A good time was had by all!

Blaine Milner of RE/MAX Advantage Realty also served as president of HCAR in 2000-2001. Blaine began his artistic career in 1995 by taking lessons at both the Columbia Arts Center at Stonehouse in Longreach and then the Howard County Center for the Arts. Blaine works in watercolors, acrylics and pastels. Blaine continues to be active in the arts with the Columbia Festival of the Arts.

"Today's action in the Senate was a great team effort," said NAR Senior Vice-President of Government Affairs Jerry Giovaniello. "REALTORS^® across the country, state and local association staff, and our NAR staff in Washington, DC joined forces to achieve this victory."

"Our long-time REALTOR^® Champions in the U.S. Senate, including Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Wayne Allard (R-CO) and Richard Shelby (R-AL), were instrumental in passing the amendment," Giovaniello said. "New champions on the Banking Issue, particularly Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), were very involved in passing this amendment.

This month, we have met with the following State Delegates:

Delegate Bates, Delegate DeBoy, Delegate Guzzone, Delegate Malone, Delegate Bobo, Senator Kittleman, Senator Kasemeyer and Delegate Warren Miller. We will meet with Senator Robey on August 1. We had a great exchange of information with our delegates and gained valuable insight into the budgetary issues looming for the state. We also shared our opinions about the existing heavy tax burden that the real estate industry carries for Maryland, as well as the negative impact that increased taxes on the real estate industry would have for our fluctuating market, the economy and Maryland residents.

I want to thank all of our members who have joined us for these important meetings. Your input has been valuable, and our legislators appreciate hearing from their constituents. I also want to thank Ilene Kessler, MAR President, for her assistance in sharing the concerns of HCAR and MAR with our elected officials.

N O V E M B E R   5 ,   2 0 0 7

1. consumer outreach, including a new web site targeted to residential and commercial real estate consumers, coupled with advertising support and other communications channels that will enlist consumers in NAR calls to action and other communications to policy-makers;

2. a "virtual" REALTOR^® credit union that will provide a full range of depository and lending services to REALTORS^® including retirement planning, bill payment, investing and health savings accounts;

3. new technology initiatives to provide seed money for aggressive new technologies serving the real estate industry; and

4. increased support for issues mobilization and issues advocacy to support the REALTOR^® agenda in Washington.

WHY MAR NEEDS A LEGAL AND REGULATORY RESPONSE FUND

• There is an alarming, rapidly growing national trend to viewing real estate, real estate commissions, and the transfer of real property as an ideal revenue source as budget deficits increase.

• In Maryland, a structural deficit estimated at $7.85 billion over the next 5 years has dominated discussions in the legislature.

• At the heart of the deficit are mandatory spending increases, including Thornton-mandated education spending, Medicaid and teacher pensions, projected to significantly outpace projected revenue increases, as well as a transportation deficit over the next 20 years, projected at billions of dollars, to fund projects such as the Inter County Connector and general infrastructure expansion.

• Even a slots bill will not generate adequate income to cover the annual $1 billion+ deficit that Maryland faces.

• In the 2007 General Assembly, a proposal to tax real estate commissions earned on property management has been considered a "trial balloon" for a far reaching tax on services bill, to include all real estate commissions, that is likely to be under consideration. Many, including legislators, expect that there will be a special session of the legislature, in the summer or autumn, devoted entirely to measures to balance the budget.

• In other states, these challenges have forced REALTORS^® to be prepared to wage often costly fights to protect the interest of members, the real estate industry, and property owners. Three examples:
  • In Arizona, the state was about to propose a state transfer tax. At a meeting of its Board of Directors, the Arizona Association of REALTORS^® (AAR) passed a special dues increase of $50, to create a "war chest" to fight the proposal. When news of the special fund was announced, the proposal was dropped. To date, AAR has accumulated $10 million in its fund, but has not found it necessary to use the monies. AAR is regularly consulted before any proposal affecting real estate is considered.

  • In Maine, the association faced a statewide referendum that would create an open MLS, lawsuits against two state agencies regarding regulations adversely affecting real estate, and a proposal to eliminate independent contractor status. The Maine Association found that its $200,000 war chest, a sizeable amount for a state of 5,000 REALTORS^®, was inadequate to fund the necessary statewide campaign against the referendum and the lawsuits filed against the regulations. It raised half the expected cost of $2 million to fight the MLS issue through a $200 special assessment and hopes to qualify for matching NAR funds. Although the referendum did not obtain the required number of signatures, it is expected to be refiled.

  • In Washington, the state association has undertaken campaigns to fight an increase in the state real estate excise tax and a campaign for housing affordability. It has funded its ongoing Issues Campaigns with a combination of a special assessment followed by a dues increase.

• NAR's Issues Mobilization Fund, which decides whether to match state and local REALTOR^® organization funding of such efforts, has already exceeded its 2007 budget, reflecting the extraordinary number and size of requests it has received. The predominant issues are transfer taxes and taxes on real estate commissions.

• These issues reflect a growing trend across the country that focuses on real estate and income derived from real estate as a source for needed revenue.

• Additionally, as advocates for no growth and causes such as open MLS take their campaigns public, the issues are increasingly being debated in public media rather than in traditional legislative or regulatory arenas.

• A recent survey of 32 REALTOR^® state associations found that 25 have a special fund to support issues oriented campaigns. Of those, 17 fund through an annual dues assessment; the remainder use a special assessment, reserves, or other means (including voluntary contributions).

There are NO LIMITS to what you can gain at the 2007 REALTORS^® Conference & Expo, November 13-16 in Las Vegas, Nevada. With hundreds of programs, networking opportunities, cutting edge technology, and more, you can customize your Conference & Expo experience to your needs and interests. Grow professionally and personally while gaining inspiration to be your very best. Special guests:

James Taylor     Lou Holtz     Bill Cosby     Doris Kearns

It's the 2007 Conference & Expo, and what happens here, helps you everywhere!