December 2023 Newsletter

Sponsored by:

A Holiday Message from 2023 President Denise Lundy

Season’s greetings to you and yours.

I hope this note finds you well and that you have had a successful year in 2023. The team at Idaho REALTORS® has worked diligently throughout the year to exceed your expectations and provide the utmost service and benefit to our members.

The executive committee is proud to have brought a health benefits program to our nearly 14,000 members, a monumental benefit that has been a long-standing goal to bring to fruition for members. Peruse the options and learn which plan is right for you. In addition to primary medical, you will find vision, dental, disability, and supplemental plans available. Enrollment is open now at https://IRhealthbenefits.com.

We embarked on a mission to enhance our advocacy ground game by making our voices heard and bolstering our government affairs committees throughout the state. The executive committee set a goal of increasing our voter registration and participation level from 75% to 80%, and, per NAR numbers, we achieved that goal together. IR built an extensive Government Affairs Toolkit to help the local associations implement best practices for growing and succeeding in their advocacy efforts. https://www.IdahoRealtors/gac.

The Your Idaho Guidebook, written by Idaho REALTORS®, for Idaho REALTORS®, is available for you to share with customers and clients. The Guidebook provides a professional welcome to new residents, informs customers on what they need to know as Idaho property owners, and plants seeds of stewardship to preserve and protect Idaho's natural resources and way of life. Distributing and sharing the Your Idaho Guidebook helps show our value in the communities we serve and makes a thoughtful and lasting closing gift. Download or email the Guidebook from your forms platforms for free, and order print copies of this beautiful coffee table book with your personalized branding at https://www.IdahoRealtors/stewardship.

Another way we celebrated our value in the community was by implementing the statewide Good Neighbor Award. It was exciting to see the nominees from around the state and to learn about the diverse ways they make impactful differences through service. Idaho REALTORS® honoured its inaugural Good Neighbor Award to Bart Cochran of Boise Regional REALTORS®. Bart is a champion of affordable housing solutions. He created the first housing trust in the Treasure Valley with his organization, LEAP Housing.

Congratulations to our 2023 REALTOR® of the year, Marion Wadsworth of Mini Cassia Association of REALTORS®.

We had a record number of scholarship applications to our Idaho REALTORS® scholarship program. We invested in the futures of seven deserving scholarship recipients.

Our dedicated forms committee worked hard to provide form updates that will be coming to you in January.

Through the work of the Legislative Committees and Public Policy Trustees, we had many legislative successes, including passing HB 238, the Unfair Services Agreement, protecting consumers from the predatory practice of the 40-year listing agreements. We had great success in helping to elect REALTOR® Party-endorsed candidates and are on track to bring home the President's Cup again this year.

IR delivered a packed lineup of educational opportunities at our convention and throughout the year. Members came out in force to gather at the best-attended convention in IR’s history in beautiful Sun Valley.

Emphasis on communication and engagement has been paramount, whether by social media, monthly newsletters, Wednesday webinars, Monday moments, email, or through the new Idaho REALTORS® Facebook engagement pages.

The state of Idaho REALTORS® is excellent, and I am pleased to report that we are tracking to be under budget in 2023 and to have exceeded our budgeted revenue. Our team has been exemplary stewards of member resources, has grown our fund balance, and has ensured that members' funds work for us.

None of these accomplishments would have been possible without our hard-working committee members and committee chairs, our talented and dedicated staff at Idaho REALTORS®, and our volunteer leadership team on the executive committee.

As 2023 comes to a close, take a moment to thank your IR or local association staff and AE, and those that humbly serve your local associations. Through the spirit of cooperation between the local and state associations, we achieve what our incoming IR President, Katrina Weir, aspires toward: Unity in Motion for our members.

Finally, thank you for your support throughout the year. Serving as your president this year has been the honor of my professional career.

Sincerely,

Denise Lundy

Participate in the 12 Days of Christmas with Amanda Auction

Christmas is the season of giving, as well as the favorite time of year for Idaho REALTORS® very own Amanda Pannell. In an effort to alleviate her medical expenses we are hosting an online auction to celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas in her honor.

The Twelve Days of Christmas with Amanda auction runs through December 12th. It features a variety of items generously donated by our Idaho REALTOR® members, affiliates, and staff to help support Amanda. All proceeds from this auction will go towards Amanda's medical expenses.

The Clock is ticking! The Enrollment Windo for 2024 Health Coverage is closing

You deserve quality, affordable healthcare —but time is running out to enroll for Jan 2024 coverage.

Staying healthy and saving money is easy. Idaho REALTORS® Benefits Center can help keep you and your family healthy with high-quality, cost-effective health plans. 

Don’t miss your opportunity to save. Get Started!

• Your Friends at Idaho REALTORS^® Benefits Center

Want to learn more? View our webinar here. We’ll explain how this plan is different!

Join us for 2024 Day at the Capitol

Join us on February 7th for Idaho REALTORS® 2024 Day at the Capitol. The event will kick off at 1:00 pm (MT) in the Lincoln Auditorium and will include presentations and meetings with state lawmakers throughout the day. We hope to see you there!

Save the Date: April 2024

Board of Directors Meeting

The 2024 Board of Directors Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 25th, 2024 at the Grove Hotel in Boise. Mark your calendars for IR's first major business meeting of the new year. The April 2024 BOD meeting will be held at the Boise Grove Hotel. A full meeting agenda will be made available in the new year.

Don't Forget to Pay Your Dues!

Keep your eye out for 2024 invoices. 

2024 dues are to be paid to ensure good standing for next year by



Contact your local board or association if you have questions about your dues.

IR COURSES:

Registration Now Open for 2024 Courses

The full 2024 IR Course List is now available. Visit our Course Store on Eventbrite to see the selection of courses for next year. Registration is open now for all classes, so don't hesitate to register TODAY!

Industry News

Home equity could become more affordable next year if the Fed cuts rates

By CNBC

December 4, 2023

Andy Walden, vice president of enterprise research at ICE Mortgage Technology, joins ‘The Exchange’ to discuss the cost of borrowing, the impact of potential interest rate cuts and more.

Subject to changes. Updates may be found at idahorealtors.com/calendar/.

Stay Connected With Us on Social Media!