BoardTalk

May 18, 2020
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PRESIDENT'S CORNER

Hello Fellow Members,

Welcome to Phase 1 of the reopening process! Moving forward….

According to our County Executive, Cecil County currently has the lowest unemployment in the state and there are a wide variety of available jobs in the county. We should be grateful that we are getting through this easier than some of our neighboring counties.  

CCBOR is working towards possibly having a social event towards the end of June if permitted and the Membership committee is steadily working on September's Bull Roast. The Mortgage Finance & Title committee will also be having a FB Live forum coming up the first week in June with a Q & A on what effect Covid-19 is having on the mortgage process & settlements. Stay tuned.

Please be sure to keep up with updated and ever changing information being distributed from CCBOR, MR and NAR websites.  


Take Care & Be Well,

Deanna
NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to these new members are are in provisional status until approved at the next Board of Directors' meeting.
Susan Barnes
Berkshire Hathaway
Lancaster, PA
Marshal Manlove
Berkshire Hathaway
Newark, DE
David Piccone
Integrity Real Estate
North East, MD
DeRonnie Terrell
Berkshsire Hathaway
Hockessin, DE
Peggy Sue Mitchell
Berkshire Hathaway
Hockessin, DE
CECIL COUNTY CARES
During this "Safer-at-Home" period, join us in a challenge to maximize your time and at the same time benefit your community. As you may know, the CARE Committee started the C.A.T. Club (Citizens Against Trash) over a year ago in the effort of beautifying our communities by picked up unsightly litter. This is just one CCBOR-organized activity that will be submitted to Maryland REALTORS for the CARE Award.

How can you help? Get outside, get some exercise, and pick up trash around your community and nearby roads. Simply take a picture and/or video, track how much time you have spent picking up litter, and submit to  Pam Hawkins .

Come on everyone - let's all do our part!
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS ®
Right Tools, Right Now Program - Now is the time to take advantage of some great programs, resources, and services provided FREE or at substantial discounts to NAR members. Using savings from less travel and event cancellations during Covid-19, NAR has provided members with $10 million of value with these programs. For instance:

REALTOR® Branded Face Masks Available from the REALTOR® Store
These masks are being produced and sold at cost - NAR is not realizing any profit. They can be bought as singles or quantity of 10. Check them out here .
TeleHealth Offered to Realtors® at No Cost in Response to COVID-19 Crisis The National Association of Realtors® announced Wednesday that it will be expanding access to Members TeleHealth at no cost to its members until the end of May. Members TeleHealth provides around-the-clock access to non-emergency healthcare from more than 2,300 board-certified U.S. physicians. Common issues addressed through telemedicine include allergies, asthma, rashes, joint aches, flu and nausea, among others. Click here for online enrollment.
MARYLAND REALTORS®
Informative Webinars - If you have missed any of the webinars conducted by Maryland REALTORS ® , they can be viewed on their website . The next one entitled "Coping Strategies for Living and Working during a Pandemic" scheduled for May 22 at 1:00 pm. Register here .

Covid-19 FAQ provides answers to most of the questions on how to conduct business during this difficult time.

Federal and State Covid-19 Assistance Programs details financial resources available to independent contractors, self-employed, and employers.
UPDATES FROM BRIGHT MLS
Homesnap Pro is Introducing 'Coming Soon' Ads . As the real estate market has slowed in the wake of COVID-19 and social distancing has made open houses and in-person visits difficult, many would-be buyers and sellers have postponed—but not canceled—their plans to enter the market.

Coming Soon Ads are an effective way to give your soon-to-hit-the-market listings broader exposure and generate increased interest among these on-hold buyers. When the market eases back to normalcy, and you’re ready to make your listing active, you’ll have a waiting list of interested parties already eager to transact. Learn more here .


Covid-19 Market Trends as of April 26. Download the report here .

Configure Your Listings for Virtual Showings in Showing Time. Y ou are now able to configure showings on the listing level to note whether Virtual and/or In-Person showings are being accepted. This gives you and your sellers more control over how showings are conducted on the listing. Learn more here .

Bright Steps -- Your Virtual Toolkit. As everyone begins to work within the recent restrictions due to the Coronavirus, you may be trying to determine what tools you need to work remotely. Learn here which tools will help you move your business forward, while practicing social distancing.

Take Advantage of Temp Off Market Status - Learn more here .
MORTGAGE MARKET UPDATE
On June 3 at 10:00 am, the Mortgage Finance & Title Committee will be holding a presentation on the current status of the mortgage/finance and title industry on Facebook Live. Registration for this event will be sent out within the next 10 days. During this event you will be able to submit questions that you may have to the committee members (listed below), or feel free to submit your question at any time here .

Laura L'Italien, Academy Mortgage (Chair)
Phil Davis, Residential Mortgage Services
Geoff Delamater, MidAtlantic Farm Credit
Rich Hebert, Key Title Co.
Peter Kirsh, The Kirsh Law Firm
Susan Knight, Ardent Title Co.
Doug Phillips, Delaware Financial Mortgage
Alex Szep, Caliber Home Loans
Dan Wetzel, APGFCU
Jason Yates, Nations Lending

Useful Resources for Consumers

LATEST FROM
THE MARYLAND REAL ESTATE COMMISSION
The offices of the Maryland Real Estate Commission currently have limited access to the public. Please be patient with us, as it may take longer than usual to respond to voicemails and e-mails. E-mails are preferable to phone calls at this time. We can be reached using our  contacts page for telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of individual staff members, or you may send your concerns to our  general e-mail address  and your message will be routed to the appropriate person.

License expiration dates have been temporarily extended to June 1 per Governor Hogan's Executive Order. This is subject to being extended as the response to the coronavirus develops. You are encouraged to continue taking your continuing education courses , renewing your licenses online, and performing all other activities that are required for your license to the extent that you are able.
ADVERTISING RULES & GUIDELINES

Effective October 16, 2019, BrightMLS has initiated a new policy on Off-MLS Listings. This policy and details on "Coming Soon" and "Office Exclusive" are explained here . In addition, there is a new policy on Coming Soon for Rentals and New Construction - learn more here .

If you are licensed to sell real estate in the State of Maryland, please use this Advertising Checklist  that was prepared by the Maryland Real Estate Commission Note that Maryland does not make any distinction between any method of advertising -- print, electronic, business card, radio, television, etc. -- as far as Maryland is concerned, advertising is advertising and ALL advertising must comply with the requirements of Maryland law.

Also for your use, here is a  document prepared  by Bright MLS explaining the proper use of photographs in advertising.
Great News! We are only $350 from reaching our 2020 Goal. Here you can make a contribution. Thanks.

Maryland RPAC Trustees announce Major Investor Early Recognition Pilot Program. Learn more here
CONTINUING EDUCATION

To register for a class, visit www.cecilcountyboardofrealtors.com or call the Board office at 410-398-4844 .
FROM THE COUNTY

Here you can listen to current County audio recordings:

REMINDERS
To keep up-to-date on Board happenings, our calendar can be found here .
REALTORS® UNITED IN SUPPORT OF HOME OWNERSHIP!