KAR News Update
March 2015
Top Stories
Broker Summit focuses on legal matters, broker culture and new finance laws           

Thursday, May 7 - Louisville
Approved for 3 hours law CE and the featured speakers are Terry Hankner, Jason Vaughn and Jeff Ratanapool

The only statewide broker training event in Kentucky and 96% of attendees from the past two events said they would attend again. With the market changing rapidly, it's important to adapt, and adopt, in order to give yourself a competitive edge. As Kentucky real estate brokers, managers and owners, KAR strives to offer you the most essential and current information on industry issues and trends to help your business prosper. Although this event is geared toward brokers, owners and managers, anyone can attend. By attending this event, you will find answers to your questions, connect with the best in the industry and find ways to improve your business immediately. Now is the best time to further your real estate knowledge base. Register Here 

KAR Legal Hotline, the newest member benefit      

The KAR Legal Hotline is designed for members (brokers and/or broker designees) to have direct access to a qualified attorney who can provide information on real estate law and related matters. Further, the program is intended to provide legal preventative maintenance to all KAR members and, through them, the public they serve. 

 
The KAR Legal Hotline is offered through the law offices of Vaughn & Smith, PLLC. It is not intended to replace your own legal counsel. It is intended to provide member brokers and/or their designee access to a qualified attorney who can provide information on real estate matters. This service is not a substitute for consultation with your own attorney. Read More
How often should you post on social media?         

Now that you've got your social-media profiles set up, it's time to figure out how to use them to maximum effect. Remember, you're looking to build a brand and to stand out from the competition, so a strategy is essential if you want to make the most of our social-media efforts. Read More 

In This Issue
KAR News
KAR Survey: Drone photography in real estate          
The FAA recently proposed rules for drone use that would apply to real estate agents. As such, NAR has been working with the FAA for some time to get clear guidance on what members should know. Take our Question of the Month and let us know how you feel about drone photography. Take the Survey
Photographers: be featured in the Kentucky REALTOR Magazine        
KAR is looking for photography from around the state of your favorite Kentucky landmark. If you are into taking pictures (of course you are, you're in real estate) and have something neat and interesting to share, send it to kar@kar.com and it, and you, may be featured in the upcoming Spring issue of the Kentucky REALTOR magazine. Make sure to send a high resolution photo suitable for magazine print and only photos you have permission to reprint.  
"Like" the Kentucky REALTOR Facebook page
Do you want the inside scoop on all things real estate in Kentucky? Then get in on the action. Keep up with what your association is doing in real-time - from legislative updates and technology to the newest business tools and member photos. "Like" here

New for 2015 - KAR is embarking on some new social media activities to boost member engagement on the sites. Look for the updates on Facebook and Twitter, including a Throwback Thursday (#TBTKAR) post where we will take a look back at KAR's history in photos every week. If you have photos you would like share, please send them to kar@kar.com or post to your own social media sites using #TBTKAR.
Housing Stats

These stats represent the market conditions for the entire state of Kentucky. For a complete breakdown of housing stats, contact KAR at 800.264.2185.   

   

Year End 2014 vs Year End 2013 
 
Homes Sold 2014: 46,533
Homes Sold 2013: 44,534
% Change: 4.4%
 
Median Home Price 2014: $110,130
Median Home Price 2013: $108,509
% Change: 1.5%

2014 marked the 2nd most homes ever sold in a given year (2006 sold 48,469 homes) and the highest median price reported in the state for a given year.  Even still, Kentucky homes are only 52% of the national median of $208,500 showing the affordability of owning in the state. Nationally, in 2014, there were 4.93 million home sales.

Governmental Affairs / RPAC
Keeneland event planned for RPAC investors 

Join REALTORS� from around Kentucky as they gather at historic Keeneland Race Course to celebrate the pageantry and excitement of Thoroughbred horse racing. Support RPAC with your ticket purchase of $250 which includes a buffet, drinks, programs, reserved row parking and a ticket to the prestigious and private Keeneland Room. Reserve your seat and bring your non-REALTOR� guest for an additional $150 investment to RPAC. To register, email dharris@kar.com or visit the RPAC page. Read More  

Kentucky Homes Matter
As Kentucky continues to fight budget issues, KAR has taken a proactive approach to educating members, consumers and legislators on why home ownership is important to Kentucky. The focus begins on protecting crucial tax benefits for home ownership and keeping sales tax on services from being placed on the transfer of property. If you want to learn more, the KHM website includes information as well as a downloadable flyer. Read More
Legal Matters
Broker licensing violation for real estate activities  

Nebraska federal court considers a California broker's argument that Nebraska's ("State") attempts to enforce its license law against her violated her First Amendment rights.

Leslie Rae Young ("Broker") is a licensed California real estate broker.  She operated a website that placed listings on "realtor.com" through a California multiple listing service and she also placed her listings on "forsalebyowner.com".  She lists herself as the client's representative on "realtor.com".  The Broker takes listings from jurisdictions where she is not licensed such as Nebraska, and had 30 listings with Nebraska residents. Read More 

2015 Code of Ethics
The 2015 Code of Ethics has been posted to Realtor.org and is now available for immediate download. Click here for a copy.
Education
Education scholarships available through KREEF       
Scholarships are available to assist members in furthering education through the GRI program as well as offering assistance for college/post-secondary education. Also, just introduced this year, pre-licensing assistance has been added. The deadline for applying is Friday, June 12. To review specifics of each scholarship, click the scholarship link below or visit the webpage directly.
GRI Scholarship
College Scholarship
Pre-license Scholarship 
GRI receives complete overhaul, redesign       

The GRI program has been completely redesigned to meet the needs of today's real estate professional. Students will now be required to complete 72 hours (reduced from 96 hours) with the program offering one-day courses for the GRI 100 - 600 courses and more options to complete the elective requirements. Each course also counts as 3 hours law CE and 5 hours elective CE so you get your annual requirements out of the way. And don't worry, if you started the program in the last 5 years, you will not lose any of your completed GRI hours. KREEF has set equivalencies so you can match up your old GRI hours with the new program. If you have considered a designation in the past, the GRI program is the program for your future. Learn More and Register 

Save 25% off the SRS (Seller Rep. Specialist) designation course online         

The SRS Designation Course establishes a foundation of training, skills, and resources to help you succeed as a seller's representative. This course is specifically designed to help you increase listings and grow your business, understand and apply methods, tools and techniques to provide the support and services that sellers want and needs. Through March, receive a savings of over $70 on a course that counts for 9 hours of elective CE in Kentucky and can also be used as a GRI elective. Read More 

Start in real estate with the online pre-licensing course       
The 96 hour salesperson pre-license course is now completely online through the Kentucky Real Estate Education Foundation (KREEF) and is approved by the Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC). The total cost of the program is $599, which is more affordable than most other providers, and includes all materials needed for the course including the textbook and other resources. Learn more about the program here.
Need CORE?   
Take the CORE course online and save. Available anytime, 24/7, this course requirement through KREC also counts as 6 hours of law CE credit. Don't wait until the last minute. Read More
From the KAR Blog
National Issues
NAR issues safety report for REALTORS     

With the recent news around the country of safety risks to agents, NAR has issued a report to help keep members out of trouble. The goal of the report is to measure and understand the scope of the problem, so that real estate professionals can develop the resources, programs, and technologies they need to keep themselves safe. Read More  

Video series from NAR: The Voice for Real Estate
In the video series from NAR called The Voice for Real Estate, a bi-weekly roundup of news that affects the industry and your business, NAR explores many issues that members may find useful in their practice and with clients. Read More
Affinity Partners
GEICO
Contact GEICO for a free quote on insurance to see how much you could be saving. And don't forget to mention your KAR affiliation, you could qualify for an exclusive member savings opportunity.

UPS
KAR members can save up to 30% on UPS shipping. Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer.

Showing Suite
Get feedback on your listings, improve communication with your sellers, and set yourself apart from your competition with HomeFeedback�.

Prescription Drug Card
As a member, you, your family & friends may be able to lower your prescription drug costs. Simply create and print your FREE Prescription Drug Card and receive savings of up to 75% (discounts average roughly 30%) at more than 54,000 national and regional pharmacies. This card can be used as your primary plan and/or it can be used on prescriptions not covered by your insurance plan.

Nationwide Insurance
Offering you a special insurance program that could save you up to $500 with special rates on your auto policy.

OfficeMax
OfficeMax provides KAR members with discounts on over 25,000 items, including free delivery with no minimum-sized order and access to its commercial catalog (unavailable to the general public), which features significant member discounts.

Read More
Nationwide Insurance: Save an additional 5% on auto and power sports   
Click to get started online
You can save 25% with package discounts and an additional 5% with a KAR discount on your auto and power sport (boat, RV and motorcycle) coverages. Just mention that you are a member of KAR when you call to receive immediate savings.
Sponsors
KHC can save your clients money
Wouldn't your clients love to have extra money every month? With the exclusive Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) Conventional No Mortgage Insurance Program (No MI), they can!

KHC's Conventional No MI program enables the borrower to have a lower monthly payment than a FHA program. This program allows eligible borrowers to go up to 97 percent of purchase price without having to pay upfront or monthly mortgage insurance. This could mean substantial savings over a year. Borrowers will have access to KHC Down Payment Assistance Programs, as well! For full details and terms, visit KHC's website (under Conventional No Mortgage Insurance Program).

*Terms and conditions apply. Please visit KHC's Web site for full details.
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Liberty Mutual offering agents referral bonus    
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Kentucky Association of REALTORS | kar@kar.com | http://www.kar.com
161 Prosperous Place, Suite 100
Lexington, KY 40509
Norman Jones, 2015 KAR President