STOP CORONAVIRUS
WEAR YOUR MASK - WASH YOUR HANDS - STAY 6 FT. AWAY
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY 'SIGN THE STUDS'
Thank you to all of the offices who participated in Habitat for Humanity's 'Sign the Studs' program this month! Check out some of the finished products below.
NAR'S VIEW OF GSA (FANNIE/FREDDIE) REFORM
As part of NAR's ongoing discussion of GSE reform, NAR recently published its second comprehensive paper that focused on the future of the GSEs as market utilities.

On January 14th NAR held “The Future of the GSEs Webinar: Readying Fannie and Freddie for the Next Chapter” detailing this new research. There is a full recording of the event, as well as the paper GSEs: Their Viability as Public Utilities that was discussed and an executive summary.

There are three important insights to reiterate as the debate on GSE reform continues:

  1. "Utility" does not mean the same thing to all groups. For some a utility is a cumbersome and inefficient bureaucracy, while for others it is a means of "controlling" private capital to meet a public end. However, a utility is a collaboration between private investors and the public where both groups cooperate to mutually benefit.
  2. How well the utility supports the public mission depends on how well it is constructed to satisfy private capital. Investors take risks and expenses and expect to be compensated for them. If the risks are unclear, they require higher returns. The less clarity there is or risks from counterparties, inefficient regulation, and politics, the higher the return investors will require, reducing revenues for charter duties. With a clear utility construct that reduces the unknown risks and allows expenses to be spread over time, investors will demand a lower return, leaving more revenue to support the public mission.
  3. The investors in the future GSE market utilities are not the investors of pre-conservatorship. Utility investors favor stable returns over a long horizon and will accept lower returns for it versus high, short-term gains that are more volatile. Thus, these investors' interests align with the charter mission. The key is attracting them. Under the utility structure we propose, investors will enjoy consistent positive returns in a federally protected marketplace.

Where should the discussion go from here? NAR's January event was just the beginning of a larger effort to complete the transformation and canonize the GSEs in their current state…as market utilities. In the months and years ahead, the policy community must wrestle with how to attract the correct type of investors, how to strengthen the regulatory structure to oversee these market utilities, how to refine the capital, liquidity, and product rules to appropriately fit a market utility, and how to build a political consensus for these market utilities.
CHRIS CARRILLO OF METRO MLS NAMED RISMEDIA 2021 REAL ESTATE NEWSMAKER
As CEO of Metro MLS, Chris Carrillo is best known as a hard-working leader in the MLS industry on both a local and national level. He has remained engaged in leading his organization and the industry forward.

"You cannot rest on your own laurels. You must know your industry's and organization's north star and navigate accordingly. Evolve - Change - Innovate - Repeat!" Carrillo says.

WHAT'S THE BEST NATION? DONATION
Not only did pitchers and catchers report this week, Tuesday was also spring primary day (DPI & local races), marking the start of a new political season. Time to make your Direct Giver Donation. Questions? marne@gmar.com
GMAR FLOWERS FOR SCHOLARS
Order hanging baskets and/or flower pots at a great price and for a good cause!
$10 from each plant ordered will go towards the GMAR Youth Foundation college scholarship program.
Order deadline is Thursday, March 4th
Pick-up is Tuesday, May 4th - right on time for Mother's Day!
PLEASE RETURN YOUR SENTRILOCK LOCKBOXES IF YOU DO NOT PLAN TO USE THEM
Last year the GMAR began working through an audit of the SentriLock lockboxes. Of our 9,000 lockboxes in the association, 8,605 were in members hands. Of those 8,605, only 2,747 were on listings. We did mange to get a good number of the unused lockboxes back, however there are currently 5,367 lockboxes out there in members hands that are not being used on listings.
 
If you are someone who has lockboxes in your possession and you do not plan to use them on your listings, please return them to the GMAR office.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU DO USE YOUR LOCKBOXES YOU DO NOT HAVE TO RETURN THEM. We encourage the use of SentriLock but have noticed that several agents have an excess amount of lockboxes that have never been used.

If you have any questions on this topic or if you are still in need of your credentials please email Emily Simonelli. 
WOMEN BUILD A STRONGER COMMUNITY
VIRTUAL EVENT
Monday, March 8 is International Women’s Day. To celebrate, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity is hosting a virtual discussion: How Habitat Homeownership Supports Female Business Owners. This is part of the International Women Build Week with Habitat for Humanity, sponsored by Lowe’s.

Join us over the lunch hour to learn about the barriers women in Milwaukee face, particularly women of color, in pursuit of owning their own homes, and how homeownership helps empower women business owners. 
 
Panelists include Habitat homeowner Rita Estremera, who started Aloekui Soaps out of her Habitat home's kitchen, and Habitat homeowner and board member Johanna Jimenez, who works in the housing and real estate industry.

You will also learn how you can be part of the affordable housing solution in Milwaukee through Milwaukee Habitat's Women Build 2021.

How Habitat Homeownership Supports Female Business Owners
Monday, March 8 11:30 am to 12:15 pm
SPRING REALTOR EVENT
HABITAT RESTORE OFFERS FREE PICKUP & 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. 

ReStore's experienced Deconstruction Services will even remove kitchen cabinetry and more! 
 
FIND OUT MORE or call: 414-316-5651
COVID-19 RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO REALTORS®
DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE RESOURCES
Help.org is dedicated to providing drug and alcohol rehab resources and support. They do this through comprehensive resources and guides, and connecting people with the right treatment programs. If you or someone you know needs help please take advantage of this great tool.
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). The store is back open with COVID-19 protection measures in place. Online orders are still encouraged. 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 or give us a call at 414-778-4929.