Apply for DCAR REALTOR® of the Year now through Aug. 27

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Nominations for the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS®’ REALTOR® of the Year Award are now open!

Earning this distinction from your state-level association is an incredible honor, one that will make you stand out among your colleagues – not to mention with potential clients!

Who can be nominated?

Nominees must be primary DCAR members who have clearly provided continuous, dedicated service to enhance the quality of the profession.

How can I apply?

Complete the application and email it, along with one color head shot of each applicant, to contact@dcrealtors.org. Please note that head shots must be in .jpeg format at a minimum of 300 dpi resolution.

The deadline for submission is Friday, August 27 at 5 p.m. Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.

Think the award should have your name on it? Or do you know of someone else who fits the bill? Apply now! Winners will be announced in the fall.

NAR highlights DCAR’s rent control success

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When the Housing Committee of the D.C. City Council attempted to pass a raft of rent control legislation at the end of 2020, DCAR pushed back with a Call for Action that prompted nearly 300 messages from REALTOR® members and the public, ultimately sparing property owners from further restrictions for the time being. Read the full story.

DCAR achieves RPAC Triple Crown

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DCAR is proud to announce that, for 2020, we achieved the Triple Crown – for the third year in a row!

 

The Triple Crown recognizes state associations that meet their state-specific REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC) goals during the past year (Jan 1– Dec 31 annually).

Congratulations to our RPAC Fundraising Committee and thanks to our state RPAC chair Stacey Barton, our Major Investor representative and 2021 DCAR president, Fred Bates, and our participation representative, Harrison Beacher, for their leadership in helping us achieve this goal.

The Triple Crown is awarded in May at the REALTORS® Legislative Meeting & Trade Expo.

2020 DCAR Major Investors

Thank you to all our RPAC Major Investors for your generous support!

GOLDEN “R”

Ed Krauze*++
Frank Pietranton
Bonnie Roberts-Burke*
Christopher Suranna*++
Holly Worthington++

CRYSTAL “R”

Fred Kendrick*++
Scott Reiter*++

STERLING “R”/ PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE

Frederic Bates*
Harrison Beacher*

STERLING “R”

Stacey Barton
Elizabeth Blakeslee
Charles Burger
Catherine Czuba
Thomas Daley
Kate Gordon
Brandon Green
Colin Johnson
Angela Jones
Justin Levitch
Kymber Lovett-Menkiti
Dale Mattison
Sam Medvene
Bo Menkiti
Dianah Shaw
Danai Mattison Sky
Katalin Peter
Jean Poitevien
Marjorie Rosner
Jason Sherman
Brenda Small
Jennifer Smira
Frank Snodgrass
Marty Stanton

* President’s Circle
++ Hall of Fame

Announcing… DCAR’s 2020 REALTOR® of the Year!

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Licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia, Chris Suranna with RLAH Real Estate has been selling real estate since 2004. He was the 2018 President of the DC Association of REALTORS® and currently sits on the GCAAR Board of Directors. He is the recipient of the 2020 DCAR REALTOR® of the Year award.

Always seeking out new opportunities to grow, Chris has held volunteer positions on many committees at the local, state and national level. Chris most recently received his CIPS (Certified International Property Specialist) designation with NAR.  As a REALTOR® Party major investor and President’s Circle member, he was recently inducted into the National Association of REALTORS® RPAC Hall of Fame in 2020.

He has been a top producer every year since entering the real estate profession. Working almost 100% by referral, he enjoys working with first-time homebuyers and clients relocating to the DC metro area.

Chris currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee and is the Chairperson of the Advocacy and Public Policy Committee of the newly created national organization, The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance.

In his spare time, he enjoys traveling around the world exploring new cultures and cuisines.

Congratulations, Chris, on this monumental achievement!

Curbside pick-up now available

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As a result of the Phase One reopening in the District of Columbia, the DCAR office is now open for appointment-only curbside sales of store merchandise. Here’s how it works:

  • Members must call in advance for a time slot and to make your payment over the phone.
  • Upon arrival, someone from our Member Services team will place your packages into your trunk or backseat through an open window, with no contact.
  • To comply with local re-opening guidelines and for safety reasons, you will be required to wear a mask when you pick up your items.
  • Curbside pick-up hours are Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Ready to place your order? Please email MemberServices@gcaar.com or call us at 301-590-8769. We look forward to serving you!

DCAR Announces Endorsements in 2020 Primary Election

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After a series of interviews and extensive deliberation, the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee (PAC) is proud to strongly endorse four candidates for DC Council in the 2020 Primary election.

The candidates noted here are proven champions of homeownership opportunities for District residents.

  • Brandon Todd, Ward 4
    Brandon Todd has been a steadfast and pragmatic member of the Council for the past 5 years. The work he has done in the community both for his constituents and all city residents is deeply respected. DCAR believes that his efforts to increase opportunities for homeownership will help the District grow.
  • Vincent Gray, Ward 7
    For more than 15 years, Vincent Gray has been a public servant for the people of the District as chairman of the Council, as mayor, and most recently as a Council member for residents of Ward 7.  He has championed a number of homeownership initiatives, including supporting DC’s First Time Homebuyer Tax Benefit.
  • Trayon White, Ward 8
    Trayon White is a steward for Ward 8 residents, ensuring they are well-represented on the Council. He has looked toward DCAR members numerous times on housing policies, as well as increasing homeownership opportunities in Ward 8.
  • Robert White, At-Large Democratic
    Robert White has been a great legislative partner during his time on the Council. Most recently, he introduced the Financial Literacy in Schools Amendment Act of 2019, which DCAR enthusiastically supported. His commitment to keeping an open line of communication with DCAR members is commendable.

Ward 2 update
DCAR conducted interviews in the Ward 2 race and, while we heard impressive plans from many candidates, we are not prepared to endorse a single candidate. We strongly advise DCAR members to review each candidate and their positions.

2020 primary election voting process
As with many activities this year, the 2020 election process will be different than in years past. While there will be in-person voting, the Board of Elections encourages all residents to request an absentee (mail-in) ballot. You can find information on this year’s primary election process on the Board of Elections website.

DC Office – 2018 Holiday Hours

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The DC office, located at 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, will have the following changes to its regular hours for the 2018 holiday season:

  • November 21: Office Closes at 3:00pm
  • November 22 – November 24: Office Closed
  • December 22 – December 25: Office Closed
  • December 31: Office Closes at 2:00pm
  • January 1: Office Closed

Please send any questions to contact@dcrealtors.org, and have a safe and happy holiday season!

In Memory of Josephine Ricks

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DCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Josephine Ricks, a monumental figure in DC real estate, on October 25.

Jo was the chairman of the DC Real Estate Commission at the time of her passing, as well as Associate Broker at City Houses for 25 years. She was also so much more than that. She was an activist in her Logan Circle neighborhood, the lead vocalist of the band Hook, Line and Sinker, a member of the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, a Washingtonian of 50 years, and a friend and leader to so many.

She passed away at a hospice facility near her home after a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

A service will be held for Jo on November 2 at 11:00 am at Washington’s National Cathedral. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Jo’s memory to St. George’s Episcopal Church (P.O. Box 30, Valley Lee, Maryland 20692-0030).

DCAR Proudly Endorses Mary Cheh for Re-Election

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The District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® (DCAR) is proud to endorse Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh for re-election.

Councilmember Cheh has served her constituents admirably in her time in office, emerging as a champion of homeowners in Ward 3 and across the city. By supporting the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Benefit and the single-family home exemption to TOPA, Councilmember Cheh has made it clear she values the benefits of homeownership and laying down roots in the District.

We look forward to continuing our work with Councilmember Cheh to increase the homeownership rate in the District, which presently is among the lowest in the nation. Her voting record shows she recognizes the importance of owning a home, and we’re thrilled to support her in her bid for re-election.

An Open Letter About the Ward 1 Race

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As a member-driven trade association of REALTORS®, the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® (DCAR) supports elected officials who represent our mission to protect and promote homeownership. One of our greatest advantages is having members in all eight wards, which gives us the ability to work closely with every Councilmember.

Homeowners have benefited from the Council’s work over the past year, namely securing a first-time homebuyer tax benefit and exempting single-family homes from the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA). We are proud to say many of the candidates we have previously endorsed have gone on to champion these vital initiatives.

When DCAR’s REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC) interviewed candidates for the 2018 Democratic Primary Election, the conversations were thoughtful and deliberative. Our endorsement decisions were met with strong consensus; you can read about them here.

Ward 1 was complicated. Four years ago, we celebrated when Councilmember Nadeau emerged victorious in her long-shot race over then incumbent, Jim Graham. This year, we strongly deliberated the value of four more years of Councilmember Nadeau at the helm of Ward 1.

We were hopeful she would chart a new course distinctly different from her predecessor, and there have been occasions in which she has shown promise. However, Councilmember Nadeau’s lack of focus on the cost of homeownership and efforts to weaken the TOPA legislation remain difficult issues to reconcile. TOPA rules were onerous, outdated and far too often hand-tied homeowners at excessive time and cost from selling their homes.

DCAR RPAC dutifully vetted the three other candidates in this year’s Ward 1 race, and their enthusiasm to serve Ward 1 was clear. Unfortunately, their goals for the Ward do not align with ours at this time.

Above all, DCAR is committed to affordable housing and homeownership throughout the District. To that end, although we will not be financially endorsing Councilmember Nadeau, we will continue to work with and support her as she strives to meet the homeownership needs of her Ward 1 constituents.