CRS Certified Residential Specialists
Maryland / DC Chapter February 2012
|
|
|
| TECH TIPS by Jan Brito |
Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring all your photos, docs, and videos anywhere. This means that any file you save to your Dropbox will automatically save to all your computers, iPads, phones and even the Dropbox website. You can share individual files or complete folders with other users. No more emailing large attachments - simply include a link to your Dropbox folder in an email message. You get 2GB free, and if you need more, you can upgrade for a nominal fee. Check it out at www.dropbox.com Watch this corner all year for Jan's great Tech Tips - with a special tech emphasis on what we can do with our iPads! |
Local Trivia
|
Local Trivia
Fort Meade near Laurel became a base because a train engineer delivering soldiers to Meade knew only one Meade, the one in Maryland. He was not aware of Fort Meade, Florida. The confusion happened so often a second base was built in Maryland in an attempt to avoid the confusion.
The 1,200 foot Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is the second longest continuous truss bridge in the nation.
|
Great Value!
|
  In case you didn't get to attend this year's event, CRS is making over 25 hours of audio downloads from this year's 2012 Sell-a-bration available for purchase.
And naturally, if you're a CRS Designee, you get the very BEST prices! Only $10.00!
At www.CRS.com, naturally!
|
|
|
Message From The President
| 
 Message From The President
Dear Fellow Agents,
Welcome to the MD DC Chapter's new year! The 2012 Board of Directors would like to thank you for this opportunity to serve you, the members. We are working hard to bring new and exciting offerings to the Chapter. Did you know that we offer the Chapter Designees the Consumer Booklets in order to showcase your value and professionalism to your clients? You can get your copies at any Chapter event.
We are also looking for Designees who want to get involved on a local level and we are looking for Area Vice Presidents in your local areas; if you've been considering getting more involved, now is a terrific time to do so! We look forward to your input; email us at mddccrs2012@gmail.com
Please visit the site often and watch us grow; we are working for you.
Sharron
Sharron Dorsey, MD/DC CRS President 2012
|
Chapter With A Heart Committee
"Dress for Success"
|  "Dress for Success" Drive - We have having a Ladies Clothing Drive to help the Baltimore Chapter of Dress for Success. The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Dress for Success serves clients by referral only, and women must have an interview scheduled before receiving the clothing. This is a great opportunity to not only clean out your own closet, but also to contact your family, friends and past clients, letting them know that you're helping your local community and offering to help them help as well. You could stop by and visit and pick up their donations, or have a collection center in your office if you'd like. Donations can be ongoing throughout the year, so feel free to contact your SOI periodically, or clean out more of your closets! The Baltimore facility of Dress for Success is accepting all sizes for Fall and Winter clothing that are cleaned and on hangers. Likely, Spring clothing will be accepted very shortly. They especially need larger sizes, 16 to 26 plus, and are also in need of Handbags, Shoes and Jewelry. Please check with your Area Vice Presidents for Pick Ups in your area, or feel free to contact me at 443-497-3128, smilin4shore@comcast.net. Sincerely, Lynette Lynette Bridges-Catha, Chapter With A Heart Chair
|
Communications Committee
Website Updates - Check them out! MDDCCRS.com
New -- Chapter Member Referral Ads!
| |
We're working to improve the site for you and are very excited about our future online. You can now check the events calendar on the site, and pay for courses directly via PayPal. Additionally, all your individual member information is automatically updated from National, ensuring that accurate information is available for our members, as well as for consumers searching for a local Realtor. We are very interested in your feedback and suggestions on the new site. Please email me with your comments! And hot off the presses, click here for the order form for our new Newsletter Advertising Referral Order Form for MD/DC CRS Chapter Members only. For $120, you can advertise for the entire year, with great exposure to over 1600 current and past members and designees, as well as State leadership throughout the country -- for 10 newsletter issues. A terrific value! Click here to see the first ads up already, and hurry to be sure you're in the next issue! Sincerely, Gretchen
Gretchen Conley, President Elect, Communications Chair
|
Education Committee
Your Local Chapter News - MD/DC CRS Classes
| |
Need another course for your CRS Designation?
Want a refresher?
Plan ahead for next year -- first class scheduled for 2012 -
Technology CRS-206
by Robert Morris
March 20 and 21. Register HERE
Looking forward to seeing you at class!
Sincerely,
Sharron
Sharron Dorsey, Education Chair
|
Membership Committee
What do you get for $40, you ask?
| |
If you want access to the best real estate training from the most knowledgeable trainers in the industry, become a CRS member. Yes, you can still get the training as a non-member, but "Membership has its Privileges." As a member of National and our Maryland/DC CRS chapter, you could save as much as 40% off of the registration fees on our chapter sponsored training. Register for two classes and you could potentially recoup your class registration fees through the discounts received. Couple the training opportunities with the awesome networking events and community outreach through Chapter with a Heart and you know you are part of an organization that cares!
Chapter dues are $40. If you have already renewed your membership, as the 2012 Membership Committee chair, I say Thank You and I look forward to meeting you real soon. If you haven't, make a commitment to renew before March 31. To make it easy for you, click here for the Maryland/DC CRS Membership Form.
Did you let your National membership lapse? Click here for the Membership Reinstatement Form. There's no time like the present!
Yes, you can become a member before you receive your designation. I did. I joined National and chose the Maryland/DC chapter mainly because this chapter offered the best training opportunities. Last year I earned my designation! Any questions? Call me, 302-373-4355. I'm here for you.
Deborah
Deborah Harris, Membership Chair
|
Program Committee
Mark your Calendars for the upcoming Luncheon
| |
Our 206 Class on March 20-21 has a great location with amenities - The Springhill Suites at Arundel Mills Mall, and the hotel has complimentary Wi-Fi so everyone can bring their laptops and plug in at their tables.
Arrangements have just been announced for our upcoming Spring Luncheon - Mark your calendars; the registration form will be on the website shortly.
March Quarterly Meeting & Luncheon
with Kathy Connelly
Executive Director, Md Real Estate Commission
Friday, March 9, 2012, 11 am - 2 pm
Towson University Marriott
10 W. Burke Avenue, Towson MD 21204
Registration form here or
Online at www.mddccrs.com
Coni
Coni Otto, Programs Chair
|
|
|
|
Public Relations Committee
Event News
| |
Save the Date!!! May 18th 2012
In conjunction with the NAR Washington, DC meetings in May, our Chapter is
putting on a great cruise/dinner package. This was so popular last year that we are once again, throwing a party! This time, we've had to book two cruises!
Dinner at the Revolutionary-era Themed Restaurant "Chadwick's" - across the street from the dock! Two embarkations from the dock at 31st and K Streets, NW to choose from:
5:30 PM - Embark on a Potomac Cruise;Return at 7 PM for dinner at Chadwick's!
OR
5:30 PM - Dinner first at Chadwick's; Embark at 7 PM on a Potomac Cruise!
Registration form here!
Or online at www.mddccrs.com
This will be open to all attendees; we sold out last year. Questions? Email: vivianfeen@mris.com or sharron@sharrondorsey.com Would you like to help with upcoming events? Give Vivian a call at 443-794-4106 or send her an email: VivianFeen@mris.com
Sincerely,
Vivian
Vivian Feen, Public Relations Chair
|
Sponsorship Committee News
| |
We're off to a great start with our new 2012 Sponsorship Committee, and are actively solicting YOUR HELP! What lenders, title companies, vendors, servicers, contractors, do you recommend/send business to/would like to help get the word out about to more of your Realtor friends?
This is a great opportunity for them to have more marketing time with us, promoting their services, while networking with the top 4% of Realtors in the area!
Please take a few moments to email me with their names and contact information, as I'm hard at work getting sponsorships for our Chapter, while helping your folks. Email me today at AbigailHilliard@mris.com!
Sincerely,
Abigail Herl-Hilliard
Abigail Herl-Hilliard, Sponsorship Chair
|
AVP - Area Vice Presidents Committee
|  Please welcome our newest AVP's; if your counties are listed, give these folks a call, send them an email, find out what's being planned locally. If your county is NOT listed, call me and let's talk about it. We're building up a great network and would love your input! Howard/Carroll Linda Kangrga410-262-2254  Washington/Frederick301-471-9946 Please join us for an opportunity to shape CRS statewide and especially in the Frederick and Washington County area. Any who are interested, come to a short (one hour) planning meeting and be heard. Sharron Dorsey and Linda Kangrga will be here. Let me know if you plan to come since space is limited. I'd love it if we have to move the meeting.  Harford/CecilLouise Costello410-575-6411 March 28, 2012 - Methamphetamine & Mold Classes 9 am - 12 noon
I am still looking for Area Vice Presidents to work with me and other neighboring areas in Maryland and Washington, D.C. to participate in the Area Vice Presidents Committee. It's great for networking and increasing referral and educational opportunities.Sincerely, Linda Linda Kangrga, Area Vice Presidents Committee Chair
|
MD DC CRS Chapter Charter Certificate
|
CONGRATULATIONS MD DC CRS CHAPTER!
 |
| Upcoming Events |
Tuesday, March 6, 2012, 10 am
AVP's CRS Area Planning Meeting
8994 Urbana Church Road, Urbana MD 21704
Call 301-631-0525, Mary Richeimer
* * * * * *
Friday, March 9, 2012, 11 am - 2 pm
MDDCCRS Quarterly Meeting & Luncheon
with Kathy Connelly, Exec. Dir, MD Real Estate Commission
Towson University Marriott
10 W. Burke Avenue, Towson MD 21204
Registration form here
* * * * * *
Tuesday & Wednesday, March 20 & 21, 2012, 8:30 am - 5 pm
CRS 206 2-day Course, Technologies to Advance Your Business
with Robert Morris
Springhill Suites Arundel Mills
7544 Teague Road, Hanover MD 21076
Registration form here
* * * * * *
Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 9 am - 12 noon
Methamphetamine & Mold Classes by Pillar To Post
Hilton Garden Inn- Aberdeen
1050 Beards Hill Road, Aberdeen MD 21001
Registration form here
* * * * * *
Thursday, May 17 thru Sunday, May 20, 2012
2012 Mid Year National Meetings
Washington Hilton (near Dupont Circle)
1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20009
hotel phone: 202-483-3000; hotel fax: 202-232-0438
Tentative Meeting Schedule, click here
NAR (May 14-19) Information, Scheduling & Online Registration, click here
* * * * * *
Friday, May 18, 2012, 5:30 - 9 pm
CRS is Cruising the Potomac
Chadwick's Tavern in Georgetown &
Georgetown Washington Harbor 31sts & K Streets
Washington, DC
Registration form here
* * * * * * *
OTHER AREA EVENTS:
The Virginia CRS Chapter is having their own Sell-a-Bration
Wednesday, March 7, 2012 from 8:30 - 5
The Glenmore Country Club, 1318 Piper Way, Keswick VA 22947
For class registration, go to www.virginiacrs.com
CRS Instructor Jackie Leavenworth will be presenting her class
"It's a Price War to the Door."
Click here for a link to Jackie's YouTube video about the class.
* * * * * *
MD/DC Chapter Consumer Booklets
TERRIFIC HANDOUT FOR YOUR BUYERS & SELLERS!
 If you have your CRS Designation and are a member of your Maryland State Chapter, please stop by at our next event and pick up FIVE copies of our Chapter's Consumer Booklet for distribution to your clients. Buyers and Sellers alike will truly appreciate the value you're bringing them when they choose you as their Realtor. Having the value of being a CRS clearly outlined in this high-quality handout is just one more reason to become and remain a Maryland DC CRS Designee. We plan to have the booklets available to hand out to qualified CRSers again at our upcoming events, so use up your FIVE and keep coming back for FIVE MORE!
|
Pics - Sell-a-Bration 2012
| 
|
Member Connect - The Residential Specialist Magazine is looking for Sources
| |
Member Connect News
REQUEST for CRS Magazine Sources:
The Residential Specialist is looking to interview CRS Designees for the May/June 2012 issue. Find details about the story topics and learn how you can volunteer to be considered as a source for these stories.
Foreclosures Decline in 2011
Foreclosures declined 24 percent in 2011 to 830,000 from 1.1 million in 2010, according to a new report by CoreLogic. Nationally, 1.4 million homes, or 3.4 percent of all homes with a mortgage, were in the foreclosure inventory at the end of 2011. For the month of December, 55,000 homes had completed the foreclosure process, down from 57,000 in November and down from 67,000 in December 2010.
The share of borrowers who were delinquent on their mortgage payments by 90 days or more was 7.3 percent in December 2011 compared to 7.8 percent a year earlier.
Florida led the nation with the largest percentage of foreclosures inventory with 11.9 percent, followed by New Jersey (6.4 percent), Illinois (5.4 percent), Nevada (5.3 percent) and New York (4.6 percent). States with the lowest foreclosure inventory were Wyoming (0.7 percent), Alaska (0.8 percent), North Dakota (0.8 percent), Nebraska (1.0 percent) and Washington (1.3 percent).
Fri, Feb 10, 2012
|
Your Home - CRS Newsletter Article available to you for your SOI Newsletters - go online!
| |
Have you seen this article at www.crs.com? As a Certified Residential Specialist, are you making use of the magazine articles readily available for you to share with your clients? Each month, there's a new two page newsletter full of timely information, waiting for you, one more way CRS is providing value to you, and you can provide value to your clients.
Voting for Homeownership
American voters feel strongly about homeownership and would oppose most policies that would make it more difficult to own a home, according to a recent survey conducted on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders by Republican and Democratic polling firms of Public Opinion Strategies in Alexandria, Va., and Lake Research Partners in Washington, D.C.
Three-fourths of voters, both owners and renters, believe it is reasonable and appropriate for the federal government to provide tax incentives to promote homeownership. That sentiment cuts across party lines, with 84 percent of Democrats, 71 percent of Republications and 71 percent of Independents agreeing with this statement. Two-thirds of respondents believe the federal government should assist homebuyers so they can afford a long-term or 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.
Further, 73 percent of voters oppose eliminating the mortgage interest deduction, a sentiment shared across party lines - 77 percent Republicans, 71 percent Democrats and 71 percent Independents. More than two-thirds of voters (68 percent) say they would be less likely to vote for a congressional candidate who favored abolishing the deduction.
The survey also finds that a majority of voters oppose several other proposals affecting homeownership including: reducing the mortgage interest deduction; eliminating the deduction for interest paid for a second home; limiting the deduction for those earning more than $250,000 per year; reducing the deduction for homeowners with mortgages higher than $500,000; and eliminating the deduction for interest paid on home-equity loans.
PLEASE NOTE: The images featured in the Your Home newsletter may only be used within the context of the original article. These images may not be reproduced or republished elsewhere outside of this newsletter format. CRS Members are free to re-use the text of the articles contained in this newsletter, however.
|
Pillar-to-Post -- Please support our 2011 MD DC CRS Platinum Sponsor!
| |
Complimentary Resource from
Pillar to Post
for YOU to USE in your Client Newsletters/Communications:
DETECTING & ADDRESSING RADON CONTAMINATION:
Many homeowners are increasingly concerned about the possible presence of radon in their homes - and with good reason. Reports suggest that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. As a result, more and more homebuyers are considering radon detection to be a "must" when they are considering a particular property.
WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF RADON?
Radon is naturally occurring odorless, colorless, radioactive gas that is formed by the ongoing decay of uranium in soil, rocks, sediments, and even well or ground water. While radon that escapes into the atmosphere is not harmful, dangerously high concentrations can build up indoors, exposing residents to possible health risks.
HOW RADON ENTERS THE HOME
Radon gas can migrate into the home in several ways. Openings or cracks in basement walls or floors are common avenues. Sumps, basement drains, and spaces between gas or water fittings can also allow radon into the structure. Elevated levels of radon can even be found in new homes.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT RADON IN A HOME I'M THINKING ABOUT PURCHASING?
Radon testing can be conducted as part of the home inspection process. The inspector will set up the testing equipment and report on the results once the proper measurement procedure is complete. It is important to realize that radon levels in any particular home can vary widely, even over the course of a few days. If an elevated level of radon is detected, steps can be taken to lessen the concentration inside the home.
REDUCING THE LEVELS OF RADON IN THE HOME
Radon mitigation methods can include sealing likely entry points, improving ventilation, and a process called soil depressurization, which vents air from the house back into the surrounding soil, reducing the level of radon that can enter the home. Professional mitigation services can provide recommendations for a home's specific conditions. Ask your real estate agent or broker for additional information.
Article courtesy of Pillar To Post Home Inspection - www.pillartopost.com
|
| Chapter Member Referral Ads | 
Want to advertise in our newsletter? We'd love to have you here, and love for you to get terrific CRS referrals! For the Newsletter Referral Advertising Form, click here.
|
|
MISSION STATEMENT:
The Maryland/DC CRS Chapter will provide Chapter members with superior benefits to maximize their professional performance and profitability in residential real estate, and to provide resources to the real estate community and general public.
|
Get Serious. Get a CRS.
Go to Top
Like our FORMAT? Thinking of using Constant Contact yourself, for your SOI newsletters? When you sign up for Constant Contact, click on the referral link and get 2 months free for yourself and 2 months free for CRS as well! Thanks and Enjoy! |
|
|
|
|
