WEEKLY NEWS SERVICE
June 23, 2005

NEW INFORMATION

• Become an Accredited Buyer Representative! — The Association of REALTORS School is proud to present the ABR Designation Course. This two day course is considered the cornerstone of buyer representation. The instructor will guide you in building and maintaining a buyer representation business. Some of the topics covered include: standard of care, risk management, changing an agency role, negotiating and more. Wednesday, July 13 and Thursday, July 14, 2005 (Two day course) 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. both days. Tuition: $249.00 includes all course materials and in-house lunch both days. Approved 1 PA Broker credit. Approved 14 hours PA 04-06 Real Estate license renewal. To register click here. Log in and click on Education Calendar or call 610-560-4900 to register by phone. This course is the first step to becoming an ABR. For more information on the ABR criteria and other designation requirements click here.

• Remember To Send In Your RPAC Pledge— The Suburban West REALTORS Association would like to again extend its appreciation to the many members who contributed to RPAC during this past month of the telethon. Between pledges and contributions, RPAC has raised more than $45,000 in June. The Association would also like to remind those who made RPAC pledges to the volunteers to forward your contribution to the Association office by June 30 th.  If contributing by check, all checks are made payable to RPAC.  You can also call the office at 610-560-4800 and pay by credit card over the phone. Should you have any questions regarding RPAC, please feel free to contact vpagnini@suburbanwestrealtors.com.  

• Tax Relief Coming?— On Wednesday, June 22, the Pennsylvania Senate Finance Committee approved a measure that would require school districts to offer taxpayers the alternative of paying their taxes on a monthly, bimonthly or quarterly basis, instead of in a lump sum. If it becomes law, homeowners would get this relief beginning in the 2006-07 school year. It now goes to the Senate floor for consideration. The Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS® testified in support of this concept before the House Republican Policy Committee two weeks ago.

• Plan To Develop Land In West Vincent In The Works-- According to the Daily Local News, The North American Land Trust and a West Vincent family are working on a plan to develop the 1,522-acre Bryn Coed Farms in a way that would preserve most of it. The land trust is seeking to work with investors to purchase the property and populate it with just 27 houses, including nine that are already on the property and would be renovated. The homes would be on parcels ranging in size from two acres to 157 acres. Land trust officials, should their plan be approved, would be conserving much of the land which otherwise could be developed with 700 housing units.  

• A Single Resource For Useful Internet Links— Whilesearch engines like Yahoo and Google provide great assistance for exploring the web, there are still instances when they don’t provide the desired results. There are also times you do access a site and have trouble locating the information you were seeking. The Suburban West REALTORS Association has included a section on its redesigned website that is intended to be a comprehensive resource of real estate/REALTOR-related website links. From state real estate commissions to federal housing programs to local utilities, the Useful Links section includes 100 links that take you directly to the corresponding organization’s site with more sites continuing to be added all the time. The next time you are considering which search engine to use to find a real estate-related site, log on to the Useful Links section of the Association’s site by clicking here.  

• Employment Opportunity— Real Estate Office in Ardmore, PA., dealing in property management and sales, is seeking both an administrative assistant and/or bookkeeper.  The successful candidate should have excellent computer skills. Knowledge of Quickbook PRO/2005 and Yardi Accounting System is helpful and flexible hours are available.  Please fax or email updated resume to Warren Killian at the following:  FAX 610-642-1850 or e-mail at warrenkillian@killianrealtygroup.com.

REMINDERS  

• Interested In Enhancing Your Sales Meetings?— The Suburban West REALTORS Association staff are available to present at sales meetings for member offices. This value-added service allows for you and your colleagues to gain free in-depth information on a variety of topics that will assist in the professional development of attendees. The Association has already presented at more than 20 offices and is excited about the opportunity to present to more. The following is the list of topics that can be addressed for any where from 15 minutes to an hour:

• Standard Forms
• DRS/Mediation
• Association Resources
• Electronic Key and Lockbox System
• Energizing Your Employees
• Property and Self Marketing Tools
• RPAC
• Use and Occupancy Inspection Criteria
• Legislative Update with Q & A
• Equal Opportunity Housing Rules and Regulations
• Code of Ethics Q & A
• Technology Tips
• Safety

For more information or to reserve a staff member to present at an upcoming sales meeting, please contact Steve Farace at 610-560-4800 or sfarace@suburbanwestrealtors.com.

Please note that offices or firms may also request a class be conducted by the Association of REALTORS ® School at location to be determined. The basic requirements are; a guaranteed minimum of 15 students and a facility that can be approved by the State Real Estate Commission as a satellite locations. An entity wishing to bring ARS courses to its location, or a location of its choice, should contact Gail Parke at gparke@suburbanwestrealtors.com or call 610-560-4900 for details.

• Sign Up Today And Make The 5K Run For Home A Success— The 3 rd 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 in a number of ways. Whether you can volunteer your time, run or walk, or even become a sponsor; your assistance will help provide housing to local deserving families. For more information, contact Mary Lim at 610-560-4800 or mlim@suburbanwestrealtors.com. Or access a flyer for the event by clicking here or the registration brochure by clicking here.

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)