SPAAR Holds Joint Press Conference
SPAAR Launches Mobile Friendly Website
Mandatory Code of Ethics Training
Washington County Offers Septic Classes
Fluent in another language? We need your expertise!
SPAAR Squad: Association Staff Speakers for Office Meetings
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Area Real Estate Associations Hold Annual Press Conference
The Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS® was joined by the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS® on January 20, 2016, as they hosted a joint press conference. Together 2016 SPAAR President Bob Clark and 2016 MAAR President Judy Shields provided local media representatives in attendance with a recap of the 2015 real estate market and a forecast for what's expected in 2016.
2015 Annual Wrap-Up: Twin Cities Housing Market Has Most Closed Sales Since 2005
Released January 20 - REALTOR® associations reported that the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area had the best year in terms of the number of closed sales since 2005. Closed sales finished 2015 13.7% better than 2014, boasting 56,390 compared to 49,604 in 2014.
The median sales price in 2015 was $220,000, a 7.0% increase from $205,600 in 2014. This is on top of gains in recent years of +14.4% in 2013 and 11.9% in 2012. The median sales price of single family homes was up 5.6% and townhouse-condos were up 3.8% over the prior year, continuing multi-year positive trends. Distressed sales were a mere 10.6% of all closed sales in 2015. This represents a one-year change in sales of foreclosures and short sales of -26.7%.
SPAAR Launches Mobile Friendly Website
We’ve made some improvements to our website! Our site was redesigned in a mobile-friendly format, making it easier to view and obtain information on a phone, tablet, or other mobile device. With the conversion, we've also added new features including a streamlined statistics page with access to statistic archives, a Member News blog, and a media gallery. Visit www.spaar.com to see the difference. Contact Alyssa MacLeod with questions or comments.
Mandatory Code of Ethics Training
REALTORS® are required to complete ethics training of not less than 2 hours, 30 minutes of instructional time within four-year cycles. The training must meet specific learning objectives and criteria established by the National Association of REALTORS®. The current four-year cycle will end Dec. 31, 2016. Training may be completed through local REALTOR® associations or other NAR approved courses.
Unsure if you've completed your ethics training for this quadrennial period? Click here for instructions.
Washington County Offers Septic Classes for Real Estate Agents & Appraisers
Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment is pleased to partner with the University of Minnesota Extension Onsite Sewage Treatment Program to offer the class "Septic System Introduction and Advanced Topics for Appraisers and Real Estate Agents." The course will help realtors and appraisers better understand onsite sewage treatment and prepare them to handle many questions from home buyers and sellers. Presenters from University of Minnesota and Washington County will cover: onsite sewage treatment basics, regulatory overview, non-compliant systems, disclosure and compliance inspections, local issues relating to septic systems and property transfer. For questions please contact Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment at 651-430-6655 or via email at PHE@co.washington.mn.us
Real estate agents and appraisers will receive 4 hours of continuing education.
Date: Tuesday March 8, 2016
Time: 12:00-4:30pm Check in begins @ 11:30
Cost: $35 (includes LUNCH!)
Location: Washington County Historic Courthouse 101 Pine St W Stillwater, MN 55082
REGISTRATION & MORE INFORMATION
Fluent in another language? We need your expertise!
The SPAAR Diversity Committee created four 1-page, consumer focused flyers for members to use with clients. We now need help reviewing the translated versions of these useful tools.
If you are fluent in Arabic, Cambodian, Lao, Oromo (Afan), Somalian, Russian, or Vietnamese, we'd appreciate your help in ensuring the translated content is correct.
Flyer topics include: Why use a REALTOR®, Benefits of Owning a Home, Buying After Foreclosure or Bankruptcy
The Path to Ownership.
If you are interested in being part of the review process, please contact Mandy Boldt.
A selection of SPAAR Store merchandise is on sale for $1.00 each! Clearance items available include a variety of sign riders, corrugated open house signs, info tubes for flyers, and No Smoking/Please Don’t Sit On Furniture signs, and more. The sale items are available at the St. Paul office until they are gone. Call 651-776-6000 for more information.
Mini-Library Design Contest: Fun, Funky, Classy, Stylish Little Library Designs Wanted!
Get out your drawing pencil and show us your design chops! The BATC Young Professionals and SPAAR Community Engagement Committee are ready to build three Free Little Libraries from your designs. Winning designers will be noted on the libraries and included in our press releases/events. And to add even more incentive, we’ll be awarding prizes worth up to $100.
Specs:
• Approximately 20-inches wide by 15-inches deep and 18-inches high with access door
• Submit colored sketches with or without build specifications for our build teams
• Three different locations will appeal separately to children, teens and retirees
• Suggestions and specs can be found here: http://littlefreelibrary.org/build/
Deadlines:
• Sketches due February 19, 2016, to Heather Griffis, BATC (Heather@BATC.org, call 651-697-7573 with questions).
- Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) Inauguration: Thursday, January 28, 2016, from 6 to 10 pm, The Great Hall - 180 5th Street East. #160. Saint Paul, MN 55101
Get up-to-date housing market information here! SPAAR provides four different types of reports so you can offer your clients the most accurate housing data available. Click below to see how the market's doing.
Local Market Updates | Weekly Market Activity Report | Housing Supply Overview | Monthly Market Indicators
SPAAR Squad: Association Speakers for Office Meetings
SPAAR staff would love to join you for your next office meeting! We will give a presentation on Association happenings, policy issues, communications, market information and more. You can tailor the presentation to meet your office's needs: choose the length of the presentation and the topics you'd like discussed. We want your agents to have all the information when it comes to the Association. Request speakers today!
Click below to book the SPAAR Squad for your next office meeting!
SPAAR would like to welcome all our new members! Thank you joining, and we look forward to helping you be successful in your business.
| Member Name | Company Name |
| Andersen, Casey | Bridge Realty, LLC |
| Assani, Lindsey | Keller Williams Preferred Rlty |
| Berglund, David | Edina Realty, Inc. |
| Besser, John | Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Lovejoy Realty |
| Conrad, Christopher | Edina Realty, Inc. |
| Criego, Matthew | Leader One Financial |
| Eggersgluess, Makenzie | RE/MAX Advantage Plus |
| Hall, Shayne | Results Support Services, Inc |
| Lee, Lisa | Commonwealth Realty, LLC |
| Malard, Alexis | Realty Executives Results |
| Mall, Daniel | Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Lovejoy Realty |
| Meyer, Christina | Agent Referral Network |
| Miller, Matthew | Lynden Realty, Ltd. |
| Nesgoda, Cole | Edina Realty, Inc. |
| Ngo, Chi | Coldwell Banker Burnet |
| Pena, Mary | Keller Williams Premier Realty |
| Peterson, Aaron | Edina Realty, Inc. |
| Ramey, Tiffany | Homes USA Realty, Inc. |
| Riley, Kelley | Coldwell Banker Burnet |
| Rudeen, Allisyn | VSM Real Estate LLC |
| Turcott, Eric | Keller Williams Integrity Rlty |
| Wetterlin, Alexandra | Keller Williams Preferred Rlty |
| Wilcox, Ellen | RE/MAX Synergy |