REALTOR® WEEKLY UPDATE
Weekly Update on PGPCNPREALTORS.com
August 27th, 2009
To view archive editions, please click HERE.
Breaking News!
Calling all Golfers –September 12th, Kingsway Country Club. The Association of REALTORS® 3rd Annual Golf Tournament to support our High School Scholarship Fund. This is a great opportunity to hit the links for a good cause and enjoy a day on one of Southwest Florida’s most beautiful courses. We are looking for teams to play and Business Partners sponsors, please email David-Logan@comcast.net for more details. Download the flyer to sign up your team HERE or for sponsorship information, click HERE.
Interested in GRI, how does HALF PRICE SOUND? Do not miss out on this LIMITED TIME OFFER! FAR is offering for a SHORT TIME only, the GRI 1 on-line for half price ($150 rather than $300). The Online format means that you have 90 days to complete the course, work at your own pace, attend from home, office, boat, poolside or anywhere you can get an internet connection. Course also counts for 11 Hours of CE Specialty Credit (everything except core law) OR 45 Sales Post-License credit. This is an amazing opportunity that should not be passed up! Also, our Association will be providing the opportunity for all on-line participants to engage in an on-line user group which will meet to discuss questions that you may have and hear from special guest speakers who will help combine the on-line content with real-world experience. Email David-Logan@comcast.net for details.
REALTOR® Photos In the News – Some of our members and events have been featured in recent editions of Florida Weekly. Click HERE to see photos from the Toastmasters Club held at our Association. The July Happy Hour Social at My Father’s Place is featured HERE. You can check out all the Florida Weekly photo albums HERE or visit http://charlotte.floridaweekly.com/
Affordable Housing Seminar Update: Thank you to Brenda Bala of the Housing Corporation of Charlotte County for presenting a timely and informative seminar to a standing-room only crowd on Tuesday afternoon. Her time and expertise was greatly appreciated. This is just another example of the first-class events being put together by your professional development committee, make sure you keep an eye on the news letter for more amazing events coming up in the next few months. Also, for those who could not attend, you can gather most of the information from the Housing Corportation’s new webpage which can be found at www.housingcorpcc.org
Internet Security Course – There are still a few seats available in this afternoon’s internet security course with Chuck Bonamer this afternoon at 1pm. 4 Hours CE Credit, Free for Passport Members $20 for Non-Passport. Come learn how to do business on the web while protecting your sensitive personal and business data. Topics covered include: Florida Security Requirements, Wireless Encryption, Cookies, Risk Management on the Internet, Internet Policies, Protecting Customer Documents, Anti-Virus Software, Account Sofware & Escrow, and Maintenance. Email David-Logan@comcast.net as soon as possible if you would like to attend.
LAST weeks drawing
Carol Pickford has won a $25 RaceTrac Gas gift card compliments of THE GREEN TEAM @ Bank of America. Jim and Jean Green, your mortgage experts, can turn your clients dream of homeownership into reality. With over 20 years of mortgage experience and 60 combined years of banking and management experience , they are known in the industry for their ethics, dedication and professionalism. Jim and Jean want to be your preferred lending partner. “Don’t delay---call THE GREEN TEAM today! 941-235-6540 james.m.green@bankofamerica.com
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK!!
Karen Rolland, President
My fellow REALTORS and Members,
It is hard to believe I am over half way through this year as your President. It has been a lot of work but also a lot of fun and I want you all to start thinking about what is coming up in the next few months. We are getting into fall (and thankfully, the end of the hurricane season) and it is time to start thinking about your leadership for next year in our Association. As your President, I am in the process of selecting our Nominating Committee for 2010 and I encourage anyone that is interested in serving in a leadership role, be it a Committee Chair, an Officer, or a representative on your Board of Directors, to voice your desire soon. Linda Pizarro will be sending out an announcement in the near future about how to do that but in the meantime, please feel free to call me and I will gladly help you through the process. There are some qualification guidelines for some positions but all applications are welcome.
Our Association (and others ) have been criticized in the past for having the same people serve OVER and OVER on the Board of Directors and in leadership roles, but the truth of the matter is that there are very few people who are willing to step up to the plate and make the time commitment for these positions. Honestly, it DOES take time away from your business, but the truth of the matter is, is that you also make some unbelievable and lasting contacts with others in the State and the nation that eventually lead to business referrals. If you are one of those people who have been frustrated and critical of the Association process, maybe it is time for you to look at yourself and ask what you have done for your Association to make it better. I don’t want to tick anyone off, but it is what it is. Our Association has somehow managed to be one of the top Associations in the State; that didn’t happen by accident. We happen to be blessed with an OUTSTANDING staff led by Linda Pizarro but it also took commitment on the part of our members (i.e., the Board of Directors), to get there and I am proud to say that I am a member of the Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte-North Port Association of REALTORS® Are you? And are you willing to commit some time to be sure that our Association maintains that high standard? If your answer is yes, maybe you need to call me or Linda Pizarro to find out how you can become more involved to make a difference. If your answer is no, well, you get what you deserve. Sorry, it is what it is.
The bottom line is that if you are one of the critics, maybe you should look into yourself to see how you could be an agent of change instead of an instigator of bad feelings. I look forward to hearing from you either directly or through Linda at l.pizarro@comcast.net.
Good news is that sales were once again up for July, 24% from July of last year for residential sales. Everyone I have talked to in the past few days have buyers coming in over the next couple of months so that is GREAT news for all of us. Take advantage of this time to hone your skills using the classes offered through the Association.
Happy Sales to You!
Attracting international buyers
The Lower Value of the US Dollar versus many Foreign Currencies attracts Buyers – Here are some examples which present excellent marketing opportunities – since January 2009.
Brazil real +20.2%. Canadian dollar +9.5%, Chile peso + 12.4%. Columbia peso +9.4, Australian dollar +13.9%. New Zealand dollar +13.1%, Indonesia rupiah +8.6%, Norway krone +12.0%, UK pound 11.9%, South Africa rand + 14.5%.
Contact those you know by phone, email or letter emphasizing the value of their currency as another reason to BUY NOW– but point out values can fluctuate widely –best to convert ASAP contract accepted.
Want to win both a Commercial and Housing Sale from one buyer? The EB-5 INVESTOR VISA offers the opportunity for you to win both. And not a Commercial Guy – usually the Commercial Lister will be pleased to assist. Here is where you start.
For some years the US Government has offered International Buyers the privilege to live here if they make an investment of $500,000.00 to $1 Million Dollars to create a Business and develop at least 10 full-time jobs. If approved they eventually obtain a Green Card and finally Legal Citizenship for Spouse and Children under 21 Years of Age.
The number of applicants is limited and requires considerable guidance. Some Brokers and/or Companies/Attorneys specialize in serving these Buyers. If you have any questions, please contact -
YOUR INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
NORM WHITE, Chair.
Education Corner
All courses below are FREE to Education Passport members! Non- Passport Members – see details for cost.
How to Run a Consumer Friendly Website: 1pm-4pm September 3rd - 3 Hours CE Credit. The “Run a Consumer Friendly Realty Website” class is intended to help any Realtor® who already has a website (with any company) and wants it to perform better or agents’ who are interested in getting a website but want to be more educated about it. This course teaches all of the essentials of website ownership in a fast paced, yet fun & easy to follow environment Click HERE for details.
Red Flags on the Waterfront:Due Diligence for Coastal & Waterfront Property 9am-11am September 17th - w/Attorney & Waterfront Expert David Levin-FREE. Click HERE for details.
Shift Tactics: Are you learning to deal with a changing Real Estate Market? Would you like to learn how to shift gears by “bulletproofing the transaction” and “pricing ahead of the market”? DO NOT MISS Top Rated speaker Nikki Ubaldini who will present “Tactics to Success in a Shifting Market” based on the best-selling book “Shift: How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times”. Nikki is a highly rated speaker on the state and national level and has been recommended by many of our local members, so you do not want to miss this opportunity to hear from her. September 16th from 10am – 2:30pm including a Free Lunch compliments of Jim & Jean Green of Bank of America. Class is FREE to education passport members and $15.00 for non-passport members. RSVP to david-logan@comcast.net to register.
Market to the World on a Shoestring Budget: Come experience how you can reach out to the world on a shoestring budget with technology expert Barry Grooms. Topics include Web 2.0, Facebook, LinkedIn, Blogging, Postlets, Listing Syndication, and Google for Grownups. October 22nd 9am – 12pm. Class is FREE to education passport members and $15.00 for non-passport members. RSVP to david-logan@comcast.net to register.
FREE Hands-On MLS Training! Courses include “Design Web Page & Capture Leads”, “iMapp: interactive tax and mailing labels”, “Tools: MongoFax, RatePlug, ShowingTime and MLX Wireless”, “Creating a Professional CMA”, and “MLXChange Advanced” and more. Classes are HANDS ON with laptops provided. Click HERE for class schedule, additional details and to reserve a seat, space is limited!
Looking to Improve your Public Speaking or Leadership Skills? - Come join us for our next meeting of Toastmasters International on Wednesday from 7:30am – 8:45am, there is no cost to attend the meeting and you are not obligated to join, come see what this is all about. The club is open to REALTORS® and Non-REALTORS®, so invite your friends, neighbors, or co-workers. You will have the opportunity to see what a meeting is like and discover how Toastmasters can help improve your communication and leadership skills and network with other professionals. Remember, good communication skills are the keys to success in business and real estate! For more details or to RSVP for the meeting, please email David-Logan@comcast.net you can read more about Toastmasters on the web at www.toastmasters.org
Where in the World Is…..
The following agents can now be found at…
Agata Bulanda– RE/MAX Anchor
Market Watch
Florida’s Existing Home/Condo Sales Rose in June – the 10th consecutive month that sales activity showed gains in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). Statewide sales in June also increased over the previous month’s sales level in both the existing home and existing condominium markets. And, for the second month in a row, the statewide median sales price for existing homes was higher than the previous month’s statewide median. For the full story, click HERE.
July New Home Sales Up 9.6% - Sales of new U.S. homes surged 9.6 percent in July, another sign the housing market is climbing back from the historic bottom it reached early this year. The monthly increase was greater than expected and the fourth in a row and it was spurred by a decrease in the price of homes. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 433,000 from an upwardly revised June rate of 395,000. Sales are now up more than 30 percent from the bottom in January, but are still off from the frenzied peak four years ago. For the full story, click HERE.
New Credit Rating Guidelines Cut Homeowners No Slack - Facing one of the worst housing markets in memory, struggling homeowners now have another incentive to walk away from an investment gone bad. It’s hard enough to modify terms of a home mortgage, despite the federal government’s efforts to ease those procedures for individuals desperate to hold onto their houses. Unfortunately, the “Big Three” credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – have issued new guidelines that allow lenders to report new mortgage loan modifications as “partial payment status,” a designation that could lower an individual’s credit score by more than 50 points.Read the full story and find more information by clicking HERE.
Reverse Mortgages Shift Gears - Ann Tubbs and Ehtesham Maid left behind their house in Moraga more than two years ago to enjoy the urban lifestyle of San Francisco. The retired couple ended up renting a place in the city but eventually hoped to buy a home, a place they could personalize and make their own. Now, a new program made possible by federal legislation passed last year to address the foreclosure-driven housing crisis is also helping seniors use a reverse mortgage to help buy a home, provided they can come up with a large downpayment. Before the Home Equity Conversion for Purchase program rolled out in January, seniors 62 years and older could only use reverse mortgage loans to draw out tax-free payments from the equity held in an existing home while continuing to live in it. For the full story, click HERE.
Report: Chinese Drywall Has no Radioactive Threat - State and federal officials say homeowners shouldn’t worry about radioactivity from Chinese drywall. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department of Health to test drywall samples for phosphogypsum, or calcium sulfate. According to a report released Friday, traces of the material were found but the radioactive levels were no higher than what ordinarily would be found in the natural environment. Officials are continuing to investigate more than 1,100 drywall-related complaints. Chinese drywall has been blamed for emitting putrid odors and corroding metal air conditioning parts, and homeowners nationwide have complained about nosebleeds, headaches, sore throats and other ailments. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. Information from: The Bradenton Herald, http://www.bradenton.com
MLS TIP OF THE WEEK
Would you like to customize your search results page on MLXChange? You can create a personalized view for your search results as well as change your default view. This saves time when searching for a listing, by allowing you to view the information you need rather than the default information which may not be as useful. Please click HERE for detailed step-by-step instructions on how to use this customized tool.
Real Estate Trivia
This Week’s Question
Question: Understanding the role that gut instincts play in buyers’ and sellers’ behavior can help you build trust and win their business, says communications expert Kare Anderson, who writes and speaks on the topic. Do you have the keen eye and ear needed to know what your clients are feeling?
Answer: click HERE to take a quiz, developed by Anderson, to find out.
Last Week’s Question
Question: How much will it cost you to attend the Florida Association of REALTORS® Expo on Friday August, 21st?
Answer: click HERE to download the coupon for admission and find out. Hope to see you there!