When a city council votes on a housing ordinance, when lawmakers debate property rights legislation, or when local regulation affects how homes are built, bought and sold, most Realtors see the outcome. What they often don’t see are the years of work that happen behind the scenes before those decisions are ever made.
Advocacy doesn’t happen by accident. At the Houston Association of REALTORS®, advocacy is not a single event, legislative session or election cycle. It is a continuous effort to protect private property rights, promote housing opportunities and ensure the real estate industry has a voice when decisions affecting consumers and Realtors are being made.
Advocacy is not simply something HAR does. It is one of the ways HAR fulfills its mission to help Realtors succeed. HAR’s Governmental Affairs efforts prioritize public policy issues that impact the real estate industry. Long before an issue reaches a public hearing or a ballot, HAR is working with elected officials, government agencies, industry partners and community leaders to better understand emerging challenges and identify solutions. Whether the issue is housing supply, flood mitigation, development regulations, property taxes, insurance availability or housing affordability, early engagement helps ensure real estate perspectives are part of the conversation.
Advocacy also requires participation in the political process. HAR’s political engagement efforts play a critical role in shaping the future of housing and real estate. Realtor volunteers participate in a rigorous candidate interview process designed to evaluate how candidates approach issues that directly impact property owners, housing opportunities and the real estate marketplace.
“In an era of heightened political polarization, our process remains focused on issues rather than ideology,” said HAR Director of Political Affairs Grant Trammell. “Real estate issues are not inherently partisan and therefore we support candidates on both sides of the aisle.”
The process is intentionally focused on issues rather than political parties. Realtors support candidates from across the political spectrum based on their understanding of and commitment to issues affecting homeownership, private property rights and the real estate industry. These efforts are supported by members of HAR’s Political Affairs Advisory Group and Political Affairs Advisory Leadership, who volunteer their time to review candidate questionnaires, conduct interviews and make recommendations to HAR’s Board of Directors.
Advocacy requires investment as well. The final piece of the advocacy puzzle is TREPAC, the Texas REALTORS® Political Action Committee. TREPAC helps ensure Realtors can participate effectively in the political process by supporting candidates who understand the importance of housing, property rights and a healthy real estate market. Contributions to TREPAC allow ealtors to amplify their collective voice and strengthen relationships with policymakers who make decisions affecting the industry every day.
HAR has one of the strongest cultures for political fundraising in the country, and there are many ways to get involved, from making a small donation to participating in industry events.
“TREPAC is more than a fundraising program. It’s an investment in the future of our industry,” said HAR Director of TREPAC Karen Driscoll. “By supporting candidates who understand housing and real estate issues, Realtors help build the relationships that are essential to effective advocacy.”
While Governmental Affairs, Political Affairs and TREPAC each play unique roles, they are all part of the same mission. Together, they create a full-circle advocacy program that identifies challenges, develops solutions, engages policymakers and supports the political process necessary to advance Realtor priorities. The result is an advocacy program that extends far beyond the walls of HAR. It protects the interests of Realtors, supports consumers, promotes housing opportunities and helps ensure that the Houston region remains a place where homeownership and property investment can thrive.
Amber Burton Alfred is HAR’s chief advocacy officer.