NC REALTORS Talk

5 Social Media Management Tips for Real Estate Businesses

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:18:00 +0000

Social Media platforms hold enormous potential for REALTORS to grow their business, sell and let more property and promote new listings. Its an industry that suites Social Media perfectly and there is a wealth of opportunity.

http://socialmediatoday.com/mark-paddock/432727/5-social-media-management-tips-real-estate-businesses

Samantha Ashburn
Electronic Communications Manager
sashburn@ncrealtors.org

Make-Your-Business-Better-Monday: Watch that Body Language

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:32:00 +0000

In this week's edition of Make-Your-Business-Better-Monday, we look at body language.

First, ask yourself this, are you aware of your gestures and body position when you’re with a client? Are you aware of your client’s? If you’re not – you should be.

Here are three body language tips that will help you improve your effectiveness:

Model the body language posture you wish to receive from your clients.
Maneuver your client's body posture into a more receptive position
Select office chairs that have a straight back

Follow the link below for more details.
http://rismedia.com/2012-01-16/selling-point-sit-up-straight-and-pay-attention/

Barbara West, e-PRO

Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

Earn elective CE credit and satisfy your NAR Quadrennial Code of Ethics requirement in one day!

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:50:00 +0000

Join Bruce Aydt, a nationally-recognized real estate educator, in a day-long seminar covering the Code of Ethics and processes to enforce the Code. As an attorney and past chair of the NAR Professional Standards Committee, Bruce understands professional standards processes and the Code of Ethics. Classes will be held on February 15^th in Hickory, February 16^th in Cary, and February 17^th in New Bern. For class details and to register, log into http://www.ncrealtors.org/ and find the class on the calendar.

Ellie Edwards
Director of Professional Development
eedwards@ncrealtors.org

Join Zan Monroe and Bill Gallagher on February 13-14 for 2 NEW GRI Classes!

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:01:00 +0000

Be the first to attend GRI 201: Business Planning and GRI 202: Business Ethics in Greensboro! For class details and to register, log into http://www.ncrealtors.org/ and find the class on the calendar.

Ellie Edwards
Director of Professional Development
eedwards@ncrealtors.org

NAR Calls for Expansion of FHA’s 203(k) Program

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:53:00 +0000

Moe Veissi, the 2012 President of NAR, recently sent a letter to Shaun Donovan, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requesting that investors be permitted to participate in the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) Section 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance Program to purchase vacant and foreclosed properties in need of significant rehabilitation. Amending the 203(k) Program will help restore vibrant housing markets and neighborhoods across the country and people will be put to work fixing these homes.

FHA’s 203(k) Program allows homebuyers and homeowners to a) purchase a house including the cost of its rehabilitation through a single mortgage, or b) finance the rehabilitation of their existing home. Section 203(k) fills a unique and important need for homebuyers in another way as well. Section 203(k) insured loans save the borrower’s time and money, and also protect lenders by allowing them to have the loan insured even before the condition and value of the property may offer adequate security.

Julie Woodson
Director of Political Communications
jwoodson@ncrealtors.org

Are We Emailing Too Much?

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:48:00 +0000

In this article from the Harvard Business Review, the author argues that email has fundamentally changed the way we interact – and not necessarily in a good way.

According to the article, the most important thing to remember is that email cannot replace live conversation. This especially applies when resolving a conflict or communicating an important business decision. Far too many people try to do sensitive business via email and that is problematic.

Moral of the story? Next time you have a delicate or complex issue to discuss, take your hands off the keyboard and pick up the phone.

Click here and read the complete article, “Don't Send That Email. Pick up the Phone!”

Barbara West, e-PRO
Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

Register by Tomorrow and Come Wine and Dine with NC REALTORS!

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:11:00 +0000

Don't miss your chance to wine and dine with your colleagues from across the state on Thursday, Jan. 26 for the 2012 Inaugural Gala at the Twin City Quarter in Winston-Salem. Come celebrate the inauguration of 2012 President Lou Baldwin and the start of a great year for real estate. Tickets are $75 each and include two drink tickets, an elegant sit-down dinner, and entertainment featuring The University of North Carolina School of the Arts very own Jazz Trio.

All registrations must be received by Jan. 13 -- that's TOMORROW so don't delay! For more information or to register, click here: http://www.ncrealtors.org/uploads/inauguralreg.pdf

Mandy Lowe, CMP, CMM
Director of Events
mlowe@ncrealtors.org

N.C. Remains a Top Destination

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:46:00 +0000

N.C. ranked fifth among the most popular states for inbound moves as more households are moving to East Coast states while leaving Rust Belt states, according to the latest Atlas Lines Migration Patterns study.

Washington, D.C. – for the fifth year in a row -- had the highest percentage of inbound moves while Ohio had the highest percentage of residents leaving. The study also showed the summer months continued to have the largest number of moves per season, according to the survey.

Follow the link below to see a list of the top inbound and outbound states.

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2012/01/04/more-americans-are-move-survey-says

Barbara West, e-PRO

Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

NCAR’s First Diversity Forum: You’re Invited!

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:44:00 +0000

How can we best appreciate the diversity of our clients? How can we engage and best work with people who are of different ages and cultures? These are just some of the questions that will be addressed during NCAR’s first-ever Diversity Forum on Tuesday, January 24, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Marriott in Twin City Quarter, Winston-Salem.

This event is held in conjunction with Vision Quest and provides a unique opportunity to learn more about how diversity issues impact your business. Immediately following the Forum, the Vision Quest Reception is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The Forum and Reception are hosted and sponsored by the NCAR Equal Opportunity and Cultural Diversity (EOCD) Committee.

Our keynote for the Diversity Forum is Lenora Billings-Harris, who is nationally known for her work on diversity issues. Billings-Harris is a Certified Speaking Professional, facilitator, consultant and author. For more information on Billings-Harris and this event, follow the link below.

http://www.ncrealtors.org/news_display.cfm?nid=1722

Julie Woodson
Director of Political Communications
jwoodson@ncrealtors.org

Treasury Department Offers Assistance in Charlotte

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:28:00 +0000

On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the Treasury Department – along with HOPE NOW, HUD, and NeighborWorks America -- will be traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina with a “Help for Homeowners” Community Event.

The events will provide an opportunity for the area’s struggling homeowners to meet with their mortgage servicers/lenders in order to get help with the mortgage concerns. Additionally, housing counselors and representatives from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be on hand to review homeowners’ cases and provide additional assistance.

Follow the link below to view the event flyer:
http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/get-assistance/homeowner-events/Documents/CharlotteEventBilingualFlyer.pdf

Barbara West, e-PRO
Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

New HUD Settlement Statement Debuts

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:10:00 +0000

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently unveiled two draft versions of a replacement for the HUD-1 Settlement Statement. Each has a cover sheet that closely resembles the proposed Truth in Lending forms the CFPB has been testing throughout the summer and fall. The next sheets are similar to a conventional HUD-1 with minor variations and imply an intention to continue the policies of the 2009-10 RESPA reform. The industry continues to advocate for changes to rule, including elimination of problematic "tolerances." This is going to be a much more complicated rule-making process than previously thought. CFPB promises to have its draft rule done by its deadline of July 2012.

Julie Woodson
Director of Political Communications
jwoodson@ncrealtors.org

Gov. Calling Lawmakers Back

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:02:00 +0000

Gov. Beverly Perdue is calling legislators back to Raleigh on Jan. 4 to consider her veto of a measure that would repeal the Racial Justice Act, a law intended to allow death row inmates to use statistics to prove racial bias in the use of the death penalty. The Senate will consider the issue first, since the bill originated in that chamber, and Republicans have enough votes in the Senate to override the veto. However, it is doubtful that the House has the necessary three-fifths majority for the override.

Julie Woodson
Director of Political Communications
jwoodson@ncrealtors.org

Changes to the Offer to Purchase and Contract Coming in January

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:17:00 +0000

As previously posted on December 15, 2011, the Residential Property Disclosure Statement is changing effective January 1, 2012 to add several new questions pertaining to any owners’ association that may regulate the property. As a result of the changes to the Disclosure Statement, changes have also been made to the Offer to Purchase and Contract (form 2-T). The previous post contained a link to a 10-question Q&A on the changes, available on the NCAR web site at: http://www.ncrealtors.org/uploads/RPDSchangesummary.pdf.

The changes to the Offer to Purchase were approved by the NCAR Executive Committee on December 7th. Although we anticipated rolling out the updated version of the Offer to Purchase on January 1, we have just learned that the Bar Association approval process will delay the roll-out until approximately January 10, 2012.

As explained in the Q&A, it won’t be necessary to attach the Owners’ Association Disclosure and Addendum (form 2A12-T) to the new version of the Offer to Purchase and Contract if there is an owners’ association. However, until the new version of the Offer to Purchase and Contract is available, members should continue using the current 7/2011 version of the Offer to Purchase, together with the Owners’ Association Disclosure and Addendum in situations where there is an owners’ association regulating the property.

In any event, agents must begin distributing the new Residential Property and Owners’ Association Disclosure Statement on January 1st.

Will Martin
General Counsel
wmartin@ncrealtors.org

REALTOR® Success Story: Congratulations to Faye Brock!

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:12:00 +0000

On a regular basis, the N.C. Association of REALTORS® posts a success story -- congratulating one of our 32,000 members for their accomplishments. This week, we congratulate Faye Brock, owner/broker with Century 21 Brock & Associates in Wilmington. Brock was recently installed to the Council of Residential Specialists (CRS) Board of Directors during its annual meeting at NAR’s conference and expo in Anaheim, California.

“You all know of my dedication to the principles, goals, and purpose of CRS, Council of Residential Specialists. I’m honored to have been installed to its Board of Directors,” says Brock.

Brock also presently serves as Regional Vice President for CRS Region No. 6, which includes Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio CRS Chapters. CRS is a not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS® and is comprised of more than 34,000 members.

Barbara West

Communications Specialist

bwest@ncrealtors.org

It's Almost New Year's Eve! Then What?

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:12:00 +0000

Wondering what to look forward to now that Christmas is over and New Year's Eve is just days away? We have something for you! Join us Thursday, Jan. 26 for the 2012 Inaugural Gala at the Twin City Quarter in Winston-Salem and celebrate the inauguration of 2012 President Lou Baldwin and the start of a great year for real estate. Tickets are $75 each and include two drink tickets, an elegant sit-down dinner, and entertainment by the University of North Carolina School of the Arts very own Jazz Trio.

Don’t delay! All registrations must be received by Jan. 13! For more information or to register, click here.

Mandy Lowe, CMP, CMM
Director of Events
mlowe@ncrealtors.org

Improve Your Skills with Spokesperson Training on Jan. 24

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:39:00 +0000

In conjunction with the 2012 Inaugural Meetings, NC REALTORS® is again delighted to offer Spokesperson Training – annually one of our most popular programs – on Tuesday, Jan. 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Winston-Salem. Spokesperson Training is ideal for incoming local presidents and presidents-elect, but the program is open to all NC REALTORS® members who wish to improve their communications skills. The cost is $125 (including lunch) if you register by Dec. 30.

Click here for additional details and a registration form.

Kevin Brafford
Director of Communications & Marketing
kbrafford@ncrealtors.org

Realfast Software To Expire on Dec. 31

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:19:00 +0000

Please remember that any NC REALTORS® still using Realfast forms must convert to zipForm® no later than Dec. 31, 2011. After this date, Realfast software will expire. If you have existing Realfast PDF documents you would like to keep, you may move them to zipVault™ (a zipLogix product used for storage) by visiting http://www.ziplogix.com/ and following the easy step-by-step guide. All existing Realfast PDF documents must be moved to zipVault™ no later than Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011. For customer service assistance, visit http://www.support.zipform.com/. (Note that zipLogix customer service will be closed on Friday, Dec. 30 in observance of the Jan. 1 holiday.)

Have You Booked Your Room Yet?

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:03:00 +0000

Don’t delay! Rooms for the 2012 NCAR Inaugural Meetings are filling up fast. The last day you can get the special $129 NCAR rate at the Marriott is January 2^nd!

Click here to make your reservations online.

Keri Epps-Rashad
Meeting Planner & Expo Manager
kepps-rashad@ncrealtors.org

REALTOR® Success Story: Congratulations to Ginger Dowdle!

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:41:00 +0000

On a regular basis, the N.C. Association of REALTORS® posts a success story -- congratulating one of our 32,000 members for their accomplishments. This week, we congratulate Ginger Dowdle, a member of the Charlotte Regional REALTOR® Association (CRRA).

Ginger Dowdle, a REALTOR® with Sunrise Realty & Development in Statesville, was recently awarded CRRA’s 2011 Humanitarian Award for her work as cofounder of The Shepherd’s Watch.

Shepherd’s Watch Camp is an outreach of Shepherd’s Watch Ministry, founded and operated by Dowdle and her husband in 2007. Shepherd’s Watch serves as a summer day camp for foster and community children in grades K-8 that is coordinated around the needs of the children, their parents and their foster parents. The Dowdle’s 60 acres of farmland in Statesville, N.C., serves as a place for children to participate in outdoor activities and spiritual education. In addition to the camp, Shepherd’s Watch has developed programs targeted at more than 450 young adults who have aged out of the foster care system.

On behalf of the NC Association of REALTORS®, congratulations Ginger!

Barbara West, e-PRO
Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

Interested in Keeping up with Activity at the NC General Assembly?

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:16:00 +0000

You can access the NCGA webpage using safari on your IPhone and IPad. Go to http://www.ncleg.net/. The link under News and Information has a link to http://mobile.ncleg.net/. Once you visit http://mobile.ncleg.net/ and the home screen appears, a little bubble message will tell you how to add the web app to your IPhone or IPad.

Julie Woodson
Director of Political Communications
jwoodson@ncrealtors.org

Housing Starts in U.S. Increase to Highest Level in a Year

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:04:00 +0000

Good housing market news this morning: Builders broke ground in November on the most houses in over a year, led by a three-year high on work in multifamily units, a sign the market is stabilizing heading into 2012.

Starts increased 9.3 percent to a 685,000 annual rate, exceeding the highest estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News and the highest level since April 2010, Commerce Department figures recently showed. Building permits, a proxy for future construction, also climbed to a more than one- year high.

“It’s a solid report,” said Brian Jones, a senior U.S. economist at Societe Generale in New York, who had the highest forecast in the Bloomberg survey. “For months we’ve been flagging the strength in multifamily construction, but now we’re starting to get signs that single-family is pulling itself off the canvas.”

Source: Bloomberg Businessweek

Barbara West, e-PRO
Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

Make-Your-Business-Better-Monday: Network Beyond Your Bubble

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:15:00 +0000

It’s no surprise that we instinctively seek out those who share our interests. But by doing so we limit the range of situations and people we’re exposed to. In this week's edition of Make-Your-Business-Better, The Harvard Business Review suggests three things to diversify your network and experiences:

Revise your conference calendar. Attend at least one conference a year in a field that you may have interest in, but little experience.
Talk to the loners. At social events, don’t just spend time with your friends and colleagues. Seek out the people who don’t fit in (hint: they look alone and uncomfortable) and strike up a conversation.
Find diversity within. Reconnect with passions that you may have ignored because they didn’t fit into your life. In doing so you’ll encounter people far removed from your daily experiences who may provide you with new self insight.

Source: Harvard Business Review

Barbara West, e-PRO
Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

Limited Time to Appeal FHA Loan Limits

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:33:00 +0000

Mortgagee Letter 2011-39: "Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Maximum Loan Limits Effective October 1, 2011 through December 31, 2012" includes language for appealing loan limits at the local level. However, the deadline for submitting appeals is Dec. 22. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is using the same procedures that were established in Mortgagee Letter 2007-01. According to HUD, appeals “must contain sufficient housing sales price data, listing one-family properties sold in an area within the look-back period, January through August 2011. Requests should differentiate between single-family residential properties and condominiums or cooperative housing units.” Where possible, data should also distinguish distressed sales. Requests for a change will only be considered for counties for which HUD does not already have home-sale transaction data for the calculation of loan limits.

Julie Woodson
Director of Political Communications
jwoodson@ncrealtors.org

REALTOR® Success Story: Congratulations to Deb Hays!

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:14:00 +0000

On a regular basis, the N.C. Association of REALTORS® posts a success story -- congratulating one of our 32,000 members for their accomplishments. This week, we congratulate Deb Hays, a REALTOR® with Intracoastal Realty in Wilmington. Hays was recently awarded the Paul Sullins’ Community Service Award by the Wilmington Regional Association of REALTORS®

In September, Hays received the 2011 Ben Ball Community Service Award from the North Carolina Association of REALTORS® -- an award recognizing the extraordinary public service Hays has demonstrated throughout her career and the impact her efforts have had in the community. Hays is also presently serving her third year as the convention co-chair for the North Carolina Association of REALTORS®’ annual Convention and Expo.

On behalf of the NC Association of REALTORS®, we congratulate Deb!

Barbara West, e-PRO
Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

January Changes Coming to the Residential Property Disclosure Statement

noreply@blogger.com (NC Assn of REALTORS) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:32:00 +0000

As a result of recently-enacted legislation, the NC Real Estate Commission has added several questions to the Residential Property Disclosure Statement pertaining to any owners’ association regulating a property being offered for sale. The new Disclosure Statement will become effective January 1, 2012 and will be known as the “Residential Property and Owners' Association Disclosure Statement.”

A copy of the new Disclosure Statement can be obtained on the Real Estate Commission’s web site at: http://www.ncrec.gov/forms/rec422.pdf.

A 10-question Q&A On Changes To Residential Property Disclosure Statement is available on the NCAR web site at: http://www.ncrealtors.org/uploads/RPDSchangesummary.pdf.

Will Martin
NCAR General Counsel
wmartin@ncrealtors.org