COMMERCIAL NEWS
December 2019
2019 Commercial End of the Year Update!
I want to express my appreciation for allowing me to represent you as Commercial Division President in 2019. It’s been a phenomenal year for our organization on several fronts. We had over 18 continuing education classes provided “free of charge” to our members, with all classes solely orientated around the commercial real estate practice. Additionally, the Commercial Division is geared up to offer classes for Illinois licenses in 2020.

As always, we will continue our advocacy efforts on behalf of for the commercial real estate industry, both locally and statewide. We had immense success working with MGA to keep most of the Historical Tax Credit Program intact and continue to work with our local and state elected officials to maintain the Low-Income Housing Tax Credits program for the foreseeable future. Our association was also very active challenging and defeating municipal regulation and policies that run counter to our commercial real estate practice.

We continued to support the Catylist program as a listing service for our members, offering them reduced rates and enabling them to utilize a haves/needs email platform. This service has taken off in 2019 and we now have over 25 percent of our membership utilizing the service every day, making it a viable option long-term for commercial brokers to list their properties and share information.  

Lastly, in May of this year, National Association of REALTORS ® recognized the St. Louis REALTORS ® Commercial Division with a 5-Star Accreditation, the highest honor, something only five other associations around the country enjoy. We’re thrilled to receive this accreditation and look forward to continuing to provide excellent commercial services enabling our members to build their brand and business for many years to come!  

It has been an honor serving St. Louis Commercial REALTORS ® as the 2019 President, and I look forward to what 2020 has in store for the Commercial Division and its members!

Carl Day Jr., CCIM 
St. Louis Commercial REALTORS ®  2019 President
Keep Up Your Catylist Listings!
As a reminder, St. Louis Commercial Data Systems offers a robust commercial data listing and research platform for St. Louis real estate practitioners. The system is powered by Catylist. If you are not currently signed up, click on the learn more button to register today!
Commercial Did You Know? NGA - Everything You Need to Know
For over 70 years the City of St. Louis has supported the NGA and its mission, with its western facility just south of downtown. In 2014 NGA announced that it would move from its current facility at 3200 S. 2nd Street because it was determined a new facility would best support its future needs and technologies. This move is scheduled for 2024.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is the nation's primary source of geospatial intelligence for the Department of Defense and the U.S. Intelligence Community. It provides support to U.S. national security and defense, as well as disaster relief. Learn more about NGA HERE .
Did You Know That St. Louis is Becoming a Science and Technology Hub?
St. Louis has become one of the best places in the country for starting your own business, in particular science and technology. With the help of  Arch Grants , which is a $50,000 award given to scalable start-ups to come to St. Louis. The thought behind this program was to build a new economy in St. Louis. Entries come in from all around the world.
Commercial Continuing Education Classes
The MREC requires 12 credit hours to renew your license in 2020, one course must be a Code of Ethics Core and the remaining courses may be either Elective or Core. 

Member's of Illinois REALTORS ® , click HERE to view 2020's CE requirements.
2020 Dues Notice
Keep an eye out for your 2020 dues notice for membership in St. Louis REALTORS ® and the Commercial Division – all dues notices were sent out December 1, 2019 and may be paid online at stlrealtors.com (click on the "Pay Dues" link), or through the other methods indicated on the invoice.

Remember, your membership in the Commercial Division gives you access to complimentary, top-flight commercial-specific continuing education, commercial standardized online forms, and reduced subscriber rates to the Catylist Research Database and Broadcast Email System.
Bylaws Vote
Please be on the lookout for an email sent out yesterday originating from " 2020BylawsVote@sltrealtors.com" with instructions on how to cast your vote. 

Changes were recently approved by the board of directors and now require a member vote. Voting is limited to REALTOR ® members and is open through 5 p.m. on December 27, 2019. A Public Forum has been scheduled for December 18 for those who would like to learn more about the proposed changes. Again, a majority of those REALTOR ® members who vote is required for passage. If approved, these changes will become effective April 1, 2020. These proposed revisions to the bylaws are the result of numerous meetings over the past 10 months. The proposed revisions are suggested as a way to update our association practices and a lot of careful thought and deliberation have gone into these proposed changes. Please keep an open mind as you review them. For more information, feel free to reach out to commercial@stlrealtors.com.
New Member Recognition
Congratulations to the newest members of the St. Louis Commercial REALTORS ® community. See a list of the newest members that joined since November, below. We are excited to welcome you to the Commercial Division and hope to see you in the near future.
Derrick Bridgett, Anthony Ellington Real Estate
Phillip Hearn, United Real Estate BenchMark
John Schink, Deerwood Realty LLC
Jordan Schoen, Invest St. Louis
Karen Thompson, JKadlet Realty
Gregory Vatterott, Vatterott Properties
HAPPENING AT ST. LOUIS REALTORS ®
February 20 | Heavy Hitters Awards
St. Louis REALTORS ® Commercial Division - Keeping our members informed!     
        
Questions about the Commercial Division? Contact us at
commercial@stlrealtors.com or 314.576.0033.

Commercial membership provides complimentary CE, contracts & forms,
advocacy on public policy and business networking opportunities.