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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
Continue to Show Growth Locally
 While there continues to be flux with the
national home sales statistics (
click here for NAR release), there was continued growth in sales
for Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties in March. All three counties
showed sales growth from February to March, although still down from March
2007. Additionally, prices continued to be steady, with minor increases
from over last year. For more information on specific areas, please access
the statistical reports available on TREND's
website; once logged in, go to the MLS section and click on the
Statistics tab.
Commenting on the statistics for an upcoming news release to
local media outlets, Suburban West Chairman Jim Ryal said, "While
sales may not be at the record levels they were two years ago, they are
still strong. And as important, we are not seeing the significant price
drops being experienced in other major markets." To read the news
releases being issued for Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties, please
click
here.
Looking ahead, NAR posted its forecast earlier this month with
Lawrence Yun, NAR Chief Economist, summing up the future prospects of the
national market, "Existing home sales could start to show a sustained
increase within a few months, unless there are some additional economic
problems or excessive inflationary pressure," he said. "We're
looking for essentially stable sales in the near term, before higher
mortgage loan limits translate into more sales in high-cost markets. The
wider access to affordable credit should increase sales activity notably
this summer as pent-up demand begins to be met." To read the full
release from NAR, please click
here.
NAR Midyear
Meeting is Fast Approaching
 The National Association of REALTORS will be
conducting its annual Midyear Legislative Meetings in the next few weeks.
The meetings are 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 coupled with unique
networking aspects. This year also marks NAR's 100th anniversary which will
be celebrated at the Centennial Dinner.
The National Association of REALTORS Midyear Legislative
Meetings and Trade Expo are scheduled for May 12 through May 17, 2007 in
Washington, D.C. Note that the Trade Show will run May 14-16 and 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.
Add Market Data
Statistics to Your Listing Presentation
 Are you looking to enhance your listing
presentation? If so, come to the next Starbucks Morning at the Suburban
West REALTORS Association. The topic for this session will be Market Data
Statistics: Pricing and Marketing, which will explain how to obtain
statistical reports and ways to prepare a seller's CMA within the TREND
MLS. Members are invited to participate in this interactive seminar while
enjoying free Starbucks coffee.
To sign up for this free event, please click
here. Once logged in, please access the events calendar. To view a
flyer with upcoming Starbucks Mornings topics, please click
here.
Professionalism
Tip: Pathways to Professionalism DVD Release
As announced earlier
this week, the Suburban West REALTORS Association is launching "Pathways
to Professionalism" - the DVD. The Association encourages all members
to join together in a commitment to professionalism by viewing this DVD and
embracing its core message: To help raise awareness amongst the membership
of the courtesies and professionalism that should be demonstrated to the
public, the properties that we represent and to fellow REALTORS. Whether
new to the business or a seasoned veteran, there is something to be gained
from this important 15 minute video.
The DVDs will be delivered by Association representatives in
the next few weeks to each office. If you have any questions about this
program, please don't hesitate to contact the Association office at 610-
560-4800.
New
Affiliate/REALTOR Connection Blog
In conjunction with
the Association, the Affiliates have developed a new tool that REALTORS can
access for crucial information on the most timely issues. The Affiliate-REALTOR
Connection Blog is the newest resource that members can use to stay
current on a variety of issues. Recently, two new entries were posted:
- Anatomy of a Like-Kind Exchange
- Professional Real Estate Appraisal
Not only does the Affiliate-REALTOR Connection Blog give you
the opportunity to obtain additional knowledge, it is dynamic in that you
can post questions or comments. Thus, you can engage the author to find out
more on their posting or create a dialog with other REALTORS or Affiliates
about the topic. NOTE: We are currently only allowing Affiliate Members to
post articles but are considering other options for REALTORS in the future.
Please don't hesitate to contact Steve Farace at 610- 560-4800
or by clicking here
if you have any questions about these new resources.
Updated Member
Rosters Now Available
The latest version
of the Suburban West REALTORS Association member roster is now available.
Current as of April 23, 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. And for a list of REALTORS who moved offices, please click
here.
A year-long series
of brief recommendations to promote REALTOR safety in the office and out in
the field.
Take two seconds as
you walk towards your destination to check out potential risks. Be sure to keep in mind:
- Are people coming and going or is this area
unusually quiet?
- Do you observe any obstacles or hiding places in
the parking lot or along the street?
- Is anyone loitering in the area?
REALTOR Happy Hour
Coming to Malvern- The REALTOR/ Builder Happy hour will take place on Thursday,
May 29 at the Desmond Hotel in Malvern from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Besides
featuring FREE appetizers and drink specials, members will also have the
opportunity to submit their business cards at the door to have a chance to
win various prized donated by our Affiliate members. This is a wonderful
opportunity to network with other REALTORS and Builders in the area as well
as maintain relationships with other real estate professionals.
Please click
here to view a printable flyer for the event.
Upcoming Events at
the Association:
- April 28- Ethical
Open Houses; Preventing Procuring Cause Accidents at the Springfield
Country Club, Springfield, PA
- April 29- Agency;
Definitions, Distinctions and Disclosures, Malvern, PA
- May 1- Getting
to Yes, Malvern, PA
- May 1- Fundamentals
of Commercial Real Estate, Malvern, PA
- May 1- Advanced
1031 Exchanges at Montgomery County Association of REALTORS,
Plymouth Meeting, PA
- May 1- Investing
in IRA and 401K Retirement Plans at the Montgomery County Association
of REALTORS, Plymouth Meeting, PA
- May 1- Chester
County REALTOR/ Lawyer Meeting, West Chester, PA
- May 3- Insurance
and Consumer Protection; What Every Agent Should Know,
Malvern, PA
- May 5- Flips,
Frauds and Foreclosures, Malvern, PA
- May 6- Starbucks
Morning: Market Data Statistics; Pricing and Marketing,
Malvern, PA
- May 7- Tax
Benefits of Home Ownership; Personal Residences, Vacation Homes &
Secondary Homes, Malvern, PA
- May 7- Agreement
of Sale, Malvern, PA
- May 8- Introduction
to e- PRO, Malvern, PA
- May 9- Property
and Transaction Disclosures at Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown
Square, PA
Important Phone
Numbers & Websites
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