eNews
In this Issue   February 1, 2016

Modified Office Hours for SPAAR Remote Locations

"Get A Clue" Mini-Conference Set for March 10

MAR to Offer "Learn More Earn More" Series

Mandatory Code of Ethics Training

Washington County Offers Septic Classes

Fluent in another language? We need your expertise!

SPAAR Store Clearance

Mini-Library Design Contest

Upcoming Community Events

SPAAR Squad: Association Staff Speakers for Office Meetings

Welcome, New Members!

Connect with us!
 
 
 
 

 

 


  Modified Office Hours for SPAAR Remote Locations

SPAAR's Eagan and Coon Rapids offices will be opening at 11:30am on the following days due to staff training:

  • Tuesday, February 9, 2016
  • Tuesday, February 23, 2016
  • Tuesday, March 8, 2016
  • Tuesday, March 22, 2016
  • Tuesday, April 5, 2016
  • Tuesday, April 19, 2016
  • Tuesday, May 3, 2016
  • Tuesday, May 17, 2016

SPAAR's Maplewood/St. Paul location will maintain regular office hours on these dates.

 
 

"Get A Clue" Mini-Conference Set for March 10

MAAR and SPAAR Young Professionals Network are partnering for an exciting mini conference, which will be held on Thursday, March 10, from 1pm to 5pm, at the Minneapolis Club. We’ll have national speakers, food, vendors and fun! Join us for this “Clue” themed event for a one-of-a-kind educational experience. Speaker schedule TBA.

REGISTRATION

 
 

Minnesota Association of REALTORS� to Offer Learn More Earn More series

The Minnesota Association of REALTORS� is offering a Learn More Earn More series of classes on Wednesday, February 17, 2016, from 9 AM to noon, at the Maple Grove Community Center. The program consists of one keynote session and two breakout sessions, with the following course offerings:

  • Keynote Session - Emerging Markets (1 hr*)
  • Breakout #1 - Green Designation (1 hr*) or New Construction (1 hr*)
  • Breakout # 2- Senior Living (1 hr*) or Multi-Unit Housing/ Rental Property Management (1 hr*)

*These courses have been approved by the Minnesota Department of Commerce for 1 hour of real estate continuing education

REGISTRATION | COURSE FLYER

 
 

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.

MORE INFORMATION

 
 

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 [email protected]

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.

 
 

SPAAR Store Clearance

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 ([email protected], call 651-697-7573 with questions).

 
 

Housing Market Statistics

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 SQUAD REQUEST FORM

 
 

Welcome, New Members!

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
Becker, Brian Forsythe Appraisals LLC
Borowicz, Cassandra RE/MAX Advantage Plus
Dickinson, Jack RE/MAX Advantage Plus
Foley, Cathy Keller Williams Integrity RE
Hughes, Joseph Edina Realty, Inc.
Johnson, Christopher Minnesota Premier Realty, Inc.
Maas, Lynette Timber Ghost Realty, LLC
Mall, Daniel Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Lovejoy Realty
Marsolais, Timothy Edina Realty, Inc.
Miller, Tyler RE/MAX Advantage Plus
Mueller, Rachal RE/MAX Results
Perkuhn, Candace High Pointe Realty, Inc.
Ramey, Tiffany Homes USA Realty, Inc.
Wester, Alexander Edina Realty, Inc.
White, Dana Edge Real Estate Services