|
|
|
Greater Binghamton Association
of REALTORS®, Inc.
|
October 1, 2014
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the October 1, 2014 edition of the REALTOR® Review! Some highlights:
Several GBAR Members and Officers attended the NYSAR Fall Meetings held at Turning Stone in Verona, New York. It's a safe bet (Get it? Turning Stone? Safe Bet?) there was lots going on, so take a look at our lead article!
Did you respond to the 2014 Member Survey? If you did, you might be one of our Prize Draw Winners! Check out the second article below!
And don't forget the impending launch of the new .REALTOR Domain, which is available only to REALTORS®. Make sure you take advantage of this opportunity to promote yourself and your profession with this distinguished asset!
Also, Award Nominations are now open for both the GBAR Annual Award and the GBAR Honor Society - see the articles below.
Mark your calendar for the Supra Lockbox Exchange coming October 29 and 29 - see the article under Upcoming GBAR Member Events.
As always, if you have any comments or suggestions for future issues of the REALTOR® Review, please feel free to email me by clicking here.
Barry Arnold, Executive Officer
|
|
Fall NYSAR Meetings at Turning Stone
|
| GBAR Members Attend NYSAR Fall Meetings
Several GBAR Members represented our Association at the NYSAR Fall Meetings, held at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York from September 28 - October 1. A wide variety of topics were discussed, including NAR's new Core Standards for Associations, Member Education, Professional Standards, MLS Issues and Policies, Member Communications, Government Affairs Advocacy and Technology.
At the General Session for all attendees, hosted by 2014 NYSAR President JP Enders, the winner of the 2014 REALTOR of the Year was announced - Rick Reilly of the Columbia-Greene Board of REALTORS.
Click here for Executive Officer Barry Arnold's Trip Report. Trip reports from all GBAR attendees will be published in the October 15 issue of the REALTOR Review. In the meantime, here are a couple of photos from the Meetings:
 | |
GBAR President-Elect Kay Graves, President
Tommy Reid and Ithaca Board Member CJ DelVecchio at the General Session.
|
 | |
Tommy Reid, Trish Ellis, Barry Arnold, Diana Nogaret
and Kay Graves at the RPAC Dinner/Auction
|
 | | GBAR Education Chair Diana Nogaret and President Tommy Reid juggle NYSAR meetings and events. |
|
|
GBAR Member Survey Prize Winners!
|
| Congratulations to our 2014 Member Survey Prize Draw Winners!
The 2014 GBAR Member Survey has now closed, and we'd like to thank all of you who took the time to provide us with your valuable feedback. The results are being compiled, and will be incorporated into our 2015 Strategic Plan, which will be completed and distributed to all Members in the REALTOR Review by December, 2014.
.
In the meantime, congratulations are in order to our three Member Survey Prize Draw Winners:
- 1st Prize: Lynne Stanford ($100)
- 2nd Prize: Karen DeFilipps and Diane Briggs-Angell ($50 each)
Congratulations, and thanks again for your participation!
|
|
Coming October 23!
The New .REALTOR Domain
The National Association of Realtors®' new .REALTOR top-level domain will be available October 23, 2014 to members of NAR and the Canadian Real Estate Association.
The Internet is undergoing vast changes with the creation of over 1,900 new top-level domains, and with nine out of 10 recent buyers beginning their home search online, it has become even more critical for Realtors® to create a branded space online. The .REALTOR domain will help Realtors® stand apart from other real estate professionals, creating a more positive online experience for consumers who are searching for information on buying or selling property. Having a .REALTOR domain will inform consumers that they are working with a Realtor®, a trusted real estate professional who subscribes to NAR's strict Code of Ethics. "This is truly an exciting time for NAR members to be on the cutting edge of Internet technology," said NAR President Steve Brown, co-owner of Irongate, Inc. Realtors® in Dayton, Ohio. "NAR is one of the first associations to be approved to offer a top-level domain for its membership, demonstrating our organization's commitment to its members and showcasing the value of the Realtor® brand. When consumers visit a .REALTOR website they will know that they have reached a source of comprehensive and accurate real estate information as well as someone with unparalleled insight into the local market." Click here for more information, and instructions how to register for your .REALTOR Domain, and click here for a .REALTOR Domain Fact Sheet. |
|
Award Nominations Now Open
|
|
Time to Submit Nominations for
GBAR Annual Awards
Know someone deserving of one of GBAR's Annual Awards? Click here for a  nomination form! The Award Categories are: REALTOR® of the Year, Affiliate of the Year, Distinguished Service Award and Volunteer of the Year. These awards will be presented at the annual GBAR Holiday Luncheon & Installation Ceremony in December. Nominations must be at the Association Office by 5:00pm, Tuesday, November 4, 2014.
|
| Do You Qualify for the GBAR Honor Society? Apply Now!
Are you an active and involved GBAR Member? If so, you may qualify for the GBAR Honor Society! Click here for more information and an application form. Honor Society Members will be honored at our January 2015 Business Meeting and Luncheon. Fill out and return the form to the Association Office by 5:00pm, Tuesday, November 4, 2014. Blank forms are also available from the Association Office. E-mail admin@gbingar.com. Good Luck!
|
|
Upcoming GBAR Member Events
|
Sign Up Now for the October GBAR Monthly Business Luncheon!
Our October GBAR Monthly Business Luncheon will be held Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at Terra Cotta in downtown Binghamton. The Luncheon, generously sponsored by Visions Federal Credit Union, will feature our annual Government Affairs "Meet the Candidates" program. Invited candidates include Anndrea Starzak, Candidate for State Senate; Assemblyman Cliff Crouch; Assemblyman Christopher Friend; Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo;
Michael Sopchak, Member of the Broome County Legislature; Robert Reynolds, Candidate for the Broome County Legislature; and Frank Palmisano, Candidate for Town of Union Supervisor. Registration begins at 11:30 am, and the program and lunch will begin at 12:00 noon.
.
For a flyer and registration instructions, click here. .
We hope to see you there!
|
| Mark Your Calendars - Mandatory Supra Lockbox and Key Upgrade/Exchange is October 28 and 29
On Tuesday, October 28 and Wednesday, October 29, 2014, Supra and GBAR will be facilitating the mandatory exchange of all current blue iBox Lockboxes for new, low energy Bluetooth® iBox BTLE Lockboxes. The new BTLE Boxes have built-in Bluetooth Technology, which will allow shackle and key access using an app on your smartphone/tablet, rather than carrying around an ActiveKey or an EKey Fob. There is no charge for exchanging your old blue iBox Lockboxes for the new BTLE Boxes.
The Lockbox exchange and app upload event will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton at 225 Water Street in Binghamton in the "225 Entertainment Zone" downstairs.
A separate email with full details, instructions and answers to Frequently Asked Questions was sent to all effected GBAR Members on Friday, September 12. To view this email, click here.
|
| Join the Southern Tier Home Builders for an October Wine Tour!
Our friends at the Southern Tier Home Builders and Remodelers Association  (STHBRA) have invited GBAR Members to join them for a Wine Tour on October 8, 2014. The Tour will stop at three nearby wineries: Earle Estates, Fulkerson and Rock Stream. $60 per person, leaving Binghamton at 9 am and returning by 5 pm. .
If you're interested, click here for a flyer and registration instructions.
|
| SAVE THE DATE! GBAR'S ANNUAL TEAM TRIVIA EVENT IS NOVEMBER 8!
A local 5-year old boy, Robbie, has VATERS Syndrome and the Community Service Committee has chosen to devote the proceeds of this year's Team Trivia event to supporting Robbie and his family.
This rare syndrome refers to a series of 5 birth defects. Robbie is currently 1 out of 5 children in the USA who has all 5 defects.
Tickets will go on sale Monday, October 6, 2014. Watch for more details in the next REALTOR Review, and coming up on the Board News.
DATE: Saturday, November 8, 2014
TIME: Dinner 5:00pm Trivia 6:00pm to 9:00pm
PLACE: Kalurah Shrine, 926 Glendale Drive, Endicott
TICKETS: $25.00 - Will go on sale October 6
We hope to see you there!
|
|
2015 GBAR Budget: View, Discuss and Vote!
At the August 19, 2014 Board of Directors meeting, the proposed 2015 GBAR Budget was accepted, and will now be submitted to GBAR Membership for approval. As the result of an expected growth in Membership and tight expense control, you'll be pleased to note that the proposed 2015 Budget requires no Dues or Fees increases. A copy of this proposed budget, together with a written overview, is now available to GBAR REALTOR® Members by:
- Clicking here, or
- Accessing a PDF on the GBAR Members-Only Website under Member Forms, Miscellaneous (click here),or
- Picking up a copy at the Association Office or from your Principal Broker.
Please take this opportunity to participate in the operation of your Association.
Ballots were mailed with complete voting instructions to voting GBAR Members on Friday, September 12, 2014. Ballots are due back at the Association Office no later than 5:00pm on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 and the results of the vote will be announced at the October Association Business Meeting/Luncheon on Wednesday, October 8, 2014. The results will also appear on Hot Topics on the GBAR Website, Board News on the MLS, and in the October 15 issue of the REALTOR® Review.
Be Sure Your Vote Counts!
Please keep in mind these facts when you are preparing your ballot for the Budget Proposal:
·If you are mailing your ballot, be sure to allow enough mail time for the ballot to be received at the Association Office by the date indicated. Ballots received late are not included in the count.
·Be sure to use the envelope provided and DO NOT remove your agent number from the back of the envelope. This information is used only to assure that a Member votes only once. If the number is removed it will void your vote.
·Do not sign your ballot. This also will void your vote.
|
FEMA Issues New Flood Insurance Manual
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has updated the manual that insurance companies use to write flood insurance policies. The comprehensive manual provides answers to just about any question a REALTOR may have regarding flood insurance, ranging from how condos are treated to rate tables as revised by the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act enacted earlier this year.
Prior to releasing the new manual, FEMA issued a series of a NFIP iService Bulletins, which are supplemental to the October 1 manual. Presented in one place, these are the key insurance bulletins that implement the rate relief and refund procedures under the new law.
Click here to view the updated manual.
|
| Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Information Available for JC, Union & Endicott
As part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the town of Union and the Villages of Johnson City and Endicott can now respond to inquiries regarding properties located in the 100-year floodplain, providing real estate agents, mortgage lenders and insurance agents with:
- Insurance Zone Risk
- NFIP Community Number
- Panel Number
- Date of the FIRM
- Base Flood Elevation
- Datum System
For more information and contact numbers, click here.
|
| Great News for Members Holding Both NY and PA Licenses - Big Savings on Continuing Education Time and Money!
Do you hold both NY and PA Real Estate Licenses? Are you spending too much time and money satisfying both states' CE requirements? Well, here's the best news you'll hear this week, if not this month!
.
All New York Individual CE Courses completed on-line through our GBAR Website at The CE Shop are valid for PA CE Credit as well! Just register for and complete any NY CE Course at The CE Shop. Upon completion, there will be an opportunity to click to apply the CE Credit to PA as well, and a PA Certificate will be made available through the site.
.
Please note: This "double dip" benefit works the other way as well - most PA CE Credit Courses from The CE Shop are valid for NY CE Credit as well, with the exception of the following PA Courses:
- "Diversity: Your Kaleidoscope of Clients"
- "Selling to Your Sphere of Influence"
- "Today's MLS: New Paradigms, Better Results"
Finally, make sure you always use the monthly promotional codes featured in the REALTOR Review each month to get significant discounts on all CE Courses purchased from The CE Shop!
|
| Registration for 2014 Designation and Certification Course Schedules Now Open!
Registration for 2014 Designation and Certification courses that will be held in Binghamton are now open! Simply click on the links below for more information and registration instructions.
Special Offer! GRI 409, Equal and Ethical Service, is being offered FREE if you sign up for any of the other GRI Courses being held at GBAR or throughout New York State! That's 15 FREE CE Credits!
Courses at GBAR:
- GRI 409 - Equal and Ethical Service - October 29-30
- SRES - Rescheduled! to November 20-21
For a full list of all Designation and Certification Courses to be held throughout New York State in 2014, click here.
|
| SRES Has Been Rescheduled in Binghamton!
By popular demand, we have worked with NYSAR and Randy Templeman to reschedule the SRES Designation course for November 20 and 21, 2014, at our Association Offices in Johnson City.
.
Click here for a flyer with more information and registration instructions. Click here to visit the SRES Website to learn even more! We hope you'll take advantage of this important designation course, offered right here in you own back yard.
|
|
NAR Designation and Certification Courses Offered On-Line!
Ever want to pursue one of NAR's official designations or certifications, but just don't have the time or flexibility to attend classroom courses? Problem Solved!
Now these courses are available ON-LINE through the GBAR Website and REALTOR® University's School of Professional Development and Continuing Education.
Click here to access courses approved for CE in New York.
If you have any questions, contact Barry Arnold, Executive Officer at GBAR.
|
|
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 "lemonade20" through the end of September.
|
| Heading to Triple Play? Here's The Way to Go!
The Triple Play REALTOR® Convention & Trade Show will be held December 8 - 11, 2014 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Our friends at the Elmira-Corning Regional Association of REALTORS® have contracted with Covered Wagon Tours to arrange Bus Transportation with pick-up and drop-off stops in Apalachin and Binghamton, as well as great deals on hotel accommodation for 3 nights at Bally's Resort/Casino. The Travel Package includes Bus Transport to and from Atlantic City, Taxes and Baggage Fees, 3 Nights Accomodation (Single, Double, Triple(!) or Quadruple deals available), and a $75 FREE Comp Bonus to play the slots.
Forget about driving - this is the way to go!
If you'd like to simply register for Triple Play without this transportation and accommodation package, click here.
|
|
Member Minute
You may not want to hear this, but winter is just around the corner. Be prepared! Make sure you have made arrangements for the winterization of vacant listings, as well as snow and ice removal!
|
|
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.
|
| New Members - September, 2014
Please join us in welcoming the following new Members, as approved by the GBAR Board of Directors:
REALTOR® Agent Members:
- Evin Thompson, Realty USA
- Katherine (Katie) Donlin, McKinney Real Estate
Affiliate Representative Member:
- Kari Ryder-Morton, 1st Priority Mortgage
|
|
| Condolences - Richard J. Andrascik, Sr.
We regret to report the passing of Richard J. Andrascik, Sr., brother-in-law of long-time GBAR Member and Government Affairs Chair, Lois Andrascik, on September 13, 2014. Please join us in offering sincere condolences to Lois and her husband, Joe Andrascik. Click here for a full obituary.
|
|
GBAR Leadership/Committees
|
|
2014 GBAR Contact Information
Got comments, questions or concerns? Want to join a GBAR Committee? Here's a full list of 2014 GBAR Board of Directors, Officers, Committee and Sub-Committee Chairs and Association Staff Members. Just click on the name to send an email, or call the phone number listed. We look forward to hearing from you! 2014 GBAR Board of Directors Thomas Reid, President 699-1013 Kay Graves, President Elect 760-3924 Patricia Kilts, Immediate Past President 725-4082 Robert Farrell 760-5001 Roger Katchuk 759-1244 Rose Pelino 761-8073 Dawn Roessing 343-5982 Rachel Sbarra 341-2625 Michelle Shine 743-0454 Sandra Stebelton 768-2372 Karen Templeman 727-7600 James Trevitt 727-4956 2014 GBAR Non-BOD Officers/Counsel Diane White, Treasurer 760-4774 Jon Sarra, HH&K, General Counsel 231-6788 Barry Arnold, Secretary 729-6285 2014 GBAR Committee/Sub-Committee Chairs Board Operations Dale Tifft 768-3793 Bylaws Diane Kerth 725-4026 Communications/PR Jessica Dillenbeck 343-8486 - Affiliate Council Kent Sisco 343-7293 - Community Service Sandra Stebelton 768-2372 - Membership Jessica Dillenbeck 343-8486 - Program & Banquet Melissa Burish 427-2626 - REALTOR/Appraiser Beth Ryder 343-2018 Education Diana Nogaret 725-4065 Finance Diane White 760-4774 Government Affairs Thomas Reid 699-1013 Grievance Sandra Guy 760-4700 MLS John Farrell 760-0908 Nominating Patricia Kilts 725-4082 Professional Standards Diane Briggs-Angell 761-1953 REALTOR/Banker Jason Sorochinsky 779-5937 REALTOR/Inspector Tim McGovern 757-3208 REALTOR/Lawyer Diane White 760-4774 Staff Review Karen Templeman 727-7600 Strategic Planning Kay Graves 760-3924 Trade Show Dawn Roessing 343-5982 GBAR Staff Barry Arnold Executive Officer 729-6285 Alison Donnelly Membership/Committee 729-6285 Martha Tubaugh MLS/Finance 729-6285
|
|
10K Marketing GBAR Monthly Statistics - August, 2014
Click here to review the August, 2014 10K Marketing Monthly Statistics for GBAR.
|
|
10K Marketing NYSAR Monthly Statistics - August, 2014
Click here to review the August, 2014 10K Marketing Monthly Statistics for NYSAR.
|
|
"The Skinny", NYSAR's Monthly Housing Market Video
for August, 2014
Click here to view "The Skinny", NYSAR's Monthly Housing Market Video for August, 2014.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contact Us:
Greater Binghamton Association of REALTORS®
19 Jennison Avenue
Johnson City, NY 13790
607-729-6285
607-798-8246 (Fax)
executive@gbingar.com
|
|
|
