Modified Hours at SPAAR

SPAAR Monthly Statistics Release

Rebuilding Together Twin Cities Project Day is May 18

SPAAR REALTOR® Jill Brindamour Earns GRI Designation

Reminder: Photos Required on MLS Listings

Fair Housing Poster Contest: Vote for your Favorite

MN License Law Enforcement: Advertising

Construction to Start on I-35E

Upcoming Events at SPAAR

Twin Cities Housing Market Statistics

Welcome, New Members!

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

• 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.

Monthly Press Release: Housing Inventory Low; Prices Still Climbing

Released April 14, 2016. The Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS® reported that Twin Cities residential real estate sales prices continue to build as the spring selling season takes off. In March the Median Sales Price increased 5.7 percent to $222,000. Housing inventory is turning quickly with Days on Market down 17.5 percent to 85 days.

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Join SPAAR for Rebuilding Together Twin Cities Project Day

SPAAR and SPAAR’s Community Engagement Committee have partnered with Rebuilding Together Twin Cities to help local homeowners, and have a project coming up on Wednesday, May 18, from 8:30 to 4:00, in Maplewood. We will be working on the home of a Vietnam Vet and his wife who are experiencing increased medical and mobility issues.

Please join the SPAAR’s volunteer team and help to make a difference! Don't have home repair skills? Don't worry! Volunteers with all skill levels are welcome. We need up to 20 volunteers to make this day a success.

Register by emailing Joe McKinley at jmckinley@spaar.com. Joe will confirm details and work assignments.

SPAAR REALTOR® Jill Brindamour Earns GRI Designation

SPAAR REALTOR® Jill Brindamour was recently awarded the highly acclaimed national Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) designation. In completing the required curriculum, Brindamour of RE/MAX Synergy in Forest Lake, joins other top REALTORS® in the residential real estate industry from across the nation who hold this designation. Additional information about the Institute and other educational opportunities for professional real estate agents may be obtained by contacting the Minnesota Association of REALTORS® at 800-862-6097.

Reminder: Photos Required on MLS Listings

A property photo must be loaded into the computer for any listing of a previously owned, completed new construction or model property in the single family residential, multi-family residential, commercial/mixed use, or residential rental property type within two business days, excluding state or federal holidays, of the listings’ entry on the service regardless of the listing status.

The photo has the following requirements:

• No broker/agent/builder signs or promotional materials allowed.
• No text (regardless of message) allowed on any photograph.
• Do not copy photos from the listing of another Participant. Use your own photos.
• The photo may not be digitally altered so that it no longer accurately reflects the property.

MORE INFORMATION

Fair Housing Poster Contest: Vote for your Favorite

Entries in SPAAR’s 2016 Fair Housing Poster Contest will be on display at SPAAR beginning Monday, April 18. Please stop by to vote for your favorite!

The theme for this year’s Poster Contest is “Together We Make A Neighborhood.” The contest is sponsored by SPAAR’s Diversity Committee. Winning entries will be recognized with prizes for artist-students and their schools! Watch for a 2017 calendar which will feature posters from the contest!

MN License Law Enforcement: Advertising

Two years ago, the statutes regarding Agents and Teams was changed. The changes are in the 2014 Legislative Update: At that time the Minnesota Department of Commerce Enforcement Division agreed to give warnings when they found a violation on a web site, social media, billboards, bus benches and other expensive, difficult to change advertising mediums. On Friday afternoon, Minnesota REALTORSÒ were notified that due to the number of violations, they would begin fully enforcing the statute.

Following are common Q&A’s regarding advertising requirements.

Q: What information must a REALTOR? include in their advertisements?
A. MN Statute ? 82.69 requires that any advertising by a licensee must include the real estate brokerage name more prominently displayed than the licensee's name.
MN Statute ? 82.68 requires:

• a salesperson only conduct business under their licensed name;
• a salesperson only conduct business on behalf of the broker to whom they are licensed;
• a broker to conduct business under the brokerage’s licensed name;
• a broker licensed to a business entity to conduct business under the licensed business entity name.

Article 12 of the NAR Code of Ethics requires REALTORS?:

• Be honest and truthful in their real estate communications and shall present a true picture in their advertising, marketing, and other representations (this includes advertising on the Internet, URLS and domain names);
• Shall ensure their status as real estate professionals is readily apparent in their advertising, marketing, and other representations;
• Shall ensure that the recipients of all real estate communications are, or have been, notified that those communications are from a real estate professional;
• Standard of Practice 12-5 also requires the firm name be disclosed in a reasonable and readily apparent manner;
• in an electronic display with limited information (e.g. “thumbnails”, text messages, “tweets”, etc.) there must be a link to the licensed business entity name to meet this requirement.
• Standard of Practice 12-13 states REALTORS? may use and display only professional designations, certifications, and other credentials to which they are legitimately entitled.

Q. Can I use my team’s name in advertising?
A. A licensee may include a team or group name in advertising only under the following conditions:

• the inclusion of the team or group name is authorized by the primary broker of the brokerage to which the salesperson or broker is licensed; and
• the real estate brokerage name is included and more prominently displayed than the team or group name in the advertising.

READ STATUTE 82.69

Construction to start on the I-35E Corridor between I-94 and I-694

MnDOT is ramping up to complete the final activities for the I-35E Corridor project this year. By approximately late July, they ploan to have the following milestones completed:

• Completion and opening of the southbound I-35E ramps to and from Cayuga Street
  
• Reopening the Gateway Trail on the west side of I-35E
  
• Opening the new west frontage road between Cayuga Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
  
• Various project activities including freeway median work, retaining wall installation, striping etc.

Lane closures on I-35E may occur as needed during non-rush hours, and temporary short-term ramp or other area closures may need to occur this season for completion of various activities.

MORE INFORMATION

Upcoming Events & Education at SPAAR

• Monday, April 25, 5pm - 7pm: Third Annual Cheers for Charity at Summit Brewing Company, 910 Montreal Cir, St Paul, MN 55102. BUY TICKETS
• Thursday, April 28, 11:30am - 2pm: Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work® Day BBQ at SPAAR, 325 Roselawn Ave. E., Maplwood. Details and RSVP

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

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.