Weekly Notices - January 6, 2023 (Repairs bad link to December Market Snapshot report)

Weekly Notices

January 6, 2023

2020 Hill Day group photo

Washington REALTORS® Hill Day gives REALTORS® the opportunity to meet face-to-face with state lawmakers and let them hear the REALTOR® voice as they consider and vote on bills that directly impact our businesses.

This year will be our first Hill Day since 2020 (see class photo above) due to the pandemic.

Housing is expected to be a top priority of lawmakers in 2023.

Washington REALTORS® has launched a new Welcome Home public relations campaign, and Governor Inslee has declared housing to be on his top priority list.

SAR Governmental Affairs Director Darin Watkins offers his preview of the issues online here:

Learn more.

Washington REALTORS® Governmental Affairs Director Nathan Gorton and Public Policy Director Bill Clarke talk about our 2023 Washington State Legislative Priorities as we enter the new year.

The session starts on January 9th, and there are many bills on the hill to cover like Agency Law, Housing Supply, Leasebacks, Condos, and more!

The video runs about 12-minutes:

Real Estate Legislation - 2023 Session Preview

See the full Legislative Days agenda online here:

Legislative Days Agenda

Washington REALTORS® Legislative Hill Day

January 18th & 19th, 2023

Online registration will close promptly at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.

No on-site registration.

This exciting two-day event is designed for members to gain insight into the legislative process and see firsthand how our GA team advocates for REALTORS®.

First-time Attendees Go Free!

First-time attendees can attend Hill Day on January 19th for free. This includes lunch, shuttle transportation between the Olympia Hotel and the Capitol Building, meeting materials, and admittance to the Legislative Reception. This offer is for REALTORS® only.

2020 was the last time we went to the Capitol before the pandemic.

Watch this four-minute video of that visit to see what you can expect when we go this year - for the first time since the pandemic.

Washington REALTORS® 2020 Legislative Day

Free, guided public tours of the Washington State Legislative Building (Capitol Building) are available daily and are open to everyone. If you'd like to add this to your Olympia experience while in town for Legislative Days, click here for more information.

Call to Action

REALTOR® members are being called on to push back against legislation that would require EVERY INDIVIDUAL REALTOR® to obtain a city business license under a proposal by the Spokane City Council.

It’s part of a package of landlord rules being considered.

Town Hall set for January 10th.

Final vote set for January 23rd.

Read more online here.

2023 SAR Board of Directors

Convenes for First Time

The association's 112th president - Tom Hormel (above) - convened the 2023 board of directors, this week.

Hormel used a baton instead of a gavel to convene and adjourn the meeting, in keeping with his desire to be collaborative in his leadership style - like a symphony conductor.

With this meeting, all board meetings return to an in-person-only format and will no longer offer a virtual option (as was the case during the pandemic).

Members are always welcome to watch any board meeting in person.

SAR Committees Forming Now

More members volunteered to serve on an association committee this year than ever before - 148. Wow!

If you applied to serve on an SAR committee this year, you should have gotten an email this week informing to which committee(s) you have been assigned.

Watch for an email in coming days letting you know the date, time, and place of your first committee meeting(s) of the year.

You can help speed-up your committee on-boarding process by signing and submitting two forms:

1. Volunteer Service Agreement

2. Social Media Policies

It is a requirement - decided by the board - to have these documents on file for every committee member.

Begin Committee On-boarding.

If you have any questions about our committee process, the on-boarding forms, or anything else, please contact me, Tom Hormel - your 2023 SAR President - at 509-879-1128 or by email here.

Thank you for engaging with our association around this important committee work. I look forward to serving with you this year!

SAR Blood Drive

Tuesday, January 24th

SAR Parking Lot

Your SAR peers will be donating blood aboard the Vitalant mobile blood bus parked in the SAR parking lot on Tuesday, January 24th.

Join them by booking a personal appointment between 1:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.

Many people believe that most blood is needed after major disasters. However, daily personal emergencies and ongoing medical needs of thousands of patients require a constant and ready blood supply.

It’s the blood already on hospital shelves that saves lives.

Reserve your time.

Thursday, March 2nd

8 a.m. to 1:50 p.m.

Spokane Convention Center

The 36th Annual Real Estate Market Forum, covering trends in real estate, construction, and the local economy in the Spokane-Kootenai-Bonner area, will be held on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Spokane Convention Center.

An outstanding group of speakers has been assembled by the Market Forum Planning Subcommittee.

The Forum starts promptly at 8 a.m.

2019 file photo

The Real Estate Market Forum attracted 700+ people to the Spokane Convention Center in 2019 (pictured above) - the last time the event was held in this facility before the pandemic.

Don't miss out on the largest regional real estate event of the year - get your tickets now!

The REALTOR® Difference

Helping you communicate

your value as a REALTOR®.

Get the graphic here.

As a REALTOR®, you know the value you bring to your clients and communities every day.

The difference is real when working with a REALTOR® versus a non-member agent, and it’s important for consumers to understand that distinction.

While NAR’s ad campaign tells your story through paid advertising, consumers should also learn it from you, and in a consistent way.

That's why NAR has developed language to help you and every member of the National Association of REALTORS^® succinctly and consistently articulate the REALTOR® difference.

This graphic may be used as part of your email signature, on your website, or on your social media channels.

Distinguish yourself by sharing the value of the REALTOR® brand which unites us.

Window to the Law:

for Real Estate Professionals

Using a copyrighted work without permission is an infringement and could result in liability, including damages up to $150,000 for a willful infringement.

Real estate professionals can help avoid these potentially costly claims with these four risk management tips.

Watch this new three-minute video to learn more:

Window to the Law: Copyright Issues for Real Estate Professionals

You be the Judge

Winner for the November

Wake Up Call Gift Card

Congratulations to Colleen Samson, John L Scott Real Estate

Colleen wins a $15 Wake Up Call coffee gift card.

Case #16-22:

Ascertaining Whether a Consumer is Subject to an Exclusive Representation Agreement (Adopted May, 2019.)

NOVEMBER ANSWER

The Hearing Panel decided that REALTOR® A had violated Article 16, as Standard of Practice 16-9 provides, “REALTORS®, prior to entering into a representation agreement, have an affirmative obligation to make reasonable efforts to determine whether the prospect is subject to a current, valid exclusive agreement to provide the same type of real estate service.” As REALTOR® A had made no affirmative effort to ascertain whether Buyer C’s relationship with another agent was exclusive or not, the Hearing Panel concluded she had made no reasonable efforts to determine the nature of the relationship as required by Article 16.

The original case is presented here - note, this case is now closed.

You be the Judge.

Technology That Helps Sell Homes

Although real estate agents have long capitalized on technology to help sell homes, new and innovative options keep coming.

Many technological advances make selling a home easier and more intuitive, especially when paired with a good marketing plan.

One thing is certain: technology keeps changing and advancing, so what should you use to sell homes?

Here’s the latest from the YPN blog:

Visit the YPN blog.

Professional Development

The SAR offers a full schedule of virtual classes to help members satisfy their professional development requirements to keep their REALTOR® status current.

Please be in touch with Tami at the SAR if you have any questions about classes or your license education requirements, by phone at 326-9222 or by email.