| Weekly News Service
Providing the Latest Association and Local Real Estate
Information
The Weekly News
Service is an exclusive benefit available to members of the Suburban
West REALTORS Association. Featuring both Association news and local
real estate industry information, the Weekly News is a service meant
to benefit all members of the organization.
PAR Urges Members to Oppose Sales Tax on Services
 The Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS® (PAR) is once again
gearing up for a campaign to stop a proposal that would impose new
taxes on the real estate industry. It is anticipated that
legislation could be under consideration as early as Monday,
December 5, that would impose a 6% sales tax on real estate related
services, as well as the construction industry. The 6% sales tax on
services will be incorporated into other legislation designed to
reduce the burden of local school property taxes.
According to the recently sent PAR Call To Action, REALTORS
are strongly encouraged to contact their legislator with the
following message:
- We oppose the Scavello amendment imposing a 6% sales tax on
real estate related services.
- We support funding education with broad-based taxes such as an
increase in the Personal Income Tax (PIT).
- Cost of public education should be funded by all citizens.
- We support the backend referendum, providing the public local
control over future increases and spending.
Stay alert for this Call to Action being emailed directly to
all members by PAR. In the meantime, if you have any questions,
please contact Michael McGee at 610/981-9000, or ceo@rladirect.com.
Association Now Accepting Toys for Charity Drive
 The Suburban West REALTORS Association is pleased to continue
to coordinate an effort among our members to donate toys to
underprivileged children in our metropolitan area. Starting this
past Monday, all members are encouraged to bring at least one new
unwrapped, non-violent toy to the Association’s office in Malvern.
The organization will continue to accept donated toys through
Friday, December 16. All gifts that we receive will be distributed
to deserving children and families through three organizations:
Dreuding Center (Project Rainbow), Head Start and the Weatherly Day
Center. For more information, please contact Vinnie Pagnini at 610-
560-4800 or email vpagnini@suburbanwestrealtors.com
Get a Head Start on Your License Renewal at the Springfield
Country Club
 The Association of REALTORS School is taking its classes on
the road. On December 15, members are invited to the Springfield
Country Club for a complete day of classes that will provide a total
of 7 hours of Continuing Education Credit and a complimentary lunch
for $70 (Note that members can sign up for classes individually for
$35 each). For more information on the classes listed below or to
register, please call 610-560-4900 or click
here.
Everything You Should Know About RESPA (9:00 a.m. – 12:30
p.m.): Can the title company sponsor your open house? Is it ok
to accept a referral fee from a mortgage company? It depends. Find
out how, when and why at this course because there is still
uncertainty among licensees over RESPA since HUD increased its
efforts to enforce its provisions.
Professionalism, Ethics & Standard Forms (1:30 p.m. –
5:00 p.m.): Proper use of real estate forms is essential to
professional and ethical interactions with consumers. Topics
include: reducing your exposure to risk; the legal and ethical
principals behind the forms; and the relationship between the Code
of Ethics to the proper use of standard forms.
Philadelphia City Council Approves Mold Abatement
Ordinance
According to the Greater Philadelphia Association of
REALTORS, on Thursday, December 1, Philadelphia City Council
approved legislation that requires a buyer of residential property,
who is offered the right to conduct home inspections and elects to
do so, to have a comprehensive mold inspection conducted by a
licensed residential mold inspector if the buyer’s home inspector
identifies visible mold growth or water intrusion in the residential
property during the home inspection. The legislation further
establishes the general criteria for obtaining a residential mold
inspection license.
The REALTORS Legislative Alliance has been advised that the
ordinance will not go into effect until the Philadelphia Department
of Public Health finalizes the implementing regulations. The
legislation’s author, Councilman Ramos, has promised REALTORS a
“seat at the table” as the regulations are being crafted.
Renewal and/or Changes to Health Insurance Benefits Due
December 10
 Subscribers to USI Colburn’s Group Plan have a December 10
deadline to return the Benefit Election Form (Form A) for renewal
and/or amendments to your coverage. Based on your situation, you may
be able to change your level of coverage to realize savings on your
premium. If you have any questions regarding this form or the
different levels of coverage available, please contact USI Colburn
at 610-833- 1800.
Budget Includes Significant Tax Increase for
Coatesville
According to figures released at the unveiling last Monday
(November 28) of the city’s 2006 operating budget, the average
property owner’s taxes will go up 248 percent—nearly $800 a year-if
City Council agrees to accept the administration’s proposed revenue
and spending plan. Years of over-optimistic revenue projections by
the former administration of then-City Manager Paul Janssen have
left the city with a general fund budget shortfall of $4.3 million
that the city staff and council have been grappling with.
The city is proposing an increase of 13.56 mills in the 2006
budget, which would raise the total millage to 18.86 mills. The
average homeowner, who has a home assessed for property tax purposes
at $59,307 currently pays $320.82 a year in taxes at the 5.30
blended millage rate. Under the proposed new tax rate of 18.86
mills, the average homeowner will pay $1,118.54 annually in taxes.
However, the city is eliminating the $140 annual trash collection
fee. (Source: Daily Local; 11/30/05)
Commercial/Investment Marketing Exchange Meeting on December
9
The C/I Marketing Exchange will next convene at the
Association’s office in Malvern from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Friday,
December 9. This month’s meeting will feature a holiday party and a
discussion on the C/I Groups plans for 2006. The meeting will also
feature an opportunity to network with upwards of 30 other members
and discuss any “haves” and “wants” of your clients.
The C/I Marketing Exchange meetings are open to all members
of the Association. Thus, if you are actively involved in this
unique area of the industry or want to get involved, please plan on
attending the next meeting. Please contact Steve Farace at 610-560-
4800 or email Steve Farace at sfarace@suburbanwestrealtors.com
if you have any questions or would like to be added to the C/I
Marketing Exchange email list.
Delaware County Fair Housing Task Force Meeting on December
9
The Fair Housing Council of Suburban Philadelphia is
sponsoring an informative presentation titled “State of the Housing
Market: What is Happening at the State and Federal Levels that
Affects Delaware County”. This program will be presented by Liz
Hersh of the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania on Friday, December 9
from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This program at the Smedley Park
Environmental Center on Baltimore Pike in Springfield is open to all
members of the Association. If you have any questions or need
additional information on the program, please contact Jim Berry or
Rachel Wentworth at the Fair Housing Council of Suburban
Philadelphia at 610-604- 4411.
Employment Opportunity
Small Real Estate office in West Chester, established over 40
years, that deals in commercial, residential sales and property
management is seeking organized, detail oriented Administrative
Assistant. The successful candidate must be proficient in MS Office
and have a working knowledge of general bookkeeping and QuickBooks.
Real Estate license is a plus and flexible hours are available.
Interested candidates should contact Thomas Spackman at 610-
692-2424 or fax resume to 610-692-2718.
Reminders
Changes to Code of Ethics—During the recent Conference
and Expo in San Francisco, The National Association of REALTORS
Board of Directors approved three Professional Standards Changes
within the Code of Ethics effective January 1, 2006. The changes
affect the Standard of Practice 1-13, Standard of Practice 1-15 and
a clarification to Article 10. For the specifics of these changes,
please
click here. If you have any questions on these changes, please
contact Paula Tansey at 610-560-4800 or email ptansey@suburbanwestrealtors.com.
Register Today for the 2005 Triple Play Convention—The
Annual Triple Play Convention is scheduled for December 6 through 8
at the Atlantic City Convention Center. A number of networking and
education opportunities will be presented, including a exhibition
area featuring more than 400 vendors. For more information,
including a schedule of events, please click
here.
Important Phone Numbers & Websites
- Association of REALTORS School: 610-560-4900 (www.realtors-school.com)
- REALTORS Legislative Alliance: 610-981-9000 (www.rladirect.com)
- Suburban West REALTORS Association TECH HOTLINE:
800-704-7240 (email: techhotline@att.net) (8:30 am to 8
pm, Monday to Friday)
- PAR Legal Hotline: 800-727-5345 (9 am to 10 am &
1 pm to 3 pm, Monday to Friday)
- Suburban West REALTORS Association Website: www.suburbanwestrealtors.com
- SUPRA Support: 877-699-6787 (8 am to 10 pm,
Everyday)
- TREND: 610-783-4650 (www.trendmls.com)
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