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| August 6, 2012 | |
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Committee Sign Ups Happening Now! Applications Due Monday, August 20 
PGCAR wants, and needs, your involvement in your local association. Through PGCAR's many committees, you can play a major part in the leadership of our association, as well as help promote the efforts and positive contributions PGCAR members make throughout the communities in Prince George's County. It is an opportunity to give back, to develop leadership and team building skills, and to broaden your experience.
Sign up by Monday, August 20 to be in on the action when new committee terms start October 1. All About Short Sales FREE Events for REALTORS® & Homeowners This Wednesday The Show Place Arena
14900 Pennsylvania Avenue, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 In-Person Workshop & LIVE Webinar for REALTORS®
This Wednesday, August 8 ♦ 9 am - 11 am This event is designed for real estate professionals to learn and engage directly with Treasury and top financial institutions (Bank of America, CitiMortgage, GMAC Mortgage, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo) with regards to HAFA and other short sale programs. Find out how to get your short sale offers approved, navigate the process more smoothly, and get help with difficult cases. This session is not open to homeowners. You'll gain additional contacts and knowledge by attending this important event in person; however, if you are unable to attend in person, you can also register for the LIVE Webinar. REALTORS® may also volunteer for the public Homeowners event being held later this Wednesday (August 8), from 1 pm to 8 pm, also at The Show Place Arena.
Help for Homeowners Event
This Wednesday, August 8 ♦ 1 pm - 8 pm Homeowners struggling to make their mortgage payments will meet face-to-face with their servicers and HUD-approved housing counselors to explore foreclosure-prevention options and to move toward solutions to their mortgage problems. Please encourage homeowners to participate by sharing the event flyer with clients, family and neighbors. PGCAR 2013 Dues Available Online Next Wednesday, August 15 Invoices for PGCAR 2013 Dues in the amount of $636 will be mailed and available online by next Wednesday, August 15. Dues are due and payable on October 1, 2012. A late fee will be charged after November 30. Association dues are as follows:
Thank you for being a part of PGCAR!
NAR 2012 Annual Conference Early Bird Deadline ~ Next Wednesday, August 15 
November 9 - November 12
Register by August 15 to join us in Orlando and save!
Also book your hotel in advance for best selection.
2012 MAR Annual Conference & Trade Show Kick Off the Conference Sunday the 9th with RPAC! 
OCEAN CITY, MD
 SEPTEMBER 10 - 12
Come Ride the Wave with your fellow REALTORS® at the Maryland Association of
Three Days of CE Classes Register Here Conference Homepage Hotel Information (PDF) Schedule (PDF)
All MAR members and affiliates are invited to join RPAC at the Galaxy 66 Bar & Grille
$25 - Advanced Online Purchase (before 8/31) Details & Registration Instructions > Installation Coming to New Venue
Maryland's Tax Free Week Starts Next Sunday, August 12 
The sales tax holiday for general merchandise purchased in Maryland is scheduled for next Sunday, August 12 to Saturday, August 18, and applies to clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less. Make sure you do your homework, clip coupons, and compare prices at different retailers to get the best savings. Also keep in mind that accessories such as jewelry, watches, watchbands, handbags, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, scarves, ties, headbands, and belt buckles are not tax-exempt. Read more >
Consumer Tip: Save Time, Maintain that Property Line
Be Prepared with Your Documents Having survey documents in hand will go a long way toward making the inevitable conversation with your neighbor quick and civil. It's much harder for them to argue a boundary when a professional survey lays out the facts. If you don't have the documents you need, a visit to state or government sites will often yield the plat you require. If there hasn't been a recent survey, it may be in your interest to have one done - especially if there is a foreseeable dispute or any significant land to be gained. Have the Right Tools and Attitude Bringing some baked goods to a friendly meeting can go a long way toward keeping things civilized from the start. If the softer approach isn't gaining you any ground - so to speak - then there are a few intermediary steps you can take before bringing in an outside mediator or launching a lawsuit. Simply sending a letter to the neighbor, and filing it with a county clerk or land record office, will likely do much to make the situation real to them and hasten action. If all of these actions do not produce the desired results, it may be time to take a stronger stance. While the rules are too detailed to describe here, understanding adverse possession is mandatory if you think the neighbors might argue that they are the owners of the land. Bring Out the Big Guns At all costs, try to avoid a legal battle in the turf war. They are expensive as well as unpleasant for everyone, but they can be a final option to get the matter resolved. Another way you might settle the dispute is by giving your neighbor some options, like offering to sell the land to them instead of making them tear down that fence. Police action should only be used as a last resort, but if your neighbor is about to have a tennis court installed on your land, you need to call the cops and report them for trespassing. The best course of action is to find out your property boundaries as soon as you move in and stick to them. However, sometimes as the years go by, these lines can become blurred and you may end up having to settle some disputes - especially if someone is planning to sell. Being prepared, acting civilly, and getting your facts straight will go a long way toward easing any disagreements. Contracts Alert: Updated Form 1320 Seller's Estimated Settlement Expense Form 1320 Estimated Settlement Expense - Seller was revised in July and is now available at www.pgcar.com Members Only and ZipForm. Please destroy all older versions of Form PG 1320 and begin using the updated form immediately. The July 2012 revision includes the new Prince George's County and Maryland transfer taxes and recordation charges among other changes. All seven forms which were added or revised in June, are also now available at ZipForm. Visit PGCAR Members Only to download the latest forms, and to sign up for ZipForm. ZipForm is a FREE benefit for PGCAR members! Market Sen$e: 4-Week Streak of Record-Breaking Lows Over
Results released last Thursday, August 2, show that average mortgage rates for the 30-year and 15-year fixed rate as well as the 5-year ARM rose last week. Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist of Freddie Mac, states, "Recent announcements of additional debt relief for the Eurozone and mixed domestic economic indicators added upward pressure on Treasury yields as well as mortgage rates this week. The U.S. economy grew at a 1.5 percent annualized rate in the second quarter, slower than the 2.0 percent growth in the first quarter with consumer spending in June unchanged from May. However, consumer confidence rose in July for the first time in five months according to The Conference Board."
Freddie Mac reports the following averages for the week ending August 2, 2012:
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.
Sales Coach: Help Your Seller Tame Their Neighbor's Trees 
When working with a seller to spruce up their home for a sale, it might end up being the spruce itself that's a problem. Perhaps a neighbor's tree is hanging over a pool deck, driveway, or darkening a window. Even if it is growing in the neighbor's yard, you have the right to prune back limbs, as long as you don't hurt the tree and stay on your side of the line. In every U.S. state, homeowners have a common law right to prune the limbs, roots, and branches from a neighbor's yard that intrude onto their property.
When helping your seller prepare for photos for a virtual tour, a showing or open house, you want to make sure the curb appeal is not hindered by a poorly appointed adjacent lot. Whether it is to let more light into the house or to make room for landscaping, it's important to know what you are and are not allowed to do. Before you start:
Feel free to print a copy of these tips to share with your sellers. Giving them important information on staging and listing their property, will show you are making the extra effort on their behalf. Read more about the finer points of property hygiene and legal issues at Realtor.org. And for more on property line disputes, check out the Consumer Tips section of this newsletter.
Open a Money Market Savings Account Just One of the Benefits of the REALTORS® FCU This savings account offers a premium rate to members who carry higher savings balances and for whom earning a greater return on their savings is a priority. With three flexible tiers to help you save and rates to reward your higher balance, the FCU's competitive rates beat some of the top banks! Only $1.00 is required to open an account, there are no monthly fees, you can make deposits anytime and from anywhere, get free direct deposit, and so much more. It's easy and safe, so open an account today. Just log in to online banking and click on "Open New Account" in the "Accounts" tab. Join the only credit union designed to meet the unique needs of REALTORS® like you! Free Hands-On MRIS Tools Training at PGCAR
MRIS 201: Maximize Your Productivity with MRIS Visit www.mris.com/training for details and registration. Advance registration with MRIS is required.
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