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PSAR members should be proud of how your Association has been advocating for homeownership through engagement with elected officials.
As a lone voice, we have been at the forefront of pushing for enhanced homeownership opportunities and championing homeownership during recent meetings with politicians from local, state, and federal offices.
In these meetings, our volunteer leaders and staff have shared personal accounts of how public policies can hinder property transactions. In addition, we have emphasized the increasing demand for market-rate housing and the urgent requirement for expanded housing inventory in San Diego County. Our goal has been to mitigate the housing crisis and foster both stable financial futures and robust communities.
During the past year, our leadership has engaged in discussions with dozens of local officials, as demonstrated by this list of elected officials who have met with PSAR members:
At a recent meeting with Congresswoman Jacobs, the topics included creating more homeownership opportunities by repurposing commercial centers, improved housing finance, what needs to be done to build more “for-sale” housing, and why point-of-sale mandates are costly mistakes, as well as issues surrounding rent control and homeowners insurance.
Topics also discussed on the federal level:
- Addressing America’s housing shortage – understanding the gravity of the housing crisis and the legislative solutions under consideration;
- Enhancing credit access – a pivotal proposed bill would improve credit access for Americans with minimal credit history; this legislation considers integrating common bill payments, such as utilities and rent, into credit evaluations.
PSAR President Jason Lopez attended the meeting with Jacobs. “I appreciated that she is knowledgeable on local issues impacting homeownership, protecting private property rights, and sharing resources and data needed to empower communities,” Lopez said. “She also does a great job keeping us informed on federal issues that could have a local impact as well.”
In PSAR meetings with local elected officials, the discussions included:
- Land use – the effective utilization and management of land and the need for dense multi-family purchase options and entry-level properties;
- Development costs – the increasing expenses related to housing construction;
- Diverse options – Recognizing the need to accommodate all types of buyers, we have recommended a variety of housing purchase options;
- Financial benefits to municipalities – We have showcased the considerable temporary and permanent revenue streams that cities enjoy when properties exchange ownership. Moreover, we have highlighted the potential adverse effects of imposing additional taxes on these transactions.
In PSAR meetings with state elected officials, the interactions have included the following pressing issues:
- Opposing changing the vote on bond measures – a proposed bill would reduce the bond vote requirement on property taxes from the existing two-thirds to 55 percent and would raise funds for housing and infrastructure;
- Support for AB 743 – This bill, if passed, would permit California notaries to obtain licenses as remote online notaries, utilizing Internet and audio-visual technologies to authenticate documents for signers from distant locations.
“As part of the Realtor Party and as an Association, we put aside our personal political ideology and focus on what matters most to our members, our clients, and potential homeowners on areas that could impact their opportunity to build wealth via real estate, enjoy their property, and become part of their communities,” said PSAR President Lopez.
“Maintaining great relationships with our elected officials gives us the opportunity to make sure they know what hot-button issues are impacting their districts back home. It also gives them the chance to learn from those who have boots on the ground and are experiencing these issues in real-time.”
Through such engagements with elected officials, PSAR continues its relentless pursuit of creating a better housing landscape, ensuring that every individual has a shot at the American dream of homeownership.
