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More than 35 Realtors® from around northwest Iowa traveled to Des Moines on Wednesday, February 1 for the Iowa Association of Realtors® annual Legislative Bus-In Day.
After an update on statewide issues facing today’s property owners, over 300 Realtor® members descended en masse upon the Iowa capitol to visit with local legislators. The board’s delegation spent the afternoon meeting with Senators Bill Anderson and Rick Bertrand, and Representatives Jim Carlin, Chris Hall, Chuck Holz, and Tim Kacena.
Iowa Realtors® advocated for passage of SSB 1056, legislation authorizing creation of tax-exempt home savings accounts for first-time homebuyers in the state. Current proposals call for these accounts to allow first-time homebuyers to save up to $2000 per year if single, $4000 per yearif married, in a tax-exempt account to be used toward closing costs or down payment on the purchase of a first home anywhere in the state of Iowa.
“We’re excited about the potential this opportunity creates for first-time buyers,” said Jim Gergeni, President of the Northwest Iowa Board of Realtors® and sales agent with Century 21 ProLink. “It’s estimated that in the first five years, 3,317 Iowans would use the home savings account program. That use is then estimated to pump $6.2 million annually into the Iowa economy from additional spending associated with home ownership. Clearly, this legislation and home ownership is a benefit to our state, and is something Realtors® want to encourage.”
“Participating in legislative and legal matters is an important part of the Realtor® profession,” said Kelly Burge, Executive Officer for the Northwest Iowa Board of Realtors®. “Our members are the defenders of homeownership, and they take the obligation to both enhance and protect private property rights very seriously.”
Realtors® from around the area make the trip to Des Moines annually for the Legislative Bus-In Day event. Area Realtors® will have their next opportunity to participate in February, 2018.
The Northwest Iowa Board of Realtors® encompasses nearly 500 members, who are real estate professionals in a 13 county region across the northwest quadrant of Iowa.
More than 40 REALTORS® from around northwest Iowa will travel to Des Moines on Wednesday, February 1 as part of the Iowa Association of REALTORS® annual Legislative Bus-In Day.
At the top of the 2017 legislative priority list for area REALTORS® is to ensure passage of new Home Savings Account legislation in Iowa. This legislation would create a new state income tax exemption for qualified deposits to a first-time homebuyer savings account. Prospective first-time homebuyers could use this account to save money to help pay for closing costs or a downpayment on a home in Iowa.
Iowa REALTORS® have championed this bill the previous three legislative sessions. Members feel the time is now to pass this important legislation and make the dream of homeownership accessible to more Iowans.
“Participating in legislative and legal matters is an important part of the REALTOR® profession,” said Kelly Burge, Executive Officer for the Northwest Iowa Regional Board of REALTORS®. “REALTORS®are the defenders of homeownership, and our members look forward to making that dream more accessible to all with passage of this new legislation.”
The Northwest Iowa Regional Board of REALTORS® encompasses nearly 500 real estate professionals in a 13 county region across the northwest quadrant of Iowa.
Make plans to join us for lunch on Thursday, January 19 as we kick off 2017 together. Our board luncheon’s guest speaker will be Christ McGowan, President of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. As always, we have great food and fellowship together as the NWIA REALTOR® family.
The lunch begins promptly at Noon and will conclude by 1 PM at Bev’s on the River, 1110 Larsen Park Road in Sioux City.
We hope to see you there!
2016 was a year of growth and change around the Northwest Iowa Regional Board of REALTORS®. We added new faces, hosted scores of meetings, events, and education, and we had some fun along the way too. Check out our accomplishments and join us for more fun and excitement in 2017!
Please join us in welcoming a handful of new faces to the NWIA board. With the advent of a new year, we always have a few new folks join us and a few existing folks leave. Be sure to check our website member directory to keep up with the latest membership changes.
As you have opportunity, please be sure to meet and greet these folks who are new to our board. We were all new once, so please extend a warm welcome.
Dale Pluim, Realty Associates
Jill Pluim, Realty Associates
Jill Wierda, Realty Associates
Gail Dorhout, Exit Realty
Amy Sietstra, Security Realty
Luke Perry, Realty Associates
So, we are pretty excited about the 2017 edition of the Iowa Association of REALTORS® Bus-In Day! Join us on February 1 as we travel to Des Moines for a day of food, fun, and lobbying for private property rights in Iowa. The bus leaves our office in Sioux City at 7:30 AM. The whole day is free, and we feed you…twice. Why wouldn’t you want to go? Bring your phone, your laptop, or your hotspot and work from the road.
Check out our video to see how folks remained productive in previous years and still had a great day with us.
Your voice makes the difference. Learn more and register here.
By Kelly Burge, CEO, Northwest Iowa Regional Board of REALTORS®.
2017 is shaping up to be a year of growth and change for our board, both internally and externally.
For the last several years, I think it’s fair to say that around the NWIA, we’ve been rather internally focused. Working through merging associations with our regional colleagues and beginning the process of assimilating together as one board has taken time, energy, and effort. It’s been work, but it’s been worth doing. Ultimately, it’s gone well and I’m pleased to see us moving forward as a united entity. Just look at this year’s Board of Directors, who hail from all corners of our region. They are the proof: we are becoming a regional entity. While the process hasn’t been perfect and there’s always more work to do, we’re moving in the right direction. TOGETHER. Yay, us!!
2017 is going to see us shift our focus from being primarily internally focused, to taking a far more external perspective than ever before. NWIA members are going to be asked to take a larger interest and role in both state and national legislative matters. Whether you’re “political” or not, both IAR and NAR have recognized the importance of engagement and activity in this arena for REALTOR® members, and every one of you is going to be asked to make a commitment— of both time and resources.
Frankly, if you are a REALTOR®, you must learn to be “political”. You got into politics when you joined this organization, whether you knew it or not.
The writing is on the wall, gang. IAR and NAR are just reading the tea leaves and accurately predicting the future. Your livelihood and profession are going to depend on you stepping to the plate with time and resources to defend your current clients, future customers, and the foundation on which you make your living.
I sound serious, because it is. Do you want to lose the mortgage interest deduction? Just consider what that loss alone might do to your business. The implications are massive.
All signs point to an active spring in the Iowa Legislature, with the 2016 elections placing leadership of both chambers firmly into the hands of Republicans. Whether you like this change or not, REALTORS® in our state are going to be working harder than ever to navigate this year’s session and continue to push for changes that will positively impact Iowa home buyers, home owners, and our profession.
The things you invest in now will be critical to the upcoming year, both in our board and your profession.
The most immediate way you can help is to be involved and participate in the Iowa REALTORS® Bus-In Day to Des Moines, coming up on February 1. (Yes, this is about two weeks earlier than in previous years.) IAR has moved up the event in the hopes of exerting more pressure and influence on state legislators, as we work aggressively to again attempt to pass the Home Savings Account legislation that has languished in years past under previous state leaders. It’s free to attend, and is a great way to get involved. We drive you, feed you (twice), and equip you to go to the Iowa Statehouse with confidence and speak your mind on real estate maters. Our leaders want–and need—to hear from you, in person, in Des Moines.
I do hope you will consider joining us. Details and registration are available here. Remember, it’s free!
Other opportunities to get involved in a variety of ways with both state and national politics will be forthcoming. Watch for more information coming in future emails.
The conversation has begun. I hope you will engage with us as we begin to look externally in the coming year. Exciting things are on the horizon.
As always, the staff and I stand ready to assist in any way possible, and we wish you great professional success in 2017.
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It was a great day around our board on Friday, December 2! We were pleased to have many of our REALTOR® members participating in our annual ringing of the bells for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. This event encourages real estate professionals to give back a few hours of time to their community, and is a great way for members to engage with the public. While the day was cold and members had to bundle up to keep warm, they were wearing bright blue REALTOR® emblazoned aprons and were hard to miss.
Thanks to the generosity of our members, we were able to fully staff four kettle locations for the entire day. In the greater Sioux City area, ringing locations included the Fareway on Indian Hills, HyVee on Hamilton, and HyVee on Gordon Drive. The Wal-Mart in Le Mars was also staffed for the day by agents from that area. Our thanks to these supportive area stores for allowing the Salvation Army to set up their campaign at these locations. Truly, this is a community endeavor!
In the end, it was another successful event, with the total raised from all four locations coming in at $1663.62. Our friends at the Salvation Army were grateful for the assistance of our REALTOR® members, and are already looking forward to the next Ring Day in December of 2017.
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It’s dues payment season around the board. If you’re unfamiliar with our online process, spend a couple of minutes as we walk you through the easy electronic payment system.
Every November, several NWIA REALTOR® members participate in the Siouxland Sleepout. These folks voluntarily sleep outside on the ball field of the Sioux City Explorers to bring awareness to the plight of homeless members of our community.
In addition to the REALTOR® support, our own Heather Frigge participates in the event as a representative of our NWIA board. Heather always enjoys incorporating a creative theme into her cardboard box structure. This year she plans to use shoes to help shed light on the challenges facing the homeless in our community.
In support of her theme, the board office is conducting a shoe drive.
Members, please go into your closet and find a pair of gently used shoes to donate. Footwear for men, women, and children of all sizes and styles is needed.
All donations will be taken to area shelters to be used by those in need.
Shoes can be dropped off at the Board Office anytime between now and Thursday, November 10. If you prefer, call Heather at (712) 255-8810 and she’ll happily pick them up from your office.
Cash donations in support of the Siouxland Sleepout are also being accepted at the board office. The Sleepout event will take place on November 4.
Thank you in advance for your support of the most vulnerable members of our community, and for helping our board to meet one of the NAR Core Standards.
