NAR Director’s Report

News from the National Association of REALTORS®

From Deborah Baisden, NAR Director and Region 3 Vice President

The National Association of REALTORS® is committed to leading the way on policies that address racial equality, and knows that building a better future begins with equal access to housing and opportunity for everyone in America. As the nation grapples with the economic fallout of this pandemic, alongside a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address racial inequity, NAR wants to help REALTORS® be part of the solution as communities move forward. Here are some of the ways NAR is working toward these goals:

Vacancy webinar series

In August, NAR kicked off a new, four-part webinar series: Stabilizing and Revitalizing Neighborhoods in the COVID-19 Era, which illustrates NAR’s commitment to ensuring REALTORS® lead the conversations that address our communities’ most challenging problems. This series explores the partnership between REALTORS® and local government officials in preventing property vacancy and abandonment. It’s also part of NAR’s Transforming Neighborhoods program, which offers REALTORS® and their community partners the opportunity to explore underlying factors keeping vacant, abandoned and deteriorated properties “stuck“ in decline. Go to AMR.swoogo.com/nar/611527 for registration and other information about the series.

Fair Housing Simulation Training

Later this year, NAR will release a three-hour classroom training, which will provide more practical tools to help REALTORS® interrupt and override biases in common situations where they may arise during real estate transactions. They are also developing a video featuring REALTOR® fair housing leaders, who show how implementing inclusive business practices benefits their communities and their bottom line. The video offers strategies to override bias in order to convey respect, ensure fairness and improve business relationships.

RPAC in the era of COVID-19: Vote on Nov. 3!

RPAC—the REALTORS® Political Action Committee—has always supported candidates who defend private property rights and homeownership. But this year our work is also about survival—of businesses and people—as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. And, at a time when we needed it most, years of investments and relationship-building paid dividends for REALTORS® on Capitol Hill. On the campaign trail, NAR’s number of Targeted Opportunity Races has nearly doubled from the previous election cycle. Targeted Opportunity Races are political communications specifically intended for REALTORS® in support of individual candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. More than 90 such campaigns across the country this year will allow NAR to help drive Get-Out-The-REALTOR®-Vote efforts through direct mail initiatives and email messages. NAR will also host online “town hall“ meetings between candidates and REALTORS® for the dozens of “Opportunity Race“ campaigns in which they’re involved.