Feb. 24, 2014

KCRAR Commercial Reception Honors "Of the Year" Award Winners

From left to right: Second Highest Volume Office winner Bob Fagan with Highest Volume Investment winner Jeff Stingley and "Allen J. Block Broker of the Year," Michael Foster, CCIM, CIPS, CRB, CRS

The Plaza III Steakhouse in Kansas City, Mo. packed an enthusiastic crowd on Feb. 20, 2014 for the KCRAR Commercial Annual Awards Reception. The Kansas City Star's Development Reporter Kevin Collison was on hand as guest speaker of the event, which celebrated the best in Commercial Real Estate in 2013.

The evening highlighted KCRAR's 2013 Commercial award winners.

See a list of the winners and more here.

Find photos from the event here.

Read the the MetroWire Media article covering the event here.

Mortgage Cancellation Debt Relief Update

The restoration of the Mortgage Cancellation Debt Relief has been a topic of much discussion among REALTORSŽ who join the National Association of REALTORSŽ in support of an exclusion from taxation of the phantom income generated when all or a portion of a mortgage is forgiven.

NAR recently submitted a letter to all Members of the House reminding them of the importance of an exclusion for mortgage debt cancellation, among other priorities in tax reform.

Today, the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Dave Camp (R-MI) is expected to release his discussion draft for comprehensive reform of the tax code.

NAR reports that it plans to review this bill and respond with consideration to how it will affect residential and commercial real estate.

From Inman News ...
Self-Employed Spouses Still owe Taxes Even if one Loses More Than the Other Makes

"The vast majority of real estate brokers and agents are self-employed sole proprietors. They are often married to spouses who are self-employed as well.

Marital togetherness is great, but when spouses each have their own separately run business, they need to keep their business income (or losses) separate for self-employment tax purposes."

Free Paint Available for Eligible City Homeowners

The City of Kansas City, Mo. has announced that it is now accepting applications for its Paint Program, which provides free high-quality exterior paint to eligible Kansas City, Mo., homeowners.

To see eligibility requirements and more, click here.

Free Consumer Content: Homeowner's Tax Guide

HouseLogic is a free source of information and tools from the National Association of REALTORSŽ that you can use to assist your clients in making informed and timely decisions about their homes.

The latest free content for your websites, blogs, social media pages and print resources from HouseLogic's REALTORŽ Content Resource looks at homeowner tax issues.

Latest Free Inman News Webinar Offers Hints on Finding Sellers in 2014

Watch and listen to a replay of this Feb. 11, 2014 webinar that discusses strategies for finding more sellers and listings for your real estate business here.

Code of Ethics Class is NOT a License Requirement.

Don't be confused! The Code of Ethics (COE) class is required by the National Association of REALTORSŽ so you can remain a member of the association. But this has nothing to do with your license renewal.

License renewal and CE classes are controlled by the state real estate commissions. This is not the case for your Code of Ethics requirement. You have until the end of 2016 to complete the COE for this current 4-year COE cycle.

As for your license renewals, in Missouri, brokers need to renew their license in June 2014 and salespeople need to renew in September 2014. In Kansas, everyone renews at a different time in a two-year period depending on your last initial.

If you can't get into our elective CE class about Ethics, you can take it online at Realtor.org, or as an online CE class. Remember, we're offering FREE online CE classes, for a limited time. Log in at KCRAR.com and go to "Online CE classes" (These classes are available at no cost for a limited time).

YPN/KC Invites You to Hamburger Mary's for a Memorable Game of Bingo

Join YPN/KC for a fun and flamboyant charity bingo at Hamburger Mary's on Thursday, March 13 from 4-6 p.m.

The event, which will be held at this burger franchise that has been branded as a bawdy establishment with a "rotating cast of drag queen hostesses," will feature a drag queen who will call numbers and perform a few songs.

Ticket prices will benefit the Wounded Warriors Project.

Besides 2 drink tickets, and light appetizers, guests will enjoy 10 rounds of bingo, with prizes for each round.

People can donate more money for extra cards per round. We will also have a 50/50 raffle with money going to the charity.

(Please note: jokes and show content will suitable for adult audiences only).

Location: Hamburger Mary's is located at 101 Southwest Blvd., KCMO 64108; join us in the Glam Bar.

To register, click here to login. Visit "Event and non-CE Class Registration."

KCRAR Crowd Celebrates the Sweet Life

Flowing chocolate and an abundance of all that is sweet greeted the many guests who ventured out to KCRAR's Sweet Life Networking event at Infiniti of Kansas City on Feb. 20.

Six guests walked away with $50 gift certificates to various restaurants and two lucky winners received free car detailing from Infinity of Kansas City.

Thanks to our premium partners for making events like this possible: Arvest Bank, Continental Title Company, First Federal Bank and Nations Title Agency.

Photos from the evening can be found here.

In Memoriam

Elsa Ambrose, former member and long-time and well- known REALTORŽ in the area, passed away Jan. 18, 2014. Read more.

Norma Ann Noah, longtime KCRAR Affiliate and the owner and operator of the Kansas Title Insurance Corporation in Olathe, Kan., passed away on February 14, 2014. Read more.

Upcoming KCRAR and Other REALTORŽ-Related Events & Education

- March 5 - Core Class

- March 5 - Mastering REO Transactions



- March 6 - Women's Council of REALTORSŽ, K.C. Northland Chapter: U.S. Economic Updates with Chris Kuehl

- March 12 - Core Class

- March 12 - KCRAR Forms

- March 12 - Commercial Breakfast

- March 12 - Women's Council of REALTORSŽ, K.C. Northland Chapter: 4th Annual Man Auction

- March 12 - Basic RPR

- March 13 - Understanding Appraisers



- March 13 - Selling HUD Foreclosures

- March 13- Charity Bingo at Hamburger Mary's Benefitting the Wounded Warrior Project

- March 18 - Stellar Seller Services

- March 18 - That Doggone Mold

- March 19 - Kansas Broker Required

- March 19 - This New House

- March 21 - Tax Strategies to Use Right Now (KCRAR Road Show)

- March 26 - KCRAR New Member Orientation

- March 27 - Renovation Lending

- March 27 - Real Estate Auctions

- March 27 - Basic RPR



- March 28 - Are We There Yet? Contract to Closing Day (KCRAR Road Show)



- April 3 - KCRAR's RECHARGE Technology and Real Estate Conference



- April 23-25 Missouri REALTORSŽ April Business Conference



- May 7 - KCRAR Time to Talk Derby - RPAC Party & Auction

For KCRAR classes and events that require registration, log in as a member at www.kcrar.com and visit the "Education & Event Registration" section.

New CE Classes at KCRAR!

Every year we add some new CE classes, and chances are good that we already have plenty on the schedule that you never attended!

A new one is "Renovation Financing" to help your buyers obtain funds for fixer uppers. Another new one is "New Home Construction" and it provides many insights about the building process.

Check KCRAR.com for scheduling on a regular basis to see what's being offered. The schedule varies month-to-month based on demand and instructor availability. And even if you don't need CE credit, you always need "Get Smart" credit!