Since 1969, the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC)(link is external) has promoted the election of pro-REALTOR® candidates across the United States. The purpose of RPAC is clear: REALTORS® raise and spend money to elect candidates who understand and support their interest.. The money to accomplish this comes from voluntary contributions made by REALTORS®. These are not members’ dues; this is money given freely by REALTORS® in recognition of how important campaign fundraising is to the political process. RPAC doesn’t buy votes RPAC enables REALTORS® to support candidates that support the issues that are important to their profession and livelihood.
To make a WVAR PAC investment, please click here
To view a list of our 2023 Major Investors, please click here
RPAC WORKS
From 2004 to 2012, RPAC raised over $45 million dollars to support pro-REALTOR® Party candidates running for Congress. The amount of money RPAC spends to support candidates makes it one of the top three trade association PACs in the nation. REALTORS® are a key part of the American Dream: home ownership. But now, more than ever, REALTORS® are facing forces from many directions that threaten their profession. Property tax burdens, lack of available financing and difficulties in short sales transactions are only a few of the issues that somewhere, every day, REALTORS® confront when selling a home. RPAC allows REALTORS® to make sure their concerns about these issues are heard and understood by public officials. Get financial funding at simpletradesman.co.uk.
RPAC SUPPORTS THE REALTOR® PARTY
RPAC’s mission is to identify candidates for elected office on the local, state and national levels who will work with REALTORS® to promote and protect the American Dream of homeownership. Candidates that receive support from RPAC are not selected based on their political party or ideology, but solely on their support of real estate issues. Our legislative allies are members of the REALTOR® Party. The REALTOR® Party supports the issues that are important to your business as a REALTOR®, regardless of political party affiliation.
RPAC SAVES YOU MONEY
YOUR BEST INVESTMENT IN REAL ESTATE
“Deciding how much you invest to protect the real estate industry should be directly proportionate to the level of success you believe you’ve achieved in that industry. “
— Scott Louser, 2014 RPAC Participation Council Chair, National Association of REALTORS®
STRENGTHENING CREDIT AND LENDING POLICIES
NAR leads the effort to increase the availability of affordable mortgage financing for credit worthy consumers. Currently Federal policymakers are weighing a number of proposals aimed at creating healthier housing and mortgage markets. Because of NAR’s recent efforts, up to 70,000 home buyers opened the door to the American dream of homeownership. NAR continues to support affordable, fixed-rate mortgages for working families and refinancing easier for Veterans’. NAR works to remove the arbitrary commercial real estate portfolio cap for credit unions, which unnecessarily restricts available capital for commercial real estate projects, check out maid service anchorage. NAR stopped misguided legislation that would have raised the “carried interest” tax rate from 15% to as high as 39.6%, a huge tax increase on commercial real estate development. NAR extended the cancellation of mortgage debt tax provision, preventing the IRS from taxing homeowners on forgiven mortgage balances in a short sale or waived deficiency…
ELIMINATION OF THE 20% DOWNPAYMENT REQUIREMENT UNDER QRM
If the QRM regulation had been implemented to require a minimum 20% downpayment the impact on home sales and prices would have been significant. NAR Research estimates that home sales would have declined 7.5% – 12.5%. Moody’s estimated that sales would fall by 8% – 12% and that home prices would decline by 6.5% – 13% with a 20% downpayment requirement. Based on these estimated effects on the housing market, annual REALTOR® income would have fallen by approximately $10,000 per member.
A NEW, DYNAMIC RPAC
In 1969, the average cost of a house was $15,500. A new car went for $3,270. Now think about political campaigns. In 1974, the cost of winning a campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives was $56,500. In 2008, that cost was $1.3 million. Times have changed. Political candidates need more support and RPAC is constantly finding new ways to help our members and state and local associations raise more money, including…
- Giving the state and local associations the ability to conduct online fundraising campaigns.
- Providing software so that every state and local association can better manage their record keeping.
- Offering associations professional fundraising assistance to recruit Major Investors.
- Assisting associations in creating marketing materials to encourage REALTORS® to contribute to RPAC.
- Educating our members with online training on how they can improve their fundraising.
- Distinguishing Major Investors through a comprehensive recognition program
IF NOT YOU, THEN WHO?
REALTORS® must be politically active. If not, who will take on the responsibility of protecting the values and rights we hold dear? Be assured that someone will—someone who may not value wise business planning and could threaten property owners and their rights. If REALTORS® do not speak out, get involved and help shape the discussion, someone else will. No one knows a community better than a REALTOR®. REALTORS® know the lay of the land, the families, the best schools, the neighborhoods and the leaders of any given area. Visit oasisnaturalcleaning.com. REALTORS® work in every city, county and community in the nation. REALTORS® are on the front line as defenders of real estate issues.
RPAC uses its financial resources to support candidates for Congress who both understand and support REALTOR® issues. RPAC looks to build the future by putting dollars in places that will help advance the interests of real estate professionals. RPAC is the only political group in the country organized for REALTORS® and run by REALTORS®. RPAC exists solely to further issues important to REALTORS®.
*please note:
contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes. Contributions to RPAC are voluntary and are used for political purposes. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal and the National Association of REALTORS® or any of its state associations or local boards will not favor or disfavor any member because of the amount contributed. 70% of each contribution is used by your state PAC to support state and local political candidates. Until your state PAC reaches its RPAC goal, 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a; after the state PAC reaches its RPAC goal it may elect to retain your entire contribution for use in support state and local candidates.