The Spokane Association of REALTORS®:
ENGAGES its members, ENCOURAGES professional excellence and cooperation,
ADVOCATES for real property rights, and PROMOTES strong, sustainable communities.
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Weekly Notices
March 11, 2022
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Spring forward!
Remember to set your clocks forward one hour Saturday night so you'll be on time Sunday morning.
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New!
2022 SAR REALTOR® Awards
Accepting Nominations Now!
Deadline: Friday, April 15
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Applications are now being accepted for all 2022 SAR REALTOR® Awards!
You and your REALTOR® colleagues will decide who will be our honorees for:
2022 REALTOR ® of the Year
Steve Flinn REALTOR ® Achievement
REALTOR ® Community Service
Affiliate of the Year
Partner of the Year
Spokane's Citizen of the Year
The deadline by which you must submit nominations to the SAR for them to be considered is Friday, April 15th.
The 2022 SAR REALTOR® Awards will be announced and presented on Thursday, May 19th, at the SAR's annual REALTOR® Awards Luncheon at Ruby River Hotel
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New!
2022 SAR Legacy of Service Award
Deadline: April 15th
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Your SAR is now accepting nominations for its 2022 SAR Legacy of Service Award.
This award is created as a "Lifetime Achievement" award to honor those REALTOR® members who are respected in our profession by colleagues and serve our profession through various Association committees.
Additionally, this award honors those who spend the majority of their years as active REALTORS® mentoring newer members, helping to define regulations within our field, all the while giving back to the community.
Nominations are due Friday, April 15th.
The 2022 SAR Legacy of Service Award will be presented at the SAR Awards Luncheon on Thursday, May 19th.
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New!
2022 Gary Fox Memorial Award
Deadline: April 15th
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Nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 Gary Fox Memorial Designated/Managing Broker Award.
This award recognizes a Designated Broker or Managing Broker who serves as an example of loyalty, ethical behavior, and leadership in the real estate profession.
Nominations are due Friday, April 15th.
The 2021 Gary Fox Memorial Designated/Managing Broker Award will be presented at the SAR Awards Luncheon on Thursday, May 19th.
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New Member Benefit!
Down Payment Resource
Launched this week!
Watch the video:
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Your SAR is happy to announce a new resource for Broker Members: Down Payment Resource!
Did you know more than 69% of listings on the Spokane Association of REALTORS® MLS today may be eligible for one or more down payment assistance programs?
Today’s buyers are looking for valuable information that will help them save on their home loan and down payment.
With Down Payment Resource, you can quickly connect your buyers to available programs in our market.
Down Payment Resource is being integrated into Paragon and tested now.
DPR is provided at no additional cost to SAR Members.
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Down Payment Resource (DPR)
Connect homebuyers to the down payment help they need!
Download the DPR Overview flyer (pictured above) to get a peek at what's coming:
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Since 2008, Down Payment Resource has done what no one else would do – create and maintain a centralized database of every homebuyer and down payment assistance program in the country.
Visit the DPR Professionals website to explore more:
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Be on the lookout for this icon on listing data - it means the property is included in the Down Payment Resource database.
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Sign Up Now for
Custom SAR Training:
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Tuesday, March 15th at 11AM PST
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Indoor Mask Requirement
Ends Tomorrow - March 12th
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The Washington State indoor mask requirement will be lifted as of midnight tonight, March 11th.
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As of March 12th, masks will no longer be required to be worn in many settings.
- Local health jurisdictions and individual businesses may still choose to require masking.
- Employees can wear masks if they choose to. Businesses can’t punish workers who wear a mask, take time off to get vaccinated, or seek treatment for COVID-19.
- Masks or respirators will continue to be required in health care settings, long-term care, and correctional facilities.
- Masks will continue to be required on public transportation, per Federal requirements.
The Department of Labor and Industries controls COVID19 protocols in the workplace. For the latest information on these, please click on the button below:
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Spokane County median home price hits record-breaking $400,000
in February
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Homebuyers in Spokane County could have a tough time finding a property less than $400,000.
The median price for homes and condos on less than 1 acre soared in February to $400,000 for the first time, a 23.1% increase compared to the $325,000 median price in February 2021, according to the Spokane Association of Realtors.
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Daylight Saving Time Reminder
for Supra Lockboxes
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Dear Valued Customer,
It’s that time of year again! Daylight Saving Time is here. Please remember that Supra BTLE lockboxes do not adjust for Daylight Saving Time. For agents that have access hours programmed for their lockboxes, the effective access hours on those lockboxes are one hour later during Daylight Savings Time than the pre-set access hours.
Thank you,
Supra Support Team
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General Membership Meeting
& Lunch ONLY
Deadline 3/16
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Buffet Lunch will be served at noon followed by the General Membership meeting starting about 12:30.
Do you want to be involved in putting a Slate of Candidates together for SAR 2023 Leadership? If so, you may be selected as one of three members at-large to sit on the Nominating Committee this year.
You won’t want to miss out on another new member benefit your leadership recently approved. Come to the general membership meeting to hear the announcement and watch the demonstration!
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Multiple Offer Madness
with Eric Johnson
3.5 clock hours
Thursday, March 24th
8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Early Registration: 3/16
Save $15!
Includes Class, Lunch,
and Quarterly Membership Meeting
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Register now for our next Education Excellence opportunity: Multiple Offer Madness with Eric Johnson.
At this live in-person class, you'll learn best practices for handling multiple offers whether you are Buyer's Broker or Seller's Broker.
This event is combined with your association's General Membership Meeting and lunch!
Class instructor - and SAR Broker Member - Eric Johnson offers a one-minute personal invitation to join his class on March 24th:
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Second Quarter MLS fees have been posted to the SAR member portal.
They are due by March 30th.
Please email Brenda at the SAR if you have a question about your fees or contact her by phone at 326-9222.
Thank you!
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New!
Women Build
March 16-19
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This four-day building event is where women (and supportive men!) join together to build decent and affordable homes alongside hardworking Habitat families in our Homeownership Program.
We encourage everyone to try something new by providing hands-on building opportunities with ZERO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!
Let’s give each other the tools to empower women in Spokane county while addressing and helping to solve the housing crisis that so many families are currently facing.
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Save the Date
Washington REALTORS®
Spring Business Conference
April 20-22 at Suncadia in Cle Elum!
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Washington REALTORS® is excited to announce that the Board of Directors meeting, the Core Committee meetings, and several other events at The Washington REALTORS® Spring Business Conference WILL BE LIVE AND IN PERSON!
Mark your calendars to join us at the beautiful Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum from April 20-22, 2022.
You're not going to want to miss this event.
We'll be offering a fun - and long overdue - Opening Night Celebration & Dinner, an Awards Luncheon, Candidate Forum, and a Guest Speaker/Town Hall during the in-person event.
Come be part of the conversation, help shape your association, and have a little (or a lot of) fun while doing it!
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New!
What’s Happening in Olympia
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A difficult week in the legislature for homeowners and future buyers.
Three bills that Washington REALTORS® have fought, were all passed:
Concerning the effective date of certain actions taken under the growth management act. SB 5042 PASSED BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE – This bill makes it more difficult for counties to expand GMA boundaries.
Improving the States climate response added to the GMA – HB 1099 (oppose) PASSED BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE This adds new climate change language to the GMA and is widely opposed. Scope of the bill has been reduced.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Buildings SB 5722 (oppose) PASSED BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE This originally contained rent control provisions. This bill changes energy updates for commercial buildings. Adds economic impact statement.
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On the positive side – there are a few bills that will help;
Promote housing construction by limiting appeals under GMA and SEPA policies SB 5818 PASSED BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE (support) Gives new legal authority for cities that follow the Housing Action Plan offering full legal exemption from both GMA and SEPA review.
Expanding GMA Boundaries based on existing expansion SB 5593 – PASSED BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE Sponsored by Sen. Shelly Short, this bill amends the current standards for jurisdictions to revise a designated urban growth area (UGA) or areas to include revisions based on existing patterns of development.
Banning the Use of “Love Letter” HB 2059 – DEAD did not pass in the Senate – Removes the language banning “Love Letters” but leaves in language that requires all parties in a transaction to be truthful. This reverses a judge’s decision that ruled REALTORS(R) only need to be honest with their client. Washington REALTORS® backed this bill which, if passed, would send the “love letter” language to the Housing Disparities Work group for further discussion.
Condo Conversion Process SB 5758 (support) – PASSED BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE now in the House. Essentially, adds a conversion program from renters to owners by the Housing Finance Commission, along with establishing an affordable housing advisory board. Headed to the Senate floor for a vote. Has cleared committee.
Duration of state upland leases HB 1430 (support) PASSED BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE – Extends state leases to 99 years. This would allow for more construction related to housing.
One bill we had hoped would pass has died in the final week:
Urban ADU’s HB 1660/ (support) DEAD – did not pass in the Senate. Adds new options and limits city control. Changes parking standards and owner occupied requirements.
The legislature is set to officially adjourn this week.
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New!
Legal Hotline:
Broker's Multiple Buyers
want the Same Property
with Washington REALTORS®
Legal Hotline Attorney
Annie Fitzsimmons
A Broker has more than one Buyer and both are interested in purchasing the same property... can this Broker show that piece of real estate to more than one Buyer s/he represents?
Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline attorney Annie Fitzsimmons explores this issue to help clarify a Broker's role.
The video runs about six minutes.
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April 11 & 12
Have you been to law school?
Probably not… yet you are expected to draft and use purchase agreements with the same expertise as a lawyer when preparing and using real estate forms to create contracts between buyers and sellers.
Complicating that task, you have over a hundred forms at your disposal through the statewide forms system and you must be able to navigate the forms and know which form to use when and how one form impacts another.
Enjoy Draft Like a Lawyer in person over two days in Kennewick, WA.
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Draft Like a Lawyer
Back Live and In-person!
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Featuring a curriculum that teaches drafting skills and integrated use of the most popular statewide forms, this class offers 16 clock hours to students as they learn about real estate forms and how to use them in their business.
Draft Like a Lawyer allows for students to catch up on high demand topics taught by the Legal Hotline Lawyer, Annie Fitzsimmons!
We highly recommend you attend both days, the curriculum is integrated together over two days and if you only attend one, you may get lost.
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REALTORS® know the importance of adapting and remaining relevant in today’s marketplace. By developing a business practice rooted in inclusion and equality, REALTORS® can help buyers of all cultural backgrounds achieve the dream of homeownership. |
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FREE!
At Home with Diversity with
WR Past-president Margo Wheeler
April 14th & 15th 9-12 via Zoom
6.0 CE
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Fair Housing Month
Coming in April
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April is Fair Housing Month!
To celebrate, Washington REALTORS® would like to share real life stories from our members on Fair Housing wins you have been a part of, or Fair Housing challenges that you have had to negotiate.
Please share your story to be featured during Fair Housing Month.
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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 & Fair Housing
with Mike Crowley
Tuesday 3/22 8:30-12:30
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Wednesday 3/23 8:30-Noon
This class is required for all NEW Brokers.
Why Ethics?
Professionalism means conducting yourself ethically and with integrity and competence.
It results in satisfied clients and customers.
It's good business!
You will gain knowledge of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics that will help you . . .
· Fulfill your essential responsibilities as a REALTOR®
· Enjoy a successful career based on the highest principles of your profession, and
· Develop appropriate responses and solutions to the most pressing dilemmas you will face as a REALTOR®.
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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!
February 2022
Market Snapshot Report
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New!
2022 Year-to-date
Market Snapshot Report
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New!
February
Member Roster Update
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See the full member-exclusive Market Activity Report online here.
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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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