The Latest From GPBOR
10/14/2020
2021 President
Mike Pereira

It is my pleasure to serve as your newly installed 2021 President and the 114th President of our esteemed Association. The Greater Providence Board of REALTORS® has a strong history of delivering professional enhancement programs, creating connections and community, advocating for our members and cultivating real estate leaders.

Several of my goals for the coming year build upon our 2020 initiatives. The first is increasing diversity within our leadership and member involvement. The second is to continue working within our communities to make them better for all, and this includes increased charitable giving and greater participation with community partners. The third is to continue working with our building task force, to identify an ideal property for the Board’s new headquarters so that we can return to Providence in 2021. My 4th and final goal is increased member volunteerism.

My mantra this year will be “follow through”. We all have great ideas, great intentions, and it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day business and activities that take place in our lives plus having to navigate our new COVID world. But as REALTORS®, we provide an invaluable service to society. We are so important to buyers and sellers and the other businesses that work around us. We establish standards of quality and care, through our practice of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, and this shapes our field.  

One of the ways you, too, can help shape our industry is through your participation on a GPBOR committee or task force. I encourage you to review the opportunities available and to reach out to the Board or to me if you have any questions, and then sign up by 11/4/2020.

Let me tell you a story.

I attended by first GPBOR Annual Meeting in 2004 and was completely enamored with it. I could picture myself being President someday, so I began a plan to prove to myself I could do it. The first thing I knew I had to do was get involved with the Board, so I joined a committee and then became a Director. But in 2011, I resigned to take some time off. Five years later, I dove back into real estate and have now followed through on my goal of becoming the President. So what if I took 5 years off of leadership? It’s never too late!

What is your shining moment? How will you define it? How will you make it happen? What are you waiting for? I encourage you to articulate your goals and develop a plan to follow through. Finish what you start. It’s never too late to close on your goals!
GPBOR C.A.R.E. raised $2,000 for each of our adopted 2020 charities. On 9/16, at our annual meeting, 2020 President Don Parsons and 2021 President Mike Pereira presented the donations (See more photos here).
Upcoming Programs


  • New Member Orientation, 11/18, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Registration coming soon.

2021 Committees & Task Forces

GPBOR is accepting 2021 Committee and Task Force sign-ups through 11/4. Review your options here.
NEW SIMPLIFIED PPP FORGIVENESS APPLICATION

The Small Business Administration (SBA) and Treasury Department recently announced the release of a new, further simplified forgiveness application for PPP borrowers with loans of $50,000 or less. The new application - Form 3508S - is one-and-half pages long and requires borrower to certify that the amount they are seeking forgiveness for was spent in accordance with the PPP requirements. Read the full press release at https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1148
Fair Housing
Complimentary Real Estate Webinars
Discover New Prospects And New Listings With RPR | Monday, 10/19 at 3 PM EST
  • Looking to build your listing inventory? Many REALTORS® are using RPR as a great resource for prospecting. Join us for this class where you will learn effective ways to leverage RPR to target potential sellers and build inventory.
Help Your Buyers Find The Perfect Home In Their Market | Wednesday, 10/21 at 1 PM EST
  • Every market is different, however many are reporting low inventory and some instances of multiple offers on properties. Having this type of market data can go a long way in helping your role as a trusted advisor when it comes to your buyer clients. As an RPR® user with an expert understanding of the local market, you have the power to analyze and manage a platform of unparalleled data to the extent that no other search mechanism offers.
Part 3 of a continuing series: The Code – Know It… Practice It

As members of the REALTOR® Association, you agree to abide by the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. In doing so, you and your colleagues throughout the industry elevate the standards of professional conduct in the Greater Providence community.

We continue to highlight several articles of the Code. Here are the remaining Articles under the auspices of Duties to Clients & Customers:

Article 6

REALTORS® shall not accept any commission, rebate, or profit on expenditures made for their client, without the client’s knowledge and consent. When recommending real estate products or services (e.g., homeowner’s insurance, warranty programs, mortgage financing, title insurance, etc.), REALTORS® shall disclose to the client or customer to whom the recommendation is made any financial benefits or fees, other than real estate referral fees, the REALTOR® or REALTOR®’s firm may receive as a direct result of such recommendation. [listen]

Article 7

In a transaction, REALTORS® shall not accept compensation from more than one party, even if permitted by law, without disclosure to all parties and the informed consent of the REALTOR®’s client or clients. [listen]

Article 8

REALTORS® shall keep in a special account in an appropriate financial institution, separated from their own funds, monies coming into their possession in trust for other persons, such as escrows, trust funds, clients’ monies, and other like items. [listen]

Article 9 

REALTORS®, for the protection of all parties, shall assure whenever possible that all agreements related to real estate transactions including, but not limited to, listing and representation agreements, purchase contracts, and leases are in writing in clear and understandable language expressing the specific terms, conditions, obligations and commitments of the parties. A copy of each agreement shall be furnished to each party to such agreements upon their signing or initialing. [listen]

Read the full Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice here.
When was the last time you logged into the GPBOR Member Portal?

Login to the GPBOR Member portal to update your profile, including business specialty and any languages spoken. You can also get receipts on past dues payments and renew your membership for 2021, due by 11/1. Watch this short video to learn more.
Attend NAR’s 2020 REALTORS® Virtual Conference & Expo 11/2-11/18 to make an investment in yourself and your business that will pay off in dividends for years to come.
GPBOR | www.gpbor.realtor
The Board staff is available Mon – Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST via phone & email. Due to COVID, visits to our office must be scheduled in advance by calling (401) 274-8383. Thank you for your support.

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