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Maintaining the Real Estate Industry’s Future in Palm Beach County
Realtors® must fight to protect the future of the real estate professional and the industry as a whole. When an issue is proposed on the national, state, or local level that would hamper a Realtors® ability to conduct business as real estate professionals, Realtors® have every right to speak out and try to affect the outcome. To do so, Realtors® must be involved - both as individuals and collectively through all levels of the Realtors® Association - in the making and changing of public policy. That is why the Realtors® Association of the Palm Beaches has a robust government affairs program – including two full time staff members, an active Government Affairs Committee, history of record setting RPAC fundraising results, key contact program for all levels of government, candidate screening, Realtors® voter registration drives and a call-to-action website for local, state and national issues.
RAPB is the largest trade association in Palm Beach County, and works with the County Commission, School Board and 37 municipalities to continuously represent Realtors® in issues dealing with private property rights, quality of life, attainable housing and economic . Some of RAPB’s successes include:
LOCAL:
- Defeated a city-wide moratorium and supported policy that protected private property rights in West Palm Beach.
- Ran a successful campaign that created a funding source that is building and remodeling schools in Palm Beach County
- Saved Boca Raton real estate agents from having to pay a $100 occupational license fee.
- Successfully “watered down” an invasive tree ordinance that would have required expensive removal of an extensive list of plants from all property in Palm Beach County.
- Terminated home owner associations from being able to open real estate offices in club houses in Palm Beach County that are not property zoned for commercial enterprises.
- Defeated a proposal that would have increased commercial doc stamps in Palm Beach County.
- Defeated a mandatory disclosure for property located within all Palm Beach County airport flight zones.
It’s the law: Changes to Chapter 475
* New agency disclosures and broker accountability for sales associates. With the signing of HB 1009 into law last week, licensees should be prepared to update forms and contracts, as several agency disclosures change effective July 1, 2006. Specifically, the “Important Notice” section of the Single Agent Notice, Transaction Broker Notice and the No Brokerage Relationship Notice has been eliminated. What’s more, the new Transaction Broker notice will no longer include the following statement: FLORIDA LAW REQUIRES THAT REAL ESTATE LICENSEES OPERATING AS TRANSACTION BROKERS DISCLOSE TO BUYERS AND SELLERS THEIR ROLE AND DUTIES IN PROVIDING A LIMITED FORM OF REPRESENTATION.
If your firm uses FAR forms, note that updated versions of the Brokerage Relationship Disclosures,
No Brokerage Relationship Disclosure and Exclusive Right of Sales Listing Agreement forms will be available at http://floridarealtors.org . For more info, log onto the Web site and search on the keywords “HB 1009.”
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STATE:
- Created a “Homeownership for All” license plate that will raise funds for affordable housing throughout the state.
- Passed the Commercial Lien Law that now allows a lien placed on commercial transactions if commissions are not paid.
- Reestablished the Condo Q & A sheet to help Realtors provide more information to their clients and reduce liability.
- Funded the successful fight against Amendment Five that would have allowed a small panel of legislators to create a tax on real estate commissions.
- Created the Sadowski Trust Fund the supports local affordable housing programs and continually fight for full funding of the trust fund.
NATIONAL:
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Passage of the American Dream Downpayment Act to assist deserving families with home purchase.
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Reestablishment of “Existing Business Relationship” exemption in the Do-Not-Fax laws for Realtors® do not have to obtain a signed consent fax form before faxing their clients.
- Protected consumers by successfully blocking big banks from branching out in the real estate brokerage business.
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Enacted the $500,000 capitol gains exclusion on the sale of a principal residence, which equals a $755 boost in the average annual commission
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Achieved penalty-free withdrawals of up to $10,000 from IRAs to be used for a down payment or closing costs of a home which increased the average Realtor® commission by $110
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Continues support legislators who favor the mortgage interest deduction
This could not have been accomplished without active participation from local Realtors® through:
Answering call-to-actions by writing, calling and e-mailing your elected officials
With over 10,000 members, RAPB can move mountains when members collectively make their voice heard. It is imperative that when an issue that affects the real estate industry is being discussed or voted on by elected officials, that they hear how it will affect Realtors®. RAPB has made answering call to actions and contacting elected officials really easy – you don’t even need to know who’s district you are in. Click on the following links to sign-up for the following call-to-action websites:
RAPB’s VoterVoice for City and County issues
FAR’s Call-To-Action system for statewide issues
NAR’s Action Center for nation issues
Volunteering to screen candidates and voting
RAPB interviews candidates running for local, state and national elections and a panel of Realtor® volunteers provides recommendations to the Government Affairs Committee and Board of Directors on which candidate in each race is most aligned with Realtor® issues. RAPB members are provided with a “palm card” listing the Board of Directors recommendations. Also included with the “palm card” is an absentee ballot request form, so Realtors® can have a ballot mailed to their home.
Not registered to vote? Take a few moments and download a registration
Volunteer to serve on a candidate screening committee for local, state and national races (will provide at later date – it will be a form to fill out)
List of elected officials RAPB has supported (will provide at later date – getting info from fAR)
Contributing to RPAC
RPAC is a critical tool that assists RAPB to be successful in the public policy arena. Issues funds are used to help pay for consultants, legal advice and issue campaigns. Candidate funds are used to support Realtor® friendly candidates – in some cases helping Realtors® get elected into office! The maximum contribution is only $500 per candidate and since a lot of local races cost almost $100,000 to run – the RPAC contribution can not be viewed as “buying a vote”. The significance of an RPAC contribution is more about demonstrating that RAPB believes in them enough to help out their campaign.
Learn more about RPAC
Contribute to RPAC
List of current contributors
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