EARN YOUR GRI
GRI 300 Starts Wednesday, November 2 |
| Sign up for the entire, 25.5 CE Series here!
Need a few make-up classes?
Sign up for individual classes by clicking class titles below.
Earn Your GRI by taking GRI Series 100, 200 and 300 in any order! |
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Red Cross Blood Drive
Next Thursday, October 13, 9 am - 3 pm |
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Come give the gift of life!
At the PGCAR Office
anytime from 9 am to 3 pm next Thursday.
Invite family and friends. . . challenge your entire office to come!
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Congratulations to the 2012 PGCAR Officers and Directors
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| Congratulations to the 2011 - 2012 PGCAR Board of Directors who were sworn in at the Installation Luncheon on Thursday, September 22. We also congratulate our 2010 - 2011 Board of Directors and Committee volunteers on a successful year! Thank you to everyone who participated in voting and the Installation. |
| The 2011 - 2012 Board of Directors |
| President: |
Alease Bowles, RE/MAX Specialists |
| President-Elect: |
Anthony Williams, Long & Foster Real Estate |
| Secretary: |
John Lesniewski, RE/MAX United Real Estate |
| Past President: |
Joanne Darling, Darling Real Estate Company |
| Directors: |
Cheryl Abrams, RE/MAX Specialists
John Allen, SellState Dominion Realty
Patricia Dowtin, Long & Foster Real Estate
Yolanda Muckle, Long & Foster Real Estate
Lorence "Chuck" Ottley, SellState Dominion Realty
Veera Phillips, Keller Williams Preferred Properties
Willie M. Rhone, Weichert REALTORS®
Chris Richardson, RE/MAX Professionals
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| ANNUAL ASSOCIATION AWARDS
We also presented our Annual Association Awards at the Installation.
Congratulations to:
| 2011 REALTOR® of the Year: |
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Joanne Darling,
Darling Real Estate Company |
| 2011 Affiliate of the Year: |
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Kelli Baxter,
EmKay Title Solutions, LLC |
| 2011 Distinguished Sales Associate Award: |
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Linda Simpson,
Weichert REALTORS® |
| 2011 Distinguished Service Award: |
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Michael F. Cerrito,
Cerrito Realty, LLC |
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PGCAR Committees Kick Off a New Year
For most of the PGCAR committees, it's not too late to join for the new membership year and our 2012 Committees beginning this month. ALL PGCAR REALTOR® and Affiliate members are encouraged to volunteer for a committee best fitting their interests. Click here to sign up >
2012 Dues Renewals Were Due October 1!
Primary REALTORS®: Paying by Installment?
Third Installment is Due Monday, October 31 |
Use our fast and secure Online Dues Payment!
Whether making one complete payment, or paying by installment, 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 !
2011 dues are payable no later than Wednesday, November 30th, 2011 in order to prevent late charges. Primary REALTOR® members may pay their 2012 dues in installments. Remaining installment payments are due as follows:
| Installment 3: Due October 31 |
$156.25 |
| Installment 4: Due November 30 |
$156.25 |
Please note: If dues payments are not made online, they may not be reflected in your private, online History portal.
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Congress extended flood insurance only until today, October 4, when the House will vote on a longer extension to November 18 that the Senate approved September 26th. If the House approves the longer extension, which is not certain, the Senate will still need to pass the 5-year reform bill (H.R. 1309) and resolve any differences with the House before this latest extension ends. Now is not the time to let up. Now that we are closer than ever, we need everyone to respond to the Call for Action to push the 5-year bill over the finish line.
Without the NFIP, there would no longer be access to affordable insurance to protect against flooding, the most pervasive and extensive natural disaster in the U.S.
As fellow REALTOR® Kevin Sears reminds us in his video message, the only way that a home owner can acquire a federally backed mortgage in over 21,000 communities is through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). There is virtually no private insurance market and standard home owner policies do not cover flood damage. Housing markets in many areas will come to a complete standstill unless this program gets reauthorized. Banks will not lend without a policy in place and the program cannot issue a flood policy without renewing the Congressional authority. This is why we need you to send a letter to Congress urging them to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program.
Without this insurance program more of the burden for the cleanup from a flood falls to tax payers in the form of federal post-disaster assistance. More hurricanes are already on the horizon and forecasts predict this to continue to be a busy storm season. Combined with record rainfall and snow melt, flood disasters have also been declared all across the Midwest. We can expect to see more of the same just about everywhere. This program must be in place to help keep already fragile markets moving on the eastern seaboard and beyond.
It is with urgency that we ask you to send a letter to your Senators today asking that they reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program, for the long-term, quickly.
FHA / GSE Loan Limits
Status: EXPIRED on Friday, September 30
As of Friday, FHA and GSE loan limits decreased from $729,750 to $625,500 in Prince George's County. NAR will continue to work with Congress to attempt to restore the higher limits as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, if you have not asked your Congress members to act on this, please do so now.
Urge Congress to take action to extend FHA / GSE Loan Limits >
Mortgage Interest Deduction
Status: Elimination or Reduction Still Under Consideration
Any changes to the mortgage interest deduction now or in the future could threaten recent progress toward stabilizing the housing market, critically erode home prices and values, destroy middle-class wealth accumulation and hurt economic growth, according to NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. Yun challenged recent proposals calling for changes to the tax code, stating that it's a misplaced argument to say the MID was a cause of the housing market bubble and is suddenly part of the deficit problem, when it's been part of the federal tax code for more than 100 years.
Furthermore, reducing or eliminating the MID is a de facto tax increase on homeowners, who already pay 80 to 90 percent of U.S. federal income tax. Yun said the share could rise to 95 percent if the MID is eliminated.
Read more >
2011 NAR Conference & Expo
November 11 - 14 in Anaheim, California
Seize the Day
Choose from 100 education sessions, visit 400 industry vendors, and network with 18,000 members and guests from the U.S. and around the globe. You'll also enjoy the Entrepreneurial Excellence Sessions and special events such as the Diana Ross concert, a 5K run/walk, and more. Oh yes, and the beautiful sunny weather of Anaheim too!
Details and Registration >
New Buy Suitland Initiative
Program Open to Household Incomes up to 120% AMI
Up to 5% of Home Purchase Price to First-Time Homebuyers
Up to 7% for Local Civic Employees
Suitland is home to the Suitland Federal Center employing over 12,000 and a Metro station, is slated for a 22-acre mixed-use development project, and now has its own First-Time Homebuyers Program. The Buy Suitland Initiative will award 0% interest grants to households who have not owned a home within the last 3 years, and are buying a home as their principal residence.
Homebuyers can receive these 0% grants for buying:
- Foreclosure and Short Sale properties
- In 7 Census Tracks: 8018.02, 8019.02, 8020.01, 8020.02, 8021.05, 8024.05, 8024.06
- Where Appraisal vs Contract Price = 1% Discount
Similar to the first NSP Program, the sale price of property under contract must be at a 1% discount of the most recent appraised value.
Additional Homebuyer Qualifications:
- Qualifying Households May Earn Up to 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
- Borrower's Minimum Cash Contribution
Purchaser's Income Level
(as % Area Median Income) |
Minimum Purchaser's
Required Cash Contribution |
| At or below 80% |
$1,000 or 50% of liquid assets over $3,000 whichever is greater. |
| 80% - 120% |
$1,500 or 50% of liquid assets over $3,000 whichever is greater. |
Buy Suitland Grant Amounts:
| Maximum 0% Interest Grant Amount |
Applicant Qualifications |
| 5% of the purchase price of home |
An applicant with household income between 80 - 120% of the area median income. |
| 7% of the purchase price of home |
An applicant currently employed at the Suitland Federal Center, Police Office, Firefighter, Nurse or Teacher. |
35% of the purchase price of home or $40,000
Whichever is greater, as needed, to meet the
45% Debt-to-income requirements |
An applicant with a combined household income of 50% or below the area median income. |
Find more details at www.pgcar.com >
and the County's new Buy Suitland website.
Free October Training Available
| The following training dates are available for REALTORS® and Lenders: |
| DATE |
TIME |
LOCATION |
ATTENDEES |
| - My HOME Program - |
| October 6, 2011 |
10:00 a.m. |
1400 McCormick Drive, Suite 308
Largo, MD 20774 |
LENDERS |
| October 6, 2011 |
2:00 p.m. |
1400 McCormick Drive, Suite 308
Largo, MD 20774 |
REALTORS® |
RSVP at: hstokes@co.pg.md.us
Program details at: www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/MyHOME and
www.pgcar.com/pghome_homebuying/My-HOME-downpayment-assistance.htm |
| - Maryland Mortgage Program - |
| October 12 , 2011 |
8:30 a.m. |
100 Community Place,
Crownsville, MD 21032
First Floor Conference Room |
REALTORS®
& LENDERS |
RSVP details at: www.mmprogram.org/documents/Morning_Workshop.pdf
Program details at: http://mmprogram.org and
www.pgcar.com/pghome_homebuying/Maryland-drops-CDA-rate.htm |
| - Buy Suitland Program - |
| October 21, 2011 |
10:00 a.m. |
1400 McCormick Drive, Suite 308
Largo, MD 20774 |
LENDERS |
| October 21, 2011 |
2:00 p.m. |
1400 McCormick Drive, Suite 308
Largo, MD 20774 |
REALTORS® |
RSVP at: hstokes@co.pg.md.us
Program details at: www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/buysuitland and
www.pgcar.com/pghome_homebuying/Buy-Suitland-Homebuyer-Savings.htm |
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- Fannie Mae 3.5% + Agent Bonus Ends October 31 - homebuyers purchasing a www.Homepath.com property as their primary residence can also receive up to 3.5% in closing cost assistance. Eligible sales must close by October 31, 2011. A $1,200 selling agent bonus is also available! Complete details >
- Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLB Atlanta) - 2 new programs - The first offers up to $15,000 towards a foreclosure purchase. The second offers up to $7,500 to homebuyers earning up to 80% AMI and buying within NSP targeted areas in MD or DC. These two programs do NOT require you to be a first-time homebuyer.
Consumer information page > Details & webinars for REALTORS® >
- My HOME Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance - up to 5% of Home Sale Price Offered to County Homebuyers who have not owned a home within the last 3 years. $2.2 million in total funds is now available.
Consumer information page > Details (in Members Only, updated July 21) >
- American Dream Downpayment Assistance (ADDI) - up to $10,000 to County Homebuyers who have not owned a home within the last 3 years. Details >
- The Maryland Mortgage Program (MMP) offered through the state's Community Development Administration (CDA) has announced 2 loan products for distressed properties. All MMP products have low, fixed interest rates and some offer matching funds. These 2 new products will assist in revitalizing communities burdened with foreclosed and rundown properties.
The Acquisition / Rehabilitation Mortgage Program helps purchase a single-family home as a primary residence and obtain funds for needed repairs and renovations.
The Homeward Bound Program offers eligible buyers of foreclosed or short sale property a lower rate mortgage.
Program Details > Training Details >
Most of these programs can be used in combination. Information on these and other homebuyer savings are available at pgcar.com. Sales agents - please study up and stay familiar with current homebuyer incentives, and send links to your contacts from these public information pages. For more My HOME program details, members can login to pgcar.com Members Only.
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Updated Contracts & Addendum are Now Available - Effective Immediately
The Maryland Residential and Unimproved Land Contracts of Sale, the Single Family Dwelling Lease and a Addendum have been updated. The updates include legislative changes which went into effect this Saturday, October 1. Please destroy all older versions of these forms and begin using the new forms immediately. The new forms are dated 10/2011.
Please visit
PGCAR Members Only and
MAR Members Only to download the latest forms.
The MAR Exclusive Right to Sell Listing Agreement has also been revised. This form can be obtained from MAR by returning the
Request Brokerage Agreement Form.
Market Sen$e: Fed Actions Trigger Record Low Fixed Rate Mortgage Averages
Interest rate averages have fallen to another record low for 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac Vice President and Chief Economist observed, "Fixed mortgage rates fell to all-time record lows this week following the Federal Reserve's announcement of its Maturity Extension Program and additional purchases of mortgage-backed securities. Interest rates for ARMs, however, were nearly unchanged as the Federal Reserve plans to sell $400 billion in short-term Treasury securities, which serve as benchmarks for many ARMs.
Freddie Mac reports the following averages for the week ending September 29, 2011:
- The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.01 percent, down from 4.09 percent a week ago.
- The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.28 percent, down from 3.29 percent.
- The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid ARM averaged 3.02 percent, the same as last week.
- The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.83 percent, up from 2.82 percent.
Freddie Mac's Weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey >>
August Home Sales Shows Large Improvement from 2010, Yet Mixed Message
There's amazing improvements from August 2010 to August 2011, decreases from July to August 2011, yet not above the expected monthly swings. The overall trend is good yet the monthly decrease raises a question - How many potential homebuyers are "on the fence" waiting credit approvals or Federal government decisions?
Single family sales snapshot for August 2011:
- 964 new contracts, -4.7% from July, +10.7% from Aug 2010, first time under 1000 new contracts within a month since February 2011.
- 647 new settlements, -2.4% from July, +20.9% from Aug 2010.
Condo sales snapshot for August 2011:
- 120 new contracts, +8.1% from July, +42.9% from Aug 2010.
- 72 new settlements, -6.5% from July, +30.5% Year-to-Date over 2010.
Visit
www.pgcar.com/stats for detailed statistics.
Like us on
www.facebook.com/pgcar to see September home sales statistics when they are released this week.
August Existing-Home Sales Rise Despite Storms, Economic Headwinds
Existing-home sales increased in August, even with ongoing tight credit and appraisal problems, and regional disruptions created by Hurricane Irene.
Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, rose 7.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.03 million in August from an upwardly revised 4.67 million in July, and are 18.6 percent higher than the 4.24 million unit level in August 2010.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said there are some positive market fundamentals. "Some of the improvement in August may result from sales that were delayed in preceding months, but favorable affordability conditions and rising rents are underlying motivations," he said. "Investors were more active in absorbing foreclosed properties. In addition to bargain hunting, some investors are in the market to hedge against higher inflation."
First-time buyers purchased 32% of homes in August. Investors accounted for 22% of purchase activity in August.
Distressed homes - foreclosures and short sales typically sold at deep discounts - accounted for 31% of August sales. Total housing inventory at the end of August fell 3.0 percent to 3.58 million existing homes available for sale, which represents an 8.5-month supply at the current sales pace, down from a 9.5-month supply in July.
Complete realtor.org article >
LEGISLATIVE ALERT
By: Alvin C. Monshower, Jr., Esq.
Monshower, Miller & Magrogan, LLP
General Legal Counsel for the Maryland Association of REALTORS®
URGENT: Changes in Earnest Money Deposit Management
Effective Immediately
In August 2010, the Maryland Real Estate Commission announced a new advisory regarding the return of earnest money deposits by real estate brokers in residential real estate transactions where the property is located in a Homeowners Association or is a condominium.
Specifically, the Commission advised that a real estate broker may return the earnest money deposit to the buyer without a written release of deposit agreement signed by the seller and the buyer in those instances where a buyer timely rescinds the Contract of Sale, in writing, based upon the receipt of the required disclosures from the seller and/or the condominium or Homeowners Association ("HOA").
However, with the enactment of House Bill 1109 during the 2011 Session of the Maryland Legislature, this has now changed effective October 1, 2011.
Pursuant to House Bill 1109, the Maryland Legislature amended the Condominium Act with respect to the initial and resale of condominium units as well as the Disclosure/Disclaimer Act and the Maryland Homeowners Association Act to provide that any earnest money deposits held by a licensed real estate broker shall comply with the requirements of Section 17-505 of the Maryland Real Estate Brokers Act. In other words, in a residential transaction where the property being conveyed is located within a condominium, or within a homeowners association, or is subject to the Maryland Residential Property Disclosure/Disclaimer Act, a broker may not distribute the earnest money deposit in the absence of proper written instructions from the seller and the buyer directing the disposition of the deposit monies or the broker, in the broker's good faith, intends to disburse the deposit monies to the seller or the buyer, by written notice to both parties, pursuant to the requirements of Section 17-505(b)(1) of the Maryland Real Estate Brokers Act.
Accordingly, the provisions of House Bill 1109 supercede the informal interpretation of the Maryland Real Estate Commission as communicated in 2010.
Accordingly, please ensure that this information is shared with all other agents in your office, in order to ensure that deposit monies are not distributed without written instructions from the seller and buyer as required by the new law, effective immediately as of October 1, 2011.
The current MAR Residential Contract of Sale, dated 10/11 reflects this change.
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Sales Coach: Opportunity in Everyday Encounters
Have you ever stood in line at your local coffee shop and thought about striking up a conversation with the person in front of you, but then decided against it? Who knows? This person might be considering buying or selling a house. You may learn a valuable life tip from them.
Learn to love meeting new people. People today are starved for connection with others - not just online, but in the physical world.
Read tips on "random networking" and turning everyday encounters into real business leads >
Earn All MD and DC Required CEU at PGCAR
All classes are held at PGCAR offices, just off the Route 202 / Landover Road exit of I-495. Find our NEW association office at 9200 Basil Court, Suite 400, Largo, MD 20774. There's plenty of parking.
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Case #17-13:
Arbitration Involving a REALTOR® Selling her Own Property
REALTOR® B was a real estate broker and property manager who, in addition to managing property for others, frequently bought and sold income property for her own account. Needing capital for another project, REALTOR® B decided to sell a three-flat building in which she had a strong equity position and which she thought would move quickly, given the current market conditions. To maximize market exposure, she listed the property with her firm and entered information regarding the listing into the MLS. She put a sign in front of the property indicating that it was for sale "by owner." Her ads in the local newspapers indicated that the seller was a "broker-owner."
REALTOR® A, who lived near the building, saw the "for sale" sign and called REALTOR® B. Introducing himself as a broker and as a REALTOR®, REALTOR® A asked what the asking price was and whether REALTOR® B was interested in listing her property. REALTOR® B did not indicate that she had listed her own property nor did she disclose that she was a broker or a REALTOR®. She did indicate that she would pay a commission to REALTOR® A if he procured a purchaser for the property but added that she preferred not to enter into an exclusive relationship with any broker and didn't want to put anything into writing.
REALTOR® A thought the property might interest Dr. X, REALTOR® A's chiropractor, and contacted him. Dr. X was in fact interested and, after several visits to the property, made an offer to purchase which was subsequently accepted by REALTOR® B.
At the closing, REALTOR® A learned several things, among them, that REALTOR® B, the seller, was also a REALTOR® and, more importantly, that REALTOR® B had instructed that only half of the previously agreed on commission was to be disbursed to REALTOR® A. When REALTOR® A protested the shortfall, REALTOR® B responded that her property was highly desirable, had "practically sold itself," and, in any event, REALTOR® A had expended minimal efforts in bringing about the quick sale. REALTOR® A disagreed with REALTOR® B's reasoning and, after appeals to REALTOR® B's sense of fairness went unheeded, filed an arbitration request with the Board of REALTORS®. Faced with the request to arbitrate, REALTOR® B declined, referring to Article 17 of the Code of Ethics and noting that it relates to disputes between REALTORS® ". . . arising out of their relationship as REALTORS® . . ." whereas she had been the seller.
REALTOR® B's refusal to arbitrate was referred to the Board of Directors for their consideration.
Based on your understanding of the Code of Ethics Article 17, how do you think the Board of Directors ruled?
Find out here >>
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Save BIG with REALTORS® Federal Credit Union
- Plus Receive $50 Back for October Auto Loans
Are you, or someone in your family, paying too much interest on your car or home loan? REALTORS
® FCU offers auto loan rates and 30-year fixed rate mortgages.
- Auto Loans - Refer a friend or family member, or close on an auto loan yourself, between now and October 31, 2011 (includes refinance loans) and receive an extra $50 cash and an incredibly low interest rate. APR is currently 4.25%.
- Home Mortgages - Fixed and adjustable rate mortgages of various terms are all offered at competitive rates, and with zero points! Current 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 4.00%.
Apply for
home or
auto loans online at
REALTORSFCU.org.
Did You Know?
You Can Attend Free MRIS Hand-On Training at PGCAR
PGCAR hosts free MRIS hands-on training sessions each month. The October sessions are:
Tuesday, October 18, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Maximize Your Productivity with MRIS
Tuesday, October 18, 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Matrix Tips and Tricks
Visit www.mris.com/training for details and registration. Advance registration with MRIS is required.
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HUGE SENTRILOCK LOCKBOX SALE
Extended through December 31, 2011 |
PGCAR is pleased to announce a special sale on SentriLock Lockboxes for PGCAR Members.
Between NOW and DECEMBER 31, 2011, lockboxes will be sold as follows:
1 - 9 Lockboxes
10 - 19 Lockboxes
20 - 29 Lockboxes
30 Lockboxes or more |
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$65 each + tax
$60 each + tax
$55 each + tax
$50 each + tax |
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DC Salesperson Licenses - Expired August 31
Please remember that it is unlawful to practice real estate in the District of Columbia without a current DC real estate license. If you missed the August 31 deadline, you may still renew with a late fee; however, you may NOT conduct real estate activities in DC until doing so.
Click here for the DCREC license renewal website.
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The PGCAR office will be closed next Monday, October 10th for Columbus Day.
Have a safe and happy holiday. |
