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.

DCAR June Primary Election Update

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After a series of interviews and extensive deliberation, the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® PAC is proud to strongly endorse the following candidates for DC Council in the 2018 Democratic Primary Election:

Each of the candidates noted here are proven champions of homeownership. They have worked to help people plant their roots in the District, and they’ve advocated for small businesses during their time in office.

Phil Mendelson has led the Council admirably for six years. He has expertly navigated several key issues for District homeowners, including an exemption for single-family homes from the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) and a first-time homebuyer tax benefit, and his efforts have improved the city’s landscape for homeownership.

Anita Bonds served as the chair of the Council’s Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization. She has been an ally for homeowners and those looking to plant their roots in the District for years, and her efforts to engage all stakeholders on complex matters such as TOPA have yielded positive results for the entire city.

Kenyan McDuffie has fought for homeowners and small businesses throughout his tenure as Ward 5 Councilmember. His willingness to listen to both sides of every issue has been instrumental to the Council’s success over the past few years.

Charles Allen has deftly overseen the largest and most diverse ward in DC. Ward 6 is the only ward that touches each of the District’s four quadrants, and its population consists of homeowners, tenants and businesses, yet Councilmember Allen has worked with each party to ensure a balanced landscape.

*Mary Cheh is running unopposed for the Ward 3 seat.
**Stay tuned for more details on the Ward 1 race.

Early voting opens June 4th. More information here.

TOPA Single-Family Home Exemption Passes Through Council!

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History has been made!

The DC Council on Tuesday voted in favor of passing Bill 22-0315, which exempts single-family homes from TOPA legislation — some exceptions are made for elderly (62 and up) and disabled tenants.

More on the specifics of this bill will be coming soon. The bill still must be signed by Mayor Bowser and approved by Congress before it can become law.

Again: This bill is not yet law.

However, the bill passing through the Council is an enormous victory for homeowners, buyers, sellers and affordable housing in the District.

We’d like to thank to the hundreds of homeowners, buyers, sellers and other interested residents who came out time and again to show their support for this exemption.

We’re not quite there yet, but we’re closer than we’ve ever been before to a common-sense single-family home exemption. Stay tuned for more!

March 6: A Huge Step Toward Fixing TOPA

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On Tuesday, March 6, 10 DC Councilmembers voted to move forward on a bill that would exempt single-family homes from TOPA legislation.

This is a step toward TOPA reform that the real estate community and homeowners have been fighting for for years, and while the bill still has a ways to go before becoming law, it’s an enormous step in the right direction.

More than 100 supporters of Bill 22-0315 showed up to the Wilson Building Tuesday to voice their approval, and the building was so full of supporters donning #FixTOPA stickers that the hearing room reached capacity. A second hearing room was opened for all those who couldn’t get seats in the primary hearing room, and those folks were able to watch the proceedings via a live stream.

When the vote was announced at 10-2 in favor of (with one recusal), the room erupted in applause. The exultation was further proof that TOPA has no place in the single-family realm; the Councilmembers have worked hard to address concerns voiced by residents of the District, and Tuesday’s hearing marked their success.

Councilmember Robert White recused himself from the vote, as his spouse is in the process of selling a single-family home in which TOPA rights could come into play. Councilmembers Elissa Silverman and Brianne Nadeau voted against the single-family exemption, while the other 10 Councilmembers voted in support of the bill.

Said Anita Bonds, the chair of the Council’s Housing Committee, after the vote: “It’s the right thing to do.”

Frankly, we couldn’t agree more.

What’s Next

Despite this incredible victory, we’re not all the way there yet. The next step is a second reading, which is tentatively scheduled for April 10. More updates about that hearing will be provided as they become available.

If the bill is voted through again at the second reading, then it goes to the Mayor for approval.

TOPA Update: We’re Making Progress!

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Huge TOPA news: We have a single-family exemption working its way through the DC Council!

If this bill goes through the Council’s legislative process and becomes law, it would create a full exemption from TOPA for single-family homes; the only exclusions currently noted in the bill are tenants who are A) 62 years or older or B) disabled.

On Friday, Feb. 23, the DC Council’s housing committee voted to push the exemption through to the full Council. The full Council is scheduled to review the bill on Tuesday, March 6. That hearing is set to start at 10 a.m. and will be held in Room 500 of the Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW).

Full DC legislative calendar

Several dozen REALTORS® were in attendance for the housing committee’s hearing, and their presence helped prove the impact this legislation will have on the real estate industry. Now, we just need to keep filling the hearing rooms.

When the full Council convenes on March 6, we need a room full of REALTORS® showing their support. As we’ve proven twice before, when we pack the room, the Council listens.

Stay tuned for updates.

NBC4 TOPA Coverage