Weekly Facts Blog – January 12, 2009

LAST CHANCE!
2009 Roster: Deadline for Changes January 15
We are now working on the new 2009 REALTOR® Directory. If you have a change of name, address, phone number, fax number or email address, please call Connie at 663-7500 or email her at cmontalbano@tulsarealtors.com as soon as possible.

Earn All 12 OREC Required CE Credit Hours This Month!
Don’t wait until the end of your three-year licensing period to start working on your CE hours. All OREC required subject areas will be offered at GTAR this month. As always, Ethics (PSC) is offered for free at GTAR almost every month; Fair Housing (FHR) and OK Broker Relationships (BRA) will be offered every quarter in 2009, and Current Trends (HOT) will be offered at least once per quarter if not more often. As CE classes are scheduled, information and registration will be available on tulsarealtors.com; from the main Member Services page, simply click the red Education button.

(FHR) Fair Housing and Ethical Practices: Wednesday, January 21, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. with Kathryn Jones

(PSC) Ethics: Thursday, January 22, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. with Rodger Erker

(BRA) OK Broker Relationships with Parties to a Transaction: Monday, January 26, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. with Ann Lloyd

(HOT) Understanding the Foreclosure Process in Today’s Market: Wednesday, January 28, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. with Monica Wittrock, Esq.

Save $70! Register by January 30
SRES® Designation Course – February 17 & 18
Baby Boomers represent the largest and wealthiest group of buyers in the country; understand what motivates this growing market and how to address their mature needs by earning the prestigious SRES® Designation. GTAR will be offering the two-day SRES® (Seniors Real Estate Specialist) Designation course Tuesday and Wednesday, February 17 and 18 with national instructor Ruth Fennell; class will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days. Cost for the course is $325, if registered by January 30 and $395 after that date (the cost includes the first year’s dues of $99 in the SRES® Council). Don’t wait to register – space is limited to 50! Earning the SRES® Designation is easy—all you have to do is complete the two-day course and pass the exam—and, it’s OREC approved for 16 hours of elective CE credit. For course details and online registration, log on to tulsarealtors.com; from the main Member Services page, click the red Education button. For more detailed information about the SRES® Designation, including member benefits, visit www.SRES.org.

Annual REALTORS® Commercial Alliance Celebration – January 30
Recognizing the achievements of Commercial REALTOR® members within the profession and the community and honoring the 2008 Commercial REALTOR® of the Year (to be announced at the Celebration); cost is $50 per person. The banquet will be at the Doubletree Hotel at Warren Place; cocktails start at 6:00 p.m. and dinner is at 7:00 p.m. Special guest speaker will be Jack Crowley. For more information and to make reservations online with Visa or MC, go to www.tulsarealtors.com; under Member Resources, click GTAR Events, then Annual RCA Celebration or click on the following link: http://ims.tulsarealtors.com/documents/09rcabanquet.pdf. You can also print out the reservation form and fax it to 663-8815 or mail the form to us with a check or call 663-7500. (RSVP no later than January 27!)

2009 Presidents’ Inaugural Banquet – February 6
Get Jazzed! This year’s venue for the GTAR/NORES Presidents’ Inaugural Banquet is the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame; cocktails are at 6:00 p.m., then enjoy a sit-down dinner provided by Just Catering by Orr’s and entertainment by Frank Bray – “The Sting of Swing.” Cost is $50 per person through January 25 and $60 per person after; absolutely no reservations will be accepted after February 2. For more information and to make reservations online with Visa or MC, go to www.tulsarealtors.com; under Member Resources, click GTAR Events, then 2009 Presidents’ Banquet or click on the following link: http://ims.tulsarealtors.com/documents/2009Banquet-Flyer.pdf. You can also print out the reservation form and fax it to 663-8815 or mail the form to us with a check or call 663-7500.

Updated Form: New Member Procedures and Dues
Brokers and managers: The procedure for new associates and dues has been updated for 2009. Please print the updated form for your in-house information. The form is available online at tulsarealtors.com; on the main page, click the brown Forms & Contracts button, then Membership Forms, then New Member Procedures and Dues. You can also use the following link: http://ims.tulsarealtors.com/gtar/forms/membership/Procedure-NewAssociates.pdf

A Day of Technology with Dick Betts – January 15
Offered by the Rogers County Real Estate Association; national speaker, Dick Betts will be teaching two CE classes at the Route 66 Banquet Hall in Claremore, Thursday, January 15: Today’s Top Technology Trends and Smartphones for Business Management – Creating a Mobile Office, as well as a free e-PRO Designation Information Workshop. Click here for more information: http://ims.tulsarealtors.com/GTAR/CurrentInfo/RCREA-DickBetts.pdf. If you are interested in attending, please contact Michael Urie at 918-637-3415.

Blogging vs. Real Time Web
The latest Web trend REALTORS® have latched onto is a mix of traditional and micro-blogging. By incorporating timely updates into your daily or weekly blog, you can encourage conversation between buyers while still providing the researched information they expect. (Pat Kitano, December 21, 2008, Transparent Real Estate) More Information . . .

Help Buyers Narrow Their Options
Buyers are sitting on the sidelines due to the increase of homes on the market. Some buyers don’t know where to start and need assistance. Read for more information on assisting your home buyers. (Ellen James Martin, January 5, 2009, REALTOR® Magazine Online) More Information . . .

Mortgages: What You Need to Know in 2009
Rates are at significant lows and it’s a great time to buy a home. Read this article for tips to share with your prospective home buyers. (Peter Coy, January 6, 2009, msnbc.com) More Information . . .

Motivate Buyers to Get Off the Fence in 2009
The 2009 REALTOR® PR campaign encourages buyers to get into the market with commercials, radio spots and print materials, explaining the buyer opportunities available in many of today’s real estate markets, conveying the financial and social benefits of owning a home, and continuing to emphasize the importance of working with a REALTOR®. More Information . . .

GTAR/NORES Inclement Weather Policy
We are entering that time of year when the weather does not always work in our favor; therefore, GTAR/NORES has established the following inclement weather policy for all education classes at GTAR (CE, Computer, New Member Orientation, Post Licensing, etc.): If Tulsa Public Schools are closed the day of a scheduled class, the GTAR/NORES class is cancelled. Depending on the type of class being cancelled, the class will either be rescheduled for a future date or a full refund will be issued. Please be sure to check one of the local news channels the night before and/or morning of a scheduled class for school closings.

Upcoming Computer Classes at GTAR
Pre-registration is required. For more information or to enroll, log in to tulsarealtors.com and click the red Education Button on the main page. All classes are held in the GTAR Computer Lab.

MarketLinx 3: Prospect Gateway: Tuesday, January 13, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Xceligent Workshop: Thursday, January 22, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Xceligent Workshop: Friday, January 23, 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
WYQ: Friday, January 23, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Realist Tax System: Monday, January 26, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m.

REALTOR® Applications
Comments on the following REALTOR® applicants should be submitted by REALTOR® members to the Membership Committee, c/o GTAR, PO Box 470603, Tulsa, OK 74147.

Donald Gene Roberts, d/b/a Commercial Ventures, LLC (First Publication)