News and Events
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Message from the President...
We are now into our second month as the Greater Bergen Association of REALTORS® (GBAR), and we've got a lot going on! At the committee level, we have tremendous participation with approximately 375 people on 14 different committees and councils. The sheer number of the events that are being planned is truly impressive. In addition, there's a wide variety of educational classes being offered on both campuses so that you can fulfill your NJ State CE requirements by the April 30th deadline. Like all events, you are invited to take classes at either campus. Please make sure to read our weekly newsletter and check our website for a full list of classes, programs, and events.

While we are trying our best to get everything right, we understand that there's been some confusion on a couple of occasions. That's to be expected when you combine two large organizations, so I'd ask that you be patient as we continue to work out the kinks. I'd like to know how we're doing so please share your thoughts and feedback. Let me know what we're doing well and what we could improve upon. You can contact to me directly at GBARfeedback@gmail.com or you can join me at one of my in-person or online events that I'll be announcing in March.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you!
Christopher Tausch
GBAR President
GBAR NEWS
GBAR and AREAA Celebrate Lunar New Year!
Despite the inclement weather, REALTORS and industry professionals from across New Jersey and New York came out to celebrate the year of the pig with GBAR and AREAA! This was the first kick off event for the REALTOR association since the consolidation. The evening included a very special 10 course Asian cuisine presentation and a traditional lion dance. GBAR wants to give a very special thank you to The Global Business Council Chairs, Kathleen Houston and Ronnie Khurana.
INDUSTRY NEWS
New Consumer Advertising Campaign Preview
Launching on February 25, the National Association of REALTORS®' exciting new national ad campaign, "That's Who We R®", will distinguish who REALTORS® are.
Aimed at both consumers and our 1.3 million members, the campaign is driven by three primary goals:
  • To clearly demonstrate the value of a REALTOR® to consumers
  • To distinguish REALTORS® from other real estate agents
  • To deliver a sense of pride in being a REALTOR®
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
Spoof Emails: Recognizing Scams in Real Estate
Emails made to look like they come from the National Association of REALTORS® and other official real estate organizations are becoming more common as fraudsters try to make money by duping real estate professionals. Liz Sturrock, NAR Vice President of Information Technology, discusses how to know whether an email that appears to be from NAR or another real estate group is authentic or a scam.
REALTORS® LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS & TRADE EXPO
Registration and housing is open!

May 13-18, 2019 Washington, DC

Admission is FREE for members, but REALTORS® must register to attend.
TECH TIPS
How to Make a 3-D Model of Your Home Renovation Vision
Got a bunch of home-improvement dreams but you’re not quite sure where to start? Let a free or inexpensive three-dimensional floor plan program be your guide. While making a 3-D model is no substitute for professionally crafted plans and blueprints, it will give you a way to experiment with ideas before you hire a contractor or an architect.
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
International Students Navigate Off-Campus Housing
Though Tingkai Xu, a second-year graduate student completing his master’s degree in social work, hasn’t had a negative experience with landlords, some of his friends have. Evenings at Global Cafe’s panel on Feb. 12 served as a good reminder for him. The topic was “What you need to know about landlords and apartment leases,” which served to help prevent the process of locating and securing housing for the academic year from becoming an added obstacle for international students.
inmanSELECT
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AFFILIATE PARTNERS
Greate r Bergen Association of REALTORS® | 201.288.5000 | communications@bergenboard.com