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March 28, 2008
 
 
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.

Home Sales Rise Nationally and Locally
Earlier this week, the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) reported that month-to-month sales increased for the first time in six months. Nationally, home sales were up 2.9% in February compared to January although still down 23.8% from February 2007 figures.

Lawrence Yun, NAR Chief Economist, said the gain is encouraging. "We're not expecting a notable gain in existing-home sales until the second half of this year, but the improvement is another sign that the market is stabilizing," he said. "Buyers taking advantage of higher loan limits for both FHA and conventional mortgages will unleash some pent-up demand. As inventories are drawn down, prices in many markets should go positive later this year." To read the full release from NAR, please click here.

Locally, sales also rebounded slightly in February for the three counties. Additionally, prices have also held steady over the last year, bucking national trends. For more information and what some local REALTORS commented this week, click here. Or access the statistical reports available on TREND 's website; once logged in, go to the MLS section and click on the Statistics tab.

Do You or Your Clients Have Abandoned or Unclaimed Property?
The Treasury Department is seeking your assistance to increase awareness of the holder reporting requirements of the Abandoned and Unclaimed Property Act (DAUPA). Unclaimed property is any financial asset that has become dormant, meaning no contact has been made with the owner after a given time period. After this time, the holders of unclaimed property, such as banks, and insurance companies, must file an unclaimed property report with the Pennsylvania Treasury Department. Some examples of unclaimed property include bank accounts, uncashed payroll checks, accounts payable or receivable checks, credit balances, gift certificates, stocks and bonds, escrow accounts, money orders, travelers checks, utility refunds, safe deposit box contents and insurance proceeds.

All reports for unclaimed property must be filed by April 15, 2008. The Treasury has a team of compliance professionals who are available to help your clients meet their reporting obligations. You can reach them on the holder hotline at 1-800-379-3999 or via e-mail at unclaimedpropertyreporting@patreasury.org.

Professionalism Tip: Expect Ethical Conduct; Settle for Nothing Less.
The REALTOR family has been granted a valuable right; the right to police themselves. This comes from the fact that the obligations that REALTORS voluntarily assume through the Code of Ethics are recognized as legitimate protections of the public interest. In order to maintain this independence and self-governance, the process must remain meaningful and useful. REALTOR members must expect adherence to the Code from both themselves and their peers. REALTOR members must be willing to bring attention to those who do not adhere to the Code; either through direct communication or through the enforcement process.

Berks County to Offer Education Courses
The Berks County Association of REALTORS will be hosting the following courses:
  • Working with the Buyer- April 7, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
  • Working with the Seller- April 7, 2008 from 1:30 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.
  • One Size Does Not Fit All- Flexing Your Style to Your Customers and Clients- April 14, 2008 from 8:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
  • Unleash Your Negotiating Power- April 18, 2008 from 8:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

All of these courses will be held at the Inn at Reading in Wyomissing, PA. For more information on either course and to register, please call PRI at 1-800-745- 5527 or register online by clicking here.

Know Someone Interested in a Career in Real Estate?
Pre-Licensing Classes could be the key to a successful new career in Real Estate for family members, 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 Spring Session that begins April 8 and runs 10 weeks (two classes/two nights per week). To sign up today, call 610-560-4900 or email gparke@suburbanwestrealtors.com.

Have a busy schedule? Then consider taking the pre- licensing classes online instead. This provides another convenient option for students to pursue their real estate license. To learn more, please click here.

Delco Family Seeks Support and Assistance
A Delaware County family is seeking volunteers and donations to help furnish and repair the home of a terminally ill father of 6. They are seeking people who can assist with drywall, carpeting, installing a new roof and carpentry, as well as volunteers who can help with some general cleaning and organizing. Donations of furniture, household goods, building materials, gift cards, etc... are also sought to help this family. For more information on how you can get involved, please call Dana, daughter of REALTOR member Marge Douros, at 610-793-1323 or e-mail her at dana2179@comcast.net.

A Beef N' Beer Benefit is also being held on Friday, April 11 at Firefighter's Union Hall in South Philadelphia. Tickets are $30.00 and include roast beef sandwiches and draft beer and soda. For more information about the Benefit, please contact Methodist Hospital at 215-952- 9237 or at 215-952-9218.

Safety Tip
A year-long series of brief recommendations to promote REALTOR safety in the office and out in the field.
Sound the alarms. Consider investing in an alarm system if you don't already have one in your office. If you do, make sure it has a panic button feature that you can easily use in the room you use as an office.

Reminders:
Standard Forms Forum- After two plus years of use, REALTORS have had time to formulate their own opinions on the value of the PAR Agreement of Sale (A/S-R). At the April 10th Standard Forms Forum (11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.), you are invited to present your constructive comments - good, bad or indifferent - about this form. Representatives of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors (PAR) and the PAR Standard Forms Committees will be present at the forum to hear and bring your comments back to a sub- committee being formed to consider and draft revisions. This event is FREE but reservations are required as lunch will be provided. To register, click here, log on and go to the events calendar.

Starbucks Morning- How do you increase your recognition, your referrals, or to repeat business? How can you accomplish making customers' think of you first when they think of real estate? What qualities make you distinct from your competitors? Come learn how to successfully brand your business by focusing on how you can add value to the consumers in your marketplace at the Starbucks Morning on April 10 from 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. at the Association office in Malvern.

To register for the Branding Your Business seminar, please click here and once logged in, click to access the Events Calendar. To view a flyer with all of the Starbucks Mornings events listed, please click here.

Upcoming Events at the Association:

Important Phone Numbers & Websites
phone: 610-560-4800

Disclaimer on Events--Please note that networking events are brought to members by the Suburban West REALTORS Association as a venue to meet and socialize with colleagues. Overt and direct recruiting practices are not acceptable during our events.


Suburban West REALTORS Association | 100 Deerfield Lane, Suite 240 | Malvern | PA | 19355