BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Next Friday, November 2 |
Please register online at thescaorstore.com to attend the FREE Membership meeting next Friday, November 2.
Breakfast and coffee will be provided as you review the plans for our building expansion, changes to the by-laws, committee membership for 2008, possibly joining with Coastal Association of REALTORS® and more. Come find out what all the "building" excitement is about! If you don't attend, you won't be informed and "in the know" about all that your board offers to its members. |
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SAVE THE DATE:
NOVEMBER 6 HOUSING SUMMIT
Learn about the foreclosure situation, agencies that help first time homebuyers, hear from elected officials and other agencies that can help YOU, the REALTOR®, make that sale even in the current market.
Sign up to attend the FREE, informative Housing Summit on Tuesday, November 6. |
SHOP FOR THE KIDS – November 27
| The RCS Committee will shop for the needy children on November 27 at the K-Mart in Rehoboth starting at 7 a.m..
Don‘t forget to mark your calendar – we need lots of shoppers for this huge project. |
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Learn more about our southern neighbors just over the county line in Maryland. Click on www.coastalassociationofrealtors.org, and see how much we have in common! They have 1,400 members, a Board of Directors, and span the area from Ocean City to Salisbury. Joining forces could give SCAOR economy of scale for purchases, create more education opportunities for REALTORS®, and much more!
California fires have destroyed more than 1,500 homes and displaced more than 500,000 people. The National Association of REALTORS® is calling on its 1.3 million members to contribute to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation, which distributes donations to help these and other victims of natural disasters. NAR has taken the lead by donating a half million dollars to aid the California victims. Donate online at www.realtor.org or by mailing a contribution to:
REALTORS® Relief Foundation
Attn: NAR Finance Division
430 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611.
Contributions are tax deductible.
FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP IS HERE!
WHAT IS FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP? WELL...
Fractional Ownership is a very popular product in resort areas because it allows an owner to be economically intelligent and to purchase high end real estate to use for the amount of time the owner has available. Fractional ownership can be from 6 weeks to as many as 10 weeks per year. The property is in your name (YOU own the real estate), you can rent it if you are not able to use the time, you can sell it and you can trade it for other properties around the world! Properties are managed by a management company and typically there is a concierge service that takes care of equipping the house, makes reservations and ensures your stay is pleasant and worry free.
To place your listing in this category, your property MUST be Fee Simple AND available 6 or more weeks of the year. This category is NOT for Timeshares!
The National Association of REALTORS® and Smart Growth America have partnered on a national survey that was released October 25, 2007. NAR and Smart Growth America, a coalition of nearly 100 nonprofit organizations promoting a better way to grow, recently conducted a national survey of 1,000 Americans to look at attitudes about growth and development and the policies they support for creating better communities. Topics covered include traffic, paying for infrastructure maintenance, and support for various measures to address climate change. The press release announcing the survey results is available here.
For questions, contact Sara Weis, NAR at (202) 383-1013 or sweis@realtors.org.
CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER
| Christophe Clark of RE/MAX Realty - Rehoboth has earned the highly coveted and respected Accredited Buyer Representative designation.
Congratulations to Christophe on achieving this accomplishment! |
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Writing Good Ads
Okay, I don't mind telling you, I really don't like writing ads. But it's really important in our business because it's our chance to really "sell" our listing and get a potential buyer to call us.
Click for good ad writing tips >>
The new Statewide Sales Agreement for Delaware is now available in a format that you can edit and save. The new sales agreement is streamlined, easier to use, and easier for homebuyers and homesellers to understand.
Statewide Sales Agreement for Delaware >>
The Radon Disclosure form has been revised to remove the word "hazard." The intent of the disclosure is that the seller would disclose the presence of "any known radon" vs. "any known radon hazards." Please ensure your office is using the correct form:
ETHICALLY SPEAKING...
Article 17
In the event of contractual disputes or specific non-contractual disputes as defined in Standard of Practice 17-4 between REALTORS® (principals) Associated with different firms, arising out of their relationship as REALTORS®, the REALTORS® shall submit the dispute to arbitration in accordance with the regulations of their Board or Boards rather than litigate the matter.
In the event clients of REALTORS® wish to arbitrate contractual disputes arising out of real estate transactions, REALTORS® shall arbitrate those disputes in accordance with the regulations of their Board, provided the clients agree to be bound by the decision.
The obligation to participate in arbitration contemplated by this Article includes the obligation of REALTORS® (principals) to cause their firms to arbitrate and be bound by any award. (Amended 1/01)
Standard of Practice 17-4
Specific non-contractual disputes that are subject to arbitration pursuant to Article 17 are:
- Where a listing broker has compensated a cooperating broker and another cooperating broker subsequently claims to be the procuring cause of the sale or lease. In such cases the complainant may name the first cooperating broker as respondent and arbitration may proceed without the listing broker being named as a respondent. When arbitration occurs between two (or more) cooperating brokers and where the listing broker is not a party, the amount in dispute and the amount of any potential resulting award is limited to the amount paid to the respondent by the listing broker and any amount credited or paid to a party to the transaction at the direction of the respondent. Alternatively, if the complaint is brought against the listing broker, the listing broker may name the first cooperating broker as a third-party respondent. In either instance the decision of the hearing panel as to procuring cause shall be conclusive with respect to all current or subsequent claims of the parties for compensation arising out of the underlying cooperative transaction. (Adopted 1/97, Amended 1/07)
ON THE SAFE SIDE
To be on the SAFE SIDE, please review the MLS Rules and Regulations to eliminate errors in the system that could lead to MLS violations and fines. To print out a copy of the rules, simply click on "standard forms" in InnoVia. Click on "2005 MLS fine system-rev07-04.pdf" for a complete list of MLS violations and fines associated with them. For the latest version of the MLS Rules and Regulations, click on "2007 MLS Rules.pdf." These rules and regulations have been submitted and reviewed by NAR and are in full compliance with National Association policy.
(Continued from October 5 newsletter)
MINOR VIOLATIONS - $25
When one of the violations listed below is alleged, the SCAOR staff will send a Listing Complaint & Fine Notification by fax to the attention of the Participant (and verified by phone to the Participant). The Participant must have the error corrected within 48 hours of verification.
Depending on the information to be corrected, the SCAOR staff may make the required changes.
Violations include:
- Entries in the cooperative commission field other than a specific dollar amount, percentage, or combination thereof.
- Entering status changes relating to amendments to the Participants listing agreement with a seller without the seller's written consent.
- Failure to provide the Service with any documentation requested by the Service within 3 business days of request.
- Failure to report a correct listing expiration date.
- Failure to list properties which are sold or which may be sold separately individually in the listing agreement and on the Property Data Form.
- Failure to properly notify the Service when part of a listed property is sold.
- Any listing turned in to the MLS with any reference to the listing broker or agent or phone numbers included in the customer "remarks" section of the profile sheet will be automatically deleted by the SCAOR office upon notification and verification.
- Any listing turned in to the MLS with any reference to a listing broker, agent or firm on photos or virtual tours.
- Entering a listing in more than one property type, for example: Single Family/Condo.
F R E E
HOMEOWNERSHIP & MORTGAGE
FORECLOSURE PREVENTION CLINIC |
| The State of Delaware and the Delaware Foundation of Housing Counselors invite you to attend this FREE clinic.
Topics include:
Ten Ways to Avoid Foreclosure; Introduction to State and Federal Foreclosure Prevention Programs; and Understanding Adjustable Rate Mortgages.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their mortgage documents for review.
Housing Counselors and other professionals will be available to answer questions and provide assistance.
For more information, please call:
Barbara Clark
Delaware Bank Commissioner's Office
(302) 739-4235 |
The next clinic
is scheduled for:
November 13, 2007
6:30 p.m.
Harrington Library
Harrington, DE |
Delaware Department of Transportation - Public Meeting
Next Tuesday, October 30
Learn more about the proposed Standards and Regulations for Subdivision Streets and State Highway Access. DelDot will hold an Informational Public Meeting on Tuesday, October 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the DelDOT Administration Building, Felton/Farmington Room, at 800 Bay Road, Dover.
The purpose of the meeting is to give the public a better understanding of why updated regulations are necessary, and to clearly spell out what the differences are between the old and new regulations. The regulations revise, update, and consolidate the Rules and Regulations for Subdivision Streets, enacted in December 1981, and the Standards and Regulations for Access to State Highways, enacted in August 1983. These regulations define the requirements which apply to:
- new subdivisions and land development;
- changed or expanded subdivisions and land development;
- any new access on to a State-maintained road;
- modifications to an existing access;
- assessment of the impacts of traffic; and
- off-site improvements.
Copies of the regulations are available upon request, or at www.deldot.gov. For further information contact Public Relations at 1-800-652-5600 (in DE) or 302-760-2080.
The Positive Growth Alliance urges all who interact with DelDOT to attend this meeting.
Additional October 30 - November 29 Delaware News & Meetings
Did you know there was a listing of answers and instructions for Frequently Asked Lockbox Questions?
Find them here at the SentriLock Q&A Archive >>
Congratulations to our SentriSecure Offices!
SentriSecure Brokerages as of 10.25.07 >>
Brokerages with Combo Boxes as of 10.25.07 >>
