Official Publication of the St. Louis Association of REALTORS®
® The Voice for Real Estate® in St. Louis with nearly 8,000 members strong. September 2011
Volume 7 - Number 9
SLAR Promotes Personal Safety as REALTOR® Safety Month Begins
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page
Click here to see a video message from Nate K. Johnson, SLAR 2011 President
REALTOR® Resource Rally page 22
Contents 12 RPAC Mini Golf Event
14 SLAR Election
12777 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141 (314) 576-0033 – main line (314) 576-7143 - fax www.stlrealtors.com
Update
14 Young Professionals
2011 Board of Directors
Network Update
Executive Committee Nate Johnson, President Donna Zerega, Vice President/ Treasurer Gail Brown, Member at Large David Morris, Commercial DivisionPresident
Glenn Vatterott, President-Elect Elizabeth Braznell, Secretary Letty DeMay, Immediate Past President Fred Kratky, Executive Vice President/CEO
23 Affiliate Corner
Directors Elizabeth Braznell, REALTOR® Director (2011) Mickey McNearney, REALTOR® Director (2012) Gail Brown, REALTOR® Director (2011) Michele Sloan Mulford, REALTOR® Director (2012) Mike Travaglini, REALTOR® Director (2011) L. K. Wood, III, REALTOR® Director (2012) Barry Upchurch, REALTOR® Director (2011) Bob Bax, REALTOR® Director (2013) Tiffany Hamilton, REALTOR® Director (2011) Sue Middendorf, REALTOR® Director (2013) Sandy Hancock, REALTOR® Director (2012) Carole Mulina, REALTOR® Director (2013) Barb Keathley, REALTOR® Director (2012) David Townsend, REALTOR® Director (2013) Janet Judd, REALTOR® Associate Director John D. Williams, REALTOR® Director (2013) Mike Rouhani , REALTOR® Associate Director Shelly Clark, Affiliate Director LaWanda Elgin, REALTOR® Associate Director
Legislative Report 10-13 Education 18-20 SLAR Sold Stats 24 Calendar of Events / Affiliate Calendar 26
St. Louis Association of REALTORS® Staff Executive Vice President/CEO Office
Legislative
Fred Kratky, Executive Vice President/CEO Patty Bommarito, Executive Assistant fkratky@stlrealtors.com pbommar@stlrealtors.com Direct line: (314) 590-2319
Celeste Rueter, Governmental Affairs Director crueter@stlrealtors.com
Admissions, Grievance & Ethics Chris Woods, Senior Vice President Operations, Ethics & Professional Standards cwoods@stlrealtors.com Direct line: (314) 590-2306 Judy Partsch, Receptionist jpartsch@stlrealtors.com
Commercial Division Susan Wagner, Commercial Division Vice President swagner@stlrealtors.com Direct line: (314) 590-230 Tina Luehrmann, Commercial Assistant tinal@stlrealtors.com
Education, Room Rentals, Contracts & Forms Karen Dunn, Education Director Monica Pingel, Assistant kdunn@stlrealtors.com mpingel@stlrealtors.com
REALTOR® Shoppe Hours of Operation Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. For advertising information, please contact Foley Publications at 1-800-628-6983 or visit www.foleypub.com
Ali Pauluhn, Public Affairs Coordinator apauluhn@stlrealtors.com
Membership, Finance & REALTOR® Shoppe Rick Capelli, Senior Vice President of Membership & Finance Katie Benz, REALTOR® Shoppe/ SUPRA Administrator rcapelli@stlrealtors.com Direct line: (314) 590-2313 kbenz@stlrealtors.com Kim Russell, Bookkeeper Tammy Williams, Membership Assistant krussell@stlrealtors.com twilliams@stlrealtors.com
Public Relations Connie Chartier, Vice President of Public Relations cchartier@stlrealtors.com Direct line: (314) 590-2304
Matt Newport, Website / PR Coordinator mnewport@stlrealtors.com
Mid-America Regional Information Systems (MARIS)
1714 Deer Tracks Trail Ste. 200, St. Louis, MO 63131 (314) 984-9111 www.marisnet.com Paul Prince, President David Price, Vice President & Systems Manager pprice@marisnet.com dprice@marisnet.com Denise Bielicke, Controller Pattie Elkins, Accounts Receivable Clerk dbielicke@marisnet.com paelkin@marisnet.com Tracey Yost, Membership Manager Jason A. Darrough, Systems Support Specialist tryost@marisnet.com jdarroug@marisnet.com Robyn L. McPherson, Training Coordinator Katie Otto, Public Relations Manager rmcphers@marisnet.com kotto@marisnet.com Nikki Craig, Receptionist ncraig@marisnet.com
Commercial Information Exchange (CIE)
301 Sovereign Ct., Suite 109, Ballwin, MO 63011 (636) 230-6243 www.stlcie.com Bonnie Devine, President/CEO Judith Jakuboski, Executive Assistant bonnie@stlcie.com judith@stlcie.com
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Want to Help Make a Difference? Join a SLAR Committee Today! The St. Louis Association of REALTORS® (SLAR) exists to assist all members in successfully conducting their business in an ethical and professional manner. Your committees, staffed by fellow members, are largely responsible for attaining this goal. We invite you to volunteer to serve on your Association’s committees. For a complete list of SLAR committees, their descriptions and an application form, please click here. If you have any questions, please contact the Association at 314.576.0033.
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SLAR Promotes Personal Safety as REALTOR® Safety Month Begins The National Association of REALTORS® has designated September as REALTOR® Safety Month, the perfect time to consider how safe—or unsafe—our agents are as they go about their day-to-day work. Because REALTORS® face more on-the-job personal safety issues than many other professionals, the St. Louis Association of REALTORS® (SLAR) is asking all its members to keep safety awareness top of mind in September, and all year long. By making simple changes, REALTORS® can protect themselves, both personally and professionally. For some timely safety tips, check out NAR’s FREE resources for its members, including webinars on REALTOR® Safety. Quality programs are offered twice a year. Sign up for “Social Media and Cyber Safety,” presented by REALTOR® Safety expert Andrew Wooten. This hour-long program takes place September 12 at 11:30
a.m. Eastern time. To register, visit www.REALTOR.org/ safetywebinar to register. As NAR members, you can also access prior archived safety webinars anytime. In addition, SLAR’s Education Department is hosting the REALTOR® Safety Training seminar presented by Commander AJ Gwyn of the Southern Crime Prevention Task Force on September 8, from 10-11am. Commander Gwyn is a retired police investigator and a nationally recognized expert and speaker on real estate safety. He has conducted over 300 seminars a year for real estate companies, boards and associations across the country. To register, just send an email to kdunn@stlrealtors.com. This is a seminar you don’t want to miss! For helpful safety tips, please visit www.stlrealtors.com or www.realtor.org/safety. ®
10 Tips for Holding a Safe Open House Open houses can be a great sales tool—but hosting one also exposes you to numerous unfamiliar people for the first time. Take these steps to stay safe: 1. If possible, always try to have at least one other person working with you at the open house. 2. Check your cell phone’s strength and signal prior to the open house. Have emergency numbers programmed on speed dial. 3. Upon entering a house for the first time, check all rooms and determine several “escape” routes. Make sure all deadbolt locks are unlocked to facilitate a faster escape. 4. Make sure that if you were to escape by the back door, you could escape from the backyard. Frequently, high fences surround yards that contain swimming pools or hot tubs. 5. Have all open house visitors sign in. Ask for full name, address, phone number and e-mail. 6.
When showing the house, always walk behind
the prospect. Direct them; don’t lead® them. Say, for example, “The kitchen is on your left,” and gesture for them to go ahead of you. 7. Avoid attics, basements, and getting trapped in small rooms. 8. Notify someone in your office, your answering service, a friend or a relative that you will be calling in every hour on the hour. And if you don’t call, they are to call you. 9. Inform a neighbor that you will be showing the house and ask if he or she would keep an eye and ear open for anything out of the ordinary. 10. Don’t assume that everyone has left the premises at the end of an open house. Check all of the rooms and the backyard prior to locking the doors. Be prepared to defend yourself, if necessary. (Sources: Washington Real Estate Safety Council; City of Mesa, Arizona; Nevada County Board of REALTORS®; Georgia Real Estate Commission; National Association of REALTORS®)
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Fight or Flight?
Consider the Best Response to a Physical Attack If you were to find yourself alone in a property with a client who indicated they wanted to harm you or rob you, what would you do? Would you put up a fight or try to escape? It isn’t pleasant to think about, but it’s important to know the facts. Experts agree that when escape is an option, that is the route you should take. Remember, your primary goal in any incident is to escape from the danger and call for help. When faced with menacing behavior, you should first try to find a discreet way of removing yourself from the situation. Try to avoid triggering the emotion a predator might use to justify an attack. For example, you can say that you need to step outside to make a phone call and then don’t come back inside. If an attack does occur, trust yourself and stay as calm as possible. Think rationally and evaluate your options. There is no single right way to respond to a confrontation, because each situation is different. Your response should depend on the circumstances: the location of the attack, your personal resources, the characteristics of your assailant and the presence of weapons. There are many strategies that are effective, but you must rely on your own judgment to choose the best one. No resistance: Not resisting can be the proper choice in a given situation. An attacker with a gun or a knife may put you in a situation where you think it is safer to do what he or she says. If someone tries to rob you, give up your property, not your life.
Stalling for time: Appear to go along with the attacker. This might give you time to assess the situation. When his guard is down, try to escape. Distraction and then flight: Obviously you should try to get away, but whether you can depends on many things, including your shoes and clothing, physical stamina, the terrain and your proximity to your attacker. Verbal assertiveness: If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell “Stop!” or “Stay back!” Criminals have been known to leave a victim alone if he or she yelled or showed that he or she was not afraid to fight back. Physical resistance: If you decide to respond physically, remember that your first response should be to flee the area or the home. Act quickly and decisively to throw the attacker off guard while you get away. Your personal safety is your first priority. Property can be replaced, but the value of your life and health is beyond measure. Also, you should familiarize yourself with your state’s laws concerning self-defense, including the issue of what is proper or improper use of force to defend yourself during an attack. Observation: Be sure to make an effort to get an accurate description of your attacker. Even the smallest details may give authorities a clue to finding the suspect. (Sources: Washington Real Estate Safety Council; National Association of REALTORS®)
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SLAR’s Installation Celebration is Coming Soon! The St. Louis Association of REALTORS’® Installation celebration has been scheduled for Friday, October 4th at the beautiful historic Chase Park Plaza, beginning with the social hour at 11 a.m. followed by the lunch and program at Noon. In addition to honoring REALTOR® Recognition Award winners, the Association will have the Installation of its 2012 Officers and Directors, along with the St. Louis Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS®, who will also be swearing –in their 2012 officers. This year’s luncheon will be hosted in the Starlight Room, the perfect venue for business and pleasure with fellow associates in the industry! Sponsorship opportunities are available. The Association is expecting to sell out early for this very prestigious event. Don’t delay, make your reservations today! Ticket price is $45 per person, which includes one drink ticket, a delicious entrée, along with
free valet and/or self-parking. For additional information, visit www.stlrealtors.com or call 314.576.0033 ext. 304.
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Branch Manager (O’Fallon) 314-307-2825
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Branch Manager (City Place) 314-628-2055
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Legislative Report Missouri Legislature Special Session- China Hub and Aerotropolis Proposal On July 21, Governor Jay Nixon announced his intentions to call a special legislative session of the Missouri Legislature in September of this year. The purpose of the session will be to consider an economic development plan surrounding the China Hub initiative. This proposal could have huge implications for historic preservation and lowincome housing tax credit programs in the state. Click here to read more about the Governor’s thoughts on the plan: Nixon: Special Session is Best Chance to Reform Tax Credits
FTC Will Not Enforce Provisions of MARS Rule Against Real Estate Professionals Helping Consumers Obtain Short Sales- A REALTOR® Victory! On July 15, the Federal Trade Commission issued a statement announcing that it will forbear from enforcing most provisions of its Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) Rule against real estate brokers and their agents who assist financially distressed consumers in obtaining short sales from their lenders or servicers. As a result of the stay on enforcement, these real estate professionals will not have to make several disclosures required by the Rule that, in the context of assisting with short sales, could be misleading or confuse consumers. As more and more American homeowners seek short sales, it is especially important that the Rule not inadvertently discourage real estate professionals from helping consumers with these types of transactions. The MARS Rule was issued pursuant to authority granted by Congress in 2009. The issuance of the Rule followed numerous FTC and state enforcement actions against companies that claimed to be able to obtain from consumers’ mortgage lenders or servicers a loan modification or other relief to avoid foreclosure. The Rule covers companies or individuals, among others, who assist consumers in obtaining approval of a short sale from their lender or servicer. A short sale occurs when a home is sold for an amount less than the balance owed on the mortgage loan, and the lender or servicer agrees to accept the proceeds of the sale instead of pursuing foreclosure. Short sales can benefit consumers by allowing them to escape from a mortgage that they cannot afford, while avoiding foreclosure. Many real estate professionals assist distressed homeowners by providing both traditional services associated with selling their homes (e.g., listing the property) and working to seek lender or servicer approval of a short sale. The MARS Rule requires companies offering mortgage assistance relief services to disclose certain information to consumers about the services they provide, bans collection of advance fees, and prohibits false or misleading claims. After the Rule went into effect, a number of real estate professionals who help consumers with short sales raised concerns about complying with the Rule. These professionals pointed out that some of the required disclosures could confuse consumers or could be inaccurate in this context. At this time, the Commission has announced that it will not enforce most of the provisions of the MARS Rule against real estate professionals who are engaged in obtaining short sales for consumers. The stay applies only to real estate professionals who: 1) are licensed and in good standing under state licensing requirements; 2) comply with state laws governing the practices of real estate professionals; and 3) assist or attempt to assist consumers in obtaining short sales in the course of securing the sales of their homes. The stay exempts real estate professionals who meet these requirements from the obligation to make disclosures and from the ban on collecting advance fees. These professionals, however, remain subject to the Rule’s ban on misrepresentations. The Commission stated that the stay does not apply to real estate professionals who provide other types of mortgage assistance relief, such as loan modifications. In addition, the FTC will continue to enforce the Rule and Section 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair and deceptive practices, against all other providers of mortgage assistance relief services.
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The Commission vote approving the MARS Rule enforcement policy was 5-0. It can be found on the FTC’s website and as a link to this press release. More information about the Rule can be found here, and information about consumers’ mortgage rights can be found here.
Current Loan Limits Set to Expire September 30- Call For Action If you haven’t already, please Take Action NOW by asking your representatives in Congress to make the current FHA, Fannie and Freddie loan limits permanent. Most markets around the country will be impacted in some way by the expiration of these limits. Limiting access to mortgages at this time could have a negative impact on the recovery of the housing market. Please take a moment to let your congressmen and Senators know your position!
Debt Ceiling Deal Spares Real Estate For Now On August 2, President Obama signed into law, S. 365, the Budget Control Act of 2011, more commonly known as the Debt Ceiling Bill. After careful analysis of the bill we can report that it contains NO DIRECT IMPACT ON REAL ESTATE TAX RULES OR SPENDING PROVISIONS. No tax laws of any kind were changed, nor were any housing programs cut. The bill passed the House and Senate on strong bipartisan votes: 269 – 161 in the House and 74-26 in the Senate. A potential debt default has been averted. For a complete analysis of the debt ceiling agreement visit: http://www.ksefocus.com/billdatabase/clientfiles/172/4/1300.pdf The next 100 days could be the most important part of the battle over Mortgage Interest Deduction and Carried Interest. NAR will be actively engaged in lobbying Congress and will be reaching out to state and local associations, as well as REALTOR® members directly to engage their Members of Congress on the importance of preserving real estate tax provisions. While the preserving real estate tax provisions are essential, two additional and vitally important measures were not acted on by Congress in advance of the five-week summer recess. Congress has not acted to extend the FHA Loan Limits and National Flood Insurance Program beyond the current expiration date of September 30, 2011. Congress is scheduled to return to Washington, DC on September 7, 2011 requiring swift action to prevent a lowering of the Loan Limits and a lapse in the Flood Insurance Program. During this August recess NAR will be working with our state and local association partners to urge Congress to pass extensions and avoid potential damage to the fragile housing market.
FHFA, Treasury, HUD Seek Input on Disposition of Real Estate Owned Properties On August 10, 2011, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the GSEs), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of the Treasury announced a Request for Information to seek input on enhancing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration’s REO asset disposition strategies. The agencies have requested information on potential structures and disposition strategies to facilitate the current and future disposition of REO properties that will help stabilize neighborhoods and local home values, and improve loss recoveries compared to individual retail REO sales. The agencies have outlined specific objectives that should be addressed by any potential structure or strategy, and anticipate that the objectives will be best addressed through “REO to rental structures” and have asked for specific information on potential rental partnership options for singlefamily REO properties. Several NAR committees are discussing and will be providing input on the Administration’s request for information on the large scale renting of REO inventory. The feedback from the committees will provide guidance to NAR staff for a comment letter that will be based on member input. Responses are requested by September 15. See the FHFA/ HUD/Treasury Request for Information
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RPAC Events Time “Fore” RPAC Mini Golf! RPAC Mini Golf is just one week away! Join us at Tower Tee on Friday, September 9th from 6:30-8:30 PM for a family friendly RPAC event. Enjoy two hours of unlimited miniature golf, food sponsored by Cardinal Surveying, drinks, and fun while showing some support for RPAC. Only $15 per person (includes $10 RPAC Credit)! CLICK HERE to View the flyer and REGISTER TODAY! For more information, please contact Ali Pauluhn in the Governmental Affairs Department at apauluhn@ stlrealtors.com or at (314) 576-0033 x317. Interested in sponsoring a hole for just $25? Call or email Ali Pauluhn.
Affairs is an open committee. If you are interested in attending a meeting, please contact Ali Pauluhn in the Governmental Affairs Department at apauluhn@stlrealtors.com or at 314.576.0033 x317.
Save the Date! Fall Diversity Series “Send the Troops Some Love” Event On October 27th, the St. Louis Association of REALTORS® Equal Opportunity and Cultural Diversity Committee is partnering with Operation Homefront to “Send the Troops Some Love.” Throughout September and October we will be collecting care package items to donate to Operation Homefront (Please see the list of requested items below). Then, on Thursday October 27th, join us at SLAR from 11:00-2:00 to assemble care packages to send to the troops. Enjoy some tasty international food with the 2nd Annual Taste of Nations while you pack. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact Ali Pauluhn in the Governmental Affairs Department if you are interested: apauluhn@stlrealtors. com or 314.576.0033 x317. Click HERE to register.
Urban Affairs Goes to Court August saw the Urban Affairs Committee head to the 22nd Circuit Court of Missouri for a special presentation by the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office. Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Judge Steven Ohmer, and Chief Legal Counsel for St. Louis Family Court Susan Guerra presented a sweeping look at the inner workings of the St. Louis City Court system. The speakers’ unique points of view painted a diverse and comprehensive picture of the daily challenges faced by the courts. While their duties differ, the speakers made it clear that each department constantly works toward a common goal: making the City of St. Louis a safe place to work and live. Crime is a problem in every city, but according to the insiders, St. Louis is improving. Circuit Attorney Joyce stressed the importance of community involvement. It is up to every individual, not just the courts, to ensure that crime controlled. She expressed her excitement to work with St. Louis REALTORS® to continue to make St. Louis a place more people want to live. After all, safer neighborhoods are good for everyone, including REALTORS®. A special thanks to the Circuit Attorney’s Office for hosting the meeting. Thanks also to Katie Heaney with CUTCO Closing Gifts for sponsoring breakfast. Urban
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Legislative Report continued from page 11
Lapses of the National Flood Insurance Program Jeopardize Home Sales August 8, 2011 by Selma Hepp, NAR Research Economist Don’t Allow this to Happen to Your Clients! Take Action Now by asking your congressional leaders to support extension of NFIP! The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is essential to successfully completing half a million home sales annually and is scheduled to lapse on September 30, 2011. When NFIP lapsed from May 31 to July 2 in 2010, the REALTORS® Confidence Index showed 6 percent of REALTORS® had at least one delayed or cancelled home sale, amounting to 46,886 transactions during that 33-day period or 1,421 per day. Because the survey was conducted in June, one of the busiest home-sales months, and the first time homebuyer tax credit influenced the 2010 June activity, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) conducted further analysis to evaluate the survey result’s sensitivity; NAR found that its initial estimate was robust to additional analysis. Based on more generalized analysis, NAR estimates that each day that NFIP lapses results in the delay or cancellation of 1,332 home sale closings nationwide. This provides additional support for NAR’s earlier estimate that each lapse would jeopardize closings across the nation on the order of 40,000 per month. To arrive at the refined estimate, NAR calculated the average sales throughout the year using the 2008 through 2010 sales activity as the basis. Nationwide, about 8 percent of the housing units, or over 10 million homes, are located in FEMA’s 100-year floodplains, called Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). Some regions have a larger share of the
housing stock located in SFHAs and account for a greater share of the home sales activity; thus we aggregated at the regional level before reducing the combined annual figure to its daily equivalent. The following table summarizes the estimated daily impact of NFIP lapses on home sales by Census region.
1. Using the data since 2008 ensures that any year-toyear and event-specific variability (such as the firsttime home buyer credit) is smoothed out and also avoids the elevated activity of the circa-2002 housing boom. The 2008-2010 market activity has been generally consistent with the activity prior to the year 2000. 2. To estimate this number in the SFHAs, NAR used GIS software to overlay spatial layers containing blocklevel data from the latest American Housing Survey (ACS 2005-2009) with the map of SFHAs from FEMA. 3. New residential sales data is available by region only. Assuming the new homes are similarly located in the SFHAs as the existing homes are, the share of homes located in the flood zone is multiplied by the total number of new sales by region.
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Race Heats Up for 2012 SLAR Officers The St. Louis Association of REALTORS’® annual election is heating up, with several members of the Association competing for key positions on the 2012 Board of Directors. This year’s election includes a non-contested race for President Elect, Donna Zerega, Prudential Alliance, REALTORS® and a contested race for Vice President/Treasurer. Vying for this position are SLAR members Elizabeth H. Braznell, RE/MAX Results, Barrett P. Upchurch (Barry), Barry Upchurch Realty. Other candidates seeking to fill key positions on the 2012 Board of Directors include the following individuals.
REALTOR® Director (five positions – 3 year term) Mike Carter, Homes USA, LLC Tiffany Hamilton, Hamilton Group Real Estate LLC Pat Malloy, Prudential Alliance, REALTORS® Carolyn Mantia, RE/MAX Results Fae McFadden, Marion-Estelle Associates Mike Travaglini, Coldwell Banker Gundaker
REALTOR® ASSOCIATE Director (one position – 3 year term) Janet Judd, RE/MAX Select Marc G. Levinson, Dielmann Sotheby’s International Realty Rebecca Meier, The Hermann London Group, LLC
NAR Director (one position – 1 year term) Bruce H. Aydt, Prudential Alliance, REALTORS® Biographies and photos, which were submitted by election candidates, may be viewed on-line at www. stlrealtors.com SLAR members are encouraged to watch your e-mail for ballot information so you can be sure to vote for your candidate of choice by the Monday, September 12, 2011, 12 p.m. noon deadline. Ballots may be cast online at www.stlrealtors.com. You will need to know your National REALTOR® Database System number (NRDS#) before you vote. Your NRDS# can be found on your National Association of REALTORS® Magazine label. Online voting instructions are available at www.stlrealtors.com. If you require additional information, please contact Chris Woods at (314) 576-0033 extension 306 or email cwoods@stlrealtors.com.
YPN 2011 Calendar of Events September 23, 2011: Kickball Tournament @ Tower Grove Park, registration begins at 9 am. Event 11 - 5 pm Disclaimer: Young Professionals Network - St. Louis Chapter is open to REALTOR® members of the St. Louis Association of REALTORS®. Affiliates members of SLAR are invited to join following a $100 paid annual membership fee. YPN St. Louis Chapter welcomes all ages! FOR EVENT DETAILS OR TO RSVP, PLEASE EMAIL YPNSTL@GMAIL.COM OR VISIT US ON FACEBOOK.COM/YPNSTL OR TWITTER AT TWITTER.COM/YPNSTL
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News Flash CDOM (Cumulative Days on Market) MARIS receives numerous calls and questions regarding CDOM. In order for CDOM to reset to zero, a listing must have been off the market in the Withdrawn, Cancelled, or Expired status for 60 days and then must be re-entered as new. The listing cannot be copied, or the status just changed to back to active. The listing must be entered completely as a new listing after the 60 calendar days, (so do not at¬tempt to enter the listing until the 61st day, other¬wise the days
on market from the previous listing will carry over). Important Note: Listings in the Temporarily Off Market status will not reset CDOM regard¬less of how many days a listing is in that status before re-entering. Need definitions of all the statuses? Find them in the MARIS Rules and Regulations on www.marisnet.com! Log in with your id and password and click to Rules/ Regs. If you have questions please contact Katie Otto at MARIS, kotto@marisnet.com.
MARIS DONATES $10,000 TO AID AREA HOMELESS! Paul Prince, President of the Mid-America Regional Information Systems (MARIS), recently presented a $10,000 check donation to the REALTOR® Housing Assistance Fund (RHAF), the St. Louis Association of REALTORS’® charitable arm for the homeless. This generous donation is part of a 3-year pledge that MARIS has committed to RHAF, to help defeat the plight of the homeless. MARIS has been a long standing supporter of RHAF through the years, and with their most recent contribution, they have graciously donated a total of $50,000! Both the SLAR Board of Directors and the RHAF Committee Chairs have expressed their sincere thanks and deep appreciation to MARIS for their on-going commitment to the Association’s homeless charity. Prince stated at the presentation, “We are proud to be a strong supporter of RHAF’s program for homeless and abused women and children. I challenge all of the Association membership, to get involved in this most worthy charitable cause that helps so many in need.” RHAF, which is a not-for-profit charity established by the St.
Louis Association of REALTORS® in 1989, has allocated more than $680,000 dollars to local charities supporting the homeless in the St. Louis metro area. RHAF’S Chairman’s, Wendy Cromer and John Frank Jr., are also encouraging REALTORS®, Brokers, and local businesses to get involved and help make a difference for the people in their communities. For more information on how to participate in this year’s fundraising programs and / or to make a donation, contact the Association’s Public Relations department at (314) 576-0033. Absolutely 100 percent of all funds received are allocated to the homeless program and are tax deductible.
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Concert for a Cause...Not to be Missed! The REALTOR® Housing Assistance Fund (RHAF) Committee is excited to announce their first ever concert fundraiser benefiting the RHAF’s homeless grant program. “Concert for a Cause” featuring the superdynamic Kim Massie and Javier Mendoza will be held on Tuesday, October 4th, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Sheldon Concert Hall. RHAF has tickets for this remarkable show on sale. General Admission is only $15. A limited number of VIP ticket packages are also available for $50, which includes complimentary parking, preferred seating, a signed CD from one of the performers and an invite to our Encore reception immediately following the program. Tickets are on sale now at the St. Louis
Association of REALTORS®, REALTOR® Shoppe located at 12777 Olive Blvd. 63141. Concert Event Chairman, Marc Levinson of Dielmann Sotheby’s International Realty commented; “Both Kim and Javier each have huge contingents of fans nationwide, and I promise that if you have never seen either performer live in concert, you absolutely will leave this show as one.” Sponsorship opportunities are also available! For ticket information and/or questions regarding sponsorships, please contact the St. Louis Association of REALTORS’® Public Relations Department at 314.590.2304, or by email at cchartier@stlrealtors.com.
Want to put your name in front of thousands of REALTORS®? foleypub.com Call Foley Publications for advertising information 800.628.6983
Mold Testing and Consulting Remediation Plan Design Comprehensive Report Generation Post-Remediation Clearance Testing
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(636) 294-0651
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REALTOR速 Report
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SEIZE THE DAY Take your business to a new level If energizing your real estate business is your goal…
• Take charge at the 2011 REALTORS ® Conference & Expo in sunny southern California, just minutes from Los Angeles
• Train with the best at the premiere real estate event in the U.S.——get sales tips for success from industry experts
• Join 18,000 professionals for four intensive days of networking, education, motivation, and fun this November
• Explore the largest trade show floor in real estate, where 400 exhibitors will excite and inspire you
• Refocus your mind with 100 education sessions during the day——and let loose at night with events like the Celebrity Concert starring Diana Ross
Stay in Anaheim and Stay on Budget With hotels starting at $89 per night, a convenient location near four major airports, and special travel discounts for REALTORS ®, Anaheim is an affordable destination for the 2011 REALTORS ® Conference & Expo.
Sign up today at www.REALTOR.org/Conference Register before August 15 to take advantage of early bird savings
Connect with us and thousands of REALTORS® who will be in Anaheim at: twitter.com/narannual
facebook.com/narannual
REALTOR® Report
Second Annual
“REALTOR® RESOURCE RALLY”
The St. Louis Association of REALTORS’® (SLAR) Education Committee is pleased to announce its second annual “REALTOR® RESOURCE RALLY” on September 27th, beginning at Noon in the Association’s lower-level classrooms! Attendance is FREE to members and no reservations are required. REALTOR® Rally is a “mini” convention that will showcase vendors with innovative ideas, products and services to help REALTORS® meet the challenges of growing their business. We have several new vendors being added to the Rally this year so come prepared to expand your In addition, as a special FREE service to SLAR members, the event will host an on-site shredding service from 12 – 4 p.m. for safe and secure destruction of sensitive documents. Simply drive right up to the shredding truck with your items, and it’s DONE - what could be easier? There will also be door prize drawings throughout the event. As an added feature to this year’s Rally, we will have an all day BBQ provided by Buyer’s Protection Group Home Warranty & Inspections with all proceeds benefiting the Joplin REALTORS® Relief Foundation. We will hold a special drawing for the grand prize of a 2- night stay in a suite at the Drury Inn Hotel in Joplin, Missouri. These accommodations provide a great opportunity for anyone wanting to visit family or for volunteers wanting to help with the ongoing clean-up effort in Joplin. The Drury Inn Hotels offer many free extras such as the free hot breakfast to free hot food and cold drinks served daily 5:30 -7:00 p.m. for guests, as
Photo from last year’s REALTOR® Resource Rally
well as many more amenities that will make your stay very comfortable and pleasant. So, mark your calendar and plan to attend this FREE, fun and informative REALTOR® Resource Rally on September 27lh from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a Happy Hour until 6 p.m. The Education Committee would like to give special thanks to the REALTOR® Resource Rally’s sponsors - Assured Title, Buyer’s Protection Group Home Warranty & Inspections, Chase, Citizens National Bank, Heartland Bank and Investor’s Title for helping to underwrite the cost of this year’s event!
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REALTOR® Report
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Affiliate Corner SLAR Ambassadors – We’re Coming to You! The St Louis Association of REALTORS® (SLAR) is excited to share a new program with its members – the SLAR Ambassador Program. This dynamic group of individuals will be visiting SLAR offices to share with you all the opportunities that Association has to offer, including social events and educational opportunities. In a world of technology, we’re
going back to the basics of getting to know who our members are and what their needs are. If you would like more information regarding the SLAR Ambassador Program or would like to schedule to have an Ambassador visit your office, please contact Shelly Clark, Affiliate Chair at 636.357.5062 or Shelly@ CardinalSurveying.com.
Timely Tips from your Affiliate Committee #1) In today’s market, some of the homes are vacant and may be foreclosures or short sales. We understand that at times it may be tempting to waive the Laclede Gas Safety Inspection or maybe you don’t even know it exists. We strongly advise you to include the Laclede Gas Safety inspection as part of your inspection process to address any issues with the gas appliances. This inspection is intended to check for gas leaks and assure that the gas appliances are connected according to the most recent requirements of the gas supplier based on the National Code Gas Code. While the home inspector will operate the gas appliances (if the gas is on) if possible and safe to do so, this is only an operational check and is not intended to replace the Laclede Gas safety inspection. #2) As you know, this summer has been a very dry.
While everyone is aware that plants and yards need moisture to sustain life, it may not be so apparent, until a problem occurs, that foundations or actually the surrounding soils also need moisture to prevent shrinkage. We have a lot of clay soils in the St. Louis area. When clay dries it shrinks and pulls away from the foundation footings thereby reducing support for portions of it. This can create differential settlement and foundation problems. Vacant houses can be more susceptible to this problem due to lack of maintenance during the vacancy period. If these is a concern with cracks contact a Licensed Professional Engineer for an evaluation. Information provided by Gerry Loesch, P.E., ASHI- who is a member of the St. Louis Association of REALTORS’ Affiliate Committee. He may be contacted at gloesch@ bpgwi.com.
$AVE WITH THE ASSOCIATION REVENUE TRACK (ART) PROGRAM! Attention SLAR members- take advantage of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) ART program and save 10% on your next shopping trip to NAR’s REALTOR® Storewww.REALTOR.org/Store! It s easy- simply enter the Promotional Discount Code SLA2 with each order and receive an automatic 10% discount! And that’s not all! ART is a win-win for the St. Louis Association of REALTORS® (SLAR) as well! Each time SLAR members purchase a NAR product or publication using the Promotional Discount Code- SLA2, the Association will earn 10 -14% NON-DUES REVENUE! So help us all win big with extraordinary savings- use your ART Promotional Discount Code SLA2 on your next visit to the www.REALTOR.org/Store! For questions and additional information, contact SLAR’s P.R. Department at 314.576.0033.
REALTOR速 Report
RESALE (EXISTING) HOME SALES St. Louis City/County July
Under 29999 30000 - 39999 40000 - 49999 50000 - 59999 60000 - 69999 70000 - 79999 80000 - 89999 90000 - 99999 100000 - 119999 120000 - 139999 140000 - 159999 160000 - 179999 180000 - 199999 200000 - 249999 250000 - 299999 300000 - 349999 350000 - 399999 400000 - 449999 450000 - 499999 500,000 - 749,999 750000 - 999999 1000000 - 1249999 1250000 - 1499999 1500000 - 1999999 2000000 - 2999999 3000000 and over Totals
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SLAR Sold Stats
Single-Family Units
Condominium/Cooperatives
Number of Bedrooms 2 or 3 4+ less 71 62 14 16 22 6 9 22 1 10 10 4 15 14 2 8 12 7 7 20 2 10 19 6 21 35 10 20 32 11 15 53 13 8 29 18 7 22 21 4 48 40 1 19 56 1 15 30 0 12 19 0 3 31 0 2 16 0 4 47 0 1 13 0 0 4 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 223 456 375
Number of Bedrooms 2 or 3 4+ Total less 5 2 7 2 0 2 2 0 2 8 1 9 4 0 4 5 1 6 3 1 1 5 8 1 9 14 6 20 21 4 25 13 1 14 5 5 10 2 1 3 5 3 8 4 3 7 1 3 4 1 1 1 3 0 2 2 0 0 0 4 1 5 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 108 38 2 148
Total 147 44 32 24 31 27 29 35 66 63 81 55 50 92 76 46 31 34 18 51 14 4 3 1 0 0 1054
2009 - 2011 Average Price and Homes Sold |
Active Listings (includes all unsold homes) Single-Family Condo/Co-op Listings Listings End of Month End of Month 138 4 59 4 35 5 43 5 49 4 58 12 61 15 62 14 81 29 106 16 113 14 78 16 67 8 122 17 84 11 53 11 36 3 30 4 27 8 69 9 24 2 6 3 6 1 5 0 4 0 0 0 1416 215
Sales Pending (Under Contract) Single-Family Listings End of Month 82 34 19 22 29 23 21 13 38 32 48 29 20 32 25 13 20 10 6 16 6 1 1 3 1 0 544
Condo/Co-op Listings End of Month 3 1 1 1 3 3 3 4 4 6 5 4 2 5 6 1 2 5 1 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 65
Area 1-349 Residential, condo/cluster Coop
2009 Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
2010 Average Price Homes Sold Median Price Month $149,471 823 $93,500 Jan $139,404 899 $101,000 Feb $162,192 1117 $112,900 Mar $161,522 1196 $124,400 Apr $178,771 1441 $135,000 May $192,295 1612 $152,900 Jun $188,309 1689 $145,000 Jul $177,110 1412 $133,950 Aug $176,712 1448 $138,250 Sep
2011 Average Price Homes Sold Median Price Month $161,133 702 $115,000 Jan $161,133 867 $109,000 Feb $161,133 1354 $132,000 Mar $161,133 1484 $134,950 Apr $161,133 1741 $145,000 May $161,133 1511 $165,000 Jun $197,225 1035 $145,000 Jul $182,918 1045 $135,000 Aug $183,892 1057 $127,500 Sep
Oct
$166,241
1617
$133,000
Oct
$180,930
976
$117,325
Oct
Nov
$165,855
1504
$130,250
Nov
$175,938
913
$123,625
Nov
Dec
$174,398
994
$125,500
Dec
$181,462
1005
$128,900
Dec
$169,357
15752
$131,625
$172,430
13690
$130,450
Average Price $162,201 $173,312 $156,720 $180,359 $183,562 $194,131 $192,528
Homes Sold 696 746 1086 1058 1243 1538 1202
Median Price $106,000 $119,000 $110,000 $129,450 $133,600 $137,250 $142,125
$177,545
7569
$129,450
Pending 524 577 726 811 642 633 609
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REALTOR® Report
Conference Center Events
Calendar of Events September
September 13
Social Networking Summit SLAR Conference Center Click here for details
5
Labor Day - SLAR Closed
8
WCR Luncheon - Bogie Hills Country Club
9
RPAC Mini Golf - Tower Tee
12
SLAR Election
14-16 MAR Business Conference - Tan-Tar-A Resort Osage Beach
17
1 Day “MBA” in Real Estate Acquisition Techniques SLAR Conference Center Click here for Details
23
YPN Kickball Tournament - Tower Grove Park
25
Missouri Heroes Welcome Home - Columns Banquet Center in St. Charles
27
REALTOR® Resource Rally - SLAR Education Center
October
October 18
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Unlock the secret of surviving this market SLAR Conference Center
6
WCR Luncheon - Frontenac Hilton
10
Columbus Day - SLAR Closed
27
Diversity Series: Taste of the Nations - SLAR Education Center
OCTOBER 4 - OCTOBER 31, 2010
Homes from Missouri & Illinois DETAILS ON THIS PROPERTY Page 3
Your Audience, Your Customer, Your Lead Generation Tool! The St. Louis Market’s Largest Monthly Real Estate Publication
For more information call your Real Estate Account Executive at 314-744-5726 today.
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