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SAR Board Emergency Meeting
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2020 SAR President Tom Clark convened an emergency meeting of the SAR Board of Directors via teleconference, Thursday (pictured above), to make decisions on how the Association will continue to operate and support your business during the governor's ordered shutdown from the COVID-19 global pandemic.
After the meeting, President Clark recorded this video to share news of the decisions that were made at the meeting.
See the four-minute video online here:
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Emergency Meeting of SAR Board
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ANNOUNCEMENT:
Under the leadership of your President Tom Clark and your Treasurer Kristy Hamby and with the insight from the Membership Committee a Special Board of Directors meeting was held at noon today via ZOOM, a remote meeting technology.
The Board of Directors has extended the due date for payment of MLS Fees for 60 days.
The Board of Directors will be reviewing other options as we continue to manage association business through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Association leadership is trying to keep our membership informed about how COVID-19 impacts you and your clients.
Our biggest priority is making sure you are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of yourself and your loved ones.
We will periodically be providing bulletins to keep you informed.
Stay safe.
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SAR Operates Virtually
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SAR leadership made the unprecedented decision to close the Association office to routine member/public business at close-of-business on Monday, March 16th, due to Washington Governor Jay Inslee's State of Emergency order on gatherings during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The order prohibits "any number of people from gathering in any public venue," and so we must keep the Association doors locked to be in compliance with that order.
PLEASE KNOW - your Association continues to operate virtually under this order during regular business hours:
- Association staff is working remotely to maintain all Association services, including the Spokane Area MLS.
- your Association continues to welcome and on-board new members by appointment at the Association office.
- Committees continue to meet via telephone and video conference.
- Members are redirected to participate in professional development classes online
It is our pleasure to continue to serve you as a valued member of the Association during this difficult time.
Please be in touch if you have a comment, question, or concern.
Your business continues so your Association's business continues:
Telephone:
(509) 326-9222
Regular business hours: weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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SAR COVID-19 Bulletin
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SAR Executive Vice President Rob Higgins meets with Association staff on Monday, this week (pictured above - seated at a recommended six-foot separation), as he shares operational changes in response to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.
The governor's order concerning public venues expires on March 31st, but may be renewed at that time, depending on circumstances.
The SAR COVID-19 Bulletin (pictured below), announcing our closure to the public was emailed to Managing Brokers, Broker Members, and Affiliate Members on Monday.
See the SAR COVID-19 Bulletin (pictured above) online here.
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SAR Committees Move Online
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Your SAR Governmental Affairs committee was the first committee, this week, to hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting online (photos above) during the COVID-19 restrictions.
SAR Governmental Affairs Director Darin Watkins connected members via Zoom. The Committee otherwise conducted its business normally with an agenda, a briefing packet, discussion on issues, and general member conviviality.
If you serve on an SAR committee, you may be invited to attend via Zoom video conference (as pictured here), or via a telephone conference call.
Your chair will share instructions on how to attend your committee meeting in the agenda/briefing packet sent to members before each meeting.
Thank you for keeping the business of your association moving forward through this challenging time - your efforts make a vital contribution to the SAR community.
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Coronavirus - Washington REALTORS®
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"We are suspending all non-essential staff and leadership travel at the State Association level through March 31.
We are also cancelling or rescheduling WR classes, meetings and other events between now and the end of March.
We will revisit this situation at that time and make any adjustments as warranted."
Kitty Wallace, 2020 Washington REALTORS® President
Washington REALTORS® has collected a variety of resources on Coronavirus of particular value to REALTORS® in Washington state
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Coronavirus - A Guide for REALTORS®
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NAR, last week, published "Coronavirus - A Guide for REALTORS®"
The document comes in response to the growing concerns about COVID
-19, commonly referred to as Corona Virus.
NAR is providing this guidance
to help REALTORS® respond to the Corona Virus'
s potential impact on the real estate industry.
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Spring Business Conference
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This event remains on the Washington REALTORS® events calendar.
WR has announced it will revisit the question of convening this event, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, at the end of March.
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County Customer Service Goes Virtual
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In response to Governor and Health Authority mandates limiting public crowd size, the Offices of the Spokane County Treasurer, Auditor, and Assessor will moved their customer service operations to a virtual format effective Thursday March 19th and lasting until May 1st.
Citizens can still receive services online, via email or regular mail, and by phone.
This means citizens wishing to access Treasury, Auditor or Assessor services who arrive on site at the Courthouse will not be served in person at the front counters.
Citizens who have a complex issue that may require a face-to-face meeting with staff will be able to call or email to schedule an in-person meeting.
Contact information for Treasurer, Auditor & Assessor Offices:
- Treasurer: (509) 477-4713 (Property Tax Collection, Excise Taxes)
- Auditor: (509) 477-2270 (Recording & Marriage Licenses)
- Auditor: (509) 477-2222 (Vehicle Licensing & Titling)
- Assessor (509) 477-3698 (Property Assessment, Senior & Disabled Exemptions)
See the Board of County Commissioners order (pictured above) online here.
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Legal Hotline: Coronavirus Tips for REALTORS®
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Buyers still need to buy and sellers still need to sell.
Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline lawyer
Annie Fitzsimmons brings us a moment of REALTOR
® peace as we face a new reality with COVID-19.
"Embrace this market and the challenges we're facing today with calm confidence."
See Annie's new 14-minute video online here:
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LEGAL HOTLINE: CORONAVIRUS TIPS FOR REALTORS
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Open House Weekend - Stay Tuned
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The SAR Communications Committee will take up the question of what to do with this year's Open House Weekend event when it holds its next meeting on
March 31st.
Members will decide, at that time, whether to cancel the event outright, delay it until the governor's social distancing order is lifted, or do something else.
Stay tuned!
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Inland Northwest Fair Housing Conference
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CANCELLED!
Thursday, April 23
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2020 SAR REALTOR® Award Nominations
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DEADLINE: Friday, April 17th
Applications are now being accepted for all 2020 SAR REALTOR® Awards!
You and your REALTOR® colleagues will decide who will be our honorees for:
2020 REALTOR
® of the Year
Steve Flinn REALTOR
® Achievement
REALTOR
® Community Service
Affiliate of the Year
Partner of the Year
Spokane's Citizen of the Year
The deadline by which you must submit nominations to the SAR for them to be considered is Friday, April 17th.
The 2020 SAR REALTOR® Awards will be announced and presented on
Thursday, May 7th, at the SAR's annual REALTOR® Awards Luncheon at Ruby River Hotel (formerly Red Lion River Hotel).
Download the 2020 SAR REALTOR® Award Nomination Form (pictured above)
online here.
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2020 James S. Black Memorial Scholarship
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DEADLINE: April 17th
Applications are now being accepted for the 2020 James S. Black Memorial Scholarship.
This scholarship helps members pay for tuition and expenses leading to professional designations such as GRI, CRS, CPM, SIR, or MAI.
The deadline to submit applications to the SAR is Friday, April 17th.
The 2020 James S. Black Memorial Scholarship will be announced and presented on Thursday, May 7th, at the SAR's annual REALTOR® Awards Luncheon at Ruby River Hotel (formerly Red Lion River Hotel).
Download the scholarship information/application packet (pictured above)
online here.
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2020 SAR Legacy of Service Award
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DEADLINE: Friday, April 17th
Your SAR is now accepting nominations for its
2020 SAR Legacy of Service Award.
This award is created as a "Lifetime Achievement" award to honor those REALTOR® members who are respected in our profession by colleagues and serve our profession through various Association committees.
Additionally, this award honors those who spend the majority of their years as active REALTORS® mentoring newer members, helping to define regulations within our field, all the while giving back to the community.
Nominations are due Friday, April 17th.
The
2019 SAR Legacy of Service Award will be presented at the SAR Awards Luncheon on
Thursday, May 7th.
Download the information/nomination form (pictured above) online here .
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SAR Professional Development
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SAR Professional Development
SAR professional development classes and events bring the best local and state instructors/presenters here to Spokane to make it easy and affordable for you to stay current in your profession.
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
Tami at the SAR if you have any questions about these classes or your license education requirements, by phone at
326-9222 or by
email.
All SAR professional development is cancelled until further notice.
To stay current with your continuing education requirements, please visit The CE Shop - Washington REALTORS®' preferred vendor for online continuing education.
These are state-approved, self-paced courses that you can take in the comfort of your own home or anywhere you have internet access.
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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.
Other regional calendars:
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Form 22FM - Force Majeure
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Many real estate attorneys now recommend you begin using Form 22FM in your contracts to manage risk under Force Majeure (an event or effect that can be neither anticipated nor controlled) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Parties to an existing purchase and sale agreement should consider amending their agreement to include Form 22FM.
Buyers and sellers who are not yet under contract, should consider using Form 22FM with new agreements for the foreseeable future.
Form 22FM (Force Majeure and Closing Addendum) is currently available on ZipForms and Transaction Desk."
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COVID-19 Local Information
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Accurate, timely information is critical in times of public emergency - the closer to home the better.
We offer two links to help you keep up to date on news and information about the COVID-19 situation on the ground in Spokane.
Spokane Regional Health District is the public health authority in Spokane County.
It has the latest local details on this pandemic, as well as excellent collateral pieces to help you share accurate information about COVID-19 with your audiences.
Click on the image below to go directly to that page:
The Spokesman-Review is posting all of its COVID-19 local news reporting outside of its paywall through this pandemic.
You can also sign up for a COVID-19 newsletter that will send breaking news about local COVID-19 directly to your email box.
Click on the image below to go directly to that page:
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Culture Change in Real Estate
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Real estate brokerages are adapting their businesses and preparing their clients for what could be a chaotic few weeks or months ahead in the housing market.
In fact, a new article in REALTOR® magazine is headlined: "Coronavirus Forces Culture Change in Real Estate."
Read the full article in REALTOR® magazine online here.
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Important Form Revisions
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IMPORTANT!
The Spokane Addendum to Purchase and Sale Agreement (SAR-SA) is revised and now available on TransactionDesk and ZipForms.
Please read the Memo from Brian Balch, Layman Law Firm, PLLP, explaining the revisions.
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SAR: Legislative Update
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Several key victories are shaping up in the Washington Legislature.
- A key win for REALTORS® - a bill to raise the B&O Tax on Services does NOT include REALTORS®.
- While no bill is officially DEAD until the session ends, there are several (listed below) that have either been dramatically altered or have died for inaction.
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NAR Legislative Meetings - CANCELLED
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CANCELLED
Due to recent restrictions and recommendations implemented by the federal and Washington, D.C. governments, NAR will deliver previously-planned programming and committee meetings virtually.
With the Centers for Disease Control issuing guidance limiting discretionary travel and large gatherings, and the city of Washington, D.C. instituting a state of emergency to limit the spread of COVID-19,
we will no longer hold the 2020 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings and Trade Expo in person from May 11-16 in Washington, D.C.
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SAR Centennial Book Reprint Question
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The first printing of our centennial book - pictured above - is almost depleted.
Members have been using the hard-cover book as a closing gift since the SAR commissioned it for its centennial in 2011.
The SAR Board of Directors seeks member guidance on whether to reprint or not for continued exclusive member use.
Will you please tell us what you think in this one question survey?
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Member Roster Update - February
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NEW!
Updated for February
Click here to view the latest Member Roster Update (pictured above) - approved by the Board of Directors at its February meeting.
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Market Activity Report - February
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NEW!
Updated for February
The SAR Market Activity Report for
February is now online.
See the latest full report -
a member-exclusive product
See the
February 2020
Market Snapshot Report
See the
2020 Year to Date Market Snapshot Report (pictured above),
online here.
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Presented by your Spokane Association of REALTORS® 
See what's NEW at
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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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2020 SAR Leadership
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2020 SAR PRESIDENT
Tom Clark
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PRESIDENT ELECT
Coldwell Banker Tomlinson N
951-9331
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT:
Gina Mosey
RE/MAX Inland Empire
953-3410
SECRETARY:
John L. Scott, Inc.
280-8595
TREASURER:
Windermere Airway Heights
688-4151
Executive Vice President
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2020 SAR Committee Chairs
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BUDGET/FINANCE:
688-4151
COMMUNICATIONS:
954-5647
FORMS:
999-7488
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS:
218-8062
GRIEVANCE:
703-0385
MEMBERSHIP:
879-1636
MLS STEERING:
953-1666
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
951-9710
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS:
994-0359
SERVING OUR SPOKANE:
879-5092
SPECIAL EVENTS:
953-3410
TECHNOLOGY:
342-0406
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