Working with Clients of
a Different Culture
@ Brandywine Assisted Living, Selbyville

$10 Members; $15 non-members

Call Linda Morena at 302-312-8118 to register. Details >

Help Build a
Habitat for Humanity Foundation!

Mention the SCAOR Community Service Foundation Fundraiser that evening —
10% of all food proceeds
at Irish Eyes in Lewes
plus 50/50 raffle drawing proceeds
will be donated to the Foundation

The rush is on and classes are SELLING OUT. Sign up now for the remaining classes and don't come up short on required CEs for the April 30 re-licensing deadline.

Enroll in elective online classes at
The CE Shop.

Join the Midyear bus trip to visit the trade expo in DC and YOUR elected officials on Capitol Hill.

For a $15 RPAC contribution, you can share the ride, skip the parking fees and driving, visit the Expo, and express your most pressing REALTOR^® concerns to your legislators.

Details & registration at scaorstore.com >

Share the flyer >>

Every year, DAR and NAR recognize REALTORS^® who are making an exceptional impact on their communities through volunteer work. NAR awards five $10,000 grants! Please share the Good Neighbor Awards information, and submit nominations to SCAOR by Friday, May 14, 2010 so your nominations can be considered at the state and national levels.

9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
CRS and SFR
Certification Course
at SCAOR
Lunch included.

Limited to 70 attendees

Register online at www.scaorstore.com!

Take the day to
tour New York City or
see a Broadway musical.
Your choice!

Register by emailing Crystal@scaor.com
or faxing your form to SCAOR.

Details & registration flyer >>

Home Buyer Tax Credit

The $8,000 tax credit is available for first-time homebuyers and $6,500 for homebuyers replacing their principal residence. But they must enter a binding contract by April 30, 2010, and close on the home by June 30, 2010. Make sure your buyers are aware of these huge incentives, and help guide them on how to apply for the tax credit.

Here's how >>

3.5% Sales Price Incentive from Fannie Mae

Home buyers purchasing properties listed on HomePath.com can receive up to 3.5% for:

• Closing costs;
• The purchase of new Whirlpool^® appliances by Fannie Mae; or
• A mix of closing costs and appliances up to the maximum 3.5% of sales price.

To be eligible for this incentive:

• Offers must be accepted on or after January 28, 2010;
• Property sales must close before May 1, 2010; and
• Buyers must be owner-occupants (investors are excluded).

Here's the details >>

The Sussex County Association of REALTORS^®, The Sussex County Association of REALTORS^® Community Service Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity are teaming up to build a home in Milton. The "Women's Build" will begin in May. We are currently seeking women volunteers (sorry men) to take part in the Leadership Team. All positions are posted on the website: www.sussexcountyhabitat.org.

Click on Women Build and this will connect you to the link that describes the Leadership Volunteer positions that need to be filled prior to the Build beginning. Later, we will announce the actual May start date and it will be open for any volunteers to sign up (including men). Special days will be held for the Sussex County REALTORS^® to come out and work during the regular work week.

We have a great start towards this project. SCAOR received a grant from NAR for $5,500 for the Foundation, but we still need to raise approximately $1,500 toward the project. So, if you can't do the time on the project, please consider a donation to the project. Just a dollar makes a difference!

For more information, contact Kathy Goodman at kgbeach81@aol.com.

• Inventory is very low at SCAOR. Please email all requests for additional lockboxes to Gail@scaor.com.
• Requests for additional lockboxes require an inventory report showing all boxes currently in your inventory, with their locations properly assigned.
• All requests will be processed in order of their receipt.
• Gail will notify you when your boxes are ready for pick up, which is usually within 2 days if lockboxes are available.
• SCAOR will perform random spot audits to help maintain an inventory (so that any unassigned/unused lockboxes are returned to the board for use).

Nominations are now open for the SCAOR REALTOR^® of the Year Award. Please take this opportunity to nominate one of our many SCAOR members who exemplifies the REALTOR^® image and goes beyond the call of duty.

Nominations are due Monday, May 3 >

Broker Licensing is coming to SCAOR in August. This will be fast track instruction, with multiple days of instruction per week, including day and evening class times. Contact TracyLee@scaor.com or 855-2300 ext 205 for details and to be put on a contact list.

New Lead Paint Renovation Rule to Affect REALTORS^® and Property Managers
A rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requiring the use of lead-safe practices for renovation work will go into effect April 22, 2010. Under the rule, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes built before 1978 and certain other properties, must be certified and must follow specific work practices including testing, to prevent lead contamination. To learn more about these regulations and how they will affect real estate transactions, click here to access short webcasts offered by NAR. Information, including a compliance guide, is also available through the Environmental Protection Agency at epa.gov.

Full Listing of Delaware Planning
News & Meetings >>

April 2 Government Affairs Update from Delaware Association of REALTORS^® >>

How do you think the Professional Standards Panel ruled in last week's Case Study?
Below is the Hearing Panel's decision.

Case #17-8: Attempted Use of Corporate Veil to Avoid Obligation to Arbitrate

The Board of Directors, in reaching its decision, did not agree with REALTOR^® B's position. The Directors noted that the membership requirement in a Board of REALTORS^® has, as its purpose, the assurance of commitment by the principals in the firm to the Code of Ethics. This commitment addresses the conduct and activities of all persons affiliated with the REALTOR^®'s firm whether a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. Moreover, the Directors pointed out that Article 17 obligates REALTORS^® to ". . . cause their firms to arbitrate and be bound by an award."

REALTOR^® B was advised to withdraw the litigation and submit to arbitration by a date certain or his membership in the Board would be terminated. REALTOR^® B accepted the decision, withdrew the suit against REALTOR^® A, and submitted to arbitration.