REALTOR® WEEKLY UPDATE

 

Weekly Update on PGPCNPREALTORS.com
October 9th, 2008   To view archive editions click HERE
This week the thoughts and prayers of the Association go out to our System's Specialist Mary Gitzen upon the passing of her brother Kevin after a long battle with cancer. Memorial donations may be made to TideWell Hospice. To express condolences to the family, please visit www.LTaylorFuneral.com and sign the online guest book.
 
Last Week’s Winner!!
Tony Gillen - $20 Gift Certificate – D’Vines Wine and Gift Emporium
Please contact Marcia Cullinan of National Bank of Southwest Florida or stop by her office to pick up your prize!
Bonded Builders Title Services, Inc. (BBTS) is a full service title insurance agency.  The home office is located in Port Charlotte at 1502 Kings Highway, Suite 300.  There is a satellite office on the East Coast in Pembroke Pines, Florida. BBTS is a member of Bankers Financial Corporation, a holding company and corporate parent to a diverse array of enterprises in insurance, home warranties and other financial services.  They are an affiliate of Bonded Builders Warranty Group and Bonded Builders Insurance Services.  BBTS is an agent of First American Title Insurance Company, one of the largest title insurance companies in the U.S. with more than 100 years of service. The Mission Statement of BBTS is to provide peace of mind to their buyers, sellers, realtors, builders and lenders by integrating the highest levels of integrity, respect and service.  We are solution oriented and deliver confidential, accurate and personalized information quickly and efficiently. BBTS is experienced in all types of real estate transactions, including short sales and reverse mortgages.  BBTS has two closing officers, Lauren Alcazar, who is also the Manager, and Carolyn Burkholder.  Lauren and Carolyn can schedule your closing at our beautiful new offices or at your office, whichever you prefer.  Their Sales and Marketing Director is Margo Grimshaw, who is very actively involved in your Association through the Business Partners and Entertainment committees. You can contact Bonded Builders Title Services, Inc. by phone at 941/624-2730 or by email at mgrimshaw@bondedbuilderstitleservices.com. Please email Margo Grimshaw to be entered in this week’s drawing for the following gift:
 
$20 Gift Certificate – Wal-Mart
From the President’s Desk
Bill Dryburgh, President
To my fellow REALTORS®, 
Don't forget your 2nd general membership meeting October 31 at noon, It is FREE..I like that word. We will have Lou Albert here to explain to us what the 700 billion bail out means to us here on the local level, it's something you won't want to miss! Also, Frank Desquin will bring us up to date on whats new in the Property Appraiser's Office, so lets all be there and if nothing else get to know each other and enjoy lunch....A FREE LUNCH!!
 
Have fun and sell!
REALTORS® GIVE BACK
Visit the Association office to drop off your new or used clothing items for victims of Hurricane Ike. Please donate items that are in good, clean, wearable condition. Help give back and remember those who sacrificed so much to help our community after Hurricane Charley. Donations of Men’s, Women’s and Children’s clothing will be accepted until October 15th.
Education Corner
Short Sale Essentials: 4 CE CREDITS. "Short Sale Essentials" is the ONLY course on the subject approved by FAR at this time.This is a comprehensive, inclusive, REALTOR® to REALTOR® instruction NOT a teaser to buy expensive CD's and manuals.  Taught to the highest standards of the Instructor Training Institute, this interactive workshop will prepare you to be successful in the "Short Sale" arena and avoid the many liabilities along the way. Email David Logan to register for this important class.
 
Tax Deferred Strategies OTHER than 1031 Exchange – 3 CE Credits $15: Highly rated NEW CE class. Defer capital gains tax without a TIC, 1031 or Triple Net Lease and receive an income stream for life! Don’t worry about Failed 1031’s again with the 1031 Rescue. November 11th 2pm E-mail David Logan to sign up for this unique opportunity. Click HERE for more details.
 
International Seminar - FREE – Learn how to better serve International Clients with “Understanding FIRPTA" by local FARR LAW FIRM attorney Dorothy Korszen and "Immigration Issues” presented by International Attorney Donna Scarlatelli. November 3rd, 9am – Noon. Click HERE for more details.
 
Unlock the power of Microsoft Office. Classes on Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher are taught by our very own Microsoft certified instructor Mary Gitzen. Visit the Education Calendar for details.
 
NAR Code of Ethics Training 3 CE Credits: Two dates to choose from - October 29th OR November 13th. All REALTORS® must take required Code of Ethics training between January 1st 2005 and December 31st 2008.
 
Contract Class: Learn the "why's" of Contract Law; Comparison and Contrasts of the FAR-9 and FAR/BAR Contracts; Step by Step instruction in Completing Contact Forms. Instructor: Bill Perrault. November 20th 9am – 2pm
 
Making the most of your Mid-Florida Membership? Sign up for additional training and unlock the tools to help you succeed! See the list of FREE Mid-Florida educational opportunities.
 
Visit the Education Calendar for full course offering and details.
 
Check your CE credits online: Visit Florida’s DBPR website to check the status of your CE credits.
Business Partners
Do you know of a business who could benefit from a partnership with our association? Business Partners have the opportunity to create a link between their service and our Realtor® members. Our local businesses members are the part of the extended Realtor® family, if you know of a business who would like to join our family, please have them contact David Logan for further details.
Upcoming EventsIt’s a Graveyard Bash!!!
Image by Cool Text: Logo and Button Generator - Create Your Own
Halloween Party to benefit the Senior Scholarship Fund
            Saturday,October 25th 6:30pm – 10:00pm – PGPCNP Association Auditorium
            Tickets $15/each$25/couple available at the Association Office. Call 629-8261.
            Lite Fare…Cash Bar…Dancing
 
Canceled - Jazz & Blues Party at Visani – October 14th 5pm $10 Donation to benefit RPAC (1st Drink Free)
 
2008 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida! Nov 7-10th
All Florida REALTORS® are entitled to FREE ADMISSION TO NAR’S EXPO ($25 value). Download the following VIP INVITATION to take advantage of this free offer. Expo features: Unlimited opportunities to shop, compare, and save on the best tools on the market. More than 600 exhibitors and the opportunity to talk directly with product experts. Second home and resort properties around the world from nearly 100 exhibitors. Win $1,000 in daily drawings or a new Cadillac CTS!
Women’s Council of Realtors®
Meetings 1st Wednesday of each month 11:30am
Next meeting Wednesday November, 12th 11:30am – Mark Martella of the Martella Law Firm will speak on how to structure your business – what are the pros and cons of various corporate structures for real estate professionals? Guests Welcome, please RSVP to Sharon Neuhofer to take advantage of this opportunity.
 
Bowling with WCR – November 1st 6pm – 8pm Treasure Lanes. Click HERE for more information and sponsorship opportunities. Contact Rose or Odette for additional information.
Don’t miss the Caravan.
A Caravan is a great opportunity to showcase your listing, network with fellow Realtors®, get pricing opinions, and have a good time. No listing to show…just come along for the ride!
Punta Gorda Caravan – 1st Thursday every month – 8:15am – Home Choice Real Estate - 6101 Duncan Rd. To have your listing included contact Mike no later than noon on the Tuesday prior to the caravan.
Port Charlotte Caravan – 3rd Thursday every month – 8:15am - PGPCNP Association Office. E-mail Karen Martin two days prior to the caravan date to have your listing included. Listings can also be faxed to Karen at 941-743-9023.
Commercial Real Estate
All Real Estate Agents are invited to the commercial brokers meeting. This is a great opportunity to see what is going on in the commercial market and meet fellow REALTORS®. October 17th 8am click for directions and details.
Legislative Update
Trying to take the offensive in an economic crisis, Gov. Charlie Crist signed an executive order Thursday freeing $571 million in state-backed financing that Real Estate Developers and reluctant buyers can tap to build and buy new homes. Read the full story HERE.
                     More Floridians dropping spiraling windstorm coverage
 
Visit FAR’s Legislative Center to stay up-to-date on political issues which impact your business. From the Capitol steps to yours: FAR reports from Tallahassee daily during the legislative session and throughout the year. If the issues relate to real estate, you'll hear about it here.
MLS Tips of the Week
Do you have an assistant? Make sure that your assistant is registered with Mid Florida and is using their own personal MLS login. No one else should be using your MLS login to access the database . According to MLS Rules and Regulations “a fine of up to $2,500 as determined by the Board of Directors for each occurrence will be assessed to any Participant/User that allows access to MFRMLS to an unauthorized person”. If you have any questions, please email Sonya Shatney.
 
No more LoginKeys as of October 7th. Starting October 7, when you login to MLXchange, you will see a new Sign In screen that asks for your User ID and password. Depending on what type of user you are, you may have different instructions for logging into MLXchange.
 
Are you still using the Alliance? The Florida Gulf Coast Real Estate Alliance provides you access to MLS for 8 Southwest Florida Regions from here to Naples.  You can access the Alliance by clicking HERE. Login using your regular MLS username and password. Keep in mind that many Charlotte County and North Port properties may be listed by Fort Myers, Cape Coral, or other MLS boards and can easly be accessed by using the Alliance.
 
Are you allowing others access to your Lockbox Key? Not only is this a major violation of your user agreement, but also a Risk Management Nightmare! If another agent or staff member accesses a home with your key and a problem results, you could be held legally liable since the records will show that you were the last visitor.
Real Estate Trivia
This Weeks’s Question
Question: During what great land boom (1919) did investors pay up to $25,000 for lots that had not yet been dredged up from the ocean?
Answer: See next week’s edition of PG-PC-NP Weekly Update!
 
Last Week’s Question
Question: What famous skilled mason laid the cornerstone of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. in 1793?
Answer: George Washington
According to Wikipedia: Adorned in Masonic attire, George Washington laid the cornerstone on September 18, 1793 during a groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the Capitol. The stone is located near the Old Supreme Court, through a passageway taken by people visiting the United States Senate Gallery. It is not known that this actually is the original cornerstone, but it was engraved with a Masonic symbol and commissioned in 1893 (100 years after its placement). The cornerstone has been moved from its original location.