Association News is a favorite feature at Boston Agent because it’s a chance to hear directly from local leaders in real estate. In 2021, our guest contributors shed light on critical topics, including fairer housing, barriers to homeownership and what’s ahead for 2022. Look through our top 5 Association News stories to reflect on the unique year in real estate.

No. 5: NAR Board of Directors meeting reveals statistics about member dues, operations

As of Sept. 30, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) had collected $229.6 in dues from its 1.542 million members, according to a RealTrends report.

No. 4: Massachusetts a leader in diverting evictions

With the ending of the Federal Center for Disease Control eviction moratorium, now is a critical time for agents to bone up on existing housing programs and policies so they can help ensure both tenants and landlords receive the benefits that are available to them.  

No. 3: Realtors must always strive to do better on fair housing

“Don’t limit your focus on fair housing to one month. Do the right thing and commit yourself to a year-long observance of the law and treating everyone equally in their quest for housing.” — John Dulczewski, Executive Vice President, Greater Boston Association of Realtors

No. 2: House hunting or Hunger Games?

“To win a bidding war these days, buyers need to put their best foot forward. Go all-in the first time around or be brutally defeated.” — Krista Matthews, Realtor, Greater Boston Association of Realtors, YPN Chair 2021

No. 1: The role of a REALTOR® in a lopsided market

We have a lot of interests that compete for attention on Cape Cod: the climate crisis, the water quality crisis, the lack of year-round paying jobs, poor broadband service — but in the end, it all doesn’t matter if we cannot house a year-round community. We need to stop making excuses and realize it’s the lack of available housing that is the problem.