Sept 2013 Newsletter

The RACC Newsletter

REALTORS® Asso c ia t i on o f C i t rus County , I n c .

Inside this issue:

Convention Recap 1-4

Business Partner Show-case

6-7

RPAC 8-10

Florida Realtors® Leadership Academy

11

Aug. GMM 12

Realtor® Safety 13

Legal Q & A 14,16

Volume X, Issue 9 September 2013

This year by far was the best Florida

Realtors® Convention yet. The week

started off with over 500 Realtors®

participating in the REBAR Camp. What’s

this you ask, this is where throughout the

day where there are a total of 10

different breakout sessions that allows for

you to participate in open dialog on the

subject that you selected. Once the

session starts it lasts for a total of 20

minutes, at which time upon the conclusion

you then switch to the next session and so

on. You continue to do this for the course

of the day. What is great about this is it

is not instructor led by presentations, but

more on dialogue on the pro and cons of

the subject matter. This way you can hear

what other agents in different areas may

be utilizing the software, or whatever the

subject matter is about.

After the rebar camp, we gathered for the 59 ½ minute session where President Dean Asher set the stage for the week. Immediately following, was the YPN Reception. And boy was it a reception. The synergy in the room was dynamic and exciting. On Thursday, there were numerous YPN & WCR meetings and education sessions. Again, it was awesome to see the participation of the group and what energy it brought to the convention. While in committee meetings, and YPN and WCR events and education classes, the trade show opened. Even though the trade show was not as large as past years, they had great items to

share. Ask Donnie Bass, he won KISS Concert Tickets at one of the vendor booths. You will have to ask Donnie how the concert was. (I know he has pictures …) Anyway back to the convention. I participated in meetings most of the day, but one of the meetings I would like to share some of the discussion points. The committee was on forms and contracts, and I am pleased to say that the committee had recommended two additional forms that will be going to the executive committee for request of adoption. These will be additional disclosures that will only help with the new flood insurance, and negotiations.

Thursday evening after a long day, we all went to hear the band Chicago, what a great night and a lot of fun unwinding and networking.

On Free Friday, there was not a parking spot available. Florida Realtors® was claiming that over 2000 Agents in addition to those with full registration had come for the special day. During this time, again there were different education sessions, and committee meetings being held.

I must take a minute, to send a very special thank you to John Holloway Sr. for participating in the “train the trainer” session on the New Contracts that will be rolling out.

Did you miss the Florida Convention? No worries. Here is a recap…

The REALTORS® Association of Citrus County, Inc exists to inform, educate and uphold the high standards set forth in the REALTOR®

Code of Ethics enhancing our members professionalism and image while fostering cooperation among our members and serving our

communities. We provide education and leading-edge technology to better safeguard private property rights and promote equal housing

opportunities

Sept. GMM/Elections 17

Six “E’s” of Success 18-19

Habitat For Humanity 20-22

MLS Stats 23

Citrus Lending 24

Tech Times 25

Education Flyers 26-34

Business Partners 36

On the Move 37

Warnings & fines 38

Calendar 39

Form Simplicity 35

Page 2

John took the time to participate in this four hour session so that he can bring it back to you, the membership. The contract classes are scheduled for September 5 from 9 – Noon and 1-4. Make your reservation today. Saturday, we began the day with more meetings and the last of the education sessions. And finally wrapping the day with our District Caucus to discuss the new 2014 Florida Realtors® President, Sherri Meadows and her agenda for next year. 2014 will be a strong and membership centric Leadership Team. They have such synergy and truly work collectively as a team. (Together we Effectively Achieve More), and that I truly believe will be the case next year. Stay tuned for the big induction of President Sherri Meadows in January, as she will be the second Florida Realtors® President to serve from our district. Then onto the RPAC Jamboree where they raised over $13,000.00 through live and silent auctions throughout the evening.

Sunday at the Board of Directors Meeting, we had

the opportunity to vote for the new officers serving

for 2014, bylaw changes, and finally the 2013

Florida Realtors® Leadership Academy class

project –Organ Donation. Awareness was voted in

for adoption to support the cause and be backed

by Florida Realtors®. Boy was that a busy but

wonderful week. I encourage you all to reach out

to those who participated in different education

classes, and meetings to find out what they learned.

Keep an eye out for Tomika and Kim, our YPN Co-Chairs for new education/webinars courses to be added to the calendar, and the YPN events that they are putting together. Again, I cannot stress enough, to see John Holloway Sr. presenting the new contract, and for the TECH TALK sessions that will be back on the calendar monthly for the remaining of the year, not to exclude RACC’s very

own 2nd annual Rebar camp being scheduled for January.

Now for an update on our membership business. I hope I kept my promise to you from last month’s newsletter, about great news; and if you do not know; we have entered into a new lockbox contract – SUPRA. I am so excited about what a wonderful job the PAG committee did with the negotiations and recommendation to the Board of Directors. And for the Support of the Board Directors with moving forward with solidifying the deal by passing the vote of the committee’s recommendation. Great Job everyone. So what does this mean to you? With the new lockboxes, this will allow for us to go and show property without worrying about trying to get a key for that particular county. This allows for you, the membership, to have ease of use and hopefully by saving you time, allowing for more sales. I encourage you all to say Thank you to your Board and the PAG Committee members, Sherri Orendorf, Greg Younger, Sarah Spencer, Barbara Banks, Karen Cunningham and Bonnie Rosenberger.

At the end of the month I was asked to participate in the as a Stake Holder for Citrus County in the Duke Energy Stake Holder Meeting, as this was the first discussion about the future decommission of the Crystal River Nuclear Plant (CR3). During this meeting there was much discussion about the steps being taken, the time frame for the decommission, the impact to the community, and the public safety.

There was also discussion about the additional charges that were collected from customers over the years to purchase additional equipment for the repair of CR3, so being that the decision was

Page 3

Social Media Safety Tips Don’t Give Away Passwords Consider this: One way that hackers manage to crack personal passwords is by search-ing Facebook for easy answers. They know they may find answers to common security questions such as “What high school did you attend?” and “What are the names of your children?” So keep information about family members, household details, and past events to a minimum in order to help prevent this.

Guard Against Identity Theft These days, anyone can find all kinds of personal information about anyone else. That doesn’t mean you have to make it easy! For example, if you who want to post your birthday, don’t include the year. (And delete any public comments that indicate their exact age.)

to decommission; they are in the process of developing

the asset recovery team in which they will try to

redeploy equipment purchased and give back to the

customers. I have asked Phyllis Dixon, Decommission

Support Manager, and Terry Hobbs, Decommissioning

Director if they would like to come to our November

Meeting to present to all of you. So plan on attending

the November meeting scheduled November 14 at

11:30 a.m.

Next, our annual meeting, I wanted to take a minute to

explain once more the request to change a bylaw in

regards to standing committees. With the ever

changing times, the Board of Directors is requesting

that some of the committees come out of the bylaws

and be placed in policy and procedures. This will

allow for the Committees to be adjusted based on the

need and direction of the Realtors® Association of

Citrus County. By not having these as standing

committees, will allow for more project centric

committees to be formed that may not need to be a

full year. By doing this will assist in better

participations based on what all of you may want to

be involved in without the worries of a full year

commitment.

And finally, the voting in of the new directors and

officers. The nomination committee spent an afternoon

interviewing the candidates and named the

recommended slate of directors and officers. I

must thank those who submitted applications,

and participated. For those who were not

selected, please know that every single one of

you qualified for the roles you had applied for.

It is unfortunate that we were limited this year

with seats available, however there is always

next year. So I encourage you to try again,

and continue to support and participate in the

different committees, as we so appreciate

everything you do for the association.

As a reminder, remember to make reservations,

as Lunch will be provided for FREE as this is our

annual meeting September 12, 2013 at 11:30

a.m. By Making reservations will allow us to

make sure there is plenty of food for everyone.

Keep an eye out as you never know when there

may be more news coming out, or a call to

action.

See you then!!

Respectfully,

Cheryl

Page 4

Florida Realtors Convention

KISS Concert

Tami Scott had their

picture taken with them.

It pays to go to the

Florida Realtors Annual

Convention. Not only do

you have the chance to

attend State Committee

Meetings, awesome

Education Classes and a

great Trade Show...there

are also tons of fun

networking events like

the RPAC Jamboree,

WCR Banquet, Awards

Luncheon, Concerts and

more.

YPN (Young

Professionals Network)

Chairs Tomika Spires-

Hanssen and Kim Fuller

attended the YPN Events.

They learned a lot and

had fun doing it!

Members who attended

the awards luncheon had

the opportunity to hear

from the Property

Brothers, Tyler Vaughn,

Bonnie Rosenberger and

While attending the Florida Realtors Convention, Donnie Bass won free tickets to the KISS Concert. Donnie will also tell you that networking pays off. After meeting some new friends at the Convention, he was also able to upgrade his seats to front row and secure backstage passes. Way to go Donnie!!

Were you unable to attend the Florida Realtors Convention? Objections, 50 Apps in 50 Minutes, YPN Panel: Bridging the Gap, Marketing Mondays and so much more!

Don't worry! Visit http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/2013-Ed-Session-Handouts.cfm

for handouts to all the classes!! Some of the classes presented were: Putting your iPad to

work, Goal Setting, Rock You Blog, Niches means Riches, The Perfect Real Estate Days, YPN (Young Professionals Network) Top Producers, Overcoming

Page 5

Does Your License Expire 9/30/2013? Remember, there are two (2) parts to renewing your license:

1) pay the renewal fee and

2) Education (14hours or 45 if it is your first renewal).

Please remember that 3 of the 14 hours MUST be Core Law. You can find out how many hours you have by visiting www.myfloridalicense.com or calling the DBPR at 850.487.1395 For your convenience, RACC offers lots of CE courses throughout the year.

The 10-Second Rule One of the most common reasons that people find them-selves in dangerous situations is that they weren’t paying attention. Take a few precious seconds during the course of your day to assess your surroundings. Take 2 seconds when you arrive at your destination. • Is there any questionable activity in the area? • Are you parked in a well-lit, visible location? • Can you be blocked in the driveway by a prospect’s vehicle? Take 2 seconds after you step out of your car. • Are there suspicious people around? • Do you know exactly where you’re going? Take 2 seconds as you walk towards your destination. • Are people coming and going or is the area unusually quiet? • Do you observe any obstacles or hiding places in the parking lot or along the street? • Is anyone loitering in the area?

“In September we will

make the change to the

Supra Lockboxes”

Broker Roundtable Event In September we will make the change to the Supra Lockboxes. All members will be notified of a date and time they can come to the Association to switch their keys. If you have any ques-tions please call 746-7550.

In August Brokers, Office Managers and Administra-tive assistants were invited to attend a Broker Roundtable. At the event President Cheryl Lambert discussed highlights of significant changes to the FAR/BAR Contract, new member benefit RPR and the Supra Lockbox Conversion.

The day after the Broker Roundtable event, all mem-bers received an email cov-ering these items as well.

RPR is now available to our members. We will offer 2 webinars and 2 live train-ings, please watch the calen-dar for these dates.

Take 2 seconds at the door. • Do you have an uneasy feeling as you’re walking in? • Is someone following you in? Take 2 seconds as soon as you enter your destination. • Does anything seem out of place? • Is anyone present who shouldn’t be there or who isn’t expected? Safety in Just 10 Seconds

It takes just 10 seconds to scope out your surroundings and spot and avoid danger. Make this “ten-second scan” a habit in your everyday work as a Real Estate Professional Then share it with someone else.

(Source: “What You Can Do About Safety,” REALTOR® Magazine, Sep-tember 2000. Courtesy Night Owl/Vector Security, Landover, MD.)

This article is part of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®’ REALTOR® Safety Resources Kit.

Page 6

and RACC Office

Page 7

Statesmen’s Award ($500+)

Bonnie Rosenberger

Capital Club ($250+)

Gitta Barth Linda Cridland Cheryl Lambert

Tami Mayer Cheryl Nadal Debbie Scott

Gene Wade Greg Younger

$99 Club

Roy Bass Karen Baxley Gary Baxley Linda Bega

Debi Beltz Theresa Boozer David Bramblett Joe Cappuccilli

Mark Casper John Conroy Barry Cook Gail Cooper

Brogan Cunningham Karen Cunningham Sally Cure

CJ Dixon Ali Endicott Stephan Finegan Jason Gaffney

Robin Hite Kathie Jarrett Nancy Jenks Holly Jones

Bob Kane James Ledsome Marco Macaisa Lori Mendoza

Dick Naylor Sherri Parker Kelley Paul Marilyn Pearson Adams

Dennis Pilon Deb Rector Myriam Reulen Monica Saldarriaga

Jack Schofield Tasia Seijas Sarah Spencer Katie Spires

Scott Stevens Trista Stokes Deb Tannery Peggy Taylor

Jane Tessmer Rob Tessmer Jr Susan Troy Jim Wade

Jacqui Watkins Ray Wernicke Nancy Wheeler John Wheeler

Page 8

All other Donors

Gary Altman Bonita Amonte Nancy Ayres Gary Ayres

Wim Berndsen Laura Bickford Ryan Bishara Ben Branch

Jerry Brinkman Vinny Brown Brenda Buta Natalia Carey

Hazel Carlson Karen Carnes Annette Carr Kathy Chapman

Fred Clark Mickey Cridland Kevin Cunningham Jackie Davis

Kim DeVane Richie DeVita Jennifer Duca Sherry Edwards

Megan Ennis Cat Farrell Tracy Fero Jim Ferrara

John Finley Sarah Fitts Jack Fleming Todd Freeman

Sue Fullerton Susan Gatto Jeyte Gilson Mary Gulling

Melonie Haag Bob Hard Lori Haussey Bob Hedick

Jodie Holder Marvia Korol Peter Korol Allison Koster

Tonya Kramer Lorelie LeBrun Rhonda Lestinsky Cindy Lewis

Ron Lieberman Dennis Loger John Maisel Sharon Malm

Carl Manucci John Marqua Gwen Martone Ron McEvoy

CJ McNeil Karen Morton Dene Moyer Becky Norman

Teri Paduano Tony Pauelsen Mary Petrucci Candy Phillips

Anne Pope Betty Powell Peggy Price Randy Rand

Jenice Reichenbach Bob Ringo Doris Rodriguez Karen Ropes

Amanda Rowthorn George Rusaw Martha Sather Tami Scott

Melissa Seney Charlene Sestito Gailen Spinka Tomika Spires Hanssen

Barry Stafford Nancy Stumpf Eric Swart Rob Tessmer Sr

Lisa VanDeBoe Steve Varnadoe Tyler Vaughn Sally Wade

LaWanda Watts Ruth Wedeman Ed Weeks Paul Wikle

Dorothy Williams Nancy Wilson Todd Workman

Page 9

Page 10

Page 11

The Florida Realtors Leadership Academy Class of 2013 is bringing important awareness to such a vitally important program. As Realtors we make positive impacts on families lives all the time, but what if you could save a life. Sign up today! You may save up to 8 lives through organ donation and enhance many others through tissue donation. Last year alone, organ donors made more than 28,000 transplants possible. Another one million people received cornea and other tissue transplants that helped them recover from trauma, bone damage, spinal injuries, burns, hearing impairment and vision loss. For more info visit: https://www.facebook.com/FRdonatelife/info

Page 12

August General Membership Meeting of Free Friday to visit the Trade Show and network

with Agents from across the

State.

Margy Grant, VP of Florida Realtors General Counsel was the first guest speaker of the day. Margy updated the Members with a summary of contract changes that will take effect in September and explained that the forms are revised every three years. www.floridarealtors.org.

The August General Membership Meeting

provided a full agenda for

over 70 Realtors, Business

Partners and guests. After

calling the meeting to order,

all the Business Partners were given the opportunity

to stand up and introduce

themselves before President

Elect Greg Younger inducted

our new members.

Congratulations and

welcome to RACC Gene Beghtel~ Coldwell Banker

Next Generation Realty,

Sara Denny~ ERA American Realty, Audere Inman-Boll~

EXP Realty, Kristina Kydd~

Bayside Realty, Judy Long~

Hometown Realty, William

Poletz~ EXIT Realty Leaders,

Gloria Reagan~ Plantation Realty, Frances Swain~

Tropic Shores and Mary

Wallis~ Plantation Realty.

Next President Cheryl

Lambert took a few moments

to encourage members who

could not attend the entire Florida Realtors Convention

to at least take advantage

Megan Ennis of Citrus Lending was the Business Partner of the month. Randy Rand was the lucky winner of the $50 gift certificate to Outback. Dennis Loger, Sarah Spencer, Vinny Brown, Donnie Bass, Rob Tessmer Jr, Karen Morton, Tyler Vaughn, Deb Rector, Deb Thompson, Debi Beltz, Gloria Reagan

“Margy updated the

Members with a

summary of contract

changes that will take

effect in

September “

discussed the proposed Bylaw changes that will be voted on at the September meeting. Members of the Affordable Housing Committee (Habitat Golf Tournament) collected donations to purchase items that will be placed in rolling coolers and raffled off at the Golf Tournament on Oc-tober 6, 2013. A huge thanks to everyone who opened your wallets and make a donation!!

Vince Cautero, Citrus County Development Services

Director was the last speaker

of the day. Vince spoke

about the postponed meet-

ing regarding the 491

Project since the County is still working with property

owners at this time. Vince

also stated the Vacant

Registry Ordinance is in the

final stages, this ordinance is

intended for homes owned

by a lending institution after

the foreclosure process. Members also learned that

the Suncoast 2 Parkway will

most likely not break ground

until 2014, the state is in the

process of acquiring

property and the proposed interchanges are creating a

lot of discussions.

President Cheryl took a moment to thank the Nominating Committee for their hard work regarding the slate of 2014 Officers and Directors. Cheryl also

Margy also warned against advertising other Agents listings and recommended everyone read the featured article in the next Florida Realtor Magazine regarding this issue and to view the Legal Take 5 Video on www.floridarealtors.org.

Debra Burden, Water Conservation Coordinator discussed water conservation, a copy of her power point is available at http://www.raccfl.com/library.php?display=17

and Sherri Parker all won flower centerpieces. Thanks

Megan for all the door

prizes!

Lastly, Peter Korol had a chance to draw for the Queen of Hearts; unfortu-nately he drew the 6 of hearts. Next month’s drawing will be worth $40.

Randy Poletz, Judy Long, Gloria Reagan, Mary Wallis, Kristy Kydd,

Gene Beghtel, Audere Inman– Boll, Fran Swain & Sara Denny

Page 13

In showing a property, always leave the front door un-locked for a quick exit while you and the client are inside. As you enter each room, stand near the door.

It is better to not display purses while at a property. Lock your purse in the car trunk before you arrive. Carry only non-valuable business items (except for your cell phone), and do not wear expensive jewelry or watches, or appear to be carrying large sums of money.

Park at the curb in front of the property rather than in the driveway. You will attract much more attention running and screaming to the curb area. It is much easier to escape in your vehicle if you don't have to back out of a driveway. Besides, parked in a driveway, another vehicle could pur-posefully or accidentally trap you.

(Sources: Louisiana REALTORS® Association; Washington Real Estate Safety Council; City of Albuquerque, NM; Nevada County Association of

REALTORS®; City of Mesa, AZ) Visit NAR’s REALTOR® Safety Web site at www.REALTOR.org/Safety

Showing Properties the Safe Way When you are showing an empty property, you can take these simple steps to empower yourself against attack or theft.

Be sure to use the lockbox property-key procedure that has been established to improve real estate agent safety. A reliable, se-cure lockbox system such as those made by REALTOR Benefits® Program partner SentriLock (www.sentrilock.com) ensures that keys don’t fall into the wrong hands.

Show properties before dark. If you are going to be working after hours, advise your associate or first-line supervisor of your schedule. If you must show a property after dark, turn on all lights as you go through, and don't lower any shades or draw curtains or blinds.

Try and call the office once an hour to let people know where you are.

If you think it may be some time before a property sells (and you may, therefore, be showing it often), get acquainted with a few of the immediate neighbors. You will feel better knowing they know your vehicle, and they will feel better about the stranger (you) who frequently visits their neighborhood.

Prepare a scenario so that you can leave, or encourage someone who makes you uncomfortable to leave. Examples: Your cell phone or beeper went off and you have to call your office, you left some important information in your car, or another agent with buyers is on his way.

Typo’s In Texting Are OK– But Not To A Client

4. Use a salutation. Use “Hello” or “Good morning” in texts to set the tone of the message and let recipients know they’re important to the sender. 5. Identify yourself. Clients may not have added an agent to their list of contacts yet. Without something that identifies the agent early on, it could appear to be spam. Source: Inman News (08/19/13) Monroe, Laura © Copyright 2013 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688

To be considered a profes-sional, you must sound like a professional. And texting style, which normally excus-es a range of typos, re-flects on an agent’s image. When text messaging leads, real estate agents frequently make five mis-takes that can put a dent into their online reputation, and perhaps send that lead to a competitor who appears more professional: 1. Use texting correctly. Texts and emails are not interchangeable, and it

generally makes more sense to send videos, files, links and long messages via email. 2. Don’t include disclaim-ers. A message like “sent from my iPhone, please ex-cuse any typos,” asks the reader to forgive mistakes – but it also implies that typographical errors don’t matter to the sender, mak-ing him or her appear un-professional. 3. Have a text signature. But it should be shorter than the one in an email.

Page 14

Legal Q & A

my performance in handling his transaction, and he is going to file a complaint against me with the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC). What happens once a complaint is filed?

A: Once a complaint is filed,

the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) determines whether or not the allegations in the complaint would, if true, constitute a violation of Section 475, Florida Statutes or the rules promulgated by the FREC.

Q: A FREC investigator interviewed me as a witness to a transaction that resulted in a complaint against a broker in my area. I don’t want any trouble, so I cooperated and told the investigator what I know about the transaction. The broker was suspended and is threatening to sue me for talking to the investigator. May I be sued for being a witness?

A: Section 455.225(11), Florida Statutes, provides that a privilege against civil liability is granted to any witness to an investigation,

unless the witness acted in bad faith or with malice in providing such information.

Q: How can I file a complaint with the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC)?

A: All complaints must be in writing. Although you may write a letter, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation provides a Uniform Complaint Form that is available from various sources, including floridarealtors.com and http://www.MyFloridaLicense.com.

Q: A former client informed me that he was unhappy with

A: Yes. Section 475.25(6), Florida Statutes, provides that the DBPR or FREC "shall promptly notify a licensee's broker or employer … in writing when a formal complaint is filed against the licensee alleging violations of this chapter or Chapter 455."

Q: When will this notification be sent to the broker? A: According to Section 475.25(6), not until 10 days after the finding of probable cause by the Probable Cause Panel or DBPR or until the sales associate waives his or her privilege of confidentiality, whichever occurs first.

Q: Will the customer who filed the complaint be notified about the status of the complaint against the licensee?

A: Yes. The DBPR is required, per Section 455.225(9), Florida Statutes, to periodically notify the person who filed the complaint of the status of the investigation, whether probable cause was found and the status of any administrative proceeding or appeal.

“FREC may

impose is

$5,000 for

each count”

is found to be in violation of.

Q: I’m a real estate broker. I recently heard from one of my sales associates that another sales associate in the office had an administrative complaint filed against him by the Florida Real Estate Com-mission (FREC). Will I be noti-fied by FREC that an adminis-trative complaint has been filed against my sales associate?

If DBPR determines they would constitute a violation, it will initiate an investigation. DBPR is required by law to notify the licensee or his or her attorney by promptly providing a copy of the complaint or other document that prompted the decision to investigate.

Q: An administrative complaint has been filed against me. The complaint

contains two counts. If I'm found in violation of both counts and the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) imposes a fine as part of the penalty, what is the maximum fine that could be levied against me?

A: According to 475.25, the maximum administrative fine that FREC may impose is $5,000 for each count or separate offense a licensee

Page 15

FHA, Cont. among other things, have had 12 months of on-time housing payments.

“FHA recognizes the hardships faced by these borrowers, and realizes that their credit histories may not fully reflect their true ability or propensity to repay a mortgage,” said FHA Commissioner Carol Galante, in a letter to mortgagees announcing the changes.

FHA-backed mortgages are a popular option for first-time buyers and for consumers with lower credit scores who might not otherwise qualify for a loan backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. However, the agency has recently increased the fees tied to FHA-backed loans.

Taken from Floridarealtors.org.

Stay Safe With Social Media Problem: Savvy real estate professionals like yourself frequently update your presence on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. However, because of the nature of your work, you are likely to have “friends,” followers, and connections whom you don’t know.

Solution: Following these basic steps can help you avoid exposing yourself or your data to risk through social media tools. It is vital to consider what you are sharing through the Internet!

Keep Business Separate One way that you can make sure you are not revealing too much personal information is simple: set up a business account on each platform. Sure, anyone can figure out that Sally Field, REALTOR®, is the same person as Sally Field—but Sally will only accept requests to connect to strangers on the business account, whether Facebook or Twitter. Her personal account stays private (especially once she familiarizes herself with privacy settings), protecting her family photos, links to her kids’ pages, and personal posts from people she doesn’t know.

Tag... You’re It! When a friend posts your photo, you may be “tagged” against your will. If you don’t want clients or others to find a reference like this—such as a less-than-flattering photo taken at a late night party—you can remove the tag and/or ask the person who posted it to do so. And be sure to follow up and ask friends to check first before tagging.

“FHA is trimming to

one year the amount

of time that

homebuyers must

wait “

Our condolences and deepest sympathy are extended to REALTORS® Karen and Gary Baxley on the loss of Karen’s dad, REALTOR® Hazel Carlson on the loss of Roger’s sister, REALOTR® Debra Cleary on the loss of her Mother and REALTOR® Manny Lopez on the loss of his mother. Please keep these members in your thoughts and prayers.

FHA Cuts Mortgage Wait Times After Hard Times circumstances will be able to meet the criteria attached to the eased restrictions. Borrowers must be able to show their household income fell by 20 percent or more for at least six months and was tied to unemployment or another event beyond their control. They also must prove they have had at least one hour of approved housing counseling and,

WASHINGTON – Aug. 19, 2013 – The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is making it easier for once-struggling homeowners to qualify for a mortgage backed by the agency. For borrowers who meet certain requirements, the FHA is trimming to one year the amount of time that homebuyers must wait after

a bankruptcy, foreclosure or short sale before they may qualify for a FHA-backed mortgage. The waiting period had been two years after the completion of a bankruptcy and three years after a foreclosure or a short sale. But only certain consumers who’ve been in those

Page 16

LEGAL UPDATE FROM FLORIDA REALTORS® LOCAL BOARD ATTORNEY

COUNCIL MEETING

Association Attorney Don Perrin is the Chairman and below you will find minutes held on August 16, 2013 regarding flood insurance, Fannie Mae, Copyright Law, and Commercial Sales Tax.

1. F l o r i d a R e a l t o r s ® L e g a l C o u n s e l Margy Grant reported that there are com-panies trolling the internet looking for ads using copyrighted pictures. One such company is Getty and you can see their name superimposed on the pictures. If used, a lawyer will threaten suit unless $900 - $1500 is paid. Her suggestion is to simply take your own pictures to avoid this scenario.

2. We had an interesting presentation from Brad Loar who is a FEMA Director. He stressed

the fact that flood insurance rates are going to be escalating. All rates must now be actuarially sound and government subsidies of the rates are going to end. It is suggested that if you are in a situation where flood insurance is involved, that a Realtor® should make disclosure to a buyer that the rates may be increasing. Note: NAR has legal guidance on realtor.org

3. We had a presentation from Rick Murphy of Fannie Mae. He seems to be an individu-al that would be a good to contact if anyone is having a problem with a Fannie Mae closing. He also indicated that there was going to be a method soon whereby you could bypass the servicer and go directly to Fannie Mae on the loans which they have. A Realtor® can find out whether it is a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan by simply going to either "Fannie Mae Lookup" or "Freddie Mac Lookup" and putting in the last four numbers of the owner’s social security number. This would be applicable to short sale situations. He provided us with his phone number and contact information which is: Rick Murphy (954) 745 - 6857 and his email is rick w [email protected]. Again, he seemed to be very interested in trying to assist in Fannie Mae short sale situations.

4. Lastly, Trey Goldman did advise us on pending legislation which FAR is enthusiastically

promoting which is to end the sales tax on commercial business leases. Apparently, Florida is the only state that charges sales tax on commercial leases. It is anticipated that it may become a gradual decrease in the sales tax from 6% to may be 0% over a period of five to six years.

NAR has legal guidance on disclosure of Flood Insurance Requirements, Rates and Rate Increases by Bro-kers and Agents. Go to:

http://www.ksefocus.com/billdatabase/clientfiles/172/4/1816.pdf

Page 17

Page 18

How to Apply the Six “Es” of Success

Success, Cont.

Here’s a breakdown of my six “Es” and some advice on how to fold them into your own business:

1. Education I didn’t start out as a real estate salesperson. For the first year, I was everything from the recep-tionist to advertising manager to bookkeeper. I had an insider’s view on how the most successful agents operated, and learned quickly that the best ones weren’t in the office very much and were instead out doing presentations and networking.

By putting these six success strategies to work in your business, you can reap the financial and personal rewards associated with healthy growth.

I’m no cheerleader, but when it comes to selling real estate I know that having a high level of energy and enthusiasm shines through. I also know that the corner-stones of education, ethics, experience and empathy work together to form the very foundation of my real estate career.

I talk with other sales associates about these six “Es” of success, which I practice myself while helping other real estate professionals integrate them into their own businesses. Some are easier to get and use than others. Experience, for example, will come naturally as you progress through your career. Enthusiasm, however, must be found and cultivated on a daily basis, even when things aren’t working out in your favor.

cards, not understanding how everyone around me could be so busy. Not wanting to “miss the boat,” I volunteered to accept the “overflow” business from the office’s top sales associates. These were the customers that everyone felt were too much of a long shot in which to invest their time and money trying to cultivate as buyers or sellers. I also volunteered to cover for them when they were out of town, and took their floor duty when they were busy. It was then that I learned there is no substitute for experience. From the beginning, new licensees must constantly strive to gain as much of it as quickly as possible. In your early years, avail yourself of every opportunity to accompany an experienced sales associate or work with a mentor. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or call a help desk. As your business matures, the experience gained from exposure to multiple real estate scenarios and advice from seasoned veterans will help you become a confident, knowledgeable sales associate.

“you have to

enroll in classes

and get involved ”

Success, Cont. well as many consumers, these designations set me apart in an otherwise crowded field. I know that to be successful I have to keep learning and continuously hone my skills in areas like international real estate, technology and marketing. 2. Experience Back in the 1980s I was a young, inexperienced sales associate sitting at a desk sending out announcement

When I got licensed, I learned from my broker that while pre-licensing education helps you stay out of trouble, it doesn’t teach you how to run a real estate business. For that, you have to enroll in classes and get involved with online education. Knowing this, I’ve earned my CRS (Certified Commercial Investment Member), GRI (Graduate, Realtor® Institute), PMN

(Performance Management Network) and e-Pro designations—the Internet certification program sponsored by the National Association of Realtors (NAR)—and continue to enrich myself by frequently taking updated and new designation courses. Recognized by other sales associates and brokers, as

Page 19

Success, Cont. No matter how experienced you are, occasionally a deal falls apart. If it goes awry because of something you can’t control, stifle your disappointment, throw yourself into the next deal and resolve to work twice as hard to usher that one to the closing table. If you really enjoy the business and the challenges that come with it, your enthusiasm will shine through. 6. Empathy Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes isn’t always easy, particularly when your buyer is downsizing due to illness, death, divorce or other life-altering situations. No one really wants to leave that spacious waterfront home for a villa, but sometimes he or she knows it’s the right thing to do. I have to be empathetic to these situations, even when the client is moving against his or her gut feelings and wishes. When I’m empathetic, I can detect my clients’ wants and needs and try to fulfill their requirements. I always listen and understand what degree of handholding or assistance a particular client needs to get through the home sale or purchase process. When I have empathy, I can help clients manage life situations like divorce, accidents, job loss and even a loved one’s death while remaining professional and ethical.

Mary McCall, CRS, is a broker associate at RE/MAX ACR Elite Group in Tampa. Taken from Floridarealtors.org.

Success, Cont. 3. Ethics I’ve worked with real estate professionals who were oblivious to NAR’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice publication. They failed to call ahead when they’re not going to show up for scheduled appointments, they left the thermostat turned down to 60 degrees in a home that they’ve just shown, and otherwise ignored the need for a professional demeanor. They may be able to get away with this behavior for a while, but it all catches up to them and eventually translates into a failed business, complaints and even fines. I see ethics as a lifestyle choice. I listen to that inner voice that tells me I’m doing what’s right in a given situation. Professional ethics and personal ethics are so intertwined that they cannot be separated. The Realtor Code of Ethics simply defines and reiterates what I already know is proper business behavior. 4. Energy When someone calls from Oklahoma looking for a home in Tampa, I’m always ready to serve as an ambassador for my area. I’m their link to Tampa, and if I’m not upbeat and energetic, it shows. Multivitamins and Coca-Cola help me through the day, as do frequent glances in the mirror to remind myself that I have to put on my game face or I won’t convey the right attitude to the buyers and sellers that I work with.

“you must have

energy in order to

prosper“

Success, cont. I constantly remind myself that I’m in a “helping” business rather than a “selling” business. I firmly believe that people want to do business with people they know, trust and like. So every time a former customer calls, or another sales associate sends a referral, I get enthusiastic because that means those people like and trust me. I don’t want to let them down, and I always strive to exceed their expectations.

It’s not always easy to wake up in the morning feeling energized, but this is something we must strive for as often as possible. Whether you work 20 hours a week or on a 24/7 basis, you must have energy in order to prosper. Getting it could mean taking a half-hour off work every

day to go for a walk in the park, recharging with a good book in the evening, or taking part in a group meditation class. Eat right, take care of yourself and be sure to balance your workday with enough personal enjoyment to stoke your fires for selling real estate. 5. Enthusiasm

Page 20

Page 21

Page 22

Tickets available at Habitat

Restores ad RACC office

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

Single Family

Condo

Mobile

Vacant

July and August Residential and Vacant Land MLS Stats

These statistics were taken from the MLS on These statistics were taken from the MLS on

July 31 , 2013 August 31, 2013

RESIDENTIAL VACANT LAND RESIDENTIAL VACANT LAND

Active 1595 Active 1666 Active 1601 Active 1672

New 380 New 91 New 362 New 122

Closed 204 Closed 28 Closed 207 Closed 37

Pending 315 Pending 55 Pending 283 Pending 28

BOM 172 BOM 56 BOM 187 BOM 59

Expired 182 Expired 148 Expired 150 Expired 124

Withdrawn 84 Withdrawn 25 Withdrawn 77 Withdrawn 23

Chart displays

Closed listings

Page 23

Page 24

Page 25

Page 26

Page 27

Page 28

Page 29

Page 30

Page 31

Page 32

Page 33

Page 34

Page 35

Upgrade to the Ultimate edition and save $40 with promo code 40off. If you already use form simplicity go to: https://forms.floridarealtors.org/index/signin to upgrade

Get $40 off on a one-year individual subscription to the Ultimate Edition (regular price begins at $99), for a

price as low as only $59. That's 40% off the regular price!

The Ultimate Edition includes everything in the Professional Edition PLUS unlimited eSign for electronic signatures and unlimited document storage. Offer ends October 14, 2013 and includes a 30-day-money-

back guarantee.

For questions, call Tech Helpline at 407.587.1450, Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time

Page 36

Page 37

MLS WARNINGS AND FINES FOR August

In August the MLS issued the following to Par cipants and/or Subscribers: Warnings: Duplicate Lis ng (3) Wrong Category or Area (8) Pending and Closed (1) Lender owned (0) No Photo (3) Branded Virtual Tour (2) Lockbox Code in Lis ng (0) Name/Phone# (2) Sign in Photo (1) Fine: (0) Violation of the same offense will be subject to the following:

1st offense: Written Notice

2nd offense: $50.00 Fine

3rd offense: $100.00 Fine

Failure to submit contingent, pending and closed information within two (2) business days.

Failure to enter a photo. Note: The seller may request in writing a photograph of the property not be included.

Failure to enter a listing in the correct category.

Duplicate address and/or alternate key for the same property.

WANT TO WIN A $25 CREDIT TO YOUR ASSOCIATION ACCOUNT?

To the first member to email [email protected] the answer to

question below.

What is the deadline to submit your application to the

Florida Realtors® Leadership Academy?

Last Month’s Winner Was:

Rosann Skipper

Be sure to “like” us on facebook!

www.facebook.com/raccfl

Page 38

September 2013 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

Closed for

Labor Day

3 4 5

8:00am Board of

Noon Habitat Meeting (Golf Tournament)

9-12 or 1-4

Contract Changes

6

9am iCE Class~ Risk Management 3HR CE

7

8 9

1pm RPR Webinar

10

8:30am Education Committee Meeting

11

9am

Contract to close

1pm Tech Comm. 1pm USDA Loans 3HR CE

12 9am Habitat (Golf Tournament) 11:30 Membership Meeting & Elec-tions

13

9am Realtors 5 Step Safety Plan 3HR CE

12:30pm iCE Class~ Roadmap to a Suc-cessful Closing 4HR CE

14

15 16

9am

Budget

Committee

17 8:30am MLS Board of Managers

9am

Tech Talk

10am

RPR Webinar

1:30pm Legislative Committee

18 19

9am Habitat (Golf Tournament)

9am

On Course for Success 3HR CE

20 21

22

Autumn

Begins

23 24

9am Ask the Experts~ Property Appraisers Website

25

Supra Lockbox

Conversion

26

Supra Lockbox

Conversion

27

9am Habitat Meeting (Golf Tournament)

28

29 30

Page 39