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Accountability is the unofficial theme for summer 2024. The inevitable and always tense political climate surrounding the 2024 election is already setting the backdrop as real estate agents navigate a risky legal landscape and continue to demand more value and transparency from the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) There was a chain reaction.
Trump’s newly appointed vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance emphasized the need for agents to pay attention to which players are gaining attention in the political arena, which could impact their business in 2025 and beyond.
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Still, while we’re busy asking questions, calling for accountability, and promoting transparency, I want to draw attention to the fact that RPAC, or Realtors Political Action Committee, is the NAR’s first group asking you to send your money and “save home ownership.” Two favorite places.
In this article, you’ll learn how RPAC works, how candidates are selected, and identify several candidates who have received RPAC funding but whose policy proposals violated ethics guidelines. To research the information in this article, we used sources from NAR’s own RPAC resources and a website called Open Secrets, which is designed to increase transparency about PAC campaign finance.
What is RPAC?
As one of the largest PACS in the country, the PAC has consistently ranked in the top ten in size and fundraising for decades.
Define it: Political Action Committee (PAC) — A popular term referring to a political committee organized to raise and spend money to elect and defeat candidates. Most political action committees represent business, labor, or ideological interests.
Since 1969, the Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC) has been promoting the election of pro-Realtor candidates across the United States. The purpose of RPAC is clear: voluntary contributions from real estate agents are used to help elect candidates who understand and support their interests. These are not membership dues; these are free funds provided by realtors in recognition of the importance of the political process. Realtor PACs and other political fundraising are key to protecting and promoting the real estate industry.
How to choose RPAC candidates?
In a nutshell, candidates wishing to receive funding fill out this form and the listing committee then reviews the form and decides whether to accept or reject the candidate.
Who will select the candidates?
The RPAC committee is made up of real estate agents representing different regions of the United States, and there are several subcommittees and other bodies related to this and the “Realtors Party.”
Agents can access the complete roster of subcommittee members by logging into your personal NAR account.
How is the money spent?
The money raised should be divided equally between both parties to help elect candidates who support the interests of real estate agents. It appears via Open Secrets that donations to 2023/2024 federal candidates will be designated 51.58% to Democrats and 47.91% To the Republican Party.
One important thing to note is that if you click on the independent expenditures tab, RPAC incurred an additional $1.37 million in “soft money” expenditures, 70% of them went to Republican candidates.
Hard currency, which is voluntary individual contributions, is the only type of funding that can be given directly to federal candidates and national RPACs. Soft dollars are typically raised from organizations and companies. Soft dollars can be provided directly to state and local candidates in certain states and can be used to help defray costs incurred in administering and promoting RPAC and certain grassroots political programs. There is no limit on the amount of soft dollars an individual or company can invest in a corporate ally program or political advocacy fund.
Unlike donating directly to a candidate’s campaign, PACs can spend however much they want to support the candidate, but they cannot coordinate their efforts with the candidate.
What are you waiting for!
As complex as our current political landscape is, many agents struggle to understand the contradiction between candidates receiving funding who claim to be for housing but have very specific messages and efforts in their platforms , against diversity, equity, inclusion, and most importantly, fair housing.
On June 1, hundreds of agents commented on NAR’s Pride Month images, but there seemed to be no consequences, and overall it was just a bad look for the entire organization. Now, if anyone scrolls back and visits the same post, you can see that over 900 comments have been deleted, and NAR’s response appears to be a quiet cleanup effort with no real consequences for those agents who spoke out against Pride .
Ryan Weyandt, CEO of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, has been sounding the alarm for years that NAR has an ugly DEI problem that they still have no control over.
“Further, we have proven that REALTORS PACs across the country are supporting discriminatory candidates and elected officials,” he added, referring to the coalition’s years-long Section 10 campaign. “But now, on NAR’s own Instagram and Facebook pages, there are hundreds of inflammatory, discriminatory and hateful comments written by the real estate agents themselves.” – Ryan Weyandt, CEO of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance
Ryan Weyandt, CEO of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, said in an interview with Inman magazine reporter Marian McPherson on June 6, 2024. article Covering comments on NAR Pride posts.
Why or how NAR, Remote PACeven real estate agents would want to support any candidate who doesn’t live up to the standards of the Code of Ethics that every real estate agent is expected to uphold, which seems very contradictory to NAR’s previous messaging about being inclusive and supporting fair housing for every consumer.
For example their fairhaven plan. Addressing rampant discrimination on social media, NAR launches this new fair housing simulation training in 2020 that focuses on the power of storytelling to help members identify, prevent and address discriminatory practices in real estate
Why or how would NAR, RPAC, or even real estate agents be willing to support any candidate who fails to meet the standards of the code of ethics that every real estate agent is expected to uphold.
While the subject may be controversial, we have to talk about NAR’s lack of action and the ethics of RPAC. If agents want to gain the trust of American consumers, they must become advocates for the opportunity to buy a home for every American.
you are too dramatic
not yet. A small group of ultra-conservatives has a very radical agenda and is determined to continue to weaken facilities, protections and guarantees for protected classes, minorities and others who will continue to face discrimination if these carefully crafted laws are not enforced. and lose important opportunities for fair access to prosperity.
On June 12, Senator and now-elected Republican Vice Presidential Candidate J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Congressman Michael Crowder (R-TX-27), along with co-sponsor Senator Martha Blackburn (R-TN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Eric Schmidt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL) and 15 members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced Repeal the DEI Act Eliminate all federal DEI programs and funding for federal agencies, contractors receiving federal funding, organizations receiving federal grants, and educational accrediting agencies.
This includes Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and various consumer banking laws that protect consumers from discrimination in real estate, loans, and mortgages. Please take a moment to read the entire document and everything they are trying to repeal with this bill.
These elected officials received RPAC funding
RPAC has supported these individuals (in some cases for multiple election cycles) who have a terrible and very clear record on DEI. This feels contrary to what the funding is supposed to support.
Under NAR’s Code of Ethics, if an attorney is found to have engaged in or intentionally discriminated against a protected group, the attorney may be terminated, or even pursue legal recourse. However, for some reason, NAR’s Code of Ethics does not appear to apply to candidates applying for and using RPAC funds for their campaigns.
What can be done?
The entire candidate screening process needs to be retooled. Agents can and should get more involved, advocating for which candidates should receive support. At the very least, a candidate’s entire platform and policy beliefs need to be considered, not just their housing efforts. Real estate agents are not just in the housing business. A real estate agent’s business involves people and lives.
It may seem counter-intuitive to go 50/50 with “our philosophy of keeping things fair and impartial” if the funds are allocated to either party who is not consistent with the ethics the realtor is committed to and upholds.
Realtors have to do better. Real estate agents must strengthen and improve their practices. Things are not meant to be the same forever, and if you are an RPAC contributor, you need to hold those responsible to be better accountable.
Rachael Hite is a former broker, business development professional, fair housing advocate, copy editor, and currently perfecting her long-term game of selling forever homes at a retirement continuing care community in Northern Virginia. You can chat with her about life, marketing, and business on Instagram.
