October 2, 2009
Association News
•
Election Results
•
Results of Bylaw Amendments
•
Information Session -
October 5: What Do The Changes To RESPA Mean For The GFE and HUD 1 - And
For Me As A REALTOR®
MORNING SESSION IS NOW CLOSED! CALL TODAY TO
REGISTER FOR THE AFTERNOON SESSION!
•
Technology Lunch and Learn, Thursday, October 15!
•
1, 2, 3 & More Club - Thursday, October 22!
•
Information Session - November 4: The Best Of The Legal Hotline Returns To GHAR
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Donate Items for REALTORS®
Reach Out Wish List Drive! Deadline TODAY,
October 2!
•
Orientation
•
Sign Up Now for a Newsletter Sponsorship or a House Cover
Photo
Commercial News
•
REGISTRATION OPEN for Fall 2009 ICI Social Event - October
14
•
November ICI Breakfast and Marketing Exchange - Thursday,
November 5
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
•
GHAR Foundation Walkathon!
CPML News and PARAGON Training
•
Dick Betts Returns for 2 Days!
•
Free Webinar Training!
•
IBox Lease Price Sale
•
Update on CPML Open House Web site
•
REALTOR.COM Update!
•
Free Ekey Fob from Supra
•
Paragon Training Schedule
PAR
and NAR News
•
PAR Launches PARJustListed.com
•
FAQS of ACT 14 of 2009!
•
Join the Young Professionals Network
•
DNCQuickcheck Program available at a discounted price
•
NAR Launches 2009 REALTOR®
Party Video Contest
- Deadline Extended!
Government
Affairs News
•
Hot Topics
•
NAR Launches Call for Action to Expand and Extend First
Time Homebuyer Tax Credit
•
Contact GHAR to Schedule a Government Affairs Office
Visit!
•
Local Government Affairs News
•
Camp Hill
Council Delays Consideration of Point of Sale Ordinances
•
Brokers/Managers Can Request Office’s RPAC Contributions
Report
•
Sign-up to be a Municipal Political Contact!
Courtesy Announcements
•
Condolences
ELECTION RESULTS - Congratulations to the following individuals who were elected to serve the Association in 2010!
PRESIDENT
Jim Spagnolo, Prudential Homesale Services Group
VICE PRESIDENT
Robert J. Hoobler, Exit Platinum Plus Realty
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Marti S. Garrett, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services
DIRECTORS
Scott Campbell,
Brownstone Real Estate Company
Bill Freundel, Homestead Group Inc., REALTOR®
Michele M. Gould,
RE/MAX Realty Professionals, Inc.
Robert D. Hamilton, RE/MAX Realty Professionals, Inc.,
James A. Holtzman, Jack Gaughen REALTOR®, ERA
Mo Humphreys, Keller Williams of Central PA
Judith A. Stover, Prudential Homesale Services Group
RESULTS OF BYLAW AMENDMENTS
The following bylaw amendments were passed by the membership at the
Annual Meeting on September 16. (Underlines indicate additions and strikethroughs indicate deletions.)
Article X - Dues and Assessments
Section 3.
Dues Payable. Dues
for all REALTOR® members shall be payable annually in
advance on by the first day of November January. Dues shall be
computed from the date of application and granting of provisional membership.
Article XV - Rules of Order and Notice Requirements
Section 2.
Notice Requirements
Whenever
any notice is required under these Constitution and Bylaws, it shall be deemed
to be sufficient if mailed by first class mail to the
last known address of
the intended recipient or to the last known e-mail address of the member.
MORNING SESSION IS FULL! CALL NOW
TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR THE AFTERNOON SESSION!
Brett Woodburn, Esq.,
Caldwell and Kearns will be here to discuss how the overhaul of RESPA has made
significant changes that will affect REALTORS®. The session
will highlight the following: What Type of Transaction Does RESPA Apply To, What
Areas of Real Estate Are Not Governed by RESPA, What Precipitated the New RESPA
Revisions, What Are The Changes In The Good Faith Estimate (GFE), How Is The
HUD-1 Changing, and When Do These Changes Go Into Effect.
The information session will be held in the GHAR classroom, Enola. Registration opens at 12:30 p.m. and the program starts at 1:00 p.m. Cost is $5.00 for members. Call (717) 364-3200 to register. Please remember, reservations not cancelled by Friday, October 2 at 5:00 p.m. will be billed.
TECHNOLOGY LUNCH
AND LEARN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15!
Technology Lunch and Learn will be held at the GHAR Office on
Thursday, October 15, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Cost is only $7.00
and lunch is included. Several topics will be covered in 3 different sessions
including, Smartphones and You, Marketing on a Shoestring Budget and Paragon:
Everything you wanted to know but where afraid to ask!
Reservations are required by noon on Monday, October 12 and space is limited! Register by calling the Association at 717-364-3200 or online at www.ghar.info under Members Only!
1, 2, 3 & MORE CLUB,
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22!
Whether you have been a
member of the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® for 1-2 or 3 years or
more, we have planned a special
FREE
educational program and social/networking hour for all REALTORS®!
Join us, Thursday, October 22, 2009 at GHAR for this session on Educating Your First Time Home Buyers presented by Roseann Annis of Prudential Homesale Services Group! Registration begins at 2:45 p.m. with the program beginning at 3:00 p.m. Also stay with us for any questions and network with local agents at the Wine and Cheese Social hour beginning at 4:30 p.m. Register today by calling the Association office at (717) 364-3200 or register online at www.ghar.info under the members only section! Special thanks to A'n S Inspect for their sponsorship of this great event!
Please remember while this program is free if you do not attend and do not cancel your reservation by Tuesday, October 20 by 9:00 a.m., you will be charged a $5 fee. We need to have an accurate count for handouts and refreshments, so please assist us by complying with our policy.
INFORMATION SESSION - NOVEMBER 4: THE
BEST OF THE LEGAL HOTLINE RETURNS TO GHAR
Over the past 18 years, Jim Goldsmith, Esq., Caldwell and
Kearns has handled thousands of Hotline calls from REALTORS®
all across the state. Some issues are static, others short-lived and some
emerge, disappear and re-emerge. The questions asked of the Hotline attorneys
run the gamut of real estate. Join Jim Goldsmith as he highlights the following:
Discussion of Problems and Practices Presented by Hotline Callers, Emerging
Trends in Real Estate, Tips and Practice Pointers in Seller Disclosure,
Deposit and Deposit Disputes, Contract Formation, Procuring Cause,
Post-Settlement Problems and Lending and Short Sales.
The information session will be held in the GHAR classroom, Enola. Registration opens at 12:30 p.m. and the program starts at 1:00 p.m. Cost is $7.00 for members. Register online at www.ghar.info or call (717) 364-3200. Please remember, reservations not cancelled by Tuesday, November 3 at 5:00 p.m. will be billed.
In addition to our volunteer work day, GHAR also will be delivering needed items to eight local organizations. Click here to download the flyer with the list of needed items and additional details on this event. All items can be delivered to the Association office prior to 5:00 p.m.
Click here to visit the REALTORS® Reach Out Web page on the GHAR Web site. For more information, or questions about the Wish List Drive please contact Sherri Pursel or Sara Bloss.
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.)
October 28, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
December 9, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. sponsored by Sun Trust Mortgage
Remember failure to attend orientation as required may result in paying an additional application fee.
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.
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR FALL 2009 ICI SOCIAL EVENT - OCTOBER 14
Registration now is open for the 2009 fall ICI Social Event. This
event will take place on Wednesday, October 14, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the
Brewhouse Grille in Camp Hill. The event is free to GHAR members, however,
members must register as space is limited. Please register through the
Members Only section, or by calling the Association at (717) 364-3200.
Click here to view a copy of the event flyer.
Special thank you to
our sponsors:
·
BL Companies
·
J. Michael Brill & Associates, Inc.
· Law
Offices of Robert M. Walker
· Mid Penn
Bank
NOVEMBER ICI BREAKFAST AND MARKETING EXCHANGE - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5
The November ICI Breakfast is sponsored by High Associates Ltd. The
breakfast will be held at the Fredrickson Center, Cumberland Technology Parkway,
2005 Technology Parkway, Mechanicsburg. Attendees are encouraged to bring marketing materials to the
meeting and to utilize the Marketing Exchange Table. Registration is at
7:50 a.m. Breakfast begins at 8:00 a.m. Reservations are required by noon on
Wednesday, November 4. Register online at
www.ghar.info or call (717) 364-3200.
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. GHRI is offering the General
Module and the Residential Module. Please call GHRI at 364-3205 for dates .
PRE-LICENSING PACKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE
Pre-licensing packets including the fall pre-licensing class
schedule is now available! Offices interested in receiving packets for
distribution may contact Liann at (717) 364-3205.
GHAR
FOUNDATION WALKATHON! - REGISTER TODAY!
Step by Step, REALTORS®
Sheltering the Community!
Join the Greater Harrisburg Association of
REALTORS® Foundation, Saturday October 3 at Shank Park in Hershey
OR South Middleton Park in Boiling Springs for a Walk-A-Thon! All proceeds from the Walk-A-Thon will benefit shelter and
housing related charities in the Central Pennsylvania area. Walk as a team or
as an individual! Registration is $10 per walker, plus a minimum of $25 in
pledges. Walk-A-Thon T-Shirts will be given to all walkers registered by the
deadline! Please be sure to mark your walking location on the form!
Prizes will be awarded to the Top Fundraising Team and Top Individual Fundraiser
with additional door prizes given away at the end of the walk!
Sponsorship opportunities are available. Walker Registration/Pledge Forms and
Sponsorship Forms are available at
http://www.ghar.info/About_Us/Meetings_Events.htm or by calling the
Association at (717) 364-3200.
Registration deadline was Monday, September 14, 2009! Walkers registering after this date will not be guaranteed a t-shirt.
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
DICK BETTS RETURNS FOR 2 DAYS.
HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO EARN CE CREDITS.Tuesday, October 20th
NOT CE CERTIFIED $25/class or
$40/both
8:30 am – Noon Time Management ~ Use it…Or
Lose It!
1 pm – 4:30 pm Expanded Social Networking
$60 for all day Monday ~ $40 for all day Tuesday ~ $100 for Both Days
***Class cancellation fee of $25.00 within 48 hours of class.***
FREE WEBINAR TRAINING
Do you want training on the Paragon
system but just can't seem to make it to one of our monthly classes?
Here is your chance to get training in the privacy of your
home. Stay in you pajamas, grab a cup of coffee and learn the
Paragon system!!
FREE
Webinar Paragon Training presented
by the Paragon Training Team at LPS!! Go to the Home Page in Paragon
for more information and the registration page. If you do take any
of the Webinar training, please email me at
rcrossley@cpml.com
and let me know what you
thought. Thanks.
September 29 at 11:00 am and September 30
at 4:00 pm for Mapping
October 6 at 11:00 am and October 7 at
4:00 pm for Searches & Customizing Searches
Please call the
CPML office at (717) 761-8440 to register.
IBOX LEASE PRICE SALE!
The CPML board of Directors has announced another iBOX lease
price sale. From now through the end of December 2009, or while supplies last,
the lease price on the iBox will be $42.40 (including tax).
UPDATE ON CPML OPEN HOUSE
WEB SITE
NEW! CPML is implementing a new feature on the CentralPennOpenHouse.com
website. When the consumer views the results of their search, there will now be
a "CALL BUTTON" located under the photo of the property. When they click on
this, they will be prompted to enter their telephone number. They are informed
at this time, if they continue they are placing a call to a Licensed Real Estate
Agent. At this point the system will then dial both the agents' phone number and
the consumers' phone number. The system is designed that the consumers' phone
rings first, when they pick up their receiver they will hear the agents' phone
ringing. The connection is made. There is no fee to the agents for this service
at this time.
As an agent, you can decide if you do not want the consumer to contact you. Fax
a statement to the CPML office at 717-737-5073 to inform us and we will turn the
service off on your name. If you have any questions, please call the CPML office
at 717-761-8440.
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.
FREE EKEY FOB FROM SUPRA
SUPRA is
offering a free FOB for any Blackberry, or other non-IR device to any agent who
would like to upgrade to the eKEY. CLICK
HERE
for information on the FOB. Information is also available under MLS Docs. Call
the CPML office at 717-761-8440 to schedule an appointment.
PARAGON TRAINING SCHEDULE
Training classes have been scheduled on the following dates for the PARAGON
system:
October 8, 2009
November 12, 2009
December 10, 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 LAUNCHES PARJUSTLISTED.COM
On September 23, the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS®
launched
PARJustListed.com. This new site is easily accessible and
contains the latest on real estate issues that affect your business.
PARJustListed.com
also features daily news and weekly podcasts on industry topics that will
keep you on the cutting edge of the real estate market. With this new site,
PAR will provide you with more timely information on a daily basis.
PARJustListed.com
is the one stop news source for REALTORS® on the move and is also
available on your mobile phone at
m.parjustlisted.com.
Check out this great new site from PAR!
FAQS OF ACT 14 OF 2009
For the past several years, PAR has been working to amend the
Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act (RELRA) in two key areas. In
early July we helped to pass what is now Act 14 of 2009, which takes effect
on September 4, 2009.
The first change allows licensees to be paid through "qualified associations" that are established by one or more licensees affiliated with the same broker. Up until this change, the law required that brokers pay licensees directly and not through any sort of a corporate entity. Now, brokers can pay to (and licensees can be paid as) certain entities as laid out in the law.
There are a number of issues to be considered when deciding whether or not to establish a qualified association. These include:
The second change clarifies a number of issues relating to escrow requirements. The biggest change to the escrow rules now permits brokers to release escrow where there is a dispute between the parties if the parties agreed in advance how the money should be distributed in the event of an unresolved dispute. The PAR Standard Forms Oversight Committee will be working on appropriate forms language to assist members in handling this issue.
Direct links:
Blog post -
http://blog.parealtor.org/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=163
Resource Page -
http://www.parealtor.org/content/RELRA2009.htm
Issues Resource Center -
http://www.parealtor.org/content/IssuesResourceCenter_main.htm (use link
for “2009 RELRA Amendments”)
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!
NAR LAUNCHES 2009
REALTOR® PARTY VIDEO CONTEST
- DEADLINE EXTENDED!
On August 25, NAR kicked off its 2009 REALTOR®
Party Video Contest. The contest challenges REALTORS®
to make a short, personal video explaining how the Home Buyer Tax Credit has
helped their clients buy their first home. The winning applicant will
receive a $500 American Express gift card, and his/her video will be shown
at the Annual Convention in San Diego in November. Two runners-up will
receive Flip UltraHD Camcorders. The deadline to submit a video was September
30. However, NAR has extended the deadline for a few weeks to allow more
REALTORS®
to participate! For more information, including contest rules, please visit the
NAR Web
site.
NAR LAUNCHES CALL FOR ACTION TO EXPAND AND EXTEND FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER TAX
CREDIT
On September 15, the National Association of REALTORS® launched a
member-wide Call for Action to expand and extend the first time homebuyer tax
credit. The CFA asks all members to contact their congressman and national
senators to ask them pass legislation to keep this important tax credit going.
Click here to visit the REALTORS® Action Center and to respond to
the Call for Action!
CONTACT
GHAR TO SCHEDULE A GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICE VISIT!
Is your office interested in a government affairs update during one
of your sales meetings? Are you looking for more information about what is going
on at the local, state, and national level? If so, please contact
Sherri Pursel at the Association to schedule a Government Affairs Office
Visit. Sherri will come to your office during one of your sales meetings and
make a 15 to 20 minutes presentation about government affairs and the important
issues facing REALTORS® at all three levels of government. It is a
great opportunity to learn more about legislative “hot topics” and what is
happening in government affairs! Feel free to contact Sherri at
sherri@ghar.info or by calling (717) 364-3200.
CAMP HILL COUNCIL DELAYS CONSIDERATION OF POINT OF SALE ORDINANCES
On Wednesday, September 9, the Camp Hill Borough Council once again delayed
consideration of the two proposed point of sale inspection ordinances.
These two ordinances will required mandatory inspections of a property’s sewer
lateral connection and sidewalks/curbing prior to the transfer of the property.
If the results of these inspections show the property is not in compliance with
Borough Codes, the property owner will be required to make repairs/replacements
prior to the sale of the property. Since this issue began, GHAR has adamantly
opposed any point of sale program. In response to these ordinances, GHAR has
developed a Web site and launched a campaign to educate the community
and to oppose these ordinances. Please check out the Web site:
www.PlayFairCampHill.org.
GHAR has been encouraging Camp Hill residents and property owners to attend the Council meetings and to speak out against the ordinances. We also ask you to spread the word to friends and clients that you may have who live in the Borough. Please encourage them to check out the Web site – www.PlayFairCampHill.org – and to attend the next Council meeting on October 14!
For more information, 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
Condolences
Condolences are extended to the family and friends of
John Dougherty. John was a former REALTOR® for many years with
the company of Dougherty & Twigg. Dougherty & Twigg became part of Jack Gaughen
ERA.
Condolences are extended to the family and friends of Richard L. Stark. Dick was a REALTOR® with High Associates Ltd. in Mechanicsburg.
Feel free to visit the GHAR Web site by going to the HOME page. Back to Top