eNews
March 5, 2018
Calling all members to volunteer with Meals from the Heart

What can you do in less than one hour? You can help families in our community put supper on their table. You can raise your heart-rate with a fast-paced, coordinated meal-packing effort. And, you can have fun as you volunteer to make a difference! 
 
Register today to volunteer for ONE HOUR for SPAAR's Meals From The Heart project taking place this Wednesday, March 7. There are openings available for all hour-long shifts at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.  Register here for one or more hours of volunteer fun (it really is fun, too)! 
   
Feel free to invite other REALTORS® or your office to join you in volunteering for this amazing event. Meals from the Heart is a Stillwater-based organization that provides meal packs to area food shelves, directly benefiting members of Twin Cities communities.
 
Questions? Contact Joe McKinley at jmckinley@spaar.com or call Joe at (651) 772-6344.

SPAAR Impact supports Better Agents and Better Communities
SPAAR Impact was created to designate funds to qualifying internal and external groups as chosen through an application process. An applicant's request will be selected based on SPAAR's objective to create Better Agents and Better Communities using the criteria that includes one or more components from SPAAR's four primary areas of focus:
  • Advocacy
  • Community Engagement/Consumer Outreach
  • Professional Development
  • Communication

Click here to learn more about SPAAR Impact. 

RealSatisfied: a new benefit for SPAAR members
An easy-to-use agent evaluation tool called RealSatisfied was rolled out to SPAAR members free of charge as a new member benefit on Feb. 13. This tool is designed to help REALTORS® be more competitive in the real estate marketplace.

Among the tool's features, agents are able to send customer satisfaction surveys to both buyer and seller clients at the close of each transaction and, in return, collect valuable feedback and testimonials that can then be easily added to websites, social media feeds and sites such as Realtor.com.

Brokerages and managers are not required to take any action to implement RealSatisfied, as the tool has been purchased by SPAAR for individual SPAAR members; however, if an office wants broker access the broker dashboard may be purchased for $600 per office annually.

Go to spaar.com to find more information about RealSatisfied including how to get started and tutorials to learn how the tool works, and more.
Blue Star Mothers "We Care" Collection Drive extended through Friday, March 23
 
Now through Friday, March 23, SPAAR's Community Engagement Committee is sponsoring the third annual Blue Star Mothers "We Care" Collection Drive. The committee is collecting packaged snacks and toiletries for "We Care Boxes." These are care packages that are sent to members of the military.
 
Please help by displaying a poster or hosting a drive in your office or items can be delivered to any SPAAR Office. Bulk donations or cash donations are welcome to help defray shipping expenses.
 
Questions? Contact Joe at SPAAR: 651-772-6344 or jmckinley@spaar.com.
SPAAR sponsors launch of VAREP
A national chapter is putting down roots in the Twin Cities, and SPAAR is offering support. The Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP) is a nonprofit that was established in 2011 and currently has chapters in many cities throughout the U.S.

VAREP is dedicated to increasing sustainable homeownership, financial-literacy education, VA loan awareness and economic opportunities for the active military and veteran communities and does so through a five-point plan:
  • Homeownership advocacy
  • Community outreach
  • Professional membership
  • Veteran job creation
  • Affordable housing
On Tuesday, March 20, 2018, VAREP will hold its Twin Cities chapter launch at the Eagan Community Center from 6-9pm with SPAAR as a sponsor.
First quarter MLS fees due by March 31
 
First quarter MLS billing was sent by email on March 1 from billing@spaar.com.
 
If you do not see the notice in your Inbox, please check your SPAM and junk folders in order to not miss this important information. As a reminder, a payment must be received on or before March 31 to avoid suspension of MLS access. If payment is not received on or before March 31, there will be a $25 reinstatement fee. To access your portal account, please click here.
 
Feel free to contact the membership staff at SPAAR at (651) 776-6000 should you have any questions regarding first quarter MLS fees.
Students: share what it means for dreams to come true as part  of the Fair Housing essay and poster contests
Share what it means to make dreams come true, the topic of the 2018 Fair Housing essay and poster contest.

April is National Fair Housing Month and 2018 is the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. Sponsored by the Diversity Committee of the Saint Paul Area Association of  REALTORS® (SPAAR), this is an opportunity to learn about, remember and talk about the protections provided by  the Fair Housing Act (FHA).  Students are invited to share the impact of the Fair Housing Act.  How has the FHA impacted  you your family or your community?
 
Students in grades 6 to 12 are encouraged to take part in the Fair Housing essay contest  and younger students in grades K through 5 are encouraged to share their talents by taking part in the Fair Housing poster contest: making dreams come true.

Essays and posters are due April 13, 2018. Click on the links above for more detail.
Housing Market Statistics

Get up-to-date housing market information here. SPAAR provides four different types of reports so you can offer your clients the most accurate housing data available. Click below to see how the market is doing.

Welcome to SPAAR, new members!
Welcome to SPAAR! Thank you for joining. We look forward to helping you to be successful in your business.
New member
Organization
Cassie Ahlin
Realty Group, Inc.
Kathleen Brookins
Fresh Start Realty
Lianna Colestock
Coldwell Banker Burnet
John Craig
Edina Realty, Inc.
Alyssa Ducharme
Keller Williams Classic Realty
Stephanie Farrera
Bridge Realty, LLC
Katherine Hanson
Coldwell Banker Burnet
Anthony Hernandez
Coldwell Banker Burnet
Todd Hopkins
RE/MAX Advantage Plus
Waheed Hussain
National Realty Guild
Jeffrey Imholt
Bridge Realty, Inc.
Trevor James
Bridge Realty, Inc.
Mallory Johnson
Keller Williams Premier Realty South Suburban
Mychael Jones
Coldwell Banker Burnet
Lorelei Koenig
Ancona Title and Escrow
Grant Lahn
Edina Realty, Inc.
Hailey Lundquist
Edina Realty, Inc.
Justin Mathes
Timber Ghost Realty, LLC
Saw Minn
Capitol Brokerage Inc.
Christopher Ortloff
Inspections Plus, Inc.
Shawn Palme
K&S Remodeling, LLC
Devon Peterson
Keller Williams Classic Realty
David Roiger
Timber Ghost Realty, LLC
Douglas Sandvos
Coldwell Banker Burnet
Beth Schultz
Coldwell Banker Burnet
Mary Sutton
Trilogy Properties of MN, LLC
Marilyn Timmsen-Aden
Keller Williams Premier Realty
Kimberly Wallisch
Anchor Real Estate Trust, LLC

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