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The DLEG Web site contains important links regarding the renewal process for all license types for the period 2006 - 2009. Renewal applications from DLEG will be mailed by mid-August to each licensee: brokers will receive company and branch office renewals at the business address on file; salespersons and associate brokers will receive renewals at the residence address on file with the Department at the time of mailing. For more useful information visit the DLEG Web site. Encourage Your Members to Earn CE at Convention The State has already approved the following sessions for continuing education:
Attending Convention is a great way to encourage your members to satisfy their continuing education requirements. To register visit the MAR Web site, or call 800.454.7842 to request a hard copy registration form. MAR Board Learns From Pacific Institute The MAR board meets annually to review goals and strategies of the association and discuss issues that help guide policy. Last week the board traveled to Chicago for its annual retreat. The board toured NAR headquarters, met with NAR staff and were guided through a one-day session of The Pacific Institute. NAR CEO Dale Stinton presented the board with an update on NAR initiatives. According to Stinton, Federal elections are up in the air and the small business health plan legislation is still a top NAR priority. He also touched on internal NAR reorganization, PAG fundraising, the NAR public awareness campaign and the NAR Conference taking place in New Orleans. Laurie Janik, NAR’s Legal Counsel gave an update on Federal issues, while NAR Senior Vice President and CTO, Mark Lesswing, provided a technical overview of what’s on the market at present, what to look out for, and what we can expect in the future. All the speakers were well-received by board members and many positive comments were shared with MAR staff after the presentations. During The Pacific Institute, trainer Doreen Lecheler had the board take a look at leadership in the association, individual components (broker, agent, local associations, commercial entities, etc.) and how they work together, what specific needs they have, what they offer, and how they communicate. The Pacific Institute is a performance improvement company that focuses on the root cause of performance problems. Research shows that in order to change the way you behave, you must change the way you think. Dale Stinton had informed the board in their visit to NAR that all NAR employees go through The Pacific Institute Training. Though shortened in scope due to time constraints, MAR board and staff alike felt there was great value in the information provided at the retreat. According to MAR Director Dan Coffey, “This is the gold standard.” “Working with the Pacific Institute was something that the board will remember very positively for a long time to come,” added Furhad Waquad, MAR 2006 president-elect.
There have been numerous stories of fraud and deception in the mortgage industry making headlines in Michigan. Recent studies show that the state leads the way in mortgage fraud statistics. Michigan’s mortgage fraud losses have skyrocketed from about $9 million in 2003 to $26 million in 2005, according to the FBI. In response, state lawmakers are introducing bills curbing this criminal activity, with stricter penalties and increased funding for investigations. House Bill 6267, introduced by Representative Rick Baxter, allows money in the Real Estate Enforcement Fund to be used by the state Attorney General’s Office to investigate and enforce mortgage fraud. Currently, the money (roughly $3 million) is restricted for prosecuting unlicensed activity. Another piece of legislation in this package would make mortgage fraud a felony, and provides prosecutors with the flexibility necessary to efficiently try mortgage fraud cases that typically overlap legal jurisdictions. The bill package targets several types of mortgage fraud, including equity skimming, mortgage-related identity theft, and the misuse of property “flipping,” which, in context, means the practice of buying property, inflating its value through false appraisals, and selling it to a straw man or unsuspecting buyer. Along the same lines, the third bill in the package aims to prevent an appraiser from modifying appraisals in exchange for repeat customers or future business relationships. It would also make appraisal fraud a felony, and would make illegal influencing appraisers to these ends. As a regulated industry, the MAR understands the need for legislation to keep honesty and integrity in real estate business, and supports this package of bills as a means to hold those in our industry to the highest standards for the protection of homeowners and the good of Michigan’s real property market. Helpful Air Travel Tips The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced an adjustment in the aviation threat level from RED to ORANGE for flights from the United Kingdom to the United States. There will not be any operational changes for domestic flights in the United States. Thus, the U.S. threat level remains at ORANGE, or ‘High,’ for all domestic and international flights. The ban on liquids and gels in carry on baggage remains in full effect and the following still applies to air travelers: • No liquids or gels of any kind will be permitted in carry on baggage. Such items must be in checked baggage. This includes all beverages, shampoo, sun tan lotion, creams, toothpaste, hair gel, and other items of similar consistency. Exceptions: Baby formula and medicines, which must be presented for inspection at the checkpoint. • Beverages purchased in the boarding area, beyond the checkpoint, must be consumed before boarding because they will not be permitted onboard the aircraft. • Passengers traveling from the United Kingdom to the United States will be subject to a more extensive screening process. Here are some tips to make air travel easier for you as well as airport security. • Pack lightly, without clutter to facilitate easier screening • Arrive earlier than usual at the airport • Cooperate with TSA personnel at checkpoints and with airline personnel at all gates • Be attentive and vigilant to any suspicious activity and report it to authorities For more information and updates on air travel, you can visit the Department of Homeland Security’s Web site.
MAR Calendar of Events
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720 North Washington Avenue • P.O. Box 40725 • Lansing,
Michigan 48901-7925 Copyright © 2005 Michigan Association of REALTORS® |
