Realtors work behind the scenes for homeownership

In March 2020, Ohio went into lockdown due to COVID19. It was a stressful time for everyone, and we Realtors heard many concerns from our clients — “what about my home search?” “I’ve started packing already; “We bought a new home and still need to sell this one” and so many more. Our answer was simple: Don’t worry, we got this!

When the governor’s office released its guidance on how to navigate this new terrain, the real estate industry was highlighted as an essential service and was declared exempt from the stay-at-home order. As it turned out, Realtors had quickly jumped into action even before the orders were released to call the governor’s office and every other legislator at the statehouse to advocate for home buyers, sellers and the industry in Ohio, safeguarding the largest investment most people will ever make. That’s only one example of how Realtors help to protect the community.

Just like with any other profession, Realtors compete for business. Particularly in this current environment where there is a shortage of available properties, we are always marketing ourselves. It helps to be a specialist in certain aspects of real estate sales — relocation expert, finding homes for military families, or the neighborhood guru.

With all of these disparate fields and all of the competition, how do Realtors come together to voice their concerns on important issues? Regardless of which company we work for, we are all part of the “Realtor Party.”

If I may be so bold, when it comes to working with local, state and national lawmakers, no one does it better than Realtors. There’s a very good reason for that, too. Our secret: We work with all legislators. It doesn’t matter whether they are ripe red or bright blue, we have excellent relationships with both sides of the aisle.

There are more than 1 million Realtors nationwide — more than 3,000 serving you here in the Miami Valley — and the National Association of Realtors decided several decades ago to leverage and unify all of those voices by creating the Realtor Party. As the only advocacy group in America that fights exclusively for homeownership, real estate investment, strong communities and the free enterprise system, the Realtor Party is not focused on the right, left or even the middle of the aisle; it is focused on the issues that matter to existing and future homeowners and the real estate industry.

We have volunteer Realtors who visit members of Congress at the Capitol each year in Washington, D.C., to discuss legislation. We also have a system of federal and state political coordinators — Realtors who keep in close communication with elected representatives to frequently update them on issues that are crucial to home buyers and sellers. It’s this network that has allowed us to join together and quickly address important matters and protect home ownership for all Americans.

So when you’re in need of a Realtor for your home-buying or selling needs, there’s a lot more to these folks than meets the eye! We’re here to help buyers find the home of their dreams and to assist sellers make a smooth transition away from their house. But behind the scenes, we’re also looking out for the community by protecting the rights of all homeowners and advocating for legislation that safeguards your home and your wallet.

That’s just one more reason why, when you’re planning to buy or sell, utilizing the services of a Realtor is your best bet.