MESSAGE FROM GMAR CHAIRMAN - KEL SVOBODA
Wow, it’s been a crazy few weeks!
 
At the beginning of the month I was focused on making sure my agents could generate listings and helping buyers find a home. Preparation for upcoming conferences on the West Coast was underway. My bags were packed! 
 
Then, the NCAA cancelled the Tournament (at least the Badgers won the virtual one!), the Brewers postponed Opening Day, and – worst of all – GMAR had to cancel the 96 th edition of the Home & Garden Show!
 
As REALTORS®, we’re always putting fires out, but right now these aren’t fun fires to put out. I’m in constant contact with managers and fellow REALTORS®, just reassuring them that everything will be OK. 
 
It will. It’s just going to take some time to assess what the real estate landscape is like.
 
Are buyers going to stop buying? Probably not, because interest rates are really, really low.
 
Are sellers going to stop selling? No. Life continues, and people’s lives require them to sell their homes.
 
We’re only at the front end of this coronavirus, so stay healthy, love your family and plan ahead.
 
It’s a great time to put your social media plan together, and contact your sphere. See how they are doing and help provide accurate information. Get ready for when the market returns.
GMAR SOCIAL MEDIA - CONNECT WITH US
TO STAY IN THE LOOP
In addition to our weekly eNewsletter, the GMAR will be utilizing its social media pages to keep members informed and up-to-date during the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation.

Are you and/or your business connected to us? We'll be using our web presence to bring you information as to the association's plans and initiatives to support the real estate industry during this period, and as we all work together to mitigate the impact it has on you, your businesses and your clients.

Please connect with us through the links to our social platforms below.
HAVE YOU REQUESTED YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT YET?
The April 7 election is clearly not the priority right now, but we know how politically active and aware REALTORS® are, so we will try to keep you aware of developments as they (constantly) unfold.

Have you requested your absentee ballot yet? There is still time. On Tuesday, April 7, Wisconsin will hold the 2020 Spring Election and Presidential Preference vote. Registered voters can still request an absentee ballot by April 2 nd .

To request an absentee ballot, please visit Myvote.wi.gov. 

If you have any questions relating to the spring election, please contact Marne Stück.
 
Also, the WRA and GMAR have made a couple of endorsements relating to the spring election.

The WRA has endorsed Justice Daniel Kelly for the Wisconsin State Supreme Court , and the GMAR has endorsed the Milwaukee Public Schools referendum .
MILWAUKEE BUSINESS OWNERS ADJUST TO
IMPACTS FROM COVID-19
Milwaukee-based companies with national and global impact have new challenges this week. Julia Fello from TMJ4 spoke with three different business owners on how they have been adjusting to this new reality, including GMAR member and current Chair-Elect, Courtney Stefaniak.

8 th ANNUAL WISCONSIN RESIDENTIAL
REAL ESTATE SUMMIT REPLAY
The 8 th annual Wisconsin Residential Real Estate Summit was held virtually on Monday, March 23 rd , and featured NAR’s Dr. Lawrence Yun as keynote speaker, and Marquette University’s Dr. David Clark with a local market perspective.

The annual summit was held at Marquette University’s Business School & Center for Real Estate.

A full recap including a video recording of the event as well as presentation slides can be found here.
CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19): MYTH BUSTERS
There have been many controversial opinions forming around the current outbreak of the coronavirus. If you are curious as to what is fact vs. fiction in this uncertain time, click on the image below to view the full article from the World Health Organization.
REMINDER TO RENEW YOUR LICENSE BY 12/14/20
To maintain real estate licenses in the state of Wisconsin, real estate licensees must complete 18 hours of continuing educations (CE) every two years. The 18 hours must include completion of 3 hours for each of the 6 required course topics listed below. There are no longer elective courses as part of the 18 required hours.

Mandatory Courses (all six required)
  • Course 1: Wisconsin Listing Contracts
  • Course 2: Wisconsin Offers to Purchase
  • Course 3: Wisconsin New Developments
  • Course 4: Wisconsin Real Estate Ethics and Consumer Protection
  • Course 5: Wisconsin Real Estate Law and Practice
  • Course 6: Wisconsin Real Estate Transactions

Live Courses and Distance Learning are offered through the WRA .
THURSDAY TAKEAWAYS VIDEO SERIES
Check out the most recent edition of WRA's Thursday Takeaway Video Series!
 
"WRA Tech Helpline"
With Rob Uhrina
If you are one of the millions of Americans now working from home, the Tech Helpline is here to help make sure all of your systems and devices stay up and running.
 
HEALTHCARE: BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF GMAR
Two of the fastest growing components of healthcare today are now benefits available to GMAR members:

  • Direct Primary Care Health Services
  • Telemedicine

For full details on these programs click here.

You can also view further information on our GMAR Business Benefits page.
EXCLUSIVE MEMBER BENEFITS
LEGAL UPDATE
Stay on top of the latest real estate legal developments with the WRA's Legal Update publication

  • The publication often discusses new or updated real estate forms
  • Topics cover forms revisions, new regulations or legal developments, case law summaries and hotline discussions.

TAXBOT APP
The expense-tracking app from Taxbot includes the following features that you are eligible to receive with your WRA membership:

  • Mileage tracking
  • Photo receipts
  • Cloud storage
  • Bank/credit card integration
  • Training library
If you have questions on the SentriLock system or just need a refresher on how it all works, check out these resources that are readily available to you as members!
SentriKey App School is a great tool to take advantage of if you have been through the training process but still have questions on how to effectively use the system. Click on the image to get started!
FAQs
SentriLock has compiled a list of frequently asked questions which can be viewed here .  
HOW-TO VIDEO SERIES
SentriLock has a great set of “How To” videos which are good refreshers if
you need them. Click here to
access the full library of videos.
ASSISTANT ACCESS THROUGH SENTRIKEY REAL ESTATE APP
Licensed and unlicensed assistants now have the ability to access their team’s lockboxes by using the SentriKey app. This allows them to release the shackle and open the key compartment among other functions for their team’s lockboxes.
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). From March 18 - April 1 the store will be available for online, email and phone orders only. Please email us with your order the day before. We will select your items ahead of time, email you an invoice, and have them ready for you to pick up at our front door. Pick up time is M-F between 9 AM and 4 PM.
Contact Minuteman Press-Brookfield for more info, (262) 781-9622!

7 THREATS TO YOUR ESTATE PLAN
Join in for this virtual workshop with Kirsten Hildebrand

Date: April 7th, 2020
Time: 11:30am
Zoom Meeting ID: 107 087 763
Meeting Password: 097313

You can also join in on the call directly through this link
KETTLE MORAINE COUNCIL VILLA PARK MEETING
The April 21st Villa Park meeting sponsored by the Kettle Moraine Council has been postponed. The city of West Bend has cancelled the event due to the Coronavirus. An announcement will go out once this meeting is able to be rescheduled.
ALL UPCOMING GMAR SOCIAL EVENTS MAY BE POSTPONED OR CANCELLED PENDING DIRECTION FROM THE CDC WITH REGARDS TO THE CORONAVIRUS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING REGULATIONS
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 .