On September 21st the new (free) agent websites through RE/MAX International and new LeadStreet platform will be live!  Though most of this transition will be seamless there are things you need to do before the 21st in order to be fully functional on that day.

First, the regional office has set up webinars to give us all an overview of the new sites and new LeadStreet.  We will be playing these webinars in the conference room at Suwanee all next week.  The schedule is as follows and we hope you will tune in at home or come join us at the office!

Monday:  Basic LeadStreet Introduction                10-11
Tuesday:  Agent Website Introduction                   10-11
Thursday:  Basic LeadStreet Introduction              10-11
Friday: Advanced LeadStreet Training                     10-11
This schedule should be emailed directly to you by the region.  If you are not receiving RE/MAX Regional News (The Wire) please let me know so we can make sure you are on the distribution.

Second, you will want to pick the areas you want to receive leads in by zip code.  You will be given the opportunity to insert 15 different zip codes to receive leads from.  If you only want 5 zip codes then you will enter those each 3 times, or one zip code 15 times, etc.  All leads will now be zip code driven, not service area driven.  Please put together your zip codes.

Third, if you have created custom emails in Campaigns Plus you will need to copy and paste those email templates into a Word document to add to the new Lead Street email section.  While all of your contacts themselves will carry over to the new platform, any custom campaigns will not.  This means that anyone that is on a campaign right now will not be on a campaign come 9/21.  You will need to go in and start all new drip email campaigns.  While this may seem tedious, it is really a great opportunity to clean up all of your contacts and start them on fresh campaigns!  There will still be template emails campaigns and then you can add back any of your custom emails.

Fourth, you will want to either choose a domain name or let us know your current domain name so we can have your new website pointed at that domain.  If you do not have a domain name you can go to www.godaddy.com and choose one.

Fifth, our sales meeting this month happens to fall on the 21st!  Therefore, we want to take that day to get everyone interested up and running and signed in to the new site!  We will be starting at 9:00 at NAMAR and request that you bring your laptop along with the above and let us help you get signed in and started!  We ask that you come on the hour.  We will do an overview on each hour and then move you to the back of the room to get signed in and started.  We will start each overview at 9, 10 11  and 12 until we get through everyone.  It will be very helpful if you watch the webinars in advance.  Please email or call me with any questions you may have.  This is a great way to get reconnected with your database and harness the power of leadstreet in your favor.  Over 85% of buyers and sellers start their search online.  And, RE/MAX.com is #10 on the hitwise report so we know how to generate LEADS for our agents – you need to learn how to really work these leads to your baseball diamond and we are here to help!

There will be educational opportunities on topics from Social Media to Team Dynamics and an hour plus session with U S Senator Johnny Isakson. You can learn about Listingbook and get an introduction to Fusion, the new search database from FMLS.

Tickets are available for $10 online through today. After 8-23-10 and at the door tickets will be $15.

Fortunately we have gotten to the bottom of this and are proud to report what this arrest was all about. You see Patrick is a generous man who believes in helping others. He volunteered to be arrested for MDA Lock-Up, a fundraiser for The Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Patrick was heard to say that this is a fun event benefiting individuals and families served by MDA who are affected by neuromuscular disease and that he was honored to partner with MDA and help in this important cause.

His bail was set at $2,400.00 and tax deductible contributions can be made online if you click here. Fortunately for Patrick he has made bail.

Your donation is my key to freedom!   Be proud of the fact that together we’re providing help and hope to kids and adults served by MDA in our community.
Patrick Finnick

Make plans to attend one of these classes. You can register online at www.namar.org or email barb@namar.org. Classes are offered at NAMAR located at 2145 Duluth Highway, Duluth, GA 30097.

1st Connection Advanced: Prospecting in 1st Connection with the Client Gateway – August 16, 2010
Students will learn how to: Communicate with their clients by using the 1st Connection Prospecting system; Choose the best method & format for relaying property listing information to their prospects; Set up a personalized website for each of their prospects to house listing information; Create a search that reflects the criteria of their client; Use the prospecting system to manage, track, & follow up with their prospects; Use Reverse Prospecting as an aggressive marketing tool to bring together.
Cost: FREE to NAMAR Members / $20 Non Members
9:30 am – 1:00 pm
CE Credits: 3
Instructor: Sallie Mobley/Kevin Theobald

UPDATED: Fundamentals of Mortgage Lending (LUNCH PROVIDED) – August 18, 2010
Come learn what changes are taking place in the mortgage industry and how that affects you. Also, get the basic understanding on what goes into lending.
Cost: $10 NAMAR Members / $20 Non Members
9 am – 12:15 pm
CE Credits: 3
Instructor: Southeast Mortgage

UPDATED: E-Pro Certification Workshop – August 19, 2010
The e-Pro Workshop is free to attendees and covers the benefits of taking the online e-Pro certification course. It will also cover many beneficial technology tips, including some information to get you started with Social Networking which you can apply right away.
FREE to Members
10:00 am – 11:30 am
NO CE Credit / Information Only
Instructor: Buddy Snipes

Getting a Tax Deduction for Selling Real Estate – August 20, 2010  
Finding ways to hold onto your money is important.  Come learn how to get Tax deductions for selling Real Estate and keep more money in your business.
Cost: $10 NAMAR Members
CE Credits: 3
10:00 am – 1:15pm
Instructor Dr. Robert House 

Shift Into High Gear – August 26, 2010
Learn the tactics for succeeding in a tough and changing market. Develop a strategic vision for your business. Discuss how to stand out from the competition. Discuss how to create urgency with buyers. Plus much more.
Cost: $10 Members / $20 Non Members
CE Credits: 3
9:30 am – 12:45 pm

NAMAR also offers online education classes. Through our partnership with The CE shop, you can access great online continuing education courses that are state approved and 100% accredited! Additionally, once you complete the course, you can access your certificate instantly and The CE Shop manages all reporting to the state. Currently, they are running a summer special where you can get 15% off your entire order. Simply visit http://namar.theceshop.com and enter Promo Code: BUSY15. Hurry, offer expires 8/8/10.

Also, click here to check out additional online classes offered through NAMAR.

"It's All About The Kids"

Yesterday a new site was launched. In and of itself that is no big news. This site however is special because its total focus is on a Fall Golf Tournament to benefit Children’s Miracle Network and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

With this being the seventh year that the tournament has been in existence, the decision was made to try to get as much exposure as possible. This is being accomplished via the incorporation of a blog into the media exposure. Give it a visit at www.play4thekids.com.

Over the years the tournament has consistently raised approximately $10,000 for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. This year’s goal is to blow that number away. Would you like to help? You could easily register to play either as an individual or a foursome. You will always be paired up. You could even become one of the tournaments sponsors. Several different sponsor packages are available.

We encourage everyone who reads this to participate. After all…”It’s All About The Kids”

Regardless of how long you have been in the business, Seller Agency has been available and more importantly, it remains the primary focus for agents across the country. Since the advent of Buyer Agency and the emphasis on training how to be an effective buyer representative, it has become apparent we can no longer assume Seller Agents have the same level of effectiveness. The SRS Council set forth a new seller designation that would take a new agent to an accomplished level sooner and an already successful agent to an even higher level of competency.

Key components of the SRS Designation class:

• Identify elements of a business plan to generate listing business.
• Identify branding basics.
• Identify Sphere and Cold lead generators.
• Identify key methods sellers use to find a listing agent.
• Understand how to create a Client Packet for sellers.
• Review Do Not Call Rules.
• Identify key aspects of a seller counseling session.

This two-day course taught by Frank Mears is being offered at NAMAR, July 21 – 22, 2010. The cost is $225 and includes 12 hours CE Credit, Materials, Exam and complimentary first year annual SRS Council Membership. This class is eligible for a Georgia Association of REALTORS Scholarship. For more information, contact Barbara James at barb@namar.org or (770) 670-6429.

Fortunately there are down payment assistance programs in virtually every county in the Greater Atlanta Real Estate Market. Each county has different guidelines and we are here to help you obtain the best terms and conditions for your particular circumstance. There are even down payment assistance programs and special financing for new construction.

So how can you take advantage of these special programs? It is easy…all you have to do is contact us and we will help you get the ball rolling. You just might be amazed at how easy we can make this process for you.

If you missed this one make sure you are scheduled for the “Finding Your Focus” class that will take place next Monday June 14, 2010. This class will be held in the Wells Fargo Training room on Satellite Blvd and will start at 1:30 PM.

The final class of this series will be on June 24, 2010 and will focus on “Implementation” of what has been learned in the first two classes.

The June Sales Rally will be held on June 15, 2010 at NAMAR. It will start promptly at 10:00. Check your email for details and the agenda.

There are three distinct portions that make up each meeting:

•    The first part of each meeting involves NAMAR members networking while enjoying a cup of coffee and a light breakfast.
•    To help us keep our finger on the pulse of the marketplace there is a guest speaker at each meeting. Recently our GAR President Dana Bauguss spoke and at the last meeting Brand Mortgage provided an excellent presentation on available down payment assistance programs.
•    The last portion of each meeting gives each agent and a representative of each vendor the opportunity to give a 1 minute talk about a featured listing or the wares that the vendor provides for the association.

Generally the monthly Networking Breakfast takes place on the first Friday of each month. Due to the first Friday in July falling on the start of the July 4th holiday weekend there will be not meeting in July.

Come on out and enjoy the company of you fellow REALTORS along with the partners that make our association so strong. See you soon.

NAMAR President, John Slappey, and Scholarship Chair, Norma Santana, present a $4,000 scholarship to Jesse Strauss of Dacula at the Board of Director’s meeting on May 20, 2010.

Jesse Strauss received a $4,000.00 college scholarship from the Gwinnett County Board of REALTORS® Scholarship Foundation.  Jesse is the son of John and Betsy Strauss of Dacula, GA. Betsy is a Keller Williams agent and member of NAMAR.

Jesse will graduate from Dacula High School with a 3.929 grade point average. Currently, he is a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Latin Honor Society and Dacula Leadership Team. Jesse is also involved with the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, Atlanta Symphony Your Orchestra, as well as, the Dacula High School Marching Band, Symphonic Band, A Capella Group and Chorus.

Jesse plans to attend Belmont University in Nashville, TN and major in Music Performance – Percussion (Classical).

This is the 22^ndyear that the Foundation, through the Northeast Atlanta Metro Association of REALTORS®, has presented the Scholarship to an outstanding high school senior.  Recipients must have a first or second generation family member who is active in the real estate profession and is a current member of The Northeast Atlanta Metro Association of REALTORS®. They are also judged by their grade point averages, SAT scores, leadership ability and character.