e-REALTOR Review Fall 2012 Edition

An e-publication of the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®

REALTORFALL 2012®

reviewCelebrating the

Gift of Giving

REALTOR®

Review l 1 l fall 2012

3 President’s Message

5, 8 & 12Neighbors Helping Neighbors

16 Local Market Update

18 Welcome

19 RRAR Events

departments

RALEIGH REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

111 Realtors Way, Cary, N.C. 27513Phone: 919-654-5400; Fax: 919-654-5401www.rrar.com

RRAR OFFICERSStacey Anfindsen, PresidentMarshall Gay, Vice PresidentAsa Fleming, President-ElectMollie Owen, Secretary/TreasurerLinda Trevor, Immediate Past President

RRAR DIRECTORS Vince Bankoski Linda KolarovAutumne Bennette Carol McCormickPhyllis Brookshire Gina MillerKelly Cobb John PaceDavid Chance Mark ParkerSteina DeAndrade Teresa PittHarriette Doggett Zach SchabotTom Gongaware Jose SerranoBecky Harper Josh SwindellGrayson Hodge Kevin WoodyMorty Jayson

REALTOR® FOUNDATION OF THE TRIANGLE OFFICERS President: Marshall GayPresident-Elect: Theresa ClarkSecretary/treasurer: Vince Bankoski

NCAR REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS Theresa Clark Harriette Doggett

NAR DIRECTORS Eddie Brown John Wood

TRIANGLE REALTORS® LEADERSHIP ACADEMY DEAN Diana Braun

Members are cautioned that the inclusion of a name, specific commercial product or service in an article, or in this publication does not imply endorsement by the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®. All advertisers in this publication wholly support the Fair Housing Act and fully promote equal opportunity housing.

Copyright 2012 by the Raleigh Reg- ional Association of REALTORS®. All rights reserved.

REALTOR® REVIEW STAFF: Patricia Gregory Rand, managing editor, [email protected] Ketler, APR, editor, [email protected] Washington, communications associate, [email protected] Beck, graphic designer, [email protected]

For editorial contributions and ad inquiries, please contact Sandee Washington at [email protected] or (919) 654-5400.

FALL 2012, VOL. 4, NO. 4REALTORreview

®

features

Preliminary Identity Colors

Dark Blue PMS 282CMYK: 100, 72, 0, 56RGB: 0, 40, 93

PMS 282

Blue PMS 299CMYK: 85, 18, 0, 0RGB: 0, 158, 221

PMS 299

Light Purple PMS 265CMYK: 54, 56, 0, 0RGB: 129, 119, 183

PMS 265

Purple PMS 360CMYK: 58, 0, 80, 0RGB: 115, 193, 103

PMS 360

9

14BOOMERS WILL NEED YOUR HELP TO “AGE IN PLACE” This writer shares her experiences working with boomers interested in aging in place and what matters to them.

SOCIAL MEDIA LAUNCHES SIX BUSINESS-FRIENDLY FEATURES Cool new features on Facebook, Pinterest and Insta-gram offer useful applications for your business.

rrar.com

6 FIVE WAYS TO ACHIEVE A TOP PRODUCER’S

MINDSET Gain insight into underlying strategies for driving real estate sales with a positive, get-it-done mindset.

10 PINTEREST 101 STRATEGY IN THREE

EASY STEPS Building a unique brand on Pinterest begins by first understanding what appeals to your key audience.

4 ASSOCIATION DUES Q&A Frequently asked

questions about annual dues clarify online billing, late fees and more.

Congratulations to Junk Patrol for

winning most festive design in the RRAR 2012 Chili Cook-off!

Just point to the mess and we will lift, load and haul your items away.

We remove old furniture, appliances, electronics and construction debris. Everything is donated, recycled or properly disposed of. Call

for a free estimate!

Helping

homeowners,

realtors and

property managers

take control of

their space.

Bookonlinetodayatjunk‐patrol.comorcall(919)886‐JUNK(5865)

Save

$25 or $50

½Load FullLoad

OFFYOURNEXTJUNKREMOVALSERVICE

“We’ll be your favorite after one experience!”

Just point to the mess and we will lift, load and haul your items away.

We remove old furniture, appliances, electronics and construction debris. Everything is donated, recycled or properly disposed of. Call

for a free estimate!

Helping

homeowners,

realtors and

property managers

take control of

their space.

Bookonlinetodayatjunk‐patrol.comorcall(919)886‐JUNK(5865)

Save

$25 or $50

½Load FullLoad

OFFYOURNEXTJUNKREMOVALSERVICE

“We’ll be your favorite after one experience!”

Just point to the mess and we will lift, load and haul your items away.

We remove old furniture, appliances, electronics and construction

debris. Everything is donated, recycled or properly disposed of. Call

for a free estimate!

Helping

homeowners, realtors and

property managers take control of

their space.

Bookonlinetodayatjunk‐patrol.comorcall(919)886‐JUNK(5865)

Save$25 or $50

½LoadFullLoad

OFFYOURNEXTJUNKREMOVALSERVICE

“We’ll be your favorite after one experience!”

Gift cards available for the holidays

REALTOR®

Review l 3 l fall 2012

MISSION STATEMENTThe Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®, the area’s voice of real estate, promotes the highest ethical and professional standards and cooperation among its members; provides products, programs and services to meet the evolving needs of the real estate industry and consumers; and serves as a leading advocate of private property rights and community involvement.VISION STATEMENT“Anticipating and meeting the opportunities and challenges of our industry.”RRAR 2012 COMMITTEE CHAIRS Bylaws: Asa FlemingBuilding: Stacey AnfindsenCommunications & Public Relations: Carol McCormickCommunity Service: Frank DeRonjaGovernment Affairs: Bill FletcherRPAC: Asa FlemingPersonnel: John WoodGrievance: Autumne Bennett, Suzanne Burton, Nancy Cashwell, Margaret SophieHall of Fame: Ed WillerNominating: Gary RabonRRAR 2012 COUNCIL CHAIRS Women’s Council: Lynn GardinerInternational Council: Mike HumphreysTop Producers Council: Co-Chairs Shawn Britt and John WoodSmall Brokers Council: Chair Brenda CarrollYoung Professionals Network: Co-Chairs Autumne Bennett and Aquene HernandezRRAR STAFF DIRECTORYMain Office (919) 654-5400 Fax (919) 654-5401 www.rrar.comRRAR Company Store, (919) 654-7253Executive Vice President Raymond C. Larcher, Ext. 218, [email protected] Association Services Director Betsy Ramsey, Ext. 217, [email protected] Services Associate Vicki Buckholtz, Ext. 216, [email protected] Director Patricia Gregory Rand, Ext. 239, [email protected] Associate Sandee Washington, Ext. 238, [email protected] Education Director Cara Mottershead, Ext. 211, [email protected] Education Associate Sonya Yankoglu, Ext. 212, [email protected] Facilities Manager Mary Rachel White, Ext. 210, [email protected] Affairs Director Tara L. Robbins, Ext. 215, [email protected] Associate Shelia Clark, Ext. 200, [email protected] Manager Yukari Powers, Ext. 201, [email protected] STAFF DIRECTORYVice President of Operations Rachel Wiest, Ext. 219, [email protected] Executive Associate Christy New, Ext. 220, [email protected] Director Letitia Santos, Ext. 234, [email protected] Associate Raina Joyner, Ext. 242, [email protected] Distribution Director Carol Hamrick, Ext. 213, [email protected] Distribution Associate Bonnie Eaddy, Ext. 207, [email protected] Systems Director Kathy Matheson, Ext. 233, [email protected] Technical Support Associate J Stepp, Ext. 226, [email protected]/Realist Support Associate Jennifer Horton, Ext. 227, [email protected] Operations Director Matt Nagy, Ext. 225, [email protected] Development Manager Allan Nielsen, Ext. 208, [email protected]/MLS Training Manager Lynne Brid, Ext. 232, [email protected]/TMLS MEMBERSHIP/ FINANCE DEPARTMENTMembership/Finance Director Randi Clodfelter, Ext. 221, [email protected] Associate Pat Long, Ext. 222, [email protected] Associate Jill Pressley, Ext. 221, [email protected] Associate Kelly Hunsucker, Ext. 209, [email protected]

president’s message

Dear REALTOR® Member,

The year 2013 is just around the corner, and it is time to renew your membership with the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®. Renewing your commitment to your local association also renews your membership at the state and national levels as well.

Member benefits include:

• Free seminars and member programs

• Discounted continuing education

• State-of-the-art website with an Internet-based MLS

• Professional standards administration

• Centralized Showing Service

• Political advocacy and RPAC administration

• Discounts on facility rentals at One Eleven Place

• Membership discounts at participating stores

• Meetings, socials and networking opportunities

• Triangle REALTORS® Leadership Academy

With more than one million REALTOR® members worldwide, the Na-tional Association of REALTORS® is the largest trade organization in the United States. An organization is only as strong as the commitment of its members, so by renewing your 2013 membership, you are en-suring the continued success of your association and your profession.

Best of luck in 2013, and thank you in advance for your renewed commitment to the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®.

Sincerely,

Asa Fleming2013 RRAR President

Renew Your Membership and Commitment

Asa Fleming

REALTOR®

Review l 4 l fall 2012

Q. How will I receive my dues invoice this year?

A. E-mail billing has been a tremendous success for the past six years. You should have received your dues invoice via e-mail Nov. 1. You will not be mailed a paper copy.

Q. How do I make sure the association has the correct e-mail address for me?

A. Please verify your personal roster information in Tempo and update your e-mail address if needed.

Q. When are 2013 membership dues due?A. Dec. 31, 2012

Q. Is there a late fee?A. Yes. Any dues received after Jan. 31, 2013 will

incur a $35 late penalty.

Q. How much are my REALTOR® dues, and what is the “breakdown?”

A. Local Raleigh Regional Association of REAL-TORS® dues are $171; North Carolina Association of REALTORS® dues are $130; National Association of REALTORS® dues are $155. Since this board col-lects all dues (local, state and national), your total amount is $456.

Q. Have dues increased?A. No. The national association and state associa-

tion dues remain the same. Raleigh association dues remain the same for the 12th consecutive year.

Q. What is the most convenient way to pay?

A. Paying online with a credit card or TeleCheck is quick, easy and secure. You Also can print a receipt for your records.

Q. Are dues refundable if I decide to put my license on inactive status later in the year?

A. No. According to the bylaws, dues are non-refundable.

Q. Are dues tax deductible as a business expense?

A. Yes. Annual dues are a deductible business ex-pense except for $82.07. This amount is dedicated to lobbying expenses (for NAR, NCAR and RRAR combined) and, as provided in the 1994 Tax Act, is a nondeductible expense.

Failure to receive a notification does not relieve members of the requirement to meet established payment deadlines. Information on member dues is published on www.rrar.com, in the REALTOR® Review and in the biweekly newsletter RRAR E-News.

Members Are Responsible for Paying Annual Dues by Jan. 31

Online Billing, Late Fee and Other Frequently Asked Questions

REALTOR®

Review l 5 l fall 2012

neighbors helping neighbors

The Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®

Board of Directors voted to send $2,500 to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation for Hurricane Sandy disaster assistance.

Damaging 75-90 mph wind gusts and flooding rain ravaged the East Coast after Sandy hit the East-ern Shore Oct. 29. In addition to a significant loss of life, the hurricane caused as much as $50 bil-lion in damage and economic losses from Virginia to Massachusetts.

“Without a doubt there are many people out there who need our help right now,” says Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® President Stacey Anfind-sen. “Most of us have observed from afar the painful aftermath and want to help. What better way than through the REALTORS® Relief Foundation.”

For more than 11 years, the REALTORS® Relief Foundation has been dedicated to providing housing-

related assistance to victims of disasters. The Na-tional Association of REALTORS® covers all adminis-trative costs, so every penny donated goes directly to help disaster victims. The relief foundation works with state associations in affected areas to assure the funds are distributed as quickly as possible to those in need within the REALTOR® family and the community at large.

An assessment from economic analysis firm IHS es-timated $20 billion in structural damage alone from the superstorm. Research firm CoreLogic estimated that 284,000 properties with a potential value of $88 billion were at risk of damage or destruction. New York had the highest number of properties at risk with just over 81,000 valued at $35.1 billion, followed by more than 75,000 properties in New Jersey totaling $22.6 billion.

For more information, visit www.realtor.org.

Raleigh REALTORS® Send $2,500 to Help Hurricane Sandy Victims

REALTORS® Relief Foundation aid will help restore areas such as Union Beach, N.J., damaged when Hurricane Sandy hit Oct. 29.

REALTOR®

Review l 6 l fall 2012

Ways to Achieve a Top Producer’s Mindset5

BY BERNICE ROSS

Top performers in virtually all industries share one common trait: a positive mindset. You can have the best systems and under-stand how to apply leverage and attraction, but it is your mindset that will ultimately make or break your success.

Maintaining a positive mindset is one of the most important ele-ments in creating real estate sales success. Having strong systems creates a sense of confidence. Le-verage makes it easier for you to create and maintain momentum.

Potential clients are attracted to those who have a positive mind-set and a get-it-done attitude. So what can you do to improve your mindset?

Here are five proven strategies:

1. Emotional resilienceVince Lombardi, who coached

the Green Bay Packers football team during the 1960s, once said, “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up.” Real estate is filled with rejec-tion: Sellers list with other agents; your buyers walk in and buy a property at an open house with-out you; or your closest friend does business with someone else. A positive mindset is what allows

you to get up again, even when you are knocked down repeated-ly. As one persistent agent once said, “Every ‘no’ brings me closer to my next ‘yes.’”

If events are getting you down, you can pull yourself back up by having a strong support network. This can be a coach, a mentor, a good friend, your manager or someone else whom you trust to be there in your corner. There’s no need to struggle through a dif-ficult situation alone.

2. Laughter: Still the best medicine

Numerous research stud-ies have shown that when you laugh, the muscular changes in your body trigger the release of beta-endorphin, the feel-good neurotransmitter, which in turn makes you feel happier and more positive. If you are feeling down, watch a funny movie, listen to the comedy network, get a mas-sage or do whatever makes you feel better. Another way to raise your endorphins is to have some chocolate. Do avoid self-medicat-ing with alcohol or drugs, which will actually make you feel more down when they wear off.

3. Create a supportive environment

Philosopher and architect Buck-minster Fuller once said, “Envi-ronment is stronger than will.” In other words, to maintain a posi-tive mindset, surround yourself with people who are positive.

“It’s not whether you get knocked

down, it’s whether you get back up.”

Vince Lombardi, Green Bay Packers coach

A slightly different approach comes from brain researcher Daniel Amen. Amen recommends that when you have a persistent or “automatic negative thought” (an “ANT”), the way to kill the “ANTs” is to write them down. This process allows you to evalu-ate the situation more objective-ly and makes it easier to find a workable solution to the issue.

REALTOR®

Review l 7 l fall 2012

For example, if your office is filled with negative peo-ple, consider working from

home. If you must interact with someone who is negative, stop

his or her negative comments by saying, “Tell me one thing that

went right today.”

A g a i n , the best strat-

egy is to avoid them all together.

To be even more proactive in upgrad-

ing your environment, join a masterminds group or some other group of highly success-ful people. Motivational speaker Jack Canfield talks about how he didn’t start making lots of money until he changed his peer group. According to Canfield, if you take the average income of your 10 closest friends and/or col-leagues, you can pretty accurate-ly predict what your earnings will be. Upgrading your peer group upgrades your mindset, which upgrades your income.

4. Proactive rather than reactive

Consider each of the following statements. Can you spot what they have in common?There’s just no inventory/buyers.

I’ve been taking floor time and haven’t had a lead in months!

I’ve been holding open houses every Sunday, but I never get any leads.

Each statement illustrates a re-active approach to the real estate business. Being reactive means waiting for the business to come to you rather than going out and proactively generating leads from prospecting, blogging or social networking. It’s hard to feel posi-tive when you are not in control.

A simple way to remedy this situation is to take baby steps. Be-gin by calling one or two of your past clients every day. If you pre-fer to use social media, respond to eight to 10 of your friends’ or followers’ posts on social media every day. Staying in contact with your referral database is one of the best ways to maintain a positive mindset and generate business.

5. Be willing to say “no!”When I interviewed REALTOR®

Ira Serkes for my book, Waging War on Real Estate’s Discount-ers, he shared the following steps that he uses to maintain a positive mindset in his business. In order to work with Serkes, the clients must be “nice.”

As Serkes puts it: “A bad client

is like bad cholesterol – they block your energy and can give you a heart attack. We avoid clients who have unrealistic ex-pectations or who are extremely demanding.

“Also, if we feel that we can’t meet a client’s expectations, we refer them to another agent. There’s no need to insult them. I just simply say ‘no’ by telling them, ‘We simply can’t meet your expectations. I’m not the right agent for you. I’d be happy to introduce you to another agent who could help you.’”

It makes no difference where you begin. Every step you take, no matter how large or how small, raises the bar in terms of your performance. These small steps over time will result in big gains for you both personally and professionally.

Bernice Ross, chief executive officer of RealEstateCoach.com, is a national speak-er, trainer and author of the National Asso-ciation of Realtors’ No. 1 best-seller, Real Estate Dough: Your Recipe for Real Estate Success. Hear Bernice’s five-minute daily real estate show, just named “new and notable” by iTunes, at www.RealEstate-CoachRadio.com. She can be reached at [email protected] or @BRoss on Twitter.

REALTOR®

Review l 8 l fall 2012

Janet Branton, National Association of REALTORS® senior vice president of global business & alliances con-gratulates 2012 TICOR Chair Mike Humphreys during the international dinner in Orlando in November.

The National Association of REALTORS® named the Triangle International Council of REALTORS® a Silver Council in the 2012 Global Business Council Achieve-ment Program.

“On behalf of the 240,000 REALTOR® members rep-resented by global business councils across the country, we thank you for your efforts and congratulate you on your achievement,” said Janet Branton, senior vice pres-ident of the National Association of REALTORS® Global Business and Alliances Group.

Mike Humphreys, MBA, MRICS, CIPS, is the 2012 TICOR chair.

neighbors helping neighbors

REALTORS® Celebrate by Giving

International Council Wins Silver Status

Members of the Community Service Committee of the REALTOR® Foundation of the Triangle volunteer at the Shepherd’s Table Food Kitchen in Raleigh with some new friends. From left are volunteer Susannah DeBenedetto; committee members Denise Stevenson and Bob McKeel; Shepherd’s Table staff member Uchenna Nwoko; and committee members Shruti Desai, Kathleen Yllanes, Harrison Tulloss and Ben Wills.

REALTOR®

Review l 9 l fall 2012

SOCIAL MEDIA LAUNCHES

Six Business- Friendly Features

BY KATIE LANCE

1. Facebook’s pages only feed lets you see a feed of the business pages you’ve “liked” in the past. Go to the pages feed for a newsfeed view without your friend updates.

2. Facebook’s job board app is a big move and possibly an important new revenue stream. Looking to add to your team? Check out the new board. Will this give LinkedIn a run for its money? Only time will tell. success so far! Now, each Insta-

gram photo has its own link, and you can access those links with-out going through a third-party application. This makes it even easier to “pin” your Instagram photos to Pinterest.

5. Pinterest’s secret boards make it possible to collaborate in a private forum – a great way for real estate agents to connect with buyers in search of their dream home.

6. Pinterest’s business pag-es feature makes it easy to convert Pinterest pages to business pages.

It looks like more tools for busi-nesses will be rolled out in the future, but for now Pinterest of-fers features such as: website verification and widgets for your website. It’s interesting to note that its terms of service have also been simplified.

Instagram and Pinterest are two of the fastest-growing social media

platforms, so it’s no surprise that they are taking their platforms to the next level with these updates. Facebook is under the gun to bring in new revenue sources, so it will be interesting to see if its new job board and gifts features will be the answers investors are looking for.

Facebook’s job board app

Pinterest’s business pages

Instagram’s web profiles

3. Facebook’s Gifts is a way to share with, and give gifts to, your Facebook friends. This seems like it would be an easy way to send gifts to your clients quickly and easily – all through Facebook.

4. Instagram’s web profiles look Facebook-ish (no surprise), but I love the clean look and how the headers rotate. It is incredible that this app has had so much

Either way, it’s an amazing time we are in. I truly believe this is the dawn of social media, and we have barely scratched the sur-face of what social media really means for businesses – especially in the real estate industry.

I would love to know your thoughts about these new changes – post a comment for me below!

Katie Lance is a featured contributor of InmanNext, chief strategist for Inman News and chief executive officer and owner of Katie Lance Consulting. She is passionate about all things social, from the direct impact it can have on an agent’s success to the powerful community social media has enabled in real estate. You can connect with Katie on Facebook at http://facebook.com/KatieLanceConsulting and on Twitter at @KatieLance.

REALTOR®

Review l 10 l fall 2012

BY ALI MALDOFF

Pinterest is arguably one of the most enjoyable of the new social media platforms, with gorgeous visuals, a simplified posting and sharing process, as well as an intuitive way to categorize your collection.

Yes, it’s true, you can lose an hour or two in a rabbit hole of de-licious-looking recipes or dreamy home decor, but the seeming ease-of-use that Pinterest has should not be overlooked for business purposes. This simplicity is, in fact, what lends itself so well to communicating a brand mes-sage in a complete and meaning-ful way.

Pinterest is a great way to give potential clients a glimpse into what your brand stands for be-yond just the great service you provide. If you are ready to dip your toe into the wonderful world of Pinterest, here are three easy steps to get you on the right track.

1. Know your messagePinterest is a visual represen-

tation of your brand so before you begin, know first what you are trying to say.

Are you always the first to know about a new neighborhood hot spot? Do you have the lifestyle of the young professional and what appeals to them completely fig-ured out? Great, start there!

At the luxury real estate compa-ny where I work, Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, our brand message communicates excel-

lence in service, product and lifestyle so everything we add or share on Pinterest is filtered through that lens. Ideally, this same message would be consis-tent with the rest of your social media platforms (Facebook, Twit-ter, etc.).

2. Think outside the box

As you set up your pin boards, you will begin to see that there are some standard catego-ries you want to cover, for exam-ple, your listings. But push your-

Pinterest 101 Strategy in 3 Easy Steps

REALTOR®

Review l 11 l fall 2012

self to go beyond the obvious and add something that shows a little twist on your brand message.

which helps to sum up the life-style in each area, as well as our Chestnut Park Green board, which is a collection of interest-ing and beautiful things in our company’s signature green color.

3. Link, link, link!This is where Pinterest for

personal use and Pinterest for business use deviate. If you are using Pinterest as a means to drive traffic back to your website or blog (which you most definite-ly should be!), then any image you post to your boards should

include a link that takes follow-ers back to the full story. This means making sure that there is a visual component to all of your blog posts going forward so that you can ensure easy sharing to Pinterest.

Ali Maldoff is the social media manager for Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, On-tario’s leading luxury brokerage based in Toronto, Canada. She is responsible for de-veloping and implementing the company’s social media strategy, developing brand awareness through The Chestnut Park Blog and managing daily engagement on its various social media platforms includ-ing Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Google Plus and of course, Pinterest.

This simplicity is, in fact, what lends itself so well to communi-cating a brand message in a complete and meaningful way.

Pinterest 101 Strategy in 3 Easy Steps

For the Chestnut Park account, this includes our style boards in each of our markets (Muskoka, Collingwood, City and Country),

REALTOR®

Review l 12 l fall 2012

REALTOR® volunteers worked side by side with Meadow Creek residents to improve landscap-ing, provide fencing, a pet waste station, irrigation system repairs and more as part of the 2012 RE-ALTOR® Foundation of the Trian-gle R.E.A.P Project on Saturday, Nov. 3.

R.E.A.P stands for REALTORS® Enhancing Area Properties and aligns with the REALTOR® Foun-dation’s overall mission of “Im-proving Homes and Improving Lives.” R.E.A.P. is funded in part

by a grant provided by Homes 4NC and charged with having a meaningful impact on the day-to-day life of a community with at least 125 residents.

“More than 100 volunteers worked together for community good, and now Meadow Creek residents can ‘reap’ the benefits,” said Mark Connor, co-chair of the REALTOR® Foundation’s Housing Opportunity Subcommittee and past president of Homes 4NC.

“We were excited about the

Meadow Creek Residents “R.E.A.P.” Benefits of Beautification Project

neighbors helping neighbors

REALTOR®

Review l 13 l fall 2012

“These residents take

pride in homeownership

and are so deserving

of this valiant effort.

It is an honor to serve

and enhance the quality

of life for others.”Mark Connor, Co-Chair,

REALTOR® Foundation Housing Opportunity Subcommittee

opportunity to help beautify the Meadow Creek neighborhood of Raleigh. These residents take pride in homeownership and are so deserving of this valiant effort. It is an honor to serve and enhance the quality of life for others,” Con-nor said.

Special thanks to all the R.E.A.P. volunteers and to Junk Patrol, a lo-cal junk-removal company, which participated by hauling away worksite debris and unwanted items.

BY TERESA BOARDMAN

As REALTORS®, we need to stay on top of housing issues, and just about every social issue can become a housing issue.

Aging is an example of an issue that affects housing, yet seems to be barely on our radar, as we continue to work through short sales and foreclosures and work hard to attract first-time home buyers.

Boomers Will Need Your Help to “Age in Place”

Retiring and moving to a warmer climate or an apartment isn’t for everyone. There are more people who want to age in place. Aging in place is about staying put or getting rid of the huge house in the ’burbs and moving into some-thing smaller after the children leave home.

Some of us plan to continue working until we are well over 70, if possible, and want to live in areas where there is work. I remember working with a couple who were in their 70s who want-ed to move into a smaller home with fewer steps and a smaller yard or no yard at all. When I suggested 55-plus housing, they told me they did not want to live with old people.

They ended up buying a one-story condo near downtown. They are now in their mid-80s and stay-ing put. It’s cost-effective for them to stay put, as their home is paid for. But they need some services due to health problems. They get Meals On Wheels and are us-ing the block nurse program and some housekeeping services.

Last year, after having trouble with their car, they gave up driv-ing. They order their groceries over the Internet and have them delivered. They are able to get most of what they need through the Internet.

They can walk to the local farm-ers market and local restaurants. They use a combination of cabs, rides from relatives and walking to get around and have access to public transportation.

You will sometimes hear of a neighborhood or building where a large segment of the residents are older adults who intend to

REALTOR®

Review l 14 l fall 2012

spend the rest of their lives there referred to as a “naturally occur-ring retirement community,” or NORC.

Instead of seniors moving to places where there are more ser-vices, the services come to them; there are nonprofit organizations cropping up to help seniors age in place. These are partnerships be-tween the private sector, churches and the public services. They be-come the go-to place for finding services. Some services are ex-pensive, and others are free.

As a REALTOR®, I have learned to not make too many assump-tions about how or where people want to live based on their age. Each person is unique, and there isn’t any cookie-cutter approach to retirement or aging.

This year, I have had the plea-sure of working with older couples who plan to retire in place and who decided to move into the city where they can get more services and live in a smaller home that is closer to work.

The neighborhood I live in has an above-average percentage of people in their 80s. Many of these

people are still in the same home they were in 40 years ago.

It isn’t all pretty. More than 60 percent of the seniors in my com-munity are living alone – many with no transportation. Depres-sion and loneliness are common challenges.

It is more expensive to live alone, and some seniors look for roommates, which is also creating a cottage industry of companies and individuals who find compatible roommates for seniors. Economics may also trig-ger a demand for multigenera-tional housing and agents who can help families who want to live together.

When it is time to sell the home, it is because the senior who lives in the NORC has moved to a nursing home or some kind of as-sisted living – or has died. The REALTOR® usually ends up work-ing with the family of the seller. As agents, we can market our services to the families, and they are looking for help.

Agents working on their 2013 business plans might want to do some research on senior housing and senior housing issues in their neighborhoods or areas of busi-ness. There might be some oppor-tunities that other agents are not pursuing as they focus on first-time home buyers and those move-up buyers who used to be more com-mon during the housing boom.

At the very least, all real estate agents need to be familiar with “NORC” and should also under-stand the migration patterns and demographics in their own com-munity. The NORC movement is likely to pick up steam as boomers age, and it will generate oppor-tunities for real estate agents.

Teresa Boardman is a REALTOR® for Saint Paul Home Realty in St. Paul, Minn. She blogs at StPaulRealEstateBlog.com and she is an avid photographer. Her blog displays thousands of her photos.

I have had the pleasure of

working with older couples

who plan to retire in place

and who decided to

move into the city

where they can get

more services and

live in a smaller

home that is

closer to work.

REALTOR®

Review l 15 l fall 2012

REALTOR®

Review l 16 l fall 2012

A RESEARCH TOOL PROVIDED BY TRIANGLE MLS

2011 2012 + / – 2011 2012 + / –

New Listings 2,671 2,986 + 11.8% 33,672 33,863 + 0.6%

Closed Sales 1,500 1,966 + 31.1% 16,743 20,043 + 19.7%

Median Sales Price* $183,000 $187,990 + 2.7% $185,000 $189,450 + 2.4%

Average Sales Price* $215,456 $223,785 + 3.9% $223,586 $225,883 + 1.0%

Total Dollar Volume (in millions)* $322.0 $439.4 + 36.5% $3,738.0 $4,519.5 + 20.9%

Percent of Original List Price Received* 92.1% 93.4% + 1.5% 92.0% 93.5% + 1.7%

Percent of List Price Received* 95.8% 96.6% + 0.9% 96.1% 96.5% + 0.4%

Days on Market Until Sale 126 118 - 6.6% 126 120 - 4.9%

Inventory of Homes for Sale 16,294 12,599 - 22.7% -- -- --

Months Supply of Inventory 10.0 6.6 - 34.3% -- -- --

+ 11.8% + 31.1% + 2.7%Change in

New ListingsChange in

Closed SalesChange in

Median Sales PriceEntire Triangle Region

Local Market Update – October 2012

* Does not account for seller concessions. | Activity for one month can sometimes look extreme due to small sample size.

October Year to Date

33 863

Year to Date 2011 2012

2 986

October 2011 2012

** Each dot represents the change in median sales price from the prior year using a 6-month weighted average. This means that each of the 6 months used in a dot are proportioned according to their share of sales during that period | Current as of November 10 2012 All data from Triangle Multiple Listing Service Inc | Powered by 10K Research and Marketing

Entire Triangle Region

All MLS

- 8%

- 6%

- 4%

- 2%

0%

+ 2%

+ 4%

+ 6%

+ 8%

+ 10%

1-2008 7-2008 1-2009 7-2009 1-2010 7-2010 1-2011 7-2011 1-2012 7-2012

Change in Median Sales Price from Prior Year (6-Month Average)** b

a

33,672

16,743

33,863

20,043

New Listings Closed Sales+ 19.7%+ 0.6%

2,671

1,500

2,986

1,966

New Listings Closed Sales+ 31.1%+ 11.8%

share of sales during that period. | Current as of November 10, 2012. All data from Triangle Multiple Listing Service, Inc.. | Powered by 10K Research and Marketing.

For further information regarding TMLS Market Trends and Analysis please visit: www.TriangleMLS.com

REALTOR®

Review l 17 l fall 2012

A RESEARCH TOOL PROVIDED BY TRIANGLE MLS

2011 2012 + / – 2011 2012 + / –

New Listings 1,380 1,512 + 9.6% 17,438 17,501 + 0.4%

Closed Sales 840 1,119 + 33.2% 8,950 11,075 + 23.7%

Median Sales Price* $205,000 $212,888 + 3.8% $207,500 $213,500 + 2.9%

Average Sales Price* $244,898 $253,279 + 3.4% $246,068 $250,448 + 1.8%

Total Dollar Volume (in millions)* $205.7 $283.2 + 37.7% $2,202.2 $2,772.8 + 25.9%

Percent of Original List Price Received* 92.8% 94.7% + 2.0% 92.8% 94.6% + 2.0%

Percent of List Price Received* 96.6% 97.4% + 0.8% 96.6% 97.2% + 0.6%

Days on Market Until Sale 124 104 - 16.1% 122 112 - 7.6%

Inventory of Homes for Sale 7,686 5,423 - 29.4% -- -- --

Months Supply of Inventory 8.8 5.1 - 42.0% -- -- --

+ 9.6% + 33.2% + 3.8%Change in

New ListingsChange in

Closed SalesChange in

Median Sales PriceWake County

Local Market Update – October 2012

* Does not account for seller concessions. | Activity for one month can sometimes look extreme due to small sample size.

October Year to Date

17 438 17 501

Year to Date 2011 2012

1 3801,512

October 2011 2012

** Each dot represents the change in median sales price from the prior year using a 6-month weighted average. This means that each of the 6 months used in a dot are proportioned according to their share of sales during that period | Current as of November 10 2012 All data from Triangle Multiple Listing Service Inc | Powered by 10K Research and Marketing

Wake County

All MLS

- 10%

- 5%

0%

+ 5%

+ 10%

+ 15%

1-2008 7-2008 1-2009 7-2009 1-2010 7-2010 1-2011 7-2011 1-2012 7-2012

Change in Median Sales Price from Prior Year (6-Month Average)** b

a

17,438

8,950

17,501

11,075

New Listings Closed Sales+ 23.7%+ 0.4%

1,380

840

1,119

New Listings Closed Sales+ 33.2%+ 9.6%

share of sales during that period. | Current as of November 10, 2012. All data from Triangle Multiple Listing Service, Inc.. | Powered by 10K Research and Marketing.

For further information regarding TMLS Market Trends and Analysis please visit: www.TriangleMLS.com

The following are new Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® members who joined during the third quarter:

Jonathan R. Abel, Keller Williams RealtyMary Ann Adams, Fonville Morisey/Jeanne Hendren Realty Group

Lubna Akhtar, Fonville Morisey/ Preston Sales Office

Michele Alexander, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor

Janet S. Allen, Prudential York Simpson Underwood Realty

Lisa M. Baker, Fonville Morisey/Lochmere Sales Office

Edward D. Barnes III, Fonville Morisey/ Lochmere Sales Office

Pamela H. Beebe, Fonville Morisey/Preston Sales Office

Mahvash Benjamin, Raleigh Cary Realty Inc.Stacy L. Bennett, Keller WilliamsEmily Bennett, BB&TKyle Bishop, Dan Ryan Builders North Carolina, L.L.C.

Joyce A. Boals, Fonville Morisey & BarefootChris Bonfiglio, Coldwell Banker AdvantageChimene M. Booty, Selling DirectlyDawn L. Bordeaux, Home Coach of the TriangleMichael Bottoms, Dan Ryan Builders North Carolina, L.L.C.

Eddie Bryant, Fifth Third MortgageMark D. Bullard, Wieland Properties Inc.Treasea B. Bunch, Keller WilliamsLaura M. Cash, Salem Street RealtyJudith Lynn Celemen, Carolina MaxRealty Inc.Jeffrey M. Charbonneau, Freedom Realty FirmSusan Coombs, HomeTowne RealtyFrances Crawford, Omni Realty GroupRick Dail, Primary Residential MortgageBryce A. Daniel, Howard Perry & Walston- Triangle at Southpoint

Stacy J. Danzey, Go RealtyRalf P. Degle, Fonville Morisey/Brier Creek Sales Office

David P. DiProfio, Freedom Realty FirmThomas G. Doane, Regan & Co.Wendy C. Dudka, Selling DirectlyDeborah A. Dunevant, Standard Pacific Carolinas, L.L.C.

Scott N. Dunham, Scott Dunham Real EstateEmefa A. Dzotsi, Howard Perry & Walston RealtorAmanda D. Edwards, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor

Alan W. Ext, Fonville Morisey/Stonehenge Sales Office

Robert B. Ezzell, Howard Perry & Walston RealtorCarol F. Feeley, Howard Perry & Walston RealtorElizabeth G. Fortunato, Keller WilliamsDonald M. Foy, Howard Perry & Walston RealtorJason M. Galloway, Standard Pacific Carolinas, L.L.C.

Troy Gardner, Royal Park, RealtorsJihan H. Ghanayem, Triland Property

Aimee K. Gibbs, Chatham Homes RealtySora Given, Keller Williams RealtyKyle G. Gramling, Fonville Morisey/ Preston Sales Office

Jeffrey S. Graves, Allen Tate Co. Inc.David Hargrove, Fathom Realty, LLCMichael Harkins, Keller Williams RealtyDaniel E. Harmon, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor

Giovanna Hewitt, Go RealtyDouglas B. Hill, Fonville Morisey/ Preston Sales Office

Rusty Hollifield Jr., Prudential York Simpson Underwood Realty

Edward A. Holmes, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor

David H. Horne, Fonville Morisey/ Preston Sales Office

Theresa S. Horne, Theresa HorneJonnie M. Jacquez, Fonville Morisey/ Lochmere Sales Office

Barry Jones, Keller Williams PreferredKelley S. Keats, Allen Tate Co. Inc.Jason Keller, Howard Perry & Walston RealtorElizabeth L. Kempton, Fonville Morisey/ Stonehenge Sales Office

Lauren Kennedy, Keller Williams PreferredShelby Keon, Keller Williams RealtyAli A. Khorram, Pan Realty, LLCKeith Knippenberg, Linda Craft & Team, REALTORS

Chris E. Kornegay Sr., Howard Perry & Walston Realtor

Donna A. Krivda, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor

Kenneth W. Lawrence, Champion Realty Inc.Kimmy Le, Re/Max One RealtyChrista M. Ledger, Allen Tate Co./Cary-SearstoneWilliam D. Lee, Fonville Morisey & Barefoot/Bloomfield

Martha A. Lewis, Above All Real EstateCassondra Liles, Go RealtyLisa Long, Builders of HopeJeanne Lyons, Salem Street RealtyJudy L. Mack, Fonville Morisey/Lochmere Sales Office

Lauren Marcey, Howard Perry & Walston RealtorMarisol Marin, Triangle Realty SolutionsDonna M. McGarry, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor

Karen McHugh, Go RealtyM. Scott Mills, Goldens RealtyJeff Morrison, Howard Perry & Walston RealtorRichard P. Mosden, Allen Tate Co. Inc.Phyllis F. Moss, Re/Max UnitedLin Moy, Fonville Morisey/Lochmere Sales OfficeMelody M. Narla, The Downtown AgencyStephanie Narron, Re/Max One RealtyDaniel M. Ngandu, Keller Williams RealtyThai H. Nguyen, Champion Realty Inc.Richard Oliver, Keller Williams RealtyChristopher C. O’Shields, Raleigh Cary Realty Inc.

Melissa M. Papadopoulos, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor

Jung Park, Howard Perry & Walston RealtorRuth E. Payne, Howard Perry & Walston RealtorPatrick Pearce, Howard Perry & Walston RealtorLaura H. Pedersen, Fonville Morisey/Youngsville Sales Office

Christian R. Pendleton, Pinnacle Appraisal Group, L.L.C.

Denise S. Peoples, Fonville Morisey/Lochmere Sales Office

Cinque Peoples, CCI Professionals, L.L.C.Ashley L. Phillips, Howard Perry & Walston RealtorCheryl D. Pope, Toll Brothers Inc.Garlinda M. Price, Fusion Properties, L.L.C.Jennifer Proulx, Coldwell Banker AdvantageWendy Putnam, Swanger Properties, L.L.C.Randolph Reid, Howard Perry & Walston RealtorMyra L. Rice, A Dunn Deal RealtyPiedad L. Rogel, Fonville Morisey/Preston Sales Office

Niccole W. Rosin, Allen Tate Co. Inc.Carol H. Saavedra, Prime One RealtyReid C. Sanderson, Fonville Morisey/Preston Sales Office

Leah Saul, Keller Williams PreferredSabine Schwab, Howard Perry & Walston RealtorEdward K. Scoville, Allen Tate Co. Inc.Jerry B. Smiley, Howard Perry & Walston RealtorShannon Smith, Keller Williams Realty Chapel HillSuzan J. Smith, Fonville Morisey/ Lochmere Sales Office

Kevin H. Smith, Allen Tate Co. Inc.Christopher D. Smith, Keller Williams RealtyMark Steward, Allen Tate Co. Inc.Xiujuan Su, First Triangle Realty Inc.Jennifer L. Summers, Deal RealtySheilah A. Sutton, Keller Williams RealtySteven Swanger, Swanger Properties, LLCCynthia K. Tack, Allen Tate Co./Cary-SearstoneNoel Temple, Selling DirectlyDenise R. Thomas, Prudential York Simpson Underwood Realty

Carla S. Towns, Fonville Morisey/Stonehenge Sales Office

Alan D. Van Vliet, Howard Perry & Walston New Home

Mark K. Walchak, Royale RealtyKimberly Wallace, Allen Tate Co. Inc.Kenneth R. Walz, Falls RealtyPriscilla Warren, Suite TransitionsEmily S. Watts, Selling DirectlyJohn V. Wellons, Weichert REALTORS- Triangle Homes

Terri S. Wheeler, RiterugRyan D. Whitlock, Whitlock Residential Realty Group

Jimmie L. Williams, Big City Realty L.L.C.Steven M. Wilson, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor

Donald A. Wright, Bailey Wright RealtyFeng Xiao, First Triangle Realty Inc.

W E L C O M E N E W M E M B E R S !THIRD QUARTER 2012

If you would like to sponsor a new member orientation, please contact Betsy Ramsey at (919) 654-4500.

REALTOR®

Review l 18 l fall 2012

REALTOR®

Review l 19 l fall 2012

January1 Triangle MLS 1st quarter 2013 user fees due

Office closed for New Year’s Day

2 CE: Mandatory Update, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

CE: Elective: Client Level Negotiating, 1:30 pm. to 5:30 p.m.

9 RRAR Board of Directors, 9 a.m.

10 New Member Orientation, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

12 Inaugural Ball, Sheraton Imperial RTP, 6:30 p.m.

14 REALTOR® Foundation of the Triangle Meeting, 12:30 p.m.

15 Community Service Committee, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

16 Small Brokers Council, 8:45 p.m.

21 Office closed for Martin Luther King Day

23 Triangle International Council of REALTORS®, 11:30 a.m.

24 New Member Orientation, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Property Management Council, 11:30 a.m.

February6 Women’s Council of REALTORS®

Top Producer’s Council, 11:30 a.m.

7 New Member Orientation, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

13 RRAR Board of Directors, 9 a.m.

14 Valentine’s Day

19 Community Service Committee, 11:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.

20 CE: Mandatory Update, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Small Broker’s Council, 8:45 a.m.

CE: Broker-in-Charge Annual Review, 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

21 New Member Orientation, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, visit www.rrar.com

RRAReventsDecember6 New Member Orientation, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

RRAR Awards Ceremony, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Holiday Party, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

12 RRAR Board of Directors, 9 a.m.

CE: Mandatory Update, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

CE: For the Good of All: REALTOR® Code of Ethics, 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

20 New Member Orientation, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

21 Office closes, 1 p.m.

24-25Office closed for Christmas

31 RRAR 2013 membership dues are due

Deadline for National Association of REALTORS® code of ethics reporting

Office closes, 1 p.m.

Asa FlemingCordially Invites You to Attend the

Inaugural BallSaturday, January 12th

Social Hour Begins at 6pm

Sheraton Imperial Hotel4700 Emperor Boulevard

Durham, NC 27703

Black Tie Optional$50 Per Person

Please RSVP by January 4thas seating is limited.

To reserve a tablefor 8 or 10, please

contact Vicki Buckholzat 919-654-5400 or [email protected].

To register online, please visitwww.RRAR.com.www.RRAR.com.

Reserved hotel rooms available.Visit www.RRAR.com for details.

Entertainment by The Party Shakers