National Association of Realtors (NAR)

Introduction

NAR was originally known as the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges (NAREE). NAREE was formed on 12 May 1908 in Chicago (McMillan, 2018). The objective of the group was to ensure that real estate owners in the U.S. remained united to have a voice that would influence matters that directly affect their interests. NAREE changed its name to the National Association of Real Estate Boards (NAREB) as the new representation of real estate owners (Luckey et al., 2018). The term REALTORS was then developed by Charles Chadbourn to refer to the members of real estate association. The association changed its name to National Association of Realtors (NAR) (Luckey et al., 2018). In 1989, NAR adopted the voice of real estate as its operational theme. Currently, the association has 1.3 million members, more than 1,400 local associations and 54 state associations (Varady, 2018).

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Strategies Used by NAR

Some of the tactics used by the association to achieve its objectives is an enhancement of specialty in real estate activities (Burke, 2016). It has created seven divisions that specialize in real estate issues. Since the formation of the divisions, they have grown into councils, societies, and institutes that currently work with the NAR. The divisions include women's Council of REALTORS, the Institute of Real Estate Management, and Council of Real Estate, CCIM Institute, Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers, Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council and REALTORS Land Institute (Anthony, 2018). The latest divisions used by the association include National Association of Home Builders, Appraisal Institute and Urban Land Institute (Borth & summers, 2018).

The other strategy that the association uses in involvement in the political affairs of the state to gain control of bills that directly affect real estate (Quigley, 2002). Its branch, REALTORS Political Action Committee (RPAC) is one of the most significant trade associations in the United States. The association formed the political division for many reasons. For instance, in 1943, REALTORS Washington Committee was founded to help the government provide housing for soldiers and activities that supported war effort (Rappaport, 2018). The organization then formed Real Estate Political Action Committee (REPAC) in 1969. Its mandate was to promote voluntary contribution from NAR members and the use the funds to various political aspirants (Burke, 2016). RPAC currently make direct donations, averaging at least ten million dollars annually, to national political committees and federal candidates (Whitmyre, & Pandian, 2018).

Also, NAR uses technology to effectively reach the public and explain to them what exactly it is about. Through technology adoption, NAR has provided the audience with a lot of real estate information that they can currently access at their fingertips. The association started using computerized multiple listing services (MLS) from 1975 (Manning et al., 2015). NAR has continuously launched several programs that have repeatedly helped it to take advantage of computer technology. For instance, the association launched its official website realtors.com, in 1997, helping consumers to connect with the association easily. In 2001, it began www.nar.realtor providing realtors with the services available to them through the association (Cohen & Sundararajan, 2015).

How NAR Uses Its Strategies on the Website

The use of the website directly points to technological adoption strategy of the association to enhance its accessibility by both Realtors and potential future members (Gotham, 2006). It provides the public with its favorite links, associations and trending activities undertaken by the association. Explicitly, it informs the people of the contentious issues related to real changes in real estate. Its political involvement is also captured on the website, for instance, its support for the health plans and its national leadership.

NAR’s Targets and Influences on Public Policies

The association targets homeowners in a bid to preserve the free enterprise system while protecting the homeownership in the U.S. for current and future generations (Malhotra, & Van, 2014). The association can influence real estate and property policies that support its priorities. This is made possible through the association's support for political candidates who share its points of view on property ownership. Through the election of their candidates to the Congress and other public offices, the association can lobby the government to support their opinions on tax laws, residential real estate finance and commercial lending (Percival et al., 2017).

NAR’s Ideology and Reasons for Its Extensive Influence

The ideology of NAR is to reconcile home ownership and expansion of the government's role in housing finance by supporting leveraged lending policies (Percival et al., 2017). The organization has the wealthiest real estate owners, and members' contributions and its investments provide a broad capital base. The association can thus lobby lawmakers on virtually every issue that faces real estate sector including tax rates, bankruptcy legislation, healthcare, and property management and control (Dobratz, Waldner, & Buzzell, 2012). The extensive power that the association has in various related industries expands the scope of its operations thus increasing its influence across economic platforms in the state. The association's contribution to various house committees makes it easier for them to gain control of most matters of discussion at national levels (Janoski et al., 2005).

References

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Varady, D. P. (2018). My Career as a Pragmatist. Journal of the American Planning Association, 84(1), 76-84.
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