REALTORS ® MIDYEAR FORECAST
According to speakers at last week's residential real estate forum during the 2019 REALTORS ® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo , home sales are expected to strengthen.

GMAR REPRESENTATIVES VISIT D.C.
GMAR members joined their counterparts from across the nation in Washington D.C. last week for The REALTORS ® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo. This was an opportunity for members to take an active role to advance the real estate industry, public policy and the association by attending Capitol Hill visits, special issues forums, committee meetings and legislative activities. 

For a recap of the week’s events, click here.    Click Here to View Highlights
SUBMIT YOUR LISTINGS FOR DOWNTOWN DIGGS
It’s that time of year again…  Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase your downtown condo listings as part of the 2019 Downtown Diggs event. 


The event, presented by Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS (GMAR), is designed to highlight downtown living at its finest. GMAR, in partnership with  Milwaukee Downtown BID #21 , has scheduled the event to take place during Milwaukee's Downtown Dining Week.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT LISTINGS: MAY 23, 2019 @ 5PM

Maps will be available and include a complete listing of condo open houses, as well as company logos for participating agents. Participating agents will have the ability to print and distribute the maps at their listings. Maps will also be available to prospective buyers at the Farmers Market at Red Arrow Park. In addition, MLS will make a map available to attendees on their smartphones, making it simple to start the day's tour at any condo on the list. 

Questions about 2019 Downtown Diggs? Please contact:

Amanda Falk
GMAR Director of Promotions
(414) 778-4929 (office phone)
amanda@gmar.ws
MEMORIAL DAY 2019
The GMAR office will be closed on Monday, May 27 in observance of Memorial Day. Wishing all of you a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.
REALTOR ® BENEFITS PROGRAM
Designed with you in mind, the REALTOR Benefits Program is your official member benefits resource, bringing you savings and unique offers on products and services just for REALTORS.

WRF ANNOUNCES REALTOR VOLUNTEER WEEKS FOR 2019
The Wisconsin REALTORS ®  Foundation (WRF) is back with the first of two Wisconsin REALTOR ®  volunteer weeks for 2019. The first Wisconsin  REALTORS ®  Team Up Against Hunger  will be  June 3-7, 2019  with another to follow in November.   As a reminder, the goal of this week is to get REALTORS ®  out in their community volunteering at local food pantries or food banks.

With 1 in 6 Wisconsin children struggling with hunger each day, simply by volunteering one day at a local food pantry of food bank, REALTORS ®  have an opportunity to highlight a cause and their own commitment to addressing hunger in their community. REALTORS ®  are encourage to reach out to affiliates, other members of the community, family and friends to find a time and volunteer together the week of  June 3-7, 2019 . 
 
The goal is simple. Celebrate Junesgiving by volunteering the week of  June 3-7, 2019.
 
When they volunteer that week we just ask they post that week on social media letting their community know. All we ask if for the WRF to be tagged @wirealtorsfoundation.
 
Here are a few FAQs we received last year:

  • Where can Wisconsin’s local food pantries and food banks be found? There are over 1,000 food pantries in Wisconsin. Use WRA’s new search tool at www.wra.org/wrf to find one in your community. There are six food banks serving Wisconsin. Go to www.feedingwi.org to find the one servicing your local food pantries.
  • Who makes the arrangements for volunteering? The one organizing the volunteering should reach out to their local food pantry or food bank representative to arrange the volunteer opportunity.
  • What if a company already volunteers at a local food bank or food pantry? Great! Encourage them to volunteer the week of June 3-7, 2019, tag their company as well as the WRF at @wirealtorsfoundation. REALTORS® volunteering in their community at a local food pantry or food bank and helping to tackle hunger in Wisconsin is the goal.
  • What does the local association need to do? Nothing, something or everything. As the local association you may choose to try organize a day for your members to volunteer that week as an association or challenge them to volunteer independent of your association. The WRF simply asks the association promote Junesgiving; the rest is up to you.
  • Do you have another creative work to promote Junesgiving? Yes. Just let us know what you’re looking for. In addition to the attached video, we have artwork for social media and print. If there’s something outside of those, reach out and we will work together.
 
For those that would like more information about the WRF, we encourage you to visit our recently revamped website  www.wra.org/wrf .  
REALTOR ® EMERITUS QUALIFICATIONS CHANGING
REALTOR ® Emeritus, a special membership status honoring those who have maintained REALTOR ® membership for 40 years or more, will require one year of service at the national level starting in 2020. Previously, one year of service at the local or state level also qualified. 2019 is the final year REALTORS ® with one year of only state or local service will qualify.
 
DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR EMERITUS STATUS IN 2019: OCTOBER 2, 2019
 
If you have have questions about whether you've reached Emeritus status, contact Michelle Kohn .
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
MAY MVP PROGRAM REWARDS
Take advantage of the May MVP Program offer!  Act by May 14th .


What is Your May Reward?...
Streams of Lead Gen Success Webinar, Plus a Chance to Win an iPad Mini.
PURCHASE REAL ESTATE SUPPLIES
AT MINUTEMAN PRESS - BROOKFIELD
Wondering where the real estate supply store moved to...

The real estate supply store once located in the GMAR office has closed and is now located in Minuteman Press - Brookfield Location ONLY - located at 13680 W. Capitol Drive. Store hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Questions? Contact Minuteman Press Brookfield by phone at (262) 781-9622 today!
SentriLock Tips

1. If the SentriSmart App is spinning when trying to access a Lockbox, you can force close the App and reopen it. With an iPhone, double click the home button and swipe up to get out of the App. With an Android phone, in order to force close the App use the following instructions:
  • Open the Settings App
  • Choose Apps
  • On some Samsung phones, touch the General tab atop the Settings app screen, and then choose the Application Manager item.
  • Touch the Running tab to view only active or running apps.
  • Choose the app that’s causing you distress.
  • Touch the Stop or Force Stop button.

2. If you are in an area with bad cell service, your phone may be spinning trying to find service. You can put your phone in airplane mode to make it stop searching, and make sure your Bluetooth is turned on. Then you can open the App and connect to the Lockbox. You do not need cell service to open up a Lockbox, just Bluetooth.

3. If you are going to a closing, you can have the buyers agent bring the Lockbox to the closing (if they are doing a final walk through). You go to Lockbox tools, select the property, click get shackle release code. You can then text or email this code to the buyers agent so they can release the shackle.

4. SentriLock has a great set of "How To" videos which are good refreshers if you need them. Click here to view SentriLock how-to videos .

Click here t o sign-up for a time to pick up your credentials along with any lockboxes that you are eligible for. GMAR Staff will also go over instructions on how to use the system at that time.

One Additional Note from SentriLock...
Beginning summer 2019, SentriLock no longer plans to support Contractor Codes for our Bluetooth ® REALTOR ® lockbox. While a convenient service in the past, the introduction of the One Day Code and more recently, SentriConnect ® for non-agent access, Contractor Codes have fulfilled their usefulness and will be turned off for all Bluetooth ® REALTOR ® lockboxes.

Need additional lockboxes? Stop by the GMAR Office located at 12300 W. Center Street, Wauwatosa, during business hours of Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. GMAR Staff will verify that you have an active listing, so please bring your signed listing contract OR be certain the listing appears in the MLS. Lockboxes will only be provided for active listings that we are able to verify. GMAR will not provide lockboxes for vacant land, rentals or commercial properties.

A list of frequently asked electronic lockbox questions have been compiled and can be viewed by clicking on the box below.
KETTLE MORAINE COUNCIL RPAC AUCTION
WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 | 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
WEGNER'S CEDAR LAKE INN | 4919 STATE ROAD 144, HARTFORD
Mark your calendars and join the Kettle Moraine Council for their annual RPAC Auction. 
 
WRA's Joe Murray and Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow will join us.
 
GMAR YOUTH FOUNDATION BOWLING EVENT
THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2019 | 5:45 PM to 9:30 PM
ROOT RIVER CENTER | 7220 W. RAWSON AVENUE, FRANKLIN
The GMAR Youth Foundation will host the 10 th Annual 9-Pin Tap Bowling Tournament, sponsored by Great Midwest Bank, on Thursday, May 23, 2019 from 5:45 to 9:30 p.m. at the Root River Center.
2019 GMAR GOLF OUTING
TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2019 | 11:00 AM SHOTGUN START
IRONWOOD GOLF COURSE
Registration is now open for the 2019 GMAR Golf Outing! Invite your friends, co-workers, customers, and vendors to join you at Ironwood Golf Course on Tuesday, July 9th!
 
If you're interested in being a sponsor for this event, please email  Michelle Kohn  or call (414) 778-4929.
REMAX Headshots and Happy Hour Event
HABITAT ReStore OFFERS FREE PICK-UP/SALVAGE SERVICES
Habitat for Humanity ReStore picks up donations of gently used furniture, appliances and more for free! Donations are tax deductible and help local families in need of safe, affordable housing. Ideally we want to connect with donors 2-4 weeks before they would like to donate.
   
ReStore's experienced  Deconstruction Services  will even remove kitchen cabinetry! 
 
FIND OUT MORE  or call: 414-316-5651