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 Janelle Fallan  Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 Former police officer Linda Justus, a Sacramento REALTOR®, shared a number of valuable safety tips at the Industry Update on September 26. Linda was an officer in the Bay Area for 12 years, 8 as a canine officer and 1 ½ in undercover narcotics.
Linda encourages agents not to take new clients in their cars, but rather, let them follow in their own car. When you get to the property, spend time showing the outside of the home. That will allow you to get to know the client and watch for any warning signs before becoming potentially trapped inside a house. In any event, keep your attention on the client and not the house.
Warning signs: bragging about wealth or power, and being in a hurry. Call the client’s bluff, she suggested, in such circumstances, and offer to reschedule. If an agent is driving a client who acts threatening, stop! Causing a slow-speed accident will also attract a lot of attention.
Continue reading: Safety Tips from Cop-turned-REALTOR®
Caylyn Brown Friday, September 25th, 2009
President Barack Obama’s next-door neighbors in Chicago, Bill and Jacky Grimshaw, are trying to sell their house.
Matt Garrison of the Matt Garrison Group, which listed the property, would not specify the listing price. He said the sale price will ultimately be determined by “the Obama factor.”
The 17-room brick home located in the [...]
Daniel Allen Thursday, September 24th, 2009
SAR would like to say thanks to all those who attended the 2009 Fall Conference and Expo. We hope you all found the event to be useful and educational – we received lots of questions that we hope to answer in upcoming SAR meetings.
Special thanks to those that helped organize the event, to our exhibitors and sponsors, and of course to those that attended the conference.
Here are the handouts from the various break out sessions:
Social Networking
It’s Easy Being Green
Opportunity Cost Worksheet
Becoming an Expert in the New Real Estate Marketplace
Below are some pictures from the Fall Conference:
Continue reading: 2009 Fall Conference
Tony Vicari Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
Jim Casey, owner of Jim Casey Seminars and Consulting, is a Minnesota native recently transplanted in California. In addition to a degree in architecture, over 20 years of real estate experience and international speaking engagements, Jim also possesses a desire to work, play and live green. His recent “It’s Easy Being Green” breakout session at the 2009 Fall Conference gave REALTORS® ideas how to incorporate the “green lifestyle” into their work, recreation and day-to-day lives. The main reasons that people are motivated to make changes in their lives are 1) opportunity to gain and 2) fear of loss. One or both of these may be a factor contributing to recent changes you might have made.
Continue reading: 2009 Fall Conference Highlight: It’s Easy Being Green
Charles McMillan Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and this organization have worked hard to keep REALTOR® Safety foremost in everyone’s minds. But what about your clients? They, too, face some dangers in allowing strangers into their homes or visiting other people’s properties.
Share this valuable advice with everyone, and you’ll help them learn to protect themselves against crime:
- Remind sellers that strangers will be walking through their home during showings or open houses. Tell them to hide any valuables in a safe place, including prescription medications and alcohol, as well as personal information such as bank statements that could be used for identity theft.
- Warn your clients that not all agents, buyers and sellers are who they say they are. Strangers who stop by a listing unannounced should be asked to make an appointment with the listing agent. Stress that your clients should never to show a home without an agent present.
- Inform your clients that they are responsible for their pets. If possible, animals should be removed during showings. Make clients aware that buyers and agents are sometimes attacked, and the owner will be held liable.
Continue reading: Clients Need Safety Tips, Too!
James Liptak Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009
SAVING YOU TIME
Our car.org calendar is your quick reference for upcoming events. We’ve made it easy to find out what’s happening in your area. The calendar, located on the bottom right of the car.org homepage, is your member resource for education course dates, industry events, and local association meetings. Simply click on the date of interest to view the list of upcoming events, along with more information and links for registration and/or sign up. You even can sort your search by type of event. Click here to see activities in your area.
SAVING YOU MONEY
C.A.R. Member Advantage Program introduces new savings with the C.A.R. Private Print Shop. We’ve partnered with Printingforless.com to meet your printing needs. Designed with REALTORS® in mind, the C.A.R. Private Print Shop is your source for top quality marketing materials, including business cards, postcards, letterhead, and envelopes – all at a 10 percent savings. Printingforless.com has designed several theme options available. Ordering is simple and only takes a few minutes: Pick a theme, personalize with your photo, logo, and contact information, and enter your quantities. You’ll choose from professionally designed products that quickly can be customized to fit your business needs. Click here to get started.
Continue reading: Your Membership, Your Way
Caylyn Brown Monday, September 21st, 2009
The National Association of REALTORS® is calling upon its 1.2 million members to urge Congress to extend the successful homebuyer tax credit into next year.
Since its inception earlier this year, the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit has brought 1.2 million new buyers into the market—350,000 of whom would not have purchased a home without the credit, according to NAR. The credit is due to expire November 30.
“Now is the time for Congress to keep this recovery going by extending the tax credit through 2010 and making it available to more homebuyers. We have all seen how the credit has been a spur to bring homebuyers into the market, and have seen the beginnings of a real recovery in the housing market. Housing has always led this nation out of economic downturns, and can do so again,” said NAR President Charles McMillan.
Write Congress Now
Continue reading: Congress Urged to Extend Tax Credit
Caylyn Brown Wednesday, September 16th, 2009
The first year of the two year legislative cycle ended Friday. As a direct result of C.A.R.’s and members’ legislative efforts, we had several big, last-minute wins before the state legislature adjourned its regular session. The Legislature doesn’t come back until January, when bills that failed to pass this year can be brought up again for a vote. There are already rumors they will be called back into a special session to deal with water issues before then.
The following updates reflect the most-recent news from the last few days of this legislative session:
C.A.R. opposed AB 226 and AB 291, both of which relate to the powers of the California Coastal Commission. The Commission would like to extend its control over most of the population centers of California, and the bills would set dangerous precedents for state government agencies. With C.A.R.’s opposition, AB 226 and AB 291, did not have the votes necessary to pass and were placed on the Inactive File by their authors. These bills can be voted on next year.
Continue reading: C.A.R.’s Legislative Victories Roundup
Charles McMillan Wednesday, September 16th, 2009
Consider these tips in preparing or updating the information you use to get business:
- All of your marketing materials should be polished and professional. Don’t use alluring
or provocative photography in advertising, on the Web or on your business cards. There
are many documented cases of criminals actually circling photographs of their would-be
victims in newspaper advertisements. These victims were targeted because of their appearance
in the photograph.
- Limit the amount of personal information you share. Don’t use your full name with middle
name or initial. Use your office address rather than your home address—or list no address
at all. Giving out too much of the wrong information can make you a target.
- Concentrate on your professional proficiency rather than personal information in newspapers,
resumes and business cards.
- Be careful how much personal information you give verbally as well. Getting to know
your client does not need to include personal information about your children, where you
live and who you live with.
- All agents in your office should use only their first initial and last name on their “For Sale”
signs to conceal gender and prevent anyone other than a personal acquaintance or current
client asking for you by name.
Continue reading: Protect Yourself with Smart Marketing Materials
Charles McMillan Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
Tell Congress: Extend and Expand the Homebuyer Tax Credit
We have all seen first-hand the positive impact the first-time homebuyer tax credit is having on the real estate market recovery. As the expiration date for this successful program looms, we ALL need to make sure that Congress hears from us about the positive impact this program has had and ask them to extend it, and expand it, so that we can continue to see our markets fully recover.
Please watch this video of your fellow REALTORS®, along with President Charles McMillan explaining how the credit is helping and urging both you and Congress to take action NOW.
Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):
Your Congressperson
Your Senators
Continue reading: Call for Action: Extend and Expand the Homebuyer Tax Credit
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