Event Coverage
SILVAR Represented at NAR Conference & EXPO
SILVAR Executive Officer Paul Cardus, President Denise Welsh, Public Affairs & Communications Director Rose Meily and President-elect Bill Moody received the Platinum Award for Global Achievement for SILVAR's Global Business Council.
Members of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® joined 20,000 REALTORS® and guests from around the world at the 2017 National Association of REALTORS® Conference & Expo in Chicago November 3-6. The conference, themed "The Sky's The Limit," focused on education, advocacy and opportunity, and featured more than 300 speakers at sessions on a broad range of real estate issues, including brokerage management, innovation and business technology, affordability issues, commercial markets, international real estate transactions, and tax reform's potential impact on real estate.
At the center of much discussion was what NAR CEO Bob Goldberg called "the most immediate advocacy challenge" for REALTORS®, the new tax reform legislation. REALTORS® support tax reform, but it cannot happen by hiking taxes on millions of homeowners. Goldberg said the tax reform legislation "presents a clear and present danger."
"The question now before us is do we want to be a nation of homeowners or a nation of renters?" asked Goldberg.
Elizabeth Mendenhall, a sixth-generation REALTOR® from Columbia, Missouri was installed as NAR's 2018 president. A REALTOR® for 20 years, Mendenhall is CEO of RE/MAX Boone Realty.
Mendenhall said a key strategic initiative for the year ahead is to increase REALTOR® influence in an uncertain legislative, regulatory and political environment. High on the agenda will be advocacy issues like prohibitive mortgage fees, national disaster and flood insurance, property investments, and ensuring that 95 percent of households don't lose their homeownership tax benefits under recently proposed tax reform plans.
Mendenhall said REALTORS® are the main voice for property ownership, and it is the job of NAR's 1.3 million members to protect the American dream, so that consumers can own it. "NAR's strength lies in the engagement of its million-plus members. In the coming year, we'll work harder than ever to engage those grassroots at the state, local and national levels to increase our efforts and make sure our voice is heard from city hall to the halls of Congress," she said.
A highlight of the conference was the International Night Out Gala, where SILVAR received the NAR Platinum award for Global Achievement for the fifth year in a row. David Wyant, who has taught the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) Institute at SILVAR six times and all over the U.S. and in 14 countries, was named 2017 NAR International Instructor of the Year. This is the third year Wyant received the recognition. Evangeline "Vangie" Yia, director and vice president of international affairs of the Chamber of Real Estate & Builders Associations, Inc., was named International REALTOR® of the Year. SILVAR is NAR's Ambassador to the Philippines and CREBA is its partner association there.
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The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.