Voting Deadline Next Week!
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DEADLINE NEXT WEEK!
Wednesday, November 8th
VOTING OPEN NOW!
Voting is open for your 2018 SAR Leadership.
If you haven't voted already, you may do so right from the MLS Dashboard:
On the electronic ballot, you will see these candidates and offices as certified by your SAR Nominating Committee:
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Karene Garlich-Loman, Keller Williams Spokane
Gina Mosey, RE/MAX Inland Empire
TREASURER
David Crosby
, EXP Realty
SECRETARY
Jack Kestell, Kestell Company
DIRECTORS
Eric Etzel
, Choice Realty
Cynthia Gustafson, John L. Scott Spokane, Inc.
Britney Inglis, Real Estate Marketplace NW, Inc.
Nancy Jones, Windermere North
Lee McIntyre, 4 Degrees Real Estate
Gina Mosey, RE/MAX Inland Empire
Abbey Parsons, Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Spokane Valley
Bill Richard, Keller Williams Spokane - Branch
Taylor Ward, Synergy Properties
Deadline to fill out ballots will be Wednesday, November 8th, 4:30 p.m.
Our new leaders will be announced at our Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, November 9th, at CenterPlace Regional Event Center.
Your SAR Communications/Member Services Committee has prepared a 2018 SAR Voter Information Guide to help you make your vote decisions.
In it, each candidate offers a brief statement about who s/he is and what s/he wishes to accomplish, if elected.
Download your copy of the 2018 SAR Leadership Voter Guide (pictured above), online here.
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SAR-Endorsed Candidates
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Your ballot for the General Election was mailed this week. You have until November 7th to complete it and mail it in.
Your SAR Governmental Affairs Committee is pleased to announce its endorsed candidates for the 2017 General election.
Endorsements are based on personal interviews and
Candidate Verification. Many hours have been spent by committee members and staff, on your behalf, to make these endorsements:
Click on the highlighted names to see that candidate's appearance on
Candidate Confidential on
Spokane Talks Online.
Spokane City Council:
Spokane Valley City Council:
J. Caleb Collier; Position 2
Ben Wick; Position 4
Mike Munch; Position 7
7th Legislative District:
Proposition 2:
Please consider these candidates first. Your General Election ballot must be returned with a postmark on or before November 7th to be counted.
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Call for Action!
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SAR RESPONSE RATE:
16% with 204 responses
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Take Action:
Contact Your Representative and Senators
about Tax Reform
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The National Association of REALTORS® issued a Call for Action, this week, directed at all Members of Congress, on the subject of tax reform.
A tax reform outline, released by a study group in September, doubles the standard deduction and eliminates all personal deductions except the Mortgage Interest Deduction and the deduction for Charitable Contributions.
The plan eliminates the deduction for State and Local Taxes.
This one-two punch will deliver a crippling blow to middle class homeowners by removing economic incentives for home ownership and raising taxes by an average of $851. By doubling the standard deduction, the Mortgage Interest Deduction would only be available to the top 5% of taxpayers.
The action letter is pre-written - all you have to do is enter your information and send it in.
Answer the Call for Action now!
Here are some informational resources on this issue:
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Big 6 Tax Reform Framework: Impact on Homeowners
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See the 23-minute video, produced by NAR, in which NAR analysts walk through what's in the tax reform framework introduced in late September by the Trump Administration and Republican leaders in Congress.
See NAR's print ad on tax reform (pictured above), online here.
See NAR's Talking Points on tax reform (pictured above), online here.
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Mobius Gala
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Our friends at Mobius announce their annual gala benefiting Mobius Children's Museum & Science Center:
Friday, November 3rd | 6:30pm - 9:30pm | at Mobius Science Center in downtown Spokane.
Your SAR was a Mobius supporting partner in its formative years.
Join in for an evening of fundraising, hors d'oeuvres, libations, live auction, and a paddle raise. Cocktail attire is requested. Tickets are $50 per person - ticket includes two complimentary drinks.
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2017 NAR Profile of Home Buyers/Sellers
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Opportunties: solid interest in buying a home, sparked by steady job gains, record low mortgage rates, and higher rents.
Challenges: the severe drought in housing supply in much of the country over the past year accelerated price growth and kept many first-time buyers out of the market.
Read NAR's 2017 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, online here.
See the infographic from the report (pictured above), online here.
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Annie's Coming to Pullman!
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Our friends at Whitman County Association of REALTORS
® share news that Washington REALTORS
® Legal Hotline attorney
Annie Fitzsimmons will be in the neighborhood on Thursday,
November 16th.
She'll be teaching two classes in Pullman: "To Disclose or Not to Disclose (3.5 clock hours)" and "Don't Get Whacked by the WACS (4.0 clock hours)."
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NAR Catalog - Fall Update
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NAR has just updated its
2017 NAR Catalog Fall Update (see image above).
This catalog compiles the best of NAR's member benefits, publications and education, conveniently broken down by section.
Here you will find a full listing of current REALTOR Benefits® Program Partners, savings opportunities and other free offerings available to members only.
This catalog also contains products available for purchase in NAR's online store, along with designations and certifications recognized by NAR, plus REALTOR® University's Master of Real Estate degree program.
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Lunch & Learn: Business Tax Strategies
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Join us for a "Breakfast and Learn" about proven business tax strategies for the real estate professional on Thursday, November 16th!
9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the SAR.
Learn how to keep more commissions and pay less taxes this year.
Coffee, water, and donuts will be provided - or bring your own to enjoy while you feed your mind.
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2017 REALTOR® Education |
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Quality of Education
through SAR/WR Education Instructors
Here is the latest class listing from your SAR - offering the best live and local continuing real estate education classes for 2017.
Click on each class title,
underlined in blue, to bring up a flyer for that class - suitable for posting in your office.
Register for these classes
online here:
Please be in touch with
Debbie at the SAR if you have any questions about these classes or your license education requirements, by phone at
326-9222 or by
email.
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Code of Ethics: Standards for Success
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NEXT WEEK!
FOR NEW MEMBERS
Check-in: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the SAR
7.5 clock hours
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Code of Ethics for Real Estate Professionals
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NEXT WEEK!
FOR RENEWING MEMBERS
Check-in: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
at the SAR
4.0 clock hours
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Code of Ethics: Standards for Success
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FOR NEW MEMBERS
Check-in: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the SAR
7.5 clock hours
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Purchase & Sale Agreement
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Check-in: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
at the SAR
7.5 clock hours
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What Else do we Need: Purchase & Sale Addenda
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Check-in: 8:15 a.m.
Class: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
at the SAR
6.0 clock hours
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THIS WEEKEND!
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SAR CALENDAR
Click on the calendar image below to see
the current SAR calendar showing dates and times
of classes, committees and events.
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Education Excellence & Quarterly Meeting
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Sponsored by:
Be sure to stop by and visit with these three co-sponsors
at the event and thank them for their involvement in the SAR!
It's "not your typical technology class." That, and our final Quarterly Membership Meeting of the year.
Learn about customer/client service through use of technology and mobile apps, online service and communication, video and its use in real estate business model, and community service. It's a 7.5 clock hour class with lunch break.
Instructor Maura Neill is a rock star among national REALTOR® instructors. Here she is in a two-minute clip on the stage of the National Association of REALTORS® annual convention:
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Maura Neill, REALTOR®
Simple Keys to Real Estate Blogging Success
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The cost is $40 for everything - if you register by November 3rd. Or, join us just for lunch and the meeting for $20.
There's much more, so check out the details in the class flyer (pictured above), online here.
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REALTORS® Conference and Expo
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Is it your first time at the REALTORS® Conference & Expo?
Past attendees share what they wish they knew before they attended real estate's largest event.
This year's event is back in Chicago for the first time in over 15 years.
Welcome November 3-6 when the Sky's the Limit to your real estate career!
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What I wish I knew before I attended my first conference
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Data Security and Privacy Toolkit
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NAR has created a
Data Security and Privacy Toolkit to educate real estate associations, brokers, agents, and multiple listing services about the need for data security and privacy and assist them in complying with legal responsibilities.
The Toolkit provides:
- Information about state laws and pending federal regulations regarding data security & privacy protection
- Checklists of issues to consider when drafting a security program
- References and sample policies created by government or other organizations
- The FTC: 5 Key Principles to a Sound Data Security Program
Plan ahead and know the Data Security & Privacy laws that impact you and your real estate business.
Download your copy of NAR's
Data Security and Privacy Toolkit (pictured above),
online here.
This document references Washington State law: Chapter 19.255 RCW - PERSONAL INFORMATION - NOTICE OF SECURITY BREACHES.
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Are you Accessible?
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Real estate agents can appreciate the business opportunities that emerge from this statistic by investing in making one's website ADA compliant.
So, let's look at what it takes to become what's called Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) compliant, and what makes this a double win for an agent's and brokerage's business.
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Have Lunch with WR President
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Have lunch with Washington REALTORS® President Margo Willis in Spokane Valley on Wednesday, November 15th!
She'll be speaking at the Women's Council of REALTORS® Spokane-Eastern Washington November meeting at Spokane Valley Event Center - everyone welcome!
See the event flyer (pictured above) for more information, online here.
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Member 2 Member
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Skyline Home Loans invites all SAR members to attend its 7th annual Holiday Party on
Thursday, November 30th.
Download the event flyer (pictured above),
online here.
Affiliate members: promote your events in the Weekly Notices - distributed to 2,000 qualified individuals weekly!
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SAR Christmas Party
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Thursday, December 7th
4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
The Lincoln Center
(1316 N Lincoln,
just 1 block north
of the arena off of Monroe)
Your SAR Christmas Party Planning Committee is working hard on creating a great evening for us, with time for socializing and networking, a heavy hors d'oeuvres reception, dancing to our DJ, a fun photo booth for you and your friends to get your pictures taken, and a jaw-dropping dessert table!
We acknowledge here, and encourage you to thank at your next opportunity, our generous sponsors:
Platinum Sponsor:
Diamond Sponsor:
Photo Booth Sponsor:
Dessert Table Sponsor:
Tickets are available online now - get yours today and you'll be ready for the party!
Space is limited - this event typically sells out!
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Electronic Signatures
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Annie Fitzsimmons, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline lawyer, wants to talk about Electronic Signatures.
Many contracts today are signed by electronic signatures, but we are seeing a few things in today's industry that require some attention:
1. Make sure you have proper authorization from the parties as to the email address they want the electronic documents for signatures sent to. Annie explains why...
2. Forgery of an electronic signature is the same thing as forgery of a wet signature. Some brokers are applying the signature themselves, with or without the client's permission.
3. There's a disturbing letter some banks are asking brokers to sign at the closing of a transaction.
See Annie's six-minute video on this topic, online here:
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2018 WR Leadership Institute
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Leadership development is essential to the long-term health of our Association.
For that reason, the Washington REALTORS® is accepting applications for the 2018 Leadership Institute.
Through this program, we will identify emerging REALTOR® leaders, motivate them, and sharpen their leadership skills.
In return, we expect them to exert a strong, positive influence on the future of the Association and our profession.
Application deadline:
November 30, 2017
Session Dates:
January 31 - February 2, 2018 March 28-30, 2018 May 23-25, 2018
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ListHub - September
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The ListHub report for September is now available.
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Market Activity Report - October |
NEW!
The SAR Market Activity Report for
October is now online.
See the latest full report -
a member-exclusive product - and archived full reports -
online here.
See the October 2017 Snapshot Report (pictured above) online here.
See the 2017 Year-to-date Snapshot Report (pictured above), online here.
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Member Roster Update - September
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Click here to view the latest list of
MLS Subscription Waivers - approved by the Board of Directors.
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Presented by your Spokane Association of REALTORS®
See what's NEW at
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2017 SAR Leadership
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2017 SAR President Jennifer Valerien
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869-3828
SECRETARY:
TREASURER:
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