Connections - April 2103

Worcester Regional Association of REALTORS® www.wrar.org

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : President’s Message 1

Month-at-a-Glance 2

Awards Nomination Form 3

Membership News 4-5

Scholarship Rules 6

Calls to Action 7

CREST Classes 8-13

Member Bio Form 8

Local Market Update 14

Legal Corner 15

Government Affairs 17-19

Your Success is our Business!

Now that March has ended, it’s finally starting to feel like Spring. It’s also very encouraging hearing from REALTORS® all over that they are busy. As inventory has tightened prices are trending up and we’ve seen the return of multiple offers in many areas. The last week of February I attended the New England REALTORS® Conference in Connecticut and we heard from various members of the NAR Leadership. Lawrence Yun, NAR’s Chief Economist, gave us a great economic update that all the indicators are up. We’re in a good place because Massachusetts is leading the six New England

states out of the recession; our unemployment is going down, we’ve recovered almost half of our new home starts and our shadow inventory has improved. The economists are all predicting a strong Spring Market leading to a strong 2013 with the recovery continuing thru the next 4-5 years! The one universal cry we’re hearing from everyone is that the housing inventory is very low in spite of the buyers being out there ready and willing to buy. This is good news for you sellers, of course, because it’s putting upward pressure on prices. Now for the numbers: February was one of the snowiest on record and it depressed our numbers a bit, but don’t worry, March appears to be making up for it. Year over Year February sales were down -10.8% but again we had one three-day Blizzard and three weekend storms, we had increases for the prior 19 months. February’s inventory was down -34.8% and the Median Price was up +10.6%. We have some FANTASTIC events coming up this month: April 20 & 21 is National REALTOR ® Open House Weekend. On April 24, we have 12 hours of CEU classes. (Remember - you can come in for all or one FREE as a member benefit.) And keeping in mind that April is Fair Housing Month, WRAR is bringing At Home with Diversity® Certifi-cation on April 26. One last thing, PLEASE send in your nominations for 2013 Awards, the application is inside this newsletter. Warmest Regards,

Rochelle Rochelle Jonswold, 2013 WRAR President

April 2013

Worcester Regional Association of REALTORS® www.wrar.org 2

April 2013 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

April Fool’s Day

2 9-10 Gov’t Affairs Committee

3 4 2-4 Thirsty Thursday: Flood Insurance

5 8:30 am Leadership Breakfast Deadline for Awards Nominations

6 9-5 Pre-license Sales Class 11:30-1 Career & Networking Fair

7 8 8-4 MLS Pin

9

10 10:30 Board of Directors

11 12-2 Shamrock CEU Class: USDA/Rural Loans

12 9 —Young Professionals Network

13

14 15 Patriots’ Day Office Closed

16 9-11 Womens Council 9-1 CEU’s at Fidelity Bank, Leominster

17 6-9 Worcester Comm. Dev. Home Buyer’s Seminar

18 11:30-1:30 Fairway Mortgage Financing Secrets 6-9 Worcester Comm. Dev. Home

19 10-12 Fair Housing Seminar

20 9-5 Pre-license Sales Class

21 22 23 8-4 MLS Pin

24 8-8 CEU Classes

25 26 9-5 At Home with Diversity® Certifica-tion Course—2 CEU’s

27 9-5 Pre-license Sales/Broker Class

28 29 30

Upcoming Events—Mark Your Calendars! April 2013: Fair Housing Month April 5: Deadline for Awards Nominations April 20-21: Nationwide REALTOR® Open House Weekend May 3: Deadline for Submissions for WRAR Scholarships June 4: WRAR Awards Banquet <——-NEW DATE! June 5: REALTOR® day on Beacon Hill <——-NEW DATE! June 20: WRAR Golf Tournament

WRAR MONTH-AT-A-GLANCE


MEMBERSHIP

Welcome to our Newest Members

New Members—March Orientation

Amy Bonner Keller Williams Realty-Gr.Worc. Worcester

Tammy Byars Keller Williams Realty-Gr.Worc. Worcester

James Carlson Jr. Next Move Realty Worcester

Brian Carpenter Keller Williams Realty-Gr.Worc. Worcester

Donna Durrance Classic Properties Medway

Brendan Fullam Sullivan & Company Real Estate Brimfield Yurima Guilarte-Murphy Exit Realty Partners Shrewsbury

Keith Krikorian Keller Williams Realty-Gr.Worc. Worcester

Michael Madulka III Quinsigamond Realty Worcester

Lisa Moore Exit Realty Partners Shrewsbury

Roger Mundall Quaboag Valley Real Estate Brookfield

Jeanne Murphy Petraglia Real Estate Service Douglas

Michael Njuguna Quinsigamond Realty Worcester Deborah Pattow-Godbout Keller Williams Realty-Gr.Worc. Worcester

Michael Sacca Mendon Area Real Estate Mendon

Micheal Seery Quaboag Valley Real Estate Brookfield

Sarah Shamsuddin King Realty Worcester

Tina Stratis Coldwell Banker Res. Brok. Park Worcester

Chelsea Taylor Keller Williams Realty-Gr.Worc. Worcester

Rita Wallen Marty Green Properties Northbridge

CeeCee Wen He Exit Realty Partners Worcester

Doreen Whitney Century 21 Commonwealth Milford

Kevin Stockwell RE/MAX American Dream Woonsocket, RI

Secondary REALTOR®

WRAR President, Rochelle Jonswold (far right), welcomes

new WRAR REALTORS® at the March 13, 2013 New Member

Orientation.

New Offices

Ray Paolucci Post Road Realty, 121 West Main Street, W. Brookfield

Broker

David Kres

Buyers Brokers Only LLC, 200 Merrimack Street,Suite 301, Haver-hill

Broker

Nancy Monbouquette Citizens Bank, 108 Grove Street, Worcester Affiliate

Amber Cylkowski Libery Mutual Insurance, 771 Southbridge Street, Auburn

Affiliate

James Tobin James Tobin, REALTOR® 32A East Main Street, Northboro

Broker

Bryan Larson

Security First Mortgage Funding 1 Ararat Street Worcester MA 01606

Affiliate

Kelly Lizotte

Security First Mortgage Funding 1 Ararat Street Worcester MA 01606

Affiliate

Reinstated Members

Bridjo Cobbs ERA Key Realty Services Sean Wyse Champion Real Estate Rosa Wyse Champion Real Estate

Transfer Members

Marsha Bodine Keller Williams North Central Leominster

Michael Prosansky Exit Realty Partners Shrewsbury

New Applicants

Peter Anderson Keller Williams Realty-Gr.Worc. Worcester

Christine Finn Keller Williams Realty-Gr.Worc. Worcester

Kristin Peterson Quaboag Valley Real Es-tate Brookfield

Pamela Pollan RE/MAX Professional Associates Shrewsbury

Shreena Bindra Community Realty Worcester

Andrzej Szarama Keller Williams Realty-Gr.Worc. Worcester

John Kreiss Prudential Prime Proper-ties Westboro

Josephine Magliocca Realty Executives Tri-County Bellingham

Kimberly Nobrega Quinsigamond Realty Worcester

Jasmine Randhawa ERA Key Realty Services Worcester

Jeffrey Goodwin Buyer Broker’s Only, LLC Haverhill



WRAR SCHOLARSHIP


CALLS TO ACTION!!

The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® Charitable Foundation has awarded more than $300,000 to Massachusetts-based non-profit organ-izations who assist the homeless and residents in need. Your purchase of a Welcome Home License Plate will help provide the additional funds to contin-ue the efforts of the Charitable Foundation.

WE ARE ONLY A FEW PLATES AWAY! Please fill out your application and get it in as soon as possible! Having 500 or more applications in is the key to the success! You can download the application at : http://www.marealtor.com/content/upload/AssetMgmt/Documents/Welcome%20Home%20LP%20App.pdf

The Welcome Home License Plate

Do you have a green thumb? Do you love to work outdoors? Do you have a knack for design?

Can you spare a day to help us with spring plantings? The WRAR budget doesn’t allow for professional landscaping, but we are sure that with all the talent we have in our membership, we can gather enough people to show their pride in their association and help out for a few hours in May.

Please call Lynne or Colleen at 508-832-6600 if you can help out!

Beautify the Board Day

We are going to begin the process of a website redesign and we’d love your help. We’d like a small task force to get together immediately to begin working on suggestions - what we need / what we’d like / what we can’t live with-out / what we can do later. You don’t have to be a technology genius, but you do

have to have above average experience as an active web surfer. If you have ability above and beyond that, all the better.

Please fill out the MEMBER BIO FORM on the following page and return it to us asap if you are able to help. You may also call Colleen or Jacki at 508-832-6600.

Thank you in advance for your time!

New Website


MEMBER BIO SHEET — Please complete & return to WRAR! REALTOR® Member / AFFILIATE Member Resume

Name Company Address City, State, Zip Contact info - email & telephone/cell How many years have you worked in the Real Estate field? If you had a career prior to Real Estate, in what industry/industries did you work?

Please check off the areas where you have special skills / education / experience in which you would be willing to make a short-term commitment to assist staff and/or committees: Please list any hobbies / interests you have which might be mutually beneficial to both you and the Association (for example – politics, gardening, fundraising, community service, etc.):

Would you be willing to assist us in some “Done in a Day” events such as Habitat for Humanity Build Day or Beautify the Board Day?

☐Yes please contact me at

☐No Please return via fax (508-832-6620) email ([email protected]), or mail to:

Worcester Regional Association of REALTORS® 492 Washington Street, Auburn, MA 01501

☐ Manufacturing/Assembly/Production ☐ Marketing ☐ Technology /Web Design / Tech-Savvy ☐ Leadership Positions (please list) _______________________________________

☐ Other (please list)______________________

______________________________________

☐Accounting / Finance ☐ Design ☐ Education/Major ☐ Engineering ☐ Event Planning ☐ HR or Staffing

With our new Strategic Plan in place, our Committees have been revamped for the coming year. Each committee now has a di-rective from the WRAR Board of Directors with clear goals and tasks. In most cases, it means there will be no more monthly meetings just to have a monthly meeting! Task forces will be formed to accomplish goals and we'll move on to the next one. Can you lend a hand? We are always looking for people with special skills to assist us in making WRAR a top-notch association. Your expertise and experience can help us to build a better business for all of our members. Service to your association is im-portant NOW and in the future towards your Lifetime membership requirements. We'd love for you to be involved!


All classes are held at the Worcester Regional Association of REALTORS® CREST School, 492 Washington Street, Auburn, MA 01501.. We also hold periodic classes at the Fidelity Bank Building, 478 Mechanic Street in Leominster. WRAR Members in good standing receive FREE LOCAL CEU’s! Tuition for non-members is $30 for each 2-hour CEU. You may register for classes online at www.CrestRealEstateSchool.com or by calling the WRAR office at 508-832-6600. Please note that during the winter months, we follow the local school system for opening. If they are closed, we are closed. During weekends, announcements will be made on WTAG. As always, use your best judgment.

CENTER FOR REAL ESTATE STUDIES & TRAINING

Upcoming CEU Courses for April

Leominster April 16 Instructor

Course Code Course Name

9:00-11:00 Craig Reynolds RE44R05 Understanding Title Concerns

11:00-1:00 Craig Reynolds RE07RC01 Closing and Settlement

Auburn April 24 Instructor

Course Code Course Name

8:00 - 10:00 am Rob Nahigian RE62RC10 Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)

10:00 - 12:00 pm Rob Nahigian RE63RC10 Environmental Issues

12:00 - 2:00 pm Rob Nahigian RE27RC0 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges

2:00 - 4:00 pm Gary Bourque RE51R06 Facilitator

4:00 - 6:00 pm Gary Bourque RE75R12 Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Loans

6:00 - 8:00 pm Gary Bourque RE10C07 General Real Estate Laws, Regulations & Practices

Real Estate Pre-License Class for Brokers & Agents Our next Pre-License class begins on Saturday, April 20, and runs each Saturday from 9:00 am—5:00 pm through May 18. Tuition is $325 and books are $50. If you know of anyone who may be interested, please have them call Lynne W a l l s a t t h e B o a r d a t 508-832-6600.

USDA/Rural Loans CEU Course: RE76R12 Sponsored by Shamrock Financial Corporation Date: Thursday, April 11, 2013 Time: 12:00—2:00 pm Place: CREST School, 492 Washington Street, Auburn What many don’t realize is that USDA Guaranteed loans offer 100 percent financ-ing to income-qualified individuals, making them a superior choice for affordable home ownership. You will learn: The incredible advantages of the USDA Guaranteed loan Income & property eligibility info Additional facts about the loan program FREE to all WRAR members; $30 for all others. Lunch will provided by Shamrock Financial. Please be sure to pre-register online at www.wrar.org class by calling 508-832-6600.

Receive 2 for the

price of 1 for

Brokers Class! Webinar: Economic Trends SAVE THE DATE: Monday, May 13, 2013, 9:00 – 11:00 am

$20 for WRAR members; $30 for all others. Please be sure to pre-register online at www.wrar.org class by calling 508-832-6600.


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT









Early-bird Rates (May 20th cut-off): Single - $125 * Foursome - $500 Regular Rates: Single: $137.50* Foursome: $550 *All registrations include 18 holes, cart, continental breakfast, and lunch *Registered Golfers receive 1 free 18-hole round for future play! Start times: Registration: 8:30 am Shotgun start: 9:00 am Luncheon served: 1:30 pm ( times approximate)

WRAR 15th Annual GOLF TOURNAMENT

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Green Hill Golf Club

Worcester, MA


LOCAL MARKET UPDATE


LEGAL CORNER

Michael McDonagh, MAR General Counsel, and Ashley Stolba, MAR Staff Attorney

MAR Legal Hotline

Q I represent two buyers, both of whom are interested in seeing the same property. Is it a violation of my fiduci-ary duties to show the property to both clients?

A Not necessarily. Buyer’s agents typically represent more

than one buyer at a time, and from time to time it is possible that more than one buyer-client may be inter-ested in a single property, especially in this market. When you provide your client with the Massachusetts Mandatory Licensee-Consumer Relationship Disclosure, your client is made aware that as a buyer’s agent, you owe the buyer undivided loyalty, reasonable care, dis-closure, obedience to lawful instruction, confidentiality and accountability. However, this does not preclude you from representing more than one buyer at a time. To avoid any surprises, it is highly recommended that you discuss the possibility of this situation at the onset of your client relationship, and include such language in your buyer-agency agreement. Such a provision should also explain that you will keep the confidential infor-mation of each client in confidence and not disclose it to the other buyer-clients. The MAR Exclusive Buyer Agency Agreement includes such language in the para-graph describing the agent's duties. Having the conver-sation ahead of time will help you understand the ex-pectations of your clients and help avoid conflicts down the road.

Q I see that a listing is “withdrawn” in MLS. Does the Code

of Ethics allow me to now contact the seller? A No. A “withdrawn” listing in the MLS does not neces-

sarily mean that the listing contract between the seller and the seller’s agent has expired. Rather, it typically means that there is a listing agreement still in effect, and that the seller and seller’s agent mutually agreed to withdraw the listing from the MLS.

As a reminder, REALTOR ® Code of Ethics Article 16

provides that “REALTORS ® shall not engage in any practice or take any action inconsistent with exclusive representation or exclusive brokerage relationship

agreements that other REAL-TORS have with clients.” Moreo-ver, Standard of Practice 16-4 states that, “REALTORS ® shall not solicit a listing which is cur-rently listed exclusively with an-other broker,” and that the REALTOR may only contact the seller if the listing agent refuses to disclose the expiration date and na-ture of the listing, and only to secure such information and discuss taking a future listing.

When calling a prospective client, always remember to

check the do-no-call registry. The registry is main-tained by the Federal Trade Commission and penalties for violations can be harsh.

Q I heard that the Massachusetts Department of Envi-

ronmental Protection (MassDEP) is proposing changes regarding asbestos. Are there any proposals that af-fect homeowners?

A Yes. The MassDEP has undertaken a number of regu-

latory reform initiatives to streamline specific agency operations. Specifically related to homeowners, there is a proposal to relieve owners of single-family, owner-occupied residences from the notification requirement for removal of specific types of non-friable asbestos-containing materials, while maintaining the require-ment that the removal work must be done in accord-ance with the appropriate work practices. It is im-portant to note that although the proposal relieves homeowners from certain notification requirements, the Department will be monitoring proper and truthful asbestos removal practices. For more information, including a copy of the proposals, please visit http://www.mass.gov/dep/service/regulations/newregs.htm.


GOVERNMENT & LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS


GOVERNMENT & LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS


2013 Directors

& Staff Members President, Rochelle Jonswold

Pres. Elect, Dave Stead Vice President, Brad Roberts

Secretary, Kris Koliss Treasurer, Mary Gale

Past President, Diane DeCiccio

Jayne DiLiberto, Director Tony Economou, Director Sarah Gustafson, Director

Erica Hall, Director Lorraine Herbert, Director Judy Patterson, Director Judy Reynolds, Director

Mary Stolarczyk, Director Leslie Storrs, Director

Kathleen Cooper, Alternate Tracy Fiorelli, Alternate Gina Lewis, Alternate

Executive VP, Colleen Pappas

Membership Manager, Lisa Sprague

Programs & Events Coordinator,

Jacki D’Innocenzo Staff Accountant, Maura O’Connor

Administrative Assistant, Lynne Walls

WRAR office hours are 9:00 am—5:00 pm. For assistance with the MLS Lockbox system, please make an appointment with Lynne Walls at 508-832-6600.

Please LIKE our face-book page at https://www.facebook.com/WorcesterRegionalAssociationof-REALTORS. By doing so you will not only get up-to-the-minute infor-mation on everything going on at WRAR, but you will help us to increase our visibility while growing your own business network.

Realtors Property Resource (RPR) GOVERNMENT & LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS