I am on the Professional Standards Committee of my local Board of REALTORS® (GLVAR).  This is my 2nd year, each year we have to take a 'training class' which basically reviews and informs us of updates in the REALTORS® Code of Ethics.  In additional all REALTORS® have to take Quadrennial REALTOR® Ethics Training.  Yesterday I along with about 100 other local REALTORS® took the yearly Professional Standards Training class. 

It's amazing how over the years much of the terminology in the Code of Ethics has changed.   Many of the updates this year had to do with the internet and electronic forms.  There are 3 specific duties addresed in the REALTORS® Code of Ethics:

• Duties to Clients and Customers
• Duties to the Public
• Duties to REALTORS®

Please click on this link for a full copy of the REALTORS® Code of Ethics

Freddie Mac announced it is expanding its Home Possible affordable mortgage suite to boost the home buying power of nearly 1.5 million US military personnel in response to calls from Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Hispanic War Veterans of America and different lenders to help more military families become homeowners. The Home Possible changes are expected to increase by as much as 30% the home buying power of members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and National Guard on active duty, in the reserves, or separated from their respective services by less than two years. "Today's announcement is good news for military families looking to own their own home and share in the American Dream they are fighting to protect for all of us," said Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson. (Source: Freddie Mac)   Full Story . . .

I am always trying to keep myself up to date on the real estate market and to further my education.  One of the things I did when I was young that I have always regretted was to not to finish my college education.  (true love got in my way!)  I am working on that now, slowly. by taking college courses (granted only 1 or 2 a semester) to earn that degree.  In between taking these courses I also am taking continuing education classes in order to keep my real estate license current. (24 hours every 2 years),. taking classes to earn those letters behind my name on my business card....ABR, e-PRO, GRI,   SRES.  I am currently working toward the CRS designation (I have one more 2-day class and I will have completed this!).  Each one of these designations has made me a better REALTOR®.

The classes that are the most fun to take are the motivational classes.  I started one today,  that is not only motivational but geared to help REALTORS® get "back to the basics" of servicing our customers and clients. An awesome class with and awesome trainer (Steve Poscente).  The class is a Floyd Wickman Starmaker class, formerly Sweathogs. I had taken the original Sweathogs class (with Steve as trainer) about 10 years ago.  I also took the updated Starmaker class about 4-5 years ago.  And I am excited about starting the class again.  Not just for the motivation that Steve provides but mainly for the help in getting back to what is most impotrant...YOU, my clients (past, present and future), my customers, my friends.  I will be going once a week for 7 weeks for 6.5 hours a day.  It's an intense and driven class, but I trust that as before it will give me the knowledge and motivation to move forward in this business that I love so much to bigger and better things!

Traditionally over the years interest rates have flucuated....when we purchased our first home in 1970 the interest rate was just a little over 9%.  We assumed three loans on a home purchased in 1980 with varied interest rates from 12% to as high as 18%!  Within 2 years we refinanced those 3 loans into one with a 13% interest rate.  All these "average" rates at the time. 

Granted rates are a little higher than they were a couple of years ago...but today's rates are just below 7%....a bargain compared to the 9% to 18% of the 1970-1980's