Weekly Facts Blog – July 27, 2009

Effective August 3: New GTAR/NORES Office Hours
Beginning Monday, August 3, GTAR/NORES will have new extended hours of operation Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. New Friday hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (This change will not affect classes already scheduled on Fridays.)

NORES Payments are Late
NORES payments were due July 15. Late notices were emailed July 16. If you have not done so already, you can view/pay your invoice online at tulsarealtors.com; on the main Member Services page, click the Financial Services tab, then click NORES-Accounts Receivable. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards. You can also pay by calling 663-7500 or coming to the Association office. If payment is not received by Friday, July 31, a $30 reinstatement fee will be added and your MLS, commercial, and key services will be suspended until payment is received in full.

THIS WEEK!
Monday, July 27
OK Broker Relationships with Parties to a Transaction
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. with instructor Ann Lloyd. If you need a broker relationships class in the next few months, here’s your chance. The next broker relationships class at GTAR will not be until October 26. OREC approved for 3 hours required BRA CE credit. Register online at tulsarealtors.com; click the red Education button on the main Member Services page, then click Register for Classes.

JULY is RPAC Month
Here’s What Your RPAC Dollars Have Accomplished…
The real estate industry is more and more dependent on the use of information technology and software products to market properties and manage businesses. An increase in patent-infringement claims can drag unsuspecting REALTORS® into expensive and time-consuming litigation putting all REALTORS® at risk. The National Association of REALTORS® monitors bills and court cases which could affect you. To contribute, click here: RPAC Contribution Form or go online to tulsarealtors.com; from the main Member Services page, click Financial Services, then Contributions and use your Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover.

NORES Property Data Form Clarification
Allow Comment/Review y or n: If “yes” is selected, comments (or reviews) of the property by persons other than the listing broker may be posted for display on a website; this includes but is not limited to, any 3rd party site such as; blogs, Facebook, Craigslist, Trulia, Zillow, YouTube, etc. Participants/Users should not post property information to those sites that allow comments by users unless the seller has selected "yes." GTAR's Facebook Application will begin filtering these listings Monday, July 27. If your seller has not selected "allow comment/review = y" then the listing will not display on your Facebook Profile.

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.

Publisher Class: Friday, July 31, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
MarketLinx 1: Thursday, August 6, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
MarketLinx 2: Monday, August 10, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Realist Tax System: Thursday, August 13, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
MarketLinx 3-Prospect Gateway: Friday, August 14, 9:00 – 11:00 a.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.

Roy L. Lollis, associated with C21/Hale Agency (Second Publication)
James Thomas, d/b/a Bailey Foristell Agency (Second Publication)

Commercial Waiver Requests:
Montie Box, associated with Montie Box, REALTORS®
Bill Breisch, associated with Montie Box, REALTORS®

Thursday, August 13
Grievance and Professional Standards Committee Training
Are you a REALTOR® member interested in serving on GTAR’s Grievance or Professional Standards Committee? If you answered yes, these classes are for you! Both classes are OREC approved for 3 hours required PSC CE credit each. For class details and to register online, log on to tulsarealtors.com; click the red Education button on the main Member Services page, then click Register for Classes. Member cost for each class is $15 pre-registered or $20 the day of class.

Legal Aspects of Serving on the Grievance Committee: The purpose of this new course is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and procedures of the operation of the Grievance Committee. National instructor and Attorney, Thomas Jacobson will provide insight on why procedures have been adopted and how actions of the committee affect the administration of the Code of Ethics. You will learn how to tell your story to the committee and learn what your role is as a committee member. (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

Legal Aspects of Serving on the Professional Standards Committee: The purpose of this new course is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and procedures affecting the administration of the responsibilities of the committee and panels. With national instructor and Attorney, Thomas Jacobson, you will learn your role as a panel member, and you will learn what happens during a hearing. (1:30 – 4:30 p.m.)

Friday, August 14
Legal Issues in a Changing Market
Want to avoid costly fines and stay out of jail? In this new course you will learn how to recognize the opportunity for fraud, how to protect yourself, and what your role is as a real estate professional in assisting clients. The course covers mortgage fraud, RESPA, short sales, and foreclosures, as well as agent issues in a changing market including taking listings before expiration of a current listing, withholding material information to sell a property, pre-mature closing, procuring cause, and self-dealing. 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the GTAR Training Center with national instructor and Attorney, Thomas Jacobson. OREC approved for 3 hours required HOT CE credit. For class details and to register online, log on to tulsarealtors.com; click the red Education button on the main Member Services page, then click Register for Classes. Member cost for class is $15 pre-registered or $20 the day of class.

Friday, August 21
Eminent Domain and Condemnation Actions in Oklahoma
Whether you are a residential or commercial real estate professional, this new course will help you accomplish the following: correctly handle property takings using current case law as your guide; know the distinction between “for public use” and “for public benefit” so you can determine whether the taking is justified; adhere to strict federal, state, and local requirements to ensure actions are properly handled; accurately determine the fair market value of the property and calculate damages, if necessary; and reach amicable settlements using options like alternative dispute resolution or mediation. 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the GTAR Training Center with Attorney Bob Nichols. OREC approved for 3 hours elective CE credit. For class details and to register online, log on to tulsarealtors.com; click the red Education button on the main Member Services page, then click Register for Classes. Member cost for class is $15 pre-registered or $20 the day of class.