Suburban West REALTORS Association

WEEKLY NEWS SERVICE

May 19, 2005

 

Phone 610-560-4800 • Fax: 610-560-4801 • Assn. of REALTORS School Phone 610-560-4900 • RLA Phone: 610-981-9000

Remember to visit http://www.suburbanwestrealtors.com/ for: information on member services, news and useful links, community resources, the Association of REALTORS School and to search for REALTOR and Affiliate Members.

 

NEW INFORMATION

 

·         Downingtown Approves New Rental Inspection Requirements—Downingtown Borough Council has approved an ordinance amending sections of the Borough’s Rental Property Permit. The new permit will be valid for a two year period (as opposed to the previous yearly format) and all rental units in the borough must apply for a rental property permit every two years. As currently written, the fee would be $45.00 every two years and that would include one inspection per rental unit within that two year time frame. An updated permit must be issued in the event of a tenant change but not a property transfer.  No additional fees are charged for updating a permit. Fees incurred in the application process shall also be applied to the inspection process.

 

·         Invest In Your Future by Contributing to RPAC on June 3—The Annual REALTOR Political Action Committee Telethon is scheduled for Friday, June 3.  On this day, member volunteers will be soliciting donations from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.  We encourage all REALTORS and Affiliate Members to help your fellow members by making a contribution or pledge to RPAC when you are asked.  RPAC is working on a number of issues that are vital to REALTORS best interests, including:

 

·         keeping banks out of real estate;

·         preserving mortgage interest deductions;

·         opposing a transfer tax increase;

·         enacting legislation to allow for association health plans;

·         opposing point of sale reassessment; and

·         maintaining reasonable point of sale inspection requirements. 

 

Remember that your RPAC contribution is an investment in your future as a REALTOR and ensures that we can continue to successfully lobby on these issues for your behalf.  If you have any questions about RPAC or the issues that are mentioned above, please contact Mike McGee or Alex Charlton at the REALTORS Legislative Alliance at 610-981-9000.

 

·         Website Spotlight:  Find A REALTOR or Affiliate Section–As a new feature of the Weekly News Service, we will periodically highlight various sections and functions of the website that we encourage members to utilize and benefit from.  Since the site launched in February, it has had nearly 10,000 hits alone on its home page and more and more members are using it to look up information and to sign up for events and classes.  While we are pleased with the positive reactions we have heard about the site, we continue to seek out ways to improve the content and placement of information.  If in your use of the site have any comments or suggestions, please contact Steve Farace at sfarace@suburbanwestrealtors.com or call 610-560-4800.

 

Have you ever received a voicemail or message from a fellow REALTOR and all they leave is their first name and office.  To find out who they are, you can choose to consult the latest roster, but that is accurate up to the date that it was printed.  Instead, consider the Find A REALTOR or Affiliate section on the Association’s website.   This section allows users to search for all members of the Suburban West REALTORS Association by either First Name, Last Name, Office, City or Zip Code or any combination of these criteria.  You can search by using the full name or choose to just use the first few letters of the persons name and open up your search to a larger universe of members.  Once the information is entered, you can then access the most up-to-date contact information available for the member provided directly from our membership database.  

 

Of course the information is only as accurate as provided by our members.  Remember that if you are changing offices, please notify the Association so we can update our database accordingly.  Note, though, that if there are other changes to your personal contact information (email address, cell phone, home address, etc.), you can make these changes yourself on the website.  Go to the online Payment/Registration Center and enter your username and password.  Once logged in, simply click on the link for Personal Information (under Other Services).  Here you will be able to update your personal contact information and even upload your picture so if you are searched on the site it will show up.

 

If you have any questions about these features, please contact Steve Farace at the above contact information.

 

·         Additional Volunteers and Sponsors Needed for 5K Run For Home—The 3rd Annual 5K Run for Home is quickly approaching and we need your help to make it a success.  The event is scheduled for Saturday, August 13 at the Eagleview Corporate Center in Uwchlan and all proceeds will again support Habitat for Humanity of Chester County.  To ensure that the event attracts more participants than last year and, subsequently, improves upon the $10,000 we raised for Habitat, we need the help of our members.  To access a flyer for the event, click here.  To access the registration brochure, click here. 

 

·         One way that members can help is to have their offices become a sponsor for the event.  Last year, more than 30 member offices provided financial sponsorship to help defray costs of the event and to add to the net revenues that were provided to Habitat.  We would like to increase the number of member offices that sponsor this year to over 50.  There are a number of different levels available with associated benefits.  And there is the overall benefit of helping an organization that provides housing to members of your community who are in need.  For information on the sponsorship opportunities that are available, please click here. 

 

·         Members can also help in obtaining corporate sponsorship with gifts-in-kind or donated prizes.  Some of last year’s sponsors provided gifts-in-kind such as hand towels, water bottles, and pens for grab bags.  We also received donated prizes such as restaurant/store gift certificates. We could use your help to locate businesses who are interested in contributing to this event.  Please click here for a sponsorship form.

 

·         The Association is also seeking the assistance of individual members to volunteer to work on the 5K Run For Home Task Force as well as assist the association on the day of the event.  No prior knowledge of planning a run is required.  The Task Force works closely with the staff in the planning and execution of the run and meets periodically up until the event (on average once every other week).   Even more volunteers will be needed for the day of the race to assist with setting up the course, registration, giving out snacks and beverages and providing support to the participants. 

 

If you are interested in volunteering to assist the run, have questions about sponsorship or the event itself, please contact Mary Lim at 610-560-4800 or email mlim@suburbanwestrealtors.com.

 

·         Immediate Employment Opportunity Available—REALTOR from Weichert, Chadds Ford office is seeking an assistant with experience working for a busy REALTOR or secretary/computer savvy person with some business skills to work closely with them.  Duties may include personal/business/files/mailings, etc.  Everything is negotiable.  Please contact the REALTOR directly at 610 299-0911 or via the office phone number, 610 459-5500 ext. 171.

 

REMINDERS

 

¨       Report on the National Association of REALTORS® Mid-Year Meetings—Last week, more than 9,000 REALTORS®, Association Executives and staff attended the NAR Mid-Year Meetings and Expo in Washington DC.  NAR convenes two large meetings a year to provide members a unique opportunity to: network with members from across the United States; learn the latest information to enhance your professional development; and to take an active role in legislative issues affecting the real estate industry.  Last week’s event provided a tremendous opportunity for members and staff to learn about the pressing national issues and to make the REALTORS® voice heard on Capitol Hill.  Highlights of the meetings included an address by President Bush, a speech by Senator James Talent (R-Mo.) on Affordable Health Care legislation for small businesses, and hill visits by members and staff of Suburban West REALTORS Association.  For a more detailed account, please click here.

 

¨       UPDATE--Rental Property and Inspection Ordinance PASSED in Springfield— On Tuesday, May 10, Springfield Township Commissioners PASSED a rental property and inspection ordinance.  The ordinance requires rental owners to pay an annual use fee of $50 per unit, plus inspection fee as follows: $50 per single family unit; $25 for each individual apartment unit; and $10 for each additional inspection required prior to issuance.  Exterior and common area inspections could occur annually, while interior inspections are mandated upon change of      leasee or owner.  For additional information, please contact RLA Headquarters at 610-981-9000.

 

¨       Delaware County Bar Association Real Estate Practices Committee May 25, 2005 – The committee will convene its popular breakfast meeting this month on Wednesday, May 25th at the Little Inn, Media, PA. This month’s topic is “Tax Assessment Law Update” – Speakers: Joseph O’Brien, Esquire; Frank Wesner, Esquire; and Don Weis, Esquire. Cost for this event is $13.00 payable at the door. The fee covers the cost of breakfast and room expenses and will be charged to all attendees. Breakfast is served at 8:15 a.m., the session will begin at 8:45 a.m. and should end no later than 10:00 a.m. Advance Reservation is required. Call Vince Mancini, Esquire at 610-566-8064 to reserve your spot.

 

¨       Introduction To e-PRO Video Event – e-PRO is the only technology certification program recognized nationwide and endorsed by the National Association of REALTORS. e-PRO was built by Realtors for Realtors and will enhance your skills and abilities to help you succeed in this demanding high-tech marketplace. The “Introduction to e-PRO” event on Wednesday, June 15, 1:30 – 3:00, will help you decide if the online course is right for you. Attendance at this video demonstration entitles you to $30 off the regular course tuition of $359.00. To register to http://ims.suburbanwestrealtors.com/ Log in and click on Events Calendar or call 610-560-4800 to register by phone. 

 
OTHER IMPORTANT NUMBERS:

 

·         Suburban West REALTORS Association TECH HOTLINE: 800-704-7240 (email: techhotline@att.net) (8:30 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday)

·         PAR Legal Hot Line: 800-727-5345 (9 a.m. to 10 am & 1 pm to 3 pm, Monday to Friday)

·         Suburban West REALTORS Association: http://www.suburbanwestrealtors.com/

·         SUPRA Support:  877-699-6787 (8 am to 10 pm, Everyday)