The key to winning in today's challenging real estate marketplace is to simply "Get in the Game" by being a part of OAR's exciting Annual Convention & Trade Exposition, Sept. 14-17, in Columbus.
From top-notch educational opportunities to social gatherings to the always insightful business functions...the Annual Convention will keep you busy from dawn to dusk. Additionally, Ohio's Capitol City is ready to welcome you with world-class dining, trendy shopping and non-stop excitement.
Our line-up of activities includes:
A Heavy Hitter Opening Session...featuring Greg Schwen, who has made numerous TV appearances and taken the stage with the likes of Celine Dion and Jay Leno.
15 Credit Hours of FREE Continuing Education
Three Big Nights of Fun & Entertainment...including aTailgate party on Sunday evening featuring a variety of bands that star the homegrown talents of fellow REALTORS; a Halftime party sponsored by First American Title and Wells Fargo on Monday evening featuring the music of Conspiracy and a post-game Victory celebration on Tuesday night with a DJ providing music to get you moving and a variety of Wii and other video games to keep you entertained!
A "Sure Bet" Trade Show...Explore the dazzling world of new technologies and latest product offering, with nearly 90 exhibitors displaying the newest gizmos, gadgets and products to help you make more money and be more productive! We'll also have Wi-Fi access available in the expo area, allowing you to stay connected to your clients, customers and office.
Celebrate Your Success at the President's Sales Club Dinner...Recipients of the distinguished President's Sales Club award will be honored at a dinner and party held exclusively in their honor.
This year's Convention & Expo offers a variety of registration options to fit your needs: 1) Full-convention registration is only $150 for members and Board staff; 2) $180 for non-members; and 3) A convenient one-day registration (Tuesday only) for President's Sales Club recipients is available for only $90; Special guest/spouse pricing is also available.
For more information including an online registration form, continuing education course topics and speakers and a full schedule of events, click here.
The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan mortgage rescue bill that allows the Federal Housing Administration to refinance troubled mortgages--even those that are under water--as long as banks agree to take a loss. The program would allow the FHA to help as many as 400,000 home owners. Now the bill goes to a bipartisan committee in the House for revision. The measure includes higher limits for FHA loans and creates a new regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It also would provide $14.5 billion in housing tax breaks, including a credit of up to $8,000 for first-time homebuyers. It is expected that the housing stimulus bill will help bring stability to the housing market and stop the rising rate of foreclosures.
The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions (FACT Act)...
New regulations take effect in fall 2008 that will affect NAR members that have affiliated businesses and those that deal with credit reports. The Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 late in 2007 adding several new regulations affecting some REALTORS.
The mandatory compliance date for the Affiliate Marketing Rules is Oct. 1, 2008. The rule generally prohibits a person from using information received from an affiliate to make a solicitation for marketing purposes to a consumer, unless the consumer is given notice and a reasonable opportunity and a reasonable and simple method to opt out of the making of such solicitations. Read more >
by Matthew Ferrara I know, I probably deserve it. I'm the one who's constantly poking and pushing and prodding the REALTOR population to put more property video online. I should have learned my lesson, though, after I cajoled the industry into putting more photos online, only to have ended up with the creepy, scary stuff we're seeing today.
I thought I'd seen it all. I could even get used to the bad photos. Now it has moved into video--and if this is what we're going to get from REALTORS, I'm thinking I might do better herding cats. Read more >
REALTOR magazine, in cooperation with Remodeling magazine, is surveying real estate practitioners for the 2008 Cost vs. Value report. The groups need to know about the returns that sellers in your market can expect from home remodeling projects. Survey respondents will be entered into a raffle for one of four $500 prizes. Take the online survey. >
News Watch: Subscribe to real estate ePublications, RSS feeds
Keep a pulse on the top real estate stories from around the country with REALTOR magazine's Daily Real Estate News. Subscribe to the weekly or daily e-newsletter, or RSS feed. Also, join the conversation and get news reports, business tips, and more by subscribing to RSS feeds or e-mails updates for one of the magazine's three blogs: The Weekly Book Scan, Speaking of Real Estate, and the YPN (Young Professionals Network) Lounge blogs. Subscribe today >.
Do you have members asking to use the REALTOR® trademark in showing support for a candidate in an election?
NAR's Bylaws (Article V, Section 6) permit the use of the term REALTOR® in connection with activities in support of certain candidates in elections to public office as long as you meet certain conditions. Read trademark conditions >
For specific usage questions, e-mail trademark@realtors.org.
It seems like we're all trying to find ways to save money these days. One great way is clipping out those grocery coupons that appear in the circulars in most Sunday morning newspapers. Well thanks to AOL you don't need to clip out those coupons any longer. By registering with www.shortcuts.com you'll be able to enter your grocery store savings card number (for participating stores only) and then click on featured weekly coupons that will be automatically saved on your store's card! So when you reach the check out line the grocery's scanner will read the coupons you've selected online!
Your membership in the Ohio Association of REALTORS allows you to take advantage of a number of member benefits. For questions about member offers and benefits contact Greg Stitz at stitz@ohiorealtors.org.
In addition, the National Association of REALTORS also provides its members many more benefits and offers.
Fit it all in an Excel cell...Have you ever wondered how you would ever fit the data you need to record in a single tiny cell?
Simply type all the required data, click Enter (or Return) and click the cell again.
Then go to Format > Cells > Alignment, choose Wrap Text, and click OK.
Cascading windows in Windows XP...Do you want to see several program windows at the same time? 1) Right-click the menu bar next to Start, 2) Select Tile Windows Horizontally or Tile Windows Vertically; 3) To undo the action, select Cascade Windows.
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
Land 101: The Fundamentals of Land Brokerage This two-day course will be held Aug. 5-6 at OAR headquarters. Students will be introduced to the land brokerage specialty, determining market value and more. C.E. credit is available. Register today...
CI 101: Financial Analysis for Commercial Investment Real Estate This flagship CCIM course offers an array of financial analysis concepts and calculations to help you make sound commercial real estate investment decisions. You will also learn the fundamentals of profitable investing and how to accurately measure investment value and performance of a given property. Course will be held in Columbus on Aug. 11-15. C.E. credit applies. Register now...
NEWS from REALTOR University... Don't forget you can get your ePro certification and ABR and CIPS designations online. Check it out...
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...
Fit it all in an Excel cell...Have you ever wondered how you would ever fit the data you need to record in a single tiny cell? 