RPAC: Your Best Investment in Real Estate
RPAC 101
For more than 50 years, the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) has been one of the strongest and most successful advocacy organizations in the nation. And there’s one reason for that: REALTORS® like you.
RPAC recognizes that an industry that shies away from politics is an industry whose future is unstable and uncertain. Your voluntary investments in RPAC earn us a seat at the table with legislative and policy decision-makers on Capitol Hill, statehouses, and city halls across the country. Your continued support and engagement allow us to shape the size, scope, and success of the real estate industry for REALTORS® and business, property, and homeowners alike. Together, we’re protecting the future of real estate in America.
Your investment makes a difference on the federal, state, and local levels of government and ensures:
- New and proposed legislation and regulations are evaluated based on how they will impact you, your clients, and homeowners.
- Government affairs representatives can effectively lobby lawmakers in Washington, D.C., and state legislatures throughout the U.S.
- We can defend critical real estate-friendly policies like access to credit, tax incentives for homeownership, and the construction of affordable housing.
- Future COVID relief continues to be available to independent contractors, sole proprietors, and the self-employed.
- Fair housing initiatives make homeownership more available to struggling groups like minorities and millennials.
RPAC Major Investors: $1,000 and Up
When RPAC supports REALTOR®-friendly candidates and issues, we give them a leg up. It makes a strong statement for a candidate to have the support of one of the nation’s top PACs.
Major Investors are the backbone of RPAC, making up more than one-third of the funds we receive. As such, they receive special benefits and recognition.
Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame recognizes dedicated members whose lifetime RPAC investments total at least $25,000. Members are inducted at the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings in Washington, D.C. in May, and are recognized with a lapel pin, a plaque on the D.C. NAR building rooftop, and a plaque commemorating installation.
How RPAC Supported Your Business in 2020
2020 Pivot
On the issues front, NAR jumped into action as trillions of dollars in COVID-19 relief sped through Congress. To protect our members and their businesses, as well as the American economy and consumers, NAR leveraged years of relationships to ensure independent contractors, sole proprietors, and the self-employed had access to a raft of new rescue programs.
Five major relief bills were passed between March and December 2020, and NAR had its imprint on each one.
We sent more than 100 letters to Congressional leadership & worked the phones, email, and Zoom meetings to protect our members.
COVID Support
Our efforts helped secure paid sick and family leave, direct stimulus payments, and scores of new tax changes and benefits.
In addition, NAR worked across state lines and with federal agencies to protect real estate as an essential service, keeping transactions moving during lockdowns.
NAR’s years-long effort to expand broadband access became a reality with $6 billion in new funding signed into law in December 2020.
Small Business Assistance
Aid for small businesses was unprecedented and critical for the real estate industry.
One in five NAR members reported taking out a Paycheck Protection Program loan. Because of this aid, the residential real estate market remained a rock for the American economy and home prices held steady while many other sectors suffered.
The newly created Economic Injury Disaster Loan program with forgivable grants served as a bridge for many businesses, including REALTORS®.
Once loans began to flow, NAR pushed for simplified forgiveness applications that covered most of our members.
NAR advocacy also resulted in the expansion of PPP eligibility to 501(c)(6) organizations, allowing many state and local associations access to much-needed financial assistance.
Non-COVID Advocacy
On top of this once-in-a-century crisis, NAR also made progress on key priorities like fair housing and housing affordability and secured a full fiscal-year extension for the National Flood Insurance Program and transportation projects. This was a great victory as most other government programs only received short-term funding extensions—a testament to NAR’s voice and advocacy effort in Washington.
The collective voice of 1.4 million REALTORS® and the success of RPAC in the 2020 elections got the attention of Congress and showed the power of our unity.
TO INVEST IN RPAC, VISIT WWW.GCAR.COM/INVEST
Contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes. Contributions to RPAC are voluntary and are used for political purposes. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal and the National Association of REALTORS® or any of its state associations or local boards will not favor or disfavor any member because of the amount contributed. 70% of each contribution is used by your state PAC to support state and local political candidates. Until your state reaches its RPAC goal, 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S. C. 441a; after the state PAC reaches its RPAC goal it may elect to retain your entire contribution for use in supporting state and local candidates.
