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Volume 15, Number 19 ◊ September 24,
2010 |
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Please
note: Many links in this newsletter are accessible to
registered users of http://www.ctrealtor.com/
only.
Click here to register or obtain your
username and
password. |
| September is REALTOR® Safety
Month |
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It’s important to remind yourself of
simple steps you can take to keep yourself safe. Please take the time to refresh your
defenses and view this short video clip. A host of
resources on personal safety are available on the CAR website and on NAR’s website.
It is with deep sadness
that we report on the
murders of two prominent Northeast Ohio REALTORS®.
Andrew J. VonStein, with Cutler Real
Estate Ravenna Office, was found dead inside a vacant
property listed for sale in Portage County. The
Portage County Sherriff’s Office has ruled the death a
homicide and is undergoing an
extensive investigation.
Vivian Martin,
broker-owner of Essence Realty from Youngstown and a member
of the Youngstown Columbiana Association of REALTORS®
was also the victim of a violent homicide. This case is
also under investigation.
In addition to these situations, we have been informed that there
was an additional incident this
week involving another
Youngstown REALTOR® being held
at gunpoint for over an hour by three males.
At
this time, it is unknown if any of these three incidents
are related and though this didn’t occur in Connecticut it’s a sad
reminder to be careful.
We urge all members to
exercise great caution and awareness in everything you
do.
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| NAR Value of Homeownership
Campaign |
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NAR has been engaged in a comprehensive
Value of Homeownership campaign to reinforce the
benefits of homeownership to individuals, communities,
and the nation's economy, and to combat the critics who
are trying to call these values into question. We have
integrated efforts across earned media outreach, paid
advertising, direct-to-consumer communications,
legislative and regulatory initiatives, grassroots
organizing, and member resources, bringing all of the
association's resources to bear against this challenge
to ensure that we succeed. You can access a list of
activities and results from last week's campaign efforts
here. Click here for up-to-date information and
resources related to the Value of Homeownership
campaign. |
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| Conveyance Tax Relief and Assistance
to Real Estate Appraisals Go into Effect October
1st |
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Major exemptions from state and
municipal conveyance taxes kick-in for transfers
occurring on and after October 1. Relief is targeted to
most short sales as well as deeds in lieu of foreclosure
and foreclosure-by-sale conducted by a court
committee. Also on October 1, third party appraisal
management companies are prohibited from doing business
in
Connecticut unless they’re
registered with the Department of Consumer Protection
and follow standards for assigning and completing valuation
reports. Connecticut consumers
now have new recourse for resolving complaints over
faulty or
delayed
appraisals. CAR lobbied in favor of both pieces of
legislation. (REALTORS® should advise sellers to
speak to their closing attorney about the application of
the new conveyance tax exemptions. See CAR REALTOR® Hotsheet vol 15, no 13,
dated July 2,
2010. |
REALTOR® Networking Receptions:
Region
4 |
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CAR will be hosting a series of free
networking events across the State. The second one
will be held on Thursday, September 30 in Haddam from
3:30-5:30 pm. exclusively for members from Region 4*.
For all other members, watch your email for your
invitation to a future event for the opportunity to
meet and greet your State Leadership and network with
other REALTORS® from your area!
*REALTORS® who belong to the Eastern Connecticut,
Middlesex-Shoreline and New Haven Associations of
REALTORS®. Click here to register for the Region 4
Networking Reception today! You must register to
attend.
Deadline to register is Tuesday, September
28. |
| How’s Your
Form? |
|
Is it fillable? If not, click here to check out
ours! You will need your http://www.ctrealtor.com/
username and password to access these online forms.
Click here to retrieve your username and
password or click here to register if you haven't done
so
already. |
|
Grist for the Mill: The REALTORS® Five
Budget
Principles |
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At “meet the candidate” forums
around the state, people seeking elective office have
cited the “Five Budget Principles for Eliminating Deficits”
espoused by CAR. If they don’t totally agree with
them, most candidates commend them as a starting point
for government to live within its means. The
Principles are essentially the same ones expressed at
REALTORS® at the Capitol. For a copy contact
Mary-Ann. |
| Sponsor Spotlight: Savings Institute Bank
&
Trust |
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Many CAR programs/events would not be
possible without the support of our generous
sponsors.
We hope that you will help us thank them for
their support by taking a minute to check out the
various products and services they have to
offer.
This year we welcome first time sponsors,
Savings Institute Bank & Trust, who will be
sponsoring our Conference Break during the 9th Annual CT REALTORS® Leadership
Conference. Established in 1842, the SIBT Company
offers a full range of financial services to
individuals, businesses and municipalities through its
21 locations in 20 eastern CT towns.
Last year their residential mortgage team
responded to the rise in customer demand resulting from
lower market interest rates with an increase in
residential mortgage originations by a record $55.7
million over the prior year. The net result
was an overall increase of 3.3% in new loan originations
during a year when many banks experienced declines. Their ability to
respond quickly and demonstrate flexibility is afforded
not only by the size of the Bank, but also by the Bank’s
culture of open, direct and clear communication. Click here to Learn more about
Savings Institute Bank & Trust.
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| RPAC Nod Given to These Political
Hopefuls |
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Please click here for the final list of 2010 RPAC
Endorsed Candidates and to see who RPAC is backing in
State and Federal races! If a district is
not listed, it means the RPAC Trustees decided to stay
out of that particular district. The
“Endorsement” from RPAC, the REALTORS® Political Action
Committee, means that the candidate possesses those
attributes favorable to free enterprise, private
property rights, housing opportunity and choice. It
means that the Connecticut RPAC Trustees encourage our
members and families to support these Candidates with
their votes, volunteer talent and financial
assistance.
If you would like to get involved with a
particular candidate’s campaign, now is the time to
contact them, as the 2010 elections are heating
up!
For questions or concerns, please contact Holly
Reed. |
| Water Customers in the Lurch under DEP
Rules |
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Despite objections of small
businesses, home builders, REALTORS®, and others, the
Department of Environmental Protection is pushing ahead with expanded
stream flow regulations. The intent of the rules
is to balance fish and wildlife needs in low-flowing streams with
human needs for potable drinking water, fire safety,
agriculture, industry,
and recreation. Unfortunately,
they are so broadly written that a huge burden will be
placed on all water suppliers, even where there’s no indication of
impaired flow or dried-out riverbeds. Groundwater
withdrawals also come under new restrictions, and dam
owners and water companies will be forced to invest in
new equipment, structural modifications, and staff to comply with
mandatory “releases” of water to address new flow
standards. Most opponents of the DEP regulations, including
CAR, don’t mind reasonable flow rules but question the
lack of a meaningful cost-benefit
analysis.
Great uncertainty confronts
ratepayers as to water rate hikes, and some see the
rules as one more unfunded mandate for municipal
governments. Having already been approved by the
Attorney General, only one recourse remains to alter the
rules - action by a special, bipartisan panel of the
Legislature known as the Regulations Review Committee. Stay
tuned!
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| NARdiGras! REALTORS® Conference &
Expo 2010. New Orleans, November 5-8,
2010 |
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Join REALTORS® from across the
nation and the world in New Orleans this November, and
learn about changing issues affecting the industry,
share ideas with colleagues outside your local
marketplace, and see the incredible innovations that are
shaping the future of real estate.
Attending the
REALTORS® Conference & Expo is an important
investment in your career. The competitive advantage
you’ll gain from four days of intense education will
make a difference in your business’s bottom line for the
rest of the year. There’s only one place in the world
you can find nationally-recognized speakers, the
industry’s largest trade show, and lots of opportunities
to expand your network.
Click here for more info and to
register.
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| DCP Warning: Hang Up, Don’t Pay Up When
Dealing with Debt Scammers |
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Putting a new twist on an old trick,
telephone scammers here and in other states are falsely
threatening unsuspecting victims with job loss,
prosecution and even jail time if they don’t immediately
come up with cash to pay overdue loans. Read more on the DCP
website. |
| Get Active |
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CAR President Nicholle Dagata’s theme for
this year has been “You Make
the Difference”. In conjunction
with this, CAR introduced the “Get Active Member Rewards
Program” to make members aware of some of the numerous
programs, events and products/services the Association
has to offer.
Accumulate a total of just 10 Get Active Reward
points and you can submit an entry for prize drawings
ranging in value from $100 to
$500!!!
Did you take a course (online or classroom)
with CAR, are you a fan of CAR on Facebook, are you a
CTMLS subscriber/participant or have you used one of
CAR’s member benefit programs? If so, each of these
earned you 1 Get Active Reward point! Go to http://www.ctrealtor.com/getactive
for more information on how you can “Get Active”, earn
the remaining points you may need and submit your entry
form. The
entry deadline is next Friday, October 1st -
don’t miss out on this opportunity to get rewarded!
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In This
Issue: |
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Hotsheet Legal Tip |
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Dual Agency
Dual agency exists only when a
real estate company represents both sides of a
transaction – it represents a seller through a listing
agreement and also represents a buyer through a buyer
representation agreement - and that buyer wants to make
an offer on that seller’s property. Working with a buyer
as a customer (no representation agreement) who wants to
make an offer on a seller’s property your company has
listed is not dual agency because your company
represents only one of the parties, the
seller. |
|
Real Estate
News |
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Fannie Mae:
Americans Cautiously Optimistic about
Housing
Fannie Mae's latest national
housing survey finds that most Americans believe the
housing market has reached bottom, but they are more
cautious about owning a home. Click here for the entire article.
Source: REAL Trends
For more interesting real estate news, please
visit here. |
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Member
Benefits |
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Featured
Benefits..
From You
Flowers
Shopping
for the perfect business/closing or personal gift? CAR
members can receive a 20% discount on floral
arrangements, fresh fruit baskets, gourmet baked goods,
or wine baskets. WOW your family, friends, and clients
while staying within your budget! Click here for more information on this
discount or to view a complete listing of CAR’s current
member benefits.
The
Bushnell
The Bushnell is offering a special Online
Ticket Ordering Program to CAR members. The program
provides the benefit of ordering individual tickets
online at a discounted price with reduced service
charges. Click here for more information on this
discount or to view a complete listing of CAR’s current
member benefits.
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111
Founders Plaza, Suite 1101
East Hartford, CT
06108
1-800-335-4862
Fax (860)
290-6615
www.ctrealtor.com
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