Today, DCAR CEO Scott Reiter testified before the D.C. Council’s Committee on Housing and Executive Administration, chaired by Councilmember Anita Bonds, on a variety of topics important to our DCAR members. Today’s meeting was part of Chair Bond’s annual oversight of the D.C. Real Estate Commission.

DCAR asked the Commission to continue allowing virtual classes after the pandemic because the virtual format provides real estate professionals with more flexibility and access.

We also expressed criticism for the way the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) handled licensing issuance and renewals in 2021. Last year, the agency transitioned its computer system from an outside vendor to an in-house operation, which resulted in major disruptions to the professional lives of DCAR members.

Finally, we requested that DCAR be included in conversations involving licensing fees and the Real Estate Guaranty and Education Fund. The Commission proposed a $60 license fee increase in 2021, which DCAR helped reverse.

Last week, the D.C. Council invited DCAR to comment at a public roundtable regarding the Department of Consumer Affairs’ (DCRA) enforcement of new short-term rental (STR) regulations, which begins April 10. At issue is the department’s decision to limit the area of a home that can be used as a STR to the accessory dwelling unit, such as an English basement or mother-in-law suite.

In his testimony, DCAR Treasurer Colin Johnson stated, “DCRA’s implementation of short-term rental regulations is hampering District homeowners from exercising their property rights within statutory and zoning guidelines.”

Under the STR law previously passed by the D.C. Council, there was no stipulation on what area of a home could be used as a STR, whether it was the primary dwelling unit or accessory dwelling unit. For example, some homeowners may want to live in their English basement and use their primary unit as a STR. Furthermore, the D.C. Zoning Commission made an exception for STRs in the zoning regulations, allowing the homeowner to choose whether to rent out their main home or the accessory dwelling unit.

Now, however, DCRA is proposing to limit the area of a home that can be used as a STR to only the accessory unit. In the example above, DCRA would not allow the homeowner to turn their primary dwelling area into a STR. Johnson stated that a homeowner’s only recourse is a lengthy appeals process and called on the Council to cure this issue.

We will provide updates as they become available.

The most recent foreclosure moratorium for owner-occupied homes expired on Jan. 5, 2022, and the District is in the process of receiving $50 million in federal aid to assist low- and moderate-income homeowners who are having trouble making payments due to the pandemic. However, the program to disburse these funds has not yet been finalized by the District’s Office of Finance and Treasury.

DCAR advocated for the extension of the foreclosure moratorium, as we believe it will stave off an immediate housing emergency. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.

As part of the District’s Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration, a toll, or pause, was put into effect for the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) for the duration of the PHE. As a result, pending sales of rental properties were slowed or halted due to the inability to have meetings.

On Friday, Jan. 14, DCAR learned of a foreclosure moratorium bill authored by Councilmember Janeese Lewis George. Councilmember Anita Bonds included a narrowly written amendment that would extend the toll for the organizing phase of the TOPA process to March 31.

Shortly after, DCAR sent a letter to D.C. Council members urging councilmembers to consider passing the bill without the tolling extension, explaining that the omicron variant shouldn’t be a barrier for tenants and tenant advocates navigating the rules and procedures of the TOPA process when virtual platforms and other methods exist for holding meetings.

Councilmember Elissa Silverman reached out to DCAR after the letter was sent to broker a compromise on the amendment’s duration. Due to DCAR’s advocacy efforts and subsequent negotiations, the tolling duration was rolled back to Feb. 15. The bill now heads to Mayor Bowser for her signature.

Congratulations to the following DCAR members who have been selected to serve on our 2022 Public Policy Committee!

• Anthony Graham, Chair
• Michael Arias
• Terinee Bonds
• James Braeu
• Deirdre P. Brown
• Chuck Burger
• Elizabeth Burgess
• Carol Lynn Calomiris
• Thomas Castagnola
• Amy Fisher
• Virginia Gergoff
• Olivia Kibler
• Ellen Klein
• Larry McAdoo
• Hugh McDermott
• Hillary Nash
• Richard Pearrell
• Jean Poitevien
• Bonnie Roberts-Burke
• Yanira Rodriguez
• Marjorie Rosner
• Frank Snodgrass
• Annemarie Stephens
• Michael Taft
• Ansa Tyus
• Tracey Williams Barnett

On Dec. 15, 2021, we installed our 2022 DCAR leadership team, with Thomas Daley as our 2022 president. Thank you to everyone who attended our Annual Meeting & Installation and helped make it a success!

We are proud to present your 2022 leadership team:

Executive Committee
President: Thomas Daley
President-elect: Anthony Mancuso
Secretary: Stacey Barton
Treasurer: Colin Johnson
Immediate Past President: Frederic Bates

Directors
April Contee
Andrea Fleming
Jennifer Frewer
Samuel Medvene
Jean Poitevien
Bonnie Roberts-Burke
Ansa Tyus

GCAAR president
Harrison Beacher

Presidential appointees
Katalin Peter
Marty Stanton

NAR directors
Dianah Shaw
Christopher Suranna

Public Policy Committee Chair
Anthony Graham

CEO – Ex-officio
Scott Reiter

Thank you to 2021 President Frederic Bates and the entire 2021 board for your contributions. We are confident 2022 will be another year of successes!

Do you have a passion for public policy? Or a desire to work with local policymakers to consider measures that make a difference in your community? Now is your chance to apply to serve on the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS®’ Public Policy Committee!

The Public Policy Committee works with the DCAR Government Affairs team to analyze pending and proposed legislation in D.C. It establishes DCAR’s official stance on a variety of issues and ensures the association’s advocacy presence in the District.

Applicants should have an understanding of local legislation and politics. Selected committee members will be expected to actively participate in DCAR events, initiatives and activities at the Wilson Building.

The deadline to submit your application is Thursday, December 9. Additional information on the committee and committee requirements can be found on the application.

Apply Now

Congratulations to our DCAR members appointed to 2022 NAR committees!

We are proud to share the list of DCAR members who have been appointed to NAR committees for 2022. Congratulations to all of you!

Do you aspire to be a national real estate leader? You can start by getting involved in your state REALTOR® association… and now is the perfect time. Starting Nov. 11, you can apply to serve on DCAR’s Public Policy Committee! It’s a great way to hone your leadership skills and increase your knowledge of legislative issues and association functions. In doing so, you set a course for further involvement in DCAR and opportunities to serve as a state-level director, officer or in a role at the national level.

We are honored to announce the candidates for our 2022 DCAR Board of Directors! In compliance with Article IX, Section 1 of our District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® (DCAR) bylaws, the DCAR Nominating Committee has nominated the following individuals to offices on the 2022 board, as indicated, subject to their election by the membership.

The election will be held during our DCAR Annual Meeting and Installation on Wednesday, December 15 at 6 p.m. Registration details are coming soon.

SLATE OF OFFICERS AS PRESENTED BY THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Officers

• President-elect: Anthony Mancuso, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
• Secretary: Stacey Barton, RLAH Real Estate
• Treasurer: Colin Johnson, RLAH Real Estate

At-large directors up for election, two-year term:

(three to be elected)

• April Contee, EXQ Real Estate
• Jean Poitevien, AFREM Services
• Bonnie Roberts-Burke, RLAH Real Estate

NAR director

• Dianah Shaw, Power Consulting & Real Estate

RETURNING BOARD MEMBERS

Officers:

• Immediate past president: Frederic Bates, eXp Realty, LLC
• President: Thomas Daley, Keller Williams Capital Properties

Directors completing their current two-year term:

• Andrea Fleming, Keller Williams Capital Properties
• Jennifer Frewer, Keller Williams Capital Properties
• Sam Medvene, Century 21 Redwood Realty
• Margaret “Ansa” Tyrus, Re/MAX Allegiance

Presidential appointees (2): To be determined

Public Policy Committee chair: To be determined

NAR director: Christopher Suranna, RLAH Real Estate

GCAAR president: Harrison Beacher, Keller Williams Capital Properties

Chief executive officer (ex-officio): Scott Reiter

ADDITIONAL BOARD NOMINATIONS

Additional candidates for these offices can be nominated by a petition signed by at least 5% of DCAR’s REALTOR® members and emailed to Scott Reiter, sreiter@dcrealtors.org. Petitions must be received by Friday, November 26, 2021.

Thank you in advance for your participation in our upcoming election!