Highly successful and experienced Resort and Vacation-Home Specialists understand the importance in regulatory and tourism entities for the purpose of understanding and shaping a favorable environment for the buying and selling of resort properties.

It is critical to the business of every resort and vacation specialist and to the growth and welfare of their community that the specialist become involved and be a voice within their community.

Below are many links to help you become familiar with the information and laws regarding resort living and how to protect our environment.

• Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) -- responsible for planning, designing, building, and maintaining water resources, including inland navigation. The ACE oversees the nation's wetlands, and reviews and approves permit applications for their development. It's primary goal with regards to wetlands is "no overall net loss." The ACE website provides a newsletter and/or quarterly updates. In addition, this site has more than 5,000 FREE downloadable photos of historic photos, projects, and graphics. 
  
• The Department of Interior (DOI) -- has a great and far-reaching impact on the vacation and resort-home environment because much of the land and resources under its jurisdiction are highly desirable recreational areas. Its primary role is the protection of wildlife, recreation and resource development, water usage, and access to energy and mineral rights.  
  
• The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) -- responsible for the administration of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), whose primary goal is to protect critical habitats from development. The ESA can restrict how property owners use their land. To learn about the effects of the Endangered Species Act in your local community visit
  
• The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) -- This website offers downloadable maps for camping, hiking, mountain biking, off-road vehicle use, and many other recreational activities. You can also obtain information about any area in the United States.  
  
• National Park Service (NPS) -- responsibility to protect and conserve our natural, cultural, and environmental resources. The NPS website  provides information on their services, lodging, permits, recreation, management policies, and much more. 
  
• The National Forest Service (FS) -- has considerable impact on vacation homes and recreational areas due to the Healthy Forest Initiative and Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HRFA) of 2003 which created procedures for the restoration of government lands and forests. The FS website offers much information on local community wildfire protection planning. 
  
• US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USDA) -- contains topographical and recreational maps, and brochures for your local area. More than 14,000 private residences are located within national forests. Resort vacation-home specialists involved in the sale or purchase of one of these forest cabins must educate buyers on the considerations, restrictions, and required permits involved.  
  
• The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) -- implements the Endangered Species Act for marine (ocean) and river (fresh water) fish species.  for information on recreational fishing in your local community. 
  
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) -- supplies 20,000+ FREE downloadable photos of projects, history, nautical charts, coastal habitats, sustainable development in coastal communities, hurricane and weather tracking. 
  
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) -- resort and vacation-home specialists can keep up-to-date on FEMA activities, local flood maps, and flood zones, with an on-line photo gallery of more than 10,000 photographs. 
  
• Department of Transportation (DOT) -- resort and vacation-home specialists can subscribe to their local DOT newsletter here.  
  
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -- strives to minimize air and water pollution by cleaning up hazardous waste sites, regulating pesticide use, and enforcing lead paint and other toxic chemical rule usage and disposal. The EPA has more than 7,000 downloadable environmental photographs, newsletter updates, and information for your area.
  
• Usa.gov -- A rich source of information about state and local regulations. This powerful portal will provide you with information regarding local, state, and federal regulatory information for any area within the United States.