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| April 2, 2012 | |
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Maryland & DC Primary Elections - Tomorrow, April 3 
Maryland and DC polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.Maryland Voters: Find your polling place here > DC Voters: Find your polling place here > Your vote holds our leaders responsible for the decisions they make and sends a message on the issues important to you. Make sure your voice is heard by casting your vote! View all the important MD and DC election dates on www.pgcar.com > TWO Classes Offered FREE to PGCAR Members - This Wednesday, April 4
ABC's of Rentals
This Wednesday, April 4 FREE to PGCAR members ~ Space is limited, so register today > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Creating Powerful Pricing Presentations with RPR®
This Wednesday, April 4 Sign up for this FREE informative session before it sells out > Both classes are at the PGCAR Association Office. David Maclin Memorial Scholarship Fund First Annual 5K Fun Walk/Run - Less than 2 weeks away!
Are you registered for the April 14th 5K Walk/Run?
Three easy steps to get local high school graduates running toward
Congratulations to our 2012 David Maclin Memorial Scholarship Winners! The Prince George's County Association of REALTORS® is proud to announce this year's recipients of the David Maclin Memorial Scholarships. Tolulope Oluwakorede Adetayo, Charles Herbert Flowers High School Tolulope will be attending the University of Maryland, and Alleyah will be attending Lafayette University. Both will receive $2,500 toward their expenses. Since the inception of the David Maclin Memorial Scholarship Fund, over $30,000 has been awarded to Prince George's County High School Seniors to further their education. Thank you to everyone who helps and contributes! Help encourage and empower our next generation by joining us Saturday, April 14 > You are Invited to the Women's Council of REALTORS® 34th Annual Prayer Breakfast - This Friday, April 6 All Things are Possible!
Good Friday, April 6 Guest Speaker: Pastor William A. Spence II of Harvest Life Fellowship Invite your family and friends to join us as we meet and fellowship with co-workers and associates to give thanks together on Good Friday. All REALTORS®, Affiliates and Guests are Welcome!
$25.00 Donation
$150 Donation Don't Be an April Fool, Get Credit Smart! In Just Two Days of Training Become WHC Certified
Workforce Housing Certification
Become WHC certified - Only 2 days of training required.
Next Thursday, April 12 - CreditSmartTM
Thursday, April 19 - 3 Classes in 1 Day: Bridging the Gap from Availability to Affordability, State and Local Programs, and Federal Programs and National Initiatives
MAR Presents: Bio Sciences in MD and the Impact on Commercial Real Estate Earn 3.0 CE Hours (1.5 Professional Enhancement, 1.5 Legal/Legislative) 
Thursday, May 38 am - 12:15 pm Four Points by Sheraton BWI 7032 Elm Road, Baltimore, MD
Open to All Real Estate Practitioners Learn about emerging trends in employment in Bio Sciences and the 2012 Legislative Session, and their impact on Commercial Real Estate. Rally to Protect the American Dream! RSVP to Rally on Capitol Hill May 17
NAR will be taking care of everything (the sign up, logistics, transportation, lunches, water, t-shirts, and more). All you have to do is register and show up. We know it is a busy time of year and you do a lot to contribute already. But we are asking you to join forces with thousands of other REALTORS® to rally and protect the American Dream of home ownership. Giving this one morning of support can help ensure a great future for real estate! Details and RSVP at www.REALTORRALLY.org
Support My HOME Funding The My HOME Office Needs Your Help! Do you have listings which First Time Homebuyers could buy with My HOME down payment and closing cost assistance? If so, please email HStokes@co.pg.md.us with the city and sales price of the listed property. Do you know buyers who are preapproved but not submitted to the My HOME Program yet? If so, please have the lender submit the buyers' names and estimated funds needed to HStokes@co.pg.md.us. Please hurry! This information will be used in funding projections for this extremely valuable Prince George's County Homebuyers program. Thank you!!
Consumer Tip: MID Myths Debunked If anyone thinks losing the Mortgage Interest Deduction isn't such a big deal, here are a few facts that will show you the cost is even bigger than you would imagine. MYTH: The MID is just for rich people. FACT: The MID helps mostly middle- and lower-income families. Only 9% of families earn over $200,000 per year (the number where economists distinguish between rich and middle class); and 65% of families who use the MID earn less than $100,000 a year. MYTH: Not many people take the MID. FACT: Out of the 75 million American home owners, 38.5 million take the MID. A typical benefit for homeowners is $3,050 a year. The MID is also a key benefit to first-time home owners and trade up buyers. MYTH: Getting rid of the MID won't affect me. FACT: It will lower property values for all home owners, including the 1/3 who own their houses and the 12 million who take the standard deduction. Even if you don't have a mortgage, it will affect how much house you can buy and how much someone will pay for your home. MYTH: Solving the U.S. budget problems requires everyone to do their part. FACT: Homeowners already pay 80 to 90% of the federal income tax collected. If the MID benefit goes, that number could go as high as 95%. To read more MID Myths, go to houselogic.com > REALTOR® Safety Tips Information to Keep You Protected The mere nature of the real estate business puts REALTORS® at risk on a daily basis. Unfortunately, when agents are rushing to get ready for a showing or if they get overly excited about a new lead, safety tends to take a back seat.
PGCAR is so dedicated to the importance of this issue that we now have a REALTOR® Safety Page. REALTOR® SAFETY WEBINAR Every Agent's Five-Step Plan for Open Houses 
Thursday, April 19 @ 11 amFREE to all Agents! Learn the warning signs of a potentially dangerous situation, the safe way to conduct an open house and listing appointment, and how to safely work foreclosed properties. Safety Webinar details & registration > PGCAR REALTORS® - Get Connected Today! Sign Up for the Real Estate Agent Directory at www.facebook/pgcar 
PGCAR's Facebook page has a new feature highlighting our REALTOR® members! The www.pgcar.com Find a REALTOR® Directory is used by a number of homebuyers. Now there's an additional, new Find a REALTOR® added to www.facebook.com/pgcar.
Facebook users can search for REALTORS® via this link, based on location and area of expertise. Before connecting to a REALTORS®' page, consumers can view your profile snapshot. So increase your visibility. Add yourself to the Facebook REALTORS® Directory! This is another FREE service! Sign up today at www.facebook.com/pgcar!
Market Sen$e: Mortgage Rates Lower with Mixed Housing & Economic Indicators 
Results released on March 29 are showing mortgage rates down across the board, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dipping just below 4.00 percent for the week. Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist of Freddie Mac, states, "Mortgage rates slid this week amid weaker housing economic indicators. The S&P/Case Shiller® 20-City Composite home price index slid in January to its lowest reading since December 2002. In addition, new home sales declined 0.5 percent in February, below the market consensus of an increase, and pending existing home sales also declined for the month." Reviewing the multiple statistics and indices, generally economic and housing indicators are improved from 2011 to 2012, down from January 2012 to February 2012.
Freddie Mac reports the following averages for the week ending March 29, 2012:
WANTED: MAR and NAR Committee Volunteers Committee descriptions and a volunteer form are now online at www.mdrealtor.org. All MAR members are encouraged to apply for 2 but no more than 3 preferred committee choices. Some committees have specific requirements; however, every attempt will be made to accommodate your request for at least one committee assignment. Committee selections are prioritized by qualifications and date received. Reminder: Current MAR committee members must re-apply for 2012 - 2013 MAR Committee Memberships. MAR Applications Due By Wednesday, May 9 > 2013 NAR Committee Recommendations NAR committee recommendations are also open (login required). NAR Committee Details and Nomination Form > REALTOR® Magazine Seeks Good Neighbor Nominations Five Winners will Receive $10,000 Grants and National Publicity
If a REALTOR® you know is putting forth the effort to make a difference in the community, help their cause by nominating them today! Deadline for entry is Friday, May 18. Click here for more details. Click here for rules and an entry form. Women's Council of REALTORS® Prince George's Chapter - Join Today We are a network of successful REALTORS® empowering women to exercise their potential as entrepreneurs and industry leaders. Through our influence as successful business professionals, the women and men who are members of WCR will effect positive change in the profession and in the broader community. Join the Prince George's Chapter by signing up today! Click Here for More Information > Sales Coach: Seven Timeless Skills for Any Real Estate Market 
No matter what is happening with the economy or how your market is performing, your chances of success will increase greatly when you master these essential underlying skills.
Meet New People Whether by phone, online or in person, the more new people you are meeting and connecting with, the better chance you have of gaining a new client. Make a Personal Connection People buy from people they like and trust. Telling a client something that is in their best interest, though it may not be in yours, shows them that honesty is more important than anything to you. Follow Up on Every Lead Working every lead until it closes or is no longer a lead is critical to keep your business constantly producing. Keep all lead information in one place, and be sure to continue to update and contact them on a regular basis. Ask for What You Want Don't wait for people to call you, for clients to say they're ready, or for buyers to tell you what house they want. Ask for the appointment, ask for the sale, and ask for the number of a referral. The best way to get what you want is to be direct. Set Appropriate Expectations Know what the reasonable timeframes are, and don't make promises you can't keep. Make decisions immediately and decisively, so the client never has to wonder or worry about what is happening. Take Care of Details You must treat your business like a business and make sure that there is a system in place to keep you organized. Make sure deadlines are met, appraisals are ordered, appointments are kept and problems are solved. Pay Close Attention to the Money If you don't focus on the money, you're not going to make any. Make sure you are adequately compensated for all of your work, so that you are not working too hard and not making what you deserve. Technology, industry regulations, buyer/seller priorities and economic conditions are constantly changing. However, constantly honing and practicing the above skills will always put you ahead of the game. Read the entire article here > 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.
Free Hands-On MRIS Tools Training at PGCAR
XactSite 201 Visit www.mris.com/training for details and registration. Advance registration with MRIS is required. REALTORS® Federal Credit Union Personal and Professional Lines of Credit Whether you're consolidating higher interest debt, investing in home or business improvements, spreading tuition or annual dues payments, or simply opening a line of credit "just in case", you can cover it with a REALTORS® Federal Credit Union line of credit or personal loan. Apply for personal or professional loans and find out more about great offers here > 2012 NAR Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo 
The REALTORS® Midyear Meetings & Trade Expo is where NAR members come together to take an active role in advancing the real estate industry, public policy, and the association. There will be a variety of meetings and events including: special issues forums, committee meetings, legislative activities, the industry trade show, and a Rally on Capitol Hill.
For more information, to plan your Midyear Schedule, and to register click here.
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9:30 am - 12:30 pm
