THE GADFLY October 2016   In This Issue... Dates & Deadlines GAD Meetings at the 2016 REALTORS® Convention & Expo GAD Resources & Tools RPAC News NAR’s Economic Outlook     Dates & Deadlines    Oct. 15: FINAL Community Outreach Grant Deadline for 2016 Visit REALTOR® Action Center to learn more about funding levels and grant regulations.   Diversity Grants – Mobilize your diverse membership to lead your association in to the future. Apply for a grant of up to $5,000 Learn more at www.realtoractioncenter.com/diversity Contact: Hugh Morris at 202-383-1278 Smart Growth Grants – Shape your community into the most attractive, livable, sustainable place it can be. Apply for a grant of up to $15,000 Learn more at www.realtoractioncenter.com/sggrants Contact: Hugh Morris at 202-383-1278 Housing Opportunity Grants – Launch innovative activities to make affordable housing more readily available in your community. Apply for a grant of up to $15,000. Learn more at www.realtoractioncenter.com/hopgrants Contact: Wendy Penn at 202-383-7504    Oct. 21: RPAC Major Investor Recognition Deadline and Webinar Don’t forget that the deadline for Major Investor recognition at the 2016 REALTORS® Conference & Expo is quickly approaching. The deadline to have all funds transmitted to NAR to ensure you receive your RPAC lapel pin and invitation to the Major Investor reception is October 21, 2016. Please refer to the RPAC Fundraising Transmittal Deadlines Policy or check out our newest webinar for more information on recognition deadlines. For more information, contact Jackie Zaporowski.    Oct. 31: 2016 Placemaking Micro-Grant Deadline Applications for 2016 funds are due the end of October. The 2017 grant application will be available again in January. Please note that changes will be made to the grant and its requirements for 2017. Stay tuned to the REALTOR® Action Center. For more information, contact Holly Moskerintz at 202-383-1157.    Dec. 16: 2016 President’s Cup Deadline Fast Approaching The deadline for this year’s President’s Cup is just 10 weeks away! Is your state in the running? What goals are left for your association to fulfill? Review the report to see what your state has completed. The deadline for these goals is Friday, December 16, 2016. For questions about RPAC goals or totals, contact Jackie Zaporowski at 202-383-1029, or contact Erin Murphy at 202-383-1079 with questions about your advocacy goals.     GAD Meetings at the 2016 REALTORS® Convention & Expo    Mark your calendars for the following meetings: Friday, November 4 GAD Reception – SAVE THE DATE 6:00 – 8:00 PM Location TBD, details to follow under separate cover.  Saturday, November 5 GAD Advisory Group Meeting (closed meeting) 8:00 – 9:30 AM at the Hyatt Regency Orlando, Celebration 11 Government Affairs Directors Meeting 10:00 – 11:00 AM at the Hyatt Regency Orlando, Regency Ballroom T Meet up with fellow Government Affairs professionals to hear about what is going on in the GAD community. Updates will be provided on federal issues, state and local campaigns, RPAC, the REALTOR® Party and the 2017 Government Affairs Directors Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida. Attendees will also have opportunities to network with other local or state Government Affairs Directors during breakouts.  State and Local Government Affairs Directors Breakouts 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the Hyatt Regency Orlando State Breakout – Silver Spring Room Local Breakout – Regency Ballroom T Government Affairs Directors Professional Development Session 12:00 – 1:30 PM at the Hyatt Regency Orlando, Regency Ballroom T For more information, contact Kyle Lambert-London at 202-383-1203.     GAD Resources & Tools    2016 – 2017 GAD Advisory Group Named The Chair and Vice Chair have completed appointments for this year’s GAD Advisory Group who advises NAR on GAD issues and professional development opportunities, including the GAD Institute. Thank you to all who volunteered. Chair: Mark Quarry, Cincinnati Area Board of REALTORS®, OH Vice Chair: Cady Thomas, North Carolina Association of REALTORS® Immediate Past Chair: Jenny Reese, Nevada Association of REALTORS® GAD Institute Host Liaison: Matthew Leger, REALTOR® Association of the Palm Beaches, FL State GADs: Brandon Alderete, Texas Association of REALTORS® Jeff Hebb, Nebraska Association of REALTORS® Elizabeth Hensil, Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS® Nicole LaSlavic, Arizona Association of REALTORS® Matt Robison, Oklahoma Association of REALTORS® Heidi Schlicher, Virginia Association of REALTORS® Local GADs: Justin Allen, Salt Lake City Association of REALTORS®, UT Adam Davis, REALTOR® Association of Sarasota and Manatee, FL Jamie McMillan, Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS®, OH Jim Nadeau, Carrera Nevada Association of REALTORS®, NV Brent Swander, Columbus REALTORS®, OH Kelli Walker, New Orleans Metro Association of REALTORS®, LA For more information, contact Kyle Lambert-London at 202-383-1203.    Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice Legislation Across the country, legislation is being introduced at the state level that attempts to bypass the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). USPAP are the nationally accepted and recognized standards of appraisal practice. NAR believes that appraisal standards should be uniform across the U.S. and its territories, and does not support efforts to dilute USPAP or layer on additional sets of valuation standards. So far Montana, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, California and Indiana have faced changes to their state codes related to the use of USPAP. If you learn of USPAP or real property valuation-related legislation in your state or have any questions, please contact Sehar Siddiqi at 202-383-1176.    Interested in a 2017 REALTOR® Party Leader attending your meeting or event? 2017 REALTOR® Party Leaders must be officially requested using form found at the following link: http://www.realtoractioncenter.com/realtor-party/liaisons/realtor-party-liaisons.html Submission of a request does not guarantee attendance. Please do not use this form for Major Investor event requests—those requests should be submitted as part of the grant request process. If you have questions, please contact Beth Brittingham.    Follow NAR’s Government Affairs on Twitter NAR’s Government Affairs division has created its own twitter handle—@NARGovtAffairs—to keep REALTORS® apprised of the legislative and regulatory happenings in Washington. Learn about the latest developments with Congress and the Administration, the key issues NAR is tracking and how what is happening in Washington impacts the business of real estate. For more information, contact Kara Beigay at 202-383-7520.    Looking for a Way to Jumpstart Your Neighborhood Revitalization? Check Out a Better Block If a downtown in your community is struggling to survive or the residents dream of having cafes, green spaces, safe streets and shopping, then perhaps it’s time to organize a Better Block. The new Build a Better Block Guide offers an overview of what a Better Block is and information to help you and your partners to plan and organize a Better Block. The Smart Growth Action Grant can be used to fund this tactical urbanism strategy to help jumpstart the revitalization of a community by giving residents a say in the matter and a taste of what can be. For more information, contact Holly Moskerintz at 202-383-1157.    Meet a Core Standard and Provide a Member Benefit—At the Same Time Stop by the Expanding Housing Opportunities (EHO) and the Employer-Assisted Housing (EAH) classes to learn more about offering these courses, which satisfy a Community Outreach Core Standard requirement. Students who take the EHO class learn to better leverage partnerships and resources to expand housing opportunities. Those who take the EAH class will learn how to work with a team to approach employers to offer their employees an EAH benefit—education, counseling and/or financial assistance. The classes can be funded with a Housing Opportunity Grant. Both classes will be held Thursday, November 3, 9:00 AM -1:00 PM (drop in at any time). Expanding Housing Opportunities Class Contact: Wendy Penn at 202-383-7504 Employer Assisted Housing Class  Contact: Holly Moskerintz at 202-383-1157    In Search of Innovative Solutions NAR is gathering information about associations’ activities to help prevent or reduce homelessness. Examples and best practices will be shared on the REALTOR® Action Center. If your association is working on or recently completed an activity that you’d like us to highlight, please complete this brief questionnaire. For more information, contact Wendy Penn at 202-383-7504.    Learn How Walkability is Impacting the Real Estate Industry Demand for walkable communities is on the upswing. People of all ages and lifestyles are recognizing the benefits and enhanced quality of life of being within walking distance to transit and destinations of choice such as shops, restaurants, schools, parks and work. REALTORS® need to be aware of this trend and how it will affect them. Get the details at the November REALTORS® Conference & Expo on what makes a community walkable; the demand for walkable communities; their impact on real estate; Walk Scores and MLS; and one community’s quest to become more walkable. Details: http://www.realtor.org/educsess.nsf/ PagesLUNew/16ConfMoskerintz     RPAC News    RPAC Fundraising Forum The RPAC Fundraising Forum will be held Friday, November 4 from 3:00 to 4:00 PM in the Windermere Ballroom Y at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. It will feature two celebrated NAR speakers, Jamie Gregory, Deputy Chief Lobbyist, and Bill Malkasian, Vice President of Political Strategic Planning, who will explain how RPAC investments are used and review federal policy priorities. The RPAC Auction will also be launched at the RPAC Fundraising Forum, giving you the chance to bid on acclaimed artwork of past REALTOR® Conference & Expos! For more information, contact Kanoa Naehu.    NAR After Dark NAR After Dark, NAR’s Official Concert After Party, will be held Friday, November 4 at the Orange County Convention Center, Room W224. Enjoy music, dancing and the opportunity to bid on acclaimed artwork of past REALTOR® Conference & Expos. Tickets for NAR After Dark are$25 in advance or $35 at the door. To add tickets to their registration, members may click here or call our registrar at 800-650-6893. Please encourage your members to join the fun! For more information, contact Beth Brittingham.    RPAC Major Investor Reception The RPAC Major Investor Reception will be held Saturday, November 5 from 7:00 to 10:00 PM at i-Drive 360, Orlando’s newest entertainment destination and home to a 400 foot observation wheel. With a fun block-party vibe, guests will enjoy the picturesque courtyard, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, a sea life aquarium, and of course the observation wheel! All 2016 RPAC Major Investors will be invited to attend with one guest. For more information, contact Beth Brittingham.   NAR’s Economic Outlook   REALTORS® and the New Closing Process Survey - NAR Research surveyed members about their awareness and preparation for the new TRID rules, which are changing the way closings are performed. Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features - Learn why homeowners tackle outdoor remodeling projects, project resale value and owners’ increased happiness once a project is done. Profile of Real Estate Firms - Despite low inventory and rising home prices, most real estate firms remain confident about their overall future profitability. 2016 Q3 HOME Survey - This quarterly report, based on monthly surveys, covers consumer sentiment about the housing market. Markets Needing Single-family Housing Starts - Despite steady job growth, lack of single-family home construction in many cities has led to a housing shortage and high-priced existing homes. For more information on NAR’s Economic Outlook, contact Meredith Dunn at 202-383-1207

Message from the GAD Chair Mark J. Quarry GAD Chair Cincinnati Area Board OF REALTORS® Hello, GAD Nation! Fall is here now and a lot has happened the last few weeks. Forty-five new REALTOR® Association staff members attended the New GAD & AE REALTOR® Party Orientation Meeting in Washington, D.C., September 19-21. Kyle Lambert-London organized the extremely effective program, and NAR Staff gave the participants a solid and informative overview of the REALTOR® Party and its many programs and resources available to all of us. Justin Allen (Salt Lake Board of REALTORS®) and I provided a “seasoned” GAD perspective for the attendees.  We welcomed the new members of the GAD Advisory Group listed in this month’s GADFly! As we mentioned last month, there was a large number of GADs who expressed interest in serving on the AG. And while we couldn’t select everyone, please do not despair because AG vacancies often occur mid-year. In a few weeks, many of us will be together again in Orlando for the REALTORS® Conference & Expo November 4-7. If you are attending, consult the Conference Schedule for sessions on Walkable Communities, Property Rights & the Supreme Court and updates from NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun and much more. However, as you know, Saturday is the busy day for GAD Nation. That’s when we have our GAD Meeting, Local & State GAD Breakouts and our GAD Professional Development session. The GAD AG is working to finalize these sessions and details of our Friday night GAD Reception are coming soon so stay tuned! Finally, just a reminder that next year’s GAD Institute in West Palm Beach, FL is July 11-14, 2017. So block out those dates on your calendar, if you haven’t already. Do you think the state of Florida is ready for GAD Nation, two separate times in the span of nine months? We’ll find out! Follow the REALTOR® Action Center! GAD Directory  SAVE THE DATE REALTORS® Conference & Expo November 4-7, 2016 Orlando, Florida 2017 GAD Institute July 11-14, 2017 West Palm Beach, Florida