Thank you to the members who took a day out of their busy schedules to travel to the statehouse and advocate for private property rights and homeownership. This year, we had the honor of advocating for ways to raise the bar on the real estate industry to ensure REALTOR standards regarding consumer protection and transparency apply to ALL licensees.  Corey Bishop, Sandra Carroll, Jessie Downer, Nicholas Geranios, Danielle Giulian, Jose Larios, Paula McLean, Patricia Molina, Barbara Osborne, Andrew Perenick, Katie Soules, Eric Steuernagle, Jim Thurston and Mariah Worth. Check out the photos! And here were the issues that we spoke about:

Fair Housing & Diversity Education:  REALTORS® support H.343/S.232, requiring fair housing and diversity education for Massachusetts real estate licensees. Fair housing is an issue that touches every transaction, and it is essential that all real estate licensees understand their duties under the law.

First-Time Homebuyer Savings Accounts: REALTORS® support H.3041 & H.3192 / S.2002, creating first-time homebuyer savings accounts—empowering individuals and families with new financial tools to achieve the American dream of homeownership in Massachusetts, while strengthening communities across the state.

Written Real Estate Service Agreements: REALTORS® support H.1996, requiring written real estate service agreements to maximize transparency, formalize working relationships with detailed services and expectations. It amends the Statute of Frauds, requiring real estate service contracts be in writing to be legally enforceable.

Funding for Crumbling Concrete Foundations: REALTORS® support H.1001, H.890/S.580, and H.983/S.642, addressing crumbling foundations caused by pyrrhotite in Massachusetts. More state support is needed to help homeowners facing costly, dangerous structural damage.

And we continue to share facts, data and economic research regarding the negative impact that Transfer Taxes have had in reality on a town’s finances when passed in other communities.