Government Affairs

NAR RPAC Hall of Fame & The “I Pledge” Campaign

By: Max Brandow, RASM Vice President of Advocacy and Member Programs

The second quarter has proven to be a busy season in government affairs at RASM.

NAR RPAC HALL OF FAME

Last month, at the NAR Legislative meetings, three RASM members were honored and inducted into the NAR RPAC Hall of Fame. At the DOUBLE Hall of Fame level ($50,000+) RASM members Bill Furst and Clark Toole were recognized for their generous commitment to RPAC. Barry Grooms was inducted into the RPAC Hall of Fame ($25,000+) and recognized for his commitment to RPAC and the industry. This is an amazing accomplishment for all three. We’re proud to have them as members of our Association!

INVENTORY, AFFORDABILITY, AND FAIR HOUSING SOLUTIONS MAJOR PRIORITIES AT NAR LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS

NAR President, Leslie Rouda Smith, laid out three main legislative priorities for the National Association of Realtors® shortages prevalent throughout the country, which are fueling the affordability crisis and ensuring fair housing for all. NAR Chief Advocacy Officer, Shannon McGahn, gave a State of the Union speech on real estate issues and highlighted the inventory crisis. “Our job is to fight for your clients, consumers, and the entire industry to make sure we have enough housing supply to make homeownership accessible, available, and affordable,” McGahn said.

NAR staff outlined existing proposals to boost inventory through tax incentives, including renovating distressed properties, retrofitting and converting outdated commercial properties for residential purposes, and providing more down payment assistance and tax incentives for first-time homebuyers.

We are happy to hear the NAR staff is focused on the same issues as Florida REALTORS® and RASM, and we’re all pulling in the same direction. RASM is currently advocating at the local level for updated zoning and comprehensive plans that add smart density and remove barriers to the construction of affordable housing.

JOIN THE RPAC “I PLEDGE” CAMPAIGN AND PARTY WITH 2023 NAR PRESIDENT KENNY PARCELL

This year RASM and the RPAC Committee will be hosting an exclusive Major Investor party with all our 2021 Major Investors and 2022 pledged Major Investors. We will be hosting this party on Monday, September 26 at Sarasota Waterworks with special guest 2023 NAR President Kenny Parcell. In order to join the festivities, all you have to do is pledge to become a Major Investor this year. Make sure to mark your calendars and get those pledges in. Head over to www.myrasm.com/public-policy/realtor-party/majorinvestor-pledge for more information and to fill out your digital pledge card. •