FAAR Now Has an Easy Button!

 
Flint Area Association of Realtors members should take advantage of this easy and convenient package. This will allow offices and members to purchase supplies at very competitive prices. A link will be provided on the FaarMember Web site. The link will open the office supply catalog where ordering supplies is just a few mouse clicks away, now that's Easy.
 

Thank you Staples for assisting with the Realtor Community!  Complete Realty, LLC,  Angie Ridley

Immigration:  NAR approved "Immigration Statement of Principles".  In simple text, NAR supports legal immigrants owning real estate.  NAR also supports borders controls to stop illegal immigration.

Election process changes:  Too many to type, please see www.Realtor.org for details.  This doesn't really affect us at the local level.             2009 National Association of Realtors® Leadership:
            President: Charles McMillan, Irving, Texas
            President-Elect: Vicki Cox Golder, CRB, Tucson, Arizona
            First Vice President: Ronald Phipps, GRI, CRS, Warwick, Rhode Island
            Treasurer: James L. Helsel, Jr., CCIM, CPM, CRE, GRI, SIOR, Lemoyne, Pennsylvania
            For Regional Vice President:
            Region 1 Sharon Steel, Providence, RI
            Region 2 Joseph L. Canfora, East Islip, NY
            Region 3 Dale Ross, Potomac, MD
            Region 4 Jayne Cox, Lancaster, KY
            Region 5 Russell E. Grooms Jr., Jacksonville, FL
            Region 6 Cathy Sherman Bittrick, Grand Rapids, MI
            Region 7 Stan Sieron, Belleville, IL
            Region 8 Scott Louser, Minot, ND
            Region 9 Doug Smith, Little Rock, AR
            Region 10 Connie Kyle, Baton Rouge, LA
            Region 11 Keith Kelley, Las Vegas, NV
            Region 12 W. James Johnson, Pocatello, ID
            Region 13 Toby S. Bradley, Santa Barbara, CA  

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are no longer redlining areas because of declining market status.  NAR has been working with Fannie and Freddie on this issue since it first happened.  This became nationally know Friday May, 16, 2008.

 NAR position in limiting loans areas.

1. 1. NAR was been having conversation with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
   2. These discussions are confidential.
   3. NAR would like to eliminate needing at least 3% down for FHA loans.
   4. A big announcement is suppose to be made May 16^th that will cause us to never have this conversation again.  Update:  the announcement was made, Fannie and Freddie will no longer declince a loan because of "Declining Market" status.  Yeahy...
2. Credit Union Update: 
   1. The charter of 1200 pages was submitted. 
   2. Expecting approval with in 2-3 months
   3. Goal is to announce the opening at NAR in November this year.

(I have asked the question is NAR wants to keep banks out of real estate, why is NAR starting a credit union?  I am waiting for a response.)

1. Insurance for Realtors® update:  
   1. Coalition was made
   2. Bill is proposed
   3. Realtors® have great support
   4. All past objections have been research and met
   5. Bi-Partism bill
   6. All in favor except the "Insurance Committee"
2. All would like to see more contested races among the leadership.  This is from the local level to the national level.  It is happening; members just don't see it because people drop out from running so quickly.
3. The question was asked, "If an agent wants to join a neighboring MLS, does the broker have to join too?"  Answer from the floor, "Agent can't belong to any MLS that the broker does not.  The agent subscribes under the broker."
4. NAR's Travel Housing Bureau is not recording all information correctly, this will be looked at.
5. How do we protect the ethics and professionalism of agents selling in areas they are not familiar with?  Mr. Gaylord was quick to say, "Shouldn't we just beef up the criteria to be a Realtor®?"
6.  A Tampa association asked if NAR could do something to assist them with advertising while the Superbowl is in the area.  NAR is looking into that.  NAR is putting a float in the Rose Bowl Parade.
7. After the "Buy Now" campaign, NAR will start a campaign about inspections.

 

Time to talk RPAC!

More than ever, we need the Realtors® Political Action Committee.  Bill Martin from the Michigan Association of Realtors® spoke at the March Flint Chapter Women's Council of Realtors® meeting, and then Senator John Gleason came to FAAR to discuss the theft of materials for scrap money from homes.

A political action committee is a group of people who pool their resources together to support candidates who support the industry.  In the Real Estate business, we need people in office that support homeownership, understand property rights and understand the procedures / policies of selling real estate.

RPAC does not by votes.  RPAC assist the candidates that support the Real Estate Industry.  

RPAC assisted nationally:

• Smith vs Globe Life Insurance- Realtors® are exempt from the Consumers Protection Act.   That is a huge cost savings for agents.

RPAC assisted in Michigan:

• Realtors® do not have a sales tax on their commissions. (a CALL TO ACTION got the job done, 10,000 email in 2 days from you!)
• 2006 Ballot Proposal #5 K-16 spending mandate was defeated; this kept our state from getting a further deficit situation.
• Saved Realtors® from a 900% tax increase under the original proposed MBT
• Killed the expansion of the transfer tax
• Defeated point of sale septic inspections
•  Passed increased appraiser education standards
• And much more......

Senator John Gleason came to the Flint Area Association of Realtors® March 20, 2008 for a press conference.  He informed the Brokers about Senate Bill 1089.  This bill is an attempt to stop the theft of copper, aluminum and other items from the homes we are trying to sell.  This bill will require the scrap yards across MI to record valid ID information and write checks for payment of items instead of giving cash.  Many more protective procedures are on the bill as well.

We need RPAC, which means we need you.  Setting up an RPAC contribution is made easy.  A one time donation, monthly donations taken write off the debit / credit card or pay with your dues.  Think about this, $10 monthly is cheap insurance for our profession.

More than ever to protect our industry, we need your RPAC support.  How do give RPAC support, please call or email Kim Thompson at the Flint Area Association of Realtors®, 810 767 6330 or Kim@FlintHomes.net .

Town Hall Meeting on Monday Morning! 

Please join us on Monday morning, March 24th, at 9:00am for a Town Hall Meeting at the FAAR Office. The purpose of this meeting is three fold: One, to provide members with an update on the association; Two, provide a forum for members to ask questions regarding the association; and Three, to discuss the future. This event is designed to be interactive and encourage open discussion. FAAR staff and elected leaders will be participating.

Coffee and donuts will be available.

Hope to see you and your staff there!

This is a board that cares.

FAAR - G-4428 Fenton Road, Flint, MI 48507 Phone: (810) 767-6330 / Fax: (810) 234-9767

Agents please remember, the client that has your immediate attention must come first.

If you are with a client, you can't answer the phone. The person in front of you is the most important at that time. It would be rude to take a call while someone is one on one with you. Someone took the time to physically see you.

If you are on a call, that call is the most important at that time. Putting someone on holds can cause the conversation to go sour, fast. People forgot what their points are.

All calls are important, but if someone calls you, you can't put them on hold unless you know another call is coming in and you alert them at the beginning of the conversation.

You must return all calls immediately. My voice mail goes to my voice mail box, my text box as text and my email in text and voice.

Client satisfaction. I know some clients get upset if they go to voice mail, gently let them know you are taking care of their needs now, how may I assist you?

I had to lay off 6 people Friday. The Flint Area Association of Realtors® publishing "This Week in Real Estate", a newsprint homes for sale guide, was put to sleep for awhile. I don't know at this point if it is for good or not. We are not closing the corporation, just not producing the homes for sale guide.

"This Week in Real Estate" (TWIRE) was created to be a member benefit. The paper assisted the Flint Area Association of Realtors® to keep advertising cost down. When real estate was booming, we were concerned the local paper, Flint Journal, would start gouging the members for print advertising. The Flint Journal printed a bi-weekly "Homes for Sale" magazine and (TWIRE) printed weekly. Our members saw the weekly print a benefit for open house exposure and seller advantage.

When the market started to change, we realized we were no longer a member benefit. We couldn't ask the agents or brokers who can barely feed their family to advertise every week in a market that has 1.5 years of inventory.

We are currently in negotiations to combine forces. Start fresh, have a new look. Our mission is to still keep prices down. The Flint Journal is agreeing to keep prices down for the Flint Area Association of Realtors® membership. When the deal is final, I will let everyone know.

The staff of TWIRE was amazing. They were gracious. The staff saw the paper dwindle for 2 years. Most already had other plans for the future and were just waiting for the word.

I must say, this was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in business. I know business is business, but this is people's lives.

MSHDA helps with Michigan Loan

MSHDA, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, is on the way to the rescue Michigan homeowners facing the difficult times of delinequent payments, foreclosures and arms due.

New refinance programs will include: ARM Assist Refinance - The purpose of this new program is to assist individuals who currently have an adjustable rate mortgage and would like to obtain a fixed rate loan in order to create housing expense certainty.

and

Missed Payment Refinance - The purpose of this new program is to assist individuals who currently have a delinquency on their mortgage and for whom a loss mitigation strategy aimed at reinstating their existing mortgage is not plausible.

http://www.michigan.gov/mshda

for lending questions:

Patty Kelso, CountryWide Home Loans, 810 241 7686

At a recent Flint Chapter Women's Council of Realtors meeting, modular and manufactured homes were discussed.

Modular and Manufactured Homes are built in a factory. The factory is climate controlled. Great building conditions and assembled on the property.

Modular homes are appraised same as a stick built. It is possible for a 2nd homeowner, Realtor® Appraiser and Home Inspector not to be able to identify the home is a modular home. When the modular home is put on the foundation, it's the same as a stick built home. Modular homes are made to BOCA code, conforms to city and township building codes. The modular home is financed the same as stick built home.

Manufactured homes depreciate very quickly. A manufactured home contains tags on each outer section and in the inside. The tag on the inside of manufactured homes can be placed in the cupboards, on the furnace room door, the electrical panel and many other places. The tag contains the serial number, make, model, vin and year built. The tag information is needed for financing. The manufactured home is titled as a car with the secretary of state.

If the tags are removed, a surety bond must be purchased and the proper paper work filed to clear the title.

For most types of financing, the manufactured must have an engineered inspection. This inspection assures the lender the wheels are gone and the home affixed to the property and cannot be moved.

The next step for a manufactured home is the affidavit of affixture. This document removes the title forever. The manufactured home becomes part of the real estate. Most title companies will take care of this paper work.

Thank you to Ben Guzak of Allied Appraisers in Flint Michigan and the Citizens Bank crew!!

www.CompleteRealtyLLC.com your Real Estate Resource Center.....

 Have you started your business plan for next year?  Have you included networking in your plan?  Have you reviewed this years plan to see where your current networking activities paid off?  Are you networking with people that will actually give you business?  Is it time to grow your network?

 Most of us network with in our groups.   We network in our churches, the Chamber of Commerce, and among other real estate professionals.   Get out of the box!

 Networking.  Think about your everyday life contacts.  The banker, the paperboy (he will grow up), your favorite waitress and your not so favorite waitress, the pizza delivery person, do they know you are a real estate professional?  Why not?  A card is very easy to give with cash, check or debit card.  Leave a card with everyone you touch.

 The very mention of real estate usually causes a conversation.

 In your plan do you consider the contacts that are draining you?  We all have draining contacts.  The negative, down talking, know it all people.  Get rid of them.  Why associate with people that affect you in a negative way?  Okay, maybe you have to associate with them during the holidays; don’t talk about your profession.  Politely change the subject; it’s not worth your energy.  I love the person that over hears a question directed at me, and then decides they know more about the subject than I do, and interrupts to give bad advice.  Politely give a card to the person that asked the question and walk away.  Make this part of your plan.

 Nothing new has been said here, I just hope a reminder goes off next time you are out in a restaurant or you have something delivered, to give a card.  Yes, even the UPS person. 

 I would like to recommend site for business planning, http://www.joeann.com/2008AwesomeYearPlan.pdf , she includes networking.  I learned about this plan in the Webinar Event hosted by the Women’s Council of Realtors®.  Watch for these events, they are free and very educational.

 Lastly, I would like to say “Good Luck and Congratulations” to Doris Nurenberg.  Doris is leaving FAAR to join HAAR (-:  Huntsville (AL) Area Association of Realtors®. 

Seller and Purchasers, Complete Realty, LLC is making life easier!!

Complete Realty, LLC will go live with Book-A-Showing August 1, 2007. 

Book-A-Showing can't start up soon enough for Complete Realty, LLC.  We will no longer be taking REALTOR® phone calls for appointments; they will all be through Book-A-Showing.  I will even have the Book-A-Showing on our website.  This is a showing system that does it all.  Sellers will get email or text notification of appointments, be able to approve through the text or email system also.  Purchasers showing file will be kept on-line so any home can be looked at again. 

Seller and purchaser will have immediate access to all feedback and appointments.  Sellers will be emailed all feedback results.  This system emails the showing agent until they respond.  Awesome!

Finally a tool made for desk tops, Smart Phones and the mobile agent.  No more phone calls for feedback or showing vacant homes and with records that will last forever!  I can see the cell phone bills decreasing.   

Safety!  Only agents that are truly licensed will be able to use the system, a safety measure that agents and companies haven't had in the past.  We always verify through the State of Michigan website, but this will eliminate this task. 

Too much to list, please visit  http://bookashowing.com/ 

As our business is changing we need to rethink where we are going on how to get there.  We are working harder for less.  That’s okay, and now is a good time to readjust business plans.  I am currently in the process of up dating and rethinking my business plan.  I thought of my agents and peers as I proceeded. 

 Please except this offer as a gift and from someone who cares.  If you have any ideas and want to share, please do.  Deanna and I, we will be having a business plan and goal setting meeting on June 12 @ 10:00, our regular meeting only with a designated topic. Think in terms of 6 months, 1 year, 3 and longer.    Please let me know if you would like to attend.  Angie@AngieRidley.com

 Complete Realty, LLC will be having our weekly meeting this Tues. @ 10:00.  I am inviting all you to come just to get involved and share ideas.  If you interested in coming please let me know.  Angie@AngieRidley.com.  If you would like to bring a friend, please due.  We will be discussing Final Walk Through, Organizational Specialist, some web stuff and more.  The business meeting part will be short.  After the business meeting part we will take a field trip to the FAAR building for the FAAR Open House.  FAAR will be serving hot dogs and more…  Mini tradeshow creates a great networking opportunity.

 I have attached a free business plan link through Microsoft.  I hope this works for you.  http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC010175181033.aspx?CategoryID=CT101172331033

 Have a Great Day, because everyday is a Great to List and Buy Real Estate!

Agents,

Complete Realty, LLC will no longer put the tax information in Kx or on the website.  The rules for Kx and website state all information for real estate must be current or fines may be leveraged.

Information supplied by the townships and cities is previous years. 

It is up to the buyers agent to discuss last years taxes and what may happen to the taxes after the sale.  The property tax estimator can be located at http://www.completerealtyllc.com/Nav.aspx/Page=https://treas-secure.state.mi.us/ptestimator/PTEstimator.asp .

Your coopperation is appreciated.

Thank you.

Unhappy Agents?  Complete Realty, LLC now has openings for 3 agents.  Each agent may have their own private office if they choose.  Commissions negotiable.  This office believes in team work.  Floor time not mandatory.   Call Angie 810 744 4600

 Complete Realty, LLC New Office Policy:  Every agent that calls to see a home, the state license # must be verified through the state of Michigan website.  
State of Michigan License and Verification On-line Service   The persons license must match the business they are stating they are with.

It doesn’t matter if you know this agent or not.  The license must be verified.  If you find the license is with a school, the person probably is not able to practice real estate.  The school must be notified of the request and approve that the person is able to conduct business.

Since you are on your system confirming this information, save the page to your listing file, or email the information to me to save in the office listing file.  For every offer written on a property listed with Complete Realty, LLC license verification must be attached.

Law suites are flying because of agents practicing illegally.  This is a service to your client, your broker and the real estate industry.

 www.CompleteRealtyLLC.com

Angie@AngieRidley.com

Office 810 744 4600

Fax 810 936 4395

 Flint Area Association Member, Board of Directors

This Week In Real Estate, Board of Directors

Flint Chapter Women's Council of Realtors 2007 Local Chapter President