September 10, 2025

SEPTEMBER IS SAFETY MONTH AND EVERY DAY IS SAFETY DAY

CYBER & WIRE FRAUD:

We have heard of a 2025 case of wire fraud in Maine where the buyer ended up transferring a significant sum of money for a closing to a fraudulent person or entity. It is important to be proactive on this topic – advise your clients to call the closing company or lender at a phone number that is independently verified to confirm details before they wire any funds. Even if an e-mail with wiring instructions looks legitimate, it is always a good idea to pause and take precautions. 

Please review and discuss the Cyber/Wire Fraud Advisory form in Zipforms with your clients so that they are familiar with the proper protocols if this were to happen: 1) contact the financial institution immediately and ask them to do a “SWIFT recall”, 2) call local law enforcement to report the incident, and 3) call the FBI immediately to report it and file a report here.

Here’s a copy of the advisory

Trust your instincts, be safe, and let law enforcement and others know about any suspicious and unsettling interactions. Always.

MAR CONVENTION

Join us! Team Maine – Achieve Together (the MAR Convention) will be an in-person only event October 7-9 at the Holiday Inn By the Bay in Portland. View the preliminary convention schedule, registration details and deadlines here. Limited space is available.

REASONS TO ATTEND:

Earn up to 15 hours of Maine continuing education credits including national educator Kimberly Allard, choose non-credit workshops relevant to your business, attend the MAR Annual meeting and trade show, get hands-on training with FlexMLS and Maine Listings’ suite of products, celebrate our 2026 officers and local Board REALTORS® of the Year, and network with your colleagues and industry partners!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS!

Only a few exhibit spaces left!. Thank you to our convention sponsors, exhibitors, and industry partners! Contact Tanya for exhibit and sponsorship opportunities.  

CONSUMER COMPLAINTS:

MAR and Maine’s local REALTOR® boards are experiencing a noticeable increase in the number of complaints regarding REALTOR® business practice/conduct, especially from clients. Please review the Code of Ethics and re-commit to its tenets

MDIFW LANDOWNER RELATIONS PROGRAM:

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Landowner Relations Program works to preserve Maine’s unique history of public access to private land by:

·       Promoting responsible land use to the public

·       Educating landowners about their rights, liabilities, and options

·       Forming partnerships and supporting landowners

Find out more information here

LANDOWNER APPRECIATION DAY IS SEPTEMBER 14:

DIFW’s Outdoor Partners Program organizes an annual event to show Maine landowners their appreciation for public access to private land for recreational use. To learn more about volunteering for the Landowner Appreciation Day and Clean-Up or to have land with illegal dumping considered as a site for clean-up email outdoorpartners@maine.gov

DEP RULEMAKING: WETLANDS AND WATERBODIES PROTECTION (Chapter 310)

Public comment period is open for proposed rule changes to Chapter 310. The proposed rule would allow the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to permit additional activities within wetlands that are Wetlands of Special Significance because they contain significant wildlife habitat, peatlands, or critically imperiled or imperiled plant communities, provided: a) the activity is at least 750 feet from the triggering feature and b) the activity does not have an unreasonable adverse effect on the significant wildlife habitat, peatlands, or critically imperiled or imperiled plant community.

The proposed rule would also classify rivers, streams or brooks as Wetlands of Special Significance. Currently, coastal wetlands, great ponds, and freshwater wetlands within 25 feet of a river, stream, or brook are Wetlands of Special Significance. This change would limit the types of development activities that may occur in rivers, streams, or brooks. It would also mean the 2:1 compensation ratio used for Wetlands of Special Significance would apply for impacts to rivers, streams, or brooks.

Public Hearing is September 18^th in Augusta

Written comment deadline is September 29^th

More details here

NAR’S REAL ESTATE TODAY PODCAST:

Get the latest news and information about the real estate market from experts who open doors to the American Dream of home ownership. The most recent issue “Mortgages Made Simple: What Buyers Need to Know” is available for streaming or subscribe where you listen to podcasts. Find out more here.

LUNCH AND LEARN SEPTEMBER 22: INSURANCE UPDATES AND EMERGING TRENDS

On September 22 from noon – 1:00 p.m., Cale Pickford, Compass Group Director at Allen Insurance and Financial, joins Maine REALTORS® via Zoom to provide an update on essential insurance industry happenings and what lies on the horizon as it relates to real estate. He will provide insight into what emerging issues to prepare for and how you can best support your clients for the future Register via the button below.

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