REALTOR® WEEKLY UPDATE
Weekly Update on PGPCNPREALTORS.com
April 30th, 2009
To view archive editions, please click HERE.
Breaking News!
Cinco de Mayo (that’s May 5th 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. Enjoy free food provided by Alyson Byrne of Maronda Homes, Cash Bar to support W.C.R. Please RSVP to David-Logan@comcast,net if you plan on attending so that we can make appropriate plans. Did you miss the “Come As You Were” Dance Party? Margo Grimshaw put together a great slide show; you can see all the great dancing and fun by clicking HERE.
***NEW CLASS*** - “Short Sales” & “FHA Update” – Join 2 time NAR Speaker of the Year Tony Macaluso for these two 90 minute seminars on May 21st from 1pm – 4:15. You do not want to miss a chance to hear the latest on Short Sales and FHA Lending. This is a unique opportunity that you do not want to miss. Free to Education Passport members and $20 for Non-Passport Members. Tony will also be doing a very unique International Seminar on the morning of May 21st, see “Education Corner” below for details.
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 Tombs. 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.
Weekly Update Drawing
Please click HERE to be entered in a drawing to win a $25 Publix Gift Card compliments of After A Disaster, Inc. Why we are different than most of our competitors…Our company specializes in disaster mitigation and cleanup. We are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week and we will respond to your call within 1-2 hours. Our technicians and support staff are certified by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification). So, if a disaster happens, we can help you get your life back in order as soon as possible. We will work with your insurance company directly; in most cases there is no need to hassle with a bunch of paperwork when you have enough to worry about. Although we do not do mold inspections, mold testing or disaster reconstruction, we have many sources of referrals for this work and make sure that all is handled correctly until the job is complete. We believe that all these services should be performed by other certified mold inspection, testing and restoration companies. It is important to us that we have your best interest at heart. If you are need of our services please call Robin Lindecamp or Kevin Koch at 866-509-4561 or email Robin@aadisaster.com
From the President’s Desk
Karen Rolland, President
My Fellow REALTORS®/Members,
What a crazy time to be in Real Estate! This week has been one that has just been full of surprises. Case in point, did you know that Gulf Cove Gardens Homeowners Association has a movement afoot to restrict the homeowners in that community from renting their properties for a minimum period of twelve months after they take ownership? This is not a condo association; the people who own in this area own their own lots and homes. The intent, of course, is to restrict and basically stop investors from purchasing the distressed properties in that area and turning them into rentals. If you have a customer affected by this move, your best advice is for them to join forces with others in the neighborhood and seek legal counsel.
A sobering experience for me this week was participating in a live radio broadcast focusing on Lee, Charlotte and Sarasota counties. I couldn’t believe how the moderator continued to focus on the doom and gloom despite of the efforts of the panel participants to put a positive twist on things. Lee County has been having a rougher time than most in Florida but according to this moderator, the entire world is about to end. It was so depressing, it was almost comic. By the end of the show, I was really glad we are in Charlotte and not Lee!
Last Friday, I attended my first MFR Board of Directors and Annual Shareholders Meetings and the Installation of new officers, including our own Bill Dryburgh as Vice President. It was truly a great experience to meet the staff and the talented individuals of that organization and the participating members. We all share a common bond and that is delivering the best possible product to our agents and the public. Just like anyone involved in the sale and purchase of real estate today, MFR and the participating associations are facing financial challenges and are putting their best effort forward to meet them.
If you missed the “Come as You Were” party on Saturday, you missed a super evening! It was really fun and a great way to let off some steam. A good time was had by all and there were some awesome raffle prizes provided by many of our local merchants and business partners, including a one night stay at the Wyvern Hotel!
From a business perspective, the numbers from FAR weren’t AS good as the previous month, but we are still ahead and continue to hold our own in terms of sales volume. Median sales prices for single family residences were down approximately 39% from last year at this time but we were up 10% in sales for the same period. Fort Myers and Cape Coral were up 192% in sales but their median sales price was down 58% from the same time last year. Overall, statewide we have now had seven months in a row of increases in sales for both existing homes and condos. This is GREAT news folks so let’s spread the word and get those foreclosures sold as fast as we can and get back to ‘normal’, whatever that may be!
Thank you for the opportunity to serve and have a great week!
Legislative Update
Bill Dryburgh, Legislative Chair
I will do my best to keep you up to date on the Bill’s that are before the House and Senate. There are a number of Bill’s that have something to do with Real Estate, but a number of them will never pass. So I will try and address just those Bill’s that have some effect on our industry and have a good chance of passing. Click HERE for a few of the Bill’s which are working their way through the House and Senate and stand a good chance of passing. Keep an eye out for more information in the future.
Education Corner
International Seminar - Expand your Business into the Global Market Place – May 21st 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.
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.
Upcoming Events
Cinco de Mayo (that’s May 5th 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. Enjoy free food provided by Alyson Byrne of Maronda Homes, Cash Bar to support W.C.R. Please RSVP to David-Logan@comcast,net if you plan on attending so that we can make appropriate plans.
May 14th 8–10am St. Andrews South Golf Club, picked as “Readers Choice” best Private Golf Club in Charlotte County, will be holding an Open House EXCLUSIVELY BEING OFFERED TO REALTORS and their customers to showcase our fine facility. Realtors, bring your buyers to our Realtor open house on Thursday, May 14th. We believe your homebuyers would enjoy the benefits of a Social or Golf membership. St. Andrews South is located right in the heart of PGI at 1901 Deborah Dr, call 639-5261 Ext. 3 to RSVP. On Saturday, May 16th 10:00am to 2:00pm we encourage the general public to come join the fun and have a chance to win a free Initiation Fee. The Open House will include the following, free golf clinic, free cook out, and tours of the golf course. As a special prize join on May 16th, and receive one month of free golf.
Save the Date: JUNE 19th, 2009 – Please reserve Friday June 19th, 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!
Where in the World Is…..
Kim Weger – RE/MAX Anchor Realty
Linda Semmler – Casa del Sol Realty
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
Home Sales Up - Florida's existing home sales rose 30 percent in March, making it the seventh month in a row that sales activity was higher than year-ago levels, according to FAR's latest housing data. Statewide existing condo sales increased 25 percent over the same period; and last month's home and condo sales were higher than February's levels. NAR reported that national existing home sales - all housing types - fell 3 percent compared to February's activity.For more info, visit the site HERE.
Chinese Drywall – In every crisis, a handful of unsavory characters will take advantage of worried homeowners. Yesterday, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum issued a consumer advisory against "experts" that say they can easily test for Chinese drywall or easily fix related problems. For the full story, click HERE.
Real Estate Auction - More buyers are looking for bargains these days: A recent auction at the Tampa Convention Center featured 105 homes all across Florida's Gulf Coast from Weeki Wachee to Sarasota. About 1,150 people participated in the auction and 75 properties sold, bringing in $7.1 million.For the full story, click HERE.
Appraisals - On May 1, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac plan to implement new real estate appraisal rules that, among other things, require lenders to order valuations from third-party appraisal management companies. However, NAR is asking for a one-year moratorium on the regulations. For the full story, click HERE.
MLS TIP OF THE WEEK
Are you using RatePlug? – RatePlug allows you to include mortgage options from up to three of your favorite lenders at the bottom of each listing you Email from MLXchange. The benefit for your clients is that, with each listing, they get accurate, up-to-date information showing a realistic monthly payment for the property based upon current listing price, the lenders rate, property taxes, and projected insurance costs. While providing your clients with an additional service, you also strengthen your business relationships with your preferred lenders. RatePlug is an optional third-party add-on to MLXchange, and although it is a free value-add part of your subscription, it is not automatically available-you must sign up for it. Once you have established an account, you can choose up to three participating lenders from your network. If you don't see your favorite lender, you can invite them to join our network. RatePlug is free for real estate agents; however, lenders pay a small licensing fee to be included in our network. Click HERE for more information, see MLS Education Calendar for RatePlug training.
Real Estate Trivia
This Week’s Question
Question: How much do you understand the language of technology? Do you think that Bluetooth is a new dental procedure? Take the following quiz to test your knowledge of tech jargon.
Answer: Click HERE to test your tech jargon.
Last Week’s Question
Question: A place name is used to identify a community, city, town, or location. Local place names would be areas such as Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, North Port, Murdock, Burt Store, Charlotte Harbor, etc. What is the longest place name in the United States, also can you name the longest place name in the world?