Weekly Notices
November 12, 2021
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SAVE THE DATE!
First “FREE” SAR Holiday Gathering & Membership Meeting
Making Spirits Bright
Thursday, December 16th @ 9:30 at Centerplace Event Center
Watch for more details to come!
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Maura Neill (pictured above) from BettsWorks will be in Spokane Thursday, November 18th, for two all-new classes!
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NEXT WEEK!
Registration Extended through 11/17 (for virtual attendance)
Education Excellence
Two Classes + Lunch = One Price!
Our instructor, Maura Neill, delivers a personal invitation for Spokane REALTORS® to join her classes in this one-minute video:
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Your SAR is bringing a nationally popular real estate instructor to Spokane, next month, for our final Education Excellence event of 2021.
Register now and plan to attend as Maura Neill from BettsWorks presents two classes:
Running Your Business in a Low-Inventory Market (three clock hours)
- and -
Co-op(eration): Improving Customer Service Through Synergy With Your Competition (three clock hours)
Thursday, November 18th
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Centerplace Event Center
Class registration begins @ 8:15 am;
class starts @ 9 am
LIVE CLASS LIMITED TO FIRST 60 PEOPLE
SAR Members $80 / Non SAR Members $100
VIRTUAL HYBRID CLASS LIMITED
TO FIRST 50 PEOPLE
(Must have camera on)
SAR Members $60 / Non SAR Members $80
Click on the calendar and the date to register
or call Tami @ the SAR (509) 326-9222
At the door: Members $100,
Non SAR Members $120.
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Spokane County’s housing market cools in October as sales,
new listings drop
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Spokane County’s housing market frenzy moderated in October as a fall cooldown brought fewer competing offers and home sales.
Some 697 single-family homes and condos on less than 1 acre sold in October, a 14.8% decrease compared to 818 homes in October 2020, according to data from the Spokane Association of Realtors.
“You could feel a little bit of the slowing down as we were changing seasons,” said Kyle Krug, a Spokane-based broker with John L. Scott Real Estate. “I think we are getting fewer offers per home and we’re also getting fewer escalation clauses. We are also seeing a lot more price reductions, too.”
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Share this week's
Advocacy Message
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The Spokane Association of REALTORS® has created a program to get the housing advocacy conversation going and invite the community to take action through our “Together Stronger” campaign.
This week's message is on the SAR Face Book Channel now.
Click on the "share" button, add your personal comments if you like, then share it with your social network.
Together we are stronger!
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Click on the image above to get a copy of the VA Buyers Guide for Veterans, suitable for sharing with your clients.
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American's celebrated Veterans Day across the country, this week, to honor all those who have served in the past and in all branches of service, including active-duty, reserve and National Guard troops.
If you are one of these, thank you for your service.
Since 1944, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and private industry partners have helped deliver the dream of homeownership to generations of Veterans and Servicemembers through VA loans.
It's why "We believe in VA financing!"
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This video was produced in 2018 and includes past association leadership. Ken Sax served as 2018 association president; Gina Mosey served as 2019 association president (both pictured above).
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2022 SAR
Initial Slate of Candidates –
Petition for Nomination
Now Available
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Your SAR Nominating Committee is pleased to announce its initial slate of candidates for 2022 SAR leadership:
PRESIDENT-ELECT:
· Tom Hormel, RE/MAX of Spokane
TREASURER:
· No Specified Nominee
SECRETARY:
· Ron McIntire, Choice Realty
DIRECTORS:
· Bree Campana, 4 Degrees Real Estate
· Judy Flemmer, EXIT Real Estate Professionals
· Britney Inglis, Real Estate Marketplace NW, Inc.
· Katie McDaris Marks, EXIT Real Estate Professionals
· Ron McIntire, Choice Realty
· Barb Pielli, Professional Realty Services
· Matt Side, Realty One Group Eclipse
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Petition to
Nominate Additional Candidates
In accordance with Article XIII, Section 13.2, of the Association Bylaws, additional candidates may be nominated by REALTOR® members.
For those wishing to nominate a REALTOR® member for an Association Officer or Director position who is not on the initial Slate of Candidates, Nominating Petitions are now available.
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Deadline to return petitions is end of business day Monday, November 22nd.
ALL VOTING WILL BE DONE ELECTRONICALLY!
You will receive Notice on Wednesday, November 24th of the "Final Slate of Candidates".
Voting begins on Monday, November 29th. You will receive your ballot via email.
Deadline to fill out ballots will be Wednesday, December 15th, 4:30 p.m.
Our new leaders will be announced at our Annual Membership Meeting/Holiday Gathering on Thursday, December 16th at CenterPlace Regional Event Center in Spokane Valley.
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RPAC Online Auction
November 14-19
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Come join the fun and support a great cause.
Your Spokane Association of REALTORS® RPAC committee will be hosting an online auction the week of November 14th through the 19th.
Open to all REALTOR® members.
How about a Premiere Lake Tower "Night on the Lake" Package at the Coeur d'Alene Resort (pictured at left).
Includes: One night Premiere Lake Tower Accommodations and $100 Dining Credit at the Resort Restaurants.
Just one of the many items up for auction.
And remember – every dollar you spend counts towards your RPAC contribution.
WE NEED AUCTION ITEMS:
If you have something you would like to contribute to our auction – please contact our local RPAC Trustee Milissa Rosenau [email protected]
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2022 SAR Committee Service
DEADLINE: Friday, December 3rd!
Your association runs on volunteer power. Here's your chance to plug in and make a difference!
2022 SAR President Eric Etzel invites you to join him in volunteering to lead our association in the new year.
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If you'd like to talk with Eric before you decide how you'd like to volunteer, call him at 995-2833 or email him at [email protected]
Here are just some of the volunteer opportunities where you can help get the work done:
Budget & Finance
Communication
Professional Development
Forms
Governmental Affairs
Grievance
Membership
SOS (Serving Our Spokane)
Special Events
3rd Grade Poster Contest
Golf
Food Drive
Holiday Party & Auction
Technology
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Here's the full list of 2022 SAR Committee Service Opportunities: |
Submit your application by
Friday, December 3rd!
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Client Questions on MLS, Commissions Answered |
To promote transparency in the way the real estate market operates, the National Association of REALTORS® has developed “Competition in Real Estate” (pictured).
It’s a document you can use to reference and share key points with clients to explain the competitive nature of the market and the critical role that MLSs—also known as local broker marketplaces for consumers—and REALTORS® play in advancing consumers’ interests.
The document includes answers to key questions about common, pro-consumer industry practices.
For example, it explains why buyers generally don't pay commissions directly to their broker, as well as why local broker marketplaces are still needed when listings are prevalent elsewhere online.
It also addresses NAR’s role relative to the independent, local MLS broker marketplaces.
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For more and updated information over time, visit and bookmark the new site competition.realtor.
The site includes questions and answers related to legal developments, such as Department of Justice and class action lawsuits.
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SAR Blood Drive
Tuesday, December 28th
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Join your SAR colleagues in donating blood at the North Vitalant Donation Center on Tuesday, December 28th, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Donations times are scheduled so you don't have to wait in line.
Choose your most convenient time and schedule your donation now.
Because of you, like doesn't stop.
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MLS Grid partners with
Spokane Association of REALTORS®, RMLS Alliance
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Do you have a website with SAR listing search? Or have you been wanting one?
If you do, your website vendor (ex: IDX Broker, Marketleader, Boomtown, etc.) probably has a RETS (Real Estate Transaction Standard) data feed from the SAR.
You may have previously been paying a monthly fee to the SAR for that data.
Good news is…you will no longer be charged that fee.
The SAR no longer charges our members a setup fee or monthly fees to receive the MLS data.
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The SAR has partnered with MLS Grid to transition to a Web API data feed. RETS, Web API…WHAT?
Don’t be scared. The techno mumbo jumbo just means SAR is moving towards the future to make things easier for our members who want to have listing search on their websites.
The important thing is that if you receive an updated license agreement email from MLS Grid, please review and sign as soon as possible.
The license agreement will be created by your website vendor and sent to you through MLS Grid.
Instructions for signing the data license agreement are online here.
Any questions, please contact Denise Ware at the SAR: 326-9222 or by email.
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Enroll today to get your coverage in place for Fall
Group dental plans exclusively for NAR members and their families. Three plans to choose from, each with 100% in-network preventative coverage for:
Cleanings
X-rays
Exams
Learn More And Get A Quote In Minutes When You Click Here:
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Enroll today to get your coverage in place for Fall
REALTORS® Vision plans feature group rates and, as always, great customer service. These are the ONLY vision plans designed exclusively for REALTORS®, and plans start for as little as $12.70 per month.
Learn More And Get A Quote In Minutes When You Click Here:
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Legal Hotline: How to Document Down Payment Assistance Not From Grandma |
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NEW!
Legal Hotline Mailbag
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Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline attorney is asked this question:
How should a Buyer’s Broker document Buyer’s reliance on state bond money for down payment assistance? (This isn't about gift funds from Grandma).
Watch Annie's five-minute answer online here:
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Upcoming Webinars in November |
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Tax Reduction Strategies
for the Real Estate Professional
(Virtual Program) with Maine Shafer, JD, with Bradford Tax Solutions.
Monday - December 6, 2021
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Starts Promptly at 9:30 a.m. PST!
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Keep More of Your Income in 2021!
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In this 150-minute interactive ZOOM seminar you will learn:
*HOW to POWER BOOST and OPTIMIZE your 2021 tax deductions: Learn the best business practices and strategies to get the most out of new deductions!
*WHY New COVID-19 Law reinforces the need to claim all business tax deductions, always!
*HOW to deduct all your FAMILY’S MEDICAL EXPENSES - even dental - as a real estate BUSINESS expense!
*HOW to safely qualify your Home Office for big tax deductions, even if you spend most of your office time at a branch office-one of the most important deductions this year.
*WHY you may want to buy a new, or pre-owned, car sooner than you think…the great “makeover” of the CAR DEDUCTION rules you will want to take advantage of!
*THE New…and Improved… food and beverage deductions for “real estate” professionals that you probably don’t know about.
AND SO MUCH MORE!
After this seminar, you’ll have what you need to bring to your tax accountant, so you'll qualify for more deductions and increase your spendable income, this year and beyond!
Busy? The short time you invest in this seminar will translate immediately to money, your money!
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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.
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Code of Ethics cycle ends
December 31, 2021
Your Code of Ethics status will appear in the top-left corner on your home screen if you've completed the class.
All brokers must take this class once every three years.
We're currently in the cycle 1/1/2019-12/31/2021.
Please note for new agents, completing your first two-year renewal, you must first take the 7.5-hour Code of Ethics and Fair Housing class, within 3 months of joining the SAR, and then you will be eligible for ethics training of not less than three hours of instructional time during the next two-year cycle.
The NAR Code of Ethics Class offered at the SAR is a 3.5-hour class called "Code of Ethics for Real Estate Professionals".
Your membership will be suspended, until the class is completed, if this requirement is not met.
Please call Tami at 326-9222 with any questions.
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NEW!
What Else do we Need?
PSA Addenda
with Sabrina Jones-Schroeder
Tuesday, Nov 30th - 9 a.m. to noon
- and -
Thursday, Dec 1st - 9 a.m. to noon
6.0 clock hours
THIS CLASS REQUIRES A SPEAKER & YOU TO BE ON CAMERA. BE PREPARED!
Two day Zoom class - both days required.
This course focuses on the addenda which might be added to a Purchase & Sale Agreement - the foundation of the transaction between the buyers and sellers of real estate. Understand the importance of using our local forms including the Spokane Addendum & the Spokane Buyer Representation Agreement. Plus, much more.
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NEW!
Purchase & Sale with Sabrina Jones Schroeder
THIS CLASS REQUIRES A SPEAKER & YOU TO BE ON CAMERA. BE PREPARED!
Two day Zoom class - both days required
Tuesday, Dec 7th
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
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Thursday, Dec 9th
8:30 a.m. - Noon
This mandatory course will include: An introduction and discussion of intentions, goals, and purposes in properly completing the new Purchase & Sale Agreement; the deposit, parties and property; financing and the financing contingencies, title insurance and transfer and inspections; representations and disclosure; and remaining provisions.
This class must be taken once every four years.
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NEW!
Code of Ethics -
Our Promise to Professionalism with Mike Crowley
(Zoom class)
Monday, Dec 20th
1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
3.5 clock hours
This half-day Ethics class is for those that are past their first license renewal.
Remember, you must take a Code of Ethics class once between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021.
This class meets those requirements.
New members must first take a 7.5 hour Code of Ethics class before taking this 3.5 hr class.
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Class Cancellation Policy:
A refund will be granted until 3:30 p.m. three days prior to the class, after which time there will be a 50% refund.
Anyone not showing up for class will not be given a refund.
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MLS Weekly News and Information |
Keep up with rule changes, get tips and tricks and see the monthly MLS totals.
Don’t forget to check this valuable resource!
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Current Market and Membership Information from your Association: |
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NEW!
October 2021
Market Snapshot Report
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NEW!
Year-to-date
Market Snapshot Report
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NEW!
October
Member Roster Update
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See the full member-exclusive Market Activity Report online here.
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SAR Leadership Information |
NEW - UPDATED 10/21
The 2021 Leadership Directory for your association is online here.
This document contains names and contact info for your elected officers and directors.
Please be in touch any time you have a comment or question about your association.
Thank you for being a member of the Spokane Association of REALTORS®!
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SAR and Community Calendars: |
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Connect with us any time on these social media channels: |
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