California REALTORS® will want to know about the REALTOR® ACTION FUND before they make a financial investment. The following questions and answers provide information on how to respond to some of these inquiries.
WHAT IS THE REALTOR® ACTION FUND?
RAF is a voluntary organization of REALTORS® and others interested in protecting the rights of property owners in California. The voluntary investments RAF receives support candidates for federal, state, and local office who demonstrate their support for the real estate profession and homeownership.
WHO CAN INVEST IN RAF?
Only REALTORS® can make an investment in the REALTOR® ACTION FUND. More than 50,000 California REALTORS® have joined RAF to make sure their voices are heard when government decisions are made that will impact their profession and the rights of property owners.
WHERE DO RAF DOLLARS GO?
Your investment helps elect candidates who support issues that are essential to REALTORS".
• 30% is used here in California to support local and state candidates, including Mayors, City Councilmembers, County Supervisors, Assemblymembers and State Senators
• 70% of the funds help the REALTOR® Party of California educate and mobilize REALTORS® on local, state and federal issues to assure homeownership remains at forefront in the halls of government
WHY IS INVESTING IN THE REALTOR® ACTION FUND SO IMPORTANT?
REALTOR® efforts in Sacramento and Washington cannot be effective unless individuals who share REALTORS'® concerns are elected to public office. These candidates can help pass laws that are beneficial to REALTORS® and defeat those that hurt the real estate profession.
WHICH POLITICAL PARTY DOES RAF SUPPORT?
RAF is not associated with any political party-we are the REALTOR® Party of California. We support candidates who support our industry, independent of party affiliation. The REALTOR® Party of California works with elected officials from both sides of the aisle to find solutions that fit our values.
WHO DECIDES WHICH CANDIDATES RECEIVE RAF SUPPORT?
RAF is a grassroots-driven organization where decisions to support candidates start at the local level. REALTOR® Local Boards and Associations interview candidates and then make recommendations to C.A.R's. California Real Estate PAC (CREPAC) Trustees. All decision-makers are REALTOR® volunteers.
WHAT LEGISLATION AND POLICIES WERE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF RAF?
Investments in RAF have a proven impact on the outcome of legislation and policies affecting homeownership and real estate professionals, including:
• Preserving dual agency
• Preventing point-of-sale retrofits
• Reducing exposures to lawsuits
• Fighting independent contractor withholding
• Preserving the mortgage interest deduction
• Fighting statewide service taxes
• Advocating for first-time home-buyer funding
• Protecting property rights
I THOUGHT I ALREADY PAID THIS THROUGH MY YEARLY DUES?
RAF dollars are voluntary investments from members of local, state, and national REALTOR® Associations who understand that organized REALTOR® activity in the campaign process will result in a better business climate for the real estate industry.