A Message from CEO Mark Fisher:

4/19/2022

Five decades after the Fair Housing Act, REALTORS® work to deliver on its promise
April is Fair Housing Month, commemorating the passage of the landmark federal Fair Housing Act in April of 1968. It’s appropriate that this anniversary comes with the traditional springtime surge of new listings, a reminder of the importance of fair play and non-discriminatory practices leading us into the heart of homebuying season.

Like all successful entrepreneurs, REALTORS® are results-oriented – so let’s start with the unfortunate bottom line: More than fifty years after the Fair Housing Act passed, the gap between Black and white homeownership rates has widened to nearly thirty percent.

The Act prohibited explicit housing discrimination, overturning policies like racial covenants, and redlining that were pervasive across the United States. But it failed to address the accumulated injustices and compounding economic losses created by these practices.

Black Americans were largely shut out of the housing boom that followed World War II, missing out on decades of equity, wealth-building, and investment in one of the most significant sectors of the U.S. economy. Each subsequent generation begins their journey towards homeownership further and further behind the starting line, even after the Fair Housing Act cleared obstacles from the path ahead.

Alexia Smokler, NAR’s Director of Fair Housing Policy & Programs, detailed some of these challenges at a state legislative briefing we hosted earlier this year (I’d recommend watching the full presentation here – it’s worth twenty minutes of your time): She notes that white buyers are twice as likely to finance a home purchase with the sales of a previous residence, a tremendous head start bestowed by higher homeownership rates.

Conversely, Black homebuyers are forced to save larger down payments from lower average incomes and are three times more likely to tap into retirement savings. Because twice as many Black households are also working off student loan debt, family budgets are even leaner against the daunting task of building a nest egg.

A survey analysis released this month by NAR (“2022 Obstacles to Homeownership”) notes that white homebuyers are twenty percent more likely than Black and Hispanic homebuyers to have parents or guardians who are homeowners. This illustrates the generational challenge facing people of color in pursuing the often-daunting process of finding and purchasing a first home.

Access and equity:
These issues are amplified in today’s competitive climate of record-high housing prices and record-low inventory.  Another recent NAR report confirms that the typical American home is thirty percent more expensive today than in 2019, calling rising costs and limited inventory “double trouble” for real estate.

Quadruple trouble doesn’t have the same ring to it. Still, surging inflation erodes these savings, and rising interest rates add to the cost of mortgages. You have a confluence of circumstances that are especially difficult for first-time homebuyers.

This only solidifies the long-term disparities that undercut the full potential for Black homeownership.

It’s been a recurring theme in these columns, but when supply is consistently stuck below demand, prices rise…and Indiana hasn’t enjoyed a year-over-year increase in inventory since 2014. New housing starts are stalled at two-thirds of 2005 levels, and statewide sale prices have risen 61 consecutive months and counting – pushing more potential buyers to the margins of the market with each passing month.

In short, the history of housing since the passage of the Fair Housing Act shows that equality in legal rights and protections doesn’t guarantee equitable access to the American Dream, especially as affordable housing options are increasingly scarce in Indiana and across the nation. So how do we move from making sure everyone plays by the same rules to actually leveling the playing field?

Affordability is a priority:
Affordable housing development is crucial to opening the market to new and first-time buyers. The ‘Obstacles to Homeownership’ survey confirms that affordability is the most significant barrier facing homebuyers of all backgrounds and ethnicities.

It’s time for a new real estate mantra alongside “location, location, location” – we also need “construction, construction, construction” to increase inventory and improve affordability across the board.

As we’ve reported, the General Assembly took a few modest steps to address widespread housing shortages this session. Lawmakers created a statewide housing task force to examine and report on obstacles to affordable and workforce housing development, and REALTORs will be deeply engaged in its deliberations.

The legislature also expanded tax credits for affordable housing construction, aligning Indiana with federal housing incentives.

We’ll also continue the fight alongside NAR at the federal level, where $25 billion will be allocated to affordable housing production for low-income Americans while securing $1.75 billion in grants for state and local governments for affordable housing solutions and pro-growth zoning reform.

A fair play policy agenda:
It’s naïve to pretend that fair housing has become an issue of supply and demand. Nearly forty percent of Black homebuyers still report racial discrimination in their experience; the Fair Housing Act has left us with systemic challenges and unfinished public policy concerns. Uprooting biases in the home appraisal process is one of these confounding issues.

At the federal level, REALTORS® worked closely with the Department of Housing and Urban Development in developing a strategy to address concerns and improve public trust in the appraisal profession without undermining the soundness of the market.

Champions for change:
You’ve heard the term “Think globally, act locally.” When it comes to fair housing, REALTORS® are active partners in addressing affordability challenges, as limited inventory adds to inequitable outcomes. Our federal and state policy platforms aim to strengthen the Fair Housing Act and advocate common-sense solutions in areas where the Act is silent.

But change starts with individual REALTORs as champions of fairness. Article Ten of the Code of Ethics clearly states, “REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity [or] be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons…”

It’s up to us to live those words through daily activities and working proactively to welcome all clients.

This brings up a final point about professionalism and how REALTORS® should inspire confidence in a fair and transparent housing market. It’s tempting to celebrate fast closings and sales soaring over the asking price, but too many self-congratulatory social media posts risk undercutting the role of REALTORS® as trusted advisors to buyers and sellers, empathetic to their experiences and eager to help them succeed – not to mention, these posts make you vulnerable to scams and other safety risks. Let’s not just be advocates for our businesses, but ambassadors for an American dream that is accessible to all.

Inside IAR: 3/17/2022
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Spring forward
Last week, the General Assembly adjourned with compromises on tax relief and concluding the COVID health emergency, updates to the state’s economic development toolkit, and more. We also compiled a winning record on housing issues: IAR’s government affairs team took care of business (yours), and with ‘sine die’ in the books, we’re ready to spring forward into the traditional homebuying season. But first, a recap and a few observations.

Let’s start with the tax package that made it to the fiscal finish line. House Bill 1002 gradually reduces Indiana’s income tax from 3.23% to 2.9% and eliminates two utility taxes to generate savings for ratepayers. By 2029 the plan gives us the lowest flat rate of any state with an individual income tax, another point for our appealing affordability. (It also helps broker companies organized as pass-through entities keep – and reinvest – more of their earnings.)

On the other hand, business personal property reform didn’t make the cut (pun intended) as lawmakers expressed concerns about the impact on local budgets and consequences for other taxpayers – concerns we shared, as I explained last month.

There’s a symbiotic relationship between economic development and the housing market –last week, I heard this saying at the Association Executives Institute: no homes, no jobs – but our top priority is protecting homeowners by protecting the integrity of our constitutional property tax caps. Reducing assessments on business equipment would shift more of the burden to residential property under the caps since rising home values also raise the ceiling for individual tax bills.

Success isn’t cheap:
Indiana’s combined state and local income tax burden (per capita) is nearly 20% less than the 50-state average. A dozen states cut income taxes last year, capitalizing on robust recoveries from short-lived COVID recessions. HB1002 allows Indiana to leapfrog these peers and sharpen our competitive edge on personal taxes.

But we also recognize the limits of cost as a catalyst for growth. Indiana’s Secretary of Commerce, Brad Chambers, has laid out a new blueprint for economic development that combines our traditional strengths in tax and regulatory climate with an “aim higher” emphasis on place-making and asset-building, making talent a priority to lean into advanced industry opportunities.

The same lessons apply to housing. Affordability matters and taxes are part of the equation. But houses aren’t commodities – successful REALTORS® sell communities. That’s why we balance endorsements of tax reform with advocacy for state and local quality of life initiatives.

In addition to expanding state incentives, new legislation (Senate Bill 361) empowers local governments to create worker relocation programs. We encourage REALTORS® to engage in these partnerships as we push for state-level investments through next year’s budget process. But these efforts can’t just position Indiana as the cheapest place to live.

Strong housing markets support quality public services and amenities. A recent analysis by Ball State University economist Michael Hicks (via the Brookings Institution) studies the ‘premium’ associated with livability across the Midwest – what drives higher home prices, employment and earnings – and identifies public school quality and other community attributes with sustained population growth.

Tax relief isn’t sufficient as a talent strategy. Cutting business personal property taxes also erodes the base shared by school corporations. State revenues need to keep up with education budgets, infrastructure demands, and programs like READI that also help attract new Hoosiers.

On the supply side:
(That’s a Laffer Curve reference for you tax policy aficionados.)

Limited inventory was a pre-existing condition for local housing markets that worsened through the pandemic as a persistent challenge for potential buyers across Indiana. Housing supply – especially the need for affordable and workforce options – isn’t a short-term challenge and won’t be solved overnight.

But this session did see a few promising steps forward on housing supply and stability issues. House Bill 1306 creates a statewide housing task force to examine and report on obstacles to workforce housing development, including a REALTOR® representative to provide a practical perspective on the marketplace. Senate Bill 382 was amended in the final weeks to include new tax credits for affordable housing construction, hopefully a precursor to a more comprehensive push on this issue.

We also played defense on a policy that at first glance seemed deceptively pro-growth. Community Infrastructure Improvement Districts (Senate Bill 370) appeared to be a new tool for residential development. Actually, they were a mechanism to spread the upfront costs of new development among surrounding homeowners through special assessments – up to 30% of a home’s value, which is a type of new tax levied outside the property tax caps.

Protecting a more vulnerable market segment, House Bill 1214 ensures that eviction records can be expunged if circumstances are beyond the renter’s control while pushing the state to deploy remaining rental assistance. These common-sense actions help keep the door to future homeownership open to renters working through these challenging times.

Who runs the world?
On all these issues and a litany of others, IAR’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Maggie McShane, was an aggressive, well-informed champion of pro-housing policies around the Statehouse – a role she’s played since November 2010.

It made me think about and appreciate anew our association’s exceptional group of professionals, especially during this Women’s History Month. Along with Maggie’s leadership on the legislative, political, and regulatory fronts, I’m surrounded by an all-female senior staff, including:

• Richelle Mossler, General Counsel
• Stacey Hartman, Vice President of Communications
• Janet Haley, Controller
• Janice Childress, Vice President of Data Analytics

And I’ll highlight Senior Vice President Kathy Harbaugh, who’s been an indispensable member of IAR’s executive team for more than a decade, bringing invaluable institutional knowledge and professional insight as a Broker and former association executive. Kathy also represents an intergenerational commitment to the profession – her mother, Patricia ‘Pat’ Pencek, was IAR’s first female president in 1983. We’ve had eleven women in the top spot since, and our 12^th – Carmel’s Lynn Wheeler – is on deck for 2023.

Indeed, nearly 60% of IAR’s members are women, reflecting the ranks of REALTORS® nationally. Real estate has been a source of professional opportunities for women since the early 1900s, often outpacing the broader push for gender equality: More than a decade before the 19^th Amendment, women were voting members of NAR. And female REALTORS® were successfully closing deals for decades before the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 assured women the right to apply for mortgage loans regardless of marital status or without their husband’s permission.

We still have work to do elevating women’s voices in leadership roles throughout the real estate and extending homeownership to more female-led households. But we represent a pioneering profession, and I’m confident from my own daily experiences here at the office and meeting members across the state that no glass ceiling is sturdy enough to resist being shattered by the determined efforts of Indiana REALTORS®.

Inside IAR: 2/23/2022

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Equity, opportunity – and inventory – in Indiana real estate
In January, the data made it official: 2021 was another record-setting year for local housing markets in Indiana, with closed home sales just a few properties shy of 100,000 and frenetic activity pushing average prices up almost 13% versus 2020. It was a great year to be a REALTOR®.

But we need to take an off-ramp from our victory lap to acknowledge the other side of this boom: Low housing inventory has fueled competitive conditions across the nation, and Indiana hasn’t seen a year-over-year increase in inventory since 2014. We’ve welcomed more than 210,000 new Hoosiers in those eight years, adding pressure to the marketplace.

When you combine determined buyers, tight inventory, and historically low-interest rates, you get the fierce competition and median price increases we’ve experienced for 60 consecutive months (and counting). That’s welcome news for sellers and current homeowners building wealth, but it’s a challenging climate for first-time buyers and those without the savings or equity needed to get into a home. Rising interest rates will keep eroding their buying power.

Ultimately, this residential market is leaving too many Hoosiers behind, and not all the reasons are as straightforward as supply-and-demand.

Fair play and equitable policies in housing:
It’s important to highlight this reality as we conclude Black History Month. As we honor the contributions, accomplishments, and sacrifices of African Americans, let’s recognize that housing discrimination is an undeniable chapter in the unfinished struggle for justice and equality.

More than fifty years after the passage of the federal Fair Housing Act, there’s more work to be done. REALTORS® are proudly part of the solution as the most vocal champions of expanding housing opportunities.

A home is the biggest investment most Americans will ever make and the best for building long-term wealth. Racial disparities in homeownership reflect wider economic inequality and longer odds for upward mobility and financial security. Individual REALTORS® are on the front lines of closing these gaps by guiding new buyers through the process as their advocate and advisor.

And collectively, we’re working to fulfill the first policy statement among IAR’s 2022 legislative platform – “ensure the benefits of homeownership accrue equally across races.” Our longstanding commitments to fair and transparent practices, high professional standards for property appraisals and assessments, and defending consumers against fraud also support a more equitable housing market for all Hoosiers.

Building a buyer’s market:
I opened with the observation that low inventory has been a reality of Indiana’s real estate sector for years. We pride ourselves on being a state that offers “more house for the price,” but last year’s research from NAR shows that while 78% of white Hoosier households can afford our typical home, only 53% of Black households have the same purchasing potential. (The 2022 Snapshot of Race and Home Buying in America report yesterday issued by NAR did not include this particular statistic.)

This ratio is no better than the rest of the nation, and we need to aim higher. Inventory and affordability are tied together – any blueprint for opening our market to new buyers starts with new residential development. National data also suggests that Black homeownership rates are higher in metro housing with more building permits and housing starts per capita. Our advocacy agenda includes impact analyses to discourage anti-growth ordinances, tax incentives for new construction, and other policies to promote workforce and affordable housing.

The outlook for new state housing tax credits (Senate Bill 262) is uncertain in the Indiana General Assembly this year, but a statewide housing task force (House Bill 1306) will likely be empaneled to focus on these challenges before next year’s budget session, including a REALTOR® representative.

Protecting affordability in the tax code:
Taxes are another affordability factor, and we’ve been weighing the long-term implications of legislative debate over business personal property tax (PPT) reform. Last week, the $1.4 billion House tax cut plan (House Bill 1002) collided with a skeptical Senate Tax & Fiscal Policy Committee, which stripped most of the bill (including its PPT provisions).

In taking a more cautious approach, Senate budget leaders cited the local impact of lowering the depreciation floor on business personal property (which accounts for more than 17% of statewide property tax collections). HB 1002 uses state tax credits to deliver part of this relief but would still eventually result in over $100 million lost annually to cities, counties, and school districts.

We support a competitive tax climate, but also value fiscal responsibility and preserving the local quality of life (and state programs like READI) without putting an undue burden on homeowners.

That’s another urgent concern about business PPT reductions: Reducing assessments for business equipment reshuffles the total tax liability among other types of property under Indiana’s property tax caps. REALTORS® fought hard to cap residential tax bills to 1% of assessed value and bring certainty to homeowners and buyers but narrowing the overall tax base undercuts this successful push.

A recent report for the Association of Indiana Counties by former Senate fiscal analyst David Reynolds and retired Purdue economist Larry DeBoer confirms that residential property is already shouldering more of the burden as rising home values create more capacity under the 1% cap. Residential properties accounted for 42.5% of all collections in 2017; that rose to 45.6% last year, and the authors project homeowners will be responsible for half the total tax liability by 2026.

Residential tax bills are already rising more than 6% a year; any reduction in PPT assessments will accelerate this trend. We’ll continue to fight for the integrity of the tax caps and against other threats – for example, rallying to help defeat a short-lived plan to extend the state sales tax to services, including real estate transactions (House Bill 1083).

These issues are interconnected: Increasing equity, access, and affordability in housing, adding new inventory to expand our market, and advocating fair tax policies that balance homeowner protections, economic development, and local livability. These priorities demand a full-court press from IAR, and you’ll read more about how we’re picking up the pace with home buying season right around the corner.

What’s going on at IAR:

• The Legal department is producing video #8 in our series on IAR forms. It will cover the new Notice of Termination and is expected to be out next week.
• Attorneys are proactively enforcing the copyright of IAR forms by way of cease-and-desist demand letters. Reminder, IAR forms are for use by IAR members only.
• Professional standards training is scheduled for March 17 & 18. It will be led by Diane Disbrow over Zoom. Courses include Understanding the Role of the Grievance Committee, Professional Standards Committee Training, and Role and Responsibility of the Board of Directors.
• Attorneys are updating the online legal library, as well as revising and recording certain modules in the RECP post-licensing course.
• Delegation Days have wrapped up. Delegation Days is a series of meetings with REALTORS® from one of IAR’s governance regions and state legislators from that area. Discussions were tailored to the local associations attending and the strategic legislative priorities for the week, though partnerships, fair housing, and market activity were consistent discussions. Taking a group of members to the Statehouse weekly has made an impression with many legislators remarking, “REALTORS® are always here!” That’s exactly what we were going for and plan to bring this program back next year.
• Congratulations to past IAR presidents Bruce Bright and Bernice Helman who will this year be inducted into the RPAC Hall of Fame because of their $25K lifetime investment.
• The filing deadlines for the 2022 primary election have passed and we are excited to see several more REALTORS® running for office. We look forward to an even bigger presence in “The Room Where It Happens.” Any Hamilton fans out there?
• We’ve secured exclusive access to the National Museum of African American History and Culture for Indiana REALTORS® attending the NAR Legislative Meetings. We’ll gather for a reception, dinner, and access to all exhibits either on your own or by docent-led tour. Mark your calendar for Wednesday, May 4 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET. See the entire advance message we sent last week here.
• Membership appears to be returning to its normal pattern in 2022 with a slight dip in February. Totals are expected to rebound in March, following the same pattern observed before the beginning of the pandemic. Overall, membership for this time of year remains at a more than 10-year high.
• Year #2 of Member Benefit CE is underway. This means that if you need to complete CE you can do so online/on-demand and for FREE through our school, RECP. Since this is Black History Month, we’re featuring the following 2-hour Broker CE class – Fair Housing: History and Current Events. This class is one of four classes you can take to earn up to 12 hours. Click here to see the other three class titles and learn how to access your Member Benefit CE. Reminder, newly licensed Brokers do not need to complete CE right away. See what you need to do instead.

Inside IAR: 1/20/2022

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Message from CEO Mark Fisher:

State of Growth
I recently read a survey that reported far fewer Americans made New Year’s resolutions for 2022. Bad news for gym owners and diet gurus, but I suppose the reluctance is understandable after the tumult of the last two years.

I don’t share this attitude, however. I’m excited to start my first full year with Indiana’s REALTORS®, representing thousands of successful entrepreneurs dedicated to helping their fellow Hoosiers realize the American dream. Their example inspires my resolve to think big about the year to come, especially as we pivot from a pandemic-influenced marketplace into the future.

Building on the Basics:
Housing has been the most dynamic sector of the U.S. economy through COVID as ‘stay-at-home’ imperatives prompted many of us to rethink how (and where) we live and work. Indiana was already coming off a record-setting year for home sales in 2019, and closings surged more than 10% over the next twenty-four months.

We expect the market to stabilize in 2022, but Indiana’s residential sector remains fundamentally strong. Our homeownership rate has outpaced the nation for decades, an advantage that’s now nearly 10%.

And with overall lower cost of living and a property tax burden roughly 30% below the 50-state average, we have the appeal of affordability even as tight inventory has pushed prices higher.

But growth is the catalyst for building on these basics – wage growth, growth in housing options and overall supply, and sustained population growth that brings more buyers to the market.

Wanted: More Hoosiers
These thoughts came to mind as I joined past IAR President (and Howard County Commissioner) Paul Wyman in attending Governor Holcomb’s State of the State last week. The Governor had invited the two of us to watch from the gallery as he touted Indiana’s successes through these challenging times:

• Surging revenues pushing the state surplus towards $5 billion projected by the end of June, while maintaining one of the nation’s lowest tax burdens;
• Putting $3.6 billion into planned 2022 road projects, $350 million in broadband expansion, and $150 million for trails and greenways (the infrastructure of livability); and
• Leveraging this growth to boost K-12 spending by $1.9 billion over two years (and we know that the quality of local schools is a key factor in homebuying decisions);
• An aggressive economic development effort driving GDP and personal income growth above our Midwestern neighbors, with unemployment dropping to 3% as the job market rebounds.

This litany of data points make a compelling case for Indiana as a great place to call home, and the Governor also cited our best-in-the-Midwest population gains, noting a recent U-Haul survey showing Indiana jumping from #12 to sixth on its migration-based ‘Growth Index’ for 2021.

But our population trends aren’t all positive. Indiana ranks 29^th in overall growth since 2010, our third consecutive decade of slowing population gains. The majority of our 92 counties are steadily losing people.

Selling Indiana:
For that reason, the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) was a welcome highlight of the State of the State. Governor Holcomb and the General Assembly created the $500 million grant program in 2021 to support quality of life and talent attraction partnerships.

READI encourages cooperation across city and county lines, engaging public, private and non-profit partners in transformative projects designed to recruit new residents, employers and investment.  After a frenetic planning process over the summer, the first READI awards went to seventeen regions spanning every county in Indiana. Based on the overwhelming response, Governor Holcomb has already signaled his intent to seek “READI Round Two” in the next state budget.

We support forward-thinking investments in stronger communities: In recent Census data on reasons behind residential moves (the American Housing Survey, 2015-2021), “housing options & community attributes” were the most important factors for a plurality of respondents (37%).

REALTORS® are among the most effective ‘quality of life’ ambassadors, passionate about promoting our unique small towns, thriving cities and family-friendly suburbs – each of the nearly 100,000 home sales recorded last year represents a vote of confidence in Indiana. But less than a third of current READI funding is targeted to housing-related plans; we need to be ready (no pun intended) to push innovative strategies for residential development in the next round.

Protecting Progress:
Programs like READI and the Destination Development Corporation’s ‘Hoosier by Choice’ campaign put Indiana on offense in the competition for human capital. But IAR is also focused on protecting past wins – and playing tough defense – on issues like private property rights, a pro-homeowner tax climate, fair annexation and eminent domain policies and many more.

Inventory is clearly an issue, and we’re working with lawmakers on workforce housing incentives and ways to demolish hurdles to residential construction. We’re also keeping an eye on plans to reduce business property taxes, promoting economic development while guarding against higher residential tax bills.

The list goes on; a legislative session is one place where careful appraisals and inspections are a must.

New Year, New Challenges:
As you keep reading, you’ll find plenty more positive news – expanding professional development opportunities for members, strong financial support for political advocacy, even the profitable management of REALTORS® headquarters office space in downtown Indianapolis.

It’s my privilege to work with the team behind these accomplishments, to inherit a legacy of success from Karl Berron with the guidance of tremendous volunteer leadership.

But to paraphrase Mark Twain, “Standing still is falling behind.” REALTORS® don’t passively wait for listings or potential buyers…they proactively pursue new opportunities. You can count on the same attitude from IAR, and I can’t wait to see what the next twelve months will bring.

• On November 15^th, IAR co-hosted a Housing Summit for new legislators with Habitat for Humanity and the Indiana Builders Association. Freshman legislators from across the state participated in a half-day session, which included a special presentation by the NAR Senior Policy Representative for Fair Housing, Alexia Smokler; an economic update from Elliot Eisenberg, “The Bowtie Economist;” and a panel discussion of lobbyists representing the three host organizations. The summit focused on homeownership. The objective of the summit was to provide legislators with a solid understanding of policy issues impacting housing inventory in Indiana and to share housing market data in advance of the 2022 legislative session. Legislative leaders from both Houses also joined the new members. We hope to reprise the Housing Summit each year to serve as an idea exchange for solutions to meet the growing needs of both existing Hoosier homeowners and prospective homeowners.
• Federal Political Coordinators for 1st CD Congressman Frank Mrvan, Jr. (D-Hammond) and 5th CD Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (R-Carmel) organized meetings with their Members of Congress and local associations in their respective districts. REALTORS® shared recent markets reports and concerns about housing inventory, rental assistance, and maintaining tax advantages for investors, such as 1031 like-kind exchanges. Many thanks to the staff at GNIAR and MIBOR Realtor Association for helping arrange these important meetings.
• Will host a series of Delegation Days for local associations beginning January 24^th and continuing each Monday through the end of February. Local association leaders and staff will attend the half-day event at the REALTOR® Building. Delegation Days represent a shift in our advocacy effort at the Statehouse, enabling us to bring members together with legislators in smaller, more intimate group settings. These smaller meetings will also us to connect our grassroots with policymakers in a much more targeted and strategic fashion.
• Started the popular forms video series in 2021, answering the most frequently asked questions and sharing the need-to-knows about seven of our forms
• Hosted the Legal Update + Legislative Outlook CE event on January 10^th that covered lawsuits, competition, E&O insurance, fair housing, forms changes, Code of Ethics changes, the Attorney General’s complaint investigation process, and a state legislative session preview
• Planning a two-day Grievance and Professional Standards Committee training on March 17 & 18 featuring Diane Disbrow
• Launched year number two of the Member Benefit CE program – 12 hours of online CE each year at no additional cost
• At a brief meeting in December, the IAR Board of Directors elected two vice presidents: Jennifer Parham of Merrillville and Kim Ward of Fort Wayne
• The next IAR Board of Directors meeting is February 1^st which will kick off the association’s strategic planning
• Leadership Academy Class of 2022 convened for a day at the Statehouse in December and conducted a mock committee hearing and session
• Leadership Team has been traveling the state, helping local associations conduct their officer installations and giving IAR updates
• Volunteer Interest Profile remains open for those who want to get involved with IAR
• Launched two new monthly emails – Capitol and Market for the general membership and Inside IAR for leadership – averaging a 56% open rate, which is above industry standard
• Revamping IndianaRealtors.com for a better mobile experience and connection with member database