R E A LTOR
CAPITAL AREA
®
gcaar.com
Official publication for the Greater Capital Area Assocation of REALTORS®
nov/dec 2017
WHAT’S NEW? WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2018 - page 6
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2017 DISTINGUISHED AWARD WINNERS! - page 10
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR® • May/Jun 2014
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14 Convenient Locations • Alexandria • Bethesda • Chantilly • Culpeper • Falls Church • Fredericksburg • Gainesville
• Lake Ridge • Lansdowne • Locust Grove • McLean • National Harbor • Tysons • Vienna
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CAPITAL AREA REALTOR® • May/Jun 2014 F O R A L L R E A L TO R S ®
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What to expect in 2018 – p. 6
nov/dec 2017
GCAAR Happenings – p. 14
Coaches Corner – p. 28
The Last Word From Jamie Coley – p. 48
features
in every issue
3
Association News
5
Affiliate Spotlight
4
Don’t Let This Happen to You
1 7
Membership Corner
6
What To Expect This Coming Year
18
GCAAR in the News
10
2017 Distinguished Award Winners
2 1
NAR Director’s Report
14
GCAAR Happenings
24
Public Policy
16
Meet Your GCAAR Committees
27 RPAC
19
Agent Spotlight: Lily Chedrauy
30
Economic Outlook
22
GCAAR Cares
32
Legal Hotline
28
Coaches’ Corner
34
Education Schedule
37
New Emeritus Members
36
Bright MLS Compliance Tip
40
Affiliate Directory
38
REALTOR® Toolbox
42
Welcome New Members!
46
Design Trends
48
The Last Word from Jamie Coley
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 Rockville, 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.
15201 Diamondback Drive, Suite 100 Rockville, MD 20850 Phone: 301.590.2000 I Fax: 301.590.2248 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 ©2017 by the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®. All rights reserved.
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR® • May/Jun 2014
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board of directors
President Jamie Coley
President-Elect Tom Daley
Secretary Koki Adasi
Treasurer Thom Brockett
Immediate Past President Peg Mancuso
Chief Executive Officer Mike Moran
Directors
Katrina Schymik Abjornson Jan Brito Jody Goren Brandon Green Jacque Grenning Susann Haskins
Hildy Pollard Andres Serafini Jason Sherman Danai Mattison Sky Frank Snodgrass Pat Weed
R E A LTOR
CAPITAL AREA
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Managing Editor Bobette Banks
Design & Layout Carla Conway, Uncommon Design
Advertising Representative Arlene Braithwaite
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association news Women’s Council of REALTORS® Installs 2018 Officers
The Greater Capital Area Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® (GCA WCR) closed out its year with the installation of officers on November 15. Maryland Women’s Council of REALTORS®’ President Christina Carroll installed the officers. Outgoing President Elois Wiggins and 2016 President Jackie Bennett were awarded for their service to the organization.
2018 Greater Capital Area WCR Officers: L-R: Christina Carroll, Maryland WCR Governor; Holly Buchanan, President; Betty PeltzerSharper, President-Elect, Linda Kibunja, Treasurer; Evelyn Clarke, Secretary; Martha Lopez Elkind, Membership Chair, Not pictured: Martha Liriano, Program Director.
In addition, Justin Levitch, Managing Broker of RLAH Real Estate, shared tips on what you should be doing to grow your business in 2018. Outgoing President Elois Wiggins thanked her sponsors for the year, with special thanks to her fellow officers and members for their support. Congratulations to the 2018 Officers: Holly Buchanan - President Betty Peltzer Sharper - President-Elect Linda Kibunja – Treasurer Evelyn Clarke – Secretary Martha Lopez Elkind – Membership Chair Martha Liriano – Program Director
L-R: Christina Carroll, 2017 Maryland WCR Governor; Gwen Henderson, 2016 State President; Jackie Bennett, 2016 GCA WCR President; 2017 GCA WCR President Elois Wiggins.
We are a network of successful REALTORS®, advancing women as professionals and leaders in business, the industry and the communities we serve.
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2017 GCA WCR President Elois Wiggins with 2016 President Jackie Bennett. LEARN MORE AT: http://www.wcr.org
L-R GCA WCR President Elois Wiggins, Juan Campos, Smart Realty; Holly Buchanan, and Darren Soodak, BancStar Mortgage.
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CAPITAL AREA REALTOR® • May/Jun 2014 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017 3
Don’t Let This Happen to You! Submitted by Joy Liberti, Professional Standards Committee
“Choose Your Neighbor” Marketing Letters Your seller has given you very specific instructions for limited marketing of their property. With all of the seller constraints, you believe that sending a “Choose Your Neighbor” letter to other homeowners in the neighborhood is the perfect solution to finding potential purchasers. After all, neighbors are as motivated as sellers to get the property sold at the highest price in the shortest amount of time. However, extreme care must be taken that these letters are not the ONLY marketing done for the property so that there can be no possible claim of discrimination. Article 10 of the Code of Ethics, Duties to the Public, outlines that “REALTORS® shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity.” A Professional Standards Hearing Panel considered the following Case #10-4: REALTOR® A listed a property in a new subdivision. At the instruction of his client, Seller X, REALTOR® A did not file information on the listing with his Board’s MLS, did not place a “For Sale” sign on the property, and did not advertise the property in the local newspaper. Seller X had told REALTOR® A that he wanted the sale handled quietly, with the new purchasers being people who would “fit into the neighborhood - people with the same socioeconomic background” as the other residents of the subdivision. Based on his conversation with Seller X, REALTOR® A’s only marketing effort was mailing a letter to the other residents of the subdivision, inviting them “... to play a part in the decision of who your next neighbor will be. If you know of someone who you would like to live in the neighborhood, please let them know of the availability of this home, or call me and I will be happy to contact them and arrange a private showing.” 4 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017
REALTOR® A’s marketing strategy came to the attention of REALTOR® B, whose mother lived in the subdivision. REALTOR® B filed a complaint charging REALTOR® A with a violation of Article 10 of the Code of Ethics. At the hearing, REALTOR® B told the Hearing Panel of receiving a copy of the marketing letter from his mother, who had recently moved to the subdivision. REALTOR® B advised the panel that he had checked the Board’s MLS for information on the property, had driven past the house to look for a “For Sale” sign, and had scanned the Sunday real estate section of the local newspaper for information on the property. Finding no mention of the property in either the MLS or the newspaper and noting the absence of a sign on the property, REALTOR® B concluded that REALTOR® A’s marketing strategy was to limit access to the property to individuals pre-selected by the current residents. “In my mind,” said REALTOR® B, “this could only mean one thing. REALTOR® A was deliberately discriminating against home seekers from other areas, or those with different backgrounds, who would never have the opportunity to learn about the house’s availability. Obviously, REALTOR® A was directing all of his marketing energies into finding purchasers who would not disrupt the ethnic and economic character of the
neighborhood.” REALTOR® A defended his actions by advising the panel that he was acting on Seller X’s instructions. Seller X appeared as a witness for REALTOR® A and confirmed this fact, adding that he and the other residents of his block had an informal agreement that they would try to find “suitable” purchasers for their homes if they ever decided to sell. Seller X felt that by broadening the marketing campaign to include all residents of the subdivision, he had increased the chances of finding such potential purchasers. The Hearing Panel found REALTOR® A in violation of Article 10 of the Code of Ethics. In their decision, the panel advised REALTOR® A that no instruction from a client could absolve a REALTOR® from the obligation to market properties without regard to race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or country of national origin, as expressed in Article 10. There was no doubt, in the panel’s opinion, that the exclusive use of “Choose Your Neighbor” letters to market the property was designed to circumvent the requirements of Article 10.
Don’t Let This Happen to You!
Affiliate Spotlight
GCAAR happenings NAR’s Jessica Lautz Speaks at Broker/Manager Forum
GCAAR’s final Broker/Manager Forum of the year focused on the Regional Economic Outlook and Area Housing Market Trends. The speaker was Jessica Lautz, NAR’s Managing Director of Survey Research and Communications. Jessica discussed the demographic changes in the buying and selling market, the effect student loan debt has on prospective home buyers, and what buyers and sellers want from their agents.
Marty Stanton KVS Title
Attorney/Member How long have you been an Affiliate with GCAAR?
I have been affiliated with GCAAR for the past seven years.
What are some of the events you support?
I support educational events hosted by GCAAR and I also regularly teach continuing education classes. Most recently, I spoke at the joint Legal Summit hosted by GCAAR and NVAR. I also enjoy supporting the GCAAR Installation and Holiday Party; it’s a great way to thank those who have served and congratulate those who will serve in the coming year.
Why do you continue to support GCAAR as an Affiliate?
GCAAR provides Affiliates with the opportunity to work with the best and brightest in our industry. Whether you sponsor an event, teach continuing education, or volunteer on a committee, it’s important to actively engage with the real estate community.
Jessica Lautz, NAR Managing Director of Survey Research and Communications.
REAL ESTATE TRIVIA
What would you say to people who are considering becoming an Affiliate?
What are you waiting for? Look at all of the opportunities GCAAR has to offer Affiliate members and choose one where you feel you can offer value and get to work. You will make great relationships that will help you grow professionally.
Why do you think being a member of GCAAR is important?
As a GCAAR Affiliate member, I am able to collaborate and interact with membership to help shape our industry for the better.
• In Japan, most houses depreciate in value.
• Half of all houses are demolished within 38 years.
• There is virtually no market for pre-owned homes.
• Per capita, there are nearly four times as many architects and more
than twice as many construction workers in Japan as the U.S.
Source: retipster.com, 35 Real Estate Facts That Will Blow Your Freaking Mind, by Seth Williams
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017 5
What to Expect in 2018 e
50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1968 fair housing legislation. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) will be celebrating this milestone throughout the year, partnering with a number of national organizations (NAHREP, NAREB, NAGLE, WCR, AREAA) NAR will have an entire site dedicated to the initiative and is suggesting that the state and local associations do the same with events/success stories, etc. President Johnson signs 6 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017
the Fair Housing Act, 1968.
The Counselors of Real Estate® (CRE®) Report:
2017-18 Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate— highlights a few key trends: Real Estate’s Emerging Role in Health Care The U.S. spends over $3 trillion each year on health care, or nearly $10,000 per person. While political polarization is making it difficult to address quality and access problems, the real estate industry has emerged as a major player to cost-effectively improve people’s health. Building occupants are increasingly demanding that the space they inhabit be designed, constructed, and operated in ways that advance positive health outcomes. It makes intuitive sense that buildings could help or hurt health in that people spend 90% of their time indoors. Research from the Mayo Clinic also concludes that only 20% of health comes from health care, with environmental and behavioral factors accounting for 40%.
To access marketing materials, the dedicated website will be: www.FairHousing.realtor See the NAR Director’s Report on page 21 for additional information about upcoming changes at the national level. Source: nar.realtor
Evidence of the importance of this trend is that most major real estate professional groups have recently ramped up their focus on healthy buildings. Designing buildings to specifically address health behaviors has become the most transformative and rapidly growing subtrend of the “Health and Well Being” macro-trend.
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HOUSING
The Big Mismatch An especially serious issue is the growing affordability gap and limited availability of housing in locations with significant job growth, particularly in major metropolitan areas and coastal regions. Those working in technology, finance, and other highly paid fields have monopolized new, resale, and rental product, raising prices on once affordable rental and for sale housing and creating a crisis for lower paid workers and those who are unemployed. Younger workers seeking employment opportunities, many carrying substantial student debt, remain priced out of the owner market. In other markets, Baby Boomers seek transitional rental housing, but the lack of multifamily rentals with sufficient space and of buyers for the large homes in distant suburbs they wish to vacate have made this shift in lifestyle a true challenge for an older generation wishing to remain active and engaged. Insufficient investment in public transportation, government limitations on “mother-in-law” and micro units, and creative solutions to what could become an affordability crisis exacerbate the problem – widening the gap, real or perceived, between the “Haves” and “Have Nots” and potentially creating even greater problems long term.
Source: Counselors of Real Estate® 2017-18 Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate
8 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017
Generational Disruption Boomers’ and Millennials’ divergent views of where they live, work, and play increasingly impact the property markets. The Baby Boom generation of approximately 74.0 million (born between 1946 and 1964) is now smaller than the Millennial Generation of some 75.4 million (born roughly between 1980 and 1997). Studies project that Millennials will ultimately behave in a fashion similar to Boomers – but do so ten years later. This generation is characterized by: • Leading a more transient, “experience-oriented” lifestyle in their 20s • Marrying, having children, and buying homes in their 30s as opposed to their 20s • Living in the city before moving to the suburbs (or rapidly emerging “urban burbs”) in search of the larger, more affordable home and better school Boomers, on the other hand, are exhibiting behaviors often associated with Millennials: • Transitioning to a more transient, “experience-oriented” lifestyle in their 60s • Selling their homes and renting (in the same buildings as younger generations)
• Abandoning the suburbs for city living (or choosing urban like locations a bit further out) Real estate developers, investors, owners, and builders will need to understand not only the location preferences of each group, but the design and amenity features of housing units, whether rental or owner occupied. One size will not fit all and supply will need to match rapidly changing demand.
TECHNOLOGY These tech trends will continue to grow in the coming year:
• Targeted ads – Advertising on most websites will be unique to the viewer based on their buying habits (tracking pixels). • Facebook advertising • Pixel technology for property listings • Predictive analytics (see the September/October issue of this magazine for more information) • 3 D walk-through technology/3D tours • Internet retargeting
Tracking pixels – Tracking pixels are exactly what they sound like: tiny, transparent, pixel-sized images embedded in everything from emails to banner ads. Tracking pixels are also known as web bugs, beacons, tracking bugs, page tags and more. These tiny trackers are the darlings of the web analytic crowd, due to their effectiveness in capturing useful data. They enable companies to track website visits, digital ad impressions, email opens, sales conversions and other types of activity on the web. Source: www.digitaland.tv
CLOSER TO HOME Montgomery County Elections/Changing of the Guard The faces and agendas that make up Montgomery County government will see its largest sea change in over a decade. Due to the passage of term limits in 2016, current Councilmembers Roger Berliner, Nancy Floreen, Marc Elrich, and George Leventhal – as well as County Executive Isiah Leggett – are unable to run for re-election. Therefore the District 1 seat, three At-Large seats, and the office of County Executive will be occupied by a new official next December. To help prepare you for a few of these races GCAAR, AOBA, and MBIA will be hosting debates for the Democratic candidates running for Montgomery County Executive, as well as multiple forums for Montgomery County Council-At-Large Democratic candidates. The County Executive debate will be held on January 8 at 10 a.m., while the Council-At-Large debates will happen on January 24, February 7, and February 14 at the GCAAR office in Rockville. Check out the GCAAR website for more details and to sign up to attend. Two additional sitting Councilmembers – Sidney Katz (District 3) and Craig Rice
(District 2) – face challengers in the Democratic primary. Councilmembers Nancy Navarro (District 4) and Tom Hucker (District 5) currently face no challenge. Make sure to mark your calendar and vote in your party’s primary on June 26, 2018. Recordation Taxes An issue that will continue into 2018 will be the recordation tax rates in Montgomery County. In 2016 the County Council raised the recordation tax rate for homes sold for over $500,000. The Council took this action to raise funds to invest in Montgomery County Public Schools. While GCAAR understands and supports the effort to maintain our county’s world class school system, Expedited Bill 15-16 presented an undue burden on homeowners and homebuyers. In 2017, Councilmember Elrich introduced Bill 10-17 to reform the changes seen in 2016. Councilmember Leventhal has co-sponsored the legislation. Under the changes proposed, the recordation tax premium placed on homes sold between $500,000 and $2,000,000 would be lowered from the 2016 rates.
During the ongoing Government Operations Committee discussions regarding Bill 10-17 the county’s Finance Department, and its recordation tax research, has been featured. On November 13 GCAAR wrote Councilmember Elrich requesting the Finance Department’s data used in review of Bill 10-17. With this information GCAAR will be able to fully and constructively participate in the discussion of this issue with the GO Committee and the Council. Recordation tax and home sale data should be made available to not only GCAAR, but the public as well. GCAAR will follow up on its request with the Council and Finance Department, and keep members updated on the recordation tax legislation, as well as any other Council action that affects our members.
Washington, DC TOPA (Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act) will remain on the forefront but decisions affecting this legislation remain to be resolved as of the printing of this magazine issue. Stay tuned for more information on this topic in 2018. CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017 9
2017 GCAAR REALTOR® OF THE YEAR TIM KNOBLOCH GCAAR is pleased to name Tim Knobloch, as it’s REALTOR® of the Year for 2017. Tim, a past GCAAR Board member and Treasurer, also received this award from the Maryland REALTORS® at its annual conference on September 12 in Ocean City.
EACH YEAR GCAAR RECOGNIZES MEMBERS WHO HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS.
Tim, who is the owner of Eagle Management, a Rockville property management company, has been a licensed REALTOR® for over 33 years, a member of GCAAR since 1998, and before that a member of the Montgomery County Association of REALTORS® (MCAR). He is an active member of Maryland REALTORS® as well, serving as the Public Policy Chair and on several committees, including: Contracts and Clause, Professional Standards, and Budget and Finance. Tim and his wife Elaine are the parents of three sons.
WE ARE PLEASED TO NAME OUR
Congratulations to Tim on his well-deserved accomplishment!
2017 AWARDEES FOR REALTOR®,
Tim Knobloch, left; with John Harrison, 2016 REALTOR® of the Year and 2018 Maryland REALTORS® Secretary.
ROOKIE, AND CO-AFFILIATES OF THE YEAR.
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2017
The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.
— Vince Lombardi
Distinguished Award Winners 2017 GCAAR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR SAMANTHA DAMATO GCAAR is pleased to announce Samantha Stokes Damato as its 2017 Rookie of the Year. Samantha is a REALTOR® with Long and Foster, formerly W.C. & A.N. Miller REALTORS®. Samantha is a solo agent and obtained her real estate license in May of 2013. As a solo agent, Samantha built her business from scratch, and was Rookie of the Year in her Miller Office in 2014. She currently averages over 25 transactions a year, and is a part of Long & Foster’s Gold Team. After working on the 2012 Presidential election, Samantha made a mid-career switch from law and policy to real estate to be a part of a profession that connected her with her community. She has been a regular committee member on GCAAR Cares, GCAAR’s Community Service Committee, since 2014; and is currently the Co-Chair. She founded Keeping DC Clean: Fort Lincoln, a neighborhood group that has quarterly community clean ups, is actively engaged in Fort Lincoln Community ANC activities, and is a member of her HOA Board. Samantha and her husband, Jim Damato, have had an incredible 2017. In July they welcomed their first child, a daughter, Emma James. Arriving a month early, Emma has shaken their world and stolen their hearts. Samantha is looking forward to many years to come with her family in this amazing DC area she is lucky to call home.
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017 11
GCAAR NAMES CO-AFFILIATES OF THE YEAR JD TEITELMAN, First Savings Mortgage GCAAR is pleased to name JD Teitelman and Kevin Wheeler as Co-Affiliates of the Year for 2017. JD has served in the mortgage lending industry for more than a decade, joining First Savings Mortgage in 2012. During his career, he has helped hundreds of families attain their dream of home ownership, facilitating over $150 million in mortgages. Born in Connecticut, JD first relocated to the DMV region to attend college and has made it his home ever since. A double graduate of American University (BA in 2007 and MA in 2010), he lives by the school’s “Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle” motto. As a GCAAR Affiliate member, JD has assisted as the group’s Fundraising and Silent Auction Chair and this year as Chair of the Community Service Committee, GCAAR Cares. In addition, JD serves on his Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity’s alumni board at American University. When not helping people finance homes in the Washington, DC area, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida, JD is rooting for the home team Washington Nationals and traveling the world. In 2015, he accomplished his goal to visit all seven continents before age 30, and is currently working on his lifelong goal to visit 75 countries.
KEVIN WHEELER, 123JUNK Kevin Wheeler grew up in the junk removal business. At 16 years old, he joined his brother Collin as 123JUNK’s first employee. He worked on and off the trucks through high school and college. Shortly after graduating Radford University, Kevin decided to accept a business development role with the company doing what he enjoys the most, interacting with people and cultivating relationships. Kevin recently celebrated his three-year anniversary in this role. Studying Business Management with a concentration in Entrepreneurship, Kevin feels right at home working for the family company and having the ability to make a noticeable difference on a daily basis. 123JUNK has worked with thousands of local real estate agents who find tremendous benefit in the decluttering services the company provides. A little over a year ago, 123JUNK became a GCAAR Affiliate member. Since then, Kevin has been involved in the following GCAAR programs/committees: GCAAR Young Professionals Network (YPN), GCAAR Cares, YPN Cares, Women’s Council of REALTORS®, 2017 REALTOR® Fest, and he recently taught a continuing education class on “Working with Hoarders.” GCAAR has played an integral role in the company enjoying triple-digit Maryland growth in 2017, while still being a relatively new company to Montgomery County.
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FORMER GCAAR AND MARYLAND REALTORS® PRESIDENT INDUCTED INTO NAR FRATERNITY 2012 GCAAR President and 2014 Maryland REALTORS® President Bonnie Casper was inducted into the Omega Tau Rho Fraternity at the Maryland REALTORS® annual conference this fall. The National Association of REALTORS® Executive Committee established the Omega Tau Rho Fraternity in 1950 as a special organization for past officers. Membership in Omega Tau Rho was expanded to include REALTORS® of the Year of state Associations, and Executive Officers of local and state Associations/Boards with 10 years or more of service in the 1970’s. There are approximately 4,000 members. Once the Omega Tau Rho medallion is awarded, the recipient is a lifetime member of the Fraternity. This award recognizes exemplary dedication and service, and the high esteem in which recipients are held by fellow members of the REALTOR® organization.
Bonnie Casper with fellow Omega Tau Rho member Harold Huggins.
THA N K YOU GCAAR thanks Jamie Coley for his leadership and vision as 2017 GCAAR President!
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017 13
GCAAR happenings GCAAR Hosts First Annual Golf Tournament Over 50 golfers hit the links at GCAAR’s first annual golf tournament on October 26 at Manor County Club in Rockville.
L-R: Michael Hollman, Gregory Flynn, Alessandro Barresi, and Greg Ford, 2014 GCAAR President.
L-R: Eric Hovanky, Jose Morejon, Steve Huber, and Jack Cohen.
L-R: Chad Dudley, Mike Nagle, Kevin Wheeler, OT Gibbons.
L-R: Tony Shore and Joe Dunn.
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GCAAR happenings GCAAR YPN Makes 2017 Another Momentous Year YPN Happy Hour – September 28
Tommy Joe’s in Bethesda was the scene of GCAAR’s Young Professional Network’s (YPN) Fall happy hour event. Guests were shoulder to shoulder as they nibbled, sipped, and networked with friends and colleagues.
Great turnout at the happy hour event. L-R: Drew Richards and Jan Brito.
Smart Homes for Dummys – October 26
GCAAR YPN gathered all of its tech-savvy folks on October 26 for the “Smart Homes for Dummys” event at DC’s The Event Space. Over 100 attendees got to hear about popular topics like tiny homes, green energy, urban gardening, and security and home automation from speakers: Lee Pera, Tiny House Collaborative; Joel Gamoran, Arcadia Power; David Sachs, Grapewood Farms; and Ian Lubetikin, Capitol Technology Solutions.
YPN Smart Homes Speakers L-R: Lee Pera, Ian Lubetkin, David Sachs, Joel Gamoran, and Harrison Beacher, GCAAR YPN Chair.
Pathways to Housing – November 14
GCAAR YPN collected donations for more than 15 welcome home baskets to be provided to individuals transitioning into permanent housing during its 2017 Community Service event benefiting Pathways to Housing DC. L-R: Jeremy Rosenthal, Brad Rothstein, Jennifer Myers, Rosio Clark, Jake Ryon, Jessica Evans, Jeremy Weatherly, Harrison Beacher, Chris Kearney, Kevin Wheeler, and Matt Carter.
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Meet Your GCAAR Committees YPN (Your Professional Network) 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.
First Row: L-R: David Toaff, Marysol Bonilla, Trang Bui, Grace Swersey, Rob Rothstein, Jessica Evans. Second Row: L-R: Amy Ritsko-Warren, Tyler Siperko, Tiffany Roberts, Ayanna Brooks, Monique Malabet, Christina Swe, Sam Lin, Jake Ryon, Jordan Feld, Jeremy Rosenthal.
Chair: Harrison Beacher, Vice Chair: Jake Ryon and Staff Liaison: Amy Ritsko-Warren
Third Row: L-R: Zack Bodine, Joe Detrick, Alexandra Ross, Chris Saabye, Kevin Wheeler, Chris Kearney, Koki Adasi, Todd Greenbaum, Harrison Beacher, Muju Hussain, Matt Rosenblatt.
Forms Committee
The mission of the Forms Committee (formerly known as the Contract and Clause Committee) is to review the Association’s current forms and make recommendations or revisions. Forms are opened for review in response to legislative or regulatory requirements, or significant changes to either market conditions or to industry best practices.
First Row: L-R: Susann Haskins, Vice Chair; Jason Sherman, Chair. Second Row: L-R: Katalin Peter, Staff Liaison; Marty Stanton, Chris Darby, Jeff Ganz, Bonnie Roberts-Burke, Kirsten Williams, Ellen Katz, Sharon Ledbetter, Jody Goren, Jan Brito, Sue Adler, Suzanne Feinstein.
Chair: Jason Sherman, Vice Chair: Susann Haskins and Staff Liaison: Katalin Peter
Third Row: Greg Ford.
Events Committee
The Events Committee solicits and secures sponsors for GCAAR’s annual education summit REALTOR® Fest, and plans and executes association events. Some of their events this year included the Member Appreciation Happy Hour and Golf Tournament.
Chair: Kerry Roth, Vice Chair: Fred Dorsey, Jr. and Staff Liaison: Mark Glazer Members: Katrina Schymik Abjornson, Board Liaison; Sara Demb Goldstein, Mary DeRose, Christal Edwards, Aylin Gokce, Nicolas Matsangakis, Pushpa Mittal, Bill Rozek, Cedrece Watson.
Grievance Committee
The Grievance Committee is the Grand Jury for ethics complaints and arbitration requests. The committee reviews documents filed in ethics complaints and arbitration requests and determines whether to forward cases to the Professional Standards Committee for hearings.
Chair: Luis Martins, Vice Chair: Joyce Gardner and Staff Liaison: Yvette Robinson Members: Susan Ader, Joe Buffington, Rachel Carter, Jim Cieplenski, Carolyn Conditt, Carlos Evans, Julia Gertler, Andrew Greenspan, Franklin Holliday, Evan Johnson, Jason Jutila, Lauren Kline, Scott Langert, Jennifer Morrow, Eric Peek, Cinnamon Pham, Lisa Plushnick, Sandy Rosengarden, Melissa Terzis, Elaine Weiskopf.
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We are grateful for your commitment to serve.
your career next level. Take Takeyour yourcareer career
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membership corner IMPORTANT GCAAR INFORMATION AND TIPS • Our GCAAR Rockville office is open on most Saturdays between the hours of 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Please check the website at gcaar.com for closings. The Saturday office telephone number is 301-590-8770. • Always call SentriLock if you have any problems with your card reader, Sentrilock card, or lockbox before you come into the GCAAR office so that SentriLock can troubleshoot it. • If you are bringing your membership application in, please make sure that it is completely filled out, signed by the broker, and include a copy of your real estate license. • GCAAR membership fees are due November 30 of each year and SentriLock fees are posted in January. Both are charged annually. • Bright MLS fees are charged quarterly. If you have any questions regarding their fees, please contact them at 301-838-7100. • When coming in to rent a power paddle, please have your SentriLock card and the serial number of the dead lockbox. We will need this information to better assist you. Also, the power paddle can only be rented out for three (3) business days.
QUESTIONS: Contact us at gcaar.com
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GCAAR in the news The “Missing Middle” of DC’s Housing Market
The Kojo Nnamdi Show – WAMU Radio December 14, 2017 – 2018 GCAAR President-Elect Koki Adasi one of the featured guests DC Home Prices Up 47 Percent Since Recession in ‘Extremely Tight’ Seller’s Market
WTOP Radio November 14, 2017 – GCAAR’s April housing stats mentioned
Republican Tax-Cut Package Could Raise Taxes for Thousands in Montgomery County
Bethesda Magazine November 10, 2017
“We thought the bill was supposed to help the middle class,” Peg Mancuso, a local REALTOR® and the past president of the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® said Thursday. “I think the tax cuts will slow the overall real estate market. I think people will stop and question whether they feel ownership is worthwhile and whether they should rent instead.”
– Peg Mancuso, GCAAR Immediate Past President
Since 1990 the Preferred Qualified Intermediary for 1031 Exchanges!
Your Preferred Local Qualified Intermediary for 1031 Exchanges Contact us for free consultations & information Bill Horan, CES® bill@1031.us
Certified Exchange Specialist®
Capital Area REALTOR® Statement of Ownership (Required by USPS) CAPITAL AREA REALTOR • May/Jun 2014 2017 18 18 CAPITAL CAPITAL AREA REALTOR Nov/Dec 2017 14 AREA REALTOR ——Sept/Oct ®
®®
7400 Heritage Village Plaza #102 Gainesville, VA 20155 800-795-0769 www.1031.us
Agent Spotlight MEET LILY CHEDRAUY REALTOR® Lily Chedrauy began her real estate career in 2004 as “Rookie of the Year,” and has never slowed down. In addition to annual awards for both professionalism and production, she was presented with the RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. Lily also received the 2017 NAHREP (National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals) Top Latino Agents Award and was among the top 25 Latino REALTORS® in Maryland. While Lily enjoys working with clients ranging from those struggling with a first down payment, to affluent high-end buyers and sellers, to investors, she takes special pleasure in helping first-time buyers achieve their dreams. Toward this end, she stays up to date with all of the down payment assistance programs and grants available, and has established relationships with lenders who are familiar with the programs. Fluent in Spanish, she’s also pleased to be able to make home ownership available to those who don’t speak English or who are more comfortable speaking Spanish. She has conducted several home buyer seminars at the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) in Silver Spring, where she provides information on how to embark on each step of the home-buying process, from the right loan program, to inspections and closing. She helps her clients find the most suitable down payment assistance programs or government grants available to them. On many occasions she has assisted her clients in gathering their financials to assist with the loan approval. Beyond showing houses and going over the contract terms in Spanish, she guides them through the process making sure they are in the best hands when it comes to lenders, inspectors, and attorneys. Lily credits her success to customer service, strong negotiation skills, marketing expertise, in-depth knowledge of the local and regional real estate market, and to caring. She takes a personal interest in every client, carefully listens to their needs and concerns, and goes the extra distance to help them achieve their goals. A marketing specialist, Lily is skilled in both print and internet marketing. In addition, she is a Certified Home Stager. She owns a staging business and includes staging as part of the package when she lists a home.
To learn more about the LEDC, check out their website at: ledcmetro.org/ For Lily Chedrauy, true success can only be measured in terms of client satisfaction. Her loyal clients and the referrals they send are more valuable to her than all the REALTOR ® awards and accolades she’s won.
HAVE A STORY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? Send it to: communications@gcaar.com.
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Montgomery County Elections 2018 will be a milestone year in Montgomery County as the government will see its largest change in over a decade. Meet the candidates at these upcoming forums:
January 8
Montgomery County Executive Democratic Candidate Forum
January 24
Montgomery County Council At-Large Candidate Forums 1 & 2
February 7
Montgomery County Council At-Large Candidate Forums 3 & 4
Forums will be held at GCAAR.
Look for information via email and on gcaar.com.
Further Your Career in 2018 with a NAR Designation Have you been seeking a competitive edge and decided that 2018 is the year to take your career to the next level? If so, take advantage of these upcoming NAR designation classes at GCAAR in the first quarter:
February 3 & February 10
Seller Representative Specialist
March 20
Pricing Strategy Advisor
To learn more and distinguish yourself, visit gcaar.com. 20 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR Ž — Nov/Dec 2017
NAR Director’s Report Jamie Coley 2017 GCAAR President, NAR Director
Membership The board approved an update to the criteria used to mediate jurisdictional disputes between associations.
WWW.NAR.REALTOR The Board of Directors of the National Association of REALTORS® met in Chicago on November 6, capping off an amazing convention loaded with education, networking, and fun-filled events. GCAAR has four NAR Directors representing your interests at the national level. Below is a summary of what we discussed, and the decisions made.
Tax Reform Fight
NAR CEO Bob Goldberg told the NAR Board of Directors that the federal tax reform plans under consideration represents a “clear and present danger” to the real estate industry. Initial proposals included the elimination of the Mortgage Interest Deduction. As of this printing, the Senate’s legislative package includes the elimination of state-and-local tax deductions and a near doubling of the standard deduction. Now is the time to step forward and defend your business! It takes less than 60 seconds to respond through NAR’s Call for Action at realtoractioncenter.com. These proposed reforms not only affect your industry, they affect every current and potential homeowner in America. Homeowners can participate in the Call for Action, too, at homeownershipmatters.realtor. Help spread the word and share these links with your coworkers, colleagues, and clients.
RPAC and REALTOR® Party
The number of RPAC investors rose in 2017 by 23,000, or 6%, to 390,988, compared with the previous year. While this growth is great, the national participation rate remained at 32%. With Tax Reform and other major issues affecting your industry, now more than ever we need your investment in RPAC. If you haven’t already invested in 2018, you can do so when you pay your 2018 dues, or directly at gcaar.com. The board voted to allow state and local associations to use advocacy funds and other resources provided by NAR only for activities within their territories unless an association has a written agreement that allows it to engage in advocacy within another association’s jurisdiction.
Legal
The board approved awarding $16,666 to the Washington REALTORS® for a case involving underground culverts, $300,000 to the Texas Association of REALTORS® for a trademark infringement case, and $20,000 to the South Carolina Association of REALTORS® for an arbitration award challenge involving a procuring-cause case.
Finance
NAR is in strong financial shape. There are currently 1,292,000 members, 50,000 more than the association anticipated. NAR processed more than $1 billion in ecommerce transactions during the past year, saving state and local associations $30 million. NAR has seen strong interest in leasing the unoccupied floor in the association’s building in Washington, DC.
Technology
Registration for the .realestate top-level domain, which NAR controls, will begin in 2018. Unlike NAR’s .realtor domain, which is available only to NAR members, there will be no restrictions on who may use .realestate domain names. Individuals or businesses that have signed up for a .realtor top-level domain will be able to begin applying for .realestate addresses 60 days before the general public. More than 100,000 members of NAR and the Canadian Real Estate Association have registered for .realtor addresses.
Association Policy Changes Professional Standards: The Standards of Practice were clarified to prohibit members from using misleading imagery in real estate marketing materials. The directors also adopted changes to clarify training requirements for the Code of Ethics and make it easier for associations to enforce these requirements. Money Laundering: Anonymous shell companies are increasingly being used to launder money via real estate purchases. The board passed a policy supporting required disclosure of beneficial owners of a shell company when it’s formed and registered with its home state.
MLS: 1) MLSs may no longer require participation by all offices of a real estate firm within the jurisdiction of the shareholder association. Going forward, NAR will use the term “service area” in place of “jurisdiction” or “territory.” 2) Brokers will have access to MLS sold data from Jan. 1, 2012. The previous policy required MLSs to make sold data from the past three years available to brokers. 3) Brokers will be authorized to provide, in IDX feeds and VOWs, results to online consumer searches with no less than 500 listings or 50% of the listings in the MLS database, whichever is less. 4) MLSs must offer remote options for training and orientation programs as a way of lowering administrative costs for brokers and agents.
NAR Election Rules The board eased rules on when candidates for NAR office can obtain endorsements and financial support and gave state and local associations the freedom to choose their own time frame for vetting members of their jurisdiction running for NAR office. Other changes reinforce restrictions on when and where campaign materials can be displayed and distributed, including by state and local associations.
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GCAAR Cares Costume Drive with Horton’s Kids GCAAR made Halloween special for boys and girls in need by organizing a costume drive to support Horton’s Kids! Horton’s Kids empowers children growing up in one of Washington, DC’s most under-resourced and violent communities. Every October, they provide kids with costumes and put on a Halloween party with games, crafts, music, candy, and pizza. This year’s party was held on October 23.
THANK YOU
to everyone who participated in the GCAAR Cares costume drive to support Horton’s Kids! We collected over 100 costumes that made Halloween a memorable one for many happy children!
DID YOU KNOW?
Horton’s Kids empowers children growing up in one of Washington, DC’s most under-resourced communities so that they graduate from high school ready for success in college, career, and life.
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Children in Horton’s Kids are twice as likely to graduate from high school.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
hortonskids.com
L-R, Robert Whaley, Carlos Evans, Fred Dorsey. Picture far right: JD Teitelman, 2017 GCAAR Cares Chair.
Bowling Party Helps Strike Out Hunger
Almost 70 were in attendance on November 16 as GCAAR Cares hosted the 4th Annual Bowling Party at the Lucky Strike in Bethesda. For every strike bowled, $10 was donated; $5 for each spare. $760 was raised to help KIND (Kids in Need Distributors) help stop hunger for kids in Montgomery County schools.
Joe Detrick hails a strike.
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public policy Montgomery County Packed House at GCAAR Legislative Breakfast Over 100 GCAAR members packed the annual Legislative Breakfast on December 11 as they heard from representatives at the national, state, and local levels.
Manno, State Delegate Bill Frick, County Council President Hans Riemer, and County Executive Ike Leggett.
Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Jamie Raskin gave updates on the impending tax reform legislation. Attendees also heard from State Senator Roger
For highlights and more pictures, check out GCAAR’s Facebook page (facebook.com/gcaar2).
Congressman Jamie Raskin, Senator Chris Van Hollen, State Senator Roger Manno, and State Delegate Bill Frick. Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett.
Hans Riemer Featured at GCAAR Speaker Series Montgomery County At-Large Council member Hans Riemer was the featured guest at GCAAR’s Speaker Series on November 8. Councilmember Riemer spoke to a number of issues in the county, including the Purple Line, balancing development and school construction, and the current recordation tax bill in front of the Government Operations Committee. “I feel like I am talking to Montgomery County’s marketing department,” Mr. Riemer commented, “because you as REALTORS® spend your time telling people how great our county is and why they should call our county home.” Mr. Riemer, is currently serving as the CAPITAL AREA 2014 2017 24 24 CAPITAL AREAREALTOR REALTOR• May/Jun — Nov/Dec ®
®
Members of GCAAR’s Public Policy Committee with Hans Riemer L-R: Carole Maclure, Lauren Kline, Tony Shore, Hans Riemer, Cammie Reed, Zac Trupp, GCAAR’s Public Policy & Political Affairs Associate, Dick Stoner.
Council President. November’s Speaker Series gave GCAAR members the opportunity to engage with Mr. Riemer on next year’s Council agenda. Stay tuned for future speaker series.
public policy District of Columbia
Advocacy Day TOPA was not the only issue discussed, however. Among the other topics covered were short-term rental regulations and the process in which real-estate professionals are able to conduct business through business entities such as LLCs. Overall, it was an incredible experience for all in attendance, and the Council was receptive to all of DCAR’s issues of interest.
Thank you to all the REALTORS® and friends of REALTORS® who showed their support!
Solar Power Changes The DC Council is working on a number of pieces of legislation that would simplify the process for residents who wish to add solar panels to their homes. DCAR wants to push that legislation even further, and it is working to reduce the regulation on the implementation of solar power, specifically by removing the ability for liens to be placed on the panels. Solar power is an important pillar of the future, and the current regulations discourage residents from installing it in their homes.
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DCAR’s fourth annual Advocacy Day was a resounding success! About two dozen DCAR leaders spent all day at the Wilson Building meeting with the staffs of each of the 13 DC Councilmembers in mid-November. The primary topic was TOPA reform, and the Councilmembers took the time to learn even more about the problems TOPA has caused DC’s single-family homeowners.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
dcrealtors.org/blog/
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trends
It is never too early to start putting these important dates into your calendar for 2018. Take advantage of these upcoming classes and events:
Mark Your Calendars! January 8
Millennials starting to come into their own The housing market in 2018 will
continue to present challenges for millennials—sorry, all of that student loan debt isn’t just going to disappear—but there are some bright spots on the horizon for these millions of Americans. Millennials seem to be having more success at taking out mortgages on homes at varying prices, and not just starter homes, Hale says. “They’re at that point where they’re seeing their incomes grow, and that will help them take on bigger mortgages,” she says. That’s because of both the overall strong economy and their own career development. And as the LARGEST generation in U.S. history reaches that sweet spot in their 20s to 30s when they’re settling down and starting families, they’re particularly motivated to buy. Source: These Real Estate Trends Will Be Game-Changers in 2018, By Cicely Wedgeworth Check out more trends at realtor.com
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® CAPITAL AREA AREA REALTOR 2014 2017 26 CAPITAL REALTOR•®May/Jun — Nov/Dec
Montgomery County Executive Democratic Candidate Forum GCAAR January 24 Montgomery County Council At-Large Candidate Forums 1 & 2 GCAAR
February 3 & 10
Representative Specialist Designation GCAAR February 7 Montgomery County Council At-Large Candidate Forums 3 & 4 GCAAR March 20 Pricing Strategy Advisor Designation GCAAR April 2 Start of Spring DC GRI (tentative) DC Office April 18 Affiliate, Board, & Committee Appreciation Happy Hour, Brickside Food & Drink Bethesda, Maryland Bethesda April 28 Rebuilding Together® DC Office July 23 REALTOR® Fest, Bethesda North Marriott North Bethesda September 12 Start of DC GRI (tentative) DC Office October 22 2nd Annual GCAAR Golf Tournament Manor Country Club, Rockville, Maryland Rockville November 15 5th Annual GCAAR Night of Bowling Lucky Strike, Bethesda Bethesda December 10 GCAAR Legislative Breakfast GCAAR December 31 NAR Biennial Ethics Requirement Deadline GCAAR
Realtor Party ®
Thank You 2017 RPAC Investors
We acknowledge the following members who support RPAC! Platinum “R”
Sterling “R”
Capital Club ($250-$999)
GCAAR
Tim Knobloch
Daniel Deist
Dale Ross
Alana Lasover
Joe Detrick
Justin Levitch
Anthony DeVol
Golden “R”
Kymber Lovett-Menkiti
Abeer Abou Elmakarem
Bonnie Casper
Peg Mancuso
Jordan Feld
Ed Krauze
Tony Mancuso
Michael Fowler
Carole Maclure
Michael McGreevy
Mark Glazer
Christopher Suranna
Bo Menkiti
Scott Goldberg
Shelly Murray
Lee Goldstein
Frank Pietranton
Todd Greenbaum
Leigh Reed
Jacqueline Grenning
Scott Reiter
Susann Haskins
Bonnie Roberts-Burke
Gwen Henderson
Jacob Ryon
Dana Hill
Andres Serafini
Ellen Katz
time. This industry
Dianah Shaw
Amy Klein
Koki Adasi
Jason Sherman
Cheryl Leahy
only exists with a
Wendy Banner
Ellie Shorb
Harold Levy
strong REALTOR®
Frederic Bates
Barak Sky
Sam Lin
Harrison Beacher
Danai Mattison Sky
Katie Maclure
community. To be
Jan Brito
Brenda Small
Ann McClure
Charles Burger
Frank Snodgrass
Thomas Muldoon
Catherine Czuba
Jonathan Taylor
Timothy Mullin
Tom Daley
Patrick Weed
John Nalls
RPAC is a great
David DeSantis
Edward Wood
Gerry Occhiuzzo
place to give both.”
Crystal “R” Jamie Coley Michael Moran Paragon Title & Escrow Holly Worthington
Sterling “R”
“I’d like to be in this industry for a long
strong, it needs money and time. I think
John Peters
Melinda Estridge Jessica Evans
Capital Club ($250-$999)
Hildegarde Pollard
Marc Fleisher
Katrina Schymik Abjornson
Constance Rader
Carlos Garcia
Casey Aboulafia
Matthew Rogers
Brandon Green
Brittany Allison
Elizabeth Russell
Zelda Heller
Christy Bakaly
Daniel Schuler
Ira Hersh
M. Jacqueline Bennett
P. Joy Siegel
William Highsmith
Elizabeth Blakeslee
Colleen Smyth Cogan
Harold Huggins
Zachary Bodine
Marty Stanton
Colin Johnson
Thomas Brockett
David Toaff
Angela Jones
Carol Calomiris
Seth Turner
Daryl Judy
Anita Centofanti
Susan Van Nostrand
Fred Kendrick
Lori Connor
Kirsten Williams
Anne Killeen
Christopher Darby
Hans Wydler
*As of December 13, 2017
Why I Invest in RPAC Jason Sherman
Make the investment today! Invest online at: gcaar.com
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COACHES’ CORNER We’ve asked two of the top real estate coaches the following question —
Q:
Is creating content for social media a worthwhile use of my time and, if so, how can I use social media most effectively to market myself?
What makes social media effective is the ability it gives you to be authentic with many, many people at one time. The truth is, “creating social media content” is happening every single minute in your life and your business; the real question is, “have you built a habit of telling your story on social media?” There are many agents who use different social media platforms for paid marketing. Admittedly, I’ve never done that and have no problem telling you that I don’t know best practices or if it’s worth anyone’s time. In reality, anything you do fairly well and consistently will make sense over time. When I think of social media marketing, I think more of a passive approach to reminding everyone you are “friends” with that you are in real estate. We’ve made it a point in our real estate sales business to post often about funny stories, signings, closings, new listings, etc. We do it with an overlay that is consistent so people tend to see us over, and over, and over. As a result, when they think of real estate, they think of us. Something else we practice is a good ratio of “real life” posts. We go to the gym. We try new foods. We go on vacation. We get upset. Our kids lose teeth. And we post about it all. When people choose to work with us through social media, it’s because they know we sell real estate and they feel like they know us. Because we see social media as a catch all, we’ve got a system in place to “friend” everyone we talk to through Facebook. Even if we only have one conversation with them on the phone or face to face, if they accept the friend request, we know they
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“ Social media is about being authentic. Be you! Be excited about life and real estate. Use social media as a tool to strengthen relationships. ” are going to get to know us socially. Admittedly, this will only work if you’re not a jerk on social media, so be nice. To summarize, social media is about being authentic. Be you! Be excited about life and real estate. Use social media as a tool to strengthen relationships. JULIE YOUNGBLOOD Julie was
born and raised in Southern Nevada and comes from a family that has been in the real estate industry for over 35 years. At an early age, Julie knew real estate was her passion. She has been engaged with her local association through various committees including, Community Outreach, Grievance, Professional Standards, YPN, Finance, Faculty, has served on the Board of Directors, and is a Trustee for the Nevada Association of REALTORS®’ Leadership Program. She runs Youngblood Coaching & Consulting, a coaching firm for real estate professionals. The objective is to give agents the tools they need to hit their goals. Julie was recently recognized nationally by Inman News as one of the “25 Best Real Estate Coaches in 2016.”
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Got a question for our coaches? Send it to: communications@gcaar.com and it may be featured in an upcoming issue of Capital Area REALTOR®
Q:
Is creating content for social media a worthwhile use of my time and, if so, how can I use social media most effectively to market myself?
I love social media! It is an amazing way to keep in touch with family, friends, and past clients. It is also a great prospecting tool as it reminds people that you are a REALTOR®. It’s easy, it’s fun, and it’s free. But be careful because it can be a huge time robber. When deciding what to post on social media it’s important to track your content. Take note of the content that garners the most feedback from your “Friends” and “Connections.” As you think about your content, remember that it’s called “social” media for a reason. The primary goal is to be social. This means that the majority of your posts should not be about real estate. This is your opportunity to let your personality shine. Let people know a little bit more about you. There are various studies that show what percentage of your posts should be personal versus business. I like to keep the real estate-related posts to about 10%. In terms of creating your own content, that may not be the best use of your time. There are numerous resources available for you to get content. If you are a blogger, you can repurpose your content on your social media platforms. If writing isn’t in your wheelhouse, than select content that will resonate with your friends and contacts. With the goal of reminding people you are a REALTOR®, be creative in your approach. Highlight a different neighborhood every week or month. Interview business owners and residents in that community and talk about events happening in the area. Take interesting pictures around your city
“ Dedicate 30 minutes a day to stay engaged on social media and you’ll be amazed at the results. ” and ask your friends to guess where you are. It may take some time for your posts to gain traction, but stick with it. Dedicate 30 minutes a day to stay engaged on social media and I know you’ll be amazed at the results. Because it is important for you to keep up your online presence, you may want to use a third-party application to schedule your posts. This comes in handy when you are extremely busy. Like all of your prospecting, you want to be consistent and your online marketing is no exception. 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.
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economic outlook & forecast By Nadia Evangelou, NAR Research
How Tax Reform Will Affect Washington, DC Area Homeowners A year ago, all eyes were on Washington, DC, while American citizens were voting for the President of the United States. This time, all eyes are on Washington, DC, as the House and Senate unveiled their proposed tax frameworks. Both frameworks propose changes in the current tax expenditures while homeowners benefit mainly from the tax-deductibility of mortgage interest and real estate tax payments.
Did you know? Under the current framework, homeowners are able to reduce their taxable income by the amount of interest paid on the loan, which is secured by their principal residence.
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® CAPITAL AREA AREA REALTOR 2014 2017 30 CAPITAL REALTOR•®May/Jun — Nov/Dec
Under the current framework, homeowners are able to reduce their taxable income by the amount of interest paid on the loan, which is secured by their principal residence. Interest is deductible only on the first $1 million of debt used for acquiring, constructing, or substantially improving the residence ($500,000 for single individuals if filing separately), or the first $100,000 of home equity debt regardless of the purpose or use of the loan. Moreover, homeowners can deduct taxes paid to the local government on the assessed value of their property. Most state and local governments charge an annual tax on the value of real property. Statewide, the real estate tax varies between 0.27% and 2.35%. New Jersey has the highest effective rate at 2.35%, followed closely by Illinois (2.30%), New Hampshire (2.15%), and Connecticut (1.97%). On the other end of the spectrum, Hawaii has the lowest effective rate at 0.27%, followed closely by Alabama (0.43%), Louisiana (0.49%), and Delaware (0.54%). The District of Columbia has the fifth lowest real estate tax (0.56%) across the country. Facts on mortgage interest deduction While nationwide 21.5% of taxpayers claimed the mortgage interest deduction (MID) in 2015, both the District of Columbia and Montgomery County, MD had a higher number of MID claimants. Specifically, 23% of taxpayers in the District of Columbia and 34% of taxpayers in Montgomery County, MD claimed the MID. The chart below shows how much the average taxpayer claiming the MID subtracted from his taxable income and the amount that the average taxpayer was able to save in these two counties:
Facts on mortgage interest deduction Montgomery County and the District of Columbia had also a higher number of taxpayers claiming the real estate tax deduction in 2015 than nationwide (25%). 26% of the taxpayers in the District of Columbia and 39% of the taxpayers in Montgomery County claimed the deduction. This chart shows the average amount deducted from the taxable income as a result of the deduction: House tax reform Under the House tax reform proposal, the MID cap would fall to $500,000. This means that homeowners would be able to deduct on their first $500,000 of mortgage debt, half of the current threshold. Thus, a new homebuyer will be able to deduct from his taxable income up to $15,475 under the new proposed tax framework, while he could deduct up to $30,950 under the current tax framework. Although $500,000 seems to be a decent amount of money, is it enough to buy a home in the District of Columbia and Montgomery County? It is estimated that 61% of homes with a first mortgage have a value higher than $500,000 in the District of Columbia while 46% of these homes are worth over a half-million dollars in Montgomery County. Although the new threshold will affect only mortgages on purchases made after the law is in effect, it is expected that many potential homebuyers will be affected by the cap. Furthermore, the proposed framework eliminates the ability of taxpayers to claim the MID for second homes. Based on the American Community Survey, 20% of the housing units in Maine are vacation homes while vacation homes in Vermont and New Hampshire account for 17% and 12% of the housing units respectively. Home prices, especially in these areas, are expected to be affected by the elimination of the MID on second homes. Although the House proposal retains the deductibility of some real estate taxes, the deductions are capped at $10,000 and this figure is not indexed to allow for growing home values or tax rates over time. While the House Bill proposes a doubling of the standard deduction, many buyers will not be able to itemize and therefore use the MID since these amounts will be below the standard deduction ($24,000). The median real estate taxes paid in the District of Columbia and Montgomery County were $3,255 and $4,430 in 2016 respectively.
1
Senate tax reform Under the Senate tax reform, the deduction of real estate taxes will be eliminated. This means that 86,680 taxpayers in the District of Columbia and 203,654 taxpayers in Montgomery County will not be able to benefit in the future from the deductibility of the real estate taxes. Moreover, the elimination of real estate taxes is expected to have an effect on the mortgage interest deduction as well. Even though the Senate bill retains the cap of MID at $1 million, many homeowners will not be able to itemize because their mortgage interest payments will be below the standard deduction limit of $24,000. Thus, fewer owners can expect to use the deductibility of mortgage interest. Impact on housing prices If the MID and real estate tax deductions are eliminated, the loss would not be a one-year event; homeowners lose out on these potential savings every year. The present value of these lost savings could total $8,787,564,100 in the District of Columbia and $20,838,122,700 in Montgomery County. The value of all owner-occupied real estate in the District of Columbia was $76,446,951,500 and $138,706,352,900 in Montgomery County. If the lost tax savings are fully capitalized into the price of houses, the average decline in value in the District of Columbia could be 11% and 15% in Montgomery County with other conditions remaining the same. The current housing shortage may mitigate some of the expected declines. However, under both proposed frameworks, some of the deductibility of mortgage interest and real estate taxes will be retained. It is debatable how much home values will be affected by each of the two bills. However, all homeowners can expect to lose some portion of their housing equity if the House or Senate proposed tax bill becomes law.
At 25% marginal rate
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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: The Disclosure of a Brokerage Relationship form in DC seems to be used differently in every transaction. When and how should it be used? ANSWER: The Disclosure of Brokerage Relationship form (GCAAR Form #1002) needs to be provided to all customers prior to “providing specific real estate assistance.” The point of the form is to ensure that the person you are dealing with understands you do not represent them and that you have your client’s best interest in mind even though you may be “providing specific real estate assistance.” So, a Listing Agent assisting a buyer or potential buyer needs to provide it. A buyer/tenant agent assisting a Seller/ Landlord needs to provide it. And since there is no presumption of buyer agency in DC, a licensee would need to inform them that you represent the seller (really all sellers) unless you enter into an agreement and that person becomes your client.
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® CAPITAL AREA AREA REALTOR 2014 2017 32 CAPITAL REALTOR•®May/Jun — Nov/Dec
QUESTION: What are the seller’s requirements when it comes to giving radon results to a buyer in Montgomery County? ANSWER: As of October 1, 2016, Montgomery County Code Section 40-13C requires that a radon test must be performed with results provided to the buyer prior to closing. Paragraph 4 of the REA (GCAAR Form #900) also sets out this requirement. This law does not create a contingency or address the impact of any reading level. Should the Buyer desire a contingency, they should include the Radon Contingency from the Addendum of Clauses. QUESTION: When serving the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), how does the 90-day notice to quit to vacate apply? Also, If TOPA applies and the contract purchaser intends to occupy, when does the Notice to Vacate take effect?
ANSWER: While these subjects are definitely intertwined, they are separate legal concepts and should really be viewed as such. A current or former tenant may have rights to Offer of Sale and the Right of First Refusal (TOPA) that would not necessarily be dependent upon their current or continued occupancy in a property. Contract purchasers, in conjunction with the Seller, can provide tenants (after expiration of a lease term or for monthto-month tenancies) with 90-day notice to vacate (see Form 13 - https://dhcd.dc.gov/service/rent-control), should the Buyer plan on occupying the property. The time frames for these different notices may have significant impact on closing and buyer occupancy dates that should be considered. As far as the Notice to Vacate, while a tenant can cooperate and vacate a property earlier than may be required, the 90-day notice can only be provided after the expiration or TOPA time frames for statement of interest (and negotiation, if applicable) have expired or the tenant has chosen not to exercise his/her TOPA rights.
QUESTION: I have a situation where the Seller gave my Buyer a counter offer last night around 10:00 p.m. This morning the listing agent sent me an email that they accepted another offer. My Buyer has since signed the contract and wants to move forward. Who is under contract? ANSWER: As you know, an offer/counter offer remains open until accepted or withdrawn. Although there is an argument that the Seller never formally withdrew their counter offer, it is also reasonable to presume that by advising you that they had accepted another offer, they were at the same time withdrawing the counter offer. A better business practice would have been to specifically state that the counter offer was withdrawn. If the counter offer was in fact withdrawn, the other party is under contract and your buyer is not. If the counter offer was not in fact withdrawn, both parties could potentially be under contract. I would urge your Buyer to retain counsel to review this matter in greater detail to determine their rights under the specific facts of your case.
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.
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
BramnickLegal.com Phone: 301.547.3647 • Fax: 301.951.8631 Email: MBramnick@BramnickLegal.com
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2017 & 2018 EDUCATION SCHEDULE
december
December 27, 2017 DC Fair Housing CEU: 3 hours DC (required) Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. December 27, 2017 DC Law Prep Course CEU: No CE Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. December 28, 2017 Maryland Law Prep Course CEU: No CE Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. December 28, 2017 Virginia Law Prep Course CEU: No CE Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
january January 3, 2018 Business Planning CEU: No CE Instructor: Thom Brockett Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. January 3, 2018 Maryland Fair Housing CEU: 1.5 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Thom Brockett Time: 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. January 4, 2018 Breaking the Ceiling: Increase Your Productivity CEU: No CE Instructor: Tara Houston Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. NOTE: All classes are held at GCAAR’s Rockville office unless otherwise noted.
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® CAPITAL AREA AREA REALTOR 2014 2017 34 CAPITAL REALTOR•®May/Jun — Nov/Dec
January 4, 2018 Tax Reform: What It Means to You CEU: No CE Instructor: Kevin Matthews Time: 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. January 8, 2018 Working with Buyers CEU: 3 hours MD, DC and VA (elective) Instructor: Dana Hollish Hill Time: 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. January 10, 2018 Broker Manager Forum: How Maryland Law Affects Buyer/Seller Agreements CEU: No CE Instructor: Jason Sherman & Marty Stanton Time: 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. January 10, 2018 Effective Team Management CEU: 2 hours MD, DC and VA (elective) Instructor: Thom Brockett Time: 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. January 12, 2018 New Member Orientation CEU: No CE Instructor: Ned Rich Time: 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. January 12, 2018 Maryland Code of Ethics and Predatory Lending CEU: 3 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Ned Rich Time: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. January 17, 2018 Financing in a New World CEU: 2 hours MD, DC and VA (elective) Instructor: Romy Espino Time: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. January 18, 2018 MREC Agency - Residential CEU: 3 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Alvin Monshower Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
January 18, 2018 MREC Required Supervision CEU: 3 hours MD (required for brokers; elective for salespeople) and DC (elective) Instructor: Alvin Monshower Time: 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. January 19, 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. January 19, 2018 Hard Money Lending CEU: 1.5 hours MD (elective) Instructor: Brian Gormley Time: 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. January 22, 2018 Successfully Selling HUD Houses CEU: 3 hours MD and VA (elective) Instructor: Amir Head Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. January 22, 2018 Title Insurance CEU: 3 hours MD, DC and VA (elective) Instructor: Lee-Anne Rodriguez Time: 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. January 23, 2018 Representing the Seller CEU: 3 hours MD, DC and VA (elective) Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. January 23, 2018 Getting from the Sale to the Settlement Table CEU: 2 hours MD, DC and VA (elective) Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. January 24, 2018 Home Inspections CEU: 3 hours MD, DC and VA (elective) Instructor: Dan Deist Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
January 24, 2018 Rental Property Management CEU: 3 hours MD, DC and VA (elective) Instructor: Scott Goldberg Time: 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. January 25, 2018 Introduction to Wells CEU: 3 hours MD and DC (elective) Instructor: Eric Garrett Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. January 25, 2018 The Ins & Outs of Contracts CEU: 1.5 hours MD and DC (elective) Instructor: Thomas Rodden Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. January 26, 2018 Residential Design and Inspection CEU: 3 hours MD (elective) Instructor: Bob Pettis Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. January 26, 2018 Maryland Fair Housing CEU: 1.5 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Bob Pettis Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. January 29, 2018 Maryland Legislative Update CEU: 3 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Carole Maclure Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. January 29, 2018 FHA Financing CEU: 3 hours MD, DC and VA (elective) Instructor: JD Teitelman Time: 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. January 30, 2018 New Member Orientation CEU: No CE Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 4:00 – 8:45 p.m.
Licensed in MD, VA & DC
january
february
January 30, 2018 Maryland Code of Ethics and Predatory Lending CEU: 3 hours MD (required) and DC (elective) Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 5:45 – 8:45 p.m.
February 3, 2018 Seller Representative Specialist Designation Class, Day 1 CEU: No CE Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
January 31, 2018 Mortgage Basics CEU: 3 hours MD, DC and VA (elective) Instructor: Max Sandler Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
February 10, 2018 Seller Representative Specialist Designation Class, Day 2 CEU: No CE Instructor: Mary Chieppa Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
January 31, 2018 Credit Score and Its Effects on Your Clients CEU: 2 hours MD and DC (elective) Instructor: Derek Harman Time: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
"YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS" WHY BE A SMART AGENT? 100% COMMISSION, NO MONTHLY FEE! Free Custom Website with CRM and IDX Capabilities Silver Spring, Camp Springs, and Baltimore Offices Free Copies, High Speed Scanning, and Forms Free Social Media Design and Training Discounted VR & Photography Services Same Day Commission Disbursement Contact Free Premium Dotloop Membership
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MRIS
Visit www.brightmls.com for more information and all the latest news
Compliance Tip By Michelle Yam, Bright MLS Compliance Department Manager
Virtual Tours: To Brand or Not to Brand Many agents hire a vendor to create virtual tours for their listings. Some vendors provide their customers with both a branded and unbranded version of the virtual tour. According to the MRIS Rules and Regulations, any virtual tour uploaded to MRIS may not contain any broker or agent branding. If your vendor provides you with both a branded and unbranded version of a virtual tour, make sure that you only upload the unbranded virtual tour to MRIS. You may need to view each virtual tour to determine which tour is unbranded. What happens if someone loads a branded virtual tour?
If a branded virtual tour is attached to a listing, MRIS will remove the virtual tour and notify the agent. The agent may upload the unbranded virtual tour in place of the branded virtual tour.
What about YouTube?
Many agents ask if YouTube is an acceptable hosting platform for unbranded virtual tours. If you create your own virtual tour and use YouTube to host the tour, you may be in violation of your state licensing law on advertising if you do not include any brokerage information. State licensing law on advertising requires that brokerage information be displayed on any marketing materials. Therefore, a virtual tour hosted on YouTube would be considered branded and should not be uploaded to your MRIS listing.
FOUR New MLS Features That Will Be Available in Bright When you power up on the Bright system, you’ll have access to new features and tools. Here are FOUR search and report features you won’t want to miss once you have transitioned to brightmls.com: 1) Search based on your client’s preferred commute with Drive Time search
Homeowners want to know exactly how long it will take to commute home from work, daycare, shopping, etc. Drive Time search will provide the average commuting time to get to a particular location. This means that when you enter your criteria and information to the search options a map shape will automatically appear not by miles…but by minutes. It’s a huge help for your clients who value a short commute to work!
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® CAPITAL AREA AREA REALTOR 2014 2017 36 CAPITAL REALTOR•®May/Jun — Nov/Dec
2) Get the information you need with the new Public Records 360 Report
When you’re researching a property for a listing presentation or for comps, you likely need to look at both listing and public records information. The 360 Report will include the most recent listing, a full property history, and the detailed Public Records – all in one report!
3) Quickly access important details about a property right from the map.
The 360 report isn’t the only place where you’ll be able to quickly access listing and public records information in one place. The results popups within the map will include basic listing and public records information like price, assessment, owner, number of bedrooms, and links to the full reports to quickly learn even more about the property.
4) View information on any property within the map
The map in Bright will offer you the ability to click on any parcel to see information about surrounding properties. You’ll be able to use this to get a better view of the neighborhood(s) in areas where your clients are searching. The map popup will show you basic public record information and even the most recent listing when available.
Stay tuned for more information on features you will have available with Bright MLS!
GCAAR Welcomes New Emeritus Members! The National Association of REALTORS® Emeritus status is given to those REALTORS® who have 40 years of membership in the national organization. GCAAR is proud to congratulate the following members who have reached Emeritus status:
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS
Ruby Brooks
Karen Maury
Barbara Ciment
Marie McCormack
Roy Davis
Jung Moon
Gary Ditto
Douglas Perry
William Karas
Frank Pietranton
Louise Koch
Mary Rizzuto
Alana Lasover
Bradley Rozansky
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017 37
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR® • May/Jun 2014
37
®
REALTOR Toolbox REALTORS® Insurance Marketplace REALTORS® Insurance Marketplace is an exclusive ‘one-stop’ insurance shopping site. It provides National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) members with a roster of health and wellness insurance plans and products, including a major medical health insurance exchange. The site is powered by SASid (Smart and Simple Insurance Development), a trusted NAR partner who specializes in helping NAR members find the best insurance plans and products for themselves and their families.
BENEFITS & HIGHLIGHTS The Marketplace features a wide variety of individual health and wellness plan from top-rated insurance carriers, including:
38 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017
RealtorsInsuranceMarketplace.com Members Supplemental Health Plans
A Major Medical Health Insurance Exchange Offering Qualified Health Plans that meet the mandates of the Affordable Care Act (including HMOs, PPOs, High Deductible/ Catastrophic Plans, and plans that qualify for Health Savings Accounts) through nationally-recognized insurance carriers.
A Private Members Medicare Exchange Medicare-eligible NAR members may use this exchange to explore supplemental Medicare insurance options and access an online resource center containing a variety of educational tools.
Temporary (Short-Term) Insurance Designed to be an affordable temporary medical policy which can last from 30 days to six months to provide coverage in the event of a gap between longer-term policies.
Designed to be combined with major medical health insurance plans to help pay for services and out-of-pocket expenses that your regular insurance may not cover. Plans available include Accident Deductible Protection and REALTORS® Core Health Insurance.
REALTORS® Dental Insurance An exclusive group plan just for NAR members and their families, providing coverage for preventive, basic, and major dental expenses with the dentist of your choice.
REALTORS® Vision Insurance An exclusive group plan just for NAR members and their families. There are two guarantee issue group plans available: a PPO option and a non-PPO option. Both provide great, competitive rates and include annual eye exam benefits and savings on frames, lenses, and contact lenses.
Drug Card America A free discount pharmacy drug card offering savings on select generic and name brand prescription drugs at pharmacies nationwide.
Members TeleHealth Provides access to licensed physicians through telephone, smartphone app, web chat, or email, and offers a convenient and cost-effective way to get a diagnosis and treatment for non-emergency medical conditions. Service is available 24/7/365 and the monthly plan offers unlimited visits and no co-pay.
Consultative Advice and Assistance SASid representatives are available to personally consult and advise you on your individual insurance needs. They can help you navigate the healthcare insurance landscape and identify the products and plans that best suit the financial considerations and healthcare needs of yourself and your family. SASid representatives can also verify if the insurance you are considering, or currently possess, meets the Affordable Care Act threshold for minimum essential coverage.
Liberty Mutual Liberty Mutual is NAR’s exclusive auto, home, and renter’s insurance provider, offering quality coverage, expert advice, and special discounted savings of up to 10% for NAR members. To get started on a quote− Call 800-679-4058 or visit www.libertymutual.com
Victor O. Schinnerer Victor O. Schinnerer & Company and NAR have partnered under the REALTOR Benefits® Program to provide a first-class errors and omissions (E&O) insurance program to REALTOR® members. The company is one of the largest and most experienced underwriting managers of specialty insurance programs in the world. To learn more− Call 888-429-6638 or visit www.Schinnerer.com/NAR
SASid SASid (Smart and Simple Insurance Development) develops technologies and online insurance products for top insurance carriers and nationwide distribution networks. SASid has been a leader and innovator in developing and marketing insurance on the web. To learn more about your options− Call 1-877-267-3752
LEARN MORE VISIT RealtorsInsuranceMarketplace.com CALL 877-267-3752 Speak with a licensed benefits specialist today! Eligibility varies by product and by plan. NAR Members with a valid NRDS ID can view full plan information and obtain a quote. Where applicable, family members may be added to plans. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply, based on state insurance laws*, individual eligibility, and age requirements.
REALTORS® Insurance Marketplace requires a NRDS ID. Please have your NRDS ID number handy in order to view rates. CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017 39
AFFILIATES Agent Services
Beta Solutions F&BC Kevin Matthews 301-787-0782
Greenstein DeLorme & Luchs PC Richard Luchs 202-452-1400 Vincent Mark Policy 202-452-1400
Mortgage Companies
Home Improvement Floormax Rafie Ansari Darren Holder Masoud Molayem
301-206-2200 301-206-2200 301-206-2200
Appraisals
Jackson & Campbell PC Roy Kaufmann 202-457-6710 Jacobs & Associates Harvey Jacobs 301-300-6252 Kase & Associates Sadaf Saberi 703-444-4100 Kass Mitek & Kass Benny Kass 202-659-6500
Brett Bessell Brett Bessell
KVS Law David Kanstoroom 301-605-1420 Lisa Lamphier 301-605-1420 Marty Stanton 301-605-1420
Building Inspector of America Vimal Kapoor 301-916-0300
Lasso & Lasso PC Ricardo Lasso
Green Home Solutions of MD Jennifer Sherwood 301-591-2470
Homesnap Stephanie Rall
202-999-2903
Home Staging by Vivian Vivian Gilbert 301-802-5166 Marc Farley Photography Marcus Farley Jr. 301-528-0729 Anne M. Powell Appraisals Anne Powell 410-721-7505 301-208-0330
Chase Commercial Appraisal Division Chad Harris 202-312-1160 Carlos Ortiz 202-312-1160 Anna Pagi 202-312-1160 Foremost Appraisals & Realty Folusho Bello 240-304-7782 J.D. Egly & Associates John Egly 301-349-0113 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
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
Glazer Winston Honigman Ellick L. Mark Winston 202-537-5500
40 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017
The Greentree Group Julio Gonzalez Del Solar 301-960-1341 Home Land Septic Consulting Eric Garrett 443-995-5385 Tim Shotzberger 443-995-5385
Miles & Stockbridge PC Casey Cirner 301-762-1600 Paley Rothman Katherine Palumbo 301-951-9362 Richard W. Lawlor PA Richard Lawlor 301-340-2400
Shaner & Helf LLC Thomas Helf 301-913-9306
RA Home Inspection Randolph Gallegos 240-793-4611 Top to Bottom Services Gregory Butler 301-938-9100 Daniel Deist 301-938-9100 US Inspect Jonathan Handy
888-874-6773
Housing Interests JCAMS Jimmy Cullum
703-349-6405
MD Dept of Housing & Community Development Cecilia Weller 410-514-7014
Commission Express Capital Rick Tancreto 443-302-9595
Capital Area REALTORS FCU Tony Launi 240-314-0734 Olympia Overton 240-314-0734
BB&T Mike Kidwell Kari Sansom Daniel Shea
301-590-2382 301-493-8917 301-493-8917
Caliber Home Loans Charles Clapper 301-660-3292 Robert Kirchner 301-660-3292 Patrick Norfolk 301-660-3292 Matthew O’Connor 301-660-3292 Kenneth Storck 301-660-3292
Corridor Mortgage Group Inc. Sara Lenes 301-443-5749
The Sacks Law Firm PLLC Michael Sacks 301-948-2300
®
BB&T Mortgage Patricia Widerman 301-590-2382
Old Republic Home Protection Terry Crawford 925-866-1500
Home Warranty Companies
Credit Unions
Apex Home Loans Brian Willingham 301-610-9600 Matt Lieberman 301-651-7969 Michael Parsons 301-610-9600
Mid-Atlantic Inspection Services Alan Beal 202-607-4153
Law Offices of Jill Pogach Michaels John Daroff 240-425-0008 Jill Michaels 240-425-0008 Alexei Silverman 240-425-0008
Vaughn W. Royal Attorney at Law Vaughn Royal 202-895-1530
AnnieMac Home Mortgage John White, Jr. 866-312-6682
Capital One Gerald D’Ascoli Brian Glou Anthony Toy
Pro Tec Inspection Services Heather Dice 301-972-8531 Michelle Hopkin 301-972-8531 Lexy Krause 301-972-8531
Shulman Rogers Gandal Pordy Matthew Alegi 301-230-5200 Amy Klein 301-230-5200 Marc Lipman 301-230-5200 James Savitz 301-230-5200
202-868-0100 202-787-5600 202-868-0100 202-787-5600 202-868-0100
Capital Environmental Testing Bryan Hix 202-257-9291
Lynn Candle Boynton Esq. Lynn Boynton 240-499-7465
Andrew FitzGerald Attorney at Law Andrew FitzGerald 301-933-6550
Counselors Title Collen Smyth Cogan Chris Darby James Griffin Thomas Muldoon John Nalls
Anderson Inspection Consultants Gary Anderson 301-855-3337
Pearl Certification Cynthia Adams 888-557-5543
Samuelson Law Offices LLC Kenneth Samuelson 202-494-0848
Bromberg Rosenthal LLP Jonathan Bromberg 301-251-6200
Alban Home Inspection Services Sandra Watkins 301-662-6565
Law Offices of Quinn O’Connell Jr Quinn O’Connell Jr. 202-537-1820
Adams, Morris & Sessing Michelle Adams 301-637-0143 Elizabeth Morris 301-637-0143 Timothy Sessing 301-637-0143
Bregman Berbert Schwartz Gilday LLC Wendy Pullano 301-656-2707
Home Inspection Companies
Academy Mortgage Corporation Raymond Shelton 571-225-5066
Super Home Dilyana Mazur
703-380-8648
Miscellaneous
Edward Jones Laura Nash
Moneycorp Spencer Holmes
240-221-0649 202-706-3550
CRM Lending Joel Bailey EagleBank Corp. Thomas Biegler Deborah Levy
248-728-0288 248-728-0288 248-728-0288
410-251-0349 202-292-1581 202-292-1581
Embrace Home Loans William Rozek 301-921-0070 Tina Del Casale 800-333-3004 Fidelis Mortgage Eric Rittmeyer 410-668-6501 Fidelity First Daniel Eubanks
410-266-2544
First Home Mortgage Ingrid Rapavy 703-938-2115 Meghan McDonald 703-840-4202 Nicolas Matsangakis 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 Christopher Jordan 301-562-9540 Travis Vollmerhausen 301-562-9540 Jacob Ryan 301-220-0999 First Savings Mortgage Deborah Benkert 240-223-1558 Graham Pruitt 240-223-1558 JD Teitelman 703-564-1746
GCAAR brings you a complete listing of our Affiliates in every issue
If you are interested in becoming a GCAAR Affiliate or have a correction to this list, please contact us at: communications@gcaar.com
AFFILIATES 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 Flagstar Bank Eddie Jackson
202-596-4710
George Mason Mortgage Shawn Barsness 703-595-2233 Guaranteed Rate Graham Pruitt
571-341-5148
Home Savings & Trust Mortgage Derek Harman 703-766-4634 Intercoastal Mortgage Company Wesley Wolfe 703-449-6800 Loan Depot Kathryn Edelen
240-454-7682
McLean Mortgage Corp. Alex Peters 301-538-1137 MVB Mortgage Chris Kearney Billy Kinberg Robert Ross
202-751-2146 202-751-2146 202-751-2146
Navy Federal Credit Union Deanna Furman 301-233-7958 Prospect Mortgage Cedric Johnson 540-882-4176 Prosperity Home Mortgage Romy Espino 301-838-3172 Brian Haug 301-838-3172 Tom O’Keefe 301-838-3172 Sandy Spring Bank Jeffrey Nelson 301-617-4233 Guy Silas 301-617-4233 Stearns Lending Jamica Browne Gary Gertler Lee Michaels
240-599-7900 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 Jessica Sandler 571-297-3981 Max Sandler 571-297-3981 TowneBank Mortgage Richard Harbin 301-850-1092 Transwestern Donald Wilson
301-896-9000
US Mortgage Corp. Richard Evans 443-574-3500
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Pat Bowman 301-956-1573 Patricia Gillis 301-956-1573 Paul Nowacek 301-956-1573 Wells Fargo Private Mortgage James Semeyn 410-573-6411
Moving Companies 123 Junk Kevin Wheeler
703-400-7645
J K Moving & Storage Drew Richards 703-250-4282 Perry Moving & Storage Alvin Lewis 410-799-0022
Pest Control Companies
Capitol Termite & Pest Control Stanley Robinson 301-657-4480 Brian Schoonmaker 301-657-4480
Property Management Companies Columbia Property Management Scott Bloom 888-857-6594 Transwestern Donald Wilson
301-896-9000
Real Estate Investment Rent the District Hanna E McClain
202-210-0043
Tax Consultants Exchange Solutions Group William Gessner 703-787-3893 Tax-Masters Linda de Marlor 301-230-0200
Title Insurance/Settlement Co. Atlantic Closing & Escrow Isadora Connor 202-730-2635 Tommy Craddock 202-730-2635 Diana Khan 202-730-2635 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 Insurance Agency Lisa Bosse 301-231-7250 Sara Demb Goldstein 301-231-7250 Stanley Goldstein 301-231-7250 William Splitgerber Jr. 301-231-7250 Certified Title Corporation Sam Houston 888-486-5511 Classic Settlements Joe Detrick 301-921-2667 Jonathan Levy 301-921-2667 Mary Papagjika 301-921-2667 Elliot Liss 301-921-2667
Confidence Title & Escrow Vittorio Muzzatti 301-740-1880 Counselors Title LLC Christopher Darby 202-787-5600 Maddie Cullen 202-686-0100 James Griffin 202-686-0100 Thomas Muldoon 202-787-5600 Timothy Mullin 202-686-0100 John Nalls 202-686-0100 Noreen Hathaway 202-686-0100 Colleen Smyth Cogan 202-686-0100
District Title A Corp. Steven Sushner 202-518-9300 Edmund J. Flynn Company Joyce Rhodes 202-537-1800 Federal Title & Escrow Co. Todd Ewing 202-362-1500 Fenton Title Co. Louis Pettey
301-590-0220
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 Co. Philip Raskin 301-986-1114 Randy Rothstein 301-986-1114 Rob Rothstein 301-986-1114 Pinnacle Settlement Services Scott Goldschein 866-441-4666 Pinnacle Title & Escrow David Maged 301-424-5400 Marci Maged 301-424-5400 Bari Solomon 301-424-5400 Pride Settlement & Escrow LLC Jay Brody 888-729-0145 D. Leigh Hewartson 888-729-0145 Lee Anne Rodriguez 888-729-0145
First Class Title Daniel Kotz
301-770-4107
GPN Title John Gilbert George Glekas
301-294-4055 301-294-4055
Hutton Patt Title John Hutton
240-575-6333
Key Title Bridget Fancher
202-244-4000
KVS Title Marty Stanton
Settlement Ink P. Joy Siegel
301-605-1420
Settlement Professionals LLC Carol Calomiris 202-363-1870
Hollman & Flynn Title Gregory Flynn 301-545-0150
Prime Settlement Scott Sweitzer 202-559-1651 RGS Title Suzanne Feinstein Esq. 301-230-0070 Thomas R Rodden 301-680-0200 Helen Dankos 301-230-0070 Melissa Brault 202-244-5780 RGS Title/Tradition Title Anthony DeVol 301-654-9800 Logan Title Patrick Tangney
202-244-3200
Main Street Settlements Inc. John Ferguson 301-570-3600 MBH Settlement Group Jill Messier 703-277-6800 Michaels Title & Escrow LLC Jill Pogach Michaels 240-425-0008
Prime Settlement Scott Sweitzer 202-559-1651 Moses & Aiken, LLC/Home Title Robert Moses 301-468-0080 Sage Title Group LLC Bobby Lee 301-654-2560 Joseph Hansen 301-670-2812
Settlement Corp. David Deckelbaum
301-907-8808
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 Village Settlements David Hahn 301-486-0799 Carey Brennan 301-590-9300 Leslie Childs 301-590-9300 Michael Hollman 301-590-9300
Mid-Atlantic Settlement Services Deirdre Brown 410-252-1208 Monarch Title Katherine Brewer
202-546-3100
As of November 22, 2017
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017 41
Stay connected at 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 Member Orientation What was the most important thing you learned in your New Member Orientation class? “I’m impressed with what a GCAAR membership affords you . . . a great real estate education and a Code of Ethics that is designed to protect an agent’s relationship to the public, clients, and fellow licensees. Thank you GCAAR for an impressive and informative start to my new real estate career! I will make the Code of Ethics a very important part of my everyday business practices.”
Mario E. Adams, Weichert REALTORS® Aspen Hill /Leisure World Plaza
NEW MEMBERS
SEPTEMBER
Yolanda Bryant Long & Foster Real Estate
James Flentje Taylor Properties
Stephanie Coffey Realty Associates
Gregory Forsythe RE/MAX Town Center
Sandy Herbert Corridor Mortgage Group Carolina Herrera Long & Foster Real Estate
Christina Coleman City Chic Real Estate
Laura Fowler Keller Williams Realty
Jacklyn James RE/MAX Prestige
Rachel Barnard Long & Foster Real Estate
Arleta Davis Long & Foster Real Estate
Roberths Gil Pearson Smith Realty
Nicole Jennings Keller Williams Realty Reston
Quintina Barnett Gallion Keller Williams Capital Properties Kommaly Beasley Keller Williams Capital Properties Kayla Belcher Keller Williams Realty Falls Claudia Bennett NextHome Capital City Realty
Dalanda Debomy Long & Foster Real Estate
Christopher Gilbert Long & Foster Real Estate
Steven Lew Compass
Natalia Dos Santos Keller Williams Capital Properties
Nathalie Gilles Keller Williams Capital Properties Deborah Goguen-Ellis Mid-Atlantic Settlement Services
Marcelle Lima TriStar Realty
Ravinder Bhathal Sabrii Realty Kevin Boursiquot Weichert REALTORS® James Brooke Keller Williams Capital Properties
Mario Adams Weichert REALTORS® Leigh Andreasen Berkshire Hathaway Home Services PenFed Realty
Kendall Grant City Chic Real Estate
Angelique Long Keller Williams Capital Properties Heather Magazine Compass
Audre Fields-Williams Long & Foster Real Estate
Michael Groban DCRE Residential
Lester Malespin Fairfax Realty
Matthew Finnegan Keller Williams Capital Properties Michael Fitzgerald Coldwell Banker Innovations
Brent Hardie TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Dereck Harmon Long & Foster Real Estate
Dana Mazzoleni TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Sabrina McClover RE/MAX Fine Living
Melissa Ebong Keller Williams Capital Properties Brian Farasy Corridor Mortgage Group
42 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017
NEW MEMBERS Bridget McGee Corridor Mortgage Group
John Wright Long & Foster Real Estate
Michael Doughty Capital Residential Properties
Brandon Kenific Listing Key
Rivaldo Muniz Landmark Realty
Kendra Wright Weichert REALTORS®
Patricia Ebrahimi Show Smart Staging
Morgane Klareich Masters Title & Escrow
Paul Nalabandian Keller Williams Capital Properties Colleen O’Brien Compass
Hong Wu Profound Realty
Michelle Feng Long & Foster Real Estate
Tauron Lawrence Keller Williams Capital Properties
Huiying Zhan BMI
Katherine Fernandez Douglas Realty
Krystin Lawson Long & Foster Real Estate
John Ford RE/MAX Associates
Carfi Lazare Keller Williams Capital Properties Wakysha Lee Sourceone Realty
Michael Porco Keller Williams Realty McLean
OCTOBER
Karen Raetz Kemper Morgan
Wasiu Adedeji Carrington Real Estate Service
Soheila Razavi Weichert REALTORS®
Titi Adeyinka Homeland Real Estate
Elisa Fritsch RE/MAX Excellence Realty Carlos Fuentes Smart Realty
Chantel Reid Weichert REALTORS®
Wystina Averette Keller Williams Fairfax Gateway
Jan Germain Coppermine Realty
Marius Malherbe Smart Realty
Kara Richetti Keller Williams Realty Reston
Bethlehem Averill Keller Williams Capital Property
Cheryl Ginsburg Coldwell Banker Residential
Abigail Marchica Roberts Real Estate
Lilian Rodriguez Great Alliance Realty Sean Rooney Town Center Realty & Renovations Tremayne Ryant Columbia Company Ventures
Keshia Baird Village Settlements Jamie Boone Century 21 New Millennium
Kelly Golden Century 21 The Real Estate Centre Robert Gonzalez TriStar Realty
Wilma McFadden Keller Williams Capital Properties Brittany McLeod Weichert REALTORS®
Andrea Briggs RE/MAX Town Center
Lindsay Gordon Settlement Ink
Joseph Sellers Mid Atlantic Settlement Services Frank Shull Guaranteed Rate
Kristofer Bryant-Barrett Redfin Corporation
Arleen Gray Heymann Realty
Nadine Molas Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty
Ryan Calomeris Long & Foster Real Estate
TuJana Green Weichert REALTORS®
Sara Siddig Long & Foster Real Estate
Noah Cantor Sage Title Group
Karim Green Draper & Kramer Mortgage Corp.
Florence Spencer Keller Williams Capital Properties Vaughn Stewart Mid-Atlantic Settlement Services Latoshae Summers Pearson Smith Realty
Danielle Carter Wright Real Estate
Juan Guerrero Century 21 New Millennium
Januari Coates Golston Real Estate
Randy Holt TriStar Realty
Colleen Thomas Long & Foster Real Estate
Summer Davis Keller Williams Capital Properties Elaina De La Cruz Weichert REALTORS®
Athalia Howell Keller Williams Capital Properties Dana Hunter Long & Foster Real Estate
Lyndie Votaw Long & Foster Real Estate
Nakia Deshazor Exit Elite Realty
Christopher Jackson Reynolds & Associates
Sherrita Wilkins Exit Bennett Realty
Fatoumata Diallo CityWorth Properties
Wayne Jones Long & Foster Real Estate
Maria Womack Keller Williams Capital Properties
Michael Donkor Redfin Corporation
Richard Jones Keller Williams Capital Properties
Vera Macauley Keller Williams Capital Properties
Hollye Moore Keller Williams Capital Properties Desiree Munson Coldwell Banker Residential Daniel Neves Keller Williams Capital Properties Peter Okafor Sold 100 Real Estate Erica O’Neill Long & Foster Real Estate Sharon Ossi Old Line Properties Jaime Oyelakin Avenue Real Estate Danielle Palleschi-Browne Keller Williams Capital Properties Henryk Palmer RE/MAX Metropolitan Realty Continued on p. 44
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017 43
NEW MEMBERS
OCTOBER . . . Continued David Parker Village Settlements Colleen Payne At Home Real Estate Noemi Perez Sourceone Realty
Earl Smith National Realty USA Andrew Smith Exit Flagship Realty Timothy Smith Draper & Kramer Mortgage Corp. Saul Suarez Samson Properties
Deni Petrakis Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty
Erik Tammaru Long & Foster Real Estate
Vivian Pham Excel Realty Corp.
Stephanie Tedeschi TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Alon Pichler Taylor Properties Roxanne Pugh Exit Bennett Realty Cindy Rayner Sage Title Group Ali Rezaee Long & Foster Real Estate Melissa Rich Draper & Kramer Mortgage Corp. Antonio Rodriguez Long & Foster Real Estate Miguel Saba Keller Williams Capital Properties Felipe Saez Evers & Co. Real Estate Daniel Santos Sunshine Properties Daniel Schmitt Washington Fine Properties Carol Schreitmueller Ecobeco Katrina Scott Samson Properties Behnaz Sekechi Keller Williams Realty McLean Junie Seward RE/MAX Associates Sumi Shin 1st Realty
44 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017
Mark Tinnin RE/MAX Leading Edge Tilak Tiwari Keller Williams Capital Properties Brian Toll Ecobeco Samuel Villeda Keller Williams Capital Properties Kelly Vogan Ecobeco Janel Voth McEnearney Associates Eleanor Walker Redfin Corporation Tracey Weah Coldwell Banker Residential Clifford Weeks Century 21 New Millennium Peter Wendel Urban Land Co. Joyce Whitman Coldwell Banker Residential Nicole Wright Keller Williams Capital Properties
NOVEMBER Nikole Aguilera Executive Investment Realty Imtiaz Ahmad Taylor Properties Maleeha Ajaz S 4 Realty Ayse Akturkyilmaz Keller Williams Capital Properties Christina Bennett Realtyka Jeffrey Bochner Movement Mortgage David Braut Keller Williams Capital Properties Vincent Briscoe Movement Mortgage James Bubar James S Bubar Attorney Capricia Butler Keller Williams Realty Daniel Caplan Movement Mortgage Maria Carretero Long & Foster Real Estate Jaime Chin Keller Williams Capital Properties Martin Conroy Coldwell Banker Residential Peter Conto Wells Fargo Rochelle Crockett Irongate Realty Michael Davis McEnearney Associates Nia DelMoral Long & Foster Real Estate Anjanie Deonauth Smart Realty Isaac Diaz RE/MAX Plus
Matthew Dubbaneh One Real Estate Jacqueline Elliott-Dawson Long & Foster Real Estate Robert Ferebee Keller Williams Capital Properties Maria Fuentes Long & Foster Real Estate Nicole Georgiev Capital Realty Network Bryan Gleason Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Colleen Goldstein Coldwell Banker Residential Johnny Gonzalez Independent Realty Cecilia Hayes Keller Williams Realty McLean Nicholas Hedrick Your Home Now Mortgage Antione Hudson RE/MAX Realty Services Anmol Jakher Samson Properties Imran Kazmi Long & Foster Real Estate Kanga Lamin Douglas Realty Elizabeth Long Coldwell Banker Residential Monica Mattey Redfin Corporation Sean McDonald Coldwell Banker Residential Mark McGann Your Home Now Mortgage Maijo Michaels Tristar Realty Roshanak Molkara Weichert REALTORS® Shawne Morgan Long & Foster Real Estate
NOVEMBER Ahmed Mostafa Redfin Corporation Geralyn O’Marra Evers & Co. Real Estate Matthew Overton Your Home Now Mortgage Lashonda Parson Keller Williams Preferred Properties William Penning DeLuca & Associates R E Gabrie Perez Rayo Keller Williams Capital Properties Brandi Petway Ernestine J. Wilson Real Estate Helaine Reaves Keller Williams Capital Properties Melissa Rosario Keller Williams Realty McLean Sofia Sebastian Aparici Greenline Real Estate Iman Shoeibi Real Living at Home Sabrina Shorts Exit Deluxe Realty Samadara Smith Long & Foster Real Estate Raymond Sommer RE/MAX Realty Services Yale Tankus Coldwell Banker Residential Gerard Walsh Weichert REALTORS® Mark Wardlow Coldwell Banker Residential Jingbo Xiao Hometown Elite Realty
F R O M A L L O F U S AT G C A A R MAY YOU HAVE A GREAT YEAR FILLED WITH IMMENSE HAPPINESS AND LUCK! STAY IN GOOD HEALTH AND ACHIEVE GREATER HEIGHTS OF SUCCESS.
WISHING YOU As of November 22, 2017
A WONDERFUL YEAR AHEAD! CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017 45
design trends CREATE A W ELCOM I N G RE T RE AT FO R W I N T E R GUE ST S
Soothing Tones + Textures When designing guest suites, it’s smart to stick with textures and colors that evoke a feeling of tranquility. Here, a classic upholstered headboard in a neutral sand tone is paired with icy bluegray bedding and a glossy, lacquered gray nightstand. For a tone-on-tone effect, a ceramic lamp slightly darker than the wall color is used.
Icy Palette To keep the space feeling light and bright during the cold winter months, the vaulted ceiling is left white to help bounce light throughout the space, highlighting its soft hues and metallic touches.
Chic Guest Getaway
Photos by Brian Patrick Flynn
Previously used as a catch-all space, this 16-by-14-foot second-story bedroom was reinvented as a cozy, wintry retreat for holiday guests. From the icy shade of blue used on the walls to the crisp, white and silver accents, the space is now sophisticated and soft. 46 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017
TO P D E SI G N TRE NDS — T RY T HE SE I DE AS TO H E L P GUE ST S E N J OY T HE I R V IS IT
Source: www.hgtv.com – “Welcoming” Decorating Ideas, brought to you from Brian Patrick Flynn
Work with a REALTOR® to help you find more HOME DÉCOR TRE NDS.
Photos by Brian Patrick Flynn
Space-Saving Design
Wi-Fi Reminder
When space is at a premium, many designers use furniture and accents in unexpected ways. With the headboard wall measuring only 9 feet wide, there was not enough space to accommodate nightstands on each side. So, to keep the space properly lit, the bed is flanked with a nightstand and table lamp on one side, and a polished nickel floor lamp on the other.
To make Wi-Fi access easy, why not incorporate the network and password in your guest room’s decor? Here, basic pillowcases were dropped off with a local seamstress who monogrammed the flanges with the name of the network and the homeowner’s password. Should guests forget the login information, they can find it right on their pillow and avoid latenight inquiries to the host.
Local Artwork Introduce guests to your local surroundings and culture with vernacular art subjects. Here, a local north Georgia barn was photographed in black and white then printed and framed as the focal point from the bed. CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017 47
The Last Word from Jamie Coley Reflections from Jamie Coley as he ends his tenure as 2017 GCAAR President. Reflections from Jamie Coley as he ends his tenure as 2017 GCAAR President. What was your favorite part about being President?
I have a couple of favorite experiences. The first is the number of GCAAR members that I’ve been able to meet and work with through the year. The second favorite was getting to know the other directors and leadership within NAR and the state (Maryland and DC). By going to and being a director at the conventions and board meetings, I am in awe of the work they do to protect, educate, enforce the Code of Ethics, and advocate legislation for all of us REALTORS® while we focus on our daily work of listing and selling. What took you by surprise this year?
I’ve never been more organized and strict with my schedule over the past year. With a goal of serving GCAAR well, having another banner year of business and still keeping a good balance in my life, I had to enter every committee meeting and event related to GCAAR, MR, DCAR, and NAR into my schedule. Then I had to fill in all of my business and personal commitments. At a glance, my calendar became overwhelmingly filled every day, but surprisingly, I was successful in accomplishing my obligations and goals! What would you like to see continued by GCAAR?
Two things. The first is to continue the focus of getting the word out to the membership of the GCAAR services provided and getting more involvement from the members to attend events. The second is to continue the ongoing work of growing our network of volunteers and leadership within the GCAAR committees and Board. What GCAAR event had the best food this year?
That’s an easy one! Our 2017 Installation and Holiday Party at Columbia Country Club. The food and presentation is always amazing there.
48 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Nov/Dec 2017
What was the largest and most attended GCAAR event?
The REALTOR® Fest event was another success this year! It was at the new DC Marriott with over 850 members and 135 Affiliate/sponsors in attendance. A huge “shout out” for a job well done by the GCAAR staff and committees!! What are you looking forward to doing most when you’re not as busy as President?
Getting back to the “old normal” of myself being the REALTOR® workaholic that I am and having more “me time/down time.” I’m also looking forward to the role of 2018 Immediate Past President and serving with our outstanding Board and Executive Committee under the leadership of Tom Daley, Koki Adasi, Danai Mattison Sky, and Thom Brockett. One last comment . . .
is giving my personal thanks and gratitude to the GCAAR staff, management, and Mike Moran, our CEO, for their guidance, support, and always looking out for me along the way. We are so fortunate to have such a successful organization maintained by these folks. Serving as GCAAR’s 2017 President has been an honor and a privilege and I will cherish all of my experiences over the past year!
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