In our role as watchdogs, I like to say we're really howling right now. In this economic climate where Sussex Countians are already paying $4 for a gallon of gas, higher grocery prices and increasingly burdensome utility rates, to force homeowners into laying out thousands of dollars for new septic systems would be difficult, to put it mildly.

Click Here to Find Out How YOU Can Help >>

 
Listing of June 23, 2008 through July 24, 2008
Delaware News & Meetings
Please pay special attention to the June 23 listing for the DNREC Public Hearing on the Inland Bay Pollution Control Strategy (PCS). That's this Monday evening at the CHEER Center, 6 pm.

 
 

MLS annual dues are due by July 1st. If they are unpaid by July 1st, there will be a $50 re-connection fee per agent.

The Rookies will host designers from Tribeca Design for a fun, informative and FREE interactive presentation of home staging.

Coming to the SCAOR office this Wednesday, June 25^th at 1:00 pm.

It's FUN, it's FREE, and for ALL.
Please Click Here to RSVP!

To ALL SCAOR REALTOR^® Members:

The Association's Nominating Committee is now accepting nominations for the 2009 Leadership team. As a potential Board of Director member, your responsibility to SCAOR would be to help move the Association in a positive forward direction and have a genuine concern for the members. With the rapid changes that are occurring in the real estate industry, as well as DAR and the National Association of REALTORS^®, a leadership position is a very important job. As a volunteer, we try to keep the meetings to a minimum. Your attendance is requested at all Board of Director meetings, Broker meetings, and any social events put on by the Association. You may also be asked to help lobby at legislative hall in Dover if an important bill needs support.

If you are interested in applying for any of the positions listed below, please complete the attached form and return it to SCAOR. It is important that you supply the Committee with as much information about yourself as possible. The nomination committee will review, in detail, all the applications received, and its recommendation to the Board of Directors for a Slate of Officers will be based on the information you provide.

Applications are found by clicking here. . . Deadline is July 6th!

• 1^st Vice President - One year term, a position of growth towards the Presidency, not automatic renewal position Click here for job description
• 2^nd Vice President - One year term, a position of growth towards the Presidency, not automatic renewal position Click here for job description
• Treasurer - One year term, responsible for the finances of SCAOR and chairperson of the Finance Committee Click here for job description
• 1 Year Director - A one year term
• 2 Year Director - A two year term
• 3 Year Director - A three year term

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Association Office at 855-2300. Interested members should return the completed nomination form to SCAOR by Sunday, July 6.

Broker Licensing Course Coming to Sussex County! Starting August 26 Only 22 openings available Register by completing attached registration form and returning with payment.

 
 

MLS UPDATE - REVISITED

A worthwhile revisit from last week's MLS Update! Two quick reminders for SCAOR MLS Participants and Subscribers: Selling Procedures: Section 2: Showings and Negotiations: Appointments for showing and negotiations with the seller for the purchase of listed property filed with the MLS shall be conducted through the listing broker, except under the following circumstances: the listing broker gives the cooperating broker specific authority to show and/or negotiate directly, or after reasonable effort, the cooperating broker can not contact the listing broker or his representative; however, the listing broker, at his option, may preclude such direct negotiations by cooperating brokers. SUMMARY: Call before showing! Listing Procedures: Section 1.3: Exempted listings: If the Seller refuses to permit the listing to be disseminated by the Service, the REALTOR® may then take the listing ("Office Exclusive") and such listing shall be filed with the Service but not disseminated to the Participants. Filing of the listing should be accompanied by separate certification signed by the seller that he does not desire the listing to be disseminated by the Service, A copy is to be sent to the Association office. There are no other exemptions to filing a listing with the service, rather it be residential, commercial, farms, etc. SUMMARY: Send the appropriate waiver to the SCAOR office. And, please, when in doubt check with your Broker or call the office.

Remember to scan these into InnoVia when inputting your listings. By doing so, you are marketing your seller's property more effectively. We hear that potential buyers are viewing these as they sit with their agent reviewing listings to determine properties to tour.

• A missing disclosure may alert the potential buyer that possible problems exist with the property.
• You and the co-broke agent save time and money when you make these documents available on your listings.

We thank our members that make this a mandatory part of the listing input process.

 

This week's topic is ADAPTING TO A SLOW MARKET. We all knew it couldn't last forever. The good times were great, but were we really "sales agents" or just "order takers"? Multiple offers, multiple clients, multiple appointments—we were all running. But as they say, "all good things must come to an end". Click Here to Read the Article >>

Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) is pleased to announce the Single Family Mortgage Revenue Bond (SFMRB) issue. Providing $69,000,000 in below-market rate mortgage loans, the program interest rates are as follows:

30 year low rate: 6.25%
30 year assisted* rate: 6.75% (with 3% grant)

*Assisted grant is equal to 3% of loan amount to assist with settlement costs and down payment.

Borrowers and/or REALTORS^® may contact participating lenders or DSHA for further information and eligibility. Visit www.destatehousing.com or email Cynthia A. Karnai at Cynthia@destatehousing.com.

Our MLS now houses commercial leases in a separate category. Previously these listings were included with commercial sale listings. If you have not already done so, please review all of your commercial listings and move leases to the new commercial lease category.

To do this, it will be necessary for you to terminate the lease transaction if it exists in the commercial sale category and re-list the lease in the new commercial lease category. To re-enter the listing under commercial lease, simply click on, "Maintenance", then "Listing Maintenance", then click "Add New". Then you can select "Commercial Lease" and input your listing under the correct category.

It is required that Participants input all commercial lease listings unless a MLS Waiver has been filed with the board office.

The Education committee is considering offering Spanish for REALTORS^® in the fall.

If interested, please click to email tracylee@scaor.com this month.

You must attend all 7 courses (2-hour, weekly classes over a 7-week period) to obtain your 15 credit continuing education certificate. Prospective class dates and times are Mondays, 10 a.m. - 12 noon, beginning September 8.

Sussex County Association of REALTORS^®
and REALTOR^® COMMUNITY SERVICE FOUNDATION

Live & Silent Auction
October 23, 2008
5:30 – 10 p.m.
The Baycenter, Dewey Beach
Cost TBD... but SAVE THE DATE!

Heavy Hors D'oeuvres & Cash Bar (One Free Drink Ticket)

Which committee does . . . Meet and Greet; the NAR mid-year bus trip to Washington, D.C.; sponsors Home From Work and Disability Visibility?   Don't know yet?   Well, we just changed the name, and we're looking for more members! It was Diversity, and is now Housing Opportunities Partners!  

This better reflects our ongoing outreach to all REALTORS^® and agencies to work together with our customers to help them find the perfect fit in a home. Join us at our next meeting on July 16 at 12:00 noon at the SCAOR office. For more information contact Sandy Duncan at sandysellzhomez@comcast.net.

Below is a case interpretation related to Article 13 of the Code of Ethics. Article 13 is an important one, and we repeat it here:

Article 13 REALTORS® shall not engage in activities that constitute the unauthorized practice of law and shall recommend that legal counsel be obtained when the interest of any party to the transaction requires it.

Please read the complaint below and make a judgment on how the Professional Standards Panel should rule. The Hearing Panel's decision will be published in next week's At a Glance.

Case #13-3: REALTOR^®'s Obligation to Recommend Counsel When Needed

REALTOR^® A was the listing broker for 25 acres of land owned by Client B. Shortly after REALTOR^® A's sign was placed upon the property, Customer C called REALTOR^® A and expressed interest in purchasing the property. After inspecting the property, Customer C made a full price offer. Surprised, Client B prepared a counter-offer at a higher price. REALTOR^® A realized that he might have a legal claim for commission from Client B, but not wishing to jeopardize their relationship, agreed that he would go back to Customer C and attempt to negotiate a higher price. Upon being informed of the property owner's change of mind and his requested higher price for the property, Customer C became upset and indicated his intent to consult his attorney to determine if he could force the seller to go through with the sales transaction at the price for which it had been originally offered. At this point REALTOR^® A advised Customer C that, in his opinion, litigation would be lengthy and expensive and that in the final analysis the sale could not be enforced. On the basis of REALTOR^® A's advice Customer C agreed to the higher price, and the transaction was consummated. Shortly after, Customer C complained to the Board of REALTORS^® that REALTOR^® A had provided bad advice to him. The Secretary referred the complaint to the Grievance Committee which determined that a hearing should be held and referred the matter back to the Secretary to arrange such a hearing.

At the hearing, Customer C outlined his complaint to the Hearing Panel of the Professional Standards Committee. He indicated that he had intended to consult his attorney, however, because of the persuasive personality of REALTOR^® A and REALTOR^® A's assurance that legal action would be an exercise in futility, he had not done so.

REALTOR^® A advised the panel that he had told Customer C that he could consult his attorney, but that, in his opinion, it would be a waste of time. He defended what he had told Customer C stating that it was only his opinion, not intended as a conclusive statement of law, and, in fact, was a correct statement under the law of the state.

What did the Hearing Panel rule?
Find out in next week's At a Glance.

 
 
DUCKS ARE FLOCKING BACK TO THE JUNGLE

What's that noise in the distance?

It's the flocks of rubber duckies flexing their wings to prepare for the Second Annual Rubber Duckie/RPAC family event at Jungle Jim's!

Bring the family and enjoy a friendly competition on Friday, September 5 between REALTORS^® and their offices to see who is the leader of the flock, and who is the lame duck coming in dead last. Last year's losers cried fowl, but can they do any better this year?

Join the Flock and Support RPAC too — Buy early and buy lots of tickets for family and friends!

 

Delaware Association of REALTORS® Presents "Your Sure Bet for Success" 2008 Convention October 2 and 3, 2008 Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, Dover, DE Registration now open at www.delawarerealtor.com Share this flyer with your office and associates. We look forward to seeing you at Dover Downs in October!

 
 

A U G U S T
5	MLS Meeting	9 am
26	Government Affairs Meeting	9 am
28	MLS Training	9 am
S E P T E M B E R
5	RPAC Duck Race and Family Event Let the Races Begin - Registration Now Online!
O C T O B E R
2 - 3	DAR Annual Convention at Dover Downs
23	Live & Silent Auction	5:30 - 10 pm
N O V E M B E R
19	Affiliate Bus Trip to "Gypsy" on Broadway Tickets are selling fast — Buy yours here >>	All Day