I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and is starting a productive New Year!  May this year brings you more networking with your local Realtors® Association and Women's Council of Realtors® members which leads to better business practices.  Each individual has so much knowledge to share.  The best education is the practices we learn from each other.

Show thanks to our affiliates by using their services.

Belonging to a Realtor's® Association and the Women's Council of Realtors® has many perks.  The best perk is the variety of members we can use to benefit our businesses.  All members of a Realtors® Association and the Women's Council of Realtors® prescribe to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice set by the National Association of Realtors®. 

www.wcr.org  and www.Realtors.org has all the National affiliates and members listed for your convenience.   These professionals are there for the Realtor's® clients and customers.  Our affiliates invest in the Realtors® future.  They assist with fund raisers, education activities and much more.  Oh did I mention "Networking?"

For the most out of your local membership with a Realtors® Association or the Women's Council of Realtors® chapter, get involved.  Join a committee so you can work side by side with other members.  I can't believe the relationships I have been honored with because of the interaction of the committees.

Realtors® and affiliate members have the benefits of the Michigan Association of Realtors® and the National Association of Realtors® assisting them with legislative issues.  Realtors® Associations stand up for all these issues to assure fairness for the consumer and our industry.  All issues that affect title, lending and licensure, affect all our members and the industry. 

Networking and doing business together only makes us stronger as an association.  Check the list, it's growing constantly. 

Next time you need a Home Inspector, Surveyor, Contractor, Lender or Title Company, please check the list at your local Realtor's® Association and the local Women's Council of Realtors® website. 

Have Great New Year!

Angela K. Ridley, Real Estate Counselor

2009 Michigan Chapter Women's Council of Realtors® President Elect
2009 Flint Area Association of Realtors® President

Energy Star  Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL):  These bulbs use 75% less energy and heat than regular bulbs.  These bulbs can save you approximately $30.00 per bulb over the lifetime of each light.  Remember, these bulbs last 10 times longer too.
     These bulbs contain mercury.  CFL's should not be thrown in garbage.  CFL's should be dropped at a recycle location designed for these bulbs.     

Tubular Lighting, Natural Lighting:  Nice size for smaller areas.  Light starts from the sky and ends in your home.  This is done with reflective material.  Personally I have a hall that the light stays on all day.  I frequently turn the switch off, when I install this product, my Consumers bill should go down tremendously from this one act.
      Installation is key.  Professional installation is recommended due to the sealing.  This unit must be sealed right to prevent heat loss and cool air loss in summer. 

Do you leave your charging devices plugged in when not in use?  Every glowing red light is costing you $$.  Idea:  simply put all charging plugs on one electrical strip, when in use, turn strip on, then off.  Every penny counts!

Fireplace:  is the opening totally covered?

Do you have electrical covers on all your outlets?  Air can escape and enter through the any opening.

Water:  Put a 2 liter plastic soda bottle filled with water in toilet water holding tank.  This will save water and well pump use which equals $$.  Have a water bill, imagine the savings.  Test this, you may not need less than 2 liters, most tanks need 3 gallons to flush properly.

           Test your tank with food coloring; if the food coloring leaks in the bowl, you have a leak.

           For more water saving ideas:  click here...

More hints to come...

Angie Ridley

Feeling ill lately?  Passing the bug back and forth?

Remember, your air quality is only as good as you allow it to be.  Indoor air pollution can be cause by unsealed ducts, gas appliances, uncared for HEPA systems and more...

There are simple ways to assist your home or business building with air quality.  Cleaning and sealing the air ducts to keep dust and pollen down in your home or business is a start.  All filters (furnace, stove, air and water systems) should be cleaned and / or replaced regularly through out the year.  If items are not properly maintained, you will get sick and throw money away on equipment that isn't running as efficiently as it could.

Proper insulation will assist with climate control, mold causing moisture and noise issues.

Just a few helpful hints to keep you from sneezing and coughing

Angie Ridley

If you would like to purchase existing or build a new "Green" home there are special mortgage financing options.  Sometimes you will receive a lower interest rate, less expensive closing cost and / or the qualifying ratios will vary.  The theory for varying the ratios is, you will spend less on average utility bills therefore can afford more payment.  These mortgages are call "Energy Efficient Mortgages" (EEM)

Lenders include and are not limited to: Aspen Creek Financial, LLC
Mortgage Marketplace, Inc
Countrywide Home Loans Western Regional Green Mtg Services
Bank of America
ICON Mortgage Lending

There are two types of energy mortgages:

• Energy Improvement Mortgage - Finances the energy upgrades of an existing home in the mortgage loan using monthly energy savings
• Energy Efficient Mortgage - Uses the energy savings from a new energy efficient home to increase the home buying power of consumers and capitalizes the energy savings in the appraisal

If you would like to  find out how energy efficient the home is that you are purchasing, you may order a "Home Energy Rating Score".  This test is done by accredited individuals or companies.  http://www.resnet.us/directory/raters.aspx  defined:  http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bldrs_lenders_raters.nh_HERS   This test usually be rolled into the loan if needed.

Angie Ridley, EcoBroker Certified^®
Genesee County, MI

Active Residential Listings: 6,332 -- Foreclosures:^[1] 935 / 14.8% -- Short Sales: 714 / 11.3%
Active Residential Listings in Genesee County: 4,939 -- Foreclosures:^[1] 691 / 14.0% -- Short Sales: 596 / 12.1%
Active Listings: Multi-Family: 119 -- Vacant Land: 1,669 -- Commercial: 451
Active Listings in Genesee County: Multi-Family:107 -- Vacant Land: 1,150 -- Commercial: 357

Residential Listings Activated Last 7 Days: 236 -- 1 Year Ago: 215 -- 2 Years Ago: 196
Multi-Family Listings Activated Last 7 Days: 0 -- 1 Year Ago: 2 -- 2 Years Ago: 8
Vacant Land Listings Activated Last 7 Days: 6 -- 1 Year Ago: 28 -- 2 Years Ago: 23
Commercial Listings Activated Last 7 Days: 6 -- 1 Year Ago: 5 -- 2 Years Ago: 4

Residential Listings Sold Last 7 Days: 41 -- 1 Year Ago: 84 -- 2 Years Ago: 104
Residential Listings Sold Last 30 Days: 467 -- 1 Year Ago: 465 -- 2 Years Ago: 489
Residential Listings Sold Year to Date: 5,490 -- 1 Year Ago: 5,199 -- 2 Years Ago: 5,436
Residential Listings Sold Year to Date in Genesee County: 4,282 -- 1 Year Ago: 4,004 -- 2 Years Ago: 4,415
Multi-Family Listings Sold Last 7 Days: 0
Vacant Land Listings Sold Last 7 Days: 1
Commercial Listings Sold Last 7 Days: 0

Average Listing Price of Active Listings in Genesee County: $134,272 -- Median Listing Price: $109,900
Average Listing Price to Selling Price Ratio in Genesee County Last 7 Days: 81% -- 1 Year Ago: 74% -- 2 Years Ago: 84%
Average Selling Price in Genesee County Last 7 Days: $58,577 -- 1 Year Ago: $80,932 -- 2 Years Ago: $111,625
Average Selling Price in Genesee County Last 30 Days: $61,026 -- 1 Year Ago: $92,228 -- 2 Years Ago: $101,245
Median Selling Price in Genesee County Last 7 Days: $41,450 -- 1 Year Ago: $65,950 -- 2 Years Ago: $89,500
Median Selling Price in Genesee County Last 30 Days: $38,100 -- 1 Year Ago: $75,000 -- 2 Years Ago: $95,500

Average Foreclosure Listing Price of Active Listings in Genesee County: $60,151
Average Foreclosure Selling Price in Genesee County Last 7 Days: $30,889

Statistics Updated: 11/28/2008 2:06PM

BookAShowing.com appointments today: 45 -- Month To Date: 2,507 -- Year To Date: 33,083 -- updated: 11/28/2008 1:56PM

Hello All,

Its research time.  I need your help and a few minutes of your time.  I need your input as agents actually using the tools listed below.

1.  Please tell me what MLS system your association uses and as working agents what are the pros and cons.

2.  Do you use electronic lock boxes, if so what brand and the pros and cons.

3.  Do you use a Transaction Management System?  If so, is it provided by your local association?  Which one do you use and as a working agent please advise on the pros and cons.  Do your clients use the system?

4.  Do you use a type of Zip Forms?  If so, do you use them all the time, are they provided by the association?  Please list the benefits.

Follow up, Posted after initial post 12/01/2008:  It seems many are using Paragon.  I would like to know about the pros and cons of Rappatoni's MLS system.

This is my office set up:

Our association uses Kinnexus.  It's out dated by about 5-10 years in comparison to Fidelity and MLX.  We can't send listing from a map.  Only 6-10 pictures allowed.  3 documents for upload.  There isn't a calender for everyone.  The list goes on.

Our association uses Book A Showing for the showing system.  The system provided safety for the buyer seller and agents. www.bookashowing.com  It would be safer it agents quit giving out lock box codes.  The feedback rate from agents about the showings is about 80%.  Emails are sent daily to agents until the feedback sheets are answered.

I currently use Zip Forms.  I use a tablet pc www.motioncomputing.com then print docs on location if clients need print.  It's 50/50, print vs electronic.  Being an "EcoBroker"  I am trying to go "Green".  www.zipforms.com  I purchase myself.

If my clients are out of town, they can "esign" the documents, provided by Docusign.  This program allows me to sign and have anyone sign documents electronically.  I purchase myself.

Then, all transactions are loaded up to ReLay (NAR owned Transaction Management System).  www.Rebt.comLenders, Title companies, agents, clients, home inspectors and anyone in the transaction can load information.  You designate who can see what.  Great back up and clients feel more part of the transaction.  I purchase myself.

Lock Boxes:  we use combos.  Had supra, agents complained.  Went back to combos.  I would like Supra again because of the reports and not everyone can have access.  I don't think this will happen again.

The only issue I am lacking is an up to date MLS system, I think...

Networking is a wonderful tool! 

Thank you so much for your help and most importantly your time.