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Questions about dues?
Please contact Crystal at crystal@scaor.com, or at (302) 855-2300,
extension 201, or just press 2 after calling the SCAOR office to reach her.
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RCS SHOPPING & WRAPPING
RCS SHOPPING DAY - This Tuesday, December 2, 7:00 am until...
at K-Mart, 4364 Route 1, Rehoboth Beach
Come shop for the Sussex County kids for as long as you can -- from 1 hour to all day for some great fun! Think of the smiling faces.
RCS WRAPPING DAY
Thursday, December 11, 9 am until...
at Crabbers Cove, Dewey Beach
Again, 1 hour or all day = see it all come together!
SCAOR OFFICE CLOSINGS
The SCAOR office will close at 3 p.m. next Friday, December 5 for staff training and be closed part of the day for the 2009 Installation of Officers on Tuesday, December 9.
REALTOR® SAFETY ALERT!
Numerous female REALTORS® have been approached by a prospective male customer. He insists on only working with a female agent, only wants to view vacant properties, and claims that money is no object.
As always, follow REALTOR® Safety Guidelines:
- Work with another REALTOR®.
- Pre-program your cell phone to 9-1-1.
- Notify your office where you will be, and when you should return.
- Have a pre-arranged phrase to use that signals "I need help" to everyone in your office.
- And finally, if it simply feels wrong, do NOT show the property.
Email any information you might have, if you have encountered this person, to Ruth@scaor.com.
With our nation fighting through its worst financial crisis in decades and with lawmakers in Washington continuing to look for answers, we here at the Sussex County Association of REALTORS® have three words for them: the housing market.
Yes, the housing market. Nationally, it is struggling, but any long-term plan to boost the American economy must include the real estate markets.
Click here to read more >>
ALERT - Sussex County Council will discuss "open space" definitions during the regular meeting this coming Tuesday, December 2.
Read the proposed ordinance >>
TRANSFER TAX ALERT - Our County Council is also considering imposing the 1-1/2% County realty transfer tax on the value of land plus improvements, that is, construction contracts which may be entered into either prior to the date of the transfer of the land or within 1 year from the date of the transfer of the land.
Read the proposed ordinance >>
Tuesday's meeting begins at 10:00 am at the Sussex County Administrative Office Building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown, DE. The public hearing on the Realty Transfer Tax is scheduled for 10:30 am. The hearing on open space definitions is scheduled for 1:30 pm. Full agenda >>
Full Listing of November 26, 2008 through January 5, 2008
Delaware Planning News & Meetings
| New Certification Form Required Immediately |
| On October 31, 2008, Governor Minner signed Senate Bill 273, the Delaware Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (DUCIOA). This is a re-write of the Unit Property Act which has been Delaware's condominium law for decades. This new law covers all communities with common space, such as condominiums, cooperatives, and communities with maintenance associations.
THIS LAW IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. For real estate professionals, the most important and immediate need is to make sure the sellers disclose the information required by DUCIOA. Attached is a form prepared to use for disclosing this information. The real estate licensee should not be the one to complete this form. It is the sellers' responsibility to provide this information to the buyer no later than the time of signing the Agreement of Sale.
Common Interest Community Resale Certification Form >>
Full Legal Update >> |
RELIEF PITCHERS SUMMIT
Statistics indicate a strong likelihood that families right in your congregation, workplace, group or community are in danger of losing their homes through foreclosure. You don't know who they are, and research shows they are unlikely to speak up or seek relief.
As a leader, you are in a unique position to make the pitch that will help, but how?
| What: |
Relief Pitchers Summit |
| When: |
Friday, December 12, 1-2 p.m. |
| Where: |
Conference & Training Center, Terry Campus of Delaware Technical and Community College, 100 Campus Drive, Dover DE 19901 |
Speakers include U.S. Sen. Thomas R. Carper, Congressman Michael Castle (invited), Lt. Gov. John C. Carney Jr., Dover Mayor Carleton E. Carey Sr., Delaware State Housing Authority Director Saundra R. Johnson and Karen Speakman, Deputy Director of NCALL. Learn what families at risk of foreclosure may be thinking, the counseling and financial resources available to them, and network with your associates to make great things happen. Both the event and parking are free.
Please RSVP to Tiffany Sinicki at 1-800-288-3400, ext. 7307 or email tiffany.sinicki@fhlb-pgh.com.
We'll see you December 12th!
BE A BELL RINGER!
Want to help the Salvation Army help others this Christmas season? Be a bell ringer! There is no cost to ring, and older children (when accompanied by an adult) can help ring and also earn community service hours towards school, scouts or church.
If you would like to help "ring in the holidays", call Salvation Army coordinator and fellow REALTOR® Dave Todd at 359-4364 to volunteer. There are many locations and times available for ringing. What a great way to help others in a trying economy.
In this extremely challenging environment, the need is greater than ever. Help re-stock the empty pantry of Food Bank of Delaware with any of the listed items. REALTORS® can make a difference, one item at a time.
Please drop off donations by Dec.15th.
Click here for more information >>
MLS Orientation class scheduled for December 18 is cancelled.
Please contact Opal at Opal@scaor.com for updated class dates.
NAR QUADRENNIAL ETHICS
NAR Quadrennial Ethics are due by December 31, 2008. You must take NAR Ethics once between the dates of January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2008. SCAOR is not offering any more classes, but it is simple and easy to take them online at realtor.org. Approved CE Ethics courses* taken after April 30, 2008 will also count as a 3 hour elective towards the 2010 re-licensing requirements of 15 credit hours. If you have any questions, please email tracylee@scaor.com or call TracyLee at 855-2300, ext 205.
* Ethics courses taken at SCAOR or the DAR Convention are approved CE courses that meet NAR Ethics and DE re-licensing requirements. The online NAR Ethics course meets the NAR quadrennial requirement; it does not meet re-licensing requirements.
HOLIDAY MAIL FOR HEROES
Let's shower our military members and veterans with Christmas cards. Sponsored by the American Red Cross, this program aims to send 1 million greeting cards to wounded service members, veterans and their families. Please do not include: email or home addresses on the card itself, photos, long letters, inserts, gift or phone cards. This program is specifically for holiday greeting cards, so our service members will know they are remembered and appreciated.
Mail a holiday greeting card to a wounded soldier or veteran, using the following address:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
Mail no later than December 10, 2008. Thank you!
GOT CAUGHT IN THE REAL ESTATE COMMISSION EDUCATION AUDIT?
If you need a class (or two) to retain your license, please email tracylee@scaor.com with the class needed. SCAOR is considering offering a last chance class before December 11, if enough students come forward.
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COMING SOON TO SUSSEX COUNTY INNOVIA MLS!
On December 18, 2008 we will be introducing an updated home page for our MLS. We're pleased to announce the improvements and upgrades listed below:
Increased functionality and a customizable "dashboard" home screen.
New features will include:
- A customizable screen: make it look the way YOU want, use what you need and you can hide the rest. Drop and drag to any location in any order.
- Editable Calendar (with import/export capabilities to follow shortly)
- On the Association Level, staff will be able to upload special events, Continuing Ed classes, and other important deadlines.
- On the Broker level, staff will be able to disseminate information to agents and admins regarding functions within a company.
- On the Agent level, members will be able to keep track of appointments, birthdays, closings, meetings and any other important dates.
- Task or To Do Panel
- Events Panel
- Links of Interest Panel, fully editable to suit your needs
- Improved Prospect Manager
- Buyer Match Feature
- Trend Maps displaying market trends and stats
The buttons across the bottom of the current home screen will be moved to the right and will highlight when rolled over.
IMPROVEMENT TO SECURITY ON YOUR MLS
Sussex County Association of REALTORS® Announces Security Initiative.
Sussex County Association of REALTORS® has recently taken important steps to face a challenge that is prevalent in our entire industry - that of data security - and wishes to share information about this initiative with you our members.
Click here to read the letter >> |
Did you know that you can login to www.realtor.org and view your office roster to see who has an outstanding invoice??
Click Here for Instructions >>
ETHICALLY SPEAKING... Our Duties to Clients and Customers
How do you think the Professional Standards Panel ruled in last week's Case Study? Below is the Hearing Panel's decision.
Case #3-10: Disclose Accepted Offers with Unresolved Contingencies
The Hearing Panel disagreed with REALTOR
® A's justification, pointing to the specific wording of Standard of Practice
3-6 which requires disclosure of accepted offers, including those with unresolved contingencies. REALTOR
® A was found in violation of
Article 3.
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We wish you a Happy
and Thanks-filled Holiday! |
