In The News
Below you’ll find the latest advocacy news. Click each story to read more.
2021
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An Update on Everything BroadbandJune 16, 2021 What you need to know: DAAR’s new partnership with the Loudoun Broadband Alliance, the BRIDGE Act, broadband efforts in Western Loudoun, & more. As the COVID-19 pandemic has shown, people are more dependent on the internet than ever before, rendering it less of a luxury and more of a daily necessity. As calls for high-speed internet expansion continue to grow, here is a breakdown of where broadband access currently stands… CLICK TO READ MORE.
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Board Adopts Recommendations on American Rescue Plan FundingJune 16, 2021 Loudoun County received $40.2M, the first half, in early June. $20M will be used to offset revenue losses from COVID-19. On June 1st, Loudoun County received the first $40.2 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and will receive the second half within a year. With an estimated $80.3 million in total expected funding, the county must commit to using the funds by… CLICK TO READ MORE. |
Act Now: Defend 1031 Like-Kind ExchangesJune 15, 2021 Help defend 1031 through NAR’s new 1031 Like-Kind Exchange Member Stories Portal, where members can tell how they used 1031 to bring economic investment to their community. The Biden administration has proposed eliminating Section 1031 like-kind exchanges (1031s) under the American Families Plan, arguing that the tax policy only benefits the wealthiest of Americans. However, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR)… CLICK TO READ MORE. |
Homeownership Month: Upcoming Events in Loudoun CountyJune 7, 2021 DAAR would like to highlight upcoming events hosted by the County’s Office of Housing and various partner organizations in the community. June is here, which means that it is officially Homeownership Month in Loudoun County and across the county. This special occasion recognizes the value that owning a home brings to families and neighborhoods across the nation. It also… CLICK TO READ MORE.
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Key Findings from NAGLREP 2020-2021 LGBT Real Estate ReportJune 2, 2021 From urging elected officials to pass the Equality Act, to advancing diversity and inclusion initiatives at the local level, there are numerous ways real estate professionals can support LGBT homebuyers and renters. The National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals’ (NAGLREP) fourth LGBT Real Estate Report explores the latest buying, selling and renting trends among the LGBTQ+ community… CLICK TO READ MORE. |
Biden Announces New Housing & Small Business Programs to Close Racial Wealth GapJune 1, 2021 Announced on the centennial of the Tulsa massacre, the programs are part of a first-ever interagency effort that also takes aim at inequities in home appraisals. On Tuesday, June 1st, the Biden-Harris Administration announced new housing and small business programs that are designed to close the racial wealth gap. The White House released a fact sheet on the announcement with policy information and… CLICK TO READ MORE. |
DAAR’s Market Report Highlighted at 2021 State of the County AddressMay 27, 2021 Chair Randall used this information to highlight the need for the county to continue its work in securing attainable housing. On May 26, 2021, Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall spoke to residents at the 2021 State of the County Address. Updates were provided on Loudoun’s COVID-19 related efforts, the new budget, unemployment rate, housing numbers, and many other matters that the county has faced in the last year… CLICK TO READ MORE.
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CDC’s Eviction Moratorium Ruled UnlawfulMay 6, 2021 U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich ruled that the nationwide eviction moratorium exceeds the authority of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). On Wednesday, May 5th, 2021, Judge Dabney Friedrich of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the CDC’s eviction ban is unlawful. The 20-page decision declares that… CLICK TO READ MORE. |
Election 2021: Early Voting Begins in VirginiaApril 26, 2021 As early voting kicks off in the commonwealth, DAAR encourages all eligible residents to register and cast their ballots in this cycle’s primary election. As of Friday, April 23rd, residents of the commonwealth may cast their ballots early for the statewide and local elections. Early voting will remain open until the 5th of June, and residents who wish to vote from home may do so by… CLICK TO READ MORE. |
Loudoun County Board Adopts 2021 Fair Housing Month ProclamationApril 21, 2021 This renewed commitment highlights the efforts of DAAR and other local organizations to make affordable housing a reality in the Loudoun area. On Tuesday, April 20th, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors presented DAAR with the 2021 Fair Housing Month Proclamation. The document, signed by all nine members of the Board, will now be displayed proudly in DAAR’s office… CLICK TO READ MORE.
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Virginia Real Estate Board Issues Guidance on Source of FundsApril 19, 2021 Effective as of April 16th, VREB’s Guidance Document addresses how to navigate housing discrimination issues now that “source of funds” is a protected class in the Commonwealth. As of July 1st, 2020, the Virginia Fair Housing Law was amended to include anti-discrimination measures for source of funds. This means that “source of funds” has been codified into state law as a protected class, along with race, religion, sex, disability, color, familial status, national origin, elderliness, veteran status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Under the law, “source of funds” is… CLICK TO READ MORE |
NAR: As Lease Addendums Rise, Marijuana Businesses Adapt by Purchasing Commercial PropertyApril 16, 2021 As marijuana becomes legalized in more parts of the country and as an increasing number of states grow, harvest, store, sell and allow consumption, the nation’s real estate industry has felt the effects. According to a new report from the National Association of Realtors®, there has been a noticeable rise in demand for warehouses, land and store fronts used for marijuana. The 2021 survey, Marijuana and Real Estate: A Budding Issue, examines the legality of marijuana in terms of medical only, legalized medical and recreational prior to or after 2016… CLICK TO READ MORE |
Board of Supervisors Adopt $3.3 Billion Budget; Tax Rate Lowered by 5.5 CentsApril 8, 2021 For the first time since 2008, Loudoun County’s real estate tax rate will fall below $1. On Tuesday, April 6th, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved a 2022 fiscal budget in the amount of $3.3 billion. The budget will decrease the real property tax rate by 5.5 cents per $100 of assessed property value, bringing the new rate to $0.98 per $100 in assessed value (down from last year’s $1.035)… CLICK TO READ MORE.
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PRO Act passes in U.S. House: What the Bill Means for REALTORS®April 6, 2021 On March 9th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 842 – the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (the PRO Act) by a vote of 225-206. The real estate community has been buzzing with uncertainty since the PRO Act suddenly passed the House on March 9th, as many are unsure of how it will impact REALTORS®. If passed by the Senate and given presidential approval, the bill would establish new federal rules to… CLICK TO READ MORE |
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President Biden Signs American Rescue Plan into LawMarch 12, 2021 White House says stimulus payments could be direct-deposited into some bank accounts by this weekend. Yesterday, President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill into Law. The bill, dubbed the American Rescue Plan (ARP), will provide $1,400 stimulus checks to most Americans (now including adult dependents), $300 per-week in unemployment aid for those without work, expand the Child Tax Credit, and provide other forms of immediate relief to American families… CLICK TO READ MORE |
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Association Health Plan Update:
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For questions, please reach out to Eric Fryer, DAAR’s Government Affairs Director.