Weekly Notices

Friday, January 15, 2016

Spokane/Kootenai Real Estate Forum

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.

2016 Forecast: Modest Increase

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:

2016 Economic Forecast

Protect Sensitive Information

Make this year the year that you protect your data, and your business!

Washington REALTORSŽ Communications & Marketing Manager, Steve Klaniecki, shares a video in which he discusses the risks you have when dealing with the security of the technology REALTORSŽ 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:

Protect Sensitive Information

The Voice for Real Estate

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:

The Voice for Real Estate

REALTORŽ Brand Centennial

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 - REALTORŽ. (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 REALTORŽ in 1916. This year is its centennial.

In this month's Window to the Law, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the REALTORŽ trademark and review the rules governing members' use of the trademark.

See the five-minute video online here:

REALTORŽ Brand Centennial

2016 Education Requirements

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.

Email Debbie at the SAR, or call her at 326-9222, to confirm your status.

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.

2016 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 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.

The Code of Ethics for Real Estate Professionals

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

Code of Ethics: Standards for Success

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

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

Home Inspections for REALTORSŽ and Appraisers

Thursday, February 11 - Home Inspections for REALTORSŽ 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

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

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

In This Issue

Spokane/Kootenai Real Estate Forum

2016 Forecast: Modest Increase

Protect Sensitive Information

The Voice for Real Estate

REALTOR® Brand Centennial

2016 Education Requirements

2016 REALTOR® Education

SAR CALENDAR

SAR CLOSED MONDAY

2016 SAR Dues Past Due

REALTORS® Vision Insurance

String of REALTOR® Luring Incidents

2016 SAR Special Events

2016 NAR Leadership Team

ListHub Report - December - NEW!

Market Activity Report - December - NEW!

You Be The Judge - January - NEW!

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.

SAR CLOSED MONDAY

Your SAR will be closed Monday, January 18th, to keep the Martin Luther King holiday.

2016 SAR Dues Past Due

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!

REALTORSŽ Insurance Marketplace

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).

REALTORSŽ Insurance Marketplace makes shopping for and enrolling in a health insurance plan fast & easy!

Click here to learn more or call 877-267-3752.

Remember, Open Enrollment ends January 31st, 2016.

REALTORS Ž begin the new year with a new benefit of membership in the National Association of REALTORSŽ: REALTORSŽ Vision Insurance.

REALTORSŽ Vision Insurance plans are designed and priced exclusively for members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORSŽ 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 REALTORSŽ Vision Insurance online here.

String of REALTORŽ Luring Incidents

Whenever we hear about an incident that concerns REALTORŽ 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 REALTORSŽ 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.

Read more in REALTORŽ magazine, online here.

2016 SAR Special Events

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 REALTORSŽ 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!

Email Debbie at the SAR, or call her at 326-9222, if you have any questions before the meeting.

2016 NAR Leadership Team

Your National Association of REALTORSŽ 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.

ListHub Report for December

NEW!

See the December ListHub report, online here.

Market Activity Report - December

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.

You be the Judge - January

NEW!

Here is You Be The Judge for January:

Case #2-3: Obligation to Disclose Defects.

Read the case and submit your judgement online here.

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 REALTORŽ B's actions to encourage his buyer-client to pressure the seller to try to modify the listing agreement with REALTORŽ 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 REALTORŽ B to determine, prior to presenting an offer to REALTORŽ A and her seller-client, whether REALTORŽ A was willing to contribute to REALTORŽ 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 REALTORŽ 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.

Member Roster Update