RAPAC Wins
RAPAC's advocacy for REALTORS® and homeowners saves time, money, and effort. See how much RAPAC has impacted your business.
How does RAPAC save me money?
Watch What "The Power of RAPAC" Has Done for You!
Request RAPAC information at your office meeting
Want to educate fellow REALTORS® in your office about RAPAC? Schedule a time for Alyson Slobodzian, the Phoenix REALTORS® Political Affairs Director, to come speak to your agents about the importance of advocacy and what it has accomplished for you.
How has RAPAC advocated for REALTORS®?
Search our advocacy victories by topic, and learn what it means for you and the real estate industry.
Advocating for Affordable Housing (2)
RAPAC Victory
Cities with populations of 75,000 or more must now allow property owners to build accessory dwelling units (aka ADUs, casitas, or mother-in-law suites) on their property in any area zoned for single-family homes. (2024)
What It Means For You
You and your clients have more freedom to use your property how you see fit, while also creating more opportunity to build affordable units in larger cities.
RAPAC Victory
Cities with populations of 75,000 or more must now allow duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and townhomes to be built in any area zoned for single-family homes within one mile of that city’s central business district, including its downtown area. (2024)
What It Means For You
This law will create more opportunity to build affordable units, which means that your clients will enjoy greater choice in a more affordable price range.
Advocating for Homeowners and Clients (3)
RAPAC Victory
Property owners subject to illegal restrictive covenants may now submit an amendment to remove them from their governing documents. (2024)
What It Means For You
You and your clients now have the power to petition your community’s covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) to remove unlawful racial restrictive covenants.
RAPAC Victory
Prohibits an exclusive property engagement agreement, or a contract that binds a homeowner to that agent’s listing services for a defined period of time, from lasting longer than 12 months or remaining with the land regardless of its property owner. (2024)
What It Means For You
Homeowners can no longer be locked into a contract with an agent for longer than 12 months or because a previous property owner signed a contract binding to the land with a specific brokerage, giving them the freedom to choose their own agent.
RAPAC Victory
Requires wholesale buyers and sellers to disclose themselves as wholesalers. (2022)
What It Means For You
You and your clients have access to more information about the transaction and have the ability to retain earnest money if a wholesaler fails to disclose.
Getting REALTORS® a Seat at the Table (2)
RAPAC Victory
Stakeholders, including Arizona REALTORS®, will collectively reevaluate the Board of Technical Registration’s licensing authority, which currently oversees home inspection licensing. (2024)
What It Means For You
The real estate industry will have a crucial seat at the table as the state legislature makes decisions that will impact home inspectors and your clients.
RAPAC Victory
Formed the state Housing Supply Study Committee with Arizona Association of Realtors as a key committee member. (2022)
What It Means For You
REALTORS® have a prominent voice during statewide housing supply policymaking discussions.
HOAs (5)
RAPAC Victory
Prohibited HOAs from imposing an extra fee on REALTORS® for the use of a “For Sale” or “For Lease” sign in an HOA community. (2011)
What It Means For You
You save money every time you list in an HOA community.
RAPAC Victory
Capped the HOA transfer fee at $400 for the preparation of documents required for property resale. (2011)
What It Means For You
You and your clients avoid exorbitant HOA transfer fees.
RAPAC Victory
Granted tenants and property owners the opportunity to seek third parties to represent them to deal with HOA matters. (2014)
What It Means For You
Your clients can now authorize you, as their agent, to represent them on all HOA matters regarding rental properties.
RAPAC Victory
Stopped discriminatory legislation that blocked homeowners from being able to serve on their HOA board. (2018)
What It Means For You
Your clients are able to serve in and improve their neighborhoods.
RAPAC Victory
Prevents HOAs from banning residents from keeping artificial grass on their property. (2022)
What It Means For You
Your clients enjoy greater freedom to utilize different types of landscaping on their property.
Taxes & Fees (11)
RAPAC Victory
Prohibits a homeowners’ association from charging certain fees for a transfer of property between familial, business or trust parties when the transfer has nominal or no consideration.(2024)
What It Means For You
Other than administrative fees, you don’t have to pay additional fees to an HOA when you or your clients transfer property to family, a business, or a trust.
RAPAC Victory
Repealed the regressive residential rental tax imposed by cities. (2023)
What It Means For You
It will be easier for your future clients to save for a down payment and transition from renting to owning.
RAPAC Victory
Prohibited certain fees for residential services to be charged to anyone other than a person who physically resides at the property and who receives the services. (2015)
What It Means For You
You no longer have to pay fees for residential services you did not receive.
RAPAC Victory
Eliminated the Homeowner’s Rebate Affidavit, a burdensome automatic reclassification of an individual’s property tax. (2012)
What It Means For You
Homeowners save up to $600 from a potential tax increase.
RAPAC Victory
Secured a property tax penalty waiver that a county’s treasurer, in consultation with its board of supervisors, may grant to property owners who fail to respond to a request for information regarding the property’s classification for tax purposes. (2013)
What It Means For You
You and your clients save money if there has been a failure to respond to a county treasurer’s request about a residential property’s use.
RAPAC Victory
Exempted owners and associations from providing resale disclosure information required by statute if the transfer is a conveyance between family members. (2014)
What It Means For You
You and your clients save time and money by eliminating additional transfer fees when transferring a deed between family members.
RAPAC Victory
TWICE defeated a tax classification change attempt by a for-profit higher education institution that would have resulted in dramatic tax reductions for the university, shifting the tax burden onto homeowners. (2014 and 2016)
What It Means For You
You and your clients save money, avoiding higher property taxes and an overall increased tax burden.
RAPAC Victory
Protected the homeowner’s rebate program (a state-funded, $600 per individual property tax refund) from the 2015 Arizona legislature’s budget cuts. (2015)
What It Means For You
Arizona homeowners keep $20.2 million in refunded property taxes in their pockets.
RAPAC Victory
Stopped efforts to implement a professional services tax. (2018)
What It Means For You
You save money that you would have had to pay in tax on your commission.
RAPAC Victory
Stopped an attempt to charge a $250 fee to retain DNA (fingerprints) needed to process an original or renewal real estate licensure. (2019)
What It Means For You
You save money when following the process for submitting or renewing your license.
RAPAC Victory
Prohibited local and state governments from increasing or enacting new taxes on services provided in the state (Prop 126, state constitution change). (2018)
What It Means For You
You keep money in your pocket that would have gone to the government via a sales tax on your commission.
RAPAC Victory
Prohibited the state from tacking a real estate transfer tax onto the closing costs of a sale. (2008)
What It Means For You
Your client would have had to pay as much as 2.2% of the final sale price on top of other closing costs, making homeownership that much more unattainable.
Income Assistance (3)
RAPAC Victory
Won access to income assistance for unemployed independent contractors during the pandemic, who were previously unqualified for assistance programs. (2020)
What It Means For You
For the first time in the country’s history, you and other REALTORS®️ qualified for income assistance.
RAPAC Victory
Advocated for REALTOR®️ access to federal loan assistance programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Emergency Disaster Injury Loan (EIDL) program. (2020)
What It Means For You
You have access to financial support for your small business during economic turmoil.
RAPAC Victory
Fought for local, state, and federal tenant and landlord assistance funds during the pandemic. (2020)
What It Means For You
You don’t have to worry about foreclosure due to your tenant’s non-payment of rent during the pandemic.
Rental Housing (2)
RAPAC Victory
Prevented municipalities from requiring housing providers and REALTORS®️ to pay for unpaid water or wastewater services used by a tenant who presides/presided at the property. (2011)
What It Means For You
You are no longer responsible for other people’s unpaid city service bills at your property.
RAPAC Victory
Lowered the time frame that housing providers are required to hold a tenant’s personal property after abandonment or failure to comply with rental agreement from 21 days to 14 days. (2018)
What It Means For You
You spend less time worrying about a vacated tenant’s personal property.
Removing Barriers from Doing Business (20)
RAPAC Victory
Stopped an attempt to require the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to specify the congressional district, the legislative district, the county supervisor district, the city council ward or district, and the voting precinct in which the dwelling is located, along with the elected officials that represent those areas. (2024)
What It Means For You
You avoid increased liability and a government mandate that would have unintentionally increased the risk of steering.
RAPAC Victory
Stopped legislation that would have legally required REALTORS® to collect, verify, and store clients’ private and personal information in an attempt to prevent deed fraud. (2024)
What It Means For You
You avoid increased liability and potential lawsuits when doing business.
RAPAC Victory
Advocated for REALTORS® to be deemed essential services during Governor Ducey’s March 2020 executive order mandating that Arizonans stay at home to stop the spread. (2020)
What It Means For You
You were able to do business in-person during a time when most industries could not, by law.
RAPAC Victory
Permitted the Arizona Department of Real Estate to cancel a real estate license at the individual’s request, regardless if it is inactive. (2013)
What It Means For You
You no longer have to jump through hoops to reactivate your license in order to have it cancelled.
RAPAC Victory
Stopped legislation that would have required brokers and agents to obtain a license for each municipality in which they complete a transaction. (2015)
What It Means For You
You save time and money—approximately $80-$150 per business license per city that you do business in.
RAPAC Victory
Corrected an unintended consequence of a previous law that would have prevented REALTORS® from transporting clients to showings for five years after receiving a fingerprint clearance card. (2016)
What It Means For You
You can drive your clients to showings without concern for how an unrelated law may affect your business.
RAPAC Victory
Advocated for removal of a requirement that mandated brokers keep a hard-copy of an agent’s license certificate on hand. (2016)
What It Means For You
You save time, money, and space with the removal of the state’s physical license mandate.
RAPAC Victory
Changed the law to allow agents to hire assistants who are not REALTORS® to perform administrative and support tasks. (2017)
What It Means For You
You have one less regulation to worry about when you hire support staff.
RAPAC Victory
Advocated for REALTORS® to be able to complete transactions in mobile home parks. (2017)
What It Means For You
You have more opportunities to help clients and earn commission than you did before the law changed.
RAPAC Victory
Streamlined the background checking process and strengthened criminal records checks for home inspectors before initial certification. (2018)
What It Means For You
Your clients have stronger protections, and the real estate industry benefits from speeding up new home inspector processing from 120 days to 30-60 days.
RAPAC Victory
Advocated for REALTORS® to be able to complete new manufactured home transactions outside of mobile home parks. (2018)
What It Means For You
You have even more opportunities to help clients and earn commission.
RAPAC Victory
TWICE stopped legislation that would have allowed a city, town, or county to regulate real estate signage. (2018 and 2019)
What It Means For You
You are able to do business without maneuvering restrictions on how and where you post your signs.
RAPAC Victory
Changed the law that only allowed agents to advertise their business using their legally given first, middle, and last name. (2019)
What It Means For You
You can now advertise yourself by your commonly known, non-legal name.
RAPAC Victory
Fought for electronic signatures on documents sent to the Arizona Department of Revenue to have the same force and effect as a written, wet signature. (2020)
What It Means For You
You save time and space when sending over signed documents.
RAPAC Victory
Pushed for property owners and managers to have more flexibility when storing tenant documents. (2020)
What It Means For You
You now have more options to store tenant-related documents: electronically, off-site, or keep physical copies.
RAPAC Victory
Led the effort for early implementation and authorized use of online remote notary services. (2020)
What It Means For You
You can now access notary services online, saving time and effort.
RAPAC Victory
Advocated for online inspections through the City of Phoenix. (2020)
What It Means For You
You enjoy a speedier and more efficient home inspection process.
RAPAC Victory
Advocated for REALTORS®’ unlicensed administrative staff to collect rent and related fees. (2021)
What It Means For You
Your staff can do more to help your clients, and you have more flexibility to hire staff that can assist you with necessary clerical duties.
RAPAC Victory
Established civil liability standards retroactive to March 2020 for specified acts or omissions during public health pandemics that shields REALTORS® from being held liable for damages. (2021)
What It Means For You
You can continue to do business without worry that you will face potential pandemic-related litigation.
RAPAC Victory
Allows brokers to employ and compensate licensed agents as W2 employees. (2022)
What It Means For You
You have more flexibility to run your business.
Protecting Private Property Rights (5)
RAPAC Victory
Defeated an attempt to repeal Arizona’s ban on rent control. (2024)
What It Means For You
You maintain the freedom to price your rental how you see fit without a government mandate.
RAPAC Victory
Prohibited municipalities from requiring a fire apparatus access road that would require mandatory installation of fire sprinklers. (2014)
What It Means For You
You and your clients save money by preventing cities from forcing you to install fire sprinklers on your property.
RAPAC Victory
Shielded property owners from mandatory installation of water-well usage monitors and reporting. (2018)
What It Means For You
You and your clients save time and money by avoiding mandatory monitor installation on your property.
RAPAC Victory
Protected homeowners by awarding appropriate damages in a construction defect lawsuit. (2019)
What It Means For You
Your clients receive damages due to faulty construction not warrantied by the builder.
RAPAC Victory
Enacted a statewide, preemptive prohibition to prohibit a city, town, or county from denying a building permit based on a project’s utility provider. (2020)
What It Means For You
You enjoy one less barrier in the home-building process.
Neighborhood Quality (1)
RAPAC Victory
Extended the time period that a county’s board of supervisors may spend money on maintaining and improving public roadways. (2012)
What It Means For You
Your clients enjoy higher quality roads and streets for their neighborhoods.
REALTOR® Well-being (1)
RAPAC Victory
Fought for the ability to provide health coverage for REALTORS® via self-insured or fully-insured Association Health Plans (AHPs). (2019)
What It Means For You
You have access to more flexible healthcare options at a lower cost.
Strengthening Professionalism and the REALTOR® Brand (2)
RAPAC Victory
Established an Arizona real estate law-specific examination for licensees looking to do business in Arizona. (2021)
What It Means For You
Additional licensure integrity measures strengthen trust in the REALTOR® brand and increases professionalism industry-wide.
RAPAC Victory
Created a REALTOR® Specialty License Plate only for REALTOR® use, with proceeds from plate sales directed to affordable housing efforts. (2021)
What It Means For You
You receive another tool to advertise your business and showcase your REALTOR® pride while investing in Arizona housing supply.