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The REALTOR® Party Political Survival Initiative: Let Us Hear From You

Important Information for NAR Members About Our Political Survival

In March 2011, NAR launched the REALTOR® Party Political Survival Initiative. The initiative is a bold and powerful proposal to make the Voice of Real Estate one of the most influential advocacy groups in America.

There are monumental issues we're facing — in Congress, in the regulatory agencies here in Washington that govern mortgage financing, in your statehouse that’s faced with critical budget crises and declining property tax revenues, and in our municipalities and counties. Each of these issues impact our ability to do business and serve clients. We must act as one to ensure the future of mortgage financing and to keep housing affordable in America. We must have the power to shape this pivotal moment for the American Dream of Home Ownership everywhere and at every level of government.

To fund such a nationwide effort, the REALTOR® Party Political Survival Initiative proposes a dedicated dues increase of $40. Because it is "dedicated" to this initiative, the dues increase would be used exclusively to fund political advocacy efforts. Nearly 70 percent of this money is earmarked for state and local issues. If it is approved, over 50 percent of the NAR budget would be devoted to political advocacy, which consistently ranks among members as the number-one benefit they receive from NAR.

The proposal will be voted on by the NAR Board of Directors at the Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in May.

 Take a few minutes to get informed. View our new slideshow that provides critical details about the initiative and the value proposition it is designed to give back to you at the federal, state and local level.

 Visit our REALTOR® Party Political Survival Initiative page to get more details. We are posting documents, background information and other resources to help you understand the who, what, why and when of this proposal.

 Read the article from Politico that discusses the emerging clout of the REALTOR® Party and how "REALTORS® ... are going to want to be politically effective, and a large measure of their influence is that they are present everywhere."

 Watch this short video from NAR President Ron Phipps that asks you to get involved in the deliberation process about this initiative.

 

 Your Feedback Is Important and We Are Listening

We also want to hear from you. You are our voice, and these decisions will not be made without getting your input and giving you the opportunity to be heard. We need to know what questions and concerns you have so we can help you understand this effort. We also encourage you to post a comment below and to join the conversation on Twitter, on Facebook and on your favorite real estate blogs.

UPDATE: Due to the number of comments, we cannot display the full list of comments. Please download this PDF of the comments received as of April 10, 2010. This list has not been edited by NAR.

Please use the form below to post your comments about the REALTOR® Party Political Survival Initiative:  

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 Your Comments

I am not in favor of dues increase to cover political issues. I feel that we pay enough already, and many of the politicians need to be replaced for multiple reasons. I am not happy with our representatives in general. 


Submitted by jim stromberg
at: April 15, 2011
I am not in favor of a dues increase to cover the Political Survival Initiative. We are paying enough fees & the market is challenging enough. Please vote against this fee increase! 


Submitted by Mickey Lobb
at: April 15, 2011
You sound like the government. Food prices through the roof, gas prices through the roof, taxes going up and you want to charge people more. Raising dues or taxes will reduce the number of people who stay in the business. Fewer people less income. Lower costs, more people DON'T YOU GET IT??? It's real basic stuff. Inflation is really hurting people. Spend more get less. If you want to cut your costs, stop bribing politicians. They can steal enough on their own. 


Submitted by Dennis Patti
at: April 15, 2011
I feel that NAR dues are already too high for the services we receive. Keep the dues the same, cut NAR overhead and use the free up funds for ad/political campaigns. 


Submitted by Mike
at: April 15, 2011
With the recent difficult market, past few years of major sales decline, hence income drastically reduced, increased cost of doing business, and you want to raise the Realtor fees?????? haven't we suffered enough?!?!?! please reconsider this decision. The attrition of agents has already been staggering, if anything, give those of us still trying to eek out a living a break!!  


Submitted by Pat Norberg
at: April 15, 2011
What a load of crap... $4.00 a gallon for gas,25% increase in the cost of Obamacare,and ;you idiots want to line your pockets with more unearned dollars.. NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO 


Submitted by Al Leckrone
at: April 15, 2011
I find it appalling that in this economy you are raising our dues . Why not cut some expenses? We are all struggling to make a living in this market. And you are raising our cost to do business???? 


Submitted by Linda Westerside
at: April 15, 2011
i do not support the dues increase at this time ,lets wait until the market picks up, agents are being squeezed for money from every direction 


Submitted by keith m. hartung
at: April 15, 2011
I strongly object to having dues for this purpose be mandatory, and prefer to personally control my political contributions. The approach by the NAR with this initiative isn't any different from the mandatory dues forced on most union members in this country in order that the union leadership will have outsized influence on political campaigns. And, as we have recenlty seen in the midwest states, this result is often to the detriment of the public they serve. Please vote NO on this initiative. 


Submitted by Bill Wagamon
at: April 15, 2011
I'm not in favor of it--particularly when the real estate market is less than wonderful. I would urge you to vote against the increase.  


Submitted by Bill Peiffer
at: April 15, 2011
i think the dues are high enough in this market where earnings are really reduced. I can see taking the amount that is voluntary and making that an increase but little more. 


Submitted by Thomas Chenoweth
at: April 15, 2011
I am vehemently opposed to any dues increase whatsoever. I firmly believe that the NAR can provide quality support & services to all members, by exercising sound, EFFICIENT money management and eliminating WASTEFUL spending. Realtors have suffered tremendously in terms of income since 2005 to date. If anything, a dues DEcrease should be implemented.  


Submitted by E. Eisner
at: April 15, 2011
This proposal is a real threat to my right to support the political candidates I choose. No one should be forced to finance candidates as is required in unions. They have gotten away with this, but I know that large corporations could never foster this on their employees. Contributions should remain voluntary. What you are considering may be legal, but it certainly isn't ethical. If i read the comments from the membership correctly, the members have overwhelmingly said "no thanks". As you are representing the members, I hope you will vote accordingly.  


Submitted by Steve Sumption
at: April 15, 2011
I am opposed to the dues increase. Not only would it come at a time when many REALTORS are barely surviving, I am idealogically opposed to PACs. I support groups that are working to eliminate contributions by corporations and special interest groups, and do not support PACs (even PACs with whose aims I am in agreement) as a matter of principle. Therefore, I would strenuously object to being assessed additional dues to support RPAC. 


Submitted by Sandi Bisgood
at: April 15, 2011
No NO No Is this whats best for the Members? Shame on NAR Lets do the math 40.00 x 1.2 million members = 48 million dollars. I hope they will listen to it's members and vote No  


Submitted by Nora Martin
at: April 15, 2011
Yes, you might as well jump on the bandwagon and charge us more, just like food and gas. In this time of economic crisis when people are hurting (yes, even Realtors), why increase our financial burden. Political advocacy? You don't need more of our money to do this. This means that the local and state will also increase our fees. Right now our local Board charges us way too much for what little they do. 


Submitted by Kristina Owens
at: April 15, 2011
I am not in favor of increasing our dues for this purpose. I would prefer to see our leadership pay attention to affordable health insurance for our members. Many of our members are without insurance at all and for the rest of us it is exorbitantly expensive. My political views and yours are not necessarily the same. 


Submitted by Kathy
at: April 15, 2011
All we need is another PAC. I'm not in favor of it--particularly when the real estate market is less than wonderful. I would urge you to vote against the increase for this purpose. 


Submitted by LYALL RODGERS
at: April 15, 2011
If anything we should be looking how to reduce dues not increase them. As a commercial real estate agent I feel I get nothing out of my membership and do not want to pay any more. 


Submitted by James Mangas
at: April 15, 2011
Do NOT raise our dues for any reason! The PR campaigns are ineffective. The MID simply inflates the cost of personal home ownership! Everyone wants the other guy's deductions or special interests to be eliminated except when it comes to their own! Stop with the insanity... you are acting just like congress. 


Submitted by Andrew Show
at: April 15, 2011

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