Advocacy

Government at the federal, state and local levels is directly involved in every real estate transaction. This involvement at times promotes home ownership, while at other times it can complicate transactions and attack private property rights. Bay East advocacy activities are a powerful member benefit that helps you succeed as a real estate professional and is part of the value proposition for your clients.

As a real estate professional, you can be actively involved in the policies and regulations that impact your business. The REALTOR® Party is your opportunity to have a voice in government.

Unlike other political parties, the REALTOR® Party isn’t based on “wedge” social issues or ideology. This “party” is focused on supporting home ownership and protecting private property rights by making sure elected officials in Washington DC, Sacramento and at your city hall understand the REALTOR position on real estate and housing-related legislation and issues.

Joining the REALTOR® Party is easy: just Vote, Act and Contribute!

You can join the REALTOR® Party by registering to vote, reminding your clients to register to vote and by voting in every election.

When it’s time to vote, you can join the REALTOR Party by understanding Bay East positions on local and regional ballot measures and candidates.

The Bay East Association of REALTORS® endorses and supports candidates at the local and regional levels (mayor, city council and county supervisor). During the weeks before each local election, Bay East announces those candidates we are endorsing and the Bay East position on real estate-related ballot measures.

There are many ways for you to get involved in the REALTOR® Party. The easiest, and most important, is by taking action when you receive a Call for Action from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) or a Red Alert from the California Association of REALTORS(C.A.R.).

Throughout the year NAR and C.A.R. will issue Calls for Action and Red Alerts regarding Federal and State issues critical to the REALTOR® community. Typically, they ask REALTORS® to contact their elected officials and ask them to support or oppose the proposed legislation.

Take your involvement with the REALTOR® Party to the next level by becoming a C.A.R. Legislative Liaison. Through this program, you’ll receive exclusive information about state issues and legislation that impact your business and the ability of your clients to buy and sell real estate. Enroll here.

Brokers can step by joining the C.A.R. Broker Involvement Program. They will receive special information from C.A.R. to help their agents respond to Red Alerts. Enroll here.

If you’re already interested in local politics or if you want to learn more about who’s making decisions that impact your business, join the Bay East Local Government Relations Committee. They meet monthly to review local government policies, ordinances, and programs that impact real estate transactions, as well as advise the Bay East Board of Directors regarding official Bay East positions on these issues.

Local Government Relations Committee information is here.

The Local Candidate Recommendation Committee builds relationships with local and regional elected officials, interviews candidates running for local and regional offices, allocates support for candidate campaigns for those candidates support for candidates who understand and support REALTOR® issues and recommends candidate endorsement to the Bay East Board of Directors.

Local Candidate Recommendation Committee information is here.

The REALTOR® Action Fund supports political activities at the local, state, and national levels. It gives REALTORS® a seat at the table and demonstrates that REALTORS® mean business when it comes to politics.

To contribute to the REALTOR® Action Fund click here.

For more information, contact David Stark, Bay East Public Affairs Director at davids@bayeast.org.