Sen. Tom Carper holds roundtable discussion with SCAOR representatives

U.S. Sen. Thomas R. Carper and his wife Martha paid a visit to the Sussex County Association of Realtors office in Georgetown Aug. 22 to talk about the general state of Delaware’s real estate industry and to discuss ways the government can aid in its continued recovery.

The First State’s senior U.S. senator met with members of SCAOR’s public policy committee, a diverse group of realtors from throughout Sussex County. Topics for discussion varied from pending legislation to financing concerns, insurance issues and the overall state of the real estate market.

“Each August, I use my state work period to meet with groups up and down Delaware to find out how business is going,” said Carper, who was first elected to the Senate in 2000 after stints in both the governor’s office and the U.S. House of Representatives. “The meeting with the Sussex County Association of Realtors gave me insight into the industry’s successes and challenges at the moment, and how Washington can better help this industry thrive.”

The concept of home ownership was a major theme of Carper’s governorship from 1993 to 2001. During those years in Dover, Carper set a personal goal of 75 percent home ownership in the state of Delaware, which he came within just a fraction of achieving by the time he left office.

Since it's still an interest of the senator more than a decade later, he decided to get information about the challenges facing the industry during one of his regular visits to Sussex County, where he found members of SCAOR more than willing to share information in an honest and candid way.

“As ambassadors of the American dream of home ownership, we are all very grateful to Sen. Carper and his wife for taking the time to meet with us and listen to our concerns,” said Rob Arlett, chairman of SCAOR’s public policy committee. “We are fortunate to enjoy a good working relationship with all of our legislators, not only on the federal level, but also on the state and county levels. I look forward to that continuing for some time.”

In addition to Arlett, seven other realtors were on hand to discuss all things real estate during the 90-minute visit to the association’s headquarters just east of Georgetown. Each had a chance to address their concerns to the senator and his wife.

“This was one of the best meetings I have been involved with over the years,” said Judy Dean, former president of SCAOR and a member of the 2013 public policy committee. “Sen. Carper and his wife were open, down to earth and really looking for the Realtors’ input. It was refreshing.”

The Sussex County Association of Realtors was chartered in 1949 and has steadily grown in size, scope and mission during its more than six decades in Sussex County.

SCAOR is a resource for the public, as well as a recognized advocate for property rights and property owners in Sussex County. The association also monitors legislative issues on the local, state and national levels that may impact home ownership in the area.

To read more about issues related to Sussex County’s real estate industry, go to www.scaor.com.