During the 2025 National Association of Realtors Legislative Meetings, 12 members of the Greater Chattanooga Realtors met with members of Congress in Washington, D.C. to advocate for policies that will increase the housing supply and improve access to homeownership.
Members and staff of the GCR met with Senator Marsha Blackburn, Senator Bill Hagerty and Congressman Chuck Fleishmann and discussed private property rights; building housing supply and opportunity for all; support for self-employed professionals; how NAR research products show the impact of real estate on the economy and the role it plays for consumers; and the importance of property ownership in building safe, resilient communities.
“Real estate represents nearly one-fifth of the United States’ GDP," said GCR President Ellis Gardner.
"The meetings on Capitol Hill were an opportunity for GCR to talk directly with lawmakers about the positive impact realtors have in local communities and for the broader economy."
NAR and GCR support policies that will address the estimated 4.7 million home shortage in America. Increasing the supply of housing, easing market constraints, and making it easier for Americans to find homes they can afford will stabilize prices, revitalize communities, and support the American Dream of homeownership, said officials.
“Homeownership builds generational wealth, but a 4.7 million home shortage threatens middle-class prosperity," said Mr. Gardner. "The members of Congress we met with were receptive to our ideas and appreciated that realtors are hard-working entrepreneurs who make the American Dream of homeownership possible."
NAR, and state and local associations organized the meetings on Capitol Hill as a part of their advocacy efforts on behalf of the real estate industry.