REALTOR® WEEKLY UPDATE
Weekly Update on PGPCNPREALTORS.com
October 1st, 2009
To view archive editions, click HERE.
Breaking News!
Doing Business in PGI? The Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association is hosting a reception for REALTORS® to introduce a new partnership between the Civic Association and the REALTOR® community. If you do business or want to do business in PGI then you do not want to miss this event. Event is open to all REALTORS® on October 6th from 5-7pm at the PGI Civic Association 2001 Shreve St. RSVP is REQUIRED, email bethmagnin@pgica.org or 637-1655 to reserve your space today. Refreshments provided, and make sure to bring your business card, there will be a prize drawing!
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 facts 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!
REALTOR® Health Insurance - According to NAR studies, nearly 30% of NAR members lack health insurance and many more are significantly underinsured. Ideally, everyone would have major medical insurance, but many people simply do not qualify due to pre-existing conditions or cannot afford the high cost of coverage. Are you one of the thousands of NAR members who have requested a quote for Limited Medical Indemnity Insurance through NAR’s new REALTORS® Core Health Insurance (RCHI) Program? If not, maybe it’s time to look into the options and see if any of RCHI’s exclusively-designed plans fit your health insurance needs. Check out details and more information HERE.
REALTOR® Call to Action - REALTORS® from all around the country recently sat down in front of our camera to send Congress an important message: the $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit is working. But with the credit set to expire soon, it's not enough. Click HERE for more information and details on how to respond to this important call to action.
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK!!
Karen Rolland, President
My fellow REALTORS® and Members,
Have you ever had one of those weeks when you just can’t seem to get anything done? Well, that has been my week this week. Lots of stuff on the infamous “To Do” list but something just always seems to be getting in the way of what the real plans were for the week. I HATE when that happens. But one thing I did do this week was to work on a new module that has been added to the e-Pro program offered through NAR. It deals strictly with Web 2.0 and it is excellent. I am about three-quarters of the way through it so far and I have picked up some great information. If you are into Social Networking or thinking about it, I can assure you that you will benefit from this course. It is self-paced and entirely on the computer but you can print out the materials upon completion of the course. Professional Development has arranged to have someone from e-Pro at our Association on November 3 from 1-2:30. I am sure they will most likely offer some sort of discount if you decide to sign up for the course that day.
No doubt about it, the market is starting to turn around! Let’s embrace the change and get ready for season because the indications are there that it will be much better than we have seen in quite some time. High end homes are starting to move as well as those that are at the lower end. Get prepared, take advantage of the MFR webinars, the Professional Development seminars and anything else you can get your hands on to be ready to serve the new surge of customers. They are different, they do their research and they require us to be at the top of our game. Know your farm areas, know the community, and know your business.
If you missed the General Meeting last week, you missed a couple of really good presentations and an unbelievable lunch from Wood Street Grill, compliments of Brian Chapman State Farm Insurance with drinks provided by Patriot Self Storage. Jennifer Thompson-Kersting was with us to give us a spin on Blue Dasher, a new product being offered by MFR, Bill Dryburgh gave us a legislative update, and Lowes presented their REALTOR® benefits package. It was so great to see so many of you there. We had standing room only….which makes me wonder who didn’t RSVP?! Oh, and by the way, David Logan is a new daddy so be sure you congratulate him on his second daughter, Lilliana, next time you see him. She was born during the middle of the meeting!
On that note, have a great week and happy selling!
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…
To Download a complete membership roster, click HERE
Michael Yost – Murdock Realty
Ken Poirier – Fisherman’s Village Realty
Market Watch
Review of Manatee Protection Rules - A decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to review existing Florida manatee protection rules was hailed by environmentalists Tuesday as a welcome first step in a process that could expand the designated habitat for the endangered mammal in South Florida. In response to a petition filed by the Save the Manatee Club and three other groups, government scientists will consider updating critical habitat designations of the endangered mammal that were originally drawn in 1976. “This is a very important step forward, but it does not signal a major upheaval” in regulations now governing boating or development, said Miyoko Sakashita, a spokeswoman for the Center for Biological Diversity. “But it is important that habitat protection reflects best available science.” For the full article, click HERE.
Chinese Drywall Makers may Ignore Suites - Lawyers representing U.S. homeowners and homebuilders who used drywall suspected of causing corrosion and possible health risks say they expect Chinese companies that made the wallboard to ignore hundreds of lawsuits filed against them in U.S. courts. So, who’s going to be on the hook for any damages courts might award? That’s the pivotal question for lawyers as they pursue about 300 lawsuits in U.S. District Court in New Orleans that allege a flood of defective Chinese drywall was sent into the United States after a string of hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. The material is known to decay, creating corrosive chemicals and fumes. Among tactics lawyers are considering are suits against U.S. investment bankers who financed the Chinese companies, and seizing ships that brought the drywall to the United States. Read the full story and find more information by clicking HERE.
Getting the Most out of Craigslist? Josh Schoenly, who blogs about real estate investments and operates Capitol City Investments in southeastern Pennsylvania, says Craigslist.com helps generate quality leads for his business. Click HERE for his six steps to getting the most out of Craigslist as a low/no-cost marketing tool.
Real estate trivia
This Week’s Question
Question: Today is October 1st, 2009, the 111th birthday of the Model T Ford which revolutionized car culture in America, and certainly has helped to shape the business of real estate (how much do you use your car for business?) The car sat two, sold for $850 and in less than 20 years sold more than 15 million units.
Answer: Click HERE to find out what else happened on October 1st over the years.
Last 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!