‘missing middle’ housing. | Texas | February 2024 |
| 60 | Gallatin (MT) Association of REALTORS® Supports Regional Housing Report with Consumer Advocacy Outreach Grant | By producing and presenting an annual regional housing report, the Gallatin Association of REALTORS® is now positioned as the primary resource for housing data in the fast-growing area. A Consumer Advocacy Outreach grant from the REALTOR® Party has made it possible. | Montana | February 2024 |
| 61 | Phoenix REALTORS® Support Accessory Dwelling Units, Paving Path for Housing Increase | The City of Phoenix has passed an ambitious plan to increase its housing inventory substantially in the next few years, and Accessory Dwelling Units will be a key component. When the City Council rolled out its new ordinance governing ADUs, Phoenix REALTORS® turned to the Land Use Initiative program for help making an informed decision about supporting it. | Arizona | February 2024 |
| 62 | Idaho REALTORS® Welcomes Residents with New Guidebook on Rural Issues | Working with multiple stakeholders, Idaho REALTORS® developed a guidebook to inform property buyers about key issues related to stewardship of the state’s natural resources, such as maintaining water and septic systems, and the risks of invasive species. Grants from the REALTOR® Party supported the design and the first print run; the guide is also available as a pdf. | Idaho | January 2024 |
| 63 | Greater Portland (ME) Board of REALTORS® Takes DEI to the Streets with High-Visibility Bus-Wrap Campaign | With a Fair Housing Grant from the REALTOR® Party, the Greater Portland Board demonstrated its commitment to the values of the Fair Housing Act in a big way: by wrapping a bus with the “Fair Housing for All” slogan for all to see, on a major transportation route. | Maine | January 2024 |
| 64 | Transforming Neighborhoods Makes a Difference in Greensburg PA | Like many areas formerly bolstered by the steel and coal industries, the City of Greenburg in western Pennsylvania has experienced a notable decline in the population and businesses that once enlivened its downtown district. | Pennsylvania | January 2024 |
| 65 | North Platte Valley Association of REALTORS® Leverages Housing Opportunity Grant to Promote Financial Literacy Among Local 8th Graders | 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®. | California | December 2023 |
| 66 | With Consumer Advocacy Grant, Five Local REALTOR® Associations and the New York State Association of REALTORS® Campaign for Reasonable Electrification and Emissions Reduction Recommendations | When the New York State Climate Action Council recommended extreme building-electrification requirements – including prohibiting natural gas service to existing and new buildings as of 2024 – REALTORS® launched a consumer education and awareness campaign to help convince lawmakers in ten Senate swing districts to temper the proposed mandates. | New York | December 2023 |
| 67 | Land Use Initiative Helps Bakersfield Association of REALTORS® Defeat City’s Draft Climate Action Plan that Threatened to Worsen the Housing Crisis | The local REALTORS® saw that the draft Climate Action Plan developed by the City of Bakersfield would make real estate transactions more costly and would violate private property rights. With a coalition of concerned partners, they resisted its adoption. A Land Use Initiative review by Robinson & Cole provided the critical analysis they needed to convince the City Council to re-think the plan. | California | December 2023 |
| 68 | Royal Palm Coast REALTOR® Association Helps Members Learn to Serve Clients with Disabilities | A Fair Housing Grant from the REALTOR® Party enabled Florida’s Royal Palm Coast REALTOR® Association to conduct a symposium on serving clients with special needs. The speakers – a REALTOR® focused on helping clients with disabilities and a builder specializing in barrier-free housing – showed a full house what it means to offer proper standards of care to those whose abilities differ from their own. | Florida | October 2023 |
| 69 | Coastal Association of REALTORS® (MD) Uses Housing Opportunity Grant to Promote K-12 Financial Literacy | On Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the Coastal Association of REALTORS® is working to equip the next generation with the critical thinking, collaboration, and financial planning skills that are essential for any community’s economic viability. With support from a Housing Opportunity Grant, it has established a three-year partnership with Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore, hosting a mock storefront in the JA Biztown and JA Finance Park programs for young students in nine area counties. | Maryland | October 2023 |
| 70 | New Hampshire REALTORS® Dispel Myths About Housing Development with Videos Targeting Members, Public, and Volunteer Planning and Zoning Boards | New Hampshire REALTORS® had solid data refuting the concerns and misunderstandings that were impeding development of much needed housing in the state, but they knew no one was going to read lengthy documents. To get the correct and accurate information where it was needed, they produced and distributed a set of five-minute videos to educate consumers, legislators, and opinion makers. | New Hampshire | October 2023 |
| 71 | Oklahoma City Metropolitan Association of REALTORS® Launches Campaign to Educate Members and Public About Homelessness | Leveraging two Housing Opportunity Grants from the REALTOR® Party, OKCMAR took action on the issue its members identified as priority #1: homelessness. Its campaign has been so compelling that the City of Oklahoma City is taking a page from the REALTORS®’ initiative, with an eye on policy solutions. | Oklahoma | September 2023 |
| 72 | Texas REALTORS® Helps Defeat HOA Section 8 Ban | Texas REALTORS® led the way in convincing the state legislature to prohibit Home Owners Associations from barring rentals to Section 8 tenants. The new law is an assertion of the rights of owners to rent to voucher recipients – and anyone else they choose to. It also highlights the importance of the voucher program in providing decent, safe, affordable housing to the state’s most vulnerable households. | Texas | September 2023 |
| 73 | Maine Association of REALTORS® Defends the Inter-tidal Land of Coastal Property Owners from Proposed Takings Bill | For the past few centuries, the land along Maine’s coast that is twice-daily exposed by low tide has belonged to the “upland property owner.” This spring, the state REALTOR® association defeated a bill attempting to turn that ‘wet-sand’ strip over to the state, which could have made it available for commercial use. | Maine | September 2023 |
| 74 | Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® Advocate and Advertise in Opposition to Point-of-Sale Inspection Mandate | A Consumer Advocacy Outreach Grant from the REALTOR® Party helped the Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® mount a campaign against the point-of-sale inspections required in two dozen jurisdictions in the region. Featuring a prominent insert in two top local magazines, it raised awareness about how the mandate is a barrier to homeownership and a detriment to local housing markets. | Ohio | August 2023 |
| 75 | Washington REALTORS® Use Issues Mobilization Grants to Support Bumper-Crop of Affordable Housing Legislation | With help from the REALTOR® Party, Washington REALTORS® mounted a public-facing "Welcome Home" campaign to focus the state’s 2023 Legislative Session on housing inventory and homeownership. The slate of bills they successfully promoted will lower barriers to creating new housing, especially in the affordable and Missing Middle range. In a separate campaign, they fought back legislation to increase real estate excise taxes. | Washington | August 2023 |
| 76 | Portland Metropolitan Association of REALTORS® Defeats Capital Gains Tax and Strengthens Key Partnerships with Support from Issues Mobilization Grant® | Portland Metropolitan Association of REALTORS® Defeats Capital Gains Tax and Strengthens Key Partnerships with Support from Issues Mobilization Grant® Defeats Capital Gains Tax and Strengthens Key Partnerships with Support from Issues Mobilization Grant | Oregon | August 2023 |
| 77 | Land of the Sky Association of REALTORS® Uses Housing Opportunity Grant to Boost Landlord Acceptance of Federal Rental Assistance Vouchers | Land of the Sky REALTORS® has partnered with the Buncombe Rental Assistance Collaborative (BRAC) to increase access to affordable rental housing in the Asheville, North Carolina region by encouraging landlords to accept federal rental assistance vouchers. A Housing Opportunity Grant from the REALTOR® Party is supporting the effort. | California | August 2023 |
| 78 | Neighboring West Coast Associations Use Issues Mobilization Grant to Create ‘Smart Coast California’ Initiative | Ventura County Coastal AOR and Santa Barbara AOR have banded together to create ‘Smart Coast California,’ an organization that provides economic, planning policy, and engineering considerations that inform effective decision-making in coastal communities facing the common threat of rising seas in California. Issues Mobilization Grants from the REALTOR® Party helped make it possible. | California | July 2023 |
| 79 | East Tennessee Association of REALTORS® Jump-starts Riverfront Development through Transforming Neighborhoods | The City of Knoxville has long wanted to revitalize its downtown waterfront along the Tennessee River, to create an appealing sense of place and address the increasingly limited housing supply. To help get the project off the ground, the East Tennessee Association of REALTORS® turned to the REALTOR® Party’s Transforming Neighborhoods program, which awarded the city an in-depth study with actionable recommendations by a team of experts from the CRE Consulting Corps. | Tennessee | July 2023 |
| 80 | Midland Board of REALTORS® Supports Economic Productivity Analysis with REALTOR® 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 – including much-needed housing and tax revenue. A Smart Growth Grant from the REALTOR® Party supported the study. | Michigan | July 2023 |
| 81 | Miami REALTORS® Pave the Way for Affordable Housing | Highlighting the challenges and accomplishments of a six-year effort to develop a site-built 480-sqft dwelling made from two discarded shipping containers, a new video highlighting Miami REALTORS® reveals the regulatory hurdles that were identified – and overcome – in the process. In taking the prototype from concept to market, the REALTORS® managed to effect significant zoning changes that will pave the way for more affordable housing opportunities throughout the county. | Florida | July 2023 |
| 82 | REALTORS® 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 Madison’s ambitious ‘Housing Forward’ plan, the REALTORS® Association of South Central Wisconsin recently faced-down a challenge to transit-oriented development. With help from the REALTOR® 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. | Wisconsin | June 2023 |
| 83 | Seattle King County Association of REALTORS® Brings Elected Officials on “Missing Middle” Bus Tour Highlighting Design and Applicability | To drive home the compelling argument for ‘missing middle’ zoning changes in the region, the Seattle King County Association of REALTORS® gathered two busloads of elected officials and their planning staff, and brought them on a guided tour of local sites where the compact-housing concept is already in practice – and bringing desperately needed affordable housing to King County. A Housing Opportunity Grant from the REALTOR® Party helped make it happen. | New York | June 2023 |
| 84 | Sacramento Association of REALTORS® Equips Local Aspiring Homeowners with Resources and Know-How to Begin Homebuying Journey | 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. | California | June 2023 |
| 85 | Through NAR’s Transforming Neighborhoods Program, Huntsville Area Association of REALTORS® Helps Craft Vision for City’s Meridian Corridor | Working with the Antiracist Curriculum Project, the local REALTOR® association created a 20-minute video to raise awareness of redlining and racist covenants in Rochester, New York, and how the effects of these discriminatory practices perpetuate inequity to this day. A Fair Housing Grant from the REALTOR® Party supported the production. | Alabama | May 2023 |
| 86 | Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS® Produces Video on Local History and Continued Impact of Discriminatory Real Estate Practices. | Working with the Antiracist Curriculum Project, the local REALTOR® association created a 20-minute video to raise awareness of redlining and racist covenants in Rochester, New York, and how the effects of these discriminatory practices perpetuate inequity to this day. A Fair Housing Grant from the REALTOR® Party supported the production. | New York | May 2023 |
| 87 | Southeast Alaska Board of REALTORS® Mobilizes to Overturn Mandatory Disclosure of Sales Price | Supported by polling and an Issues Mobilization Grant from the REALTOR® Party, the Southeast Alaska Board of REALTORS® pushed back against a 2020 Juneau ordinance that required the public disclosure of real estate sales prices, including financing and other deeds of sale. It was the thin end of the wedge, they believed, leading to transfer taxes on real estate. | Alaska | May 2023 |
| 88 | Midwest City-Del City-Moore Association of REALTORS® Helps Provide Fair Housing Training for Development/Construction Industry and Property Managers | Fair housing law applies to far more than just the typical home-sale transaction. To reach developers, architects, contractors, planners, CPAs, attorneys, county assessors, lenders, social workers, property managers, and maintenance personnel – as well as REALTORS® – in central Oklahoma, the Midwest City-Del City-Moore Association of REALTORS® collaborated with a local coalition to offer training in fair housing issues. | Oregon | April 2023 |
| 89 | Associations Around the Country Tap into Training that Helps Members Recognize and Correct a Significant Obstacle to Fair Housing: Implicit Bias | Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS® took advantage of a compelling exhibition at the local history museum to educate members about their city’s role in the practice of redlining, and the negative impacts still felt nationwide because of historic housing discrimination. At a private reception, REALTORS® toured the galleries, spoke with the curator, faced some hard truths, and resolved to learn more. | Oregon | April 2023 |
| 90 | Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS® Sponsors Event at Museum Exhibit Revealing the History and Legacy of Redlining | Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS® took advantage of a compelling exhibition at the local history museum to educate members about their city’s role in the practice of redlining, and the negative impacts still felt nationwide because of historic housing discrimination. At a private reception, REALTORS® toured the galleries, spoke with the curator, faced some hard truths, and resolved to learn more. | Kansas | April 2023 |
| 91 | Land of the Sky Association of REALTORS® (NC) Champion Fair Housing at Blue Ridge Pride Festival | In Asheville, North Carolina, the Land of the Sky Association of REALTORS® partnered with the Blue Ridge Pride festival to educate the public about fair housing issues, including protections for sexual orientation and gender identity in rental and purchasing situations. Its colorful booth attracted a steady stream of visitors who received swag, treats, and most importantly, information. | North Carolina | April 2023 |
| 92 | Greater Greenville Association of REALTORS® Uses the REALTOR® Party’s Growth Polling Program to Assess Voter Attitudes Toward Infrastructure and Housing Development | To gauge voter sentiment on a range of growth-related issues, the Greater Greenville Association of REALTORS® tapped into the polling service the REALTOR® Party provides for just that purpose. The results – some expected, some surprising – are helping the association to help Greenville County as it shapes policy and sends important legislation to the polls. | South Carolina | March 2023 |
| 93 | With a Land Use Initiative and Advocacy Everywhere, New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors® Minimize Impact of New Rental Regulations | Under pressure from a sensationalizing tenants’ rights organization, the New Orleans City Council proposed mandatory new fee-based registration and inspection regulations. The REALTORS® knew these would not help the affordable housing shortage; a Land Use Initiative analysis suggested that aspects of the proposal might even run afoul of current policy. Their opposition effectively de-clawed the new ordinances. | Louisiana | March 2023 |
| 94 | Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® Promotes Opportunity and Affordability as Part of Coalition to Bolster Regional Resilience | With help from a Consumer Advocacy Grant from the REALTOR® Party, the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® is supporting a campaign to engage the public in economic opportunity and housing related issues in South Carolina’s Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester County region. | South Carolina | March 2023 |
| 95 | Houston Association of REALTORS® Hosts Housing Symposium for Capacity REALTOR® Crowd | To instruct its members about the barriers to adequate housing and provide a comprehensive introduction to tools and programs to overcome these obstacles, the Houston Association of REALTORS (HAR) hosted a day-long symposium focused on local housing affordability and inventory issues. A Housing Opportunity Grant (Mega Board Level) supported the event, which accommodated twice the expected number of participants. | Texas | March 2023 |
| 96 | Florida REALTORS® Work to Defeat Rent Control | Unable to wait for a legal ruling to keep an unconstitutional rent control measure off the ballot in Orange County, Florida REALTORS® launched a major campaign to discourage voters from accepting the measure. The effort targeted the county’s renters and homeowners, saturating the respective voting pools with reasons not to adopt rent control, and demonstrated to the rest of the state that the REALTORS® are prepared to fight the issue statewide. | Florida | February 2023 |
| 97 | Long Island Board of REALTORS® Takes Lead in Educating the Public about New York’s Latest Protected Class: Source of Income | In 2019, New York State Fair Housing law added Source of Income as a newly protected class. Leveraging its ties to brokers, agents, property managers, and the public, the Long Island Board of REALTORS® launched an energetic campaign with multiple resources to help landlords and tenants understand the requirements of the new law affecting rentals. | New York | February 2023 |
| 98 | Columbus REALTORS® Explores Tiny Homes as a Solution to Affordable Housing Crisis | Always interested in increasing the availability of affordable housing, Columbus REALTORS® hosted a Tiny Home Forum to explore the viability of diminutive dwellings as an affordable and energy efficient alternative for buyers who might be priced out of the conventional market. A Housing Opportunity Grant from the REALTOR® Party helped make it possible – including an on-site tiny house for participants to tour! | Ohio | February 2023 |
| 99 | Peoria Area Association of REALTORS® Jump-Starts Neighborhood Revitalization | Through the REALTOR® Party’s new Transforming Neighborhoods Program, the Peoria Area Association of REALTORS® welcomed a team of experts from the Counselors of Real Estate® Consulting Corps to study the potential of two severely dilapidated neighborhoods, with an eye toward housing and economic development. The team’s in-depth report will provide a road map for bringing these neighborhoods back to life. | Illinois | January 2023 |
| 100 | Columbus REALTORS® Explores Tiny Homes as a Solution to Affordable Housing Crisis | Always interested in increasing the availability of affordable housing, Columbus REALTORS® hosted a Tiny Home Forum to explore the viability of diminutive dwellings as an affordable and energy efficient alternative for buyers who might be priced out of the conventional market. A Housing Opportunity Grant from the REALTOR® Party helped make it possible – including an on-site tiny house for participants to tour! | Ohio | |
| 101 | South Carolina REALTORS® Honored with Fair Housing Award from the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) | 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. | South Carolina | January 2023 |
| 102 | Vermont Association of REALTORS® Mount Issues Mobilization Campaign to Fight Rent Control in Burlington | The Vermont Association of REALTORS® knows that increasing rent control regulations in Burlington will infringe on private property rights – and won’t fix the housing challenges. Through an Issues Mobilization campaign supported by the REALTOR® Party, they presented the message that ultimately resonated with the governor, who vetoed a threatened rent-control ordinance. | Vermont | January 2023 |
| 103 | Longleaf Pine REALTORS® Help Defeat Zero-Lot Line Moratorium in Cumberland County | Leveraging the power of Advocacy Everywhere, the Longleaf Pine REALTORS® sent a strong message to the administrators of Cumberland County, North Carolina, in opposition to an ordinance placing a moratorium on zero lot line development. | North Carolina | December 2022 |
| 104 | Contra Costa Association of REALTORS® Uses Advocacy Everywhere to Dissuade City Council from Imposing Real Estate Transfer Tax | 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. | California | December 2022 |
| 105 | Mid Carolina Regional Association of REALTORS® Defeat Short-Term Rental Ordinance with Robust Call For Action | Tapping into the REALTOR® Party’s Advocacy Everywhere program, the Mid Carolina Regional Association of REALTORS® encouraged its members and residents of Pinehurst, NC to oppose proposed short-term rental regulations that would have impaired the popular destination’s thriving tourist industry and weakened private property rights. | North Carolina | December 2022 |
| 106 | East Tennessee REALTORS® Defeats Detrimental Zoning Proposals with Trifecta of REALTOR® Party Resources | In Blount County, Tennessee, severe zoning restrictions on housing development were on the table. To keep the County Council from limiting residential density, the Knoxville Area Association of REALTORS® leveraged multiple resources from the REALTOR® Party: Issues Mobilization, Advocacy Everywhere, and the Land Use Initiative program. | Tennessee | December 2022 |
| 107 | Alabama REALTORS® Champion First-Time Homebuyer Savings Accounts — Again | 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. | Alabama | November 2022 |
| 108 | Ohio REALTORS® Back Legislation to Overturn Unfair Property Valuation System | With help from an Issues Mobilization Grant from the REALTOR® Party, Ohio REALTORS® and a coalition of like-minded partners convinced lawmakers to reform the state’s property valuation system – one which, unique in the country, allowed third parties to challenge the value of another’s residential or commercial property for tax purposes. | Ohio | November 2022 |
| 109 | Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS® Use Advocacy Everywhere to Rally Voters Against Expensive and Ineffective Rent Control Proposals | Using the REALTOR® Party’s Advocacy Everywhere program, the Santa Barbara Association mounted a member- and consumer-facing Call For Action that generated a 23% response rate in opposition to unreasonable rent control measures being considered by the City Council. Message heard, the council instead created a Housing Crisis Ad Hoc Committee. | California | October 2022 |
| 110 | Leveraging Study of Local Homestead Tax Exemption Policies, San Antonio Board of REALTORS® Brings About Dual Tax Relief for Homeowners | The National Association of REALTORS®’ recent Housing Affordability Study inspired the San Antonio Board to commission one of its own on a local level, with help from an Issues Mobilization Grant from the REALTOR® Party. It used the resulting analysis of area Homestead Tax Exemption policies to convince city and county legislators to maximize tax relief for over-burdened homeowners. | Texas | October 2022 |
| 111 | With Polling and Issues Mobilization Campaign, Montana REALTORS® Deny Ballot Access to Damaging Property Tax Initiative | A “Decline to Sign” campaign aimed at Montana voters helped to keep a proposed constitutional amendment off the ballot; though the initiative sought to exploit widespread public angst over residential property taxes, it would actually have replaced the state’s market-value based property tax system with an acquisition-value based system that would dis-incentivize listings and shift the tax burden to anyone buying property in Montana. | Montana | October 2022 |
| 112 | Conejo Simi Moorpark Association of REALTORS® Advocates for Wildfire Safety Measures, Demonstrating Voter Priorities Through Polling | Twice in the past four years, Thousand Oaks, California has experienced devastating wildfires. To mitigate the risk of future damage and loss, the local REALTOR® Association used polling and a Consumer Advocacy Grant from the REALTOR® Party to help convince officials that maintenance of the open space surrounding the city should be a priority. | California | September 2022 |
| 113 | Five Years Later, Walkability Study Commissioned by Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS® is Still Paying Dividends | In 2016, the REALTOR® Party established a Smart Growth mindset in the City of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, by funding an in-depth walkability study that continues to inform local decision-makers on infrastructure improvements. Improvements large and small undertaken by the local REALTORS® and the city have strengthened the partnership and leveraged additional outside support. | South Carolina | September 2022 |
| 114 | Ohio REALTORS® Leverage Issues Mobilization Grant to Preempt Threat of Rent Control | When rent control was put on the ballot in Columbus, Ohio, the state REALTOR® association stepped in to tackle the issue before it became a home-rule free-for-all among local jurisdictions. They used an Issues Mobilization Grant to have an expert draft the legislation, and spared the entire state from a policy that actually decreases much-needed housing. | Virginia | September 2022 |
| 115 | Greater Piedmont REALTORS® Contribute Polling Resources to County Planning Efforts | Working with the Planning Department of the largest county in its Northern Virginia operating area, Greater Piedmont REALTORS® commissioned a State and Local Growth poll from the REALTOR® Party that helped to quantify local attitudes toward housing growth. The resulting data will help decision-makers in their long-term planning, and the project strengthened the REALTORS®’ role as community partners. | Virginia | September 2022 |
| 116 | On Massachusetts’ South Shore, REALTORS® Use Advocacy Everywhere Program to Defend Against Dumping of Radioactive Wastewater in Cape Cod Bay | Not disposing of nuclear waste in any region’s precious waterways would seem be a matter of common sense, but apparently, in Massachusetts, the corporation responsible for decommissioning the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station wants to do just that. To protect the environment, the economy, and the health of local communities, the South Shore REALTORS® have mobilized in opposition. | Massachusetts | August 2022 |
| 117 | Missoula Organization of REALTORS® Uses Rural Outreach Grant to Promote Good Water Quality | In collaboration with the Bitterroot Valley Board of REALTORS®, the Missoula Organization of REALTORS® is helping to educate homeowners, builders, and everyone involved with the real estate industry about the new rules governing residential property wastewater systems in Ravalli County, Montana. Their campaign was supported by one of the REALTOR® Party’s new Rural Outreach Grants. | Montana | August 2022 |
| 118 | Cape Cod & Islands Association of REALTORS Support the Health of Waterways, the Public, and the Economy with Issues Mobilization Campaign | There was no question that the wastewater infrastructure of Yarmouth, Massachusetts was overdue to be replaced, but the local REALTORS took no chances when a major plan that was years in the making was put to a final vote. A campaign supported by an Issues Mobilization grant from the REALTOR Party reminded voters how important the new system was to the environment, the residents, and to the peninsula’s tourist economy. | Massachusetts | August 2022 |
| 119 | Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association and Aspire North REALTORS® (Traverse City, MI) Promote Strategic Development with Powerful 3D Economic Modelling | Passions were high, and the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association had been tipped-off by social media to expect protesters at the public meeting it was hosting. Duly warned, they hired security, but in fact, the REALTORS® welcomed the opposition: it meant a chance to reach people who were misunderstanding the data behind a recent economic report recommending higher-density development in the small central Florida city of Oviedo. The REALTORS® were sponsoring the meeting to clarify and defend the report and its recommendations prior to the City Council’s consideration of a new comprehensive plan. Thanks to the expertise and level-headed sensitivity of the team they brought in to face the music, the contentious affair became a highly productive community conversation. A savvy mayor supported the effort, and a Smart Growth Grant from the REALTOR® Party made it possible. | Florida | August 2022 |
| 120 | Working with State Legislators, Tennessee REALTORS® Have April Declared Fair Housing Month in The Volunteer State | Median housing prices in Tennessee have increased over 22%, and newcomers are coming to the state in droves, so the values of fair housing and equal opportunity housing are more important than ever. To elevate and amplify conversations and advocacy promoting these principles, the leadership of Tennessee REALTORS® spearheaded an effort to have the state legislature pass a resolution making April Fair Housing Month at the state level. | Tennessee | July 2022 |
| 121 | Columbia Board of REALTORS® Helps City and County Modernize Revenue Stream by Adopting Local Internet Use Tax | Without a local internet use tax in place on sales from out-of-state vendors, the City of Columbia, Missouri and its surrounding county had been missing out on tens of millions of revenue dollars from the online shopping trend. To help the municipality capture this income for essential services, the Columbia Board of REALTORS® used an Issues Mobilization Grant from the REALTOR® Party to convince voters to adopt the tax. | Missouri | July 2022 |
| 122 | Delaware Association of REALTORS® Educates Consumers About the Real Costs of Closing | Delaware has the highest Realty Transfer Tax in the nation, and research showed the state REALTOR® association that many consumers don’t understand the impact it has on buying and selling property. A Consumer Advocacy Grant from the REALTOR® Party helped inform the public, the first step toward building an informed voter base in favor of lowering the tax and making homeownership more affordable. | Delaware | July 2022 |
| 123 | Six REALTOR® Associations Serving LA County Highlight Recent Legislation with Campaign Promoting “Housing Reimagined” | A Consumer Advocacy Grant from the REALTOR® Party helped the South Bay Association of REALTORS®, the Pasadena-Foothills Association of REALTORS®, the Glendale Association of REALTORS®, the Greater LA Association of REALTORS®, the Greater Antelope Valley Association of REALTORS®, and the Southland Regional Association of REALTORS® educate consumers on two major new laws that boost homeowners’ rights, exemptions, and market feasibility. | California | June 2022 |
| 124 | West Georgia Board of REALTORS® Leads Aspiring Buyers on the Path to Homeownership with Engaging Info-Packed Course | With support from a Housing Opportunity Grant, the West Georgia Board of REALTORS® partnered with a local HUD-certified housing counseling agency to offer a ‘Pathways to Homeownership’ course for first-time buyers. Addressing essential aspects of the home-buying process – including obstacles to homeownership – the program was so well received that the REALTORS® are making it an annual event. | Georgia | June 2022 |
| 125 | First-Time Homebuyers Savings Legislation Passes in Michigan, with a Boost from Michigan REALTORS® and the REALTOR® Party | It took some patience – and a change of governor – but Michigan REALTORS® is finally seeing its advocacy efforts pay off with the recent passage of legislation to assist first-time homebuyers, who can now prepare for the purchase with two new long-term savings features: tax-free savings accounts and income tax deductions on down payment savings. | Oklahoma | June 2022 |
| 126 | Maine Association of REALTORS® Taps Into REALTOR® Party Resources to Defeat Impact Fee on Vacant Residential Properties | In ‘Vacationland’, aka the state of Maine, second homes abound, many of which might be unused for whole seasons at a time. At its annual REALTOR® Day Rally, the Maine Association of REALTORS® focused attention on proposed legislation that threatened to tax vacant residential properties, and their vocal opposition convinced lawmakers to prevent its passage. | Maine | May 2022 |
| 127 | Land of the Sky Association of REALTORS® Dispels Common Misconceptions About Short Term Rentals Through Data-Driven Public Awareness Campaign | With a Consumer Advocacy Grant from the REALTOR® 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. | North Carolina | May 2022 |
| 128 | Bay East Association of REALTORS® Hosts Richard Rothstein at a Book Club Event Shared with Fellow Real Estate Organizations | A Fair Housing Grant from the REALTOR® Party helped the Bay East Association of REALTORS® bring the author of The Color of Law to a virtual discussion of his work. By opening the event to other key stakeholders and real estate organizations, they strengthened relationships all around. | South Carolina | April 2022 |
| 129 | Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® Hosts Housing Summit and Commissions Study to Recommend Productive Changes to Zoning Codes | As multiple municipalities in its jurisdiction had recently completed their mandated five-year comprehensive plans, the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® was determined to keep those efforts alive, rather than languishing on shelves. With a housing summit and a deep-dive study supported by Smart Growth and Issues Mobilization Grants, it’s helping the region move its plans from paper to policy. | South Carolina | April 2022 |
| 130 | New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania Associations Keep the Focus on Fair Housing at Annual Triple Play REALTORS® Convention | Who could resist a presentation called “Am I A Jerk at Work?” With the help of the Fair Housing Grant program from the REALTOR® Party, the state associations of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania brought national speakers to their annual convention in Atlantic City to explore that question, and many more aspects of fair housing. | New Jersey | April 2022 |
| 131 | Housing Opportunity Grant Helps Bring Counselors of Real Estate to Spokane for Housing Needs Study and Action Plan | Within Washington state, which recent census data revealed to have the lowest housing inventory in the country, the numbers in Spokane were even worse. The Spokane Association of REALTORS® stepped up to bring in a consulting team from the Counselors of Real Estate, an international organization of expert volunteers who provide objective assessments and a strong set of recommendations informed by their nationwide perspective. A Housing Opportunity Grant supported the effort. | Washington | March 2022 |
| 132 | Three North Carolina Communities Jumpstart Revitalization with Mainstreet Downtown Assessments Supported by the REALTOR® Party | Using Smart Growth grants from the REALTOR® Party, the McDowell Board of REALTORS®, the Yancey Association of REALTORS®, and the High Country Association of REALTORS®, all in western North Carolina, commissioned assessments of small town centers with an eye toward sustainable residential and commercial growth. | North Carolina | March 2022 |
| 133 | With a Timely Call For Action, REALTOR® Associations of Washington State and Kittitas County Dissuade Lawmakers from Doubling Real Estate Excise Tax | Residents of Kittitas County in central Washington State were threatened with a 100% increase in their real estate taxes, and denied a vote on the matter, to boot. The REALTORS® gave them a voice through Advocacy Everywhere, and the County Commissioners heard it loud and clear. | Washington | February 2022 |
| 134 | Advocacy Everywhere Helps Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS® Protect Rights of Coastal Homeowners | Having spent eight years drafting a comprehensive coastal land use plan, the County of Santa Barbara, California received official recommendations that would seriously infringe on property rights and land use policies within the five-mile swath inland from the waterline. The Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS® came to the defense of property owners with a consumer Call For Action in opposition to the powerful California Coastal Commission. | California | February 2022 |
| 135 | REALTORS® Association of South Central Wisconsin Leverages Issues Mobilization and Advocacy Everywhere to Increase Development of Multi-Family Housing | When lawmakers in Madison, Wisconsin took a step towards a zoning change that would increase affordable housing, the REALTORS® generated a strong showing of public support with an Issues Mobilization campaign and a consumer Call For Action. The positive response counterbalanced vocal opposition from powerful homeowner associations and helped tip the City Council vote to a narrow win. | Wisconsin | February 2022 |
| 136 | Greater Greenville Association of REALTORS® Uses Advocacy Everywhere to Prevent Moratorium on Residential Subdivisions | With the rate of growth that Greenville, South Carolina is experiencing, the last thing it needed was a county-wide moratorium on new residential subdivisions. A timely Call for Action by the Greater Greenville Association of REALTORS® convinced the County Council’s Planning and Development Committee to reconsider. | South Carolina | January 2022 |
| 137 | With a Rural Outreach Grant from the REALTOR® Party, Baldwin REALTORS® Help Vulnerable Alabama Region Prepare for Flood Impact | ‘Flood Week,’ a proactive training program for members and community stakeholders, positioned Baldwin REALTORS® as leaders sharing access to vital expertise in flood mitigation, insurance, resilience, and more. In addition to a public-facing campaign, the association presented a townhall with NFIP and FEMA, a CE Class, workshops, and a panel discussion on lessons learned from last year’s Hurricane Sally. | Alabama | January 2022 |
| 138 | LIBOR Goes to Bat for Fair Housing | When the Spokane City Council presented a Sustainability Action Plan calling for extreme limitations on natural gas implementation, the REALTORS® reacted in force with multiple REALTOR® Party resources. It was a powerful Call for Action that discouraged the plan, and they are now focused on helping the city find reasonable solutions for increased energy efficiency. | New York | December 2021 |
| 139 | With Advocacy Everywhere, Spokane Association of REALTORS® Fends Off City Plan to Phase Out Natural Gas Usage | When the Spokane City Council presented a Sustainability Action Plan calling for extreme limitations on natural gas implementation, the REALTORS® reacted in force with multiple REALTOR® Party resources. It was a powerful Call for Action that discouraged the plan, and they are now focused on helping the city find reasonable solutions for increased energy efficiency. | Washington | December 2021 |
| 140 | Training Members to Resolve Housing Disputes Through Mediation, Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® Promotes Housing Stability | As the threat of mass evictions loomed during the pandemic, the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® equipped members throughout the commonwealth to step up and help mediate housing disputes. Grants from the REALTOR® Party supported training and a campaign to raise public awareness about the benefits of choosing mediation over court appearances. | Massachusetts | December 2021 |
| 141 | Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS® Uses Land Use Initiative to Champion Property Rights and Allow for Future Development | Using the findings of a Land Use Initiative analysis from the REALTOR® Party, the Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS® helped dissuade the City Council from adopting the new ‘Desert Rural’ protective category that would have raised significant barriers to high-density development and trounced the rights of private property owners. | Arizona | December 2021 |
| 142 | Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® Leverages a Smart Growth Poll to Create a Deeply Informed Regional Growth and Housing Action Plan | Using the information gleaned from the REALTOR® Party’s State and Local Growth Polling program, the Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® developed a plan identifying prescriptive steps to support affordable housing policy in the northern Virginia region. | California | November 2021 |
| 143 | Bridge Association of REALTORS® Defeats Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Legislation with Help from Multiple REALTOR® Party Programs | In Berkeley, California, legislation that would wrest control of a rental property’s destiny from its owner was successfully stalled by the Bridge Association of REALTORS® with a powerful Issues Mobilization campaign and a timely Call For Action. The proposed ordinance, which the REALTORS® called ‘eminent domain in disguise,’ was also analyzed through the Land Use Initiative program. | California | November 2021 |
| 144 | Glendale Association of REALTORS® Thwarts Threat of a Municipal Rent Registry with Issues Mobilization and Consumer Advocacy Grants | When the creation of a rental registry was proposed in the city of Glendale, California, the local REALTOR® association staged an energetic opposition using multiple resources from the REALTOR® Party. The dubious and unnecessary legislation would have been seriously detrimental to private property rights and personal privacy. | California | November 2021 |
| 145 | Virginia REALTORS® Launches Fairhaven Competition | 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 REALTORS® went to bat – for property owners, and for the economic welfare of the region. Advocacy Everywhere helped them launch an effective Call For Action. | Virginia | October 2021 |
| 146 | Big Bear Association of REALTORS® 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 REALTORS® went to bat – for property owners, and for the economic welfare of the region. Advocacy Everywhere helped them launch an effective Call For Action. | California | October 2021 |
| 147 | Delayed by Natural Disaster, Rogue Valley Association of REALTORS® Launches Wildfire Safety Campaign with Emphasis on Prevention | In a maddening twist of fate, when the pandemic forced the Rogue Valley Association of REALTORS® to postpone a wildfire safety campaign, a wildfire tore through its operating region in southwest Oregon, destroying 2,500 residential structures. Not only did the campaign get off the ground the following year, it was able to stop proposed wildfire mitigation regulation at point of sale. | Oregon | October 2021 |
| 148 | Central Missouri Board of REALTORS® Uses Transforming Neighborhoods Technical Assessment to Address Vacant and Abandoned Properties | In the town of Marshall, Missouri (pop. 13,000,) about 20% of the residential properties were vacant, along with more than a dozen commercial properties, including a hospital and a grocery store. The Central Missouri Board of REALTORS® got to work with a REALTOR® Party-funded technical assessment, whose recommendations are driving real change focused on strategic code enforcement, data-driven problem solving, and property owner education. | Missouri | September 2021 |
| 149 | District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® Helps Protect Rental Residents and On-Site Personnel from Reckless Tenants | During the public health emergency, as reports rose of certain tenants posing serious health and safety threats in rental properties across the nation’s capital, the local REALTOR® association championed a Public Safety Exception to the city’s strict Eviction Moratorium. A timely Call For Action connected members directly to the Housing Committee of the City Council. | District of Columbia | September 2021 |
| 150 | To Mark Its Centenary, Colorado Association of REALTORS® Launches ‘Century of Opportunity’ with Sweeping Legislation | The Colorado Association of REALTORS® was seeking a powerful way to improve homeownership opportunity for all Coloradans. In partnership with Habitat for Humanity, it developed a bundle of legislation that is being funded by a combination of state funds and Federal stimulus money -- Issues Mobilization and Advocacy Everywhere helped make it happen. | Colorado | September 2021 |
| 151 | Texas REALTORS® Tackle Texas-Sized Property-Tax Information Campaign, Educating Consumers and Encouraging Advocacy | Texas REALTORS® has been working to reform the state’s historically complicated property tax system for decades, but once the Texas Property Tax Reform and Transparency Act was passed in 2019, someone needed to inform and educate the public about the changes. The REALTORS® were ready, and a pair of Consumer Advocacy Grants from the REALTOR® Party helped them do the job. | Texas | August 2021 |
| 152 | REALTORS® Association of Maui Launches CFA to Safeguard Affordable Housing Policy | When a well-intended bill approved by the County Council threatened to undermine affordable housing development on Maui, the REALTORS® Association called on the Advocacy Everywhere program to support a veto by the mayor and help steer housing policy back on track. | Hawaii | August 2021 |
| 153 | Pacific Southwest Association Contributes to Award-Winning Handbook for City of San Diego | A Smart Growth Grant from the REALTOR® Party helped the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® take part in creating a Companion Unit Handbook explaining the nuts and bolts of Accessory Dwelling Units. The one-stop resource for homeowners has earned kudos from the mayor and the Urban Design Award from the San Diego Section of the American Planning Association. | California | July 2021 |
| 154 | Missouri REALTORS®’ Advocacy Helps Pass Fuel Tax for Transportation Funding | When the initially reluctant City Council of Bend, Oregon finally agreed to set the ball rolling to increase its Urban Growth Boundary, the local REALTOR® association provided positive reinforcement with a supportive Call For Action. Building rapport and relationships, says the Government Affairs Director, is always a good strategy – that extends to leadership within a regional housing coalition that is raising public awareness of a growing housing crisis. | Missouri | July 2021 |
| 155 | With Help from a Fair Housing Grant, Birmingham Association of REALTORS® Highlights Fair Housing Issues at Hybrid Summit | When the initially reluctant City Council of Bend, Oregon finally agreed to set the ball rolling to increase its Urban Growth Boundary, the local REALTOR® association provided positive reinforcement with a supportive Call For Action. Building rapport and relationships, says the Government Affairs Director, is always a good strategy – that extends to leadership within a regional housing coalition that is raising public awareness of a growing housing crisis. | Alabama | July 2021 |
| 156 | With Call for Action and Housing Opportunity Grant, REALTORS® of Central Oregon Keep Housing Issues Front-and-Center | When the initially reluctant City Council of Bend, Oregon finally agreed to set the ball rolling to increase its Urban Growth Boundary, the local REALTOR® association provided positive reinforcement with a supportive Call For Action. Building rapport and relationships, says the Government Affairs Director, is always a good strategy – that extends to leadership within a regional housing coalition that is raising public awareness of a growing housing crisis. | Oregon | June 2021 |
| 157 | For Maryland REALTORS®, Legislative Wins are the Result of Advocacy, Engagement, and Support from the REALTOR® Party | An ambitious effort to address housing supply and housing opportunity issues was given wings by two Issues Mobilization Grants to the Maryland REALTORS®, who used the funds for a new website, database, and publicity campaign to help get important new laws on the books. With a strong new foundation in place, the advocacy continues… | Maryland | June 2021 |
| 158 | Housing Opportunity Grants Keeping the Focus on Homeownership and Housing | In the Charlottesville, Virginia and Springfield, Illinois regions, REALTOR® efforts to increase housing and homeownership continued unabated through the pandemic, with regional summits and localized education. Housing Opportunity Grants from the REALTOR® Party supported the work of these respective associations as they continued to lead their communities in housing efforts. | Virginia | June 2021 |
| 159 | Utah Association of REALTORS® Back Bill to Simplify Permitting for Accessory Dwelling Units Throughout the State | Utah’s REALTORS® understood that Accessory Dwelling Units could go a long way toward easing the state’s growing housing crunch. With an Issues Mobilization Grant from the REALTOR® Party, they launched a campaign to educate the public – and pressure the legislature to pass a bill making the permitting process much easier. | Utah | May 2021 |
| 160 | REALTOR® Party Smart Growth Grant for Better Block Event Leads to Five-Year Span of Investment from the City of South Bend | Seven years ago, the South Bend Area REALTORS® partnered with local organizations and businesses to create a Better Block event along a forlorn stretch of roadway on the edge of town. Their vision prompted the city to invest millions of dollars over the course of next five years, improving the streetscape and elevating the community. | Indiana | May 2021 |
| 161 | Utah Association of REALTORS® Back Bill to Simplify Permitting for Accessory Dwelling Units Throughout the State | Utah’s REALTORS® understood that Accessory Dwelling Units could go a long way toward easing the state’s growing housing crunch. With an Issues Mobilization Grant from the REALTOR® Party, they launched a campaign to educate the public – and pressure the legislature to pass a bill making the permitting process much easier. | Utah | May 2021 |
| 162 | Greater Lakes Association of REALTORS® Supports Housing Study that Leads to a Housing Trust Fund for Crow Wing County, Minnesota | With a Housing Opportunity Grant and a lot of local expertise, the Greater Lakes Association of REALTORS® has helped achieve a permanent and sustainable trust fund to support the growth of affordable and workplace housing in Crow Wing County. Aspiring homeowners, renters, developers, and employers – in fact, the whole community – stand to gain from the new source of funding for loans and grants. | Minnesota | May 2021 |
| 163 | REALTORS® Leverage Housing Opportunity Grant to Promote Affordable Housing in Bellingham, Washington | In light of all that’s been learned about racial bias in the past year, the Greater Syracuse Association has been working hard to raise awareness of how the issue is at play in the real estate industry. Using a Fair Housing Grant from the REALTOR® Party, it presented Bill Dedman, the lead investigator on the Newsday “Testing the Divide” exposé, as a guest speaker at a seminar for members. | Washington | April 2021 |
| 164 | Placemaking Grant from the REALTOR® Party Helps the Selkirk Association of REALTORS® Support Development of an ADA-Compliant Trail | When the local Land Trust acquired 180 acres for a community forest outside Sandpoint, Idaho, the Selkirk Association of REALTORS® made supporting accessibility a priority. With a Placemaking Grant from the REALTOR® Party, it provided benches along the level half-mile path to ensure connecting with Nature was easier for those with limited mobility. | Idaho | April 2021 |
| 165 | With a Fair Housing Grant, the Greater Syracuse Association of REALTORS® Strengthens its Efforts to Banish Racial Bias | In light of all that’s been learned about racial bias in the past year, the Greater Syracuse Association has been working hard to raise awareness of how the issue is at play in the real estate industry. Using a Fair Housing Grant from the REALTOR® Party, it presented Bill Dedman, the lead investigator on the Newsday “Testing the Divide” exposé, as a guest speaker at a seminar for members. | New York | April 2021 |
| 166 | Placemaking Grant from the REALTOR® Party Helps the Selkirk Association of REALTORS® Support Development of an ADA-Compliant Trail | When the local Land Trust acquired 180 acres for a community forest outside Sandpoint, Idaho, the Selkirk Association of REALTORS® made supporting accessibility a priority. With a Placemaking Grant from the REALTOR® Party, it provided benches along the level half-mile path to ensure connecting with Nature was easier for those with limited mobility. | Idaho | April 2021 |
| 167 | District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® Resists Long-term Rent Control Decisions During Pandemic | When the Housing Committee of the DC City Council attempted to pass a vast array of rent control legislation on top of the already severe pandemic-driven restrictions, REALTORS® and consumers responded for a Call for Action urging them to reconsider. | Oklahoma | March 2021 |
| 168 | Oklahoma Association of REALTORS® Leverages Consumer Advocacy Outreach Grant to Create Long-term Real Estate Information Resource | The Wisconsin REALTORS® Association had a compelling report on the need for affordable workforce housing; a new collaborative grant from the REALTOR® Party is helping to get the information out at the local level, where the zoning and budget decisions are made. | Oklahoma | March 2021 |
| 169 | Wisconsin REALTORS® Association Leverages Consumer Advocacy Outreach Grant to Communicate Statewide Need for Workforce Housing | The Wisconsin REALTORS® Association had a compelling report on the need for affordable workforce housing; a new collaborative grant from the REALTOR® Party is helping to get the information out at the local level, where the zoning and budget decisions are made. | Wisconsin | March 2021 |
| 170 | Bridge Association of REALTORS® Keeps Transfer Tax from Soaring with Compelling Campaign | In the City of Piedmont, California, the real property transfer tax was poised to become the highest in the state unless residents mobilized to vote down a proposed increase. The Bridge Association of REALTORS® leveraged an Issues Mobilization grant from the REALTOR® Party to defeat the measure at the ballot box and spare property owners the added burden. | California | February 2021 |
| 171 | Burbank Association of REALTORS® Defeats Threat of Extreme Rent Control, with Help From the REALTOR® Party | Although the state of California recently passed rent control legislation covering all municipalities that don’t have their own, the City of Burbank was facing a proposal that would impose severe additional measures on landlords – and cost upwards of $6 million annually. An Issues Mobilization Grant helped the local REALTORS® convince voters to object. | California | February 2021 |
| 172 | Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS® Calls Members to Speak Out Against Unfair Tactics by City Council | When the Santa Barbara City Council was working on a tenant relocation ordinance, it quietly attempted to increase the mandated payment amount after the window for public discussion had closed. The Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS® turned to Advocacy Everywhere to let the Council know just how its members – and members of the voting public – felt about transparency in government. | California | February 2021 |
| 173 | Space Coast Association of REALTORS® | Until recently in the sunny City of Melbourne, Florida, canine residents were left out in the cold where public parks were concerned. The local REALTORS® stepped up with elbow grease and Placemaking Grants from the REALTOR® Party to welcome the dogs and the humans who love them; in doing so, they’ve earned the appreciation of grateful communities. | Florida | February 2021 |
| 174 | Akron Cleveland Association Works to Help the Community and Commercial Practitioners | Columbus REALTORS® has also been seeking solutions to how we can become a more open and inclusive Association. In an effort to create that safe space, its Diversity & Inclusion Committee launched a Book Club for members to have open, honest (and sometimes tough) conversations about race, racism, diversity, and inclusion. | Ohio | January 2021 |
| 175 | Houston Association of REALTORS® Tackles Issues of Diversity and Inclusion | The Houston Association of REALTORS® responded to heightened racial tensions felt across the country this summer by convening a Diversity & Inclusion Task Force, which is producing compelling programming to raise awareness among its membership. The efforts are supported in part by the REALTOR® Party. | Texas | January 2021 |
| 176 | California Association of REALTORS® Leads the Charge to Update State Property Tax Legislation | California’s Proposition 13, a property tax limit enacted in 1978, had become a golden handcuff for many senior homeowners, leaving them ‘stranded’ in a home whose tax basis was too good to relinquish. On Election Day 2020, voters approved Proposition 19, revising the law to address modern-day realities. The state REALTOR® association, with help from the REALTOR® Party and the California Professional Firefighters, made it happen. | California | December 2020 |
| 177 | Columbus REALTORS® Launches Book Club as a Safe Space for Tough Conversations | Columbus REALTORS® has also been seeking solutions to how we can become a more open and inclusive Association. In an effort to create that safe space, its Diversity & Inclusion Committee launched a Book Club for members to have open, honest (and sometimes tough) conversations about race, racism, diversity, and inclusion. | Ohio | November 2020 |
| 178 | Louisiana REALTORS® Advocate for Keeping Eviction Records a Matter of Public Record | When a state Senate bill threatened to seal all eviction records this fall, the Louisiana REALTORS® issued a last-minute Call for Action via Advocacy Everywhere. Despite the timing, and the global pandemic, and the heavy weather plaguing the state, members rallied and contacted their legislators. The response had the desired effect. | Louisiana | December 2020 |
| 179 | Greater Capital Area REALTORS® Go to Bat for Property Tax System Maintain Quality of a County’s Services | Just north of the nation’s capital, Montgomery County, Md., voters are deciding between two ballot measures that determine how future property tax limits will be defined. The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® is campaigning for the one that maintains the county’s ability to provide important services at a level that has kept real estate values strong. | Maryland | November 2020 |
| 180 | Bay East Association Mobilizes Members to Oppose Transfer Tax Increase | In San Leandro, California, the REALTORS® were launching a campaign against a transfer tax increase on the November ballot. But they’d learned from experience that they couldn’t just throw money at the problem: they needed to launch a local grassroots effort. Despite pandemic restrictions, they’re seeing boots on the ground, from social media posts to Halloween decorations incorporating their campaign mailers. | California | November 2020 |
| 181 | Richmond REALTORS® Launch Housing Resource Line, Connecting Residents with Necessary Services | A new phone-based referral network for the Richmond region connects residents with services ranging from foreclosure prevention and elderly tax relief to stable rental housing and first-time mortgage providers. A Housing Opportunity Grant is supporting the program – and leveraging further funding from local foundations and jurisdictions. | Virginia | November 2020 |
| 182 | Greater Nashville REALTORS® Champion the Rights of Rental Property Owners | When the Nashville City Council attempted to add 90 days to the process of selling residential rental property, the Greater Nashville REALTORS® achieved an acceptable compromise with a call for action through the Advocacy Everywhere program. REALTOR® Party Mobile Alerts are a critical resource enabling its members to be advocates wherever their busy lives take them, says association leadership. | Tennessee | October 2020 |
| 183 | Traverse Area REALTORS® Develop Grassroots Network of Housing Advocates in Northwest Michigan | For years, the Traverse Area REALTORS® have worked to build coalitions focused on developing much-needed workforce housing. With the support of Housing Opportunity Grants, it is now participating in an ambitious campaign that will create a network of engaged, informed grassroots housing advocates in neighborhoods throughout the region. | Michigan | October 2020 |
| 184 | Despite Hurricanes and a Pandemic, the Acadiana REALTORS® Dive into Legislative Advocacy | Earlier this year, the REALTOR® Association of Acadiana found itself dropped into the deep end of urgent legislative advocacy. Taking advantage of the Land Use Initiative and Advocacy Everywhere programs, the 1,600-member association was able to combat threats to both short-term rentals and property tax rates, achieving positive results for homeowners in Lafayette, Louisiana. | Louisiana | October 2020 |
| 185 | Austin REALTORS® Help Neighboring Pflugerville Residents to Keep Property Taxes Low | Just north of Austin, the City Council of Pflugerville, Texas, was proposing to approve a property tax rate representing a 7% increase in revenue. The Austin Board of REALTORS®, recognizing that homeowners should not have to shoulder the additional tax burden during times of such economic stress and uncertainty, got the message through to Pflugerville’s elected officials with help from the Advocacy Everywhere program. | Texas | September 2020 |
| 186 | Central Oregon REALTORS® Support Mixed Use Development and Affordable Housing | As the City Council of Bend, Ore., was considering creating an urban renewal area, the proposed Tax Incremental Financing was causing confusion among residents. To clarify that it didn’t mean new or higher taxes, and to show support for the project, the Central Oregon Association of REALTORS® launched a call for action. | Oregon | September 2020 |
| 187 | Greensboro Regional REALTORS® Contributes Key Element to City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan: Smart Growth Polling | Through the State and Local Growth Polling program, the Greensboro Regional REALTORS® Association provided important statistical insights into transportation and quality of life issues to the City’s Planning Department as it prepared its 20-year comprehensive plan. | North Carolina | September 2020 |
| 188 | Cincinnati Area REALTORS® Strengthen Transportation Infrastructure to Connect Residents to Jobs | When the public bus system of Hamilton County, Ohio needed an overhaul, ‘Reinventing METRO’ promised improved service and financial sustainability. To get it funded with an increase in the county sales tax, the local REALTOR® board joined a broad-based coalition in a leadership capacity, with support from the Ohio Association and the REALTOR® Party. | Ohio | August 2020 |
| 189 | Orange County REALTORS® Creatively Connects with Congress | Orange County REALTORS® weren't going to let a shutdown stand in the way of their outreach and education programming: moving entirely online and increasing the number of classes offered, they reached more members than ever. Among the highlights: Virtual town halls connected REALTORS® directly to their members of Congress. | Ohio | August 2020 |
| 190 | Akron Cleveland REALTORS® Is Poised to Reach 266,000 Consumers | Mandatory point-of-sale inspections and associated escrow requirements can add significant challenges to buying a home, and the Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® is working to get these ordinances off the books in cities throughout the region it serves. The association will educate consumers with a compelling 12-page insert in two regional magazines. | Ohio | August 2020 |
| 191 | Delaware REALTORS® Lobby State to Spare Summer Rental Season from Extended Pandemic Shutdown | Facing an extension of restrictions on out-of-state visitors and short-term rentals as the all-important summer beach season approached, Delaware REALTORS® engaged their governor and other elected officials in problem-solving discussions. A five-part Call for Action through the Advocacy Everywhere program helped get the message through. | Delaware | July 2020 |
| 192 | Huntsville Area REALTORS® Deflect Steep Increase in Impact Fees on New Housing Construction | REALTOR® members responded in force to a Call for Action letting elected officials in Madison, Ala., know that raising impact fees on new developments would price their middle-class clients out of the housing market. The Mayor and City Council heard them loud and clear, and are finding other revenue sources to support city services. | Alabama | July 2020 |
| 193 | Howard County Realtors® Contest Closing Fee Increases in Trying Times | The last thing that property owners and prospective buyers in Howard County, Md., needed was a steep increase in recordation and transfer taxes – but that’s what the County Council was proposing. With help from the REALTOR® Party, a REALTOR® Champion, and a strong message sent by nearly 30% of its membership, the Howard County Association of REALTORS® forced the governing body to reconsider. | Maryland | July 2020 |
| 194 | Michigan REALTORS® Voice the Need for a Safe Return to Face-to-Face Business | As 48 of the nation’s states were beginning to allow the cautious practice of certain forms of in-person real estate services, Michigan REALTORS® were looking forward to their own return to working face-to-face with clients. They responded in record numbers to a call for action, presenting their united professional opinion to the governor – who responded favorably. | Michigan | June 2020 |
| 195 | Frederick County REALTORS® Maintain its Focus on Fair Housing | Undaunted by the forced cancellation of its annual Fair Housing Conference, the Frederick County Association of REALTORS® moved the message online in a colorful upbeat video highlighting the results of a Fair Housing Art Contest, complete with a mayoral proclamation. | Maryland | June 2020 |
| 196 | Pennsylvania REALTORS® Lobby Governor to Resume Responsible In-Person Real Estate Business | Across Pennsylvania, the pandemic shut-down was leaving housing consumers in dire straits, and real estate professionals unable to provide any in-person service. With 48 other states allowing at least some form of in-person real-estate business during the lockdown, the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS® worked tirelessly to convince a reluctant governor that housing is essential business. | Pennsylvania | June 2020 |
| 197 | Utah REALTORS® School Lawmakers on Best Practices for Education Funding | With support from an Issues Mobilization Grant, the Utah Association of REALTORS® was able to convince state lawmakers that impact fees imposed on new development were not a rational source of funding for local schools – and would actually exacerbate the affordable housing crisis. Sustainable growth, the REALTORS® argue, will come from smart regional planning. | Utah | May 2020 |
| 198 | Idaho REALTORS® Secure Legislation Tipping the Balance in Favor of First-time Homebuyers | The Idaho Association of REALTOR® brought its savvy advocacy to bear on a pair of bills helping first-time homebuyers get a leg up in an increasingly expensive market: a dedicated tax-free savings account program, and the elimination of the filing deadline for applying for a homeowner’s tax exemption. Both have been signed into law. | Idaho | May 2020 |
| 199 | Schuylkill REALTORS® Rehab Park, Launch REALTORS® Political Career | The REALTORS® of the Schuylkill County Board used a Placemaking Grant to bring a local playground swinging back to life. The REALTOR® who spearheaded the project, having learned the workings of the Borough Council in the proposal process, was appointed to replace an outgoing Council member, and is now serving a second term as an indispensable public servant – and the only woman on the local governing body. | Pennsylvania | May 2020 |
| 200 | Maui REALTORS® Staves Off Threat to Short-Term Rental Permits | It’s easy for a community to blame an affordable housing crunch on short-term vacation rentals, but on Maui, the local REALTOR® association has rebutted each argument of the Planning Department with diligently collected data. With a Call for Action, it also drew hundreds of concerned residents to a planning meeting – in visible and vocal support of the permits. | Hawaii | April 2020 |
| 201 | Texas REALTORS® Celebrate 100 Years of Advocacy: Then, Now, and Future | In 1920, a handful of dedicated real estate professionals worked with the Texas legislature to create what would become a premier professional association with the biggest trade association Political Action Committee in the state. Since then, Texas REALTORS® have continued to capitalize on the strength of their grassroots power, and are always ready to advocate for real estate and community issues. | Texas | April 2020 |
| 202 | Citrus Valley REALTORS® Encourage Voting, Transforms Office into a Voting Center | Voter registration and getting-out-the-vote is a top priority of the Citrus Valley Association of REALTORS® in greater Los Angeles. This year, one of its three offices served as a Voting Center, open to residents from anywhere in Los Angeles County: a major boon to the very mobile voting population of the sprawling jurisdiction. | California | April 2020 |
| 203 | Santa Fe REALTORS® Promote Diverse Housing Options in Housing-strapped Region | As a key member of the broad-based Santa Fe Housing Action Coalition, the Santa Fe Association of REALTORS® secured a Housing Opportunity Grant to help fund a video project to show the public why the region needs housing options and soon. | New Mexico | March 2020 |
| 204 | Collin County REALTORS® Promote Census in the Nation’s Fastest-Growing Region | To maximize local participation in the 2020 Census, the Collin County Association of REALTORS® tapped into the astonishing language skills of its new Global Diversity Committee: the result, a brief video statement on the association website, appears in 26 languages, encouraging understanding and participation in the all-important head-count. | Texas | March 2020 |
| 205 | Kansas City Regional REALTORS® Work Towards Fair Landlord-Tenant Solutions | As the region’s landlords come under increased pressure from restrictive and expensive regulations championed by a strong tenants’ rights group, the REALTORS® of Kansas City, Missouri launched a campaign focused on making rental housing more affordable – not less. | Missouri | March 2020 |
| 206 | Moses Creek REALTORS® Put Out Fire Voicing Opposition to Proposed Fees for New Development | In Washington state, funding for fire safety is an unquestioned necessity. At the same time, there’s a statewide housing affordability crisis. Priorities collided when the City Council of Moses Creek proposed Fire Impact fees for all new development projects, adding a significant cost burden to much-needed new housing. With help from the REALTOR® Party, a Call for Action helped voice local opposition. | Washington | February 2020 |
| 207 | Greater Providence REALTORS® Help Overturn New Property Tax Assessment Method | Barrington, R.I, a lovely coastal suburb of the state capital, full of higher-end homes and strong public schools, seems to have everything going for it. However, when property tax reassessments based on sale price suddenly superseded the customary three-year assessment schedule, the local REALTORS® voiced strong opposition. | Rhode Island | February 2020 |
| 208 | Central Oregon REALTORS® Encourage Climate-Friendly Initiatives, Not Mandates | The Central Oregon Association of REALTORS® supports of the city of Bend’s Community Climate Action Plan, but it had to draw the line at a mandatory measure that was certain to increase rising home costs even more. A robust response to a timely Call for Action helped convince the City Council to remove the word ‘required’ from the plan. | Oregon | February 2020 |
| 209 | Huntsville REALTORS® Get Out the Vote to Support School District Expansion Funding | Though the jobs and housing markets are booming in the northern Alabama region served by the Huntsville Area Association of REALTORS®, its school district has been seriously overburdened. With help from the REALTOR® Party, the local REALTORS® backed a successful ballot initiative to pay for essential construction and renovations with a full-on get-out-the-vote campaign. | Alabama | January 2020 |
| 210 | Traverse Area REALTORS® Lay the Foundation for New Housing with Housing Summit | With a Housing Opportunity Grant, the REALTORS® serving the northern Michigan region surrounding Traverse City are collaborating with like-minded organizations to break down barriers blocking the creation of new housing, and engage the public in advocating for it. | Michigan | January 2020 |
| 211 | Southeastern Oklahoma REALTORS® Create Gathering Space in Historic Downtown McAlester | On a vacant lot in downtown McAlester, Okla., an attractive new gathering place has sprung up, providing the family-oriented community with a central new green space and priming the area for additional growth and development. A perfect example of successful placemaking, it came about through a collaboration led by the REALTORS®. | Oklahoma | December 2019 |
| 212 | Hilton Head Area and Beaufort Jasper County REALTORS® Lead Winning School Funding Campaign | In Beaufort County, S.C., major construction, renovations, and updates were urgently needed throughout the school district, which had not had a successful bond referendum – its only source of such funding – in more than a decade. When a promising referendum made it to the ballot this year, the area’s REALTORS® stepped up to make sure it would pass. | South Carolina | December 2019 |
| 213 | Coeur d’Alene REALTORS® Bring a “Storybook Trail” to Growing Community | The Coeur d’Alene REALTOR® association wanted to use one of the REALTOR® Party’s Smart Growth Action Grants to help a local community where its members live and work. Working together with the City of Rathdrum, Idaho, they planned and built a ‘Storybook Trail’ at the base of Rathdrum Mountain. | Idaho | November 2019 |
| 214 | After a Wildfire, Oroville REALTORS® Makes Smart Growth Plans to Rebuild Paradise | It’s not every day that a community can plan its own redevelopment from scratch. Following last fall’s devastating wildfire that destroyed Paradise, California, however, that’s exactly the silver lining that the town was facing. The neighboring Oroville Association of REALTORS® is taking the lead in steering the new development toward a Smart Growth way of thinking. | California | November 2019 |
| 215 | Maryland’s Coastal Association of REALTORS® Battles Restrictions on Short-Term Rentals | Short-term rentals are naturally a major issue in coastal communities. When Worcester County, Maryland proposed severe restrictions in its rental code overhaul, the local REALTOR® association got to work with a Land Use Initiative review and a call for action. The County Commission heard the message loud and clear, and sent its proposal back to the drawing board. | Maryland | October 2019 |
| 216 | North Carolina REALTORS®’ Advocacy Spurs New Legislation for Small Business and Association Health Care Coverage | North Carolina REALTORS® staff knew that finding adequate, affordable health insurance was a challenge for the state’s small businesses and associations; discovering that as many as 6,000 of the state’s REALTORS® were not covered lent a real sense of urgency to their advocacy efforts. | North Carolina | October 2019 |
| 217 | Santa Fe REALTORS® Help Spur Re-Development of Central Urban Corridor | Santa Fe, like many communities across the country, is experiencing a serious workforce housing crunch. Using two Smart Growth Action Grants over the past ten years, the Santa Fe Association of REALTORS® is helping to spur the redevelopment of a central thoroughfare with an emphasis on form-based zoning and affordable housing. | New Mexico | October 2019 |
| 218 | Consumer Advocacy Outreach Program helps Seattle King County REALTORS® Share Advocacy Success | After years of stagnant condominium construction in the Seattle region, a coalition led by the Washington Association of REALTORS® was finally able to convince the state legislature to ease the legal restrictions that have discouraged development of this key “missing middle” housing. The National Association’s Consumer Advocacy Outreach Program helped the Seattle King County Association give credit where credit was due – to REALTORS®. | Washington | September 2019 |
| 219 | Wisconsin REALTORS® Urge State Senate to ‘Hold the Line’ on Property Taxes | With a full-on campaign called ‘Hold the Line on Property Taxes,’ the Wisconsin REALTORS® organized a powerful response to the governor’s plan to lift a freeze on municipal and country property taxes. An Issues Mobilization grant helped them convince the state senate that the move lacked tax-payer support. | Wisconsin | August 2019 |
| 220 | Texas REALTORS® Achieve Tax Reform for Texas Property Owners | In Texas, where there’s no state income tax or a state-levied property tax, it’s the tax bills from your county, your municipality, your school district, and various other special districts that’ll get you. Texas REALTORS® have been battling the ‘Hidden Property Tax’ inherent in the system for years, and this summer, with a boost from a sweeping Issues Mobilization campaign, the Texas Property Tax Reform and Transparency Act was signed into law. | Texas | August 2019 |
| 221 | Miami REALTORS® Celebrate Mega Success with Mega-Grant Program Pilot | With more than 47,000 members spanning roughly 70 different municipalities, the Miami Association of REALTORS® is the nation’s largest – a distinction that can be unwieldy and impractical when it comes to taking advantage of REALTOR® Party resources. A scaled-up program designed for “mega-boards,” piloted by the Miami REALTORS®, has proven to be a mega-success. | Florida | July 2019 |
| 222 | Greater Los Angeles and Southland Regional Association REALTORS® Join Forces to Defeat Parcel Tax | Fresh off a win with a highly publicized teachers’ strike earlier this year, the Los Angeles Unified School District called for a 16-cent/square foot parcel tax on all residential and commercial buildings, claiming that it would support students. But the REALTORS® of the Greater Los Angeles and the Southland Regional Associations begged to differ. | California | July 2019 |
| 223 | Utah REALTORS® Think Ahead to Prevent Affordable Housing Shortage | The population of Utah is expected to double – yes, double – by the year 2040, and the state is already feeling a housing crunch. With the help of Utah REALTORS® and the support of Issues Mobilization Grants, Utah has found a way to incentivize solutions to its growing shortage rather than strong-arming municipalities with mandates. | Utah | July 2019 |
| 224 | Washington REALTORS® Campaign for Affordable Housing Legislation | REALTORS® in Washington state knew that access to affordable housing at all income levels was being hampered by lack of inventory. Using an Issues Mobilization Grant, they’ve convinced lawmakers to tackle challenges ranging from zoning to builder-liability to spur the creation of more housing stock. | Washington | June 2019 |
| 225 | Pacific Southwest REALTORS® Helps Create Homeless Resources Website | Using a Housing Opportunity Grant, the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® has sponsored the development of a website serving as a one-stop resource for those experiencing homelessness – or near-homelessness – in the San Diego area. The project honors the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. | California | June 2019 |
| 226 | Advocacy Everywhere Helps DC Association of REALTORS® Keep Property Taxes at Bay | When the D.C. Association of REALTORS® learned on the eve of a budget vote that a City Council member was planning to introduce an “emergency amendment” taxing homes valued at more than $1 million, it dropped everything and called in the REALTOR® Party. A timely Call for Action got a strong message through to council members, and the proposal was shelved – for the time being. | District of Columbia | June 2019 |
| 227 | Lincoln REALTORS® Mobilize Voters to Support Roadway Improvements | Many of Lincoln, Nebraska’s streets were in disrepair, some to the point of impassability. Using polling services and an Issues Mobilization grant, local REALTORS® took a leading role in getting them fixed. | Nebraska | May 2019 |
| 228 | Two Local Missouri Associations Help Communities Pass Much-Needed School Bonds | In the spring election season, Southeast Missouri REALTORS® and the Mark Twain Association of REALTORS® both used Issues Mobilization grants to improve neighborhoods by improving school facilities. Through energetic campaigns, they convinced the public to approve ballot initiatives that will fund major school improvements in the coming years. | Missouri | May 2019 |
| 229 | Charlotte REALTORS®Dive Deep into Regional State of Housing | Like so many U.S. urban centers, Charlotte, N.C., is facing an affordable housing crisis. To help housing stakeholders understand the full scope of the complex issue as it affects the whole region, the Charlotte Regional REALTOR® Association used a Housing Opportunity Grant to commission a State of Housing study that analyzed factors like jobs, housing supply, and affordability. | North Carolina | April 2019 |
| 230 | Royal Palm Coast REALTOR® Association Keeps Redundant, Burdensome Zoning at Bay | In the last three years, more than 45 municipalities across Florida have modified their vacation rental ordinances to be more restrictive. In Cape Coral, a seasonal residence for many homeowners, REALTORS® aided by a Land Use Initiative led a successful charge to keep additional restrictions off the books. | Florida | April 2019 |
| 231 | Bay East REALTORS® Mobilize on Short Notice to Fight Just-Cause Evictions | With an important rental housing regulation hanging in the balance, the Bay East Association of REALTORS® launched a REALTOR® Party Mobile Alert campaign using the Advocacy Everywhere program, mobilizing more than 175 recipients to contact the City Council in a span of less than 48 hours.With an important rental housing regulation hanging in the balance, the Bay East Association of REALTORS® launched a REALTOR® Party Mobile Alert campaign using the Advocacy Everywhere program, mobilizing more than 175 recipients to contact the City Council in a span of less than 48 hours. | California | April 2019 |
| 232 | Selkirk REALTORS® Protect Quality of Life in Bonners Ferry | With a series of Smart Growth Action Grants, Selkirk REALTORS® supported a multi-year planning process for an integrated network of pedestrian and bicycle routes in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Complete with graphic branding and signage, the plan will enhance the local active transport scene for residents, and contribute to the region’s growing appeal to bike tourism. | Idaho | March 2019 |
| 233 | Mississippi REALTORS® Secure Broader Broadband Access | REALTORS® know better than anyone that expanded internet access is the only way to increase economic opportunity and connect communities in rural and underserved areas. Harnessing the power of Advocacy Everywhere, Mississippi REALTORS® rallied voters to support the Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act, which finally permits electric cooperatives to provide broadband services in addition to electric power. | Mississippi | March 2019 |
| 234 | Columbus REALTORS® Joined Forces to Celebrate Fair Housing | Joining forces with colleagues from the local NAREB chapter and the National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals, Columbus REALTORS® hosted a Cost of Poverty Experience and dramatized a mock trial to highlight issues addressed by the Fair Housing Act that are still at play in their communities. | Ohio | March 2019 |
| 235 | Successful Florida REALTORS® Campaign Leads to Property Tax Limits on Non-Homestead Properties | In the fourth and final phase of a ten-year effort, the Florida REALTORS® were able to secure a permanent 10% cap on non-homestead property tax through an Issues Mobilization campaign supported by the REALTOR® Party. Had the limit not been approved by voters, 700,000 Florida property owners stood to be hit by a projected $627 million increase in additional property taxes annually. | Florida | February 2019 |
| 236 | Arizona REALTORS® Lead the Charge against a Tax on Services | A statewide campaign featuring a superhero named “PAT”, short for Protect Arizona Taxpayers, helped convince Arizona voters to amend the state constitution to prohibit sales taxes on services. Thanks to an Issues Mobilization Grant, the effort was able to achieve its goal in a single bound. | Arizona | January 2019 |
| 237 | REALTORS® Reverse FEMA Flood Insurance Suspension Within Days of Dubious Shutdown | Bringing its considerable resources, skill, and depth of knowledge to bear on FEMA’s surprising declaration that the National Flood Insurance Program would not be renewed in light of the federal shutdown, the policy team at the National Association of REALTORS® effected a swift reversal of the damaging decision. | District of Columbia | February 2019 |
| 238 | Local Maryland Association Takes Bold, Successful Step into Politics | This past election cycle, the Bay Area Association of REALTORS® decided it was time to take a more active role in choosing their politicians. With the help of the REALTOR® Party, it developed a savvy selection committee that interviewed dozens of candidates, endorsed several, and achieved a whopping success rate. | Maryland | January 2019 |
| 239 | Greater Greenville REALTORS® Promote “Missing Middle” Housing | Greenville, S.C., faces significant shortages of affordable housing, and the existing supply is diminishing rapidly. Using a Housing Opportunity Grant, the local REALTORS® co-hosted a Housing Forum to show policy makers how they could break down barriers to developing housing in the essential “missing middle” range. | South Carolina | January 2019 |
| 240 | With Advocacy Everywhere, Illinois REALTORS® Rally Peoria Voters against New “Parcel Tax” on Property Owners | The city of Peoria, Ill., was attempting to bridge a budget gap by imposing a new tax on property owners. With help from the state association, the REALTORS® used Advocacy Everywhere to call voters’ attention to the threat, and encourage calls of opposition to the City Council. Overwhelmed by the volume, the Council agreed to a compromise. | Illinois | January 2019 |
| 241 | Hawai’i REALTORS® Improve Public Education without Property Tax Surcharges | The REALTORS® of Hawai’i want high quality public education throughout their state, which suffers from extremely high teacher-turnover. This fall, they led the charge against a ballot measure that would allow for the creation of a property tax surcharge on residential investment properties to fund the Department of Education. And then they redoubled their focus on affordable housing. | Hawaii | December 2018 |
| 242 | Greensboro REALTORS® Tackle Additions to City Zoning Code | When a fatal apartment fire triggered a knee-jerk reaction from the City Council to amend the municipal zoning code, the Greensboro Regional Association of REALTORS® used the REALTOR® Party’s Land Use Initiative to commission a thorough analysis of the changes. The report informed significant changes to the language, and the REALTORS® continue to work with the lawmakers to refine and improve it. | North Carolina | December 2018 |
| 243 | St. Louis REALTORS® Channel History, Community to Celebrate Fair Housing Anniversary | In St. Louis, Missouri, REALTORS® have a profound reminder of past prejudicial real estate practices in the Shelley House, the property at the center of the landmark Supreme Court case of Shelley vs. Kraemer, which gave way to the Fair Housing Act 20 years later. In recognition of the 50th anniversary of that breakthrough legislation, St. Louis REALTORS® engaged into local projects benefiting underserved communities with grants from the REALTOR® Party and Missouri REALTORS®. | Missouri | December 2018 |
| 244 | South Carolina REALTORS® Commission Analysis of Questionable Proposed Legislation | In South Carolina’s 2018 legislative session, three separate pieces of legislation raised red flags to the South Carolina REALTORS® as matters requiring close scrutiny. With the REALTOR® Party’s Land Use Initiative program, the REALTORS® requested an analysis of all three, and got the answers they needed to act and plan for the future. | South Carolina | December 2018 |
| 245 | Sacramento and Pacific West REALTORS® Join Forces to Keep Rent Control off the Ballot | Two local associations in California launched “decline to sign” campaigns to prevent rent-control ballot initiatives from garnering the necessary signatures to qualify for the November 6 election. While one succeeded and the other did not, both agree that it was well worth the effort. | California | November 2018 |
| 246 | Haywood REALTORS® Supports Smart Growth and Affordable Housing in Waynesville, NC | Bounded by the Great Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and a flood plain, sprawl isn’t necessarily an option for the Town of Waynesville, North Carolina; but using a REALTOR® Party Smart Growth Action Grant, the REALTORS® of Haywood County helped to inform its 2020 Comprehensive Land Use Plan by sponsoring a public Visioning Workshop. | North Carolina | November 2018 |
| 247 | TREPAC Gets a Fun-filled Boost from Dallas-area Diversity Groups | What would you pay to dunk a director of your local REALTOR® board? How about the chance to throw pies at colleagues? Five diversity organizations across the Texas real estate industry joined together to host “Fair Play for TREPAC,” a fun-filled evening that honored the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, and raised more than $6,600 for the Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee. | Texas | October 2018 |
| 248 | Post-Hurricane Harvey, Houston REALTORS® are focused on Flood Impact – and How to Keep it from Happening Again | One year to the day after Hurricane Harvey hit Harris County, Texas, citizens were called to the polls to vote on the region’s largest bond proposal ever: $2.5 billion for flood-control projects and flood mitigation. The measure passed with 85% support; the Houston REALTORS® helped get out the vote. | Texas | October 2018 |
| 249 | Placemaking and Puppy Love Go Hand-in-Hand for Kenai Peninsula REALTORS® | In the city of Soldotna in Southcentral Alaska, dogs are having their day in a spacious new dog park. With the help of a Placemaking Grant and a lot of elbow grease, volunteers from the Kenai Peninsula Association worked alongside the Rotary Club and Parks and Rec Department to build a large shelter, with benches, for dogs and owners alike. | Alaska | October 2018 |
| 250 | District of Columbia REALTORS® Get Legislative Results Protecting Property Owners and Housing Providers | Thanks to the REALTOR® Party’s Advocacy Everywhere program, the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® was able to spur members to contact City Council members about two important issues affecting property owners in the Nation’s Capital. The sophisticated system of REALTOR® Party Mobile Alert texts and emails made communication swift and simple. | District of Columbia | September 2018 |
| 251 | Greater Nashville REALTORS® Put Placemaking Grant to Work for Pedestrian Plaza | With vision, elbow grease, and a Placemaking Grant, Greater Nashville REALTORS® partnered with a local civic design organization to transform a dismal traffic triangle into a cheerful, safer pedestrian refuge. | Tennessee | September 2018 |
| 252 | Is Smart Growth the Key to Preserving Montana’s ‘Big Sky?’ Gallatin REALTORS® Funds Study to Find Answers. | A REALTOR® Party Smart Growth Action Grant enabled the Gallatin Association of REALTORS® to support an in-depth analysis of property tax value-per-acre in Bozeman, Montana. The resulting 3-D economic model clearly demonstrated the fiscal efficiency of concentrating growth in urban centers, rather than allowing sprawl, and will inform the development of the city’s Growth Plan. | Montana | September 2018 |
| 253 | Southern Minnesota REALTORS® Jump-start Walkability in Mankato | Using REALTOR® Party resources, the REALTOR® Association of Southern Minnesota hosted a WalkShop event to determine how the revival of Mankato’s Old Town section could be even more vibrant and pedestrian-friendly. The half-day program included a walking tour with an expert consultant, and a whole lot of brainstorming. | Minnesota | August 2018 |
| 254 | Laguna REALTORS® Help Seniors Age-in-Place | The seaside municipality of Laguna Beach is not the sort of place anyone likes to leave – least of all the growing number of seniors who are deeply attached to the community in which they’ve made their homes. Now, with a REALTOR® Party grant, the local REALTORS® are partnering with a community non-profit to get seniors the help they need to remain where they want to be. | California | August 2018 |
| 255 | Sun Valley Board Help Veterans with a Housing Opportunity Grant | The pride that comes with having served in the armed forces makes it hard for many veterans to seek help securing and maintaining housing. “If anyone’s going to do something about their housing needs, it’s going to be the REALTORS®,” says the Executive Officer of Idaho’s Sun Valley Board of REALTORS®. But first, they have to find them. | Idaho | July 2018 |
| 256 | Maine Association Facilitates Smart Growth for Once-thriving Mill Town | To help the once-prosperous mill town of Sanford envision a future with walkable affordable housing and fresh economic contributors, the Maine Association of REALTORS® used a Smart Growth Action Grant to support a three-day charrette, in which all stakeholders had an opportunity to contribute ideas to a new downtown development. | Maine | July 2018 |
| 257 | With Better Block Event, Longleaf Pine REALTORS® Demonstrate Just How Pedestrian-Friendly Haymount Can Be | Within Fayetteville, North Carolina, the Haymount district is blessed with neat neighborhoods of cottage-style homes and proximity to downtown, but its commercial district is cursed by an environment that is distinctly unfriendly to pedestrians. Armed with a vision, a Smart Growth Action Grant, and a whole lot of duct tape, the local Longleaf Pine REALTORS® set out to change that. | North Carolina | June 2018 |
| 258 | Memphis Area Association of REALTORS® Uses Diversity Grant to Commemorate Historic 50th Anniversaries | In remembering the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in their own city 50 years ago this spring, the REALTORS® of Memphis, Tenn. marched two miles to the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. But that was just the beginning of a strategic plan that shines a bright light on cultural diversity, fair housing, and anti-blight initiatives. | Tennessee | May 2018 |
| 259 | Thanks to Alabama REALTORS®, First-time Homebuyers Can Now Save for Down Payments and Closing Costs | Armed with polling results and economic research provided by the REALTOR® Party’s Issue Mobilization Grant and legislative language based on an existing model, Alabama REALTORS® convinced the state legislature to create a First-time and Second-chance Homebuyer Savings Account program. | Alabama | |
| 260 | Calaveras County REALTORS® Force Repeal of High-Risk Energy Conservation Loan Program | Thanks to a timely Issues Mobilization campaign, northern California’s Calaveras County Association of REALTORS® was able to reverse authorization for a loan program that the FHA no longer insures. When it comes to financing energy conservation improvements, they stand behind more responsible, less risky options. | California | April 2018 |
| 261 | Louisiana REALTORS® Defeat a Proposed Tax on Services | Every couple of years, the Louisiana legislature discusses a tax on services to help close the budget deficit, and every time, the Louisiana REALTORS® fight back to protect consumers from a huge increase in costs to get in to a new home or business property. This year, they had help from the REALTOR® Party's new Advocacy Everywhere program. | Louisiana | April 2018 |
| 262 | Miami REALTORS® Create Better Block in West Coconut Grove | Teams of both YPNs and "Old PNs" (as they're affectionately known in Miami) came together with the University of Miami’s School of Architecture to revive a vacant lot in West Coconut Grove with a new weekly marketplace and a vibrant landmark mural celebrating the area's Bahamian immigrant culture. | Florida | April 2018 |
| 263 | Cape Fear REALTORS® Top the Broker Involvement Chart with 99% Coverage | “We knew that enrollment drives response rates to Calls for Action,” said Johnson. “So, we set a goal of 50% enrollment for multi-agent offices.” Flash forward, after consistent effort, last fall CFR achieved 94% enrollment of all multi-office brokers, which covers 99% of all agent members. “We thought maintaining that level of involvement would be difficult, but by adding enrollment as part of the Designated REALTOR® Application Form, it’s been easy. We’ve had 100% enrollment with new brokers.” | North Carolina | |
| 264 | West Central Minnesota REALTORS® Help to House the Homeless | When the regional Continuum of Care program serving the same 18 counties as Minnesota's West Central Association of REALTORS® created a more streamlined entry system to bring assistance to those in dire need of housing, the REALTORS® used a REALTOR® Party Housing Opportunity Grant to get the word out. | Minnesota | March 2018 |
| 265 | Greater Boston Board Works toward Zoning Reform | Antiquated zoning and a mire of case law stands in the way of the development of housing necessary for economic growth in the Boston region. Using the REALTOR® Party's Land Use Initiative, the Greater Boston Real Estate Board is tackling the complexities of zoning reform in City Hall and at the State House. | Massachusetts | February 2018 |
| 266 | Partnership Spurs Diversity for the Grosse Pointe REALTORS® | In Grosse Pointe, Michigan, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "The Other America" speech 50 years ago this March, the local REALTOR® board makes all its decisions through an internalized lens of diversification. Partnering with the public school system recently, the REALTORS® recently created a calendar illustrated with student visions of diversity; proceeds from calendar sales support diversity efforts in the schools. | Michigan | February 2018 |
| 267 | Houston Association Gathers and Shares Hurricane Harvey Recovery Resources with Multicultural Associations | Using a Diversity Initiative Grant, The Houston Association of REALTORS® put together a program for members, including the multicultural real estate associations in town, providing information on topics from mold remediation to tax relief to dealing with the emotional aftermath. Grocery story gift cards and a positive housing market outlook made the supportive event even cheerier. | Texas | |
| 268 | New Hampshire REALTORS® 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 REALTORS® used a Smart Growth Action Grant to explore possible zoning changes that would permit higher density development—and more affordable housing. | New Hampshire | |
| 269 | Data from Traverse REALTORS® Proves Invaluable to Downtown Development Planning for Affordable Housing | In Traverse City, Michigan’s desirable downtown neighborhoods, affordable housing is scarce, and the land base is already largely built. With a Smart Growth Action Grant, the Traverse Area Association of REALTORS® engaged a consulting firm to create a 3D economic model demonstrating the potential tax revenue from various development configurations to assist developers and the City Commission in making good decisions for the community. | Michigan | December 2017 |
| 270 | Summit County REALTORS® Use Education to Prevent Wildfires & Costly Legislative Mandates | Wildfires are a serious threat to properties in Summit County, Colorado, and so are expensive mitigation mandates that the state legislature had been poised to impose on property owners. With a REALTOR® Party Game Changer Grant, the Summit Association of REALTORS® showed that education could be just as effective in protecting the community from fire and onerous expense. | Colorado | December 2017 |
| 271 | Greater Lansing REALTORS® Help Elect a City Council Candidate for Much-Needed Change | East Lansing, Michigan, home of Michigan State University, is a town with serious budget troubles. Escalating legacy costs had been kicked down the road for years, explains Mark Dickens, Vice President of Policy and Operations at the 1,000-member Greater Lansing Association of REALTORS® (GLAR), adding that the City Council, mired in various divisive issues, had long focused on the generation of tax revenue, rather than solving the root problems. When two seats on the Council came up for election this year, with two incumbents fighting to retain them, GLAR was ready to help the fresh new candidate who was willing to listen to voters, and open to bringing about much-needed change. | Michigan | December 2017 |
| 272 | Quad Cities REALTORS® Put Their Marketing & Negotiation Skills to Work to Promote Schools | Since school quality plays such a large role in home buying decisions, the Quad Cities Area REALTOR® Association decided to put their marketing and negotiation skills to work to promote their area schools. They began by inviting major employers, mayors and school superintendents in the 23-community area to a conference to have a frank discussion about diversity, inclusion and steering. The conference resulted in plans to build a robust website featuring comprehensive information on each school that will help families make informed decisions about where they want to live. | Iowa | November 2017 |
| 273 | Oklahoma City REALTORS® Help Shore Up Their City and Secure Property Values | Downtown Oklahoma City is experiencing a huge boom, but its infrastructure was crumbling. The Oklahoma City Metropolitan Association of REALTORS® stepped in, joining the city to promote public meetings to craft bond proposals that would strengthen critical elements from sewers to the police department. A REALTOR® Party Issues Mobilization Grant helped get voters to the polls, where the bonds were overwhelmingly supported. | Oklahoma | November 2017 |
| 274 | REALTORS® in Ottumwa, Iowa Help Bring Life Back to Their Downtown | With a Smart Growth Action Grant, money of their own, elbow grease and lots of enthusiasm, the South East Iowa Regional Board of REALTORS® partnered with the Better Block Foundation and other community leaders to host the Main Street Ottumwa Better Block Party, October 12-15. “Overnight, our quiet and struggling downtown commercial area became a place to come together to shop, to eat, to play games, to enjoy some music, and even dance!” The next steps are to transform what they learned from the weekend event into lasting improvements for Ottumwa’s downtown commercial area. | Iowa | November 2017 |
| 275 | Illinois REALTORS® Use Broker Involvement Program to Meet REALTOR® Party Mobile Alert Text Goals | Capitalizing on the robust level of engagement in its Broker Involvement Program, the Illinois REALTORS® recently sent out a State Broker Call for Action urging more members to subscribe to the REALTOR® Party Mobile Alerts texting program. It worked, tipping the state association beyond its goal, and then some. | Illinois | October 2017 |
| 276 | Tennessee REALTORS® Score One of Highest Call for Action Response Rates | Put a “Chief Engagement Officer” together with a good plan, a strong team and 25,000 REALTORS® in The Volunteer State of Tennessee and what do you get? One of the highest response rates in the shortest amount of time on NAR’s latest flood insurance Call for Action. In the three weeks that it was active, nearly 27 percent of Tennessee REALTORS® responded, asking Congress to reform and extend the National Flood Insurance Program. | Tennessee | September 2017 |
| 277 | Boise Regional REALTORS® Bring Resources, Expertise, and Motivation to Renovation of Urban Corridor | Using a pilot Walkable Communities Grant from the REALTOR® Party, the REALTORS® of Boise, ID, jump-started a much-needed visioning process for an improved Orchard Street Corridor: a major downtown thoroughfare that was neither attractive, convenient, nor safe for pedestrians. | Idaho | October 2017 |
| 278 | Florida REALTORS® Give the State’s Most Vulnerable a Legislative Voice | Using a Level 3 Housing Opportunity Grant, the Florida REALTORS® created an inspiring video to convince state legislators to fund Florida's Affordable Housing Trust Funds at the maximum levels. The association's Senior Public Policy Representative can't watch it without getting choked up. | Florida | September 2017 |
| 279 | Scottsdale Area REALTORS® Fight Restrictive Proposed Sign Ordinance, Gain Respect and Goodwill | When the city of Scottsdale proposed a one-size-fits-all ordinance that lumped signs for real estate listings in together with those advertising yard sales, the Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS® reacted with a Call for Action that generated nearly 500 letters to City Council members. That got the city's attention; a REALTOR® Party Land Use Initiative review by Robinson & Cole helped it see reason. | Arizona | September 2017 |
| 280 | Ohio REALTORS® Achieve Double Legislative Victory on the Tax Front | Because an Ohio law required businesses and individuals to file taxes in every jurisdiction where they'd earned income, most Ohio REALTORS® faced a costly and time consuming administrative burden at tax time. But all that is about to change thanks to an Issues Mobilization Grant, which helped secure a streamlined income tax filing system, and defeat a threatened tax on professional services. | Ohio | September 2017 |
| 281 | Miami REALTORS® Kick off Year of Advocacy with Community Engagement Projects | With 46,000 members, the Miami Association of REALTORS® contributes significantly to the REALTOR® Party, but hadn't been able to utilize its grant programs with any efficiency of scale. But this year the association kicked off a program that better enables the large local associations to partake in all the opportunities available with maximum impact. Now, Miami is benefiting from a range of projects from dog parks to the development of a container house prototype, all with the support of the REALTOR® Party. | Florida | August 2017 |
| 282 | Pacific Southwest REALTORS® Advocate for Transit-oriented Smart Growth | To help find solutions to the severe housing shortage in San Diego, the REALTORS® of the Pacific Southwest joined forces with a coalition that proposed numerous Transit-Oriented Development strategies to the city. Shortly thereafter, the City Council unanimously adopted five new incentives to encourage in-fill development, especially along transit routes. A Smart Growth Action Grant from the REALTOR® Party helped the cause. | California | August 2017 |
| 283 | Delaware REALTORS® Use REALTOR® Party Mobile Alerts to Save Itemized Deductions | When the Delaware legislature went after itemized tax deductions in order to bridge a daunting budget shortfall, the Delaware REALTORS® rallied its members using the REALTOR® Party Mobile Alerts. Members responded in record numbers and itemized deductions were saved. | Delaware | August 2017 |
| 284 | Small Connecticut Boards Make Big Impact with Placemaking Grants | The 650-member Greater Fairfield Board of REALTORS® created an inviting 'pocket park' on an unused downtown corner. The 156-member Newtown Board of REALTORS® helped establish an attractive and productive 'Fruit Trail' of flowering trees and perennials along a recreational path. Both projects, made possible by the REALTOR® Party’s Placemaking Grants, have enhanced the towns and heightened the profile of the REALTORS®. | Connecticut | July 2017 |
| 285 | Giving Legislators the Big Picture: Record-Breaking Attendance at Connecticut REALTOR® Rally | The Connecticut REALTORS® wanted to engage more members in legislative advocacy, and send a message to state legislators that they needed a more business-friendly Connecticut to sell in. So they threw a lively rally, complete with free food trucks, right in the shadow of the state capitol building. The legislators came to them! | Connecticut | July 2017 |
| 286 | North Bay Association Tackles Rent Control Ordinance in Santa Rosa, California | When Santa Rosa, CA, recently attempted to pass rent control and just cause eviction legislation, the North Bay Association of REALTORS® used an Issues Mobilization Grant to protect the rights of property owners—and to encourage government to meet the demand for affordable housing. | California | July 2017 |
| 287 | Texas REALTORS® Bring Clarity to Voting Process | Ballots in Texas were mired in a confusing, unregulated free-for-all where proposition names were concerned. There was no systematic order, and sometimes duplicate proposition names appeared on a single ballot. But with help from the Texas REALTORS® and the REALTOR® Party, the enactment of a new Election Transparency law made all clear. | Texas | June 2017 |
| 288 | Beverly Hills/Greater Los Angeles Association REALTORS | To prevent an extreme proposition that would curtail development in Los Angeles, the REALTORS® of Beverly Hills/Greater Los Angeles used the power of the REALTOR® Party's Land Use Initiative and Issues Mobilization Grant programs. These resources and an unlikely partnership helped defeat the measure and secure housing opportunities across the city. | California | June 2017 |
| 289 | Cheyenne Board of REALTORS® Uses REALTOR® Party Mobile Alerts & Consumer Advocacy Outreach to Encourage Voting in Special Election | When a special election for a Penny Tax was called in Laramie County, the Cheyenne Board of REALTORS® rallied voters using REALTOR® Party Mobile Alerts and the Consumer Advocacy Outreach Program. By approving seven of the nine ballot propositions, citizens created a funding mechanism for two new fire stations, an event center and multiple infrastructure and safety upgrades. | Alabama | June 2017 |
| 290 | Scottsdale REALTORS® Bring City Leaders Together to Plan for Smart Growth | Using consecutive REALTOR® Party Smart Growth Action Grants, the Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS® has initiated a series of high-level workshops to focus the city's leadership on key development issues. The city of Scottsdale now looks to the REALTORS® for expertise and forward momentum. | Arizona | May 2017 |
| 291 | Asheville REALTORS® Help Find Happy Ending for its ‘Pit of Despair’ | With help from a REALTOR® Party Level III Smart Growth Action Grant, the Land of the Sky Association of REALTORS® takes a leadership role in finding a winning balance of parkland and mixed-use development for an unsightly property in the heart of the City of Asheville, North Carolina. | North Carolina | May 2017 |
| 292 | Mississippi becomes 4th State to Create Tax Benefits for First-Time Homebuyer Savings | The REALTOR® Party provided the Mississippi REALTORS® with in-depth economic research demonstrating how a First-Time Homebuyer Savings Account tax program would strengthen communities by increasing homeownership in the state. This, together with the strong coalition the REALTORS® had built, convinced legislators that the tax incentive was a good idea: it passed with a near-unanimous vote, and has been signed into law. | Mississippi | May 2017 |
| 293 | Minnesota REALTORS® Boost Advocacy with REALTOR® Party Mobile Alerts | Using targeted texting enabled by the REALTOR® Party Mobile Alerts program, Minnesota REALTORS® attracted a robust member presence to its recent Housing Day at the Capitol. The REALTORS® urged their legislators to support the Minnesota Homeownership Initiative, a proposed package of legislation that includes the First Time Homebuyers Savings Account Act—an incentive that is not only tax-free, but tax-deductible. | Minnesota | April 2017 |
| 294 | Indianapolis REALTORS® Spearhead Expanded Public Transportation Funding | With multiple Issues Mobilization Grants, the Mid-Indianapolis Board of REALTORS® led the charge to establish a fund to expand transit services in the Indianapolis metropolitan area. Now that the effort has cleared the last of its legislative hurdles, a new income tax dedicated to building transport infrastructure will ensure greater economic prosperity for the region, and better quality of life for its residents. | Indiana | April 2017 |
| 295 | Land Use Initiative Lends ‘Horsepower’ to Greater Northwest Indiana Zoning Challenge | When a proposed zoning ordinance threatened to negatively impact property values and marketability in Munster, the Greater Northwest Indiana Association of REALTORS® looked to the REALTOR® Party for help. By presenting the Town Council with a Land Use Initiative memorandum, it was able to neutralize the threat—and demonstrate its desire to enhance and strengthen the community. | Indiana | April 2017 |
| 296 | Wyoming REALTORS® Derails Tax on Services Threat with Timely Advocacy | When a bill proposing a tax on all services that had expired in the statehouse last fall suddenly came back to life with no debate or public testimony, the Wyoming Association of REALTORS® didn’t cross its fingers and hope for the best. Member response to a call for action may have been just what the House Revenue Committee needed to hear. | Wyoming | March 2017 |
| 297 | Washington REALTORS® Help Revitalize Downtown Bellingham | Using a REALTOR® Party Smart Growth Action Grant, the Whatcom County Association of REALTORS® (WA) was a major sponsor of a dynamic placemaking competition that drew 24 participants and more than 500 community members. Judging from its success, the REALTORS® know it will make an impact—and plan to make it an annual event. | Washington | March 2017 |
| 298 | REALTORS® Promote Affordable Housing for the Los Angeles Workforce | Summary:
The lack of affordable housing for Los Angeles County workers is driving businesses out of state. The Southland Regional Association of REALTORS® is responding to the crisis with REALTOR® Party-funded programs like its recent “Housing Our Workers Forum,” which brought together local stakeholders and officials to discuss solutions. | California | March 2017 |
| 299 | Arizona REALTORS® Reach More Members through Broker Involvement Program | Half of Arizona REALTORS® receive calls for action via company-branded messages directly from their brokerages, a channel that has been shown to increase response rates. Thanks to a Broker Involvement Grant, Arizona REALTORS® is reaching more members than ever, by engaging their brokers in grassroots advocacy. | Arizona | February 2017 |
| 300 | Oklahoma City REALTORS® Improve Public Schools & Prevent Urban Flight | Public schools in Oklahoma were struggling, and the resulting urban flight was already having a detrimental impact on local communities. Using an Issues Mobilization Grant, the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Association of REALTORS® led a coalition that supported the passage of a $180 million bond measure to get the region’s schools back on their feet. | Oklahoma | February 2017 |
| 301 | FPCs Represent REALTOR® Interests at Local, State and National Level | South Dakota REALTOR® Tom Murphy is one of 535 Federal Political Coordinators (FPCs) assigned to educate a member of Congress on important issues facing the real estate industry. When his childhood friend, Senator Mike Rounds (SD) asked for help "cleaning up" a long list of legislative regulations that may be addressed by the new Congress, Murphy, with the assistance of NAR staff, answered the call. | South Dakota | February 2017 |
| 302 | Texas REALTORS® Take Advocacy to Another Level Using Social Media | Facebook Live, webinars, text and e-newsletters, oh my! The Texas Association of REALTORS® have found advocacy success using social media and online communications, engaging the association’s 114,000 members in the legislative process and establishing association personal as legislative experts. | Texas | January 2017 |
| 303 | Medina County Ohio REALTORS® Improve, Invest in Community with REALTOR® Party Grants | The engaged members of the Medina County Board of REALTORS® help the 800-member association stay abreast of the needs of the community. With the help of the REALTOR® Party’s Housing Opportunity and Placemaking Grants, the organization has demonstrated its investment in the community by built gardens for low-income citizens, provide housing for disabled veterans and improve bike paths. | Ohio | January 2017 |
| 304 | Central Oregon Restores Balance to City Council with IE Program | When faced with the expected population boom in Bend, OR, the Central Oregon Association of REALTORS® knew it was crucial to restore balance in the city’s anti-growth City Council. Using the REALTOR® Party’s Independent Expenditure Program, the 1700 member association backed candidates who supported smart growth, fiscal responsibility, and sound solutions to the challenges our growing city faces…and won. | Oregon | January 2017 |
| 305 | Huntsville REALTORS® Build Partnerships and Promote Diversity in Northern Alabama | Recognizing that minority representation in its leadership didn’t accurately reflect the diversity of its membership, its community and the real estate industry at large, the Huntsville Area Association of REALTORS® (HAAR) used a Diversity Grant to help revive the local chapter of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the historic organization founded by African-American industry professionals in 1947. In partnership, the REALTORS® and the REALTISTS®, as NAREB members are known, are moving toward a stronger future in northern Alabama. | Alabama | December 2016 |
| 306 | Virginia REALTORS® Join in Partnership to Address Rural Housing Opportunities | The Virginia Association of REALTORS® was first struck by the isolation and vulnerability of many rural regions across the Commonwealth when a string of tornados hit. So, when the non-profit organization Housing Virginia approached VAR to partner in a Rural Housing Initiative grant it had received from the USDA, the association agreed wholeheartedly. With 5 of its local associations and the use of Housing Opportunity Grants, the two organizations conducted a series of Rural Housing Forums across the state to address housing challenges particular to rural areas. | Virginia | December 2016 |
| 307 | South Padre Island REALTORS® Uses Land Use Initiative to Overturn Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance | South Padre Island, Texas is such a popular resort area that when a new Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance was adopted, it affected the vast majority of the island's residential properties. Thanks to the REALTOR® Party’s Land Use Initiative, the South Padre Island Board of REALTORS® (SPIBOR) was able to overturn several overly restrictive provisions. In doing so, the 120-member board succeeded in protecting the rights of property owners and gained new respect from the city, making SPIBOR the voice of real estate in the community. | Texas | December 2016 |
| 308 | Washington REALTORS® Support One of Their Own for County Council | For the 1,700-member Clark County Association of REALTORS® (CCAR) in southwest Washington state, supporting John Blom for County Council was a no-brainer. As REALTOR® Champions go, there could hardly be a more obvious choice—active in NAR, RPAC, CCAR and its Government Affairs Committee. When John decided to run for office, the REALTORS® were there to support him through the REALTOR® Party’s Independent Expenditure program. | Washington | November 2016 |
| 309 | Hays REALTORS® Use Land Use Initiative to Fine Tune Comprehensive Plan | Hays, Kansas has been updating its existing zoning and subdivision regulations to align with the Comprehensive Plan it adopted in 2012. With its expertise in the field of real estate, and in defense of public property rights, the 80-member Hays Board of REALTORS® used the REALTOR® Party’s Land Use Initiative to help bring clarity, vision and fairness to the process. | Kansas | November 2016 |
| 310 | Split Decision on School Funding for Baldwin County REALTORS® | 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 REALTOR® Party Issues Mobilization Grant, Baldwin County residents’ votes resulted in a split decision on two public school funding issues in March. The Baldwin County Association of REALTORS® is looking forward to grassroots efforts and additional help of the REALTOR® Party to ensure funding for their public schools in the future. | Alabama | November 2016 |
| 311 | Missouri REALTORS® Form Coalition to Fight Sales Tax on Services | Missouri REALTORS® are no stranger to the threat of sales tax on services. With the help of a REALTOR® Party Issues Mobilization Grant and coalition support, the 20,000-member association is ambitiously attempting to amend the state constitution to ban a sales tax on services. By appealing to the general public, first to get the referendum on the ballot, and then for votes in its favor, Missouri REALTORS® are finding strength in numbers. | Missouri | November 2016 |
| 312 | Hawaii REALTORS® Look to Create Housing Opportunities for the Homeless | Living in Hawaii may seem like a dream to mainlanders, but the tropical paradise’s homeless population is the highest per capita in the U.S. With the support of a Housing Opportunity Grant, the state and two local REALTOR® Associations are working to connect Hawaii’s landlords and property managers with programs that help homeless people rent rooms or apartments. | Hawaii | October 2016 |
| 313 | Richmond REALTORS® Tackle Vacant Properties, Affordable Housing and Win | Historic Church Hill, on the east side of Richmond, VA, is plagued by abandonment and blight. But with the help of the REALTOR® Party and the success of stakeholder workshops, new legislation and a Community Land Trust, the Richmond Association of REALTORS® is moving to improve Church Hill’s fortunes with an ambitious plan for affordable housing. | Virginia | October 2016 |
| 314 | Massachusetts REALTORS® Energize to Fight Energy Audit | Massachusetts has been the single most energy-efficient state in the country for the past five years. But when a bill in the state legislature threatened to require an energy audit to produce an energy score for all houses being listed for sale, the 24,000-member Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® leapt to the defense of the state’s homeowners with the help of an Issues Mobilization Grant. | Massachusetts | October 2016 |
| 315 | Illinois REALTORS® Take Consumer Advocacy to the Next Level | Illinois REALTORS® created a statewide program called Real Property Alliance, leveraging NAR’s Consumer Advocacy Outreach Program’s Consumer Advocacy Database to drive Illinois consumers to www.realpropertyalliance.org. This program and website provides insight and analysis to Illinois property owners on important issues throughout the state and aligning property owners with REALTORS® in advocacy. | Illinois | September 2016 |
| 316 | East Central South Dakota REALTORS® Make Smart Moves for Future Growth | The East Central South Dakota REALTORS® (ECSDR) can tell you, the immense growth that Brookings, SD, is enjoying is tempered by a housing crisis and heightened by issues ranging from geological obstacles to student demand to millennial preferences. With the help of a Smart Growth Action Grant, the board brought in a planning expert to help guide the community in governing its own growth with a wise eye to the future. | South Dakota | September 2016 |
| 317 | Mississippi REALTORS® Know How to Move the Vote | The Mississippi Association of REALTORS® (MAR) has taken their culture of advocacy to the next level with its Move the Vote initiative to register its 5,800 members and clients to vote. Joining forces with the Secretary of State and the State Auditor, MAR members can bring voter registration forms to every offer closing, whether they were representing the buyer or the seller. MAR also sent voter registration kits to all its local boards, many of which took to the streets in their communities, setting up registration booths outside grocery stores, big box stores and in shopping malls; one even had a table at a community 5K running event. | Mississippi | September 2016 |
| 318 | North Carolina REALTORS®’ Smart Moves Changes the Game | Instead of each local association individual advocacy and consumer outreach plans, North Carolina REALTORS®, the state association, used a Game Changer Grant to create a strong single program called “NC REALTORS®: The Smart Move” to promote public understanding of the value of using a REALTOR®, and to position REALTORS® as the premier real estate advocacy resource and a key community partner. | North Carolina | August 2016 |
| 319 | New York REALTORS® Turn Smart Growth Challenge into Opportunity | The eight neighborhoods comprising Bronx Community Board 9 (BXCB9) are 22% denser in population than the Bronx overall, and have very little vacant land available to develop. Using a series of Smart Growth Action Grants, the Bronx-Manhattan North Association of REALTORS® partnered with BXCB9 to develop a comprehensive plan, and help ensure that growth will benefit existing communities, new residents and businesses. | New York | August 2016 |
| 320 | Hopkinsville, KY Goes to the Dogs with the Help of a Placemaking Grant | On June 2, 2016, the Hopkinsville Dog Park was opened by an official ribbon cutting ceremony, with plenty of dogs in attendance, ready to romp. It was all the idea of the 56-member Hopkinsville Christian & Todd County Association of REALTORS® and a Placemaking Micro-Grant from the REALTOR® Party helped make it a reality. | Kentucky | August 2016 |
| 321 | Land Use Initiative Helps Hawaii REALTORS® Address Affordable Housing | In Hawaii, the combined effect of vast acreage of protected natural lands, the high cost of living and a severe shortage of affordable housing brings land use issues into still sharper focus; so do the tents for the homeless that line many city streets. Using the Land Use Initiative, the Hawaii Association of REALTORS® is taking steps toward review and reform of the state’s complex Land Use System to clear road blocks to affordable housing. | Hawaii | July 2016 |
| 322 | AL REALTORS® Defeat Flat Tax and Increased Fees with Alabama Homes Matter Campaign | Going into its 2015 session, the Alabama legislature was facing a serious budget shortfall. Using a significant Issues Mobilization Grant, the Alabama Association of REALTORS® (AAR) was able to keep threats to organized real estate and property rights at bay, but long-term solutions were still nowhere in sight. When the issue resurfaced at the outset of the 2016 session, the power of the REALTOR® Party was there again for Alabama, and this time it prevailed in no uncertain terms. | Alabama | July 2016 |
| 323 | Kansas REALTORS® Use Issues Mobilization to Prevent Local Property Tax Increases | The REALTOR® Party’s Issues Mobilization Grant provides financial assistance to state and local REALTOR® Associations to support effective advocacy campaigns on public policy issues that affect REALTOR® interests. The Kansas Association of REALTORS® is just one example of how an association has used this program to successfully stave off local property tax increases. | Kansas | June 2016 |
| 324 | Puerto Rico REALTORS® Pull Out All the Stops to Fight a Tax on Services and Win | The REALTORS® of Puerto Rico are no strangers to challenge with a high unemployment rate at average and foreclosures up almost 90 percent since 2008. The 350-member association stepped up in a big way, successfully leading the fight to repeal a 10.5 percent tax on services that was going into effect. | Puerto Rico | June 2016 |
| 325 | Wilmington Regional Association of REALTORS® | Nearly 600 REALTORS® from the Wilmington Regional Association of REALTORS® (WRAR) participated in its second annual REALTOR® Action Day—aka "RAD." From playing music at senior centers to planting plants and clean-up and landscaping projects, RAD was full of WRAR members working to improve their community. Nearly 100 participants built a community garden with park benches and a tool shed using a $3,000 Placemaking Micro-grant. | North Carolina | June 2016 |
| 326 | Austin REALTORS® Accept Mayor’s Challenge to End Veterans Homelessness | Last summer, Mayor Steve Adler issued a challenge to the City of Austin to end homelessness among its U.S. veterans by Veterans Day 2015. The Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR) answered the call in a big way. With a $15,000 Housing Opportunity Grant, ABoR funded transiting homeless veterans into longer-term housing arrangements. The ABoR Foundation also provided $5,000 to a fund called Housing for Heroes that would mitigate risk for potential landlords. | Texas | June 2016 |
| 327 | Plymouth and South Shore Association of REALTORS® Plant a Sense of Community with Garden Project | The 2,500-member Plymouth and South Shore Association of REALTORS® (PASS) has a strong and vital charitable arm that is accustomed to giving back, but past April 16, and again on Earth Day, about 20 members couldn’t resist an opportunity to by get out in the fresh air and get their hands dirty with a community garden placemaking project. | Massachusetts | June 2016 |
| 328 | Bastrop County REALTORS® Chart Smart Growth for a Small Texas Town | Fearing what would happen to the charm of this rural community outside of Austin, Texas, the Bastrop County Board of REALTORS® took the lead. With 68 elected local officials, business and community leaders and REALTORS® from the county and its three cities in attendance, this 169-member board to hosted a Smart Growth for the 21st Century class to discuss and strategize the community’s future. | Texas | May 2016 |
| 329 | Job Growth Creates Housing Opportunity | It’s the kind of “problem” that most cities wouldn’t mind having: companies like Amazon, IKEA and Mars Candy opening or expanding facilities within city limits. Joliet, Illinois is experiencing impressive job growth, and is seeking to convert commuters and renters into local homeowners with a new down payment assistance program, the help of Three Rivers Association of REALTORS® and a Housing Opportunity Grant. | Illinois | May 2016 |
| 330 | Every Vote Counted in electing REALTOR® Keith McCracken to Local School Board | They say every vote counts, and in April's School Board race in Monett, MO, that was certainly the case. REALTOR® Champion Keith McCracken was seeking a seat on the local Board of Education to further serve his community. With the help of the Southwest Missouri Board of REALTORS® and a REALTOR® Party independent expenditure, he won that seat—by a single vote. | Missouri | May 2016 |
| 331 | Illinois REALTORS® Localize and Diversify National Program | The Illinois REALTORS® have taken the concept of NAR’s Federal Political Coordinator (FPC) program and run with it, building FPC support teams of 150 REALTORS® to cover the 18 House Representatives and two Senators of the state legislature. Each FPC serves as the human face on the issues that affect the real estate industry and let Members of Congress know that the choices they make affect the lives of their constituents back home. | Illinois | April 2016 |
| 332 | Small in Size, Mighty in Impact: The Greater Mason City Board of REALTORS® | The 82-member Greater Mason City Board of REALTORS® in northern Iowa has prided itself on its community involvement, recently applying for a Placemaking Micro-grant. To formalize its program, the association developed a Core Standards Committee and Community Outreach Task Force consisting of a handful of REALTORS® and its one-and-a-half staff members, who have ramped up the group’s already robust tradition of community service to an impressive pitch. | Iowa | April 2016 |
| 333 | SafeCam Initiative a Game Changer for New Orleans REALTORS® | When the police department lacked funding to purchase hi-definition security cameras to help combat crime, the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of REALTORS® came to the rescue. Working with the New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation, the 4,000-member association used a Game Changer Grant to help increase safety and improve property values in their city. | Louisiana | March 2016 |
| 334 | Kickstarting Efforts to Make Macon Better was as Easy as ABC | A Diversity Initiative Grant helped the Middle Georgia Association of REALTORS® bring elected officials, community leaders, homeowners and potential homebuyers together to create partnerships to address the communities most basic needs and brainstorm affordable housing solutions to a county facing a nearly 23.5% poverty level. | Georgia | March 2016 |
| 335 | Charrette helps Austin REALTORS® Imagine Their Community | A Smart Growth Action Grant brought the impartiality the Austin Board of REALTORS® needed when they joined a developer and government officials to brainstorm solutions to the proposed Austin Oaks development that threatened to bring traffic congestion and tall buildings to the quiet community. | Texas | March 2016 |
| 336 | The Experienced San Fran REALTORS® Defeat Mission Moratorium | The San Francisco Association of REALTORS® sought the support of NAR, its state association and coalition partners as it geared up for its second Issues Mobilization campaign to ensure defeat against a proposed 30-month moratorium on new housing development in the Mission District, where housing inventory is low, and in increasingly high demand. | California | February 2016 |
| 337 | Partnerships and Training Create Diverse Opportunities, Engagement for Chicago REALTORS® | With the help of a Diversity Initiative Grant and training from REALTOR® Party staff, the more than 10,000-member Chicago Association of REALTORS® was able to create a diverse and inclusive environment, cultivate organizational partnerships and provide educational opportunities for its members. | Illinois | February 2016 |
| 338 | Land Use Analysis Helps Missouri REALTORS® Reshape Zoning Code Changes, Build Coalition | The Columbia Board of REALTORS® immediately knew the proposed changes to area’s zoning code would threaten the area’s private housing market, which is shaped by the state universities flagship campus. Information from the Land Use Initiative analysis allowed the 500-member association to create a coalition of local agencies, speaking with one voice, to influence changes to the proposed temporary zoning rules. | Missouri | January 2016 |
| 339 | Everything is Bigger in Texas, Including Efforts to Pass Proposition 1 | The Texas Association of REALTORS® pulled all the stops to ensure that Proposition 1 would pass. The ballot measure amended the state constitution, increasing the homestead exemption and banning real estate transfer tax on all real estate sales. The Issues Mobilization Program, targeted outreach and a comprehensive website helped the 100,000-member association educate its members and the public on the ballot measure, ensure its success. | Texas | January 2016 |
| 340 | Las Vegas REALTORS® Bet on Smart Growth, Win Big in Sahara/Decatur | The working families and millennials of Las Vegas’ Sahara/Decatur neighborhood were not privy to the development opportunities, glitz and glam of The Strip. The Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® (GLVAR) created a three-part plan—using Smart Growth training and Action Grants to bring community and government partners together to brainstorm smart growth solutions; holding a Better Block event; and creating a marketing pack for potential developers—to elevate the livability and economic promise of the neighborhood. | Nevada | January 2016 |
| 341 | Heartland Association’s (IL) Land Use Analysis Guides Local Development Ordinance | The 1,000-member Heartland REALTOR® Organization had its work cut out for it when the first draft of the suburban and rural district’s Unified Development Ordinance was first released. Leveraging the REALTOR® Party’s Land Use Initiative and its past relationship with the county's Planning & Development Committee Chairman, the association provided an objective review of the ordinance, which was used to draft an ordinance that preserved responsible development rights, streamlined processes and limited regulatory burdens—a win for all parties. | Illinois | December 2015 |
| 342 | Greater Piedmont REALTORS® Offer Valuable Resource for Future Land Use and Growth | The 650-member Greater Piedmont Area Association of REALTORS® found a way to be a valuable unbiased resource when Culpeper County, one of the five counties it serves, was beginning the arduous task of updating its most important land use, transportation and resource utilization document. Using a Housing Opportunity Grant, the association commissioned a housing market analysis and housing needs study that became a crucial part of the county’s 2015 Comprehensive Plan, proving once again to be a trusted source of information to the local government. | Virginia | December 2015 |
| 343 | Third Times a Charm for REALTOR® Champion and Salt Lake Board | The REALTOR® Party celebrates Independent Expenditure (IE) Program milestone, supporting Chris McCandless, proud Utahan, member of the Salt Lake Board of REALTORS® (SLBR) and a tireless public servant. When seeking re-election to the Sandy City Council it was a no brainer for SLBR to apply for and receive the 1,000th IE to help ensure re-election to a third term in office. | Utah | December 2015 |
| 344 | Pinellas (FL) REALTORS® Draw the Line on Historical Housing Designations | Pinellas County Florida holds the most flood insurance policies in the U.S. When proposed ordinance changes would have made it significantly easier for homes to be designated as “historic” and potentially increased the cost of property insurance, including flood insurance, and property upgrades, the 6,000-member Pinellas REALTOR® Organization (PRO) took action. Read more about how an Issue Mobilization campaign and coalition building helped led to a PRO victory. | Florida | November 2015 |
| 345 | REALTOR® Association of Pioneer Valley Create a Dog Friendly Environment With a Placemaking Grant | Despite what you've heard about teaching old dogs new tricks, the century-old REALTOR® Association of Pioneer Valley (RAPV) has taken to the REALTOR® Party's Placemaking initiative like a puppy to a fetch-stick. After learning about The REALTOR® Party’s Placemaking Grant, the 1,650-member association came up with ideas to help transform neglected public spaces into vibrant community gathering places. | Massachusetts | November 2015 |
| 346 | Bronx-Manhattan North Association of REALTORS® Uses Placemaking to Spur Pride and Positive Engagement | What started as two people talking about how to spend $2,200 to improve the atmosphere of a bleak urban space, resulted in a vibrant public arts project that is now valued at $50,000, attracted a visit from a Supreme Court Justice, and, most importantly, has spurred pride and positive engagement in its neighborhood. | New York | November 2015 |
