Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
California Association of Realtors
| California Association of Realtors | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Los Angeles, Calif. |
| Type: | 501(c)(6) |
| Top official: | Pat Zicarelli, President |
| Year founded: | 1905 |
| Website: | Official website |
The California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization that supports California realtors and lobbies on behalf of their interests at the local, state and federal level.
Mission
According to its website, the California Association of Realtors has the following mission:[1]
| “ | The purpose of the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® is to serve its membership in developing and promoting programs and services that will enhance the members' freedom and ability to conduct their individual businesses successfully with integrity and competency, and through collective action, to promote real property ownership and the preservation of real property rights.[2] | ” |
Background
The California Association of Realtors was founded in 1905 as a statewide trade organization to promote professionalism in the real estate field. The organization advocated real estate licensing laws, which first passed in 1917. In 2015, the association had more than 100 local chapters and represented more than 170,000 realtors in California.[1]
Work
The California Association of Realtors is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization that aims to be "the pre-eminent source of essential business services and the association of choice for real estate professionals committed to excellence" in the state of California. [3]
The C.A.R. maintains a legal action fund to help realtors facing suits in the appellate court system. The fund also supports efforts to file amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs in favor of realtors' interests during landmark court cases. Its strategic defense fund is another program. The C.A.R. uses the strategic defense fund to "improve the litigation climate against members" help with errors and omissions insurance needs.[4]
On the philanthropic side, the C.A.R. has a disaster relief fund as well as scholarship and education foundations to helps members of the community. With its housing affordability fund, the C.A.R. aims to promote home ownership. The association also publishes California Real Estate magazine, which covers industry developments. Finally, the C.A.R. economics and research team provides county-level economic profiles to help chart economic trends and the California housing market.[4]
The government affairs department of the C.A.R. tracks legislation and regulations that affect real estate brokerage and private property rights. It employs a member mobilization program to put realtors in touch with lawmakers to communicate the policy positions of the association to elected officials. During the annual Legislative Day, realtors from C.A.R. meet with elected officials and discuss their policy preferences.[4]
The C.A.R. administers several political action committees to support candidates who agree with association goals or to engage ballot initiatives. CREPAC (California Real Estate Political Action Committee) is a bipartisan PAC that supports state candidates who support association policies. The LCRC (Local Candidate Recommendation Committee) has a fund within the CREPAC budget to support local candidates.[4]
The CREIEC (California Real Estate Independent Expenditures Committee) spends money independently from CREPAC. CREIEC does not coordinate with candidates' campaigns, but uses funds to "educate the citizens as to why they should or should not vote for a candidate." The CREPAC/Federal is a PAC used to support federal candidates. C.A.R. raises funds and then sends most of them to the national REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC). IMPAC (Issues Mobilization Political Action Committee) is the PAC C.A.R. uses to engage state and local ballot measures that affect property rights.[4]
Lobbying
The California Association of Realtors has registered lobbyists with the California secretary of state.[5]
Ballot measures
The C.A.R. has engaged the following ballot measures:
- Supported California Proposition 98, Eminent Domain and Rent Control Prohibition Amendment (June 2008)
- Supported California Proposition 41, Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Bond (June 2014)
- Supported California Proposition 42, Public Access to Local Government Records Amendment (June 2014)
Campaign contributions
State Candidates
2010
In 2010, the C.A.R. contributed $195,600 to state senate candidates and $585,754 to state assembly candidates. It was the 5th and 4th largest contributor to state senate and state assembly elections, respectively.
The top 3 recipients of campaign contributions from the C.A.R. in 2010 were:[6]
| Candidate | Amount | Result |
|---|---|---|
| $28,300 | ||
| $19,400 | ||
| $19,400 |
Leadership
The following are the leaders of the California Association of Realtors:[7]
- Pat "Ziggy" Zicarelli, 2016 President
- Geoff McIntosh, 2016 President-Elect
- Jared Martin, 2016 Treasurer
- Joel Singer, CEO and State Secretary
Finances
The following is a breakdown of the California Association of Realtors' revenue and expenses for 2010-2013:
| Annual revenue and expenses for the California Association of Realtors, 2010-2013 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax Year | Total Revenue | Total Expenses |
| 2013[8] | $31,359,180 | $30,196,608 |
| 2012[8] | $28,790,930 | $28,107,211 |
| 2011[3] | $28,633,178 | $31,017,593 |
| 2010[3] | $29,783,688 | $27,459,918 |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'California Association of Realtors'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- California Association of Realtors Issues Mobilization PAC
- California
- 501(c)(6)
- Nonprofit organization
- California state budget and finances
External links
- California Association of Realtors
- California Association of Realtors on Twitter
- California Association of Realtors on Facebook
- California Association of Realtors on YouTube
- California Association of Realtors on Linkedin
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 California Association of Realtors, "About Us," accessed February 25, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 GuideStar, "California Association of Realtors IRS Form 990 (2011)," accessed February 25, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 California Association of Realtors, "C.A.R. Guide," accessed February 26, 2016
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "The Lobbying Directory 2015-2016," accessed February 25, 2016
- ↑ Follow the Money: "California Association of Realtors 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ California Association of Realtors, "2016 C.A.R. Officers," accessed February 25, 2016
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 GuideStar, "California Association of Realtors IRS Form 990 (2013)," accessed February 25, 2016
| |||||||
