SMDRA WEEKLY NEWS & EVENTS • DECEMBER 29, 2023
Happy New Year SMDRA Members!
As 2023 passes behind us, we look forward to 2024. An exciting year, filled with many exciting new adventures, and hopefully many opportunities to gather once again; with our SMDRA Community members!

Wishing you the very best in the coming year!
May 2024 be filled with abundance, prosperity and love!
SMDRA EDUCATION
SMDRA classes are offered IN-PERSON and on the ZOOM ONLINE platform in a live, online, instructor led format. Be sure to note where each class is held. Visit smdra.com for details.
IN-PERSON 2024 Annual Commission Update - ACU
Jan 3 - 12pm to 4pm
Members Free / $60 Others
4 CE Credits
Instructor: Mickey Sanders
ZOOM GRI 104: Intro
to Single Family Construction
Jan 9 - 9am to 1pm
$50 for Everyone
4 CE Credits
Instructor: Doug Barber
IN-PERSON 2024 Annual Commission Update - ACU
Jan 9 - 12pm to 4pm
Members Free / $60 Others
4 CE Credits
Instructor: Doug Emmerich
ZOOM 2024 Annual Commission Update - ACU
Jan 10 - 9am to 1pm
Members Free / $60 Others
4 CE Credits
Instructor: Debbie Conner
IN-PERSON Business Planning
Jan 11 - 10am to 2pm
Members Free / $60 Others
0 CE Credits
Instructors: Hudson & Hebener
IN-PERSON Radon Environmental Issues
Jan 16 - 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Members Free / $30 Others
2 CE Credits
Instructor: Mike Barnhill
FREE EDUCATION FOR SMDRA MEMBERS!
ALL CLASSES except designations and certifications are FREE for SMDRA members.
UPCOMING DESIGNATIONS & CERTIFICATIONS
Seller Representative Specialist
SRS Designation
DATE: Wed & Thu, March 6&7, 2024
TIME: 9:00am to 4:00pm
COST: $195 Members / $215 Others
FORMAT: Zoom Online Format
CE CREDITS: 14
INSTRUCTOR: Mickey Sanders

DESCRIPTION: The Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) designation, recognized by the National Association of REALTORS®, is the premier credential in seller representation. It is designed to elevate professional standards and enhance personal performance. SRS is a global community of REALTORS® who use their ideas and expertise to professionally and ethically represent sellers. To learn more about the SRS designation and the requirements, click here.
 
Topics covered include:
  • Developing your value proposition and crafting your message
  • Prospecting tactics & tools to generate business
  • How to effectively prepare for the listing appointment and meeting with the seller
  • Tools and strategies to market the listing
  • Understanding different offers and the presentation of offers
  • Understanding and application of the Code of Ethics
  • Tools and techniques providing support and services the seller wants and needs.
Seller Representative Specialist
SRS Designation
DATE: Wed & Thu, March 27&28, 2024
TIME: 9:00am to 4:00pm
COST: $195 Members / $215 Others
FORMAT: Zoom Online Format
CE CREDITS: 12
INSTRUCTOR: Rich Sands

DESCRIPTION: If you are working with buyers be sure to take advantage of any resources and educational opportunities that will help you better represent them. And what better way to start than with a designation that was specifically designed to help you help buyers? Your buyers will thank you!

Earning an Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR®) designation may be just the thing you need to stake your claim as a local real estate market expert and give you an edge over your competition. 

Reasons to Earn Your ABR®:
  1. Build your credibility. When you focus your real estate business on one type of customer, the homebuyer, you gain a reputation as the local expert for homebuyers in your community.
  2. Build a referral network in your local market. You can build a referral network among listing agents by becoming an ABR®. They see you as an ally and not a competitor. Homebuyers view you as having the "inside scoop" on the available housing inventory because of your referral network.
  3. Become a buyer's advocate. Become your client's advocate by using your skills to search for homes beyond traditional MLS services and opening a wider range of options for your clients
Real Estate Negotiation Expert - RENE Certification
DATE: Wed & Thu, April 24&25, 2024
TIME: 9:00am to 5:00pm
COST: $195 Members / $215 Others
FORMAT: Zoom Online Format
CE CREDITS: 14
INSTRUCTOR: Rich Sands

DESCRIPTION: The Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE) certification is for real estate professionals who want to sharpen their negotiation skills. The RENE certification program gives Realtors® the tips and tools they need to be skillful advocates for their clients. This two day, interactive experience will help negotiators elevate their game. The course examines all types of negotiation formats and methods so that today's negotiators can play the game to win. A full spectrum of tips, tools, techniques, and advantages are provided so that negotiators can provide effective results for their clients. The second day of the course will focus on real-world field scenarios to help negotiators apply the power tools, techniques and tactics learned on the day one. Understanding the tactics and techniques is one thing, but learning how to recognize them and using them effectively requires practice.
 
Day 1: The Power Negotiator’s Playbook
Day 2: Advanced Field Negotiations
SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT YOU!
This edition of the SMDRA Weekly Newsletter is made possible by the following businesses:
UPCOMING SMDRA EVENTS
“Member Dues dollars do not pay for SMDRA Events – these are paid for
by sponsorships from your Affiliate and Industry Business Partners.
Please thank them by using their services to support our Association."
LAST CHANCE TO APPLY! Deadline TODAY at 5:00pm! Applications Open for the
2024 SMDRA Leadership Academy
Leadership Academy graduates will gain a clear understanding of the organizational structure of all 3 levels of the REALTOR® Association and the challenges of leadership. Attendees will come to understand how SMDRA strives to provide advantages to members in a changing industry. The Academy will build relationships, increase understanding of the importance of political advocacy, and the personal benefit through increased industry knowledge, self-confidence, and business networking.

Application Deadline - December 29, 2023!
January Town Hall
Talks Member Meeting
DATE: Friday, January 5, 2024
TIME: 8:30am to 9:30am
LOCATION: SMDRA Event Center
TOPIC: January Monthly SMDRA General Membership Meeting

SESSION INFORMATION: Town Hall Talks are the first Friday of every month. This will be a general SMDRA membership meeting, similar to Friday Fuze and Marketing Meetings of the past. An opportunity to catch up on what’s happening at SMDRA, a brief informational presentation, property marketing, buyers and sellers needs, networking with fellow SMDRA members and OF COURSE DONUTS!

January’s topic of discussion is Thrive: How you can succeed in this changing market with Beth Baker Owens, CRS, MBA, MCNE. There are parallels between the real estate recession in 2008/09 and today. Lon Welsh wrote a book in 2009, Thrive in a Down Market, based on a survey of thousands of agents and 100 personal interviews with high production agents. He prioritized the success factors that helped agents grow commission income in the face of adversity. We are rewriting the book with a new survey and more 1:1 high producer interviews. The research results are in! Be among the first to learn the facts from the best producers. Build a business plan for a successful growth year in 2024.

DONUT SPONSOR:
January Connections & Cocktails Member Networking Event
DATE: Thursday, January 11, 2024
TIME: 4:00pm to 6:00pm – Doors Open at 3:45pm
TOPIC: Connections & Cocktails Networking
SESSION INFORMATION: Connections and Cocktails is the 2nd Thursday of each month from 4:00pm-6:00pm. Connections & Cocktails is a networking opportunity complete with light appetizers and cocktails. Each session will have a focus to educate members about ways to get involved, make industry connections and of course an opportunity to meet and connect with other SMDRA REALTOR® and Affiliate Industry Partner Members.

CONNECTIONS & COCKTAILS SPONSOR:
January Power Lunch:
RPR's 6 Cool Tools to Better
Serve Buyers and Sellers
DATE: Tuesday, January 16, 2024
TIME: 11:00am-11:20am – Lunch and Networking
11:20 Welcome Announcements & Sponsor
11:30am-1:00pm – Program
SPEAKER: Laurie Register, Director, Industry Relations

SESSION INFORMATION: Please join us for this exclusive members-only dive into the tools you need to better serve buyers and sellers. Our session will cover:

  1. RPR’s exclusive Realtor Valuation Model® (RVM®).
  2. Using your market expertise to refine a property’s value.
  3.  Creating an appealing and persuasive CMA.
  4. Generating one of a dozen RPR reports.
  5. Learning how to create and share RPR’s new market data.
  6. And automatically creating content with the new AI writer

POWER LUNCH SPONSOR:
MARKET TRENDS & STATISTICS
Get the SMDRA Market Trends & Statistics for November 2023
CLICK THE IMAGE to visit the Housing Market Trends and Statistics Resources page on the SMDRA website for the latest statistics resources.

Click the button below to download the latest statistic files.
REALTOR REPORT
Existing Home Sales Expanded 0.8% in November, Ending Five Month Slide
National Association of REALTORS®
Existing-home sales grew in November, breaking a streak of five consecutive monthly declines, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Among the four major U.S. regions, sales climbed in the Midwest and South but receded in the Northeast and West. All four regions experienced year-over-year sales decreases.
The Folly on Rent Control:
Insights from CAR Past President Natalie Davis
Colorado Association of REALTORS
In a Denver Gazette opinion piece, CAR Past President Natalie Davis discusses the negative impact of rent control policies on Colorado’s housing market. She argues that such policies, which have been prohibited in Colorado for over 40 years, lead to reduced housing availability, stalled development, and lower property values. Citing studies, the article shows rent control’s historical failures, including decreased neighborhood appeal and increased income inequality due to converting rent-controlled units into more expensive, owner-occupied housing.
The RPR's Blog
Brightest and Best of 2023
REALTORS Property Resources
Once again, the end of another year is here.
Time to look back, reflect, and keep an eye out for “Best Of” lists and Spotify-inspired “wrapped” top fives. RPR (Realtors Property Resource) is no different!

For eleven months we published some really helpful content and blog articles. All with the goal of helping REALTORS® navigate the current market and hopefully, be more successful with their business.

Here are a half dozen entries from our 2023 blogroll that are the most popular and most informative. If you missed any of these during the year, now’s your chance to get caught up and ready to tackle 2024.

From a list of fifty ways to use RPR, to how to create winning market update videos, to a buyer’s agent daily playbook, we present our best of the best.
SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT YOU!
This edition of the SMDRA Weekly Newsletter is made possible by our Platinum Corporate Sponsors:
SMDRA STORIES
REALTOR Safety Tips
MOST CRIMES AGAINST REALTORS ARE PREDATORY IN NATURE - not random acts of violence. Protect yourself by not over-shoring about your personal life.

Learn more at www.NAR.realtor/safety
SMDRA REALTOR Member
Benefit - Forewarn!
SMDRA is thrilled to announce a COMPLIMENTARY proactive safety and lead intelligence service for all SMDRA REALTOR Members!

Quickly becoming the industry standard for safety and prospect intelligence, FOREWARN is a revolutionary application that allows agents to have instant due diligence on prospects. In seconds, with as little information as a phone number or name, SMDRA REALTOR Members can verify a prospect’s identity, criminal records, bankruptcies, liens, judgments, address history and property records all in one place, leading to safer and more productive interactions. 
SMDRA Event & Meeting Rentals
Are you looking for a venue to:
  • Host your company's annual meeting?
  • Have your holiday party or event?
  • Teach an educational class for your employees?
  • Hold a wedding celebration?
  • Or a place to just meet, whatever your reason might be!
  • SMDRA Member discount available

The South Metro Denver REALTOR® Association's Event Center, Lobby, Patio, Legacy Room, Board Room and Training Room are available for day, evening and weekend rentals. Contact us today for rental rates and space availability

Email Susan Cooper at susan@smdra.com for questions and additional information.
SENTRILOCK @ YOUR SERVICE
SentriLock Resources
at Your Fingertips!
SentriLock®
Did you know there a HUGE LIBRARY of information right at your finger tips for all things SentriLock? Here's a few links to check out:


For Lockbox Support:
513-618-5800
Need HELP with Your
SentriLock Lockboxes?

Call the SMDRA Office at 303-797-3700
WE CAN HELP TOO!
JUST FOR YOU!
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