00If this newsletter does not load on your screen, click here.
|
The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), once again held their Midyear meetings in Washington D.C. this month. The purpose of the trip is to allow REALTORS® from around the country a chance to meet with their legislators to express concern or gratitude on federal legislation that has an impact on the real estate industry. This year, the Michigan Association of REALTORS® (MAR), had almost 200 members attending the event. The Midyear visits to Washington would not be effective without the MAR Federal Political Coordinators (FPC’s). The FPC’s duties are to serve as liaisons between members of Congress and all REALTORS® in Michigan. They are also responsible for keeping the D.C. meetings running smoothly and on task. Generally, many of the FPC’s moderated the meetings, and REALTORS® who reside in particular districts were able to express their opinions on big issues that directly impact the real estate industry, such as healthcare. These meetings allowed legislators to come face to face with those who they will impact with the votes they cast on particular legislation. Overall, the Midyear visits proved to once again be highly effective in getting members in the real estate industry politically involved and aware of the legislative process on the federal level. REALTORS® in Michigan have a strong voice on issues being debated on the House and Senate floor, and this is echoed nationally when banded together with others in real estate industry across the country.
View additional photos from Midyear meetings Loan fraud epidemic sweeping the country ByJanis Mara The once-pleasant Moorings IV neighborhood in suburban Georgia in 1996 became a nightmare of deteriorated, boarded-up vacant homes, their owners' dreams lost to foreclosure as a result of a skyrocketing national problem – real estate fraud. Residential real estate loan fraud is a national epidemic, costing communities nationwide an estimated $1 billion in 2005, compared to $429 million in 2004, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A 2005 white paper from the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council said up to 10 percent of all mortgage loan applications in the $3 trillion annual U.S. residential real estate market involve some material misrepresentation. Nominate your REALTOR® of the Year It is time once again to nominate your association’s REALTOR® of the Year. MAR’s annual REALTOR® of The Year award is the highest honor bestowed upon a Michigan REALTOR®. It stands for integrity, individual achievement and perhaps the greatest compliment, recognition from peers in the real estate industry. The award is presented at MAR’s 2006 Convention & Expo, September 25-27, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and Devos Place in Grand Rapids. To make sure your association is represented, download a ROTY application from MAR’s web site and send it to Andrea Bates abates@mirealtors.com or fax to 517.334.5568 or mail to MAR headquarters. All applications must include a high quality, full color portrait picture that is 300 dpi in an EPS, JPEG, TIFF or PDF format. All nominations must be received by August 3, 2006. Encourage your specialists to register on Michigan Living Network MAR members who specialize in appraising, commercial real estate, or working with international clients can register with these specialties on Michigan Living Network . This search engine, which is linked off of the MAR web site, is the consumer search engine used to find REALTORS® by location. The search function allows consumers to search by specialty, and allows those with specialties to be more easily marketed in their communities and more easily found by clients. For instructions on how your members can list themselves as specialists, view these instructions. Save your members money Make sure your members know about the discounts they can receive on their auto and homeowners insurance through the MAR Edge program. Through administrator Hartland Insurance Group, Frankenmuth Mutual (FM) provides MAR members with substantial discounts on auto- and homeowners insurance. Members receive discounts of at least 10 percent off normal FM auto insurance rates, 15 percent off homeowners insurance rates, and an amazing 20 percent off of combined auto- and homeowners policies. Members can enroll by contacting their local Frankenmuth Mutual agent. To find your local agent, call 800.682.6881 or visit the Hartland Insurance Group web site. Download a list of preferred agents and agencies nearest you to share with your members - download
Voting will open for the MAR Director Elections on August 28 and will close September 26. All voting will be online, accessible by the MAR web site. Individuals wishing to seek candidacy must file with MAR by July 12, 2006. AS a MAR member you are eligible to run for director if:
Directors are elected just like U.S. Congressional representatives, along district lines. Candidates run in districts in which they live. Find your congressional district here. Districts up for election this year include 1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 14 and 15. To learn more about the vote visit the MAR web site.
MAR Calendar of Events
|
|
||
720 North Washington Avenue • P.O. Box 40725 • Lansing,
Michigan 48901-7925 Copyright © 2005 Michigan Association of REALTORS® |
