Fellow members,
 
I'm looking forward to the 6th Annual Wisconsin Real Estate Summit  on Monday, March 12th at the Italian Community Center, hosted by Marquette University Center for Real Estate and the GMAR.
 
The topics at this year's summit will include the FOXCONN development and potential reforms to Fannie and Freddie. We're delighted to have special guest Congressman Sean Duffy, Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, on hand to discuss federal housing policy and government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) reform.
 
The potential impact of FOXCONN on the single-family real estate market in southeastern Wisconsin will start with the MMAC's Tim Sheehy, talking about why FOXCONN chose Wisconsin.  Then, Matt Maroney, State of Wisconsin Liaison for the FOXCONN Project will discuss what the Walker Administration sees happening in the region as a result of the development.  To register for the event, please click here. 
 
Also, please mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 11th which will be the day we mark the 50th anniversary of passage of the Fair Housing Act.  The GMAR is planning a press conference that morning to showcase REALTORS'® role in advancing fair housing and our dedication to efforts that address community fair housing issues.

Vickie Kelsall
Your 2018 Chairwoman

 
ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE?
  
Did you know you can verify your voter registration online by visiting the MyVote Wisconsin website at myvote.wi.gov and entering your name and date of birth?
 
The Spring General Election is just a few weeks away (April 3).  
 
Voters who find they are not actively registered can now register online until March 14 if they have a Wisconsin driver license or Wisconsin State ID card and if their address on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles is current.  
 
Voters can also register in their respective City Clerk's Office until March 30, or on Spring Election Day, April 3.  
VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE: PROFESSIONALISM
  
The latest Voice for Real Estate shares remarks about the Commitment to Excellence program from the recent NAR Leadership Live event in New York City. The program is a voluntary self-assessment for your members that will help them see how they measure up in about a dozen key areas. The program is expected to launch later this year. The video also looks at home sales, which are starting out the year sluggishly, IRS confirmation about the interest deductibility of home equity lines of credit, and House passage of a bill to curb abusive accessibility lawsuits. 
KETTLE MORAINE COUNCIL SPONSORS LENDER PANEL
Tuesday, March 13th 11am-12:30pm
  
The Kettle Moraine Council is hosting an informational meeting with a Lender Panel of experts on Tuesday March 13th from 11:00am-12:30pm at the West Bend Shorewest Office. Our five lenders will give you updates and share information on loan programs including Grant Programs, New Construction, VA, USDA, & FHA updates, and Renovation loans.  Bring your questions. 

Our panel of experts:
Ann Schulz, Waterstone Mortgage
Shelli Ellis, Wells Fargo
Matt Schellinger, Assured Mortgage
Team Kuhn, Prime Lending
Louie Santini, Wisconsin Mortgage
 
Please RSVP to Michelle Kohn  414-778-4929 Or Kaye Erdman 262-707-4966  by March 9th
 
 
Like wine?  Join us for a committee meeting immediately following our lender panel to discuss our New Event, a September Wine & Beer tasting Fundraiser!
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE       
   
The Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS® Youth Foundation will award 7 $1,000 scholarships to children or grandchildren of GMAR members during 2018. 
 
Members must have maintained their relationship with the GMAR continuously for at least three (3) years. Deadline is April 1st. 
 
MARCH EDITION OF REAL TRENDS

   
    
Highlights include: Homebuyer Demand Continues to Rise Unabated, End Regulation by Enforcement, The Five Magic Questions of Recruiting and more! 
GMAR REALTOR STORE HAS MOVED TO 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.

 
ST PADDY'S DASH
 Presenting Sponsor: A+ Mortgage    
 
Save the date: Sunday, March 11th at 10am at Hart Park in Wauwatosa for the 6th Annual St. Paddy's Dash, 5K Run/Walk to benefit the GMAR Youth Foundation.

Thank you to our 2018 Sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor: A+ Mortgage Services, Inc.
Gold Sponsors: Associated Bank, Dana Karow, First Weber Foundation, Landmark Credit Union, Nancy B. Meeks - Coldwell Banker, Wisconsin Title Service
Silver Sponsors: Attorney's Title Guaranty Fund, Inc., EXIT Realty Horizons, Great Midwest Bank, Johnson Bank, Land Title, Metro MLS, Realty Executives Integrity, RE/MAX Realty 100, Shorewest Realtors, The Equitable Bank, The Nikolic Group- First Weber, The Stefaniak Group, Title 100, Waterstone Mortgage
Bronze Sponsors: Benefit Realty, Cherry Creek Mortgage, Chicago Title, Compass Title, HomesighT Home Inspection Service, Knight-Barry Title, Merit Title, Ryan Katzman of First Weber, Scott  and Sandra Bush, Suzanne Head - First Weber, Suzanne Powers Realty Group, Tom Witkowski, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Friends:  Noel & Donna Karow, Jerry Grosenick - EXIT Realty XL, Joanne Marks - Prime Lending, Racine Kringle, Raffaele Team - RE/MAX Realty 100, Richard Woodside
 
If you are interested in donating a silent auction item, please contact Scott Bush at GMAR 414/778-4929
 
REALTOR NIGHT AT THE HOME AND GARDEN SHOW
 Wednesday, March 28 2:30-4pm 
NMLS - 259353




 
You are invited to "Rock the House" at the 94th Annual REALTORS Home & Garden Show!
 
Please join us for this exclusive member reception and Happy Hour, presented by A+ Mortgage Services and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), before the show opens to the public for the day on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 from 2:30pm-4pm.
 
Enjoy complimentary wine, beer, soda, and hand-passed hors d'oeuvres while networking in a gorgeous and unique setting provided by Aquatica's "Rock the House" Backyard Display, the newest feature garden to be unveiled at the 2018 show.
 
Following the reception, feel free to stroll the aisles of the Home & Garden show from 4pm-8pm.
 
Your RSVP is required to attend this free event and you are able to bring a guest.  Please email Michelle Kohn to register you and your guest.
2018 BREWER'S BASH
 Wednesday, April 4th at 6:40pm vs. Cardinals  
 
The GMAR Brewer's Bash will be Wednesday evening, April 4th when the Brewers take on the Cardinals. 
 
No worries about the weather-we'll once again be on the Dew Deck!
 
Dew Deck/Gates open at 5:10pm - Game time is 6:40pm
 
Your $55.00 includes:
·        Game ticket
·        All-you-can eat buffet
·        2 free drink tickets
·        Unlimited soft drinks
·        Gift from Event Sponsor A+ Mortgage
·        Chance to win one of 12 - $100 gift cards from Drawing Sponsor: Associated Bank
·        Peanuts, Cracker Jacks, candy...courtesy of our Treat Sponsors:
         Advanced Radon Management, Cherry Creek Mortgage & The Equitable Bank

Free Bus Transportation Provided by the Kettle Moraine Council: 
Make a reservation with  Michelle  no later than Wednesday, March 28th 
  • Washington County Fair Park - 5:00 p.m.
  • US 41/45 & Cty Y/Lannon Road Park and Ride - 5:15 p.m.
  • GMAR - 5:30 p.m.
    *Bus may leave before end of game
Free shuttle service from Steve's on Bluemound (SOB's), 5841 W. Bluemound Rd, into Miller Park starting around 4:30 p.m.  You don't need to make a reservation, but if you have questions, you can contact Joe at (414) 870-8708 (please remember to tip!).
 
This is a very popular event and the Dew Deck has a limited number of seats, click here to register!
 
Our event sponsor is A+ Mortgage 
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GREET GUESTS AT THE REALTORS® HOME & GARDEN SHOW?   
 
Then register to be a REALTOR® Rep!  As a REALTOR® Rep, you will be at one of the entrances to the show where you will welcome guests and distribute the show books.  You may also give them your business card. These are 2 hour shifts and you earn free admission to the Home & Garden Show.
 
Friday, March 9th  is the deadline to register to volunteer to greet attendees at the REALTORS® Home & Garden Show. Click here to register. 
 
You'll receive confirmation of your schedule along with parking and entrance directions by March 16th.

 
PROSPECTING TO PROFITS - WARM AND COLD CALLS MADE EASY
 
**Free Live Class for Real Estate Professionals** Join Envoy Mortgage as we discuss the systems, strategies and scripts to make warm and cold calls easy; turning your Prospecting to Profits! We'll give you copies of the systems and scripts presented so that you can take home and make your own.
 
Food will be served at 11:45 AM and the live class will begin promptly at noon. You'll be out and back to your day before 1:00 PM.
 
Space is limited so sign up today!
 
Location: GMAR - 12300 W Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53222
Date: Wednesday, March 14th
Time: 11:45 Lunch, class starts promptly at noon
To Register (required) and for Full Details visit:  http://www.EnvoyBrookfield.com/WW-03-2018-GMAR  
MONTHLY MORTGAGE CONCEPTS FOR REAL ESTATE AGENTS CLASSES
Thursday, March 22 10am at the GMAR office
 
New for 2018! Cherry Creek is proud to partner with the GMAR to offer Monthly mortgage concepts training to our Realtor partners! T he March 22nd class is going to be the offer to purchase from a lender/underwriter prospective.  It gets very frustrating for all parties when buyers and sellers are asked to sign amendments because the lender is requesting a change to the offer. This happens because the offer was written in such a way that that can create issues for Fannie Mae, HUD, or WHEDA depending on the loan program. Most of these can be avoided by wording things in a certain way so it does not create issues for investors and thus amendments do not become necessary.  The tips you will learn will help make your transactions much smoother for your buyers and sellers.


Please RSVP to John Gonzales by emailing him at [email protected].
You may also call him by phone at (414) 935-4165.


We will start the series again in April if you missed any of the previous seminars! We are looking forward to a fantastic 2018 Real Estate Market and hope to help you make it as easy as possible to help get you from offer to closing! 
To learn more about local real estate or to become a GMAR member visit gmar.com