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 Your license renewal may be in jeopardy
Last week we reported that the Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing is finding that many of the personal addresses on file for real estate licensees are incorrect and its mailings are being returned by the Post Office. This becomes especially problematic for renewal notices. Because of the important nature of this issue, we are running the message again...
RC 4735.14 requires ODRE to send renewal notices to the personal address of each individual licensee. If licensees don't get their notice and forget to renew, their license is suspended and then could be revoked--potentially causing all kinds of problems.
ODRE is undergoing a major effort to update personal addresses--verifying the address of licensees who call and also posting information on its Web site about the importance of keeping your address updated with the Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing. Click here to update your home address.
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Jury sides with RE/MAX practitioner
Good news for the RE/MAX buyer's agent who was hit with a lawsuit from clients who claimed he defrauded them and violated his obligations by not informing them that comparable properties on the block were selling for less than what they paid.
The angry couple, Marty and Vernon Ummel, sued practitioner Mike Little after their 2005 purchase of a home in San Diego County. A jury in a Vista, Calif., court quickly returned a "not guilty" verdict, saying the couple was ultimately responsible for signing the sales contract. "We felt that Mr. Little did what he was supposed to do," said one juror, Wendi Brick.
Had the Ummels won, some were predicting a flood of such suits from other home buyers unhappy with declining home values.
Source: The Wall Street Journal (04/11/2008).
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OAR Spring Conference
Beginning Sunday, OAR will host its annual Spring Conference (Apr. 27-29) at the Columbus Hilton at Easton. There is no registration fee to attend. Registration, the Schedule of Events and all Committee Agendas are now online. Highlights include:
- A two-hour continuing education program, "Systems to Sell in a Changing Market"
- Legal Issues Forum will discuss Mortgage fraud, flipping and land trusts
- Business Technology Forum will feature Blogs, Instant Messaging and Short Message Systems
Register today...
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NAR to host commercial legislative webinar
Learn about the legislative challenges facing commercial real estate by participating in a free NAR webinar Wed., April 23, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., CST. Hear NAR's commercial policy analyst Lisa Brechtel and NAR lobbyist Dan Blair talk about the key issues that will be under discussion when REALTORS from around the country meet with their members of Congress during the 2008 NAR Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in mid-May. To RSVP, contact Kaela Altman 888/648-8321.
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Research reports provide state and local market details
NAR Research has completed three reports on the economic impact of state and local metro area homeownership. "State Economic Impact of Housing" arms you with data on the contribution of homeownership to your state and local economies; "State Mortgage Conditions" calculates outstanding mortgage debt, prime and subprime, among homeowners in your state and localities; and "Metro Area Wealth Gain" looks at the equity accumulation of your homeowners over the years. Reports are free but require a REALTOR.org user name and password to access.
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NAR, Web sites OK listing distribution format
The distribution of listings to real estate advertising Web sites is simplified under a draft standardized data format approved by NAR and other industry members of the Real Estate Standards Organization. The draft standard, which is part of the Real Estate Transaction Standard (RETS) initiative, will be implemented immediately by several of the partner organizations. Following their feedback, a final draft will be presented and voted on during a meeting of the partners in August.
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Save with OfficeMax
 OfficeMax...Receive a 50% discount on color and black & white print services. A 40% to 80% discount is also available on selected office products.
For more information and to access your OfficeMax Retail Connect Card, click here.
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Tech Tips
Google Wildcard search...Searching is easy when you know--even generally--what you are looking for. However, when the word you are seeking is right on the tip of your tongue, but will not make itself known, what can you do? Use wildcards! Substitute an asterisk for exactly one word in a Google search. Here is an example, in the search box type:
Pike's Peak is * feet high and Google will attempt to fill in the blank for you!
Customize your start menu in Windows...There are two groups of programs on your START MENU. There are those ABOVE the line and those BELOW. The programs BELOW the line are recently used programs. You can remove the recently used programs simply by right clicking on the START button, selecting PROPERTIES, choosing START MENU, CUSTOMIZE, then select CLEAR LIST. You can also set how many programs that you wish to appear in this menu. Click APPLY and then OK. For those programs ABOVE the line, you need to RIGHT CLICK on the program in the menu then select UNPIN FROM START MENU or REMOVE FROM LIST.
Save all of those clipboard items?...Have you ever copied something while surfing the Web and wished you could access it at another time? Control C can help. Control C is a service that remembers everything you copy, encrypts it and saves it to your account. All you have to do is log in to your account and provide your password to retrieve the contents of your clipboard! You can even share your clipboard contents with the community…or not!
www.controlc.com
Don't forget OAR's free Tech Hotline service...
866.478.TECH (8324) New EXPANDED hours of operation: M-F: 8 am - 8 pm ... S-S: 10 am - 4pm
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Education
Two Appraisal Courses coming in May...On May 20 & 21, The Ohio Association of REALTORS will hold Appraising The Tough Ones and Appraising for FHA concurrently in Columbus. Seven hours of c.e. are available each day. Discounts are available by taking both courses. Sign -up today...
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...
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