Realtor Party Focused on Housing Issues

Not in the market to Buy or Sell a Home? Well, there’s still a reason to thank your Realtor — Brian Groetsch, President, Cape May County Association of Realtors.
There are many different reasons a consumer may choose to work with a Realtor today. It might be their wealth of experience, their commitment to education, their specialized training in a certain type of property, their adherence to the Realtor Code of Ethics, or any number of other good reasons to choose a Realtor.
But, there’s one very important function of being a Realtor that most consumers may not consider, which is as the Nation’s Leading Advocate for Home Ownership and Private Property Rights.
The National Association of Realtors and its members, under the Realtor Party, focus solely on industry related issues — which sets them apart from other trade groups or business associations like the Chamber of Commerce.
The result of which is support for local, state and national candidates with clear records on housing related issues. It’s the Realtor Party’s narrow focus on these issues that makes them truly a bipartisan group, with a history of evenly supporting candidates on both sides of the isle.
Some of the issues that are being worked on as this goes to press are as important as any that Realtors have fought for in the past.
On the National stage we are currently working to keep the Mortgage Interest Deduction, which is perennially on the table as Congress works on the Federal Budget.
The Realtor Party, just like every homeowner, realizes how important this tax benefit is to the home ownership experience and plans to work with our elected officials to ensure that it remains.
There are also significant reforms being proposed to Congress relating to Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs), which include Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The GSEs are integral in the housing finance market, so a reduction in the number of mortgages they can provide would likely result in higher interest rates, increases in minimum down payments & lower loan limits. In a high cost state like New Jersey, these lower loan limits would make it more difficult for families to obtain mortgages necessary to buyer here.
The National Association of Realtors will be working with the Obama administration and Congress on this issue before it is considered and can become law to request changes.
The Realtor Party has also been effective in advocating for Local & State Issues as well. Each year during the budget process in New Jersey, The New Jersey Association of Realtors works to ensure that taxes and fees are not created or raised that would adversely impact property owners and the real estate industry.
NJAR® also took center stage in the fight against Private Transfer Fees, which would have allowed developers or investors to place a 1 percent fee (similar to the realty transfer fee) on homes when they are first built that trigger each time that home sold for a period of 99 years.
NJAR® worked with the State Legislature to build bipartisan support for the legislation which protects consumers from having to pay more to buy a home in New Jersey. As a result of that bipartisan support, no member of the Legislature voted against the bill and the Governor signed it into law in December 2010.
The Realtor Party not only advocates for these issues, but also works to bring them to light for the public to see and contact their elected officials to take action. If you would like to learn more about what The Realtor Party is doing to fight for home ownership and private property rights, visit: www.RealtorActionCenter.com.
So, the next time you run into your Realtor in line at the grocery store, feel free to ask them how the market is doing, but make sure to thank them for their efforts to protect your rights as a home owner.