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SAR Convenes Housing Needs Summit
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NEXT WEEK!
Wednesday, February 17th, 1 p.m.
Join us for an in-depth conversation about housing needs and challenges in the Spokane area with local, regional, and national experts.
Spokane Region Housing Needs Summit 2021 will be held online Wednesday, February 17th, at 1 p.m., convened by your Spokane Association of REALTORS®.
Attend this important program and take away a market-based needs assessment for the Spokane region.
Find more information and a registration link online here:
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Spokane County Eases to Phase 2
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NEW!
Spokane County Eases to Phase 2
Governor Jay Inslee, Thursday, eased the East Region (Spokane County) to Phase 2 - effective Sunday (2/14).
 Governor Jay Inslee on Twitter 2/11:
Those regions progressing will be able to do so starting Sun., Feb. 14. This creates more options for restaurants to make Valentine's Day special for couples who hoped they could have a night out. (And if it's a first date that doesn't go well, remind them to stay 6 feet away).
Opening indoor dining, museums, and concert halls is the biggest change, though these will be limited to 25% capacity.
Limited, in-person open houses will now permitted.
Brokers must ensure that no more than ten (10) people are on site, including the broker, and that all other required protocols are followed (face coverings, social distancing, sanitation, etc.).
For clarification on which real estate activities will be permitted (beginning Sunday), and the protocols required for permitted activities, please consult the new WR FAQ - REVISED FEBRUARY 2 document (pictured above) online here.
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Inventory at All-time Low
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The number of available homes in Spokane County dropped to an all-time low in January, primarily fueled by low interest rates and high demand.
Spokane County had 164 properties on the market in January, representing little more than a 10-day supply of homes. That means it would take about 10 days to sell all homes on the market in the county. A balanced housing market typically has a six-month supply.
Rob Higgins, Spokane Association of Realtors executive officer, said the county's housing inventory last month was at its lowest point since the association began keeping records in the 1980s.
Read the entire article in Wednesday's edition of The Spokesman-Review, or online here.
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As businesses re-open workplaces to workers, clients and the public, having a comprehensive re-entry plan in place will help ensure the health and safety of those in your office, and also protect your business from potential liability related to COVID-19 exposure in the workplace.
NAR offers a new "Window to the Law" video to support your efforts in this direction.
It runs four-minutes:
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Window to the Law: Making Your Workplace COVID-Safe
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Property Tax Deadline Extended
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Spokane County Treasurer Michael Baumgartner shares word that he has authorized an extension on the due-date for First Half 2021 property taxes to May 31st.
This one-time one-month extension gives Spokane County taxpayers until the end of May to pay their first-half property taxes without accruing interest or penalty charges.
Annual tax statements will arrive in county mailboxes in early March.
If you'd like to share this announcement with your clients, the county has a good public-facing information page with more details online here.
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Black History Month
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Thursday, February 18th, at 10 a.m.
WAIT! Know my HISTORY; Know Thyself; Know my PRESENCE virtually on Thursday, February 18th, at 10 a.m.
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Dangerous Business Practices
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Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons is seeing some dangerous business practices occurring in this seller's market.
So, this week, Annie continues a new video series with RE/MAX Integrity Owner Broker Paul Blumenstetter to focus on these dangerous practices with a goal of helping us all avoid them.
In this video (#3 in the series), Annie and Paul discuss the dangerous practice of buyers, who are often frustrated that they're unable to get a property, who choose to make offers that waive all inspections. They'll cover risks to the buyer, buyer's broker, and listing broker.
The video is online here, and runs about 17-minutes:
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Dangerous Business Practices in a Sellers Market Part 3
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The second video in this series is on-line here - in this video, Annie and Paul discuss dangerous practices on behalf of buyer broker's and how to protect yourself and your firm from future lawsuits if your buyer decides to make risky offers.
The video runs nine-minutes:
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Dangerous Business Practices in a Sellers Market Part 2
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The first video in this series is online here - it covers things Annie is seeing from listing brokers, and runs 20-minutes:
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Dangerous Business Practices in a Sellers Market, Part 1
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Commit to C2EX Today!
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Have you made the REALTORS® Commitment to Excellence?
Commitment to Excellence (C2EX) from the National Association of REALTORS® empowers REALTORS® to evaluate, enhance and showcase their highest levels of professionalism.
It's not a course, class or designation - it's an Endorsement that REALTORS® can promote when serving clients and other REALTORS®.
We are very proud to announce that there are now over 50,000 members participating in the program!
You can commit, too!
Visit the C2EX website to learn more online here.
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SAR Professional Development
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SAR Professional Development
Please be in touch with Tami at the SAR if you have any questions about classes or your license education requirements, by phone at 326-9222 or by email.
NEXT WEEK!
Tuesday, February 16th
Biggest Bloopers & Blunders we make in our Statewide Forms with Ken Sax
1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
3.5 clock hours
Successfully Selling HUD Homes
Friday, February 26
9 a.m. to noon
This course will prepare you to successfully sell HUD Homes. You'll learn the NAID application portal; how to find inventory and place bids; bidding tips and understanding bidding timelines; how to understand HUD's contract and addendum's and so much more.
Enter code 199WB and get
all of 2021's webinars for $199!
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SAR CALENDAR
Click on the image below to see
the current SAR calendar showing dates and times
of classes, committees, and events.
Other regional calendars:
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2021 Forms Changes
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NEW!
It's time for another round of forms changes! Washington REALTORS® is offering a series of online, interactive classes with our Legal Hotline lawyer that will go over what you need to know for the new 2021 forms revisions. Forms revisions will be published for use by members on March 3rd so register today! Upcoming Dates for this class: February 16, February 19, February 23, February 25, March 1, March 2, March 4, March 9, March 11. 3.0 clock hours Some dates are already full - register now!
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2021 RE Market Forum Cancelled
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Many members look forward, each February, to the Real Estate Market Forum.
The event typically attracts many important speakers and a large crowd - like it did last year at the Spokane Convention Center (pictured above).
The event is cancelled, this year, due to the pandemic.
In a statement issued this week from the Real Estate Research Committee:
The Board of Trustees of the Spokane-Kootenai Real Estate Research Committee has decided that it would be best to not try to organize a Real Estate Market Forum for 2021, due to a variety of reasons, but primarily because of very limited capacity at our regular venues, and uncertainty of when that will change.
It is our intent to produce a Market Forum in 2022 at the Coeur d'Alene Resort. We will attempt to book a February 2022 date there at our earliest opportunity.
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SAR 2021 Dues Past Due!
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Your SAR dues for 2021 are now past due.
Thank you if you have already paid them!
Dues may still be paid until February 28th but must, now, include the 10% late penalty.
Click on the image above to pay your SAR dues for 2021 online now.
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Tourism Summit
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Learn how regional tourism will help us recover from the COVID-19 lock-down at the 2021 Tourism Summit: Taking the Scenic Route to Recovery," happening virtually on Thursday, February 18th.
Tri County Economic Development District has joined forces with the North Central Washington Economic Development District to bring you this year's conference.
See the agenda and register online here:
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2021 NAR Legislative Days
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May 3-14
After careful consideration, the 2021 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings, now scheduled for May 3-14, 2021, will be virtual this year.
Please view this video message from NAR President Charlie Oppler for more information surrounding this decision.
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2021 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings Going Virtual
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Registration opens February 24.
We look forward to welcoming you!
The event website is online here. More content will be added as the event draws nearer.
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2021 Code of Ethics
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"Under all is the land."
Do you recognize that sentence opens our Code of Ethics?
"The Code," as it's often called, is newly updated for 2021 - adding the Code of Ethics' applicability to discriminatory speech and conduct.
Download your copy of the 2021 National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice (pictured above) online here.
The deadline for staying current with your Code of Ethics requirement in the current cycle is December 31st - the end of this year. Check your status and sign up for virtual Code classes online here.
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SAR Member Roster Update - January
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Updated for January
Click here to view the latest Member Roster Update (pictured above) - approved by the SAR Board of Directors at its most recent meeting.
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SAR Market Activity Report - January
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The SAR Market Activity Report for January is now online.
See the latest full report - a member-exclusive product
See the January 2021 Market Snapshot Report
See the 2020 Year End Market Snapshot Report (pictured above), online here.
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Quick Information
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Tech Helpline: 866-610-8939
Legal Hotline: 800-562-6027
Washington State Legislature Hotline: 800-562-6000
MLS Weekly News & Info
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2021 SAR Leadership
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|  | 2021 SAR PRESIDENT
Eric Johnson | |
Coldwell Banker Tomlinson
PRESIDENT ELECT:
Choice Realty
995-2833
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT:
Kestell Company
499-9999
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