REALTOR® WEEKLY UPDATE

Weekly Update on PGPCNPREALTORS.com

December 31^st, 2008 New Year’s Eve To view archive editions, please click HERE.

Breaking News!

General Membership Meeting – RSVP TODAY – Wednesday, January 14^th 12pm. You do not want to miss this chance to start off the New Year right. Network with fellow REALTORS®, enjoy free food, and obtain up-to-date information on your Association. Also, you will not want to miss our special guest speaker Lisa Harr who is a certified instructor for NAR’s new Green REALTOR® Designation. She will be giving us a great deal of information on the new REALTOR® Green Designation, how it can help you set yourself apart in this competitive market and attract a growing breed of green minded buyers and sellers. She will also be sharing some very important information on new 2009 building code changes, energy efficiency standards, and other topics which will help you distinguish you as a true Real Estate Professional. Please click HERE to RSVP for this unique opportunity. RSVP is required so that we can plan for an adequate amount of food and drinks.

Would you like to Instantly Shred 100lbs for FREE? – We are pleased to announce that Secure Shredding will have their mobile document destruction truck at our General Membership Meeting on January 14^th. The truck will be parked at the Association office from 11:30am until 2pm and each REALTOR® and Business Partner is invited to drop off up to 100lbs of paper for shredding (approximately 4 small boxes). Make sure you RSVP to the General Membership Meeting (see above), bring your boxes of paper, and just shred away the pounds. Do not miss out on this incredible member benefit.

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.

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.

Weekly Update Drawing

Business Sponsor: Marcia Cullinan – National Bank of Southwest Florida

Please click HERE to enter for a chance to win a $20 gift card to BIN 82 compliments of Marcia Cullinan and National Bank of SW Florida.  The Board of Directors and Employees of the National Bank of Southwest Florida wish you and your families a happy and prosperous New Year!  Start your year off right with a new, federally-insured deposit account, or a lower rate on your mortgage or business loan.  We specialize in personalized service and competitive pricing.  Call 258-3055 to talk with us about our personal and business account programs and our residential, commercial and consumer loan products.  Happy 2009 from NBSWF!

From the President’s Desk

Bill Dryburgh, President

REALTORS®,
I look forward to seeing you all at our January 14^th General Membership Meeting, this will be a great opportunity to wish your fellow REALTORS® a Happy New Year and start off the year in a positive way. Make sure you see the top of this newsletter to RSVP for this event. I want to wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I hope that 2009 brings you happiness and a great year in Real Estate.

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.

Congratulations

Two of our very own members were featured in the December issue of Florida REALTOR® Magazine. See below for the full story.

Wow! Tales of Extraordinary Service - Rex Sawdy is all wet—literally. And, because he was willing to become a human tugboat, he closed a difficult transaction. It was a rainy March morning in 1995, Rex and Angie, a husband/wife team for Century 21 Aztec & Associates in Port Charlotte ran into a snag with a home with a pending contract. On the day of closing, the sellers were unable to arrange for someone to move their sailboat from the dock. The buyers refused to close until the boat was moved. The sellers’ neighbors agreed the boat could stay at their dock for a few days … but how to get it there on such short notice? Rex, who’s 5 feet 8 inches tall, got into water up to his chin and tiptoed across the bottom with rope in hand to tow the boat 100 yards to the neighbor’s dock. The sale closed on schedule. “We jokingly say we go not only to great lengths but also to great depths to help our customers and to get the job done!” says Angie Sawdy. Florida Realtor Magazine, December 2008 | page 9

Where in the World is……

Women’s Council of REALTORS®

Meetings 1st Wednesday of each month 11:30am

Click HERE to check out some great photos of our December Installation Banquet and read the article from the Marketplace section of the Charlotte Sun Herald.

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

Landlord and Tenant Act: New Remedies - Recent changes to the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act permit landlords to charge fees to tenants who vacate early. On June 10, 2008, Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law HB 1489, which amends several provisions of the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Part II, Chapter 83, Florida Statutes). Read the full story HERE

Make Room for the Parents? Think you have a crowded house? Maybe you’re not alone. Surprising new data from the U.S. Census Bureau finds that many Americans are making room in their home for parents, followed by siblings and other relatives. From 2000 to 2007, the number of parents who move in with their adult children grew 67 percent to 3.6 million. Even more interesting, the number of parents younger than age 65 in these households increased by 75 percent and those 65 and older rose 62 percent. Read the full story HERE

Home Prices Plummet as Sales Climb - The statistics placed Florida, which saw a 4 percent climb in home sales over November 2007, with several other states, namely California, Nevada and Arizona, that were bucking a national trend of weakening home sales. Housing sales across the nation fell 8.6 percent last month compared to November 2007. "Sales are rising only in areas with large numbers of distressed properties as bargain hunters take advantage of discounted home prices," said Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors. Yun cited the statistics to show that federal action to stimulate the housing market is "imperative." The NAR is lobbying to expand a tax credit for home buyers and streamline the process for conducting "short sales." In the Punta Gorda metropolitan statistical area, which includes all of Charlotte County, the boost in sales last month is due to the large numbers of distressed properties that have hit the market, said Bill Dryburgh, president of the Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte/North Port Board of Realtors. Read the full story HERE

MLS TIP OF THE WEEK

New Customized Links and Reports for Your Consumer Website - Similar to IDX, the custom link will show your contact information whenever a consumer clicks on a property instead of the listing agent's information. These custom links offer an excellent alternative for websites that use MLXchange IDX or any other IDX solution that cost money each month! 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

Please click HERE to visit Mid Florida’s website to view this month’s MLS News Headlines. This page is full of practical MLS tips which will help you to optimize your business and work smarter. Reading this page on a regular basis will keep you up-to-date on your MLS and help you get the most out of your Mid Florida Membership.

Real Estate Trivia

This Week’s Question

Question: Can you Match the New Year’s Food Tradition with the Country/Region of Origin?

Food Tradition

Country/Region

Last Week’s Question

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Answers: