Information for Local Association Candidate interviews:
MAR can help you prepare for the recommendation process
Michigan is well on its way into another election cycle! On the state level, all 110 State House seats are up for election. This gives local associations the opportunity to meet with those running, and to aide in the endorsement process of a particular candidate.
This year, the filing deadline for candidates wishing to run for state House is May 15th. After that, candidates then have three days to decide if they would like to withdraw their name. Often times this happens when people file and then realize that their chances of winning are quite slim based on who the other candidates are or after spending several months trying to raise money and not being successful. Shortly after these deadlines have passed, local association leadership or the association executive can contact each of the candidates via letter or phone call, inviting them to an interview with the candidate selection/government affairs committee, which is established based on the prerogatives of each local association.
Several factors are then weighed, including the candidate’s voting record (if they are an incumbent seeking re-election), their overall philosophy on the role of government in real estate related matters, willingness to work with us on important policy issues, and the general likelihood of them being elected in November. The selection committees within your local (government affairs committee, etc.) then make their recommendations of who to support and how much RPAC money to contribute to their campaigns. These recommendations are forwarded to the local Board of Directors, who, after approving or rejecting the committees’ choices, send them off to the state RPAC Trustees for consideration, approval, and disbursement of funds. Most of the time, the endorsements carry through to the general election and a second interview is not needed. However, on the somewhat rare occasions when a local association picks a candidate who loses in the primary, they are encouraged to meet with the winner and find common ground for support in the general election.
The MAR will be sending out updated ‘Candidate Interview Manuals’ in the coming weeks, so watch your mailbox. Please contact the MAR Public Policy staff for any questions that may arise in starting the interview process. The MAR is more than happy to work with each local association to ensure a smooth and painless election season.
RPAC Fundraising Events
Field Directors for the Michigan Association of REALTORS® are often asked a multitude of questions on the legality and appropriateness of various RPAC fundraising events. This is a good thing as it signifies that local associations are actively engaged in fulfilling their yearly goals! However, some of the questions come after an event has been planned and last minute changes are needed. Even worse is if a fundraising event has already occurred and corrective actions are needed after the fact. While it is rare for that to happen, we at MAR want to help you avoid such inconveniences.
In order to make your event run as smoothly as possible, we ask that you put together a simple one page summary of the idea with an estimated budget and send it to the your MAR Field Director, or to Brad Ward at the MAR Offices. Many local associations have wonderfully creative ideas and there are ways to make almost any event work, so long as it doesn’t entail any games of chance (raffles, card games, etc). Many locals choose to hold golf outing events, picnics (with dunk tanks included!) or silent auctions. These types of events bring REALTOR® members together for networking opportunities, while raising contributions for the protection of the real estate industry.
Again, thank you for your continued commitment to RPAC. The MAR welcomes any questions or concerns with regard to holding an RPAC event. As always, thank you for your commitment to RPAC.
AMC Legislation Moves from House Committee
House Bills 4975 and 5271 introduced by Realtor® member and State Representative Margaret O’Brien(R-Portage) have moved out of the House Banking and Financial Services Committee. House Bill 4975 would set up a regulatory scheme for Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs). The proposed language is based on the Appraisal Institute’s model language.
In order to comply with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs) would have to satisfy 4 minimum requirements:
1) Register with and be subject to supervision by a State-appraiser certifying and licensing agency in each State in which such company operates;
2) Verify that only licensed or certified appraisers are used for federally related transactions;
3) Require that appraisals coordinated by an appraisal management company comply with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice
4) Require that appraisals are conducted independently and free from inappropriate influence and coercion pursuant to the appraisal independence standards established under section 129E of the Truth in Lending Act.
House Bill 4975 is especially important as the implementation of the Federal Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC), greatly regulated the contact between appraisers and lenders. With this came an increase in prominence of Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs) handling the majority of home appraisals and playing a large role in the appraisal industry as the preferred third party intermediary in ordering appraisal work. Currently AMCs are not regulated in Michigan. This legislation aims to resolve this issue. House Bill 5271 is needed to establish fees for AMCs to register with the state.
House Bills 4975 and 5271 now move to the House Floor for consideration. I will keep you updated on this legislation as it progresses.