www.BergenBoard.com                                                                                          January 22, 2015 eBulletin
HELP VICTIMS OF EDGEWATER FIRE

Donations Needed for Victims of Fire at Avalon Complex in Edgewater

 

More than 1,000 residents were displaced after last night's fire in Edgewater at The Avalon. 

 

The Red Cross is accepting donations for displaced families today at the Edgewater Community Center at 1167 River Road.Most desired donations are Target gift cards, not cash. The families also need school supplies, toiletries, diapers, deodorant, toothpaste and new clothes.  Bergen County Humane Society has also opened a pet shelter at the neighboring American Legion and needs pet food.  Read More

 

Residents affected by the fire were given shelter at the Comfort Inn. 

To donate clothing, food or funds to their relief, call the hotel at 201-943-3131

LOCAL, STATE & NATIONAL NEWS
  • Bergen County luxury-home market picks up
    • Bergen County currently has 38 homes offered for more than $5 million on the New Jersey Multiple Listing Service, including two at $25 million. Of those 38 offerings, 14 are in Alpine, which consistently ranks in the top 10 of Forbes' annual list of the country's most expensive ZIP codes. Bergen County is seeing not only sales of existing homes, but a number of new homes that are under construction

  • Improving Economy Helps Buoy Housing 
    • Recent drops in oil prices and mortgage rates, along with positive tailwinds in the economy, are helping to jump-start the housing market in the new year, according to Freddie Mac's newly released 2015 U.S. Economic and Housing Market Outlook for January. Consumers are gaining confidence, which is expected to translate to higher home sales in the coming months.Freddie Mac economists note that mortgage rates continue to remain well below expectations, and they predict that mortgage rates will remain low at the beginning of 2015, staying around 4 percent for the first two quarters of the year at least

  • Monthly  NJ State Housing Indicator Report
    • It was another recovery year in 2014, although not quite to the level of 2013. With a broad pattern of rising prices and stable to improving inventory, the market shifted from being drastically under supplied to approaching equilibrium. Price gains in 2014 were still positive but less robust than last year. More homes for sales and increased sales are anticipated in 2015, with a continued drop in months supply unless the market becomes glutted.
              *  Single Family Closed Sales increased 8.2 percent to 5,770.
              * Townhouse-Condo Closed Sales increased 11.8 percent to 1,892.
              * Adult Communities Closed Sales increased 7.6 percent to 611.
AWARDS
2014 Rookie Salesperson of the Year Nominations
  • Brokers nominate a rising star in your office for the award
  • The award recognizes current and potential professional achievement as well as "high moral character and ethical behavior"
  • Nominations are due to EBCBOR by January 31, 2015
  • Download Criteria and Nomination Form
TECH TIPS

Social Media Trends for Real Estate in 2015

 

Using visual content to tell stories will be imperative to connecting with your audience, as it helps them identify with your brand. In fact, the brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than text (Zabisco). 
Focus on visual-based social platforms like Instagram, Pinterest and Google+. Share not only photos, but videos, including micro and time-lapse videos, like the Hyperlapse app from Instagram, that can truly showcase your brand and properties in an innovative, visually pleasing format.  Think like a journalist and dedicate resources to develop these assets and collect stories. There are dozens of free and low-cost editing tools like PicMonkey.com, Piktochart.com and Rhonna Designs to help you create your own graphic masterpiece.READ MORE
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

Strong Dollar and Foreign Home Sales

The U.S. dollar has become mighty once again.  It has strengthened against most foreign currencies.  That permits Americans to buy foreign products at cheaper prices and to travel abroad with fewer dollars.  However in the opposite direction, the strong dollar means foreigners will face higher prices on American-made goods and will buy less of them, including real estate.  There will be fewer foreign tourists in the U.S. as well in 2015. 

READ MORE

 

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SAVE THE DATE: LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
Join the EBCBOR Global Business Council for a Lunar New Year Celebration at 
GRAND in Palisades Park, Bergen County's newest karaoke restaurant and lounge.  
Enjoy complimentary traditional Korean appetizers and 8 Beer & Spirit Towers.     

Date: Wednesday, February 25th
Time: 6:00 - 8:00pm
Admission: $10 EBCBOR Members

LEGISLATIVE & POLITICAL AFFAIRS

RECENT NEWS

  • NAR Comments on Federal Home Loan Bank Membership Rule Changes
    • NAR submitted comments to the Federal Housing Finance Agency on proposed membership rule changes to the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) system to make sure that members maintain an ongoing commitment to homeownership. NAR policy supports the mission of the FHLBs and opposes changes that weaken the Banks as sources of mortgage liquidity.

      The Proposal made several changes to the requirements for becoming and remaining a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, which would impact the potential eligibility of some current and future members. Generally, NAR supports provisions that demonstrate a commitment to real estate finance and homeownership as a requirement for FHLB membership

CANDIDATE TRAINING ON FEBRUARY 18th
  • Are you a REALTOR� interested in running for public office? Join NJ REALTORS� and campaign consultants from Cornerstone Solutions to get an introduction of what it takes to run for political office. The all-day training will provide candidates with a valuable head start in their political journeys, as well as information on how to run a successful campaign.

    The Candidate Training Academy is one day only and complimentary to members.

  • February 18, 2015 | 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Lunch Provided
  • NJ REALTORS� Office: 295 Pierson Avenue | Edison, NJ 08837
  • To reserve your placement, e-mail Catherine Best
CONTINUING EDUCATION JANUARY SCHEDULE

Location: EBCBOR office 

Pre-Registration Fee: 
$20 EBCBOR Members 
$30 Non Members 

Walkin Fee: 
$30 EBCBOR Members 
$40 Non Members
Saturday, January 24th
CE: Commercial Leases and Personal Guarantees
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm 
Instructor: Phillip L. Chapman, Esq 
3Hr NJ CE Core Approved Course

Monday, January 26th

CE: How to Minimize Your Liability (An Analysis of Settled Lawsuits Involving NJ Brokers)

Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm 
Instructor: Robert Jaekel 
3Hr NJ CE Core Approved Course

CE: Ethics- How to Minimize Your Liability
Time: 5:00pm-8:00pm 
Instructor: Robert Jaekel 
3Hr NJ CE ETHICS Approved Course
 
Tuesday, January 30th
CE: Radon Testing & Mitigation for REALTORS
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm 
Instructor: Keith Baicker 
3Hr NJ CE Elective Approved Course

CE: Commercial Real Estate Law
1:00pm-4:00pm 
Instructor: Neil Kilstein, Esq 
3Hr NJ CE Elective Approved Course
WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS

"OUR CONNECTION TO THE PAST"- Seminar with Bergen County Historical Society  

 

Kevin Wright will discuss the evolution  of architecture and history's impact on Bergen County's homes.

Even if a house is brand new, its architecture draws inspiration from the past.

This seminar traces important housing styles from Colonial to modern times.

 

Seminar Information

  • Date: Thursday, January 29th, 2015      
  • Time: 1:00 - 3:00pm   
  • Location: EBCBOR Office     
  • Hosted By:  The Professional Development Committee
  • Free to all EBCBOR Members
  • Register Now
MEMBERSHIP

10 Days to Pay Member Dues Without Late Fee! 

Follow these simple steps to pay your 2015 REALTOR dues online.

  1. Go to www.bergenboard.com and click "My Account" in the Upper Right Hand side 
  2. Enter your User Name and Password to sign in.  User Name is your NRDS # and the Default Password is ebcbor. 
    *If your NRDS # begins with a '0' (ex. - 085555555), do not enter the '0' (ex. - 55555555)
  3. Select "Pay Your 2015 Dues Invoice".
  4. At the bottom of the Invoice Page, click "Pay Selected Invoices."
  5. At the next page, verify your email address (this is where your payment confirmation will be sent).                                        If it is incorrect, click "Edit Email" and enter your correct address.
  6. Enter your payment information. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Discover.
  7. Once your payment information has been entered, click "Review Payment".
  8. Review your payment information and click,  "Pay Now"

Membership dues payments received after January 31st are subject to a $50 late fee

In This Issue

Membership Fees Were Due  December 31st

 

Need Assistance with 

Your Membership Dues? 

 

Contact Zelina Peterkin [email protected] 

or 201-288-5000 ext. 103

Membership Dues not received by January 31, 2014 will be subject to a $50.00 late fee

 
  1. Follow the "Golden Rule": Do unto other as you would have them do unto you.
  2. Respond promptly to inquiries and requests for information.
  3. Schedule appointments and showings as far in advance as possible.


SATURDAY CE CLASSES

  • EBCBOR will offer CE classes once a month on Saturdays from 9:00am - 12:00pm
    • January 24th- "Commercial Leases & Personal Guarantees" 3 Core CE Credits
    • February 28th- "The Art of the Short Sale" 3 Elective CE Credits
    • March 14th- "Lien, Taxes & Foreclosures" 3 Elective CE Credits
    • April 25th- "How to Minimize Your Liability" 3 Ethics CE Credits
       

EARN CE CREDITS ONLINE 

 
EBCBOR Promo code: JAN25 

 
Take Live CE Class at EBCBOR 

Open Enrollment for major medical qualified health insurance plans runs from Nov. 15, 2014 through Feb. 15, 2015 for coverage beginning as early as January 2015.

Through the Marketplace, NAR members can shop for qualified health plans from top-rated carriers on both NAR's private health insurance exchange and through the public/government health insurance exchange. 

 

Visit the Open Enrollment Education Center on the Marketplace site to view and download the following handy guides, to help you navigate the open enrollment period, both now and in the future. READ MORE

 

 


All NJ REALTORS members have the opportunity to enroll for the Brooks Brothers Corporate Membership. This benefit provides members with enjoyable incentives and an everyday 15% savings on regularly priced merchandise at all Brooks Brothers U.S. and Canadian stores, by phone and online.

There are two ways to enroll:

  • Visit Membership.BrooksBrothers.com . You will be prompted to enter the following information to validate your membership with NJAR�: Organization ID #11709, Pin Code #49394. 
  • Call the Brooks Brothers Corporate Incentives line at 866-515-4747, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. You will be asked to provide the information to validate your membership with NJ REALTORS: Organization ID #11709, Pin Code #49394. 
 
Office Hours: Monday- Friday
8:00am - 5:00pm

Phone: 201-288-5000
Fax: 201-288- 0511

Staff Contact Info:
 

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