The GRAPEVINE 12.18.15

MLS Open Forum with Rapattoni

Tuesday, January 5 at the FAR Office. Two sessions available: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. or 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Deposit of $10 required.

Want to understand the in's and out's of the MLS? Have specific questions regarding the MLS? Get all your questions answered by Rapattoni and learn some helpful tips and tricks! Call FAR today! 559-490-6400.

Real Estate & Probate with Attorney Paul Franco

Thursday, January 21 at the FAR Office from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Deposit of $10. Call FAR today! 559-490-6400.

2016 REALTORŽ & Affiliate Dues Billing

REALTORŽ Dues in the amount of $449 have been mailed out. This fee is billed once a year. Due date is January 1, 2016, deadline is February 15, 2016. To remit payment, please contact FAR at 559-490-6400.

FAR REALTORŽ Makes C.A.R. Leadership Team!

Jared Martin

2016 C.A.R. Treasurer

Martin is a Central Valley real estate broker and one of the owners of a real estate franchise, Keller Williams Westland Realty in Fresno. As a third-generation REALTORŽ, he has worked with his family's business for the past 14 years.

In addition to serving his clients, Martin also is active with his local, state and national Associations of REALTORSŽ. He was President of the Fresno Association of REALTORSŽ in 2009, served on its Executive Committee in 2008-2009 and 2014-2015 and was its Treasurer in 2014 and 2015. At the state level, he has served on numerous committees, including Taxation and Government Finance, Distressed Property Task Force, Strategic Planning and Finance, and Federal committees. Also active with the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORSŽ (NAR), Martin served on NAR's Commercial Leadership Forum, Commercial, Research, and Commercial Economic Issues and Trends. Martin has been an NAR Golden "R" recipient since 2004.

Active in his local community, Martin is on the Board of Directors for Fresno First Bank and is a member of the Loan and Governance committees and chairs the Mergers & Acquisitions Committee. He also serves as a director for the Foundation for Clovis Schools. Martin is an Alumni of California State University Fresno's, Sid Craig School of Business.

Is your MLS Access Denied?

MLS Fees are past due. Fees in the amount of $210 were sent out November 1 and were due December 15. Any unpaid accounts have been suspended and a late fee has been attached. In addition, your key has been suspended.

Special note: Brokers with unpaid MLS fees will be suspended along with office suspension of the MLS.

Call FAR at 559-490-6400 to remit payment.

Alert: E-mail Scams Hitting Real Estate Transactions

by C.A.R.

It's a busy time for real estate professionals as they contend with high transaction volume during year-end closings. But hackers are busy, too, and the National Association of REALTORSŽ has received reports that sophisticated e-mail scams are targeting the real estate industry.

In the typical scam, the criminal hacks into the e-mail account of a real estate agent or other person involved in the transaction and uses information that's been acquired to dupe a party to the transaction, usually the buyer, into a fraudulent wire transfer. The hacker will send a legitimate-looking e-mail informing the buyer of a last-minute change to the wiring instructions, and that's the last that's seen of the money. It's not a distant treat.

NAR Legal Affairs has developed a checklist to help you recognize and avoid this kind of fraud. Among the tips:

Do not send sensitive information via e-mail. If you must, use encrypted e-mail.
Do not click on unverified e-mail.
Do not conduct business over unsecured Wi-Fi.
The party wiring money should never send money without first verifying the recipient by phone (calling only a verified phone number).
If fraud is suspected, contact all parties to the transaction without delay.

Nominate 2015 REALTORŽ & Affiliate of the Year!

It is time to nominate one of your colleagues for REALTORŽ of the Year

or Affiliate of the Year. Please send in your nominations! Deadline

is January 5, 2016. Presentation to be made at the Installation dinner on January 15, 2016.

Nomination Forms

Broker Compliance: Attention REALTORŽ Brokers

REALTORŽ Dues Billing is approaching and now is the time to check your office roster and be sure all licensees have completed the membership process. REALTORŽ Brokers with Non-member licensees will be billed non-member fees of $414. These are NOT dues and the licensee is NOT a member. This only meets the minimum membership requirements for C.A.R. & NAR. Non-member fees are to be paid annually just like REALTORŽ dues. When a licensee or agent leaves your firm be sure to make the necessary changes with the BRE and show these agents NBA. Failure to complete this could result in Broker Compliance/C.A.R. issue for your firm. Furthermore, REALTORŽ Brokers who are billed for nonmember licensees will be unable to pay their dues unless all non-members fees are paid. Options are available! Contact Kathy today, 559-490-6400.

Fresno MLS Market Dynamics

Market Dynamics provides a year-to-date report of the Fresno/Clovis real estate market trends. Click here to view our most recent report.

To Dorothy Sagaser, Sagaser Realty,

whose husband passed away.

To friends and family of Andrea Rios, Montecillo Properties,

who recently passed away.

This Week at FAR	FREE Classes & Training
Monday 12/21/15 Tuesday 12/22/15 NO MLS Meeting Wednesday 12/23/15 FAR Opens 9:00 a.m. Thursday 12/24/15 FAR Closed Noon Friday 12/25/15 FAR Closed Merry Christmas!	Realist Thursday, January 7 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. RPR Tuesday, January 12 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Websites Thursday, January 14 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. zipForm Plus & Digital Ink Tuesday, January 26 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Clerical User Training Wednesday, January 27 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Clerical User Renewal Wednesday, January 27 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.