The Role of REALTORS® in Disaster Relief and Community Recovery

Louisiana REALTORS® • May 15, 2025

In Louisiana, disaster recovery isn’t just a phase; it’s a way of life. From hurricanes and floods to tornados and wildfires, our communities have weathered more than their fair share of storms. And in the aftermath, while first responders and volunteers are on the ground offering immediate help, REALTORS® are already thinking long-term: How do we help our neighbors rebuild not just their homes, but their lives?

Across the state, Louisiana REALTORS® are stepping up in big and small ways to support recovery, rebuild housing stability, and restore communities. Here’s how they do it and why it matters.


How REALTORS® Help Communities Rebuild After a Disaster

When disaster strikes, the housing market doesn’t pause; it shifts. Families may be displaced. Homes may be damaged or destroyed. Rental properties become scarce. And neighborhoods face long, difficult paths to recovery. REALTORS® are often among the first professionals to help families navigate these transitions.


Whether it’s helping a family find temporary housing, working with insurance adjusters, or guiding sellers through storm-related repairs before a sale, REALTORS® understand the unique challenges that come with disaster recovery.


Their expertise in local zoning, rebuilding requirements, and market conditions makes them essential partners in restoring stability to communities in crisis. And because they live and work in the neighborhoods they serve, their motivation is deeply personal.


Disaster Relief Support from Local REALTOR® Associations

Louisiana REALTORS® aren’t just helping one-on-one, they’re mobilizing as a force for organized relief. Local REALTOR® associations across the state have led donation drives, coordinated volunteer cleanups, and provided emergency funding to those affected by storms.


The Louisiana REALTORS® Relief Fund, for example, offers financial support to families facing sudden housing crises after natural disasters. These funds help pay for essentials like temporary lodging, home repairs, or rental deposits, getting families back on their feet faster.


By working with local emergency response agencies and long-term recovery organizations, REALTOR® associations help ensure housing stability remains a priority in every stage of disaster response.


Helping Homeowners Navigate Insurance, Repairs, and Resale

After the immediate crisis passes, homeowners are often left with tough questions:

  • Is my home still safe to live in?
  • Can I afford repairs?
  • Should I sell and start over?
  • What’s my home even worth now?

REALTORS® provide the guidance needed to make informed, confident decisions in uncertain times. They can help connect homeowners with home inspectors, trustworthy contractors, and insurance adjusters. They know which disclosures are legally required when selling a home with past damage and how to market it effectively despite a difficult history.


With a REALTOR® on your side, you’re not just reacting to a disaster. You’re strategically rebuilding your future.


Why REALTOR® Advocacy Matters in Disaster Planning and Recovery

Behind the scenes, Louisiana REALTORS® are also advocating for smarter housing policies that protect communities before, during, and after disasters. From working with lawmakers to improve floodplain maps and infrastructure to supporting state and federal disaster relief legislation, REALTORS® are using their voices to shape safer, more resilient housing systems.


Their advocacy ensures that real-world experience—what families go through during evacuations, what rebuilding truly costs, what delays homeowners face—is reflected in the policies that impact Louisiana’s most vulnerable communities.


REALTORS®: Your Partners in Recovery and Resilience

Disasters test the strength of a community. REALTORS® help rebuild it.

Whether they’re organizing supply drives, walking clients through FEMA paperwork, or fighting for stronger housing protections, Louisiana REALTORS® are doing far more than buying and selling homes. They’re restoring hope, one family at a time.


If you’ve been impacted by disaster, or want to prepare for the next one, connect with a local REALTOR® who understands your community and your needs.

CONTACT LOUISIANA REALTORS®

Constitutional Amendment Positions for November 3 Election

By Louisiana REALTORS® • October 9, 2026
Homeownership Is on Louisiana's November Ballot

Cookbook for the REALTORS® Relief Foundation On Sale Now!

By Louisiana REALTORS® • October 8, 2026
After months of gathering recipes from across our Louisiana REALTORS® family, the cookbook is ready! This 200+ page collection is filled with Louisiana flavor, REALTOR® heart and recipes contributed by our members. We launched sales of the cookbook at the Fall Governance Meetings. You can now purchase your copy for $30 directly from the printer and shipped to you! Additionally, we will have copies available at the RRF booth at NXT . After NXT, we will carry a limited stock at the LR office for you to purchase through the LR Merch Shop and pick-up from the office or at an LR event, as stock is available. Even better, $15 from every cookbook sold will be donated to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation (RRF) to help provide housing-related assistance to REALTORS® and their families following disasters. Pick up a copy for yourself, grab one as a gift and enjoy a taste of Louisiana while supporting a great cause!

Residential Appraisal Update: UAD 3.6 and the Temporary Policy Exception

By Louisiana REALTORS® • October 7, 2026
A major change to residential appraisal reporting is approaching, but a recently announced temporary policy exception is creating some confusion about what happens on November 2. Here is what REALTORS® need to know. Beginning November 2, 2026, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will require the new Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) 3.6 for new appraisal reports initially submitted to the Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCDP), unless the lender has received a temporary policy exception. The November 2 implementation date has not been postponed. What is the UAD 3.6 Appraisal Report? UAD 3.6 replaces the familiar legacy appraisal forms (used for the last 25 years) with a new, more data-driven appraisal report that collects much more detailed property information. For REALTORS® and consumers, the transition could mean a more detailed property inspection, additional questions about the property and transaction, and potentially longer appraisal and review times as appraisers, lenders, appraisal management companies, and other industry participants adjust to the new system. What changed? Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac recently announced a temporary policy exception for eligible lenders that need additional time to complete their transition to UAD 3.6. Lenders receiving the exception may continue submitting appraisals using the current legacy UAD 2.6 format through May 19, 2027 . Beginning May 20, 2027 , new appraisal submissions to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must use UAD 3.6. What does this mean for REALTORS®? For several months, REALTORS® may encounter both the current appraisal format and the new UAD 3.6 appraisal report. The appraisal format is determined by the lender's assignment requirements. REALTORS® and consumers do not need to determine which format should be used. It is also important to understand that an appraiser completing a legacy-format appraisal during this period should not automatically be assumed to be unprepared for UAD 3.6. An appraiser who is fully UAD 3.6 ready may still be instructed by a lender to complete an assignment using the legacy format. How can REALTORS® help? Good communication and accurate property information will become even more important. REALTORS® can help the appraisal process by providing accurate and specific information concerning: Recent renovations and improvements Property features and amenities Sales concessions and financing terms Known property conditions or unique characteristics Relevant information about the transaction Buyers should also be encouraged to discuss appraisal requirements and anticipated timelines with their lender early in the transaction. What about FHA, VA and USDA? The November 2 requirement discussed above applies to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conventional lending. FHA, VA and USDA have their own appraisal policies and implementation schedules. Their transition to UAD 3.6 should not be assumed to follow the same November 2 timeline unless announced by the respective agency. The Bottom Line November 2 remains an important date for UAD 3.6. The temporary exception does not cancel or postpone the transition. Instead, it allows eligible lenders additional time to complete their transition. As a result, REALTORS® should expect a period when both legacy and UAD 3.6 appraisal reports are being used. Louisiana REALTORS® will continue monitoring the transition and providing members with updates as additional guidance becomes available. Louisiana REALTORS® is also planning a follow-up webinar to discuss the latest UAD 3.6 developments, what REALTORS® are seeing in transactions, and what these changes mean for agents and their clients.
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