Why #RealtorsVote, By The Numbers, Success Stories, and More View e-mail in browser August 13, 2020 Why #RealtorsVote We are 83 days away from Election Day! As we are inundated with political messages, it’s easy to get turned off by the negativity of elections. Yes it's a presidential election year, but keep in mind that on November 3, your vote will collectively determine 616 federal, state, and local government officials and 95 statewide ballot measures. That’s why we want REALTORS® to vote! READ MORE By The Numbers 17M Estimated number of vacant homes in America according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey. Watch the Center for Community Progress’ Danielle Lewinski and the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS®’ Veronica Cardello address how to design strategies to address the issues of vacancy, abandonment, and deterioration. Learn why it is critical that communities identify and analyze a neighborhood’s distinct market challenges and opportunities to address property vacancy and abandonment. LEARN MORE 25,000 Number of state licensed and certified appraisers represented by NAR. This year’s Appraisal Summit, Fair Housing Issues in Real Estate Appraisal, was precipitated by recent research suggesting home valuation processes could be influencing the wealth gap between White and Black households in America. NAR and its guests examined recent claims that home valuation processes might play a factor in exacerbating racial inequality in America. LEARN MORE >100,000 Number of small businesses that have permanently shuttered during the coronavirus pandemic. An additional 2 million are at risk of immediately closing. The latest Realtor® Magazine column from NAR’s senior vice president of government affairs, Shannon McGahn, details the importance of commercial real estate and 1031 like-kind exchanges and why this sector needs to be stabilized. LEARN MORE The REALTOR® Party At Work Highlighted here are a few of the many REALTOR® Party success stories across the nation. These and others are cataloged in the Success Stories section on REALTORParty.realtor. Bringing People to the Polls—and Vice Versa This year marks three milestone anniversaries for voting rights advocates. Ironically, it’s also a year when the coronavirus and other factors are adding new barriers to those trying to register and cast their vote. So REALTOR® associations this year are using distance-friendly approaches to their voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities. READ MORE Akron Cleveland REALTORS® Is Poised to Reach 266,000 Consumers Mandatory point-of-sale inspections and associated escrow requirements can add significant challenges to buying a home. The Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® is working to get these ordinances off the books in cities throughout the region it serves by educating consumers with a compelling 12-page insert in two regional magazines. READ MORE Orange County REALTORS® Creatively Connects with Congress Orange County REALTORS® wasn’t going to let a shutdown stand in the way of its outreach and education programming: moving entirely online and increasing the number of classes offered, it reached more members than ever. Among the highlights: Virtual town halls connected REALTORS® directly to their members of Congress. READ More Cincinnati Area REALTORS® Strengthen Transportation Infrastructure to Connect Residents to Jobs When the public bus system of Hamilton County, Ohio, needed an overhaul, ‘Reinventing METRO’ promised improved service and financial sustainability. To get it funded by increasing in the county sales tax, the local REALTOR® board joined a broad-based coalition in a leadership capacity with support from the Ohio Association and the REALTOR® Party. READ More Resources & Opportunities Your Voice. Your Vote. Use the 2020 Election Toolkit to share why voting is important to REALTORS®. Downloadable graphics and social media posts will help REALTORS® and REALTOR® associations show their REALTOR® Party pride and help get out the vote. LEARN MORE Sept. 9: How the Land Use Initiative Lends ‘Horsepower’ to Advocacy Webinar Hear the details of how state and local associations can successfully use the Land Use Initiative and analyses of recent issue trends by NAR consultants. Gain insight from an expert panel on two top issues analyzed — tenant protection and short-term rental measures — and how the analyses highlighted areas of concern leading to successful outcomes. REGISTER Expanding Housing Opportunity – A Toolkit for REALTORS® and Associations A newly updated collection of guides and resources designed to help REALTORS® and Associations conduct activities to address affordability challenges in the communities they serve is now available. Rich in ideas and resources, this toolkit was designed to be a reference and working companion to those addressing housing affordability in their communities. LEARN MORE New Coronavirus Consumer Guides Available in English and Spanish Download and customize the Protect Your Investment and Protect You Credit brochures with your clients. These resources will help homeowners who are facing financial challenges due to the Coronavirus pandemic and offer advice when working with trusted professionals like REALTORS® and financial counselors. LEARN MORE On Common Ground: Reinventing How Communities Work in the Age of COVID-19 REALTORS® stand ready to play a pivotal role in helping communities rebuild and recover as states and localities work towards getting to a new normal after the COVID-19 pandemic. In this special issue of On Common Ground, take a deeper dive into the evolution of homeownership post-pandemic; what nonprofits and local governments are doing to help preserve homeownership; and how local governments are re-tooling public spaces to accommodate social distancing. LEARN MORE Stay up to Date with NAR’s Coronavirus Resources & Information NAR is providing guidance to help REALTORS® respond to COVID-19 – commonly referred to as coronavirus – and its impact on the real estate industry and real estate transactions. Any updates from NAR and its response to the coronavirus emergency will be collected on nar.realtor/coronavirus. LEARN MORE Take Advantage of the Right Tools, Right Now In this uncertain time, NAR is re-activating the Right Tools, Right Now program to make a sweeping selection of resources available for free or at reduced cost. Find offerings on finance, technology, skills building toolkits, and more to help your business. LEARN MORE Join the REALTOR® Party Online Are you posting, liking, tweeting or pinning? So is the REALTOR® Party.  Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram to get the latest news, information and resources.

Send us examples of how your association put NAR’s REALTOR® Party resources to work to implement a successful advocacy or community outreach program. Email your stories to: realtorparty@realtors.org. See more than 300 stories documenting how REALTOR® associations around the country put REALTOR® Party Resources to work at the REALTOR® Party Success Stories page. This newsletter replaces the NAR Weekly Report for this week and the second week of every month. The REALTOR® Party News will publish next on September 10, 2020. If you missed a previous edition check out the REALTOR® Party News Archive. Headquarters: 430 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 DC Office: 500 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001-2020 | 1-800-874-6500