Distraction: Members know where the PAC & APOA money goes — it’s transparent.
Fact: Most REALTORS® have never even heard of the American Property Owners Alliance. Even local leaders who asked for details were stonewalled. Lack of transparency = disenfranchisement of members.
The Transparency Myth
NAR leaders often insist that political spending is open and above board — that members know exactly where their money is going. In reality, most members are kept in the dark.
What Members Don’t Know
- APOA operates in secrecy. Many REALTORS® across the country don’t even know it exists.
- Even leaders are denied answers. State and local presidents who’ve asked about APOA spending have been brushed off or given vague responses.
- No clear application process. Some nonprofits received grants without even applying — further clouding the process.
This isn’t transparency. It’s opacity by design.
Why It Matters
When REALTORS® can’t see where their dues are being funneled, they can’t hold leadership accountable. That’s not just bad governance — it’s disenfranchisement. Members are stripped of their right to meaningful oversight.
The Ethical Issue
Article 10 of the Code of Ethics demands that REALTORS® uphold fairness and integrity in their professional dealings. How can we champion fairness in housing when our own organization denies transparency to its members?
The Call to Action
- Demand disclosure: Every grant, every dollar should be tracked and visible to members.
- Stop stonewalling: Local leaders deserve clear, documented answers — not excuses.
- Reconnect to values: REALTORS® should never be asked to fund activities in the dark.
Bottom Line
A system that hides its spending from its own members isn’t transparent — it’s broken. Until transparency is real, every REALTOR® is being disenfranchised.
- Source – NY TImes
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