Crazy Sh*t In Real Estate with Leigh Brown - Episode #95 with Cady Thomas

Summary:

Cady Thomas, the Government Affairs Director for North Carolina,
says that her job is to “talk, stock, and stay paranoid,” and
that’s exactly what she does. Tune in to learn about “housing
affordability,” why it’s so important to stay informed when it
comes to legislature, and discover your market is impacted by
your involvement. Now, more than ever, realtors need to speak up
for the sake of their businesses, their clients, and their
communities.


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Time Stamped Show Notes:

00:40 – Cady is a GAD (Government Affairs Director) for North
Carolina

01:05 – She went to D.C. after college and worked on the hill
for a couple years before going to law school

01:21 – Moved back to Raleigh to do a corporate and capital
markets practice, but realized she didn’t like sitting in an
office all day

01:40 – Started doing a pro bono project where she got to the
North Carolina General Assembly lobbying the members; successful
in passing a revision to the juvenile justice code

01:55 – Found job in lobbying world with realtors 10 years
ago

02:25 – What was something crazy/unexpected that you
learned/seen along the way?



03:07 – No metal detectors/badge check in the North Carolina
Legislative building

03:35 – Friend said, “Cady, half the people in here are
packin’...they’ll never put up metal detectors”

03:45 – Shows difference between the state and federal
legislature



03:57 – Shocking: The decisions the state makes and how
quickly they can make them affect members 10x greater than at the
federal level in everything but taxes

04:40 – She learned that she had to read every bill and find
out the happenings in every committee because anything could
affect real estate

04:57 – Why are realtors so blinded to what happens at the
state level?



05:07 – Most people don’t understand state structure

05:41 – Realtors are in the business of making friends –
politics isn’t about making friends and realtors don’t want to
get involved



06:20 – Find the issues that resonate with the brokers
because they be passionate about getting involved

06:48 – Hoping to get through local issues that affect
clients



07:02 – Private road maintenance issues and DOT to take over
maintenance

07:30 – Getting kids to school busses with proper roads



08:21 – Having a statewide database of roads that are on
transportation’s books is a solution



08:40 – Counties already have the information, it’s just a
matter of getting it together with technology and keeping it
updated with DOT’s records



10:05 – As a consumer, what do you think needs to happen in
the realtor community to stay ahead of legislative curves in the
future?



10:21 – Creating relationships with elected officials,
running for office, advocating for clients where local
governments are coming down harder on property rights

10:41 – Counties and cities are taking development ordinances
too far, like aesthetic design controls which aren’t powers given
by general assembly

11:19 – Have passed legislation to combat that, so it is
clear

11:44 – Being vocal and brave will increase awareness in
community and broker community



12:11 – Affordable housing is becoming a bigger issue and
legislation like aesthetic design control drives up the price
further



12:30 – If realtors don’t combat bad legislation, it hurts
affordable housing



13:07 – Housing affordability: Affordable within your means
and for your circumstance (near schools, amenities used, etc.)

13:46 – “Affordable housing” has negative connotation;
“Housing Affordability” better

14:30 – Cities are encouraging more assistance-based payers
in their developments

15:00 – Assistant based payers living in environment with
others improve the livelihood of all involved

15:48 – How should a realtor find out what their GAD is
doing?



16:03 – A phone call, an invitation to a staff meeting, a
coffee meeting with broker so they can understand their
involvement

16:48 – Go on website to know who does what and ask questions



17:32 – What people think she does vs. what she does



17:39 – House of Cards is all fun and games but it’s not
typical

17:50 – Most legislators came to their position because they
want to do what they think is best, they aren’t getting paid a
lot

18:19 – Legislator tends to be older because they are retired
and have the time

18:30 – Cady tells people her job is to “talk, stock, and
stay paranoid”

18:46 – Reach Cady by email or phone number

19:18 – Call your local association to find out your local
and state Government Affairs Director and get involved to protect
your clients

Reach out to Cady Here:

Email: cady@focuscarolina.com

Phone: 919-573-0996

3 Key Points State-made decisions hugely impact realtors and
their clients – pay attention to them. Learn the state structure
and get involved. Speaking up can protect your clients; ask
questions and education yourself on beneficial programs and
potentially damaging legislation. Credits

Audio Production by Chris Mottram

Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder