Capital Area REALTOR® Sept/Oct 2018 by GCAAR

REALTOR

CAPITAL AREA

SUPPPORT AFTER CLOSING MARKETING EXPERTISE

Demonstrating Value — page 6 How GCAAR Members Bring Value to Clients What’s Your Membership Worth?

NEGOTIATION SKILLS CONTRACT KNOW-HOW LOCAL MARKET KNOWLEDGE

Shelly Murray Named Maryland REALTORS® and GCAAR REALTOR® of the Year — page 3

Official publication for the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS ®

SEPT/OCT 2018

R E A LTOR

CAPITAL AREA

Demonstrating Value – p. 6

GCAAR Happenings – p. 23

sept/oct 2018

REALTOR® Toolbox – p. 32

From the GCAAR Classroom – p. 36

features

in every issue

3 Shelly Murray Named GCAAR REALTOR® of the Year

Public Policy

2 1

NAR Director’s Report

Don’t Let This Happen to You

Affiliate Spotlight: Grace Swersey

Demonstrating Value

What’s Your Membership Worth?

22 RPAC 26

Legal Hotline

Coaches’ Corner

Membership Corner

Bright MLS: Close More Leads with Remine

Meet Your GCAAR Committee: YPN

Economic Outlook

GCAAR Cares

REALTOR® Toolbox

REALTOR® Fest 2018 Highlights

Education Schedule

GCAAR Happenings

GCAAR in the News

GCAAR Happenings

Welcome New Members!

From the GCAAR Classroom: Radon

Design Trends

Affiliate Directory

Back Porch

Capital Area REALTOR® (USPS 017-467) is published five times a year by the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® 15201 Diamondback Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850. Periodicals postage paid at Gaithersburg, MD. Member subscriptions account for $10 of each member’s annual dues. Annual subscriptions are available to non-members for $25. Subscription inquiries may be sent to Capital Area REALTOR® at the above address. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Capital Area REALTOR®, ATTN: GCAAR, 15201 Diamondback Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850. The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® makes no warranties and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the officers, directors, or staff of the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®. The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® accepts submissions of articles and photographs and the items become the property of the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®. The publisher reserves the right of full editorial authority and to decline publication of any article not deemed proper. Deadline for submissions, including camera-ready advertising, is the first of the month prior to publication. Reprint with permission only. Reprints may be obtained by contacting the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® at 301.590.2000; via fax at 301.590.2248; or send an e-mail to bbanks@gcaar.com. REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies and may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to its Code of Ethics. Copyright ©2018 by the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®. All rights reserved.

15201 Diamondback Drive, Suite 100 Rockville, MD 20850 Phone: 301.590.2000 I Fax: 301.590.2248 www.gcaar.com

board of directors

ask the president NAR offers a lot of designations? What do they mean and should I invest in any of them?

President

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and its affiliated Institutes, Societies, and Councils provides a widerange of programs and services that help members increase their skills, proficiency, and knowledge. Getting a designation indicates that you have taken the necessary training to become proficient in a specific area.

President-Elect

Tom Daley

Koki Adasi

Personally, I have the MilRES® designation, which means that I have taken additional training specifically to help military clients. If you are interested in serving certain types of clients, or if you want to be certified in a specific area, NAR offers a number of designations that may be suitable. For additional information go to: https://www.nar.realtor/education/designations-and-certifications.

I am a new REALTOR®, and I’ve been told that it’s important to include market statistics to help potential clients see how much their homes are worth or what they can expect to pay for homes in a particular area. Where are the best places to go to access this type of information?

Treasurer

Danai Mattison Sky

Thom Brockett

Immediate Past President

GCAAR produces monthly housing statistics that can be found on gcaar.com. Simply click on the Housing Market Reports image on the home page, or go to gcaar.com> REALTOR® Tools>Housing Market Reports. From there you can download our monthly housing stats for singlefamily homes and condos, as well as the monthly housing market reports, which are an analysis of Bright MLS multiple listing data prepared each month for GCAAR by Market Stats by ShowingTime.

Chief Executive Officer

Jamie Coley

Mike Moran

Directors Katrina Schymik Abjornson

Brandon Green

Avi Adler

Justin Levitch

Harrison Beacher

Andres Serafini

Jan Brito

Ellie Shorb

Lee Goldstein

Frank Snodgrass

Jody Goren

Kirsten Williams

Another good source of market data is NAR’s REALTOR Property Resource (RPR®). It is a member benefit offered exclusively to REALTORS® at no additional cost. RPR services every segment of the real estate industry: residential, commercial, brokers, appraisers, associations, and MLSs. RPR offers a number of training options and resources to help you learn about and optimize this valuable tool.

R E A LTOR

CAPITAL AREA

Managing Editor Bobette Banks

Advertising Representative Arlene Braithwaite

Design & Layout Carla Conway, Uncommon Design

Why Use RPR? RPR is a no-cost member benefit that is 100% owned by REALTORS®—Exclusively. No third party or public access … guaranteed. The only way a non-REALTOR® has access to the data in RPR is through an RPR report that has been created, branded and sent by a REALTOR®.

Secretary

TO LEARN MORE, GO TO:

http://blog.narrpr.com/rpr

association news Shelly Murray Named REALTOR® of the Year by GCAAR and Maryland REALTORS® GCAAR and Maryland REALTORS® have named Shelly Murray, as their REALTOR® of the Year for 2018. Shelly received the Maryland REALTORS® award September 22 at its annual conference. Shelly was the 2017 President of the Maryland REALTORS® and also served as 2010 GCAAR President. She has been very active on the local, state and national levels, serving on a range of committees at all levels, as well as serving six (6) times as a local National Association of REALTORS®’ director. “Shelly’s reputation as a leader and consummate professional is well known across the industry. It is our pleasure to name her as our REALTOR® of the Year for 2018,” said Mike Moran, GCAAR CEO. Her dedication to the real estate industry is evident in her commitment to her clients, her associations, and her fellow colleagues.”

John A. Harrison, 2019 Maryland REALTORS® President-Elect, presenting the award to Shelly Murray.

Murray began her real estate career 23 years ago as a Weichert REALTORS® sales associate, and in 1999 was named manager of the Germantown/Upper Montgomery County office. Since then, Murray has been named Weichert Regional Manager of the Year for five out of the last 11 years. A long-time resident of Montgomery County, Murray spent many years as a volunteer, including with the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County’s Friendly Visitor program. Shelly and husband Ken are the proud parents of Melissa and grandsons Rhys and Knox.

Congratulations, Shelly!

Code of Ethics Requirements Due December 31 As of January 1, 2017, the National Association of REALTORS® requires that members meet the ethics training requirements every two years instead of every four. Here is what you need to do to ensure you are in compliance by the December 31 deadline: 1. If you have taken ethics training with GCAAR (whether in Maryland, the District of Columbia, or Virginia) between January 1, 2017, and the present, we have a record of your attendance. There is nothing else you need to do at this time. 2. If you have taken ethics training with another accredited school, you must send us a copy of your certificate of completion by Friday, December 14. Any certificates received after this date will not be processed. You can send your certificate to us in three ways: • Mail it to: GCAAR ATTN: NAR Ethics Requirement 15201 Diamondback Drive, Suite 100 Rockville, MD 20850

• Fax it to 301.590.2248. • Email it to education@gcaar.com. 3. If you need to take ethics training, GCAAR will be offering several classes before the end of 2018. Visit gcaar.com to register. If you have any questions, please contact us at education@gcaar.com. CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 3

don’t let this happen to you! Submitted by Sandy Rosengarden, GCAAR Grievance Committee, Century 21 Redwood Realty listing agreement that would be executed upon the expiration of the current agreement with Larry. They did not then enter into an agreement but arranged for Glenda to return on the day after the expiration date, at which time they would enter into a listing agreement.

Honesty Really Is the Best Policy This issue of GCAAR’s magazine is all about value and how we create it for our clients. Here’s a case that reminds us that if our clients conclude that they are not receiving valuable service from us, there’s another agent out there who can legally and ethically come along, vie for that client’s business, and replace us. So, we’ve got to stay on our toes, but we also need to know how to properly handle a situation where another agent is showing a bit more interest in the terms of our listing than feels comfortable. Article 16 of our Code of Ethics says, “REALTORS® shall not engage in any practice or take any action inconsistent with exclusive representation or exclusive brokerage relationship agreements that other REALTORS® have with clients.” That seems like a pretty straightforward admonition along the line of “Hands off my clients, period.” But, there are circumstances under which another agent is perfectly entitled to communicate directly with your seller. And, if this happens, the worst thing about it is that you will have created the problem by being defensive instead of forthright and honest. So, if another agent picks up your listing, you’ll have only yourself to blame. That’s because Standard of Practice 16-4 says, “REALTORS® shall not solicit a listing … currently listed exclusively with another broker. However, if the listing broker, when asked …, refuses to disclose the expiration date and nature of such a listing … the (other) REALTOR® may contact the owner to secure such information and may discuss the terms upon which the REALTOR® might take a future listing or, alternatively, may take a listing to become effective upon expiration of any existing exclusive listing.” The meaning of Standard of Practice 16-4 is illustrated in Case #16-7. Seller Constance Complaine listed her home with REALTOR® Larry Languid

under a 90-day exclusive right to sell listing agreement. After 75 days, none of Larry Languid’s marketing strategies had succeeded in bringing a buyer. A disappointed Constance told Larry that she might seek another agent when the listing expired. That same day, Constance told her friend of her disappointment and that she was thinking of seeking a new agent. Her friend, Harriet Helpful, relayed this information to a REALTOR® she knew, Glenda Gogetem. Glenda, aware that the property was listed with Larry Languid, called Larry, told him about the information she’d received, and asked him about the nature and current status of Constance’s listing with Larry. Larry replied that the listing was his and refused to discuss the matter further (in the politest way possible, we’re sure). Glenda then contacted Constance and explained that their mutual friend Harriet had told her that Constance might be in the market for a new agent. Glenda told Constance that she didn’t want to interfere in any way with Constance’s listing agreement with Larry Languid, but that if Constance intended to seek another agent when the current agreement expired, Glenda would like to discuss the possibility of listing it. Constance invited her to her home that evening, and they discussed the terms and conditions of a

The property did not sell before the listing agreement with Larry Languid expired. The next day, Glenda Gogetem and Constance Complaine entered into an exclusive right to sell agreement. Upon learning of this, Larry Languid filed a complaint with the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), alleging that Glenda Gogetem had violated Article 16 of the Code of Ethics. Unfortunately for Larry, upon hearing the details from both Larry and Glenda, including the fact that Larry had told Glenda that the type of listing agreement and its expiration date were “none of her business,” the NAR Hearing Panel concluded that REALTOR® Glenda Gogetem had adequately respected the agency of REALTOR® Larry Languid, as interpreted by Standard of Practice 16-4. In fact, Larry’s refusal to provide the requested information about his listing is what opened the way for Glenda to not only seek that information directly from the seller, Constance Complaine, but also to discuss the terms of a future listing or even, if they chose, to enter into a listing agreement that would become effective upon the expiration of the current listing. As is clear, Larry would have been better off if he’d been forthright, given Glenda the information she was legitimately requesting, and then redoubled his efforts to make Constance perceive the value of his services and sign an extension of the listing agreement. Read the full case here: https://www. nar.realtor/code-of-ethics-and-arbitration-manual/case-interpretations-related-to-article-16.

Don’t Let This Happen to You! 4 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR — Sept/Oct 2018 ®

Affiliate Spotlight

Grace Swersey Marketing Associate

New World Title & Escrow How long have you been an Affiliate with GCAAR?

I have been an Affiliate for about two years. I became an Affiliate because I was looking for an avenue to get to know a wider circle of people in the real estate industry, as well as discover more ways to get involved in the community.

What are some of the events you support?

I love the events that GCAAR Cares puts together, such as Rebuilding Together®, as well as the events conducted by the GCAAR YPN committee.

Why do you continue to support GCAAR as an Affiliate?

Through GCAAR, New World Title & Escrow has been able to gain momentum and visibility in an area where we have not always had a ton of traction. I have met some amazing people, some of whom I have had the pleasure of doing business with, and I have learned so much about how great it is to be part of such a well-developed community. Going forward, I would love to meet more people in this wonderful organization and continue to make New World Title & Escrow a real presence in this association.

What would you say to people who are considering becoming an Affiliate?

I have actually encouraged several friends to become Affiliates. Being an Affiliate with GCAAR has allowed me to expand the reach of New World Title & Escrow, allowing my company to do everything from teaching classes to sponsoring events. It allows you to connect with the real estate community in a unique and valuable way that is incomparable to any other type of organization.

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7400 Heritage Village Plaza #102 Gainesville, VA 20155 800-795-0769 www.1031.us CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 5

FEATURE

How GCAAR members bring value to their clients A real estate transaction is one of the biggest financial decisions a person will make in their lifetime. How do GCAAR members provide value during this very important and in some cases very emotional process? Here are a few examples.

6 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ÂŽ â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Sept/Oct 2018

Koki Adasi Compass I recently listed and sold a condo near Dupont Circle. The seller was overseas. Right before the closing, there was a leak in the unit above, the ceiling was bubbling, and the buyer wanted the leak fixed and the ceiling repaired prior to closing. Luckily, I was able to call a handyman I work with often, and he was able to go to the property and get the work done the same day—at no cost to the seller. The buyer was satisfied and the closing took place as scheduled. I would not have been able to do that without my established relationship with my handyman, who has done work for many of our clients in the past. We try to prepare our clients for the types of events that can occur during a transaction by educating them and maintaining strong lines of communication. We go through a detailed intake questionnaire and walk them through the entire home-buying process. One of the most important things we do is review the offer process and what happens from contract to closing. We give them a sample contract. We take them through all of the things that will (might?) happen at closing. We find that the process is less scary for them if they know what to expect before they actually find a house. What’s more, our relationship with our buyers does not end once they purchase a home. After closing, we’re still a resource for them. I’ve been a REALTOR® for 12 years, and right now I’m helping my very first client purchase his next home for his family. Our entire business is about relationship management and providing value to our clients.

Koki Adasi’s relationship management skills put a nervous buyer at ease.

“I’m helping my very first client purchase his next home for his family. Our entire business is about relationship management and providing value to our clients.”

Melinda Schnare RLAH Real Estate Melinda Schnare’s open houses are a way to meet clients. I meet most of my clients at open houses. That is where they are starting out. Often they’re not sure of the process—all they know is that they want to buy a house. I talk to them about what type of house appeals to them, how they plan to live in it, what improvements might cost if there is a part of the house they know they’d want to change. We speak about the process—being prequalified, earnest money deposits, and contingencies. I then send homes I prescreen online—just listed, under coming soon status, or weekend opens—because I now know what is important to them. You get close because you are working toward the same goal. I keep them informed and make myself available to answer questions through each step of the home-buying process. Real estate transactions can be complex. Challenges such as how much the seller will pay for repairs, whether there are permits for work performed, the discovery of something big during an inspection that was not disclosed, finding a flooded basement on the final walk-through—these are just a few of the ways that we provide value and help our buyers in the thick of it, hopefully exceeding their expectations in the process.

— KO K I A D A S I , C O M P A S S CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 7

Wanda Farrar Metropolitan Home Realty Listening and open office meetings are the keys to success for Wanda Farrar. As a small boutique broker, Wanda Farrar knows how to incorporate personal touches to make a client feel special. She believes that the key to success in real estate and with most relationships is listening. Her team members take the time to really pay attention and understand the specific needs and desires of their clients. Using this information along with industry knowledge and experience, they work with clients to tailor company methodologies and formulate a customized strategy. For some sellers, it could mean taking them “secret shopping” in their own neighborhood so they can step into the buyer’s shoes and discover how quickly we can become very critical about other people’s homes. We laugh with the sellers as we tell them, “That is what people are going to say about your house if you decide not to ... before putting your home on the market.” The typical response is, “You are so right. Ha, ha, ha!” 8 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

We find the initial client consultation, which includes a listening session, to be very beneficial to all parties. We also have open business meetings. Many of our past, current, and potential clients attend our office meetings so they have an opportunity to learn from each other as well as join our real estate industry discussions. This summer, one of our recent buyers made it to our meeting. We had a toast and presented her with her closing gift. She was truly surprised. We make our meetings a family dinner around our office fireplace, and we all benefit from hearing and talking with each other and our guest speakers. The relationships built from truly listening and sharing have become lifelong and multigenerational.

“The relationships built from truly listening and sharing have become lifelong and multigenerational.”

— WA N DA FA R R A R

Tom Daley and Rob Rothstein TTR Sotheby’s International Realty and Paragon Title Tom Daley and Rob Rothstein save a transaction that takes an unforeseen turn.

Tom Daley

This was a highly uncommon situation, but one that could very easily occur. Nearly two months after ratification and just days before the settlement date, an elderly seller of a home unexpectedly died. Tom Daley was the buyer’s agent; Rob Rothstein was the settlement attorney. In the time leading up to closing, the seller presigned their documents, and

everyone was looking forward to a smooth and on-time closing. Following the seller’s death, everything changed. The GCAAR contract states that, following the death of a party, the contractual obligations continue to bind the estate of the decedent. In other words, even though the seller has died, the seller’s estate has a continuing obligation to sell the property to the buyer pursuant to the terms of the contract. While the contract remained in full effect, there were numerous administrative requirements that needed to be satisfied before closing could occur. The seller’s family needed to open an estate for the seller, a personal representative needed to be appointed, and all closing documents needed to be re-executed. It was unclear exactly how long that process would take. However, it was very clear that closing would not be able to occur on the settlement date called for in the contract. The buyers were willing to be flexible to allow enough time for the opening of the seller’s estate; however, an issue arose when the buyers realized that the delay in closing would cause their interest rate lock to expire. In the face of rising interest rates, the buyers learned that it would cost over $5,000 to extend their lock. A dispute as to who would pay that fee then ensued. What became immediately important was managing the emotions on both sides of the deal and coming up with a mutually

Rob Rothstein

agreeable outcome. Ultimately, it was not just about the legal work or writing the contract. It was about real estate professionals managing the expectations of their clients, letting them feel heard, and effectively relaying their position to the other side. Rob explains that, “While the circumstances and costs surrounding the delay easily could have resulted in a costly legal dispute, we worked hard to help the parties achieve a resolution focused not only on the legality but also the practicality of the issue at hand.” After considerable negotiation, the parties agreed to split the cost of the rate lock extension, and the home was sold without incurring any additional legal fees. A REALTOR®’s job doesn’t end upon finding the home—sometimes it’s just beginning at that point. This deal could have ended up in court, but by taking a collaborative approach from the beginning, understanding the emotions on both sides, and keeping their eyes on the ultimate goal, these real estate professionals were able to help their clients resolve the issue voluntarily, with a favorable outcome for all involved. Anyone can negotiate the numbers and write up the contract. What happens after that is just as important.

“A REALTOR®’s job doesn’t end upon finding the home—sometimes it’s just beginning at that point. ”

CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 9

How GCAAR Brings Member Value GCAAR members provide value to their clients in many ways, but how does GCAAR bring value to you? Here’s what fellow members have to say. For a breakdown, check out “What’s Your Membership Worth?” on the next page.

Jan Brito Wydler Brothers

Christina Koch-Garcia Samson Properties

Daniel Schuler Long & Foster Real Estate

Jackie Bennett RE/MAX Excellence Realty

“The benefits of GCAAR membership are many, including the opportunity to network with fellow agents, education opportunities (both CE and professional development), SentriLock services, SmartCharts, but most important for me are the efforts with political advocacy. The staff and dedicated volunteers who serve on the Legislative, Public Policy, and RPAC Committees work tirelessly to protect our interests and those of our clients through monitoring legislative issues that affect our industry, and hence, our livelihood. A fine example is the recent change to TOPA laws in DC. A milestone for sure!”

“I’ve been a GCAAR member for 15 years. GCAAR continues to a be a valuable resource for its members, providing affordable continuing education, informative classes, a plethora of online market reports and tools to support your business, in addition to a number of useful member-only discounts. One of my favorites is Newsline, which consistently delivers timely and relevant industry updates on topics and legislation that impact our business. GCAAR also offers the opportunity to serve and have your voice heard via one of its numerous association committees.”

“I’m a GCAAR REALTOR® because of the advocacy that the network provides for REALTORS® and associated businesses, as well as the larger network you become part of, where you have access to many different agents. You meet a lot of great people, and you can network with all kinds of businesses and people who are also part of that network.”

“I’ve been a GCAAR member since 1987, when I first got my real estate license. It’s really a place where I anchor myself professionally. I come to get my classes; I do my networking here; and GCAAR is a wonderful resource for me. I’ve enjoyed this relationship for a very long time and I look forward to my membership for many years to come.”

Fred Dorsey Douglas Realty

“Being a part of GCAAR it allows me to utilize the resources it offers, like training and management seminars that help me coach the upcoming professionals in the industry.”

10 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

What’s Your Membership Worth? Legal Hotline $500

(Based on 2 hrs. per year @$250/hr.)

Education / CE Discount $125

(Based on 15 hrs. of CE per year)

Bright MLS Discount $288

(Per year – this savings is more than your annual GCAAR dues)

RBI SmartCharts Pro™ $180

(Per year)

Total Value in Discounted Services $ 1,093 Business Resources

• Contract and Forms – free downloadable and writable forms and contracts. • SentriLock – secured electronic lockbox system available only to REALTORS®. • REALTOR® Discounts and Benefits – from NAR, Maryland REALTORS®, and GCAAR for products

Advocacy

and services you use most

The real estate industry faces an ever-changing legislative and regulatory landscape. GCAAR is your voice in Montgomery County, protecting private property rights and the right to own, use, and transfer property. We support affordable and fair housing initiatives to promote homeownership for all. GCAAR also works with DCAR, Maryland REALTORS®, and NAR to support their efforts on these important issues.

Members Services

• Professional Development –designations courses such as GRI, ABR®, CRS, and SRES®, a multitude of credit and non-credit • • • • • • •

enrichment opportunities, and state and national Leadership Academies help you differentiate yourself from the competition. Mediation and Arbitration Services/Ombudsman – save you time and legal fees. Networking – expand your connections through education and association events and tap into social media outlets that help broaden your business. Saturday Hours – Our Rockville office is open from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays (excluding holiday weekends) and some evenings to give you access to professional development courses. Evening classes also are available at our new DC location for some courses. REALTORS® Federal Credit Union – personal and professional financing resources for members and their families. Committee and Community Service Opportunities – getting involved with GCAAR and the community are great ways to hone your leadership skills, build your network, and market yourself and your business. Room Rentals – prime spaces for meetings and events in Montgomery County and DC at discounted rates. Publications – find out what’s happening in the real estate industry at all levels through NAR’s REALTOR® magazine, Maryland REALTOR® magazine, and GCAAR’s own Capital Area REALTOR®, and address the latest tools via nar.realtor, mdrealtor.org, dcrealtors.org, and gcaar.com.

Are you using all your REALTOR® benefits? Visit us at gcaar.com and on social media.

CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 11

membership corner

2019

GCAAR Annual Dues Deadline Is Friday, November 30, 2018. Your 2019 GCAAR Annual Dues invoice was posted online at gcaar.com on October 1. Unlike MRIS/Bright MLS, GCAAR does not

keep credit card account information on file; all payment account details must be submitted each billing cycle. GCAAR accepts all major credit cards (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa), personal/corporate checks, and money orders. We do not accept cash payments for dues.

GCAAR DOES NOT TAKE PAYMENTS OVER THE PHONE Payment options include: F PAYING WITH A CREDIT/DEBIT CARD ONLINE at gcaar.com, where your invoice may be viewed, printed, and paid using our secure online payment system. You will receive an instant e-mail receipt if your payment attempt is successful. F FAXING a credit/debit card payment directly to our Accounting Department at: 301.296.2188.

F MAILING PAYMENT to our Rockville location: GCAAR, Attn: Annual Dues 15201 Diamondback Drive, Suite 100 Rockville, MD 20850 F FOR BILLING INQUIRIES Please contact our Accounting Department at 301.590.8781 or membershiprecords@

gcaar.com.

GCAAR thanks you for your continued support!

F PAYING IN PERSON at either of our office locations (Rockville or Washington, D.C.). Please consult our website for hours of operation. (Our Rockville location is open most Saturdays to provide service to our members.) Payment must be received at GCAAR offices or paid online at gcaar.com by close of business (5 p.m.) on Friday, November 30, 2018. Payments postmarked on or before November 30, 2018, and received after this date will not be considered timely. The easiest, quickest, and most secure way to pay your dues is online at gcaar.com. As of December 1, 2018, all outstanding accounts will incur a $25 late fee.

If payment is not received by close of business on Monday, December 31, 2018, a $150 reinstatement fee will be placed on outstanding accounts. At that time, membership privileges, including SentriLock card services, will be suspended until full payment is received. THE EASIEST, QUICKEST, AND MOST SECURE WAY TO PAY YOUR DUES IS ONLINE AT:

12 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

www.gcaar.com

meet your GCAAR committee Your Professional Network (YPN) Committee

The leaders of the future are building their networks today. GCAAR’s YPN helps them do it. This committee selects topics, speakers, and locations for quarterly events and solicits and secures sponsors.

Front Row, Seated L-R: Ivory Brooks (former staff liaison), Carey Brennan, Grace Swersey, Jessica Evans, Brittany Allison, Matt Scarlett. 2nd Row: Gricel Garrido, Kayla Yingling, Christopher Sousa, Dalanda Debomy, Christina Miller, Marci Maged. 3rd Row: JD Teitelman, Alex Norcini, Ryan Malet, Jake Ryon, Daniel Llerena, Max Sandler, Kevin Wheeler. Back Row: Chris Saabye, Joe Detrick, Harrison Beacher, Jordan Feld, Daniel Schuler, Chris Kearney, Paul Nowacek.

Chair: Jake Ryon Vice Chair: Daniel Schuler Staff Liaison: Kayla Yingling Board Liaison: Harrison Beacher We are grateful for your commitment to serve.

Mark Your Calendars!

Take advantage of these upcoming classes and events

October 22

2nd Annual GCAAR Golf Tournament, Manor Country Club, Rockville, Maryland November 6 Election Day November 15 GCAAR Bowling Party, Lucky Strike December 5 GCAAR Installation and Holiday Party, The Watergate Hotel December 10 GCAAR Legislative Breakfast December 31 Deadline to Complete NAR Ethics Requirement

Rockville

Bethesda Washington, DC GCAAR GCAAR

CAPITAL CAPITAL AREA AREA REALTOR REALTOR®® —— Sept/Oct Sept/Oct 2018 2017 13

GCAAR Cares Manna Food Drive From July 3-23, the GCAAR Cares Committee hosted a food drive to benefit the Manna Food Center. Members and staff stepped up to the challenge – donating almost 600 pounds of food to support those with food insecurities

in Montgomery County, MD. Donation boxes were set up at the Rockville and DC offices, culminating at REALTOR® Fest on July 23. Many thanks to all who supported this worthwhile cause!

GCAAR Cares Silent Auction Gets an Added Boost at REALTOR® Fest The GCAAR Cares’ 9th Annual GCAAR Cares Silent Auction enjoyed a very successful day at REALTOR® Fest on July 23. The Cares Committee displayed over 120 auction items, raising more than $13,000! The wide array of items sparked vigorous but friendly activity as attendees rallied to get their bids in before the auction closed! In celebration of GCAAR’s 20th anniversary, the

We couldn’t do it without you!

14 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

Board of Directors agreed to match the amount raised up to $20,000. Thanks to everyone, particularly our GCAAR Cares Committee, Silent Auction Subcommittee, members, donors, and staff, for making this year’s silent auction another wonderful event and great success!

REALTOR® Fest Draws Record Turnout Almost 1,000 real estate professionals earned continuing education (CE) credits and participated in professional development at REALTOR® Fest, GCAAR’s annual education summit, which was held July 23 at the Bethesda North Marriott. Attendees enjoyed the largest trade show to date, with over 160 vendors! Attendees were able to take the always-popular Maryland Code of Ethics and Contracts classes, along with professional development workshops on topics like growing your business, social media, and marketing.

• 6,252 CE credits awarded • Over 160 vendors

Thank You

to all of our sponsors, exhibitors, instructors and attendees for their tremendous support of this year’s event.

Don’t miss REALTOR® Fest 2019!

Visit GCAAR’s Facebook page (facebook.com/GCAAR 2) for additional photos. CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 15

public policy Montgomery County Make Your Mark on Upcoming County Elections GCAAR members can make their mark on Montgomery County government for the next four years. With more than 7,000 Montgomery County REALTORS®, GCAAR members should make their voices heard in this year’s election. The last day to register to vote in the 2018 General Election is Tuesday, October 16. Members should make sure that they, their friends, and their family are registered. Early voting in Montgomery County begins

16 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2017

Thursday, October 25, and runs through Thursday, November 1. General Election Day is Tuesday, November 6, with polls opening at 7 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m. In the primary election on June 26, the GCAAR REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC) focused its endorsements on contested races. Of the endorsed candidates, District 2 candidate Craig Rice, District 3 candidate Sidney Katz, District 4 candidate Nancy Navarro, District 5 candidate Tom Hucker, and at-large candidates Evan Glass and Gabe Albornoz have all moved on to the general election. Stay tuned for more election-related events at GCAAR coming this fall.

public policy Washington, DC TOPA Single-Family Exemption Goes into Effect

Grand Opening Sponsor Thank You

The forms for the new TOPA exemption are available on the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) website and on GCAAR’s forms page. As always, consult a settlement attorney with any TOPA-related questions.

GOLD • Counselors Title • KVS Title • Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

SILVER • Caliber Home Loans • Long & Foster Real Estate • Paragon Title & Escrow • Prosperity Home Mortgage • Stewart Title

BRONZE • First Savings Mortgage • Keller Williams Capital Properties • Law Offices of Jill Pogach Michaels • Michaels Title & Escrow • RLAH Real Estate • Tradition Title, LLC/RGS Title of Bethesda • zipLogix™

The Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) Single-Family Home Exemption went into effect on July 3. This crucial piece of legislation was a significant victory for homeowners across the District, as well as buyers looking to become residents of the nation’s capital.

Real Estate Guaranty Fund Restored, Protected

In her FY 2019 budget, Mayor Muriel Bowser emptied the District’s Real Estate Guaranty Fund. This fund is a crucial safety net for buyers, sellers, and agents across the city, protecting them against potential fraud and mistakes in real estate transactions. Through relentless advocacy work, the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® (DCAR) managed to get more than $1 million restored to the fund. More importantly, DCAR worked to have language added that further protects members from special assessments.

DCAR and GCAAR officially opened their new DC office in Dupont Circle on June 13. The event was a tremendous success, with hundreds of REALTORS® and real estate professionals from around the area stopping by to check out the innovative new space. We’d like to thank the incredible sponsors who helped make the event possible:

And a special thanks to our media sponsor for the event: • HD BROS.

CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2017 17 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 17

GCAAR happenings NAR’s Day in the Life Visits GCAAR The National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) Day in the Life of a REALTOR® series allows NAR staff to visit associations across the country to see how they work. NAR staff members Bira de Acquino, Shelly Peebles, and Austin Perez came to the GCAAR offices in Rockville on August 16. There, they met the staff, toured the building, sat in on the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC) Agency continuing education (CE) class taught by Carole Maclure, enjoyed lunch, and went to a settlement with GCAAR Board Member Jan Brito. “We really had a wonderful day with the GCAAR staff,” Shelly Peebles said. “We learned some valuable things in the CE class and got good insight into how to communicate more effectively with our local association members.”

Front: Austin Perez, Kayla Yingling Second Row L-R: Bira de Acquino, Shelly Peebles, Yvette Robinson, Mike Moran, Zac Trupp, Jan Brito, Bill Highsmith.

Members Take Home Cool Prizes in Hot Summer Drawings Hamilton Tickets Natalie Halem of Eagle Management was the lucky winner of two of the hottest tickets in DC—the hit musical Hamilton at the Kennedy Center on August 22. Many thanks to 2017 GCAAR Affiliate of the Year JD Teitelman for donating the tickets. Proceeds benefited the Community Service Committee, GCAAR Cares. JD and 2018 GCAAR President Tom Daley announced the winner on Facebook. Jane Weissman from Coldwell Banker and Natalie Halem (right) enjoy their night at Hamilton.

Communications Survey Katie Burn of Long & Foster was the lucky winner of the GCAAR Communications Survey $500 Visa gift card. The winner was announced on Facebook by 2018 GCAAR President Tom Daley and President-Elect Koki Adasi. Congratulations! 18 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR — Sept/Oct 2017 ®

trends More vacation home buyers Due once again to the tax reform bill, which will put more cash in affluent Americans' pockets, vacation home purchases will tick upward. "The new tax plan will likely spur interest in second homes, such as vacation homes, for those who can afford them. Interest rates and interest deductions are not as important as many of these purchases are cash transactions," says Glenn Phillips, CEO of Lake Homes Realty, in Birmingham, Ala. "Economic optimism will fuel this sector of the real estate market."

201 TUR 8 201KE 8 Y TBUO RW KEL BOW Y L

Bring your "A" game to the 5th annual Bring your "A" game to the 5th annual member only bowling event at Lucky member only bowling event at Lucky Strike Bethesda! Strike Bethesda!

Cost: $25* in advance/$25 + 5 non-perishable Cost: $25* in advance/$25 + 5 non-perishable items or $30 at the door items or $30 at the door Time: 5-8pm Time: 5-8pm Date: Thursday, November 15 15 Date: Thursday, November Location:Lucky Lucky Strike Bethesda Location: Strike Bethesda Westfield Montgomery Mall Westfield Montgomery Mall

Source: Trends Shaping the 2018 Real Estate Market by Brian O’Connell Check out more trends at: www.theStreet.com

* Your entire $25 registration fee will be an investment in Maryland RPAC

*RPAC Contributions are not deductible for Federal income tax purposes. Contributions to RPAC are voluntary and are used for political purposes. You may contribute more or less than the suggested amount. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal and the National Association of REALTOR® or any of its state or local associations will not favor or disfavor any members because of the amount contributed. 70% of each contribution is used by your state PAC to *RPAC Contributions are not deductible for Federal tax purposes. Contributions to RPAC areRPAC voluntary and federal are used for political support state and local political candidates. Until yourincome state PAC reaches its RPAC goal, 30% is sent to National to support candidates and is purposes. You may against 52 U.S.C. 30116. After state RPACtoreaches its RPAC goal itreprisal may electand to retain your entireAssociation contribution forofuse in contributecharged more or less your thanlimits the under suggested amount. You the may refuse contribute without the National REALTOR® or any of its supporting because state and local candidates. state or local associations will not favor or disfavor any members of the amount contributed. 70% of each contribution is used by your state PAC to

support state and local political candidates. Until your state PAC reaches its RPAC goal, 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 52 U.S.C. 30116. After the state RPAC reaches its RPAC goal it may elect to retain your entire contribution for use in supporting state and local candidates.

CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2017 19

Grow your business by making second-home sales your first resort.

With more than 80% of vacation home and investment buyers believing that now is a good time to buy*, agents in almost every market can benefit from this exciting opportunity.

The Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS) certiďŹ cation is the best way to receive education and marketing materials that attract this optimistic clientele, while gaining access to a vibrant community of professionals that shares practical insights and strategies.

Learn more by visiting www.NAR.realtor/Resort *According to the 2016 NAR Investment & Vacation Home Buyers Survey

NAR Director’s Report Jamie Coley GCAAR Immediate Past President, NAR Director

Flood Insurance Legislation Passes Thanks to your efforts, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) passed Congress and received a four-month extension – until November 30. Nearly 125,000 REALTORS®—about 15 percent of the NAR membership—sent letters to their members of Congress in support of the extension. The NFIP is in desperate need of reforms that will make the program solvent and sustainable for the long term. “The National Association of REALTORS® will continue fighting for these reforms,” said NAR President Elizabeth Mendenhall.

Ready, Set, Boston

2018 REALTORS® Conference & Expo

November 2-5 What’s the secret to earning more money in real estate? Attending the 2018 REALTORS® Conference & Expo, November 2-5 in Boston, MA! Attendees make two times the average real estate income, so you’ll have the chance to network with some of the most successful pros in the industry!

The conference features: • 20,000 attendees, including REALTORS® and their families • Over 100 education sessions, featuring nationally-recognized speakers, trainers, and industry experts, who discuss timely topics and critical issues of value to REALTORS® • 400 industry vendors at the Trade Expo, the largest trade show floor in real estate, who present the latest innovative tools just for real estate professionals. • Unlimited networking and referral-building opportunities, including special events, networking lounges, and the Expo show floor • General Conference Speaker Mark Wahlberg • REALTORS® Relief 5K Race/Walk • Celebrity Concert featuring Fall Out Boy This is an event you don’t want to miss!

CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 21

Realtor Party ®

Thank You to Our 2018 Major & Large RPAC Investors

Platinum “R” Dale Ross

Golden “R” Bonnie Casper Ed Krauze Carole Maclure

Christopher Suranna Holly Worthington

Crystal “R” Michael Moran Paragon Title & Escrow Scott Reiter Sterling “R”

Koki Adasi Stacey Barton Fred Bates Harrison Beacher Elizabeth Blakeslee Jan Brito Sarah Brown Lindsay Clark Jamie Coley Tom Daley Suzanne Des Marais Melinda Estridge Jessica Evans Greg Ford Michael Fowler Lee Goldstein Bill Highsmith Harold Huggins Marcus Jaffe Franklin Jamison Colin Johnson

Fred Kendrick Tim Knobloch Alana Lasover Justin Levitch Kymber Lovett-Menkiti Dale Mattison Bo Menkiti Shelly Murray Frank Pietranton Jr. Bonnie Roberts-Burke Katrina Schymik Abjornson Andres Serafini Dianah Shaw Jason Sherman Ellie Shorb Danai Mattison Sky Brenda Small Jennifer Smira Frank Snodgrass Marty Stanton Edward Wood Hans Wydler

Capital Club ($250-$999) Avid Adler Brittany Allison Wendy Banner Jacqueline Bennett Zachary Bodine Russell Brazil Thom Brockett Jamica Browne Christopher Bulka Elysia Casaday

Louis Chauvin Lori Connor Lauren Davis Dan Deist Joe Detrick Anthony DeVol Abeer Abou Elmakarem Kelly Fairweather Jeffrey Ganz Mark Glazer Scott Goldberg Thomas Gordon Susann Haskins Gwen Henderson Ellen Klein Billy Klein Melissa Lango

Sam Lin Peter Locker KT Maclure Hank May Thomas Muldoon Barbara Nalls Gerry Occhiuzzo John Peters Hildy Pollard CJ Rader Ned Rich Matthew Rogers Marj Rosner Brad Rozansky R. Bradley Runyan Christopher Saabye Joseph Sabelhaus Max Sandler Daniel Schuler Anthony Shore P. Joy Siegel Tim Smith Steven Sushner JD Teitelman Seth Turner Pat Weed Kirsten Williams *As of September 17, 2018

Why I Invest in RPAC−Harold Huggins For me, RPAC is a business culture that I have developed over the many years I have been privileged to be a part of this great industry. I see it as an insurance policy: one that protects me, my industry, and the many clients and customers I represent from undue negative legislative influence. Like being required to have a license, liability insurance, E&O insurance, a well-kept vehicle, signs, marketing materials, and computers, a contribution to RPAC is necessary if my industry is to be viable today and in the years to come. It has saved me many times over the investments that I have made by preventing the passage of laws and regulations that would have been a detriment to the way business is done, as well as costly to my bottom line. Investing in RPAC should be a “way of life” for all REALTORS®! RPAC is the best investment in real estate. 22 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

Make the investment today! Invest online at: www.gcaar.com

GCAAR happenings YPN “Decades” Party Brings Back 70s Nostalgia

“Threads” from the 70s were in full effect at the “Decades” happy hour sponsored by GCAAR's YPN Committee on September 13 at DC’s Takoda Beer Garden.

CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 23

24 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

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legal hotline

By Chris Darby, Tom Muldoon, and John Nalls of Counselors Title, LLC, and Pardo & Drazin, LLC, General Counsel

QUESTION: I’ve just listed an efficiency condo for sale in

DC. It is currently rented but it was never registered as a rental in DC. What do I need to do regarding the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) requirements? Wasn’t there recently a change regarding TOPA?

tion. Would a scrivener’s affidavit suffice and correct this matter, or would a correct deed be required? If the scrivener’s affidavit is a viable option, would this give my client marketable title to sell the property or transfer at a later time?

ANSWER: Per the contract, the Seller must contact the set-

ANSWER: Unfortunately, a scrivener’s affidavit would not

tlement company in order to find out what is necessary for total compliance. The tenant will need to be provided notice and either execute a TOPA affidavit or TOPA assignment as required by the title insurer. As of July 3, 2018, the TOPA Single-Family Home Exemption Amendment Act of 2017 (Bill 22-0315 transmitted to Mayor April 24, 2018), which was signed by the Mayor on May 7, 2018, as The TOPA Single-Family Home Exemption Amendment Act of 2018 became law. With limited exceptions for elderly or disabled tenants, the Amendment exempts single-family rental units, single-family rental units with an accessory dwelling unit and single condominium units from the old law. That being said, formal or Notice of Sale is still required by all tenants and you will have to consult your settlement company for their underwriting requirements. For additional information and updated forms, please consult the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development at https://dhcd. dc.gov/service/conversion-and-sales.

QUESTION: I currently have a property under contract

and represent the buyers. The seller of the property deed contained an error in the title. The vesting deed was put in an non-existing LLC instead of the corpora26 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

provide an adequate resolution to this matter. The seller would need to have a corrective deed executed and recorded. I would suggest having the seller reach back out to the title company that handled their purchase and/or talking with the Recorder of Deeds about how best to go about accomplishing this and what taxes if any will be applicable.

QUESTION: Seller owns and wants to sell an assigned

parking space in a Montgomery County condominium. The space has its own tax ID Number. The owner had previously paid for condominium disclosure documents for the residential unit that was sold and says there is no need to pay again for the space. Is an additional set of disclosure documents required to sell a parking space with its own tax ID?

ANSWER: Section 11-101 (q) of the Maryland Condominium Act defines a “unit” for purposes of the resale disclosures required by Section 11- 135 as: (q) Unit—“Unit” means a three-dimensional space identified as such in the declaration and on the condominium plat and shall include all improvements contained within the space except those excluded in the declaration, the boundaries of which are established in accordance with 11-103(a)

Michael J. Bramnick, Esquire Mike is an experienced litigator regularly handling real estate disputes in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia between residential buyers, sellers, real estate brokers, and agents, including matters involving:

v Real estate contract disputes and breach of contract claims v Buyer or seller refusing to close on a transaction v Disputes involving the release of an earnest money deposit v Commission and fee disputes v Homeowner/contractor disputes v Mechanic’s liens v General civil litigation

Mike has been repeatedly recognized by Super Lawyer Magazine as a “Rising Star” in the area of civil litigation.

Bramnick Law, LLC 4520 East West Hwy • Suite 700 Bethesda, MD 20814

(3) of this title. A unit may include two or more noncontiguous spaces. If the parking space is being sold at the same time as the residential unit, one disclosure would be sufficient to cover both the parking space and the unit. If the parking space is being sold independently and is not a three-dimensional space, the disclosure would not be required.

QUESTION: Is seller obligated to do radon test when selling his or her house in Montgomery County?

ANSWER: Effective October 1, 2016, Montgomery County, Maryland has enacted Section 40-13C of the Montgomery County Code which requires that all single-family homes must be tested for radon before the sale of the home can be completed. This is believed to be the first such requirement in the United States. Under the statute, a single-family home located in Montgomery County (defined as a “single-family detached or attached residential building” and excluding a condominium or cooperative housing), must be tested for radon before completing a sale of the home. The required test must be conducted less than one (1) year before the settlement date.

BramnickLegal.com Phone: 301.547.3647 • Fax: 301.951.8631 Email: MBramnick@BramnickLegal.com

Therefore, a seller must either perform the test or permit the buyer to perform the test. Both seller and buyer must receive a copy of the results of the radon test. The following sales are exempt from the testing requirement: 1) Transfer exempt from State Transfer Tax; 2) Sales by a lender who acquired the property through foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure; 3) a sheriff 's sale, tax sale, foreclosure sale, or trustee's sale; 4) a transfer by a fiduciary of an estate, guardianship, conservatorship or trust; 5) a transfer of a home to be demolished or converted to non-residential use. The statute does NOT require remediation. If a buyer wishes to obligate Seller to remediate, the Buyer should include the Radon Inspection Contingency in Paragraph 4 of “Addendum of Clauses -A” (GCAAR Form 1332) as part of the offer. Disclaimer: The answers provided here are the opinions of the authors, are for informational purposes, and are only for GCAAR members. Neither Counselors Title, LLC, nor Pardo & Drazin, LLC is providing legal advice, but rather providing a general statement of law. No lawyer/client relationship is – or will be – established as a result of this material. Readers are encouraged to retain their own counsel for their specific questions. Answers may have been edited for formatting purposes.

CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 27

COACHES’ CORNER Writing Your Business Plan Why don’t more real estate agents have a written business plan? Is it because real estate agents don’t fully understand they are running a business? Could it be they don’t know why they need a business plan? Or, would they rather be in the dark about how they are running their business? The purpose of a business plan is to provide direction for your business. Would you set off on a cross-country road trip without inputting your destination into your GPS? Probably not. So, why would you want to take a chance on running your business without a road map? A written business plan is a must-have for every real estate agent. Your business plan will: • Help you stay on track • Monitor your progress • Hold you accountable • Keep your expenses in check Your business plan also will help you determine when it’s time to expand your business by adding a: • Virtual assistant • Full-time assistant • Buyer’s agent • Business partner One reason real estate agents don’t write a business plan is because we are in constant motion. Writing a business plan is tedious and time consuming. It requires us to think about every aspect of our business. When writing your business plan, you’ll need to complete the following tasks: • Create/review your business and personal budgets. • Evaluate your goals and objectives for the coming year. • Review market conditions. • Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. • Review where your business comes from. • Write/update your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). • Write a marketing plan. It’s not enough to say, “I want to sell two houses a month” or “I want to earn $100,000 this year.” You need to have a plan—a written plan. You need to know how much money 28 28

CAPITAL AREA AREAREALTOR REALTOR ®•—Sept/Oct Sept/Oct2016 2018 CAPITAL ®

you spend in your business, your conversion rates, and how much profit you want to make. Yes, it does take some time to think things through and ask yourself the difficult questions, but it will be worth it in the long run. By starting the process now, you are giving yourself ample time to complete your research, do some soul-searching, and put together a realistic, achievable plan. The last thing you want to do is start your planning in January. By doing so, you will start the year off behind and lose at least one month while you plan. Keep in mind that you can adjust your business plan as you see fit. You may want to set some aggressive goals to push yourself into action—you can always fine-tune them later if you find they were a little too ambitious. Of course, as you grow and change, your goals will change too. Remember, success doesn’t just magically happen. It takes planning and a good work ethic. Without a plan, it’s too easy to lose focus, spend too much money, or waste time and energy on activities that don’t produce results. CANDY MILES-CROCKER “The Real-Life

REALTOR®,“ coaches, mentors, and trains new and experienced real estate agents to transform their business by mastering her proven systems for success. She is a firm believer in managing expectations and her goal is to elevate the perception of real estate agents among the general public through education so every client has an amazing real estate experience. Candy’s unique training methods have shown agents what it takes to be successful! Inman News selected Candy as one of the Top 25 Real Estate Coaches in 2016. Learn more at www.RLRETraining.com.

Four Ways to Spend More Time Closing Leads and Less Time Finding Them with Remine Have you heard about Remine?

Remine is a map-based property search tool that combines data on property and people to help you more effectively target prospects. With Remine, you can now see who owns a property, who is living in it, what their mortgage balance is, and more importantly—when they are likely to sell. You can perform searches on people and properties and track up to 100 properties as part of your MLS subscription. With Remine, you can literally put opportunity on the map. Here are the top four features Remine offers to help you spend more time closing leads and less time finding them:

1. Simple (yet powerful) map-based search

When you log in to Remine, it will take you directly to a map where you can search for properties by owner’s name or address, and then sort by propensity to sell, value, equity, mortgage information, and ownership time.

2. Alerts that track people and properties

Keep a pulse on properties, neighborhoods, and people, including changes in sell score (Remine’s estimate as to when off-market properties are most likely to sell), MLS activity, occupancy, deeds, and more.

3. Updated contact information

Purchase household contact information of owners, absentee owners, and nonowner occupants.

4. Predictive analytics

Know when clients are most likely to sell or buy a property based on the age of their mortgage and other factors.

Start using Remine today! Simply log in to the MLS and click the Remine link. This will redirect you to the Remine website and automatically log you in. You won’t need to enter your MLS credentials twice. A New Era of MLS Is Here We want to empower everyone to get more out of the MLS. More information. More data. More innovation.

Remine is just one new example of how you can get more out of the MLS. Visit www.brightmls.com for more information and all the latest news

CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 29

economic outlook & forecast By Nadia Evangelou, NAR Research

Moving to Washington, DC? What New Residents Should Expect from the Housing Market People are changing jobs every four years on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since U.S. workers are changing jobs more frequently than a couple of years ago, let’s take a closer look at the most popular moving destinations and the local housing market conditions in these areas. Every month, LinkedIn releases the LinkedIn Workforce Report. In addition to employment trends in the U.S. workforce, this report provides insights into migration trends in 20 of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas. These metro areas represent nearly 40 percent of the civilian population in the U.S. For data purposes, migration is defined as a member changing their location on their LinkedIn profile. Based on the July 2018 report, Denver, Colorado, was the top destination, with about 706,000 LinkedIn members arriving in the past 12 months. The second-most popular destination was Austin, Texas, which became home to about 655,000 LinkedIn members during the past year. Although Washington, DC, was not one of the top 10 areas with new residents, we can take a closer look at where most new residents are arriving from and where those who left the area have moved in the past 12 months.

30 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

Washington, DC Washington, DC, gained the most residents in the past 12 months from Baltimore, Maryland, Norfolk, Virginia, and Roanoke, Virginia. Nearly 29,400 workers moved to the area in the past year from Baltimore. But where do most residents from Washington, DC, move to? The San Francisco Bay Area was the top destination, with 42,900 LinkedIn members moving there from Washington, DC, followed by Denver and Seattle, Washington.

Housing market for Washington, DC Since housing accounts for about 37 percent of the average American’s budget, these new residents should know what awaits them in Washington, DC. So, what should they expect? It is interesting to note that most movers came from Baltimore, although Washington, DC, is less affordable than Baltimore. Based on the REALTORS® Affordability Distribution Curve and Score, a typical household in Baltimore, earning about $65,000, can afford to buy 44 percent of homes currently listed for sale in Baltimore. However, the same household can barely afford to buy 25 percent of the housing inventory in Washington, DC. Job market in Washington, DC Nearly 51,500 new jobs were created in the past year in Washington, DC, and the unemployment rate dropped to 3.4 percent in June 2018 from 3.7 percent a year earlier. Although there is strong employment growth in the area, there is also a mismatch between the skills that employers need and the skills that workers possess. Based on the LinkedIn report, there is a scarcity of workers with certain skills. This means that employer demand for these skills exceeds worker supply, providing opportunities for workers with these skills to move to the area to fill these open positions. If you’re wondering what skills are in demand or in abundance in the area, the report provides the top 10 most scarce/abundant skills.

The housing supply is tight in both Washington, DC, and Baltimore. The recent issuance of single-family permits in Washington, DC, was 72 percent below its historical average; in Baltimore, that figure was 81 percent below the city’s historical average. In addition, comparing construction activity with employment growth, a single-family permit is issued for every four new jobs on average in both metro areas. This suggests that the same number of homes are being built in Washington, DC, and Baltimore relative to job growth. However, we should bear in mind that a typical home is more expensive in Washington, DC, than in Baltimore. The median home price is $450,000 in Washington, DC, while the value for a typical home in Baltimore is $300,000. CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 31

REALTOR® Toolbox

87% of U.S. homes own a smartphone

Cheap Laptop or Expensive Smartphone: Which Is Right for You? By Shelly Palmer

Should you buy a cheap laptop or an expensive smartphone? Is that even a choice? They’re not interchangeable, are they? Most business professionals and road warriors know that you can do a lot of business on a smartphone, but to create a deck or a report or a spreadsheet, you really need a … wait. What do you really need? With Smartphones are now owned by 87 percent of U.S. homes, behind only televisions (96 percent), according to the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Laptops are a fairly distant third (72 percent). Interestingly, while smartphone sales are on the rise—revenue in 2018 will reach $78 billion, a 13 percent increase from 2017—so are laptop sales, especially convertible and cloud-based models. The CTA projects laptop sales will reach 50.1 million units (three percent growth) and earn $28.4 billion in revenue in 2018, nearly unchanged from 2017.

32 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

While the line between smartphone and laptop specifications continues to blur, many professionals still need (or want) a laptop. But, as more programs are outsourced to the cloud (you can get Microsoft Office 365 for $99/year or Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite for as little as $9.99/month), how powerful does your laptop need to be? If all you need is a really good monitor, a good graphics card, and a fast internet connection, which should you buy?

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Cost:

Who’s It For? Most flagship smartphones are more powerful and have as much internal storage as low- to medium-priced laptops. The new Samsung Galaxy Note 9, for example, can have up to 1TB of internal storage, has a very fast processor, and includes Samsung DeX, an app that allows any compatible Samsung Galaxy device to connect to any HDMI-compatible video monitor and any Bluetooth-compatible keyboard and mouse/trackpad, and act as a pretty respectable PC.

If you’re a power user (gamer, road warrior, financial analyst, engineer, videographer, etc.), just buy the most horsepower you can afford.

Apple MacBook Pro

all Windows 10 apps (in the same style and presentation as a laptop) is a major selling point. The Surface Pro is designed for everyone from newbies to power users. It is Microsoft’s direct answer to the MacBook Pro and, if you’re a Windows person, an obvious high-end choice.

Cost: $1,299 to $6,700 (depending on your configuration)

Who’s It For? Once upon a time, every professional in the creative services world had a MacBook. If you made your living using a music or art program, you bought the best computer at the highest price, which was an acceptable price to pay because it’s how you paid the bills. Today, Apple has refocused its aim from professionals to consumers. Rather than giving the select few the best tools, it gave everyone very good tools, blurring the line between pros and amateurs. Now everyone can be creative with a Mac.

Microsoft Surface Pro

Cost: $799 to $2,699 (depending on your configuration) Who’s It For? The Surface Pro scratches the itch that the iPad never quite could: It’s the tablet that also doubles as a high-end laptop. While Apple’s tablet offers most (if not all) of the same productivity and creativity software as the Surface Pro, the Surface’s ability to run

Microsoft Surface Go

Cost: $399 to $549 (depending on your configuration +$99 to $129 for the keyboard you’ll buy)

Who’s It For? If you’ve ever owned an iPad and wished it was a bit more like a PC, the Surface Go is for you. Priced to compete with the iPad, you get a solid tablet experience and a solid laptop experience (provided you plunk down the extra hundred bucks for the keyboard) without having to spend $1,000. It’s not meant for gaming or other processing-heavy creative endeavors, but it’s perfect for web browsing, email, light gaming, general productivity … anything you can do on your smartphone you can do here, too.

Acer Chromebook 14 Cost: $219 to $299 (depending on your retailer)

Who’s It For? If you are in the market for a device like the Surface Go but don’t need its tablet functionality and want to save a few hundred bucks, the Acer Chromebook 14 may be the device for you. Chromebooks are, by their nature, limited in what they can do, but for anyone who only wants to check email, use Google Apps for Business, and watch YouTube videos, devices like the Acer Chromebook 14 are more than capable.

Which Is Right for You? If you mostly browse online, send a few emails, and watch videos, purchase the device with the best Wi-Fi specifications, fastest graphics card, and best screen resolution you can afford. Don’t worry about processor speed or internal storage (unless you need a lot of internal storage). You will find a PC that has a great modem and a fast graphics card is faster than a PC that has a faster processor but a slower graphics card and low-end WiFi specs.

But, if you are a “normal” person who just uses a few apps, chats, spends some time on social media, and watches lots of videos but only occasionally uses office apps (word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools), you may be a candidate for a flagship smartphone, a Bluetooth keyboard, and a couple of dongles. Author’s note: I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I have not, nor has my company, received compensation for it. ®

CAPITAL AREA REALTOR — Sept/Oct 2018 33 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Mar/Apr 2018 31

2018 EDUCATION SCHEDULE

october October 15, 2018

MREC Agency—Residential CEU: 3 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Roger Carp Time: 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. October 17, 2018

MREC Required Supervision CEU: 3 hours MD (required for brokers/elective for salespeople) and DC (elective) Instructor: Carole Maclure Time: 2:30–5:30 p.m. October 18, 2018

Evolution of the Reverse Mortgage for Purchase CEU: 3 hours MD, DC, and VA (elective) Instructor: Tony Miller Time: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. October 18, 2018

Homebuyer’s Guide to Indoor Air Quality CEU: 1.5 hours MD and DC (elective) Instructor: Kevin Barnaba Time: 1:00–2:30 p.m. October 18, 2018

Successful Open Houses CEU: 1.5 hours MD and DC (elective); 1 hour VA (elective) Instructor: Jessica Olevsky Time: 3:00–4:30 p.m. October 19, 2018

Understanding Contract Components CEU: 3 hours MD, DC, and VA (elective) Instructor: Brian Gormley Time: 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. October 19, 2018

Ethical Real Estate Investing CEU: 1.5 hours MD and DC (elective); 1 hour VA (elective) Instructor: Brian Gormley Time: 1:30–3:00 p.m. October 20, 2018

Virginia Mandatory Agency CEU: 1 hour VA (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 8:15–9:15 a.m. October 20, 2018

When Price Meets Preparation CEU: 2 hours MD, DC, and VA (elective) Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 9:30–11:30 a.m.

34 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

October 20, 2018

October 26, 2018

November 1, 2018

Maryland Fair Housing CEU: 1.5 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Al Monshower Time: 1:30–3:00 p.m.

Going Green CEU: 3 hours MD, DC and VA (elective) Instructor: Vimal Kapoor Time: 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

October 27, 2018

Virginia Broker Management and Agent Supervision CEU: 8 hours VA (required for brokers/ elective for salespeople) and DC (elective) Instructor: Thom Brockett Time: 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Maryland Code of Ethics and Predatory Lending CEU: 3 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Tara Furges Houston Time: 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. * DC Location (1615 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor)

October 29, 2018

November 2, 2018

How the New Tax Laws Affect the Real Estate Professional Instructor: Linda de Marlor Time: 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Renovation Loan Options CEU: 3 hours MD, DC and VA (elective) Instructor: Bill Rozek Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

October 29, 2018

November 2, 2018

GCAAR @ NVAR: Maryland Legislative Update Instructor: Thom Brockett Time: 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. *NVAR–Fairfax (8407 Pennell Street)

Maryland Fair Housing CEU: 1.5 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Sarah Toppins Time: 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Maryland Code of Ethics and Predatory Lending CEU: 3 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Thom Brockett Time: 5:45–8:45 p.m.

October 29, 2018

November 5, 2018

Maryland Legislative Update Instructor: Tara Furges Houston Time: 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. *DC Location (1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Third Floor)

October 24, 2018

October 29, 2018

Mortgage Basics CEU: 3 hours MD, DC and VA (elective) Instructor: Max Sandler Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. * DC Location (1615 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor)

Virginia Fair Housing CEU: 2 hours VA (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 12:15–2:15 p.m. October 20, 2018

Representing the Seller CEU: 3 hours MD, DC, and VA (elective) Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 2:30–5:30 p.m. October 23, 2018

Radon and Its Effect on Real Estate CEU: 2 hours MD, DC, and VA (elective) Instructor: Robert Tsas Time: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. October 23, 2018

New Member Orientation CEU: No CE Instructor: Thom Brockett Time: 4:00–8:45 p.m. October 23, 2018

DC Fair Housing CEU: 3 hours DC (required) Instructor: Tom Biegler Time: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. October 24, 2018

DC Ethics CEU: 3 hours DC (required) Instructor: Dana Hollish Hill Time: 1:00–4:00 p.m. October 25, 2018

First-Time Homebuyer Financing CEU: 1.5 hours MD and DC (elective) Instructor: Amy Goldstein Time: 10:00–11:30 a.m. October 26, 2018

Maryland Code of Ethics and Predatory Lending CEU: 3 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Al Monshower Time: 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

November 1, 2018

Maryland Code of Ethics and Predatory Lending Instructor: Tara Furges Houston Time: 2:00–5:00 p.m. *DC Location (1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Third Floor)

November 5, 2018

October 31, 2018

Maryland Code of Ethics and Predatory Lending CEU: 3 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Selling Houses Using Lease Options Instructor: Ronald Baras Time: 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

november November 1, 2018

Environmental Issues CEU: 3 hours MD, DC and VA (elective) Instructor: Vimal Kapoor Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. November 1, 2018

Maryland Legislative Update CEU: 3 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Tara Furges Houston Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. * DC Location (1615 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor)

New Member Orientation CEU: No CE Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. November 5, 2018

November 5, 2018

Avoiding Settlement Pitfalls CEU: 1.5 hours for MD and DC (elective) AND 1.0 hour for VA (elective) Instructor: Rob Rothstein Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. * DC Location (1615 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor) November 7, 2018

Maryland Code of Ethics and Predatory Lending CEU: 3 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Jill Pogach Michaels Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

NOTE: All classes are held at GCAAR’s Rockville office unless otherwise noted.

November 7, 2018

November 9, 2018

GCAAR @ NVAR: Foreclosures CEU: 3 hours MD and DC (elective) Instructor: Lee Morris Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. * NVAR–Fairfax (8407 Pennell Street)

Maryland Code of Ethics and Predatory Lending CEU: 3 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Thom Brockett Time: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. * DC Location (1615 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor)

November 7, 2018

GCAAR @ NVAR: Maryland Fair Housing CEU: 1.5 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Maria Deligiorgis, Esq. Time: 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. * NVAR–Fairfax (8407 Pennell Street) November 7, 2018

How to Do a 1031 Like-Kind Exchange CEU: 3 hours MD, DC and VA (elective) Instructor: Bill Horan Time: 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. November 9, 2018

New Member Orientation CEU: No CE Instructor: Thom Brockett Time: 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. * DC Location (1615 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor)

November 12, 2018

Military Relocation Professional (MRP) Designation Class CEU: No CE Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. * DC Location (1615 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor) November 12, 2018

MREC Required Supervision CEU: 3 hours MD (required for Brokers/elective for salesperson) and DC (elective) Instructor: Barbara Maloney Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

November 12, 2018

VA Financing CEU: 3 hours MD and DC (elective) Instructor: Amy Goldstein Time: 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. November 14, 2018

Maryland Legislative Update CEU: 3 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Al Monshower Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. November 14, 2018

Maryland Code of Ethics and Predatory Lending CEU: 3 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Al Monshower Time: 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. November 16, 2018

DC Ethics CEU: 3 hours DC (required) Instructor: Ned Rich Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. * DC Location (1615 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor)

LEARN MORE

www.https://gcaar.com/educationevents/class-and-events-calendar

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from the GCAAR classroom

Agents and Brokers Can Get Hurt by Radon Without Breathing It Many homeowners are unaware of radon levels and the healthrelated dangers they present—a good reason for brokers and agents, especially in Montgomery County, to learn about the importance of radon testing and county radon regulations. We started our radon business after Montgomery County Bill 31-15 was signed in October 2016, mandating testing, but the radon addenda keep us in business. Understanding the difference between county and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) radon guidelines is key. The minute a radon contingency exists, the Montgomery County bill is out the window, because of the addenda call for the more stringent EPA guidelines to be followed. In this case, the test must be done by a certified, performance-tested technician using dual passive devices four inches apart or a single active 36 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

device (a continuous radon monitor [CRM]). If there is no radon contingency, then County Bill 31-15 applies and a test may be done by anyone with a DIY kit. Staying in the loop about county radon regulations will keep you out of trouble and only takes a few minutes of your time! Here are five recommendations: Recommendation #1 Use a certified inspector and ask for their certification. Certification requires an initial course plus continuing education and a semiannual “performance test” to prove you know how to use the equipment. The American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST), National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP), National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) and the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB) provide certification. Remember

that the EPA recommends that mitigated homes be retested semiannually (a great reason to stay in contact with your client). Recommendation #2 Test immediately after the listing agreement is signed. This will give you time to solve any problems before presenting the listing to a buyer. The cost to mitigate will vary. Homes with multiple foundations, like split-levels, are more complex to mitigate since you need to mitigate each foundation in the home. Older (pre-1980) homes may require stronger, more costly fans and more than one suction point. Recommendation #3 Have any existing radon system inspected by a mitigation-certified contractor. Mitigation protocols are

constantly updated, so choose a company with updated certifications over those with “more experience.” Many systems we find lack a cutoff switch, use low-grade PVC, or extract more conditioned air from the home than radonladen soil gas from below the slab. Pay special attention to homes in which water issues were repaired and additional drains were added that may daylight outside. Radon fans also have a maximum recommended operating vacuum. If the vacuum is more powerful than what the fan can handle, it may fail or overheat. Recommendation #4 Provide your client with options regarding vendors, and let them take responsibility. Both AARST-NRPP (NEHA) and NRSB provide directories with licensed inspection and mitigation providers. If you refer your client to specific companies, make sure they are certified and licensed. Recommendation #5 Remember that radon doesn’t care about a home’s form of ownership, so advise your client to test both condo or co-op units if applicable, especially if at ground level.

This article was written by Roberts Radon, LLC, a radon testing and abatement company in Gaithersburg, Maryland. To learn more, take the class, “Radon and Its Effect on Real Estate,” here at GCAAR.

To see the next available class: Go to the Class & Events Calendar on www.gcaar.com

GCAAR in the news Prices, Number of Homes Sales Up Bethesda Beat August 14, 2018 GCAAR July housing stats quoted County Median Home Sales Price for June Tops $477,000 Bethesda Beat July 18, 2018 GCAAR June housing stats quoted Nancy Floreen Makes It Official: She’s Running for Montgomery County Executive WAMU Radio 88.5 July 11, 2018 GCAAR endorsement of Floreen mentioned Bill Frick: State Lawmaker Has Government Experience, Outside Perspective The Washington Post June 18, 2018 GCAAR endorsement mentioned 2018 Endorsements: Candidates for County Executive, County Council, Board of Education Bethesda Magazine June 12, 2018 GCAAR endorsements mentioned

C The Difference COUNSELORS TITLE, LLC

E X P E RIENCE I N T E GRIT Y C O M M UNIT Y S E RV ICE P RI C ING

IN THE B U S I N E SS

COUNSELORS TITLE LOCATIONS Chevy Chase 4400 Jenifer Street, NW Suite 2 Washington, DC 20015 202-686-0100

Dupont Circle 1320 19th Street, NW Suite 201 Washington, DC 20036 202-787-5600

Kentlands 8 Granite Place Suite 30 Gaithersburg, MD 20878 301-670-0100

COUNSELORS TITLE, LLC Experience, Service, Trust, Community

Leaders in Title Settlement in D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia.

Visit us at www.ctitle.net

If you are BUYING, BUILDING, or REFINANCING contact:

Noel A. Shepherd VP/Mortgage Sales Manager NMLS #: 313280

Hawaii’s Volcanic Eruption Could Stop a Home Sale Read the Fine Print The Washington Post June 8, 2018 GCAAR contracts mentioned Politics Roundup: Two At-Large County Council Candidates Team Up Bethesda Magazine June 1, 2018 GCAAR endorsements mentioned

202.642.4305

nshepherd@fultonmortgagecompany.com

fultonmortgagecompany.com The Columbia Bank. Member FDIC. Member of the Fulton Family. Subject to credit approval.

PA I N T I N S P I R AT I O N Kitchen Paint Ideas with Fixture and Finish It’s simple to create a kitchen with timeless beauty.

For inspiration and ideas go to: www.benjaminmoore.com CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 37

AFFILIATES 1031 EXCHANGES

ATTORNEYS

HOME INSPECTION

Realty Exchange Corporation William Horan 703-754-9411

Bregman Berbert Schwartz Gilday Wendy D. Pullano 301-656-2707

Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll Beth Irving 301-838-3202

Old Republic Home Protection Terry Crawford 925-866-1500

Bromberg Rosenthal Jonathan Bromberg 301-251-6200

Law Offices of Jill Pogach Michaels John Daroff 240-425-0008 Jill Michaels 240-425-0008 Alexei Silverman 240-425-0008

AGENT SERVICES

Agent Photos Online John Brueske 877-774-4720 Beta Solutions F&BC Kevin Matthews 301-787-0782 Glassmoyer CMS Gail Glassmoyer 703-244-0743 Greater Capital Area RESA Leslie Anderson 443-570-8285 Susan Bourassa 443-570-8285 Kera Cherrey 443-570-8285 Home Staging by Vivian Vivian Gilbert 301-802-5166 Mike's Locksmith

Sabrina Rosenberg-David 301-528-0729

Organizing Maniacs Christiane Sgrott 703-969-8407 Show Smart Staging Patricia Ebrahimi 757-619-9789 Preferred Staging Monica Murphy 703-851-2690 APPRAISERS

Anne M. Powell Appraisals Anne Powell 410-721-7505 Astute Appraisals Wayne Henry 410-499-9940 Brett Bessell Brett Bessell

301-208-0330

Foremost Appraisals & Realty Folusho Bello 240-304-7782 Gausman Appraisals Jerome Bumanglag 202-321-3667 Jenifer Gausman 202-321-3667 J. Hansen Appraisal Associates John Hansen 301-464-2878 James Blaine Miller Jr. James Miller Jr. 301-933-9881 Magee Appraisal Service Diana Magee 301-846-9696 Roxann Novel Appraiser Roxann Novel 800-232-7196 SFS Appraisal Services Tammy Sarvi 301-943-0977 Washington Appraisal Frank John Jr. 202-646-1150 ATTORNEYS

Adams, Morris & Sessing Michelle Adams 301-637-0143 Elizabeth Morris 301-637-0143 Timothy Sessing 301-637-0143 Andrew FitzGerald Attorney at Law Andrew FitzGerald 301-933-6550 Bramnick Law Michael Bramnick 301-541-3647 38 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

Counselors Title Andrea Bournias Spencer Crawley Christopher Darby James Griffin Thomas Muldoon Timothy Mullin John Nalls

202-686-0100 202-686-0100 202-686-0100 202-686-0100 202-686-0100 202-686-0100 202-686-0100

Greenstein DeLorme & Luchs Richard Luchs 202-452-1400 Vincent Mark Policy 202-452-1400 Jackson & Campbell Roy Kaufmann 202-457-6710 Jacobs & Associates Harvey Jacobs 301-300-6252 James S. Bubar Attorney James Bubar 202-223-2060 Kass Mitek & Kass Benny Kass 202-659-6500 KVS Law Melissa Brault David Kanstoroom Lisa Lamphier Marty Stanton Lasso & Lasso Ricardo Lasso

301-605-1420 301-605-1420 301-605-1420 301-605-1420 202-537-0343

Law Office of Arthur Konopka Arthur Konopka 202-686-0600 Law Office of Mark A. Bayer Mark Bayer 202-466-4747 Law Offices of David P. Modell David P. Modell 301-634-9820 Law Offices of Michael Frissel/Wolf Title Michael Frissell 301-951-0940 Law Offices of Quinn O’Connell Jr. Quinn O’Connell Jr. 202-537-1820 Lynn Candle Boynton Esq. Lynn Boynton 240-499-7465 Miles & Stockbridge Casey Cirner 301-762-1600 Paley Rothman Katherine Palumbo 301-951-9362 Richard W. Lawlor Richard Lawlor 301-340-2400 Samuelson Law Offices Kenneth Samuelson 202-494-0848 Shaner & Helf Thomas Helf

301-913-9306

Shulman Rogers Gandal Pordy Matthew Alegi 301-230-5200 Marc Lipman 301-230-5200 James Savitz 301-230-5200

The Sacks Law Firm Michael Sacks 301-948-2300 Vaughn W. Royal Attorney at Law Vaughn Royal 202-895-1530 CREDIT UNIONS

Capital Area REALTORS FCU Tony Launi 240-314-0734 Olympia Overton 240-314-0734 ®

Navy Federal Credit Union Deanna Furman 301-233-7958 HOME IMPROVEMENT

Ecobeco Carol Schreitmueller 240-396-2141 Brian Toll 240-396-2141 Kelly Vogan 240-396-2141 Floormax Rafie Ansari Darren Holder Masoud Molayem

301-206-2200 301-206-2200 301-206-2200

Sustainable Energy Systems Kurt Zwally 703-216-2325 HOME INSPECTION

4U Inspection Services Alan Grubb 443-539-8410 Debbie Jensen-Grubb 443-539-8410 Danielle Steele 443-539-8410 Alban Home Inspection Services Sandra Watkins 301-662-6565 All Around Inspections James Johnston 240-626-6426 Anderson Inspection Consultants Gary Anderson 301-855-3337 Building Inspector of America Vimal Kapoor 301-916-0300 Capital Environmental Testing Bryan Hix 202-257-9291 Donofrio Property Inspections Donna Seeker 703-771-8374 Green Home Solutions of MD Jennifer Sherwood 301-591-2470 Home Land Environmental Kevin Barnabas 443-995-5385 Eric Garrett 443-995-5385 Tim Shotzberger 443-995-5385 Mid-Atlantic Inspection Services Alan Beal 202-607-4153 Neil Summers Home Inspections Neil Summers 410-245-1361 NextDay Inspect Azmi Alkurd Patrick Harrison Keith Pulley

703-450-6398 703-450-6398 703-450-6398

Pearl Certification Cynthia Adams 888-557-5543 Pro Tec Inspection Services Heather Dice 301-972-8531 Michelle Hopkin 301-972-8531 Lexus Krause 301-972-8531 Top to Bottom Services Gregory Butler 301-938-9100 Daniel Deist 301-938-9100 US Inspect Eric Carpenter

888-874-6773

HOME INSPECTION

MD Dept of Housing & Community Development Cecilia Weller 410-514-7014 HOME WARRANTY

SUPER Dilyana Mazur

202-750-1618

INSURANCE

Capital Insurance Partners Bryan Aguirre 202-362-4500 Landy Insurance Agency Alix Fequiere 781-292-5401 MISCELLANEOUS

Edmund J. Flynn Company Joyce Rhodes 202-537-1800 Lindner & Associates Irene Lindner 202-429-8888 Listings To Go Alan Dorow Mason Miller

703-293-9311 703-293-9311

Shamey Realty Jennie Shamey

202-484-4114

Luther Melvin Jenkins Luther Jenkins II 202-409-3526

The Greentree Group Julio Gonzalez Del Solar301-960-1341 MORTGAGE

Academy Mortgage Tony Miller 301-252-2121 Advantage Mortgage Renu Bhatija 240-406-5919 Apex Home Loans Erin Finke Matt Lieberman Michael Parsons Keller Shinholser Brian Willingham Jennifer DuPlessis

301-610-9600 301-610-9600 301-610-9600 301-610-9600 301-610-9600 703-639-6803

BB&T Mortgage Patricia Widerman 301-590-2382 BB&T Mike Kidwell Kari Sansom Daniel Shea

301-493-8917 301-493-8917 301-493-8917

If you are interested in becoming a GCAAR Affiliate or have a correction to this list, please contact us at: communications@gcaar.com

AFFILIATES MORTGAGE

MORTGAGE

BMIC Mortgage Amy Goldstein

First Home Mortgage Jacob Ryon 301-220-0999 First Savings Mortgage Deborah Benkert 240-223-1558 J D Teitelman 703-564-1746

Prosperity Home Mortgage Michael Joseph 301-299-0945 Jonathan Dailey 301-580-8236 Romy Espino 301-838-3172

301-231-5770

Caliber Home Loans Matthew Palmer 240-297-3828 Jamica Browne 301-660-3292 Robert Kirchner 301-509-5599 Matthew O’Connor 301-520-5156 Cardinal Financial Rafael Jubiz 571-748-4920 Citizens One David Jacobin

301-512-6652

Commission Express Capital Rick Tancreto 443-302-9595 Corridor Mortgage Group Sara Lenes 301-443-5749 Brian Farasy 410-313-9900 Sandy Herbert 410-313-9900 Bridget McGee 410-313-9900 CRM Lending Joel Bailey

410-251-0349

Draper & Kramer Mortgage Corp. Karim Green 202-768-8382 Melissa Rich 202-768-8382 Timothy Smith 202-768-8382 EagleBank Thomas Biegler Mark Deitz

202-292-1581 202-292-1581

Edward Jones Laura Nash

240-221-0649

Embrace Home Loans Paul Pykosh 301-921-0070 Nicholas Rozek 301-921-0070 William Rozek 301-921-0070 Envoy Mortgage William Minturn Frederick Elflein Christopher Gomez Albert Nunnally

240-630-1551 443-438-1801 443-438-1801 443-438-1801

Fairway Ind. Mortgage Corp. Pat Bowman 301-641-3436 Cassandra Compton 301-641-3436 GeeTesh Kapoor 301-641-3436 Fidelity First Daniel Eubanks

410-266-2544

First Home Mortgage Ingrid Rapavy 703-938-2115 Josh Fowlar 301-657-1003 Rob Mercer 301-657-1003 Alex Taylor 301-657-1003 David Toaff 301-657-1003 Ryan Angier 301-656-4388 Zachary Bodine 301-656-4388 Hillary Cochin 301-656-4388 Scott Story 301-656-4388 Kevin Walsh 301-656-4388 Timothy Whittier 301-656-4388 Alexander Jaffe 240-479-7658 Jerry Robinson 240-474-7670 Christopher Jordan 301-562-9540 Travis Vollmerhausen 301-562-9540

First Washington Mortgage Chanin Wisler 301-526-0020 FitzGerald Financial Group/Division of TowneBank Mortgage Evelyn Miller 240-403-1868 L. William Woods Jr. 240-403-1868 Fulton Mortgage Company Noel Shepherd 202-642-4305 George Mason Mortgage Shawn Barsness 703-595-2233 Great Jones Capital Jordan Hepner 202-810-5273 John Thomas V 202-810-5273 Guaranteed Rate Frank Shull IV Graham Pruitt

301-908-3354 301-908-3354

Home Savings & Trust Mortgage Derek Harman 703-766-4634 Homeside Financial Stan Carlyle 202-486-0025 Intercoastal Mortgage Company Wesley Wolfe 703-449-6800 McLean Mortgage Alex Peters 301-538-1137 Michigan Mutual Mai Lu 240-654-0960 Donaldo McPhersonGonzalez 240-683-8585

Sandy Spring Bank Jeffrey Nelson 301-617-4233 Guy Silas 301-617-4233 Sierra Pacific Mortgage Jarrell Bush 410-480-6002 Stearns Lending Gary Gertler Lee Michaels

240-599-7900 240-599-7900

SunTrust Mortgage Loretta Clark 301-961-0903 Jordan Giles 301-961-0903 C.J. Kemp 301-961-0903 Russell Rothstein 301-961-0903 Tidewater Mortgage Services Melanie Roberts 571-297-3981 Jessica Sandler 571-297-3981 Max Sandler 571-297-3981 USBank Jeff Bacigalupo 301-775-5800 Deborah Levy 301-775-5800 John Petersen 301-775-5800 Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Patricia Gillis 301-956-1573 Paul Nowacek 301-956-1573 Allyson Riggs 301-956-1573 Wells Fargo Private Mortgage James Semeyn 410-573-6411 MOVING COMPANIES

123 Junk Kevin Wheeler

703-400-7645

Mortgage 4 U Scott Chen

301-740-8798

Ace Relocation Systems Terry Bass 301-867-0400 Brittany Hampton 301-867-0400 Bill Schwortz 301-867-0400

Mortgage Link Mark Baron

240-683-8585

301-963-4326

Movement Mortgage Jeffrey Bochner 301-329-8251 Vincent Briscoe 301-329-8251 Daniel Caplan 301-329-8251 Maria Clark 703-385-1567 Kerry Hogan 703-385-1567 MVB Mortgage Chris Kearney Billy Kinberg Robert Ross

202-751-2146 202-751-2146 202-751-2146

Prime Lending Eugene Frazier Rhonda Lewis Brian Washington Richard Day Steve Greene Michael Lyons

240-387-7131 240-387-7131 240-387-7131 410-427-0525 410-427-0525 410-427-0525

Eco City Junk Jeffrey Zweig

J K Moving & Storage Phil Phibin 301-340-6683 Drew Richards 301-340-6683 Christopher Sousa 301-340-6683 Moyer & Sons Moving & Storage Daniel Cumberland Jr. 301-869-3896 Perry Moving & Storage Alvin Lewis 410-799-0022 Von Paris Moving & Storage Ruben Barrios 410-888-8500 PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Columbia Property Management Scott Bloom 888-857-6594 Transwestern Donald Wilson

301-896-9000

TAX CONSULTANTS

Exchange Solutions Group William Gessner 703-787-3893

TAX CONSULTANTS

Tax-Masters Linda de Marlor

301-230-0200

TITLE INSURANCE/SETTLEMENTS ITLE INSURANCE/SETTLEMEN

Acer Title & Escrow Brett Beehler 301-222-2500 Brandon Hayes-Evans 301-222-2500 Diane Rosenberg 301-222-2500 Avenue Settlement Corporation Stephen Ballard 202-296-4500 Avenue Title Group David Helfrich 202-296-4500 Blue Note Title Jessica Chipoco

240-670-8993

Capitol Title Sara Demb Goldstein 301-231-7250 Stanley Goldstein 301-231-7250 Jonathan Levy 301-231-7250 Certified Title Sam Houston Suzanne Patton

888-486-5511 888-486-5511

CLA Title & Escrow John Coester 888-924-9008 Matthew Landsberg 888-924-9008 Joel Steinberg 888-924-9008 Clarke Title Henry Clarke Jr.

301-840-8988

Classic Settlements Stephanie Brewer 301-921-2667 Joe Detrick 301-921-2667 Mary Papagjika 301-921-2667 Closeline Settlements Elliot Liss 301-795-2000 Community Title Network Kevin Bayly Jr. 301-886-8777 Kelly Calamitsis 301-886-8777 Michael Ridgway 301-886-8777 Counselors Title Noreen Hathaway 301-670-0100 Colleen Smyth Cogan 301-670-0100 Andrea Bournias 202-686-0100 Spencer Crawley 202-686-0100 Christopher Darby 202-686-0100 James Griffin 202-686-0100 Thomas Muldoon 202-686-0100 Timothy Mullin 202-686-0100 John Nalls 202-686-0100 District Title A Brendon Sheperd Marc Sushner Steven Sushner

202-518-9300 202-518-9300 202-518-9300

Dupont Title Group Deirdre Brown 202-641-2677 Eastern Title & Settlement Ben Goldman 202-537-1800 Josh Greene 240-403-1285 Min Hu 240-403-1285 continued on page 45 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 39

Stay connected at www.gcaar.com

WELCOME to the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®

We are pleased that you have chosen to join our organization. GCAAR is your voice for real estate issues in DC and Montgomery County, MD. It offers venues for networking and allows you to connect with your peers and exchange best practices. We invite you to take full advantage of your benefits as a member.

NEW MEMBERS May Stephen Taylor Alta Realty Company Widelet Thenor RE/MAX Realty Services Tara Baldwin Compass Jonathan Dailey Prosperity Home Mortgage Jesses Griswold Keller Williams Realty Chantilly Ventures Richard Brown Rory S. Coakley Realty Stanley Grabowski Capital Investment Properties International June David McGaha Keller Williams Capital Properties Tony Miller Academy Mortgage Iman Dennis Redfin Corporation Karen Matzkin Long & Foster Real Estate Julie Rau RE/MAX Metropolitan Realty Wondimu Hordoffa Long & Foster Real Estate Thuy Ly Cardinal Realty Partners Mazen Masri Cardinal Realty Partners Bradley Pitt Keller Williams Preferred Properties 40 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

Zachary Liu Signature Home Realty Nick LeDonne Compass Catherine Husbands Weichert REALTORS® Byron Derringer Long & Foster Real Estate Lacey McGrew RE/MAX Town Center Antonios Pertesis Century 21 Redwood Realty Amanda Nathai Fairfax Realty Premier Efrem Tolessa Heymann Realty Wayne Henry Astute Appraisals Renee McElrath Coldwell Banker Residential Issa Perry Keller Williams Capital Properties Carlos Castillo Coldwell Banker Residential Anthony Rowan Long & Foster Real Estate Jalena Rowan Long & Foster Real Estate Richard Bridges Pearson Smith Realty Marcia Palu eXp Realty Ruben Barrios Von Paris Moving & Storage Katy Argueta Keller Williams Preferred Properties

Michelle Hanney-Bognetti Long & Foster Real Estate Matthew Klein Compass Blessing Sawmmal Keller Williams Capital Properties Cooper Stanley RE/MAX Realty Services Ehsan Mahmoudyeh Douglas Realty John Scott Allison James Estates & Homes Tabitha Richardson Premier Homes Realty Ashland Griffin Keller Williams Capital Properties Danielle Ojeda Keller Williams Capital Properties Abigail Paulsen Coldwell Banker Residential Timothy Dudley Dudley Pro Realty Christopher Jameson Real Living at Home Yoninah Danielson Hometown Properties Beth Irving Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll Albert Amar RE/MAX Elite Services Mohamed Majeed Weichert REALTORS® Susan Wisely Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Tynnishua Fowler Century 21 New Millennium

Roseanne Tomlinson Turning Point Real Estate Erica Rutherford McWilliams/Ballard Katrina Hill Long & Foster Real Estate Adena Miller Coldwell Banker Residential Babar Sultan Real Broker Monica Murphy Preferred Staging Nyiesha Norville Exit Deluxe Realty Cherise Mullen Pinnacle Settlement Services Richard Switalski Pinnacle Settlement Services Ka Lou Weichert REALTORS® Melissa Hill Donna Kerr Group Ken Noroozi Vantage Realty Emily Gordon McEnearney Associates Cole Butterfield RE/MAX Realty Services Alvaro Borzet RE/MAX Realty Group Djuan Snowden Long & Foster Real Estate Sarah Jacobs Washington Fine Properties Ricardo Barriga Samson Properties

NEW MEMBERS Le Than Keller Williams Capital Properties Thiago Freitas TriStar Realty Amber Behrns Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Tonya Thompson Keller Williams Preferred Properties Deonna Davis Keller Williams Capital Properties Edward Sekamanya Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Eleonore Fosso Kaji Seumo Long & Foster Real Estate Emily Attwood Keller Williams Capital Properties Danielle Martin Keller Williams Capital Properties Andrea Medinaceli Keller Williams Capital Properties Elijah Hogan Long & Foster Real Estate Hal Epstein Long & Foster Real Estate Peter Crawford Long & Foster Real Estate Kim Sarin Luxe Living Sunhee Yoo Long & Foster Real Estate McKenzie Godbout Weichert REALTORS® Sean Sullivan Fairfax Realty Premier Analee Jimenez Certified Realty Group Berbyn Levy Deausen Realty Nelson Alfaro Weichert REALTORS® Steve Jeffrey Eluvial Realty Gabrielle Crowe Keller Williams Capital Properties

Eriel Swanson Keller Williams Capital Properties Andres Karpf The New Washington Land Company Victor Rwetsiba Keller Williams Capital Properties Christopher Ferrufino Northrop Realty Alton Wilson Century 21 The Real Estate Centre Yanique Douglas Weichert REALTORS® Shannon Johnson Keller Williams Realty Julia Park Redfin Corporation Jessica Yocum Redfin Corporation Rafael Jubiz Cardinal Financial Joshua Warner Long & Foster Real Estate Karina Chumpitaz Weichert REALTORS® Hubert Xavier TriStar Realty Denae Jones Keller Williams Capital Properties Christina Gulick-Kazembe The ONE Street Company Matthew Dana Keller Williams Capital Properties Monica Pennywell Weichert REALTORS® Ryan Fiacco Long & Foster Real Estate Richard Rubin Coldwell Banker Residential Bernadette Thomas Central Properties Alan Grubb 4U Inspection Services Debbie Jensen-Grubb 4U Inspection Services

Danielle Steele 4U Inspection Services Gabriella Sitrin Long & Foster Real Estate Wynne Sitrin Long & Foster Real Estate Franklin Olagbaju Homeland Real Estate July Andrew Kelly Keller Williams Capital Properties Matthew Kahan Compass Gloria Brooks Coldwell Banker Residential Robyn Pincus Coldwell Banker Residential Donald Diggs TriStar Realty Sharon Wilkins Long & Foster Real Estate Martin Lilly Weichert REALTORS® Delly Jeanty Keller Williams City Wide Realty David Oriola Weichert REALTORS® Terry Bass Ace Relocation Systems Brittany Hampton Ace Relocation Systems Bill Schwortz Ace Relocation Systems Scott Chen Mortgage 4 U Susan Hayes Keller Williams Capital Properties Amy Goldstein BMIC Mortgage Angela Ramsay Long & Foster Real Estate Jasmine Smith Keller Williams Capital Properties Derek Sayles Long & Foster Real Estate

Gloria Hairston Express Broker Realty Jason Seibert Tomlinson Real Estate Saul Semidey Fairfax Realty of Tysons Kristin Tucker Keller Williams City Wide Realty Yves Jean Baptiste Keller Williams Capital Properties Erik Johnson Keller Williams Capital Properties Jerel Thomas Keller Williams Capital Properties Xavier Linton Keller Williams Capital Properties Ciera Crawford Smart Realty Samuel Loutfi Coldwell Banker Residential Connor Brown RE/MAX Realty Centre Jeanette Agbemble Smart Realty Shonelle Mapp Keller Williams Capital Properties Gerald Marshall Keller Williams Capital Properties Anthony Cole Coldwell Banker Residential Amrit Khatri Sourceone Realty Bonnie Dixon Keller Williams Capital Properties Claudia Maltez-Laurienti Weichert REALTORS® Victoria Gray Black Nor White Emily Barrow Keller Williams City Wide Realty Sarah Adams Compass Abosede Dosunmu TriStar Realty

continued on next page

CCAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 41

NEW MEMBERS John Kendrick Long & Foster Real Estate Kristen Deal Long & Foster Real Estate Todd Margulies Weichert REALTORS® Perry Vanderhorst Keller Williams Capital Properties Brian Akinyanju Redfin Corporation Vincent Young Exit Flagship Realty Nicole Garner RE/MAX Specialists Suzanne Pasternak Coldwell Banker Residential Shardonia Mallya Weichert REALTORS® Pamela Slash Fairfax Realty Select Colleen Patterson Coldwell Banker Residential Monaia Haynes Redfin Corporation Kysha Biscoe TriStar Realty Barbara Roberson Elite Estates Cheryl Segear RE/MAX Realty Centre Walter Ayala RE/MAX Elite Services Adedoyin Ogunbajo Long & Foster Real Estate Christopher McGirl RE/MAX PROS Chase McCourt Coldwell Banker Residential Naera Kim Long & Foster Real Estate Amy McVey McEnearney Associates Mariah Jacobs Keller Williams Capital Properties 42 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

Randi Vannucchi Century 21 New Millennium Sidney Colen Long & Foster Real Estate Jamie Smart Long & Foster Real Estate Muhammad Abdur-Rashid Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Lisa Goldfluss Gerlach Real Estate Sheku Sheriff Real Broker Ashley Scott Long & Foster Real Estate Amie Chilcoat Long & Foster Real Estate Nicole Kerr Sourceone Realty Trevor Agard Bennett Realty Solutions Kevin Hsueh Keller Williams Capital Properties Martha Slagle Long & Foster Real Estate Varun Vasudeva TriStar Realty Candace James Keller Williams Capital Properties Clarence Phillips Coldwell Banker Residential Karen Ringo Long & Foster Real Estate Cindy Allen Metro Premier Homes Rosa Benlizar Long & Foster Real Estate Soma Preciado Long & Foster Real Estate Mary Stiff Long & Foster Real Estate Lidia Archer Long & Foster Real Estate Lania Cooper TDK Real Estate

Antoine Young Real Estate Professionals Tiffanyanne Tomlinson Keller Williams Capital Properties Mai Lu Michigan Mutual Donaldo McPherson Gonzalez Michigan Mutual Barbara Patricelli RE/MAX Realty Centre Roney Wynn Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Teresa Hilliard Keller Williams Realty Lenora Clayton Express Broker Realty Christian Sanson Tower Hill Realty Edwin Lewis Century 21 New Millennium Lisa Whittington Weichert REALTORS® Tiara Holmes Weichert REALTORS® Jeffrey Northam Pearson Smith Realty Mary Frazier TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Monica Stephenson Coldwell Banker Residential Susan Powell Keller Williams Capital Properties Kara Chernet Long & Foster Real Estate Darius Thornton Carrington Real Estate Services Shadrene Howard Keller Williams Capital Properties Zabrina Watkins RE/MAX Success Dorte Sherman Long & Foster Real Estate Steven Moore The Real Estate Experts

Jessica Navidad-Alvarado Avery-Hess REALTORS® Wendy Burleigh City Properties 5 Tijuan Gray City Properties 5 Samuel Afriyie Smart Realty Marilyn Santiago Right Address Realty Brian Holder Real Broker Harold Taylor Keller Williams Capital Properties Mattia D’Affuso TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Keith Milne Long & Foster Real Estate Carlos Menjivar Keller Williams Capital Properties Adrienne Thiry Weichert REALTORS® Kathryn Tooley Coldwell Banker Residential August Val Carlton Keller Williams Capital Properties Frederick Elflein Envoy Mortgage Christopher Gomez Envoy Mortgage Albert Nunnally Envoy Mortgage Tameeka Jackson Bennett Realty Solutions Patrick Harwood Long & Foster Real Estate Chifai Cheong Long & Foster Real Estate Patricia Mancini Avery-Hess REALTORS® Daniel Roberts Long & Foster Real Estate Dagmawi Alemayehu Keller Williams City Wide Realty

Tara Ashworth Bostwick Realty Uchenna Arinzeh eXp Realty Andrew Qian Redfin Corporation Jesse Soto Keller Williams Realty Reston Erin Townley Fairfax Realty Advantage Ronise Capers Redfin Corporation Jessica Owens Redfin Corporation David Truong Redfin Corporation Yazan Khalaf Long & Foster Real Estate Boris Tulukin Weichert REALTORS® Sarah Minard M Squared Real Estate Brandon Carrington Keller Williams Capital Properties Stephen Davis Jacquie’s Title Group Jacqueline Nguyen Jacquie’s Title Group Mekong Paul Jacquie’s Title Group Elio Cruz Reyes Fairfax Realty Premier Timothy Pfeiffer Keller Williams Capital Properties Deborah Carbott Exit Deluxe Realty David Lonis Keller Williams City Wide Realty Aleta Mack Keller Williams Capital Properties Joseph Vrablic Weichert REALTORS® Tatiana Guigou Keller Williams Capital Properties

Laura Pena Flores Weichert REALTORS® James Tars Tars Realty & Associates Bryant Mortimer Long & Foster Real Estate Andrew Salas EJF Real Estate Services Aurore Michel City Properties 5 Alicia Burns Burns Appraisals Deborah Nelson Sourceone Realty Hector Ramirez Long & Foster Real Estate Jason Arrow Avery-Hess REALTORS® Robert McHenry Coldwell Banker Residential Jerome Bumanglag Gausman Appraisals Jenifer Gausman Gausman Appraisals Kearston Perry Hagan Realty Richard Reynolds Barsch Realty Selamawit Hailu Keller Williams Realty McLean Muhammad Usman Bankable Realty Beverly Epps Keller Williams Capital Properties Ibironke Olayimika Keller Williams Capital Properties Pee Jay Santos Compass William Thomas TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Rhianna Campbell City Properties 5 Jennifer Nalley Keller Williams Realty Chantilly Ventures

Brian Bettis Blue Crab Real Estate Bernadine Occhiuzzo Fairfax Realty Premier Crystal Garcia Allison James Estates & Homes Michael Gray Fairfax Realty Select Robert Barrow Exit Deluxe Realty Erin Crowder Coldwell Banker Residential Tiffany Renwick Coldwell Banker Residential Ashayla Sherry Weichert REALTORS® Gail Glassmoyer Glassmoyer CMS Elizabeth Meltzer Long & Foster Real Estate Joseph Magnotta Long & Foster Real Estate Biffrey Braxton Allison James Estates & Homes Richard Horvitz Listing Key Zachary London Compass Marc Blair Align Right Realty DMV David Jacobin Citizens One Florence Boateng Keller Williams Capital Properties Marshall Clayton TriStar Realty Ahmed Bayoumi Investar Samuel Sowunmi Keller Williams Capital Properties Eva Rice The Real Estate Experts Michael Koczot Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Jo Waye Certified Realty Group Evelyn Dean Taylor Properties Ardeshir Behdad BKI Group Derick Labrada Weichert REALTORS® Natalie Smith Coldwell Banker Residential Tina Booker Keller Williams Preferred Properties Andrew Gilbert Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices William Hungerford Long & Foster Real Estate Jennifer Vo Keller Williams Integrity Delores Martin Allison James Estates & Homes Richard Grant McWilliams/Ballard Kyle Nichols Keller Williams Capital Properties Kayla Graves Century 21 Redwood Realty Michael Bryant City Properties 5 Farish Perlman Real Living at Home Jill Michaels JP Michaels Real Estate Faith Slaughter Weichert REALTORS® Diana Posadas Keller Williams Realty Chantilly Ventures Gene Cutter Redfin Corporation Bradley Mascarenhas Keller Williams Integrity Cameron George Fairfax Realty Elite continued on next page CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 43

NEW MEMBERS David Rios Benitez Donna Kerr Group Kimberly Fitzgerald Rory S. Coakley Realty Janet Sosa Elite Properties Jill Johnson Compass Shady Elfaham Keller Williams Capital Properties Andrew Warner Summit Commercial Real Estate Daniel Babicki Long & Foster Real Estate Francisca Contreras Sosa Weichert REALTORS® Kunta Hector Fairfax Realty Premier Kim Risse Long & Foster Real Estate Gabriel Mariasch Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Susan Tull O’Reilly McEnearney Associates Shiron Gaines Keller Williams Capital Properties Jonathan Hunt RE/MAX Allegiance Mabel Zuleta RE Smart Nakia Evans Coldwell Banker Residential David Chlebana RE/MAX PROS September Sara Vieira Streamline Management Rachelle Ferneau Avery-Hess REALTORS® Michael Burch RE/MAX PROS Gina Pruitt Coldwell Banker Residential 44 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

Muhammad Khan Alisherzai Coldwell Banker Residential Hailey Basch Keller Williams Capital Properties Maliha Khan Century 21 New Millennium Victoria Morelli Coldwell Banker Residential Christina Giorgi Keller Williams Capital Properties Michael Heaviside Long & Foster Real Estate Rodney Bennett Fairfax Realty Elite Tasha Butler-Scott eXp Realty Jaskaran Kandola TriStar Realty Joan Abaziuwa Blue Ribbon Realty Diana Khan Next Step Realty Tonya Proctor Certified Realty Group Karriem Wilkerson Allison James Estates & Homes William Moeller Buy & Save REALTORS® Tyriek Washington Keller Williams Capital Properties Theresa Roosevelt Theresa Roosevelt Independent Broker Michele Hamm Frontier Realty Group Agata Siegenthaler Wydler Brothers Lauren Maza Weichert REALTORS® Stephen McKenzie RE/MAX Advantage Realty Leila Pires da Silva City Properties 5

Brett Beehler Acer Title & Escrow Brandon Hayes-Evans Acer Title & Escrow Diane Rosenberg Acer Title & Escrow William Minturn Envoy Mortgage Masomeh Pirnia Rivera Coldwell Banker Residential Sarah McLaren Washington Fine Properties Janet Allen Keller Williams City Wide Realty Patrick Ewing Keller Williams Capital Properties Peggy Lewis Long & Foster Real Estate Cristian Cordova Keller Williams Capital Properties Margarita Lisi RE/MAX Realty Services Regina Holmes Urbane Realty Anwar Siddiqui Execuhome Realty Greylin Thomas Redfin Corporation Karen Gray Fairfax Realty Advantage Kareem Sallay Keller Williams Capital Properties John Roland Coldwell Banker Residential Karthikayan Krishnan Fairfax Realty Premier Bryant Calliste Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Jesse Davis Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Eric Peguero Bankable Realty Robert Makuch Keller Williams Realty Centre

Cynthia White Keller Williams Capital Properties Jordan Hepner Great Jones Capital John Thomas Great Jones Capital Kali Shelton Help-U-Sell Federal City Realty Michelle Morton City Properties 5 Aisha Mohammed eXp Realty Michelle Schwartz Keller Williams Capital Properties Chase Kahle RE/MAX Realty Group Mulawin Reyes Lozada Keller Williams Realty Centre Thomas Natali Strategic Investment Group Bryan Zupan Strategic Investment Group As of October 26, 2018

AFFILIATES TITLE INSURANCE/SETTLEMENTS

Federal Title & Escrow Co. Todd Ewing 202-362-1500 Fenton Title Co. Louis Pettey

301-590-0220

First Class Title Daniel Kotz

301-770-4107

GPN Title George Glekas

301-294-4055

Hollman & Flynn Title Gregory Flynn 301-545-0150 Michael Hollman 301-545-0150 Hutton Patt Title John Hutton

240-575-6333

Jacquie’s Title Group Stephen Davis 301-216-0808 Jacqueline Nguyen 301-216-0808 Mekong Paul 301-216-0808 Kase & Associates Sadaf Saberi 703-444-4100 Lakeside Title Beth Malakoff Marc Malakoff Beau Pichon

410-992-1070 410-992-1070 410-992-1070

Logan Title Patrick Tangney

202-244-3200

Main Street Settlements John Ferguson 301-570-3600 Maryland First Title Thomas Harner Emile Henault III Daryl Jones

410-863-1552 410-863-1552 410-863-1552

MBO Settlements Moira Olevsky 202-505-7530 Michaels Title & Escrow Jill Pogach Michaels 240-425-0008

Mid-Atlantic Settlement Svcs. Hannah Greenough 202-387-6180 Deborah Goguen-Ellis 571-766-3824 Ilene Kanfer 571-766-3824 Vaughn Stewart 571-766-3824 Moses & Aiken, LLC/Home Team Title Robert Moses 301-468-0080 New World Title & Escrow Andrew DiPaola 703-691-4330 Morgan Swersey 703-691-4330 Palisades Title Company Steven Buckman 202-351-6100 Paragon Title & Escrow Lisa Bosse 301-986-1114 Philip Raskin 301-986-1114 Randy Rothstein 301-986-1114 Rob Rothstein 301-986-1114 Pinnacle Settlement Services Cherise Mullen 301-441-4666 Richard Switalski 301-441-4666 Pinnacle Title & Escrow David Maged 301-424-5400 Marci Maged 301-424-5400 Bari Solomon 301-424-5400 Pride Settlement & Escrow Jay Brody 888-729-0145 D. Leigh Hewartson 888-729-0145 Lee Anne Rodriguez 888-729-0145 Prime Settlement Scott Sweitzer 202-559-1651 Realty Title Services Elif Michalski 301-439-7850 Stephen Vlahus 301-439-7850 RGS Title Kevin Kistler 202-602-1077 Carol Calomiris 202-363-1870 Suzanne Feinstein, Esq.301-230-0070 Vittorio Muzzatti 301-663-1608 Thomas Rodden 301-680-0200 Helen Dankos 301-230-0070

RGS Title/Traditional Title Anthony DeVol 301-654-9800 Sage Title Group Joseph Hansen Bobby Lee

301-670-2812 301-654-2560

Settlement Ink Lindsay Gordon P. Joy Siegel

301-907-8808 301-907-8808

Settlement Professionals Carol Calomiris 202-363-1870 Settlement Corp. David Deckelbaum

202-537-0005

Standard Title Group Kevin Anderson 202-888-0132 Stewart Title Group R. Bradley Runyan 202-349-0220 Christopher Saabye 202-349-0220 Title Alliance Ltd. Maria Deligiorgis

610-892-8100

Title Town Settlements Todd Greenbaum 301-580-2850 Ryan Malet 301-580-2850 United One Resources Michael McNamara 443-864-1150 Village Settlements Carey Brennan 301-590-9300 Leslie Childs 301-590-9300 David Parker 301-590-9300 David Hahn 301-486-0799 As of September 19, 2018

Save the Date! GCAAR Board Installation and Holiday Party December 5, 2018 The Watergate Hotel – Washington, DC Details to come via email and on www.gcaar.com.

Get ready to sneak a peak at the new renovation CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 45

design trends T R E N D I N G CO LO R A L E R T: C I T R O N Y E L LO W I S H OT S T U F F Try it with Pattern Yellow is a strong color, and part of what can make it a challenge to work with in the home is how easily it can overwhelm the other colors in a space. One simple solution is to break up the color yellow by using it in a patterned piece. On this bed, the simple infusion of white in the bright, citron yellow of this pillow creates a beautiful pattern that fits perfectly into this minimalist bedscape. The Haze pillow is a modern take on ikat in today’s latest color. Top and bottom photos by Patrick Cline

Photos by Seth Caplan

In the Bathroom Usually, bathrooms are a study in functional furnishings and neutral color palettes. But, there is an easy way to liven up the landscape of your powder room without a big investment. Add a single accessory to take the color palette in a new and exciting direction. For this bathroom, a bright shade enters with the addition of this Chinese garden stool painted in a stunning citron hue.

Vintage DIY Sometimes, a little paint is all it takes to give a vintage piece a new look and new life as the centerpiece of a beautiful space. Case in point, a citron makeover turned this mid-sized dresser into the focus of a room that already has plenty going on. This yellow dresser mixed with the juxtaposition of patterns and solids gives this kid’s room a colorful sense of whimsy. 46 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

TO P D E SI G N TRE N DS — I N T E GRAT E T HI S HAPPY CO LO R INTO YO UR HO M E DE SI GN S C H E M E . Source: www.hgtv.com – Citron Yellow Is Hot Stuff Article by: Jeanine Hays

Work with a REALTOR® to help you find more HOME DÉCOR TRE NDS.

Photo by Patrick Cline

Photo by Genevieve Garruppo

Blend it with Neutrals

As a Wallpaper Accent

Citron yellow is the perfect pick-me-up for a neutral-heavy space in need of some visual interest. In this room, shades of brown, black, and white all come together to create a sophisticated and serene backdrop. A sudden note of yellow creates a nice moment in the space; a bit of sunshine that immediately creates a smile-inducing focal point in an otherwise neutral space.

After paint, wallpaper is one of the best ways to make a big color statement in your home. But, wallpaper isn’t just for walls. With a bit of creativity you can use this longtime favorite home decoration to create some truly eye-catching moments.

Photo by Seth Caplan

In a Busy Space For a more advanced use of a bold color like citron yellow, try using it to break up the activity in a busy space that mixes lots of elements. In this living room, the bright yellow coffee table at the center of it all gives the eye a place to rest amidst the patterns, paintings, and stylish furnishings.

CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018 47

BACKPorch TRIVIA FINDS

FACTS

Graceland The palatial home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, TN, attracts 600,000 visitors a year and it the most visited historic home in the United States. Source: www.activerain.com

Did You Know?

Pumpkin-flavored sales totaled over $414 million in 2017. But people are starting to opt for fresh pumpkin instead, according to Nielsen Retail Measurement Services. Some pumpkin-flavored products have seen consistent growth over recent years, including cereal, coffee, and even dog food. www.https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/ diet-nutrition/a22544/facts-about-pumpkins/

What is currently the most sought-after amenity in the majority of upscale homes? Technology that “enables” a home with features such as structured integrated wiring and broadband Internet access is the current amenity of choice. Source: www.mccormick-realty.com/

48 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Sept/Oct 2018

What holds the title as the tallest reinforced concrete building in the U.S.? 311 South Wacker Drive in Chicago was completed in 1990 and is 65 stories high. Source: www.wikipedia

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