March 9, 2020
SPAAR offices will be closed tomorrow morning, Tuesday, March 10, for a staff training. The Saint Paul office will open at 10:30am and the Coon Rapids office will open at 11am. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Spotlight on SPAAR: Grant applications are now being accepted
SPAAR's weekly videos highlight timely news, events and key information to help benefit members in their business. As such, these videos complement content also shared in SPAAR's newsletters, on its website and on social media.


Have a video idea? Email spaar@spaar.com with the subject: SPAAR video idea.
REALTORS® Charitable Foundation now accepting grant applications
The REALTORS® Charitable Foundation, affiliated with the Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS® (SPAAR), is accepting applications for grants from qualifying internal and external groups.

Applications will be considered based on the criteria that it includes one or more of SPAAR’s four primary areas of focus, called Pillars, intended to create Better Agents and Better Communities. The Pillars are:
▪ Advocacy 
▪ Community Engagement
▪ Professional Development
▪ Communications

Coronavirus: the potential impact on the real estate industry and what REALTORS® should know
Everyone has heard of COVID-19, also called coronavirus, in recent weeks as it has spread across countries and into the U.S. In response to the growing concerns, NAR has issued guidance to help REALTOR ® Associations respond to the coronavirus' potential impact on the real estate industry.

NAR's guidance may be accessed here , which provides suggestions for staff travel, workplace precautions, meetings, events and more.

SImilarly, NAR has put together a guide for REALTORS ® for use in their day-to-day business, including how to approach open houses, driving clients to showings and other workplace precautions. You can access the REALTORS® guide about coronavirus here .

And lastly, REALTORS ® may also be interested in a set of resources developed by Aon, NAR's broker for the NAR Insurance Program, which includes a business planning checklist for infectious disease, communication guidance and more, as seen here .

SPAAR will keep members informed if and when local guidance needs be communicated.
Weekly safety tips as provided by SPAAR and its members
SPAARky says:

"Happy Birthday to You"

As officials respond to the outbreak of coronavirus, COVID-19, all individuals are urged to wash their hands at least 20 seconds or longer, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, to prevent the spread of germs or furthering the spread of coronavirus. Singing the "Happy Birthday" song two times through will equal roughly 20 seconds.

We like hearing what tips SPAAR members have to share, too, such as:

I always block out a few hours this time of year to shred any and all information belonging to myself or current clients. Being in tax season, it's a good annual reminder for me and provides a fresh start for the remainder of the year.
What is your #1 safety tip to share?
Please share your safety tip and provide your name and email by sending an email to Jennifer at jkovacich@spaar.com. Member safety tips will be shared in future issues of eNews. Thank you to all who have submitted one or more safety tips. Keep them coming!
Second quarter MLS invoices are due March 31
Second quarter MLS billing notices were sent by email on March 2 from billing@spaar.com . If you do not see the notice in your Inbox, be sure to check your spam or junk folders.

As a reminder, payment must be received on or before March 31 to avoid suspension of MLS access. If not paid on or before March 31, you will incur a $25 reinstatement fee.

To access your portal account, please click here . If you have questions regarding your second quarter MLS fees, please contact the association at (651) 776-6000.
Join SPAAR for a special performance of  Not for Sale , a World Premiere Drama, at History Theatre on Thursday, April 9 at 7:30pm. Before the performance, SPAAR hosts a wine and cheese reception with the playwrights. Reception begins at 6:30.

Not for Sale  is set in the late 50s and early 60s and tells the story of Arnold Weigel, a rising star in the Twin Cities real estate business, who puts his career on the line when he begins to represent families of color as they attempt to buy homes in the all-white neighborhoods of Minneapolis and St. Paul. In the wake of the destruction of the Rondo neighborhood, there is a great need for housing for those displaced by St. Paul's urban renewal plan. 

Tickets $10 each. Sorry, no refunds available. Prepaid tickets will be available for pick-up at SPAAR prior to April 9; prepaid tickets will also be available at Will Call at the History Theatre the evening of the performance. The History Theatre is located at 30 East 10th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55101. This event is sponsored by SPAAR and SPAAR’s Diversity Committee as part of its Fair Housing Month programming. Questions? Contact Joe McKinley: 651-772-6344 or jmckinley@spaar.com.
Applications now available for REALTORS® Charitable Foundation 2020 Scholarship Program
Do you have a child or grandchild seeking a post high school education?

Students who are the children or grandchildren of current SPAAR members (including Affiliate Members) and who will be entering or continuing a degree or certificate program at a college or trade school in fall 2020 are invited to apply. 

The REALTORS ® Charitable Foundation will award up to five $2,000 scholarships.  Click here for updated eligibility information and application.

The deadline to apply is Friday, April 24, 2020. Questions? Email spaar@spaar.com or call Joe McKinley at (651) 772-6344.

The scholarship program is made possible through the generosity of SPAAR’s members, with support from SPAAR’s Affiliates Committee. Thank you!
Fifth annual Blue Star Mothers Collection Drive
Now through April 3, SPAAR’s Community Engagement Committee is partnering with Blue Star Mothers of America to collect donations for We Care Packages. These are care packages sent to men and women from SPAAR’s area serving active duty. Drop off donations at SPAAR (Coon Rapids or Saint Paul) or consider hosting a collection box in your office. 

Items to donate:
  • Snacks: granola bars, oatmeal, drink mix, single servings of coffee or tea, jerky and more!
  • Toiletries: deodorant, baby powder, unscented wipes and more!
  • Activities: note cards, colored pencils, adult color, puzzle books and more!
  • Donations: to defray shipping costs are also welcome.
NAR Midyear scholarships now being accepted
Interested in advocacy? Apply now to be an Emerging Leader and be able to represent SPAAR at the NAR Midyear conference this May. Click here to apply for the Emerging Leader scholarship .
Attention brokers: Michael Bisping of NorthstarMLS will be the speaker for the Better Brokers Series on March 20
Michael Bisping, NorthstarMLS's Director of Customer Relations, will provide an overview of the Clear Cooperation Policy 8.0 , which the National Associations of REALTORS® Board passed with 91% of its 800 Directors voted in favor.

Date:                   Friday, March 20, 2020
Time:                  9:00 am (light breakfast and networking) 9:30-10:30am presentation
Location:            SPAAR, 325 Roselawn Ave E., Maplewood MN 55117

Click to register here for the Better Brokers Series (Note: you must be a broker to register online.)

The Clear Cooperation Policy makes clear that the MLS exists for cooperation and compensation among brokerages. If you belong to the MLS, cooperation is the first, not the last, option to promote a listing. The intent is to strengthen cooperation and address concerns surrounding off-market listings, particularly pocket listings and private listing networks that exclude many consumers.

Michael will share how this policy impacts new NorthstarMLS policy, which took effect March 1, 2020. Find out what it means for your office practices, including how you handle Withhold and Coming Soon listings. Michael also manages the MLS Help Desk and will provide an overview of the MLS rules enforcement and answer your questions.
Summit Hill residents may request parabolic mirrors
Traffic safety is a universal concern among Summit Hill residents. That's why the Summit Hill Association will provide parabolic mirrors to many Summit Hill residents free of charge.

These mirrors provide a wider view of streets and sidewalks, making it much easier to see both cars and pedestrians as drivers pull out from alleys. Any resident who lives on an alley corner with a blind spot can request to have one of these mirrors installed free of charge by emailing info@summithillassociation.org. This program was made possible via a community STAR grant. The grant is funded via 50 percent of the city's $0.05 sales tax. 
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 new members!
SPAAR's New Member Orientation (NMO) in 2020 has changed to a two-day format so new members will be announced the last eNews of each month. Read the February names:

SPAAR in the News
See SPAAR in the news? We'd love to know about it! If you see articles in your local paper about SPAAR members, events or other news, please send an email to  jkovacich@spaar.com  or mail to Jennifer Kovacich at SPAAR (325 Roselawn Ave E, St. Paul, MN 55117) or simply call (651) 287-3922 with the station or publication information. Thank you!
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