Cape Fear Realtors has rejoined business advocacy group Business Alliance for a Sound Economy (BASE) after leaving the organization more than a decade ago.

The Wilmington-based alliance of more than 2,400 Realtors has joined BASE as an association partner, according to a recent announcement.

A news release stated that BASE is a coalition of business entities, associations and individual members focused on public policy that enhances economic opportunities and quality of life in Brunswick, New Hanover, Onslow and Pender counties.
            
“We are very proud to welcome Cape Fear Realtors to BASE, as we have a long history with the regional real estate industry,” said Tyler Newman, president and CEO of BASE, in the release. “BASE has grown into a broad-based advocacy group comprised of a wide range of business associations and individual businesses. With all of the pressures facing our economy today, it is particularly important that area businesses have a partner solely focused on the policy issues that impact our region.”

Added Taylor Oldroyd, CEO of Cape Fear Realtors, in the release, “BASE and Cape Fear Realtors have a strong shared interest and already partner on numerous issues. As an original founding member of BASE, we are proud to return and boost our regional collective interests.”

Organizational changes and likely economic pressures led to CFR, previously called the Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors, to leave BASE in 2006.

"This is speculation about what happened here but keep in mind that in 2006 the housing market got hit hard," Oldroyd said in an email Thursday. "Those were not pleasant years for any real estate related organizations. Our membership dropped in half. A lot of things changed in those years."

In addition to Cape Fear Realtors, BASE’s association partners include Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association, Brunswick County Association of Realtors, Brunswick County Home Builders Association, Jacksonville Board of Realtors and Topsail Island Association of Realtors.

"Established in 2003, BASE advocates for sustainable development and predictable and transparent regulation that enables smart and efficient growth. BASE provides value to its members by tracking all local, state and federal issues that impact the regional economy and quality of life," the release stated. "BASE works with a wide variety of stakeholders in and outside of the Cape Fear region to promote policies that support the best interests of the regional business community."

Newman said in the release, “In addition to our association partners, our individual business members play a huge role in our continued success with both their financial support and their professional guidance. We welcomed a number of new business members in 2018 and anticipate continued growth across a variety of industries in 2019."

The release stated that some of the new business members that joined BASE in 2018 include Live Oak Bank, Intracoastal Realty, Andrew Consulting Engineers, Jack Carlisle and family, Swain & Associates, Steve Shuttleworth and partners, Professional Builder Supply and Ramey Kemp.