MLS Orientation class scheduled for December 18 is cancelled.
Please contact Opal at Opal@scaor.com for updated class dates.
RCS WRAPPING DAY
Next Thursday, December 11, 9 am until...
at Crabbers Cove, Dewey Beach
Come for as long as you can, 1 hour or all day, to see it all come together!
2009 SCAOR COMMITTEE CHAIRS |
| Thank you to everyone who volunteered for a 2009 Committee. We are pleased to announce the following 2009 Committee Chairs. For a description of each committee, please click here. If you have questions about a specific committee please call the SCAOR office at (302) 855-2300.
Affiliate Committee
Chairperson: Trish Raber, National City Mortgage
Education Committee
Chairperson: Karen Hamilton, Callaway, Farnell & Moore
Government Affairs / RPAC Committee
Chairperson: Sue Bramhall, Callaway, Farnell & Moore
Grievance Committee
Chairperson: Adriane Gallagher, Prudential Gallo
Housing Opportunities Partnership (HOP)
Chairperson: Trina Joyner, Home Team
Multiple Listing Service Committee
Chairperson: Sandra Greene, Resort Quest
Professional Standards Committee
Chairperson: Jim Kelleher, RE/MAX Realty Group
Public Awareness / PR Committee
Chairperson: Tim Fisher, ResortQuest
Rental Affairs Committee
Chairperson: Annette Marine, Wilgus Associates
Risk Reduction / Bylaws Committee
Chairperson: Bruce Plummer, Coldwell Banker, RRR - Rehoboth
Rookie Committee
Chairperson: Lidia Smith, Long & Foster - Bethany
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SCAOR DECEMBER OFFICE CLOSINGS
The SCAOR office will be closed part of the day for the 2009 Installation of Officers this Tuesday, December 9.
The SCAOR office will be closed Thursday, December 25 and Friday, December 26 for Christmas.
TRAVELING TO NEW YORK CITY?
If you will be in NYC and would like to attend Gypsy on Broadway, please contact Crystal@scaor.com. We have a few discounted tickets and she will provide you the full information on purchasing a ticket.
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: |
Next 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!
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 >>
NAR ETHICS - DUE DECEMBER 31
Class available online, or at KCAR Dec 16
If you still need the NAR Quadrennial Ethics course required before December 31, 2008, take it online at realtor.org or go to kcar.org and click on their education link to register to attend their December 16 class (registration deadline is Tuesday, Dec 9). Due to construction, SCAOR is unable to offer this course again this year.
* Ethics courses which were 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.
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Prospecting & Marketing
When the going gets tough, the tough get going! How many times have you heard that? Well, these are tough times, and since I know you're all really tough, let's get this market going again.
Here are some ideas >>
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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 >>
Full Listing of December 5, 2008 through January 7, 2008
Delaware Planning News & Meetings
National Call for Action: Join the efforts of over 70,000 REALTORS® who have already responded to have the NAR Four-Point Housing Stimulus Plan included in any future economic stimulus bill.
| 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 >> |
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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 >> |
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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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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
Case #4-1: Disclosure when Buying on Own Account
Client A consulted REALTOR® B about the value of a lot zoned for commercial use, saying that he would soon be leaving town and would probably want to sell it. REALTOR® B suggested an independent appraisal, which was arranged, and which resulted in a valuation of $130,000. The property was listed with REALTOR® B at that price. Shortly thereafter, REALTOR® B received an offer of $122,000 which he submitted to Client A, who rejected it. After the passage of four months, during which no further offers were received, Client A asked REALTOR® B if he would be willing to buy the lot himself. REALTOR® B on his own behalf, made an offer of $118,000, which the client accepted. Months later Client A, on a return visit to the city, discovered that REALTOR® B had sold the lot for $125,000 only three weeks after he had purchased it for $118,000.
Client A complained to the Board of REALTORS® charging that REALTOR® B had taken advantage of him; that he had sought REALTOR® B's professional guidance and had depended on it; that he could not understand REALTOR® B's inability to obtain an offer of more than $122,000 during a period of four months, in view of his obvious ability to obtain one at $125,000 only three weeks after he became the owner of the lot; that possibly REALTOR® B had the $125,000 offer at the time he bought the lot himself at $118,000.
At the hearing, REALTOR® B introduced several letters from prospects that had been written while the property was listed with him, all expressing the opinion that the lot was overpriced. The buyer who purchased the lot for $125,000 appeared at the hearing as a witness and affirmed that he never met REALTOR® B or discussed the lot with him prior to the date of REALTOR® B's purchase of the lot from Client A. Questioning by members of the Hearing Panel established that REALTOR® B had made it clear that his offer of $118,000 in response to his client's proposal, was entirely on his own account.
Based on your understanding of the Code of Ethics Article 4, how do you think the Professional Standards Panel ruled?
Find out in next week's At a Glance!
