The profound importance and powerful impact of NAR’s advocacy work has become increasingly clear over the last several years. The REALTORS® Legislative Meetings, which took place May 6 – 11, 2023 in Washington, DC, allow us to build on that momentum and continue the critical policy conversations among REALTORS®, lawmakers, and industry leaders. Some of the key priorities and issues are outlined below.

Debt Ceiling, Institutional Investors Headline REALTORS® Legislative & Political Forum

(WASHINGTON, May 7, 2023) – The REALTORS® Legislative Meetings kicked off Sunday morning with a lively discussion on the debt limit, an issue currently enveloping Washington that could have a significant impact on the economy and real estate sector. Read here.

NAR Advocacy Policy Priorities Outlined During 2023 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings

(WASHINGTON, May 8, 2023) – Closing out the second day of the 2023 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings, the Advocacy Scoop provided National Association of REALTORS® members with an inside take on the state of real estate issues in Congress. Read here.

FHA Commissioner Keynotes Regulatory Issues Forum at REALTORS® Legislative Meetings

(WASHINGTON, May 9, 2023) – Housing supply is one of the greatest factors impacting affordability in today’s market, according to speakers at the Regulatory Issues Forum at the 2023 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings. The high-profile session focused on regulatory policy concerns important to the real estate industry. Read here.

Commitment to Equal Opportunity

(WASHINGTON, May 11, 2023) – National Association of REALTORS® new-member applicants must now complete two hours of fair housing training and existing members must complete two hours of fair housing training every three years as a condition of REALTOR® membership, including one training option that is of no cost to members. The new requirement was approved by the association’s Board of Directors at its May 11 meeting. The three-year cycle coincides with NAR’s existing Code of Ethics training requirement and begins in 2025. Read here.

Courses satisfying the new NAR requirement are:

  • At Home With Diversity, a course to help real estate professionals work successfully in an increasingly diverse marketplace. Register for the upcoming RASM course here.
  • Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing, a course to help real estate professionals identify and interrupt stereotypical thinking to avoid fair housing pitfalls
  • Qualified equivalent courses provided by state and local associations, institutes, societies and councils, and their partnered providers
  • Qualified equivalent fair housing courses approved by state licensing authorities for an existing state fair housing requirement
  • A to-be-created non-residential practitioner course focused on bias and anti-discrimination training

Fairhaven, NAR’s online fair housing simulation, will also be updated to meet the stated learning objectives and two-hour minimum time frame so that it can be included in the list of qualifying courses and serve as the no-cost option.

The recommendation came out of a work group appointed by NAR’s Member Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee, which advanced the recommendation to the board. NAR’s Association Executives, Professional Development, Diversity and Fair Housing Policy committees also voted in support of the new fair housing training requirement.

NAR’s Fair Housing Action Plan: ACT! aims to ensure REALTORS® are doing everything possible to protect housing rights in America, with an emphasis on accountability, culture change and training.