WHAT'S INSIDE: President's Message KWAOR Gives Back KWAOR Members Corner with Broker, REALTOR Relief Task Force Updates, & More RIAR News: Rent Relief and Mortgage Forbearance NAR News: How to Help Your Buyers Protect Their Investment And More

NEWS & UPDATES May 5, 2020

President's Message Dear Members,   I am writing to you today, praying that all of you are safe and haven’t been affected by Covid-19. We are in unprecedented times, but I know that we will all get through this together and come out even stronger in the end of this devastating virus.  Real Estate is still happening. Many REALTORS ®   are busier than ever. It’s just happening in a little different way. Hopefully we will learn something about how we work and do business that will create great new habits to help build our businesses.  Our KWAOR staff is working remotely, but they are always available via email or by calling the office. We are working in conjunction with RIAR and the other local Rhode Island REALTOR ® Boards to make sure that all member’s needs are being met through education and cooperation. We have also created a REALTOR ®   Relief Task Force to assist those members who may need some type of help. We are here for you, so please call us if you need our help. Don’t forget, our SentriLock Lock Boxes are still 50% off. It is a great time to be using these. We should all be practicing social distancing, which may become our new normal for a while. Scroll down for details on this great member benefit.   I hope you remain well. I am thinking about all of you! Your President Mary Coutu “That’s Who We R” KWAOR CELEBRATES GIVING TUESDAY WITH GIFTS TO OUR COMMUNITY! In partnership with the KWAOR REALTOR Relief Task Force, the KWAOR Foundation has developed a plan to provide support to local organizations and individuals impacted by Covid-19. The Foundation has approved disbursement of $3000 for contributions to the six community organizations listed below: Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale Lucy's Love Bus Rhode Island Food Bank Rhode Island Pride Warm Center of Westerly Westerly Hospital. To make a gift to the KWAOR Foundation, mail a check to the KWAOR office or call us at (401) 885-9300 to give via credit card. To join us in supporting the above organizations, click the linked names in the list above. Learn more about the KWAOR Foundation here.

KWAOR Members Corner

Broker Owners: Did you know? You are now required to provide face masks for your agents.

Face Masks And Your Business

Rhode Island REAL ESTATE LICENSE RENEWALS Due at the end of this month! Due to the current pandemic, the Rhode Island Dept. of Business Regulation extended the original license renewal deadline by one month to May 30th. DBR asks all license holders able to submit their renewal now, ONLINE, to do so ASAP. Use Quick Renewal tab at: https://elicensing.ri.gov. You must use the personal login info sent via US Mail in a letter from DBR on January 23, 2020. Questions? Problems? There's a great FAQ page at the RIAR website. Still stuck? Call (401) 462-9512 or email dbr.elicensing@dbr.ri.gov for assistance.

KWAOR REALTOR ®   RELIEF TASK FORCE - Here for YOU Since its formation last month, the REALTOR Relief Task Force has accomplished the following: Recruited over two dozen members to Volunteer Realtor Relief Mobilization and Resource Teams Hotline Set Up and Staffed - 7 Days A Week, We're Here For You! Resources posted online @ kwaor.realtor Launched Virtual Happy Hour for Stress Relief, Information and Resource Sharing--see the below article for an update! Initiated Community Relief for frontline service providers in collaboration with the KWAOR Foundation. Watch for a report of our first grant distributions, coming soon. Stay safe and healthy, and call us if you need anything!  KWAOR HOTLINE: (401) 862-1816

KWAOR VIRTUAL HAPPY HOUR & BYO: Tomorrow May 6th at 4 PM Our May 6th Virtual Happy Hour at 4 PM this Wednesday features ways to maximize your mobile device. Join us for a half hour panel discussion of tips and tricks on virtual showings, virtual open houses, virtual communications and more with KWAOR members Corey Dimaline, Peter Izzi, Kelly Moran and Nick Slocum. As always, bring your concerns, ideas, questions and stories! Click the button below on Wednesday at 4 PM, OR Call in : 1 (646) 558-8656 Meeting ID: 841 0480 7646 Password: 589713

Click Here at 4 PM Wednesday May 6th to Join KWAOR Virtual Happy Hour

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TRIVIA CONTEST WINNERS! Last Wednesday's Virtual Happy Hour mixed it up with a live Trivia Contest. Our inaugural Happy Hour participation prize ($25 gift card) went to Cathy Lathrop of Waterfront Properties. Our Trivia Contest winner was Mike Mita of RE/MAX Flagship Inc ., who chose to donate his prize back to KWAOR. A donation of equal value has been made by KWAOR to the RI Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund on Mike's behalf Well played, all!

RIAR News

RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND MORTGAGE FORBEARANCE NOW AVAILABLE for Rhode Islanders impacted by Covid-19 Rhode Island has made $1.5 million in emergency rental assistance available to low-income renters who have been impacted by the COVID-19 emergency and are at immediate risk of homelessness. Those who qualify can receive a grant of up to $5,000 to support past due rent payments and other fees. Requirement information and details are available at  HousingHelpRI.com  or by calling 211.  Mortgage Forebearance Now Available in RI:   90-day mortgage forbearance  is available from 20 RI banks.  Click here for details. Stay informed of the latest regulations and necessary procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Check the RIAR COVID-19 web page daily to stay abreast of your responsibilities and for useful resources for real estate professionals and their colleagues in the industry.

NAR News

YOUR BUSINESS CAN HELP homeowners who are struggling to meet their loan obligations by sharing  Protect Your Investment , a brochure developed to help REALTORS® encourage homeowners to work with their REALTOR® and housing counselors. It offers guidance on options provided by lenders and is designed to be customized for your business.

Click for Brochure PDF With Instructions

NAR's Clear Cooperation Policy Now In Effect for Rhode Island On May 1st, State-Wide MLS implemented NAR’s new Clear Cooperation Policy in Rhode Island. More about the Clear Cooperation Policy here .

Education

CODE OF ETHICS CLASS TOMORROW at RI School of Real Estate. Still need COE for your license renewal? You can fulfill your requirement from the comfort of your home with this online class. May 6th (tomorrow) 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM Online - Wendy Brown, Instructor $35 Questions? Email Wendy: wendy@risre.net

Click To Register

Your 2020 Lockbox Benefit

LOCKBOXES ARE HERE To date more than 320 KWAOR members have acquired the SentriKey app and over 70 offices have purchased lockboxes. Your 2020 SentriLock benefit includes: Free use of the SentriKey app (for smartphone or tablet) - a monthly benefit of $8 Free training for use of the app and lockboxes Half-Price Lockboxes ($50 each) Call us to activate your SentriLock account and receive an activation email with instructions on downloading the app. It only takes a minute. (401) 885-9300. Ready to order a lockbox? Use this form. And, check out our KWAOR SentriLock Member Benefit FAQs and Answers.

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