CAAR members urged Senate and House representatives to support the Virginia REALTORS® Legislative Agenda and other key bills impacting homeownership and property rights.
While homebuyers might think REALTORS® are only there to help them find or sell a home and complete the necessary paperwork, there’s more to it than that. A lot more.
“Many REALTORS® are actually working behind the scenes with area legislators, advocating for access to more affordable housing, fair taxes and simpler permitting processes, among other key issues,” commented James Dickerson, chair of the CAAR Public Affairs Committee. “Others [REALTORS®] run for political office so they can impact housing-related legislation as it works its way through the system.”
For Dave Norris, executive director of the Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® (CAAR) Foundation, it comes down to a simple belief. “Everyone deserves a place to live,” said Norris, “and the Foundation’s intent is to move the needle on affordable housing by investing in innovative housing solutions that will help increase the number of homes available to low- and middle-income households.”
CAAR advocates for private property rights throughout Central Virginia, including the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson. The CAAR Foundation, an extension of the trade group, partners with local community organizations to increase the number of affordable homes, and additionally creates relationships with developers, builders and local government officials to increase affordable housing and homeownership opportunities.
Norris said REALTORS® are encouraged to support the nonprofit’s efforts by volunteering time and resources to charitable and educational homeownership initiatives throughout their communities. For example, CAAR members work closely with Habitat for Humanity, and other housing-related non-profits, serving as mentors and helping homeowners through their first-time homebuying experience. Later this year, the CAAR Foundation will unveil a centralized online resource in collaboration with Charlottesville Tomorrow, the first of its kind in the region, which will provide a comprehensive database of housing tools and support to help current and future homebuyers and renters.
As part of their work in the legislative arena, Dickerson said CAAR works closely with the REALTORS® Political Action Committee of Virginia, or RPAC, to help elect candidates and support legislation that benefits homeowners and developers alike.
According to Pam Dent, chair of the CAAR RPAC, high interest rates, a shortage of homes on the market, and lengthy waits for new home permits are all adding to the cost of a home. She said the median sales price for a home in the region is $460,050 (3% higher from Q2-23), according to the CAAR 2024 2nd Quarter Market Report.
“We work nonstop behind the scenes with those in the political arena to help alleviate these roadblocks to homeownership,” Dent said.
Dent said most clients, home buyers and sellers, are probably unaware of the work their REALTORS® are doing behind the scenes to help them on their journey toward homeownership.
“Whether we are partnering with area homebuilders to educate legislators to craft legislation that will speed up the permitting process or serving as a resource to those same legislators trying to understand our work and how it fits into a particular bill, we are there to create more opportunities for homeowners in our communities,” Dent said.
“Homeowner issues affect nearly everyone throughout the region. I think that’s why the REALTOR® community is so supportive in addressing the affordable housing challenge, because our goal is to make this community more livable — for everyone.”
For more information about CAAR, its Foundation, and valuable resources for home buyers, sellers and renters, please visit caar.com.
