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Raleigh Regional
Assn. of Realtors
111 Realtors Way
Cary, NC 27513
( 919) 654-5400 voice
( 919) 654-5401
fax
info@rrar.com
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Inside Scoop
July
2008 - Issue 37
 The
Inside Scoop – By Debra Shaw and Tara
Lightner
REALTORS®:
This newsletter is designed to provide you with an update of important real
estate issues and political activities. It will be emailed to REALTOR® members
monthly.
Wake County Sends
Major Down Zoning Back to the Drawing Board
On July 6th,
the Wake County Commissioners rejected a plan that many say was being fast-tracked
by staff and was overly restricted in hopes of appeasing Washington bureaucrats.
The County established a working group made up of planners, technicians, engineers
and consultants to help provide guidance during the lengthy process, and to
develop an inter-local agreement between the affected municipalities (Raleigh,
Wake Forest, Rolesville, Wendell and Zebulon). The Inter-local Agreement included
a down zoning of the area around the proposed Little River Reservoir from R-80
(1 unit per 2 acres) to R-120 (1 unit per 3 acres). Residents of the area were
not part of the working group, and were not notified until very late in the
process. Many showed up at the public hearing on July 6th voicing their opposition
for the downzoning and the other action items of the Inter-local Agreement,
including the prohibition of water and sewer into the watershed and the restriction
of any land owners to use the reservoir waters. To see the full Inter-local
agreement list of components visit http://www.wakegov.com/planning/landuse/littlerive/default.htm
NCAR Issue Fund
to be Infused for Future Needs
In June the
NC Association of REALTORS® (NCAR) approved a plan to fully fund one of
the most effective legislative/educational tools in our collection. Faced with
transfer tax initiatives in several counties, a professional services tax and
attacks on property rights, the NCAR Directors agreed to take the bold step
of instituting a special assessment on its 42,000+ members. The $50 assessment,
while coming in a hard market, does not compare to the taxes that REALTORS®
would pay if Professional Services tax proposals were implemented. “Property
and home owners need a voice and right now government bodies continue to consider
proposal that are eroding away our property rights”, said John Wood, RRAR President-
Elect, “sometimes doing the right thing, ruffles some feathers.” For more information
about the Dues Assessment and Issues Fund, visit: http://www.trianglemls.com/rrar-assessment.html
or call 856-9155.
Raleigh’s Own Mary
Edna Williams running to head up the NC Association of REALTORS®
After being
urged and encouraged by friends and supporters across the state, Mary Edna Williams,
owner of REMAX Capital Realty, is running for 2009 President-Elect of the 43,000
member REALTOR® organization. Williams, formerly of Wilson & Williams
1830 Realty and York Properties, has been actively selling real estate since
1986. “I am excited and honored at the prospect of being on the NCAR Leadership
Team,” said Williams, who has been traveling the state feverishly and trying
to speak with as many members as possible about their impression of NCAR and
how to improve it. The voting will take place electronically between September
22nd and 25th, and the race is contested. Please visit www.electmaryedna.com
for more information.
Raleigh City Council
Keeps the Punches Coming
On July 1st,
the Raleigh City Council continued its series of assaults on housing; in the
toughest housing market in recent history. The Council voted 5 – 3 in favor
of a rental registration program that would require landlords to pay a fee to
the city for each unit they own. Unfortunately, most landlords will have no
choice but to pass along these costs to rental consumers. Earlier this spring,
the same council voted to double the fees on new homes, and recently adopted
a budget that calls for an increase of 2.4 cents in property taxes. These are
in addition to the revaluation conducted by Wake County that usually sees property
taxes increase. Voting for the rental registration measure was Mayor Meeker,
Thomas Crowder, Russ Stephenson, Nancy McFarlane and Rodger Koopman. Philip
Isley, Mary Ann Baldwin and Dr. James West were all opposed to the additional
housing fees.
Triangle Community Coalition (TCC) To Host Pat McCrory on August 19th
The TCC, a membership organization
established to find balanced solutions to growth challenges and protect property
rights, will be hosting at least one of the gubernatorial candidates in August
at their Political Forum on the 19th. Democratic candidate and Lt. Governor,
Beverly Purdue has also been invited, but has not confirmed. Many in the Raleigh
business community, unfamiliar with McCrory, are interested to hear his message
for revamping the state economy. The event will take place at the Embassy Suites
in Cary at 11:30am. For more information contact charlenel@tricc.org
or call 654-5418.
Wake County Gets
Ready for Commissioners Elections
In November
three incumbent County Commissioners will face opponents. Commissioner Betty
Lou Ward will be challenged by republican Larry Tilley, Harold Webb will be
challenged by REALTOR® Venita Peyton, and Kenn Gardner is challenged by
outspoken transfer tax proponent Stan Norwalk. Norwalk is one of the founders
of Wake Up Wake County. Check out the website at www.wakeupwakecounty.com. The
association’s Government Affairs Committee will again invite all county commission
candidates as well as the Wake County General Assembly candidates to survey
and interview with us. The Board of Directors will decide on endorsements on
August 13th.
SEIU Plans to Spend Money
in North Carolina (From the NCAR Government Affairs Update 7/7/08)
The Service Employees International
Union will set aside $75 million for staff and advertising on radio, television,
and the internet for this November’s election. Members will also canvass, phone
bank, and register voters. Some of this money will be spent right here in North
Carolina on the presidential and down ballot races this fall. North Carolina
is considered a battleground state, along with Colorado and Virginia.
According to a New York Times article, SEIU secretary-treasurer Anna Burger
said that "our members are incredibly excited about the electoral process,
and “we expect to be the most aggressive union on the ground and on the air
across the country." SEIU historically has supported state and land democratic
candidates such as Linda Coleman and Ty Harrell.
Majority Action
Fund Plays Role in North Carolina Race
After two
years of inaction, the Majority Action Fund, a liberal 527 group that helped
Democrats win the House of Representatives in 2006, is ready to counter conservative
fundraising groups in various Senate races. Majority Action Fund’s primary role
is to highlight the voting records of vulnerable Republican incumbents; there
are around ten House and Senate races that are being targeted, and the goal
is to raise and spend between $2 and $10 million. In North Carolina in particular,
the fund is spending $25,000-$30,000 on statewide radio ads about Senator Elizabeth
Dole’s record on gas related issues.
North Carolina Gubernatorial Races
The North Carolina race
for governor is incredibly close; according to a recent survey, the Democratic
nominee Bev Perdue barely leads with 42 percent, while Republican challenger
Pat McCrory is close behind with 41 percent, and undecided voters make up 12
percent of the poll. Not a lot of movement is expected throughout the summer,
even though the two candidates are going back and forth on education funding
and the lottery.
Recently, both candidates
were in Asheville to discuss their education agendas. Perdue advocates the increase
of teacher salaries, to pay for health care for poor children, and to pay for
college for low income students who gain admittance. McCrory believes the state
should give more vocational school options, give more aid to colleges graduating
teachers in needed fields and to take aid from schools that don’t, use lottery
money for student laptops, and to allow schools to set teacher salaries.
As far as the lottery is concerned, the two candidates also disagree over repealing
the state lottery. Perdue's campaign said rolling back the lottery would create
a $350 million hole in the state's education budget. In a news release, while
McCrory’s camp responded that he has been consistent on the lottery – preferring
repeal but recognizing the budget complications that such an effort would cause.
He has called for limiting advertising, such as the times when television ads
can be shown.
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