Alabama REALTORS® Celebrate Fair Housing Month at 34th Annual REALTOR® Day

Montgomery, Ala. - Over 300 REALTORS® from across Alabama converged on the state capitol in Montgomery last month for the 34th Annual REALTOR® DAY. The day began with a Fair Housing Breakfast and program in honor of Fair Housing Month. Special guest speaker Michael German, Director of the Alabama Field Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, spoke about Fair Housing discrimination in the housing industry and enforcement trends across the country. The program also included a discussion, led by Alabama REALTORS® Governmental and Political Affairs Director Jeremy Walker, on the life and career of Senator Edmund Brooke, former Republican Senator from Massachusetts co-author of 1968 Federal Fair Housing Act.

“Fair housing has been a cornerstone of the Alabama REALTORS®, and we have been and will remain committed to educating our members and the consumer about its importance,” said Barry Mask, Alabama REALTORS® CEO.

Following the Fair Housing Breakfast, members were able to meet with their state representatives and senators at the Alabama legislature to discuss issues affecting the real estate industry in Alabama and thank them for their service. This is an annual tradition dating back to 1981. REALTORS® emphasized the importance of protecting homeowners and the real estate industry from increased taxes and fees.

“We’re excited and proud of the great turnout from REALTORS® across the state. It is important for our elected officials to hear from our members about the state of the housing industry in Alabama and the negative impact new taxes or fees would have on homeowners and the real estate industry at this time,” said Jeremy Walker, Alabama REALTORS® Government and Political Affairs Director.

REALTOR® Day commenced the month-long advocacy efforts in Montgomery and Washington, D.C. to protect homeowners. The event is mirrored on the federal level at the annual National Association of REALTORS® Legislative Meetings that took place earlier this month. Over 75 members from Alabama converged with more than 8,500 fellow REALTORS® from every corner of the country to attend the meetings and visit lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

“We look forward to continuing to lead the charge to protect private property rights and promote homeownership as the voice of real estate in Alabama,” said Mask.

The Alabama Association of REALTORS® (AAR) is the largest statewide organization of real estate professionals with more than 12,000 members from 29 local boards and 1,200 real estate companies. The Association serves as the voice of the real estate industry in Alabama and as the official advocate of Alabama's multifaceted real estate industry before state, local and federal government.