| 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.
NAR Issues Call To Action for Small Business Health
Plans
 Earlier this week, REALTORS across the United States received
a Call To Action email from the National Association of REALTORS
President Thomas Stevens. The email requested that members contact
their Senators and ask for their support of legislation that would
permit national organizations like NAR to provide health insurance
coverage to their members through Small Business Health Plans, or
otherwise known as Association Health Plans. If passed, it is
believed that the organization would have greater bargaining power
which could result in lowering overhead costs by 30%. The full
Senate is preparing to vote on bill S.1955 in early May and your
personal contact with Senators Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum can
help secure their support. To contact Senators Specter and
Santorum, please click
here.
Also, please remember that the Suburban West REALTORS
Association will be hosting a Health Insurance Forum on June 6 from
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. All members are invited to this FREE event where
there will be an update on the Senate's action with the Small
Business Health Care bill. The session will also feature information
provided on the health insurance options available through our
partner USI Colburn Insurance Services and one-on-one consultations
Colburn staff. To register, please click
here and, once logged in, access the Events Calendar page. Or
call Steve Farace at 610- 560-4800. For a flyer of the event, please
click
here.
Updated Member Rosters Now Available
The latest version of the Suburban West REALTORS Association
member roster is now available. Current as of April 18, 2006 the
roster features the office contact information for all REALTORS and
Affiliate members of the organization. Members interested in
obtaining their copy of the roster are welcome to stop by the
Association office or contact Tina Lavelle at 610-560-4800 or email
tlavelle@suburbanwestrealtors.com
to have a copy mailed out. Note that members are eligible to receive
one copy of the roster.
Please remember that the latest member contact information is
available on the newly redesigned Association website. Featuring
up-to-the-minute updated information, this is the most accurate
method of finding contact information on members of the association.
To access this section of the website, please click
here.
Contribute to RPAC Today
 Would you be interested in investing in an affordable form of
insurance that can help protect your livelihood? Over the past
several years, member contributions to the REALTORS Political Action
Committee (RPAC) have helped stop legislation at the federal, state
and local level that would have been detrimental to your business
and the clients you serve. By supporting candidates that support
REALTOR issues, RPAC contributions act as insurance against
legislative measures such as last year’s proposed increase in the
transfer tax. An investment in RPAC today will help protect your
business and the industry you serve. To contribute, please call 610-
560-4800 or go to the Payment/Registration
Center and, once logged, click on the link for
Contribution.
Aston Passes Laws Concerning Rental Units, Property
Transfers
Aston Commissioners, April 19, unanimously approved several
resolutions and ordinances pertaining to fees and township
regulations, including seasonal vendors, certificates of occupancy,
regulation of temporary storage structures, inspection for multiple
dwellings and rental dwellings and rooming houses. Major points are
as follows:
Transfer Certificates--Agreements of sale must
be reported to the building inspector by the seller and buyer.
Failure to report the agreement will subject both parties to
penalties, including fines and possible eviction proceedings. The
building inspector must be contacted by the owner of the property
before any and all proposed major alterations to the building are
commenced. Inspections shall be made by the building inspector prior
to final settlement in the event of a resale or prior to the use of
the altered portion of a building if the building has undergone
major alterations. Failure to arrange for such inspection and to
obtain a valid certificate of occupancy will subject the buyer to a
fine of up to $110 per day and possible eviction proceedings.
Rental Dwellings--All buildings that are
converted from owner occupied single-family dwellings to
single-family rental units or multi-family dwellings shall install
an automatic fire sprinkler system conforming to the National Fire
Code. Any rented single-family dwelling owner whose tenant has six
police complaints lodged against the tenant or property will have
its operating license and use and occupancy license suspended. After
three complaints, the owner will be notified via certified mail that
there have been three complaints filed and their use of occupancy pr
operating license will be withdrawn for one year. (Source: County
Press; 4/24/06)
If you have any questions or concerns about these changes in
Aston, please contact Erin Smist, Government Affairs Analyst for the
REALTORS Legislative Alliance, at 610-981-9000 or email esmist@rladirect.com.
Book Sale
 The Association of REALTORS School has nine (9) copies of
“Modern Real Estate Practice in Pennsylvania, 9th Edition” for sale.
Used in pre- license classes, “Modern Real Estate Practices in
Pennsylvania”, provides information on every aspect of real estate
ownership and transactions. This edition has an Internet Resources
section containing web addresses of relevant government and
professional Internet sites making it a great reference or refresher
for licensees at all levels.
The retail price for the books is $ 44.19. We are offering
the books at a sale price of $20 while supplies last (an additional
$5.00 will be charged for mail orders). Contact Gail Parke, gparke@suburbanwestrealtors.com
to reserve your copy today. Reserve your copy by phone with a credit
card or bring a check to the Association office. Orders will be
taken on a first come first served basis.
Upcoming NAR and PAR Meetings
Both the National Association of REALTORS and the
Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS will be conducting meetings in
May within close driving distance of many of our members. We
encourage REALTORS to attend these meetings if possible as it
provides a tremendous professional development opportunity based on
the information presented and the unique networking aspects.
The Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS will convene their
May Business Meetings May 7 through May 10 at the Hilton Harrisburg
& Towers in Harrisburg. There is no cost for REALTORS to attend
these meetings. For a list of topics, please click
here. To register, please call PAR at 717-561-1303.
The National Association of REALTORS Midyear Legislative
Meetings and Trade Expo are scheduled for May 15 through May 20,
2006 in Washington, D.C. May 17-19 will be the Trade Expo. All of
these meetings and events will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park
Hotel in Washington. There is no charge for REALTORS to attend. For
more information on this event, please click
here.
Reduction in Title Insurance Rates
Recently the Pennsylvania Insurance Department approved rate
changes aimed at reducing the price the real estate consumer must
pay for title insurance in a refinance situation. One of the changes
the Insurance regulators will allow is a deeper discount (70% of the
reissue rate) for the substitution rate if the refinance takes place
within 2 years. In addition, if the refinance takes place within the
third or fourth year after the prior insurance, the discount for the
substitution rate is 80% of the reissue rate.
For more information on these changes, please contact the Pennsylvania
Insurance Department. Or contact one of our Affiliate Members in
the Title/Abstract industry; a list is available here.
Reminders
Introducing the RLA’s Municipal Key Contact
Program--The REALTORS Legislative Alliance is seeking the help
of members for its new Municipal Key Contacts Program. This program
provides our members a unique opportunity to become involved in the
areas of government which directly impact the communities where they
live and work. In the event of a major issue of concern for REALTORS
in the area, the Municipal Key Contact will be briefed by the RLA
staff and asked to contact their local officials. REALTORS can sign
up to participate through the RLA Action Center at www.rladirect.com
or can print a sign-up form by clicking
here.
Commercial/Investment Marketing Exchange Meeting on
Thursday, May 4--C/I Marketing Exchange will next convene at the
Association’s office in Malvern from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on
Thursday, May 4. This month’s meeting will feature a presentation on
the “CoStar’s Commercial MLS” by Mei O’Neill of the CoStar Group,
Inc. And, as always, it will also feature an opportunity to network
with upwards of 30 other members and discuss any “haves” and “wants”
of your clients. Please contact Steve Farace at sfarace@suburbanwestrealtors.com
or call at 610- 560- 4800 if you have any questions or would like to
be added to the C/I Marketing Exchange email list.
Important Phone Numbers & Websites
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