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2011 Dues Renewals Countdown
Save the Late Fee - Renew by TOMORROW
Tuesday, November 30 |
Use our easy and secure
Online Dues Payment at www.pgcar.com!
- Click here
- Log in
- Renew online and receive your receipt !
A late fee of $25 will be added to all non-paid dues invoices as of Wednesday, December 1, 2010. Please pay your 2011 dues by midnight this Tuesday, November 30 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 must also be paid by tomorrow, 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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Holiday Charity Event
NEXT MONDAY, DECEMBER 6
Half Note in Bowie, MD • 7 - 11 pm
Once again this year, PGCAR is hosting a Holiday event to
feed needy families in Prince George's County.
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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.
Let's do it again. . .
and help more than 600 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.
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Register online at www.pgcar.com >>
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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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| PGCAR Annual Legislative Breakfast
Please join us
Next 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 >>
Learn who your Prince George's County elected official are,
what committees they are in, and 10 tips for communicating with legislators
in the PGCAR Guide to Prince George's County Government >>
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LAST CHANCE FOR ALL 3 REQUIRED DC CATEGORIES
BEFORE BROKER RENEWALS
At PGCAR in December! |
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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 in December!
Friday, December 10
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
DC Legislative Update |
Register here > |
Tuesday, December 14
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
Financing Issues / Update |
Register here > |
Tuesday, December 14
1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
DC Fair Housing & Predatory Lending |
Register here > |
Also earn the required 6 hours of general elective hours at PGCAR. Full CE schedule >
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| PGCAR Welcomes Disney Institute to Baltimore Next Tuesday, Dec. 7 |  |  |
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.
| GIVE BLOOD — SAVE LIVES |  |  |
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Thursday, December 16
9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the PGCAR Office |
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Come give the gift of life!
The PGCAR Association Office is at:
8400 Corporate Drive, Suite 225
Landover, MD 20785
Family, friends and associates are welcome!
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THANK YOU TO ALL DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS! SEE YOU THERE!
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FREE Webinar - What Customers Want From a REALTOR®
The 2010 Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers
Next Thursday, December 9
2 - 3 pm
The Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, produced by the National Association of REALTORS® is based on annual surveys of recent home buyers and sellers. The Profile provides information on buyer and seller demographics, housing characteristics, the experience of consumers in the housing market, and the role of real estate professionals. The webinar will cover the highlights from the newest report and provide valuable information on what consumers want from their real estate agent in the home buying and selling process. Research Economist Jessica Lautz will showcase the highlights of this year's Profile.
FREE ~ Registration Required >
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| 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.
| Market Sen$e: Existing Home Sales Improve, Rates & Stats | | |
An all-time record low was set in the 1-year ARM average for the week ending November 24, while slight increases were seen in other average mortgage rates monitored by Freddie Mac:
- The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.40 percent, up from 4.39 percent a week ago.
- The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.77 percent, up from 3.76 percent.
- The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid ARM averaged 3.45 percent, up from 3.40 percent.
- The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 3.23 percent, down from 3.26 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:
Local Market Report - 3rd Quarter 2010
Every housing market is unique. Local Market Reports released by NAR – which reflect data available through 3rd Quarter 2010 – provide insights into the fundamentals and direction of the nation's largest metropolitan housing markets. Each downloadable report evaluates a number of factors affecting home prices, including:
- The health of the local job market
- Foreclosure rates
- Housing inventory
- Debt-to-income and mortgage-servicing-costs-to-income ratios
Prince George's County is included in the Washington, DC Region report.
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 >
| OUTSTANDING DECEMBER CEU SCHEDULE! | | |
Earn ALL of your required Continuing Education hours for Maryland and DC license renewals during December -- here at PGCAR. Three popular mortgage programs are also taught in upcoming CEU classes: Reverse Mortgages on Tuesday December 7, 203K Purchase Rehab on Wednesday December 8, and What A REALTOR® Should Know About Mortgages on Monday, December 13.
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 #15-1:
Knowing or Reckless False Statements About Competitors
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REALTOR® A operated a residential brokerage firm in a highly competitive market area. He frequently used information from the MLS as the basis for comparative ads and to keep close track of his listing and sales activity as well as his competition.
One day, while reviewing MLS data and comparing it to a competitor's ad, REALTOR® A noticed that REALTOR® Z had used a diagram to demonstrate his market share, contrasting it with those of several other firms. The ad showed that REALTOR® A had listed 10% of the properties in the MLS over the past three months.
REALTOR® A thought this was low. His analysis of MLS data showed his market share was 11%. REALTOR® A filed an ethics complaint against REALTOR® Z citing Article 15 of the Code of Ethics in that REALTOR® Z's "obviously understated market share claim" was a "misleading statement about competitors." REALTOR® A's complaint was considered by the Grievance Committee which determined that an ethics hearing should be held.
At the hearing, REALTOR® Z testified he had always been truthful in his advertising and that all claims were based in fact. He produced an affidavit from the Board's MLS administrator which indicated that a programming error had resulted in miscalculations and, after careful recomputation, REALTOR® A's market share over the past three months had been 10.9%. The administrator's statement noted that this was the first time that information related to REALTOR® A's listings or sales had been misstated on the system. "I relied on information from the MLS. It's always been accurate and I had no reason to even suspect it was wrong last month," said REALTOR® Z in his defense.
The Hearing Panel agreed with REALTOR® Z's logic, noting that a REALTOR® should be able to rely on generally accurate information from reliable sources. They reasoned that if, on the other hand, the MLS had shown REALTOR® A having, for example, 1% of the market, then REALTOR® Z's reliance on the information would have been "reckless" because REALTOR® A had generally had a 10-15% market share and a reasonable conclusion would have been that the information from the MLS was seriously flawed.
Based on your understanding of the Code of Ethics Article 15, how do you think the Professional Standards Panel ruled?
Find out here >>
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| Supporting Our Military - Operation Home Relief | | |
Operation Home Relief is a NAR Facebook campaign to increase awareness, rally support, and raise funding for USA Cares, a nonprofit providing foreclosure assistance in the form of financial counseling and grants to post-9/11 active-duty U.S. military service personnel, veterans, and their families.
Through the holidays, REALTORS® and consumers can "join" the Operation Home Relief Facebook causes page or donate to it. For every join or donation up to $133,000 NAR's HouseLogic will contribute one dollar to USA Cares.
"Join" the cause on Facebook >
Visit the USA Cares web site >
