Bay East Goes to Washington D.C.

Bay East recently sent a team of REALTORS® to Washington D.C. to make sure our representatives understand what's happening back home.

Every May the National Association of REALTORS® holds their mid-year meeting in Washington D.C. In addition to conducting NAR-related business, holding classes and sponsoring a huge trade show, the mid-year meeting is an opportunity for REALTORS® to meet with their elected officials on Capitol Hill.

The Bay East region covers four congressional districts. That means when we visit D.C. our team meets with four members of the House of Representatives. The Bay East 2008 Capitol Hill squad included President Melrose Forde and President-Elect Pat Huffman along with our two “Key Contacts” - Dorothy Jackson and Kevin Brown.

Over a two-day period we met with representatives Ellen Tauscher, who’s district includes Livermore; Jerry McNerney (Pleasanton); Pete Stark (Fremont, Newark, Union City, Hayward and San Leandro) and Barbara Lee (Castro Valley). And, no, I’m NOT related to Pete Stark!

Dorothy is Rep. Stark’s “Key Contact” and Kevin is the “Key Contact” for Rep. Lee. Both Dorothy and Kevin know each of these Representatives well and also meet with them when they are here in California.

The “Hill Visits” went extremely well. We were all impressed that our representatives made lots of time to meet with us and give us the chance to share with them what’s happening in the real estate market “back home.” We spent at least an hour with Rep. Stark – he even kicked another “interest group” out of his office so we could meet with him! Our visit with Rep. Tauscher was amazing. She is very positive about the future and really encouraged us to keep working hard to overcome the current market challenges. As a seasoned elected official, she said that regardless of who wins the Presidential election that the nation is ready for a change and that readiness could mean good things for our profession.

The Mid-Year meeting is an opportunity to hear from our Washington D.C. lobbying team. Jerry Giovaniello; NAR Senior Vice President and Chief Lobbyist reported on issues NAR is working with Congress on. The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) has been a legislative priority for NAR for the last several year. HUD recently proposed new regulations and NAR opposes most of changes. NAR has suggested changing the good-faith estimate to make the details of the transaction easier to understand. HUD had proposed a much longer and complicated GFE. NAR wants more transparency not complexity.

Giovanello reported on some good news from Capitol Hill. The House of Representatives have passed all of the NAR recommended Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA reforms and the Senate is now considering their version of the bill. He reported that the Federal Government hasn't paid attention to the GSEs for 14 years and that it's time for some updates. While the President has threatened to veto the Senate version of the bill, Giovanello thinks that bi-partisan support in the House and Senate may make a difference.

NAR also rolled out a new effort to get REALTORS® appointed to federal government positions. With a new administration taking over in 2008, there will be more than 3,000 appointed jobs that will need to be filled.

Bill Gilmartin, NARs Senior Policy Advisor for Industry Relations and Outreach briefed a meeting of Government Affairs Directors on opportunities for REALTORS®. He emphasized how REALTORS® are already actively involved in their communities and that NAR wants to tap into the “inner public servant” in each REALTOR® by helping REALTORS® get appointed. Where do REALTORS® fit in the Federal Government? Everywhere. For example, REALTORS® deal with housing issues (Department of Housing and Urban Development); land use (Department of the Interior) and small business (Department of Commerce). He explained that some federal appointments are full-time and some are part-time. While the appointment process to federal positions is rigorous NAR can help.

Gilmartin cited the Regional Federal Home Loan Bank Board of Directors as good appointments for REALTORS®. There are 12 banks nation wide each with two “community interest” Board positions. Later this Fall the Fed will unveil a new appointment process with each regional bank now responsible for making recommendations for these positions.

NAR can help interested REALTORS® with the application process, with approaching local regional bank boards, and can facilitate working with the Federal Finance Board once an application is in D.C.

There were other NAR political programs unveiled at the May meeting:

• Walt Witek, the NAR Vice President for State and Local Advocacy announced NAR has allocated $20 million for state and local political activities.

• David Watts – NAR Electoral Services Program Representative introduced an automated system to help REALTORS® register to vote. ote program.

• Rick Miller – NAR Director of Political Programs announced the Broker Involvement Program. This new initiative will allow local brokers to partner with NAR to send messages, advocacy and action alerts on Federal issues to a broker’s agent using a brokers’ logo and branding. Brokers can opt in or out of any action. NARs goal is to have 1,000,000 agents participating nationwide.

More on our trip to D.C. later.