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REALTOR® Hotsheet
Volume 14, Number 7
◊ April 3, 2009 |
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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. |
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| Smart Move!
$8,000 Tax Credit for First-Time
Homebuyers! |
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In This
Issue: |
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Hotsheet Legal
Tip |
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Electronic
Lockboxes |
Members should
strongly consider using electronic lockboxes where
available. The ability to readily change combinations
and track what members have accessed the lockbox is a
useful tool in reducing a member’s risk of being blamed
for unauthorized access to a
property.
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Gates Scholarship
Program |
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Do you have
a child in college or getting ready to start? CAR is
proud to provide a program of scholarships for children
and stepchildren of Connecticut REALTORS®,
REALTOR-ASSOCIATES®, local Board/Association staff and
CAR staff members. This scholarship program is made
available through the generous, on-going contributions
that CAR receives in memory of former CAR Executive Vice
President Raymond F. Gates, Jr. Click
here for more information or
go to the website under "Special Programs" (Members Only
section). Applications not complete or received by
Friday, May
15 deadline will not be
considered.
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Welcome to
CAR-
Alison
McGuigan! |
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CAR
welcomes Alison Hudak to our staff! Alison will
serve as CAR’s Executive Programs Coordinator.
Alison works with the Director of Executive and Member
Programs to coordinate CAR programs such as Board of
Directors, Executive Committee and Association Executive
meetings/events. She will assist with NAR and New
England REALTORS® Committee related projects/programs as
well as the annual CAR Leadership Conference. She
also provides support to CAR’s Executive Vice President
and elected leadership team. Alison brings with
her a wealth of meeting/event planning experience and is
a valuable addition to our team! You can reach
Alison at ext. 318 or at hudaka@ctrealtor.com.
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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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CAR is running television,
radio, print and bus ads in an effort to stimulate
the real estate market. The ads point out that
it is a "smart move" to buy now while interest rates are low,
prices have reduced and there is the availability of a tax
credit for first time buyers. All ads began running this
week except the television ads which begin airing on Monday,
April 6. Click here to go to our Smart Move website where
you can download, listen to and view all of the ads and an
analysis of the first time home buyer tax credit drafted by
Blum Shapiro. |
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Connecticut Multiple Listing Service,
Inc.
Annual Report |
| The 2008 Annual Report for the Connecticut
Multiple Listing Service, Inc. is available online now. Click
here to access
it. |
| REALTORS® at the Capitol Draws
700 |
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On April 1st, 700
REALTORS® traveled to Hartford to participate in
REALTORS® at the Capitol. The attendees took part in an
information session at the Bushnell and then headed to the
Capitol to meet with State Legislators and discuss issues
important to the State and the profession. 2009 President Linda
St. Peter, and 2008 President Ken
DelVecchio were among those interviewed by press outlets
including the Hartford Courant, NBC30, and the Connecticut
Radio Network. |
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| Right Tools, Right
Now |
| Right
Tools, Right Now is a new National Association of
REALTORS®
program that
offers members over 300 products, publications and services
for free or at cost so you can easily take advantage of the
timely tools, tips and strategies you and your business need.
Get these valuable products and resources right now at
http://www.realtor.org/RightTools. |
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| TLC's Moving Up
Show |
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TLC is casting families with
outgoing personalities and unique taste in
design! This year, REALTORS® who help the TLC find
people who are cast in the show receive a $1,000 finder’s fee,
an on screen credit with their name and company, and their
link on the TLC website. Right now they’re looking for buyers and sellers
who are under contract and planning to close and move between
March and July. "Moving Up", a series hosted by Doug Wilson, returns for a
fourth season to follow a chain of homeowners as they go
through the process of putting their personal stamp on their
new home, through renovations or redesign. After the
renovations and redecorating are complete, the old homeowners
will get the rare chance to visit their once beloved homes and
see all of the new changes. Any clients chosen receive payment for their
participation as well as services that will assist them in
moving and the renovation of their new home. They’ll also
receive advice from Doug Wilson, who will offer them the
design expertise he shares with celebrity clients. More info
on the show can be found here. If you or someone you
know would be perfect for the show, contact casting producer
Jodi
Friedman.
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| ECAR Mortgage Fair April 3 &
4 |
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The Eastern Connecticut Association of
REALTORS® will be holding a Mortgage Fair at
the Holiday Inn in Norwich April 3rd
and 4th.
Click here for a schedule of events and more
information. |
| CAR Legislative Testimony
Available |
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CAR’s positions on various proposed bills can be
found under “Testimony” on the Legislative & Regulatory
page of the CAR website, or click here.
For more information, please contact Tim
Calnen. |
| April 23 - the 30th Annual Fair
Housing Conference |
| The Fair
Housing Association of CT’s 30th Annual Fair
Housing Conference-Thursday, April 23, 2009, 8:30 a.m. to 3:15
p.m. at The Courtyard by Marriott in Cromwell. Come hear about
the future of fair housing in Connecticut, fair housing
for persons with disabilities, fair housing and the Spanish
community, fair housing and the REALTOR®, and affirmatively
furthering fair housing. Don’t miss out and signup today! The signup deadline is
April 20, 2009. The cost is $60. For the registration form,
click here. |
| Fannie Mae Issues New Guidance to Its Loan
Services |
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Fannie Mae has issued instructions to its loan
servicers concerning real estate commissions on preforeclosure
sales also known as short sales.
In the new guidance, Fannie Mae has instructed
its loan servicers that unless the total commission exceeds 6%
of the sale price of the property, approval of the sale may
not be conditioned upon a reduction of the commission paid to
the real estate agent below what was negotiated by the listing
agent and the seller. Fannie Mae issued this guidance to its
loan servicers in Servicing Guide, Part VII, Section
504.02.
This is good news to members who typically face
demands from lenders and loan servicers for a commission
reduction as a condition to approving the sale while listing
agents were never required to reduce their commission; many
feel pressure to do so both to insure approval of the deal and
as an accommodation to their desperate sellers. Keep in mind
that this latest guidance applies to those loans that are
owned by Fannie Mae and those lenders and loan servicers not
owned by Fannie Mae or owned by investors may continue to
demand a commission reduction at closing. Once again, listing
agents are not obliged to agree to demands for commission
reductions. For further information contact, Attorney Eugene
A. Marconi, marconie@ctrealtor.com
or 800-335-4862. |
| GRI-3 Norwich - Early Bird Pricing Extended Until
Monday, April 6th! |
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The Eastern Association will be holding the GRI-3
series on April 13, 15, 20 & 22 in Norwich.
Topics covered in this series include: Get Your Technology in
Sync and Boost Customer Service, All Real Estate Web Sites are
not Created Equal, Dispute Resolution, NAR Mandatory Ethics
Training Environmental & Health Issues and the At home
with Diversity: One America Certification. For more
information and to register click here
or contact Brett
Moody with any questions.
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| Gates Scholarship
Auction |
| The Ninth Annual Gates Scholarship
Auction/Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, April 21st at the
Crowne Plaza, Cromwell
(immediately following the CAR Board of Directors Meeting –
approximately 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.). All proceeds benefit
the Raymond F. Gates, Jr. Memorial Scholarship fund which has
been awarding scholarships to children of REALTORS® over the
past 32 years. Some of the items up for auction include: NY
Yankees tickets, theater tickets, fishing trips, Six Flags
passes, gift certificates, theme gift baskets, and much more!
The cost is $30. Space is limited - the deadline to register
is April 8th. Click here for more information and to register securely
online today. |
| Instructor Training Seminar to be held
April 28th |
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CAR will host a one-day
Instructor Training Workshop with National
Speaker/Trainer/Instructor Rhonda Hamilton on Tuesday, April
28th in the CAR Office, 6th Floor Conference
Room. The
program is open to all instructors and to those wishing to
enhance their ability to prepare and deliver high-impact
presentations. Join your peers at a dynamic one-day Instructor
Training Workshop designed for both new and experienced real
estate Instructors. You will discover ways to have a tangible
impact on other real estate professionals who are committed to
advancing their careers and assisting their clients. Click
here for more information or to register through our
secure online site. Register by April 10th
and take advantage of the savings! |
| Register Now to Get Your Green
Designation |
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CAR
will be offering the Green Designation Core course at the
Mid-Fairfield Board office in Westport on April
6th and 7th. NAR's Green Designation
Core course provides real estate professionals with knowledge
and awareness of green building principles applied in
residences, commercial properties, developments, and
communities so that they can help consumers in purchasing,
retrofitting, and operating green properties. The
early-bird price has been extended so register by March
27th and save $25. The designation core course
also fulfills the ABR® Designation elective
requirement. The Mid-Fairfield Board will also be holding
NAR’s Green Designation Residential Elective course on April
23rd. NAR's Green Designation Residential Elective
Course provides real estate professionals with knowledge and
awareness of green building principles applied in residences
so that they can guide buyer-clients in purchasing and
retrofitting green homes as well as help sellers by listing
and marketing green properties. Register by April
9th and save $25. For more information and to
register click here. |
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| Speakers Available for April RPAC Contest
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April is RPAC Participation month, with local
RPAC Committees all over the state looking to spark 25% of
their membership to contribute to RPAC and make an investment
in their industry.
This April contest is judged on the percent of
participation in RPAC through April 30, in the small, medium
and large Board category, with winners to be recognized during
the July Board of Directors meeting. You may call on State Political Fundraising Chair
Mike Feldman and Vice Chair Paul Gradwell, along with other
CAR Leadership, to attend your General Membership Meeting and
boost your RPAC fundraising efforts. To ask for assistance
please click here.
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