This post is a part of my plan to tell you why I am campaigning for a National Association of Realtors® Director position. I feel this particular subject will interest my colleagues as well as my friends to explain my passion for volunteering.
First of all, my inspiration to volunteer early in life came from my parents. Both my Mom and Dad volunteered at church doing what they could. Everyone knew Frank and Tere Barrera, which was not such a great thing when I got in trouble at parochial school. I’ll save a good story for another blog post.
I have to admit I did not truly engage in giving this way until I moved to Idaho. I suppose moving to a small town where everybody really did know your name helped. If anyone asked for assistance, you would not hesitate to say of course. Then, moving to Boise was my sweet spot for causes that were more relevant to me at that point in my life and career.
Being a business woman that happens to sell real estate, I was drawn years ago to committee work at the Intermountain Multiple Listing Service which lead to a few committees at the Ada County Association of Realtor®, now known as Boise Regional Realtors®. Believe it or not, I have been on the Public Policy (Government Affairs) committee for a decade or longer. Eventually I was elected to the Board of Directors, then elected to Vice President which ultimately led to the position of President of the Association in 2011. I was never great at Robert’s Rules but I learned how to listen better, how to truly make a decision with consensus and how to simply be present when anyone ever contacted me with a professional issue.
I don’t think I would have learned the importance of how and why the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) accomplishes success for my career, my clients, my customers and my colleagues if I had not become involved in leadership roles. One of the most important lessons I learned about NAR is how they work diligently to ensure how we all buy and sell real estate. This is why I give to NAR’s RPAC annually: to support their efforts in Washington, DC in continuing to protect private property rights for Americans. I consider this investing in my real estate business. Your Realtor should be doing the same.
I’ll get to the point now: yes, NAR works for you and I on Capitol Hill. NAR has been instrumental in speaking to our Congressional representatives and Senators in achieving successful legislation. Recent accomplishments:
- FHA implementing new Condo policies for Buyers obtaining mortgage loans
- Congress removing the use of guarantee fees (G-fees) as a financing mechanism from the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act)
- Oppose a rule by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which vastly expands EPA authority and increases EPA regulation of land uses on private property.
- Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, insurers backed out of the terrorism insurance market place prompting Congress to create a federal reinsurance backstop program in the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) of 2002, which also mandated that insurers make terrorism coverage available along with its property and casualty lines. This program was reauthorized in January 2015 to reauthorize the program through 2020
- Federal Housing Administration (FHA) would reduce FHA annual mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) by 50 basis points, a reduction for lower fees on FHA loans
- TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) Rule Implementation Delayed; Written Guidance Issued: NAR continued to actively engage with the CFPB to request written assurances that the early enforcement of the new rules will take into account the good faith efforts of supervised entities
- Protection of Homeownership and Real Estate Investment Incentives; NAR continues to educate Congress and their staff on the vital role that real estate tax provisions play in the nation’s housing markets and economy.
- New Net Neutrality Rules Preserve Equal Access to the Internet. The new rules are a victory for consumers, and for REALTORS® who embrace technology and online resources to meet the needs of their clients.
- Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, S. 535, was signed into law. More commonly known as the “Tenant Star” bill, this legislation created a voluntary, market-driven approach to encouraging landlords and tenants to adopt energy efficient practices in leased spaces.
- FHA Agency and new non-performing loan requirements; this will study the cost and impact of bulk note sales to institutional investors
Every year NAR works for all of us, whether you are a Realtor® or a consumer. Thank your Realtor® today!
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