REALTOR Party News- January 2012

Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. ~Margaret Mead, Anthropologist One Powerful Voice In this election year, now more than ever, it is critical for REALTORS® across America to come together and speak with one voice about the stability a sound and dynamic real estate market brings to our communities. We carry this message better than any other group in America. Why? -- Because of our grassroots strength and the powerful three-way partnership among our association’s national, state and local levels. Success Stories REALTOR® Associations large and small are using My REALTOR® Party resources to step up their advocacy and community involvement. Each month we will highlight the most noteworthy and catalog them on the Success Stories section of the Realtor Action Center.   Louisiana Transfer Tax Win Our first major success story since My REALTOR® Party was launched last summer comes from Louisiana, where REALTORS® joined with NAR  to win a permanent statewide ban on transfer taxes. The REALTOR®-supported measure won approval, making Louisiana the fourth state to amend its constitution prohibiting transfer taxes. Funding and technical support from NAR combined with extensive grassroots involvement to make this Louisiana campaign successful.  Read more about it and be sure to check out the video of NAR President Moe Veissi discussing what this victory means for all of us. New York Caps Property Taxes The New York State Association used NAR issues mobilization funds and resources to launch a successful campaign that put a statewide cap on real estate property taxes. My REALTOR® Party resources, along with aggressive involvement by REALTORS® throughout the state, helped to get the legislation passed and signed by the governor. The measure caps annual property tax increases at 2 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. Read article for more information.  A Sales Tax Increase to Help Little Rock, AR The Little Rock Association joined the local mayor’s initiative last summer to increase the city-wide sales tax. They utilized Issues Mobilization dollars to help support the city’s campaign, ultimately winning the ballot initiative. Every penny of the tax increase is being used for capital improvements – to make Little Rock a better place to live and work.  View/download slides. Opening Doors With Housing Opportunity Grants The Housing Opportunity Grant Program has a track record of success. In partnership with NAR, local associations are able to educate communities about how to expand housing opportunities as well as actually assist those who need a boost to get into homes of their own.  Check out how this grant program has worked in three communities – Charlotte, NC; Springfield, MA and Fredericksburg, VA. View the stories and videos. The Bigger Picture Over the last year our advocacy has resulted in a number of nationwide provisions that help you in your business, including an extension the National Flood Insurance Program; a reinstatement of FHA’s higher loan limits; and protection of the Mortgage Interest Deduction.  These directly impact your ability to make a living, as well as help to protect the free transfer of property in this country.  Read about NAR advocacy efforts. Share Your Success Stories We know there are many more examples of how REALTORS® are putting My REALTOR® Party resources to work to implement successful, creative advocacy and community outreach programs.  Send us your success stories, including links to videos and other online information so we can highlight them on the My REALTOR® Party web site and in this monthly newsletter. Email your stories to:  myrealtorparty@realtors.org January 2012 Dale Stinton, NAR CEO   Tom Salomone, Director REALTOR® Party Activities Putting Grassroots Power To Work Welcome to the first of our monthly updates on My REALTOR® Party. This “quick read” is designed to update you on how REALTORS® around the country are putting the My REALTOR® Party resources to work.  Thank you for taking a few minutes to learn more about our successes and we look forward to hearing from you! Sincerely, Dale Stinton and Tom Salomone  NAR maintains a separate email system to communicate our national news and programs. If you would like to manage those subscriptions and optin/optout of those communications please click here to login to Realtor.org.