Member News
January 20, 2022




CORE

What's Under the Dome? A Legislative Update on the Issues Impacting New Jersey Real Estate After attending this online course, participants will be able to identify and discuss current legislation affecting the real estate industry. Thursday, February 17, from 1 – 2 pm. CE Credit: 1 Elective Credit; Cost: $5 for members, $15 for non-members; Register here. The following topics will be covered by NJ Realtors Director of RPAC and Regulatory Affairs Bruce Shapiro:
  • New Jersey State Budget
  • New Lead Paint Inspection Law
  • Consumer Fraud Law Update
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Independent Contractors
  • Daniel’s Law
  
Our Condolences We are saddened to announce that CORE member Barbara MacManis, 84, with Coldwell Banker Realty in Clinton, passed away January 13. We offer our condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues. Click here for more information.


Local

Trenton Water Works (TWW) Removes 25 Percent of Lead Pipes in Service Area TWW, the 200-year-old public water system operated by the City of Trenton, has removed 25 percent of lead services (lead pipes) from its water-distribution system, including at private homes. TWW began removal in February 2020 with an inventory of 31,791 lead services in the system. Read more. 
New Outdoor Evening Program The Somerset County Park Commission’s Environmental Education Center will be hosting “Moonlight Meander,” a new outdoor program for people of all ages who enjoy the outdoors and want to stay active and safe during the pandemic. Participants will walk through the park under a full moon and learn about various topics, such as wildlife, maple sugaring, nocturnal birds, and more. A new topic will be explored each month. Weather-appropriate clothing and waterproof boots are required for all park programs. Read more

Bright MLS
Weekly Market Report For the week ending January 16, overall available inventory was in line with 2021 (99.9 percent); however, volume continued to track significantly below 2020 (59.4 percent). More sellers have entered the market as 2022 gets underway, and new listings climbed week to week. The Weekly Market Report for the week ending January 16 is available now here. Get more stats in Bright MLS's Weekly Reports here.  

Be There for Your Buyers Buyers need your knowledge and expertise to make informed home purchase decisions. From market demand forecasts to monthly payment estimates to a mobile solution that allows you to connect to your client right from your device, Bright MLS offers you a suite of real estate products so you can help your clients successfully navigate the buying process. Learn more.

Expand your Expertise with Bright MLS Tools Predicting exactly how your local housing market will perform or what’s coming next for the real estate industry at large is almost impossible, but Bright MLS core products can get you pretty close. Check out these five tools that will keep you in the know so you can be the one-stop real estate resource your clients need. Learn more.

Bright MLS is Experiencing High Call Volumes and Wait Times are Longer Than Usual In addition to the Bright MLS Support Center, callers can set up a time to speak with a Customer Success Coach for one-on-one assistance. To schedule an appointment, click here.


Webinars

Realtor.com: Technology that Boosts Productivity and Saves Time Join national speaker and Vice President of Realtor.com Andrew Dorn and Real Estate Coach and CEO of SparkTank Media Jeff Lobb to learn the best systems, tools, and apps that make you more productive and save you time. Friday,, January 21, from 1 – 2 pm. Register here.

Realtor.com: Virtual Tools for a Virtual Real Estate World Whether now during this difficult time, or as we progress into the future, virtual tools and methods will be part of our new reality. In this short session, we’ll explore all of your virtual options and how to benefit the most from each of them. Learn to evolve and to adopt new ideas to carry your real estate career into the future. Monday, January 24, from 11 am – noon. Register here

Realtors Property Research (RPR): How to Follow RPR Maps to Success RPR maps offer layer upon layer of data. This free class shows you the basics of conducting a property or area search and refine your searches by zooming in on areas based on local geographies. Wednesday, February 16 at 2 pm. Register here.

Bright MLS Webinar on Compliance This webinar will cover Bright MLS rules and policies that help ensure access to the most accurate property data possible, and help subscribers navigate these rules and policies to avoid compliance notifications and related fines. Monday, February 7 at 11 am. Register here. Topics that will be covered, include:
  • Accuracy Matters – Top Policy Q&A
  • Delinquent Dates
  • Net Compensation
  • Clear Cooperation Policy (Off-MLS)
  • Status Review
  • Branding Rules
  • Q & A


SUPRA

Supra is now offering live Zoom trainings specifically for agents! Check out CORE's calendar to register for upcoming classes here.

CORE has reciprocity with most SUPRA providers in NJ, meaning you don't need to pay for another key to get access. See a list of CORE's reciprocities here and activate yours today!

Welcome CORE's Newest Affiliate Members!

You can learn more about these businesses by visiting our Affiliates page or clicking on the logos below. Members are encouraged to use affiliate member products and service whenever possible. Click here for our affiliate member directory. 

Whitmore Home Staging
Contact: Karen Smith
Phone: (732) 713-4733
Rock Solid Home Inspections
Contact: Joseph Craddock
Email:
Phone: (609) 432-2678
Hunterdon Healthcare
Contact: Robin Schneider
Phone: (908) 442-1674

New Jersey
Your Voice was Heard On January 18, Governor. Murphy signed A6206 into law. The Governor conditionally vetoed the bill, which replaced some language but retained the bill's intent. The State Senate and Assembly unanimously approved the conditional veto on January 10, in the final legislative session of 2020-2021. A6206 reaffirms the right for a real estate salesperson to work as an independent contractor in New Jersey and clarifies that a law signed in 2018, which gave agents the ability to operate as an independent contractor or employee, would be retrospective, as well as prospective. If you have any questions, please email New Jersey Realtors Vice President of Government Affairs Douglas Tomson at dtomson@njrealtor.com.

NJ.com: Porch Pirates in N.J. Face Up To 5 Years in Jail Under New Law Porch pirates beware: Snatching packages from New Jersey porches could land you in prison for up to five years under a new law recently signed by Governor Murphy. Read more.


National

National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA): Groundbreaking Report Identifies Bias and Systemic Barriers in Real Estate Appraisals The federally funded report produced by the NFHA and its partners raises serious concerns about the standards and criteria related to the appraisal of residential real estate. Racial discrimination in home appraisals continues to affect Black and Latino homeowners throughout the U.S., and a new federally commissioned report from the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) identifies recommendations to address this crisis. Documented instances of appraisal discrimination… Read more

Realtor.com: Down Payment Misperceptions Persist The majority of home buyers—87 percent—finance their home purchase. But some aspiring buyers may delay their purchase due to persistent myths over down payment requirements. Read more.

Realtor.com: HUD Gives Early Chance to Owner-Occupant Buyers The Federal Housing Administration doubled its exclusive listing period on certain HUD single-family and real estate-owned homes that will give owner-occupant buyers more time to bid on the properties ahead of investor competition. HUD-approved nonprofit organizations and government entities also will be able to submit bids to purchase the homes before they’re eligible to buy from investors. Read more.

USPS: Place Your Order for Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of #4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here’s what you need to know about your order:
  • Limit of one order per residential address
  • One order includes #4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
  • Orders will ship free starting in late January





FEMA: National Flood Insurance Program
Quick Resources
 General Information on the NFIP