REALTOR® WEEKLY UPDATE

Weekly Update on PGPCNPREALTORS.com

April 16th, 2009

To view archive editions, please click HERE.

Breaking News!

General Membership Meeting and REALTOR® Town Hall Meeting have been combined into ONE EVENT! Thursday, April 23^rd 10am – 12pm. We know that business is up and you are all very busy, so it was decided to combine these two very important events so that we can have the best attendance possible. Your Association has a unique opportunity to host many of our local elected officials and it is of the utmost importance that we have a very strong turnout. Let’s show our local leaders that we are engaged and involved in the future of this area and let them know that the Real Estate Community is a group that should be listened to when making decisions that affect our business. Presenters include: Howard Kunik Punta Gorda City Manager, Roger Baltz Charlotte County Administrator, Frank Desguin Charlotte County Property Appraiser, Steven Crowell North Port City Manager, and Maryann Mize of Charlotte State Bank. Food and Drinks provided by Kevin Koch and Robin Lindecamp of After A Disaster, Inc. RSVP required, email David-Logan@comcast.net to reserve your space today.

“Come as you Were” Dance Party – April 25^th 7pm, Do not miss this unique social event presented by your Association’s Special Events Committee to be held at the Punta Gorda Women’s Club. Food, Cash Bar, Prizes, DJ, and a lot of fun. $10 per person $15 per couple. Tickets can be purchased at the Association office or by emailing the Special Events Committee chairperson Bob “Fig” Newton.

Unlock the Power of Microsoft Office - Our very popular Microsoft Classes will resume in May. Class topics include “Email Marketing and Contact Management with Outlook”, “Upgrading your Presentation with PowerPoint”, and “Design and Marketing with Word and Publisher”. All classes are taught by our very own Microsoft certified instructor Mary Gitzen. Visit our Education Calendar for dates and times or email David-Logan@comcast.net to RSVP or with any questions. All classes are “hand on” and space is limited. Classes are FREE to Education Passport Members and $15 for Non-Passport Members.

Toastmasters International is proud to announce a new club in Port Charlotte to help you “Become the Speaker and Leader You Want to Be”.Meetings are held Wednesdays, 7:30am at the Association of REALTORS® 3320 Loveland Blvd. There is no cost to attend and no obligation to join. Take the opportunity to see what a meeting is like and discover how Toastmasters can help improve your communication and leadership skills. Good communication is vital to success in business! For more details or to RSVP, email David-Logan@comcast.net, more information at www.toastmasters.org.

From the President’s Desk

Karen Rolland, President

My Fellow REALTORS®/Members,

Are you signed up on FAR for the daily update? I wasn’t for a while but I re-enrolled and it is amazing what information is available. Just one item of note is the lack of participation in the Cover Florida Health Care Insurance program. If you are one of those people who have had problems finding insurance coverage, you really need to check this out. Just click here to find out more.

It has been a great week for us. The newspapers are finally reporting that the economy is on the mend and that things are improving. We all know we are heading into the ‘slow’ season with the snowbirds heading up north but any seasoned REALTOR® knows that the serious buyers show up in the summer months…at least that is what history has shown. The important thing to remember is that our market is recovering and we are seeing an increase in activity on most levels…..Stay positive!

Take advantage of this time to cultivate your leads and promote our area. We have such a unique opportunity to offer to buyers. We have a great community with a lot of potential and we really don’t need to exaggerate it. It is what it is and It Is Great. So let’s get out there and sell it! Have a great week!

Education Corner

"Empowerment Techniques for the Changing Face of Crime" with nationally recognized safety expert Andrew Wooten - April 24^th at 1:30pm - 3 Hours CE Credit. Don’t be a victim! This seminar is designed to teach you how to take a proactive approach to safety and to help keep you safe. The seminar is broken into eight modules and the topics covered include: Introduction to Safety; Safety at the Office; Safety at Property Showings, Safety at Open Houses, Personal Safety at Home, Safety; On the Road, Crime Awareness & Prevention and Identity Theft Awareness. RSVP to david-logan@comcast.net – class is FREE for Education Passport Members, $15.00 for non passport holders. Refreshments provided by Bob Myers of Home Watch Group of SWFL or email bob@homewatchgroupswfl.com.

International Seminar - Expand your Business into the Global Market Place – May 21^st 9am 3 Hours CE Credit. Learn how the Win and Serve the growing numbers of International Clientele who want to Buy or Sell Property in Florida. Presented by Mr. Tony Macaluso, winner of the International Instructor of the Year Award; the only instructor to win this National Association of REALTORS® coveted award twice. Course is presented in conjunction with the Association’s International Committee. You do not want to miss the opportunity to hear from Tony about the opportunities for international sales. RSVP to David-Logan@comcast.net , course is free to Education Passport Members and $20.00 for Non-Passport Members.

***NEW CLASS*** Digital Photography – Hands On – June 17^th 9am – 11am. Bring your own camera and learn hands on from professional photographer Anthony Barbacane. Class Topics Include: Camera Functions, Creating Your Images, What to photograph, Lighting, Transferring Your Images to Your PC, Printing and Uploading Your Images. Email David-Logan@comcast.net to reserve your space today. Only 8 seats remaining! Course is FREE to Passport Members and $10 for Non-Passport Members.

Build Business Using the New Tax Credit: Free Webinar - Free webinar on building business around the first-time home buyer tax credit. A real estate pro who has conducted a consumer seminar on the credit will talk about marketing and the director of the H&R Block Tax Institute will talk about accounting issues. Click HERE for details and to sign up to attend. Course will be Tuesday, April 28, at 3 p.m.

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.

Visit the Education Calendar for full course offering and details.

REALTOR® Safety

As REALTORS® we are exposed to the possibility of physical danger on a regular basis. Over the next few weeks we will be bringing you real life stories from REALTORS® to keep you up to date on what to be on the lookout for. Also, mark your calendars for a 3 Hour CE Class "Empowerment Techniques for the Changing Face of Crime" with nationally recognized safety expert Andrew Wooten on April 24^th at 1:30pm. For details see the course listings above. Would you like to share your story of survival or a tip on how you got out of a potentially bad situation? Please feel free to share your experiences on Andrew’s new blog which can be accessed by clicking HERE. Questions, stories, or comments can be left anonymously. The more we share, the more we all benefit.

The brutal murder of Sarah Ann Walker in McKinney, Texas early this month has again spotlighted a perennial topic - violence against real estate agents and real estate safety tips. Ms. Walker was presiding over an open house at a new housing development when she was stabbed 27 times. A house hunting couple found her body on the kitchen floor. Conducting a real estate practice almost by definition puts agents in potentially hazardous situations. An agent conducting an open house is often alone and knows nothing about the person walking in the door. Agents often meet customers for the first time in front of a vacant house, or drive or ride with them to an appointment. It is not uncommon for an agent to be alone in the office late at night, finalizing an offer or catching up on paperwork, and some agents still go door to door looking for listings. For more information on this story or to view additional stories, click HERE.

Upcoming Events

REALTOR® “Town Hall” and General Membership Meeting – April 23^rd, 10am – 12pm. Join us for a morning of informative and timely presentations from some of our most influential local leaders. Find out what is going on and put your finger on the pulse of our area’s future. Presenters include: Howard Kunik Punta Gorda City Manager, Roger Baltz Charlotte County Administrator, Frank Desguin Charlotte County Property Appraiser, Steven Crowell North Port City Manager, and Maryann Mize of Charlotte State Bank. The session will also include time for a question and answer period. To RSVP and take advantage of this unique opportunity, email david-logan@comcast.net

“Happy Hour” Social – April 28^th 5:30pm at TGI Friday’s in Port Charlotte. The Association’s Business Partner Committee invites you to come join the 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, have some wonderful food, expand your social network and increase your business opportunities. RSVP to David-Logan@comcast.net. Click HERE for address and directions.

Cinco de Mayo (that’s May 5^th for those of us who do not speak Spanish). Stop by the Association headquarters for a couple “happy hours” of food, drink, and fun from 4pm – 6pm. Keep an eye out for more details.

Save the Date: JUNE 19^th, 2009 – Please reserve Friday June 19^th, 2009 for the Florida Association of REALTORS® District Conference and Trade Show which will be held at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center right here in PUNTA GORDA for the first time ever. This event will include FAR Districts 13 and 5, representing 11 local associations from Marco Island to Manatee County along with REALTORS® from around the State and Country. Keep an eye out for more details and do not miss the unbelievable opportunity right here in our back yard!

Women’s Council of REALTORS®

Meetings 1st Wednesday of each month 11:30am

We have so many fantastic speakers at our monthly luncheons each of whom brings something to our members that they can use in their everyday business. Our next regular luncheon will be Wednesday, May 6th with guest speaker Paul Lioon, chairman of the Florida Bankers Association’s Trust, Asset Management and Private Banking Division. Paul will be speaking on the benefits of Wills and Trusts. WCR will also be having a District V Forum in Fort Myers at Paseo on May 21st with national renowned speaker Steve Ornicki, luncheon, and trade show for only $25! Looking forward to seeing our members and affiliates attend. Finally, on May 14th-17th we have the National Association of REALTORS® Convention where our Chapter will be receiving the 2008 Gold Excellence Award from Women’s Council and attending many learning seminars and networking. Please contact Linda Mazner with any questions or to RSVP.

Market Watch

Do No Call Program – Important Change Effective May 7, 2009, the do-not-call compliance program offered by the Florida Association of Realtors, DNCQuickcheck, will not be an included member benefit. PossibleNOW, the company that provides DNCQuickcheck, has offered to continue coverage for affected members for $100 per month, and individual agent IDs are available at $10 per month. For uninterrupted coverage, contact Sandy Sponsler at 770.255.1040 before May 6, 2009. More information: http://www.dncquickcheck.com

Foreclosures – As bargain hunters focus on foreclosures, many discover that the toughest challenge is dealing with the banks that repossessed the homes. While lenders accept bids quickly and write a contract, buyers encounter bureaucratic bungling and frustration as they approach the closing date. For the full story, click HERE.

SHOWING VACANT PROPERTIES - Vacant houses can be difficult to market because buyers tend to think the seller is desperate. Such properties also are vulnerable to vandalism and not as attractive to buyers as furnished dwellings. However, homeowners and real estate agents have several strategies to make a vacant home look its best. For example, use lights on timers to make it look as though someone is home; and keep the lawn mowed and the mail retrieved. Also paint the walls in neutral tones, replace faded wallpaper, hire a cleaning service to come in regularly, leave the utilities on, and keep the curtains and a few pieces of furniture in every room. Sellers might even have the home staged, and they should check with their homeowner's insurance company for any vacant-home requirements. Source: Coloradoan (04/12/09) Pettigrew, Dave; Pettigrew, Pam © Copyright 2009 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688

Tax Break Available for New Car Purchases This Year - You are eligible for a temporary tax incentive for the purchase of a new car, light truck, motor home, or motorcycle during 2009. The deduction is available for the cost of all state and local sales and excise taxes paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price. The amount of the deduction is phased out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is between $125,000 and $135,000 for individual filers and between $250,000 and $260,000 for joint filers. The vehicle must be purchased after Feb. 16 and before Jan. 1, 2010. The deduction is available regardless of whether a taxpayer itemizes deductions on their return but can't be taken on 2008 tax returns. For more info contact Bob McNamara, 202/383-1268.

MLS TIP OF THE WEEK

MLS Webinars Available - Did you miss the RealBiz360 Webinar, you can view a recorded version by clicking HERE. Webinars are also available on VOW’s as well as MyFloridaHomesMLS.com public site. New and existing members are able to take the required MLS Basic and Entering & Updating courses online. This is an opportunity for existing members to refresh their MLS skills. All courses are free and available at MFR MLS UNIVERSITY by clicking HERE, more advanced MLS courses will be coming to webinar format in the future.

Real Estate Trivia

This Week’s Question

Question: April 14^th and 15^th, 2009 were the Great American REALTOR® Days in Tallahassee. Do you know what these days are for and why they should be important to you?

Answer: Click HERE to find out what FAR’s Legislative Team is working toward on your behalf. For more important legislative news, click HERE.

Last Week’s Question

Question: What trendy and highly unusual hotel must be totally rebuilt every year?

Answer: Sweden’s Ice Hotel started in 1989 and is the world’s first ice hotel. It is built totally out of ice and melts in the summer requiring that it be rebuilt every winter. The hotel includes bar, church, main hall, reception area and rooms and suites for over 100 guests and has partnered with a space tourism company to offer trips to outer space from a launch site near the hotel in the future. Prices range from $150 to $850 per night. You can view the Ice Hotel at www.IceHotel.com