GMAR Weekly Email Digest: 6/25/2018

SentriLock - Electronic Lockboxes

GMAR members will start using the SentriLock boxes starting October 1, 2018. Click the link below to watch a short introductory video from SentriLock. Please note that a monthly fee of $11.50 will be assessed and billed annually with your membership dues. Watch for more information in upcoming newsletters.

Click here to watch the video

NAR CALL TO ACTION: Reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

Please respond to NAR's recent Call to Action advocating for the extension of the National Flood Insurance Program that will expire on July 31. If the program expires, it will deny necessary insurance coverage to property owners and buyers in more than 20,000 communities nationwide. Take action by urging Congress to extend the NFIP and pass meaningful reforms to ensure long-term viability of the program.

Take action now!

WRA LEGISLATIVE NEWS

On March 20, 2018, the Wisconsin Legislature adjourned and ended the 2017-18 legislative session, capping off one of the WRA's most productive legislative sessions ever. The WRA passed 68 priorities on a variety of issues affecting all sectors of the real estate industry.

Legislative Priorities

In 2017, the WRA board of directors approved a list of legislative priorities for the 2017-18 legislative session. The list included several legislative priorities designed to improve all sectors of Wisconsin's real estate industry. The WRA's priorities included:

Make home and property ownership more affordable.
Protect private property rights.
Remove hurdles to successful real estate transactions.
Make necessary infrastructure investments.
Remove regulatory barriers to residential and commercial development.
Make ownership of rental property less onerous.

Legislative Successes

Throughout the 2017-18 legislative session, the WRA lobbying team worked closely with Gov. Walker's administration and legislators on both sides of the aisle to pass the priorities. State lawmakers showed tremendous support for the WRA and the issues important to the real estate industry. In fact, most of the priorities received unanimous or bipartisan support. And in the end, lawmakers passed 68 of the WRA's legislative priorities into law, making the 2017-18 legislative session one of the WRA's most successful sessions ever.

Two WRA resources are available that detail all 68 of the priorities that went into law:

2018 WRA Legislative Report: Download the PDF here.
"Session Wrap-up: 68 Legislative Priorities Passed into Law," in the May 2018 issue of Wisconsin Real Estate Magazine: read online here.

HOMELESS VETERANS NEED OUR HELP

The Homeless Veteran's Initiative is in need of:

electric fans
household cleaners
dishsoap
cleaning supplies (mops, paper towels, sponges, etc)

The Realtor Veterans Committee, chaired by Dave Delahunt, will be heading-up this drive. You can drop off items at the GMAR office, or directly at the Homeless Veteran's Initiative, 6317 W. Greenfield Ave., in West Allis.

BUY REAL ESTATE SUPPLIES AT MINUTEMAN PRESS IN BROOKFIELD

The GMAR Realtor store is closed and Minuteman Press in Brookfield is now selling Real Estate Supplies! Visit them at 13680 W. Capitol Drive, M-F 8am-5pm. If you have any questions, feel free to contact them at 262-781-9622.

GMAR GOLF OUTING - REGISTRATION NOW FULL!

Due to the overwhelming interest in this year's GMAR golf outing, registration is now full. There is however still room if you are interested in attending the cocktail party only. See registration below.