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Realtor Review Article: NCAR Issues Assessment and Dues Notice These are tough times to be a REALTOR®, but your association and your industry are working to help improve the landscape! That's why the State Association (NCAR) voted in support of instituting a special dues assessment. The environment in which we now operate our real estate businesses is changing. Many in government and special interests outside of government, would like property owners, and us, to pay an unfair share of the burden of the cost of government services. Proposals to this effect include a tax on the equity in your home, and a tax on services that you would pay on your commission when you conduct a transaction. This assessment however, is not just about transfer taxes or professional services taxes. Your three associations – local, state and national, work everyday on a very wide birth of issues to protect our businesses and homeowners. This morning the President signed the Housing Stimulus package, and yesterday, the Homebuyer Tax Credit Legislation. NAR worked tirelessly to get these critical pieces enacted. These are your dues dollars at work. And ‘yes’ every trade association is empowered to engage in lobbying and political activities; after all they exist to serve the best interests of their members. Here locally, RRAR has worked on everything from improving sign ordinances, to supporting school bonds, Wake Tech and Park and Recreation bonds, to working on special task forces, making sure that our voices are heard on important issues likes storm water control, watershed regulations, on-site wastewater inspections and growth management practices. In order to adequately educate the public about these policies and to protect our industry we have stepped up our efforts. Getting our message out to the public is not cheap especially when you must engage, often on several fronts. No one likes to pay more, but simply put, the need is great in order to protect our businesses. This is NOT a contribution to any political action committee or candidate, but rather a dues assessment to continue to engage at the higher levels needed to succeed. Some are unhappy and that is unfortunate, but when engaged in governmental activities, you are either a ‘player’ or a ‘victim’. Not being involved is not an option. We know this is a lot to ask of our members in a tough market, but at the Raleigh Association we have been good stewards of your dues. Your local association leadership has made tough decisions over the years that have resulted in an active and dynamic organization providing a wide variety of products, programs and services that meet the changing needs of our members. Leadership has ensured that your local Association fees have only gone up once in the past 10 years. In addition, your MLS fees as well have only increased once in the past 11 years and that was to cover the cost of the Appointment Center. Further, over the past five years leadership has not charged members for 12 months of MLS services amounting to $600 in saved fees. Membership as a REALTOR® provides you access to a wide variety of products, programs and services including MLS, which is one of the primary Association benefits. MLS services are billed separately from your REALTOR® dues as required by the IRS and one doesn’t come without the other, along with the related fees. This $50 fee is payable by September 30, but if you can’t meet this timeframe you have the option to delay payment till January 31, 2009 with your next year’s dues payment. Doing so will incur a $20 late fee, bringing the total due to $70. We take your questions and concerns seriously and hope we have provided adequate answers. To get the facts about the assessment you can visit the NCAR web site at www.ncrealtors.org Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® |
