Weekly Facts Blog – May 11, 2009

MarketLinx Update – May 6
A MarketLinx update occurred on May 6, 2009. For details on the changes, as well as the Property Data Form Addendum, click on the following link: Click Here

THIS WEEK!
Monday, May 11
Proposed Overlay Ordinance Meeting
The task force chaired by Councilman Christianson is hearing a presentation by Preserve Midtown, Monday, May 11 at 5:00 p.m. on the 4th floor of the City Hall Building to discuss the proposed ordinance which would affect infill residential development. The following week, May 18, Bill Butts will give the rebuttal at 5:00 p.m. on the 4th floor of the City Hall Building. The meetings are an open forum in which you are encouraged to ask questions. Your presence at these meetings is encouraged.

THIS WEEK!
Thursday, May 14
EDUTAINMENT Day – Daze of Your Lives in Real Estate
Sponsored by the Sales Associate Committee. The workshops listed below are free to members but registration is required by noon on May 13—if you want to have breakfast and/or lunch. Register online at tulsarealtors.com; on the main Member Services page, click the red Education button, then click Register for Classes. Breakfast and/or lunch will be provided for those registered, and drawings for prizes will be held throughout the day. Following is the schedule for the day:

8:30 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. Generations of Our Lives – How to Get Along with Practically Anyone with Rick Brinkley
11:00 a.m. Top Ten Reasons Why Closings are Delayed & What to do About It with Karen Burnette and Guests
1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. How to Stage Like a HGTV Pro with Amy Stinson
2:00 p.m. As the Mortgage World Turns – Panel of Mortgage Experts

THIS WEEK!
Thursday, May 14
RCA Insight Social – I-44 Expansion Project Update
With special guest ODOT Division Engineer, Randle White, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Embassy Suites. A cash bar will be available for cocktails and enjoy hors d’oeuvres compliments of Guaranty Abstract Company. There is no cost to attend but an RSVP is required; space is limited to the first 100 registrants! RSVP by emailing dholland@tulsarealtors.com or calling Daniele at 663-7500. For more information click on the following link: http://ims.tulsarealtors.com/GTAR/CurrentInfo/RCAInsight-May14.pdf

THIS WEEK!
Friday, May 15
Everything You Never Knew about Home Inspections
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the GTAR Training Center with Dan LaBrake. Learn what inspectors are required to do and what they should not do, how to prepare your listing for a good inspection, and much more. OREC approved for 3 hours elective CE credit. For more information and to register online, log on to tulsarealtors.com; on the main Member Services page, click on the red Education button, then click Register for Classes. For details on the course, click the following link: http://ims.tulsarealtors.com/documents/09-CHIC-0513.pdf

THIS WEEK!
Friday, May 15
CIE - Xceligent Basics
9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Class is open to all current CIE subscribers. Pre-registration is required. To enroll, log in to tulsarealtors.com and click the red Education Button on the main page. Class will be in the GTAR Computer Lab. If you have any questions, please contact Renae at 664-0505.

Only 140 Backpacks to Go!
Backpacks for Kids Update: Thanks to the generosity of our members, GTAR’s Community Relations Committee has raised $8,029.48—enough to provide 160 backpacks (one backpack costs $50). We need your support so that we can provide 300 deserving kids with backpacks filled with essentials to start school this August. The remaining $6,970 needs to be raised by July 1 to make this happen! All donations are tax deductible; please make checks payable to the GTAR Foundation and mail to P.O. Box 470603, Tulsa, OK 74146. For more information on Backpacks for Kids and a donation form, click here: http://ims.tulsarealtors.com/GTAR/09BackpacksforKids.pdf

2009 OAR REALTOR® of the Year Nominations
OAR is seeking nominations for the 2009 OAR REALTOR® of the Year award. The winner will be announced and recognized by his/her peers at the REALTOR® Celebration, Thursday, September 24 at the Renaissance Oklahoma City Hotel. If you would like to nominate a REALTOR® member deserving of such a special honor, click on the following link for a nomination form: http://ims.tulsarealtors.com/GTAR/OAR-RoY-Nomination-Form.pdf Please mail the completed form to Janie Bays at GTAR, P.O. Box 470603, Tulsa, OK 74147; deadline for nominations is June 1.

Tulsa Early Settlement Program – Discontinuing July 1
The City of Tulsa is planning to discontinue the Tulsa Early Settlement Program on July 1, 2009; the Tulsa Early Settlement Program offers low cost mediation services. In 2008, 203 real estate mediations involving 1,624 people were filed. Mediation services must be preserved for all Tulsans, especially during these tough economic times when ordinary citizens have virtually no other resources available to them at low or no cost. Contact your City Counselor today and let them know the Early Settlement Program needs to be preserved. For more information regarding the Early Settlement Program: http://ims.tulsarealtors.com/GTAR/esrefacts.pdf List of City Counselor’s: http://ims.tulsarealtors.com/GTAR/citycouncilorlist.pdf

Effective July 1: Change in NORES Billing
All NORES Participants and Users: Starting July 1, associates will begin receiving a quarterly bill for User fees and key fees. Bills will be sent by email, so it is imperative that your contact information on file with GTAR/NORES, especially your email address, be current and accurate. For details on the billing change, refer to page 4 of the April GTAR World newsletter online now or the May issue out next week. An automatic withdrawal option will be available—if you prefer this method of payment, click on the following link, complete the Payment Authorization form, and return it to GTAR: http://ims.tulsarealtors.com/GTAR/GTAR-NORES-Payment-Authorization-Form.pdf

FTC Announces Red Flags Rule Enforcement Delay
(From NAR The Washing Report – May 4, 2009) The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced this week that it would delay enforcement of the "Red Flags Rule" until August 1, 2009. The Red Flags Rule requires that "financial institutions" and "creditors" develop and implement written identity theft prevention programs. The Compliance date of May 1, 2009 has been delayed until August 1, 2009. The FTC also announced that it would soon release a template to help low-risk entities comply with the Rule. Mortgage brokers and mortgage lenders that provide credit or arrange for credit to be provided are required to establish policies and procedures to prevent identity theft. A real estate agent may be considered a "creditor" if s/he regularly arranges for credit to be extended (e.g., regularly pulls credit reports, suggests potential lenders, helps with the loan applications).For more information: FTC website >

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: Tuesday, May 19, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
MarketLinx 1: Tuesday, May 26, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
MarketLinx 2: Friday, May 29, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

New Online CE Provider Coming in June
Starting June 1, GTAR will have a new online CE provider. The new Virtual University will provide real estate licensees with a better variety of courses more pertinent to today’s market, and will also offer CE courses for real estate appraisers. Look for more details in the June issue of the GTAR World newsletter.

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.

Firm Affiliate Applications:
Jubilee Janitorial Cleaning Service, Designated Individual, Mandy Hall
Real Estate Closing Company, Designated Individual Michael Kukla
Shew’s Top Quality Roofing & Guttering, Designated Individual Joe P. Bray