NOTICES:
Who will be Named GTAR REALTOR® and GTAR Sales Associate of the Year?
Find out by attending the 2012 GTAR/NORES Installation & Awards Banquet, Thursday, February 16 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino! Join us for lunch at noon to honor the outgoing Presidents, Pete Galbraith and Gary Griffith; incoming Presidents, Rodger Erker and Anne Pollard; officers and 2011 award winners. This year’s theme is Cash Into Change, which reflects plans for 2012, from changing the banquet format to expanding REALTOR® Appreciation Day (RAD), to getting a new MLS system. We hope you will join us in making 2012 a year of change! For a special message from the Program Committee, and incoming GTAR President, Rodger Erker, watch this video. For banquet details and to make reservations online with a credit card, go to www.tulsarealtors.com; under the Member Resources tab, click GTAR Events, then 2012 Presidents’ Banquet. You can also print a Reservation Form and fax it to 918-663-8815 or mail it with a check. There is only one week left to buy tickets! (Absolutely no reservations will be accepted after 12:00 p.m. February 13)
EDUCATION:
February 13th, 3 – 4 pm
Document Manager WebX
February 21-22
Broker in Charge Course
Only three seats are left for the February class! Registration is now open for the March 13-14 class. If your license type is a Broker Manager (BM), Proprietor Broker (BP), or Branch Broker (BB) (even if only for ONE day during that license term) AND your real estate license expires on or after June 30, 2012, then you are required to complete an approved 15-hour Broker in Charge (BIC) class PLUS an additional 6 hours of required subject matter in at least two core courses (BRA, PSC, FHR or HOT) prior to your license renewal. Cost is $90. Class size is limited to 15. For more information and to register, go to tulsarealtors.com.
February 22
Special Event – Pat Zaby at GTAR!
Nationally acclaimed speaker, Pat Zaby will be at GTAR 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. to teach Turn It On Automatic: Serving Repeat and Referral Customers. Repeat and referral customers account for the majority of transactions and relationships that influence agent selection. Maintaining top of mind awareness is the determining factor that results in your getting the call when your contacts or their friends are buying or selling. This session will help you develop a system for leveraging your creative efforts through direct mail and social networking. Class is currently pending CE credit approval with OREC, and is free to GTAR members, but you must pre-register! The class is filling quickly. Register online at tulsarealtors.com.
If a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words, What’s a Bad Picture Worth?
According to the 2010 NAR Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, 98% of home buyers who searched for a home on the Internet found photos to be among the most useful features of REALTOR® websites. In the new class, Photography for REALTORS, March 6, 1:00-4:00 p.m., Dennis McFeely will help you enhance your skills utilizing digital cameras, software editing applications, and Internet hosting platforms to effectively and professionally market your listings. Pending OREC approval for 3 hours elective CE credit. Register online at tulsarealtors.com.
Understanding the URAR Appraisal Report and UAD Guidelines
In this new course, the Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (URAR) form will be discussed in detail with emphasis on the new guidelines and how it will affect real estate professionals; the additional guidelines, Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD), pertain to how the URAR form is to be completed. Starting in March, Fannie Mae will require all reports submitted to them for purchase to be compliant with the new guidelines. Class is March 8, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. OREC approved for 3 hours required HOT CE credit. Click Here for Course Details. Register online at tulsarealtors.com.
Who Doesn’t Want More of a Good Thing?
Everyone looks forward to GTAR’s annual REALTOR® Appreciation Day—it’s easily our most popular annual event—so we thought we’d make it even better. The new RAD Conference and Trade Show will include an Education Conference—a full day of education on April 4 featuring two CE class tracks—one on technology with Dick Betts, and the other on broker/managers issues with Theresa Stewart. April 5 will start with a fast-paced session covering multiple technology topics. The morning will end on a positive note with a presentation by world renowned motivational speaker and author, Jim Stovall entitled: Yes You Can. The Education Conference will cost just $50 per member; you can register online at tulsarealtors.com. But, if you want year-long, super-savings on CE classes, check out GTAR’s new Class Pass for only $25 more! (See information below.) Not to worry…we will still have the same great, Trade Show you know and love from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.—complete with valuable information, door prizes, food, and fun—and all for free thanks to GTAR’s Firm Affiliates!
Your Ticket to Learn in 2012!
GTAR's Class Pass gets you admission to the Education Conference classes and motivational speaker presentation (see description above), a $50 value, PLUS any and all regular CE classes GTAR offers in 2012—starting as soon as you buy your class pass—for just $75! For more information and to purchase your GTAR Class Pass, log on to tulsarealtors.com; from the Main Menu, click on the red Education bar, then click Register for Classes, and look for GTAR Class Pass.
Land Investment Analysis Course
Three day course presented by the ALC Oklahoma Chapter of the REALTORS® Land Institute; February 21, 22, and 23, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at OAR in Oklahoma City. Cost on or before February 6 is $399; $449 after. CE is pending. To register, call Sherman Shanklin at 918-273-2344. Click Here for Course Details (This is not a GTAR course.)
MLS NOTES:
Be Prepared—Fusion will be Replacing MarketLinx in April!
Fusion training classes begin in March—all classes are free, but pre-registration is required—don’t wait until the last minute! Register online at tulsarealtors.com (Education – Register for Classes). There are plenty of days and times to choose from; all classes will be in the GTAR Training Center, unless otherwise indicated.
Coming in April: Your Next Generation MLS—Fusion
You won’t need a new PC to run the Fusion MLS system; however, you might want to compare your computer and consider the recommended stats for optimum performance of Fusion. IF your computer doesn’t meet the minimum recommendations, it is likely a very old PC, and you are missing out on much more than just MLS features. The speed and reliability of a newer computer can help to alleviate the pains and struggles of program lockups, timeouts, slow opening and closing of programs, reboots… and much more. Windows (Recommended): 1.8 GHz Intel Core Duo, AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200, or equivalent processor; 3 GB of RAM if using Windows XP; 4 GB of RAM if using Windows 7 or Vista. (Minimum) PC stats for running your upcoming 2012 new MLS-Fusion: 3 GHz Intel Pentium 4 (single core) or equivalent processor; 1 GB of RAM if using Windows XP; 2 GB of RAM (Windows 7 or Vista). Macintosh (Recommended): 1.33 GHz Intel Core Duo, or equivalent processor; 4 GB of RAM. (Minimum) Mac stats: 500 MHz Intel PowerPC (single core) or equivalent processor; 2 GB of RAM. You can check your current system stats by right clicking on My Computer, and selecting Properties. Call the Helpdesk at 918-664-0505 if you need assistance. Watch for future GTAR communications for more upcoming info on Fusion.
eKEY and Version 7.1 BlackBerry OS Incompatibility
A small percentage of keyholders have reported that eKEY is incompatible with version 7.1 of BlackBerry’s operating system. Supra is working to correct this issue, and will release an eKEY upgrade as soon as possible. Until that time, Supra recommends that eKEY customers do not upgrade their BlackBerry to version 7.1. BlackBerry devices that may run version 7.1 include: BlackBerry Bold 9790/9900/9930; BlackBerry Curve 9350/9360/9370/9380; and BlackBerry Torch 9810/9850/9860.
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE:
It’s Time to Register for THE Commercial Event of the Year!
2012 Greater Tulsa Commercial Market Update and GTAR Commercial REALTOR® of the Year Luncheon, presented by GTAR’s REALTORS® Commercial Alliance: Wednesday, March 14, 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Tulsa Renaissance Hotel. New This Year: The GTAR Commercial REALTOR® of the Year Luncheon will immediately follow the Commercial Market Update. During this hour, a keynote address will be given by Tulsa City Councilor, District 4, Blake Ewing; Mr. Ewing will talk about development of the Blue Dome and Pearl districts in downtown Tulsa, as well as his plans as Tulsa City Councilor. Then, as the name suggests, the GTAR Commercial REALTOR® of the Year for 2011 will be announced. This honor is awarded to a commercial member, nominated by his or her peers, who promotes the interest of the commercial real estate profession, the community, and his or her clients. Take advantage of early-bird savings! GTAR members: Pay only $60 through March 2; non-members: $80 through March 2. Event Details and Registration Form
GOVERNMENT ISSUES:
The Treasury Department is launching an investigation into allegations that Freddie Mac had a multi-billion-dollar investment that hinged on borrowers continuing to pay high interest rates, and may have put in roadblocks to make refinancing more difficult. Read more >
The Department of Housing and Urban Development passed a final rule extending protections to people in federally-supported housing programs regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. Read more >
NAR Committees to Look at Piracy Bills
NAR is working through its policy committee process to determine a position on online piracy bills that have attracted attention in Congress and in the media. The “Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA),” H.R. 3261, and the “Protect IP Act (PIPA),” S. 968, would target overseas sites such as Torrent Hub and The Pirate Bay that make movies and other digital content available for unauthorized download. On matters touching on online privacy and copyright protection, NAR has generally sought to protect members' intellectual property through copyright and trademark law while avoiding harmful unintended consequences from online restrictions. Access more info online or contact Melanie Wyne, mwyne@realtors.org, 202/383-1234.
INFORMATION TO USE:
Free Consumer Content: Fixing CLUE Reports
The latest free content for your websites, blogs, social media pages, and print resources from HouseLogic’s REALTOR® Content Resource looks at how home owners can fix their CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) insurance report.
Several Ways Members Can Save on New Car
NAR offers several ways for members to save on a new car. Among them: a special offer from REALTOR Benefits® Program Partner Chrysler Group LLC and special limited-time rates on new auto loans from REALTORS® Federal Credit Union. Other financing options are available, too.
MEMBERSHIP 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.
REALTOR®:
Debbie Solano, associated w/Coldwell Banker (First Publication)
Dave Stacy, associated with Stacy Realty (Second Publication)
Firm Affiliate:
Easy Moves, Designated individual Andrew Wilson (Second Publication)
