Long & Foster Real Estate

The NVAR Lobby Day in Richmond had caught my eye for a while.  It sounded like a fascinating experience to meet with our state representatives in-person to discuss important housing issues and learn about the legislative process.  What I hadn’t heard about was having to arrive at NVAR Headquarters at the crack of dawn for the bus ride down to Richmond. The NVAR staff greeted us warmly when we arrived at the office with lots of strong coffee and a tasty breakfast. After being fueled with coffee, and equipped with our briefing materials, we boarded he bus and headed south on I-95 towards the state capitol.

During our bus ride, Josh Veverka, NVAR Government Affairs Director, and the Honorable Nancy Harvey Steorts, NVAR Public Policy Committee Chair, briefed us on the issues we would be discussing with our state legislators.  Once we arrived we met in a conference room at the James Center to get organized and then divided into Legislative Visit Teams for our meetings with the legislators.

Loaded with our briefing materials we walked to the Pocahontas building to meet with our delegates and senators. We learned that House and Senate subcommittee and committee meetings typically occur in the Pocahontas building, as well.  Since the State Capitol is currently undergoing a renovation, we were unable to enter, but had a great view of the beautiful statehouse that was designed by Thomas Jefferson. 

We were thrilled to meet with so many of our delegates, including Delegate Kathleen Murphy and Delegate Rip Sullivan. Delegates Murphy and Sullivan spent a substantial amount of time with us and were keenly interested in our views on the various pending bills advocated by the NVAR. After the whirlwind of legislative visits we had a group photo and networked with other Realtors® on the trip. Meeting other Realtors® from the area was one of the highlights of the trip.

Next, we met with the Virginia Realtors® Advocacy Team, led by Martin Johnson and Mary Lawson, as well as Legislative Counsel, Erin Kormann, who gave us an overview of where our legislation stands, and how much of an impact Realtors® have on the Hill.  With only four weeks left in the session, it was breathtaking to see how fast things move at the state level.  We are fortunate to have such a seasoned lobbying team at the Virginia Association of Realtors® and the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors® to advocate for our industry. 

Our meeting with Dan Kowalski, Senior Policy Advisor to Virginia Secretary of Finance Stephan Cummings provided a fascinating perspective regarding the rate in which Virginia is taxed, and has suffered a net out-migration for nine of the last ten years.  One of the most surprising facts we learned is that two-thirds of graduates from Virginia universities leave due to a lack of job opportunities and housing, thereby slowing Virginia’s population growth. 

Meeting with Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears was another big highlight of the day.  Afterwards, we walked to the Office of Attorney General and met with Attorney General Jason Miyares, who had a great appreciation for how hard Realtors® work.  We learned that his wife is a Realtor®! 

The NVAR staff did not disappoint on the bus ride home.  Lots of champagne and prosecco, chocolate, nuts and cheese made the long ride home bearable.  A special shout out to Christopher Barranco for pouring the champagne and passing all the treats to us on a wild bus ride home!  The importance of RPAC was emphasized by Josh Veverka and many on the bus stepped up and invested. 

Thanks to everyone who joined NVAR on Realtor® Lobby Day in Richmond 2023 and helped make my first trip memorable!  It was a blast and I learned so much. This experience has enhanced my Leadership Institute journey. The experience gave me a greater understanding of how hard NVAR works for us at the state level in representing our interests.