|
 Winter Conference highlights...
The Ohio Association of REALTORS will hold its 2008 Winter Conference Jan. 13-15, at the Hilton at Easton in Columbus. If you haven't already registered, you still have time to do so. Please keep in mind that our Hilton hotel room block is full. If you need accommodations please contact: Courtyard by Marriott at 614.416.8000 or the Residence Inn 614.414.1000.
All OAR committee/forum agendas and Directors information are online. Don Freels, OAR's chief executive officer has recorded information to be covered and actions items that will be considered during next week's Directors meeting. Staff has also created a page listing the Conference's highlights.
Media outreach program unveiled at Winter Conference...NAR has developed a new “Surround-Sound” media outreach program for states and local Associations which can help spread the word about all of the great opportunities to buy and sell real estate in today’s market. The program includes a toolkit with talking points, story ideas and tips for working with the news media. It will allow NAR, states and local Associations to work together to counter negative and often misleading coverage of the market.
We are urging all Local Board/Association presidents, presidents-elect, executive officers and secretaries to attend a special session on this new program that has just been added to the schedule at our upcoming Winter Conference. It will be held Tuesday, Jan. 15th, 7:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Hilton. This session is in lieu of “Leaders InForum Today”, which was initially scheduled in this same time slot but has been cancelled.
We are equally pleased to inform you that our featured speaker at this session will be Frank Sibley, NAR’s senior vice president of Communications. Sibley has been personally involved in developing this program and we are very fortunate that he is able to be with us.
Please add this session to your itineraries for OAR’s Winter Conference. We also urge you to bring others from your Association who are involved in public relations activities at the local level. This includes staff as well as volunteers.
back to top
Research: Why sellers choose the agent they do
Even highly experienced sellers rely on real estate professionals to help them sell. NAR researchers probed data from the 2007 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers to get ideas on why and learn how sellers choose the practitioner they do.
back to top
Michigan MLS defeats government antitrust action
An administrative law judge ruled that a REALTOR multiple listing service did not violate federal antitrust law through its policies regarding the treatment of exclusive agency listings.
back to top
Safety update: New Mexico REALTOR assaulted
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Santa Fe Police Department have disclosed that last month, REALTOR Marilyn L. Foss, age 56, of Santa Fe, New Mexico was assaulted and became the victim of an extortion/robbery by an unknown female assailant.
Foss, an associate with Sotheby’s International Realty, was contacted by a female who identified herself as Nata Ramien regarding her and her husband’s (Hashiem) intention to purchase a residence for their daughter in the Santa Fe area. Nata told Foss that her daughter had recently graduated from Yale Medical School and was to begin her residency at a local hospital. Nata told Foss that money was no object, that she and her husband were extremely wealthy and they were looking for a high- end home for their daughter.
Foss then began to show various properties to Nata and while showing her a property, Nata produced a semi-automatic pistol from her purse and pointed it at Foss. Foss, in an effort to protect herself, attacked Nata and a struggle ensued. Nata eventually obtained a physical advantage over Foss, placed the barrel of the weapon to Foss head and yelled, “I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!” Nata then forcefully instructed Foss that she and Foss were going to a local bank where Foss was to withdraw funds from her account and hand them over to Nata.
Foss and Nata drove to a local bank where Foss was to make the withdrawal from her personal account. Nata walked into the bank and positioned herself in the lobby of the bank where she could monitor the transaction between the teller and Foss. Upon exiting the bank lobby, Nata took possession of the currency and made her getaway on foot. Foss quickly returned to the bank and alerted bank personnel that she was the victim of an extortion/robbery.
NAR has created a Safety Field Guide that includes safety tips, handouts and posters from REALTOR Associations. Also featured are REALTORS' real-life experiences, how their lives were changed and how they now keep safe while working.
OAR's home page also features weekly safety tips.
back to top
infoUSA offers discount on Internet sales lead subscriptions...
REALTOR benefits program partner infoUSA is offering NAR members an ongoing discount on the monthly subscription fee for its Salesgenie.com ... an Internet-based subscription service. Subscribers receive unlimited access to leads and mailing lists in all of the company's 12 databases, organized under hundreds of search selections. Discounted subscription pricing is also available for the company's Lite service, which offers access to six databases and more basic information about prospects. Learn more online or call 1-866-872-8120 and mention discount code 151NAR when contacting the company.
back to top
Advanced Access offers Web site development services...
 OAR members can save up to 33% on products today! ADVANCED ACCESS, is a California-based firm and a division of Dominion Enterprises with over 30,000 clients nationwide.
They have been a widely recognized industry leader in Web site development; Web hosting, e-mail and Internet marketing for real estate professionals since 1998.
back to top
Tech Tips...
Favorite links in your start menu...Internet Explorer allows you to keep a list of your favorite Web sites. This makes it faster for you to access these sites. All you have to do is click the Favorites button and click the URL you want to go to from the list that appears in the right pane.
Web sites that you access several times throughout the day can link directly to the Start Menu. Opening the Web site is as simple as clicking on the Start button and selecting the link. You no longer need to open Internet Explorer first. To add a favorite to the Start Menu, open Internet Explorer, and click the Favorites button. Select one of the links and while holing down the mouse button, drag the link onto your Start button.
Save that color ink...If you want to print a Web page, but don’t want to waste your color ink, follow the steps below:
1. Under the FILE menu, select PRINT
2. Click on PREFERENCES
3. Click COLOR
4. Put a Checkbox in the Print In Grayscale area
5. Click OK
GOOGLE alerts...GOOGLE Alerts can be useful if you're looking for current specific information. You can create a GOOGLE alert and receive an e-mail update when something relevant is indexed. You can even set parameters as to how often you would like your alerts. Set up a GOOGLE alert by visiting http://www.google.com/alerts.
back to top
Education...
Property Management...This course highlights current and past legal cases and outlines the license law requirements for property managers. It will be held Jan. 23, at OAR headquarters. Register today...
Appraisal courses...The 7-hour USPAP will be held on Jan. 29, 2008. In addition, A critical Review of Your Appraisal Reports will be held the following day, Jan 30. Both courses will be conducted at OAR headquarters in Columbus. Continuing education applies. Register today...
CI 103: User Decision Analysis for C/I Real Estate...This course explores all aspects involving the valuation and costs of commercial leasehold interests from the user's perspective. Common technology will be defined and negotiation tactics will be discussed. CI 103 will be held Feb. 4-8 at OAR headquarters in Columbus. Note: CI 101 is a pre-requisite for this course.
30 hours online...Take your real estate continuing education hours online. You can take 3, 6 or all 30 hours in any combination...Sign-up today...
back to top
|
