GLAR News: Feb. 3, 2025 - REALTOR DIRECT

Each year, we celebrate Black History Month as it allows us to reflect, acknowledge and honor the significant contributions of professionals and pioneers who have shaped our Association and industry. This month also serves as a time to highlight local and national efforts to address continued disparities to access the American dream of homeownership, the State of Housing in Black America (SHIBA) report, share commemorative activities to do around the city, and more! Click here to access all of these resources on our Black History Month page.

We hope you will also join us for our Member Mixer celebrating Black History Month on Thursday, February 13th from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at Dasha Barbours Southern Bistro. This event is complimentary to members, but registration is required. Appetizers and beverages will be available.

Starting in 2025, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) requires all REALTOR® members to complete two hours of fair housing training every three years as a condition of REALTOR® membership. This new requirement aligns with the existing Code of Ethics training cycle and applies to both new applicants and existing members. This cycle's deadline is December 31, 2027.

How to Meet the Requirement:
You can satisfy the fair housing requirement by completing one of the following:

NAR's At Home With Diversity Course: Focuses on working successfully in diverse marketplaces.
NAR's Bias Override - Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing Training: Helps identify and interrupt stereotypes to avoid fair housing violations.
NAR's Fairhaven: Updated online fair housing simulation (qualifies as the free option).
Qualified Equivalent Courses on Fair Housing: Approved courses provided by state/local associations, NAR institutes, societies, councils, or state licensing authorities.

The Greater Louisville Association of REALTORS® will have both in-person and online fair housing courses available for members to meet this training requirement. You can view and register for these on your member portal. To determine if a GLAR course is approved to meet this particular requirement, look for "Approved for NAR Fair Housing Credit" in the course credits section.

Click here to find out more information and an FAQ section about this training requirement from NAR.

The Tax Reform Act of 1993, as amended by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, made the portion of dues paid to organizations spent to lobby State and Federal governments non-deductible for income taxes, and requires that it be disclosed to members.

GLAR: For 2024, Greater Louisville Association of REALTORS® (GLAR) computes 6.47% or $14.69 (of the $227 per member) to be non-deductible for the member’s income tax due to GLAR’s lobbying efforts on behalf of its members. Note that the entire $275.00 for MSI dues and $537.60 for CIE dues are fully deductible.

KYR: For 2024, Kentucky REALTORS® computes 7.93% or $11.50 (of the $145.00 per member) to be nondeductible for the member’s income tax due to KYR’s lobbying efforts on behalf of its members.

NAR: For 2024, with dues at $156 per member, the National Association of REALTORS® computes 35 percent or $55 to be nondeductible for the member's income tax purposes due to NAR lobbying efforts. Please note that the entire $45 Consumer Advertising Campaign special assessment qualifies as fully deductible.

*Member Benefit: Don't miss our February 6th FREE Member Tax Sessions, register on your member portal to attend.

Introducing Fairhaven 2.0, NAR’s updated online simulation where real estate professionals tackle fair housing challenges head-on. Through realistic scenarios, practical insights, and historical context, you’ll explore key topics like steering, bias, disability accommodations, and standing up for clients facing discrimination.

What’s New in Fairhaven 2.0?

All-new scenarios addressing critical fair housing dilemmas.
Expanded historical context connecting past injustices to today.
Practical solutions for creating inclusive communities.

This course helps ensure that your business practices comply with the letter and spirit of federal, state, and local law. It also meets the new NAR fair housing training requirement. Best of all, it’s free for NAR members. Click here to find out more and get started!

Join our new series to engage and network with fellow real estate professionals around town! During this informal event, hear the latest updates from the association and engage with members of our leadership team as we curate a space for members to connect, share ideas, discuss industry trends/topics, enjoy delicious light bites, beverages, and more!

Whether you’re a newer or experienced REALTOR®, affiliate, etc., or someone eager to network and meet new industry colleagues, this event welcomes ALL members!

For each Member Mixer, the location will shift as we support a unique small local business owner/shop around town to commemorate the month’s heritage month. During Black History Month, we will visit Dasha Barbours Southern Bistro. While this event is complimentary to all members, registration is required as space will be limited. Appetizers and beverages will be available.

First Member Mixer:
February 13th, (6:00-7:30pm) – Black History Month Member Mixer - RSVP HERE

Get ready to dive into the key trends shaping and influencing the future of real estate and the economy at this year’s premier industry event. Join us for a dynamic afternoon featuring insights from nationally recognized experts, local leaders, and economic influencers.

Our program speakers are:
- Seema Sheth, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- Dr. Jessica Lautz, National Association of REALTORS®
- Jeff O'Brien, Economic Development Cabinet for the Louisville Metro Government

Followed by an Economic Driver Panel featuring:
- Kathleen Navin, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- Juva Barber, BIA Louisville
- Jeff Ratanapool, Stockton Mortgage
- Beth Rojas, Agency Title

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from top voices in real estate and economic trends, connect with your fellow professionals, and gain the knowledge you need for your business to thrive in 2025. RSVP to reserve your spot on your member portal. Lunch will also be provided.

Hurry and register for our tax planning workshops on February 6th beginning at 10am at the Association office. These sessions, led by local tax expert Rick Fields, Partner at Associates in Accounting, CPA, are designed to help you optimize your financial tax planning. We’re offering two sessions tailored to different needs: a basic-level workshop for foundational tax strategies and an advanced-level session for more complex tax planning. You can choose to attend the first session only or maximize your learning by staying for both.

Upcoming IN-PERSON Classes:
February 11 - Closing Day Success (CE & PLE credits)
February 13 - VA Bootcamp (CE, PLE & NAR Fair Housing credits)
February 18 - Kentucky Core
February 20 - Commercial RPR (CE & PLE credits)
February 25 - Ethics: Cases & Scenario (CE & PLE credits, NAR Ethics)
Register on your member portal by clicking here.

ONLINE/ON-DEMAND Classes:
If you want ONLINE, on-demand courses instead, click here to view our exclusive online offerings available through GLAR's online course dashboard.

Need Help? Email our GLAR Education Team at Education@LouisvilleRealtors.com.

The National Association of REALTORS® is bringing its popular Broker Summit to Louisville this year! The event will be held on April 8-9, 2025 at the Louisville Marriott Downtown. The REALTOR® Broker Summit highlights trends in AI, housing market analysis, current industry challenges, and business generation strategies for attendees to grow their brokerages. Find out more and get registered by clicking here.

Flexmls updated the way floor plans from any source are managed, displayed, and integrated within the Flex system.

Floor plans now have their own media category. When editing or adding a listing, there will be a new section called Floor Plans, where you can upload floor plans. The process to upload and manage a floor plan will be similar to the current process for uploading and managing photos.

Listings with a floor plan will now have a “Floor Plan” tag on Android, Mobile Web, and Portals, similar to the 3D Tours or Price Change tags you see today. Users are also able to search for listings with floor plans in Quick Search using the Additional Search Options. READ MORE HERE.

We’re excited to introduce a new way to simplify your investments while staying "ON TRACK" as a Major Investor. The Greater Louisville Association of REALTORS® (GLAR), Kentucky REALTORS® (KYR), and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) have partnered to offer a convenient option designed to make your PAC contributions seamless.

By signing up, you can opt into a monthly or quarterly payment program for your PAC investment. This exclusive opportunity includes entry to multiple events throughout the year and special perks reserved for Major Investors. Invest in the future of real estate advocacy with ease and enjoy the benefits of being part of this group. Click here to find out more!