As 2025 winds down toward a close, it is a good time to reflect on all that this year has brought us, whether that means professional success, person growth, or advocacy within our real estate industry.

As REALTORS, our EMTAR members are part of an organization that stands strong for the rights of private-property owners, home buyers, and sellers, and fights for consumers in a number of important ways—from championing fair and affordable housing, to monitoring local ordinances to ensure fairness to residents, to taking action on taxation, governance policies, and regulations.

On the local level, your EMTAR leadership continued to work closely with our elected officials and government leaders throughout 2025 to ensure that the REALTOR voice remains front and center in conversations about community growth, zoning, taxes, and other vital topics.

We are dedicated to fostering strong, ongoing relationships with those who serve and govern our communities in Wilson, Smith, and Dekalb counties and making sure they keep the rights of homeowners and REALTORS firmly in mind as they make decisions that affect our neighbors (and neighborhoods) throughout Eastern Middle Tennessee.

At the state level, EMTAR members took part in the annual Day on the Hill to meet with members of the General Assembly and inform them on issues that matter to those in our community. This is always a fruitful time of conversations with those who work in the halls of power in Nashville.

EMTAR also worked closely with the state Association and its efforts to promote legislative and regulatory advocacy all year long. For a brief video recap of state-level wins, visit this page on Facebook or go to this link (member login required).

And finally, on the national level, 2025 was a huge year for REALTOR^® advocacy. The National Association of REALTORS works diligently to make a positive impact on vital issues like housing supply and affordability, property rights, and fair housing—that’s the Advocacy Effect.

Episode 22 of NAR’s Advocacy Scoop breaks down the major wins your dues helped make possible, from protecting housing supply to defending property rights and supporting fair housing. Shannon McGahn and Patrick Newton walk through the biggest legislative, regulatory, and legal victories that shaped the industry. Listen here now.

The episode’s key highlights include:

• How NAR Advocacy pushed for policies that improve housing supply and affordability.
• Major 2025 federal advocacy wins across Congress, the White House, and federal agencies.
• The real-world impact of advocacy dues and why they matter for your business.

For many more examples of advocacy successes nationwide, visit NAR’s Advocacy home page here.

Make no mistake, whether it’s locally, statewide, or across the nation, our EMTAR members can count on us to stay on the case and work tirelessly to make the REALTOR voice heard on a full range of important legislative and regulatory issues.

As you reflect on your own big “wins” in 2025, we hope you will celebrate with us the many ways we made gains this year on your behalf, and join us in our continued commitment to make an even bigger difference in the year ahead.

About EMTAR: Chartered in 1969, our Association’s 1,200+ REALTORS are a proud part of the 36,000+ members of Tennessee REALTORS and of the 1.5 million+ members of NAR, all working to serve the public and protect the rights of America’s property owners. EMTAR members are known not only for their unmatched real estate excellence and high ethical standards, but also for being generous, hospitable, others-focused, loyal, hardworking, and eager to help wherever and whenever help is needed.