National Association of REALTORS® GADFly Newsletter
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GADFly Newsletter
April 2022
JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT:
Nominations for Vice Chair due by April 30
NAR is seeking nominations from state associations for vice chair of the GAD Advisory Group. Candidates must submit a Statement of Interest to Jim MacGregor by April 30, 2022. For more information, contact Jim MacGregor | 202-383-1188

Site Nominations for 2024 GAD Institute due by
May 1
The location of the NAR GAD Institute rotates annually among three regions of the United States. For 2024, we are seeking nominations from the Western region, which includes NAR Regions 11 through 13. More information can be found in the GAD Policies and Procedures document or by contacting Jim MacGregor | 202-383-1188
GAD Meetings during the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings
Monday, May 2: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
GAD Briefing on Hill Visits
Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, National Harbor 2, Level 3
Wednesday, May 4: 6:30 – 8:30 pm
GAD Reception
Fiorella Italian Kitchen, 152 National Plaza (3-minute walk from the Gaylord)
Thursday, May 5: 9:00 – 11:00 am
GAD Professional Development Session: Train the Trainer – Best Practices for Choosing REALTOR® Champions Course.
Class size is limited, so pre-registration is required (more info below)
Thursday, May 5: 12:30 – 1:30 pm
GAD Meeting
Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, Maryland A, Ballroom Level
Thursday, May 5: 1:30 – 2:30 pm
GAD State and Local Breakout Sessions
Local: Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, Maryland A, Ballroom Level
State: Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, Maryland 3 & 4, Ballroom Level

Talking Points for REALTORS Legislative MeetingsTo ensure that our FPCs are well prepared for the upcoming meetings, your NAR Advocacy Team has launched this year's 2022 FPC E-Packet - your one stop shop for all advocacy materials you and your FPCs will need to be ready for your meetings on the Hill.  We want to acknowledge that this year will be different than past years. From a new headquarter hotel at the Gaylord, National Harbor to the limits on Hill meeting attendees post-covid and the House of Representatives being on recess, the name of the game this year is flexibility. The FPC E-Packet is intended to be your landing page for all questions and resources while you and your FPCs are in town.  For further information please contact Victoria Givens | 202-383-1021

Professional Development for GADs at the Legislative Meetings: May 5, 9-11 am

This year’s GAD professional development session at the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings is intended for GADs who are interested in teaching the NAR’s Best Practices for Choosing REALTOR® Champions course to their members or to other associations. Upon completion of the session, you will be given access to the course materials and listed as a qualified trainer on the REALTOR® Party website. Due to room size limitations, you must pre-register for the course. Only register if you are certain to attend. If you have questions or issues with registration, please contact John Winston | 202-383-1235
Community Outreach
Apply by May 2: NAR Partners with Counselors of Real Estate® (CRE) Consulting Corps to Help Associations Take the Lead on Top-of-Mind Real Estate Issues
Is your association interested in addressing challenges such as declining housing stock and affordability, natural disasters, and commercial disinvestment? Through Transforming Neighborhoods, NAR is pleased to collaborate with The Counselors of Real Estate® (CRE) Consulting Corps to provide analysis, plans, and recommendations to solve today’s top-of-mind real estate issues in partnership with local REALTOR® associations and key public and private stakeholders. Learn how CRE® created action steps to increase housing supply on behalf of the Spokane Association of REALTORS®. NAR covers the program costs for this pilot program. Complete the interest form by May 2 to be considered for one of three association engagements to be selected by May 27, 2022. More info. Questions? Contact Christine Windle | 202-383-1135 or Samantha DeKoven | 312-329-8431

Urban Roundtable – Is the City of Tomorrow around the Corner? May 5, 2:30-4 pm

Make plans to attend the Urban Roundtable during the 2022 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings to learn how digital technologies and sustainable practices are changing the way we plan cities. Greg Herb, REALTOR® Party Community Engagement Liaison, will lead a panel discussion featuring Evan Regan-Levine, Executive Vice President, JBG Smith and Bill Grayson, Executive Director, Center for ULI, Sustainability and Economic Performance. Contact Hugh Morris | 202-383-1278

New Toolkit Helps Associations Engage in Fair Housing Initiatives
Take action. Educate the community. Help strengthen your members’ commitment to offering equal professional service to all. NAR’s new Fair Housing Toolkit details how Fair Housing Grants can support a variety of initiatives that help state and local associations uphold fair housing laws, strengthen REALTORS®’ commitment to equal professional service, and help build diverse, inclusive communities. Contact Catherine Mesick | 202-383-7512

Expert Advocacy Help When You Need It
Legislative and regulatory proposals that may harm property rights often arise quickly and require expert analysis. The Land Use Initiative will analyze and provide talking points for proposed planning and zoning-related measures that impact the transfer of real property to help state and local associations advocate on behalf of members. Review past measures that have been submitted and reviewed by keyword, issue, date and state. Contact Christine Windle | 202-383-1135

REALTOR® Party Success Stories – April 2022
Each month, REALTOR® Party Success Stories highlight state and local associations that achieved an advocacy win with the help of a REALTOR® Party grant or resource. Success stories created in April include:
RPAC Fundraising
2022 President’s Circle Deadline
The President’s Circle launched its third round for 2022 on April 12, consisting of 8 REALTOR® Party Champions. The deadline for President’s Circle members to invest their first $500 is May 31, 2022.  For more information regarding President’s Circle, contact Avery Walker | 202-383-1268

RPAC Hall of Fame Ceremony
We are excited to announce that the 2019, 2020, and 2021 RPAC Hall of Fame Classes will be inducted during the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings! The induction ceremony will be held on Tuesday, May 3, from 5:00-8:00 pm at the Gaylord, Potomac A-D, Ballroom Level. Everyone is invited, so gather your state delegations to support the new inductees from your state! All members and guests must be registered for the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings and wear their badge to gain entry to this event. Contact: Jackie Zaporowski | 202-383-1029

RPAC Display Table
Visit the RPAC Table for Major Investor Recognition and other RPAC resources at the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings at the Gaylord, Potomac Coat Check Area, Ballroom Level. Hours are as follows: Tuesday, May 3 - 8:00 am-2:00 pm (closed from 11:30 am-12:00 pm), Wednesday, May 4 - 9:00 am-4:00 pm (closed from 12:30 pm-1:00 pm), Thursday, May 5 - 9:00 am-5:00 pm (closed from 12:30 pm-1:00 pm). Contact: Jackie Zaporowski | 202-383-1029
NAR Research and Press Releases
There's an App for That: Generational Home Searches
Whether using an app on their phones or driving around their neighborhoods looking for open house signs, home buyers of different generations search in their own, unique ways. However, there are also more similarities than one might think.
By: Matt Christopherson

Generational Home Purchases
With differences in buying power, family situations, and priorities, home buyers from different generations are purchasing very different homes.
By: Matt Christopherson

Commercial Weekly: Retail Vacancy Declines, Pushing Up Asking Rents
The retail vacancy rate declined throughout 2021 and ended Q4 2021 at 4.7%, down from the previous quarter's 4.8%. Retail vacancy as of Q1 2022 is down to 4.5%.
By: Brandon Hardin

Commercial Weekly: Multifamily and Industrial Markets Post Price Appreciation Gains of Over 10% as of March 2022
Prices of multifamily properties and industrial properties rose at the strongest pace by over 10% year-over-year, while sales prices on retail and office properties rose at a modest pace of less than 5%.
By: Scholastica (Gay) Cororaton
MESSAGE FROM THE GAD CHAIR
Brad Ward
GAD Chair
Michigan REALTORS®


A person smiling for the camera  Description automatically generated with low confidence The REALTORS® Legislative Meetings (commonly referred to as Midyear) are right around the corner. The GAD reception is scheduled for Wednesday, May 3, at 6:30 pm at Fiorella. The GAD meeting, professional development, and state and local breakouts run all day Thursday, May 5, starting at 9 am at the Gaylord.

Though this year’s Legislative Meetings have a new venue, plenty will remain the same. With the help of some of your counterparts across the country, I’ve compiled for you a Top 5 Legislative Meetings Tips and Tricks:

1. Know the NAR legislative talking points. There are number of opportunities to familiarize yourself with these talking points before and during the conference. Your members will want to talk about them. For those doing Hill visits, you will have to help keep the conversation focused on the issues.
2. Meet one-on-one with other GADs. We will have our meetings on Thursday, but don’t underestimate the learning and networking that comes with sitting down with another GAD facing similar issues. Take the opportunity to grab a drink with someone after the state and local breakouts or reach out to the other GADs from your region after caucuses.
3. Be seen. Not everyone got a room at the host hotel, but if you are in between meetings or don’t have meetings, hang out in the hotel lobby or near the meeting rooms in the Gaylord to see and talk with your members. Standing in the back of the room before the start of the General Session will also have a great rate of return on member interaction.
4. Be a concierge to your members. Charge your cell phone and familiarize yourself with OpenTable, Uber, and Lyft. Update your credit card information in those apps before you go if you haven’t used them in a while. Also, notify your members when Hill visit schedules change, and they will change. Even the day of.
5. Set limits. Personal limits. There is a lot going on, and you can’t be everywhere at once, or everything to everyone. Try your best to plan out your schedule ahead of time. Member limits. Help them know what is appropriate when meeting with a Member of Congress. It’s also okay for you to leave an evening gathering early. As my mother said, “Nothing good happens after midnight.” It is especially true when bad decisions with members can cost you your job.

Bonus Tip
: Take a moment to appreciate where you are. Our nation’s capital and the surrounding area have such a rich history. Having chosen government affairs work, you must have at least a passing interest in where history was made. Visit a monument or a museum. My favorite building is the Library of Congress. You can get a library card across the street which will provide you access to the reading room. It truly is an amazing experience.

I look forward to seeing everyone in a couple of weeks.
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GAD Directory
KEY DATES
May 1–6, 2022
REALTORS® Legislative Meetings
July 19–21, 2022
Government Affairs Directors (GAD) Institute