News from HQ
2018 IREM Global Summit – September 26-29
The 2018 Global Summit is only 4 weeks away!
All government affairs committee/board meetings are open to anyone wishing to attend.
Thursday, September 27
- 11:00am - 12:30pm – Legislative & Public Policy Committee
- 2:00pm - 3:30pm – Federal Advocacy Board
*We will be discussing how to be an effective advocate and the return of our Capitol Hill Visits in 2019
Friday, September 28
- 9:00am - 10:30am – Federal Housing Advisory Board
IREM and NAR Submit Letter to House Judiciary Committee Regarding Online Sales Tax Hearing
The letter thanks the Committee for holding the hearing entitled, “Examining the Wayfair decision and its Ramifications for Consumers and Small Businesses.” IREM and NAR support equitable sales tax treatment of all sellers, and the Supreme Court’s holding in the South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., is a step toward achieving that.
For more information regarding the Wayfair decision, check out this summary that was recently distributed on Capitol Hill.
Big Win for Realtors in IRS Guidance on 20% Income Deduction
On Wednesday, August 8, the IRS released its proposed guidance on the new 20 percent business income deduction.
The deduction, included as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in Congress last year, was a huge win for Realtors. Full Article
Member Contributions
The Importance of Investing in the REALTORS Political Action Committee (RPAC)
By Chip Watts, CPM, CCIM, IREM Senior Vice President & 2018 Secretary/Treasurer Nominee
RPAC President’s Circle Golden R Investor
As an affiliate member of the National Association of REALTORS, CPMs are eligible to invest in the REALTORS Political Action Committee (RPAC). The purpose of RPAC is clear: REALTORS, and its affiliate designees such as CPM, CCIM, SIOR, ALC and CRE, raise and spend money to elect candidates who understand and support their interests. Candidates who receive support from RPAC are not selected based on their political party or ideology, but solely on their support of real estate issues. RPAC supports federal, state and local candidates who understand that a vibrant real estate market is only achieved when both residential and commercial markets are strong. In short, it’s a package deal. Full Article
Federally Assisted Housing
A Push for Insurance Relief in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
IREM has joined with the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) and Southeastern Affordable Housing Management Association (SAHMA) to reach out to government officials in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico after learning of skyrocketing insurance premiums on HUD project-based Section 8 (PBRA) properties in these territories. Full Article
National News
Service Animals Vs. Emotional Support Animals: Ferreting Out the Truth
Commercial & Residential – Emotional support animals
Fed Up with Vacant Storefronts, Residents Force Cities to Punish Retail Landlords
Commercial – Landlord registration, vacancy fees
Dodd-Frank Changes Could Lead to Increased Investment Opportunity in Secondary Markets
Commercial & Residential – Dodd-Frank reform
The Government Affairs Digest is distributed monthly to the IREM Executive Committee, Regional Vice Presidents, Chapter Presidents and Chapter Legislative Chairs, Legislative and Public Policy Committee, and the Federal Housing Advisory Board. Other IREM members who would like to receive the newsletter may opt-in at any time.
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