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| REALTOR® EXPO & TRADE SHOW |  |  |
An opportunity awaits you next week at PGCAR's Annual REALTOR® Expo and Trade Show, on June 14th at La Fontaine Bleu in Lanham. The EXPO highlights 30 exhibitors and draws nearly 650 real estate professionals from across the metro area seeking to obtain continuing education credit, learn about the industry's latest products & services, and to network with other agents. An ice cream social and prize drawing cap off this exciting day. Continental Breakfast and Lunch also included.
Earn up to 6 MD and/or DC
Continuing Education Hours
Register now!
COST:
Only $75 for Members; $100 Non-Members.
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Classes offered:
- MD Legislative Update/Advertising Obligations
3.0 CEU - MD required & DC elective hours
Instructor: Al Monshower
- MD Real Estate Ethics
3.0 CEU - MD required & DC elective hours
Instructor: Al Monshower
- DC Fair Housing & Predatory Lending
3.0 CEU - DC required hours
Instructor: Tom Lynch
- DC Ethics
3.0 CEU - DC required hours
Instructor: Tom Lynch
- Creating Leverage for Your Buyer
3.0 CEU - MD & DC elective hours
Instructor: Matt Tove
- Home Inspections & Environmental Issues
3.0 CEU - MD & DC elective hours
Instructor: Walter Clews
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Tragically, one of our own members was taken from us, while he was at work. Although we cannot totally protect ourselves and our loved ones from every horrific act, there are some actions we can take to help protect us. Therefore, we urge all agents to be diligent about safety practices when showing homes or working with prospective buyers. Please visit www.realtor.org for important safety tips, information, and business practices. A small sample of what you can do includes:
- Always have your cell phone charged
- Never list your home phone on your business card
- Never advertise a property as vacant
- Always have prospects meet you at your office the first time.
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| ANNUAL CULTURAL DIVERSITY MEETING - THIS THURSDAY! |  |  |
Women's Council of REALTORS® Prince George's Chapter and the
PGCAR Cultural Diversity Committee present its...
ANNUAL CULTURAL DIVERSITY MEETING
Thursday, June 7th
PGCAR, 8400 Corporate Drive, Suite 225, Landover, MD
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| 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. |
Registration |
| 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. |
Guest Speaker-Councilman Will Campos |
| 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
AT HOME WITH DIVERSITY
Special Presenters: NAREB and MHREIA |
Tickets are only $15 in advance and includes breakfast, lunch and the afternoon break. Sponsors include Cerrito Realty, Countrywide Home Mortgage, HomeBiz Inspection Group, Safe Homes, and South Construction.
To register, please contact the association office at (301) 306-7900 or REGISTER ONLINE HERE.
All REALTORS® and AFFIIATES are WELCOME.
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Award Deadlines Extended to
This Friday, June 8th
REALTOR® OF THE YEAR (ROTY) AWARD APPLICATION  
The association is looking for suitable candidates for the REALTOR® of the Year. Criteria was updated to provide more clear instructions for several areas. Nominees still must sign the application to verify that it is accurate and complete. One ROTY application is required to be submitted by each Local Board/Association in order to be entered in the MAR competition. The winner of the State Award will be sent to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR) for consideration in the national award. ONE (1) COLOR PHOTO (any size) in digital format must accompany the entry form to be used for promotional purposes.
Winners will be selected based on the following criteria:
Local board/association activity
MAR/NAR association activity: Committee Service to MAR and/or NAR; attendance at MAR and/or NAR functions, Leadership Academy, Rookie REALTOR® Society, and conventions.
Civic activity: Participation in civic, service clubs, charitable activities, political action, fraternal or religious groups, etc.
Business conduct and practices: Provide specific business activities nominee has implemented to enhance the REALTOR® image and identify specific measures nominee has taken to advance his/her business and career in real estate.
Education: Credit given for seminars, courses toward designations, any professional education courses that improve ability and expertise (based on whole career).
AFFILIATE OF THE YEAR AWARD APPLICATION
Criteria is based on participation in local and state association functions, sponsorship of educational and other programs of the association, involvement in the community and fair business practices. Nominate yourself, or an affiliate you know who is deserving of this award.
For more information contact Joan Ostenso at jostenso@mris.com
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| SCHOLARSHIP FUND ESTABLISHED IN MACLIN'S HONOR |  |  |
The PGCAR Board of Directors has established a scholarship fund for PGCAR high school students in memory of David Maclin, 2006 President of PGCAR. If you would like to contribute to this memorial scholarship fund, please forward your check in any amount to:
PGCAR
8400 Corporate Drive, Suite 225
Landover, MD 20785
The family will be made aware of all contributions.
David gave so much to the association and his community. It is felt that giving back to the community in his name would be a wonderful tribute to his life. If you should have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the association office. Thank you in advance for your participation.
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HAVE YOU GIVEN YOUR OPINION ON LOCKBOXES YET?
The PGCAR leadership will be looking at electronic lockbox systems for use by our members. Your input is very important to us. Please click on the link provided below and answer the two questions listed. We appreciate your participation. Thank you.
CLICK HERE to take the Survey >> |
| NATIONAL HOUSING SYMPOSIUM SPONSORED BY WELLS FARGO | | |
"Together We Are Working To Safeguard The American Dream."
Thursday, June 14
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Lunch will be served and a VIP Reception will follow program
Ronald Reagan Building Amphitheater
1300 Pennsylvania NW, Washington, DC 20004
Directions, registration and agenda details are posted online at www.wfhmevents.com
login: homeownership07
-or- call 800-875-0190 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST.
Panelists:
THE ECONOMY AND THE AMERICAN DREAM
ISI Group, Inc. | Fannie Mae | Freddie Mac
TAKING UP THE CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINING HOMEOWNERSHIP
National Community Reinvestment Coalition | Consumer Federation of America
BUILDING AND FINANCING THE DREAM
National Association of Home Builders | Mortgage Bankers Association
National Association of Mortgage Brokers
BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
National Association of REALTORS® | National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals
National Association of Real Estate Brokers REALTISTS® | Asian Real Estate Association of America
WELLS FARGO HOME MORTGAGE EXECUTIVES
Cara Heiden, Division President
Phil Bracken, Executive Vice President, Government & Industry Relations
Mary Coffin, Head of Servicing
GUEST SPEAKERS
Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Kenneth R. Harney, Columnist, The Washington Post
| ANNUAL CRAB FEAST | | |
The Women's Council of REALTORS® of PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY
presents their ANNUAL CRAB FEAST
Sunday, August 19, 2007 -- 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
at Martin's Crosswinds
ALL YOU CAN EAT Crabs, Peel and Eat Shrimp, Fried Fish, Roast Beef, Sirloin, BBQ Chicken, All Beef Hotdogs, Homemade Crab Soup, Seafood Salad, Pasta Salad, Dessert, Rolls & Much More Free Beer - Wine - Sodas (Cash Bar for other Alcohol Available) Let's Eat, Let's Dance, Let's Have a Good Time DJ ~ Dancing ~ Door Prizes ~ Raffle
Tickets: $65 in advance
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Register Online today!
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| HOME INSPECTOR LICENSING IN MARYLAND | | |
Effective January 1, 2008, all home inspectors working in Maryland must be licensed. Though the law requiring home inspector licensing is many years old, the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (DLLR) did not have enough money to implement the law until this year. Now that DLLR has funded the licensing program, home inspectors in Maryland will have the next 8 months to apply for the license. The two-year license costs $400, plus an initial fee of $50. For more information call Mark Feinroth or Bill Castelli at MAR at 800-638-6425.
| MAR LEADERSHIP ACADEMY | | |
MAR is now accepting applications for the 2007-2008 Leadership Academy. Academy sessions are starting October 4, 2007 and ending on April 14, 2008. All applications are due by August 1st. Please be sure to indicate on the application your preferred interview date. Once received, MAR will confirm your interview date and time. For an application, please contact Lisa Kinsman, at 800-638-6425 or e-mail your request to lisa.kinsman@mdrealtor.org.
| MAR ANNUAL CONFERENCE & TRADESHOW | | |
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The MAR Annual Conference will be held September 10th - 12th in Ocean City. Register now for education classes & fun day events. This year, online conference registration allows you to make any class changes, purchase additional tickets, and receive an improved registration confirmation.
3-day Registration — Only $225 through August 15th
$50 discount for Rookie REALTORS®.
Note: Once you have successfully entered your NRDS#, please review your contact information, and scroll down to "REGISTRATION TYPE" to choose the registration type that applies to you. Then continue registering. Register now!
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| MORTGAGE FRAUD SPREADING, BLAMED FOR HOUSING BUST | | |
The spread of mortgage fraud and the associated increase in foreclosures is getting blamed for a housing market boom gone bust. Full story >>
| NAR'S New Member Profile Shows Earnings Correlate to Experience | | |
At its Midyear Meetings in May, NAR released its bi-annual Member Profile for 2007. Among key findings:
- Agents communicate with their clients about 50% of the time, up from 44% in 2005
- Median income is down by roughly $2,000 since 2005
- 25% of business is repeat business from previous clients
Click here for NAR's summary. Click here for Realty Times's perspective.
| CONTINUING EDUCATION | | |
Meet your Continuing Education requirements for Maryland and DC license renewal!
DC licensing for real estate salespersons must be renewed by August 31!
Register for the Expo and the June 20 class, and you can earn all 9 CE in DC required categories. Do you have your DC required categories out of the way? Most PGCAR classes are also approved for DC elective CE. Check the class listings for specifics.
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Code of Ethics Case Study:
Case #16-3: Mass Media Solicitation Not a Violation of the Code
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REALTOR® A, a residential broker, worked in a market area that included an attractive suburb of a large city. At the time that REALTOR® A launched a new advertising program, there were a number of houses for sale in the neighborhood listed exclusively with other REALTORS®, each having the respective listing broker's sign on its front lawn.
Working with his advertising agency, REALTOR® A developed a special brochure describing the service of his offices and soliciting clients. The format of the brochure was designed so that it could be hung over a door knob, and a commercial distribution service was employed to hang one of these brochures on homes in REALTOR® A's market area.
In the course of distributing REALTOR® A's brochures, the commercial distribution service placed a brochure on the front door of every house in REALTOR® A's market area, including houses that had other REALTORS®' signs in the front yard. Several of the REALTORS® whose clients received REALTOR® A's brochures filed complaints with the Board against REALTOR® A. The Grievance Committee considered the complaints and referred them to the Secretary to schedule a hearing by a Hearing Panel of the Professional Standards Committee, at which time all of the complaints would be considered. The complainants charged REALTOR® A with unethical conduct in failing to respect the exclusive agency of other REALTORS®.
At the hearing, REALTOR® A defended his action by saying that the distribution of his advertising brochures was widespread in nature; that it had been carried out by a commercial distribution service; and that it was of the same nature as radio or television advertising or a general mailing that might come to the attention of some clients having exclusive listing contracts with other REALTORS®.
The Hearing Panel's decision noted that REALTOR® A, in designing his advertising campaign, did not direct his brochures to property owners whose identity had come to REALTOR® A's attention through information disclosed by other REALTORS® consistent with their ethical obligation to cooperate with other brokers under Article 3 of the Code of Ethics (e.g., through a "for sale" sign or through information disseminated through a Multiple Listing Service). Rather, REALTOR® A's advertising campaign was directed in an indiscriminate manner to all property owners in a given geographical area. Furthermore, the medium REALTOR® A chose for his advertising campaign was written brochure, which property owner could examine or discard as they saw fit. The panel determined that this form of communication does not harass a property owner, as would telephone calls or direct personal contacts. The Hearing Panel, therefore, held that REALTOR® A's advertising campaign did not violate Article 16 of the Code of Ethics.
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SPOTLIGHT SPECIAL
BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR FREE!
That's right, FREE! Write an article that would be of interest to real estate consumers and have it published in the Official Homes Section of The Prince George's County Association of REALTORS® brought to you by The Gazette. This is a special pullout FULL COLOR supplement reaching over 127,000 homes and businesses in Prince George's County.
| Article Deadline |
Monday,
June 11 |
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Space Reservation
& Ad Copy Deadline |
Tuesday,
June 12 |
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Publication
Date |
Thursday,
June 28 |
If you are interested in writing an article or placing an ad, please contact
Heidi Lamere at 301-731-2134, 240-888-7509 or hlamere@gazette.net.
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