2024 What a Year!
As the year draws to a close, we take a moment to reflect on the achievements and milestones that have shaped 2024 for both the association and foundation.
Association Highlights
Education and Professional Development
GHRI had a productive year, providing essential education for license renewal, Code of Ethics training, and industry updates. Numerous events kept members informed about industry changes, while our self-paced online school offered a convenient way to complete required courses. GHRI remains committed to delivering top-quality education to our members.
In 2024, GHRI continued to support members’ professional growth through a wide range of educational offerings. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
- Pre-Licensing Courses:
- Fundamentals: 157 students
- Practice: 142 students
- An average of 17 students attended both courses
- Online Self-Paced Learning:
- 341 students enrolled
- Instructor-Led and Virtual Courses:
- A total of 2,336 students participated in Continuing Education, Broker, Designation, and Appraiser courses offered throughout the year.
Member Engagement and Networking
During a time of change and uncertainty, our members remained connected. Events like the Annual Meeting and Trade Fair brought together over 250 REALTORS® and 60 Business Partners! We changed things up and left the GHAR parking lot for our Membership Reception and headed to the Senators baseball game.
The fun certainly didn’t stop there! In 2024, we kept our members connected and engaged through a variety of events, including:
- 11 Commercial Events
- 3 Government Affairs Breakfasts
- 11 Social/Networking Events
- 7 Information Sessions
- 6 Management Events
These events provided valuable opportunities for networking, learning, and building strong connections within our membership and the broader real estate community.
Leadership
Leadership goes beyond our Board of Directors—it includes the dedicated committee chairs and vice chairs who drive our initiatives forward. Their commitment ensures the success of our programs, events, and overall mission.
This year, our incoming president attended the NAR Leadership Summit, gaining valuable insights and inspiration to guide GHAR into 2025. We also hosted a positive and impactful Future Leaders event, fostering the next generation of leaders within our association.
RPAC
GHAR has achieved our RPAC fundraising goal given to us by PAR of $35,655! The 2024 RPAC Trustee Goal is $55,000. Our current total as of Aug. 30, 2024 is $44,749.90 from 662 members!
Click here to view the full list of RPAC Investors!
Commercial
The Commercial Council had an exciting and productive year, marked by impactful events and initiatives. We kicked off 2024 with a new networking event in collaboration with CCIM and began planning our highly anticipated Regional Industrial, Commercial, and Investment Conference. The return of our Brunch and Learn series brought valuable insights and new connections!
GHAR’s Commercial Council was awarded the Diamond Accreditation for Commercial Services by NAR! This is the highest-level award and highlights GHAR’s commitment to delivering valuable commercial services to members, engaging commercial practitioners, and serving as the voice for commercial real estate in our region.
Barb Murdocca was awarded the 2024 National Commercial Award, presented by the National Association of REALTORS®. Click here to read all about it!
Advocacy
State Issues: SB 1173, which requires a real estate salesperson license under the Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act (RELRA) to conduct residential wholesale transactions in the commonwealth was signed into law by Gov. Shapiro on July 8, 2024. The law takes effect 180 days (January 9, 2025) from the Governor’s signature.
PAR successfully advocated for the passage of HB 1567 which ensures property transfers are not arbitrarily stopped by municipalities or their components or result in the displacement of renters from properties that are changing ownership. It further clarifies that temporary use permits can still be issued for renter-occupied property transfers, ensuring existing renters are not displaced due to minor code violations. Additionally, the legislation codifies that municipal authorities are explicitly covered under the Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act. (Governor Shapiro signed the bill into law on October 2).
Members of GHAR participated in PA REALTORS® Day on the Hill on June 5. Tracee Carter, Jodi Diego, Nick Feagley, Michelle Gueci, Wendell Hoover, Jimmy Koury, Barb Murdocca and Kathy Ludwig and Margaret Parsons visited with Sens. Greg Rothman and John DiSanto and Reps. Perry Stambaugh, Dave Madsen, Justin Fleming, Patty Kim, Thomas Kutz, Sheryl Delozier and Tom Mehaffie. They were among the 250 REALTORS who met with 110 legislators.
The focus of Hill Day was SB 1173, which will require a real estate salesperson license under the Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act (RELRA) to conduct residential wholesale transactions in the commonwealth. The legislation was passed by the Pennsylvania Senate on June 3rd. Less than a month after Hill Day, it passed the House and was signed into law by Gov. Shapiro.
National Issues: VA Signals Temporary Suspension on Buyer Agent Payment Ban: The Department of Veterans Affairs officially announced a temporary policy allowing VA home buyers to compensate their real estate agent directly. The department says it will determine whether a formal rulemaking process is necessary. The VA and NAR say they will continue to monitor the evolving homebuying market as practice changes take effect August 17 and will issue updates as they occur.
Industry Partnerships
In 2024, GHAR continued to build and strengthen our valuable partnerships with the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS® (PAR), the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), Supra and Bright MLS, ensuring our members remain informed and supported in an evolving industry.
National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) We’re honored to have Jodi Diego representing GHAR as our NAR Director, fostering a direct connection to national initiatives. This year, GHAR proudly sent staff and leadership members to key NAR meetings and conferences, including the NAR Legislative Meetings in Washington, D.C., the Communications Directors Institute in Oklahoma City, the Government Affairs Directors Institute in Spokane, and NAR NXT in Boston. These engagements ensure GHAR remains at the forefront of industry trends and advocacy efforts.
Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS® (PAR) GHAR is proud to have several members actively serving on PAR committees, contributing to state-level initiatives and decision-making that shapes our industry.
Bright MLS Throughout the spring and summer, GHAR supported members through significant transitions in MLS practices. By offering comprehensive webinars, in-person trainings, and clear written resources, we focused on ensuring our members were not only aware of these changes but equipped with the knowledge and tools to succeed in their businesses.
Supra We saw continued growth with the highly requested Single Access program. This was used over 177 times so far this year! If you aren’t aware of this Supra member benefit, click here to learn more!
Our partnerships with NAR, PAR, Supra and Bright MLS exemplify our dedication to providing members with the resources, representation, and expertise they need to thrive in real estate.
Membership
In 2024, we welcomed 278 new REALTOR® members and 20 new Business Partners to GHAR, reflecting the growth and vibrancy of our association. As of November 26, 2024, our REALTOR® membership stands at 2,374 and 180 Business Partners.
Foundation Highlights
Community Service
REALTORS® Reach Out Month: In October, REALTORS® across Pennsylvania donated time, food, money and more as part of REALTORS® Reach Out Month! We packed a GHAR-record of 640 boxes at the Central PA Food Bank. We also partnered with four other local organizations for Realtors® Reach Out Month, including the Brethren Housing Association, Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together Greater Harrisburg and Community Cares.
Fundraising Efforts
In order to provide our partnered organizations with the funds that they need, our foundation hosts a plethora of events. Events like the Mini Golf Outing and Bingo Night not only raised funds but also brought members together. Bingo Night was a blast with participants eagerly hoping to win one of our lavish purses, mini golf brought out the competitive side during the hole and one competition.
Thanksgiving Food Drive: This year marked the 38th annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. We were able to feed 1,200 families and achieved a significant milestone of feeding over 21,000 families overall since its inception! Even in the snowy-cold, our volunteers stacked dozens of turkey’s into 21 different organizations vehicles!
Donation Drives
Thanks to the generosity of our members, we were able to provide donations to five different organizations! From personal care items, to cleaning supplies and back to school supplies; these donations make an incredible impact on the lives of individuals and families in our community. We provided donations to the following: Brethren Housing Association, Bountiful Blessings, Community Cares, Kick In For Kids and Safe Harbour.
Supporting our Mission
Supporting Shelter and Housing Related Charities. Rooted in our mission, the foundation continued to support non-profit charitable organizations with a housing and shelter-related focus. Providing $15,000 to a total of eight different charitable organizations; Family Promise of Greater Harrisburg, Jewish Family Services of Harrisburg Capitol Region, M28 Ministries, Rebuilding Together Greater Harrisburg, Tri County Community Action, Tri County Housing, Tomorrow’s Neighbors and Wildheart Ministries. These partnerships amplify our collective impact on the community.
Looking ahead to 2025…
As we celebrate these achievements, we remain focused on the future. With exciting new initiatives, continued member support, and a commitment to making a difference, we are ready to embrace 2025 with the same passion and dedication.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our members, business partners, and community supporters who make all this possible. Together, we are building stronger communities and driving the real estate industry forward.
Here’s to another year of growth, excellence, and impact.