WESTWORDS AUGUST 2020
I AM
I AM AMELIA ROMAIN I AM DETERMINED I AM INSIGHTFUL I AM INTEGRITY I AM RESOURCEFUL I AM PRACTICAL I AM WEST USA
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING I never thought I could get into a home like Mia helped me find. Every step of the way Mia was guiding and helping me to know what I needed. Her knowledge is unsurpassed and that translated into me saving thousands on the sale and then again on the purchase of our new home. Mia was able to fight for whats right while being available day and night for every question I had, Mia helped make the impossible possible
Mia was my listing agent on my property. She did an amazing job and is great at online marketing! Mia goes above and beyond everything you expect from a realtor. She is detail oriented and ensures all your needs are met! Mia will be a great agent for you whether you are looking to buy or to sell your home!
Amelia is hands down my favorite realtor to work with. I have purchased and sold about 20 homes now, and she is hands down the best. She is proactive, energetic, up front, a pleasure, very handy, extremely responsive, and understand all aspects of of the deal from your needs and preferences, potential risks, etc. I will use her for all my future deals if she’s available! I feel extremely lucky to have found her, and can’t wait to see her bright future.
BROKER BLOG WITH DEAN BECKER ADVERTISING Nearly anything a salesperson or broker does to circulate their name among people, other than “keep in touch” or “thank-you” items such as gifts or birthday cards to clients, falls under the definition of advertising. The Commissioner’s Rules, A.A.C. R4-28-502, set forth the rules for all advertising. A salesperson or broker acting as an agent is prohibited from advertising property in a manner which implies that no salesperson or broker is taking part in the offer for sale or lease. All advertising must identify in a “clear and prominent manner the employing broker’s legal name or the licensed dba name.” The employing broker is the corporation, limited liability company, partnership or sole proprietorship licensed as a broker that has engaged the services of salespersons and associate brokers. The employing broker designates a natural person to act as the designated broker. The designated broker must supervise all advertising; however, associate brokers and salespeople are responsible for ensuring that their advertising is in compliance with the Rules. A primary guideline to consider when creating an advertisement is that the employing broker represents the client in the transaction and the associate broker or salesperson represents the employing broker. This relationship must be indicated in the advertisement; that is, the ad must be clear that the employing broker is involved in the process. Consider the following guidelines: • The employing broker’s name must be included in all newspaper advertisements, including classified ads, real estate advertising guides, and other magazine ads. • In advertising flyers, the employing broker’s name may be located on either the top or the bottom of the flyer however the employing broker’s name must be clearly legible. • If the employing broker produces a magazine that includes only the broker’s listings, the broker can be identified on just the front cover, not every page, because a consumer picks up the whole magazine, not just one page. On any other promotional materials, the employing broker’s name must be on the front page or front of the object.
• On the internet, the employing broker must be visible on the first page of the web page, without the necessity of scrolling down, regardless of the screen size of the computer. Web pages should identify the broker on each page because it is possible to link to a single page and, if that is done, the broker’s name needs to be visible. Teams must comply with the same advertising rules: A real estate salesperson or broker may use the terms “team” or “group” to advertise and promote real estate services if the team or group is comprised of licensed real estate salespersons or brokers who are employed by the same broker. When advertising as a team, the same advertising rules apply as when advertising as an individual broker or salesperson. All team advertising must identify the employing broker in a clear and prominent manner. For example, placing “The (Team Name) Team” at the top of the page in large letters with a much smaller brokerage symbol somewhere below (often at the bottom of the page) is not sufficient. The ad must be clear that the team is a part of the brokerage. In addition, the Rules also require that: • All advertising must contain accurate claims and representations, and fully state factual material relating to the information advertised. • The licensee’s name must be set forth in a manner that would enable a consumer to find the licensee’s license information on the ADRE’s records. • Licensees advertising their own property for sale must place the words “owner/agent” in the advertisement. • A licensee who advertises property that is the subject of another’s listing must display the name of the listing broker in a clear and prominent manner. In any case if there are any advertising questions or concerns please reach out to the broker’s office at advertising@westusa.com or 602-942-4200 for approval of your material. -AAR Questions, contact: Managing Broker, Dean Becker 602-942-4200
In Tight Housing Market, Fewer Sellers are Cutting Prices By Jeff Tucker, Zillow Home sellers this spring/early summer are holding firm on their original list prices at the highest rate in years, only rarely updating their listing on Zillow with a lower price. In the week ending June 27, the original price had been cut at least once on a mere 4.1% of listings, compared to 5.6% in the comparable week of 2019 and 5.2% in the same week during the generally strong market of early summer 2018. The data strongly suggest that sellers understand how little competition they truly face in the current environment: Active listings remain near record lows nationwide. Buyers may not like or agree with the asking price on homes they like, but realistically they may not have many other options but to accept it. From January through mid-March, the share of listed homes with price cuts was already a little lower year-over-year — a testament to the strength of the pre-pandemic housing market and sellers’ generally strong negotiating position. Even so, the gap was modest: Down from 4.3% to 4.0% in the comparable weeks ending March 14 in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The onset of the coronavirus pandemic subsequently upended the normal seasonal pattern of price cuts, which typically rise in frequency between February and October over the course of the traditional home selling season.
Every one of the nation’s 35 largest metro areas currently has a smaller share of listings this year that have had a price cut compared to the same period last year. Among large U.S. metropolitan areas, New York (2.8%), Miami (3.3%) and Riverside (3.8%) have the lowest share of listings with a price cut — with New York’s level lower even than typical seasonal lows in December. At the other extreme, those shopping in Denver (9.1%), Indianapolis (7.4%), and Chicago (6.9%) will see the largest share of listings with price cuts. The biggest year-over-year declines in price cut frequency occurred in Portland (-3.3%), Las Vegas (-3.2%), and San Diego (-3%). Expectations Vs. Reality The most-recent listing price data run somewhat counter to prevailing views on the buyer/seller dynamic expressed in the early days of the coronavirus outbreak, when buyers and sellers alike said they thought buyers had the upper hand in the market. A majority (59%) of current/prospective home sellers that responded to a Zillow survey fielded from April 10-April 27* said the current market was slightly, somewhat or much better for buyers. Similarly, a majority of current/ prospective buyers (53%) surveyed over the same period said buyers had an advantage over sellers. For more on this and other market trends, visit zillow.com/research.
* Survey results come from polling conducted by Zillow Group’s Behavioral Science and Population Science Teams. Data was collected by ZillowGroup using CloudResearch’s Prime Panels platform.
TODD MENARD’S
REAL ESTATE MARKET STATS
C O M M U N I T Y I M PA C T R E P O R T JANUARY – DECEMBER 2019
MONEY RAISED
LOCAL IMPACT
MONTHLY GIVE BACK
Ahwatukee
Ahwatukee
January
$139.85 Arrowhead
$216 Chandler
$512.95 Goodyear
$25 Kierland
$125 Mesa
$145 Surprise
$1,505
• • • •
Kiwanis Baby Shower Drive Plastic bag Drive benefiting D2Squared Home for the Homeless Food Drive benefiting St. Mary’s Food bank Kiwanis Toy Drive benefiting Children’s Group Homes
Arrowhead
• Pet Supply Drive benefiting Wickenburg Humane Society • Back to School Drive benefiting Rise and Dream Foundation
Chandler
• Back to School Drive benefiting City of Chandler • Water Drive benefiting City of Chandler Fire Department • Winter Clothing Drive benefiting Can You Spare A Story
Goodyear • • • •
Water Drive benefiting Valley View Community Food Bank Back to School Drive benefiting Homeless Youth Connection Halloween Candy/Costume Drive benefiting New life Center Toy Drive benefiting Toys for Tots
Kierland
• Water Drive benefiting Phoenix Rescue Mission Code Red • Back to School Drive benefiting Save The Family • Sock Drive benefiting Shoe Box Ministries
Mesa • • • •
Pet Supply Drive benefiting lost Our Home Pet Rescue Toy Drive benefiting New Haven Sock Drive benefiting Shoe Box Ministries Prom Dress Drive benefiting Cinderella Affair
North Phoenix FROM THE DIRECTOR “ With growth comes opportunity and our family of Agents continue to show that each year. As our family grows, we are giving back to our communities in bigger, better ways.”
Carrie Lynn Mason Executive Director
• JDRF Walk- raised $2649 • Dunk Tank Fundraiser benefiting Paradise Valley Emergency Food Bank • Fill A Box Food Drive benefiting Phoenix Rescue Mission
Surprise
• Water Drive benefiting Valley View Community Food Bank • Adopt A Senior Christmas Drive benefiting Kingswood Place Assisted Living
AZ Helping Hands
February
Standing Proud Pitbull Rescue
March
Lost Our Home Pet rescue
April
Phoenix Children’s Hospital
May
Neighbors Who Care
June
National Charity League Ahwatukee Chapter
July
West USA Cares
August
Paradise Schools
October
Hospice Of The Valley
November
Can You Spare A Story
December
West USA Cares
EMERGENCY NEEDS RESOURCE FUND Assisted 4 agents
HEART FUNDRAISER Raised $2388
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH DONNA LEEDS
Congratulations to Donna Leeds West USA Realty’s August Employee of the month! Donna is the Ahwatukee Branch Manager, before becoming the Branch manager in January of this year, before that Donna had been an agent with West USA since 2014. From the moment Donna joined West USA she has always put her fellow agents first. Her Commitment to our family of agents hasn’t changed in over 6 years. We thank her for her tireless service and for always being a positive voice and bright smile to everyone.
M O N DAY West USA Weekly Webinar 9:00am - 10:00am
T U E S DAY
03
West USA Agent Orientation 10:30am - 12:30pm / Webinar Don’t Do Dat w/Broker Bob Stephens 1:00pm - 1:30pm / Webinar
ProStart Training Session 1 9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom
10
Ahwatukee Office Meeting 10:00am - 11:00am / Zoom
W E D N E S DAY
04
Real Estate Fortunes w/ Michael Douville 10:00am - 10:30am / Webinar
ProStart Training Session 1 9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom
11
Real Estate Fortunes w/ Michael Douville 10:00am - 10:30am / Webinar
Don’t Do Dat w/Broker Bob Stephens 1:00pm - 1:30pm / Webinar
Virtual Surprise Office Meeting 10:00am - 11:30am / Zoom
ProStart Training Session 2 9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom
18
West USA Weekly Webinar 9:00am - 10:00am
Broker Round Table 10:00am - 11:30am / Zoom
Don’t Do Dat w/Broker Bob Stephens 1:00pm - 1:30pm / Webinar
Real Estate Fortunes w/ Michael Douville 10:00am - 10:30am / Webinar
ProStart Training Session 3 9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom
24
ProStart Training Session 3 9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom
F R I DAY
06
07
13
14
Facebook Basics for Real Estate Professionals w/ Keith Flynn 10:00am - 11:30am / Webinar
12
FREE REMOTE CE CLASS Mastering the Residential Purchase Contract - 3Hrs Contract Law 9:00am - 12:00pm / Zoom
Smart Video with Your Smartphone w/Keith Flynn 6:00pm - 10:30pm / Webinar
ProStart Training Session 1 9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom
Wise Agent Marketing Tools as part of REACT Training 1:00pm - 2:00pm / Webinar
17
T H U R S DAY
Virtual Kierland Office Meeting 10:00am - 11:30am / Zoom
West USA Weekly Webinar 9:00am - 10:00am
ProStart Training Session 2 9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom
05
FREE REMOTE CE CLASS The NAR Code of Ethics and The AZ Law - 3Hrs Legal Issues 9:00am - 12:00pm / Zoom
AUGUST 2020
25
West USA Weekly Webinar 9:00am - 10:00am
Coffee w/Justin 10:00am - 11:30am / Zoom
Don’t Do Dat w/Broker Bob Stephens 1:00pm - 1:30pm / Webinar
Real Estate Fortunes w/ Michael Douville 10:00am - 10:30am / Webinar
Virtual Goodyear Office Meeting 10:00am - 11:00am / Zoom
19
FREE REMOTE CE CLASS Duties to Clients and Customers 3Hrs Commissioner's Standards 9:00am - 12:00pm / Zoom Chandler Office Meeting 10:00am - 11:30am West USA Chandler
26
FREE REMOTE CE CLASS Agency and Industry Related Issues 3Hrs Agency Law 9:00am - 12:00pm / Zoom
ARMLS Training 10:00am - 11:30am / Webinar
20
Instagram Basics for Real Estate Professionals w/ Keith Flynn 10:00am - 11:30am / Webinar
27
Google My Business for Real Estate Professionals w/ Keith Flynn 6:00pm - 10:30pm / Webinar
14 SPECIFIC THINGS TO DO TO FINISH THE YEAR STRONGDiscussion and Q&A 2:00pm - 2:45pm / Zoom
21
28
Wise Agent CRM Overview and Demo as part of REACT Training 1:00pm - 2:00pm / Webinar
31 West USA Weekly Webinar 9:00am - 10:00am Don’t Do Dat w/Broker Bob Stephens 1:00pm - 1:30pm / Webinar
• CE- Continuing Education Renewal Training • Luxury Division Event
• Commercial Division Event • Office Meetings
SPONSORS
• Education Events • REACT
• Holiday Hours • Social Mixers / Events