Berkshire Leaders Take on Washington!

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Your Berkshire REALTOR leadership team President Andy Perenick, Vice President Corey Bishop and MLS leadership led by President Jim Thursday and Vice President Dani Giulian, along with CEO Sandy Carroll took 5 days to attend meetings, sessions and Capitol Hill visits to make our association voice heard loud and clear.  (Check out our Facebook page for other items of interest!) We began with celebrating NAR’s recent advocacy wins:

  • Protected your Independent Contractor Status
  • Preserved the 1031 Like-Kind Exchange
  • Ensured continuity of the National Flood Insurance Program
  • Defeated 11 harmful tax changes in Congress

We learned and studied bills under consideration and advocated for efforts that will help to build 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. REALTORS® also strongly support fair housing laws and are active leaders in opening up housing opportunities for people of all backgrounds.

Berkshire Leaders Urged Senator Markey and Representative Neil to:

  • Support the More Homes on the Market Act (H.R. 1340) to decrease the equity penalty and incentivize more long-term owners to sell their homes
  • Support the Housing Supply Framework Act (H.R. 2840/ S. 1299) to create a national strategy for boosting housing production and affordability by reducing barriers to new housing development
  • Support the Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act (H.R. 2410) to convert underused commercial properties into residential and mixed-use housing
  • Support the Uplifting First-Time Homebuyers Act (H.R. 3526) to increase the amount that can be withdrawn penalty-free from IRAs for a down payment on a first home
  • Support the Fair and Equal Housing Act to add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under the Fair Housing Act, codifying the application of the Supreme Court’s Bostock v. Clayton County decision to the Fair Housing Act, to help ensure equal housing protections for all Americans

We also tackled your business interests as self-employed professionals, protecting your right to work independently. With 88% of REALTORS® operating as self-employed independent contractors, NAR is leading the fight to preserve this flexible business model, seek alternative heath care solutions and sensible tax policy.

  • Support the Association Health Plans Act (H.R. 2528/S. 1847) to provide REALTORS® with access to
    quality, affordable health care
  • Support the Direct Seller and Real Estate Agent Harmonization Act (H.R. 3495) to ensure real estate
    agents maintain their independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act
  • Support the Main Street Tax Certainty Act (H.R. 703/S. 213) to preserve the 20% deduction for pass
    through business income

And attended so many meetings!!! Many of the topics in this REcap were covered at the sessions spanning all day, every day!  We do hope to bring some of the great speakers on topics that will touch your business – like AI and changing times – to present locally.  We are all working really hard for each REALTOR!