T
he November election will bring significant changes at all levels of government, with 33 Senate seats, 435 House seats, and 11 gubernatorial seats up for grabs. Despite these shifts, the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) remains prepared to adapt and advocate on behalf of its 1.5 million members. The organization's three-way agreement between local, state, and national associations enables collective action on key issues, amplifying NAR's voice in advocating for policies that support homeownership.

    This federated structure has allowed NAR to make a significant impact on critical issues. For example, the organization worked with the Department of Veterans Affairs to temporarily waive its ban on veteran home buyers compensating their brokers directly. This change was crucial as it ensured veterans had equal opportunities to compete in the tight housing market. NAR continues to advocate for this stopgap measure to become permanent.

    The national, state, and local levels work together to identify and address flaws in policies that could harm buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals. A recent ballot measure in Chicago demonstrates the effectiveness of this collaboration. Despite an uphill battle against city leadership's policy proposal, the Illinois REALTORS association, with support from NAR, was able to secure a victory for its members, clients, and property owners.

    In Maryland, the state association helped pass bipartisan legislation aimed at promoting "middle housing." The law incentivizes developers to build in areas close to rail transit stations or former state-owned or federal military campuses. This legislation helps developers absorb the cost of providing dedicated affordable units, which will be available for 40 years.

    NAR's all-hands-on-deck approach also makes its "surrogate" program a success. Nearly 800 NAR members have volunteered to collaborate with local and state associations to provide in-person presentations, write op-eds, and amplify social media posts. This program has enabled NAR to reach a wide audience, with surrogates appearing over 460 times in the media, reaching more than 17 million people.