Weekly Notices

Friday, March 13, 2015

Become an Instructor

Have you ever attended a class at your SAR and thought to yourself, "I'd like to do that."

Now you can!

Just approved - Instructor Development Workshop is a two day, 15 clock hour class that offers curriculum approved by Washington DOL and facilitated by a state approved instructor (Linda Miller) from which you can apply to become a state certified real estate instructor.

April 8th & 9th, all day both days, at the SAR.

Download the class flyer (pictured above), online here.

Preliminary Title

Washington REALTORSŽ Legal Hotline lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons has talked before about when to order the Preliminary Commitment of Title.

In response to some issues cropping up within our sister industry (Title Companies), Annie has some comments and great advice on precisely when you should be ordering the Preliminary Commitment of Title and why it's important to do it when you're supposed to.

Watch Annie's six-minute video online here:

Preliminary Title

Education Excellence/Quarterly Meeting

Mark your calendar now and plan to join us for the first SAR Education Excellence and Quarterly Membership Meeting of 2015:

Thursday, March 26th
CenterPlace Regional Events Center

Land and Acreage 200 with Jim Palmer, Jr.
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
7.5 clock hours

SAR Quarterly Membership Meeting and Luncheon
Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Lunch and meeting included in class registration fee: $40 if registered by Friday, March 20th, $55 after this date.

If attending Meeting/Luncheon only, price is $20. Please RSVP to Debbie and either pay in advance at the SAR or pay at the door.

Download the event flyer online here.

The Voice for Real Estate

Real estate wins with federal rule prohibiting fast and slow lanes on the Internet. That's the top story in the latest news video from The Voice for Real Estate.

Other news for the week of March 9, 2015: A REALTORŽ wins a lawsuit against a patent troll and NAR testifies before Congress to get legislation passed to curb these types of abusive patent troll lawsuits once and for all. And NAR looks into why creditworthy renters are having such a hard time getting financing to become home owners.

Watch the seven-minute video online here:

The Voice for Real Estate 18: Net Neutrality, Patent Trolls

REALTOR.ORG Updates

Recent updates make REALTOR.org easier to read, easier to navigate, & easier to use on your mobile device.

NAR is taking member input seriously, and is committed to continuously improving the site. With this batch of improvements, you'll see:

Greater contrast between text and its background
More room given to the content you want on each page
Clearer section navigation menus
Better site performance on touch screen and mobile devices

The new improvements will help NAR provide you the content you need, when you need it and where you're looking for it.

See a slideshow of recent updates to REALTOR.ORG online here.

RESPA-TILA Webinar

NEXT WEEK!

NAR invites you to participate in a RESPA/TILA webinar on Thursday, March 19th, at 11:00 a.m.

This one-hour long webinar will feature Ken Trepeta, NAR's Director of Real Estate Services, and RESPA attorney Phil Schulman for a discussion on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) upcoming changes to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

The webinar is free but you must register in order to participate, online here.

Lunch & Learn

Join us for the next SAR Lunch & Learn: Sell more homes with 203K/USDA

Monday, March 30th
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
at your SAR

See the event flyer online here.

2015 REALTORŽ Education

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Quality of Education

through SAR/WR Education Instructors

Here is the latest class listing of your SAR - offering the best live and local continuing real estate education classes for 2015.

Click on each class title, underlined in blue, to bring up a flyer for that class - suitable for posting in your office.

Register for these classes online here:

Please be in touch with Debbie at the SAR if you have any questions about these classes or your license education requirements, by phone at 326-9222 or by email.

Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate

NEXT WEEK!

Tuesday, March 17 - Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate - with Sabrina Jones-Schroeder.

You must take this class ever two years for your renewal. See above for alternative offer of this class.

Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
at the SAR

3.0 clock hours

Construction Designs and Styles with Arne Woodard

Journey into Construction Designs and Styles

NEXT WEEK!

Friday, March 20th - Journey into Construction Designs and Styles - with Arne Woodard.

Class includes a terrific complimentary binder full of pictures/information on home styles that will prove valuable for years to come!

Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the SAR

7.5 clock hours

Home Inspections - Red Flags and Proper Procedures

Home Inspections for REALTORSŽ and Appraisers

Tuesday, March 24 - Home Inspections for REALTORSŽ and Appraisers - with Matthew Pedersen.

This class is approved for both REALTORSŽ and Appraisers. Invite your favorite REALTORŽ/appraiser to join you!

Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the SAR

7.5 clock hours

Mortgage Awareness for REALTORSŽ

Wednesday, March 25 - Mortgage Awareness for REALTORSŽ - with Cristi Zacherle.

Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 11:30 a.m.
at the SAR

3.0 clock hours

Code of Ethics for Real Estate Professionals

Wednesday, March 25 - Code of Ethics for Real Estate Professionals - with Linda Miller.

This Code of Ethics class is for you if you are past your first license renewal. You are required to take a Code of Ethics class once between January 2013 and December 2016.

Registration: noon
Class: 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the SAR

4.0 clock hours

The Truth about Negotiating

Tuesday, March 31 - The Truth about Negotiating - with Linda Miller.

Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
at the SAR

3.0 clock hours

Spokane REALTORSŽ Open House Weekend

SAR CALENDAR

Click on the image below to see the current SAR calendar

showing dates and times of classes, committees and events.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick will bring back their annual St. Patrick's Day Parade to the streets of downtown Spokane this weekend - beginning Saturday, March 15th, at noon. The parade is Spokane's first big outdoor community event of the year.

St. Patrick's Day falls on Tuesday, next week (March 17th).

Many downtown streets will be closed for the parade which follows a new route this year.

See the parade map online here.

YPN St. Patrick's Day Mixer

Your local Young Professionals Network of REALTORSŽ invites you to its St. Patrick's day mixer on Tuesday, March 17th, at the Backyard Public House.

See the event flyer (pictured above), online here.

Gary Fox Memorial Award

DEADLINE NEXT WEEK!

Your SAR offers the Gary Fox Memorial Designated/Managing Broker Award to recognize a designated broker or managing broker who serves as an example of loyalty, ethical behavior and leadership in the real estate profession.

Applications for the 2014 award are now invited and must be submitted by close of business Monday, March 16th.

The award will be presented to its 2014 recipient at the SAR Quarterly Membership Meeting on March 26th.

The nomination form with more information is online here.

2015 WR Spring Business Conference

Washington REALTORSŽ invites you to its 2015 Spring Business Conference in Vancouver, Washington, April 15-17th.

For program details and registration information, click here.

2015 SAR Special Events

Come join us as we begin planning our 2015 SAR Golf Tournament!

Committee kickoff meeting: Tuesday, March 31st, at 2:00 p.m. at the SAR.

If you have any questions, please contact your 2015 SAR Special Events Committee Chair, Tanna St. Marie, Prime Real Estate Closing and Escrow, 466-9200.

ListHub Report for February

See the February ListHub report, online here.

Market Activity Report - February

The SAR Market Activity Report for February is now online.

See the latest report - and archived reports - online here.

See the February 2015 summary report (pictured above) online here.

See the 2014 year-to-date summary report (pictured above) online here.

You Be The Judge - March

Here is You Be The Judge for March:

Case #1-4: Fidelity to Client.

Read the case and submit your judgement online here.

Those who decide correctly will be entered in a drawing for a Starbucks coffee card!

Winner to be announced next month.

Congratulations Stephanie Peterson, Windermere City Group, our February Starbucks coffee card winner!

FEBRUARY ANSWER
The hearing panel disagreed with REALTORŽ Z's reasoning, pointing out that a reasonable consumer would certainly conclude that referring to a provider of real estate-related products or services as being "preferred" by a REALTORŽ constituted a recommendation or endorsement. Further, since REALTORŽ Z received a fee each time a consumer "clicked through" to one of REALTORŽ Z's "Preferred Providers," REALTORŽ Z received a referral fee, and disclosure of that fee was required under Article 6. REALTORŽ Z was found in violation of Article 6.

From case #6-6: Disclose Affiliated Business Relationships Prior to Recommending Real Estate-Related Products or Services.

See the full text of last month's case, online here.

Member Roster Update

Click here to view the latest Roster Update - listing new and resigned members and companies.

Click here to view the latest list of MLS Subscription Waivers approved by the SAR Board of Directors.

Send a message to Angie at the SAR with any changes.

Tech Helpline

Tech Helpline now offers support on Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Tech Helpline is a Washington REALTORSŽ member benefit offering support for hardware, software, networking, and digital devices.

The best part is that you have the choice of contacting their friendly and knowledgeable analysts via phone, fax, email, or online chat.

They troubleshoot problems and offer solutions, often by remotely into your computer.

They will advise you on hardware and software purchasing and most importantly, they understand your needs as a REALTORŽ.

No limits on the number of calls or on the length of time per call.
New! Support available Monday - Friday from 6 am to 5 pm and now Saturday 6 am to 2 pm
Experienced, reliable, professional and courteous assistance.
Assistance in English or Spanish.
U.S. based analysts located in Orlando, Florida.
Analysts available via live technical support or online chat.
1-866-610-8939 or e-mail
support@techhelpline.com

Read more about your Tech Helpline service online here.

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