A message from the Board President

Greetings MVAR® Members,
 
November is here and this year is rapidly coming to a close. It’s incredible to think that this time next year, we will be having elections in our home State for both local and state offices, in addition to a gubernatorial election (this is the first time in a decade, that this seat has been up for election). 2022 is shaping up to a dynamic year for our Industry, as we consider all of the topics being brought the table. Of course the NAR & DOJ lawsuit that I have been discussing the past few months is just the tip of the conversations held nationally. The standard of business practices are constantly being challenged & the narrative around commission structures is just the beginning.
 
It is a common law of physics that we can get no more power out of a thing than we put into it. The most important thing you can put into the business is a thorough knowledge of the business. Today, as never before, business demands capable, efficient, trained professionals. No person, no matter how clever they may be can hope to win success, in any business, in this progressive age, unless that person knows every aspect of this business.
 
RPAC is part of the aspect of our industry you must understand. RPAC is how we support REALTOR® Champions running for elected office; RPAC gets us a seat at the table where tough conversations are being made and deep change is being considered. If we want to impact the momentum of that change effecting our business, while stewarding homeownership, RPAC gives us voice. 70% of the funds invested in RPAC remains within our State, which is incredible when you consider some of the considerations being proposed at the local Salem level.
 
For example, the Salem Climate Action plan has been provided to our Government Affairs Committee and discussed at length within that committee. The ambiguity surrounding the proposals would add thousands of dollars to the cost of a new construction project and require home energy scores for established properties at the point of sale or transfer. These are just two examples of the many proposals being tossed around at the local level. Because REALTORS® view things through a lens of the consumer, we offer an objective that planners or elected officials may not have considered. If our association didn’t have RPAC to get us in the room, our stories, experience and expertise would not be considered when plans are being drafted; think about that for a moment. REALTORS® impact and improve the lives of others through our knowledge & advocacy of homeownership.
 
An investment in RPAC has been responsible for ensuring inclusion of independent contractors in COVID relief packages, protection of the independent contractor status, Protecting Oregon’s Mortgage Interest Deduction, Increased funding for rural broadband, Remote Online Notarization, Funding for Wildfire recovery, Banning love letters, and Increased emphasis on fair housing as LARRC requirement. These wins are just a few examples of your PAC dollars at work, for you, for your clients and the preservation of the industry that we hold in the highest respect.
 
As we work to continue to promote homeownership, I challenge you to seek knowledge. Being a REALTOR® is much more than the Pledge, Code of Ethics or a pin on your jacket. It’s the sum of a group of passionate individuals who seek to be better, do better and provide the best to those around them.
 
If you have not made your commitment to invest in RPAC in 2022, now is the time.
 
At your service, 

Ashleigh Fordham