Greater Rochester Association of REALTORSŽ

Precisely e-Newsletter

August 31, 2015

GRAR 2015 Major Sponsors

In This Issue:

Association Updates: MLS Fees Due, 2015 Sales Master Awards, Updated GRAR Forms, REALTORŽ Safety Courses, YRN Rookie Award, Evening Licensing Course, Live Well Work Well, Accustat Report
In Memoriam: Carl Hofstetter
NAR Notes: TILA-RESPA toolkit, RHS Loans, REALTORŽ Safety Month
Industry Advocacy: Fire Sprinkler Mandate Defeated, NYS Tax Cap Below 1% in 2016

Association Updates

MLS FEES DUE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

GRAR Members who selected the Divided Dues Payment Option must pay the MLS Fees portion of $430 (Please make checks payable to GENRIS) by 4:30 PM on Thursday, September 10 to avoid a late fee. View/print invoices and pay via credit card

AUTO PAY SUBSCRIBERS: YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE PROCESSED TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8

If your credit card information has changed, please update your account either by visiting the Membership Director Online Payment System on Grar.org, or by clicking on Pay Dues in the MLS PORTAL

SALES MASTER AWARDS CRITERIA

It is that time of year again for the Sales Master Awards. The final deadline for submitting your entry will be Monday, October 5, 2015, with no exceptions. The consecutive 12 month period for the 2015 Awards is September 1, 2014 through August 31, 2015.

All entries will require a cover sheet that the Designated REALTORŽ will sign to confirm/approve of all listings being submitted on the award application. Click here for the CRITERIA FORM and COVER SHEET. This report cannot be run via Fusion.

We have listened to your concerns and moved the Sales Master Award Recognition Reception, sponsored by Fairport Mortgage, to a larger venue - the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton (1111 Jefferson Road, Rochester, NY 14623). The date is Friday evening November 20, 2015 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Ticket sale information will be sent to the recipients in mid-October.

75 HOUR ON-SITE LICENSING COURSES OFFERED AT GRAR

September, 2015 - TWO WEEK FORMAT (Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM)

Fall, 2015 - SIX WEEK FORMAT (Nights and weekends) - Sept 29-Nov. 5
Click here for more information and to register for an on-site licensing course.

YRN ROOKIE REALTORŽ OF THE YEAR
Applications are now being accepted for the YRN Rookie REALTORŽ of the Year award. Click here for details, qualifications and an application form. Please submit to the YRN Advisory Board by September 25. The winner will be announced at the GRAR Awards Luncheon on October 28, 2015. Please email questions to rocyrn@gmail.com

SEPTEMBER IS REALTORŽ SAFETY MONTH

Back by popular demand! GRAR is offering our full REALTORŽ Safety course to members for FREE (no CE). Or, if you need the CE, you can choose to receive the full 4 hours of credit for $40. Go to GRAR.org for the full schedule
Are you current on your safety protocol? Take this opportunity to brush up on the numerous tips you can implement to protect yourself, fellow agents and your clients.

LIVE WELL WORK WELL: August 2015
View the latest edition of Bene-Care's wellness newsletter here

ACCUSTAT REPORT: August 2015
Accustat is a service offered by REALTORŽ Dick Beers available solely for the use of GRAR Members and is not intended for public distribution. This report does not reflect the views of the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORSŽ. If you are interested in receiving the newsletter, please contact Dick at accustat@frontier.com

In Memoriam

Carl Hofstetter, REALTORŽ At Rest ~ August 20, 2015

NAR Notes

NEW TILA-RESPA INTEGRATED DISCLOSURE TOOLKIT
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a new online toolkit to help real estate professionals understand the new TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rule and how to explain those changes to their clients.

RHS LOANS, CLOSING PROCESS
Rural home buyers have a great opportunity for safe, affordable mortgage financing through the Rural Housing Service, which has funds available until the end of September through its direct loan program. Read more about the program here.

SEPTEMBER IS REALTORŽ SAFETY MONTH
Knowledge. Awareness. Empowerment. These are the core components of REALTORŽ Safety. And helping our members understand the risks they face can mean the difference between life and death. NAR has developed REALTORŽ Safety materials intended to help members develop their own safety strategy

MAN TO MAN: YOU'RE JUST AS AT RISK
All REALTORSŽ, men and women alike, should be equally concerned with safety. A male agent who's 6-foot-3 shares his story about how he almost became a victim himself. He doesn't like to talk about his scary experience, but he's doing it to warn his peers.

Industry Advocacy

NYS RESEDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER MANDATE DEFEATED

The New York State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council voted against a statewide mandate requiring the installation of residential fire sprinklers in all one- and two-family homes and townhomes. The council also voted down a motion requiring the installation of residential fire sprinklers in all townhomes in New York. NYSAR opposed the fire sprinkler mandate and supports consumer choice and incentives such as a proposed tax credit to offset installation costs (A.4227/S.2587).

TAX CAP TO DROP BELOW ONE PERCENT IN 2016

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli reported that property tax growth for local governments will be capped under one percent (0.73) for 2016. The state property tax cap, which was recently extended in June, limits tax levy increases to 2 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.Read More Here

DISCLOSURE:

RATES OF COMMISSIONS AND OTHER FEES FOR THE SALE, EXCHANGE, RENTAL, LEASE, MANAGEMENT, OR MORTGAGE OF REAL ESTATE SHALL BE NEGOTIABLE BETWEEN A BROKER AND HIS/HER CLIENT.