Member News: CORE Meet the Mayors Series; Locating Your eKey Serial Number; Bolder Fed Inflation Policy May Catapult Mortgage Rates, and More…

Member News

July 15, 2022

CORE

CORE Meet the Mayors Series Don’t miss these opportunities to hear from your local mayors about current and future plans related to housing affordability, property taxes, zoning plans, and more. No cost for CORE members to attend, $20 for non-members. This Meet the Mayors Series is brought to you by the 2022 CORE Government Affairs Committee.

July 28, 7 - 8:30 pm: Meet the Mayor of Ewing Township, Bert Steinmann. Register here.
September 15, 7 - 8:30 pm: Hunterdon County Virtual Mayors Forum - speakers TBD
October 27, 7 - 8:30 pm: Somerset County Virtual Mayors Forum - speakers TBD

Invest in Your Career! Contribute a minimum of $100 to the Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC) of New Jersey by Friday, September 30, and earn one industry unit towards your 2022 NJ Realtors Circle of Excellence application. To make your $100 investment, click here.

Contributions to RPAC are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. Contributions are voluntary and are used for political purposes. The amounts indicated are merely guidelines and you may contribute more or less than the suggested amounts provided your contribution is within applicable contribution limits. The National Association of REALTORS® and its state and local associations will not favor or disadvantage any member because of the amount contributed or a decision not to contribute. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, any request for the refund of a contribution must be made within two (2) business days of the date on which you authorize RPAC to charge you for said contribution. Your contribution is split between National RPAC and the State PAC in your state. Contact your State Association or PAC for information about the percentages of your contribution provided to National RPAC and to the State PAC. The National RPAC portion is used to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 52 U.S.C. 30116.

Last Chance to Submit Your Nomination for 2022 CORE Realtor of the Year Award To apply, click here. The award criteria include business accomplishments, civic and charitable activity, and service to the Realtor organization at the local, state, and national levels. The winner will be determined by CORE’s Realtor of the Year Committee, comprised of past presidents and former Realtors of the Year, and will be submitted by CORE for consideration for the state Realtor of the Year Award.

CORE members can submit an application on behalf of themselves or another member. Alternatively, members may also nominate a fellow CORE member for the award by sending an email stating you are nominating a particular CORE member to info@core-realtors.com. CORE will send a note of congratulations to that person with a link so they can apply.
Completed applications are due no later than Monday, July 18, by closing of business - 4:30 pm, and should be emailed to info@core-realtors.com.

Location Announced for CORE Member Engagement Fair & Picnic Join us for a fun, open-air event with food, networking, games, music, and prizes on August 3 (rain date August 11), from 10am - 2pm at the beautiful Oak Grove Pavilion in Duke Island Park in Bridgewater, NJ. No cost for CORE Affiliate and Realtor members to attend. Meet the Affiliate and Realtor members, Officers and Directors, CORE staff, and central NJ real estate multi-cultural groups, such as AREAA, NAREB, NAHREP, and LGBTQ+ Realtor community. Learn more about volunteer opportunities at CORE, get Supra questions answered, etc. Members only (sorry, no others can be accommodated). Attendance is limited. Registration is first come, first served. Register here.

CORE Summer Series: Meet the MLS – Garden State MLS Join us for a special virtual presentation on Thursday, July 21, from 10 - 11 am by GSMLS with GSMLS Executive Director Bob Kimpland and team member Elaine Maza. No cost for CORE members to attend; Non-members $20. Register here. This Summer Series is brought to you by the CORE MLS Advisory Committee.

If you missed the Bright MLS program on June 10, you can view a recording here or you can view the Bright MLS Economic Update presentation slides here.

Local

Hunterdon County: Bridge Construction & Road Closures For the latest notices on bridge construction and road closures in Hunterdon County, visit the County's official Facebook page here.

Mercer County: Traffic Advisory Milling and resurfacing of South Broad Street between Church Street and the NJ Turnpike in Hamilton is scheduled to begin Wednesday, July 20.

Somerset County: Free Concert Series The Somerset County Park Commission is hosting a free 2022 Summer Concert Series on Sundays beginning July 17 to August 14, from 7 to 8:30 pm, at Duke Island Park in Bridgewater. Concert goers will enjoy classic rock, country, R&B, Motown, and pop while surrounded by the park's natural beauty. A food truck will be onsite. View a list of bands and schedule of performances here.

Patch.com: Somerset County Restaurant Earns 2022 Grand Wine Spectator Awards Only 97 restaurants around the world have received the coveted "Grand Award", which is Wine Spectator's most prestigious honor. Read more.

SUPRA

Locating Your eKey Serial Number Did you know that your Supra eKEY serial number is unique to you and useful for many reasons? Watch SUPRA's video here to see where to locate it and why you need to know it.

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

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

Business Tips

Realtor Magazine: Quick Sales Scripts That Won't Fail You Let's say a seller says to you: "If I reduce the price of my house, will you reduce your commission?" How do you respond? Follow these scripts for difficult conversations with customers. Read more.

RPR Unveils New Charts and Graphs In this latest product release, RPR has added new charts and refreshed some existing ones in its Neighborhood pages. It’s the same robust data users expect from RPR, but its presentation has been revamped and redesigned. It adds to a more eye-catching, interactive, and responsive experience.

Continuing Education (CE)

Start Your CE Courses Early with CORE’s Virtual, Live-Instructor Classes The deadline to complete your continuing education requirements is less than a year away. The current New Jersey real estate license CE requirements are due by April 30, 2023, to avoid a late fee from the NJ Real Estate Commission. View a list of our upcoming education offerings here. Visit the CORE calendar to see the wide array of CORE's CE classes.

CORE Virtual CE Course Paint the Transaction Green This virtual course on Tuesday, July 19, from 10 am – 12 pm, teaches you about Energy Star rating, indoor air quality, MERV filtration, and solar energy. In addition, you’ll learn where “green” elements can be found in new homes, features that make both new and older homes green, how to spot these features, and more. Instructor: David Sulock. Cost for CORE Members: $15; Non-Members: $25. Register here.

New Jersey

Philadelphia Enquirer: New Jersey Renters Can Apply for a Shot at State Rental Vouchers For the first time in 5 years, lowest-income renters will be able to apply for rental vouchers, but those who make it onto the waitlist probably won't see assistance for two or three years. Read more.

NJ REC Issued New Guidance on Real Estate Teams The New Jersey Real Estate Commission (REC) issued Bulletin 22-07, which clarifies how real estate teams can conduct business under existing REC statutes and rules. It includes broker supervision requirements, how team members can be paid commission payments through their broker, where teams can conduct business, and the obligation to comply with REC advertising rules. Read more.

National

NAR: 2022 Forecast Summit Join the National Association of Realtors' next Forecast Summit on Wednesday, July 27, for an in-depth look at the residential real estate market, with a special focus on international activity. Free to attend. Register here.

NAR: Bolder Fed Inflation Policy May Catapult Mortgage Rates With inflation reaching a new high in June, the Federal Reserve will likely take more aggressive action. And that could influence even higher mortgage rates, says NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. Read more.

NAR Announces Partnership with Rental Beast The National Association of Realtors announced Rental Beast as its exclusive recommended software provider in the rental space. Under this agreement, NAR members receive free access to "Apply Now" by Rental Beast, the secure FCRA-compliant online rental application and tenant screening engine. Read more.

RIS Media: How the New Age of Home Inspections Can Raise the Agent Value Prop Amidst the real estate market’s roller coaster ride of the past two-plus years, one of the pillars of a successful real estate transaction - the home inspection - fell by the wayside as buyers maneuvered around stiff competition to secure a home. In this conversation with one of the home inspection industry’s leading authorities, RIS Media dives into how the market changed the way home inspections are delivered and elevated their importance for consumers and real estate professionals alike. Watch the video.

Looking for Fun Summer Plans? New Jersey Realtors Member Perks Partner, Member Deals, is offering exclusive discounts on summer concerts, theme parks, and more. Head to Walt Disney World and save up to $75 off gate prices, 50 percent on Brad Paisley concert tickets, or 35 percent on Rod Stewart: The Hits. Start your savings here.