The following members were awarded the status of REALTOR® Emeritus from the National Association of REALTORS® at the 2011 NAR BOD meetings: 

• William Belcher, Middlesex Shoreline Association of REALTORS®
• Bruce Cagenello, Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS®
• Salvatore Conte, Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS®
• Sally Coratolo, Mid-Fairfield County Association Of REALTORS®
• Robert Durato, Greater Hartford Association Of REALTORS®
• Peter Graham, Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS®
• Nuala Griffin, Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS®
• Joseph H. Harrigan, Middlesex Shoreline Association of REALTORS®
• Richard Jowdy, Northern Fairfield County Association Of REALTORS®
• Theresa Kish, Mid-Fairfield County Association Of REALTORS®
• Julia Maher, Valley Association Of REALTORS®
• Angelo Moscato, Middlesex Shoreline Association of REALTORS®
• Diana Nytko, Greater New Haven Association Of REALTORS®
• Robert Siemiatkoski, Mid State Association Of REALTORS®
• Jay Solomon, Greater New Milford Board Of REALTORS®
• Paul Troy, Stamford Board Of REALTORS® 

In 9 of the 10 town government elections this past November in which RPAC participated, the REALTOR® backed candidate won!  Three were REALTORS®!

How much do you want to save? $10, $20, even $60? Check out the online CE Packages offered through the Association’s online education.  You can take the courses offered in your home, your office or while traveling, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with just a computer and an internet connection.  Check out the online CE packages today!

Go here to review State of CT CE Requirements for Salespeople and Brokers. 

Thanks to every REALTOR® who took time to register their opinions on the status of professional performance by Connecticut real estate practitioners.  CAR recieved a truly remarkable 1,113 responses. CAR’s Legislative subcommittee, headed by Michael Barbaro, which is investigating this subject, will carefully analyze the findings and give a report to the full Legislative Committee next month.

If advancing your career is on your list of “things to do” in 2012, then CAR has you covered!  We offer a wide variety of real estate education programs both in the classroom and online.  Complete your CE requirements and stand out by earning a designation or certification this year. Start your GRI Designation  complete the SRES Designation, become green savvy with NAR’s Green Designation or earn your SFR Certification. All of these are also ABR electives!  Continuing your education is an investment that not only ensures that you are up-to-date with all of your skills but is the best way to increase your earning potential.  To access our 2012 calendar and to register for courses click here. 

If you or a member of your office speaks a foreign language and would like to be included in the next Foreign Language Directory update, visit here and fill out the online form by Friday, January 13.

The Eli Whitney Museum has mounted a slide show chronicling the late Herb Pearce’s early career at the A.C. Gilbert Company, as part of the Museum’s permanent Gilbert exhibit. Pearce helped the Museum raise the funds for the exhibit, which provides an historical overview of the importance of the A.C. Gilbert toy company to our region. The company was best known for its popular Erector Sets and other toys, but was converted to a large defense plant during World War II.    

Bill Brown, Director of the Eli Whitney Museum, wanted to make the memorial show as a way to honor the many contributions of Herb Pearce during his lifetime, and to provide inspiration to others. Brown notes “Herb's story is important: A.C. Gilbert recognized Herb's gifts as a young man. He mentored Herb. He gave Herb a chance to apply his gifts. In turn, Herb was a generous mentor. I feel honored to have been one of the many that Herb inspired”. Barbara Pearce, Herb’s daughter, and President of Pearce Real Estate, called Bill’s work “a touching and fitting remembrance of someone who cut a wide swath in the century in which he lived and worked”. The Eli Whitney Museum is located at 915 Whitney Avenue in Hamden.

CAR’s long persevering effort to update the Connecticut Seller’s Disclosure Form may finally come to fruition December 20 when the Legislature’s Regulations Review Committee takes up the revised document. A CAR Legislative Subcommittee, headed by David D’Ausilio, submitted recommendations to the Department of Consumer Protection in 2010 after spending months examining other states’ disclosure forms. Among other things, the department’s proposal will cover leased items like propane tanks and provide more help to buyers regarding historic and village districts. CAR concurs with the department’s revisions.

Though not engaged in the US Presidential contest, the REALTORS® Political Action Committee does aim to have impact in a variety of other 2012 races.  In Connecticut, they include one US Senate seat, the five Congressional offices, and 187 State Legislative seats. On December 8, REALTORS® on CAR’s Political Fundraising Committee met with committee Chair Carl Thorsen and CAR President-Elect Bob Kimball to make plans for raising voluntary contributions.  They challenged each local association to submit a simple written plan to CAR by January 14 on how to achieve goal and at least 25% member participation.  A competition is underway with an award going for the best local association plan submitted.  Attendees were also told how to garner member input in the crucial candidate endorsement process.  Please welcome your local RPAC Political Fundraising chair when they contact you next year!

CAR Legal Department’s hottest fun feature, Quiz Question, continues. The prize is a $25 restaurant.com gift card! It’s easy to play! Just read the question, pick your answer, and submit it. Look for Q2 in the Hotsheet every two weeks and on at http://www2.realtoractioncenter.com/site/R?i=2kdlQrlbT_lbGKTaiqI8eg under “The Latest from CAR”. All correct answers go into a hat and the winner’s name is drawn. 

Robin Becker was the winner of last week’s quiz question.

Here is the link for this week’s quiz.

Own it, Keep it! is a fabulous resource for your buyer clients to learn about the home buying process and for seller clients who may be having difficulty keeping their homes. Tell your clients to check out Own it, Keep It today.  

• REALTORS® Awarded EMERITUS Status 
• Did You Know?
• Save Time and Money with Online CE
• Strong Response Given to Licensing Standards Survey by Members
• CAR’S 2012 Education Schedule is Now Available!
• CAR's Foreign Language Directory
• Eli Whitney Mounts Slide Show as Memorial Tribute to Herb Pearce
• New Property Condition Disclosure Form May Be OK’d Before Christmas 
• RPAC Team Leaders Prepare for Presidential Election Year with Bob Kimball
• Q²: Game On!
• Don’t Forget! Own it, Keep it!
• Hotsheet Legal Tip
• Real Estate News
• Member Benefits 

Buyer Agent Going Directly to Represented Seller

Follow CAR’s Legal Department on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CTRealtorsLegal!

  Mortgage Rates Dip Below 4% Again

Fixed-rate mortgages rates were largely unchanged and near record lows, according to Freddie Mac and Bankrate mortgage surveys. The 30-year fixed dipped to 3.99% for the week ending Dec. 8 with an average 0.7 point, and at 3.27%, the 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage with an average 0.8 point, was just slightly above its all-time low of 3.26%, which it hit on Oct. 6, according to Freddie Mac. The 30-year FRM dipped from last week when it averaged 4%. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.61%, the GSE said. For more click here.

Source: Real Trends

For more interesting real estate news, please visit here.

The Bushnell

T-Mobile

Cell phones are the ultimate stocking stuffer! T-mobile is offering CAR members a significant savings of $400 on the Samsung Galaxy S™ or NEW Samsung Galaxy S™ II. Read more here.

1-800flowers.com

No time left for holiday shopping? Forgot someone on your list? Send a floral arrangement or gift basket. CAR members receive a 15% discount. To place an order or for more information, click here.