Arcadia
REALTOR®
The Official Publication of the Arcadia Association of REALTORS®
PROUDLY SERVING THE REALTORS® OF ARCADIA, BRADBURY, DUARTE, MONROVIA AND SIERRA MADRE
Smokin’ Jack Cigar & Whiskey Tasting Charity Event
Mid-Year Association Update
See page 9
See page 7
“How to Work the Room” See page 8
AUGUST 2013
WWW.THEAAR.COM
VOL. 17, NO. 8
Arcadia
REALTOR®
REGULAR FEATURES 4 Events Calendar
4 From the EVP’s Desk Andrew Cooper, Executive Vice President
5 Attorney Comments Dave Freeman, AAR Legal Counsel
6 Market Matters
10 Through the Lens
A Look at What’s Happening Around the AAR
11 Affiliate Corner
“Forgery - How We’re Protecting You”
Diana Rafeedie, North American Title Company
Arcadia Association of REALTORS® 601 South First Avenue Arcadia, California 91006 626.446.2115 626.446.4072 FAX www.TheAAR.com
2013 ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
Andy Bencosme {President} Mike Vachani {President-Elect} Joe Pacilio {Vice-President} Jill Nelson {Secretary/Treasurer}
2013 ASSOCIATION DIRECTORS
Micah Adams Ryan Asao Roy Blume Kelvin Chang Margaret Garemore John Lee Paulina Lee Sylvia Ramos Irene Yamagata -Bermudez
2013 C.A.R. DIRECTORS
Ryan Asao Andy Bencosme Margaret Garemore George Monte Randall Traw Mike Vachani Kelvin Wong
ARCADIA ASSOCIATION STAFF Robin Allen Ext. 307 Director of Finance / Office Manager Robin@TheAAR.com Michael Beltran Ext. 302 IT Director / Webmaster Michael@TheAAR.com
08.13
{ Arcadia REALTOR® | August | Two Thousand and Thirteen | Volume Seventeen | Number Eight}
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August 2013
Brenda Faltes Ext. 304 Director of MLS Data Integrity, Supra & Social Media Brenda@TheAAR.com Jamie Hu Ext. 309 Administration Jamie.Hu@TheAAR.com Stephanie Maertens Ext. 303 Director of Education, Publications & MLS Caravan Stephanie@TheAAR.com Maria Roberts Ext. 305 Director of Membership & Professional Standards Maria@TheAAR.com Jane Shriver Ext. 301 Director of Association Services Jane@TheAAR.com Andrew Cooper Ext. 308 Executive Vice President Andrew@TheAAR.com
ON THE COVER 7
Mid-Year Association Update AAR 2013 President, Andy Bencosme gives an update on the activity of the Association year-to-date.
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“How to Work the Room” Don’t be overwhelmed by a networking event full of strangers. Learn some tips for breaking the ice and making the right connections.
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Smokin’ Jack Cigar & Whiskey Tasting Charity Event A look at the recent AAR Events 4 Charity fundraising event at Sena on Myrtle in Downtown Monrovia.
ADDITIONAL CONTENTS 3
Real Estate Contract Training Please join us for this upcoming educational series that will teach you about the C.A.R. contract forms.
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“Risk Management by Design” Please join us for this upcoming educational course.
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Save the Date! Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) Designation The AAR will be offering this N.A.R. designation October 21-25, 2013 this year.
Don’t settle for a field goal, go for the touchdown! Our game plan will help to keep the loan process simple and make sure you close on time.
Use Larry and First Cal on your next home loan. Larry Davis Mortgage Advisor
Direct: 626.513.7955 Cell: 626.664.3106 ldavis@firstcal.net NMLS# 168532
TOGETHER WE PROSPER, FIRST CAL DEALWORKS & Design, and FIRST CALIFORNIA MORTGAGE COMPANY are trademarks and the property of First California Mortgage Company. First California Mortgage Company is an Equal Housing Lender and is licensed through California Dept. of Corporations RML #415.0042 and CFL #6054270;
The AAR Education Committee presents
REAL ESTATE CONTRACT TRAINING
“Risk Management by Design”
All trainings will be in the Arcadia Association of REALTORS® Building Courses includes practical application of contracts and sample case studies. You will actually fill out all the contracts during the course!
Course Instructor—Robert Brand, Real Estate Risk Management Training 3 DRE Credit—Risk Management; Sponsor #3170
Training Schedule: Thursday, September 26th - 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013 ARCADIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® 601 S. FIRST AVE. ARCADIA, CA 91006
Continental breakfast sponsored by Stephanie LaPorte, Old Republic Home Protection
TIME: 9:00 A.M. TO 12:00 P.M. CHECK-IN BEGINS: 8:30 A.M.
Course Fee: $15
• Agency • Listing Agreement (Right to Sell, Agency, Open Listing) • Seller’s Advisory • Civil Code and Agency • Authorization to Receive and Convey Information • Cancellation of Listing (Seller/Broker Choices with Regard to Compensation) • Referral Fee Agreement
Thursday, October 3rd - 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Course Instructor, Robert Brand
California’s #1 Seminar on Lawsuit Avoidance! Learn the 5 absolute best “red flag” disclosure strategies Avoid the most common TDS and AVID errors Apply Risk Management principles to REO and Short Sale transactions
Robert Brand is presenter of California’s leading seminars on property condition disclosure strategies. He is a high content speaker with a unique ability to take what works in court and apply it to the real-world experiences of real estate professionals. Mr. Brand is a licensed general contractor, and has personally inspected thousands of residential properties. He now works as a litigation consultant, a contributing author to REALTOR magazine, and a speaker on effective disclosure strategies. Multiple thousands of agents have enjoyed his informative and entertaining presentation style.
Registration Required: Your Reservation will Reserve Your Seat Register online at www.TheAAR.com by clicking the event name under “Upcoming Events”. For questions, call the AAR at (626) 446-2115.
• Seller Representation (Continued) • Working with Requests for Repairs • REO Advisory • Short Sale Information and Advisory • Water Heater/Smoke Detector • Statewide Buyer and Seller Advisory • Seller Property Questionnaire or Supplemental Statutory Disclosure • Transfer Disclosure Statement • Agent Visual Inspection Disclosure and Easton vs. Strassburger
Thursday, October 10th - 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. • Disclosures • RPA-CA Part 1 • Lead Based Paint • Supplemental Property Tax Disclosure • Natural Hazards - 3rd Party or Seller Generated? • Contingency Removal Form (Active vs. Passive Contingency Removal) • Short Sale Addendum • Notice to Perform (Buyer/Seller) • Cancellation of Contract • General Addendum
Thursday, October 17th - 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. • Agency Form • Civil Code and Agency (Continued) • RPA-CA (Continued) • Counter Offer - Mulitiple Counter Offers • Contingency Form (Sale or Replacement) • Wood Destroying Pest (Section 1 vs. Section 2) • Request for Repairs • Market Conditions and Advisory • Testing and Case Senarios with the Forms Themselves
$39 Per Class OR $129 For All Four Days To register, please visit www.TheAAR.com and click on the course title under “Upcoming Events” or call the AAR office. www.TheAAR.com ~ 601 S. First Ave. Arcadia, CA 91006 ~ 626-446-2115 ~ Fx. 626-446-4072
Arcadia REALTOR® Magazine
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August Events Calendar 1
9:30 a.m. - Commercial / Investment Committee Mtg. 11:00 a.m. - Commercial Marketing Mixer
2
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Toastmasters
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10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - CRMLS Training
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10:00 a.m. - Global Real Estate Committee Mtg. 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - Beginning Zipforms Training
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8:30 a.m. - MLS Caravan 9:30 a.m. - Events 4 Charity Auxiliary Mtg.
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8:30 a.m. - New Member Orientation
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11:00 a.m. - Tech Committee Mtg.
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8:30 a.m. - MLS Caravan 8:45 a.m. - Affiliate Committee Mtg. 3:30 p.m. - Equal Opportunity / Housing Affordability Committee Mtg.
15 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Lunch & Learn Series “Branding Outside the Box: Bringing Value to Your Business” 16
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Toastmasters
20
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Intermediate ZipForms6 Training
21
8:30 a.m. - MLS Caravan 9:30 a.m. - Public Relations Committee Mtg. 1:30 p.m. - Local Governmental Relations Committee Mtg.
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9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - “Risk Management by Design”
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N.A.R. Leadership Meetings (Aug. 25-27)
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1:30 p.m. - Budget and Finance Committee Mtg.
28
8:30 a.m. - MLS Caravan 9:30 a.m. - Young Professionals Network Committee Mtg.
30
8:30 a.m. - Board of Directors Mtg.
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FROM THE EVP’S DESK The Future’s So Bright I Gotta Wear Shaded Google Glasses – Part 1 of 2 I think we can all agree that technology has dramatically changed our industry. I think we can further agree that technology will continue to change our industry to degrees that we really can’t comprehend just yet. So in an effort to put the Arcadia Association of REALTORS® in a leading position instead of a following one, I attended the Inman Real Estate Connect tech conference last month. Through this magazine I was able to obtain a press pass which gave me access to all sessions and meetings. The conference was 2 ½ days of incredible information, trends and probabilities and it featured all the tech movers and shakers in our industry all under one roof. Following are just a few of the highlights and insights I’d love to share with our AAR members. Because of the quantity of information to share, this month’s article will feature Part one with Part two coming in September. If you’d like Part 2 in advance, simply email me at Andrew@TheAAR.com and I’ll email you the entire article. Business Development • Lean-In Circles. These circles are small peer groups that meet regularly to learn and share together. Studies show we achieve more in groups than we do as individuals. A Circle can be a monthly roundtable at your real estate office, a regular brown-bag lunch or even a virtual meet-up. Imagine the power in keeping you and your fellow Realtors® accountable with your production goals. Visit www.LeanIn.org/Circles . New Investment Strategies • Crowdfunding for real estate investments. While crowdfunding isn’t a new concept, it is now being used as a vehicle to invest in real estate. Crowdfunding is the collective effort of individuals who network and pool their money, usually via the Internet to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations. Crowdfunding for real estate differs from an REIT in as much as an REIT is a pool of properties whereas real estate through Crowdfunding is a known, specific property. Websites / Apps (more in September) • Nextdoor.com – a private social network for neighborhoods. Buyers are already using this to find out inside information about the neighborhoods where agents claim to be experts – you probably should be using it to too. From a newbusiness standpoint, imagine the new clients that you can gain from being a member of this site. • Homesnap.com and Homesnap App (@Homesnap) - The magic of Homesnap is that it allows users to snap a photograph of any home, anywhere in America and get property details and financial information about that home, regardless of whether it’s currently listed for sale. It’s the immediacy and inherent magic of the experience that makes it so appealing. Users can get an immediate answer to the question, “What’s the (Continued on page 12)
August 2013
Attorney Comments August 2013
By Dave Freeman, Association Counsel 1. PROPERTY LINES – FENCES: Fences, walls, lines of rock or other demarcations do not determine the property lines. When your clients are purchasing a property, if they inquire as to the boundaries or property lines, avoid the mistake of confirming or indicating where the property lines are. Instead, direct them to have a survey done, if the property lines are important to them. Document your advice in writing to them. Encourage them to order the survey early, during the contingency period. If the boundaries and area of the property are important to the client, suggest the possibility of ordering a title policy which guarantees the boundaries. This will be more expensive and require the title company performing a survey, but will give the purchaser assurance of the property lines and area of the property. 2. LEASE OPTIONS: Sometimes during the down periods of real estate, it is difficult to lease properties, whether residential or commercial. Wise lessees recognizing the landlord’s desire to avoid vacancies over long periods of time, will sometimes request a lease/option, giving the lessee the opportunity to purchase the property at a later date, at a set price. If you are representing the landlord, be sure they are advised that the prices may go up considerably by the time the lessee exercises the option to purchase, and the price may seem disappointingly low. This is the tradeoff. If representing the lessee, be sure
DON’T MISS WHAT’S COMING!
the lease option is drawn by a competent real estate attorney, or use C.A.R. forms if the matter is simple. Most important: A. The option to purchase and the price set are clear. B. The time to exercise the option is clear. C. The lessee must give some consideration/ dollars to make the lease option binding on the landlord (sometimes the property completion of the lease terms by the lessee is spelled out to be the consideration given by the lessee). Experienced agents will spell out the terms and conditions of the actual purchase, at the time of preparing the lease option, by completing a C.A.R. Purchase Contract and attaching it to the lease option. A lease option can be a great opportunity for a lessee to have the opportunity in the future to purchase a property convenient to them for their residence or business, sometimes at a greatly reduced price. 3. STOPPING FORECLOSURE – VERIFICATION: Very often, during the loan modification process, and sometimes with the short sale process, the lender’s representative will assure the homeowner that the foreclosure has been stopped or put off during the period of the loan modification and short sale. “Trust but Verify?” NO! Never trust a lender’s representative when they state
that the foreclosure has been put off or stopped. I have seen countless situations such as this where the foreclosure proceeds to sale and the homeowner losses the property, after clear, repeated statements that the foreclosure will not proceed. Therefore, the only solution is to get a written statement signed by a representative of the bank that the foreclosure will not proceed, or has been rescinded. Otherwise, you must take other action, assuming that the foreclosure is proceeding to sale. Other actions to stop the foreclosure may include, but are not limited to: A. Paying off the loan prior to the sale. B. Curing (paying the back payments, late charges and foreclosure costs) prior to the sale. C. Filing suit in State Court along with a Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order to stop the foreclosure. This is not often successful. D. Bankruptcy or Chapter 11 or 13 proceedings. This will stop the foreclosure, temporarily. There are other procedures possible in certain circumstances. Most importantly, encourage your clients to get help EARLY. Owners in this situation usually become lulled into putting action off, and this is always diastrous.
For more information on upcoming AAR classes and more, visit www.TheAAR.com and click “Upcoming Events” Arcadia REALTOR® Magazine
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Market
Matters
Market Statistics for the San Gabriel Valley Single Family Homes
City Alhambra
6
Zip Code 91801
Condominiums
$522
SFR Only
Price Median Price & Median Condo Chg from Home Price/ ($1,000) June 2012 Sq. Ft.
Sales of Price % Sales Single Family Price Median Chg from Count Homes SFR ($1,000) June 2012 Condos 10
June 2013
33.8%
12
$387
3.5%
$365
Alhambra
91803
11
$439
-0.9%
2
$385
17.8%
$372
Altadena
91001
43
$653
74.0%
2
$1,051
-5.4%
$413
Arcadia
91006
45
$876
17.8%
5
$760
20.0%
$472
Arcadia
91007
31
$1,215
38.9%
10
$468
4.8%
$515
Azusa
91702
35
$335
24.1%
16
$222
45.3%
$240
Duarte
91010
14
$350
0.0%
4
$338
82.4%
$287
El Monte
91731
5
$355
6.0%
3
$260
-12.8%
$304
El Monte
91732
5
$339
25.6%
15
$325
5.7%
$290
El Monte - South
91733
11
$370
13.8%
2
$270
26.8%
$269
Glendora
91740
12
$390
18.2%
n/a
n/a
n/a
$245
Glendora
91741
27
$575
20.4%
6
$375
9.8%
$327
La Ca単ada Flintridge
91011
34
$1,460
53.7%
2
$703
-18.1%
$566
La Verne
91750
28
$482
23.6%
10
$314
4.5%
$293
Monrovia
91016
26
$547
6.1%
9
$418
-0.5%
$409
Pasadena
91101
3
$480
n/a
17
$430
11.7%
$331
Pasadena
91103
21
$520
23.7%
9
$450
-17.1%
$380
Pasadena
91104
23
$530
1.0%
3
$310
0.2%
$382
Pasadena
91105
18
$1,048
15.4%
5
$736
18.7%
$496
Pasadena
91106
11
$1,030
-61.3%
18
$440
23.8%
$533
Pasadena
91107
25
$650
1.6%
5
$400
15.6%
$409
Rosemead
91770
15
$445
32.8%
2
$301
9.2%
$296
San Gabriel
91775
23
$735
38.7%
2
$538
69.0%
$422
San Gabriel
91776
10
$464
11.8%
3
$350
-21.2%
$393
San Marino
91108
20
$1,825
-2.0%
n/a
n/a
n/a
$706
Sierra Madre
91024
13
$888
56.5%
3
$605
37.9%
$497
Temple City
91780
26
$586
11.4%
7
$585
44.1%
$429
Source: DQNews.com
August 2013
Mid-Year Association Update By Andy Bencosme, AAR 2013 President
2013 is a year that continues to call for everyone to work harder. Nothing is easy, but opportunities still exist for those that diligently put in the work. The Arcadia Association of REALTORS®, as represented by the committee members, chairman and leadership continues to put in that work on your behalf in order to represent you, advance your causes and improve the tools you have to do business. Education being one of our core offerings, the AAR has so far offered a record setting number of classes. So far this year, 43 courses have been offered with 1,294 attendees in those classes. This is a proud accomplishment as education leads the list of services our members want every time we conduct a membership survey. Our Education Committee, chaired by Kenny Watanabe, and the Association have worked hard to keep pace with the demands of the members and deserve to be applauded for the outstanding job done this year. They have brought both quantity and quality, offering designation classes such as ABR and SRES to our members and with CIPS coming in October. Another core strength of the Arcadia Association of
REALTORS® is political advocacy. This is the hard, boots to the ground work we must do to keep the Government out of our pockets and protect our clients’ property rights. This year we had a contingency of 21 REALTOR® members attend C.A.R. Legislative Day in Sacramento. While there, we met with our state representatives and lobbied for our clients and industries interests. The sheer number of REALTORS® in Sacramento made quite an impression and helped us fight off legislation detrimental to our industry. We also added value to your membership dues by using our size to add perks like our new discounted Disneyland tickets for AAR Members. We held a Valentine’s Day sale in the AAR store for two weeks in February to help you get the tools of the trade you need at a discounted rate. A big hit this year was our 1st ever AAR Paper Shred Day in the AAR parking lot. Judging by the number of people who took advantage of it, the event was a huge success and what our members need and want. We look forward to continue that for years to come. The Arcadia Association of REALTORS® has a tradition of reaching out to both the community and our members. We continued this by partnering with the City of Duarte to hold a Duarte Homebuyer’s Fair in April. We also partnered with the (Continued on page 11)
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(626) 831-8862 www.morrisoninspects.com Arcadia REALTOR® Magazine
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“How to Work the Room” By Michael Goldberg, RISMedia Real Estate Magazine
Don’t be overwhelmed by a networking event full of strangers. This is your chance to create new business relationships. Here are some tips for breaking the ice and making the right connections. OK, you’ve made it to the event. Now what? Approaching complete strangers is a daunting task for many — especially when you’re an agent or broker and find that some become guarded when you mention what you do. There’s no sure thing when meeting new people because everyone is so different and we all tend to have our own agendas. Even you. Networking is all about meeting people, getting to know them, and potentially helping them. That’s it! When looking to “work the room,” always refer back to the definition (or at least my definition) of networking: learning about and helping others. When your objective is to learn something about other people — whether it is culture, trends, upcoming conferences, product information, related articles and publications, or further contacts — you can’t lose. Helping someone in your target market is even better. Givers always gain and favors get returned, especially when the appropriate time comes to ask for them. Remember, you’re looking to start a relationship. Choose your attitude before arriving at the meeting. Be genuine and have fun. Get the Conversation Rolling Repeat after me: It’s all about them. Confidently introduce yourself and ask a series of general questions to learn more about your contact’s work, goals, and initiatives. Here are some of my favorite questions to ask people to break the ice and, more important, to get to know them.
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•
How did you learn of this meeting/event? (If it’s not obvious.)
•
Have you been here before? If yes, what brought you back?
•
Do you know a lot of people here? (If so, who?)
•
What kind of work do you do? (Again, if it’s not obvious.)
•
What company do you work for?
•
How long have you been at it?
•
Do you like what you do?
•
What is it about your work you like most? Least?
•
What are you looking for here?
August 2013
•
Do you have a target market? (If so, great! If not, why not?)
•
How do you market your business?
•
What does a perfect prospect look like for you? Why?
•
What do you do for fun? (Sports, kids, vacation, hobbies, etc.)
•
What can I do to help you? (If I like them!)
That’s my short list in no particular order. I pick and choose as appropriate and as the conversation flows. Notice how all of these questions are focused on the other person? As in, it’s all about them. The Next Step If there’s a good connection or the person you meet is any kind of networker, they should be asking you the same questions right back. Remember, this will almost always begin as a superficial conversation. If there is a connection, then great! If not, that’s fine, too. After a few minutes, just say, “It was nice to meet you. Let me know if I can help you with anything at the event today; otherwise, good luck and hope to see you soon.” And that’s it. Never be rude, off-putting, or curt with anyone. Keep in mind that most people (even agents and brokers) are not very good at talking to strangers. (After all, didn’t mom tell you not to do that?) If there is a good connection and the conversation is collaborative, briefly give an overview of what you do and how you help others (if you’re asked). For instance, I would say, “I’m a seminar leader, speaker, and consultant focused on helping real estate agents create more business through networking.” Hopefully they’ll ask questions that are as good as yours! If there is a good connection and you think you can help one another, then exchange cards and commit to following up. Put some notes on the back of the business card you collected, shake hands, and say your good-byes. If you’re really brave, ask for an introduction to someone they know at the event that you want to know or offer to do the same. Believe it or not, all this should take place in no more than six to eight minutes (without looking at your watch). What upcoming event will you attend to try this approach and practice your networking? Grab your calendar, phone a friend, go to Google, press the buttons, and schedule it now!
Smokin’ Jack
Charity Cigar & Whiskey Tasting Night Last month, the AAR Events 4 Charity Auxiliary held a charity cigar and whiskey tasting charity event at Sena Restaurant on Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia. The cozy setting was a perfect environment for the fun had by all who attended. Attendees enjoyed three unique whiskey tastings, tasty appetizers, a raffle for some fantastic prizes and a discount on wonderfully crafted Robusto Cigars. This event was widely attended and was successful in raising funds to donate to local charities at the end of the year. We would like to offer a special thank you to Event Chairman, Jason Landes, Bank of America Mortgage who worked ardently to ensure this event was a success. We also would like to thank those who attended to help raise funds for charity!
through the lens
A Look at What’s Happening Around the AAR
enter C y t i n U l l i Footh Back-to-School and AAR Drive
artnership San Gabriel EconoBmreicakPfa LegislativeAAR EVP; Syst lvia Ramos;
(L to R): Andrew Cooper, esident; Chris Holden, 13 Pr Andy Bencosme, AAR 20 41st District; Joe Pacilio, , hip W Assemblyman, Majority and Jim Maceo. AAR 2013 Vice-President
enate S te ta S ’s o n ti n ta Anthony Poarign Launch Party red Camp hairman; F 10
GR Committee C Jim Maceo. L , g n o W n vi el K (L to R): , Nick Zigic and o n ti an rt o P y n o Madjar; Anth August 2013
AAR Board of Directors Monthly Meeting
AAR Educational Courses
Affiliate Corner
“Forgery - How We’re Protecting You” By Diana Rafeedie, North American Title Company
Forgery is the crime of falsely and fraudulently making or altering a legal document. It is a felony punishable by imprisonment in a state prison. It is also an act which may cloud title to property and may result in protracted legal proceedings. The incidence of forgery is escalating, and the victims are innocent property owners. Title industry figures reveal that over the last decade, forgery losses tripled, accounting now for over 20% of all losses paid by title insurers. These statistics indicate that the consumer’s chances of becoming a forgery victim are the greatest ever. Forgeries affecting real property are created in a number of ways. A deed may be forged by someone, often a family member or associate, in an attempt to transfer legal ownership of the property without the knowledge of the true owner. A lender’s recorded security agreement for a loan may be eliminated by a forged instrument falsely indicating payment of the secured debt, thereby allowing another loan to be fraudulently obtained. A note and deed of trust may be forged by a person who then sells the note secured by the deed of trust and disappears, leaving an unsuspecting homeowner to discover the cloud on
Mid-Year Association Update Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) for the first time to hold a combined conference at the Monrovia Doubletree Hotel. In an effort to get our new Members involved we held our 2nd New Member Welcome Reception at Dave & Buster’s in Arcadia. In reaching out to our community, one of the things the Arcadia Association of REALTORS® does that is close to my heart is raise money for our local charities. And this year looks to be a stellar year in that department. So far we have held four very successful events. The Events 4 Charity group, co-chaired by Julie Muttavangkul and Jeanne Keating, have done a tremendous job putting on several charitable events, some new, some old, and all a lot of fun! They continued with our tradition of a Day at the Races and Bingo & Burgers, but they also added two new events - a Wine and Cheese tasting event and a Cigar and Whiskey tasting event. These have already raised over $15,000 which we will donate to our local charities in December.
title when the purchase of the note commences foreclosure proceedings for the nonpayment of the debt. A fraudulent document may be notarized by either a person impersonating a notary or a legitimate notary who fails to ascertain that the person signing the document is not the person whose name appears on the document. The mounting trend in forgery has received serious attention. No longer may title companies concentrate only on removing risks arising from inadvertences or errors in recordings; instead, we now have the additional responsibility of contending with criminal acts. The title industry is reevaluating its title and escrow practices and strengthening notarization processes, closing loopholes which forgers might other-wise exploit. But, what can you as a property owner do about forgery? While you may not be able to prevent a forgery, you can be protected. Title insurance provides protection against forgeries in your title which may have occurred prior to the issuance of your title insurance policy. Without this protection, you would singlehandedly face the uncertainty and expense of resolving legal issues. For more information, please contact Diana Rafeedie at (626) 675-1009 or at drafeedie@earthlink.net. (Continued from page 7) All of our efforts do not go unnoticed. The AAR was awarded the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Corporate Citizen of the Year Award in April - a very high honor which shows our standing in the community. A lot of weight was placed on our charitable giving when winning this award. We were also the recipient of N.A.R.’s 2013 Innovation Grant. The Arcadia Association of REALTORS® was awarded $3,000, which will be used for our Commercial Education Day in October. In the end, I think the greatest testament to the accomplishments and the value of the Association is the membership growth. Our services, education, professionalism and value continue to attract new membership that surpasses many other Associations. I look forward to seeing what the rest of the year will bring for our members and our Association. I want to thank committee members and the Arcadia Association of REALTORS® staff for all the time and hard work they put in to accomplish all of these amazing feats! Arcadia REALTOR® Magazine
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Arcadia Association of REALTORS® 601 South First Avenue Arcadia, California 91006 (Continued from page 4)
deal with that house?” without even knowing the address. YES this is FOR REAL. • INRIX.com and INRIX App – Leading traffic monitoring system. INRIX data-driven applications and services empowers drivers, improves urban mobility and enhances commerce. In wrapping up Part 1, I’ll submit that you don’t have to like technology. Just like I don’t like eating vegetables. But you do have to be aware of new technology for the health of your business like I have to eat vegetables for the health of my body. I’m hopeful some of the things in this article will inspire you to take a look at what’s already here and what’s literally around the corner. Stay tuned for Part 2 next month or email me now for the entire article: Andrew@TheAAR.com Continued success,
Andrew Cooper
Executive Vice-President
Dedicated to Providing High Quality Legal Services ®
• Estate Planning • Trust Administration • Probate • Business Law • Commercial Transactions • Corporation, LLC & Partnership Formations • Business Contracts
Call today for a free consultation
Romy S. Rahmanian, Attorney
(626) 869-8787 33 East Huntington Drive • Arcadia, CA 91006 romy@rahmanianlaw.com • www.RahmanianLaw.com
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C. Anthony Phillips, CPA President
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