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2011 Dues Renewals Countdown
Save the Late Fee - Renew by Sunday, November 30 |
Use our easy and secure
Online Dues Payment at www.pgcar.com!
Renew as Easy as 1-2-3:
- Click here
- Log in
- Renew online and receive receipt !
Please pay your 2011 dues by November 30th to prevent late charges and loss of your lockbox privileges, MRIS discount and other membership benefits. Thank you!
Paying by Installment? Your last installment of $125.75 is also due on Tuesday, November 30. Click here
Please note: If dues payments are not made online, they may not be reflected in your private, online History portal.
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| Fall Food Drive - Now through This Friday, November 19 |  |  |
Winter is near and our local food banks are helping supply food to families in need. Each time you shop, please add a can or two of canned vegetables, boxed potatoes or other dried foods, baby food, or any other non-perishable food item to donate. Even a 6-pack of veggies or soup at Costco, BJ's or Sam's is very inexpensive!
The need is immediate. Please bring your donations of non-perishable food items to the PGCAR office as soon as you can. We'll be collecting food donations from now until this Friday, November 19. That's the Friday before Thanksgiving.
Thanks for making a positive difference in our community!
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Holiday Charity Event
MONDAY, DECEMBER 6
Half Note in Bowie, MD • 7 - 11 pm
Once again this year, PGCAR will be hosting a Holiday event to feed needy families in Prince George's County. There are hundreds of families in Prince George's County in need of help to feed their families. $25 will provide a family with much needed food items.
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In addition to feeding a needy family, your $25 will provide you with an evening of networking and fun at the Half Note in Bowie. On December 6th from 7 pm to 11 pm as a thank you for your contribution, the Half Note will open its doors to all those who contribute for an evening of fun, food, music, and networking.
Please join us and help the needy families in our County.
Single Ticket - $25 - feeds a Family
Platinum Sponsor - $500 (20 tickets) - feeds 25 Families
Gold Sponsor - $300 (12 tickets) - feeds 15 families
Silver Sponsor - $200 (8 tickets) - feeds 10 Families
As a sponsor you will receive multiple tickets to the event that you can, in turn, give to friends, business associates, etc.
This year we are partnering with the Public Safety Assistance Program. The Program fed over 6,000 families in Prince George's County last year. We are also seeking volunteers to help fill the boxes of food on December 14 and 15 from 9 am to 3:30 pm (OR whatever part of the day you can volunteer). You will be notified of exact date and times later. If you are able to help, please sign up. Thank you for your help and participation.
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Register online at www.pgcar.com >>
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| PGCAR Welcomes Disney Institute to Baltimore on Dec. 7, 2010 |  |  |
The Prince George's County Association of REALTORS® is proud to welcome the 2010 Disney's Approach to Leadership Excellence and People Management program, presented by the world renowned Disney Institute, to the Baltimore area on Tuesday, December 7.
A unique one-day event, Disney's Approach to Leadership Excellence and People Management combines two great topics that will challenge you to look at your business - no matter what size - in an entirely new light. You will learn how to apply innovative Disney strategies to your own organization for immediate results.
IMPORTANT: Please use promotional code PGCARMNE to receive $50 OFF PER GUEST when registering. Additional group discounts are available.
TO LEARN MORE AND REGISTER GO TO: www.KeysBaltimore.com
No prerequisite training required.
| Lunch and Learn with MRIS |  |  |
Join MRIS at La Fontaine Bleu this Thursday, November 18th for a very informative session on the New Matrix. Lunch will be served. Sign up today at www.mris.com/training.
Dig into the New Matrix
This Thursday, November 18th
12 Noon - 1:30 pm
FREE ~ Advance RSVP Required
| PGCAR Annual Legislative Reception
Please join us
Wednesday, December 8th
8 - 10 am at the Greenbelt Marriott |
Take advantage of this rare opportunity to meet with your elected officials. The invited guests include: Prince George's County State Senators and Delegates, and Members of the Prince George's County Council. WE CANNOT HAVE INFLUENCE IF WE DO NOT SHOW THAT WE ARE INTERESTED AND INVOLVED. It is important that you attend this Legislative Reception to become informed and show our strength.
Click Here to Register >>
For a printable flyer Click Here >> |
| Five PGCAR REALTORS® Win in General Election | | |
Congratulations to the following members of your association on winning their elections:
Democratic Central Committee District 23B: Casey Lewis
Democratic Central Committee District 47: Beverly Ball
House of Delegates District 23B: Del. Marvin Holmes
House of Delegates District 25: Del. Aisha Braveboy
House of Delegates District 47: Del. Jolene Ivey
As REALTORS®, we should all be involved! Learn about the issues and attend upcoming Legislative events
where you have the chance to meet YOUR representatives. Join us at our Annual Legislative Reception,
December 8 at 8 - 10 am. Breakfast will be served. Thank you for voting on November 2nd.
| 7 for 7 - RPAC Supported Candidates Win in General Elections | | |
We reported prior to the Primary Elections that PGCAR's Political Tracking Task Force recommended RPAC support for a number of candidates. These candidates demonstrated that they understood the issues of concern to the real estate community, homebuyers, sellers and property owners in Prince George's County.
Seven of the eight RPAC supported candidates won their Primary elections.
All seven of the seven candidates on the General Election ballot won!
County Executive: Rushern Baker
County Council D2: Will Campos
County Council D3: Eric Olson
County Council D4: Ingrid Turner
County Council D5: Andrea Harrison
County Council D6: Leslie Johnson
County Council D7: Karen Toles
PGCAR looks forward to working with our newly elected officials on all matters concerning real estate and private property rights.
For complete election results Click Here.
| Earn All 9 CE in Required DC Categories - At PGCAR This Week! |
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DC Broker and Property Manager licenses must be renewed by February 28, 2011 -- and clock hours must be completed by December 28, 2010. Register now to meet all of the required topic CEU this week!
Tuesday, November 16
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
Financing Issues / Update |
Register here > |
Thursday, November 18
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
DC Fair Housing & Predatory Lending |
Register here > |
Thursday, November 18
1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
DC Legislative Update |
Register here > |
Also earn the required 6 hours of general elective hours at PGCAR. Full CE schedule >
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| Commercial Contract Forms Now in Members' Forms Library | | |
Two new contract forms have been added to the PGCAR.com Members Only Forms Library:
Visit pgcar.com Members Only to view and download contract and addenda PDFs, and to register for ZipForms, a FREE PGCAR membership benefit.
| Market Sen$e: Existing Home Sales Improve, Rates & Stats | | |
All-time record lows were set in the average 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, and 5-year ARMs for the week ending November 11. According to Freddie Mac:
- The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.17 percent, down from 4.24 percent a week ago.
- The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.57 percent, down from 3.63 percent.
- The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid ARM averaged 3.25 percent, down from 3.39 percent.
- The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 3.26 percent, equal to the record low set one week ago.
2010 Weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey >>
October local market statistics are now online at pgcar.com REALTOR® Resources >> Contracts and settlements are holding consistently since their decrease after expiration of the new homeowners tax credit. 2010 settlements are 28% above 2009 levels for single family homes and 49.6% above 2009 levels for Condo/Coop home sales.
Interest rates are at an all-time low, inventories are good, and homeownership is more valuable than ever to single households and families alike. Please check out following articles:
Third Quarter Metro Area Home Prices Hold During Post-Credit Sales Decline
In the third quarter, 77 out of 155 metropolitan areas had higher median existing single-family home prices in comparison with the third quarter of 2009, including 11 with double-digit increases; two were unchanged and 76 metros showed price declines. In the third quarter of 2009 only 30 metropolitan areas experienced annual price gains, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.
The national median existing single-family price was little changed at $177,900 in the third quarter, down 0.2 percent from $178,200 in the third quarter of 2009. Distressed homes, typically sold at discount, accounted for 34 percent of third quarter sales, up from 30 percent a year ago.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, noted "Home sales through the first three quarters of this year are virtually the same as year-to-date sales at this time last year, and therefore broadly support home values. However, there are large local market differences with prices rising in job-creating regions like the Washington, D.C. area, the Dakotas and Texas; and also in markets recovering from over-correction."
Complete article >>
Also see:
| Winter MAR Rookie Society Webinars - Open to ALL REALTORS®! | | |
Learn Lead Generation & Prospecting Strategies on December 8. The MAR Rookie REALTOR® Society is offering 3 more winter webinars, FREE to all MAR members.
Details and registration >
| REQUIRED TOPICS CEU AND MORE! | | |
Earn ALL of your required Continuing Education hours for Maryland and DC license renewals -- and the SFR and GRI designations -- here at PGCAR.
INCLEMENT WEATHER / SNOW POLICY:
SNOW POLICY: PGCAR classes will be conducted as scheduled unless the Prince George's County Government offices are closed. If you are registered for a class and it is cancelled, your registration fee will be returned or transferred to a future class.
Please be safe and use your best judgment with regards to driving. If unable to attend due to weather, please e-mail Scott Miller or call Scott at 301-306-7961 and you will not be charged. If you will not be attending class, please indicate whether you would like to reschedule or if you would like a refund.
PGCAR committee meetings: If Prince George's County Public Schools are CLOSED, all PGCAR committee meetings will be cancelled. If Prince George's County Public Schools are on a delayed schedule, committee meetings will be held as scheduled.
PGCAR offices will be open unless the Prince George's County Government is closed.
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Code of Ethics Case Study: Case #14-1:
Establishing Procedure to be Followed in Handling Complaints
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A Board of REALTORS® received a complaint from REALTOR® A's client charging REALTOR® A with a violation of Article 1 of the Code of Ethics. The complaint was referred to the Chairperson of the Board's Grievance Committee, who sent a copy of it to REALTOR® A with a request that he respond and provide a specific document about the matter to the Grievance Committee for its preliminary review.
REALTOR® A responded with a denial of the charge, and a statement that he would appear at any hearing on the appointed date and would, at that time, present all pertinent facts. He went on to indicate that on the advice of legal counsel he was unwilling to place the requested document in the hands of the Grievance Committee in advance of any hearing.
The Grievance Committee then initiated its own complaint charging REALTOR® A with a violation of Article 14 for refusing to place the requested document before a proper tribunal.
A hearing of the Grievance Committee's complaint was held before a Hearing Panel of the Professional Standards Committee. At the hearing, REALTOR® A again stated that it was his intention to respond specifically and factually to the charge of violating Article 1, if the complaint came before an ethics Hearing Panel and at that time he would submit all pertinent facts, including the document in question.
Based on your understanding of the Code of Ethics Article 14, how do you think the Professional Standards Panel ruled?
Find out here >>
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SAVE THE DATE
Annual Housing Fair
Saturday, June 11, 2011 • 10 am to 3 pm
Sports and Learning Center
8001 Sheriff Road, Landover, MD 20785
Foreclosure Prevention/ Loan Modification • Credit Rebuilding/ Financial Education
Short Sale Information • Senior Programs/ Reverse Mortgages
First-time Homebuyer Programs • Rental Information
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES >> • EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION >>
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The PGCAR office will be closed next Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26 in celebration of Thanksgiving.
We wish you a thanks-filled and beautiful holiday! |
