At NAMAR, we feel that it is very important to support RPAC (REALTOR® Political Action Committee). RPAC is the muscle behind the National Association of REALTORS®, NAR and represents over 400,000 politically active REALTORS that members of Congress want as their friends. RPAC is neither a Republican nor a Democratic organization. Contributing to RPAC is a vote for a pro-REALTOR Congress, regardless of political party.
NAMAR will be hosting Trivia Night on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at NAMAR located at 2145 Duluth Highway, Duluth, GA 30097. Proceeds will benefit RPAC. We will have teams of 4-8 per team compete against each other and see who reigns as the Trivia Champions. Tickets are $20 per person and include pizza and drinks. The fun starts at 6:00 pm. Register your team TODAY with Janet at 770-670-6411.
So get your game on and get your team together. Come have fun and support RPAC.
Recent legislative and regulatory successes include:
- The extension of the First-Time Home Buyer Credit and expanding the credit to $6,500 credit to current homeowners.
- The Administration proposed limiting the value of the Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID) to help pay for health insurance reform. NAR has been aggressively fighting off these changes and to date no version of health reform has included any provision that would limit MID.
- After 8 years of continuous struggle to convince Congress that real estate is not financial in nature and banks should not be allowed in the real estate brokerage business, NAR achieved its objective. On March 11, 2009, the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, H.R. 1105, was signed into law, that going forward; neither real estate brokerage nor real estate management can be classified as financial activity.
The list goes on and on – visit www.realtor.org/government_affairs_secured/rpac for more information about RPAC.
NAMAR has some great CE Classes coming up next week. On Monday, February 15th, they are offering a FREE CE Class, Changes to the Regulatory Framework. Come and fine out how will it affect your business in 2010. The cost is FREE for NAMAR Members. Class begins at 9:30 am and is over at 12:45 pm. You must stay for the entire class in order to receive the 3 CE Credits. RSVP to 770-279-0222 or bob@southeastmortgage.us.
PEMCO will be sponsoring two classes. On Tuesday, February 16th you can earn 3 CE Credits by attending NOW and Into the Future: Successfully Selling HUD Homes in GA. Come learn about the NEW changes to the HUD sale process with the release of the upcoming M&M III. The Class, Utilizing FHA Financing on HUD REOs, will be offered on Thursday, February 18th. This class will give you an understanding of how FHA is key to increasing your pool of eligible buyers and learning about FHA financing for HUD-owned properties. Both classes cost $10 per class for NAMAR Members and $20 Non Members. Class begins at 10 am and will conclude at 1:15. You may register for either class at www.namar.org.
We want to thank Maria De Leon for sharing this information on another Contact Management System. This one looks interesting because it integrates with Microsoft Outlook and you can manage all your contacts from your email program.
As many of you know, I’ve been using Top Producer. However, I just downloaded the trial version of EurekaWare for Realtors. This Contact Management System integrates with Microsoft Outlook. It is very user friendly… and from what I can tell so far, it is absolutely awesome! It keeps dated notes, all the details of properties shown or of interest by adding the FMLS# and even shows the pictures, Seller and Buyer info, files emails and activities in each Contact in their contact folder. It has a To Do bar which allows you to view all your day’s activities on your calendar… everyone you have to call, email, meet, or other activity scheduled, etc… without ever leaving Outlook.
So far, I like it better than Top Producer. You can even create drip campaigns but I’m simply going to continue to use Lead Street since I like it so much. Best of all… it’s only $99! And no monthly fees! It’s tied to Realtor.com but if you want to tie into MLS / FMLS, you can upgrade for $49 onetime fee. You can sign up for 30 days for free. You don’t even have to give them a credit card for the trial membership. You can visit their website and View EurekaWare Features.
Here’s to a more organized and fruitful 2010! I know we’ll make it… together.
At the GAR Inaugural Meeting in Charleston, the Georgia CRS Chapter awarded the 2009 CRS of the Year to Shirley R. Smith and the Association Executive of the Year to Tom O’Rourke. These two awards are presented to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the Georgia CRS Chapter.
Shirley R. Smith, of Shirley R. Smith REALTORS, Ltd. in Macon, Georgia served as the 2008 Georgia Chapter President. She has served on numerous committees and is the District Rep for District 9 – Middle GA (Macon), Central GA (Warner Robbins), Perry, Dublin. Shirley is dedicated to serving the Georgia Chapter and has gone above and beyond the call of duty to promote CRS statewide.
Tom O’Rourke is the CEO and Executive Vice President of the Northeast Atlanta Metro Association of REALTORS (NAMAR). Tom acts as administrator for the Georgia CRS Chapter. He started the Georgia
CRS Google Group where CRS members can post documents, start discussions and interact with other members. Tom is always willing to help CRS promote the designation and the courses that they offer. In September 2009 at the CRS General Membership Meeting in Orlando, Tom did not hesitate to present “When Social Media and Article 12 of the Code of Ethics Collide”. And as always, his insight was very beneficial to those in attendance.
Congratulations Shirley and Tom on your recognition. You deserve it!
What you really need to know…
SUPERCHARGE YOUR SALES IN 2010. Mark Your Calendar for the RE/MAX Regional Sales Seminar and Recognition Event
Register for the Verl Workman seminar and recognition event in your area.
NAR Short Selling Webinar still available to view
“Today’s Changing Short Sales Environment” webinar hosted by the NAR and co-sponsored by Bank of America Home Loans is still available to view online.
RE/MAX Network Continues Expansion
Several former competitors have joined the RE/MAX Network, bringing with them more than 650 individual Sales Associates.
Foreclosure Search Now on RE/MAX.COM
RE/MAX has teamed with RealtyTrac, the No.1 foreclosure listing web site, to provide over 1.3 million pre-foreclosure, auction, and foreclosure listings.
Get Optional RealtyTrac Subscription at Discounted Rate
RE/MAX Affiliates who wish to receive additional data on properties can sign up for an optional RealtyTrac subscription at a reduced rate.
Super Exposure! RE/MAX Ads Air during the Super Bowl
RE/MAX sponsorship includes “The RE/MAX Broadcast Center,” and the “RE/MAX Outstanding Play of the Game”.
Tech Tip – New iPhone App Lets You View Webinars from Anywhere
Cisco WebEx have released a new iPhone App that allows you to view our bi-weekly webinars from anywhere
2010 Peachtree Road Race Registrations Opening Soon
As a Peachtree Road Race sponsor RE/MAX affiliates get coveted early registration privileges for the 2010 Peachtree Road Race to be held in Atlanta on July 4th 2010.
Senate Bill Would Overhaul Georgia Property Tax
47-page bill features more than 40 changes in the current property tax system.
NAMAR is pleased to offer our members a FREE CE class — Wildlife: What is in Your Attic?
Are you hearing noises in your attic or have a client complaining of noisy attics. If so, come and learn about preventative solutions. February 11, 2010 from 9:30 am – 12:45 pm. Location: NAMAR, 2145 Duluth Highway, Duluth, GA 30097. The cost is free for NAMAR Members or $40 for Non Members,
CE Credits: 3, Instructor: Northwest Exterminating. Register online at www.namar.org or call NAMAR at 770-495-7300.
As professional full time REALTORS we constantly strive to stay on top of the cutting edge technology that is available to us. WE research this opportunity and that opportunity. we constantly get bombarded with email (SPAM) about the latest and greatest “Silver Bullet” to add to our ammunition belt. Would you like a Here It Is, All In One Place, Two Day “Local” Conference where you can see and hear from the experts in real estate technology.
The Atlanta Agents Forum has teamed up with REtechSouth to offer discount admission for our readers to this exciting 2 day conference. Make the dates on your calendar…March 25 and 26 at the Gwinnett Center. The Panel of Speakers reads like a Whos Who of real estate experts. These people are not just speakers, they practice what they preach. Follow the REtechSouth Discount link for a 10% discount on admission to the conference.
If you are looking to maximize your exposure and results while providing the greatest return on your investment REtechSouth is the one conference you will not want to miss. There is something for every technology user from beginner to advanced. Attendees will be afforded multiple sessions on a wide variety of technology topics. Just select the ones that interest you.
REtechSouth is the largest real estate conference in the southeast. It is held annually in metro Atlanta and aims to teach real estate industry professionals how to better utilize current technologies along with how to incorporate new technologies into their business. The current state of affairs in the real estate market make this the “Must Attend” conference of 2010.
In an effort to help FHA better manage risk; several proposed policy changes were announced today by Federal Housing Authority Commissioner David Stevens. The purpose of these proposed changes is to help strengthen the FHA’s capitol reserves while addressing risk management.
Follow the FHA Policy Changes link to see the complete press release. A summary of the proposed policy changes are:
• Increase the Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) to 2.25%. ETA Spring 2010
• Update the combination of FICO Score (Credit Score) and Down payment Percentage for new borrowers. ETA Early Summer 2010
• Reduce Seller Concessions (Closing Cost Contribution) from 6% to 3%. ETA Early Summer 2010
• Publicly Report Lender Performance Rankings and hold lenders more accountable.
• Increase monitoring of lender performance and compliance with FHA guidelines.
• Loan Originators and Underwriters would assume liability for loans they originate and underwrite.
So what do you think of these proposed changes? How do you think they will effect buyers and sellers?
We want to welcome our newest contributor and author, RE/MAX Regional Services. We look forward to updates and training information from the regional office.
Effective January 1, 2010 RESPA was reformed. Many of you have heard about RESPA Reform and have probably even been to a seminar or webinar to explain it. I wanted to take a few minutes to give you a little background on RESPA Reform.
First off what is RESPA? RESPA stands for the Real Estate Settlement and Procedures Act. RESPA Reform was enacted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with the intent to help protect borrowers applying for home financing by standardizing the industry. In doing this they feel that they have established a more thorough explanation and disclosure of loan terms and fees via the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and Settlement Statement (HUD-1). The Department of Housing and Urban Development set standards with the lenders that will only allow certain fees to change between the time of issuing the GFE and the time the borrower goes to closing. They feel that this change also allows a borrower to shop lenders and to be able to understand the differences that they are quoted.
Since this was just started January 1st, you may not have had the opportunity to see a new GFE or HUD-1. The way that the guideline is written the HUD-1 does not need to be the new revised HUD-1 until they are doing a closing that the new GFE was given to the borrower.
Advantage Mortgage Partners an affiliate of Wells Fargo has given us some great pamphlets that can help you do understand the revisions. Please feel free to pick one up at any of the RE/MAX Center locations.
For additional information on RESPA Reform feel free to contact Linda Stratton at 770-329-4175 or Roxanne Gaigelas at 770-797-7003.
Announcements, NAMAR | NAMAR | 
March 4, 2010 11:18 AM | 
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