Weekly Facts Blog – May 18, 2009

Reminder: The GTAR/NORES office will be closed Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day.

GTAR/NORES is now on Facebook and Twitter!
You can now follow GTAR/NORES on the popular social networks Facebook and Twitter. Find us on Facebook by doing a search for GTAR NORES; find us on Twitter by going to twitter.com/GTARNORES.

THIS WEEK!
Wednesday, May 20
Commercial Fair Housing & Other Legal Issues
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the GTAR Training Center. This new course has been several years in the making. We hope to make this a regular course offering for our commercial members so we need your support – Please plan to attend! Instructors Dr. Kathryn Jones and Attorney Kelly Monaghan will discuss how fair housing does and does not relate to commercial real estate. In addition, other legal issues such as ADA requirements will be discussed. (This class is open to all GTAR members; however, the focus will be on commercial issues.) OREC approved for 3 hours required FHR CE credit. For more information and to register online: Log on to tulsarealtors.com; on the main Member Services page, click the red Education button. You can also register with Visa or MC by calling 918-663-7500.

Monday, June 1
OAR’s REALTOR® Road Show
Join OAR President Mike Craddock for the REALTOR® Road Show coming to Tulsa Monday, June 1, 1:00 p.m. at Tulsa Technology Center in the Lemley Auditorium (on Memorial between 31st and 41st). Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the latest information on the Oklahoma real estate market along with a discussion on what OAR can do to help you and your business. There will be prizes and handouts. For more information, contact OAR at (800) 375-9944.

Thursday, June 4
Encore Presentation: Emerging Issues in Real Estate Finance
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the GTAR Training Center with Jason Oelrich. 2008 was a year of unprecedented sweeping changes in the real estate finance industry, and the U.S. economy as a whole. Be prepared for a successful 2009 by attending this informative update on emerging issues related to FHA financing, Short Sale techniques and pitfalls, proposed changes to RESPA, new appraisal requirements, new mortgage product developments, and an outlook on interest rates for the coming year. OREC approved for 3 hours required HOT CE credit. Register online at tulsarealtors.com – Log in and click the red Education button on the main page.

Tuesday, June 9
Real Estate and the Fair Housing Act
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the GTAR Training Center with new instructor James Collins. OREC approved for 3 hours required FHR CE credit. (If you previously took this course at GTAR, course number FHR080, and are still in the same licensing period at the time of this offering, you cannot receive CE credit this time.) Register online at tulsarealtors.com – Log in and click the red Education button on the main page.

Wednesday, June 10
OREC Meeting in Tulsa – Earn Free Required HOT CE Credit
The next Oklahoma Real Estate Commission meeting will be in Tulsa at the Radisson Hotel (10918 E. 41st Street); 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Those not on the agenda and that do not participate in the meeting will qualify for required HOT CE credit. Don’t miss this special opportunity to observe how the complaint and penalty processes work in real life cases. No registration is required and there is no cost to attend. If you have any questions regarding this meeting, call OREC at (866) 521-3389.

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.
MarketLinx 3 (Prospect Gateway): Wednesday, June 3, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

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

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

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 >

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 (second publication)
Real Estate Closing Company, Designated Individual Michael Kukla (second publication)
Shew’s Top Quality Roofing & Guttering, Designated Individual Joe P. Bray (second publication)