Tied to Success: Showing Up Matters
September always brings a renewed sense of energy. Back to school, the Fall market enters, and we begin the final stretch of the year with an opportunity to refocus on what matters most. For me, that starts with Tied to Success.
Success in real estate is never achieved alone. We are tied to our clients, our colleagues, our communities, and the policies that shape housing. We are also tied to one another through HGAR. This September offers many opportunities to strengthen those connections.
One of the most important is advocacy. On September 10th, realtors will come together for our RPAC Yankees event. Yes, it is an opportunity to watch Aaron Judge and Ben Rice spank the Rockies while we spend time with colleagues, but RPAC represents something much bigger. Decisions made in Albany, City Hall, Washington, and our local municipalities directly affect housing affordability, inventory, and our ability to conduct business.
HGAR’s 2026 advocacy efforts have demonstrated why REALTOR® engagement matters. Our members have participated in Calls for Action and worked alongside our state partners on issues including housing and regulatory reform. When REALTORS® show up, policymakers hear the voice of the people who work every day with buyers, sellers, renters, property owners, and communities.
That engagement continues during the NYSAR Fall Business Meetings, September 15–18. These meetings give New York REALTORS® the opportunity to help shape our industry’s agenda. As we look ahead, housing supply and affordability, private property rights, reducing unnecessary barriers to transactions, and creating greater opportunities for homeownership must remain at the center of our conversations.
Our own Tied to Success platform calls for stronger RPAC education, better issue mobilization, coalition building, and greater member participation in advocacy. Advocacy cannot belong to just a committee or a handful of leaders. It must become part of our culture.
September also demonstrates the expanding reach of HGAR. On September 24, our Greece Golden Visa program will help members better understand opportunities in an increasingly global real estate marketplace. Orange County Day on September 29 will bring members together around education, networking, and regional opportunity. And on September 30, our Bronx Legislative Breakfast will create an important forum for REALTORS® and elected officials to discuss the issues affecting housing and our communities.
In New York City, HGAR continues to advocate for policies addressing co-op transparency, affordable and accessible housing, vacant housing units, commercial vitality, and a regulatory environment that protects consumers while allowing the real estate market to function effectively.
September is also REALTOR® Safety Month. No transaction, commission, or appointment is more important than your personal safety. I encourage every broker and office manager to make REALTOR® safety part of an office meeting this month and every member to review the practices they use when meeting new clients, showing properties, and working alone.
Finally, I hope you will support Dancing for the Foundation, the Hudson Gateway REALTOR® Foundation’s signature fundraising event. Vote for your favorite dancers, attend the event, and support the incredible people stepping onto the dance floor for a great cause. The funds we raise ultimately strengthen local charities and nonprofit organizations serving communities throughout our region.
With so much happening, you do not have to attend everything. But I challenge you to choose something. Support RPAC. Join us at a legislative breakfast. Learn about a new market. Support the Foundation. Get involved. Our mission is to empower members to grow, lead, and succeed in their businesses and communities. We fulfill that mission when you participate.
We show up for each other. We advocate for each other. And when one of us succeeds, we create opportunities for others to succeed. That is what it means to be Tied to Success.
About the author: Rey Hollingsworth Falu, 2026 President, Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS®
