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MFCAR Upcoming Events
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Saugatuck Congregational Church
14 - Ethics - Mandatory CE Class
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CLASS IS FULL
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Saugatuck Congregational Church
19 - President's Day - MFCAR Board Office CLOSED
28 - Tentative MFCAR General Meeting - More information to come.
MARCH:
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Saugatuck Congregational Church
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Saugatuck Congregational Church
30 - Good Friday - MFCAR BOARD OFFICE CLOSED
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Just a friendly reminder that your 2018 MFCAR Membership dues are payable by Wednesday, January 31, 2018.
To pay online please locate the reminder email sent out on 1/25/18 from
Anissa@mfcar.com. If you have any questions please call us at 203-227-4418.
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ETHICS CORNER
Code of Ethics and
Arbitration Manual
2016
Case #12-14: Advertising Property as "Offered Exclusively" (Adopted November, 1995.) REALTOR® B, an exclusive buyer agent, filed an ethics complaint against REALTOR® A claiming that her "for sale" signs violated Article 12's call for ". . . a true picture in advertising and . . . representations to the public."
At the hearing, REALTOR® B elaborated on the charge in her opening statement. "REALTOR® A's 'for sale' signs often include the words 'Offered Exclusively' on a rider attached to them," she said, "and buyers are misled into believing that they can only purchase these properties by dealing with REALTOR® A or one of her associates. Advertising like that is unfair to other brokers who are trying to cooperate in the sale of her listings."
REALTOR® A responded expressing her belief that while there might be a rare exception, most potential home purchasers were sufficiently sophisticated to realize that regardless of their wording, "for sale" signs were just that, announcements that property was on the market and that they could generally deal with any real estate broker that they chose. "Everybody realizes how MLS works and that we all cooperate with each other on almost all of our sales. My use of 'offered exclusively' or 'exclusively with' or 'exclusively by' or just plain 'exclusively' like other brokers use doesn't mislead anyone. And, as a practical matter, I do have an exclusive right to sell listing, and I am the seller's exclusive agent, each and every time I put one of those signs on listed property so I have to believe that I am meeting Article 12's 'true picture' test."
Agreeing with REALTOR® A's reasoning, the Hearing Panel concluded that she had not violated Article 12.
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WE STILL HAVE A FEW SPOTS LEFT FOR FRIDAY'S LUNCH & LEARN. REGISTER BY CLICKING THE FLYER BELOW.
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MFCAR & THE NRVT
Realtors Give $10,000 to NRVT, in Fundraising
Race-Against-Time
This article appeared in Good Morning Wilton
on January 25, 2018.
Pictured above (L-R) on the NRVT: Elizabeth Boscaino, Halstead Property, Wilton; Pat Sesto, President Friends of the NRVT; Nancy Peden Manby, William Raveis, Norwalk; Viveka Kjellgren, William Raveis, Westport; Carol Heins, Mid-Fairfield County Association of Realtors, Westport
Fairfield County realtors are helping make the extension of the Norwalk River Valley Trail (NRVT) more of a reality.
The Mid Fairfield County Board of Realtors (MFCAR) has donated an additional $6,000 to the NRVT, bringing the group's recent donations to a total of $10,000. The donation couldn't have come at a better time-the NRVT is in a critical fundraising period.
Over the past 12 months, the Friends of the NRVT have been developing detailed plans for a two-mile section of trail connecting Wilton and Norwalk, nicknamed "WilWalk." The WilWalk section will be funded by a $1.3 million CT DEEP grant, but the Friends of the NRVT is committed to raise a required match of $264,000, with a deadline of May 1 to raise the funds or else the state grant is at risk. Final plans and permits will be secured in the coming months and construction will begin this fall of 2018-but only if the funds are in place by May 1.
There is still significant private fundraising that needs to be done. Donations to date total $85,000, leaving the Friends to raise another $179,000. Patricia Sesto, president of the Friends of the NRVT, acknowledges, "We have the grant in hand, but also have a big fundraising challenge."
Realtor Peg Koellmer of Wilton's Realty Seven is the president of MFCAR, and knows well the benefit of the NRVT.
"The NRVT is a tremendous asset to the community, providing families a safe place to hike, dog walk, bike and jog. We're excited to see the next section built and we're delighted to help."
Elizabeth Boscaino of Wilton's Halstead Property, and chairman of MFCAR's "Giving Back" effort, hosted five fundraising events over the past three years that, along with the support of other board members, made the donation possible.
"With the generosity of the Mid Fairfield County Board of Realtors," Sesto adds, "we are encouraged that our goal is attainable."
One of the stated targets on the NRVT website is donations from corporations along the route, who it's hoped will appreciate the NRVT's value to employees.
The two-mile WilWalk segment of the NRVT will run from Wolfpit Rd. to Grist Mill Rd., largely within ConnDOT's Super 7 right-of-way and power line corridor.
Individuals and companies interested in contributing can do so
through the trail's website or by mail at P.O. Box 174, Georgetown, CT 06829.
Questions should be directed to Charlie Taney, the NRVT's executive director
via email or by calling 203.536.5618.
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New Affiliate Member Offer
Fig Linens and Home, a Luxurious Bedding and Home Décor Boutique in downtown Westport, now offers a REALTOR® Discount on all closing gifts for your clients!
Simply bring your business card to the store for a 20% discount on all of our home goods including throws, pillows, towels, sheeting, bathroom accessories, faux fur items and much more.
Fig is located near the bottom of Main Street
across from Bedford Square at 66 Post Road East. You may also visit our website at
figlinensandhome.com, choose your closing gift and give us a call at 203-227-8669 to place your discounted order providing appropriate credentials.
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2018 MFCAR Committees
Membership
Education
RPAC (Political Fundraising)
Program/Hospitality
Grievance
Legislative/Political
Affiliate
Risk Reduction
Giving Back
Building Maintenance
Marketing/Communications
Technology/Website
MLS
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Press Release
Home Sales Down in December, Median Prices Up
Connecticut REALTORS® reports the single-family residential home median sales price is $247,500 for December 2017 which reflects a 1.0 percent increase from $245,000 in that same time period last year. Median indicates that half the homes sold for more and half for less. Single-family residential home sales in Connecticut decreased 11.4 percent comparing December 2017 to December 2016.
The total units of homes sold were 2,646 in December 2017 and 2,987 in December 2016.
Townhouses and condominiums median sales price is $164,000 for December 2017 representing a 0.9 percent increase from $162,500 in that same time period in 2016.
Sales in Connecticut decreased 2.7 percent comparing December 2017 to December 2016. Total units sold were 679 in December 2017 and 698 in December 2016.
The 2017 single-family residential home median sales price is $255,000 which reflects a 1.4 percent increase from $251,500 in 2016. Single-family residential home sales in Connecticut increased 1.7 percent comparing 2017 to 2016. The total units of homes sold were 36,621 in 2017 and 36,025 in 2016.
Townhouses and condominiums median sales price is $165,000 in 2017 representing a 3.2 percent increase from $159,900 in 2016. Sales in Connecticut increased 4.9 percent comparing 2017 to 2016. Total units sold were 8,896 in 2017 and 8,483 in 2016.
National statistics will be released by the National Association of REALTORS® on January 24, 2018.
Contact:
David F. Pendrys
Public Relations & Communications Coordinator
Connecticut REALTORS®
860-566-8698
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Market Trends
The following are statistics taken from SMART MLS records.
Continue to Show Listings:
Single Family Homes
For:
January 1 -
January 26, 2018
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TOWN
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UNITS
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Market Time
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Norwalk
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27
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99/98
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Weston
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3
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328/304
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Westport
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21
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155/148
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Wilton
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8
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137/123
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Fairfield
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17
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179/93
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Pending (Deposit) Listings:
Single Family Home
s
For: January 1, - January 26, 2018
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TOWN
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UNITS
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Average/Median
Market Time
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Norwalk
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23
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97/83
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Weston
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6
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162/153
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Westport
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15
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218/183
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Wilton
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1
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165/165
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Fairfield
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27
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146/99
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Please click the following link to view the above statistics as well as the Avg./Median price for Houses and Condominiums sold for
January 1, - January 26, 2018 & January - December '17 , according to the CMLS.
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CE Connection
MFCAR 2018 CE Class schedule
For quick online registration click
Reminder registration is not complete until payment is received.
No Refunds
Environmental Issues - Evolution
to Resolution
Elective CE Class
Instructed by Tiger |
February 7, 2018
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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Ethics
Mandatory CE Class
Instructed by Terry Hastings |
February 14, 2018
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CLASS IS FULL
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This Old Connecticut House
Elective CE Class
Instructed by Tiger |
March 14, 2018
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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Mandatory CE Class
Instructed by Terry Hastings
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March 19, 2018
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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Ethics
Mandatory CE Class
Instructed by Terry Hastings
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April 18, 2018
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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Residential Construction Practices
Elective CE Class
Instructed by Tiger |
April 25, 2018
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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Fair Housing
Mandatory CE Class
Instructed by Terry Hastings
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May 16, 2018
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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A new two-year cycle began January 1, 2017. The deadline for this cycle is December 31, 2018.
- Brokers - If you passed the CT Broker full licensing examination between 4/1/2016 - 3/31/2018, you do not need to take continuing education for 2018.
- Salespersons - If you passed the CT Salesperson full licensing examination between 6/1/2016 - 5/31/2018, you do not need to take continuing education for 2018.
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Online Classes
Sign up for online classes through the CE SHOP. Not only will you get a discount but you'll also support MFCAR.
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January: 20% off! Enter
January20
at checkout to receive
discount (runs 1/1/18 - 1/31/18)
February 20% off! Enter February20 at checkout to
receive discount (runs 2/1/18 - 2/28/18)
March 20% off! Enter March20 at checkout to receive discount
(runs 3/1/18 - 3/31/18
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New Members
DECEMBER 2017
Total Affiliate Members - 38
Total REALTOR® Membership - 1167
COMPOLATTARO, THERESA
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WM. PITT
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WILTON
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HANKS, SHANTE
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BIVINS REALTY GROUP
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GREENWICH
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NUZZO, LISA
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WM. PITT
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WILTON
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WETMORE, GRIFFIN/DR
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FAIRDAY LLC
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DARIEN
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