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March 6, 2009
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
 at 1-866-861-2010.
 
"Right tools....Right now" NAR is responding to members needs by offering many FREE or greatly reduced products. Go online to realtor.org and see classes, products, and more that are available to REALTORS® to help in this market.
Calling all agents, young, old, inexperienced and veterans.
Please join us for this info-packed seminar starring:
Sponsored by the Rookie Committee Questions? Call Lidia Smith, 539-9040
RSVP here >>
Sussex County Association of REALTORS® presents the 3 day Green Designation course. Earn this valuable NAR designation and watch your earnings increase.
The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Green Designation is the definition of green professionalism, excellence, and leadership for today's real estate practitioners. Specifically designed to address the educational needs of practitioners in residential, commercial, and property management markets, this training program is a true cross-over designation and the only green designation recognized by NAR. Click here for more information and to register >>
Seating is limited to 120, sign up now.
It's coming, and you need to understand how to help your buyers obtain additional mortgage assistance towards their purchase. Brad Whaley and Brandy Bennett will explain the new Sussex County Housing program allocating $1.9 million to home buyers of foreclosed property. Learn the requirements, amounts available per buyer, and ask questions so you can get houses sold and your buyers into a home. It's a tough market, but HUD and Sussex County Development and Housing are here to help. The session is free, but registration is required.
New York State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (government sponsored enterprises) announced the final agreement of the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) on December 23, 2009, to change appraiser selection criteria that will help eliminate conflicts of interest on mortgage appraisals. The agreement has the support of the Federal Housing Finance Administration (FHFA). The requirements will have a significant impact on appraisal practices by lenders as they will have to comply with the new requirements agreed-to by the government sponsored enterprises (GSE) if the lenders sell mortgages to the GSEs. The GSEs have agreed to implement the HVCC beginning May 1, 2009. STAY SAFE WITH YOUR HOT DRINKS
Microwaved water and other liquids do not always bubble when they reach the boiling point. They can actually get superheated and not bubble at all. The superheated liquid will bubble up out of the cup when it is moved or when something like a spoon or tea bag is put into it. To prevent this from happening and causing injury, do not heat any liquid for more than two minutes per cup. After heating, let the cup stand in the microwave for thirty seconds! before moving it or adding anything into it. Any person who has held membership in the National Association as a REALTOR®, REALTOR-ASSOCIATE®, or a combination of both, for a cumulative period of 40 years in one or more Associations of REALTORS® is eligible for REALTOR® Emeritus status. Upon approval by the Board of Directors of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, no further payment of dues is necessary to the National Association by the Member Association of which the REALTOR® Emeritus is a member. A standard certification form (provided by NAR) is necessary to begin the approval process for a REALTOR® Emeritus candidate, which is to be filled out by the local Association. Any available documentation that would provide reasonable substantiation of 40 years' membership should be attached to the form when it is returned to the National Association. April 17th, 2009 is the deadline for the receipt of completed certification forms and supporting documentation for approval by the NAR Board of Directors at the 2009 Midyear Legislative Meeting held in Washington, DC. Please mail or fax ONE completed certification form and supporting documentation to:
NAR Information Central
Fax to: (312) 329-5960
See below for certification form: FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER SEMINAR
Thursday, March 12, @ 6:00 p.m.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW 1ST TIME BUYER The Internal Revenue Service announced on February 25 that taxpayers who qualify for the first-time homebuyer credit and purchase a home this year before December 1, 2009, have a special option available for claiming the tax credit either on their 2008 tax returns due April 15 or on their 2009 tax returns next year. Read the entire news release >>
Click here to read the NAR Press Release >>
Click here to read entire article >>
MLS: NAR VIRTUAL OFFICE WEBSITE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
By now, you have heard about part 1 of the VOW requirement: Seller Opt Out Forms. We will be sending information to each Participant and have an explanation available to help you explain the form to your client. Part II is for Participants only. Each Participant (Broker of Record) will need to review the definition of "Participant" to determine if they are in fact able to offer and accept compensation. If not, the Participant would no longer qualify to MLS membership after May 27, 2009. Consequently, if the Participant is going to offer and accept compensation they do not need to take any action. Full Listing of March 11, 2009 through April 16, 2009 ETHICALLY SPEAKING... Our Duties to the Public
Case #10-4: Use of "Choose Your Neighbor" Marketing Letters REALTOR® A listed a property in a new subdivision. At the instruction of his client, Seller X, REALTOR® A did not file information on the listing with his Board's MLS, did not place a "For Sale" sign on the property and did not advertise the property in the local newspaper. Seller X had told REALTOR® A that he wanted the sale handled quietly, with the new purchasers being people who would "fit into the neighborhood - people with the same socioeconomic background" as the other residents of the subdivision. Based on his conversation with Seller X, REALTOR® A's only marketing effort was mailing a letter to the other residents of the subdivision, inviting them ". . . to play a part in the decision of who your next neighbor will be. If you know of someone who you would like to live in the neighborhood, please let them know of the availability of this home, or call me and I will be happy to contact them and arrange a private showing." REALTOR® A's marketing strategy came to the attention of REALTOR® B, whose mother lived in the subdivision. REALTOR® B filed a complaint charging REALTOR® A with a violation of Article 10 of the Code of Ethics. At the hearing, REALTOR® B told the Hearing Panel of receiving a copy of the marketing letter from his mother, who had recently moved to the subdivision. REALTOR® B advised the panel that he had checked the Board's MLS for information on the property, had driven past the house to look for a "For Sale" sign and had scanned the Sunday real estate section of the local newspaper for information on the property. Finding no mention of the property in either the MLS or the newspaper and noting the absence of a sign on the property, REALTOR® B concluded that REALTOR® A's marketing strategy was to limit access to the property to individuals preselected by the current residents. "In my mind," said REALTOR® B, "this could only mean one thing. REALTOR® A was deliberately discriminating against home seekers from other areas, or those with different backgrounds, who would never have the opportunity to learn about the house's availability. Obviously, REALTOR® A was directing all of his marketing energies into finding purchasers who would not disrupt the ethnic and economic character of the neighborhood." REALTOR® A defended his actions by advising the panel that he was acting on Seller X's instructions. Seller X appeared as a witness for REALTOR® A and confirmed this fact, adding that he and the other residents of his block had an informal agreement that they would try to find "suitable" purchasers for their homes if they ever decided to sell. Seller X felt that by broadening the marketing campaign to include all residents of the subdivision he had increased the chances of finding such potential purchasers. Based on your understanding of the Code of Ethics Article 10, how do you think the Professional Standards Panel ruled? Find out in next week's At a Glance!
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© Copyright 2009 Sussex County Association of REALTORS®
23407 Park Ave., Georgetown, DE 19947, USA Phone (302) 855-2300 ~ Fax (302) 855-2319 ~ info@scaor.com ~ www.scaor.com |
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You attended the class last September....We told you we'd follow up with an outreach to area employers....
