"Advocacy is not just having the 'right' position on issues; it is having the proper resources to deliver our message and tell our story."
RPAC is the Resource - It is the REALTOR® Voice in American Politics
RPAC is the REALTORS® Political Action Committee - It is a legal means by which REALTORS®can band together for the purpose of political action. RPAC is funded through voluntary contributions made by members and these funds are then given to candidates who support housing and real estate issues. RPAC is bipartisan and is one of the largest and most successful PACs in the nation, the state and the Baltimore region.
View RPAC Chairperson Bob Kimball's Message from Capitol Hill - May 2010
Locally RPAC has:
Reformed the City's Tenant's Right of First Refusal law to allow a process for exempting broker listed properties
Secured important exemptions to the City's recordation tax for first time buyers
Worked to ensure that County property owners maintain their right to receive notice of a problem before being fined.
At the Federal level, RPAC dollars are used to:
Implement the new $8,000 first-time buyer tax credit
Preserve the mortgage interest deduction
Reduce capital gains taxes
Protect private property rights
Work to increase the VA/HUD Loan limit
At the State level, RPAC works to:
Change the agency laws to benefit both REALTORS® and consumers
Reduce closing costs for first-time homebuyers
Protect commercial real estate commissions through the broker lien law
Decrease liability in property disclosure suits
Reduce liability from lead paint hazards
Streamline wetlands policy
What RPAC has prevented:
A 6¢ tax on your sales commission
Getting caught in the middle of property defect disclosure suits between buyers and sellers
Unreasonable regulations to implement the provisions of the "Lead Paint Law"
Losing your commission for commercial real estate deals by securing passage of the commercial lien law
Bureaucratic rules and regulations that would have raised the cost of owning or constructing a single family house
Losing your home mortgage interest deductibility
GBBR's RPAC Committee encourages all GBBR members to make a $25 fair share contribution to RPAC. To make your RPAC contribution, please print the form below and return it to GBBR with your check, made payable to RPAC.
If you have questions concerning what RPAC does and to whom it contributes, please contact Susan Garczynski at (410) 337-7200.
Contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. Contributions to RPAC are voluntary and are used for political purposes. You may refuse to contribute without affecting your membership rights. 70% of each contribution is used by Maryland RPAC to support state and local candidates. 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a. This solicitation is intend for members of the Maryland Association of REALTORS® only. Nothing herein contained shall be construed as solicitation of contributions from nonmembers.
For contribution made by credit card: You acknowledge that all credit card contributions are subject to the usual requirements of law applicable to RPAC contributions. Only personal, not corporate, card accounts may be used. The charge applied to the account as a result of the contribution must be paid with the personal funds of the individual(s) by whom the contribution is made.
