Housing is Critical Infrastructure, By The Numbers, Success Stories, and More
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| July 8, 2021 |
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| Housing is Critical Infrastructure |
| As America celebrated National Homeownership Month in June, NAR continued its work to highlight some of the most critical policy issues and market challenges facing our industry today. Of course, anyone who has practiced real estate, tried to buy a home, or turned on the news over the past year knows that the lack of available housing in America has helped create a market unlike any we’ve ever seen. |
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| Five members of the Supreme Court, a majority, ruled that the Centers for Disease Control lacked the authority to implement a blanket, nationwide eviction moratorium. The justices stopped short of lifting the moratorium before it expires July 31, but the ruling indeed represents a victory for property rights in America. In May, in a case brought by the Georgia and Alabama Associations of REALTORS® and supported by NAR, a federal judge ruled the ban was unlawful but kept the moratorium in place pending an ongoing appeal. |
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| NAR has reignited its partnership with the Food Recovery Network to help fight hunger and combat food waste in America. To date, FRN has donated about 4.1 million meals to families in need across the country. NAR’s upcoming events and meetings will be “Food Recovery Verified,” a program initiated by FRN that recognizes organizations for recovering surplus food and donating it to nonprofit organizations. NAR continues to encourage the 1,200 nationwide state and local REALTOR® associations to also participate in the FRN program. |
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| NAR was one of 20 housing and real estate industry groups pushing HUD to reform its student loan debt calculation policies last summer. REALTORS® applauded the Biden Administration when it recently announced some much-needed changes which specifically will help millennials and families of color become homeowners. NAR remains active in our work to address the persistent lack of available housing inventory in America, and the “Housing is Critical Infrastructure” report we released in mid-June, which explains in convincing fashion just how dire the shortage is, is gaining the attention of policymakers everywhere. |
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| Nearly three-fourths of Americans classified as members of Generation Z, those who are roughly under the age of 25, say they prefer buying a home over renting long-term, according to a new survey from realtor.com®. About 40% say they plan to enter the housing market within the next five years. And nearly half envision themselves eventually living in the suburbs. Mirroring trends we’ve seen since the pandemic began, more than a quarter of Gen Z respondents say they feel even more strongly about their desire to become a homeowner today than they did before COVID-19. |
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| NAR’s newest consumer advertising campaign, “The Fight for Fair,” emphasizes our association’s ongoing, unwavering commitment to Fair Housing in America. The campaign, which has already recorded 1.2 billion impressions worldwide, has been recognized a total of 21 times since January by some of the nation’s most prestigious awards programs in the advertising or real estate industries. It recently claimed Gold recognition in the real estate category of the Shorty Awards, which honors top content creators and producers on social media, and also won a Gold Stevie Award for Marketing Campaign of the Year from the American Business Awards. |
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| The REALTOR® Party At Work |
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| Using a Fair Housing Grant, Birmingham Association Highlights Fair Housing Fight |
| Using a Fair Housing Grant from the REALTOR® Party, the Birmingham Association of REALTORS® hosted a Fair Housing Summit this April at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The event builds on an initiative BAR recently launched alongside the Birmingham Urban League to boost homeownership in the region. By providing significant resources and education to help participants restore their credit and improve their overall financial situation, the program helps put the American Dream within reach for many of the region’s low- and moderate-income families. |
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| Missouri REALTORS®’ Advocacy Helps Secure Transportation Funding |
| Despite having the seventh-largest highway network in the country, only one state in union spends less on its system than Missouri. As longtime advocates for increasing the resources available to maintain, modernize, and reform the state’s roadways, the Missouri REALTORS® threw their support behind legislation to gradually increase the state’s motor fuel tax, its primary revenue source for roadway maintenance. And with a REALTOR® Party Call for Action and a pointed letter from 2021 President Janet Judd, the association was successful in helping to put Missouri on the path to a more sustainable, safe, and solvent infrastructure system. |
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| Pacific Southwest Association Contributes to Award-Winning Handbook for City of San Diego |
| A Smart Growth Grant from the REALTOR® Party allowed the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® to help create a Companion Unit Handbook explaining the nuts and bolts of Accessory Dwelling Units. The one-stop resource for homeowners has earned kudos from the city’s mayor and the Urban Design Award from the San Diego Section of the American Planning Association. |
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| Resources & Opportunities |
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| Placemaking Grants Helping REALTORS® Rebuild, Refresh Communities. |
| NAR encourages state and local REALTOR® Associations to partner with groups in their communities to make their cities, towns, and neighborhoods better places to live. Placemaking Grants are offered to help fund the creation of new public spaces and destinations, and have been put to good use in over 400 communities nationwide over the past 7 years. |
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| Grants Address Broadband, Zoning, and More |
| A new Rural Outreach Grant is now available to fund advocacy initiatives related to broadband, open space preservation, infrastructure challenges, and more. Associations can explore a newly revised Rural Outreach site for detailed information on rural issues and select a time to meet virtually with staff to evaluate strategies for addressing challenges unique to rural communities. |
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| How Can Your Association Address a Lack of Affordable Housing? |
| Organize a summit, host a class, engage an expert, hold a housing fair, or partner with elected officials. Housing Opportunity Grants support a wide range of initiatives to raise awareness and increase the availability of affordable housing options to build stronger, healthier, and more vibrant communities. |
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| Build Smarter, Stronger Communities |
| Smart growth focuses on finding new and creative approaches to make America’s communities more livable, sustainable, and financially viable. Your association can apply for a Smart Growth Grant to support advocacy for better land use, underwrite a transportation study, promote downtown revitalization or historic preservation, enhance walkability, and so much more. |
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| The Search is Over! Be Found With a Top-level Domain |
| Set yourself apart and set your business up for exponential growth with a .realtor™ or .realestate domain that separates you from the pack and clearly positions your brand as a cut above the competition. Claim your name and up your game today at get.realtor! |
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| Interactive REALTOR® Party Resource Guide |
| Get the latest updates and information on advocacy grants, programs, resources, and educational opportunities with the Interactive REALTOR® Party Resource Guide. A new design, dynamic search functions, and integrated REALTOR® Party Tracker data offer a complete view of the REALTOR® Party at work in communities nationwide. Bookmark this invaluable online resource today. |
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