Weekly Notices

Friday, September 25, 2015

Director Nominations 2016-2017

DEADLINE TODAY!

Your SAR is seeking a few good men and women - five, to be exact - to serve as directors for the association.

There are five, two-year terms available on the board. Nominees for directorships must be REALTORŽ members who have served on a minimum of two (2) standing committees within the past seven (7) years or on one (1) standing committee within the past three (3) years. If a candidate has served on only one (1) standing committee within the past three (3) years that candidate must also attend two (2) Board of Directors meetings within the twelve (12) months prior to running for Director. Beginning in 2015, candidate committee attendance must be at a minimum of 80%, inclusive of excused absences, in order for service on said committee to be used to meet eligibility requirements.

To place your name in nomination with the Nominating Committee, please complete the application (pictured above), online here.

You may FAX your completed form to the SAR at 324-8650 or mail to: SAR, 1924 North Ash Street, Spokane, WA 99205 by Friday, September 25th.

If you have questions, please contact Sharon Houston at 326-9222 or Jack Kestell at 838-2002.

Thank you for participating in the leadership of your association!

Pack the Pantry - Final Number

Here are the final numbers from this year's SAR Pack the Pantry Food Drive:

Albertsons Corporation donated a semi totally full with 48 pallets of food which weighed in at 37,514 pounds.

This filled the semi from top to bottom and back to front of the truck. It was an awesome sight.

Our volunteers working two-hour shifts at all of the 8 Albertsons stores collected 7,306 pounds of food from the grocery shoppers.

This comes to a total of 44,820 pounds of food that the SAR food drive brought in to 2nd Harvest to help fill their shelves.

Albertsons Corporation donated a check for $2,500 to 2nd Harvest during our food drive. Our volunteers also collected a total of $5,817.59 while working their two- hour shifts at the eight area Albertsons stores

The SAR Golf Tournament raised a total of $1,236 for 2nd Harvest. Through Crowdrise on-line donations brought in a total of $1,791.

This brings us to a total of $11,344.59 raised for 2nd Harvest during the SAR Food Drive.

Thank you to Albertsons and its employees for all the work and dedication they give to making this a great "Pack the Pantry" food drive!

Thank you to all the Spokane Association of REALTORSŽ members (and yes, even some of their children) that gave of their time and energy and volunteered to work a two-hour shift. And, of course a huge thank you to all of our store captains that help us put this event together. You are all so appreciated!

The effort everyone put forth will allow 2nd Harvest to provide about 94,000 meals to families in our area.

Remember when you see the SAR's Food Drive announced for 2016, call one of the store captains and volunteer to cover a two-hour shift - you'll be glad you did!

2nd Harvest posted this on its Facebook page this week:

Wow! The numbers are in and this year's Pack the Pantry Food Drive by Spokane Association of REALTORSŽ and Albertsons! raised food and funds to provide about 94,000 meals to families in need in our community. Thank you to all who generously supported this drive. Together we are making a difference!

You can still make a financial contribution and be counted in this year's event. Just click on the GO button below to visit our Crowdrise fundraising site. This site will be up through the end of the year.

Remember, for every $1 donated, 2nd Harvest provides six pounds of food - the equivalent of 5 meals for hungry people. The gift of food changes lives and gives people an opportunity to succeed and thrive right here in our community.

Thank you for your donation! Donate online now!

TRID Webcast

The new TRID rule takes effect next week!

REALTORŽ Magazine presented a live webcast this past July to help real estate professionals understand the changes to the closing process that are scheduled to go into effect on October 3rd.

The new rules include two new forms - the Loan Estimate and the Closing Disclosure - will replace the HUD-1 settlement form and the Good Faith Estimate.

Samples of the new forms are available from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Watch the entire hour-long webcast online here.

Real Estate in a Digital Age

House-hunters are increasingly turning to the Internet for their home search, but they still say they need a real estate agent's expertise, according to the National Association of REALTORSŽ Real Estate in a Digital Age report.

Forty percent of buyers surveyed said they looked for properties online as the first step in their house-hunt, according to NAR. But 88 percent of buyers last year purchased their home with the assistance of a real estate agent.

As consumers get more tech savvy, real estate professionals say they are too. 80% of REALTORSŽ surveyed now say they use the social media platform Facebook (see graphic above). 93% say they prefer to communicate with their clients via email.

See the entire report, released last week, online here.

Lunch & Learn: Home Warranties

Home warranties - what are they and what do they do?

Uncover the coverage of home warranties at a Lunch and Learn at your SAR on Monday, October 19th.

See the event flyer, pictured above, online here.

Lunch & Learn: Tax Mistakes

It will soon be tax season again. We're guessing you could use some advice on how to maximize the amount of your hard-won retained earnings.

Join us for a Lunch and Learn at your SAR on Monday, November 2nd, to learn the 10 most expensive tax mistakes that cost you - and get a free book!

See the event flyer, pictured above, 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.

Statewide Purchase & Sale Agreement

CLASS FULL!

Tuesday, October 13 - Statewide Purchase & Sale Agreement - with Sabrina Jones-Schroeder.

Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
at the SAR

7.5 clock hours

The Code of Ethics for Real Estate Professionals

Wednesday, October 14 - The Code of Ethics for Real Estate Professionals - with Linda Miller Sheets.

A Code of Ethics course is required as a condition of retaining REALTORŽ membership with NAR & must be repeated every four years. January 1, 2013 thru Dec. 31, 2016 is the current cycle. Don't delay, sign up today!

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

4.0 clock hours

Land and Acreage 101: Rural Property

Tuesday, October 20 - Land and Acreage 101: Rural Property - with Jim Palmer Jr.

Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
at the SAR

4.0 clock hours

Code of Ethics: Standards for Success

Friday, October 23 - Code of Ethics: Standards for Success - with Linda Miller Sheets.

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

7.5 clock hours

The "Nekkid" Truth:
Six Principles of Building a Real Estate Business

Tuesday, October 27 - The "Nekkid" Truth: Six Principles of Building a Real Estate Business - with Linda Miller Sheets.

Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
at the SAR

4.0 clock hours

Wednesday, October 28 - Smart Growth for the 21st Century - with Washington REALTORSŽ instructor Mike Flynn.

Registration: Noon to 12:25 p.m.
Class: 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at CenterPlace Event Center in Spokane Valley

4.0 clock hours

Home Inspections for REALTORSŽ and Appraisers

Thursday, October 29 - Home Inspections for REALTORSŽ and Appraisers - with Matthew Pedersen.

NOTE: This class is approved for REALTORŽ and Appraiser Clock Hours.

Registration: 8:15 a.m. to 8:25 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the SAR

7.5 clock hours

In This Issue

Director Nominations 2016-2017

Pack the Pantry

TRID Webcast

Real Estate in a Digital Age

Lunch & Learn: Home Warranties

Lunch & Learn: Tax Mistakes

2015 REALTOR® Education

SAR CALENDAR

Condolences

Understanding Crime and Criminals

Fourth Quarter MLS Fees Due

Wellness Celebration

Member 2 Member

Washington REALTORS® Fun Night 2016

ListHub Report for August

Market Activity Report - August

You Be The Judge - September

Member Roster Update

Suggestion Box

SAR CALENDAR

Click on the image below to see the current SAR calendar

showing dates and times of classes, committees and events.

Condolences

The SAR extends its condolences to Cathy and Phil Vigue, RE/MAX of Spokane.

Their son, Guy, passed away on Thursday September 17, 2015, after a courageous battle with cancer.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 25, 2015, at 1:00 p.m., at Heritage Funeral Home, 508 North Government Way.

Understanding Crime and Criminals

RE Technology returns this week with the third in its series of articles on REALTORŽ safety: Anatomy of a Crime.

Having an understanding of the processes that are common to many crimes is essential to being able to take the guidelines and suggestions in this series and apply them to your own particular needs and each unique situation in which you may find yourself.

All crimes have a beginning. In the case of premeditated crimes, that beginning is long before you are contacted.

Read the rest of this article on the RE Technology website, online here.

Fourth Quarter MLS Fees Due

Fourth quarter MLS fees have been posted to the SAR member portal. They are due by September 30th.

Click on the button above to pay now. (Click on the MY ORDERS tab once in the portal).

If you have signed up for the recurring payment plan, your debit/credit card will be charged on or around September 10th.

Please email Brenda, SAR bookkeeper and membership administrator, if you have a question about your fees or dues by email here or by phone at 326-9222.

Thank you for your prompt payment and for being a valued member of your SAR!

Wellness Celebration

The Spokane - Eastern Washington Chapter of Women's Council of REALTORSŽ invites you to its fifth annual Wellness Celebration and Rally on October 15th.

This year we are doing things a little differently.

We contacted organizations in our area that help women in transition: Anna Ogden Hall, YWCA & Catholic Charities. We asked each of these groups to nominate women who have gone through, or are going through, their programs and are getting ready to enter the workforce.

We selected five women and they have been working with an image consultant. As part of the makeover they will be getting new clothing, hairstyles and makeup lessons.

We are excited to be reaching out to women in our community!

Local companies are helping to sponsor the women and we welcome your sponsorship. We invite you to purchase tickets or a table and join us in celebrating the women in our community.

See the event flyer (pictured above), suitable for posting in your office and sharing with your friends, online here.

Member 2 Member

Ticor Title Spokane welcomes all SAR members to the grand opening of its Spokane operation, Wednesday, October 13th.

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

Member 2 Member is a member benefit of the SAR. It is intended to announce a new product, service, location or affiliate event. If you are a member who wishes to share a message with your fellow members, please email it to Debbie at the SAR:

debbie@spokanerealtor.com

Washington REALTORSŽ Fun Night 2016

Save the date - September 15th 2016 - for the Washington REALTORSŽ Fun Night!

See the flyer (pictured above), online here.

ListHub Report for August

See the August ListHub report, now featuring data from Zillow and Trulia, online here.

Market Activity Report - August

The SAR Market Activity Report for August is now online.

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

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

See the 2015 year-to-date summary report (pictured above) online here.

You Be The Judge - September

Here is You Be The Judge for September:

Case #1-10: Obligations Under Exclusive Listing

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 to Mary Guderjohn, Exit Real Estate North, our July/August Starbucks card winner!

JULY/AUGUST ANSWER:

The Hearing Panel disagreed with Seller S's contentions. It noted that while REALTORSŽ do, in fact, have an obligation to preserve confidential information gained in the course of any relationship with the client, Standard of Practice 1-9 specifically provides that latent material defects are not considered "confidential information" under the Code of Ethics. Consequently, REALTORŽ A's disclosure did not violate Article 1 of the Code of Ethics.

From Case #1-25: Disclosure of Latent Defects

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

Member Roster Update