Advocacy in Action

I was raised with an example of servant leadership and advocating for others. Advocacy has always been at my core so it was a natural progression for me to get involved with advocacy efforts when I started to grow my career in real estate. We advocate for our clients in negotiations every day. As part of our state & national association, we

advocate for our clients, communities & private property rights by lobbying our legislators. We provide information, statistics and first-hand accounts on how proposed legislation may help or harm the public. I am passionate about this because homeownership is the most accessible path to building generation wealth & financial stability in the US. You may see photos of your REALTOR® away in Albany or DC and think, why aren’t they working. I assure you we are. The professionals that are involved in volunteer leadership, especially in advocacy efforts, are working hard to ensure the American dream of home ownership remains possible for all. It also is how we stay current on what is happening in NYS & Nationally to combat the housing crisis.

The REALTOR® Party is a bi-partisan advocacy group. One of our main legislative

priorities in 2025 is Building Housing Supply and Opportunity for All.

With an estimated 4.7 million-unit shortage, America is facing a housing inventory crisis. We must unlock supply, ease market constraints, and make it easier for Americans to find homes they can afford. Increased supply helps stabilize prices, revitalize communities, and support the American dream of homeownership. Updating America’s tax law is a key pathway to more supply. REALTOR® S® also strongly support fair housing laws and are active leaders in opening up housing opportunities for people of all backgrounds.

Learn more at: https://www.nar.REALTOR® /advocacy/federal-advocacy/nar-legislative-

priorities

We are also committed to expanding access to home ownership at the state level. Here

are a few of our 2025 state legislative priorities:

The New York Association of REALTOR® (NYSAR) supports establishing a New York State First Home Savings Account Program that would provide a state income tax deduction on deposits of up to $10,000 annually for joint filers and $5,000 annually for individuals when funds are used toward the purchase of a first home in New York, including townhouses, condos and coops.

NYSAR supports expanding affordable and workforce housing development through the

implementation of new zoning and tax incentives and easing restrictions on the conversion of existing commercial spaces into residential housing.

NYSAR supports providing financial incentives for localities to allow the development of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and the legalization of basement apartments in order to help expand housing accessibility throughout the state.

NYSAR supports requiring written buyer representation agreements between real estate brokers and homebuyers that will clearly outline services to be provided, as well as terms for compensation, in order to bring more transparency and disclosure to the transaction.

NYSAR supports increasing the number of consecutive years licensed as a real estate

agent prior to becoming a broker from 2 years to 5 years. Raising the bar in our industry is good for us and the consumer.

NYSAR supports efforts to combat discrimination and bias in the home appraisal

process. REALTOR® S® support language in the Executive Budget making

discrimination based on protected classes unlawful when conducting real estate

appraisals or making real estate appraisal services available. NYSAR also supports the

imposition of fines up to $2,000 for violations with monies being directed to the anti-

discrimination in housing fund to be used for fair housing compliance.

NYSAR opposes the imposition of local “good cause” eviction and rent control policies

that discourage new housing development and exacerbate the state’s current zombie

property dilemma. Both measures place a disproportionate financial burden on small

property owners already struggling to afford rising property taxes, utility bills, and

maintenance costs. In order to address New York’s rising rents and housing shortage,

state and local officials must enact meaningful policies to spur more housing growth for

all income levels.

Especially in rural areas, like the North Country, small property owners are the largest

providers of rental housing. Not large corporations. If they can’t afford to provide

housing anymore, it will deepen our housing crisis. We need to create more long-term

rental housing and housing inventory to sell, in order to satisfy the pent-up housing

demand. This will allow renters and buyers to have options and stabilize prices.

Find out more at: https://www.nysar.com/advocacy/