|
RELATED LINKS
|
Online Newsletter
April 2011
| Come Home to Howard County Housing Fair |
|
Saturday, April 9th | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Long Reach High School
This is where anyone can learn everything about renting or buying a home in Howard County. Please come on out and invite others!
- HCAR is sponsoring a booth. Visit us there!
- Fern Dannis, MAR's Director of Housing Programs & Partnership for Housing Foundation, and Carol Gamble of HCAR's Board of Directors will teach a class at 10:30 a.m.
- Exhibitors include real estate professionals, mortgage lenders, housing specialists, community groups, county personnel and more (over 40 exhibitors to date).
- Narrated bus tour of communities and new home developments.
- Over 20 education sessions offered throughout the day, from buying your first home to foreclosure prevention.
- MIHU housing lottery drawing where a lucky winner can buy a newly renovated townhome for under $199,900. Apply by Wednesday, April 6 to be eligible!
- Fun for the whole family and activities for the kids.
- BIG Prize Drawings throughout the day (Kindles & $100+ gift cards!)
Back to Top >
|
| Preserve, Protect and Defend MID |
You can shape legislation by being heard early and with strong conviction. This is one of those times. Congress needs to hear from you. Warning signs have appeared on Capitol Hill about mortgage interest deductibility. Homeowners have taken big hits the past few years. We cannot have Congress adding to the injury.
Listen to NAR President Ron Phipp's podcast explaining why our action is so urgent. Then send your letter asking your Representative to cosponsor H.Res25, a bipartisan House resolution that affirms the value and importance of the Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID).
REALTORS® need to direct Congress to Preserve, Protect and Defend the MID. No economic recovery is possible without a vibrant housing market.
Please Take Action today.
Back to Top >
|
| April / May CEU Offerings |
|
Visit the Education & Events calendar at the new HCAR.org to register for all your required
and elective Maryland CEU hours. Here's just a sampling.
Back to Top >
|
| MAR Breakfast of Champions - Two April Sessions |
|
The Maryland Association of REALTORS® invites you to attend...
"Get in the Green Zone!"
Don't miss this fun, fast-paced, idea-packed 90-minute sales workshop!
- How to plan (and actually have) a productive, profitable day . . . every day!
- The four "green zones" that have the greatest affect on your career success
- Breaking down the barriers to open new doors to new business opportunities
- Big steps and bold moves other real estate professionals are making right now
- How to keep from becoming a "victim" of this market
- Ideas and actions for moving forward through 2011 with the drive and energy to succeed!
Only $15 for program and breakfast.
Tuesday, April 26 in Edgewood • Thursday, April 28 in Pikesville
Learn tips to keep your attitude up and your business strong!
Register today at mdrealtor.org.
Back to Top >
|
| April is Fair Housing Month! |
Visit and bring others to the April 9 Housing Fair, check out the NAR Store for Fair Housing brochures, handbooks and more, and learn from the resources below.
Test Your Fair Housing IQ.
How well do you know federal fair housing law?
Find out with a short quiz >
8 Tips for Fair Housing Compliance.
Educate yourself, and your sellers about fair housing laws. Remember, you don't want to discriminate, but the law is about actions and not just good intentions. Discriminating in any way, even at the request of a seller, is illegal. If a seller wants you to discriminate, walk away from the transaction.
Read the 8 Tips >
Back to Top >
|
| Seller Contribution Addendum - New |
|
MAR released a new Seller Contribution Addendum in March. This addendum to the Sales Contract is to be used when the Seller agrees to credit the Buyer at time of settlement with a specific dollar amount or percentage of the purchase price, towards the Buyer's settlement costs.
This addendum also clarifies that it is the Buyer's responsibility to confirm with their lender that the entire stated credit may be utilized. If the lender prohibits any portion of the stated credit, the stated credit will be reduced to the maximum amount allowed by the lender.
Visit hcar.org Members Only for the new sales addendum.
Back to Top >
|
| Congrats! Deb Poquette Appointed to County Commission |
Longtime REALTOR® and HCAR member, Deb Poquette, has been appointed to the Howard County Public Ethics Commission. The appointment was made by Howard County Executive Ken Ulman and confirmed by unanimous vote of the County Council.
The Public Ethics Commission is responsible for interpreting the Public Ethics section of Code, advising persons subject to its application, and hearing and deciding complaints of alleged violations of the Public Ethics rules and regulations. The Public Ethics Commission is also the custodian for all forms submitted by any person regarding compliance with ethics rules and regulations.
Congratulations Deb!
Details >
Back to Top >
|
| Volunteer for a MAR Committee - Deadline May 11 |
Help build an even stronger MAR in 2011 - 2012, while working and learning with fellow REALTOR® members. Complete and submit an easy online form with your top 2 - 3 committee choices. There's 19 committees to choose from.
Important - All current MAR committee members must also complete a form. Committee selections will be prioritized by qualifications and date received. You will receive a committee appointment confirmation by August 26.
Click Here to Volunteer >
Back to Top >
|
| Midyear Meetings and Trade Show |
The 2011 Midyear Meetings will be held Monday, May 9 through Saturday, May 14 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. Complete schedule is online at realtor.org.
2011 Trade Expo hours are:
Wednesday, May 11 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Thursday, May 12 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday, May 13 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Stop by the Trade Expo to check out the latest in real estate products and services from over 100 industry-leading companies. Enjoy free martinis served on Wednesday from 4 to 5 p.m., compliments of Systems Engineering, Inc. Also, you could win $500 in one of four drawings in the Cash In & Win! Contest sponsored by DocuSign, Inc.
Midyears are FREE, as always, to REALTOR® members. RSVP now to save time (no standing in a registration line) at the event. Midyears are close by, and convenient to the Woodley Park-Zoo Metro Station (red line)!
Registration Now Open >
Back to Top >
|
| Food Donations and Help Needed Monthly |
HCAR Members will be preparing dinner for the 51 residents of the Howard County Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center on the 2nd Thursday of each month.
Our next dinner is Thursday, April 14!
If you're interested in donating food or helping with preparation, please email deb@thecampinscompany.com.
Back to Top >
|
|
