Weekly Notices

Friday, January 16, 2015

Education History Online

Did you know that you can check your SAR REALTOR� School education history online?

Just go to the Member Portal, click on Events and then pick Educational History (see image above).

This screen shows the name and date of the classes and the clock hours you have taken.

If you need further information, click on Certificate and you will find the Course ID, Provider and Provider ID (see image above).

Click on the image below to visit the SAR Member Portal and check your SAR REALTOR� School education history online now:

SpokaneOpen.com

List your open houses online with the only official open house website of your Spokane Association of REALTORS� - now linking directly from the Spokane MLS!

Click on the image above to go there now.

Obama 'Gets Us as REALTORS�'

2015 NAR President Chris Polychron (photo, left) had the opportunity to meet the commander-in-chief for a quick one-on-one policy chat, last week, ahead of President Barack Obama's speech on housing and the middle class in Phoenix, Arizona.

"When my turn came, he knew who I was. I shook his hand and he said, 'You must be happy with how things are going right now.' I told him, 'Yes, but we still have plenty of important work to do.' He and I exchanged a few quick thoughts on policy and then I thanked him," Polychron was quoted in a post on the National Association of REALTORS� leadership blog.

"My impression of him was that he gets us as REALTORS�, and he understands that homeownership is vital to American families and to building wealth through equity," Polychron said. "I believe he wants to help the middle class and that it's high on his list. I expect we'll see these themes reoccur in his State of the Union address."

Read more about the exchange between presidents in REALTOR� magazine, online here.

2015 Real Estate Market Forum

Plan now to attend the 2015 Real Estate Market Forum, Friday, February 26th, at the Coeur d'Alene Resort.

Come enjoy this SAR-sponsored event that shares the latest market trends forecast by local economic, development and real estate experts, and keynote speaker, Jim Hammond, City Administrator, City of Coeur d'Alene.

Download the event flyer (pictured above) for more information, online here.

2015 Consumer Electronics Show

REALTOR� Magazine was recently in Las Vegas, covering The 2015 Consumer Electronics show. Here's a look at their coverage:

Next-Generation Fridge Saves Money-and the Environment
Polaroid Returns With a Modern Take on Instant Photography
The Future of the Laundry Room
Let's Get Visual: What Design Says About the Quality of Your Real Estate Business
Why the Light Bulb May One Day be Your Favorite Staging Tool
'Empowered' Appliances Link Home, Internet
More Attempts to Dethrone Stainless Steel's Popularity

Read more in REALTOR� magazine, online here.

Facebook is Social Media Champ

Facebook continues to dominate the social networking arena, and its competitors still remain far from its reach and popularity.

While Facebook's growth has slowed, the level of its user engagement has increased. On the other hand, other social networking platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn have seen "significant increases" over the past year in the proportion of online adults who now use their sites, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center of more than 1,500 Internet users.

About 91 percent of all REALTORS� say they use social media for their real estate business in some way, whether it's for building relationships, networking, or giving themselves greater visibility and exposure, according to the 2013-2014 REALTOR� Technology Survey Report by the National Association of REALTORS�.

Read more in REALTOR� magazine, online here.

Lunch & Learn

Learn how to use a reverse mortgage to purchase a home. Important changes have been announced that you will need to know.

Monday, January 26th
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
at the SAR

Cost is $10; includes lunch provided by Banner Bank.

See the event flyer online here.

2015 REALTOR� Education

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Quality of Education

through SAR/WR Education Instructors

Here is the latest class listing of your SAR - offering the best live and local continuing real estate education classes for 2015.

Click on each class title, underlined in blue, to bring up a flyer for that class - suitable for posting in your office.

Register for these classes online here:

Please be in touch with Debbie at the SAR if you have any questions about these classes or your license education requirements, by phone at 326-9222 or by email.

Code of Ethics - Standards for Success

CLASS FULL!

Thursday, January 22nd - Code of Ethics - Standards for Success - with Linda Miller.

This class is required for our new members within 90 days of joining the SAR. Members past their first license renewal may also take it or they may take a 4.0 clock hour Code of Ethics class.

A Code of Ethics class must be taken once every four years. This four year cycle started January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2016.

Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the SAR

7.5 clock hours

Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate

Thursday, February 5 - Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate - with Sabrina Jones-Schroeder.

You must take this class every two years for your renewal. See below for alternative offer of this class.

Registration: 1:15 p.m.
Class: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the SAR

3.0 clock hours

Sabrina Jones-Schroeder - Core Curriculum Class instructor

Statewide Purchase & Sale Agreement

CLASS FULL!

Thursday, February 12th - Statewide Purchase & Sale Agreement - with Sabrina Jones-Schroeder.

This class is required for our new members within 90 days of joining the SAR and must be taken by all residential agents once every four years. This four year cycle started January 1, 2013 and goes through December 31, 2016.

Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
at the SAR

7.5 clock hours

Code of Ethics - Standards for Success

Thursday, March 5 - Code of Ethics - Standards for Success - with Linda Miller.

This class is required for our new members within 90 days of joining the SAR. Members past their first license renewal may also take it or they may take a 4.0 clock hour Code of Ethics class.

A Code of Ethics class must be taken once every four years. This four year cycle started January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2016.

Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the SAR

7.5 clock hours

Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate

Tuesday, March 17 - Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate - with Sabrina Jones-Schroeder.

You must take this class ever two years for your renewal. See above for alternative offer of this class.

Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
at the SAR

3.0 clock hours

Journey into Construction Designs and Styles

Friday, March 20th - Journey into Construction Designs and Styles - with Arne Woodard.

Class includes a terrific complimentary binder full of pictures/information on home styles that will prove valuable for years to come!

Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the SAR

7.5 clock hours

Home Inspections - Red Flags and Proper Procedures

Home Inspections for REALTORS� and Appraisers

Tuesday, March 24 - Home Inspections for REALTORS� and Appraisers - with Matthew Pedersen.

This class is approved for both REALTORS� and Appraisers. Invite your favorite REALTOR�/appraiser to join you!

Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the SAR

7.5 clock hours

In This Issue

Education History Online

Spokane Open

Obama 'Gets Us as REALTORS®'

2015 Real Estate Market Forum

2015 Consumer Electronics Show

Facebook is Social Media Champ

Lunch & Learn

2015 REALTOR® Education

Your SAR will be closed

SAR CALENDAR

2015 SAR Dues were Due January 1st

2015 Legislative Days

SAR Special Events Committee

Fair Housing for Property Managers

2015 Housing Market Forecast

Weird Houses

ListHub Report for December

Market Activity Report - December

You Be The Judge - January

Member Roster Updates - NEW!

Suggestion Box

Your SAR will be closed Monday, January 19th,

to keep the Martin Luther King Jr.
national holiday.

SAR CALENDAR

Click on the image below to see the current SAR calendar

showing dates and times of classes, committees and events.

2015 SAR Dues were Due January 1st

Your 2015 SAR annual dues were due January 1st, 2015.

Thank you if your have already paid them!

If you have not yet paid your dues, they must be received or postmarked no later than January 31st to avoid a 10% late fee.

The final date for payment of 2015 Annual Dues is

February 28th - with penalty. If your payment is not received or postmarked by this date,

your membership and services will be inactivated.

To pay your 2015 SAR annual dues online, click on the graphic above, which will bring up the login screen for the SAR member portal.

You may retrieve an invoice while online to pay by mail or you may pay in person at the SAR, 1924 North Ash Street.

Please call 326-9222 if there is any part of this you do not understand.

Thank you for your continuing membership in your SAR!

2015 Legislative Days

NEXT WEEK!

Washington REALTORS�' 2015 Legislative Days will be January 21-22 in Olympia.

Click on the image below for details and to register now!

SAR Special Events Committee

SAR Special Events Committee Chair Tanna St. Marie invites you to join her in some of the most fun you can have on an SAR committee!

Our Special Events Committee will kick-off 2015 with our planning meeting on Thursday, January 29th at 2:00 pm at the SAR.

If you have been thinking of joining one of our Special Events Committees this is the perfect time to do it. Be part of the planning and find out what it's all about. A great networking opportunity!

Join us for our meeting where we will be going over the 3rd Grade Poster/Essay Contest, Golf Tournament, Food Drive and Christmas Party and all the details. Plus, we will discuss anything else going on for 2015.

Fair Housing for Property Managers

All REALTORS� need to know how the Fair Housing Act impacts tenants.

Annie Fitzsimmons, our Washington REALTOR� Legal Hotline attorney, discusses the importance of having a written policy when you are the Property Manager or Property Management Company of multiple family housing.

Annie's Fair Housing video series is an excellent addition to your office meetings or self study. If you missed the first nine videos last year, all of them are available online here.

See the new seven-minute video online here:

Fair Housing Part 10: Property Management Policies

2015 Housing Market Forecast

Existing-home sales are forecasted to rise about seven percent in 2015 behind a strengthening economy, solid job gains and a healthy increase in home prices, according to National Association of Realtors� Chief Economist Lawrence Yun in a newly-released video on his 2015 housing market expectations.

In the NAR-published video, Yun discusses his expectations for the U.S. economy and housing market in 2015 and points to the expanding economy, continued growth in the labor market and home prices rising at a moderate but healthy clip as his reasons for an expected increase in new and existing-home sales.

See the infographic (pictured above) online here.

See the video online here:

2015 Housing Market Forecast

Weird Houses

"Home" can mean a wide array of things. Far more than four walls and a roof, home is a sanctuary and a shelter. No two are the same.

Some are more unique than others.

Check out this photo gallery of weird houses from around the world, including several in Washington state - like the one above in Sedro Wooley.

See the gallery online here.

ListHub Report for December

See the December ListHub report, online here.

Market Activity Report - December

The SAR Market Activity Report for December is now online.

See the latest report - and archived reports - online here.

See the December summary report (pictured above) online here.

See the year-to-date summary report (pictured above) online here.

You Be The Judge - January

Here is You Be The Judge for January:

Case #1-22: REALTOR�'S offer to buy property He has listed.

Read the case and submit your judgement online here.

Those who decide correctly will be entered in a drawing for a Starbucks coffee card!

Winner to be announced next month.

Congratulations Beverly Lee, Top Gold Realty, December Starbuck's card winner.!

DECEMBER ANSWER:

The Hearing Panel reminded REALTOR� A that the pertinent fact being considered was not his opinion at the time of the previous sale as compared to his opinion now, but rather his written "guarantee" to Buyer B and his current failure to make good his written commitment. It was the conclusions of the Hearing Panel that REALTOR� A had engaged in misrepresentation and was in violation of Article 2.

From Case #2-6: Misrepresentation.

See the full text of last month's case, online here.

Member Roster Update

NEW!

Click here to view the latest Roster Update - listing new and resigned members and companies.

Click here to view the latest list of MLS Subscription Waivers approved by the SAR Board of Directors.

Send a message to Angie at the SAR with any changes.

Suggestion Box