GMAR WEEKLY UPDATES
Don't forget to register for the 2021 WRA Convention. Early bird pricing ends September 13!
The new Regional Performance Monitoring website features data visualizations and interactive maps that allow visitors to explore socioeconomic trends, land use activity, and transportation system performance in the Region. Equity-related measures are also included for several of these topics and performance measures related to water resources in the Region will be added in the future.
 
The site also features a Regional Performance Dashboard that evaluates progress towards achieving the recommendations of VISION 2050 and the Regional Housing Plan. Visit the website today!
SLATE OF CANDIDATES FOR GMAR DIRECTOR ELECTION
The Nominating Committee has selected the following candidates to be placed on the ballot for the Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors election. There will be four (4) Directors elected to serve three-year terms:
 
  • John Gscheidmeier, RE/MAX Service First LLC
  • Abby Hauke, First Weber Inc.
  • Suzanne Head, First Weber Inc.
  • Judy Hearst, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
  • Tom McCormick, Exit Realty Horizons
  • Karen Taylor, Realty Among Friends LLC
  • Angela Walters, EXP Realty, LLC
 
Additional candidates may be placed on the ballot by a petition signed by at least 5% of GMAR members eligible to vote by September 24, 2021.
 
The election will be held by electronic voting in October 10-16, 2021.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL SCHEDULE
Thank you for your membership in the Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS® this past year.
 
As of September 1st, you may pay your dues online. Click here for instructions.
To continue your membership with the GMAR, WRA & NAR, and to avoid any interruption in service, please note the following payment deadlines:

  • Pay by October 31, 2021 - You can DEDUCT $25 from the total on your invoice
  • Between November 1 and 30, 2021 - Please pay the total shown on your invoice
  • Between December 1 and 31, 2021 - Please ADD $50 to the total shown on your invoice
  • After January 1, 2022 - We must treat you as a new member, please ADD $225 to the total on your invoice (if you are a REALTOR® member) or $345 (if you are a Designated REALTOR® member).
 
In 2022 we will continue to pursue our mission of "Helping our members help their clients" through our core services of government affairs, professional standards, and MLS services.
 
Thank you again for being a member of the GMAR and we hope you have a very prosperous 2022.
 
Courtney Stefaniak, Chairwoman
GMAR Board of Directors
NONDEDUCTIBLE DUES FOR 2022
Under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, local associations can no longer include local lobbying expenses in the deductible portion of a member’s annual dues. Local lobbying expenses must now be added to the non-deductible dues amount, along with state and national dues.

As a result, the GMAR calculated the nondeductible portion of your 2022 local Membership Dues as $1.00. This amount is in addition to the amounts stated on the back of your WRA dues statement which specifies the non-deductibility of WRA and NAR dues.
IT'S EVERY REALTORS® RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO RPAC
Why? Because if the REALTORS® Association isn’t at the table, you’re on the menu.
 
It is critical that we continue to support pro-real estate minded candidates – on both sides of the aisle at the state, local and federal level. RPAC helps us to do that.
 
What would your business be like if you had to have an appraiser’s license to give a BPO, or had to have an attorney at every closing, like in Illinois, or how about a sales tax on commissions?
 
Those are just a few examples of rules or laws that could very easily be in place without the power of RPAC. With RPAC, we put pro-real estate lawmakers in office.
 
Keep your RPAC donation ON your dues statement, and keep unnecessary government intervention OUT of your business.
 
Any questions, contact Marne Stuck, GMAR’s Government Affairs Director at 414-778-4929 or marne@gmar.com.
REALTOR® SAFETY WEBINAR: AVOIDING REALTOR® DANGER ZONES
September is REALTOR® Safety Month, and with the ups and downs of the last year, the importance of keeping safety at the forefront of your mind is clear. Join former police officer and 35-year REALTOR® veteran, Janet Judd, as she details why safety matters and how implementing safety best practices is not only good for you, but ultimately good for your business.

Click here to register for NAR’s Avoiding REALTOR® Danger Zones Two-Part Webinar scheduled for September 15-16 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. CT.
GMAR MEMBERS ONLY FACEBOOK GROUP
Join our members only Facebook group if you have not already done so. This group was created for our members to connect with each other and discuss industry related questions/concerns as well as to keep you informed on association news and updates. If there are any specific topics you would like to see more of please let us know!
UPCOMING GMAR EVENTS

*Anyone donating a Silent Auction item valued at $100 or more will receive a ticket to the event; Values over $250 will receive 2 tickets.

For more information and to sign up for a time slot please click here.
UPCOMING AFFILIATE EVENTS
JOB POSTINGS
If your office is hiring for an administrative position that does not require a real estate license, we would be happy to share that information with the membership. See above for current postings. If you have a job opening that you would like to add, please email Emily Simonelli.
STAND OUT AS A FOCUS ON ENERGY® AMBASSADOR
Looking for new ways to bring added value to your clients? Consider becoming a FOCUS ON ENERGY® Ambassador. Focus on Energy partners with utilities across Wisconsin to provide resources and incentives for energy efficient home products, equipment and improvement projects.

Join the 700+ Wisconsin real estate professionals already offering these informational resources and exclusive perks to their clients. For more information, visit focusonenergy.com/ambassador or email ambassador@focusonenergy.com.
GMAR PARTNERS WITH DISCOVER MILWAUKEE RELOCATION GUIDE
The GMAR is once again sponsoring the Discover Milwaukee Relocation Guide. Covering Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington and Racine counties, it is the Greater Milwaukee region’s #1 source for anyone looking to move or relocate to Wisconsin’s largest metro area.
 
You can provide a free copy of the Relocation Guide to your relocating clients and customers and share the website and digital edition as well.
Limited quantities of the publication are available at the GMAR office, or by contacting Metro Business Publications at pcanon@discovermilwaukee.com.
 
The purpose of the Relocation Guide is to create a complete package about moving to metro Milwaukee. Information is organized in easy-to-use sections, offering new residents everything they need at their fingertips:
  • Quality of Life
  • Things To Do
  • Average home price and details for communities
  • Career Opportunities
  • Schools and Education
  • Financing a Home
  • Helpful Information
 
GMAR members also have the opportunity to highlight their experience and expertise in a special section for Relocation Specialists. For rate information, contact Maribeth Delforge at 262-796-0224, or mbdelforge@discovermilwaukee.com.
REAL ESTATE SUPPLY STORE NOW AT
MINUTEMAN PRESS - BROOKFIELD
The real estate supply store is now located ONLY at Minuteman Press - Brookfield location (13680 W. Capitol Drive). Store hours are M-F between 8:30 AM and 5 PM. Contact Minuteman Press-Brookfield for more info, (262) 781-9622!
Comments, Suggestions or Questions?...
Let us know how the GMAR can improve what we offer to you as members of our organization. Your feedback helps us to make quality improvements to our programs and benefits, so we appreciate it! Click here to e-mail your feedback to the GMAR.
Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS®
12300 W. Center Street Milwaukee, WI 53222
414-778-4929 | www.GMAR.com