Sustained Advocacy

Industry, Consumer Focus

Throughout its history, the Association has taken an active interest in advocacy for the real estate profession, housing industry and homeownership. 

The Association increased its advocacy in the 1970s — first with the Realtors® Political Action Committee (RPAC) and then with an alliance that would become one of the first local lobbying groups for the housing industry in the nation, the Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition (REBIC). 

Through these groups as well as additional efforts by the Association, Realtors® have promoted homeownership through Canopy Housing Foundation and through community programs over the decades. Also, members annually visit elected officials in Raleigh and Washington, D.C., to discuss industry concerns. Here’s a closer look at REBIC and RPAC.

REBIC

When John Crosland Jr. chaired the Association’s legislative committee in the 1970s, he pushed for the formation of a political organization to represent the local housing industry. He owned and operated the largest homebuilding company in Charlotte at the time. 

In the mid-’70s, Crosland joined forces with Allen Tate Jr., founder and CEO of the largest real estate firm in the area, to forge a “Joint Committee” of builders and Realtors® to focus on housing and development issues.

The Joint Committee grew and in 1982 became the Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition (REBIC). A groundbreaking organization, REBIC is believed to be the nation’s first political coalition representing broad-based, local housing interests. 

Attorneys Mark Cramer and Anne Marie Howard (now DeCatsye) joined the organization as its first staff in 1995. Cramer served as a part-time executive director, and Howard became its full-time deputy director. In 2021, Rob Nanfelt serves as executive director and Madeline Keeter is government affairs manager.

Realtors® and builders take turns leading REBIC, and others in the housing industry are members of the organization as well. They range from the Charlotte Apartment Association and Charlotte Region Commercial Board of Realtors® to local development firm

RPAC

RPAC is a nonpartisan political action committee often called “the Realtor® Party.” Realtors® voluntarily make financial contributions through NC REALTORS® to support RPAC. The funds help elect local, state and federal candidates who support the real estate industry. 

The National Association of Realtors® founded RPAC in 1969 as the Real Estate Political Education Committee, changing its name to RPAC in 1974. 

Also in 1974, Charles “Buddy” Ritch gave RPAC its first big push in Charlotte, raising 90 percent of the Association’s goal during his year as president. Two years later, Jackie Kiser, the first woman to serve as president, became the local RPAC chair, and was later state chair. 

The Members of the Association continued to support RPAC through the 1970s and 1980s. In 1990, NAR recognized Charlotte for having the highest percentage of politically active Realtors® among large real estate boards in the country, at 26 percent. The award was based on RPAC contributions, campaign volunteers, Calls to Action and other political support.

Members continued to boost RPAC in the 1990’s and 2000s. Notably, they grew the campaign from $40,311 in 2003 to $83,872 in 2005.

RPAC took fundraising leaps again from 2015 through 2017. Led by President Maren Brisson-Kuester and Past President Joe Rempson, the Members of the Association raised local records of $103,234 and $127,375 in 2015 and 2016, respectively. The Members of the Association then recorded the largest total ever for a Realtor® association or region in North Carolina, bringing in $175,061 in 2017.