Louisiana REALTORS® Requests to Keep Real Estate Services Going
Louisiana REALTORS • March 22, 2020
As COVID-19 continues to impact business operations in our states and local areas, Louisiana REALTORS® has sent letters to Governor John Bel Edwards along with the Louisiana Tax Assessors’ Association and the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association on behalf of the real estate industry. The primary purpose of the letters is to acknowledge the challenging decisions faced by our officials if it becomes necessary for a statewide order to keep people at home. Additionally, we want to collaborate with the government entities that are critical to the transaction.
View the Letters Here
As stated in the correspondence, “We are specifically requesting that the state’s licensed real estate agents and brokers, home inspectors, appraisers, and attorneys be authorized to continue to transact business as their services are essential to persons who are in the process of buying, selling, and leasing homes and other property throughout Louisiana.” Many markets around the country are advocating the same messages and LR will continue to be proactive. While public safety and health throughout this pandemic is critical, the halting of real estate services can have serious and long-lasting impacts to the state’s economy.
While we are hopeful to avoid real estate services from coming to a halt, we encourage our members to continue to work with all the parties in the transaction and put into place safety precautions and making the necessary adjustments during this time. For a list of helpful resources, visit: https://www.larealtors.org/coronavirus
On March 23, 2020, Wendy Curphy Aguilllard, 2020 President Louisiana Assessor’s Association replied to the request of Louisiana REALTORS with the following message:
Ms. Callaway,
On behalf of the Louisiana Assessor’s Association I can appreciate your concerns.
Please be assured that every Assessor understands the difficulties our business owners, property owners, and communities are facing. I believe each Assessor measures his or her responsibilities to their community, staff, and families against any response or decisions they may make.
At this point I am aware that many Assessors have closed their lobbies to the public, but are still staffed and providing services to their communities via phone, fax, emails, websites and even scheduled appointments if absolutely necessary. However, since your email on Saturday the Governor has now issued a “Stay At Home” proclamation and the Assessors have been advised that they are not considered “essential” government offices so this may still change.
Most, if not all Assessors have websites that allow public access, usually for free. These websites allow the public to look up ownership of property, property descriptions, parcel information such as valuation, conveyance information, ownership history, and tax estimates. Most websites also have access available to some type of maps and even LAT business form reporting along with FAQ’s, links, and contact info. Not to mention, anyone who may buy or sell a home can file for homestead exemption anytime before the tax rolls close later in the fall and in many cases through the end of the year without worry.
At this point, each parish is facing their own unique challenges during this crisis. The situation is constantly evolving and therefore each Assessor will have to make the best decisions for his office based on those challenges. But again, please be assured that we are all determined to provide the services that we can to our communities without sacrificing the safety of our staff or the public while doing our part to comply with directives to flatten the curve & stop the spread of this virus.
Sincerely,
Wendy Curphy Aguillard, CLA
2020 President Louisiana Assessor's Association
2015 Assessor of the Year
The National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors approved a 2026 budget with no dues increase and passed a Professional Standards Recommendation to clarify language in NAR Code of Ethics Standard of Practice 10-5, which prohibits harassment of any person or persons protected under Article 10 of the Code. A day earlier, the Executive Committee approved another Professional Standards change, revising language for Policy Statement 29 designed to ensure state and local associations can fairly and consistently enforce the Code of Ethics. Learn more about the changes. Read the revised Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Board members also approved a consent agenda to elect the 2026 officers and regional vice presidents . Christine Hansen of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., was elected 2026 President-Elect, and Colin Mullane of Ashland, Ore. was elected 2026 First Vice President. The meeting opened with a video message from President Donald Trump, who welcomed REALTORS® to Washington and thanked them for support of the House-passed tax reform. NAR routinely invites the U.S. president to address REALTORS® at the Washington meetings. Over NAR's history, nine sitting presidents have addressed the association. Board Actions Approved a series of Finance Committee recommendations, accepting the association’s financial statement, approving the 2026 operating and advocacy budgets, and keeping dues at $156. The board actions also redirect $35 of the $45 Consumer Advertising Campaign assessment to operating funds. This change positions NAR to make its next settlement payment in February 2026 and maintain a balanced budget without raising total dues. The remaining $10 for the Consumer Advertising Campaign will fund optimized, metrics-driven activities that reach and engage consumers in critical markets. NAR CEO Nykia Wright and President Kevin Sears explained the shift at the opening session of the conference . Amended Standard of Practice 10-5 to give state and local associations greater clarity in how to fairly and consistently enforce Article 10 of the Code of Ethics. The amended Standard of Practice says that REALTORS®, in their capacity as real estate professionals, in association with their real estate businesses, or in their real estate-related activities, shall not harass any person or persons based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Made a series of recommendations to the Standards of Practice to bring the language in line with the terms of NAR’s 2024 settlement. Approved a motion to make one member of the Executive Committee a commercial practitioner who has served as chair, vice chair or liaison of an NAR commercial-related committee or forum to serve a two-year term and be independent of the 10% commercial representation requirement outlined in the NAR Constitution. Approved a recommendation from the Credentials and Campaign Rules Committee to amend qualifications for president-elect, first vice president and treasurer effective Jan. 1, 2026. Qualifications for top-line officers are now aligned with those already in place for regional vice presidents. Approved recommendations from the Member Accountability Committee related to applications for volunteer leadership and the Statement of Appropriate Event Conduct. The goal of the recommendations is to ensure members found in violation of the NAR Member Code of Conduct are properly disclosed. Award Winners NAR President Kevin Sears announced the 2025 Distinguished Service Award winners James P. Cormier , AHWD, C2EX, of Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Brooke S. Hunt , AHWD, E-PRO, SFR, SRS, C2EX , of Flower Mound, Texas. In addition, the group recognized the winner of the 2024 William R. Magel Award, Anne Marie DeCatsye , CEO of the Canopy REALTOR® Association and Canopy MLS in the Charlotte, N.C., metro area. REALTORS® Relief Foundation During the meeting, REALTORS® Relief Foundation President Greg Hrabcak appealed to board members to make a tax-deductible donation. The fund provides housing assistance to victims in the immediate aftermath of a disaster; 100% of funds donated go to disaster relief. “We’ve had devastating wildfires in California, tornadoes in Missouri and Kentucky and flooding in West Virginia, and we’re still in the first half of this year,” Hrabcak said. Before the meeting ended, directors had donated more than $41,000.
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