Weekly Newsletter

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

March Message From 2024 President, Lisa Comito

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS!

How can GBR help YOU leverage your REALTOR® Value?

We want to hear from you!

We encourage you to share your inquiries and insight!

Please contact 2024 President, Lisa Comito: president@greaterbergenrealtors.com

Learn More

WATCH LISA'S FULL VIDEO

ASSOCIATION NEWS

NEW DATE! March 12, 2024! Sign Up Today!

The Broker Council & Professional Development Committee Present

What The Fiduciary?! Agency In Action

Helpful Tips & Tricks With Virtual Speaker, Dan Barli, Esq.!

Learn how to represent your clients ethically and effectively! Participate in this workshop to learn best practices on:

1. How we represent our clients and fiduciary responsibilities.

2. How we can protect both ourselves and our brokerages.

Hear from virtual guest speaker, Dan Barli, Esq. for more career takeaways!

This event is FREE for members. Don't miss out!

NEW DATE!

March 12, 2024

10:00AM - 12:00PM

In-Person Only | GBR Headquarters

FREE For Members | $20 Non-members

*If You Registered For The February Event, You MUST Re-register Below.

Thank You!

CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH!

The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Presents

2nd Annual Women's History Month: REALTORS® Across All Generations

A Lunch And Learn Event! Register Today & Celebrate!

Join the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee in honoring Women’s History Month with their second annual event! A Lunch & Learn event with a lively discussion featuring a panel of dynamic women across all generations within the real estate industry!

Join The Celebration!

March 20, 2024

12:00PM - 2:00PM

In-Person at GBR Headquarters

$10 For Members | $20 Non-members

NEW! MEMBER BENEFIT!

Earn Your ABR® Designation For FREE With GBR!

The Accredited Buyers Representative® (ABR) Designation Is March 22nd & 25th!

Don't Delay, Register Today!

Greater Bergen REALTORS is now offering the two-day Accredited Buyers Representative® (ABR) Designation for FREE to our members, as an exclusive member benefit!

Take Advantage Of This FREE Member Benefit Today!

Two-Day Designation:

March 22, 2024 & March 25, 2024

9:00AM - 4:30PM

Hybrid

Instructors: Rhoda Moss-Latimer, Alireza Memar

FREE For Members

FREE! Let's Talk Class!

The "Plan": How To Build A Six Figure Income In Real Estate In 90 Days Or Less!

Join "The Plan": How To Build a Six-Figure Income in Real Estate in 90 Days, where you'll unlock the secrets to skyrocketing your career from a former top-producing REALTOR® turned leading loan officer.

Discover the straightforward, actionable plan that propelled a "Zero to Hero" journey, amassing millions in the real estate realm. This is your golden ticket to transform your potential into lucrative success, starting from day one. Perfect for new agents or those in a rut, "The Plan" is your blueprint to thriving in the competitive real estate market.

This event is FREE for members!

Don't miss out—start your journey to the top today!

March 28, 2024

11:30AM - 12:30PM

Instructor: Sean Shallis

FREE For Members | $20 Non-Members

Know A Graduating Senior?

Help Us Give Back & Provide Educational Opportunities!

The REALTORS® Care Foundation High School Scholarship Program Is Accepting Applications!

The Greater Bergen REALTORS®, REALTORS® Care Foundation High School Scholarship Program is accepting applications for high school seniors!

Fill out the application and email all supporting documents to: education@greaterbergenrealtors.com

Application Deadline: April 15, 2024

APPLY HERE

COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHT

The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee And Global Business Council Co-hosted the 4th Annual Black History Month: Empowerment Through Heritage Last Week!

GBR's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and Global Business Council co-hosted the 4th Annual Black History Month: Empowerment through Heritage last week! The special evening at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel highlighted the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the real estate profession and educated on democracy in housing.

The fourth annual celebration honored speaker and President of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® New Jersey, Allegra House, who was recognized for her lasting impact and precedence set in founding the association’s inaugural Black History Month in 2019.

“The Black History Month events are special and will only continue on if we are the rock, the voice, and the driving force for change in our industry and our own lives.” said Allegra House, in accepting her certificate of recognition on behalf of Greater Bergen REALTORS®.

Speakers from the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB REALTIST) included President of New Jersey Association of Minority Real Estate Professionals (NJAMREP), Mayarani Smith, and Region II New York and New Jersey Vice President, William Collins.

A special thank you to event sponsors Carlos J Cappellan Insurance Agency Inc., Clever Home Inspections, and The Chris Murray Group CMG Home Loans.

Special vocal performance of

“Lift Every Voice”, Mikeala Semexant

HEALTH & WELLNESS

March Tip Of The Month: Spring Cleaning For Safety

From GBR's Health, Wellness, Safety Council!

VISIT THE HWSC!

This Month! March Into An Exciting Reading Endeavor!

Join The Health, Wellness, Safety Council Book Club!

Are you looking for a new hobby and improved health? Join the HWSC Book Club, with lively discussions and fun with other motivated peers.

Book of the month: Eat Right 4 Your Type

*Disclaimer: This book is not intended as a substitute for the medical

recommendations of physicians or other healthcare providers.

Are You Interested? Register Today!

STATE NEWS

4 Ways To Utilize Unique Market Data

From New Jersey REALTORS® President, Gloria Monks

New Jersey REALTORS® knows the housing market ebbs and flows better than anyone, and no matter the market conditions or trends, REALTORS® are the consistent experts providing their clients with top-notch service. To help you continue to bring your best to the negotiating table, New Jersey REALTORS® provides its members with the most comprehensive housing market statistics in New Jersey.

We work with all of New Jersey’s MLSs to bring you data reports on the state, county, and municipal levels. They include data points such as new listings, pending sales, closed sales, median sales price, percentage of list price received, days on the market, and more.

Here are four ways to use housing market statistics in your everyday business to highlight your market expertise, help your clients understand the market, and provide value to past and future clients.

NATIONAL NEWS

Pending Home Sales Receded 4.9% in January

Key Highlights

Pending home sales decreased 4.9% in January.

Month over month, contract signings rose in the Northeast and West but fell in the Midwest and South.

Compared to one year ago, pending home sales declined in all U.S. regions.

"The job market is solid, and the country's total wealth reached a record high due to stock market and home price gains," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "This combination of economic conditions is favorable for home buying. However, consumers are showing extra sensitivity to changes in mortgage rates in the current cycle, and that's impacting home sales."

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

Second Century Ventures Opens Applications for

2024 REACH Commercial Program

Second Century Ventures, the strategic investment arm of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), today opened applications for the 2024 REACH Commercial technology growth program.

Second Century Ventures, the most active global venture fund in real estate technology, operates the award-winning REACH program across North and South America, Europe, Australia and Asia-Pacific.

Led by managing partner Bob Gillespie, the REACH Commercial program is in its sixth year of operation. It will run a curriculum supporting entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions across all commercial sector asset classes.

"The REACH Commercial program excels at nurturing growth within the proptech sector," said Gillespie. "We have a long track record of working with our participating companies to navigate through the industry's significant challenges, transforming these obstacles into unique opportunities for innovation. This strategy elevates the market presence for these companies and accelerates their development."

TIPS FOR CONSUMERS/REALTORS®

13 Features New-Home Buyers Say Are Essential

Home buyers appear willing to sacrifice property size to afford homeownership, as the average size of a newly constructed house drops to its lowest level in 13 years—2,479 square feet, according to new research from the National Association of Home Builders. Twenty-six percent of builders say they plan to build even smaller in 2024, the research shows.

"While buyers may accept a smaller home, they want it to be more personalized," said Donald Ruthroff, founding principal at Design Story Spaces LLC, during a press conference this week at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas. “They want it to feel like it was made just for them and be significantly different than their neighbors’ homes,” he said.

AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT

Meet Affiliate Partner, Lisandro Polanco!

Born and raised in NYC and now living in New Jersey. I got my bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University in American History and Law, because I still have aspirations of getting to law school one day. I have a son who is 6, a daughter in college who is 18, and my eldest son proudly serving our country. I am an avid soccer fan and currently sitting on the board for the NYC supporters club for FC Barcelona, I am also an avid snowboarder. There is tons more but let's leave a little for face-to-face conversations.

"Days go slow, but years go fast. Take advantage of each day the best you can."