NAR, Politics and You Chris Polychron 2009 NAR State & Political Issues Liaison

NAR Congressional Priorities Extend and Expand the $8,000 Tax Credit Extend Higher Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac and FHA Loans Limits Health Insurance Reform Energy Bill 2

Extend and Expand the $8,000 Tax Credit NAR Call for Action –More than 450,000 letters from NAR members sent to Members of Congress FPC Fly-In –FPCs from 29 states in Washington, D.C. 3

Extend and Expand the $8,000 Tax Credit Extend and Expand the Credit: –Extend the tax credit until 2010 –Expand eligibility to ALL homebuyers –Expand the value of the tax credit 4

Extend Higher Loan Limits for Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac and FHA Loans FHA currently set to create lower limits at the end of 2009 Nationwide - Up to $729,750 in high-cost areas Arkansas: $271,050 limit NAR is asking to make these higher limits PERMANENT. 5

NAR Principles in Debate Coverage available to all No gaps in coverage Choices among plans – no single payer plan Preventive care – should be cost-effective No employer mandate 6

Energy Bill NO Energy Labeling for Existing Homes House passed version of bill: –Does not create a federal energy audit requirement for real property. –Exempts existing homes and buildings from any federal guidelines for new construction energy efficiency information labels. –Prohibits the implementation of any labeling during a sales transaction. –Leaves the decision to states as to whether to require energy audits, disclosures. NAR is monitoring the Senate bill. 7

Other Congressional Issues Protecting the Mortgage Interest Deduction Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Reinvention Financial Services Regulatory Reform Home Valuation Code of Conduct – realtor.org/hvcc Credit Union 8

Political Programs

Broker Involvement Program Broker Owners can access the “Broker Portal” where they –review and approve the that NAR sends to their agents along with the Call for Action (CFA). –view online reports on how their agents responded to the Calls for Action. NAR always gives Brokers the choice to participate in a Broker Call for Action and an online fundraising appeal.

2,150 Brokers are activated in the Broker Involvement Program – Total # of Active Agents = 206,922 Broker Involvement Program in Arkansas 36 Brokers signed up – 1,000 agents Broker Involvement Program

Arkansas Responds to the Call for Action! Grassroots –Call for Action (CFA) Participation rates: 2007: National = 6% Arkansas = 8.9% 2008: National = 9.2% Arkansas = 11.5% 2009: National = 8.7% Arkansas = 11.6% –NAR CFA (September) “Extend and Expand the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit” Advocacy Participants: 1,568 (25%) –NAR Call for Action (CFA) “Extend and Expand the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit” Broker Participants: 27/36

RPAC –Total dollars raised: $51,709 –Fair Share Goal: $36,828 –President's Circle credit: $3,850 –Total dollars raised with President's Circle credit: $55,559 –151% of the Fair Share Goal

RPAC –Major Donor Goal: 22 –Major Donors (as of October 22): 27 –123% of Major Donor Goal –President's Circle Goal: 2 –President's Circle members (as of October 22): 3 –150% of the President's Circle Goal

REALTORS ® VOTE!!!

Electoral Services – Data Percentage of U.S. eligible population registered to vote: 68%

Electoral Services – Data Percentage of U.S. REALTORS ® registered to vote: 77%

Electoral Services – Data Percentage of Arkansas REALTORS ® registered to vote: 76%

We still need your help! If you have not responded to the Tax Credit Call for Action: Please do! We are looking for 40,000 more REALTORS ® to respond. Stay tuned for more news coming from Washington, D.C.! Don’t forget about RPAC!

Thank you for your support!!!