The Best of the 2009 NAR Convention

 the recording of The Best of NAR Convention 2009 call is here.

I'd like to thank my friends who joined me in sharing their insights:

- Paula Monthofer sobeit8002@AOL.com
- Amber Murray amurray@previsite.com
- Wynne Achatz sold@wynnea.com

And also thanks to participants who were there that shared their insights: Bunny@BunnyMostad.com
and Don@DonStirnweis.com
1. Some of the companies and resources mentioned were:
www.Previsite.com for virtual tours

2. For Facebook Fan Page Help:
Mike Mueller
Phone:  925 456-4567  925 456-4567
Email Mike / Tweet Mike / Face Mike / Blog Mike / Hire Mike

3. The 2009 Profile of Homebuyers and Homesellers (and LOTS of other goodies!) is available by clicking the Right Tools/Right Now icon on the www.Realtor.org page

4. Bunny mentioned the David Knox video and Market Snapshot from TopProducer

5. Wynne mentioned Quantum Mail and ExpressCopy

6. This is the link I found on the REO Women's Network

7. The tapes of the education sessions are available at www.iPlaybackNAR.com or  1-800-241-7785  1-800-241-7785

8. The site to send videos to social media from your phone was www.qik.com

9. Paula sent these links for the information about RPR and more:
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® NEWS

The National Association of REALTORS® is pleased to share some exciting news, exclusively for their members, from REALTORS® Federal Credit Union (REALTORS® FCU). REALTORS® FCU is pleased to offer a new limited-time Freedom Loan Special; get up to $5,000 cash at a fixed rate as low as 9.49% APR* and make no payments for 90 days**!

REALTORS® FCU, a proud partner in NAR's REALTOR Benefits® Program, knows this can be an expensive time of year, but there's no need to pay high interest rate charges on purchases you make for the holidays. A Freedom Loan from REALTORS® FCU offers fast, flexible financing. It's perfect for: Ensuring the holidays are extra special!

• A home improvement project that's been on your mind
• Consolidating higher interest debt
• A vacation to help you recharge

If you are already a credit union member simply login to myAccounts Online, click the Consumer Loan Application link in the Accounts tab to apply today!

Not a Member? Not a Problem.

You'll need to become a credit union member before you apply for your Freedom Loan. It's easy and safe to join online. Just click Membership to get started. During the new member application process, you can select the deposit products you want to open and enroll in myAccounts Online. Once enrolled in myAccounts Online, just login and click the "Consumer Loan Application" link to apply for your Freedom Loan.

Have Questions? Just call a friendly REALTORS® FCU Member Care representative 24-hours a day at  866.295.6038  866.295.6038 .

REALTOR® SAFETY WEBINAR ON IDENTIFY THEFT ~ DECEMBER 8

Because REALTORS® face more on-the-job risks than many other business professionals and to help keep safety top-of-mind, NAR is offering quarterly free REALTOR® Safety Webinars led by industry expert, Andrew Wooten. The December 3 Webinar, "Identity Theft: Protecting You and Your Clients," offers several suggestions and precautions you should take to keep your personal information and property secure and what you should do if you are a victim of identity theft. The one-hour session will begin at 11amEST. Space is limited: register today.

To register go to... http://www.REALTOR.org/SafetyWebinar?&WT.mc_id=LS111809&CAT=Meet

SHARE YOUR LISTINGS ON REALTOR.com® WITH A NEW FACEBOOK APP FOR REALTORS®

REALTOR.com® is regularly adding free training and free downloads, and upgrading its product offerings with such tools as Buyer Assist, to help you increase your expertise, get more listings and sell more homes. The "See My Listings" Facebook widget is now available for you to download and post to your page on Facebook for free. Download today at www.BenefitsAtREALTOR.com and click the 'Free Download of the Month' tab.

Read more...

BOARD OF DIRECTORS REPORT FROM NATIONAL CONVENTION

The Board of Directors had its first look at a powerful new database that will be available exclusively to REALTORS® beginning in April. The REALTORSProperty Resource will contain rich data on more than 140 million properties; the interface is made possible through the integration of technology and data, according to RPR CEO Dale Ross. NAR is investing $20 million for a five-year build-out, which will cover licensing and development of the front-end and acquisition of data from LPS, which operates Cyberhomes, and other sources.

RPR President Marty Frame walked the board through the site's features. Members will access the site using their NRDS number. They'll be able to view each property's characteristics and transaction history and add information based on their personal knowledge of the property. The system is expected to save members millions of dollars in data acquisition costs, and access to members will be free. NAR 2009 President Charles McMillan called the launch of RPR a "watershed moment."

The board also was given a tour of NAR's new consumer web site, HouseLogic, which launched its beta version on Nov. 12, during the annual conference. HouseLogic was developed by NAR to help its members extend their relationship with consumers through the lifecycle of homeownership and to provide an opportunity for homeowners and REALTORS® to speak together to federal legislators on public policy issues of common interest.

The site is a comprehensive resource for homeowners of the information they need to protect, maintain and enhance the value of their home. The site also gives members free access to various content packages from the site that they can use in their own marketing efforts, at www.houselogic.com/members.

The directors also took a number of actions on committee recommendations:

Multiple Listing Policy
Amended the Multiple Listing and Internet Data Exchange Policy to conform to NAR virtual office Web site (VOW) policy and to make clear that participants may not use IDX-provided listings for purposes other than display on their Web sites but are not required to prevent indexing of their Web sites by recognized search engines.

Equal Housing Opportunity
Amended NAR policy on equal housing opportunity to include opposition to discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Federal Housing Policy
Voted to seek changes in FHA policies to ease the purchases of condominiums, support elimination of certification requirements on VA loans, and allow VA borrowers to negotiate all fees and closing costs.

Professional Standards
Clarified that associations may take into account prior Code of Ethics violations and violations of other membership duties in considering applicants for REALTOR® membership. The current language inadvertently limits consideration to previous violations determined by other associations.

Approved optional model language for local associations wishing to limit the number of members of the same real estate firm serving simultaneously on the Board of Directors.

Membership
Clarified the consequences of violating the terms of the dues exemption for referral licensees. Immediately upon so-called LFRO members engaging in any activities requiring a real estate license, they will be required to pay member dues.

Code of Ethics
Revised the Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual to allow associations to use e-mail to deliver notices related to administration of professional standards enforcement.

Required that advertising by real estate "teams" meet the Code of Ethics "true picture" requirement by ensuring that firm names are displayed in a reasonable and readily apparent manner.

Added a Standard of Practice, under Article 3 of the Code of Ethics, to address misuse of lock boxes and other concerns related to unauthorized access to listed property. Amended Standard of Practice 11-1 to provide flexibility in information provided when clients require opinions of value or price that don't include all the elements currently required under Standard of Practice 11-1.

Legal Action
Approved $401,660 to fund 11 legal cases, including a challenge to a municipal ordinance requiring sellers to have an inspection and certification of compliance as condition of sale and a challenge to an ordinance that would apply a business license tax to real estate licensees.

Constitutional Change
Approved constitutional amendments making procedural changes to election process for NAR offices and amended the Code of Ethics to specifically include land brokerage. Both the constitutional and Code of Ethics changes were approved by the NAR Delegate Body following the Board of Directors meeting.

Other Reports
Treasurer Jim Helsel gave the directors good news about NAR's financial picture, reporting that membership was nearly 12 percent above budget for 2009, resulting in a positive budget variance. Actual membership for 2009, as of Nov. 1, was 1,188,217.

Watch CEO Dale Stinton's exciting preview of the new consumer Web site, HouseLogic, and national property database, the REALTORS® Property Resource^TM, in this Nov. 6 Webinar - you'll hear about plans that will change the way you do business and help you serve customers better.
Watch the Webinar now >

About HouseLogic
HouseLogic, scheduled to launch Thursday, Nov. 12, is NAR's consumer-facing Web site that provides home owners with information about protecting, maintaining, and enhancing the value of their home.

Read more about HouseLogic on REALTOR® Magazine online.

About the REALTORS® Property Resource^TM
The REALTORS® Property Resource^TM, scheduled to launch in the second quarter of 2010, is NAR's future database of all U.S. properties that will enable REALTORS® to better assist customers in a fast-paced world. Learn more about the REALTORS® Property Resource^TM.

"Life is too short to perfect your weaknesses" - Joeann Fossland