CT Waterview

NFCAR Newsletter

Volume 12, Issue 16

August 8, 2011

In This Issue
Local News
Education Info
State & National News
Commercial News

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Local News

NFCAR's Annual Meeting & Award Ceremony

Join Us For Our Annual Meeting; Election Announcement & Affiliate, REALTOR� & Rookie Of The Year Announcement

September 8, 2011 from 4:00pm ~ 7:00pm at Two Steps Downtown Grille 5 Ives Street, Danbury. Deadline to register is September 2, 2011. If you have any questions, contact NFCAR at 203- 744-7255.

 

Candidates for 2012 President Elect:

Candidates for Local Directors: Ellen Boyle, David Brand, Scott Cooney, Jim DiLillo, Jeanne Garzi, Kerry Gulick, James Philipakos, Ray Poppe, Ruthanne Salvatore, David Vieira & Bob Yamin

Candidates for State Directors: David Brand, Scott Cooney, Chris Landelius, Anne Lewis & Betsy Pankulis

 

Affiliate Of The Year Nominee: Sharon Mendelsohn

REALTOR� Of The Year Nominees: Lorraine Amaral, Marie Borner, Ellen Boyle, Scott Cooney, Chris Landelius, Kellie Martine, Kristie Perry &Josephine Simko

Rookie Of The Year Nominee: Michiko Fahsbender

 

Registration is only $15 and includes; Passed hors d'oeuvres: Stuffed Mushroom, Baby Crab Cakes, Bruschetta with Oven-Roasted Tomatoes. Displayed hors d'oeuvres: Seasonal Crudite, Specialty Cheeses, Quesadilla Triangles, Chicken Wings, Rigatoni with Fontinella & New England Ham. Soda & Ice Tea Included. Cash Bar Available...

 

Click here to register online (you need to login in, click Upcoming Events)

or

Click here to print the registration form to fax or mail to NFCAR

  

RPAC Contest - Win An iPad2 or A Kindle!

Contribution dates: July 20, 2011 - October 26, 2011

1 ticket $25

5 tickets $99

7 tickets $150

12 tickets $250

48 tickets $1000

To make your RPAC investment & enter the contest contact NFCAR at 203.744.7255. Drawing to be held at NFCAR's Tradeshow, October 26, 2011

Prizes: 1 winner will receive an iPad2 and 1 winner will win a Kindle. Prizes do not include any accessories or other equipment. Prizes are non redeemable for cash.

Eligibility: ALL NFCAR REALTOR� Members are eligible. Employees of NFCAR are ineligible. The challenge will begin on 7/20/11 and end on 10/26/11. Nothing herein shall be construed as a solicitation of contributions from non-members, which is prohibited by law.

Liability: By entering, participants release and hold harmless NFCAR, their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents from any and all liability or any injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this contest or any prize won.

Click here  to learn more about RPAC.

Federal & State Election Commission Rules: Your RPAC contribution is voluntary and must be paid with a seperate personal check or credit card. Contributions are not tax deductible for Federal or State income tax purposes. Your contribution to the joint political fundraising effort will be divided. 70% of your contribution will be used by CT RPAC to support state and local political candidates. The remaining 30% will be provided to the National RPAC to support Federal candidates. 

 

NFCAR's Exciting New Benefit

Year after year is it a hardship to pay your MLS fees, Holiday bills and your REALTOR� dues in December and January?

Well, say hello to the solution available only to NFCAR Members!

The "Advance Dues Billing Club" The Bill Me Now Program...

The program is simple in design!

We bill you now for next year's dues... you put a little bit of money on your account on a regular basis*... it adds up during the year... by January when the bill is due you pay the remaining balance!

Or you receive a statement saying...

"Paid in Full"----It's that simple!

*Make payments as you like (perhaps after each closing) you set your own time frame. Rules and restrictions apply.

Call NFCAR for details & set up your account today 203-744-7255.

 

WCR Links  

In CT:  www.wcrgfc.org        

National: www.wcr.org 

 

Caravan Contact Information
Just a reminder - Caravans are not managed or operated by NFCAR - they are managed and/or operated by REALTORS�.  Rules and regulations apply to each of the individual caravans.  If you have any questions regarding the caravans, please call the contacts listed below.

Bethel; Lia Sanchez Stites at Fairfield County Bank (203) 948-0669

Bethel Broker Open Tours: You can add your listing by inputting it into the CMLS Broker Open Tours

Brookfield;Kellie Martone email your listing address and price to [email protected] by Friday's at noon  

Danbury;  Lia Sanchez Stites at Fairfield County Bank (203) 948-0669

New Fairfield; Jane Serfass at Neumann Real Estate (203) 746-6565

New Milford; Tom Lutz at Newtown Savings Bank (203) 364-2970

Sherman; Irit Granger at William Raveis (203) 803-3748

Condo Only Caravan;Debbie Blum at Cornerstone CT Realty (203) 312-0731

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Education Info

'Principles & Practices' Course - Open Enrollment

Class Starts Tonight! This course is a continuous Start Program, start your training on any Monday evening. Whether you know someone who's thinking of becoming a licensed salesperson, or if you are interested in converting your license from 'salesperson' to 'broker', this is the course to take.

Here are the details:

Begins: Monday, August 8th

Ends: Wednesday, October 26th

Runs: Monday & Wednesday - 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Salesperson: $399.00 / Broker-Up Grade:  $349.00

Click here to download the registration form.

 

CTMLS' Online Training Program For August
Learn the ins and outs of the MLXchange MLS system from the comfort of your favorite easy chair.  To register for the August MLXchange series of classes please click hereClass registration is limited to 25 registrants per session so ACT NOW and register your spot today!  After registering for class, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with the conference call number and webinar URL link for the class session.  CTMLS asks that you join the session at least 10 minutes prior to start time where the instructor (Lauren Egan) will be available to answer any pre-session questions. During the sessions CTMLS will mute the audience until the end of the session where we will open up the class to Q & A.

 

GFC CMLS Training At NFCAR - August 23rd

NFCAR will be hosting FREE Greater Fairfield County CMLS classes here at the Board office on Tuesday, August 23rd. 

Re/Xplorer - 9:30am - 12:30pm: RE/Xplorer (or REX for short) is a web-based tool for accessing the MLS. Since it works through your web browsers (Internet Explorer 6 or higher) you do not need to purchase any software. This means you can access your listings and much more information from anywhere you have access to the World Wide Web. We'll review searching, printing and emailing listings, as well as listing entry and change.

Listing Book - 1:30pm - 4:30pm: This class covers setting up your personal profile, adding your buyers and sellers, viewing client and listing reports, setting up your Business Builder website, and creating targeted marketing campaigns.

Contact GFC CMLS (800) 474-0101 To Register Today. Seating is Limited!

 

'Essentials Of Real Estate Finance' Course    

This course is valuable to agents and brokers and who are interested in increasing their knowledge and professionalism to a new level in the real estate industry. You will be prepared to understand the essential of real estate finance, including... the nature and cycle of real estate finance, mortgage instruments, the monetary system, loan processing, secondary mortgage markets, insured loans, defaults, foreclosures and much more.

Here are the details:

Begins: Tuesday, September 20th

Ends: Tuesday, October 25th

Runs: Tuesday & Thursday - 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Tuition: $349.00

Click here to download the registration form.

 

Continuing Education For 2012

The State of CT DCP has announced that a 100% audit will be performed on all Salespersons and Brokers licensed in CT to determine that all licensees have complied with and satisfied the requirements stated below:

- 3 Hrs Connecticut Real Estate Agents Fiduciary Duties Review and Law Update (mandatory for 2010-2012 CE cycle)

- 9 Hrs of approval Real Estate Elective courses.

OR

You may elect to pass a 40-question Connecticut Continuing Education Examination administered by PSI. Contact the testing company (PSI) directly at 800-733-9267 or visit www.psiexams.com.

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State & National News 

Important Notice on Debt Negotiators From CAR

July 22, 2011

The Department of Banking and the Department of Consumer Protection had issued letters containing further guidance on payments to debt negotiators. The upshot of the two letters is that it is illegal for a debt negotiator to collect more than $500 from the homeowner, either directly or indirectly through the agent by requiring payment out of the real estate commission the homeowner had agreed to pay in the listing agreement. Real estate brokers may retain the services of a debt negotiator to assist the real estate broker provided: the real estate broker agrees to hire the debt negotiator in a written agreement, the real estate broker pays the debt negotiator and the compensation is not expressed as a percentage of the purchase price. Since the real estate broker has hired the debt negotiator and is paying the debt negotiator, the payment cannot be part of the closing and cannot be shown on the HUD-1 as payment of a real estate commission.

The net effect of all this is to end the practice of the brokerage being ambushed shortly before closing with demands for payment of a percentage of the purchase price. It allows those brokerages who wish to use the services and expertise of debt negotiators to continue to use and pay negotiators while giving those firms who are accosted by debt negotiators shortly before closing with demands for payment but who have not agreed to pay the negotiator to refuse to pay the negotiator. Finally, since the debt negotiator's compensation is paid by the broker as the broker would pay any other service vendor, closing attorneys may not withhold the broker's compensation over payment of a debt negotiator's fee and debt negotiators may not demand withholding of payment by closing attorneys. In addition, it continues to be illegal for a debt negotiator to threaten to torpedo a transaction if their fee is not paid or if the real estate broker refuses to sign an agreement.

Real estate brokers will probably be solicited by debt negotiators to use the debt negotiator's services as real estate brokers are solicited by other vendors, and brokerages should carefully evaluate the skill, training, experience, services and compensation as it would with any other vendor. For further information email Attorney Eugene Marconi or call 800-355-4862.

 

A Winning Open House Marketing Strategy

Almost 50% of today's buyers use open houses as part of their search, so having an open house plan designed for conversion is critical. Find out how you can turn your next open house into a powerful marketing and lead-generation opportunity. REALTOR.com� has a complete set of open house solutions, including a free guide to help you turn walk-ins into sales. To read more, click here

 

Make 11.11.11 A Day To Remember. Register Now Open!

Registration is now open, click here for the 2011 REALTORS� Conference & Expo! Ready to get the tips and techniques you need to make your future in real estate even brighter? Then plan now to attend this year's Conference & Expo, returning to sunny southern California. California is calling, register by August 15 and save! Share ideas and build your referral network with successful brokers, agents and suppliers from around the world
  • Gain competitive advantage by learning how to make your business shine
  • Best of all, hotels starting at just $89 per night, Anaheim is an affordable and fun destination for the whole family, click here.

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Commercial News 

3 Tips: Prepping Commercial Buildings for Lease

REALTORS� Signature Series Speaker Richard Muhlebach, CPM, CRE, reviews what successful leasing agents know: to efficiently and effectively lease a building you must understand client needs, develop a thorough plan of the building, and understand the building's market position. Download this free webinar and implement Muhlebach's tips in your next marketing plan. For more information, click here.

 

Podcast: Industrial Sector Making Progress

Treasurer Bill Armstrong discusses the increased demand for industrial space and provides insight on the increase in U.S. manufacturing and exports. To listen now, click here.

 

Commercial C.E. Course Registration Open

Register for this course, being held Nov. 13 during the REALTORS� Conference in Anaheim, to learn proven techniques to become a leasing deal maker and overcome "deal killers." Find out how to skillfully negotiate lease provisions from both the landlord and tenant perspectives. (C.E. credit is pending approval. Check this course page for the latest updates.) To read more, click here.

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The Northern Fairfield County Association of REALTORS�
15 Stony Hill Rd
Bethel, CT 06801
Ph: (203) 744-7255
Fx: (203) 792-9962
www.nfcar.com       
[email protected] 
 

You have received this email from your local REALTORS� Association, NFCAR, as a benefit of your membership. If you wish for us to use a different email address, please email us at: [email protected]. If you wish to be permanently removed from all  NFCAR email distributions, please email us at: [email protected] and type "REMOVE" in the  subject line, or simply reply to this email and type "REMOVE" in the subject line. If you have any questions,  comments, or suggestions, contact Jessica at: (203) 744-7255.
 

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 NFCAR's 2011 Directors

 

President:
Scott Cooney

 

  President Elect:
Daniel Mulvihill

 

Barbara Adler
John Ashkar
Linda Connolly
Mick Consalvo
Pat Fink
Jeanne Garzi
Kellie Martone
Sharon Mendelsohn
Peggy Nye
Larry Riefberg
Connie Strait
Charlie Vlahos