What’s the relationship between the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and upcoming presidential elections? As the largest trade association in America, NAR advocates every day on behalf of the nation’s 1 million REALTORS® and 75 million property owners. NAR is widely considered one of the most effective advocacy organizations in the country. With numbers like that, it’s no wonder candidates pay attention to the collective needs and wants of NAR members.
But the interest goes both ways and according The Voice for Real Estate, NAR will be watching this year’s presidential election with a keen eye.
The housing recovery in particular is expected to play a large role in the outcome between the parties. According the NAR’s President Moe Veissi, NAR is working with policymakers “to ensure that mortgages are more readily available for qualified buyers.”
What is the goal here?
The goal is to help potential and creditworthy home seekers to obtain mortgage financing and help more people keep their homes or avoid foreclosure through a streamlined short sale process. The realtors believe housing recovery shouldn’t be a partisan issue, but lawmakers must understand the steps needed to keep the upward momentum that has finally begun, going, and cited several initiatives implemented by the present administration that has helped turn the market around.
Republican and Democratic candidates for president often touch on issues important to real estate while on the campaign trail. NAR follows candidates’ proposals carefully, but NAR Deputy Chief Lobbyist Jamie Gregory provides a reminder that proposals must travel a long road through Congress before anything happens:
“Candidates are posturing and positioning to the voters and trying to attract their votes. So while [the candidates] are saying what their ideal plans are, even if they get elected they can’t do it alone. They still have to go to Congress; they still have to have a partner in this process. And Congress will have a lot of day about what happens.”
Staying up to speed
Current issues regarding NAR and political advocacy on Capitol Hill can be found on NAR’s Political Advocacy Page.
Below, NAR explains more in depth their connection and involvement in the upcoming elections:
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