For those of you who like to search for images on-line to use on your websites or blog,  let me tell you my story.  As do many of you, I have a real estate website.  For many years I thought that if you wanted to add a photo to a website, blog, etc, all you had to do was search a specific image topic and if the picture did not have a copyright symbol or watermark on it, it was alright to use it.

Several years ago, I was encouraged by my website company to make sure that all photos were royalty free and that I use their photo library that had been purchased, or, purchase my own photos through companies such as IStock, Shutterstock, etc.  I carefully reviewed my websites and blog and felt confident that all of my photos had been purchased.

Not too long ago, I got a Federal Express letter from a company called Getty Images.  This company has recently purchased some of the royalty free companies such as IStock and have employees searching full time on the internet for copyright violations.

Getty had provided a very detailed copy of my website and the image I had used and claimed I had violated copyright laws.  Sure enough, as I searched my website and my files, this particular image was indeed not paid for.  Their letter said that I would be "prosecuted" if I did not pay.  I immediately contacted one of our local well known attorneys and after reviewing my information, I was told that I " did not have a leg to stand on and that copyright violation is very specific and easy to prove".  With that, I called Getty Images  to see if I might be able to get the amount reduced.  They were very formal, yet did offer me a settlement.  I still paid a very substantial fine and given a release.  I did learn that had this image been on a home page instead of a sub-page, my fine could have been in the thousands!

Moral of the story........Do not use any image that you have not taken yourself or paid for!!

Kim Blanton- RCAR Treasurer 

As new agents, we all search for the secret to being a great agent. While there is no one big secret, there are several things we can do daily to become a better real estate agent. Here are 5 tips to put you on the path to success:

1. It is not all about you:As an agent, your job is to guide your client through the buying and/or selling process. It is so easy to become emotionally attached to a transaction and make it personal. Remind yourself, "it is not all about you." The goal is to have a satisfied customer who will be eager to share your name with friends and family.

2. Set a schedule: The great thing about what we do for a living is that no one tells us what to do or when to do it. The bad thing is that no one tells us what to do and when to do it. It is easy to get lazy and wait for business to come to you. Unfortunately, this will not get you far. Set a daily/weekly/monthly schedule, and stick to it. But remember, set aside time for yourself. No one likes a crabby agent!

3. Treat your business as a business: If you do not take your business seriously, no one else will either. Write a business plan. Have a marketing plan. Keep track of your expenses and pay your taxes. Do the necessary things to make your business profitable.

4. Get additional training: We all enjoy our required continuing education courses. Sometimes it is necessary to go above and beyond what is required of us to improve your business. There are changes being made to our paperwork continuously. You are only as good as your understanding of a contract. An agent who has been in the business twenty years has just as much room for learning as an agent who has been in it twenty minutes.

5. Set your standards high: When conducting real estate business, dress like a professional...you never know where your next client will be. When you host an open house, be knowledgeable about the neighborhood or area. Know what has sold recently and what may currently be on the market. If you treat yourself as a professional, others will also!

Brittany Roland- RCAR Secretary 

As most of you know, USDA/Rural Development financing is a great option for buyers here in Robertson County. Many of us have been told by lenders that if there are outbuildings on the property, the property is ineligible for USDA financing. However, I recently spoke with a Loan Specialist at USDA and she provided me with an up-to-date Administrative Notice (AN) on the subject. A portion of RD AN No. 4688 (1980-D), October 18, 2012 states:

Rural non-farm acreage tracts often contain farm service structure outbuildings such as barns, and machine sheds that may have some functionality, however the tract of land is not income producing and is typical for residential properties in the area. State Directors or their designees, may approve the purchase of a site with a functional farm service building if the site is not income producing. This flexibility will allow financing through a guarantee on smaller tracts of land that, as one example, may have a structure designed for a horse, a calf, or a goat. Properties primarily utilized for agricultural, farm operation or commercial enterprises continue to be ineligible. Under the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), licensed or certified appraisers will address the contributory value of all structures on the site. The value of a functional farm service structure must be deducted from the appraised value before computing the maximum loan amount.

Example:

Appraised value of site and structures: $100,000

Contributory value of the functional farm service structure: -$10,000

Net value adjustment: $90,000

Maximum loan amount for guarantee: $90,000 + any amount of the up-front guarantee fee financed