SCAOR Membership Dues Renewals ARE PAST DUE (They were Due NOVEMBER 1, 2008)

Questions about the payment process or login? You can retrieve your realtor.org login user ID and password by following the instructions at realtor.org or by calling NAR at (800) 874-6500. 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.

Please Click Here to Pay Now. A $25 late fee has now been added to non-paid renewals.

 
 

Give Your Regards to Broadway! See the Big Apple This Wednesday, Nov 19 >> Just a few seats left for "Gypsy," starring the legendary Tony and Olivier Award winner Patti LuPone as Mama Rose. Enjoy some free time before the show to shop, eat, or sightsee. Gawk at the Broadway lights or the M&Ms of every imaginable color or the indoor ferris wheel of the Times Square Toys R Us. Walk to Macy's or Rockefeller Square.

 
 

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN UP FOR A 2009 COMMITTEE The Deadline is This Monday, Nov. 17

What is YOUR area of Interest? The MLS Committee has vacancies for Broker of Record, Broker, and Agent in 2009. The Grievance and Professional Standards Committees each have a couple of vacancies for 2009. The following Committees are generally open and not subject to Bylaw provisions: Education, Government Affairs, Rental Affairs, Rookies, Housing Opportunity Partners, Risk Reduction / Bylaws, Affiliate, and RCS. Contact the current chair, vice chair, or a staff member to learn how you can become more involved in your Association. Please indicate which committee(s) you are interested in by checking the appropriate committee box(es), completing the information about yourself, and submitting your form to SCAOR by November 17 >> See full committee descriptions here >>

They are terms still very foreign to many of us - "green" energy, "geothermal," "photovoltaic."

Yet they are terms that are becoming more and more a part of everyday life in Sussex County, in Delaware and across the country. It seems the hip thing to do today is to use some form of renewable energy in your business, or even in your primary residence.

Read More >>

The SCAOR office will be closed part of the day for the
2009 Installation of Officers on Tuesday, December 9.

The Tuesday, November 18^th New Member Orientation has been cancelled.
See you at the next one!

DAR and SCAOR hosted invited guests at the newly renovated Brick Hotel on the Circle in Georgetown for the 2008 Return Day parade. Vice President-Elect Joe Biden created quite a stir, and a lot of security for attendees by attending Return Day. Many of your local and state elected officials dropped by to visit with REALTORS^® from the Board of Directors and Government Affairs committee.

Visit the Photo Gallery for a glimpse of the fun and historic day.

Bill Lucks, President; Steve Alexander, President-Elect; and Ruth Briggs King, EVP travelled to Orlando, Florida to participate in the NAR Convention. Their schedule was packed with meetings and updates. Sandy Greene, MLS Vice Chair, joined the delegation to explore MLS and related options to enhance SCAOR's MLS.

NAR to Keep Focus on Economic Stimulus The Board of Directors of the National Association of REALTORS® in its meeting Nov. 10, 2008, in Orlando, took actions to keep its members positioned for success in today's challenging real estate markets. Economic Stimulus The Board affirmed the four-point legislative plan that NAR is presenting to Congress as necessary to stimulate housing: Make the $7,500 first-time home buyer tax credit, enacted earlier this year as part of housing stimulus legislation, available to all buyers and eliminate the repayment requirement. Make 2008 Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan limits permanent. Get the U.S. Treasury to target funds from the $700 billion federal economic rescue package to mortgage relief and create an interest-rate buydown program for residential mortgages. Permanently bar banks from entering real estate brokerage or management. The Board rejected expanding the plan to incorporate language about commercial real estate but encouraged NAR leaders to now begin work on a similar stimulus plan focused on commercial. NAR CEO Dale Stinton noted that NAR is vigorously promoting its four-point legislative plan to provide quick stimulus to real estate, though in ways that may not be obvious. "We do things in a lot of ways that don't have our brand and our label on it," Stinton told the board, explaining that many academics, economists and other thought leaders have expressed support for the principles of the REALTOR® housing stimulus plan at NAR's urging. For the complete story... visit www.realtor.org.

Thank you to EVERYONE who helped raise $37,000 for the needy children of Sussex County.

Visit the RCS Auction Photo Page >>

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 earn community service towards school, scouts or church also.

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.

SCAOR's first broker licensing course is nearing completion.
19 hardworking REALTORS^® have attended evening classes since August, and will sit for their final exams on November 20. If you know of a REALTOR^® who is in this class, take a moment to recognize them for their hard work in completing this demanding course. These REALTORS^® chose to support SCAOR in attending our course, and we thank them.

REALTOR^® Jody Hudson passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, November 11. Our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to Jody's friends and family.

The viewing for Jody will be at

Parsell's Funeral Home
16961 Kings Highway in Lewes
This Saturday evening, Nov. 15 from 7 to 9 pm.

The funeral will be at 2 pm on Sunday Nov. 16, also at Parsell's.

Members - buy it for only $25, then download it onto your computer right away!
Non-members pay only $75.

Association info ~ Residential, Commercial, Farm Sales ~ Industry contacts

It's all here >>

 

Of This and That from the NAR Convention I have just returned from the NAR Convention in Orlando. Although attendance was down from previous years, the speakers were great, the products offered were innovative, and the entertainment was outstanding. I'd like to share some insights and tips I picked up. Click Here for Highlights >>

The SCAOR building project is moving along nicely and on schedule. It will soon be time for the finishing touches and we would like our members to contribute to the "showcase gallery." Rather than purchase artwork, we would like to "show off" prints and pictures our members have taken or made of Sussex County. We know that some of you have beautiful work for us to frame and display. You may loan or donate your favorite to us. Please let us know if you'd like more information on this project by contacting Ruth at the SCAOR office.

 

JANUARY - APRIL 2009 CEU CLASSES Now open for registration at SCAORstore.com Don't miss out - Register Today! ALL CLASSES WILL BE HELD AT THE SCAOR OFFICE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. Registrations will not be taken over the phone. No credits will be issued to late arrivals. Please notify SCAOR of any disabilities requiring special accommodations.

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

Case #2-19: Deceptive Information in MLS Compilations

November 19 - 21: Growing Greener - Planning Healthy Communities for a Healthy Planet
The 2008 annual conference of the Maryland and Delaware chapters of the American Planning Association is coming to Annapolis, MD, for regional planners, real estate and development professionals. In addition to "growing green," special topics will be understanding what the impediments have been to implementing compact development patterns and other Smart Growth tenets, housing affordability, development economics, Universal Design, mobility, and senior housing.

Full Listing of November 18, 2008 through December 23, 2008
Delaware Planning News & Meetings

Election Results >>

Take a short moment to nominate your favorite, hardworking rental agent. Who do you know who helps define outstanding customer service?

Return this short Nomination Form >>

 
 
 

D E C E M B E R
2	RCS Shopping at Kmart, Rehoboth Beach	7 am
9	SCAOR Installation at Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club Register here!	12 noon
11	RCS Wrapping at Crabber's Cove, Dewey Beach	9 am
12	DAR Installation	12 noon
16	MLS Meeting and Luncheon	12 noon
18	MLS Orientation	9 am - noon
19	RCS Delivery	12 noon
24	Christmas Eve - SCAOR Office Closing at Noon
25	Christmas Day - SCAOR Office Closed for the Holiday
J A N U A R Y
8	Government Affairs Committee Meeting	3 pm
20 - 21	GRI 501: Professional Development Designation class at DAR	8 am - 5 pm
22	Short Sales & Foreclosures CE course	9 am - noon
	How To Buy Foreclosed Properties CE course	1 - 4 pm
23	Let's Get It Right Ethics CE course	9 am - noon
	Fair Housing CE course	1 - 4 pm
24	Real Estate Concepts Agent Core CE course	9 am - noon
	Legislative Update Legislative Update CE course	1 - 4 pm
27	NAR Ethics Ethics CE course	9 am - noon
	Statutory Agency Legislative Update CE course	1 - 4 pm
28	Broker's Core Broker's Core 6 CE course	9 am - 4 pm