Weekly News Service

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.

Last Sunday (April 22) the Delaware County Daily Times ran an article (Click here for article) about the local housing market that refuted many of the national media stories about the overall health of the market. We were pleased that the paper identified Suburban West REALTORS Association as a resource for the article and the Association's 2007 Secretary/Treasurer, Tish Maloney, provided information that buoyed the main point of the story; the market in Delaware County, while changed, is still healthy and conducive to buyers and sellers.

This article shows that are increased public relations efforts are making an impact with the local media and, hopefully, with the public. Furthermore, the article combined with our "It's a Good Time to Buy or Sell Your Home" advertisement (Click here for ad) that appeared on the opposite page in the business section created strong awareness that every housing market is local. Through the Suburban REALTORS Alliance, the organization will continue to run ads through November on a number of real estate-related issues. And keep an eye on the Weekly News announcing future media and public outreach initiatives from both the Suburban West REALTORS Association and the Suburban REALTORS Alliance as we continue to remind the public of the importance of using a REALTOR in the transaction.

Please note the following is the schedule of advertisements that will run in May (in the business section):

• Daily Local: May 13, May 20
• Daily Times: May 6, May 13, May 20
• Suburban/ Wayne- Main Line Times:

May 17

To borrow a slogan, this is true in Real Estate as much as in any other business. Professional REALTORS know that much of the process of buying or selling a home is education; about the property, the transaction, the financing, the inspections and so much more. Educating your client about the business relationship they have with you is part of the process too. Taking the time to fully explain the entire Business Relationship Agreement to the client does much more than establish the terms upon which you will get paid.

It also gives you the opportunity to explain potential buying situations (e.g. multiple offers and dual or designated agency). In the process you can establish with your client in advance how the client expects you to handle, on their behalf, the potential situations that might arise. More about the Business Relationship Agreement and tips on how to explain and use it can be found in "Guidelines for Preparation and Use of the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS Business Relationship Agreement Between Broker and Buyer." To view the page, please click here.

Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act (ACT 1) mandates that school districts place a referendum question on the May 15, 2007 primary election ballot asking voters whether earned income (EIT) or personal income (PIT) taxes should be increased, or instituted for the purpose of reducing real estate taxes on qualified residential properties. All school districts in Pennsylvania, other than Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton, are required to place a referendum question on the ballot. The Suburban REALTORS Alliance (SRA) is urging voters to educate themselves about ACT 1 and the important tax-shifting referendum questions.

• Click here to view the referendum questions appearing on the ballot in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties
• Click here to access the SRA's "Act 1 Primer- Understanding the Question on your May Ballot"

Using Conservation Easements and Other Preservation Tools in your Financial Planning

Suburban West REALTORS Association has partnered with Lower Merion Conservancy, Radnor Conservancy, and Willistown Conservation Trust to bring you a seminar on The Benefits of Land Preservation featuring Stephen J. Small, Esq., who is the Nation's leading authority on private land Conservation and financial planning.

This event will be held on May 22, 2007 from 10:00am- 3:00pm at the Gregg Conference Center at American College in Bryn Mawr. 3.5 Continuing Education (CE) credits towards renewal of PA 06-08 Real Estate License are available for licensees who attend the seminar. The cost of the seminar is $55.00 per participant, which includes lunch.

Registration is required, and should be completed on or before May 8, 2007. To register for this event, please click here.

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 Thursday, May 3, 2007. The program topic is still to be determined but features a tremendous opportunity to network with upwards of 30 other members interested in commercial/industrial/investment real estate 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.

Bill Worthington, Founder and Principal Owner of Brandywine Waterproofing in Exton, has been selected by the Exton Region Chamber of Commerce as the recipient of the 2007 Exton Region Small Business Person of the Year Award. The annual award will be presented to Bill at the Chamber's Membership luncheon on May 1.

In order to be considered for the award, a nominee must be the CEO, owner, partner or manager of a for- profit business in the Exton area, have fewer than 100 employees and must have demonstrated various business traits in order to be considered for the award.

Bill is actively involved in Suburban West REALTORS Association,including serving as the Affiliate representative on the Board of Directors and participating on the Affiliate Member Forum. The Association would like to extend an additional congratulations to Bill for this achievement.

The Association is saddened to report the passing of one of its REALTOR members. Robert M. Thomas, passed away on April 23, 2007. Robert was the Designated REALTOR for Robert M. Thomas Real Estate in Phoenixville and was a member of the Association since 1988. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Memorial Service on Sunday April 29, 2007 at 3:00pm which will be held at Eastern University Walton Hall , 1300 Eagle Rd. St. Davids PA 19087. In lieu of flowers, memorial notices can be made in his name to African- American business students, c/o Development Office, Easton University, 1300 Eagle Rd. St. Davids, PA 19087.

Updated Member Rosters Now Available--The latest version of the Suburban West REALTORS Association member roster is now available. Current as of March 29, 2007 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 at no cost.

Please remember that the latest member contact information is available on the Association's 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.

• Association of REALTORS School: 610-560-4900 (www.realtors-school.com)
• Suburban REALTORS Alliance: 610-981-9000 (www .suburbanrealtorsalliance.com)
• PAR Legal Hotline: 800-727-5345 (9 am to 11 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)