Contact-less merchandise pick up is available at SPAAR during office business hours. Due to Covid, the SPAAR building is closed to members through June 30, 2021. Email spaar@spaar.com or call (651) 776-6000 with any questions. |
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In this issue of SPAAR's eNews:
- This is it! REALTORS® Charitable Foundation grants are due this Friday, May 14
- SPAAR's annual Shred-It event is happening this week (also on May 14)
- Free local annual dues for 2022? It's feasible.
- Seeking the next SPAAR Hero(es)!
- Learn to speak with ease through SPAAR Toastmasters
- SPAAR is seeking members for a new industry expert database
- FHFA announces extension of COVID-related loan flexibilities
- Housing Market Statistics
- Join SPAAR's Facebook group for members only
- Welcome, new members!
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This is it! REALTORS® Charitable Foundation grants are due this Friday, May 14 |
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SPAAR is still receiving inquiries about the annual REALTORS® Charitable Foundation grants, and it's not too late to apply. Applications are welcome through this Friday, May 14.
Applications will be considered based on the criteria that it includes one or more of SPAAR’s four primary areas of focus, called Pillars, intended to create Better Agents and Better Communities.
The Pillars are:
▪ Advocacy
▪ Community Engagement
▪ Professional Development
▪ Communications
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SPAAR's annual Shred-It event is happening this week, May 14 |
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SPAAR's annual Shred-It event is this Friday, and a great opportunity to spring clean your files.
This free event is open to all SPAAR members on Friday, May 14, from 11am to 2pm, and will be a contactless drive-in.
Your documents will be shred while you wait. SPAAR asks that you remain in your vehicle, observe social distancing and wear a mask. Enjoy a free lunch while your documents are destroyed onsite.
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Free local annual dues for 2022? It's feasible. |
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SPAAR wants to partner with you for the opportunity to become endorsed in NAR's Commitment to Excellence (C2EX) program with an added incentive. Become endorsed on or before November 1, 2021, and your name will go into a drawing for the SPAAR local annual dues portion of your membership for 2022. Already C2EX endorsed? That's ok. Your name will be entered retroactively, as well. Five lucky members will have their 2022 SPAAR local annual dues paid on their behalf.
This incentive is made possible thanks to SPAAR's Professionalism Committee.
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Seeking the next SPAAR Hero(es)! |
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Do you know an individual or group who volunteers in their community? SPAAR would like to honor those as part of its SPAAR Hero program that shines a light on the good work of SPAAR members and their many volunteer endeavors within the communities where they live and work.
SPAAR Hero is a program of SPAAR’s Community Engagement Committee, sponsored by SPAAR’s REALTORS® Charitable Foundation. Members of SPAAR’s Communications Committee interview the recipients and write the SPAAR Hero articles that appear in community papers.
If you think someone should be named a SPAAR Hero, contact Joe McKinley at jmckinley@spaar.com.
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Learn to speak with ease through SPAAR Toastmasters |
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SPAAR Toastmasters welcomes all Realtor® and Affiliate members to check out the club. Every two weeks, club members provide prepared speeches as well as practice impromptu speaking as a great way to hone speaking skills, gain leadership and time management skills, and network with others in the real estate industry.
SPAAR Toastmasters began in January 2019 and has been an official chapter since earlier in 2020. The chapter meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 1-2pm via Zoom. Interested to check it out? Email Jennifer at jkovacich@spaar.com.
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SPAAR is seeking members for a new industry expert database |
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SPAAR’s Communications Committee is creating a Real Estate Industry Expert database made up of SPAAR members who are interested in having their contact information on file. The database will serve as a resource when SPAAR needs experts for articles, speakers, videos, media inquiries and more.
SPAAR staff will work with experts to ensure messaging and information align with Realtor® values and policies; however, this could be a great way for members to share their expertise and be a resource within the greater real estate community.
Interested to participate or learn more? Contact Jennifer Kovacich, SPAAR’s Communications Director, at jkovacich@spaar.com.
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FHFA announces extension of COVID-related loan flexibilities |
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As recently shared by Minnesota Realtors®, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) will extend some temporary loan origination flexibilities until May 31, 2021. All temporary flexibilities were originally set to expire on April 30, 2021.
Alternative appraisals on purchase and rate-term refinance loans are among the flexibilities that will now be extended through May 31, 2021.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, FHFA has actively monitored the pandemic's impact on mortgage market participants' use of the temporary selling policies. Low usage of the flexibilities make the temporary flexibilities no longer mandatory to ensure efficient market function.
The recent actions are just the latest steps FHFA has taken to benefit renters, property owners and the mortgage market during the pandemic. FHFA will continue to monitor the coronavirus' impact on tenants, borrowers, and the mortgage market and update policies as needed. Homeowners and renters can visit consumerfinance.gov/housing for up-to-date information on their relief options, protections and key deadlines.
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Housing Market Statistics |
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Get up-to-date Twin Cities housing market information here. |
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SPAAR provides four different types of reports so you can offer your clients the most accurate housing data available. Click below to see how the market is doing:
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Join SPAAR's Facebook group for members only |
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Check out the SPAAR Facebook page created specifically for members here.
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