2020 REALTOR® membership renewal invoices are now available on member accounts. View and pay your invoice online or call 208-376-0363 to pay by phone.
Pay your invoice before Tuesday, December 31, 2019 to avoid a $100 late fee. (Please note, your membership renewal is not set up as an auto debit as it might be for IMLS.) Unpaid members will lose access to forms starting on Wednesday, January 15, 2020. Please note that this is earlier than in previous years.
Your REALTOR® membership includes a variety of savings and benefits that quickly give you a return on your investment. From reduced IMLS fees, discounted rider signs, free CORE classes, a free tech helpline, savings on a car (seriously!), or even just a free cup of coffee when you visit the BRR office… we work hard to provide you with a tremendous value, especially compared to what non-members would pay for the same services.
Learn more about your benefits through BRR in our Member Benefits brochure.
Beyond those savings and freebies, there are benefits in advocacy, education, and networking, that we hope you’ll take advantage of in 2020…
ADVOCATE. BRR works to develop legislative initiatives favorable to the real estate profession and private property rights, so you can continue to grow your business and serve your clients. Advocacy as a unique member benefit that, to be honest, is nearly impossible to but a monetary value on. But without these efforts, we can say with certainty that it would be more expensive to buy, sell, and own a home, not to mention, run your real estate business. Visit boirealtors.com/advocate to learn more.
EDUCATE. Our fully accredited real estate school offers CE classes at a discounted rate for members, in person and online. In fact, you can take two CORE courses per licensing cycle with us for no cost — a $50 value! Or take advantage of a 10% discount on classes through Boise State University’s Center for Professional Development. Also, watch our emails and social media pages for savings on online CE classes through The CE Shop, sometimes up to 40% off! Visit boirealtors.com/educate for more.
Another way BRR provides you with business intelligence is through our market reports, focused on Ada, Elmore, and Gem counties. Through monthly snapshots, analysis, data sheets, and press releases, we invest a lot of time and resources to make sure you have the information needed to help explain trends or to support your comps and pricing recommendations. This is another benefit that’s hard to quantify, but let’s just say if you were to purchase this level of reporting and analysis from a vendor, it would cost at least $25,000 per year. (Crazy, right?) As a BRR member, it’s yours for free – plus exclusive access to Canyon County information, too.
CONNECT. BRR members have the opportunity to connect through a variety of networking events, meetings, service projects, and committees, as well as online through our social media channels and targeted email newsletters. Most of our events are free or offered at a reduced rate for members, with non-members paying at least $25 or more to attend the same programs. Another ROI tip — through the REALTORS® Community Foundation, you can get up to $100 in matching gifts for donations you make to a local, charitable organization (while funds are available; see the program page for details).
Those are just a few of the benefits, savings, and freebies we hope you’ll take advantage of in 2020. There are plenty more perks and programs we’d love to tell you about, so please reach out if we can help connect you with any of them. We appreciate your membership and wish you a successful year in 2020!
For reference, here’s a breakdown of your 2020 membership renewal invoice:
- Boise Regional REALTORS® — $205
- Idaho REALTORS® — $180
- National Association of REALTORS® — $185
- REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) Suggested/Voluntary Investment* — $30 for REALTORS® and Appraisers; $99 for Designated REALTORS®/Brokers
- REALTORS® Community Foundation Suggested/Voluntary Donation* — $5
*To edit the amounts for RPAC and the REALTORS® Community Foundation, simply click “EDIT” on the Order Summary page before clicking “Pay Now.”
Learn more about Investing in RPAC
- Your voluntary investment in the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) is designated for political purposes to support or oppose candidates and issues that affect the housing industry. From city hall to the state house to the U.S. Capitol, our elected officials are making decisions that have a huge impact on the bottom line of REALTORS® and their customers. RPAC speaks with one voice to build strong communities, promote a vibrant business environment, and protect the real estate industry. From defending mortgage interest deductibility to stopping a transfer tax on every real estate transaction, RPAC is there for you. All RPAC Investments made via dues billing are earmarked for 2018 fundraising goals. Questions about RPAC? Contact BRR Director of Government Affairs Soren Dorius. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal and the National Association of REALTORS® or any of its state associations or local boards will not favor or disfavor any member because of the amount contributed.
Learn more about the REALTORS® Community Foundation
- Your voluntary donation to the REALTORS® Community Foundation helps us achieve our mission to improve the quality of life in the Boise region through housing-related projects and grants, demonstrating the many ways REALTORS® and industry professionals give back to the community. Since its inception in 1995, the REALTORS® Community Foundation has provided over $1.7 million in grants to qualifying non-profit organizations throughout Ada, Elmore, and Gem counties. To learn more, please visit boirealtors.com/realtor-foundation. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal and Boise Regional REALTORS® will not favor or disfavor any member because of the amount contributed.
Deductibility Rules
100% of donations made to the REALTORS® Community Foundation are tax deductible since the Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization.
RPAC voluntary contributions are not deductible for Federal Income Tax purposes. Provisions of the Federal Tax Act regarding lobbying expenses limit the extent to which National, state, and local dues are deductible.
For 2020, with dues at $185 per member, NAR computes 38% or $57 to be nondeductible for income tax purposes due to NAR lobbying efforts. Please note the entire $35 Public Awareness Campaign special assessment (which is included in the $185 sum) qualifies as fully deductible.
For 2020, with dues at $180 per member, Idaho REALTORS® computes $27.79 to be nondeductible for income tax purposes due to Idaho REALTORS® lobbying efforts. Please note the entire $10 Legal Review Fee and $142.21 of the Idaho REALTORS® dues qualifies as fully deductible.
For 2020, with dues at $205 per member, the full $205 for Boise Regional REALTORS® dues qualifies as fully deductible, since none of it is used for lobbying efforts.
NOTE: Boise Regional REALTORS® and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal, accounting, or financial advice. This has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal, accounting or financial advice. You should consult your own tax, legal, accounting, or financial advisers about your specific situation.
Why is BRR membership renewal up $5?
Like any business, BRR’s operating costs aren’t immune to the market. As prices of supplies, professional services, health insurance premiums, etc., increase, so do the line items in the association’s budget. The Budget and Finance Committee uses a Consumer Price Index (CPI) Based Dues Formula to provide a method for evaluating our annual dues amount, in relation to the changing prices of goods and services. Using this formula, it was determined that a slight increase was warranted.
BRR is also diligent with our finances to ensure we have the resources necessary to provide you with services under all market conditions. This means building and maintaining adequate financial reserves. To that end, a minimum of 5% of dues goes directly into reserves to ensure the long-term financial stability and solvency of BRR, so we can continue to operate and continue to provide high quality programs and services as the lowest prices possible. All of these items were carefully considered prior to this increase being approved by the Board. If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to contact your BRR Treasurer Bob Van Allen or Chief Executive Officer Breanna Vanstrom.
Have questions? Visit our Membership Renewal FAQs page.
MEMBERS GET MORE
