What Does RPAC Do For Me?

RPAC contributions support candidates who support real estate. Combined with grassroots activities, and federal, state and local lobbying, RPAC strengthens Maryland REALTOR®’s political advocacy program.

What Has RPAC Done For Me Lately?

Action	Benefit
Passed Mandatory Semi-Annual Property Tax Bill	Saves an average of $800 at the closing cost table for home buyers, and gives home sellers an average rebate of $800 from their mortgage escrow accounts.
Passed Agency Legislation.	Creates a more natural relationship between consumers and agents. Defines duties of agents in the statutory law for the first time. Helps reduce litigation keeping agents and consumers out of court saving thousands of dollars for the industry.
Passed broad-based capital gains tax reduction, including a $500,000 capital gains exclusion on the sale of a principal residence.	Stimulates the sale of homes by reducing transactional tax burdens, creating thousands of dollars in extra commissions.
Passed $8,000 homebuyer tax credit	Provided help during the worst of the financial crisis, resulting in 26,000 sales in Maryland.
Passed easier license reciprocity	Saves agents and brokers hundreds of dollars in licensing courses and time lost applying for licenses in Pennsylvania.
Lowered transfer taxes for 1st time Maryland homebuyers.	Makes more buyers eligible to purchase a home, creating thousands of dollars in extra commissions for Maryland REALTORS®. For every $1,000 reduction in closing costs, 3,000 more Marylanders qualify to purchase homes.
Defeated tax increase on Real Estate Commissions.	Saves a REALTOR® with $30,000 in annual commissions $120 a year.
Stopped legislation to eliminate exclusive right to sell contracts in Maryland and limit brokerage agreements to 90 days.	Would have dramatically changed the day to day practice of real estate in Maryland.
Defeated efforts to reduce or eliminate the Mortgage Interest Deduction.	Saves the average REALTOR® $7,350 in lost commissions.

RPAC is:

A legal means by which REALTORS® band together for the purpose of political action.
Voluntary contributions made by members throughout the state.
Contributions given to candidates who support housing and real estate issues.
Bipartisan; both Republicans and Democrats buy and sell property.
One of the largest and most successful PAC's in the state.

A contribution to RPAC is an investment in your future. RPAC dollars are used at the federal level to:

Preserve the mortgage interest deduction.
Reduce capital gains taxes.
Protect private property rights.
Work to increase the VA/HUD Loan limit.

At the State level, RPAC works to:

Change the agency laws to benefit both REALTORS® and consumers.
Reduce closing costs for 1st-time homebuyers.
Protect commercial real estate commissions through the broker lien law.
Decrease liability in property disclosure suits.
Reduce liability from lead paint hazards.
Streamline wetlands policy.

At the Local level, RPAC has:

Reduced impact fees.
Reduced piggy-back taxes.
Fought to prevent anti-sign legislation.

WHAT HAS RPAC SAVED YOU FROM...

Getting caught in the middle of property defect disclosure suits between buyers and sellers.
Unreasonable regulations to implement the provisions of the "Lead Paint Law".
Losing your commission for commercial real estate deals by securing passage of the commercial lien law.
Bureaucratic rules and regulations which would have raised the cost of owning or constructing a single family house.
Losing your home mortgage interest deductibility.
MORE TAXES ON YOUR COMMISSION (on top of the income
tax you already pay.)
Getting charged with criminal penalties for landlord/tenant obligations.
Having to disclose every airport within a 5 mile area.
Tripling the cost of phone calls due to the phone company's attempt
to mandate "measured time".

How RPAC works with you:

RPAC works with you to support elected officials who support real estate!
The process works like this:

Maryland's RPAC Trustees determine - with local REALTORS® input - which candidates receive RPAC support.
Their decisions are non-partisan, and reflect simple criteria. The Candidate must support REALTORS® on real estate issues.
RPAC follows specific Maryland Election Laws and Federal Election Commission guidelines that maintain it as a legitimate, voluntary expression of democracy.
RPAC is a voluntary program for all members.
RPAC is and always will be a fair, bipartisan and legal way for REALTORS® to speak in a unified voice.