{"id":4691,"date":"2023-09-13T15:07:01","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T15:07:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/preprod.realtrends.com\/blog\/2023\/09\/13\/datadigest-25-years-of-nar-lobbying-visualized\/"},"modified":"2025-03-13T02:52:54","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T02:52:54","slug":"datadigest-25-years-of-nar-lobbying-visualized","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/preprod.realtrends.com\/blog\/2023\/09\/13\/datadigest-25-years-of-nar-lobbying-visualized\/","title":{"rendered":"DataDigest: 25 years of NAR lobbying visualized"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The National Association of Realtors<\/strong> (NAR) is navigating<\/a> turbulent waters as it handles the resignation of its president<\/a>, which was sparked by allegations<\/a> of sexual harassment and a culture of fear and retribution, and faces two massive class-action lawsuits<\/a> that could forever upend the commission structure<\/a>. It is also fighting a legal battle<\/a> with the Department of Justice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former NAR president Kenny Parcell denies the allegations, and a NAR spokesperson previously told HousingWire that it does not tolerate<\/a> discrimination, harassment or retaliation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some Realtors have called for executives to be fired and a wholesale reform to the structure of the trade group, which has 1.6 million members, the majority of whom are women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

NAR’s struggles are a focal point for the housing industry, as the association is the industry’s top policy advocate and among the biggest lobbying spenders in the nation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization outspent<\/a> every organization in the country in 2020 and 2022 and came in second behind the U.S. Chamber of Commerce<\/strong> in seven of the last 10 years. It is on pace for another second place finish this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one in the real estate industry comes close to NAR’s lobbying budget. Freddie Mac<\/strong> and Fannie Mae<\/strong> briefly outspent NAR in the early 2000s, but the association has held the industry’s top spot since 2006, according to OpenSecrets data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, it spent $81.7 million on lobbying, dwarfing the industry’s second highest amount: $6.8 million by the National Multifamily Housing Council<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n