FREE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Covering the new Condo / HOA laws Tuesday, August 4, 1 - 4 pm at SCAOR Register Now - Class is Filling up Quickly >> This FREE 3 CEU Legislative Update class will cover the newest legislative changes on the Condo / HOA laws. Learn the details from Andy Taylor BEFORE the new laws go into effect on October 1, 2009.   NEW SEPTIC REGULATIONS & THEIR IMPACT ON BUYERS AND SELLERS This Wednesday, July 15, 2 - 4 pm at SCAOR FREE - Just RSVP at www.scaorstore.com Events! The questions you wouldn't think to ask but need to know. FREE Septic Update from SCAOR, Gerry Desmond of Clean Delaware and BOD members Judy Dean and Sandy Greene. The market is heating up and you need to know and understand the newly enacted Septic regulations! SCAOR offers this FREE event to REALTORS® to update their knowledge of all the new regulations and how they will impact buyers and sellers. This non-credit course is the place to come to learn all about it. CRS 111: SHORT SALES AND FORECLOSURES HERE AT SCAOR! Tuesday, August 25 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at SCAOR Also provides 6 CE credits $165 includes CRS course, books and lunch Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) training will give you in-depth knowledge about business planning, listing presentations, negotiating and closing smoother transactions, working in the buyers' and sellers' best interest and building a referral business. There is so much to gain! - sign up soon >> (This designation class is already 1/2 way to sell out.)   FREE FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 - MAXIMIZE THE MLS! Rick Allamong, a former MLS Committee chairman, will instruct attendees on how to utilize the MLS to its maximum potential. The class will be held on Friday, August 28 from 10 a.m. to Noon. The June 26 session "Sold Out" Click here to register early >>

This Tuesday, July 14
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
at the SCAOR office
23407 Park Avenue
Georgetown, DE

This Tuesday's Cocktail Party and Team Trivia has been cancelled. Please keep an eye out for the next Rookie event.

The Rookies are conducting an informal survey of SCAOR members. As we line up events for the rest of 2009 and the coming year, what would YOU like more information on, or more support in? We want to know what's on your mind.

Please contact Charlie Schwinabart of the Rookies Committee at cmschwin@kw.com.

 
 

Say What? I'm throwing down the gauntlet. I can't help it. No one listens anymore! The biggest complaint from buyers and sellers (other than not returning phone calls) is that their real estate professional didn't listen! Don't be that person. LISTEN to some tips to improve your skills >>

FREE ~ Just your RSVP required >>

After a late evening and early morning in Dover on June 30, the Senate passed HB 156 & 183 at 1:05 & 1:09 am on "Must Pass List 3," based on the many fine efforts of several of our members and our representatives from SCAOR & DAR.

These bills change the Delaware Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act & the Unit Property Act. They will ultimately get us back to having our sellers provide condo documents and the condo questionnaire, in conjunction with the property management companies, and to do both of these things prior to final signatures on contracts. At the same time, these bills have standardized many aspects of the prior versions, such as:

• limiting the fees which property management companies can charge to no more than $250 ($200 for the form completion and the extra $50 if paper copying must be done),
• limiting the time of response from property management groups to 10 days or no fee can be charged,
• increasing the dollar amounts of condo or HOA fees to $500 annually as a threshold for compliance with condo questionnaire, etc.,
• increasing the number of units from 12 to 20 for mandatory inclusion under this law, and
• allowing for a 90 day period from the Governor's signature to effectiveness of this bill.

These new sections of the State code become effective on October 1^st, 2009 so it is important to start boning up on the changes that are coming.

Click here to learn more >>

by Lillian Bjorseth

Ingredients of a Good Handshake

• Hold the person's hand firmly.
• Shake web-to-web, three times maximum.
• Maintain constant eye contact.

Eye Contact

Looking someone in the eye as you meet and talk with him/her also shows you are paying attention. Listening is the most important human relations skill, and good eye contact plays a large part in conveying our interest in others.

Posture

One of the first key things people notice is how you carry and present yourself. Do you walk and stand with confidence like your mother taught you?

• Stomach in
• Chest out
• Shoulders back
• Head up

Smiles

Smiles are an influential facial expression. They show interest, excitement, empathy, concern; they create an upbeat, positive environment. Smiles can, however, be overused. Often, men smile when they are pleased; women smile to please. You know which is the most powerful!

To gain and increase respect, first establish your presence in a room, then smile. It is far more professional than entering a room giggling or "all smiles."

Tuesday, August 18
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at SCAOR

SCAOR is hosting a luncheon and meeting just for you...

We'll cover recent changes to the MLS, SafeMLS Token Overview, SentriLock Update, New SCAOR Website, NAR's Online Certification Course for Real Estate Professional Assistants (REPA) . . . just to name a few.

This is your chance to get YOUR questions answered, and get the information you need to help your office run smoothly.

Click here to register >>

Set aside $29 per week, each week. Begin now and you will have your SCAOR dues saved and ready to pay when mailed in late September. SCAOR is working diligently to help you in a challenging market.

Continue to save for the next fifteen weeks and you will have enough to pay your 2010 dues before the November 1st deadline, with no penalties.

Are You Looking for a New Career?
Get your Delaware Real Estate License with the Sussex County Association of REALTORS^®
99-HOUR ACCREDITED PRE-LICENSING COURSE

Dates:
August 25 through November 19, 2009
Tuesday and Thursday evenings
6 - 10 p.m.

Location:
23407 Park Avenue
Georgetown, DE 19947

Price:
$700 (includes all books)
$250 Law only (includes books)

Don't miss this opportunity to become a licensed real estate salesperson!

This course may be eligible for VA Education benefits.
Contact TracyLee@scaor.com for more details.

To register, complete the attached flyer and return to
TracyLee@scaor.com or fax to TracyLee at 302-855-2319.

Delaware State Housing Authority offers competitive homeownership assistance through programs for First-Time Homebuyers, Second Mortgage Assistance Loans and Live Near Your Work incentives. These programs provide potential homebuyers with the financial assistance needed to cover down payment and closing costs with practically zero out-of-pocket expenses from the borrower.

The sagging economy, including our sluggish real estate market, is impacting our neighbors and even our members. The following information may help you or someone you know.

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) announced a new program to assist home owners facing foreclosure. The Program, "Foreclosure Mitigation Initiative" has a team approach to create connections with various agencies and provide tools including emergency financing and long-term solutions. You or someone you know may have a "set back" as a result of:

• Temporary loss of employment due to layoff, strike, or plant closing
• Illness, disability, or death
• Divorce or legal separation

Know your rights and know resources to help your customers.

Major Components of the Neighborhood Stabilization Plan . . .

County Rehab - Sussex County would use federal funding to lend money to partners, including Habitat, which would buy and rehabilitate homes and then pay back the program as the houses are sold to new buyers.

Buyers must meet eligibility and income requirements, not making more than 120 percent of area median income. For a typical family of four, about $70,000 per year. Homes purchased must be for primary residences, not used as investment properties or second homes, and must be located within five targeted areas of the county where foreclosure rates have been the highest in the past 18 months: Georgetown, Greenwood, Laurel, Milford and Seaford ZIP codes.

Homebuyer Zero-Interest Loans - Sussex County would also use a portion of the federal funding to establish a homebuyer assistance program that would make up to $50,000 in zero-interest loans available to other low- and moderate-income buyers purchasing foreclosed homes.

SCAOR Association and REALTOR^® Involvement - Sussex County will also partner with NCALL Research Inc. and First State Community Action Agency to provide federally required counseling for all homebuyers making use of the program. And the County will work with the Sussex County Association of REALTORS^® to find potential homebuyers and target qualifying foreclosed homes.

Click here for entire news release >>
Click here for PDF of news release >>

Are you working with Spanish or French speaking buyers or sellers? SCAOR has a newly approved instructor who is willing to help REALTORS^® with interpreting. If there is enough demand, a Spanish or French course can be offered.

To contact her directly, email Martha Curtiss-Crotsley at desi77m@gmail.com or call her at 302-933-0600.

FHA-approved lenders received the go-ahead to develop bridge-loan products that enable first-time buyers to use the benefits of the federal tax credit upfront, according to eagerly awaited guidance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on so-called home buyer tax credit loans that was released today.

Under the guidance, FHA-approved lenders can develop bridge loans that home buyers can use to help cover their closing costs, buy down their interest rate, or put down more than the minimum 3.5 percent.

Click here for full details >>

Please read the REALTOR^® Code of Ethics Article 1. How do you think the Professional Standards Panel ruled in last week's Case Study? Below is the Hearing Panel's decision.

Case #1-15: Obligation to Advise Client on Market Value

Full Listing of July 15, 2009 through August 17, 2009
Delaware Planning News & Meetings >>

An Act to amend Title 9 and Title 29 of the Delaware Code relating to Government Records Management was passed by the Delaware Legislature and signed by Governor Markell.

Beginning August 1, 2009, this Act increases the current state surcharge on each document or paper recorded or filed in each of the respective County Recorder of Deeds Offices from $6.00 to $30.00.

The additional $24.00 surcharge fee will be utilized to promote, preserve, and protect the State's cultural assets, and the fees retained by the State shall be used to fund services through the Secretary of State, Division of Libraries, Division of the Arts, and the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. This amended Act will supplement the Delaware Cultural Access Fund.

Click here to read the letter >>

 

A U G U S T
4	FREE Legislative Update on the new Condo / HOA Laws	1 - 4 pm
6	PR Committee Meeting	9:30 am
11	MLS Committee Meeting	9 am
13	MLS Orientation	9 am
	Affiliate Meet and Greet	5 - 7 pm
17-18	GRI 401: Becoming Techno Savvy - Designation Class at DAR	8 am - 5 pm
18	SCAOR Administrators Luncheon	11 am - 1 pm
20	Government Affairs Meeting	3 pm
24-25	NAR Leadership Summit
25	CRS 111: Short Sales and Foreclosures - Designation Class at SCAOR	9 am - 4:30 pm
	Real Estate Pre-licensing Course Begins	6 - 10 pm
28	FREE MLS Training	10 am - 12 noon
S E P T E M B E R
3	PR Committee Meeting	9:30 am
	Government Affairs Meeting	3 pm
7	Labor Day - SCAOR and DAR Association Offices Closed
8	MLS Committee Meeting	9 am
11	RPAC Duck Race at Jungle Jim's in Rehoboth	4 - 8 pm
15	New Member Orientation
	Rental Affairs Committee Meeting	8 am
	Education Committee Meeting	11 am
17	Board of Directors Meeting	9 am
	Title Search - 3 CE course	5 - 8 pm
	MLS Orientation	5 - 9 pm
21	Rental Agents I - 3 CE course	9 am - 12 noon
	Broker's Core - 6 CE course, MANDATORY for Brokers	9 am - 4 pm
	Rental Agents II - 3 CE course	1 - 4 pm
22	Foundation Meeting	9 am
	Short Sales & Foreclosures - 3 CE course	9 am - 12 noon
	Home Inspection (includes Septic) - 3 CE course	9 am - 12 noon
	How to Buy Foreclosed Properties - 3 CE course	1 - 4 pm
22-23	GRI 101: Planning & Developing a Real Estate Business - Designation Class at DAR	8 am - 5 pm
24	General Membership Meeting	8:30 - 11:30 am