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| October 2, 2012 | |
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CONTRACTS ALERT! Maryland Form Updates Effective as of October 1, 2012 The Residential Contract of Sale, Listing Agreement and 11 other forms have all been updated as of October 1, 2012. Replace your old forms with the updates! All new forms are available in the PGCAR.com Members Only section. Log in and click on the "Revised" column title to sort all new forms to the top.
Congratulations to the 2013 PGCAR Officers and Directors Congratulations to the 2012 - 2013 PGCAR Board of Directors who were sworn in at the Installation Luncheon Thursday, September 20. We also congratulate our 2011 - 2012 Board of Directors and Committee volunteers on a successful year! Thank you to everyone who participated in voting and the Installation.
Thank You Banquet Sponsors!
Cerrito Realty, LLC, Mike Cerrito
 RGS TitleLong and Foster Real Estate Village Settlements, Inc.Congratulations to our Award Winners
2012 REALTOR® of the Year: Alease Bowles, RE/MAX Specialists
Joanne Darling, Darling Real Estate Company
WCR: Atlantic City Bus Trip Women's Council of REALTORS®, Prince George's Chapter
invites you to join them for their
Your ticket includes the bus trip, Casino coin package, water, sodas, snacks, mimosas, wine and champagne!
ALL riders must be 21 or older.
NAR 2012 Annual Conference Discover Your Magic! 
Register for the 2012 REALTORS® Conference & Expo as soon as possible. Don't miss out on this once-a-year opportunity.
Then join REALTORS® from around the world, early next month in Orlando, Florida. The Annual Conference features 100 education sessions, 400 industry exhibitors and dozens of networking opportunities and special events. Saturday's General Session features Afterburner, a team of elite military professionals who share combat-proven methodologies to help YOU achieve victory in your rapidly changing business environment. Huge SentriLock Lockbox and Power Paddle Sale Back by popular demand, PGCAR is pleased to announce the continuation of the sale on SentriLock Lockboxes. Lockboxes will be sold as follows:
 Spread the Word to Homebuyers
Don't miss this event! - could be worth $20,000 Assistance to buy a home in Prince George's County or DC
Registration closes by October 3rd! REGISTER NOW!!
Can be used in addition to other downpayment assistance!
First come first serve!
Maryland Mortgage Program Alternative for High Credit Buyers The Maryland Mortgage Program is again participating in the conventional mortgage market, offering a new option for homebuyers. Secretary Skinner told the Maryland Association of REALTORS® board of directors at their annual meeting that the state is partnering with Fannie Mae to create an alternative for borrowers with higher credit. Skinner said there would be a substantial savings for many of these borrowers. DHCD conventional loans are made possible by Fannie Mae's HFA Preferred program but retain many features of other Maryland Mortgage Program loans. Learn more about this new option >> Read more about MMP innovations on the DHCD Blog >>
Consumer Tip: Deck Improvements One of Your Best Home Improvement Investments
According to Remodeling Magazine's 2011-2012 Cost vs. Value Report, a deck is one of the highest value home improvements, returning an average of about 70% of the investment cost. This high return deserves to be protected and enhanced with smart, low-cost, high impact additions and features that can increase the deck's appeal. Hidden Fasteners for Decking Most choose standard deck screws to hold your decks down. But even when installed correctly, they leave the deck covered with dozens of tiny holes. Hidden fasteners on the other hand come in a range of designs and give decks a high-end flawless look. They are a little more expensive than screws though, so expect to pay about $4 per square foot more for this choice. Adding Style with Planters Adding a variety of planters and foliage is one of the simplest steps to adding character and charm to your deck. From built in versions to the array of pots and containers available, plantings can be used to divide areas, add shade, and soften strategic areas visually. Hanging planters, wood planters lined with metal, and terra cotta are among the many options available to you. Depending on the size of the plants you choose, they can leave scenic views open or provide natural privacy screens. Cable Railings Regulations usually require any deck higher than 2 feet above the ground to have a railing. While railings are an opportunity to add architectural interest to the area, they can also be a problem if they are blocking a scenic view. Taming the Sun While often a simple umbrella will do the trick, a shade sail offers more coverage and adds a popping visual to deck areas. Cheaper to install and maintain than wooden structures like pergolas and trellises, the sails are produced in fade-resistant knit fabrics in a variety of shapes and colors. Get price estimates and other details on these options at HouseLogic.com 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 association office at 9200 Basil Court, Suite 400, Largo, MD 20774. There's plenty of parking.
Sale on All PGCAR Classes Special Pricing through End of Year  All PGCAR Members and REALTORS® Save Huge on ANY CEU offered at PGCAR! Register for ANY 3 CE class for $18 early bird, $33 regular. Register for ANY 1.5 CE class for $11 early bird, $26 regular. Hurry to www.pgcar.com/real-estate-ceu today >> Introducing MRIS HomesTM The Official Mobile App of MRIS 
Say so long to your desktop! Now you can login with your MRIS credentials to access agent-only information anytime, anywhere.
Contact Sue Pinder for more information or to schedule her to speak at one of your upcoming office meetings. Market Sen$e: 30-year Fixed-Rate Mortgage at All-Time Low
Results released last Thursday, September 27, showed mortgage rates dipping past their previous average record lows, helping to bolster an already improving housing market. All, except the 5-year ARM, set new all-time record lows.
Freddie Mac Vice President and Chief Economist Frank Nothaft said fixed mortgage rates continued to decline, largely due to the Federal Reserve's purchases of mortgage securities, and should support an already improving housing market. "For instance, the S&P/Case-Shiller® 20-city home price index rose 1.2 percent over the 12 months ending in July, reflecting the largest annual increase since August 2010," Nothaft said. "Moreover, 16 of the cities saw positive growth, led by Phoenix's 16.6 percent gain. Additionally, new home sales in July and August had the strongest two-month pace since March and April 2010." Freddie Mac reports the following averages for the week ending September 27, 2012:
Sales Coach: Bring Your Sale in for a Smooth Landing. Follow Through at the End of the Deal 
You've brought all your resources together to connect qualified buyers and sellers and now you have a comfortable number of new clients.
While it might feel like you can finally relax and let business take care of itself, now is when you need to be your most active, making sure all the details remain in place as your deals start rounding toward home. While a few little bumps in the road near closing might not derail the deal, it is highly likely they could keep you from getting future referrals. And, after all that hard work, do you really want to jeapordize what you've built, right at the end? Check out these practical tips to help protect your deal, your reputation, and your potential for referrals. Keep a Detailed Record of Client Preferences If you interview your clients to get a written record of their needs at your first meeting with them, you can keep this handy anytime you schedule an interaction. Developing buyer and seller worksheets can be a fast way to make sure you have your bases covered and keep consistent records for each client. By including a section for special needs, you can have a cheat sheet to consult as you finish your deal to make sure there wasn't anything important your client already mentioned that you might have missed. Follow Through For example, if a mortgage commitment is delayed, call the lender and the clients's agent immediately to see if there are outstanding problems. If a client has a question about a sale, answer them right away... don't wait and let them be forgotten, only to come back and haunt you at closing. Be Proactive You're standing in the living room of a million dollar property with a prospective buyer and to your surprise, they ask to see a contract then and there... but you don't have one. Keep a binder with your most important documents with you at all times. These are the tools of your trade, so don't get caught without them -- make sure you have a working pen with you at all times too! Check out more details on these and many other closing tips at RealtorMag.com
Get Benefits Built for Your Business Real Estate Loans and Lines of Credit from REALTORS® FCU Learn about a variety of credit solutions to meet the day-to-day demands of your business as well as capital to fund your growth at www.realtorsfcu.org.
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. 30 Under 30 Application is Now Open! 
Are you 29 or younger and having a phenomenal year? NOW is the time to apply for international recognition as one of 2013's 30 Under 30. REALTOR® Magazine will announce and showcase this year's rising young stars in the real estate industry next June 2013.
But the application deadline is January 15, 2013. Don't delay until the busy holiday season to apply and ask for recommendations in support of your selection.
30 Under 30 Web Site >
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