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ALL MEMBERS INVITED
This Wednesday, August 11
@ La Fontaine Bleu
9:30 am — Sign In & Continental Breakfast
10:00 am — Meeting Promptly Begins
Meet the Candidates for PGCAR 2011 Officers and Directors and learn what's NEW at the
Real Estate Commission - including new team and continuing education regulations.
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REAL ESTATE COMMISSION UPDATE
J. Nicholas D'Ambrosia, MD Real Estate Commission Chair
Kathy Connelly, Executive Director, MD Real Estate Commission |
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Association Activities and Services Update |
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Meet the 2011 Candidates for PGCAR Officers and Directors |
Please RSVP today (It's FREE) and participate in this important exchange of information and ideas.
FREE to all members ~ Please RSVP today!
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SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR COUNTY CHILDREN
Invest in a child's future by helping the PGCAR Community Service Committee collect school supplies for Prince George's County students. If you are able to supply some of the items, you can bring them to the Association office - or you can bring them with you to the General Membership Meeting. Some of the most needed items are:
Washable Marker Sets
Composition Books
Zip Pouch Pencil Case |
Crayons
Pencils
Pencil-Top Erasers |
Tissues
Hand Sanitizer
Hand Soap |
We also have one school with students in need of uniform shirts. The shirts are the three button polo-style in black and/or white ranging in sizes from 6-20. The shirts can be purchased online at www.frenchtoast.com or at Kids for Less.
Kids for Less has two locations in Maryland:
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Thank you for participating in the
Membership Meeting and School Supplies drive.
See you Wednesday!
| 2010 - 2011 Officer and Director
Candidates Announced |  |  |
PGCAR is pleased to announce the following candidates for the 2010 - 2011 PGCAR Board of Directors. Voting will open on September 1 using our secure online service. Anyone wishing to have a paper ballot should contact the Association office as early as possible.
| The 2010 / 2011 Candidates are as follows: |
| President: |
Joanne Darling, Darling Real Estate |
| President-Elect: |
Alease Bowles, RE/MAX Specialists |
| Secretary: |
Anthony Williams, Long and Foster Real Estate |
| PGCAR Director Candidates are as follows: |
| Directors: |
Cheryl Abrams,, RE/MAX Specialists
Sonata Camara, Camara & Company - The Real Estate Group
George Mitchell, Real Estate Around America
Yolanda Muckle, Long and Foster Real Estate
Chris Richardson, RE/MAX Professionals
Willie Rhone, Weichert, REALTORS®
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Meet our BoD Candidates at Wednesday's Membership Meeting!
As election day approaches there are a number of organizations hosting candidate forums.
Listed are those events that span several districts, and feature a wide range of offices. Please take advantage of these opportunities to learn more about candidates running for political office in Prince George's County.
All listed forums are FREE and open to the public.
The Prince George's Chamber of Commerce
POLITICAL IMPACT 2010:
A Business Decision for Prince George's County
Councilmanic District 7
(Southern Prince George's County)
This Tuesday, August 10
5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Suitland High School Auditorium,
5200 Silver Hill Road, Forestville, MD 20747
RSVP Requested >
Prince George's County Executive
This Thursday, August 12
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Prince George's Community College Rennie Forum,
301 Largo Road, Largo, MD 20774
RSVP Requested >
Congressional District 4
(Prince George's & Montgomery Counties)
Next Tuesday, August 17
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Zealia Centre,
565 Ritchie Road, Capitol Heights, MD 20743
RSVP Requested >
For more information on above candidate forums,
please contact the Chamber office at 301-731-5000.
Women's Action Coalition
of Prince George's County &
Prince George's Aging Advisory Committee
5th Annual Candidates Forum
for the Prince George's County Council & School Board
Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Next Monday, August 16
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Laurel High School Auditorium
8000 Cherry Lane, Laurel, MD 20707-3663
For More Information, Please Contact:
June White Dillard
E-mail: naacp-umarlboro@comcast.net
Phone: 240-619-5418
The Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce
proudly presents
"Candidates Forum 2010"
District 23 Senator and Delegates
Wednesday, August 25
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Bowie Senior Center
14900 Health Center Drive, Bowie, MD 20716
Prince George's County Executive and Councilmanic District 6
Wednesday, September 1
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Bowie Senior Center
14900 Health Center Drive, Bowie, MD 20716
For additional information, please contact the
Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce
301-262-0920 or kelly@bowiechamber.org
If real estate is your profession, politics is your business.
| New MRIS Support Hours |  |  |
MRIS is always looking for ways to serve customers better and meet your needs. As a result, the Support Center is announcing new service hours and increased availability of online Chat with a service representative - now 12 hours per day.
| Call Center | | Online Chat |
| Monday - Friday |
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8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. |
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Monday - Friday |
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9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
| Saturday - Sunday |
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9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
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Saturday - Sunday |
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9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
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What is online Chat?
Online Chat is a secure way to communicate via your computer with a helpful customer service representative. Customers can launch online Chat from the mris.com website and type questions and responses to the Support Center in a special pop-up window. For online Chat, look for the pictured "Support Center" button on the mris.com home page.
| MRIS contact numbers remain the same: |
| Phone: |
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301.838.7200 |
| Toll Free: |
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888.838.8200 |
| Fax: |
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301.838.7171 |
| Email: |
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helpdesk@mris.net |
| New Rules Regarding Teams and Groups |  |  |
An article written by Al Monshower has been added to pgcar.com Members Only which thoroughly discusses the provisions of House Bill 406. The new law, taking effect on October 1, 2010, is quite expansive and creates duties and obligations with respect to the operation of teams or groups within a real estate brokerage company and imposes specific requirements of disclosure and document retention. These new requirements affect all team members and leaders, brokers and managers.
Please login for article >
EXPANDED NSP PROGRAM
NOW OPEN TO SHORT SALE PURCHASES |
SPECIAL FUNDING WITH INCREASED TIME LINE
AND LOAN LIMIT OF UP TO $60,000 FOR HOUSEHOLDS
AT OR BELOW 50% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME LEVELS |
The Expanded Down Payment on Your Dream program provides eligible borrowers with household income at or below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) up to $60,000 towards buying a foreclosure or a short sale in Prince George's County.
50% of the AMI is $36,250 for a household of one; $41,400 for a household of two. Please note the maximum eligible incomes have been increased slightly (adjusted for 2010) as of May 14.
Applicants can be First Time Homebuyers, or those who have not owned a home in 3 years or more.
The program for households at or below 50% of the area median income levels still has $1 Million in funding left and has closed almost 650 loans. More program requirements and benefit details are available in the updated NSP Alert >>
If you have any questions about either NSP program, don't hesitate to contact the NSP office.
Yetta Stokes
NSP Senior Loan Processor
301-883-7409
HStokes@co.pg.md.us |
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Rosalyn B. Clemens
NSP Program Manager
301-883-3288
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Wish to learn more about NSP-type and renovation loans? Take the 3 CEU 203K Purchase Rehab class on Wednesday, August 25 at PGCAR. Details & registration >
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NSP FORMS AND DETAILS AVAILABLE
IN PGCAR.COM MEMBER'S ONLY >>
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| Dental Insurance Plans at Exclusive REALTOR® Rates - New! | | |
REALTORS® Dental Insurance has been custom-designed to offer affordable and valuable large group Dental insurance benefits to NAR members and their families nationwide. Plans provide coverage for preventive, basic, and major dental expenses with the dentist of your choice. There are 4 plans to choose from, and most plans include bonus benefits like orthodontia, cosmetic, dental rewards, and more. The plans are available today in Maryland, DC and surrounding states.
| Market Sen$e: Interest Rates, Sales Stats & Tips | | |
Mortgage rates continued to fall, and new all-time lows were experienced in fixed-rate 30-year and 15-year rates for the week ending August 5. According to Freddie Mac:
- The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.49 percent, down from 4.56 percent a week ago.
- The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.95 percent, down from 4.03 percent.
- The five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid ARM average fell to 3.63 percent.
- The one-year Treasury-indexed ARM average also fell to a new six-year-low of 3.55 percent.
2010 Weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey >>
For local market statistics, visit pgcar.com REALTOR® Resources >>. The only market increase seen from June to July was in Condo/Cooperative listings and contracts. 2010 year-to-date County home (single-family and condo/co-op) contracts and settlements have all improved significantly from 2009 levels. 31.3% of 2010 single family home sales to date are in the $200,000 to $299,000 range.
Hone up on curb appeal to help your listings stand out (for a low investment) and go from listed to Sold!
REALTOR® Mag >
HGTV >
| TAX-FREE ITEMS - This week in Maryland! | | |
Shop Maryland Week — August 8 - 14
Just in time for back-to-school shopping, August 8
th to August 14
th has been designated "Shop Maryland Week," a week when Marylanders can enjoy tax-free shopping on clothing and footwear under $100. Examples of qualifying items are sweaters, shirts, slacks, jeans, dresses, robes, underwear, belts, shoes, and boots priced at $100 or less.
Additionally, the weekend of February 19, 2011 through February 21, 2011 will be a tax-free three day weekend during which the sales and use tax will not apply to the sale of selected Energy Star Products, or solar water heaters.
| 2011 Dues Renewals are Now Online! |
Don't wait until the last minute to pay this year's dues.
Use our fast and secure Online Dues Payment!
Paying online is easy, secure, and supplies you with a receipt.
Renew as Easy as 1-2-3:
- Click here
- Log in
- Renew online and receive receipt !
The Board of Directors has voted to allow 2011 dues to be paid in installments. The 2011 dues in the amount of $503 are currently being invoiced and are payable no later than October 1th, 2010 in order to prevent late charges. The installment payments will be due as follows:
| August 31 |
$125.75 |
| September 30 |
$125.75 |
| October 31 |
$125.75 |
| November 30 |
$125.75 |
Please note: If dues payments are not made online, they may not be reflected on the website.
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| 15 hours of CE in 2½ days |
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- Nationally known presenters – Terry Watson, Gee Dunsten, Amy Cherow
- Technology courses every day
- Expanded Commercial offerings
- Full-day NAR GREEN Commercial & Residential Elective Courses ($70 fee applies)
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Settlement Deadline Extended to September 30!
$6,500 / $8,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit - For all buyers who entered a binding contract for a new or replacement principal residence by April 30, 2010, now is the time to help ensure they can meet the settlement deadline of September 30. Approximately 180,000 homebuyers with ratified contracts were not able to meet the previous June 30 settlement deadline, but will now have until September 30 to close. Don't allow this opportunity to slip by!
Information on the Homebuyer Tax Credit and other homebuyer savings are available at pgcar.com. You can also send links to your contacts from these public information pages. NAR President Vicki Cox Golder singled out House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and 6 other Congressional members for their efforts to extend the tax credit closing deadline.
2011 Extension for qualified Armed Services members - The First Time Home Buyer Tax credit is valid for an additional year for members of our military, intelligence and foreign services who were out of the United States on active duty between January 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010 for at least 90 days. They have until April 30, 2011 to have a house under contract and until June 30, 2011 to close.
IRS.gov details >>
Visit www.pgcar.com for details on other national, state, county and township programs which SAVE HOMEBUYERS MONEY.
Mortgage rates are at another all-time low -
It's a great time to buy in Prince George's County!
| PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOUSE | | |
Prince George's County Habitat for Humanity is in need of funds to finish a home in Capitol Heights.
Please click here to contribute. Any amount will help put a family into a home.
You may also mail a check, payable to Habitat for Humanity to:
PGCAR
8400 Corporate Drive, Suite 225
Landover MD 20785
Thank you for your generosity!
| REQUIRED TOPICS CEU AND MORE! | | |
Earn ALL of your required Continuing Education hours for Maryland and DC license renewals -- and your GRI -- here at PGCAR.
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Code of Ethics: Our Duties to Clients and Customers
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There is no sample case study for REALTORS® Code of Ethics Article 9; however, it's an important ethical and business standard to adhere to. Here is the complete Article 9.
Article 9
REALTORS®, for the protection of all parties, shall assure whenever possible that all agreements related to real estate transactions including, but not limited to, listing and representation agreements, purchase contracts, and leases are in writing in clear and understandable language expressing the specific terms, conditions, obligations and commitments of the parties. A copy of each agreement shall be furnished to each party to such agreements upon their signing or initialing. (Amended 1/04)
- Standard of Practice 9-1
For the protection of all parties, REALTORS® shall use reasonable care to ensure that documents pertaining to the purchase, sale, or lease of real estate are kept current through the use of written extensions or amendments. (Amended 1/93)
- Standard of Practice 9-2
When assisting or enabling a client or customer in establishing a contractual relationship (e.g., listing and representation agreements, purchase agreements, leases, etc.) electronically, REALTORS® shall make reasonable efforts to explain the nature and disclose the specific terms of the contractual relationship being established prior to it being agreed to by a contracting party. (Adopted 1/07)
Articles 1 - 9 comprise the Code of Ethics portion outlining REALTORS®' duties to clients and customers. The next REALTOR® Connection will move on to Article 10, the first dealing with REALTORS®' duties to the public.
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