FW: Weekly Information from NAR for 04/29/2009

NAR Weekly Newsletter for 4/29/2009

This week's e-mail update from NAR contains information from topics you selected. To access the topics, click on the links below. -Special Offer from NAR - NAR's Right Tools, Right Now initiative offers products and services significantly reduced or at no cost For April, this includes savings of up to 21% on select Fedex® services and the RCA Report, a great analysis of the latest commercial trends and market reports that can be downloaded for free. Visit www.REALTOR.org/RightTools. http://www.realtor.org/mktredir.nsf/pages/LS042909Spons1 -Special Offer from a Sponsor- Now you can turn your BlackBerry into a lockbox key With the GE eKEY for BlackBerry® Starter Kit. Get it FREE for a limited time when you purchase a new BlackBerry® smartphone from Verizon® Wireless ($50 value). Offer expires May 31, 2009. To learn more, vsit Blackberry today. http://www.realtor.org/mktredir.nsf/pages/LS042909Spons2 -Advertisement-< APPRAISAL ISSUES Increase in Fees Required to Purchase Home Mortgage rates and house prices are down -- which sounds great for buyers and refinancers. But mortgage industry underwriting and appraisal changes taking effect this month are putting new hurdles in the way of borrowers and loan officers. Read more... http://www.realtor.org/narlservredirect.nsf/pages/NT00001282?OpenDocument&WT.mc_id=LS042909&CAT=App COMMERCIAL ISSUES Commercial Real Estate Likely to Look Different We all know of the many factors that are and will impact Commercial Real Estate. Increasing vacancies, property price declines and the impact that new tax laws and government actions will have on the economy and banks as well as lending guidelines. According to the New England Business Bulletin, these and other factors will shape the new CRE market, and eventually stabalize this sector. Exactly when this will happen is the question, but it will likely take a year or more longer than the recovery of the residential market. Read more... http://%0d%0a%20/www.realtor.org/narlservredirect.nsf/pages/NT0000128E?OpenDocument&WT.mc_id=LS042909&CAT=Comm Making Money Today REALTORS Land Institute is presenting a just-in-time web seminar on Tuesday, June 3, at noon CT titled "Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Investment Real Estate--Capitalizing on the Current Market Conditions." This is a don't miss opportunity to learn about strategies and tactics to make money in land and commercial real estate in today's market. Read more... http://www.realtor.org/narlservredirect.n%0d%0a%20sf/pages/NT000012AE?OpenDocument&WT.mc_id=LS042909&CAT=Comm All New -- Commercial RE Course Discovering Commercial Real Estate is a basic introduction to commercial real estate. The course helps answer the questions: "Should I add a commercial component to my business?", "What are the basics?", and "How do I get started"? Discovering Commercial Real Estate provides basic terminology, resources needed for a commercial real estate transaction, steps involved in a transaction and resources available through NAR, the REALTORS Commercial Alliance and NAR's five Commercial Institute Affiliates that will assist the practitioner deepen his/her commercial knowledge. Read more... http://www.realtor.org/narlservredirect.nsf/pages/NT0000128A?OpenDocument&WT.mc_id=LS042909&CAT=Comm 2009 Good Neighbor Awards Call for Entries NAR is now accepting applications for the 10th annual REALTOR Magazine Good Neighbor Awards, which recognizes real estate practitioners for their exemplary volunteer service. Wouldn't it be good to have a commercial practitioner among the five winners to be announced in the November issues of REALTOR Magazine and recognized at the 2009 REALTORS Conference & Expo in San Diego? The winner rec eives travel expenses to the conference, national media exposure for his or her community cause, and a $10,000 grant. In addition to the winners, five honorable mentions will each receive a $2,500 grant. Good Neighbor Awards entries must be received by Friday, May 22. For more details and a nomination form, call 800/874-6500 or visit the Good Neighbor Web site. Read more... http://www.realtor.org/rmogoodneighbors/goodneighborform?&WT.mc_id=LS042909&CAT=Comm CURRENT REAL ESTATE NEWS/TOPICS & ISSUES Sun Prairie real estate auction billed as one of the largest in state history At least 20 properties here will be sold to the highest bidder next month -- an event promoters are billing as one of the largest real estate auctions in state history. Read more... http://www.realtor.org/narlservredirect.nsf/pages/NT000012A6?OpenDocument&WT.mc_id=LS042909&CAT=Curr Market Lures Move-Up Buyers Low interest rates and price declines are increasing the opportunity for many buyers to upgrade to the homes that they could not afford in previous markets. Find out how this movement can affect you as a buyer's agent and share it in your newsletter or blog to encourage potential move-up buyers in your area. Read more... http://www.realtor.org/narlservredirect.nsf/pages/NT00001286?OpenDocument&WT.mc_id=LS042909&CAT=Curr Second homes: A new way to focus on health and fitness For those who feel that a week-long visit to a spa isn't enough, wellness resorts that combine pampering with fitness and education regimens, as well as medical testing, have flourished. Among those that have made the move from vacation to vacation home include veterans such as Canyon Ranch, Miraval, the Golden Door and the Cooper Aerobics Institute, along with many newcomers. Read more... http://www.realtor.org/narlservredirect.nsf/pages/NT00001292?OpenDocument&WT.mc_id=LS042909&CAT=Curr Auctions to work off overbuilding are attracting new real estate businesses Atlanta developers are now turning to real estate auction in order to sell units that would other wise be empty. Read more... http://www.realtor.org/narlservredirect.nsf/pages/NT00001296?OpenDocument&WT.mc_id=LS042909&CAT=Curr INTERNATIONAL ISSUES Selling a Second Home to US and Foreign Buyers Opportunities exist for international buyers to buy a second-home in the United States! Discover ways to sell a second-home with maximum appreciation value and explain why now is a good time to buy during the International Forum and Resort & Second Home Real Estate Forum at the 2009 Midyear Meetings. Read more... http://www.realtor.org/educsess.nsf/allpages/09myintlforum?OpenDocument&WT.mc_id=LS042909&CAT=Int LEGAL ISSUES ADA Rules Expanded Learn about the recent legislative changes to the Act and how these changes may impact your business. Please note: The following link is to a member-only area of the site. Read more... http://www.realtor.org/eomag.nsf/pages/lawwi09?OpenDocument&WT.mc_id=LS042909&CAT=Legal 2009 Risk Managment & License Law Forum: Your Expanded Roles and Risk's in Today's Evolving Market Your responsibilities are growing and the legal risks just keep on coming. Two state association/hotline attorneys (Chuck Kasky, MD and Michelle Lind, AZ) will talk about the questions they're getting these days ? and the answers they're giving -- about loan modification co mpanies, lender responsiveness, mid-transaction changes, settlement table surprises, vacant/foreclosed property conditions and much, much more. NAR's Jeff Lischer will discuss his communications with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and other federal agencies whose actions affect real estate finance about how to improve the transaction processes you are facing. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers. PANEL: Chuck Kasky ? Director, Legal Affairs/Legal Hotline, Maryland Association of REALTORS® K. Michelle Lind -- General Counsel/Legal Hotline, Arizona Association of REALTORS® Jeff Lischer ? NAR Managing Director, Regulatory Policy/Real Estate Finance May 13, 2009 - 8 AM - 10 AM - Omni Shoreham, Regency Ballroom, Lower Level Please note: The following link is to a member-only area of the site. Read more... http://www.realtor.org/letterlw.nsf/pages/2009midyearforum?OpenDocument&WT.mc_id=LS042909&CAT=Legal MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS/SPECIAL OFFERS FOR REALTORS® Travel Deals from Partners in NAR's REALTOR Benefits® Program Planning holiday, business or leisure travel? Help reduce your costs by taking advantage of the REALTOR Benefits® Program. Check out Avis, Budget and Hertz for special rates, discounts and value-adde d offers on car rentals. Visit the REALTOR Benefits® Program Web page for details on each offering and get ready to travel in style! For more information¸ visit... http://www.REALTOR.org/realtor_benefits/travel.html?&WT.mc_id=LS042909&CAT=Mem New Services Bookmark from Information Central available at no cost. The newly redesigned Information Central bookmarks outlines, in portable form, all the services that the department can provide to you and your members, including free reference requests, downloadable books, ProQuest and more. We are currently sending out 200 bookma rks for free to any Association that requests them. Our contact email is infocentral@realtors.org. You can also view the brochure here: http://www.realtor.org/library/virtual_library/ichome. Read more... http://www.realtor.org/library/virtual_library/ichome?&WT.mc_id=LS042909&CAT=Mem TECHNOLOGY Right Tools, Right Now - April Technology Update Two, new April Technology resources are available for free as part of the Right Tools, Right Now Initiative. Download "Commercial Real Estate Technology & Intelligence Podcasts", featuring nationally-recognized speakers on commercial real estate technology and emerging issues such as social media, tenant representation, residential to commercial transition and more. Also, take advantage of the Center for REALTOR Technology's quarterly e-newsletter, a timely resource on real estate technology trends and tools. New resources every month, so check back often! Read more... http://www.realtor.org/prodser.nsf/RightTools/TechnologyServices?OpenDocument&wt.mc_id=RT0068&WT.mc_id=LS042909&CAT=Tech To ensure that you continue to receive e-mails from REALTOR.org, please add NAR@realtors.org to your e-mail address book. Unsubscribe from this e-mail newsletter. Manage E-mail Preferences: To change your e-mail address, or manage your subscriptions, please log in to your REALTOR.org account. Your REALTOR.org username is msomers. Customer Support: Visit our customer support page for help with your account. Privacy Policy To send your comments about this newsletter, e-mail us at mailto:%20InfoCentral@realtors.org. Please do not reply to this e-mail. This mailbox is for distribution only. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® 430 N. Michigan Avenue Chicago IL 60611 800/874-6500 www.REALTOR.org