Spokane/Kootenai Real Estate Forum
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The popular 2016 Spokane/Kootenai Real Estate Market Forum will be held on Thursday, February 25th, at the Spokane Convention Center.
This year, attendees will hear from these featured speakers:
Jim Frank - founder, Greenstone Corp., on Economic and Demographic Drivers
Dave Black, CEO, NAI Black, on Real Estate Impacts of a Completed North/South Freeway Corridor
Mark Mansfield, executive director, Spokane University District Board, on the Spokane University District
See more details and register online here.
Have a product or service of interest to the local real estate community? Reach local real estate leaders from your vendor table at the event! All sponsors will be in the main event room.
For details, see the sponsorship flyer (pictured above) online here.
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2016 Forecast: Modest Increase
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Following the housing market's best year in nearly a decade, existing-home sales are forecasted to expand in 2016 at a more moderate pace as pent-up buyer demand combats affordability pressures and meager economic growth.
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun expects a modest increase in home sales this year.
Watch his seven-minute video online here:
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Protect Sensitive Information
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Make this year the year that you protect your data, and your business! Washington REALTORS® Communications & Marketing Manager, Steve Klaniecki, shares a video in which he discusses the risks you have when dealing with the security of the technology REALTORS® use every day.
Note: always consult with your managing broker/designated broker or office policies first.
You can see the four-minute video online here:
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Protect Sensitive Information
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The Voice for Real Estate
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NAR Director of Broadcasting Stephen Gasque returns this week with a new edition of his bi-weekly video update, The Voice for Real Estate.
In this edition, Stephen talks about:
- Crowdfunding
- Closing Rule Delays
- Tax Changes for Foreign Real Estate Buyers
- Drone Registration
See the eight-minute video online here:
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The Voice for Real Estate
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REALTOR® Brand Centennial
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Does the name Charles Chadbourn ring a bell? You may not know his name, but you may have a name he invented on your lapel - REALTOR®. (The block R logo was adopted in 1973). Mr. Chadbourn was a past-president of the Minneapolis Real Estate Board when he invented the word REALTOR® in 1916. This year is its centennial. In this month's Window to the Law, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the REALTOR® trademark and review the rules governing members' use of the trademark. See the five-minute video online here:
| REALTOR® Brand Centennial |
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2016 Education Requirements
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By the current rule, you need to take a Code of Ethics class once in every four-year cycle. That means that if you have not taken a Code of Ethics class since January 1, 2013, then you need to take a COE class before the end of this year!
This COE requirement also applies to appraisers.
Check the SAR's class schedule and register for a class via the Member Portal:
By the new rule, which starts on January 1, 2017, you must complete a Code of Ethics class once in every two-year cycle. The first two-year cycle will begin January 1, 2017, and end December 31, 2018.
While you're checking, NAR, SAR, and WA-DOL require you to take other classes in varying cycles, too.
For example, SAR requires you to take a Purchase & Sale Agreement class once in a four-year cycle; the Washington State Department of Licensing requires you to take the Core Curriculum class once in a two-year cycle.
If you have not taken a Purchase & Sale Agreement class since January 1, 2013, then you need to take a P&S class before the end of this year!
This P&S requirement does not apply to commercial members or appraisers
See a handy guide to WA-DOL, NAR and SAR education requirements (pictured above), online here.
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2016 REALTOR® 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 2016. 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.
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The Code of Ethics for Real Estate Professionals
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NEXT WEEK!
Thursday, January 21 - The Code of Ethics for Real Estate Professionals - 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
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Code of Ethics: Standards for Success
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CLASS FULL!
Thursday, January 28 - 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
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Statewide Purchase and Sale Agreement
| Tuesday, February 9 - Statewide Purchase and 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
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Home Inspections for REALTORS® and Appraisers
| Thursday, February 11 - Home Inspections for REALTORS® and Appraisers - with Matthew Pederson. Registration: 8:15 a.m. Class: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the SAR 7.5 clock hours
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The Code of Ethics for Real Estate Professionals
| Friday, February 12 - The Code of Ethics for Real Estate Professionals - 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
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Code of Ethics: Standards for Success
| Tuesday, February 16 - 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
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SAR CALENDAR
Click on the image below to see the current SAR calendar
showing dates and times of classes, committees and events.
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SAR CLOSED MONDAY
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Your SAR will be closed Monday, January 18th, to keep the Martin Luther King holiday.
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2016 SAR Dues Past Due
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Your 2016 SAR annual dues were due January 1st, 2016.
Thank you if you have already paid them!
If you have not yet paid your dues, they must be received or postmarked no later than January 31st to avoid a 10% late penalty.
The final date for payment of 2016 Annual Dues is
February 29th - with penalty.
If your payment is not received or postmarked by this date, your membership and services will be inactivated.
To pay your 2016 SAR annual dues online, click on the graphic below, which will bring up the login screen for the SAR member portal.
You may retrieve an invoice while online to pay by mail or you may pay in person at the SAR, 1924 North Ash Street.
Please call 326-9222 if there is any part of this you do not understand.
Thank you for your continuing membership in your SAR!
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REALTORS® Insurance Marketplace
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Today - Friday, January 15th - is your last chance for a February 1st effective date on health insurance for this year.
If you enroll after Friday, January 15th, your effective date will not be until March 1st or later. You could also be without coverage for the month of February and you could be subject to a tax penalty. (For 2016, the tax penalty is up to 2.5% of your yearly household income).
REALTORS® begin the new year with a new benefit of membership in the National Association of REALTORS ®: REALTORS® Vision Insurance.
REALTORS® Vision Insurance plans are designed and priced exclusively for members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and their families. Plans provide coverage for exams, frames, lenses, and other eye health expenses. There are two plans to choose from, each with its own unique benefits. Find out more about REALTORS ® Vision Insurance online here.
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String of REALTOR® Luring Incidents
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Whenever we hear about an incident that concerns REALTOR® safety, we share it with you here.
Following a similar string of reports across the country, a suspicious man in Omaha, Nebraska is reportedly trying to lure female real estate agents to fake home showings.
The Omaha Area Board of REALTORS® used its new text message alert system to recently warn its 2,500 agents to stay on guard.
The man reportedly has contacted several female real estate agents in the area requesting a meeting at a vacant residence. He used different names when he tried to book the appointments.
The alert is the latest in a string nationwide of female real estate agents who have been the targets of predatory scheme.
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2016 SAR Special Events
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Your SAR Special Events Committee will meet on Thursday, February 4th, at 9:00 a.m.
This 90-minute meeting will share details on upcoming SAR events - Third-grade Poster Contest, Golf Tournament, Food Drive, Christmas Party, and the Washington REALTORS® Fun Night - and let you sign up for the events you'd like to work on this year.
All are welcome and encouraged to attend; no previous experience required. There will be something for all tastes and all commitments!
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2016 NAR Leadership Team
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Your National Association of REALTORS® announces its 2016 Leadership team: President, President-Elect, First Vice President, Treasurer, Immediate Past President, Vice Presidents, and CEO (all pictured above).
See a photo gallery of all, with bios of each, online here.
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ListHub Report for December
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Market Activity Report - December
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NEW!

The SAR Market Activity Report for December is now online.
See the latest report - and archived reports - online here.
See the December 2015 summary report (pictured above) online here.
See the 2015 year-to-date (year end) summary report (pictured above) online here.
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You be the Judge - January
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NEW!
Here is You Be The Judge for January:
Case #2-3: Obligation to Disclose Defects.
Winner to be announced next month.
Congratulations, Patrick Martin, Martin Partners Real Estate, our December Starbucks card winner!
DECEMBER ANSWER
The Hearing Panel concluded that REALTOR® B's actions to encourage his buyer-client to pressure the seller to try to modify the listing agreement with REALTOR® A was an unwarranted interference in their contractual relationship. The Hearing Panel noted that Article 16, as interpreted by Standard of Practice 16-16, required REALTOR® B to determine, prior to presenting an offer to REALTOR® A and her seller-client, whether REALTOR® A was willing to contribute to REALTOR® B's commission, either directly or by reducing the commission as agreed to in the listing contract and, if so, the terms and amount of such contributions. It was the decision of the Hearing Panel that REALTOR® B had violated Article 16.
From Case #16-16: Buyer Agent's Demand that Listing Agent Reduce Commission.See the full text of last month's case, online here.
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Member Roster Update
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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.
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Suggestion Box |
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Presented by your
Spokane Association
of REALTORS®

See what's NEW at |
2016 Officers & Directors
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Susie Luby 2016 SAR President
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868-9468
SECRETARY:
John L. Scott Spokane
990-1326
TREASURER:
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