eNews
In this Issue   August 8, 2016

Eagan Office Moving to New Location; Closed August 8-12 During Transition

2017 Membership Renewal Notices Sent Via Email

REALTOR� Day at the Minnesota State Fair: Question of the Week

Vote in the Primary Election Tuesday

H.R. 3700 Becomes Law

August 2016 RealTrends Now Available

Have You Completed the Quadrennial Period Code of Ethics Training?

New Forms Now Available

Pack the Bus: Give School Supplies to Students in Need

Bring in the SPAAR Squad for your Next Office Meeting

Twin Cities Housing Market Statistics

Welcome, New Members!

Connect with us!
 
 
 
 
 

 

 


 

We're Moving! New Location for SPAAR Eagan Office Opens August 15

SPAAR's Eagan location will be closed August 8-12, 2016, while we move to our new location. Our new Eagan office, located at 4490 Erin Drive, Suite 100, Eagan, MN 55122, will open on Monday, August 15, 2016. Office hours are 8:30am to 4pm.

 
 

2017 Membership Renewal Notices Sent Via Email

SPAAR 2017 Membership Renewal Notices were sent via email on August 3rd from [email protected]. If you do not see your Renewal Notice in your Inbox, please check your SPAM and Junk folders so you do not miss out on this important information. Please review your invoice and take advantage of our new flexible dues billing payment option (This program is only available to primary REALTOR� members, and does not apply to MLS only, affiliates, secondary members, unlicensed REALTOR� assistants or new REALTOR� members). As a reminder, if payment is not received on or before November 30th, a $50 late payment fee will be added to the amount due. To view important 2017 dues billing information, please click here. If you have questions regarding your membership renewal, please do not hesitate to contact the Association at 651-776-6000.

CLICK HERE TO PAY YOUR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL ONLINE | DIRECTIONS FOR PAYING ONLINE

DIRECTIONS FOR CHOOSING THE PAYMENT PLAN OPTION (For Primary REALTOR� Members ONLY)

 
 

REALTOR® Day at the Minnesota State Fair: Question of the Week

Answer this week's REALTOR® Day at the State Fair question, and you could win two tickets to attend the event.

Week 6 question: What is the oldest amusement at the fairgrounds? CLICK HERE to submit your answer. Answers must be received by noon, on Wendnesday, August 10, to be eligible.

Show your REALTOR® pride at the first annual REALTOR® Day at the Minnesota State Fair, on Monday, August 29, 2016. Join your state and local associations at the Horton Pavillions at Hefron Park between 8am and 2pm for activities and events exclusively for REALTORS®. Register* online at https://statefairrealtorday.eventbrite.com to let us know you'll be there. All REALTOR® attendees and their guests will receive a free t-shirt to wear at the event. *Registration does not include admission to the fair.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER FOR REALTOR DAY AT THE MN STATE FAIR

 
 

Find where you vote for the Tuesday, August 9, Primary Election

Make your voice heard and vote in the Primary Election on Tuesday, August 9, which will determine what candidates appear on the ballot in the General Election on November 8. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. As long as you�re in line by 8 p.m., you can vote. Minnesotans can find out where they vote, what�s on their ballot, and what to bring to the polls at mnvotes.org.

FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE

 
 

H.R. 3700 Becomes Law

On July 31, President Obama signed H.R. 3700, the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act, which makes it easier for condo buyers to obtain mortgage credit. NAR has long been an advocate of the bill, testifying before Congress and lobbying for its passage.

Details and video. Video message from NAR President Tom Salomone.

 
 

August 2016 RealTrends Now Available

Your August 2016 issue of RealTrends is now available for viewing online.
In this month's issue:

  • Agent Reviews and Ratings
  • Growing Your Brokerage
  • USAA Real Estate Services
  • Track These Fundamentals
  • Real Estate Office Dynamics
  • Company Culture
  • Grier Allen, BoomTown, Charleston, SC
  • Is Your Website ADA Compliant?
  • Jimmy Dulin, President and CEO, RE/MAX Ability Plus
  • Growth Strategies Through Acquisition
  • The Next Frontier in Real Estate Video
  • Staying Ahead of the Digital Marketing Curve

READ THE JULY 2016 ISSUE OF RealTrends

 
 

Have You Completed the Quadrennial Period Code of Ethics Training?

The mandated four-year cycle to meet the Code of Ethics Training for the National Association of REALTORS� membership requirement ends December 31, 2016. If you do not have the NAR Code of Ethics completed by December 31, 2016, your membership will be suspended per the NAR bylaws. If your name is not on the LIST (Updated 8/05/16) you need to complete the NAR Code of Ethics. If you have taken an approved NAR Code of Ethics training class please be sure to submit proof of completion to SPAAR at [email protected].

CLICK HERE to view options for enrolling in an NAR approved Code of Ethics class. To check if you have completed the Code of Ethics training in this quadrennial period, CLICK HERE or call SPAAR at 651-776-6000.

 
 

New Forms Now Available

The Minnesota REALTORS� Forms Committee has made numerous forms changes, effective August 1, 2016. Substantive changes were made to three main contingencies including the Addendum to Purchase Agreement: Inspection Contingency; Addendum to Purchase Agreement: Sale of Buyer’s Property Contingency; and the three Addendum to Purchase Agreement: Financing Contingencies (Conventional, FHA, and DVA).

For more information and to understand how these changes affect the applicability, duration, and removal of these particular contingencies, CLICK HERE.

 
 

Pack the Bus: Give School Supplies to Students in Need

Participate in SPAAR’s 2016 School Supplies & Backpack Drive, which runs through August 12. One big drive, with two great community partners - Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Wilder Foundation. We need your help to meet our big goals: 50 backpacks, loaded with supplies for the Boys & Girls Clubs, and 2,500 notebooks for the 1,000 kids Wilder will serve this year.

How you can help:

  • Shop and drop - select items from our list and deliver them to the nearest SPAAR Office. Look for the bus!
  • Make a donation: purchase items online at Target.com or contribute towards a giftcard on SPAAR’s registry: http://www.target.com/gift-registry/giftgiver?registryId=b1VZ5IBYFGI0q3bR5cGsFA
  • Spread the word: please share Pack the Bus on social media
  • Park a Bus - display a Pack the Bus poster or bus box at your office.�Contact SPAAR for details (limited supplies available.)

Shout-out to Keller Williams in Woodbury and Edina Realty in Coon Rapids for parking a bus in their offices - a school bus collection box, that is! Need a poster or bus box for your office? Contact Joe McKinley at SPAAR.

 
 

Bring in the SPAAR Squad for your Next Office Meeting

Looking for useful content for upcoming office meetings? SPAAR Squad is here to help! Our staff members are available to attend your meeting and speak about a variety of relevant topics. We also provide onsite training (some with free CE) for groups of 25 or more.

SPAAR SQUAD TOPIC LIST | SPAAR SQUAD REQUEST FORM

 
 

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.

Member Name Company Name
Anderson, Nathanael Coldwell Banker Burnet
Aron, Dionica FirstService Residential Minne
Baha, Emran VSM Real Estate LLC
Bottolfson, Jared Solid Foundation Home Inspections, LLC
Bromen, John True Integrity Home Inspections
Buechler, Aurora Keller Williams Preferred Rlty
Charles, Vincent (Nick) Greater Midwest Realty
Curran, Daniel Integrity Realty
Doherty, Jill M Greater Midwest Realty
Duggan, Gina Keller Williams Premier Realty
Grega, James True Integrity Home Inspections
Hildebrand, William Keller Williams Integrity NW
Hoverson, Nicole Coldwell Banker Burnet
Kleven, Jana Keller Williams Classic Realty
Kovacich, Patricia Keller Williams Premier Realty
Lohse-Johnson, Rori Keller Williams Premier Realty
McKush, Greg Agent Referral Network
Miles, David Miles Inspections, LLC
Newman, Keri Virtuance
Nygren, Krista Edina Realty, Inc.
Pommalath, Setha Keller Williams Premier Realty
Rodriguez, Faviola Coldwell Banker Burnet
Sande, Stephen Edina Realty, Inc.
Schutta, Theodore Fish MLS Realty
Smith, Kelly Keller Williams Classic Realty
Swanson, Devon Keller Williams Classic Realty
Thorberg, Jessica Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Lovejoy Realty
Vaith, Steven Home Sellers of Minnesota Inc
Vue, Nancy Creative Results
Warren, Earl Keller Williams Classic Realty
Wheeland, Kristina Keller Williams Classic Realty
Wilmer, Derek Re/Max Results
Yakimova, Elena Caspian Group
Yang, Lee Bridge Realty, LLC