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REALTORS® are business people and know that the best way to do business is to maximize return on investment. So, how does RPAC help a REALTOR®’s business? CONSIDER THIS:

• National Flood Insurance: Passage of the 5-year reauthorization will bring certainty to real estate transactions in more than 21,000 communities nationwide where flood insurance is required for a mortgage.
• Mortgage Cancellation Relief: This full Senate package will extend the mortgage relief provision for an additional year. The package also includes a relief provision to limit the impact of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) in ’12 and ’13 and renews the 15-year cost recovery for leasehold improvements through 2013.
• Short Sales: NAR-supported legislation was passed in August 2012 that issues new guidelines to enhance and streamline the short sale process. This includes changes such as increased hardship eligibility, a fixed arm’s length affidavit, alignment of deficiency waiver policies and improvements to property valuation guidance.

And specifically here in Georgia, RPAC has helped us accomplish numerous legislative victories:

• Passing legislation that allows REALTORS® to engage in short sale transactions that had previously been interpreted by the state Banking Department as illegal.
• Successfully limiting local government’s ability to register vacant and foreclosed properties by creating statewide standards that all local governments must follow.
• Protecting REALTORS®’ ability to collect and distribute escrow funds.
• Preventing attempts to place a legal duty on real estate agents to provide their client’s contact information to code enforcement officers if requested.
• Defeating legislation to mandate a termite inspection prior to closing.
• Passing an $1,800 statewide homebuyer tax credit.
• Preventing statewide point-of-sale plumbing retrofit mandates.
• Passing legislation to regulate Appraisal Management Companies (AMC’s).
• Passing legislation to reform Georgia’s property tax assessment and appeals process.
• Preventing local governments from registering residential rental property.
• Preventing cities and counties in Georgia from charging individual agents a business license fee for each jurisdiction in which they conduct business.

That’s money back in your pocket and added back to your business’ bottom line. Whether you are a broker-owner or a part-time agent, politics directly impacts your profitability. RPAC is an investment; your investment in your business.

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. REALTORS® work in every city, county and community in the nation. REALTORS® are on the front line as defenders of real estate issues. 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®.

100% of your RPAC investment is used to elect pro-REALTOR® candidates; 70% remains in Georgia to be used in state and local elections. 30% of your investment will be forwarded to National RPAC to fund key U.S. House and Senate races. RPAC is neither a Republican nor a Democratic organization. Your investment to RPAC is a vote for a pro-REALTOR® Congress, General Assembly and local delegation, regardless of political party.