|
Contact Us:
Greater Binghamton Association of REALTORSŪ
19 Jennison Avenue
Johnson City, NY 13790
607-729-6285
607-798-8246 (Fax)
executive@gbingar.com |
|
|
President's Message - REALTORŪ Safety
I recently saw something that I would like to share with everybody concerning REALTORŪ Safety.
This is something that I believe we can all share with our friends and family. The majority of us drive cars that we can unlock with a key fob. On that key fob is also a "panic button". That panic button will initiate the horn and lights of your car and it will not go off until the battery dies or you hit the button again.
How good is it to know that you have your own personal alarm system at your disposal? Keep it with you at all times. I would even suggest keeping your keys next to your bed at night while you are sleeping. If you hear a noise either in your house or outside, you can hit the button to scare off a would be criminal and alert your neighbors that something is wrong.
Remember, it is better to practice when you are not under pressure or scared then try to figure it out under stress. You would be amazed how much "muscle memory" takes over understress.
Also check the battery!! My advice is that if you are unsure how to do it, go to Radio Shack. I have found that they have the biggest selection of button batteries and know what they are talking about.
Please be safe and pass this on to your friends and family.
Please feel free to email me if you ever have any questions or concerns.
Tommy
|
| New Members - January, 2013
Please join us in welcoming the following New GBAR Members approved at the January 15, 2013 Board of Directors Meeting:
New REALTORŪ Agent Members:
- Jennifer Gilmore, Century 21 Sbarra & Wells
- Adam Middendorf, Realty USA
- Lori Gordon, Exit Realty Front and Center
- Jessica Fiacco, Realty USA
New MLS Only REALTORŪ Agent Member:
- Dorinda Stone, Pyramid Brokerage Company
New Affiliate Representative:
- Lenora Phillips, Chemung Canal Trust
|
| Membership Changes - January, 2013
Click here for a list of Members who are no longer with GBAR following the January 8 Dues/Fees Cut-Off, as well as those who are MLS-Waived or who are on Leave of Absence.
We wish all departing Members best of luck for the future. |
| Affiliate Members - Payment of 2013 Dues
Dear GBAR Primary Affiliate and Affiliate Representative Members:
A reminder that your Affiliate Dues Notice for 2013 was e-mailed to you on December 28, 2012. This invoice must be paid in order for you to remain an active Affiliate Member of our Association.
Please mark your calendar that by January 31, 2013, the following amounts must be paid:
Primary Affiliate Dues
Feb 2013 - Jan 2014 $200.00
Affiliate Representatives Dues
Feb 2013 - Jan 2014 $50.00
Thank you.
|
The Member Minute
Today's Topic: It's All About the Numbers!
Take a moment to review the details in your listings. 2013 property tax bills are now available, so please make sure your tax info is current on all your listings. Banks approve a buyer for a loan amount as well as a property tax amount. If your property is being viewed online but no one is calling to see it, it may be a detail like the taxes you are reporting in your listing.
Take the time to properly calculate taxes. Stating that the "buyer agent should confirm taxes" is an obvious fiduciary responsibility of any buyer agent. However, the majority of home buyers are looking online first and if your taxes are not properly calculated they may never call you or a buyer agent about the property. It is your duty as a listing agent to provide the most accurate information possible on all your listings..not just the newly listed. Refresh, review and update your data.!
Comments? Click here to email Membership Sub-Committee Chair Jessica Dillenbeck. |
|
New Phone Number? New Address? New E-mail?
It is important that you keep your contact information current with the Association. And you can correct or update this information day or night without making a phone call. If you change the information yourself at REALTOR.org, GBAR, Supra and NYSAR are notified automatically. Go to the REALTOR.org website and click on "My Account." On the first visit you must register, but after that just entering your user name and password advances you to a page that will allow you to update your contact information and notify the Association Office. |
Condolences - John Picciano
I regret to advise you of the passing of John Picciano, husband of former GBAR Member Julie Picciano, on Jnauary 9, 2013. Please join us in offering our sympathies to Julie and her family during this difficult time. |
| Sign Up Now for the February, 2013 GBAR Monthly Business Luncheon!
Sign up now for the February Monthly Business Luncheon, which will be held ONE WEEK EARLY this month on Wednesday, February 6, 2o13 at The Relief Pitcher 197 Conklin Avenue, Binghamton, NY, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.
Our program, which is generously sponsored by M&T Bank, will be the Annual Presentation of 2012 GBAR Accomplishments (you'll be very proud!) and the 2013 Strategic Plan by Executive Officer Barry Arnold.
To view a flyer and registration instructions, click here. We hope to see you there! |
| Save the Date: 2013 GBAR Agent's Day and Trade Show - "It's a Jungle Out There!"
Mark your calendars! The 2013 GBAR Agent's Day and Trade Show will be held at the Binghamton Riverwalk on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. The Trade Show Committee, chaired by Dawn Roessing, is already hard at work to create the best Trade Show yet! Our theme this year will be "It's a Jungle Out There", given our improving but still unsettled market conditions.
To whet your appetite, click here for a flyer highlighting the 3-Hour CE Course being offered at the show by nationally-recognized speaker Walter Sanford, entitled "Finding Your Way Out of the Jungle".
Watch this space for more information in the weeks to come! |
| Register Now for 2013 SRES, GRI and ABR Designation Courses in Binghamton!
For those of you interested in taking Designation Courses in Binghamton in 2013, I am pleased to confirm the following courses, instructors and dates:
- SRES - Randy Templeman - March 26 and 27
- GRI 403 - (Financing to Increase Homeownership) - Fran Carroll - April 18
- GRI 407 (Building Your Real Estate Practice) - Jim Pugliese - May 7
- ABR-R - Randy Templeman - September 23 and 24
- GRI 402 - Jim Braman - October 7 and 8
To register, click on the course you wish to take to access course information and registration instructions, which is done directly through NYSAR. |
Register Now for the "Understanding Business Valuations" Course
Commercial Properties often come with an existing business or businesses, and valuing those businesses is an important element in pricing these deals.
"Understanding Business Valuations", a 4-CE Credit Classroom course, will provide you with the ability to accurately build business value into your pricing strategy for Commercial Properties. You'll learn how to:
- Knowledgeably discuss business valuation with listing clients.
- Recognize when a business may add to real estate value.
- Understand how businesses are valued.
- Discuss business value with potential buyers.
"Understanding Business Valuations" will be conducted by Clifford (Cliff) Olin, MBA, Certified Appraiser and Principal, Olin Capital Advisors, Inc.
The course will earn 4 CE credits, and cost $60.00.
To register, either:
- Click here to register on-line though the GBAR Website, or
- Click here to access a flyer and registration form, complete the form and scan/email to executive@gbingar.com, or fax to Barry Arnold at 607-798-8246.
|
| Register Now! Google Universe Boot Camp Comes to Binghamton!
On Thursday, March 14, 2013 Google Universe Boot Camp comes to Binghamton! This full-day, get-it-done workshop will empower each attendee with the comprehensive knowledge of Google Cloud Apps, and a complete mobile office solution.
Learn all the ins and outs of Gmail, Google Voice, Google Calendar, Google Documents, Google Picasa, YouTube, Google Analytics, Google+. and how to integrate them all into a powerful mobile office solution.
The course will be instructed by G. William James, presenter and author of "The Google Universe", who is internationally known as one of the leading training professionals for handheld computing and mobile technology for real estate.
All this for only $60!. Click here for more information, and click here to register! Hurry - only 32 spaces available! |
| Rape Aggression Defense Course to be Offered. Need Feedback on Preferred Times
President-Elect Kay Graves has advised us that members of the New York State University Police at BU teach a course called "RAD" - Rape Aggression Defense - a Self-Defense course specifically designed for women. They offer a Basic Course which lasts 12 hours over 4 days/nights for $25,
The NYSU Police are ready and willing to provide this course, but they would like to know if we would prefer to have these sessions conducted during the day or during the evening, and whether weekdays or weekends are preferred.
If you are interested, please click here to email Barry your preferences as to day or night, and weekday or weekend.
Thanks! |
| Big Discounts on Online CE Courses Available!
If you're looking for CE Credit, there's no better place than The CE Shop! All New York CE courses are now offered with a 20% discount by using promotional code NEWYEAR through the end of January. And Pennsylvania courses are offered at a 25% discount using promotional code GBARINPA.
|
|
| 2013 Committee Chairs Announced - Join a GBAR Committee!
Thank you to the following GBAR members who have volunteered their time to Chair GBAR Committees and Sub-Committees in 2013. If you'd like to join a Committee, click on the relevant Chair name(s) below to send them an email and volunteer!
Thank you to all our Volunteer Leaders. They look forward to welcoming you to GBAR Committee Membership and Service. |
| New! Join the Global Business Alliance Committee!
At their meeting in December the GBAR Board of Directors approved the creation of a new GBAR Committee: The Global Business Alliance Committee, chaired by Steve Day.
The mission of this new Committee is to
supply a support system of information, resources, networking, and skills training for all members engaged in Global Business. The Alliance will promote International Partnerships to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit involved in forming business organizations, creating jobs, and stimulating the economy.
Click here for a full outline of the Committee's Goals and Objectives.
Interested in becoming a Member? Contact Chair Steve Day by clicking here. The first meeting of the Committee will be held at 9:00 am on Monday, February 4 at the Association Offices, and on every subsequent first Monday of the month at 9:00 am. |
|
Answers to Last Issues Pop Quiz: GBAR Members' Response to the Mortgage Interest Deduction Call For Action
On Monday, December 3, NAR sent out a Call For Action (CFA) on one of the most important political priorities for REALTORS in years - asking Members to email their congressional representatives to encourage retention of the Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID).
As of December 19, the national response rate to this CFA was 17.3%, and the response rate from New York State Members was 16.5%.
In the last issue of the REALTOR Review, we asked, "What was GBAR Members' response rate, and how did it compare to other Associations nationally and in New York State?"
Here are the answers - GBAR Members' response was simply spectacular!!
- GBAR's Response Rate: 36%, compared to 16.5% for NY State and 17.3% Nationally. Awesome!
- GBAR's Response Rate Ranking in NY State: #1 - Totally Awesome!
- GBAR's Response Rate Ranking Nationally: #39 - Completely Awesome!
- GBAR's Response Rate Ranking Nationally of Associations with more that 200 Members: #5 - Ridiculously Awesome!!!!
Given the importance of the MID to our industry and homeowners, we thank you for your response and your commitment to the REALTOR Cause.
No one got all 4 answers correct, but congratulations to the following respondents who got 2 out 4 questions correct:
- Diane Kerth
- Dale Tifft
- Ruth Young
Great job, guys! |
| 10K Marketing Monthly Statistics Delayed
Unfortunately, the December, 2012 Greater Binghamton Association of REALTORS Monthly Statistics from 10K Marketing have been delayed. We'll get them to you in the February1 issue of the REALTOR Review.
In the meantime, you can get a sense of our December and full year 2012 numbers by clicking on "Monthly Statistics" under Quick Links at the Top Left of this issue. Our traditional Monthly Statistics are posted there. |
|
|
|
|
