GHAR Weekly E-mail

INFORMATION SESSION: July 21: Tax Strategies For The Real Estate Professional
Join Maury Scarborough of Bradford and Company to learn about tax reduction strategies and money-making solutions for the self-employed. Maury's experience as a real estate agent and sales manager has taught him the importance of tax planning and the benefits of getting business taxes under control. Join Maury and find out where you can benefit from new tax strategies. This session will highlight the following: How to Find Tax Dollars, Stimulus Package Deductions for 2009, Increase Your Income, Car Strategies, Home Office Deduction, Entertainment Strategies, and Double Entertainment Deductions.

The information session will be held in the GHAR classroom, Enola. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. and the program starts at 10:00 a.m. Cost is $5.00 for members. Register online at www.ghar.info or call (717) 364-3200. Please remember, reservations not cancelled by Tuesday, July 20 at 5:00 p.m. will be billed.

JOIN US FOR REALTORS^® TAKE TIME "OUT" - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2010!
Hosted at Leed's Bar & Lounge on Wednesday, August 11, 2010, this event is for GHAR REALTOR^® members as an after hours social. Network, Mix, Mingle and just “Take Time Out”!

A cash bar and light hors d’ oeuvres will be available from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. REALTOR^® Members may register online at www.ghar.info through the Members Only section of call the Association Office at (717) 364-3200. Pre-Registration deadline is Wednesday, August 4, 2010. This is a REALTOR^® Members Only Event. Only Pre-Registered REALTOR^® members are eligible for door prizes and must be present to win.

Thank you to the following sponsors of this event:
Superior Plus Energy Services (formerly Montour Home Comfort Services)
Tillery Inspections, LLC (a division of The Virtus Group)
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

This event is brought to you by the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^®as a venue to meet and socialize with colleagues. Overt and direct recruiting practices during these events are not acceptable. The Association requests that all attendees drink responsibly. Payments to the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^® are not deductible as charitable contributions for Federal Tax purposes; however, such payments may be deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses.

TECHNOLOGY LUNCH AND LEARN, SEE NEW FEATURES OF PARAGON 5 – THURSDAY, AUGUST 12 AND THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23!
Two additional Technology Lunch and Learns will be held at the GHAR Office on Thursday, August 12, 2010 and Thursday, September 23 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Registration begins at 10:45 a.m.) Cost is only $7.00 (Members) and $10.00 (Non-Members) lunch is included. The topic, “Paragon 5”: Learn and review all the changes recently updated on the Paragon System will be presented by Robbin Crossley of the Central Penn Multi-List, Inc.

Other questions and topics covered include:

Cross Browser and Operating System Compatibility including Internet Explorer, Firefox, Apple Safari, Google Chrome and Opera!
Fully operational on any MAC Operating systems.
Open multiple property searches, listing input/maintenance, CMA or Contacts.
New CMA Wizard!
Create your own agent webpage with Client Connect, in which clients can review the listing and be in direct contact with you!
Auto-complete features allow users to select data or criteria rather than continue to enter the information.

Reservations are required by August 9 (for the August 12 event) and September 20 (for the September 23 event). Space is limited. Register by calling the Association Office at (717) 364-3200 or online at www.ghar.info under Members Only!

Please note: Reservations made and not canceled by 5:00 p.m. Monday, August 9 (for the August 12 event) and Monday, September 20 (for the September 23 event) will be billed regardless of attendance. You may pay in advance or at the door. If you do not receive a confirmation, it is your responsibility to confirm your reservation by calling the Association Office at (717) 364-3200.

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 lunch is provided by the sponsor of the orientation.

Orientation will be held on the following dates and times: (Registration begins at 9:45 a.m.)

July 14, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. sponsored by Members 1^st Federal Credit Union
September 2, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. sponsored by A n'S Inspect

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

SAVE THE DATE - SEPTEMBER ICI BREAKFAST
The September ICI Breakfast is sponsored by CAMPBELL Commercial Real Estate, and it is scheduled for Thursday, September 2. Please watch for more information about this breakfast later this summer.

GREATER HARRISBURG REALTORS^® INSTITUTE

GHRI BI-WEEKLY E-MAIL MOVES TO ONCE A MONTH IN THE SUMMER
To help decrease the size and scope of the weekly email, the Association has decided to send out a separate e-mail highlighting upcoming classes held at the Greater Harrisburg REALTORS^® Institute. During the summer months, the GHRI E-mail will only be sent once a month.

REQUIRED COURSE FOR NEW LICENSEES
GHRI will offer the General Module, Commercial Module and the Residential Module, the courses required for new licensees, again in the fall. Watch for more details.

CARE & SHARE CAMPAIGN - DONATE TODAY!
Since 1993, the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^® Foundation has donated a total of over $556,000 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 Care & Share Campaign.

During the Care & Share 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 2010 Capital Campaign goal is $15,000. To date the Care & Share Campaign has collected $14,552.00.

Thank you to the following Companies and Offices who have contributed to the 2010 REALTORS^® Care & Share Campaign:

Bank of America, Gloria Latin
Brownstone Real Estate Company
Caldwell & Kearns
Campbell Commercial Real Estate
Central Penn Appraisals, Inc.
Central Penn Multi-List, Inc.
Cody Financial Mortgage Services
Coldwell Banker Select Professionals, Hershey
For Sale By Owner Plus REALTORS^®
George L. Ebener and Associates, Carlisle Office
HBG Realty, Inc.
High Associates Ltd.
Hooke, Hooke & Eckman, LLC
Homestead Group, Inc. REALTOR^®
Jack Gaughen REALTOR^® ERA, Paxtang Office
Jack Gaughen REALTOR^® ERA, Camp Hill Office
J.F. McGraw Co.
John Glise, Inc. REALTOR^®, Camp Hill Office
Lawyers Realty, LLC
LionsGate Realty Group
Livingston & MaGilton REALTORS^®
L W Brodisch Real Estate
NAI CIR
Prudential Homesale Services Group
Prudential Thompson Wood
RE/MAX at Hershey
RE/MAX Realty Associates
RE/MAX Realty Professionals
South Central PA Home Inspection
Steven W. Barrett Real Estate
Straub & Associates Real Estate Group
Tamanini Realty, LLC
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

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

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 your pajamas, grab a cup of coffee and learn the Paragon system!!

FREE Webinar Paragon Training presented by the Paragon Training Team at LPS!! Click Here for more information and the registration page.
Here are the upcoming topics:

July 13th at 11:00 am and July 14th at 4:00 pm: User Preferences - Learn how to add and change your photo and company logo, as well as how to set up other features to use in Paragon.

July 20th at 11:00 am and July 21st at 4:00 pm: Lising Input - Learn how to input and maintain your listings as well as add photos and associated documents.

July 27th at 11:00 am and July 28th at 4L:00 pm: IDX Smart Framing - Learn an easy and simple method to link your website to Paragon.

PARAGON TRAINING SCHEDULE
Training classes have been scheduled on the following dates for the PARAGON system:
September 9, 2010 October 10, 2010

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.

CPML OPEN HOUSE WEB SITE
Are you advertising your open houses on the web site? Are you advertising the Open House web site on your web sites? Consider adding the Open House web site to your ads when you advertise the open house. The consumers are using this web site; don’t let your Open House be missed because you are not on our site.

Open Houses on the Centralpennopenhouse.com web site 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. Consumers can still enter search parameters and the map will show only the properties that belong to the search. The map will then display the 8 properties on each page.

It is important now that your Open House information be entered into the Paragon system. You can find instructions on entering your open house data under MLS DOCS in the Paragon System. Open Houses entered into the Paragon system will appear on the web site in about 4 hours.

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.

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.

PAR 2011 COMMITTEE REQUESTS
It is time to put in your Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS^® (PAR) Committee Requests for 2011. To learn more about specific committees, their composition and appointments for 2011 please visit the PAR website. Many committees have limited appointments available. Most committees are open to non-committee members. PAR encourages members to get involved in committees that interest them regardless of whether they receive an appointment. Please fill out the committee request form to indicate the committees you have an interest in serving on. Deadline to apply for PAR Committee request is July 16, 2010. Questions regarding the committee process should be directed to Kim Smith at (717) 561-1303 or ksmith@parealtor.org.

JOIN JUSTLISTED.COM TODAY!
PARJustListed.com from the PA Association of REALTORS^® has all the news you need to get your day started, with economic and industry news and weekly podcasts. This is such a great source of industry information and we hope you are taking advantage of it. If you haven’t registered for PARJustListed.com’s free daily e-news, visit the link below to register. Each weekday morning you will get updated real estate industry news in your inbox or mobile phone.

http://tinyurl.com/parjl-email

JOIN THE PAR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK (YPN)
We are looking for members who would like to join as Charter Members of the PA chapter of the Young Professionals Network! REALTOR^® Magazine launched the Young Professional Network in 2006 as a way to help the younger generation of REALTORS^® build a stronger link with the magazine and the real estate industry, in general. There is a lively blog, YPN website and social events that are designed to give its members the tools they need to advance their careers – and have fun in the process!

NAR approved Pennsylvania's Chapter on October 19, 2009. YPN is a member-driven organization that helps young real estate professionals excel in their careers by giving them the tools and encouragement to become involved in four core areas:

REALTOR^® Associations. Attend REALTOR^® conferences and pursue leadership roles with their local, state and national associations.
Real estate industry. Take an active role in policy discussions and advocacy issues; be informed about the latest industry news and trends.
Peers. Network and learn from one another by attending events, participating in online communication and seeking out mentoring opportunities.

Benefits of Membership

Exclusive invitations to YPN events.
Stay abreast of industry happenings. Through the blog on the YPN national site members stay in the loop on hot issues. YPN also has special educational sessions at REALTOR^® conferences that address strategies for success in real estate. The PA chapter has a group on Facebook.
Get involved. Many people who are new to the industry want to get involved with their local, state or national association but either don’t know how to go about it or they find it too intimidating. YPN encourages members to explore leadership opportunities at all levels.

How to Become a Member
Contact Adrienne Loughery (E-mail | Facebook) or PAR staff liaison to YPN, Brenda Florida, if you are interested in being a member or if you have any questions.

JOIN THE REAL ESTATE CELEBRATION AT NARdiGRAS!
The 2010 REALTORS^® Conference & Expo is back in New Orleans (November 5-8) and you won’t want to miss this party. NAR has planned another great event for REALTORS^® and guests, including over 125 education sessions, the largest real estate expo, and lots of opportunities to expand your network. This year’s program highlights include: Mary Lou Retton, Earth Wind & Fire, Rich Karlgaard.

More Value for Your Money in 2010!
Now you can attend education sessions of your choice at the conference and download the rest of the programs at home for continued learning throughout the year. That’s double your registration value for nearly 100 sessions, and it’s a great way to make sure you don’t miss a thing. Just be sure to register for a full conference pass ($350 before August 15, $380 after August 15).Thanks to sponsor Bank of America for making this possible.

Come make the good times roll for your business at NARdiGras 2010, November 5-8. Registration is Now Open!

Visit: http://www.realtor.org/convention.nsf/

SHARE YOUR STORY
NAR wants to know how being a member of the Association has made a difference to you, your clients and your community. Log on and share your story and you'll be mailed a FREE "I LOVE Being a REALTOR^®" pin (limit two per member, while supplies last). Your story will also be posted on the "Gallery" and you'll be invited to share your story through a unique link on your Facebook and Twitter pages, and by email, sharing with others the expertise and value being a REALTOR^® brings to them. Visit the site for details and to share your story. For more information¸ visit...
http://www.realtor.org/heartmarket.nsf/pages/index?opendocument?wt.mc_id=HM0010&WT.mc_id=LS042810&CAT=About

CONGRESS APPROVED TAX CREDIT, NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM EXTENSIONS
On June 30, the United States Congress approved two bills to extend the closing deadline for the home buyer tax credits and to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program. The Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act (H.R. 5623) applies only to transactions that have ratified contracts in place as of April 30, 2010, that have not yet closed. Under H.R. 5623, buyers now have until September 30, 2010, to close on the sale and receive the tax credit.

Congress also approved H.R. 5569, also known as the National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act of 2010. The legislation extends the National Flood Insurance Program authorization through September 30, 2010.

Click here to read more about these issues on the NAR Web site. For more information, please contact Sherri Pursel.

GOVERNOR RENDELL SIGNS 2010-2011 PA BUDGET
On July 6, Governor Ed Rendell signed the 2010-2011 budget. The legislation previously passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate in late June. Of particular importance to REALTORS^® is that the budget does NOT include the imposition of a four percent sales tax on professional services. Click here to read more about this issue on PARJustListed.com.

HARRISBURG CITY CONSIDERS BUYER NOTIFICATION INSPECTION AND RENTAL LICENSING BILLS
On July 7, the Harrisburg City Council’s Building and Housing Committee met to consider two bills making changes to the City’s buyer notification inspection program and the rental licensing program. As proposed, Bill No. 13 of 2010 would make significant changes to the City’s rental licensing and inspection program. Bill No. 14 of 2010 would eliminate the buyer notification inspection for most property transfers in the City of Harrisburg. Ultimately, the Building and Housing Committee postponed a vote on these bills to allow for additional public hearings. GHAR is in the process of reviewing the bills and intends to submit comments to the City. Please watch for more information in future Weekly E-mails. For more information, please contact Sherri Pursel.

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.

NAR ANNOUNCES THAT REALTORS^® NOT REQUIRED BY LAW TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO CENSUS WORKERS
The National Association of REALTORS^® has issued guidance to its members that they are NOT require by law to respond to census workers’ questions about occupants of properties they are listing. NAR consulted with the U.S. Census Bureau on this question based on reports it was receiving from members. An increasing number of REALTORS^® were reporting that census workers were asking listing agents for information about occupants of the properties REALTORS^® are listing. Click here for more information, including an NAR legal advisory, on the NAR Web site.

NAR LOBBYING U.S. HOUSE TO APPROVE SMALL BUSINESS LENDING LEGISLATION
The National Association of REALTORS^® has ask the U.S. House of Representatives to approve H.R. 5297, also known as the Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010 (Rep. Frank, D-MA). According to NAR, H.R. 5297 would authorize the U.S. Treasury to lend up to $30 billion to interested community banks, in order to expand access to credit for small businesses. These loans would be required to be repaid, with interest, over a 10-year period. The bill also provides incentives for small banks to increase small business lending by adjusting their initial 5 percent loan interest rate relative to the amount of their small business lending activity. Click here to read more about this issue on the NAR Web site.

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.

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