ADVOCACY
Your Business.
Your Property Rights.
Our Fight.
"If real estate is your profession, then politics is your business."
— Vicky Fullerton, Past NAR Regional Vice President
Most REALTORS® didn't get into real estate to follow legislation. But the truth is, every closing you do is shaped by decisions made in Helena and Washington D.C., decisions about property taxes, transfer taxes, zoning, mortgage interest deductions, and fair housing laws.
When NMAR advocates, we're not doing politics for the sake of politics. We're protecting the conditions that make your business possible, and making homeownership more accessible for the clients you serve, through a coordinated effort across four fronts.
Why It Matters
What's actually at stake when NMAR advocates
These aren't abstract policy debates. They're the conditions your clients live with and the rules your business operates under.
Property Rights
Montana landowners have some of the strongest property rights in the nation. NMAR works to keep it that way, fighting overreach that would restrict what owners can do with their land.
Transfer Taxes
Montana is one of a handful of states with a constitutional ban on real estate transfer taxes, a ban REALTORS® fought hard to pass. NMAR ensures it stays that way.
Housing Supply
Restrictive zoning and permitting processes drive up the cost of housing. NMAR advocates for policy that encourages new construction and keeps Northwest Montana accessible.
Fair Housing
Equal access to housing is a cornerstone of our Code of Ethics, and NMAR actively supports state and local policies that make fair housing a reality, not just a principle.
Mortgage Access
From FHA loan limits to banking reform, federal legislation shapes whether your clients can get financing. NAR, and by extension NMAR, fights for policies that keep mortgages accessible.
Regulation & Licensing
NMAR engages with the Montana Board of Realty Regulation to ensure licensing requirements are fair, clear, and protective of the public without being unnecessarily burdensome on practitioners.
HOW WE ADVOCATE
Four ways NMAR fights for you
Advocacy isn't one thing. It's a coordinated effort across local, state, and national levels.
01
RPAC, The REALTORS® Political Action Committee
RPAC is the financial engine of REALTOR® political influence. Voluntary contributions from members across the country, and right here in Northwest Montana, fund candidates who understand and support real estate issues.
02
IMF, Issues Mobilization Fund
When a specific policy battle needs funding, a ballot initiative, a public education campaign, a local zoning fight, the Montana Association of REALTORS® Issues Mobilization Fund steps in. 30 cents of every dollar stays here for local use.
03
Calls for Action, Speaking with One Voice
When NAR or MAR identifies a critical moment, a vote in Congress, a bill moving through Helena, they issue a Call for Action. NMAR members respond, and that collective voice carries real weight with elected officials.
04
Direct Engagement, Lawmakers Are Listening
NMAR members meet directly with elected officials, in Helena at the Legislature, in Washington D.C. at NAR Legislative Meetings, and right here in our own community.
PROOF IT WORKS
What REALTOR® advocacy has actually won
These aren't hypotheticals. These are real outcomes that protect your clients and your business — the result of REALTORS® showing up, speaking up, and putting resources behind what matters.
2010 — Montana
Transfer Tax Ban
REALTORS® ran a constitutional ballot initiative that permanently banned real estate transfer taxes in Montana. It passed with 73% of the vote. Your clients don't pay a transfer tax today because of this effort.
2022 — Montana
Property Tax Initiative Stopped
A constitutional initiative that would have dramatically shifted property tax burdens was blocked before it reached the ballot, thanks to REALTOR® advocacy and IMF funding.
2025 — National
D.C. Legislative Meetings
NMAR members traveled to Washington D.C. to meet directly with Montana's congressional delegation on housing availability, homeownership access, and policies that affect the Northwest Montana market.
You Don't Have to Go to Helena
Three ways to make a difference right now
RPAC
REALTORS® Political Action Committee
Voluntary contributions from REALTORS® like you fund the political engine behind everything on this page. See how it works, what it costs, and what it's already won.
Questions about advocacy, legislation, or getting involved? Contact Erica Wirtala, NMAR's Public Affairs Director, at ericaw@nmar.com.