The Greater Rome Board of Realtors celebrated an improving housing sector Tuesday at their annual Christmas luncheon.

“You’ve put together some good numbers in a tough economy,” President Jason Free said.

He pointed out that 47 real estate agents made the million dollar club in 2012. Free, of Keller Williams Northwest Realty, agreed to serve a second term as president of the group.

Free encouraged the Rome real estate agents to become involved with R-PAC, a political action group that represents the interests of real estate agents.

“There are a lot of people in Washington that are making decisions that affect us,” Free said.

He pointed to talk of changing the mortgage interest deduction on federal taxes and the Dodd-Frank bill as reasons for Realtors to stay close to the political situation.

Debbie Junkin, CEO of the Georgia Association of Realtors, told the Rome group the state association will host a major legislative conference in Atlanta on Jan. 28-31.

Junkin said the Georgia Association of Realtors’ new mission statement focuses on enhancing the quality of life in the individual communities across the state.

“If you took all the Realtors off all of the volunteer boards and all the service you do, if you took that away our communities would be sorely lacking, so we appreciate everything you do,” Junkin said.

John Ryan, with the Georgia Multiple Listing Service, presented Free with a check for $4,000 to be used for community service efforts of the Greater Rome Board of Realtors.

Ryan said 2012 had been a positive year for the housing industry and cited statistics indicating land lot sales were up 24.8 percent, single-family home sales were up 8 percent, and sales across all property types were up 7 percent through the month of November.

“There’s a lot that can be read into that,” Ryan said.

Jane Slickman of Garden Lakes Realty was honored as the Greater Rome Board of Realtors Realtor of the Year. Ruth Terry of Keller Williams Northwest received the Humanitarian of the Year honor. David Terrell was added to the Greater Rome Board of Realtors Hall of Fame.

Joining Free on the local leadership team in 2013 are Slickman as president-elect and Della Gore as treasurer.

Local directors will include Christi Cates of Toles, Temple & Wright Real Estate, Scotty Davis of Hardy Realty and Lee Eidson of Ayers Realty. Debbie Hayes and Jimmy Byars, both of Hardy Realty, will also serve as state directors.