May 267 2021
Member News




CORE
Holiday Hours In observance of Memorial Day, our offices will be closed Monday, May 31. We will re-open Tuesday, June 1 at 8:30 am. Wishing everyone a nice holiday weekend!

Seeking Mentees from Trenton for NAR’s SPIRE Mentorship Program! CORE is seeking individuals from Trenton or the surrounding area who are interested in learning about the many possible career paths in real estate – brokerage, marketing, appraisal, property management, and more. We are working closely with New Jersey Realtors on this pilot, mentorship program from the National Association of Realtors in eight major U.S. cities, including Trenton. The program will pair a veteran Realtor volunteer, who will serve as a mentor, with a mentee who is interested in a possible career in real estate.


CORE Circle of Excellence Awards Virtual Event Join us for a virtual awards ceremony to recognize and congratulate all of the Circle of Excellence winners on Thursday, June 3 at 3:30 pm via Zoom. Register today at no-cost! Register today!

Thanks To All Who Helped With Our Food Drive Thank you for your donations to the CORE Community Outreach Committee food drive for the Flemington Area Food Pantry. Your contributions will provide food and personal care items to needy Hunterdon County residents. You answered the call to help, and together with other CORE members, we collected a total of 800 pounds of food (almost half a ton!) and raised $625.

Thank you to the following offices for your generosity:
Food Drive Donations
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices NJ Hillsborough
Coldwell Banker Bedminster
Coldwell Banker Clinton
Coldwell Banker Flemington
Coldwell Banker Hillsborough
Coldwell Banker Warren
CORE Association of Realtors
Exp Realty Montclair
Exp Realty Flemington
Turpin Real Estate
Weichert - Flemington
Fundraiser Donations
Ashlee Carlson
Gloria Monks
Judy Moriarty
Annette Rendle
C. Scott Van Cleef
Sarah Watson

Continuing Education (CE)

Avoid the $200 Late Fee for Licensing Renewal The NJ Real Estate Commission has waived the $200 processing fee (late fee) until May 31 and has extended the current CE cycle to complete all NJ CE requirements until July 19. All real estate licensees are required to renew their license for the new term beginning July 1. Agents are urged to talk with their brokers regarding to submitting the renewal fee to the NJ Real Estate Commission. Licensees are also required to complete the Qualifying Questionnaire prior to renewing their license.

Check Your CE Credits Log into your PSI CE Tracking System account to verify that you have met all of the requirements to renew your license.

CORE CE FAQ Access the FAQ here.


SUPRA
Keybox 101 (VIDEO) The Supra electronic keybox system gives you convenience, reliability, and homeowner peace of mind. See why Supra keyboxes are the smart choice for you and your homeowners. Watch video on the right.


Mercer County SUPRA eKeyholders: Try Pro at a Basic Price CORE and SUPRA have partnered to bring Mercer County eKEY holders a Professional level promotional offer. From May 4 until October 12, current Mercer County eKeyholders can use the SUPRA eKEY Pro features at the eKEY Basic price. eKEY Pro includes new icons and features that are designed to streamline your business and enhance the showing experience. 
  • This offer is available for a limited time to current Mercer County CORE eKEY basic subscribers. Click on the eKEY Pro promotion icon in the eKEY app for pricing information and promotion dates.
  • Not sure where you got your SUPRA eKey? Keys issued by CORE will say “CORE Association of REALTORS" across the top of the eKey app.
  • If you wish to downgrade to eKEY Basic after the promotional period ends October 12, please email CORE at info@core-realtors.com. For steps on how to activate this special offer, click here. To learn more about eKEY Pro, watch the video above.

CORE's Mercer SUPRA Key Activation Fee Waived Need a SUPRA eKEY? Now’s the time to schedule an appointment. The $50 activation fee on new CORE eKEYS is waived until August 3. Find out more about CORE’s SUPRA eKEY covering Mercer County with many no-cost reciprocals with other SUPRA systems in NJ and how to schedule your appointment here.


Bright MLS

Memorial Day Support Center Hours The Bright Customer Support Center is open and available to serve our subscribers from 9 am - 6 pm May 29 to 31.
 
Accuracy Matters Initiative The 2021 real estate market has been challenging, with buyers aggressively competing for historically low housing inventory. The breakneck speed of the market has not only impacted buyers and Realtors but has also created challenges related to data accuracy and broker-to-broker Cooperation, which is why Bright MLS has launched its new Accuracy Matters Campaign to educate and increase awareness of Bright’s rules and policies.

Offers of Compensation Q&A Bright requires listing brokers to offer compensation to cooperating brokerages. This compensation must be offered as a flat dollar amount, percentage of the gross sale price, or combination of the two. Beyond these requirements the compensation is up to the subscribers. Learn more.

Bright MLS Policy Update Webinar Bright has tightened enforcement and revamped its resources to help participants stay in compliance. Learn more at this webinar: Tuesday, June 8, from 11 am to Noon. Register here. Class topics include:
  • Off-MLS/Clear Cooperation Policy
  • Proper use of the Coming Soon status
  • List price change requirements
  • Sight unseen offers in the MLS
  • Bright’s policy resources and help documents


Business Tips

NAR: Top Opened Email Subject Lines Want more consumers to click on your messaging? Use topics like “Just Sold In Your Area” or “Six Steps to Get Your Home Ready for a Listing,” a new survey finds. Read more.
 
RIS Media: 5 Things Your Real Estate Website Should Have When having a website, there are a few elements that you should have…Read more. 

New Jersey

Wall Street Journal: New Jersey Is No. 1, Alas New Jersey comes in it at number one in a new ranking of states. Too bad it’s for how much its citizens will pay... Read more.

NJ Realtors: Triple Play Convention Scheduled for December 6 – 9 at Atlantic City Convention Center While a date has been scheduled for the annual event, current government mandates could change. This could result in a cancellation of the Triple Play Convention. Stay tuned for more details to come in the following weeks.

NJ.Com: Masks Optional for Vaccinated Workers in N.J. Offices, Businesses as Governor Lifts Remote Work Order Read more.


National
Wall Street Journal: U.S. Home Prices Push to Record High, Slowing Pace of Purchases Cost for existing properties up 19 percent in April from a year earlier; supply of homes remains limited…Read more. 

NAR: ‘FOMO’ Behind Some of the Buying Frenzy NAR’s chief economist says the fear of missing out is partially fueling bidding wars in many hyperactive markets. Read more. 

NAR: 4 Ways to Reduce Risk Amid Multiple Offers Bidding wars can lead to legal and ethical troubles. Here are tips for protecting your clients and your business. Read more. 
 COVID-19 Pandemic Rental Assistance New Jersey Realtors in partnership with The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and Property Owners Association of NJ urge New Jersey residents and landlords impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to apply for rental assistance. The program will provide approximately $353 million in rental assistance to low- and moderate-income households. The application will remain open until an adequate number of applications have been received to distribute all funds. Click here for more information. Apply here. 

NAR: Help Protect ‘Sight Unseen’ House Hunters More than 40% of home shoppers say they would put a contract on a home without physically stepping inside. Here are three ways to lower their risk. Read more.