DECEMBER 2020 - VOLUME 25 - NUMBER 12

UPCOMING/PAST EVENTS

Fourth Annual Toys for Tacos Watch Video Here Industry Update - What's Ahead? Webinar with Mike Theo and Cori Lamont Watch it Here

VIEW EVENT CALENDAR

Membership Renewal Notice for 2021 – Last Call If you have not yet paid your dues for 2021, please note payments received or postmarked after December 31, 2020 will be subject to reinstatement fees. No exceptions will be granted. Please see your dues bill for details. Click here for complete information on how to timely pay your 2021 dues.  Important Note: For the safety of our members and staff, payments will not be accepted in person. Please plan accordingly.  We encourage you not to wait until the last day. The online service handled by NAR is only available through December 31. This site experiences heavy traffic during the month. Don’t delay or you may experience an interruption of your services. If you have any questions, please contact the RASCW office at 608-240-2800. As your local Association, it is our responsibility to collect dues on behalf of the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).   Please click here to see a detailed breakdown of your dues.

License Renewal Deadline: December 14 Still need to renew your license? Watch this step-by-step video tutorial on how to get it done! DSPS did NOT send postcards this year reminding you to renew your license. If they have your email address, you were sent an email reminder not a postcard.

NAR Confronts Discrimination with Simulation Training The National Association of REALTORS® has created a new and immersive online simulation training to help put agents in the shoes of clients who experience discrimination.    The new training program will present real estate pros with various scenarios as they work to close transactions. When discrimination gets in the way of closing the deal, agents must choose how to handle each scenario. They receive feedback based on their answers as they advance through the simulation. The platform also includes powerful testimonials from buyers and discrimination testers, illustrating the effect of housing discrimination on people’s lives.  Participants who begin the simulation will be able to save their work and come back to complete it later. The training can take up to two hours but can go more quickly based on the user’s fair housing knowledge. Members can go through the simulations as many times as they want. A certificate of completion can be shared with an agent’s broker. Check it out today: fairhaven.realtor  You can also check out NAR’s Implicit Bias Training: https://www.nar.realtor/videos/bias-override-overcoming-barriers-to-fair-housing

NAR Makes Updates to the Code of Ethics NAR strengthened REALTORS® commitment to upholding fair housing ideals by implementing a series of recommendations from NAR’s Professional Standards Committee that extend the application of Article 10 of the Code of Ethics to discriminatory speech and conduct outside of members’ real estate practices. Article 10 prohibits REALTORS® from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity in the provision of professional services and in employment practices. The Board approved a new Standard of Practice under Article 10, 10-5, that states, “REALTORS® must not use harassing speech, hate speech, epithets, or slurs” against members of those protected classes. The Board also approved a change to professional standards policy, expanding the Code of Ethics’ applicability to all of a REALTOR®’s activities. Finally, Directors approved a revision to the NAR Bylaws, expanding the definition of “public trust” to include all discrimination against the protected classes under Article 10 along with all fraud. Associations are required to share with the state real estate licensing authority final ethics decisions holding REALTORS® in violation of the Code of Ethics in instances involving real estate-related activities and transactions where there is reason to believe the public trust may have been violated.  These changes are effective immediately. Please contact RASCW Staff with questions about this policy or for details about how to file a complaint. To read more click Here

Professional Standards Committee Report The Association’s Professional Standards Committee is responsible for handling ethics complaints and arbitration requests. Committee members are appointed and required to attend training to prepare them to serve on Grievance Panels, Hearing Panels and as Mediators. When it became clear that meeting in person would not be an option during the pandemic, the committee adapted all proceedings to virtual platforms.  During 2020, the Professional Standards Committee reviewed 12 formal filings – four ethics complaints, which three were filed by consumers, and eight requests for arbitration. Three mediations and two hearings were held. Two disputes were resolved by the parties on their own. Five are still in progress, which will result in either mediations or hearings being scheduled. How does this compare to last year? During 2019, the committee reviewed thirteen complaints – five ethics complaints, which four were filed by consumers, and eight arbitration requests.

RASCW 2020 Annual Report (Click Image Below)

Commercial Corner Commercial Real Estate agents are keenly aware that their businesses won’t return to normal as the ball drops on 2020. 2021may bring new challenges and opportunities as we identify what the post-covid office looks like.  Two expert opinions on that come from recent outlook reports by CBRE (NYSE: CBRE) and MetLife Investment Management. The CBRE report says the second half of the year will be when this tale will unfold: “Only when workers can safely return to the office will the long-term effect of remote working levels become clear.”  The report also says, don’t underestimate the power of teamwork, easy collaboration, and face-to-face business interaction to draw businesses back to the in-person model. <<More...>>

SCWMLS HEADLINES 2021 SCWMLS Leadership Announced SCWMLS Increasing Data Security New Mobile Access to Paragon Better Information for High Speed Internet Assistants in MLS Read the December Issue Here

November 2020 Membership Updates (Click Image for Larger View)

Want to Get More Involved in 2021? RASCW Committees Are the Answer! As we fast approach the end of 2020, now is a perfect time to reflect. A common thought we hear is, "I need to be more active in giving back this next year." Perhaps you have volunteered in the past and are looking to find something new or maybe you have always wanted to be more active, but are unsure of how to begin.  This is a perfect time to consider becoming part of one of the many RASCW Committees. We hear it all the time" It's an amazing experience and one of the best ways to work side-by-side with other industry professionals. Your industry knowledge will increase, your networking skills will grow exponentially and the pride of giving back will motivate you almost immediately. DETAILS HERE

Click Image for Full List

View Full Stats Report Here

RASCW | rascw.org

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌