KAR News Update
July 2015
Top Stories
CFPB proposes mortgage rule delay to Oct 3 

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is proposing a delay to new mortgage disclosure rules, pushing back the start date to Sat., Oct. 3.  

The original deadline for the new Truth in Lending Act and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act Integrated Disclosure regulation was Aug. 1. The proposed date change still must undergo public comment before July 7. The new implementation date will not become official until the final rule is issued by the CFPB. Read More

Note: CUNA is asking for a delay until 2016 - Read More  

KAR Convention & Expo  

September 22-24
Owensboro, Kentucky
Early-bird pricing through July 31 - get registered today for a chance to win $500 cash from ETFCU.
Attend the 2015 Convention and Expo to share ideas, make new contacts, gain industry insights and take advantage of four days of educational opportunities to help improve your business and complete annual requirements. By attending, you will be able to take advantage of more than enough hours of educational opportunities to complete annual requirements. But it's more than just education...Join hundreds of REALTORS� from across Kentucky in various networking events and social activities. Learn more and register

Ninja Selling III        
September 21
Hampton Inn/Convention Center

Owensboro, Kentucky
Instructor: Mark Given

This course is specifically designed to increase your income per hour, increase customer satisfaction and improve your quality of life. To do this, the course will focus on the following:
  • Creating a business plan that attracts customers and delivers great customer satisfaction
  • Developing the Socratic selling skills to ask the right questions
  • Using processes for buyers and sellers that work
  • Bringing mastery, focus, and balance into your real estate career and life
Approved for CRS elective credit, GRI elective credit and 3 hours elective CE credit. You do not have to take Ninja Selling I or II to take this course. Discounts are available for current CRS and/or GRI designees and members attending Convention. Read More 
RPR Webinar: Tools for building your business         

Tuesday, July 14
3pm EST
REALTORS� across the country are enhancing their business by using Realtors Property Resources'� extensive database. In this class, you'll learn how top agents use RPR as their all-in-one data and information source to build their business and impress clients. You will learn how to generate stunning property reports, conduct a detailed CMA in minutes, research schools and neighborhoods, and get a sneak peak into RPR Mobile. Register Now 

In This Issue
KAR News
Tom Biederman appointed as KREC Commissioner
On May 22, 2015, Governor Steve Beshear announced the appointment of Tom Biederman as Real
Estate Commissioner for the Kentucky Real Estate Commission. Mr. Biederman replaced former
Commissioner Linda Cecil, whose term had expired. Commissioner Biederman began his career in real estate over 35 years ago, receiving his sales associate license in February of 1980. In that same year, he also obtained his auctioneer's license. In 1990, Mr. Biederman became a broker. In 1994, he opened his own company in Lexington, called Biederman Real Estate & Auctioneers, where he is principal broker and principal auctioneer.
Question of the Month: Thoughts on the project between RPR and Upstream?  
Recently, NAR announced funding for a joint project between RPR and Upstream as a platform to create and implement data entry and collection for listings. What do you think of this? Take our Question of the Month and let us know. Take the Survey
Be on top of your game with GRI        

The GRI program has been completely redesigned to meet the needs of today's real estate professional. Here are a few key points about the program:  

  • 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 counts as 8 CE hours (3 hours law CE and 5 hours elective CE) so you get your annual requirements out of the way.
  • 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


Upcoming GRI courses in the summer:
Wednesday, August 26 - LBAR - GRI 100: Ethics and Law - Ginny Lawson 
Thursday, August 27 - NKAR - GRI 300: Marketing - Mike Gooch 

Legal Hotline, KAR's 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
"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 feature - 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 [email protected] 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, click here or contact KAR at 800.264.2185.   

   

April 2015 vs April 2014
 
Homes Sold 2015: 3,943 
Homes Sold 2014: 3,951
% Change: 0.0%
 
Median Home Price 2015: $121,260
Median Home Price 2014: $111,986 
% Change: 8.2%

Governmental Affairs / RPAC
Are you considering running for elected office?
Candidate Training Academy
Thursday, August 6
Lexington, KY
KAR is holding a Candidate Training Academy on Thursday, August 6 in Lexington. The course will provide participants with an understanding of what it takes to run for political office at either the local, state or federal level and a well-rounded overview of the topics to consider before making that leap.
The course is taught by nationally renowned campaign specialists and will include breakfast, lunch and all training materials. Cost is $50. To learn more, email Leslie Wilson at [email protected].
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
FHA disparate-impact liability upheld

In a much anticipated housing discrimination case, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs ET AL. v. Inclusive Communities Project, Inc. ET AL, the Supreme Court of the United States addressed the issue of whether the federal Fair Housing Act ("FHA") prohibits housing decisions that have a disparate impact. The Court, in a 5-4 ruling, held that disparate-impact claims are cognizable under the FHA. Read More

Article about housing discrimination 

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
Webinar: Navigating the hurdles of operating drones          

Thursday, July 9
2pm EST
The Hogan Lovells Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Group has partnered with the National Association of Realtors to host a webinar on the regulatory and business hurdles to operating unmanned aircraft systems (drones).  Register Now 

Save 25% on the RSPS certification course and SRES designation course          

In NAR's 2015 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, vacation sales in 2014 showed astonishing growth, nearly doubling the combined total of the previous two years. According to NAR's chief economist, Lawrence Yun, the improved economy and steady rise in home prices has likely given clients reassurance that real estate remains an attractive long-term investment. These courses address the trends revealed in the survey. Receive CE credit in Kentucky along with GRI elective credit.
RSPS course
SRES course 

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
Realtor.com updates its look and premieres new ad campaign
What challenges will you encounter within 3-5 years? NAR's Strategic Thinking Advisory Committee considers threats to agents, brokers, associations, MLSs, and NAR in just-released Danger Report.
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) first-time  Home Buyer Tax Credit, they can save up to $2,000* per year!

 

Along with the tax credit, KHC's has Down payment Assistance up to $6,000*. By using the Down payment Assistance Program, or DAP, borrowers are able to close on their new home with little, or no money, out of their pocket. For full details and terms, visit KHC's website (under Home Buyers). 


*Terms and conditions apply. Please visit KHC's Web site for full details.
This is an advertisement

Leads are the lifeblood of your business    

Build a successful online capture system today.
Do you have a well-built lead capture system on your real estate website ... and is it mobile friendly? Is the system leading to increased business? If not, it could be time to find new ways to encourage prospects to share their information with you, and for you to learn how to capitalize on that opportunity.

 

For some REALTORS�, building an online lead capture system for website prospects can be a painful experience. But with the advent of great digital content, capturing and responding to clients in real-time couldn't be easier.

 

Here are some practical tips that will help you create an attention grabbing offering for website prospects by tapping into the most powerful data platform available to members of the REALTOR� family, Realtors Property Resource� (RPR�). Read More

Check out all the dates for upcoming webinars (July, September and November) here

Kentucky Association of REALTORS | [email protected] | http://www.kar.com
161 Prosperous Place, Suite 100
Lexington, KY 40509
Norman Jones, 2015 KAR President