NAR, Politics and YouChris Polychron

2009 NAR State & Political Issues Liaison

NAR Congressional Priorities

•Extend and Expand the $8,000 Tax Credit

•Extend Higher Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac and FHA Loans Limits

•Health Insurance Reform•Energy Bill

2

Extend and Expand the $8,000 Tax Credit

• NAR Call for Action – More than 450,000

letters from NAR members sent to Members of Congress

• FPC Fly-In– FPCs from 29 states in

Washington, D.C.

3

Extend and Expand the $8,000 Tax Credit

•Extend and Expand the Credit:

– Extend the tax credit until 2010

– Expand eligibility to ALL homebuyers

– Expand the value of the tax credit

4

Extend Higher Loan Limits for Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac and FHA

Loans• FHA currently set to create

lower limits at the end of 2009

• Nationwide - Up to $729,750 in high-cost areas

• Arkansas: $271,050 limit• NAR is asking to make these

higher limits PERMANENT.

5

NAR Principles in Debate•Coverage available to all•No gaps in coverage•Choices among plans – no single payer plan•Preventive care – should be cost-effective•No employer mandate

6

Energy BillNO Energy Labeling for Existing

Homes• House passed version of bill:

– Does not create a federal energy audit requirement for real property.

– Exempts existing homes and buildings from any federal guidelines for new construction energy efficiency information labels.

– Prohibits the implementation of any labeling during a sales transaction.

– Leaves the decision to states as to whether to require energy audits, disclosures.

• NAR is monitoring the Senate bill.

7

Other Congressional Issues• Protecting the Mortgage

Interest Deduction• Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac

Reinvention• Financial Services Regulatory

Reform• Home Valuation Code of

Conduct– realtor.org/hvcc

• Credit Union

8

Political Programs

Broker Involvement Program

• Broker Owners can access the “Broker Portal” where they – review and approve the e-mail that NAR

sends to their agents along with the Call for Action (CFA).

– view online reports on how their agents responded to the Calls for Action.

• NAR always gives Brokers the choice to participate in a Broker Call for Action and an online fundraising appeal.

• 2,150 Brokers are activated in the Broker Involvement Program– Total # of Active Agents = 206,922

• Broker Involvement Program in Arkansas•36 Brokers signed up

– 1,000 agents

Broker Involvement Program

Arkansas Responds to the Call for Action!

• Grassroots– Call for Action (CFA) Participation rates:

• 2007: National = 6% Arkansas = 8.9%• 2008: National = 9.2% Arkansas = 11.5%• 2009: National = 8.7% Arkansas = 11.6%

– NAR CFA (September) “Extend and Expand the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit” Advocacy Participants: 1,568 (25%)

– NAR Call for Action (CFA) “Extend and Expand the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit” Broker Participants: 27/36

• RPAC

– Total dollars raised: $51,709– Fair Share Goal: $36,828– President's Circle credit: $3,850– Total dollars raised with President's Circle credit:

$55,559– 151% of the Fair Share Goal

• RPAC

– Major Donor Goal: 22– Major Donors (as of October 22): 27– 123% of Major Donor Goal

– President's Circle Goal: 2– President's Circle members (as of October 22): 3– 150% of the President's Circle Goal

REALTORS® VOTE!!!

Electoral Services – Data

Percentage of U.S. eligible population registered to vote:

68%

Electoral Services – Data

Percentage of U.S. REALTORS® registered

to vote:

77%

Electoral Services – Data

Percentage of Arkansas REALTORS® registered

to vote:

76%

We still need your help!

• If you have not responded to the Tax Credit Call for Action: Please do! We are looking for 40,000 more REALTORS® to respond.

• Stay tuned for more news coming from Washington, D.C.!

• Don’t forget about RPAC!

Thank you for your support!!!