Weekly Notices

Friday, May 6, 2016

Open House Weekend Winners!

AND THE WINNERS ARE . . .

Here are the winners of our Spokane REALTORSŽ Open House Weekend contest entries:

The grand prize winner of a $1,000 VISA gift card is Mark Anderson of Spokane.

He registered for our contest at a house listed by Jackie Hughes, Keller Williams, who wins a $500 VISA gift card.

The five Open House Hosting REALTORSŽ who win $100 each are:

Scott Sloane, Windermere Valley/Liberty Lake

Matt Allen, Windermere Valley/Liberty Lake

Donald Hatch, Exit Real Estate North

Camilla Mounts, Windermere Valley/Liberty Lake

Mary Frances Gence, Windermere Manito

These names were drawn at the SAR Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, May 4th.

Congratulations one and all on a great job on this year's Spokane REALTORSŽ Open House Weekend event!

SAR Annual Awards Luncheon

SAVE THE DATE!

Mark your calendar now and plan to attend the 2016 SAR Awards Luncheon on Thursday, May 19th, at Red Lion River Inn.

You'll want to be there as we announce our 2016 SAR awards: REALTORŽ of the Year, Steve Flinn REALTORŽ Achivement, REALTORŽ Community Service, Affiliate of the Year, Partner of the Year and Spokane's Citizen of the Year.

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

2016 SAR Essay/Poster Contest

SAR photo

Third graders throughout the Spokane area recently shared their thoughts, in essays and posters, on the theme: "What my home means to me."

The winning entries (first through fourth place and all honorable mentions) of the 2016 SAR Third Grade Essay/Poster Contest are up for all to see at RiverPark Square in downtown Spokane (see photo above).

The posters will be on display on the second floor rotunda at the Square through Sunday, May 15th. They will be on display again at the SAR Spring Awards Luncheon on May 19th.

Third grade students in 15 classrooms at 11 schools participated in this year's essay/poster contest event.

Special thanks to our members who made this year's event possible - judging 272 submitted posters!

Glen Carey - Committee Chair -Woodard Properties

Brooke Bartlett - HomeStreet Bank
Tony Byrne - Heritage Home Loans
Courtney Carlone - Inland Professional Title
Debbie Crowder - Spokane Association of REALTORSŽ
Angie DeArth - Inland Professional Title
Sara Houk - John L. Scott, Spokane, Inc.
Jack Kestell - Kestell and Co.
Annette Lane - RE/MAX Inland Empire
Christianne "CA" Lindeblad - First American Title
Gina Mosey - John L. Scott, Spokane, Inc.
Stephanie Peterson - Windermere City Group
Jennifer Shupe - Keller Williams Spokane
Cathy Wahl - Stewart Title of Spokane

RPAC

The REALTORSŽ Political Action Committee (RPAC) has promoted the election of pro-REALTORŽ candidates across the United States since 1969.

The purpose of RPAC is clear: REALTORSŽ raise and spend money to elect candidates who understand and support their interests.

RPAC enables REALTORSŽ to support candidates that support the issues that are important to their profession.

RPAC is not affiliated with the Republican or the Democratic parties and does not support one candidate over the other because of party affiliation. Instead, RPAC supports "REALTORŽ Party" candidates, those who have indicated or demonstrated that they are interested in pro-REALTORŽ or pro-business issues.

RPAC helps protect the industry by funding those candidates for elected office who best represent the concerns of REALTORSŽ and the REALTORŽ

Party.

Invest in RPAC now, online here:

Fair Housing Violations

The Seattle Office for Civil Rights has filed discrimination charges against 23 landlords after a series of sting operations aimed at rooting out bias against renters.

The office paid "testers" posing as prospective renters to check for illegal discrimination based on family status, disability, and use of Section 8 rent vouchers.

Nearly a third of tests for discrimination based on family status, and nearly two-thirds of tests based on disability and Section 8 vouchers, revealed some evidence of different treatment, the office said in a news release.

Read more about this in The Seattle Times, online here.

Housing Inventory Crunch

The lack of inventory in most of our markets is becoming less of an interesting headline and more of an extended, unfortunate reality.

From Spokane to Seattle, in cities and towns across the state, we're experiencing a dearth of available homes. Inventory can't keep up with the demand of our buyers.

Seattle REALTORŽ Sam DeBord tells the rest of the story in the Spring edition of RE magazine, online here.

Washington REALTORSŽ Legal Symposium

The Washington REALTORSŽ Legal Symposium is an education event featuring five leading Washington real estate attorneys who will present information important to your practice of real estate.

See the event page for more information and registration, online here.

Developers Panel

Marketing Associates of Spokane invites all SAR members and friends to its Annual Developers Panel.

The four panelists are local developers who are actively working on projects in the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene area.

They will discuss the markets they are currently pursuing, as well as their upcoming projects beyond 2016.

May 12th, 2016

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Spokane Convention Center: 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

Panelists will be:

Jim Frank, Principal & CEO, Greenstone Development; Dave Black, Principal & CEO, NAI Black; Barry Baker, President & CEO, Baker Construction & Development; Ron Wells, Owner, Wells & Company.

Learn more and register online here.

Firewise Communities Workshop

The best time to become fire-wise is before the next fire starts!

Attend a FREE Firewise Communities Workshop on May 17-18 at the Enduris Training Facility in Airway Heights.

Event includes all class materials, lunch on both days, and instruction on: fire behavior, creating defensible space around homes, how to reduce wildfire losses, and a tour of a local Firewise community.

Attendance is specifically recommended for REALTORSŽ, developers, landowners, and homeowners association members.

- SHARE THIS WITH YOUR CLIENTS -

Download the event brochure with more information and registration information, online here.

Lunch & Learn: Historic Preservation

Do you know what it means for a property to be listed on a Register of Historic Places?

You may be surprised to learn the differences between properties that are listed on the National, State and Spokane Registers of Historic Places.

Come enjoy a fun and informative presentation on historic preservation at the next SAR Lunch & Learn on
Monday, May 23rd.

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

Lunch & Learn: Mortgage Insurance

There are more benefits to mortgage insurance than you think. It's the misunderstood affordability gem - and sells homes!

Learn why you and your clients should embrace mortgage insurance in our June Lunch & Learn at your SAR, Monday, June 13th.

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

REALTORŽ Broker Summit

The 2016 Broker Summit will be held June 9-10 in Denver, Colorado, at the Denver Marriott City Center.

REALTORŽ Broker Summits are designed exclusively for designated broker and broker owner members to come together and learn from presenters, panels, and peer leaders in the industry offering fresh insights on current conditions while looking to the future of real estate.

Opening Keynote: Adam Savage (pictured at left), co-host of the hit Discovery Channel show MythBusters, will share how curiosity, critical thinking, and learning from failure can help your business

Read more about this event and register online here.

See the fact sheet on this year's REALTORŽ Broker Summit (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.

Current Issues in Washington Real Estate

Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate

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

Registration: 8:00 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
at the SAR

3.0 clock hours

The Code of Ethics for Real Estate Professionals

Tuesday, May 17 - 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

Training Superior Instructors

June 2 & 3 - Training Superior Instructors - with Linda Miller Sheets.

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

15 clock hours

Tips, Tricks, and Strategies
for working with Difficult People

Tuesday, June 7 - Tips, Tricks & Strategies for Working with Difficult People - 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

Land and Acreage 101: Rural Property

Wednesday, June 8 - Land and Acreage 101: Rural Property - with Jim Palmer, Jr.

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

4.0 clock hours

Washington State Purchase & Sale Agreement

Statewide Purchase & Sale Agreement

Thursday, June 9 - Statewide Purchase and Sale Agreement - with Sabrina Jones-Schroeder.

You must take this class once between

January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2016.

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.

WR Spring Business Conference Report

Washington REALTORSŽ held its 2016 Spring Business Conference April 20-22, 2016, at Tulalip Resort and Casino.

SAR member David Crosby, EXP Realty (pictured at left), was elected 2017 Vice President-elect for Operations. Dave will succeed SAR member Patti Boyd, CENTURY 21 Beutler & Associates, in that position, for a continuing eastern Washington voice on our state association board.

WR has prepared an edition of Conference Connector (see above), to summarize the accomplishments of this year's conference. This document not only tells you about the decisions made at the state level of your association this year, but also testifies to the strong member value of your membership. Download your copy here.

WR Legislative Report

Washington REALTORSŽ takes pride in working successfully to advance the legislative priorities of its 17,000 members during the 2015-2017 state legislative biennium.

With relatively stable tax revenues, the 2016 Session
supplemental budget focused on issues such as costs
from 2015's wildfire season, homelessness issues, and
adopting a work plan to enable the Legislature to
comply with McCleary funding requirements during
the 2017 Session.

By the end of both sessions, REALTORSŽ had
succeeded in passing or opposing bills to improve our
industry, protect real estate brokers and guard home
ownership and property owners.

For specifics on our legislative victories in the session just concluded, check out the Washington REALTORSŽ 2015-2016 Legislative Report (pictured above), online here.

Instructor Development Workshop

Interested in becoming a state certified real estate instructor? Now, you have a place to explore this interest and earn 15 clock hours!

Learn how to choose class materials relevant to your audience; create an outline and develop a class curriculum; delivery techniques that hold attention, impart information, and inspire the audience; understand learning styles; how to use effective visual aids; be prepared for classroom challenges; how to work though class application forms with DOL.

Two day class: June 2 & 3; 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the SAR.

Training Superior Instructors

Take this class and you earn 15 clock hours - whether you become an instructor or not!

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

Have question about this class? Contact instructor Linda Miller Sheets or SAR Education and Special Events Director Debbie Crowder.

.

The Voice for Real Estate

Thousands of REALTORSŽ are coming to Washington for NAR's Legislative Meetings to attend educational sessions and meet with their members of Congress and their staffs. That's a top story in The Voice for Real Estate for the week May 2, 2016.

Other stories: Chances of private insurers getting into flood insurance market just improved, don't send sensitive client info through email, and why home sales look solid for this spring.

See the six-minute video, online here:

The Voice for Real Estate #45

Appraising is both Science and Art

Dan Pelle - The Spokesman-Review

What's a home worth?

The answer may differ, depending on whether you ask a buyer or seller.

What really matters, though, is how much a certified appraiser thinks it's worth. That number determines what a bank, credit union or other lender will loan a buyer, or a homeowner seeking to refinance.

"Appraising is both art and science," says Judy Haas, co-owner of Benson & Associates.

Read the rest of this article from this past Sunday's edition of The Spokesman-Review, online here.

Young Professionals Network

REALTORŽ Magazine launched the Young Professionals Network (YPN) in 2006 as a way to help the younger generation of REALTORSŽ build a stronger link with the magazine and the real estate industry.

Through networking events, a lively blog, and an engaged YPN Advisory Subcommittee, the program gives its members the tools they need to advance their careers-and have fun in the process. Many state and local REALTORŽ associations have already started a Young Professionals Network.

Three members of Local YPN's within Washington State - including Keith Riddle from Spokane (photo at left) - share their thoughts on the value of membership, how they participate in their groups, and their visions for the future of real estate as a whole.

Read the article in the Spring edition of RE magazine, online here.

Garden Fair and Plant Sale

THIS WEEKEND!

The Master Gardeners of Spokane County invite you to their annual garden sale with something for everyone-flowering annuals and perennials plus berry plants, herbs and veggies - tomorrow (Saturday) May 7th.

Garden vendors will sell specialty flowering plants, native plants, garden art and more, at the WSU County Extension, 222 North Havana Street - near the Spokane Fairgrounds.

More details are online here.

Mother's Day Tour of Historic Homes

THIS WEEKEND!

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) invites you to its annual Mother's Day Tour of Historic Homes - May 7th and 8th.

This year, the tour includes complete interior tours of two stunning historic homes along West Sumner Avenue on Spokane's South Hill. Live vintage music and a display of antique automobiles add to this festive event - a Mother's Day tradition for many families.

Read more about this tour and purchase tickets online here.

The Mother's Day Tour of Historic Homes was featured in an article in The Spokesman-Review this past Sunday. Red it online here.

2016 SAR Golf Tournament

REGISTRATION OPEN!

The 2016 SAR Golf Tournament will be Thursday, July 21st, at Downriver Golf Course.

Participation is limited to 144 golfing entrants only so register today!

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

Member 2 Member

The Spokane Mortgage Lenders Association invites all SAR members to its 2016 Golf Tournament, Thursday, June 9th, at Downriver Golf Course.

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

Your SAR welcomes a new affiliate member, Elite Home Inspections. See its flyer online here (pictured above), with an offer good through the end of the month.

NOTE: Member 2 Member is a member benefit of the Spokane Association of REALTORSŽ.

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