Member News - Special Edition April 2, 2020
CORE
Membership Dues Extension
CORE is sending to each Designated Realtor (per their request) an updated list of their agents who haven't paid 2020 dues (as of Saturday, March 28). We are keenly aware that this is an extremely tough time for Realtors to pay their annual dues; that is why we are happy to announce that NJ Realtors has extended their deadline, and now
we are able to extend our deadline to April 13
. All agents need to have paid their 2020 dues by April 13 to avoid having their membership deactivated. (Please note that per the CORE Bylaws, in order to be reinstated, members whose membership is terminated for non-payment must reapply for membership. However, we are pleased to report that CORE will waive the application fee for both new and reinstating members through April 30, 2020.)
Calls to CORE
If you have tried to call our CORE staff at either of our office numbers and were not able to reach someone, it is because everyone was already on a call. The office phones are set up to forward calls to our staff who are currently working remotely, but this doesn't allow us to have voicemail or transfer calls. If you're having an issue reaching us by phone, we suggest emailing us at
info@core-realtors.com
with your question and phone number, and a staff member will respond as soon as possible. If you’d prefer to call and don’t get through, please try calling again later. We are happy to help and appreciate your patience as we work to assist everyone who needs assistance!
Area MLSs
Bright MLS
Bright suggests subscribers consider the following about
Bright Status Consideration:
- No showing requirement in the Active status: As long as a listing photo is available for the property, no showings are required in the Active Status at this time. This gives listing agents the option to continue to advertise the property as for sale while showings may not be available due to state restrictions or the seller’s wishes.
- The flexibility of the Temporarily Off-Market status: DOM/CDOM is paused, there is no time limit, and listing agents can continue existing marketing in this status. We are also making a temporary change to allow this status on IDX and partner (Homesnap Pro, Remine) websites (expected to be available soon). As usual, if showings are being done, the listing should move to Active. Learn more.
- The availability of Coming Soon for new sellers. For new sellers who still want to list and sell their property, the Coming Soon status is available. It’s a great way to show a listing will be available soon, while giving 21 days of flexibility to the seller. As usual, if showings are being done, the listing should move to Active.
Available Soon: Virtual Open House
Based on requests, Bright will soon include an option to enter, search for and access virtual open houses. The new option in Listing Management will allow for 3 Open House Types:
- In-Person
- Virtual – Online Only
- In-Person and Online
The Virtual and In-Person and Online will include a space to provide a URL where the open house will be broadcast. Access through the URL from Bright will only be available during the scheduled time for the Open House. While this was a recent request due to COVID-19 and restrictions on large gatherings, this addition provides an Open House solution for anyone who cannot for a variety of reasons have large groups of people entering their property.
State
NJ State Tax Deadline extended to July 15
For more information, click
here.
NJ Economic Development Authority
- Note: This application is on a first-come, first-served basis. You can access the application link, beginning at 9 am on April 3.
NJEDA Announces New Initiatives to Support Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
NJ Realtors – Official Guidance for Real Estate
On March 30, Governor Murphy made two
updates to Executive Order 107
, clarifying which businesses may be allowed to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Realtors® can operate and show houses to prospective buyers on a 1-on-1 basis or to immediate family members. There is still a prohibition on open houses," said Murphy. The same restrictions of 1-on-1 showings, including immediate family, also applies to rentals.
- A new addendum regarding coronavirus for seasonal leases has been added to NJ Realtors® library of forms. This addendum is for members to attach to and make a part of their seasonal lease.
- Additionally, a new form Sellers' and Buyers' Hold Harmless and Release Regarding COVID-19 has been added to NJ Realtors® forms library per Governor Murphy's March 30 clarification to Executive Order 107. To visit the forms library, click here for the forms library.
NJ Realtors - A Note to Members
We did not ask to be deemed essential; we sought clarification on the vagueness of Executive Order 107 with regards to real estate business. The clarification on the governor’s Executive Order was sought only to determine what was permissible for those renters, buyers, or sellers who are in immediate need of real estate services. Situations where there is an immediate need could include a renter whose lease ends during the EO, end of a winter rental, those who needed to buy or sell for health or financial reasons that existed before COVID-19, those in pending transactions who needed guidance, or a vacant property, to name just a few.
As a state association, we are always trying to best inform our members about what is and is not allowable based on the most current state laws, regulations, and orders—we needed the clarification from the governor’s office in order to inform our membership on what was allowed during this unprecedented event. To be clear, we suggest all showings be held through virtual options. As a New Jersey Realtor
®,
you should not take this action by the governor to mean you must continue your business.
NJ Realtors - COVID-19 Relief Package
Last week, Congress passed a $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package which includes unemployment benefits for self-employed and independent contractors.
At this time, Realtors
®
who have opted to apply for unemployment should not apply until NJ makes specific Pandemic Unemployment Assistance available.
We will notify members when the application is live on the NJ Department of Labor's website. Click
here
for more information.
Since in-person real estate courses are not an option at this time, real estate pre-licensure courses may be taught in an online format, such as in a webinar, a virtual classroom, or by video conferencing.
Under normal circumstances, applicants must pass the licensure test within one year of passing a pre-licensure course, however at this time, the REC created a process to extend the one year license test and application deadline on a case by case basis. For more information, click
here
.
Federal
NAR -
Small Business Administration Loan programs
in the recently passed
CARES Act
Learn about the new 7(a)
Paycheck Protection Program loans and the
Economic Injury Disaster Loan
program
with the $10,000 advance grant. To access FAQs about this topic, click
here
.
