MAR can help you prepare for the recommendation process
As the winter sludge gives way to spring, many state and federal legislators are gearing up for a crucial election year. On the state level, the Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, all 110 State House seats, and 38 Senate seats are up for grabs.
As you may know, the interview and endorsement process for the Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State races will be handled at the state level by your duly appointed RPAC Trustees. However, the interview process for each seat in the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate is up to the local associations.
This year, the filing deadline for candidates wishing to run for state House and Senate is
May 11th. Candidates then have three days to decide if they would like to withdraw their name. Often times this happens when people file and then realize that their chances of winning are quite slim based on who the other candidates are or after spending several months trying to raise money and not being successful. Shortly after these deadlines have passed, local association leadership or the association executive can contact each of the candidates via letter or phone call, inviting them to an interview with the candidate selection/government affairs committee, which is established based on the prerogatives of each local association.
Several factors are then weighed, including the candidate’s voting record (if they are an incumbent seeking re-election), their overall philosophy on the role of government in real estate related matters, willingness to work with us on important policy issues, and the general likelihood of them being elected in November. The selection committees within your local (government affairs committee, etc.) then make their recommendations of who to support and how much RPAC money to contribute to their campaigns. These recommendations are forwarded to the local board of directors, who, after approving or rejecting the committees’ choices, send them off to the state RPAC Trustees for consideration, approval, and disbursement of funds. Most of the time, the endorsements carry through to the general election and a second interview is not needed. However, on the somewhat rare occasions when a local association picks a candidate who loses in the primary, they are encouraged to meet with the winner and find common ground for support in the general election.
The MAR will be sending out an updated ‘
Candidate Interview Manual’ via a webpage link
today to all Association Executives.
Please contact the MAR Public Policy staff for any questions that may arise in starting the interview process. The MAR is more than happy to work with each local association to ensure a smooth and painless election season.
As most REALTORS® are aware, the First-Time Homebuyers Tax Credit (“Tax Credit”) expires on May 1, 2010. However, there is an exception for any taxpayer who enters into a written binding contract on or before April 30, 2010 to close on the purchase of a principal residence before July 1, 2010. Two questions have been raised a number of times by REALTORS® with respect to this exception. First, what constitutes a “binding contract” under the terms of the exception? Second, if the terms of a binding contract entered into on or before April 30, 2010 are amended after that date, does the buyer still qualify for the Tax Credit? As a practical matter, the two questions are part and parcel of the same analysis. To help with these questions, McClelland and Anderson prepared a guide for the First Time Home Buyer deadline.
Please take the time to forward the document below to your members. Include on your web site, or in your next newsletter or member e-mail blast.
First Time HomeBuyer Tax Credit Deadline Looms
The Michigan Association of REALTORS® is looking for better ways to assist our local associations in presenting the GRI Program to the membership. In an effort to gather additional information we have prepared a short 4 question survey. Your participation would be greatly appreciated.
Take the GRI Survey
The Michigan Association of REALTORS® has a goal for its members: Give all Michigan residents the opportunity to realize the American dream of homeownership. This goal is a challenge to all REALTORS®, who are leaders in a culturally diverse real estate environment, to rise to new heights and provide creative and innovative solutions to diversify the real estate environment. To achieve this mission, MAR has a comprehensive strategy to break down barriers of homeownership.
The MAR has created a Fair Housing Resource center webpage that contains the most up-to-date information for REALTORS® about what MAR is doing to promote fair housing, as well as create a clearinghouse of resources for download by MAR members.
The MAR continues to work with members to ensure that affordable housing strategies are applied at the state and local levels of the association, as well as by individual companies and REALTORS®.
Please visit
Mirealtors.com for more information on Fair Housing resources, as well as a number of articles regarding this important topic.
Each month Mirealtors.com updates the Right Tools Right Now resources that NAR offers all REALTOR® members. To assist in your advertising and promotion of Right Tools, Right Now, we encourage you to visit
REALTOR.org for print ads, logos and banner ads on this site in your marketing communications.
Direct your members to the
Mirealtors.com Right Tools Right Now site for the latest updated free or at cost tools and resources. April resources include;
Fair Housing Sales Pocket GuideValuable resource that details commonly asked questions and suggested answers relating to housing discrimination.
Order your copy now for FREE!
Fair Housing Rental Pocket GuideInformative guide for those involved with management or leasing of real estate, that covers fair housing laws, the responsibilities of real estate professionals and checklists to ensure proper procedures.
Order your copy now for FREE
Fair Housing Handbook - Fourth EditionComprehensive resource offering suggested fair housing office procedures, background on fair housing regulations, information on the NAR/HUD partnership and more.
Order your copy now for FREE
COMPLETELY FREE service for the Michigan Association of REALTORS®
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Accelerate your business instantly with this COMPLETELY FREE Michigan REALTORS® Member Benefit. MongoFAX empowers all Michigan REALTORS® to instantly fax paper-based documents (disclosure packages, signed contracts, etc.) directly to any email addresses in the world. All you need is an ordinary fax machine and MAR's designated MongoFAX Cover Page.
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