GHAR Weekly E-mail

NAR REALTOR^® POLITICAL PARTY SURVIVAL INITIATIVE
On April 13, the Leadership Team of the National Association of REALTORS^® conducted a Town Hall to explain the background and the rationale of the REALTOR^® Political Party Survival Initiative. Members who were unable to participate in the Town Hall live, may view the meeting by clicking Play back the REALTOR^® Town Hall You will need your NAR Login and Password to access the Town Hall meeting.

NAR's Executive Committee members considered two funding alternatives to implement the initiative and recommended that a $40 dues increase be used to pay for the program. The other alternative was to eliminate the Public Awareness Campaign assessment and to increase dues $35. The initiative and the funding now goes to the NAR Board of Directors for a vote on May 14. For more information and to join the discussion, go to the REALTOR^® Action Center.

GHAR JOINS LCAR’S “BUY NOW SAVE BIG” MEDIA CAMPAIGN
Have you seen the TV commercials of actual consumers sharing their real estate stories? If so, you are familiar with the Lancaster County Association of REALTORS^® (LCAR) Media Campaign. GHAR and CPML are pleased to announce that we are joining the campaign.

The GHAR and CPML specific TV ads will appear on WGAL and WHTM between April 4 and May 15. The TV ads direct viewers to the CPML Open House Web site at www.centralpennopenhouse.com.

The “Buy Now Save Big” campaign includes eight different 30-second TV spots and five different print ads. Members may feel free to utilize the TV spots and print ads on their personal Web site and social media sites.

Click here for more information on the GHAR Web site. For questions, please contact Sherri Pursel or Kathy Ludwig.

BREAKFAST BYTES TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR - REGISTRATION DEADLINE MONDAY, MAY 2!
Join us, Friday, May 6, 2011 for the Breakfast Bytes Technology Seminar at the GHAR Office! Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the Session starting at 9:00 a.m. Cost is only $5.00 for members and includes a Continental Breakfast.

Thank you to our sponsor: A Plus Mortgage Solutions, Inc.

3 Free REALTOR^® Must Haves!
QR Codes: What Are They? How do they work? What can they do for my business?

The Power of Google: Gmail, Google Analytics and Google Voice!

HouseLogic and the REALTORS^® Content Resource: Free and Easy ways to market to your Past, Present and Future Clients!

Special Thanks to our Speakers:
John Tice, Jack Gaughen REALTOR^® ERA
Jordan Piscioneri, Century 21 Piscioneri Realty
Roseann Annis, Prudential Homesale Services Group

Reservations are required by Monday, May 2, 2011. 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, May 6 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.

1, 2, 3 & MORE CLUB – WEDNESDAY, MAY 11!
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, Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at GHAR for this session on Changes in Building Codes presented by Mike Biechler of Inspections By Mike Biechler. 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 Members 1st Federal Credit Union 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 Friday, May 6, 2011 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.

PARTICIPATE IN NATIONWIDE OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND - JUNE 4 AND 5
On June 4 and 5, thousands of REALTORS^® across the country will participate in the second annual Nationwide Open House Weekend. GHAR is encouraging all agents to participate in this program. Agents can host open houses and/or encourage their buyers to visit open houses. This weekend is an incredible opportunity for consumers to shop for a new home and to take advantage of favorable market conditions.

Agents also can post their open houses on the Central Penn Multi-List’s Web site: www.CentralPennOpenHouse.com.

For more information about this program, please visit the GHAR Web site or contact Sherri Pursel at the Association.

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.)

May 18, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. sponsored by McNaughton Homes
June 20, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. sponsored by Full Scope Home Inspections

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

MAY ICI BREAKFAST AND MARKETING EXCHANGE - THURSDAY, MAY 5
The May ICI Breakfast is sponsored by Metro Bank. The breakfast will be held at the Colonial Golf & Tennis Club, 4901 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg. Joel Naroff, President of Naroff Economic Advisors, will be speaking on the topic "Oil, The Economy and Real Estate: Where Do We Go From Here?". 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, May 4. Register online at www.ghar.info or call (717) 364-3200. Commercial REALTORS^®: the deadline to submit PowerPoint slides for the ICI Listings Slideshow was Monday, May 2.

GHAR HOSTING CCIM PROGRAM & SOCIAL - MONDAY, MAY 16
The Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Delaware CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) Chapter is hosting a “CCIM Overview & Social” event at GHAR on Monday, May 16, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This FREE event is open to GHAR members who are interested in learning more about CCIM and how it can assist you in your business. The forty-five minute presentation includes:

GREATER HARRISBURG REALTORS^® INSTITUTE

APPRAISAL LICENSE RENEWAL REMINDER!
Appraisal licenses expire June 30 this year. The board will mail a renewal notice two to three months prior to the expiration date. Notices are mailed to the most recent address the certificate-holder has reported to the board. The continuing professional education requirements include 28 hours in programs approved by the board, including seven continuing education hours on the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and two continuing education hours on the Real Estate Appraisers Certification Act or Assessors Certification Act and the Board’s regulations and policies. GHRI offers courses to fulfill the entire requirement. Call (717) 364-3205 for a schedule of classes and to register today..

GHRI E-MAIL IS SENT THE SECOND AND FOURTH MONDAYS OF THE MONTH
To help decrease the size and scope of the weekly e-mail, the Association has decided to send out a separate e-mail highlighting upcoming classes held at the Greater Harrisburg REALTORS^® Institute.

REQUIRED COURSE FOR NEW LICENSEES
GHRI is offering both the General Module and the Residential Module, the courses required for new licensees. The General Module is scheduled on April 27 and the Residential Module is scheduled on May 4. For more information and to register, call (717) 364-3205.

REALTORS^® CARE & SHARE CAMPAIGN - DONATE TODAY!
Since 1993, the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^® Foundation has donated a total of over $594,000 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 2011 Capital Campaign goal is $21,000.

New this year, contributions to the REALTORS^® Care & Share Campaign may be made with credit cards by going to Members Only at www.ghar.info or may be mailed to the GHAR Foundation, 424 N. Enola Drive, Suite 1, Enola, PA 17025 by May 31. 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!

REGISTER YOUR TEAM FOR THE FOUNDATION KICKBALL TOURNAMENT - reGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MONDAY!!
Join us for the 2011 Foundation Kickball Tournament on Friday, May 13, 2011 at Adams-Ricci Park in Enola. Team registration cost is $200 (Teams of 10), Cheerleader Cost is $10. Registration Deadline is Monday, May 2, 2011. Players may check in the day of the event at the West Enola Pavilion in Adams-Ricci Park at 1:30 p.m. with Kick Off at 2:00 pm.

Food and drinks will be available for purchase the day of the event. Players must be 18 and older. All proceeds from the event will go to the GHAR Foundation which supports shelter and housing related organizations in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties.

Sponsorships available now! Cost is $250 and include recognition in the GHAR Electronic Newsletter, GHAR Weekly E-Mail, all event materials and banner displayer at the event. Please note: Sponsors are responsible for the delivery and pick up of their banners. Banners must be at the Association Office no later than Friday, April 29 along with sponsorship payment to ensure proper recognition.

Download your Sponsor or Team Registration form at www.ghar.info and click on Meetings and Events.

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.

P5 TRAINING
We have extended the cutoff day for Paragon 4 to May 16, 2011!! There is still have time to sign up for the FREE P5 classes that are being held May 9th and May 10^th. Craig Rodgers, from LPS Training will be teaching these classes. It is important for you to understand the "new" features in P5 as well as any changes in how the "old" features will work.

Even if you have attended an earlier class on P5 with Robbin Crossley, it will be worth your time to attend again. There have been updates to P5 since the earlier classes. Classes will be 9:00 am and 1:00 pm all three days. Call CPML now at (717) 761-8440 to reserve your spot.

PARAGON 5 WEBINAR TRAINING
Webinars have started for training on P5 (Paragon 5). For a short period of time the webinars will be held 2 times a week and twice a day. The topics will include:

P5 Essentials-Learn Navigation, Multi-Tasking, Inline Auto Complete. Customizing Searches, Emailing, Printing, Customizing Reports, Mailing Labels and Browsers.

Contact Manager and Client Connect - Learn Contact manager Wizard, Saving Searches to Client, Client Connect Customer View, Client Connect Set-up, Agent Notification.

CMA - Learn CMA Wizard, New Themes, CMA Setup and Navigation.

Listing Input - Learn Bulk Photo Upload, Inline Auto Complete, Features and Geo Coding

Preferences - Learn how to Upload Photos and Logos, Client Connect Preferences, E-card, Market Monitor Customization and CMA Customization.

For complete schedule and registration, please see link on home page in Paragon.

PARAGON TRAINING SCHEDULE
Training classes have been scheduled on the following dates for the PARAGON system:
May 19th June 9th

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.

RENTAL CLASS IN PARAGON
Effective March 1, 2011, The RENTAL CLASS in the Paragon System will be available for your use. This class is to be used if you have properties that are available for rent. A property may be listed for SALE as well as for RENT. There is no commission associated with listings in the Rental Class. There is a “Referral Fee” field; please talk to the listing agent if you are unsure what your compensation will be if you bring a possible tenant to the listing agent.

“NEW” COMMISSION FIELD IN PARAGON
Effective March 1, 2011, we added a new “required” field to the following classes in the Paragon system: Residential/Farm, Multi-Family, Commercial and Vacant Land. Immediately following the commission fields there will be a field titled “Commission Type”. This is a required field and you will have a choice of the following commission types: N (Net Commission), V (Variable Commission), G (Gross Commission), NV (Net and Variable) and GV (Gross and Variable).

Once this field is active, you will no longer be allowed to show the N, V or G in the commission field. If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes and correct your listings in the Paragon system.

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.

PAR ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR PENNSYLVANIA BOARDS
PAR currently is taking applications for vacancies on several Pennsylvania Boards including the State Real Estate Commission, the Housing Alliance of PA, and the Federal Home Loan Bank. Members interested in serving on these Boards should apply to PAR. PAR then will select applicants to "recommend" to serve on these boards. Click here for a complete overview of the process and a list of Pennsylvania Boards. Click here to submit an application.

USE THE HOUSELOGIC REALTOR^® CONTENT RESOURCE TODAY!
The best FREE way to keep in touch with your clients!

With the REALTOR^® Content Resource, a new tool from the National Association of REALTORS^®, you can easily add ready-to-use, expert articles about home ownership, buying and selling to your marketing efforts and continue the conversation with clients long after the sale. Plus, you have a chance to win great prizes!

Share content via your communications channels:

Social media and e-mail
Blogs, website
E-newsletters
Personalized handouts

Hundreds of seasonal and timely articles cover:

Improvement and maintenance ideas, which add home value
Finance, tax, and insurance tips that save home owners money
Community ideas to keep neighborhoods strong
Buying and selling tips

Visit www.HouseLogic.com/members to login and start your new marketing strategies!

SAVE ON THESE NAR MARKETING MATERIALS TODAY!
We wanted to inform you first about some exciting new offerings at the completely redesigned online store, (www.REALTOR.org/Store), for the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® (NAR). They’re offering the latest must have products to help you take advantage of the changing market. They’re also giving you 10% off your next purchase when you use promotional code GH2 at checkout.

The newly designed online store has everything you need to be a successful REALTOR^® from products on:

sales and marketing
commercial
investment
home buying and selling
technology
mortgages

Visit the site often, as it is constantly updated, with offerings based on member feedback and changes in the market. Included in this special offer are items printed using the new Print on Demand Program.

Help turn a “changing” market into a marketing opportunity by visiting www.REALTOR.org/Store and take advantage of your special 10% discount today when you use code GH2 at checkout.

REALTORS^® FEDERAL CREDIT UNION - JOIN TODAY!
REALTORS^® Federal Credit Union is proud to be a REALTOR Benefits^® Program Partner! NAR has partnered with industry leaders to provide REALTORS^® with value-added offers and significant savings on products and services they use every day. Through unique understanding and real partnership, we guide members to securing their financial independence, while supporting NAR's mission and benefiting the greater community.

REALTORS^® FCU Now Offers:
·         Highly Competitive Interest & Dividend Rates
·         Traditional & Money Market Savings
·         Traditional, Roth & SEP Individual Retirement (IRA) Savings and Certificate Accounts
·         Free eChecking with MasterCard Debit Card
·         Surcharge-Free ATM Transactions at Thousands of CO-OP Network & CU24 Network ATMs
·         Your own Virtual Branch
        o        Remote Check Deposit, Online Bill Pay Online Statements, Electronic Statements, Alerts, Messaging and more
                    o        myMortgage Center
·         Personal Loans & Credit Lines
·         New & Used Vehicle, Boat & RV Loans
·         Home Loan Financing
·         Certificate Investments
·         Business Savings & Money Market Accounts

As a REALTORS^® Federal Credit Union member, you have access to our diverse portfolio of products and services. Our cooperative approach to financial services allows us to provide you with great rates and fewer fees. Eligible members include anyone who is a member of or works with the NAR as well as their immediate family or household members. You can become a member of REALTORS^® Federal Credit Union as early as your first day of membership or relevant affiliation with the National Association of REALTORS^® or any time afterward. Join today!

NAR ACCEPTING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2012 COMMITTEES
The National Association of REALTORS^® is now accepting recommendations for committees in 2012. Using an online form on the NAR Web site, members can recommend themselves or other suitable candidates for up to three committees at a time. NAR has a wide variety of committees - to learn more information, please visit the NAR Web site. After logging in, members can review each committee's structure, purpose statement, composition (how many members), length of term you would be expected to serve, and specific qualifications for consideration. Please note that if you are appointed to a committee, you are expected to attend all of its meetings and serve the full length of your term. Click here to visit the Web form on the NAR Web site (please note you will need to login using your NAR user name and password). The deadline for submitting a recommendation for a committee is May 25, 2011.

And, please consider completing or updating your "expertise profile" on the NAR Web site. NAR's Expertise Profile Database was designed to provide all levels of the REALTOR^® family (including the Local, State, and National Associations) with key information about you and your professional experience. The information that you will provide in this profile will be used as a resource in a variety of ways, including identification of members with certain expertise to serve on committees, working groups, presidential advisory groups; also, to respond to surveys about association issues, products, services, etc. Individuals interested in serving on NAR's committees are encouraged to create and/or update their expertise profiles. However, they are NOT required. Also, completing an expertise profile is NOT the same as completing the NAR committee recommendation form. Click here to complete/update your expertise profile.

For more information, please contact the Association.

GOVERNOR CORBETT SIGNS SPRINKLER MANDATE REPEAL
On April 25, Governor Tom Corbett signed House Bill 377 (Everett, R-Lycoming) into law as Act 1 of 2011. Act 1 removes the sprinklers mandate for all new one- and two-family residential homes that went into effect on January 1, 2011. The law also includes the following components: (1) provides increased fire protection for lightweight floor assemblies; (2) requires builders to offer sprinkler systems to buyers; (3) provides energy efficiency trade-offs for log home manufacturers and builders; and (4) provides retro activity for homes with building permits that would require sprinklers. PAR is opposed to the sprinkler mandate and it strongly supported Act 1. Thank you to those members who responded to the Call-to-Action and contacted their legislators about this critical legislation! For more information, please contact Sherri Pursel.

REGISTER TO ATTEND SECOND ANNUAL MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS BREAKFAST – JUNE 15
Please sign up to attend GHAR’s second annual Municipal Officials Breakfast! Association members will have the opportunity to interact with local municipal officials and staff. The breakfast will feature information about our local housing market, including statistics and trends, as well as a keynote presentation by Danielle Hale, Research Economist with the National Association of REALTORS^®. Ms. Hale will discuss the state of the national real estate market and the economy. The event is being held on Wednesday, June 15, at the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel and Convention Center, from 7:45 to 9:30 a.m. The cost to attend is $20.00. Click here to view the event flyer. If you are interested in attending, please contact Cindy at the Association at (717) 364-3200.

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 LAUNCHES CALL-FOR-ACTION! CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMAN ABOUT THE MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTION
Over the last several weeks, Congress once again has suggested changes to the Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID) as part of an overhaul of the nation’s tax system. NAR strongly opposes any changes to the MID because any changes would have an adverse effect on the entire housing market, potentially lowering home values and slowing sales. NAR launched a member-wide Call-for-Action (CFA) on March 28. NAR is asking members to contact their Congressman to ask him to oppose any changes to the MID and to co-sponsor H.Res. 25, a bipartisan House resolution that affirms the value and importance of the Mortgage Interest Deduction. Click here to participate in this CFA and for more information on the NAR Web site.

NAR LAUNCHES QRM WEB SITE
The National Association of REALTORS^® has launched a Web site dedicated to the proposed new rule on Qualified Residential Mortgages (QRM). The proposed QRM rule is the product of several agencies drafting regulations to meet the recently approved Dodd-Frank Act. Under the proposed rule, lenders that securitize mortgage loans would be required to retain 5% of the credit risk unless the mortgage is a QRM or is otherwise exempt. According to NAR, the proposed rule includes a very tight definition of QRM, including a 20% downpayment, low debt-to-income ratios, and other strict credit criteria. NAR has raised several concerns regarding the proposed rule and its impacts on housing financing. For more information about this issue, please visit the new NAR QRM Web site.

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.

HOME-A-RAMA BUILDERS’ SHOWCASE – REALTOR^® PREVIEW DAY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15!
GHAR REALTOR^® Members are invited to preview the homes built for the 2011 Home Builders Association Home-A-Rama on Wednesday, June 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon for just $4.00 (half price). To attend this special preview – guests MUST RSVP to (717) 232-5595 NO LATER than June 10. Lite breakfast faire will be served in the food tent sponsored by JRG Advisors, representing the PA Builders Insurance Program.

In addition, GHAR REALTOR^® members may purchase half-price tickets ($4.00) to the event in advance, a great gift for clients . They can be purchased at the HBA office at 2416 Park Drive in Commerce Park. Please note: Half price tickets will NOT be available at the gate to anyone. Tickets can be purchased throughout the Show, June 11-26.

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