The Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS® includes some of the finest REALTORS® and Affiliate members in the nation, and the annual "Of the Year" Awards gives us the opportunity to honor the best-of-the-best.  

 

If you know someone who deserves to be recognized for excellence in the real estate industry, nominate them for the 2011 KCRAR "Of the Year" Awards as a candidate in one of the following categories: REALTOR® of the Year, REALTOR® Sales Manager of the Year, REALTOR® Salesperson of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Affiliate of the Year, and Community Service Award.

Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate the salesperson, manager or affiliate who exemplifies excellence in your eyes. Self-nominations are also encouraged. Download the applications here.

Submit your nominations to Debbie Strange by fax at 913-498-1110, or email them to debbies@kcrar.com. Nominations are now being accepted, with final submissions due by September 15, 2011.

We are proud to announce that the 2011-2012 KCRAR Greater Kansas City New Resident Magazines are back from the press and ready to be distributed. If you would like copies of these premium relocation magazines delivered to your office, please email Kathy Moore with MetroMedia at kmoore@metromediapublishers.com. She will need your contact information and the hours your office is open for delivery. 

You may request up to 50 magazines to be delivered to your office, and should you need additional copies in the future, you may pick them up from the KCRAR office.

Platinum Realty, a residential and commercial real estate brokerage firm based in Overland Park, was recently ranked the No. 7 fastest-growing company in the Kansas City area by Ingram's magazine.

 

Scott DeNeve founded Platinum Realty in 2005 - during the housing bubble - when he was 24 years old with only two years experience in the industry. The company has experienced a 241 percent growth since 2007, earning $2.9 million in revenue in 2010.

 

During Platinum Realty's first year and a half, DeNeve and his 20 agents worked in a 110-square-foot rented office space. Today, Platinum Realty is Kansas City's largest independent real estate company with three offices and 300-plus agents. Congratulations to Scott and Platinum Realty for this accomplishment!

A new survey reveals that home sellers are more satisfied with real estate company services compared to last year, but buyers are less satisfied. So why in a "buyer's market" are buyers so dissatisfied?

 

Read more from REALTOR® Magazine >>

In today's competitive business environment, it often takes more than just motivation and initiative to succeed. Earning the Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) designation is a way to stand out to prospective home buyers and sellers as a REALTOR® who has gained in-depth knowledge on technical subjects as well as the fundamentals of real estate.

 

Coming up on August 11-12 at the KCRAR offices: GRI 405 & GRI 406 from the Missouri Association of REALTORS®

You do not have to be working on the GRI designation to take these classes. GRI 405 "Play Your Proper Role" and GRI 406 "Write it Right & Get it Closed" will both be taught by popular senior instructor Bruce Aydt. This is the only time these classes will be offered in Kansas City this year. Register here. (NOTE: Registration is through MAR, not KCRAR.) 

Just 90 minutes of your time can lead to a lot more sales. Really! Stop in for this workshop so you know the tools available to you for putting together deals you thought were impossible. FHA 203K loans are available for buyers who need to do rehab and construction work from painting, to room additions to energy improvements. Hear from the experts at Stonegate Mortgage.

Join us for "More Sales with FHA 203k Loans" from 10-11:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 19. Go here to register. (This is not a CE class; it's a "Get Smart" class.) 

The newly designed online store from the National Association of REALTORS® has everything you need to be successful in today's changing market, from products on sales and marketing, commercial and investment, home buying and selling, technology, mortgages, the latest research, and more. Visit the site often, as it is constantly updated, with offerings based on member feedback and changes in the market.

They're also giving you 10% off your next purchase when you use promotional code KCRAR2 at checkout.

 

Visit the store today at www.REALTOR.org/store. New items include the Social Media for REALTORS® Series, which includes 101 Social Media Dos and Don'ts, Blogging, and eMarketing.