SPAAR Modified Office Hours

Code of Ethics Compliance

Reduced Cost Health Insurance Option

SPAAR to Host Collection Drive for Blue Star Mothers of America

Upcoming Education & Events

Bring in the SPAAR Squad for your Next Office Meeting

Twin Cities Housing Market Statistics

Welcome, New Members!

SPAAR Modified Office Hours

SPAAR's Eagan and Coon Rapids offices will be closed until 11:30am on Tuesday, January 10 for staff training. SPAAR's Maplewood/St. Paul location will maintain regular office hours.

Code of Ethics Compliance

Due to the high volume of Code of Ethics completion certificates submitted to SPAAR last week, the completion list is no longer available online. We are currently in the process of conducting our compliance audit. Upon completion of the audit, individuals who are not in compliance will be notified by email. Please note, account access for those who are non-compliant will be shut off the week starting January 9. No accounts will be shut off this week.

We appreciate your patience during this process, and ask that you do not call or email to request confirmation of completion, as until the audit is complete we will be unable to confirm whether or not an agent has met the compliance requirement.

If you have any concerns, please contact Tracey Douglas at [email protected] or 651-772-6349.

Message from MN REALTORS®: Reduced Cost Health Insurance Option

Since the end of September when the Health Insurance rates for non-MN SURE consumers hit the street, many MN REALTORS® have experienced significant rate increases. The state and local association partners have fielded a number of calls from members who saw health insurance rates jump 40%-65% making it their highest monthly expense.

Members should know that we expect the legislature to provide some type of monthly rebate to those in the private individual marketplace. It is very unclear when and how the rebate will delivered to payees. Will it be a tax credit at the end of the year or will the Department of Revenue need to set-up the infrastructure to collect rebate requests from about 300,000 Minnesotans every month and then issue checks? We have heard that the rebates will equal about 25% of the monthly increase. There has not been a decision about “means testing” who will be included in the rebates.

At the same time we looked at legislative options, we began looking at other options available for our members. In our research, we were fortunate to come across MN HEALTH AGENCY an independent insurance vendor who works with a number REALTORS® and other small groups.

Below is a pair of short videos discussing the health insurance situation and the options MN REALTORS® have to decrease their monthly insurance rates. In many cases the group insurance rates would reduce a member’s monthly cost by 40%-60%! That means hundreds of dollars a month. Please share the video links below with your sales associates so they are aware of the program and the potential cost savings.

The MN REALTORS® receive no compensation or other remuneration for this referral.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact: [email protected]

VIEW VIDEO 1 | VIEW VIDEO 2

SPAAR to Host Collection Drive for Blue Star Mothers of America

In late November, SPAAR’s members—through your Community Engagement Committee—approved an emergency grant of $2,000 to Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. This grant was used to ship “We Care” packages to active duty troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Egypt. Facing increasing shipping costs, Blue Star Mothers was challenged to raise sufficient funds. Without your help, these packages would not have arrived in time for Christmas. Thank you!

You can still help: Through February 3, SPAAR is hosting a collection drive for Blue Star Mothers of America. You can contribute items for We Care Packages that will be sent to members of the Armed Forces. Collection boxes are located at SPAAR’s offices in Saint Paul, Eagan and Coon Rapids. HERE is a wish list for We Care packages.

Sponsor a We Care collection box in your office. For information, or to receive posters or boxes, please contact Joe McKinley at SPAAR: [email protected] or 651-772-6344.

Challenge: SPAAR’s Community Engagement Committee invites you to email a photo of your office’s We Care collection box to [email protected]. Photos received by February 1 will be entered in a drawing for bagels for your office.

Upcoming Education & Events

• How Much Home Can You Really Afford. Monday, Jan. 9, 1pm-4pm. REGISTRATION
• Metro YPN Kickoff and Happy Hour. Thursday, Jan. 12, 5pm-6pm, at the Ox Cart Ale House. REGISTRATION
• SPAAR Winter Social. Thursday, Jan. 12, 6pm-9pm, at A'BULAE. REGISTRATION
• Proper Pricing and Secrets of the CMA. Wednesday, Jan. 25, 9am-12pm. REGISTRATION
• Feels Like the First Time Every Time (Buyer Counseling). Wednesday, Jan. 25, 1pm-4pm. REGISTRATION
  

Bring in the SPAAR Squad for your Next Office Meeting

Looking for useful content for upcoming office meetings? SPAAR Squad is here to help! Our staff members are available to attend your meeting and speak about a variety of relevant topics. We also provide onsite training (some with free CE) for groups of 25 or more.

SPAAR SQUAD TOPIC LIST | SPAAR SQUAD REQUEST FORM

Housing Market Statistics

Get up-to-date housing market information here! SPAAR provides four different types of reports so you can offer your clients the most accurate housing data available. Click below to see how the market's doing.

Local Market Updates | Weekly Market Activity Report | Housing Supply Overview | Monthly Market Indicators

Welcome, New Members!

SPAAR would like to welcome all our new members! Thank you joining, and we look forward to helping you be successful in your business.