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The Importance of Voting in Local Elections for REALTORS®

As a REALTOR®, you’re likely well aware of how government policies directly impact the housing market, property rights, and the real estate profession. While the Presidential election captures the most attention in 2024, our local elections can have a far more immediate and lasting effect on your business and the communities you serve. Local officials, like city and county council members, our county executive, and mayors, make decisions about zoning, taxes, and housing policies that can either create opportunities or create barriers for homeowners and REALTORS® alike.

Why Local Elections Matter More

Many of the key decisions that impact the real estate market are made at the local level. Policies concerning property taxes, zoning regulations, land use, and development are primarily driven by local governments. For example, the decisions made on issues like affordable housing initiatives, property tax rates, and new development projects will shape your business environment far more quickly and directly than federal policies.

Without engaged REALTORS® voting in local elections, we lose the chance to influence decisions that affect property rights, home affordability, and real estate transaction costs. Every vote counts when it comes to shaping the communities in which we live and work.

How REALTOR® Candidates Are Evaluated

The Washington REALTORS® and Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS® (TPCAR) evaluate candidates based on their stance on key issues that affect both housing and real estate. Some of the core issues we focus on include:

  • Property rights: Protecting the right of homeowners to manage and enjoy their property with minimal government interference.
  • Housing affordability: Ensuring that housing policies make homeownership more accessible to a wide range of people.
  • Development and growth: Advocating for smart growth policies that balance development with the needs of the community, while allowing the real estate industry to thrive.
  • Real estate taxes and fees: Working to prevent excessive taxes or fees that increase the cost of buying, selling, or owning a home.

REALTOR® Advocacy Principles

Our endorsements are guided by advocacy principles that reflect the needs of both real estate professionals and their clients. These principles focus on:

  • Advancing policies that encourage homeownership and sustainable development.
  • Supporting property tax fairness and advocating for reasonable tax structures that don’t overburden homeowners or stifle development.
  • Protecting private property rights, ensuring that land use regulations are fair and not overly restrictive.

Why REALTOR® Endorsements Are Important

Our associations are bipartisan and endorse candidates based on their policies, not their party affiliations. We focus on issues that affect housing, property rights, and real estate transactions, not general political platforms. The goal is to ensure that the elected officials who represent us understand and advocate for the needs of REALTORS®, homeowners and prospective homeowners, and the housing market.

Your Vote Matters

As a REALTOR®, you are not only a community leader but also a voice for homeowners and the real estate profession. By voting in local elections, you help shape the future of housing policy in your community. We encourage you to take this responsibility seriously—learn about the candidates, understand their positions on real estate issues, and make sure you cast your ballot.

For more information about the candidates and issues in this year’s election, visit Washington REALTORS® Government Affairs and TPCAR’s Advocacy Resources.

Make your voice heard. Vote today, and help shape the future of your business and your community.

This blog post is designed to remind REALTORS® of the critical role they play in local elections and how their vote can influence housing and real estate policies. Make sure you stay informed and engaged in the process!

To view the list of 2024 TPCAR candidate endorsements, CLICK HERE.

To learn more about REALTOR® advocacy and recent successes, CLICK HERE.

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