January 2023 - VOLUME 28 - NUMBER 1

UPCOMING EVENTS

Winter Cheer Party

Wednesday, February 1

5:00-8:00pm

Nakoma Golf Club, Madison

Register Now

Glenn Bill Keynote

& Happy Hour

Thursday, February 16

2:00-5:00pm

TDS Auditorium, Madison

Save the Date

Trivia Extravaganza

Wednesday, February 22

1:00-4:00pm

Vintage Brewing Co, Madison

Register Now

Message From 2023 RASCW President, Melissa Bjerke Markgraf

Happy New Year!  

As we prepare for 2023 and reflect on 2022, we saw a year of continued low inventory, a shift in the market along with the interest rates increasing, yet we also saw the welcomed return of social activities and Association in person events. I want to thank Immediate Past-President, Jean Armendariz-Kerr, for her guidance and leadership in 2022. Thank you to the outgoing Directors, Michael Restaino, Joe Luther, Jeff Hoeye and Laura Lahti for their service to the Association. I appreciate the dedication that each of you have to our Association! I would like to welcome our new Directors, Sona Olson, Tony Keuntjes, Lexie Harris and Ben Samson. I am excited to begin my year as President with you joining the Board. 

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. I began my career in 1996 with the Stark Company and 27 years later, I still gratefully call Stark home! I had been in the industry for about six months, when someone asked me to join one of the Association's Committees. I accepted and continue to be grateful, to this day, for those relationships that I had the opportunity to establish so many years ago. If you are not part of a Committee, consider 2023 to be the year to join!  

Back in 1996 we had one computer in the office, boy have times changed. Technology continues to play an integral role in our industry and that will not change. What also will not change is the complexity of a real estate transaction and the need for a Realtor® professional to guide clients and customers through the process. Our adherence to professionalism and collaboration is what drives all of us to be successful. Let's make 2023 the year to work together more for the success of our clients, our customers and ourselves.

Mark your calendar for February 1, 5:00pm at Nakoma Golf Club for the RASCW WINTER CHEER PARTY. This celebration will honor our Good Neighbor Award recipients, our leadership and those Realtors® that are making a difference in our community.  

Our industry may have challenges this year, but our Association is in a solid position to help us meet the challenges. Together we can accomplish great things. I look forward to this upcoming year with enthusiasm and gratitude. Welcome 2023!

2022 RASCW Annual Report

2022 was a busy year at RASCW, with in-person events getting back into full swing, a record setting number of Minority Scholarships awarded, and membership remaining steady. For a summary of the Association's year and a look ahead to 2023, including staff changes, membership numbers, committee work and achievements, the 2023 Board of Directors, and a message from the CEO, click here or the image to right to review the 2022 RASCW Annual Report.

Stay Connected and Share Your Ideas

To connect with other members and get information and reminders about Association events, as well as industry news, tips, and resources aimed toward helping you meet your business and professional goals, be sure to like/follow us on your favorite social media platforms. Click any of the icons below to see the kind of information we share and to join our growing social network.

If you have suggestions for new ways we can connect with members through social media or general ideas for content you'd like us to share on those platforms, the newsletter, or other communication, please feel free to send those to RASCW Communication & Engagement Director, Erin Volland, at erin@wisre.com. We want to hear from you to help ensure we're providing our members the support and resources needed to be successful.

January Member Spotlight

Our January Spotlight is Rachel Kvasnica, a Realtor® and Broker Associate with Bunbury & Associates Realtors®. Rachel has been in real estate six years after working in consulting and project management in the IT and insurance industries. Rachel values how her real estate career allows her to run her own business while also having quality time to spend with her family, and recommends that new Realtors® seek out an experienced mentor to help them get started, as she benefited from such a relationship when starting out in the industry. Click here or the image above for Rachel's complete spotlight!

Member Spotlight Series: Share Your Story in 2023!

RASCW is seeking members who would like to be considered for our Member Spotlight Series for 2023, which aims to highlight members' work and achievements, as well as inspire and empower others to successfully pursue a career in real estate. We invite you to share some of your real estate story by answering a few provided questions, your answers to which will allow us to create a testimonial to be used on our website, social media, and in our monthly newsletter. While we can't guarantee that everyone who provides responses will be spotlighted, we will do our best to highlight as many members as possible over time. We will also share a draft of your testimonial for approval before using it. Click here to access the online form and questions.

Please feel free to contact Erin Volland at erin@wisre.com with any questions. Thank you in advance for taking the time to participate - we look forward to continuing to shine the spotlight on our amazing members!

Member Benefit Highlight: REALTOR® Content Resource

The NAR REALTOR® Content Resource is one of the many benefits RASCW members receive through their membership. This FREE tool provides ready to use content on everything related to homebuying and homeownership, including articles on making an offer, closing on the purchase of a home, home improvement, maintenance, taxes, and insurance. By using this content in your client communication via social media, your website, email, and handouts/mailings, you'll be able to help support and stay connected with your clients both before and after the sale. Check out the REALTOR® Content Resource here.

WRA Announces New Spanish Language Consumer Brochures

The WRA recently announced the new availability of consumer brochures explaining important pieces of a real estate transaction in Spanish, covering the listing contract, the offer to purchase, and the buyer agency/tenant representation agreement. These brochures will help Wisconsin real estate licensees working with Spanish-speaking clients and customers facilitate a more solid understanding of a real estate transaction, and therefore ensure a smoother and more positive overall experience for these individuals on their way to home or property ownership. Click here to access the new brochures.

Home Buyers Round Table Homebuyer Education Workshops

Are you working with buyers you think would benefit from learning more about the homebuying process? Click here to read about the Home Buyers Round Table (HBRT), which provides expert information and resources to help individuals successfully navigate the Road to Home Ownership. Participation in one of their free Homebuyer Education Workshops also qualifies attendees for available Down Payment Assistance programs. Please reach out to HBRT with any questions!

December 2022 Membership Updates

Click Image Above for Asking Lease Rates