| 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.
Association Office Closed July 3rd and 4th
 In observance of Independence Day, the Association's office
will be closed Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4. The office will
reopen at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 5. Members are encouraged to
contact the office for any needs prior to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June
30. Also, remember that many questions can be answered by logging on
to the Association's website, www.suburbanwestrealtors.com.
RELRA Changes Passed by State House
 The REALTORS Legislative Alliance (RLA) would like to thank
all members who participated in the Pennsylvania Association of
REALTORS' call to action. Due largely in part to member
participation, House Bill 2631 passed the House by a vote of 197-2.
The House approved bill would make the Consumer Notice applicable
only for transactions involving 1-4 residential units. This change
makes the law consistent with current Seller Disclosure
requirements, which have been in effect since 1996. RLA staff will
continue to keep you informed about the progress of this and other
legislation.
Ensure That The Assistance You Are Receiving Is
"Professional"
 Have you considered a REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANT?
Whether you have someone you would like to train as an assistant or
you are considering training to be one yourself, you will want to
take advantage of this opportunity. The Association of REALTORS
School is proud to host REBAC's Real Estate Professional Assistant
certificate course on July 25 and 26. This two-day certificate
program is ideal for all real estate support personnel including
assistants, office administrators, secretaries and receptionists. It
can also benefit anyone needing a refresher in the basics of the
real estate business.
Topics include:
- The business of real estate
- Agency representation and disclosures
- MLS, local listing and sales forms
- Transaction management
- Key marketing concepts
The cost for the two-day course is $249 and it includes lunch
both days and is eligible towards 7 elective hour towards 2006-2008
PA Real Estate license renewal. To register, click here or call 610-
560-4900. Questions about the course can be directed to Gail Parke
at gparke@suburbanwestrealtors.com.
Lower Merion Board Softens Hit on Taxes
Thanks to the state legislature, the pain of Lower Merion
School District’s big tax increase will be spread out. The state
house passed legislation that will divide the impact of the $140
million in bond issues for the new Harriton High School and related
projects over the next two years. HB 39, which still awaits the
Governor’s signature, includes an exception for debt that has
already been incurred. Because the school board has already
authorized the first bond issues, that new debt service will not
trigger a referendum next year, on its own. It is important to note,
the bonds for the Lower Merion High School improvements will not
have the same assurances.
Lower Merion School directors voted to amend the 2006-07
budget calling for a 10.8 percent tax increase, with a projected 8.4
percent hike next year. This reduction means the school property tax
portion of the tax bill for a single family home assessed at
$255,000, the area average, will be $4,608.36, or $148 less than the
original projected figure.
The new plan does not change the long-term impact of the
projects. Taxpayers should still expect double digit tax increases
over the next three years, as taxes are projected to increase 49
percent in those three years. (Source: Main Line Life;
06/27/2006)
Additional Tax Updates--The Unionville- Chadds Ford
Board of Education unanimously accepted the 2006-2007 budget.
The $61,300,963 budget will require a millage increase of 20.49
mills in Chester County and 18.81 mills in Delaware County. The
final millage rates in Chester and Delaware counties will be 20.78
and 19.07, respectively. The established 1 percent real estate
transfer tax will also carry over into the 2006-2007 school year.
The Interboro School Board passed a budget with $49.2 million
in expenditures that will raise taxes for the average homeowner by
$70 The increase marks the fourth time in as many years that taxes
will go up by 2.5 percent. A homeowner with a property assessed at
$100,000 will now bay $2,863 in real estate taxes. (Sources: The
Kennett Paper; 06/22/2006 and Delaware County Daily Times;
06/23/2006)
Memorial Notice
The Association is saddened to notify the membership of the
passing of Joseph P. Durning on June 24. Joseph was a
longtime Designated REALTOR member with Joseph Durning Real Estate
and active in real estate for over 40 years. In lieu of flowers,
memorial contributions in his memory can be made to St. Peter Church
Building Fund, 1080 N. Manor Ave., Honey Brook, PA 19344; or
Neighborhood Hospice, 795 E. Marshall St., North Hills Bldg., West
Chester, PA 19380.
Reminders
REALTOR Happy Hour Coming to Springfield-- The
Suburban West REALTORS Association is pleased to announce the next
Happy Hour for members of the Association. All members are invited
to attend our Happy Hour on Wednesday, July 12 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
at Tavolas
Restaurant at the Springfield Country Club. Like previous
events, it will feature drink specials, complimentary appetizers and
great prize giveaways courtesy of the Affiliate Member Forum. Most
importantly, the Happy Hour is a great chance to network with
colleagues. Click
here for a printable flyer about the event.
UPDATE--RPAC Telethon Totals Rise--The REALTORS
Political Action Committee has now raised over $29,000 during its
June fundraising efforts. 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. To
recap, the monies raised for RPAC is critical to the Association's
efforts to have pro- REALTOR and pro-Real Estate candidates elected
during this year's elections.
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. 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 Vinnie Pagnini
at vpagnini@suburbanwestrealtors.com.
Important Phone Numbers & Websites
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