| 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.
Local REALTOR Associations Announce Sneak Previews for New
Electronic Lockbox System
 As previously announced in past issues of the Weekly News,
the local REALTOR Associations of Bucks, Greater Philadelphia,
Lancaster and Montgomery counties, and Suburban West REALTORS
Association have announced that they are in the final stages of
contract negotiations with Supra that will translate to greatly
improved operating efficiencies for the collective membership. It is
expected that a swift changeover will take place in early 2008 with
no interruption in existing service during the exchange process. To
read about additional details on this regional project, please click
here.
Suburban West has planned six opportunities for you to
preview the new Supra products and to learn more about the
integrated technology that eliminates the need for daily cradling
and update codes.
The preview dates and times are as follows:
- Wednesday, January 30 at either 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., or 1:00
p.m. at the Springfield Country Club in Springfield, PA
- Friday, February 1 at either 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., or 1:00
p.m. at the Suburban West REALTORS Association in Malvern, PA
For additional information and to register for one of the
preview dates, please click
here.
Professionalism Tip: 2008 Code of Ethics Now Available
 As a REALTOR, you have pledged yourself to conduct your
business in accordance with a Code
of Ethics. Each year the Code
of Ethics is reviewed by the National Association of REALTOR
Professional Standards Committee. For 2008, Article 12 also known as
the "Advertising Article" was rewritten and two new Standards of
Practice were added. The revised Code
of Ethics can be found by clicking the links in this article
or by visiting the Member Services/Professional Standards page of
our website. Should you have questions please contact Paula Tansey
at ptansey@suburbanwestrealtors.com
or 610- 560-4800.
Financing Real Estate in the 21st Century
 As the debate about predatory lending, long term financing
vs. adjustable rates, and the mortgage crisis continue, your clients
may rely even more heavily on you to provide direction. While it is
not necessary to be an expert, a clear understanding of the process
will make you a better advocate for your client. The ever changing
technologies available today have had an impact on the techniques
and programs of finance. Real
Estate Finance beginning on January 9th, will prepare you
for the consumers and markets of today and tomorrow. This is a
broker level course providing 2 core credits toward a broker
license. You do not have to be a broker candidate to take or benefit
from the information in this class. To register for this course,
please click
here.
Know Someone Interested in a Career in Real Estate
 Pre-Licensing Courses could be the key to a successful new
career in Real Estate for your family, friends and clients. Our
classes feature expert material and instructors with a broad range
of first- hand experience and knowledge. We are now accepting
registrations for our Winter Session that begins January 15 and runs
for 10 weeks (two classes/two nights a week). To sign up today, call
610- 560-4900 or email gparke@suburbanwestrealtors.com.
Knowing that many individuals' schedules are tighter than
ever, the Association is also offering our Pre-License courses
online. This provides another convenient option for students to
pursue their real estate license. To learn more, please click
here.
Commercial/ Investment Marketing Exchange Meeting on January
11
The C/I Marketing Exchange will next convene at the
Association's office in Malvern from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on
Friday, January 11. This month's presentation will be "Overview of
the SBA's 540B Program" by John Flemming of the Small Business
Administration. The meeting will also feature an 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. Contact Steve Farace at sfarace@suburbanwestrealtors.com
for more information.
Employment Notice
A small Real Estate office in West Chester, established for
over 40 years, is seeking an organized, detail oriented
Administrative Assistant with working knowledge of general
bookkeeping and QuickBooks. Hours are flexible. Interested
candidates may call Thomas Spackman at 610-766- 2315 or fax their
resume to 610-692-2718.
Safety Tip A
year-long series of brief recommendations to promote REALTOR safety
in the office and out in the field.
Be prepared for road dangers. Keep roadside breakdown
essentials in the trunk, including flares, a tire-inflation
canister, basic hand tools, spare belt and hoses, water, a
flashlight and a first-aid kit. Have your vehicle inspected
regularly, keep it well maintained and learn to change a flat
tire.
Reminders
Time is Running Out to Register for the Leadership
Symposium- Time is running out to register for the annual
Leadership Symposium and Luncheon featuring St. Joseph's University
Basketball Coach, Phil Martelli author of the new book "Don't Call
Me Coach: A Lesson Plan for Life."
The event will be held on January 10, 2008 from 11:30 a.m. -
2:00 p.m. at the Valley Forge Military Academy. In addition to a
humorous and engaging program, this special event will feature the
installation of the 2008 Board of Directors and its new Chairman,
Jim Ryal. Members will also be able to network over lunch in a
stately and unique venue. To register for this event, please click
here and click on the Events Calendar after logging in. To
view a printable flyer, please click
here. The Association would like to extend their
appreciation to the following companies for their generous
sponsorship of this event:
- Prudential Fox & Roach & The Trident Group
- USI Affinity
- Brandywine/ Springfield Waterproofing
- LandAmerica 1031 Exchange
- CU Settlement
- State Farm Insurance- J. Scott Vasko Agency
Starbucks Mornings: Learn How Handheld Devices can Improve
Your Business-The third session in our ongoing series of free
seminars is scheduled for Tuesday, January 8 from 9:00 a.m. - 10:30
a.m. at the Association's office in Malvern. The topic will be about
Handheld Devices, featuring Fran Thorsen from Internet Crusade. She
will compare and contrast the features and functions of a variety of
devices, as well as the benefits of using one. Attendees are
encouraged to pose questions to better understand how the devices
can work towards their benefit. Please be sure to bring your
handheld device, if you have one. This session is sponsored by Carla
Wilson of McLean International, LLC.
Registration is required for this FREE event and you may
register online by clicking
here. Once logged in, please access the events calendar. If
you have questions about the Starbucks Mornings, contact Mary Lim at
mlim@suburbanwestrealtors.com.
Trend Classes to be Offered at Association- On January
14, the Association will host Course 101- Stepping in the Right
Direction from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. AND Course 203- Marketing to
the Generations: Targeted Seller CMA's from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30
p.m.
The Stepping in the Right Direction course will cover:
- How REALTORS can facilitate their business
- What an MLS is
- How to access listed properties
- How to view tax records on properties in TREND and how it is
beneficial to the real estate business
The Marketing to the Generations class will cover:
- What are generational identities
- What makes your sellers unique
- How can you best communicate across generations
- How can the technology in TREND help prepare a CMA that all
generations can appreciate
Note that both of these courses are free of charge and open
to all REALTORS of the organization. To register, call 610-560-4800
or click
here and once logged in, access the Events calendar.
Upcoming Events at the Association:
- January 7- Title
Insurance for Real Estate Professionals, Malvern
- January 8- Starbucks
Mornings: Technology; Handheld Devices, Malvern
- January 9- Real
Estate Finance (Day 1 of 4), Malvern
- January 10- Leadership
Symposium and Luncheon at the Valley Forge Military
Academy, Valley Forge
- January 11- Ethical
Open Houses; Preventing Procuring Accidents at the
Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square
- January 11- Commercial/ Investment Exchange, Malvern
- January 14- Trend class: Course
101-Stepping in the Right Direction, Malvern, PA
- January 14- Trend class: Marketing
to the Generations, Malvern, PA
- January 16- Real Estate Finance (night 2 of 4)
Important Phone Numbers & Websites
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