ToledoREALTOR - Toledo Regional Association of REALTORS

Transcription

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T REALTOR®
Volume 52, Issue 2
Spring, 2014
The Trusted Voice of Real Estate
“The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another.
The difference between them is something as great as a month..” - Henry Van Dyke
Toledo REALTOR® Magazine
Managing Editor
Christi Marino
Executive Editor
Megan Meyer-Foos
Officers:
President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Mangas
President Elect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Penny Kice
Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike A. Crouse
Past President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bradley A. Crown
Chief Executive Officer . . . . . . . . . Megan Meyer-Foos
NORIS Representative . . . . . . . . . . Scott Seipel, CRB
Directors:
Jack Amlin, ABR, CAI, AARE Auctioneer
Joann Amos
David Browning, GRI
Carol Dimas, ABR
Phil Henderson, ABR, GRI
Esther Johnson
Mark Kruse, ABR, CRS, GRI
Daniel McQuillen
Mary Ann Mills
Michael Poulos, SIOR
Melissa Utterback, ABR
Jody Zink, ePro
Toledo REALTOR® Magazine is published four times a
year: January, April, July and October (some years
five times a year with the addition of the Special Election issue) by the Toledo Board of REALTORS®, 590
Longbow, Suite A, Maumee, OH 43537.
Toledo REALTOR® Magazine
590 Longbow, Suite A
Maumee, Ohio 43537
Phone: 419-535-3222
Fax: 419-535-7990
www.toledorealtors.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
President’s Letter
3
Coaching Corner: Developing Your Mission Statement
4
New Members
4
10 Things You Should be Doing to Your Home in Spring
5
The 25 Worst Passwords
5
Condo Associations Not Immune from Fair Housing Act
6
Seeking Five Good Neighbors
7
TBR Open House Weekend May 17-18
7
YPN Meet & Greet
8
Continuing Education
9
Rising Trend of Coming Soon Signage Raising Questions
10-11
Calendar of Events
11
Senate Passes Flood Insurance Bill
12
Save the Date—RPAC Legislative Breakfast
12
TBR Photo Gallery—RPAC Spring Fling
13
Generational Differences Drive Housing Preferences
14
Is Your Listing Offensive
15
NORIS: dotloop Classes & Webinars
16
NORIS: Fusion MLS Classes 2014
17
Why Divorcing Couples May be a Growing Client Base
18
Drones in Real Estate: Soon, but Not Yet
18
The
Outdoor
for 2014
YPNHottest
REALTOR®
DayTrends
at Put-in-Bay
19
20
Women’s
Council Day
of REALTORS®
YPN
REALTOR®
at Put-in-Bay
21
20
Women’s Council of REALTORS®
21
The Toledo Board of REALTORS® neither approves or
disapproves of the products or services of its advertisers.
Page 2
Toledo REALTOR® Magazine | April 2014
Realtor® Open House Event Offers Buyers a Snapshot of Local
Housing Market
T.S. Elliot once wrote: “Home is where one starts from.” Homeownership has a rich history in
America, and one worth remembering. With signs of the housing market recovering and favorable affordability conditions, this year’s buying season has the potential to be a busy one.
Buyers in Northwest Ohio will have the opportunity to jump start the buying season on May
17th and 18th as Realtors® hold open houses all weekend long as part of the Toledo Board of
REALTORS® Open House Weekend, sponsored by Fifth Third Bank. In addition, anyone attending an Open House that weekend can register to win cash prizes!
During that weekend Realtors® throughout Toledo and the surrounding suburbs will hold
open houses, bringing attention to the many benefits of homeownership, as well as providing
an opportunity for them to connect with consumers in the local community about housing issues that matter most to them.
Realtors® will also be available to answer questions and provide insight on the local housing market and the home buying process.
Forty-five percent of recent buyers used open houses as a way to find their dream home. Open House weekend is a great
chance for buyers to do just that, as well as get an idea of what they can afford in the local market. It’s also a good time for sellers to market their home and attract potential buyers.
There is an old saying—”Opportunities are never missed. Someone will take the one you miss.” Low mortgage rates combined
with pent up demand, inventory shortages and increasing sales prices, makes now the perfect time to buy or sell a home. 2013
marked the fourth year in a row of increased single family homes sales and the median sales price grew 16% compared to 2012.
As Realtors®, we are in the business of giving people a place to start from—no matter where they come from and no matter
what their background. Helping people realize the American Dream of Homeownership makes a positive difference in the personal lives of buyers, as well as for the country as a whole. Throughout history, homeownership has played a major role in the
growth of our nation’s economy.
Homeownership offers immediate benefits and long-term value. Homeowners accumulate wealth for the future while enjoying
the benefits of a shelter that they can use, improve and sell. Homeownership is how many American families begin to accumulate wealth. According to data from the Federal Reserve board, a homeowner’s net worth is 45 times that of a renter’s.
TBR will be promoting open house weekend
with billboards, radio commercials, print advertising, and Facebook ads. All you need to
do is talk to your sellers about holding an
open house that weekend and put your open
houses in the MLS. Watch the daily emails
for more details!
John Mangas
2014 President
Toledo Board of REALTORS®
jmangas@metrotoledohomes.com
Page 3
Coaching Corner: Developing your mission statement
One of the first tasks I often cover with a
new agent is to create a mission statement designed to help them clarify their
intentions in this business. A nice byproduct of this exercise is that you will
be able to pull out a phrase that you can
use in your marketing pieces that truly
reflects your individuality within real
estate.
So, without further hesitation, grab a
pen and let’s begin! Set aside 30-60
minutes when you can devote your full
wise
words |
attention to these questions. Turn on
some relaxing music, get comfortable
and have fun with this!
 Why are you in the business?
 Who do you ideally want to work
with?
 What services do you provide?
 What unique qualities do you bring
to your business?
 What do you most want to
achieve?
 What is truly important to you
when you are working with clients?
 List some words that express the
passion you feel about your career.
 How will you know that you are
succeeding?
 If we were meeting five years from
today and you were looking back
over the past, what has to happen
during those years for you to feel
really good about yourself, your life,
and the fulfillment of your vision?
Once your questions are complete, take
a separate piece of paper and start to
pull together phrases that feel particularly meaningful to you. Experiment with
different combinations until you feel a
sense of excitement. The goal is to create a statement that reflects who you
are in the business.
Hopefully, you will feel more enlightened
and tuned into your inner motivation.
Keep your answers handy and feel free
to redo them if they are no longer relevant to you.
- Marilou Butcher Roth
Ohio Association of REALTORS®
“The fragrance always stays in the hand
that gives the rose.”
- George William Curtis
The Bylaws of the Toledo Board of REALTORS® require that the names of all applicants for active REALTOR® membership be published in the newsletter. If any
member objects to any applicant being elected to membership, he or she should
state it in writing to the Board. Such objections, however, must be based upon lack
of qualifications set forth by the Bylaws.
NEW MEMBERS
Danberry Co.
Aiello, Kirk
Burns, Patrick
Clonch, Jennifer
King, Caitlin
McEwen, Cameron
Howard Hanna Smythe Cramer
Johnson, Sherri
Leonard, Gloria
Swigart, Jaime
Key Realty
Dugan, Daniel
Frazier, Jennie
Griffith, Christopher
Winke, Jeff
Wurst, Brian
Page 4
Loss Realty Group
Elrod, Richard
O’Brien, Angie
RE/MAX Central Group
Gaytan, Miguel
RE/MAX Preferred Associates
Bocik, Sarah
Loar, Tara
Realty World & Auction
Preston, Wayland
Welles Bowen Realtors
Kohlman, Jacqueline
McElrath, Tamara Lin
Watson, Matthew Robert
NEW AFFILIATE MEMBERS
Great Lakes Credit Union
Lively, Bruce
NOIC
Gensler, Chad
Trump Industrial Properties
Yoder, Scott
Reichle Klein Group
Fisher, Michael E.
10 Things You Should be Doing to Your Home in Spring
with them taking up all the space in
your garage. Haul ’em out. Many cities will schedule a large trash pickup
one time a year, while others have
sites where you can drop off for free.
Check with your local city for options.
4. Clean something
The concept of spring cleaning isn’t
about your normal program of vacuuming and dusting. It’s time to go deep.
Move furniture and clean underneath
and behind. Those are some worldclass dust bunnies. Pull back the
blinds and clean the windows. And
while you’re at it, clean the blinds.
They’re gross.
5. Scrub something
It’s a good time to get to those things
that need a little extra effort. That
weird spot in the shower you’ve been
watching grow? Zap it for good. Clean
out your washing machine. Yes, they
actually make washing machine
cleaner. Irony is good, and so is a
sparkling clean washing machine.
6. Organize something
The closets you’ve been ignoring? It’s
time. Really. Plan your attach and go
for it. You never know what you’ll find
in there that you’ve been missing (or
forgot about). And cleaning out your
closets are also a great way to find
items to sell and donate (see #1 and
#2).
We’re all aware of the idea of spring
cleaning (whether or not we do it—we
mean REALLY do it—is another story). If
you’re ready to dive in, we’ve got some
tips for Spring cleaning, plus a few
other Spring things you should be doing
to your home. Ready to Spring forward?
1. Sell something
When the weather gets warmer, it’s
time for a garage sale. Gather up all
your unwanted stuff and put it out on
the lawn. Might as well make some
money for that old, ugly chair you’re
embarrassed to put in your living room.
2. Donate something
Take everything that doesn’t sell over to
a local charity. Not only will you be doing a good deed for people in need, but
your donation is also tax deductible.
3. Trash something
If you have large items that cannot be
sold or donated, you don’t have to live
7. Renew something
That ugly chair that didn’t sell at your
garage sale? Maybe you could pretty it
up with some paint or fabric? With a
little time and effort, you might actually
create a new favorite piece.
8. Plant something
Spring is the time to get your garden in
gear. Flowers, bulbs, and certain veggies thrive in Spring. Urban Farmer has
a great seed calendar, and see Huffington Post for vegetable planting ideas.
9. Update something
Paint colors stuck in a decade-old-funk?
It’s time for a fresh coat. Check out
Benjamin Moore for the latest trends in
paint colors.
10. Upgrade something
Maybe it’s just time to chuck it all and
move. The Spring buying season is
upon us, after all. If you are thinking of
moving, remember that all the same
rules apply for getting your home saleready as they do for getting spring
ready. So basically, you’re not going to
be able to get around that whole shower
scrubbing thing!
- Jaymi Naciri
RealtyTimes.com
The 25 Worst Passwords
Are you putting your information at risk
by choosing a bad password? SplashData, a provider of password management applications, compiled a list of the
“worst” —most common and thus easiest go guess—passwords chosen by
careless or harried computer users.
Here are the passwords that topped its
list:
1. 123456
2. Password
3. 12345678
4. Qwerty
5. Abc123
6. 123456789
7. 111111
8. 1234567
9. Iloveyou
Page 5
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
Adobe123
123123
Admin
1234567890
Letmein
Photoshop
1234
Monkey
Shadow
Sunshine
12345
Password1
Princess
Azerty
Trustno1
000000
“We hope that with more publicity about
how risky it is to use weak passwords,
more people will start taking simple
steps to protect themselves by using
stronger passwords and using different
passwords for different websites,” according to SplashData.
Source: “Worst Passwords of 2013: Our
Annual List Updated,” SplashData (Jan.
17, 2014)
- Daily Real Estate News
NAR REALTOR® Magazine
Condo Associations Not Immune from Fair Housing Act

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
What comes to mind when you think of
living in a Homeowners Association or
“HOA” (Condominium Association,
Townhouse Association, etc.)? Perhaps,
low maintenance living and access to
amenities. Or, perhaps, the fees associated with having someone mow the
grass and shovel the driveway and the
restrictions that come along with these
types of living arrangements. Unfortunately, most HOA residents and the
Boards that administer the HOAs rarely
even think about the rights and obligations that exist under the Fair Housing
Act.
Fair Housing laws are civil rights laws
that apply to all “housing providers,”
including the Boards of HOAs. Fair
Housing law prohibits discrimination
against protected classes (race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, familial
status and disability, and in Ohio, ancestry and military status). Unfortunately, many Board members are unfamiliar with these Fair Housing laws and
fail to realize that their declaration of
covenants, conditions, and restrictions
(CCRs), master lease, occupancy agreement, by-laws, rules and board resolutions, meetings, and policies are all
subject to Fair Housing laws. This unfamiliarity can result in a discrimination
claim against not only the HOA Board,
but also its board members, the HOA
staff, and even its contractors. Some
Ohio claims against HOAs have resulted
in the award of substantial damages to
the plaintiff, including punitive damages.
The types of claims that HOA residents
typically bring include:
 the outright denial of housing;
 the denial of or restrictions on the
use of certain facilities;
 advertising preferences or limitations based on a protective class;
 steering individuals to certain communities or areas within the comPage 6
munities;
not providing for a reasonable accommodation or modification;
inconsistent screening and/or admission procedures; and
differential treatment of residents.
Some Fair Housing claims are not as
obvious as the ones listed above. Instead, certain policies, rules, and/or
CCR’s can have a discriminatory impact upon protected classes. In these
types of cases, the intent of the HOA is
not necessary to show discrimination.
A 2012 Toledo Fair Housing Center
(TFHC) audit of over 500 association
documents uncovered both unacceptable language and cautionary language, which could have a discriminatory impact upon protected classes.
The most common issues concerned
the HOA’s use of language that can
infringe upon the rights of families with
children (e.g. regulation of the use of
common areas) and the HOA’s exercise of discretion when regulating ani-
mals, making exceptions to restraints
on alienation, and determining board
qualifications for spouses. After the audit, TFHC conducted education and outreach to train HOAs, the real estate
community, and attorneys in the area
on their Fair Housing obligations.
Are you a member of an HOA Board or
an employee of an HOA and have concerns about your obligations under the
Fair Housing Act? As a Real Estate
Agent, do you find yourself confused
about what obligations you have when
you learn that an HOA may be violating
the Fair Housing Laws? If so, contact
the Toledo Fair Housing Center at
419.243.6163 or check out our website
for further information at
www.toledofhc.org.
¹E.g. see Rainieri v. Villas at London
Square Condo Association No. 5:12-cv1450 9ND Ohio 2013) and Eagle Lakes
Condo Association v. The Ohio Civil
Rights Commission No. 1001897
Seeking Five Good Neighbors to Receive $10,000 Grants
REALTOR® Magazine is seeking nominations for the 15th annual Good
Neighbor Awards. The program recognizes REALTORS® who’ve made an extraordinary commitment to community
service.
Five winners will be announced in October in REALTOR® Magazine and at the
2014 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in
New Orleans. The winners will receive a
$10,000 grant for their community
cause, national publicity, travel expenses to convention, and a crystal trophy.
“We created the Good Neighbor
Awards to recognize how so many
REALTORS® make their communities a
better place to live,” says Stacey Moncreiff, REALTOR® Magazine Editor in
Chief. “REALTORS® generally are bighearted people and many of them get
very involved in their communities, but
their local efforts are seldom rewarded
on a national level.”
Last year’s winners contributed a total
of nearly 8,000 hours to their causes in
one year and drew a standing ovation
during NAR’s annual convention in San
Francisco. The 2014 Good Neighbor
Award is supported by primary sponsor
Liberty Mutual Insurance and realtor.com.
Good Neighbor Award entries must be
received by May 16, 2014. For more
details and an entry form, go to
www.REALTOR.org/gna, call 800-8746500, or see the ad in REALTOR®
Magazine.
TBR will be promoting Open
House Weekend May 17-18
with billboards, radio
commercials, Facebook ads,
FREE yard signs and
print advertising.
Thanks to Fifth Third’s
sponsorship, Open House
attendees will have the
opportunity to register to win
cash prizes—
$2,500, $1,500 and $1,000!
All you have to do is
schedule an open house and
add it in the MLS.
The event provides a tremendous opportunity to kick start the Spring buying season
while promoting the benefits of home ownership.
Mark your calendar and look for more details coming soon!
Page 7
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May 15
21st Century Agent
9:00a-5:00p
7 Hours CE Credit
Sponsored by First Capital Title
August 26
Home Inspection Basics
9:00a-12:00p
3 Hours CE Credit
June 16
OAR Industry, Legal & Legislative Update
1:00p-4:15p
3 Hours CE Credit
Holiday Inn French Quarter, Perrysburg
Offered by the Ohio Association of REALTORS®
September 10
Ethics: NAR Code & Ohio Cannons
9:00a-12:00p
3 Hours Ethics CE Credit
Sponsored by First American
Home Warranty
June 18
Web Strategies to Grow Your Real Estate Business
9:00a-4:00p
6 Hours CE Credit
Sponsored by Greater Metropolitan Title
September 16
Core Law Update CE Class
9:00a-12:00p
3 Hours Core Law CE Credit
July 17
Going Green
9:00a-12:00p
3 Hours CE Credit
Sponsored by First American Home Warranty
*All classes are being held at TBR unless
otherwise specified.
For a list of all CE Classes being offered for the year
CLICK BELOW ↓↓
August 5 & 6
Real Estate Sales Post Licensing Course
9:00a-3:00p (both days)
Sponsored by Area Title
Page 9
Rising trend of “coming soon” signage & “pocket listings” is raising
legal, ethical questions
If you drive around many residential
neighborhoods in Ohio you may notice a
relatively new marketing technique used
by some brokerages: “Coming Soon”
signs. The use of such signs has been
questioned by cooperating REALTORS®
and their buyers who want to see a
property that appears to be for sale, but
are told it’s not ready to be shown, only
to find out that the property is in contract a few days later.
Another practice that has raised eyebrows is the increase in what has been
referred to as “pocket listings.” This is a
slang term used to refer to listings that
are held by the listing brokerage, not
submitted to the Multiple Listing Service
(MLS) or made available to cooperating
REALTORS® to show. In some cases the
listing is held back for a portion of the
listing term and in other cases for the
entire length of the listings.
Are such practices legal? Are they ethical? In most situations they are. However in other situations such practices
may not only run afoul of the National
Association REALTORS’ Code of Ethics
and the MLS rules, they may also violate
the license law and the fiduciary duties
owed to a seller.
Let’s look first at the “Coming Soon”
sign. Certainly there is no law that prohibits this type of signage and in many
cases they are appropriate. The reasons why such signs are used can vary,
but generally such signs are utilized by
listing REALTOS and sellers who want to
generate some “buzz” or interest in the
listing by starting the marketing process
although the property is not yet in a condition where it is ready to be shown.
Such situations commonly include REO
properties when repairs are still being
made, investment property that is being
renovated or homes where the seller
still needs to do a lot of purging and
cleaning before it is ready to be shown.
As to the appropriateness of marketing
such properties, there are several factors that need to be considered. First,
does the brokerage/agent placing the
“Coming Soon” sign on the property
actually have it listed? If it’s not listed,
is it legal to place such a sign on the
property?
Page 10
Despite what most REALTORS believe,
Ohio license law does not require a
licensee to have a signed listing before
advertising a property or placing a sign
on it. Instead, all that is needed is the
owner’s consent. Of course to establish that such consent was given, it is
recommended that this be obtained in
writing from the seller, however that
consent does not have to be in the
form of a listing.
REALTORS who advertise a property
without benefit of a listing agreement
also need to make sure they do not
misrepresent to others that they have
the property listed. When other agents
or their buyer clients see the “Coming
Soon” sign they may question whether
the property is in fact listed. Certainly if
asked this by other REALTORS, the
REALTOR marketing the property cannon misrepresent that the property is
listed if it is not. Doing so could be
found to be a knowing misrepresentation that could subject the agent to
disciplinary action by the Ohio Real
Estate Commission.
In most cases, however, a REALTOR
using a “Coming Soon” sign does have
the property listed. If the brokerage is
a participant in an MLS, the MLS rules
require listings to be submitted to the
MLS within a certain number of days or
hours (three days or 72 hours is common). If the owner does not want his
property submitted to the MLS or will
not permit showings, the listing REALTOR must be sure to follow the MLS
requirements to document the seller’s
instructions. As these requirements
can vary, it is crucial for listing agents to
check their MLS rules and to comply
with them.
As stated above, one of the most common complaints about “Coming Soon”
signs is that the listing agent will not
allow other REALTORS to show the property because it is not in “showing” condition, but will show the listing to his
own buyers and may even write an offer
for them. Other REALTORS and their
buyers who were refused access to the
property are understandably upset
when they later see it in the MLS in a
“pending” status or see a sold sign on
the property.
Listing agents who represent to other
REALTORS or buyers that the property is
not available to be shown but show it to
their own buyers could face both ethical
and legal challenges. First, it may be
alleged that the agent violated Standard
of Practice 3-8 of the NAR Code of Ethics, which provides that “REALTORS
shall not misrepresent the availability of
access to show...a listed property.”
Such a complaint would be handled
through the Professional Standard process at the Local Board/Association of
REALTORS.
A similar allegation could also be filed
with the Ohio Division of Real Estate
and Professional Licensing. And if it is
proven that the listing agent lied about
the availability of the property to be
show, the listing agent could possibly be
disciplined by the Ohio Real Estate Commission for making a knowing misrepresentation or for misconduct.
The second trend that has occurred in
the last year has been an increase in
“pocket” listings. Also referred to as
“office exclusives,” these are listings
that are not submitted to the MLS and
the listing brokerage generally does not
offer cooperation or compensation to
other brokerages. Instead, all showings
and negotiations are handled exclusively through the listing REALTOR.
Such listings have historically been entered into in situations where the seller
wishes to limit access to his property
based on privacy or security concerns,
and for this reason, only wants the listing agent to handle the sale.
Such listings are not a new phenomewww.toledorealtors.com
non, but they have gone from a rarity in
the marketplace to something occurring
more frequently, making some question
if they are truly the result of an increase
in security and privacy concerns or are
instead motivated by the listing REALTOR’s desire to retain the entire commission.
While this type of listing isn’t illegal per
se, potential ethical, legal, and MLS
issues may be involved. First, Article 3
of the NAR Code of Ethics provides that
“REALTORS shall cooperate with other
brokers except when cooperation is not
in the clients best interest.” Standard of
Practice 3-10 clarifies that “The duty to
cooperate established in Article 3 relates to the obligation to share information on listed property, and to make
property available to other brokers for
showing to prospective purchasers/
tenants when it is in the best interests
of the sellers/landlords.”
The basics for these provisions in the
Code of Ethics is a belief that cooperation among REALTORS increases the
exposure of a listing in the marketplace
and that such broad exposure will not
only expand the pool of potential buy-
ers, but will also result in better offers
for the seller. Thus, offering such cooperation to their REALTORS is presumed
to be in the seller’s best interests. For
this reason, listing REALTORS who do
not offer such cooperation must be
able to establish that they are acting in
this seller’s best interests to avoid a
violation of the Code of Ethics.
Beyond these ethical considerations, a
REALTOR’s fiduciary duties also require
him to act in the seller’s best interests
ultimately lies with the seller. However
it is important that the seller has all of
the necessary information in order to
make an informed decision about how
the sale of his property will be handled.
Thus, before a seller agrees to a pocket
listing, a listing REALTOR should explain the expanded market exposure
that is gained by placing a property in
the MLS and the benefits of offering
cooperation. Such an explanation will
allow the seller to make an informed
decision as to whether it is in his best
interests to keep his property out of the
MLS and to limit showings to those
handled exclusively by the listing brokerage. By obtaining such informed
consent, the listing REALTOR can avoid
a potential civil claim by the seller that
the reduced exposure of his property
resulted in a lower sales price.
Finally, as with “Coming Soon” signage,
REALTORS taking such pocket listings
must also be sure to follow local MLS
rules regarding submission of listings
and to provide any necessary documentation to the MLS to establish that the
listing is not being submitted per the
seller’s instructions.
In conclusion, while both “Coming
Soon” signs and pocket listings are not
illegal, there are ethical and legal issues involved, as well as MLS rules that
must be followed by REALTORS. And
most importantly, when representing a
property owner in the sale of their
home, the client’s best interests must
be a REALTOR’s primary focus.
Reprinted from the Winter/Spring 2014
Ohio REALTOR magazine
- Peg Ritenour
OAR Vice President of Legal Services/
Administrator
MARK YOUR CALENDARS . . . and watch the daily emails for more information.
April 28-30 . . . . . . . . . OAR Spring Legislative Conference
May 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . NORIS Board of Directors Meeting
April 28 . . . . . . . . . REEA 2014 Instructor Dev. Workshop
May 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBR Office Closed
April 29-May 1 . . . . . . New Fusion MLS Stats Pro Classes
June 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RPAC Legislative Breakfast
May 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brainpower Learning Session
June 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBR General Membership Meeting
May 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fusion MLS New Agent Training
June 5 . . . . . . . . . Fusion MLS Website Management Class
May 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBR Board of Directors Meeting
June 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dotloop Training
May 8 . FHC Ensuring Choice in Community Living Forum
June 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REALTOR® Day at Put-in-Bay
May 8 . . . RE/MAX Preferred Assoc. Cinco de Mayo Party
June 16 . . . . . . . OAR Industry, Legal & Legislative Update
May 11-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NAR Midyear Meetings
June 18 . . . . Web Strategies to Grow Your RE Business CE
May 17-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBR Open House Weekend
June 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBR Board of Directors Meeting
May 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . YPN Meet & Greet
June 24 . . . . . . . . . Fusion MLS Question & Answer Session
May 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2014 Economic Forecast
June 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brainpower Learning Session
May 14 . . . . Fusion MLS Contact Management & More
June 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WCR Annual Golf Outing
May 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21st Century Agent CE Class
July 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBR Office Closed
May 21 . . Fusion MLS Creating Pers. Search/Temp. Grids
July 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fusion MLS New Agent Training
May 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elected Officials Reception
July 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Going Green CE Class
Page 11
Senate Passes Flood Insurance Bill
The U.S. Senate voted 72-22 on March
12, 2014, to approve the bipartisan
Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act with amendments made by the
House. The bill curtails flood insurance
rate increases that property owners are
facing across the country.
Download legal guidance from NAR:
“Disclosure of Flood Insurance Requirements, Rates, and Rate Increases by
Brokers and Agents.”
“We appreciate the Senate’s swift action on the legislation, which is a responsible and balanced solution to the
skyrocketing flood insurance premiums
affecting residential and commercial
properties that were unintentionally triggered by the Biggert-Waters reforms to
the National Flood Insurance Program,”
said NAR President Steve Brown in a
statement.
The 2012 Biggert-Waters law set out to
gradually phase out flood insurance
subsidies as a way to make up for the
National Flood Insurance Program’s
$24 billion debt. As a result, home owners who had received federal aid to pay
for flood insurance were being faced
with tens of thousands of dollars a year
in flood insurance hikes.
The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act repeals the Federal
Emergency Management Agency’s authority to increase premium rates at
the time of sale or new flood map, and
refunds the excessive premium to
those who bought a property before
FEMA warned them of the rate increase. It also limits premium increases to 18 percent annually on
newer properties and 25 percent for
some older ones.
Additionally, the bill adds a small assessment on policies until everyone is
paying full cost for flood insurance.
“As the leading advocate for home and
property owners, NAR applauds this bill
for the relief and protection it will bring
to businesses and families nationwide,
who are experiencing financial hardship
because of the extreme and sudden
premium increases,” said Brown. “We
believe this legislation will bring relief to
property owners ensuring a slow and
steady phase in of risk-based increases.”
President Obama is expected to sign the
bill into law when it arrives at the White
House.
Watch the video “Help Passed on Flood
Ins. Rates”
Watch the video “Flood Bill Helps Commercial”
2014 RPAC LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST
TUESDAY, JUNE 3 / 8:30-10:00 AM
The Pinnacle • Maumee
Continental Breakfast provided / FREE to attend!
Sponsored by:
Louisville Title, NOIC
Chicago Title, First American Home Warranty, First Federal of Lakewood, RE/MAX Central Group,
The Blade, Waterford Bank, N.A., Welles Bowen Realtors
Benchmark Mortgage, Key Bank Mortgage, Key Realty, Martin & Wood Appraisal Group, Ltd.,
Port Lawrence Title, RE/MAX Preferred Associates
Area Title, Eastman & Smith, Ltd., Great Lakes Credit Union, Greater Metropolitan Title,
Hondros College of Business, Seagate Inspections, Inc.
American Home Shield, Erie Inspection Service, First Capital Title, Midland Title, State Bank, Tri Coast Title LLC, Welles Bowen Title
Page 12
RPAC SPRING FLING—April 1, 2014
RPAC
$45,000
Spring Fling = $7,790
Dues Contributions = $9,040
For more TBR Event Photos visit our website at www.toledorealtors.com/Photo Gallery or CLICK HERE
Generational Differences Drive Housing Preferences?
Younger home buyers tend to view their
home as a strong investment, more so
than older buyers who tend to view their
homes as a match to their lifestyle, according to the 2014 NAR Home Buyer
and Seller Generational Trends study,
based on a survey of more than 8,700
responses from buyers and sellers.
The survey provided an in-depth look at
the generational differences of recent
home buyers and sellers.
The largest group of recent buyers is
millennials, those under the age of 34,
who comprised 31 percent of recent
home purchases, according to the NAR
survey. Generation X buyers, born between 1965 and 1979, accounted for
30 percent of recent purchases, and
younger boomers, born between 1955
and 1964, accounted for 16 percent.
“Given that millennials are the largest
generation in history after the baby
boomers, it means there is a potential
for strong underlying demand,” says
Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.
“Moreover, their aspiration and the longterm investment aspect to owning a
home remain solid among young people. However, the challenges of tight
Page 14
credit, limited inventory, eroding affordability, and high debt loads have
limited the capacity of young people to
own.”


The median age of millennial home
buyers is 29 and the median income is
$73,600, according to the NAR study.
They typically purchased an 1,800
square-foot home costing about
$180,000.
In comparison, gen X buyers’ median
age is 40 and median income is
$98,200, and they tend to purchase a
2,130 square-foot home costing
$250,000.
Among some of the study’s other findings:
 87 percent of buyers age 33 and
younger consider their home purchase a good financial investment


compared to 74 percent of buyers
68 and older.
Millennials were more likely to buy
in an urban or central city area
than older boomers.
Younger buyers tended to place
higher importance on commuting
costs than older generations.
Older generations tended to place
more emphasis on energy efficiency, landscaping, and community features.
Millennials plan to stay in the home
for 10 years while the baby boom
generation plan to stay for 20
years.
Younger buyers tend to move to
larger, high-priced homes, but
“there is a clear trend of downsizing to smaller homes among both
younger and older baby boomers
and the Silent Generation (those
born between 1925 and 1945),”
according to the study.
Is Your Listing Offensive?
“You can say ‘family room’ but not
‘family home,” explains Beth Brody, a
licensed real estate agent in Marin
County, California. “We avoid anything
gender-specific like ‘his-and-hers’ closets or baths.” Brody says her real estate agency carefully monitors the language used in its agents’ listing ads,
adding that the list of potentially offensive words has grown over the years.
Doing so could save a lot of trouble.
For example, in August, the 6th U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a
ruling and granted a new trial to the
Miami Valley Fair Housing Center in a
federal discrimination lawsuit over an
Ohio apartment listing that used the
phrase “bachelor pad.”
The U.S. Department of Housing and
urban Development has never issued
an official list of terms to avoid, but
some MLSs have. The Northwest Multiple Listing Service has issued a list of
Real Estate ads are getting a big dose
of political correctness, as real estate
professionals are carefully watching
their words in listings so as not to offend anyone.
Major home builders in Washington
D.C. reportedly are no longer using the
term “master bedroom” in their marketing because, they say, it has racist
undertones. Instead, the term is being
replaced with “owner’s suite.” Others
in the real estate community are also
carefully choosing their words to avoid
potential conflicts with the Fair Housing Act.
“potentially offensive words,” such as
“newlyweds,” “country club nearby,”
“handyman’s dream,” “safe neighborhood,” “secure”, and “walking distance
to.” (After all, one persons idea of what
is nearby might not be someone else’s,
and “walking distance” may be prejudicial against someone in a wheel chair,
agents note.)
Lesley Walker, associate counsel at the
National Association of REALTORS®,
says, “Our culture and society are now
in tune with the sensitivities of more
groups of people. I think we’re more
aware and educated, and so [we are]
taking more precautions not to inadvertently or expressly discriminate against
a specific class of people.”
Get a Whiff of This...
Source: Printer’s Press, West Printing Company
Page 15
The ability to smell is often the most powerful yet overlooked of our senses. Smell is
hardwired to our brains and can easily evoke emotions, give boosts of energy, or
awaken memories and transport us back in time. Here are a few examples of scents
and the common effects they have on us:
 The aroma of freshly cut grass can instantly stimulate and lift your spirits.
 Peppermint fragrance is revitalizing and can enhance physical performance. Try a
dab of peppermint body spray or lotion before hitting the gym for a quick boost.
Peppermint scent can also relieve pain, indigestion, nausea, and headaches.
 Cinnamon spice improves mood and concentration. It can even make people act
more kindly, according to a study sponsored by Cinnabon.
 The smell of flowers sprayed around the bedroom before we sleep will result in
more positive dreams than unpleasant smells or no fragrance at all.
 The aroma of coffee can pump you up and counteract the stress caused by sleep
deprivation.
 The smell of pine is not only energizing, but can release tension from your muscles
and limbs by opening your mental state and reconnecting you to nature.
 The fresh fragrance of flowers often makes people feel cheerier and more energetic, perhaps from a combined effect of seeing and smelling their beauty.
 Natural citrus scents increase oxygen flow to the brain, boost energy, and increase
immune function.
 Lemon scent can not only lift your mood, but also heighten mental clarity, energize
you, and increase stamina.
 The refreshing smell of grapefruit can increase memory and improve hand-eye
coordinating.
 The scents of jasmine, vanilla, lavender, or chamomile-scented lotion, oils, or
candles can help to calm and relax your body and improve your sleep.
 The smell of oatmeal is soothing and sedating, as well.
 Eucalyptus promoted alertness and can often invigorate the senses.
Exciting News!
Access interactive forms, unlimited PDF storage, 3rd party sharing and free eSign with dotloop, available to
you as a FREE member benefit from the Toledo Board of REALTORS®.
Learn more about dotloop by joining one of our informational webinars provided by dotloop trainers
coming up in early July:
Dotloop is a transaction network that connects the people, documents and tasks of a real estate transaction
in one place. It allows agents to work better together with everyone in a transaction—clients, co-agents,
brokers and service providers—while maintaining strict permission for each individual party, keeping transactions safe and secure.
Come learn how to make your business paperless with dotloop. CLICK ON a class date below to register.
All classes will be held at the Toledo Board of REALTORS®, 590 Longbow Drive, Suite A, Maumee, OH 43537.
Page 16
NEW AGENT BASIC FUSION MLS CLASSES 2014
For new agents or those who need help with the basic functions of Fusion MLS.
All classes will be held at Toledo Board of REALTORS®, 590 Longbow Drive, Maumee.
CLICK ON the class date below to reserve your seat!
MAY 7
9-11 AM
JULY 8
2-4 PM
SEPT 4
9-11 AM
NOV 5
2-4 PM
Chicago Title
Area Title
Seagate
Inspections, Inc.
First Capital
Title
ADVANCED FUSION MLS CLASSES 2014
All classes will be held at Toledo Board of REALTORS®, 590 Longbow Drive, Maumee.
CLICK ON the class date below to reserve your seat!
MAY 14
2-3:30 PM
Contact Management Prospecting and Searching—In this class you will get
an in-depth look into how to manage your contacts. Learn to set up auto
notification for your clients, prospecting and searching tips.
MAY 21
10-11:30 AM
Personal Grids and Templates—Have you ever wanted to make your search
templates or grids contain custom information on them? If your answer is
yes, this is the class for you.
JUNE 5
10-11:30 AM
JUNE 24
2-3:30 PM
Page 17
Website Management—Would you like to learn more about how your MLS website can
work for you and your clients? In this class you will learn how to set up and manage
your agent site. You will also see what your client sees when you give them their own
site. Teach them how to provide you feedback on their searches without picking up the
phone.
Q & A—If you have questions . . . we have answers. Bring your questions
about Fusion MLS to this open session. We will help you with whatever you
need.
Why Divorcing Couples May be a Growing Client Base
Now that the recession has ended, the
divorce rate is back on the rise. The
number of Americans getting divorces
rose for the third year in a row to about
2.4 million in 2012, according to census data. The divorce rate had plunged
to a 40-year low in 2009.
“Whatever the social and emotional
impact, the broad economic effects of
the increase are clear: It is contributing
to the formation of new households;
booting demand for housing, appliances, and furnishings; and spurring
the economy,” Bloomberg news reports.
“As the economy normalizes, so too do
family dynamics,” says Mark Zandi,
chief economist at Moody’s Analytics
Inc. in West Chester, PA. “Birth rates
and divorce rates are rising. We may
even see them rise strongly in the next
couple of years, as households who put
off these life-changing events decide to
act.”
The rise in divorces has coincided with
a rise in household formation. While
divorces aren’t the sole contributor to
the rise, nearly 5.3 million households
have been formed in the past four
years, after dropping to fewer than
400,000 in 2009 according to Census
Bureau data. “Separation and divorce
often create additional housing demand by creating two households
when there was one,” says David
Crowe, chief economist at the National Association of Home Builders in
Washington.
Rising home prices may give couples
greater financial security to proceed
with a divorce.
“Home prices are going up [and] many
people who were postponing their divorce might start thinking about it,” says
Abdur Chowdhury, a professor at Marquette University in Milwaukee and an
adviser to the Federal Reserve Bank of
Chicago, who published a paper in July
2011 that examined the impact of recessions on divorce. “In many cases after
divorce, people sell their homes and divide up the proceeds.” That provides
“each of them with a nest egg to begin
their separate lives.”
But for real estate professionals, working
with divorcing couples can certainly present some unique challenges, particularly if your clients aren’t on speaking
terms. Learn more about how to work
with divorcing couples at REALTOR®
Magazine: Providing Help During a Break
-Up.
NAR’S REALTOR® Magazine
Drones in Real Estate: Soon, But Not Yet
The excitement around drones is increasing, and for good reason: The
technology is steadily getting to the
point where many commercial applications are possible, including for use in
marketing real estate. Being able to
hoist a camera up on a drone, or unmanned aerial vehicle, has the potential to be a cost-effective way to get dramatic shots of a listed property, particularly for large, high-end homes or big
expanses of land.
Bu while the technology is falling into
place, a lot still needs to be done on the
regulatory side. Drones present very
real and very difficult issues, including
safety and privacy. The safety issues
are clear: People operating drones have
to be drained, and systems have to be
in place to help protect people nearby
should something go wrong. On privacy, a regulatory system has to be in
place to help reduce the chances of
drones being used to take unauthorized
photos and video.
Along with these two concerns is the
bigger national security concern, since
a weaponized drone is a danger of national importance.
Page 18
The Federal Aviation Administration is
in the process of developing rules that
would address these three concerns.
It’s working against a timeline by Congress to have something ready by next
year, although with a matter like
drones, it’s important for the FAA to
get it right—and not just get it in a
hurry.
As it is, drones use by hobbyists is
allowed, although there are strict limits on what constitutes hobbyist use.
How high a drone is permitted to fly is
one of the criteria for determining
whether a use is hobbyist or not. For
non-hobbyist use, the FAA authorizes
drones for research, public safety,
and, to a more limited extent, commercial use, but all on a case-by-case
basis. The rules that FAA is developing are intended to give commercial
and other drone uses more clear-cut
guidelines for what’s OK, an expanded
approach from today’s case-by-case
approval system.
To fill you in a bit more on what’s happening with drones and where they
might fit in with real estate once the
FAA comes out with its rules, REAL-
TOR® Magazine sat down with NAR’s
regulatory analyst who’s following the
matter for his take on the rules and timeline. The video is four minutes long.
The bottom line is, the regulatory environment hasn’t yet caught up with advances in drone technology. So as of
right now, drone use outside of hobbyist
use is limited. But it makes sense to
start familiarizing yourself with the potential for drones in your business, so when
wider commercial use gets the green
light, you’ll know whether drones have a
place in your business model.
- Robert Freedman
REALTOR® Magazine
The Hottest Outdoor Trends for 2014
dent and CEO. “They’re interested in
livable, open spaces that are both stylish and earth friendly.”
Here’s a breakdown of how homeowners are sprucing up their outdoor
spaces, and some of the top trends that
landscape architects pinpointed for
2014 in each category.
A home’s inviting outdoor space may be
just enough to get a home buyer to fall
in love. The American Society of Landscape Architects recently surveyed
nearly 180 landscape architects asking
them to rate the expected popularity for
2014 of a variety of residential outdoor
elements.
Across all categories, respondents rated
the following as “somewhat” or “very indemand” for 2014: lighting, seating/dining areas; fire pits/fireplaces;
grills; installed seating, such as
benches, seatwalls, ledges, steps, and
boulders.
“Homeowners know that designed landscapes add value to their lives as well
as their property values,” says Nancy
Somerville, ASLA executive vice presi-
Page 19
Top Outdoor Design Elements
1. Gardens and landscaped spaces
2. Outdoor living spaces (kitchen, entertainment spaces)
3. Outdoor recreation amenities
(pools, spas, tennis courts)
4. Sustainable design practices
Top Outdoor Living Features
1. Lighting
2. Seating/dining areas
3. Fire pits/fireplaces
4. Grills
Top Outdoor Recreation Amenities
1. Decorative water elements, such as
ornamental pools, splash pools,
waterfalls, grottos, water runnels, or
bubblers
2. Spa features (hot tub, Jacuzzi, whirlpools, indoor/outdoor sauna)
3. Swimming pools
4. Sports/recreational spaces (tennis
courts, bocce ball, etc.)
Top Landscape/Garden Elements
1. Low maintenance landscapes
2. Native plants
3. Fountains/ornamental water features
4. Food/vegetable gardens (including
orchards/vineyards, etc.)
Top Sustainable Design Elements
1. Native/adapted drought-tolerant
plants
2. Drip/water-efficient irrigation
3. Permeable paving
4. Reduced lawn
Top Outdoor Structures
1. Terraces/patios/decks
2. Fencing (includes gates)
3. Pergolas
4. Decks
- Melissa Dittman Tracey
REALTOR® Magazine
Page 20
DEBBIE HAFNER, REALTOR®, ABR, SRES
2014 President
Toledo Women’s Council of REALTORS®
Mission of Women's Council of REALTORS®
We are a network of successful REALTORS® empowering women to exercise their potential as entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
Just when we thought SPRING was here, Mother Nature surprised us with 2.8” of snow to remind us who’s
the BOSS . . . but thankfully all of us are getting busy again and we are not going to let weather get in our way
of the Spring 2014 real estate market!
The Toledo Chapter of WCR has been working hard on our Business Resource Luncheons/Meetings. The officers have worked hard to get speakers who will be of interest and informative. Our most successful meeting
so far this year has been the Broker Panel with Mark Remeis, Dan McQuillen & Keith Degnan who discussed
how they juggle business and family time. Our meetings are held at Brandywine Country Club and include
good food, great atmosphere and informative speakers.
We are starting something new for 2014. When you invite and pay for a REALTOR® to attend as your guest at
a WCR Business Resource Luncheon, your business card will go in the basket for a drawing for a “Dinner &
Movie Night,” compliments of the Toledo Chapter. We will do this for every meeting until November, and do a
drawing at each meeting. We want to increase meeting attendance and inform REALTORS® what the WCR
Toledo Chapter of Women’s Council is all about!
Our Annual Toledo Chapter Golf Outing is scheduled for June 26, 2014, at Valleywood Golf Club, 3501 Airport Hwy., Swanton. Early bird reservations are $75 per player, if reserved with payment by June 6th. The
cost includes green fees, golf cart, hot dog & chips, buffet dinner, and two (2) drink tickets. The price will be
$85 per player after June 6th. Pat Kost has graciously returned as our Chairperson for this event, so give
Pat a call at 419-720-3390 to make your reservations today.
The charity that will benefit from our Golf Outing will be the “Toledo Firefighters Local 92 Charities,” so come
out and support the Toledo Firefighters!
For more information on WCR Membership and how it can benefit your career, please contact our VP of Membership, Sarah Ford at 419-290-0444 or e-mail: sarah@sarahsellstoledo.com.
Sincerely,
Debbie Hafner, REALTOR®, ABR, SRES
2014 President / Toledo Chapter Women’s Council of REALTORS®
Our Vision
Through our influence as successful business professionals, women will effect positive change in the profession and in
the broader community.
Page 21

ToledoREALTOR - Toledo Regional Association of REALTORS

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