Annapolis, Md. – Members and staff from the Coastal Association of REALTORS® (CAR) traveled to Annapolis on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 to participate in the Maryland Association of REALTORS® (MAR) 2017 Lobby Day.

This annual event is an opportunity for REALTOR® and affiliate members to meet with their individual state senators and delegates to discuss real estate and homeowner issues. CAR joined over 350 REALTORS® and affiliates from across the state to meet with their legislators and discuss issues and bills that impact Maryland’s real estate industry.

Prior to meeting with their legislators, Lobby Day participants were addressed by Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, deputy chief of staff for Gov. Larry Hogan.

Brief meetings then occurred in individual legislators’ Annapolis offices, during the 437th session of the Maryland General Assembly. REALTORS® particularly stressed support for open house legislation, a tax-free homebuyer savings account, a tax credit or grant for fire sprinkler installation, and the continued restriction of Best Available Technology septic system requirements to Maryland’s Critical Areas, or land that is within 1,000 feet of tidally influenced water.

CAR met with Sen. Jim Mathias and Dels. Chris Adams, Carl Anderton, and Mary Beth Carozza. CAR also met with staff from Del. Charles Otto’s office. Members from the Mid-Shore Board of REALTORS® met with Sen. Adelaide Eckardt and Dels. Sheree Sample-Hughes and Johnny Mautz, among other.

“As a REALTOR® association, it’s our responsibility to be the voice of real estate not only on the Lower Eastern Shore, but also in our state capital and across the country,” said CAR President Don Bailey. “We’re grateful to our state legislators for taking time out of their very busy schedules to hear about issues that impact us as professionals, as well as homeowners and prospective buyers and sellers. We’d like to thank MAR for organizing these very positive meetings and we’d like to thank our members who spent nearly their entire day traveling to Annapolis.”

For more information about CAR, visit www.coastalrealtors.org.

More about Coastal Association of REALTORS®

Coastal Association of REALTORS® is the leading local advocacy group in the real estate industry on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. Coastal REALTORS® works in partnership with its members to promote home ownership and preserve, protect, and advocate private property rights. The organization supports 1,000 REALTORS® who serve Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties.

For more information on Coastal REALTORS®, visit www.coastalrealtors.org. The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark unique to real estate professionals who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sarah Rayne / 410-641-4409/ sarah@coastalrealtors.org