REALTOR® WEEKLY UPDATE

Weekly Update on PGPCNPREALTORS.com

December 24^th, Christmas Eve, 2008 To view archive editions, please click HERE.

Breaking News!

FREE e-PRO SEMINAR March 10^th 1pm - Have you ever been interested in a REALTOR® designation, but had questions or just want more information? Here is the perfect chance for you to check out the details in a relaxed setting. Our Association will be hosting a free 90 minute e-PRO workshop led by Mike Barnett, Vice-President of Technology for InternetCrusade®, where you can learn about the e-PRO designation, ask questions, and learn everything you need to know to put you on the path to e-PRO success. The e-PRO Workshop is free to attendees and covers the benefits of taking the online e-PRO certification course. It will also cover many beneficial technology tips you can apply right away. e-PRO is the only online technology certification course offered by the National Association of REALTORS and it’s NAR's fastest growing certification course. This is a no-obligation free seminar. At the e-PRO Workshop, attendees will also receive a $25 gift certificate to be used for enrolling into the online e-PRO course. All existing e-PROs (and those currently enrolled in the course) who attend and bring a guest will receive an e-PRO pin ($25 value). e-PRO is recognized for elective credit in the designation requirements for CRS, ABR, and CIPS designations. This unique opportunity has limited seating, please click HERE to register today or call 866-377-6627.

If you have not already done so, you have only 7 more days to complete your Quadrennial Ethics requirement. All REALTORS® must take NAR Code of Ethics between January 1st 2005 and December 31st 2008. Please keep in mind that this Ethics Requirement is not necessarily included in your 14 hour license renewal class, it depends on where you took your 14 hour class. All 14 hour classes at our Association include the Ethics requirement. You can still take the on-line version of the course by clicking HERE. If you have any problems accessing the on-line version or have any additional questions, please email David Logan. If you would like to see if you have taken the required course already click HERE, once you login, click “Change your information in the National REALTOR Database System (NRDS)”, then click “View my Education Record”. If you do not see an ethics class since 2005 then you will need to take one prior to the December 31^st deadline.

2009 Social Events – The Association Business Partner Committee invites you to come join the Association's Members and Business Partners for a time of Networking Fun. Enjoy FREE APPETIZERS, DRAWINGS, DOOR PRIZES, and SOCIALIZING. Do not miss out on the opportunity to mingle with fellow REALTORS and Business Partners. Expand your social network and increase your business opportunities. January 27^th 5:30pm at Visani’s, please RSVP to David-Logan@comcast.net. Keep an eye out for a social event on the 4^th Tuesday of each month. 

Last Week’s Winner!!

Debra Mann   - $25 Gift Card to Carrabbas please stop by the Association office to pick up your prize compliments of Lambert & O'Neill, Inc. Lambert & O’Neill would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season, you can contact Lambert & O’Neill toll free at 877-463-1640 for all of your building, remodeling, and distressed property restoration needs, remember no job is too small.

From the President’s Desk

Bill Dryburgh, President

REALTORS®,
Tomorrow is Christmas Day, a time spent with family and friends as well as a time to count your blessings. Some may say “I don't have any blessings to count this year”, that “it has been a bad year with sales down and I am having a hard time making ends meet”. I would say all of this may be true, but the outlook for next year continues to look better all the time and if you have your health, family, and friends then you truly blessed. Take comfort in the thought that everything we are going through now others have gone through before and came out stronger on the other end. I WISH EVERYONE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!

Education Corner

Need your 14 Hour License Renewal? - Our Association will be hosting the 14 Hour License Renewal course on February 26^th & 27th and August 26^th & 27^th this year. This course will meet your 14 hour license requirement including CORE LAW and QUADRENNIAL ETHICS. Course can be taken in full or each class al la carte. Classes will be FREE to anyone who signs up for the Education Passport with their dues. Non Passport holders will pay $15 per class or $60 for the entire 14 hour course. Please email David-Logan@comcast.net to reserve a space today. ***Remember that January 1^st 2009 begins a new Ethics Cycle, all 14 hour courses held at our Association will include the new required Ethics course, don’t wait until the last minute, get your ethics requirement out of the way***

Know your Contracts - Do you know what each paragraph in a sales contract means? "Your knowledge of the contract protects the buyers, the sellers and you," says Nancy J. Riley, a Realtor for more than 30 years, 2007 FAR president and a member of the state's Taxation & Budget Reform Commission. She says “If you're not clear about a contract, talk with your broker or take classes through your local association”. The next Contract Class is available locally on January 26^th, click HERE for details. Click HERE for more from Nancy Riley on video.

Making the most of your Mid-Florida Membership? Sign up for additional FREE training and unlock the tools to help you succeed! See the list of FREE Mid-Florida educational opportunities. Courses include “Design Web Page”, “iMapp: interactive tax and mailing labels”, “Tools: MongoFax, RatePlug, ShowingTime and MLX Wireless ”, “Creating a Professional CMA”, and “MLXChange Advanced”. Most classes are HANDS ON with laptops provided. This additional training is included in your Mid Florida membership, so do not miss out on these opportunities. Click HERE for class schedule, additional details and to reserve a seat. There are still spaces available for December classes; sign up soon seating is limited.

Visit the Education Calendar for full course offering and details.

Where in the World is……

Women’s Council of REALTORS®

Meetings 1st Wednesday of each month 11:30am

We look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting at the Association headquarters on Wednesday, January 7^th at 11:30am where our speaker will be Kay Stephan, a nationally known speaker on Business Etiquette. Please contact Linda Mazner with any questions or to RSVP.

Don’t miss the Caravan.

A Caravan is a great opportunity to showcase your listing, network with fellow Realtors®, get pricing opinions, and have a good time. No listing to show…just come along for the ride!

Punta Gorda Caravan – 1st Thursday every month – 8:15am – **Please note that the January Caravan will be held on January 8^th due to the New Year’s Holiday** Home Choice Real Estate - 6101 Duncan Rd. To have your listing included contact Mike no later than noon on the Tuesday prior to the caravan.

Port Charlotte Caravan – 3rd Thursday every month – 8:15am - PGPCNP Association Office **Please note that due to upcoming events and holidays, this caravan will be meeting the 2^nd Thursday until 2009** E-mail Karen Martin two days prior to the caravan date to have your listing included. Listings can also be faxed to Karen at 941-743-9023.

Market Watch

"My House Is Worth More Than That!" The listing price is perhaps the most important factor in how quickly a home will sell, but sellers often have their own idea of what's best. Here's what to say. Read the full story HERE

Have You Created Your To Be List? Every day we consciously create the To Do List, prioritize the order of events, and then check them off one by one without ever thinking whether or not this action is a result of our chronic mental patterns that suppresses us from critical thinking. The day list of assignments reflect all of the things that we must do, should do, or will do but when do we stop in front of the mirror and life and ask ourselves what do we want to be? Read more HERE compliment of Doug Devitre http://dougdevitredelivers.com

2008's TOP REAL ESTATE STORIES - The top story for 2008? Two words: The economy. Top Florida real estate stories include foreclosures, short sales, falling and then rising home sales, lower prices, and the challenge to get a mortgage. But good things happened too, such as the passage of Amendment 1's property tax breaks passed. Read the full story HERE

CONDO GOVERNANCE FORM AVAILABLE - Beginning Jan. 1, 2009, condo sellers (who are not developers) must provide prospective buyers a disclosure from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) which details the rights and responsibilities of condominium boards and unit owners, voting rights, meeting notices and other governance matters. This disclosure, known as the Condominium Governance Form, is now available in PDF form from the DBPR Web site: http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/lsc/LSCMHCondominiumForms.html

MLS TIP OF THE WEEK

Would you like to save or print your own Agent Roster directly from MLXChange? Please click HERE for detailed instructions on how to perform this very simple function directly from your MLS. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Gitzen

Real Estate Trivia

This Week’s Question (Holiday Edition)

Answers: See next week’s edition of the REALTOR® Weekly Update

Question: Who had more internet searches, Barak Obama or Brittany Spears? Were there more news stories on Iraq or Patrick Swayze? How much do you remember about 2008? News, Politics, Olympics, Economy, etc… See Yahoo’s Top 10 lists of 2008 to remind you what happened in this hectic year.

Answers: Click HERE to see the entire 2008 year in review.