Modernizing the structure and strategy of the NAR Advocacy Team and working together are the keys to enhancing the value of membership for REALTORS®, said NAR President Vince Malta at Illinois Public Policy Meetings Wednesday morning.

Malta made his remarks during the Business Issues Forum, noting that some changes have been years in the making and others more recent. But in order for the changes to succeed, he said, it is critical for REALTORS® to coordinate with each other on the national, state and local levels.

Although REALTORS® didn’t support the tax reforms that took effect last year, the association was pleased that the new Federal Housing Administration’s Condo Rule will provide more opportunities for first-time home buyers to achieve the American Dream of home ownership. Achieving positive outcomes on issues affecting property owners and real estate professionals will depend on long-range approaches, such as a multi-year plan for the National Flood Insurance Program, reforms of Government Sponsored Enterprises such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and Veteran Home Loan bills.

The structure of the NAR Advocacy Team is being changed to eliminate “silos” and promote cooperation across departments. NAR has supported relationship building programs that help REALTORS® work directly with federal elected officials and leaders of federal regulatory agencies that establish rules that affect property owners and real estate professionals.

Illinois REALTORS® has a Federal Political Coordinator program “that is the envy of the industry,” he says. The result of relationship building in these instances, he said, is that officials look to REALTORS for evaluations of how proposed regulations and proposed laws will affect consumers, the economy and the market.

“I trust in all of you,” Malta said. “What’s important is that we work together. What is the saying? ‘To work quickly, go alone. To go far, work together.”