Michigan Association of REALTORS®

The legislature met during an unusual Friday session, to reach a deal resolving the 2007 budget. The agreement between the Senate, House, and Governor contained cuts, but no tax increases to fill the $803 million hole. While it is good news that the 2007 fiscal year is solved, 2008 still looms large.

While there was a budget solution once proposed by the Governor containing a 2% tax on real estate services, the agreed budget comes without any tax burdens. In balancing the 2007 budget, many items thought to be cut, such as the layoff of 20 State Police Troopers, slashing school per pupil funding, and revenue sharing to local governments, were spared. The Legislature utilized the securitization of $400 million more in tobacco settlement money, and $100 million from the Higher Education Loan Authority to fill gap. The payment of $165 million to public universities and community colleges was delayed until 2008. However, these and other one time fixes to mend this year’s budget only pile on to 2008 starting October 1st.

While the 2007 budget agreement is a victory, other items still remain unresolved. The Single Business Tax replacement has yet to come to a conclusion, although both sides of the aisle are working toward a solution. The Governor, Senate Majority Leader, and House Speaker all agree that solving the SBT replacement issue is the top priority. The question still remains on whether or not additional revenue for the state and the rumored threat of a temporary income tax hike is more likely to be introduced for the 2008 fiscal budget.

Although the 2007 budget agreement contains no tax increase, we must continue to be vigilant and fight against any tax on real estate services as the legislature prepares to work on the 2008 budget crisis. The MAR staff continues to meet with top legislative officials expressing the negative consequences a tax would have on the industry. As always, we will keep you posted on any news or progress.

Don’t miss your opportunity to save on your trip to the MAR Annual Convention & Expo, happening September 26 – 28 at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mt. Pleasant. There are special early bird discounts for first time attendees as well as returning attendees.

Register by September 8 and pay only $119/person. If you wait and register after September 8, it will cost $179/person, which is still a first time attendee discounted rate.

There are savings for you too! Register by September 8 and pay only $179/person. If you wait until September 9 – 21, admission to the convention will be $199/person. After September 22, registration will cost $209/person.

Once again, MAR’s annual Convention & Expo will highlight several noted speakers. This year’s lineup includes Debra Asher, Cathy Ballard, Carole Bullion, Dwayne Carte, Sandy Geroux, Craig Harrington, Jerry Holloway, Saul Klein, Micheal Lohmeier, Joseph Sabella and Marcus Wally, among others. The 2007 convention will also host a wide variety of exhibitors, the President’s Cup Golf Outing, networking opportunities and the chance to earn several continuing education credits.

Everyone is encouraged to register online today at www.mirealtor.com. Also by visiting the Web site, you can get an updated schedule of events, hotel information and sponsorship opportunities.

To all interested and qualified members,

Effective after the June 21st Board meeting, there will be a vacancy on the MAR Board of Directors for the 14th District. Pursuant to MAR Bylaws, MAR has established a special election process to fill the vacancy. The process is as follows:

• Opening nomination – Tuesday, June 5th
• Close nominations – Friday, June 22nd
• Voting opens online – Tuesday, June 26th
• Voting closes – Tuesday, July 24th
• New Director will be sworn in at the Board Retreat, August 8-10

The vacancy will be filled for the duration of the term (1 1/2) and then District 14 will be open for elections again. Whoever is elected to fill the vacancy can run for re-election, however, and would be eligible to be elected to two successive terms following this half-term.

A candidate for the MAR Board of Directors must meet the following qualifications:

Mark Your Calendars for the MAR Director Elections

Make a difference at MAR by participating with One REALTOR®, One Vote, MAR’s annual Director Elections. Important deadlines are coming up soon, so be sure to mark your calendars appropriately.

As an essential part of the MAR team, the Board of Directors implement the visionary strategies that make the association tick, while building the foundation for constant improvements. These professional, engaged member volunteers ensure that MAR is the first place people think of for highly credible industry-related services and advocacy.

Individuals wishing to seek candidacy must file with MAR by Friday, July 13, 2007.

MAR Directors are elected just like U.S. Congressional representatives, along district lines. Candidates must run in the district where they live. Questions should be directed to Brian Westrin at 517-334-5558, or bwestrin@mirealtors.com.

Other important deadlines are as follows:

August 29. 2007; MAR Director Online voting begins
September 27. 2007; MAR Director Online Voting closes.

For additional information regarding directions for voting, campaign assistance and more, click here.

What is IMing and how does it apply to business?

If you’ve been skimming the dictionary lately, you might have noticed a new addition to the letter I. To “IM,” according to the American Heritage Dictionary, means “To send (someone) an instant message.” Instant messaging was once a mystery to most adults, especially in the workplace, however many office environments have started to introduce instant messaging to their employees as the newest form of interpersonal communication. You can think of instant messaging, or “IMing”, as real-time emails or as phone conversations from your keyboard.

Offered originally by AOL, these typically free services are now as mainstream as email and are offered by companies such as Yahoo, Google, and Microsoft. But is something that has traditionally been used for purely social interaction appropriate for the workplace? Yes and no.

The advantages to using an instant messaging program in your office makes the upgrade a tempting one. Because there is no charge to IM someone in a different city, one benefit to using IMs is reduced phone usage. Being able to contact fellow employees and customers to get or give instant answers or responses is priceless to your company, when it comes to accuracy and efficiency. In fact, IMing is global and can substantially lower your long distance bill. In addition, your company can send files through an IM conversation window on your computer screen, eliminating the need for emails. Also, IMing is faster than emailing from cell phones and hand-held devices, making mobile-to-office communication easier to do and easier to stay updated.

There are drawbacks to office IMing, though. For instance, IM conversations, or “convos” if you’re using IM lingo, are savable and therefore can leave behind proof of any inappropriate usage. This can potentially open up your company to legal issues. Similar to emailing, IMing a file to someone can also open them up for viruses. Although IMs can improve cooperation among employees, there is a thin line between collaboration and distraction.

Microsoft.com offers businesses tips for adding IMs to their workplace, including making user names consistent so you can tell if the person IMing you is from inside the office or not. Entrepreneur.com suggests making an “Employee IM Policy” which regulates the use of office instant messaging. To specifically target the rise in professional users, companies like AOL have created specialty versions of their instant messaging programs. AIMPro, by AOL, for example is a highly secure program that offers video conferencing, online meetings and file sharing. For more information on how to incorporate instant messaging into your business, try looking up “Tech Trends” at Entrepreneur.com.

Nominate Your 2007 REALTOR® Active in Politics

Help us recognize a member that gives significant time and effort promoting the real estate industry and private property rights. It is time to select the annual recipient of the REALTOR® Active in Politics Award!

Each local association can nominate one member. The RAP Selection Committee will determine the winner from each of the local association nominations. Nominees should be members that promote participation in politics within our membership and/or work to advance MAR’s agenda with elected officials.

Candidates are judged based on active support and leadership of membership through political involvement at the state and local association levels, personal involvement with influencing public policy, and promotion and contribution to RPAC. NAR involvement is also taken into consideration.

Click here to submit a nomination form on the MAR website. The deadline for MAR to receive all local association nominations is July 30th.

Celebrate National Homeownership Month

Each year since 2002, President Bush has designated June as National Homeownership Month, with the goal of increasing minority homeownership in America by 5.5 million by the end of the decade.

To celebrate National Homeownership Month 2007, NAR presents a wealth of resources and tools that support homeownership and strong communities.

Association Executives and State and Local Association members are encouraged to participate actively in efforts to encourage homeownership and strengthen our neighborhoods, towns, and cities.

Learn More.