Weekly Notices

Friday, March 4, 2016

Update from Government Affairs

Washington REALTORSŽ Government Affairs Director Nathan Gorton gives an update of the latest happenings in the Legislature.

Highlights include:

- Housing Opportunity through Modernization Act

- Affordable Housing

- Streamlined FHA Loans for Condos (Owner-Occupancy changes)

- Budget Passed!

- Extended Mortgage Debt Forgiveness

- Extended Mortgage Insurance Premium Deductibility

- USDA Rural Lending Programs to become more like VA and FHA

See the six-minute video online here:

Update from Government Affairs

NAR TechEdge

NEXT WEEK!

NAR TechEdge is coming to Coeur d'Alene -

Tuesday, March 8th!

This full-day event teaches REALTORSŽ the latest business technology skills and trends changing the real estate industry.

Register for this professional development event and walk out with action items to build your business.

If you're a real estate agent eager to learn about how the latest technologies can impact real estate, this event is for you!

Visit the NAR TechEdge website to learn more and register, online here.

HUD Home Updates

Attend a free event to learn HUD updates and new marketing strategies, Monday, March 14th, at the Red Lion River Inn.

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

James S. Black Memorial Scholarship

Your SAR is calling for nominations for the 2016 James S. Black Memorial Scholarship Award to help a member pay for tuition and expenses for classes leading to a professional designation offered by the National Association of REALTORSŽ.

The deadline for applications to be turned in at the SAR is Friday, March 11th.

The winner will be announced at the March 31st Quarterly Meeting and Membership Luncheon at Centerplace.

See the award description and nomination form (pictured above), online here.

Gary Fox Memorial Award

Your SAR is calling for nominations for the 2016 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 2015 award must be submitted by close of business Monday, March 21st.

The award will be presented to its 2015 recipient at the SAR Quarterly Membership Meeting on March 31st.

The nomination form with more information (pictured above) is online here.

Lunch & Learn - CMAs

Welcome to your SAR's next Lunch & Learn event, Monday, March 21st: CMAs aren't just for Sellers.

Come learn about some of the software packages available to help you deliver your best Comparative Market Analysis presentations to your clients!

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

Lunch & Learn - Home Appraisals

Welcome to your SAR's April Lunch & Learn event, Monday, April 11th: Home Appraisals.

Come learn how appraisers measure houses, where adjustments to value come from and why appraisers can't get to total value.

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

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

Tuesday, March 22 - The "Nekkid" Truth: Six Principles of Building a Real Estate Business - with Linda Miller Sheets.

Registration: 8:!5 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
at the SAR

4.0 clock hours

The Truth about Negotiating

Tuesday, March 22 - The Truth about Negotiating - with Linda Miller Sheets.

Registration: 1:15 p.m.
Class: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the SAR

3.0 clock hours

The Code of Ethics for Real Estate Professionals

Wednesday, March 23 - The Code of Ethics for Real Estate Professionals - with Linda Miller Sheets.

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

4.0 clock hours

Purchase & Sale Agreement

Thursday, March 24 - 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

Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate

Wednesday, March 30 - Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate - with Sabrina Jones Schroeder.

Registration: 1:15 p.m.
Class: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the SAR

3.0 clock hours

Purchase & Sale Agreement

Friday, April 1 - 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

SAR CALENDAR

Click on the image below to see the current SAR calendar

showing dates and times of classes, committees and events.

MLS Fees Due

Second Quarter MLS fees have been posted to the SAR member portal. They are due by March 30th.

Please email Brenda at the SAR if you have a question about your fees or contact her by phone at 326-9222.

Thank you!

Membership Meeting & Ethics Class

Your SAR is pleased to share details on its next quarterly Membership Luncheon and Education Excellence event:

Thursday, March 31st, at CenterPlace Event Center in Spokane Valley.

This event will feature a 7.5 clock hour Code of Ethics class, which meets your four-year requirement.

If you have not taken a Code of Ethics class since January 1, 2013, you need to take this class (before the end of the year)!

Get a discount on this required class - and - enjoy lunch with the latest news from your association - all for only $40 ($55 after March 21st)!

See the event flyer (pictured above) online here.

Broker Symposium

Enjoy REALTORŽ education designed specifically for Designated Brokers, Branch Managers, and Team Leaders.

Plan now to attend the Washington REALTORSŽ Broker Symposium, Thursday, March 17th, at the SeaTac Convention Center.

Take away actionable and useful information to use in your business for improved function, profitability, and fun!

Visit the event web page to learn more and register, online here.

Open House Event Advertising

Prizes:

$1,000 VISA Gift Card
to one selected open house visitor

$500 VISA Gift Card
to the selected open house REALTORŽ

$100 VISA Gift Card
to five selected participating REALTORSŽ

Your SAR Communications & Member Services Committee has negotiated special advertising packages for members participating in the Spokane REALTORSŽ Open House Weekend, April 23rd and 24th.

This sixth-annual event will attract hundreds of potential buyers to hundreds of participating open houses in the largest open house event of the year!

Watch the Weekly Notices for more event details in coming weeks.

See the special SAR member advertising opportunity offered by The Spokesman-Review, online here.

See the special SAR member advertising opportunity offered by The Inlander, online here.

Jury Duty Scam

If someone calls you, identities him/herself as calling from Spokane County Superior Court, and threatens arrest or penalty for failing to appear for jury duty - HANG UP!

This is a scam that has continued in the Spokane area, now, for several weeks.

If you receive such a call, hang up and contact Crime Check at 456-2233.

Read the county news release on this issue, online here.

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.

Featured segments:

Digital Ad Campaign
VA Home Loans
Commercial Loan Underwriting
Airplane Landing Patterns
January Home Sales

See the seven-minute video online here:

The Voice for Real Estate

Legal Hotline Mailbag: Broker Give-back

Can a Broker give back part of his/her commission to the Buyer or advertise that he/she will give a portion to charity?

Washington REALTORSŽ Legal Hotline attorney Annie Fitzsimmons answers this question in her ongoing video series, Legal Hotline Mailbag.

See the five-minute video online here:

Legal Hotline Mailbag #14

Go with a Giver

A REALTORŽ is someone who brokers the sale of real property between a buyer and a seller. But REALTORSŽ do more - much more.

2016 SAR President Susie Luby writes, when you go with a REALTOR(R), you go with a giver.

Read Susie's guest column in Sunday's edition of the Spokesman-Review, online here.

Best Places for REALTORSŽ

Turns out that "location, location, location" is also a mantra for real estate pros looking to thrive in their business.

WalletHub recently compared the 150 largest cities across 13 key metrics, such as sales per agent and the annual median wage of agents, to find out the best places for real estate pros to practice.

Spokane placed in the better half.

Read more in REALTORŽ magazine, online here.

ListHub Report for January

See the January ListHub report, online here.

Market Activity Report - February

NEW!

The SAR Market Activity Report for February is now online.

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

See the February 2016 summary report (pictured above) online here.

See the 2016 year-to-date summary report (pictured above) online here.

Member Roster Update

NEW!

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

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

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

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