GHAR Weekly E-Mail

June 5, 2009


In this Email:

NEW CONSUMER NOTICE GOES INTO EFFECT JUNE 14 - SEE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS NEWS BELOW

Association News
            • Changes Made to Association Guidelines
            • Pennsylvania Department of State Online Newsletter
            • Orientation
            • Join Us for the Association Picnic - July 18
            • Sign Up Now for a Newsletter Sponsorship or a House Cover Photo
Commercial News
        
   • SAVE THE DATE - September ICI Breakfast
Greater Harrisburg REALTORS® Institute
            • GHRI E-mail is sent on the second and fourth Monday's of the month.
            • Required course for new licensees
       
    Pre-licensing Packets Are Now Available  
Foundation News
            • Capital Campaign - Donate Today!
            • 2009 Foundation Golf Outing - June 24
CPML News and PARAGON Training
            • Update on CPML Open House Web site
            • REALTOR.COM Update!
            • Supra Solution for Blackberry Users!
            • Paragon Training Schedule           

PAR and NAR News
            Join the Young Professionals Network
           
DNCQuickcheck Program available at a discounted price
            Have you Visited Just Listed?
Government Affairs News
            •
Hot Topics
                    • HUD Releases Details to Use $8,000 Tax Credit as Down Payment
                    • New Consumer Notice Effective June 14
                    • RPAC Phoneathon Set for June 18
            • National Government Affairs News
                    • Representatives Introduce SHOP Legislation
            • Local Government Affairs News
                    • Primary Election Results Information on GHAR Web site
                    • Brokers/Managers Can Request Office’s RPAC Contributions Report
   
                 • Sign-up to be a Municipal Political Contact!


ASSOCIATION NEWS

CHANGES MADE TO ASSOCIATION GUIDELINES
GHAR has made changes to its Guidelines for Residential Co-brokerage in response to NAR's recent amendment to Standard of Practice 1-15 of the Code of Ethics. The section on "Multiple Offers" of the Guidelines for Residential Co-brokerage was changed to reflect the change to the Standard of Practice. In addition this change, GHAR made some other minor changes to the Co-brokerage and Signage Guidelines. A mailing outlining the changes was sent to all member brokers and managers of the Association. Questions should be directed to Kathy Ludwig at kathy@ghar.info.

PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF STATE ONLINE NEWSLETTER
The Department of State will no longer publish paper newsletters for Pennsylvania's 29 Professional Boards.

Beginning in March, you may view the bi-monthly electronic newsletters. Simply visit your Board web. To do so, go to www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa, select Business-Related Boards or Health Related Boards from the left navigation, and choose your profession.

Business-related board newsletters will be posted during the first week of January, March, May, July, September and November.

ORIENTATION
Orientation is required for all new REALTOR® members. You must meet this requirement within the first two offerings of applying for membership. Learn what it means to be a REALTOR®, your obligation to abide by our Code of Ethics, and the many benefits and services that the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® has to offer. A boxed meal is provided by the sponsor of the orientation.

Orientation will be held on the following dates and times:  (Registration begins at 10:45 a.m.)
June 10, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. sponsored by A n'S Company, Inc.
July 27, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. sponsored by SunTrust Mortgage, Inc.

Remember failure to attend orientation as required may result in paying an additional application fee.

JOIN US FOR THE ASSOCIATION PICNIC - JULY 18
Join us for the first ever Association-wide Picnic on Saturday, July 18, from 3:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. at Serb Park in Harrisburg. Cost is $5.00 per adult with children 10 and under free! The Association will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, BBQ chicken and pulled pork from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Attendees with last names beginning with A-M are asked to bring a covered side dish/appetizer/salad/finger food; N-Z are asked to bring along a dessert! (Only 1 Dish per family is needed!) This event is "BYOB" so bring your own beer and alcoholic beverages. The Association will provide soda and water for all attendees. 

Free face painting and a bounce house will be available for the kids from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Picnic tables are provided but lawn chairs are welcomed!  Dance music and karaoke are being provided by DJ Joe Hertz from 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Volleyball, basketball and horseshoe areas are at the park so please bring along your sporting equipment!

While this event is Association-wide, all are welcome so bring your family, friends and neighbors. Registration forms can be downloaded at http://www.ghar.info/About_Us/Meetings_Events.htmDeadline to register to attend is Wednesday, July 8! 

Sponsorships are available for this great event! Please contact Sara Bloss, Member Services Manager, at (717) 364-3200 or e-mail her at Sara@ghar.info! 

Sign up now for a Newsletter Sponsorship or House Cover Photo
The Association is now accepting reservations for the house cover photo and the sponsorship of the electronic newsletter. If you would like to showcase a home or development in the electronic newsletter or sponsor the newsletter as an advertiser, please contact Sara Bloss for more information at sara@ghar.info or (717) 364-3200.
 


COMMERCIAL NEWS

SAVE THE DATE - SEPTEMBER ICI BREAKFAST
The September ICI Breakfast is sponsored by CAMPBELL Commercial Real Estate, and it is scheduled for Thursday, September 3. Please watch for more information about this breakfast later this summer.


GREATER HARRISBURG REALTORS® INSTITUTE

GHRI BI-WEEKLY E-MAIL
To help decrease the size and scope of the weekly email, the Association has decided to send out a separate email highlighting upcoming classes held at the Greater Harrisburg REALTORS® Institute. Look for the e-mail to be sent out the second Mondays of each month during the summer months.

REQUIRED COURSE FOR NEW LICENSEES
If you were initially licensed on December 1, 2007 or later, to renew your license in May 2010 you will need to complete a required course for new licensees during the 2008-2010 renewal period. Many of the "approved for continuing education" credits for Pennsylvania licensees currently being offered will not fulfill this continuing education requirement. If you have any questions about continuing education requirements contact GHRI at (717) 364-3205.

PRE-LICENSING PACKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE
Pre-licensing packets including the spring pre-licensing class schedule is now available! Offices interested in receiving packets for distribution may contact Liann at (717) 364-3205.


Foundation news

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN - DONATE TODAY!
Since 1993, the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® Foundation has donated a total of over $530,000 to housing and shelter related organizations in the greater Harrisburg area. To help raise the money, the Foundation holds various
fundraising events. In addition to these events the Foundation holds an annual Capital Campaign.

During the Capital Campaign, the Foundation asks each REALTOR® to give a minimum contribution of $10. All funds go back to the communities in which we live. Our 2009 Capital Campaign goal is $15,000. To date the Capital Campaign has collected $11,957.00. 

Thank you to the following Companies and Offices who have contributed to the 2009 Capital Campaign:

Caldwell & Kearns
CAMPBELL Commercial Real Estate
CB/Select Professionals
Central Penn Appraisals, Inc.
Central Penn Multi-List, Inc.
Clauser Real Estate Appraisals
Cody Financial Mortgage Services
Commerce Bank
Exit Platinum Plus Realty
For Sale By Owner Plus REALTORS®
George L. Ebener and Associates
Help-U-Sell Detwiler Realty
High Associates Ltd.
Homestead Group, Inc. REALTOR®
John Glise, Inc. REALTOR
®
Keller Williams of Central PA
Lawyers Realty, LLC
Mark Heckman Real Estate Appraisers
McNaughton Real Estate Group, Inc.
Mid Penn Bank
Prudential Homesale Services Group - Hershey Office
Prudential Homesale Services Group - Lebanon Office
Prudential Thompson Wood Real Estate
RE/MAX Realty Associates, Inc.
RE/MAX Realty Professionals
Spencer and Spencer, REALTORS
®
Szeles Real Estate Development
Weichert REALTORS
® - First Choice

Contributions may be mailed to the GHAR Foundation, 424 N. Enola Drive, Suite 1, Enola, PA 17025 by May 15. If you have any questions on the Capital Campaign, please contact the Association at (717) 364-3200. Thank you for making our community better!

2009 FOUNDATION GOLF OUTING - JUNE 24
Register today for the Foundation Golf Outing which will be held on Wednesday, June 24 at Armitage Golf Club in Mechanicsburg. Sponsorship and player registration forms are available by calling the Association office at (717) 364-3200 or visit http://www.ghar.info/About_Us/Meetings_Events.htm. Registration and lunch are at 11:00 a.m. Shotgun start is 12:00 p.m. Dinner, prizes and awards will occur at 5:00 p.m.

Sponsorship Opportunities are Available!
Eagle Sponsor - $2000
Birdie Sponsor - $1000
Par Sponsor - $500
Bogey Sponsor - $250

If you are interested in being a sponsor or donating a door/hole prize, please contact the Association at (717) 364-3200. 

Note: The official registration and financial information of the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® Foundation may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.


CPML NEWS AND PARAGON TRAINING

UPDATE ON CPML OPEN HOUSE WEB SITE
NEW! Open Houses on the website now appear on an interactive map. The home page of the web site shows all available open houses marked by a balloon. Click on the balloon and see the property information. Zoom-in, Zoom-out or change area of map you wish to view. Consumer can still enter search parameters and the map will show only the properties that belong to the search. The map will then display the 10 properties on each page. 

We have added our affiliate members to the Open House site. Our affiliate members have the ability to add a link to their name; this will allow the consumer to learn more about their company. Do you use a particular home inspector, lender or pest control company? Encourage them to add their link to our site.

Are you advertising your open houses on the website? Are you advertising the Open House website on your websites? Consider adding the Open House website to your ads when you advertise the open house.

We are promoting the site with radio and newspaper ads; we need you to promote this site to your clients and potential clients through your web sites. It is important now that your Open House information we be entered into the Paragon system. You can find instructions on entering your open house data under MLS DOCS in the Paragon System.

REALTOR.COM UPDATE!
Realtor.com will soon be showing four photos with their free listings on their site. CPML will provide the first 4 photos of the 12 allowed in our system. If you have more than four photos in Paragon, you have the ability to rearrange them.

SUPRA SOLUTION FOR BLACKBERRY USERS
SUPRA has announced a solution for Blackberry users. CLICK HERE for information. Information is also available under MLS Docs. 

PARAGON TRAINING SCHEDULE
Training classes have been scheduled on the following dates for the PARAGON system:
                           June 11, 2009
                           July 9, 2009

Basic class will be held at 9:00 a.m. The Basic Class covers simple searches, descriptions of terms used in the PARAGON system, introduction to input sheets, CPML input rules for paragon as well as system requirements. The Basic Class also provides a brief look at the financial program.

Advanced class will be held at 1:00 p.m. The Advanced Class covers creating CMA's and using the Contact Manager to manage clients as well as send automatic emails.

You need only attend one day, but you may attend more than one class if you choose. Please call the CPML office at
(717) 761-8440 to reserve a time.
Classes are held at the GHAR Office at 424 N. Enola Drive, Enola, PA 17025.


PAR AND NAR NEWS

JOIN THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK!
Interested in networking with local professionals in Central PA? Then join the Young Professionals Network! 
Email Adrienne Loughery at adrienne.loughery@verizon.net if you would like to join this social networking group. 

DNCQUICKCHECK PROGRAM AVAILABLE AT A DISCOUNTED PRICE
DNCQuickcheck, is the easy-to-use Do Not Call compliance solution for real estate professionals. If you call or e-mail prospects - referrals, expired listings, FSBOs - you need to complete protection against Do Not Contact laws. With DNCQuickcheck, you can take a proactive approach for your marketing campaigns. And only DNCQuickcheck includes everything you need in one quick, easy-to-use Internet-based service. 

Get the protection you need now!  Call PossibleNOW at (800) 585-4888 or (770) 255-1020 or visit www.dncquickcheck.com.

Are you a member of PAR?  Use the discount code of sc0986pr to receive special rates for real estate professionals!

HAVE YOU VISITED JUST LISTED?
Just Listed is PAR's new blog, another member benefit for you. Log on and join in the discussion with authors including attorney Jim Goldsmith and his Legal Hotline team, economist Austin Jaffe and PAR staff.


GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS NEWS 

HOT TOPICS 

HUD RELEASES DETAILS TO USE $8,000 TAX CREDIT AS DOWN PAYMENT
On May 29, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced details of the plan to permit its lenders to allow homeowners to use the $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit as a down payment. Click here to read more about this announcement on the U.S. HUD Web site. For more information, please contact Sherri Pursel.

NEW CONSUMER NOTICE BEGINS IN JUNE
On June 14, 2009, a new consumer notice form goes into effect in Pennsylvania. The new consumer notice has been redesigned to be more clear and readable. The Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS® has more information on this change. Click here to visit their Web site.

RPAC PHONEATHON SET FOR JUNE 18
On June 18, GHAR will be conducting our second annual RPAC Phoneathon. Members of the GHAR Government Affairs Committee and Board of Directors will be making calls to members throughout the afternoon asking for your investment in this important cause. By contributing to RPAC, you are ensuring that the REALTOR® voice is heard in your municipality, in your county, in Harrisburg, and in Washington D.C. RPAC allows NAR, PAR and GHAR to protect and advance your interests as real estate professionals. Please consider making an investment in RPAC when you are contacted. And, you don’t have to wait for the Phoneathon to invest - you also can contribute online through the GHAR Web site or PAR Web site. For more information, please contact Sherri Pursel.

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS NEWS 

REPRESENTATIVES INTRODUCE SHOP LEGISLATION
On May 13, Congressmen Ron Kind (D-WI) and Jim Gerlach (R-PA) introduced H.R. 2360, the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), designed to make health insurance more available and affordable for the self-employed and small business owners. The legislation already has 28 co-sponsors, and it is strongly supported by the National Association of REALTORS®. According to NAR, the bill addresses the number one problem for many small businesses and the self-employed, the high cost of providing health care coverage, by:  

 Click here to learn more on the NAR Web site.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS NEWS

PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS INFORMATION ON GHAR WEB SITE
Check out the GHAR Web site for more information on the 2009 Municipal Primary Election. And, if you have specific questions, please contact Sherri Pursel.

BROKERS/MANAGERS CAN REQUEST OFFICE’S RPAC CONTRIBUTIONS REPORT
Attention brokers and office managers:
If you are interested in learning who in your office has invested in RPAC, GHAR can provide you a report listing all your agents and their contributions to RPAC. Please feel free to contact Sherri Pursel at the Association for this report.

SIGN-UP to be a MUNICIPAL Political CONTACT!
GHAR is still searching for volunteers to be Municipal Political Contacts. As a Political Contact, GHAR will work with you when issues impacting REALTORS® and the real estate industry arise in your municipality. GHAR’s goal is to identify REALTORS® from each municipality in our tri-county area to be Political Contacts. We are still in need of contacts for the following municipalities: 

If you are interested in participating in this vital program, please contact Sherri Pursel.

Questions?  Comments?  E-mail Sherri Pursel  or visit the GHAR Government Affairs Web site.


COURTESY ANNOUNCEMENTS


Feel free to visit the GHAR Web site by going to the HOME page.                                  Back to Top