Dear Association Partners,

I am writing to provide several updates from AEI for those who were unable to attend.

• NAR Budget Proposal. The biggest news to come out of the meetings were the presentations on the proposed NAR budgets and restructuring NAR has done under the new administration.
  • If you will recall NAR published a Future of the REALTOR® Party PAG Report in the winter of 2017 following the Realtor Party Training in December. More on that here. 
  • In December, the estimated dues increase did not have a definitive number until the actual budget was published on the HUB to NAR Directors on Thursday of last week (March 22).
  • At AEI on Saturday afternoon March 24, NAR’s budget team and Treasurer Tom Riley, presented the proposal in detail. A handout they provided is attached for your review.
  • NAR worked to narrow the proposed dues increased to $30. $17 of that going towards REALTOR® Party programs, and $13 towards operational expenses.
  • More information can be found on NAR’s website here.
    
    
• NAR/DOJ/Anti Trust: The other significant news was a report from NAR’s general counsel Katie Johnson regarding NAR’s ongoing efforts working the Department of Justice on revisiting the consent decree pertaining to anti-competitive practices in real estate. 
  • The current consent decree was entered into in 2008 and expires this year. NAR and the DOJ are in discussions about next steps following the expiration of the decree in November of this year. 
  • NAR and the DOJ are also working on a joint education program later this spring to further educate our members on avoiding anti-competitive practices in real estate.
  • NAR’s website has more information here. We’ll circulate more information as it is available. 
    
    
• RCE:  Congratulations to Beverly Hinkle and Jamie Sergen on earning their RCE designations!
  
  
• Advocacy Recognition: Chris Lammons was featured in a panel discussion during AEI on Phenix City’s issues mobilization campaign last year to combat high impact fees that were stopping new housing starts. 
  
  
• People on the Move: Birmingham’s new CEO Dawn Kennedy started last Monday and was able to attend AEI. Dawn has great experience across the country as board executive in Wisconsin, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, and most recently with REALTOR® University. Please reach out to Dawn and welcome her to Alabama. Her email is dawn@birminghamrealtors.com
  
  
• Dinner: Lastly, we enjoyed a great dinner on Thursday evening to start the conference. Those able to attend were Dawn Kennedy, Chris Bakkane, Christine Hearne, Valerie Reagan, and Beverly Hinkle. Mimosa Grill in Charlotte is really great if you’re ever back in that area.

Hope you have a great week! 

Jeremy