The Voice for Real Estate™in the Youngstown Columbiana Area
August
2009 Newsletter Vol
10 Issue 08
It is the mission of the Youngstown Columbiana Association of REALTORS® to serve its members by protecting and enhancing
the members' rights and capabilities to conduct their real estate business and
increase their profit opportunities; by monitoring
compliance with professional
standards thus enabling members to serve the public in a
competent and ethical manner; by
expanding legislative influence
to promote and protect private property rights for the benefit of the real
estate marketplace.
YCAR Staff: Sharyn Braunstein Chief Executive Officer Ext: 102
Jeff Hudson, e-PRO Technical Coordinator MVR Design Ext: 103
Mary Ann Pallante Office Manager Membership Secretary Bookkeeper Ext: 101
Tracy Moracco Receptionist/Secretary
SUPRA KeyBox Manager Ext: 106
MVR Editors: Tom Coppola
Leon Turek
Legal Counsel: Attorney Donald Leone
Officers:
Eric Caspary President
David Klacik
President-Elect
Joan Zarlenga Treasurer
Kathy Carroll Immediate Past President
Board of Directors: Sandi Bates
Paul Bevilacqua
John Burgan
Jim Grantz
Jennifer Hanigosky
Dawn Kuhn
Debbie Parisi
Dom Vechiarelli
Dave Walker
Bob Weily
CRIS Directors: Terri Hoon
Judy Whittenberger
Ray Knight
CRIS Alternates:
Funmi Olarewaju
Brenda Palmer
OAR
Directors: Sharyn Braunstein, CEO
Kathy Carroll
Eric Caspary
Jerri Florio
David Klacik
Tom Williams, OAR DVP
Joan Zarlenga
OAR Alternates: Betty Belding
Terri Hoon
Dawn Kuhn
Debbie Parisi
Carole A. Sharkey
Bob Weily
TheOfficial
Newsletter of the Youngstown Columbiana Association of REALTORS®
President’s View
by
Eric Caspary, President - Youngstown Columbiana Association of
REALTORS®
The Four Branches of Your Sphere of Influence
Whether
you’re new in the business or an experienced agent,
one important source of business is your sphere of
influence.
Here are the four branches:
1.
Your Direct SOI - that is - the people you know
2.
Your Indirect SOI - that is - the people your SOI knows (i.e. referrals)
3.
Your Third Generation SOI - that is - the people you meet via your SOI
4.
Everyone Else - that is - every single person you encounter in your day-to-day wanderings
Your Direct SOI
These are the people who know you and know you sell
real estate. It's made up of your Group One (your
social network) and your Group Two (those people you
know that you don't socialize with). You should try to
have at least 200 warm bodies there; of course, more
is better, but they don't "count" if the
person wouldn't recognize your name off the bat. These
are people who KNOW you, even if they aren't your best
friends.
You'll get business from your Direct SOI, but it
probably won't be your primary source of closings.
Most of you aren't blessed with an SOI who buys and
sells houses on a regular basis!
Your Indirect SOI
These are the people your Direct SOI refers to you,
who, of course, will be added to your Direct SOI once
you've met. Your Indirect SOI should be a fairly
consistent source of business for you, assuming your
Direct SOI thinks a lot of you, and they know how to
find you.
Your Third Generation SOI These are the people
you serendipitously meet as a result of your existing
personal relationships. This can be an enormous source
of business for you, if you're often out there in the
world with a smile on your face and your antenna up,
and can speak intelligently about your local real
estate market to anyone who's interested.
Everyone Else These are the people you run into
during your daily travels. Every single person you
meet, every day, has the potential to be the newest
member of your Direct SOI. Not all will, of course,
but you never know who will end up being your biggest
fan. It might be that young couple who stumbled into
your Open House who had a child the same age as yours,
or that woman standing next to you at the hardware
store getting a key made, who casually mentions she
just moved to town.
There is huge potential with this category—if not
today, then next month or next year.
Statements of
fact and opinion are the opinions of the authors and do not imply
an endorsement on the part of the association, the “Mahoning
Valley REALTOR®” or its editorial staff.
Support
Your Affiliates Who Support Your Local
REALTOR® Association or It's Gonna Cost YOU!
Delphi retirees are at risk of losing their healthcare and pension benefits. These benefits are in jeopardy of being unjustly eliminated by General Motors merely because the Delphi retirees are represented by the IUE-CWA and not the UAW. Doesn't this seem like a prejudiced action by General Motors????
Fifty thousand Delphi retirees across the country (locally 12,000 to 15,000 retirees) are at risk of losing GM healthcare and pensions simply because the
U.S. Treasury and Auto Task Force believes these retirees are not significant in GM's recovery.
GM's reputation and financial footing remains on shaky ground because of the bankruptcy filing stigma, the unpopular federal bailout dollars they received and our nation's unhealthy economy.
How can this country turn their back on retirees who have worked hard all their lives?
Please contact your respective politicians and ask them to contact the Auto Task Force or...
better yet... contact President Obama. Ask that they do whatever possible to keep the benefits of our local Delphi retirees intact!
THE LOSS OF THESE BENEFITS TO 15,000 OF OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS WILL ADD YET ANOTHER
DEVASTATING EFFECT TO OUR VALLEY AND OUR ECONOMY.
The REALTOR Benefits® Program is your member
benefits program.
NAR has partnered with industry leaders to provide you with
value-added offers and significant savings on products and
services you use on a daily basis.
Please take a few minutes to browse this month's REALTOR
Benefits® Newsletter which is full of news, resources, and
unique promotions designed to help you both professionally
and personally.
Netbooks
- Are They Right For You?
With technology changing
rapidly, and so many options available in the marketplace
today, it can be hard to stay on top of the latest trends
let alone figure out which new product(s) might be right for
you. Netbooks, for example, are “mini” laptops
that are fairly new on the scene but are creating a lot of
buzz. Lenovo, a REALTOR Benefits® Program
partner, has put together a useful article that explains
what netbooks are and how they could benefit you and your
business.
Announcing the All-New
e-PRO® Certification Course
Staying up on technology also means being able to
effectively conduct business on the Internet, using
both standard tools and emerging
technologies. With that in mind NAR is pleased to
announce the all-new e-PRO® Certification Course,
which has been updated to include in-depth
information on social media and Web 2.0.
Learn more about how these concepts can
benefit real estate professionals looking to thrive in
the online world of real estate.
NAR Update: Fannie, Freddie Act on Appraisal Concerns
To:
All REALTORS®
From: Charles McMillan, 2009 NAR President
Re: UPDATE:
FHFA and GSEs Act on HVCC Concerns
Dear Fellow REALTOR®,
I am writing to you with an
important update on NAR’s efforts to address ongoing problems
with recent changes to appraisal rules.
As a direct result of my recent
meetings with the New York Attorney General’s office, the
Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Fannie Mae, both Freddie Mac
and Fannie Mae this week issued new guidance to all lenders on the
Home Valuation Code of Conduct.
The
alert clarifies two very important points that we raised in our
meetings with officials.
First, it states that lenders should use appraisers who have clear
experience in the geographic area. Second, it clarifies that
appraisers are not prohibited
from talking to real estate agents.
In
addition to this guidance, both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
recently posted extensive Qs
and As on their respective web sites, based on information that
NAR provided when the code was
first adopted in May.
Although
this is certainly a step in the right direction, more still needs
to be done to address problems
with the HVCC. NAR will continue to push for a moratorium on
the Code, and I will continue to meet with industry partners and
officials to convey our concerns.
Thanks
to all REALTORS® who have shared experiences and concerns with
us. Once again, you have
proven that we are the “Voice for Real Estate,” and I am proud
to serve as your 2009 President.
December 2nd Certified letter mailed to each "Designated Broker" listing unpaid agents, stating the
Association services will be suspended for those agents if dues are not received by the Association by December 10th.
December 11th Association services automatically suspended for any agent with unpaid dues. Services,
including MLS, will suspend to the company with any broker who has unpaid dues.
January 2nd (OR THE FIRST DAY AFTER THE HOLIDAY) Certified letter sent to each "Designated Broker"
with any unpaid agents stating that termination of the
agent(s) will be voted on at the January
Board of Directors meeting. Upon termination, broker and/or agent would need to reapply for
association membership, pay application fee and be approved by the Board of Directors.
OUR GOAL IS TO COLLECT DUES IN A TIMELY MANNER, NOT TO SUSPEND SERVICES TO MEMBERS.
Years In The Business… Do You Qualify for Dues Waiver?
Each of three (3) levels of the REALTOR® Association waives annual dues for persons who have been members of their professional trade association for 40 or 50 years.
Do you qualify?
The Youngstown Columbiana Association of REALTORS® Senior Membership:
Local dues are waived for any person with 40 years of active membership,
no age limit, in the Youngstown Columbiana Association of REALTORS®. Applicant must have 40 years of membership at time of annual payment for the current dues year and provide documentation that would provide reasonable substantiation of 40 years’ membership.
OHIO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
State dues are waived for any person who has held membership in the Ohio Association of REALTORS®, for a cumulative period of 50 years with no age limit. Applicant should provide reasonable, substantiation of 50 years’ membership.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Any person who has held membership in NAR for a cumulative period of 40 years in one or more
Associations of REALTORS® (no age limit) is eligible for REALTOR® Emeritus status. Upon approval by the Board of Directors of THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, no further payment of dues is necessary to NAR by the membership association of which the REALTOR® Emeritus is a member. The dues waiver does not take affect until the following “dues season”. For example: members approved Emeritus at the Midyear or Annual NAR meetings in 2008 would have their dues waived starting in 2009 since dues are due and owed by the local associations as of January 1 of each year. A standard certification form (provided by
NAR) is necessary to begin the approval process for a REALTOR® Emeritus candidate, which is to be filled out by the local association. Any available documentation that would provide reasonable substantiation of 40 years’ membership should be attached to the form.
The packet containing the certification and 40-year REALTOR® Emeritus pin will be sent to the association to present to their
member(s). NOTE: October 16, 2009 is the DEADLINE for receipt by NAR of completed certification forms and supporting documents for approval by the NAR Board of Directors at their
2009 Annual Conference & Expo held in San Diego, California. Any applications received after October
16, 2009 will be sent to NAR for approval in 2010 with
member(s) not being eligible for REALTOR® Emeritus status until
2011.
Thought For August
For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and
health:
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks tha Americans.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausage and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than
Americans.
CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you!!
Any SUPRA key holder or responsible person/entity thereof for such key holder may be brought before the Board of Directors of the Youngstown Columbiana Association of REALTORS® for review and possible punitive action, including monetary fine and/or suspension or termination from the SUPRA lockbox system for any violation of the following Lockbox Rules & Regulations.
1.
A $250.00 fine will be imposed on members who use their SUPRA key and enter a property without first calling the listing office for an appointment.
If a member fails to contact the listing agent/broker, the listing agent/broker can file a complaint with the Board of Directors by contacting SUPRA Administrator, Tracy
Moracco, at four two five, four four six the Association office. To file a complaint, the listing agent/broker must complete a
complaint form (click
here for complaint form), provide copies of the activity printout from the lockbox in question and provide copies of the broker's showing log.
2.
A $250.00 fine will be imposed on members who give out their SUPRA key for use
by another person.
3.
A $250.00 fine will be imposed on a member who uses a SUPRA key leased to another person, with or without their permission.
4.
Repeated offenses: a second offense shall result in suspension from the SUPRA lockbox service for a period of thirty (30) days; a third offense shall result in termination from the SUPRA lockbox service.
Members: Please record, in
writing, all your showing appointments!!!!
Members: Remember.....you can assign a SUPRA lockbox to
your listing through NEOHREX so that
showing activity can be tracked on-line through your KIM
web Dashboard.
CANDIDATES FOR 2010 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF THE
YOUNGSTOWN COLUMBIANA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
VOTING PROCEDURES
The Nominating Committee of the Youngstown Columbiana Association of REALTORS® (YCAR) submits the following slate of Officer and Director candidates for election to the Board of Directors in 2010.
The offices to be filled are: President Elect, Treasurer, Affiliate Director and four (4) Director positions.
At the general membership meeting on Thursday, September 10, 2009 at Antone’s Banquet Centre the floor shall be opened for the nomination of additional REALTOR® candidates for the open positions. All nominees shall submit written consent to serve prior to their names being placed on the ballot.
Within 15 days but no later then seven (7) days before the first Monday in October, one special ballot, one coded return envelope and a resume sheet of
ALL the Officer and Director candidates will be mailed to each REALTOR® Member eligible to vote at the time the mailing is prepared.
Ballots must be marked with no more than the designated number of selections possible in each category in order to be counted. Fewer selections than the prescribed number are permitted.
Ballots must be returned in the official color coded ballot envelope and received at the Association Office
NO LATER THAN NOON ON THE FIRST MONDAY IN OCTOBER in order to be counted.
NO ABSENTEE OR FAXED BALLOTS WILL BE PERMITTED!!
The Ballot Counting Committee
200-201-8217 appointed by the President, will open the sealed envelopes in each others presence at noon on the first Monday in
October (October 5, 2009).
The announcement of the results of the election of Officers and Directors shall be posted immediately at the Association Office and included in the first association newsletter after the election results are known.
SLATE OF CANDIDATES
FOR PRESIDENT ELECT:
Joan Zarlenga
Burgan Real Estate
FOR TREASURER:
Debbie Parisi
RightPlaceRealty.com
FOR AFFILIATE DIRECTOR:
Rocky Page
First Place Bank
FOR DIRECTOR (4)
Kathy Carroll
Coldwell Banker First Place Real Estate
The Youngstown Columbiana Association of REALTORS® will be 100 years old in 2010. The association's 100th Anniversary Task Force is seeking any and all items of a historical and interesting nature (photos, articles, clippings, etc.) you may have in your possession. It can be decades old or newer.
Three six, eight two eight five. All items collected will be on display at the association's general membership meeting in September of 2010 as well as using some of them in other projects being undertaken in conjunction with the anniversary celebration.
Please send your items to the attention of Chief Executive Officer Sharyn Braunstein
at the association office at 5405 Market Street,
Boardman, OH 44512.
Speaker:
Alec Hagerty
3 Hours CE
1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Metro Parks Farm
90 registrants $25.00 Early Bird Admission thru August 4th $29.00 after
August 4th
Sponsored by OAR Click here for
fax registration
Speaker: Alec Hagerty
8:30 am - 4:30 pm (1 Hour Lunch) both days
YCAR Association Building
27 registrants $198.00 YCAR Member
($210.00 Non-Member) Click
here for fax registration
Speaker: Alec Hagerty
3 Hours CE (Required)
8:30 am to Noon
Metro Parks Farm
90 registrants
$20 prepaid add $5 for Non-Member Click
here for fax registration
Speaker:
John Zilka
3 Hours CE
8:30 am to 12 noon
YCAR Association Building
27 registrants
$20 prepaid add $5 for Non-Member Click
here for fax registration
The Directors of the Association took the following actions during
the month of June 2009:
NOTE: Absence from three (3) regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors without
an excuse deemed valid by the Directors shall be construed as resignation from the Board of
Directors. You must call the Association office ahead of the scheduled meeting to request to be
excused.
In Attendance: President Elect Eric Caspary, President-Elect
David Klacik, Treasurer
Joan Zarlenga, Immediate Past President Kathy Carroll, Debbie Parisi, Sandi Bates, Paul
Bevilacqua, Dave Walker, John Burgan, Dom Vechiarelli, Jim Grantz, Affiliate Member
Jennifer Hanigosky of Home Savings
Excused: Bob Weily, Dawn Kuhn
Approved the minutes of the June 11, 2009 Directors meeting as written with the notation
that Attorney Don Leone was excused from the meeting.
Filed the June 2009 Financial Statements for review.
Committee Reports were filed as follows:
Education Committee
RPAC Committee
Affiliate Council
100th Anniversary Task Force
Alternative Advertising Task Force
Reported on the Save Our Homes Task Force meeting of July 8, 2009.
Reported on the actions taken by the CRIS Directors at their June 29, 2009 meeting.
Approved to send a letter to the CRIS Board of Directors notifying them that the
Youngstown Columbiana Association of REALTORS does not want to enter into any
type of merger talks with NORMLS.
Reported on the progress of Tom Williams' campaign for 2010 Treasurer of the Ohio
Association of REALTORS.
Reported that, to date, 98 SUPRA lockboxes have been sold at a reduced rate.
Approved the Affiliate Membership of one applicant and the provisional REALTOR®
Membership of eight applicants.
Approved the recommendations of the Bylaws and Policy Review Committee to increase
the fine imposed on a member who uses their SUPRA Key to enter a property without
first making an appointment with the listing office to $250.00; to increase the fine
imposed on a member who gives out their SUPRA key to another person to $250.00; to
increase the fine imposed on a member who uses a SUPRA key leased to another person
with or without their permission to $250.00; to adopt a rule that a second offense of the
SUPRA Lockbox Rules and Regulations shall result in suspension from the lockbox
service for a period of 30 days; a third offense shall result in termination from the
lockbox service.
Nominated Chuck Willson of Dave Walker Realty for the Ohio Association of
REALTORS® Tomorrow's Leader's Today program.
The
Youngstown Columbiana Association of REALTORS® extends its
deepest condolences to the family of REALTOR® Gus Dennis of
Coldwell Banker First Place Real Estate who passed away on
Wednesday, July 15, 2009.
Wow,
no one found their file number in the July 2009 issue of the
Mahoning Valley REALTOR®!
Continuing our free dues contest in 2009, each monthly on-line issue of the MVR will continue to contain
three file numbers hidden in the articles.
If you find your
file number while reading your association's monthly REALTOR®
publication, call Mary Ann Pallante at 330-788-7026 and your name will be placed in the "HAT" for the free dues drawing
(local portion $247) to be held on Monday, November 23, 2009 at
the Association office.
Now when you read the MVR Newsletter, not only do you reap the
benefits of increased knowledge of your profession and your
association, but you may also receive your 2010 YCAR local
membership dues free!
In order to be eligible for the drawing, you must call in your
found file number by the 15th of each publication month.
The following numbers are no longer eligible: Kathy
Carroll 417515, Joanie Petrosky 216758 and Grant (Ken) Gibson
429333
Excellent
Condition, Sound Inside and Out! Walk around queen size bed. New carpeting.
Kitchen w/ Oak Hardwood floors. Nice dinette
seats 4, transforms to twin bed. Microwave/convection
combo, 4 burner stove, double stainless steel
kitchen sink. Fridge, Oak cupboards, cable
ready Color TV. Glass shower with sky light, sink, toilet, AM-FM Stereo with CD
player. Generator. Dual Roof Air. Cruise Control. All
new tires. Extra outside shower for those
who love to hunt/fish. Couch folds down
to queen size bed. Plenty of inside storage. Outside in great
condition w/ basement storage and awning.
Stored indoors during the winter months. Call 330-533-2941
Bag
Boy Golf Bag
$40
Like New!!
Call Mary Ann Pallante at YCAR @
330-788-7026
Your "FREE" Classified Ad
Featured Here...
FREE!
--
Call Mary Ann at 330-788-7026 and place your item
for sale in the new FREE Classifieds ad
section of the Mahoning Valley REALTOR®
online newsletter.
Members: Place Your "FREE" Classified Ad
Here - Call Mary Ann at 330-788-7026
The Youngstown Columbiana Association of REALTORS® will be 100 years old in 2010. The association's 100th Anniversary Task Force is seeking any and all items of a historical and interesting nature (photos, articles, clippings, etc.) you may have in your possession. It can be decades old or newer.
Three six, eight two eight five. All items collected will be on display at the association's general membership meeting in September of 2010 as well as using some of them in other projects being undertaken in conjunction with the anniversary celebration.
Wow,
no one found their file number in the July 2009 issue of the
Mahoning Valley REALTOR®!
