NOTICES:
Effective Immediately
By direction of
the GTAR Board of Directors, GTAR application fees will increase by $25
effective immediately. The online forms packet has been updated to
reflect this change. Please print off a new set for your office.
August 28
Don’t Forget to Vote!
The RPAC Trustees encourage you to exercise
your individual right to vote on August 28, 2012 in the County
Republican Runoff and Skiatook School District Elections. The RPAC
Committee did support Pat Key for Tulsa County Clerk. Click here for the Sample Tulsa County
Ballot and proposed charter amendment. Not in Tulsa county, check with
your county’s election board for more information. Remember, your
dues dollars are not used in support of candidates, and neither the
GTAR nor NORES Board of Directors is involved in the decision of where the
funds are distributed. If you would like to become involved in this process,
you may contribute as a member to the RPAC funds and volunteer to serve on the
RPAC Committee. Concerned about a
proposed ordinance or issue in your area/city? Let us know by emailing GovtAffairs@tulsarealtors.com.
September 3
Happy Labor Day!
The
GTAR/NORES office will be closed Monday,
September 3 for Labor Day.
September 11
Realist (Tax
System) Classic Going Away
Going, going, GONE! The old Realist (Tax System) Classic will be gone on September 11;
Realist Tax System 2.0 was introduced in 2010. Repeat, Realist (Tax System) Classic
will be gone. If, when accessing the Realist
Tax System, you do your search from the initial screen that comes up, you are
already using Realist Tax System 2.0! If, however, when Realist Tax System
opens, you click the link in the upper right that says “Realist Classic”—this
is the link that will be removed on the September 11. If you haven’t been using
Realist Tax System 2.0, now is the time. Interested in a Realist Tax System 2.0
class? Log on to tulsarealtors.com: from the Main Menu, click the red Education
bar, then click Register for Classes.
Save the Date! “Living
on Tulsa Time!” Bus Tour: September 27
This will be a great event! Sponsorship
opportunities are still available. Details coming soon!
Plan Ahead for 2013 Dues
2013 local, state, and national dues will be billed
during the week of October 8-12, 2012. REALTOR® members budget
$484; REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® members budget $454. These amounts are
subject to change; the State Association (OAR) has not set their dues amount
for 2013 at this time.
Seller Safety Reminder
For
the safety of sellers, they should not let potential buyers view their home
without another person present, preferably a licensee. Recently, a
man posing as a buyer gained entry into a seller’s home. Once in the home the
man proceeded to be alone in kitchen area where the Seller’s purse was, under
the pretext of needing the seller to turn water on in another part of the
home. Since this incident the seller’s home has been posted on website(s)
with information that seems to have been gained when the man entered the
home. The July 2012 GTAR World newsletter contains an article on how to set up Google Alerts, so
you will know when and where a listing(s) is being shown on the Internet.
You can also go to www.realtor.org/safety for other
safety related items. (And don’t miss
GTAR’s annual Safety Seminar, Sept. 6!)
We’re Looking for Members to Serve on
GTAR and NORES Committees in 2013
Your participation will help make a difference in the
Association. Volunteering can help you better understand motivations and deal
with difficult situations, as well as increase your knowledge about association
and real estate issues. Volunteering also offers you a chance to develop
lasting personal and professional relationships. Take a moment to review the description of each committee in the August 2012 GTAR World Newsletter (pgs. 3-4). To sign up click
on: R & RA Volunteer Form or Affiliate Volunteer form.
EDUCATION
& EVENTS:
August 31: Early-bird Savings Ends for CRS 200: Business
Planning & Marketing
Successful real estate agents
know how to run a business. They know how to define their goals and have the
business planning, budgeting, and marketing skills to get them where they want
to go. After taking the CRS 200 course: Business Planning & Marketing with
Pat Zaby, you will know how to think like a business owner, with the ability to
develop a complete business plan with strategies they can implement
immediately. In this two-day
course, you’ll meet other top agents for prime networking opportunities. Find
out what works for other pros—and what doesn’t, so you’re not stuck
re-inventing the wheel. This course is open to all members whether you are a
CRS designee, working on your designation, or just want the information to help
you be a better agent. Class is September 17-18, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at GTAR.
Course is OREC approved for 16 hours elective CE credit. Early-bird registration price is $250
through August 31; after
that date, price will be $275. For course details
and online registration, log on to tulsarealtors.com; from the Main Menu, click
on the red Education bar, then click Register for Classes.
September
6
Stay on Target with REALTOR®
Safety This Fall
REALTORS® face
more on-the-job dangers than many other professionals. September is NAR’s
REALTOR® Safety Month, and a good time to keep safety in mind now,
and all year long, starting with GTAR’s annual Safety Seminar. This year we’re is
offering a totally NEW Real Estate Agent Safety
Training course with national safety expert Tracey Hawkins; Tracey is also a former real estate agent so she understands
first-hand, the dangers faced daily by real estate professionals. Her goal is
to reach as many associates and brokers as she can to teach realistic ways to
do your job safely. Class is 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Whether you need CE credit or
not, this is a class you shouldn’t miss! OREC
approved for 3 hours required HOT CE credit. For course details
and online registration, log on to tulsarealtors.com; from the Main Menu, click
on the red Education bar, then click Register for Classes. (If you have a GTAR
Class Pass, register by emailing education@tulsarealtors.com or calling 918-663-7500.)
September
12
14th
Annual Landlord Training
The
main focus of the 2012 training is a more business-focused approach to Fair
Housing than in previous years, designed for more appeal and relevance to commercial real estate
practitioners, while still maintaining relevance to the residential segment. The main topic: “The Nuts and Bolts of the Business
Aspects of Property Rental and Management” will feature a variety of speakers
on topics such as the danger and negative consequences of “redlining”
and “steering,” both of which are new topics for this particular annual
training event; what is acceptable and unacceptable
in advertising with a special focus on the hidden pitfalls; showcasing the
tremendous growth in north Tulsa that is commercial and residential, an often
overlooked area of town; in what situations are landlords required to make
repairs, and the difference between “repairs” and the “provision of service”
and the consequences for failing to act; and the economic benefits in offering
accessible housing and marketing to people with disabilities. Presented
by the Tulsa Fair Housing Partnership and hosted by GTAR; class is 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; OREC approved for
3 hours required FHR CE credit; training is free and open to the public!
Pre-registration is required due to space limitations. For course details
and to register online, go to tulsarealtors.com.
NAR Safety Webinar
Monday, September 17, 10:00
a.m. (Central): "Are You and Your Data an Easy Target?" This FREE webinar is brought to you by NAR as part of its observance of REALTOR® Safety Month in
September. Space is limited – register at REALTOR.org/MVP. Visit www.REALTOR.org/Safety for tools and resources, including archived
webinars, articles, tips, and more to help keep you safe, personally and
professionally.
Tax
Implications of Real Estate
Presented by the OK Chapter
of REALTOR® Land Institute; September 11-12, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at
Metro Tech Center in Oklahoma City. Cost through August 27 is $299; cost after is
$349. Click Here for
Information (This is not a GTAR
course.)
Help Your Clients
Navigate the Financing Process
NAR Government
Affairs is partnering with Chase Bank on a free webinar on how you can help your
clients navigate the mortgage financing process and reduce the problems
applicants face when trying to get approved for a home loan. The webinar is 10:00
a.m., Central Time, Tuesday, September 4. The webinar is being recorded,
so if you sign up but can't attend, you’ll get the webinar emailed to you later
so you can access it at your convenience. Pass along registration link.
MLS NOTES:
Upcoming Computer Classes
at GTAR
Pre-registration is required; space is
limited to 14 per class. For more information and to enroll: log on to
tulsarealtors.com, click the red Education bar on the Member Services page,
then click Register for Classes. All classes are held in the GTAR Computer Lab, unless
otherwise indicated.
Fusion 1 (Hands-on): Tuesday, August 28, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Fusion 2 (Hands-on): Thursday, August 30, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Fusion 3 (Hands-on): Tuesday, September 4, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Fusion 1
(Hands-on):
Thursday, September 6, 2:00-4:30 p.m.
July 2012 Home Sales Stats are Now Available
All
New Supraekey.com Website
We are excited to announce an
all new supraekey.com website launched on Thursday, July 26. The website has a
brand new look and will be easier to navigate and find information; it will
also bring you more training and information on Supra’s products. Below are
some common questions and answers, and some sneak preview images of the new
site. Come check out the new supraekey.com!
Q.
How do I
find the new pages?
Q.
Do I need to
change any of my Supra website bookmarks?
A. Yes, if you have any Supra sites bookmarked, it is
best to update your bookmarks.
Q.
Will there
be any changes to my SupraWEB login and password?
A. Your SupraWEB login and password will not change.
Try
the New TulsaRealtors.mobi
It’s a great “all inclusive” mobile site for MLS and
Realist tax data on your mobile device. TulsaRealtors.mobi works with
Smartphones and Tablets of ALL kinds—Android, iPhone, iPad, etc.
Realist®
Mobile App for iPhones and Android
Access the power of Realist while on the go using your
Smartphone! Get the details of all the houses in a neighborhood while on the
road—instantly and with ease. The days of having to pull a report at the
office are history. Realist Mobile® gives you the
power to share essential market information with your clients. Download the
Realist Mobile® App today: iPhones users, go to the App Store;
android users, go to Google Play. Next, login to Realist through Fusion on your
computer to create your User Name and password. For more information, click here;
for FAQs, click here. Watch your email for a confirmation from realist.info@realist.com.
GOVERNMENT
ISSUES/LEGAL:
Protections Would Extend to
More High-Cost Loans
The Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau seeks to expand high-cost loan protections under the Home
Ownership and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA) to more loans. HOEPA is a 1994 law
that provides protections for borrowers with high-cost home equity and refi loans.
The rule would implement Wall Street reform provisions that expand the HOEPA
protections. More.
New Fees Coming for
USDA–backed Loans
Stay on top of timing
issues if you’re working with a buyer applying for federally guaranteed USDA
rural housing loans. A new fee structure takes effect after October 1, so if your
clients' loans aren't approved for a conditional commitment by then, the new
fee structure could apply. USDA makes available a list of state contacts so you
can get information on how long application processing typically takes. More.
RESPA Home Warranty Effort
Advances
NAR First Vice
President Steve Brown in a blog post talks about the
reasonable approach to the RESPA home warranty issue that recently passed the
House. The Senate still has to take up the measure, which would clarify that
home warranties aren’t a settlement service that falls under the Real Estate
Settlement Procedures Act. NAR supports the legislation.
Know Your Ethics
Sweepstakes – Ends August 31
REALTORS®
who complete the Code of Ethics Training Requirement between July 1 and August
31 will have a chance to win an Apple iPad 3. To enter the Know Your Ethics
Sweepstakes,
simply complete either of the two NAR Code of Ethics online training programs—for new members of the association or
for existing members—successfully by
August 31, and you'll automatically be entered to win. The winner will be
notified by phone, mail, or email.
INFORMATION
TO USE:
REALTOR.org
Tip: Update Your Bookmarks
NAR
recently relaunched REALTOR.org with a new look and
structure. You might have had favorite pages on REALTOR.org bookmarked in your
browser, and now those links don't work. The pages likely are on the new site,
but the bookmarks might not take you there, because the new REALTOR.org has new
links. Use search or the navigation to browse to the page you need and
rebookmark it. The site is working on improvements to make it easier to group
your favorite links in folders and share them with friends and fellow REALTORS®.
Free
Consumer Content: Maintenance Tips
The
latest free content for your websites, blogs, social media pages, and print
resources from HouseLogic's REALTOR® Content Resource looks at maintenance tips.
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE:
Commercial
Intelligence Briefing
A new NAR Commercial podcast, “Prosperous Representation
Practices and View from the Edge” is now available online, featuring Sam
Foster, CCIM, a Jones Lang LaSalle Executive Vice President. Sam discusses
tenant representation and future trends in real estate along with the impact of
the millennial generation. He also shares the innovative way one retailer
overcame obstacles to make a prime space work in New York City. Did you know
NAR’s Commercial Intelligence Briefings are available for automatic download
through the iTunes Store? Just search “NAR Commercial”; link: http://www.realtor.org/podcasts/commercial-intelligence-briefings
8
Essential iPad Apps for Commercial Real Estate
The Source Blog takes a closer look at some of the top apps
available to make you more productive as a commercial real estate professional.
There are some great tools out there to help you in your daily business; link: http://blog.commercialsource.com/8-essential-ipad-apps-for-commercial-real-estate/
Commercial Real Estate Market Survey
Commercial real estate in REALTOR® markets
continued on a stabilizing path during the second quarter of 2012. Based on
results of the recently completed member survey, market activity at the
national level posted improvements compared with the 1Q 2012; link: http://economistsoutlook.blogs.realtor.org/2012/08/07/realtors%C2%AE%E2%80%99-commercial-markets-maintain-momentum-in-second-quarter-2012/
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION:
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®:
Lisa Mullins, associated with Coldwell Banker
Select (First Publication)
F. Lee Stevens, The Berach Realty &
Estates (First Publication)