| CALENDAR |
December 8 Noon-2pm Lunch & Learn: Social Media
Core Course
4-6pm
Agent2Agent Holiday Social
December 16
8:30-10:00am ACAR New Member Orientation
10am-1pm Ethics Class December 20
Noon-2pm Lunch & Learn: Procuring Cause December 23
Noon ACAR Offices Closes December 26 ACAR Office Closed |
Need a unique closing gift? Try a Homeowner's Book of Records! Visit the ACAR Store - Now open! |
Did You Know? ACAR Buys Used Lock Boxes. |
|
|
| Greetings!
In November, changes were made to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA):
- The mortgage must have been sold to Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae on or before May 31, 2009.
- Removing the current 125 percent LTV ceiling for fixed-rate mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Note: FNMA and FHLMC underwriting systems will not be updated to reflect this change until March, 2012. Until that time, we will only be able to process loans over 125% LTV that are currently serviced in IHFA's portfolio and will not be able to lock the loans until February 1, 2012.
- Eliminating the need for a new property appraisal where there is a reliable automated valuation model (AVM) estimate.
- Borrower must be current on the mortgage at the time of the refinance, with no late payment in the past six months and no more than one late payment in the past 12 months.
- Extends the end date for HARP until December 31, 2013.
Find out more about what changed
|
Remember - Dues Due Date is
Around the Corner 
Just a reminder - Unless you have already signed up for the dues payment plan, your 2012 REALTORŪ Association dues must be paid in full by Friday, December 30th.
If dues are paid after the 30th, you will be subject to a late fee.
You can click here to pay online or call our office at 376-0363.
|
|
Drawing for Free iPad at Agent2Agent
In December, Agent2Agent is moving from our regular monthly morning meeting to an afternoon cocktail party!
Mark your calendar for Thursday, December 15th from 4 to 6 PM at the Silverstone Plaza building at Overland and Eagle Rd.
Join us for free drinks, appetizers and lots of great giveaways, including an iPad and a chance to get last-minute Christmas cash in a money-grabbing machine! It's going to be fun, so we hope you'll join us!
|
|
Understanding the Equator System for Short Sales
Ever struggle with short sales and the Equator program?
Bank of America has posted five videos for real estate professionals about how to succeed in getting short sales to closing using the online Equator system. The set of five-minute videos covers:
1) initiating a short sale
2) uploading documents
3) valuing properties
4) conducting analyses and working with investors
5) closing the sale.
See the videos
|
|
Winter-Selling Tips for
Overcoming the Gloom
Daily Real Estate News | Friday, December 02, 2011
Selling a home in the cold, dreary winter months may not be ideal but there's still plenty you can do to get a home to standout.
"Buyers out looking at homes in December or January are, as a group, quite serious about buying," Laura Ortoleva, a spokesperson for the RE/MAX Northern Illinois, told RISMedia. "Therefore, sellers tend to benefit because each showing is more productive, and fewer showings are needed to sell the property."
RE/MAX agents offer some of the following tips when selling a home in winter in a recent article at RISMedia.
Keep Reading
|
|
As the old saying goes, "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" Don't let the same thing happen to your new product. This is where a solid content marketing plan comes to the rescue.
Susan Gunelius, author of Content Marketing for Dummies, defines content marketing as "the practice of developing awareness, recall, purchases and loyalty through the use of content published online or offline." It is a cost-effective and easy strategy, although it can be extremely time-consuming. But trust me, it's worth the effort!
Here are 10 steps you can take to improve your content marketing and drive awareness around your products
Find out more
|
|
A 2012 Business Plan... Have You Made Yours Yet?
NAR offers a free Business Plan Builder. The best way to achieve success is to plan for it - use the builder and make 2012 the most successful year you've had!
Start Using Tool |
|
Save the Date!
2012 Circle of Excellence Banquet
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Boise Centre on the Grove
|
|
|
|
|
