REALTOR® WEEKLY UPDATE
Weekly Update on PGPCNPREALTORS.com
September 24th, 2009
To view archive editions, please click HERE.
Breaking News!
Interested in GRI, how does HALF PRICE SOUND? Do not miss out on this LIMITED TIME OFFER, ONLY 1 WEEK LEFT! 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. Email David-Logan@comcast.net for details.
September General Membership Meeting – Mark your calendars for September 25th 12pm, our next General Membership Meeting here at the Association of REALTORS®. Come enjoy a Free Lunch from Wood Street Grill generously provided by Brian Chapman of State Farm Insurance and drinks by Patriot Self Storage. We will be given a demonstration of the brand new Blue Dasher program which will be an added available feature in the MLS, giving you the opportunity to take a virtual driving tour of our area and see a listing’s neighborhood before you drive out to see it in person. Also there will be some exciting information on new benefits provided by your Association. You do not want to miss this meeting. Due to the catered lunch an RSVP is required, email Linda Pizarro at l.pizarro@comcast.net today to reserve your seat.
New Professional Development Opportunities – email David-Logan@comcast.net for questions or to sign up. All Courses are FREE to Education Passport Members. Do not miss these opportunities to obtain the knowledge and learn the skills which will increase your business and earn more money!
Oct 14th 9am Free International Seminar: Hear from two local international attorneys as well as a currency exchange expert and take advantage of the opportunity to sell to international buyers!
Oct 15th 1pm Free Mortgage/Finance Seminar: Local lending experts discuss new regulations which have serious consequences for your clients, learn the fact directly from the source.
Oct 22nd 9am Market to the World on a Shoestring Budget: Learn to use web 2.0, Facebook, Blogs, Postlets, Google, and other resources to increase your marketing for little or no extra money.
Oct 30th 1pm Homebuyers & Mortgages (4 Hours CE Credit): Information that every homebuyer needs to know about issues regarding financing a home in today’s market!
Nov 3rd 1pm Free e-PRO Workshop: Learn about the NAR designation that sets you apart as knowledgeable and ready to use technology to increase your business, sign up HERE.
Nov 10th 12pm FREE Short Sales, Foreclosure & Bankruptcy Seminar: Hear from attorney Mark Martella about how to navigate the process and know the right terminology. FREE LUNCH!
Dec 3rd 1pm How to Increase Repeat and Referral Business: Hear Nationally Recognized Real Estate Educator Richard Flint and learn how to keep the clients coming back & increase referrals!
last week’s winner – After a disaster, inc
Vicky McPhee has won a $25 Gas Card, compliments of After A Disaster. A FLOOD...backed-up sewer… whatever the water disaster, all the victims want is to turn things around and get back to normal fast. But who to call? Who to trust to get the job done right? We have the expertise and experience to pump out the water, dry the property thoroughly and clean up the mess quickly and efficiently. We offer these advantages:
FAST EMERGENCY RESPONSE
POWERFUL DRYING EQUIPMENT
EXPERT TREATMENT OF WATER-EXPOSED CONTENTS
THOROUGH DRYING AND MOLD PREVENTION
Night or Day, 24 - Hour Service Call Robin or Kevin at 866-509-4561 or visit our website at www.aadisaster.com
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK!!
Karen Rolland, President
My fellow REALTORS® and Members,
Well folks, once again the news is good for our area. Today’s newsletter is about an hour later than usual because we wanted to wait until the FAR statistics were released to the public at 11:05 this morning. Those statistics indicate that our area is up 31% over last year at this time in single family existing home sales and that we are up 186% in existing condo sales for the same time period. Yes, prices are down but that means affordability is AWESOME! Charlotte County is the #1 county in the state and #7 in the country for affordability and that is all good for us!! Between that and having Port Charlotte selected as the #1 place to retire it should be easier to get your buyers off of the fence. We are already seeing the increase in activity and it is great!
Your leadership team has been busy this week. The Nominating Committee met and is in the process of putting together the recommended slate of officers and Board of Directors for those who will be reaching the end of their term this year. For those who are new to the process and the Association, each year there is an election for these positions. Officers are elected each year with the exception of the President. That position is automatically filled by the President Elect. Members of the Board of Directors serve a three year term (except the officers and the Past President who serve for one year) so whenever a term expires, an election is made to fill the vacated position for the next three year term. The Nominating Committee, comprised of the Immediate Past President (Bill Dryburgh), the current President (that would be me), the current President Elect (Bob Gray), and two other REALTOR members meet to identify qualified individuals (have worked as a committee chair, a past officer, or are very active with the Association working on committees, and have a previous background in business or management) to fill the vacated positions. They come up with a mutually agreed upon slate of candidates. That slate is then presented to the Board of Directors for approval. If the slate is approved, a ballot showing the recommended slate is distributed via mail to the eligible voting membership at least three weeks prior to the election. At that time, additional qualified candidates may be placed in nomination by petition signed by at least 5% of the eligible REALTOR voting members. The petition must be filed with Linda Pizarro, our CEO, at least 2 weeks prior to the election. At that time, they are interviewed by the Nominating Committee to ensure they are qualified to fill the position applied for. If the petitioner meets the requirements, Linda will then send notice of any additional nominations to all eligible voting members before the election. The election is concluded at the annual meeting. All ballots must be received prior to the conclusion of the annual meeting. Votes can be cast in person at the Association or via signed facsimile. You can expect to receive the Nominating Committee’s recommended slate in the form of a ballot in the mail soon. When you receive it, you can complete it and return it to the Association office (in person or via fax) immediately, if you like the slate, or you can wait to see if more candidates are added and submit your ballot at that time. Either way, you must submit a ballot and vote. The ballots are due prior to the end of the Annual Meeting in October. If you have any questions about the process, please contact Linda Pizarro. I know, pretty boring stuff, but it is important that you know!! It confused the heck out of me the first time around so I thought it may help to have a recap!
I had a tough time deciding what to write about this week because there is so much happening but if you come to the General Membership meeting tomorrow we can catch up on the rest….and there WILL be food! Have a great week and happy selling! Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your President this year.
Education Corner
FREE E-PRO SEMINAR: Tuesday, November 3rd 1pm – 2:30pm. The rules of business are changing, especially in the real estate industry. NAR’s e-PRO® Certification Program is designed to help REALTORS® thrive in the exciting and rewarding world of online real estate. The Program provides the insight needed for you to remain at the forefront of the online real estate industry. Learn: Options and requirements to Get Connected, Best practices for e-mail communication and online Marketing and How to create and maintain your Internet Marketing and Practices Plan. Don't miss this FREE e-PRO® Workshop with Certified e-PRO® Trainer Steven Seidenberg. At this workshop, he will give you a number of technology tips you can put to use right away to help differentiate yourself from the competition. Register Now! Seating is Limited! To register, simply visit http://ePROworkshop.InternetCrusade.com or call toll free 1-866-ePRONAR (1-866-377-6627). Attendees will also have the opportunity to take advantage of the $60 discount for enrolling into the online e-PRO® course. All existing e-PRO®s (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 (Certified Residential Specialist), ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative), and CIPS (Certified International Property Specialist).
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…
Sylvanne "Annie" Giguere – Century 21 Almar
Judith Harris – Anderson & Associates
Linda Atkinson – Coldwell Banker Sunstar
Market Watch
Industry Groups: Reform Appraisal Process - The National Association of Realtors® (NAR), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), and appraisal groups met yesterday with federal regulatory officials during the Residential Real Estate Appraisal Summit. The groups discussed constructive solutions to current appraisal problems. Among the problems discussed: the use by some appraisers of foreclosed or other distressed properties as comparables without proper adjustments. The groups also talked about the unintended consequences of the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC), including an inability to obtain the quality appraisals required in today’s distressed markets. For the full article, click HERE.
Homeowners get Drywall Tax Break - Hillsborough County homeowners with problematic drywall imported from China could get a big break on their property taxes. But the county’s revenue fund will have to pay the price, up to $5 million by some estimates. The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser’s Office is evaluating homes and offering to halve the estimated value in the worst cases. The value of the land would not be included in the deduction. “We don’t want to make it even more difficult for people already burdened by this problem,” said Warren Weathers, who is with the property appraiser’s office. “We wanted to respond to this quickly.” Homeowners have complained that the drywall emits a corrosive gas that damages appliances, gives off a rotten-egg stench and may cause health problems. Read the full story and find more information by clicking HERE.
Inexpensive Advertising - "The most inexpensive type of advertising is word of mouth," says Sandler Dickson, broker/sales associate with RE/MAX Professional Realty, Tallahassee. Dickson has taken the practice of grass-roots neighborhood involvement to great heights. If roadside litter needs to be picked up, he'll organize a crew of volunteers. At election time, he's one of the first to help get out the vote. "If you show that you're willing to make the effort for them, they'll respond in kindness back to you," says Dickson. Click HERE to see how you can do it too!
Real estate trivia
This Week’s Question
Question: Mortgages and Lending has been in the news a lot lately, how much do you know about the language of lending? Do you know what Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stand for? What about URLA and FICO?
Answer: Click HERE to see how well you know lending lingo!
Last Week’s Question
Question: Have you ever wondered where to find some really interesting pictures of real estate signs? What is the funniest, worst, or most interesting sign that you have ever seen?
Answer: click HERE to check out some very interesting real estate signs and advertisements.