GMAR Weekly Email Digest: 1/7/2019
Happy New Year 2019!
 
I am excited to begin this year with you as Chairwoman, but first I would like to thank our outgoing Chair Vickie Kelsall, for her work in 2018!
 
Last year was an awesome, busy and successful year! We brought in SentriLock boxes and celebrated 50 years of fair housing as two of the many accomplishments of 2018.
 
We have more work to do this year, as we build on our Fair housing success, continue to learn and use SentriLock, and this year celebrate 50 years of RPAC.
I encourage you all to gain awareness on the legislative issues the face Realtors and Home Owners this year. Lend your support and voice when you can! Ask your manager, Marne or I about the direct giver program.
 
It is my goal to lead this year with integrity, fairness and advocacy. I encourage you to join me on this as well!

In our chosen career that is filled with challenges and celebrations, lead your offices, teammates, clients and customers with excellence and integrity. 
 
Wishing you a happy, healthy and successful new year!
 
Amy Curler
2019 Chairwoman
WHAT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN MEANS FOR REALTORS
As of midnight on December 21, 2018, the President and Congress were unable to agree on the provisions of a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government. As a result, a partial shutdown of some government operations has occurred. This partial shutdown includes some federal housing, mortgage and other programs of interest to the real estate industry. A summary of the impact on selected agencies is provided in the attachment .
Military Relocation Professional (MRP) Certification
The Military Relocation Professional (MRP) Certification Course is on January 30 th GMAR Office. To register please click here.
 
When military staff and their families relocate, the services of a real estate professional who understands their needs and timetables makes the transfer easier, faster, and less stressful. This certification focuses on educating real estate professionals about working with current and former military service members to find the housing solutions that best suit their needs and take full advantage of military benefits and support.

The Military Relocation Professional Certification course counts towards earning NAR's Military Relocation Professional Certification as well as one REBAC-elective course toward the ABR® designation.

Benefits for Agents
NAR’s Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification educates REALTORS®  about working with U.S. service members and their families and veterans to find the housing solutions that best suit their needs and to take full advantage of available benefits and support.

After completing the MRP certification, MRP members will:
·       Understand the processes and procedures involved in a military relocation and how these impact service members’ relocation and housing choices
·       Use demographics of the military market to formulate business strategies and determine service offerings for sellers and buyers
·       Provide information to help members through a rent or buy, sell or rent decision-making process
·       Enhance sensitivity to the emotional issues involved when a military family relocates
·       Identify and provide services that help service members sell or find and purchase suitable homes
·       Apply knowledge of the military relocation process to guide service members through the real estate transaction
·       Explain the basics of VA financing
·       Recognize situations in which a buyer is eligible for VA financing
Cost of registration and reservation details will follow.

Contact Scott Bush should you have any questions. scott@gmar.ws
GMAR CONTRACT REVIEW CLASS
Cori Lamont from the WRA will be leading a contract review class on January 16 from 10am-noon at the GMAR office: 12300 W. Center St. Wauwatosa.

A brief summary of the class is below:

Be reminded of contracts bread and butter: 
Fill in deadlines
Make proper delivery 
Fixtures/personal property
Drafting the offer when the seller hasn’t provided the RECR yet 
Closing of buyer’s property contingency & bump
Inspection contingency
If you would like to sign up for this free class, please email Michelle Kohn , s pace is limited.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

   
The Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS® Youth Foundation will award 7 $1,000 scholarships to children or grandchildren of GMAR members during 2019. 
 
Members must have maintained their relationship with the GMAR continuously for at least three (3) years. Deadline is March 29, 2019.
 
BUY REAL ESTATE SUPPLIES AT MINUTEMAN PRESS IN BROOKFIELD
We still receive calls asking where the store is. 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.
SentriLock Tip:
The only way for SentriLock to know when a showing has ended is if the showing agent opens another SentriLock lock box or if the agent has Location Services turned on all the time on their phone which allows SentriLock to track when the agent has traveled more than ½ mile away from the lock box.  If neither of those options occur SentriLock assumes the agent and buyers have left the listing 90 minutes after the lock box was opened and then generates the “90 minutes have passed” closing notification.

You can click here t o sign up for a time to pick up your credentials and any lockboxes that you are eligible for. We will also go over how to use the system at this time. Sentrilock went live on October 1st.

If you need additional lockboxes, you can come to the GMAR office: 12300 W. Center St., Wauwatosa, M-F 8:30am-5:00pm. We will need to verify that you have an active listing so please either bring your signed listing contract or make sure it is showing in the MLS. Lockboxes are only provided for active listings that we can verify (we will not be giving lockboxes for vacant land, rental or commercial properties).

We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions on electronic lockboxes.
KETTLE MORAINE COUNCIL MARDI GRAS PARTY
February 19th at Jug's Hitching Post in West Bend
Save the date for the GMAR Kettle Moraine Council Mardi Gras Party on February 6th at Jug's Hitching Post. For $10 you receive a drink ticket, heavy hors d'oeuvres and free raffle tickets! We will also be giving out an award for the best Mardi Gras mask.
 
HOMESIGHT LUNCH & LEARN
January 31st at 11am

GMAR Office: 12300 W. Center St. Wauwatosa

Topic: Foundations & Drainage systems

Sponsored by Homesight Home Inspections (learn) & Chicago Title (lunch)
 
2019 GOVERNING BOARD INSTALLATION
Join us for a great start to 2019 with Women's Council of Realtors!  
This event on January 19 from 11:30am-1pm will offer lunch, networking, installing and meeting your new officers.
PLUS
Learn how to maximize your membership this year through Referrals!

Location Details:
Bass Bay Brewhouse
S79W15851 Aud Mar Dr
Muskego, Wisconsin 53150 

SELF DEFENSE CLASS
Join us for an event presented by seasoned self defense educators. This will include what to do, what not to do and followed by hands on examples and demonstrations.
 

February 14, 2019
11:30 - Networking
12:00 - Lunch/ Presentation
12:30 - Hands on Demonstration
Co-Hosted by GMAR
 
Location Details:
WCTC
Pewaukee, Wisconsin