January Newsletter - Capital Area Association of REALTORS

Transcription

January Newsletter - Capital Area Association of REALTORS
REALTOR® REVIEW
Volume 21, Edition 236
January 2016
Home Sales Up 1.8 Percent in 2015
According to the Capital Area Multiple Listing Service, in the Capital Area there
were 3,786 home sales year-to-date through December 31, 2015, reflecting a 1.8
percent increase from the 3,719 home sales through year-to-date December 31,
2014. For year-to-date through December 2015 the average sale price was
$139,676 reflecting a 2.8 percent increase over the year-to-date through December
2014 price of $135,808. The total dollar volume of property sold year-to-date
through December 2015 of $528.8 million, reflected a 4.7 percent increase
over the year-to-date through December 2014 dollar
volume of $505.1 million.
The median home sale price (for all single-family
homes and condominiums) during December 2015
was $126,250 up 14.3 percent over the $110,500
December 2014 price. The median home sale price
year-to-date through December of 2015 yielded
$118,900, reflecting a 2.1 percent increase over the
$116,500 median price during the same period in 2014.
(Continued on page 2)
Relocation Management and the Zillow Thing
by Steve Murray, publisher
Embrace these new companies and compete with them. What likely won’t work is
to ignore them and then ignore building your online marketing and service
capabilities.
Recently, Zillow announced that they would
offer a service whereby they would prequalify
online customers and clients for their agent and
broker customers to help improve the quality of
the leads that agents end up with as a result of
advertising on Zillow. The announcement was
met with disbelief, frustration and perhaps a
little anger. Aren’t these the guys who keep
saying that they are just a media company that
has no intention of being in the brokerage
business and who also just bought a large
transaction management company? One
commentator was heard to say that they felt
like the frog in the pot which didn’t realize
someone was turning the heat up slowly to boil
them. Maybe they are; maybe they aren’t.
(Continued on page 2)
In This Issue
 News & Notes,
pp. 2-4
 Technology/MLS
Corner, pp. 5-6
 CREN, p. 7
 Affiliate Corner,
p. 7
 West Central
Chapter News p. 8
 Professional
Development,
P. 9
 Governmental
Affairs, p. 10
Steve Murray
President, REAL Trends
 Membership, p. 11
Capital Area
REALTORS®
MISSION
The Capital Area
REALTORS® helps its
members maintain the
highest standards of
professionalism and
achieve the highest
levels of success.
NOTICE
Under the long established policy
of
the
Capital
Area
REALTORS®, IAR and NAR:
1. The broker’s compensation for
services rendered in respect to any
listing is solely a matter of
negotiation between the broker
and the client, and is not fixed,
controlled, recommended, or
maintained by any persons not a
party to the listing agreement.
2. The compensation paid by a
listing broker to a cooperating
broker in respect to any listing is
established by the listing broker
and is not fixed, controlled,
recommended or maintained by
any persons other than the listing
broker.
OFFICERS
President
Kristie L. DeBrun, GREEN,
GRI, SFR, SRS
President Elect
John W. Klemm
Secretary/Treasurer
Ed Mahoney, ABR
DIRECTORS
GRI
Robert Chipman, GRI
Stephanie Do, GRI
Kimberly Elliott, CRS, GRI
Stepheni Ferguson, GRI
Sandra Hamilton, GRI
Lori Hammel, GRI
Gary Harvey, GRI
Galen Johnson, CRS, GRI, SRS
Jane Locascio, GRI
Michael Oldenettel, CRS, GRI
Jackie Turner, ABR, CRS,
GREEN, GRI, SFR, SRES
Stephanie Verardi
Chief Executive Officer
Daniel R. Sale, CAE,
e-PRO, RCE, SPHR
REALTOR® REVIEW
NEWS & NOTES
Home Sales Up... - (Continued from page 1)
The number of sales pending at the end of December 2015 was 209,
as compared to 214 sales pending at the same time in 2014. The
average cumulative days on market in December of 2015 was 95 days, as
compared to 90 days during the same month in 2014. The average cumulative
days on market for year-to-date through December 2015 was 90 as compared to
100 in 2014.
During 2015 there were 101 new residential construction sales, reflecting an 11
percent increase from the 91 new construction sales in 2014. New construction
sales in 2015 made up 2.6 percent of all home sales in the Capital Area. The
median price of a new construction sale reported through the MLS in 2015 was
$256,000, reflecting a 4 percent increase from the $246,244 median price in
2014, and the highest median price on record for new construction sales.
(Note: West Central Chapter sales are not included in these figures)
Relocation Management… - (Continued from page 1)
RELOCATION MANAGEMENT
How does relocation management fit into this? For those of us who have been
around more than 30 years, we recall when relocation management firms entered
the industry in the mid-1970s. First, they said they were serving the corporate
employers, and brokers would have to live with their service requirements if they
wanted the business, but that serving the corporate clients was all they would do.
Then they formed their own referral networks and, should you want their
business; you would have to send all your broker-to-broker referrals through their
networks (for which they would take a piece). Then, after saying the corporate
client is their only client; they started charging a referral fee for each listing or
buyer they sent their broker members. Then, some leveraged that relationship
further and created franchise networks where now the broker not only paid for
each relocation-oriented referral but also paid a percentage of the gross
commission income on all business. All this happened in roughly less than 10
years. You should have heard the howling when all this was going on between
1977 and 1987.
STILL BENEFITTING FROM THE MODEL
Brokerage firms survived and adapted, as did their agents. They invested in their
own relocation management departments (which didn’t exist prior to the entry of
the relocation management firms), they started their own corporate relocation
services groups (one of which, Weichert, is among the largest in the country), and
they competed while also doing business with the evil empires of Homequity,
Merrill Lynch Relocation and Equitable Relocation. In fact, we know from
studying this that many of the brokerage firms that embraced the relationship
with these firms became the privately owned giant regional firms that we see
today. Realogy, Berkshire Hathaway, Weichert and Leading RE still benefit
today from this model of integrating relocation and brokerage.
(Continued on page 3)
2
REALTOR® REVIEW
News & Notes - (Continued from page 2)
The Zillow Thing - (Continued from page 2)
Yes, Zillow/Trulia/Realtor.com and Homes.com are different than relocation
management firms in many ways. They reach the entirety of the housing consumer
market, not just a subset. We have been told for so long now that “lions coming
over the hill are going to eat us” that it seems wired into our industry DNA. Big
data and technology scare most of us. But, we think there are strong similarities
nonetheless. The angst of 30 years ago sounds very much like the angst of today.
Embrace them, as some do, or don’t. Embrace them and compete with them as so
many did in the relocation business. Don’t embrace them, and build your own
capabilities and compete with them. Any of these is a successful strategy. What
likely won’t work is to ignore them and then ignore building your own online
marketing and service capabilities. It is not that you will perish, but likely you
won’t grow as much as you could have.
This is not a laughing matter. We know that at least one-third of all housing
consumers do not choose an agent due to a relationship. They are essentially up for
grabs. They may well be influenced by what Zillow/Trulia/Realtor.com/
Homes.com tells them in so far as which agent to use. One-third of our market is
huge when you consider that the largest existing national real estate brand has less
than 10 percent market share.
History is useful in this regard. Embrace these new players or not but don’t forget it
is within your grasp to compete with them equally well.
(This article originally appeared in the December 2015 issue of the REAL Trends
Newsletter and is reprinted with permission of REAL Trends, Inc. Copyright
2015.)
Earn the
CNE
Designation!
(No annual or renewal fee)
Capital Area
REALTORS®
February 3 & 4, 2016
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(See page 9 for more
details & registration
information)
This two-day course
includes the following:
 Competitive Win-Lose
Hard Bargaining vs.
Collaborative Win-Win
Negotiating
Changes Announced to Various Addenda and New
Addenda Introduced
 Psychology of Buying
Recently, Managing Brokers wee advised of several pending changes to CAR’s
library of contracts and addenda and subsequent to this all REALTORS® received
notice. This is the culmination of many hours of hard work by members of the
CAR Forms Committee during the course of 2015 with ultimate review and
approval by association legal counsel.
 CNE Model and
The effective date of these new and revised addenda is not yet known but will
correspond with yet to be released revisions to the Contract to Purchase Residential
Real Estate (“the Contract”). We anticipate these changes to the Contract being
finalized sometime during the first quarter of 2016 but we will
keep you updated.
Continued on the following page is a listing of existing addenda
that were amended as well as newly developed addenda.
(Continued on page 3) .
3
 Persuasion Principles
Planning Guide
 Case Studies
 Skill Practice/Role
Plays
 Group Discussion
Topics
(Note: this designation is
not affiliated with our
endorsed by the National
Association of
REALTORS®)
REALTOR® REVIEW
News & Notes - (Continued from page 3)
Changes Announced… - (Continued from page 3)
Revised Addenda:
Radon Measurement Addendum (CAR 406)
AS-IS Condition Addendum (CAR 109)
Buyer’s Inspection Addendum (CAR 403)
Repair Addendum (CAR 405)
Repair Addendum Attachment (405a)
Seller Holdover Agreement (CAR 336)
Survey Addendum (CAR 107)
(Retired) - Well, Water & Septic Inspection Addendum (CAAR 402)
Newsletter
Inserts
Flyers referenced in
this newsletter and
listed below may be
downloaded at http://
www.seehouses.com/
MemberPortal/
Calendar/
EventFlyers.aspx.
Inserts
 Wine Down
 Technology
Training Class
Schedule
 Office Admin
Workshop
 CAR/Jacksonville
Area Winter CE
Schedule
 Galesburg Area
Winter CE
Schedule
New Addenda
Septic System Inspection Addendum (CAR 409)
Wood Infestation Inspection Addendum (CAR 411)
Well Equipment and Well Water Inspection Addendum (CAR 410)
The email that went to Managing Brokers and to all REALTORS® included the
updated versions of these addenda stamped with a watermark that reads “(Effective
Date TBA)”. Additionally, for those existing forms with revisions, another
document was attached that showed what changes were made. However, the
Survey Addendum was completely rewritten and did NOT show changes made.
Finally, attached to the emails was a brief overview of some of the rationale behind
the more significant changes or additions that have been made. 
Blast from the Past
We hope you enjoy this month's
pictures from our association's
archives. This month's featured
pictures are from the January
2013 "Wine Down With the
Affiliates" table top event. If
you have an old picture or
comment about a picture please
share with us.

Affiliate Joy Gilliland (Illini Bank)
offers CAR members an array of
treats from her antipasto display
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REALTOR® REVIEW
TECHNOLOGY/MLS CORNER
6th Annual Administrator Workshop
January 22nd
CAR and the MLS are planning to hold an informative workshop for
Office Staff, Personal Assistants and Coordinators on January 22, 2016 from 10:00
- 11:30 a.m. at CAR. To help us in preparing the agenda and to make this program
as useful as possible for the attendees we would like to hear from you. Tell us
what topics would be of interest to you. Attendees will be provided with valuable
information and resources to share with their company. Please share your topic
ideas with Dan Sale at dsale@caaronline.com or Cathy Wagner at
cwagner@caaronline.com. This program is open to staff and Managing Brokers as
well. Attendees will be provided with valuable information and resources to share
with their company. RSVP by calling CAR at 217.698.7000 or email
admin@caaronline.com.
Sophisticated Email Scams Targeting the
Real Estate Industry
(This article initially appeared on December 15, 2015 on www.realtor.org)
Criminals are hacking into the email accounts of real estate agents or other persons
involved in a real estate transaction and using information gained from the hack to
dupe a party into a fraudulent wire transfer. The hackers often send an email that
appears to be from an individual legitimately involved in the transaction, informing
the recipient, often the buyer, that there has been a last minute change to the wiring
instructions. Following the new instructions, the recipient will wire funds directly
to the hacker’s account, which will be cleared out in a matter of minutes. The
money is almost always lost forever.
The National Association of REALTORS® urges its members and state and local
REALTOR® associations to be on high alert for email and online fraud. In May
2015, NAR issued an alert regarding a sophisticated email wire fraud hitting the
real estate industry. Since then, the incidents of online
scams targeting practitioners have continued to rise but
the advice is the same.
Bottom line: Do not let your guard down. Start from the
assumption that any email in your in-box could be a
targeted attack from a criminal.
Prevention
Follow this guidance to avoid becoming a victim:
 Immediately contact all parties to all of your upcoming transactions and inform
them of the possibility of this fraud. Attorneys, escrow agents, buyers, sellers,
real estate agents, and title agents have all been targeted in these scams. You
can also download and distribute NAR’s online fraud prevention handout,
accessible here.
 If possible, do not send sensitive information via email. If you must use email
to send sensitive information, use encrypted email.
(Continued on page 5)
5
New Technology
Training Schedule
Released
Take advantage of our
FREE training courses.
Classes are also available
via webinar on a limited
basis. Please contact
Cathy Wagner at
cwagner@caaronline.com
for webinar information.
InnoVia Overview
Jan 21, 9-11 a.m.
Mar 10, 9-11 a.m.
CMA 2.0
Feb 22, 9-10 a.m.
Mar 9, 11-12 p.m.
Prospecting Manager &
Buyer Match
Feb 8, 9-10:30 a.m.
Mar 2, 11-12:30 p.m.
Authentisign
Jan 28, 9-10 a.m.
Feb 24, 11-12 p.m.
Mar 29, 11-12 p.m.
TransactionDesk Pro
Jan 25, 9-10:30 a.m.
Feb 19, 9-10:30 a.m.
Mar 22, 9-10:30 a.m.
For course descriptions
and registration
information download
flyer here.

REALTOR® REVIEW
Technology/MIS Corner - (Continued from page 4)
Sophisticated Email Scams… - (Continued from page 4)
 Immediately prior to wiring any money, the person sending the money must call the intended recipient to verify
the wiring instructions. Only use a verified telephone number to make this call.
 Do not trust contact information in unverified emails. The hackers will recreate legitimate-looking signature







blocks with their own telephone number. In addition, fraudsters will include links to fake websites to further
convince victims of their legitimacy.
Never click on any links in an unverified email. In addition to leading you to fake websites, these links can
contain viruses and other malicious spyware that can make your computer – and your transactions – vulnerable
to attack.
Never conduct business over unsecured wifi.
Trust your instincts. Tell clients that if an e-mail or a telephone call ever seems suspicious or “off,” that they
should refrain from taking any action until the communication has been independently verified as legitimate.
Clean out your e-mail account on a regular basis. Your e-mails may establish patterns in your business practice
over time that hackers can use against you. In addition, a longstanding backlog of e-mails may contain sensitive
information from months or years past. You can always save important e-mails in a secure location on your
internal system or hard drive.
Change your usernames and passwords on a regular basis, and make sure your employees and licensees do the
same.
Never use usernames or passwords that are easy to guess. Never, ever use the password “password.”
Make sure to implement the most up-to-date firewall and anti-virus technologies in your business.
Damage Control
If you believe your e-mail or any other account has been hacked, or that you or a client has otherwise been a victim
of online fraud, you should take the following steps:
 If money has been wired via false wiring instructions, immediately call all banks and financial institutions that
could possibly put a stop to the wire.
 Contact your local police.
 Contact any clients or other parties who may have been exposed during the attack so that they take appropriate
action. Remind them not to comply with any requests from an unverified source.
 Change all usernames and passwords associated with any account that you believe may have been
compromised or otherwise made vulnerable by the attack.
 Report any fraudulent activity to the Federal Bureau of Investigations via their Internet Crime Complaint
Center.
 Brokers should report any fraudulent activity to their state or local REALTOR® association so that the
associations can send out alerts or take other appropriate action, including contacting NAR.
This advice is not all-inclusive, and real estate practitioners should work with Information Technology and
cybersecurity professionals to ensure that their e-mail accounts, online systems, and business practices are as secure
and up-to-date as possible.
Be aware that these emails are extremely convincing. Many sophisticated parties have been duped. No one should
assume that they are “too savvy” to recognize the fraud. In addition, no one should assume that they are “too small
a target” to be on these criminals’ radars. This fraud is pervasive, convincing, and constantly evolving. 
6
REALTOR® REVIEW
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE NETWORK
CREN Luncheon
The next luncheon is Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at 11:30 a.m. at the
Association. Special thanks to our sponsor The Greater Springfield Chamber of
Commerce. Tim Rowles will be the guest speaker. Tim is President of the Black Chamber
of Commerce as well as working on both The Springfield Project and the Downtown CDC
that was recently formed to assist with development initiatives. 
AFFILIATE CORNER
Wine Down with the Affiliates
Looking for an inexpensive way of getting in front of several
REALTORS®? Do you know about our popular upcoming event called
Wine Down with the Affiliates? This is a great opportunity for Affiliate members
to expose their products or services to the general membership. The event will be
held January 14, 2016 from 4:00-6:00 at CAR. There is no fee to be an exhibitor
but space is limited and will be made available on a first-come first-serve basis. To
secure your spot for this event return the exhibitor form attached to this month’s
REALTOR® Review by no later than January 7, 2015. Our
Affiliate members will be hosting tables and will be available
to discuss their services with you. The following Affiliate
members will be hosting a table at this event:
American Home Shield
Flooring of Springfield
Heartland Credit Union
Illini Bank
Marine Bank
PNC Mortgage
Prairie Land Title Co.
Residence Inn by Marriott
Security Bank
Springfield Area Home Builders
Town & Country Bank
West Central Bank
The Tax Man Cometh
February 2nd Hot Topic
The REALTOR® and Affiliate Committee invites you to join them for its next
Break-for-Hot-Topic program "Tax Issues for the Self-employed" to be held on
February 2, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. at CAR (3149 Robbins Road). Guest speaker Katie
Lancaster (Eck, Schafer & Punke, LLP) will discuss the following topics:
Employee Vs Contract Laborer; Deductible vs. Non-Deductible Expenses; Tax
Changes 2015/2016 and Tax Changes on the Horizon. Special thanks to The Title
Center for sponsoring this program.
2016 Hot Topic Seminars
January 14th
February 2nd
March 1st
April 6th
June 7th
June 8th
July 26th
August 25th
October 4th
4:30p
9:00a
9:00a
9:00a
11:30a
11:30a
9:00a
9:00a
9:00a
Wine Down with the Affiliates
Tax Issues for the Self-employed
Show me the Money
Emerging Appraisal Issues
Real Trends Webinar / Social Media
Comedian
Lake Leases
Home Inspection Issues
Emerging Issues (Drones, Surveillance, etc.) 
7
CREN Sponsors
REALTOR® REVIEW
WEST CENTRAL CHAPTER NEWS
West Central Chapter Luncheon - January 15th
The next Chapter luncheon will be held on Friday, January 15th and will feature a
Q&A with CAR President Kristie DeBrun and CEO Dan Sale covering the
Residential Sale Contract. The luncheon will be held at the Galesburg Public
Library (Sanderson Room). Lunch begins at 11:45 a.m. with the program from
12:00-1:00 p.m. Q’s Catering is providing lunch at a cost of $10.00 + tax. RSVP’s
required by no later than January 8th at 12:00 noon. No-shows will be billed.
SPONSOR
CORNER
This CAR "Sponsor
Corner" section is
available to all sponsors
to promote an upcoming
event one time per year.
We are also happy to
promote the event in our
e-bulletin as well with a
link to your event flyer/
info. This is all subject
to timing and it is
suggested that for the
best results you contact
us a minimum of 45 days
prior to your event. This
will ensure that we can
afford you the best
possible exposure.
"Promotion requests"
should be sent to
knichelson@caaronline.com.
Please feel free to direct
any questions regarding
this to my attention or
Kathy Nichelson's
attention.

February CE in Galesburg
In conjunction with the IAR Licensing & Training Center CAR will offer two
continuing education courses on February 24, 2016 in Galesburg. Both courses
will be held at First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust, 101 E Main Street, Galesburg, IL
February 24, 2016 - (Instructor Kerry Kidwell)
9:00-12:00 p.m. - RD 900 - Real Estate Safety Matters (3 Hrs Elective)
1:00-4:00 p.m. - ETH 1518 - Code of Ethics Overview (3 Hrs Elective)
(This course meets NAR's quadrennial requirement for Code of
Ethics training.) 
West Central Chapter
Calendar
January
15 Lunch Meeting ........................ 11:45
Forms Review with CAR
Galesburg Library - Sanderson Rm
Q’s Catering ($10.00 + tax)
18 Martin Luther King Jr Day Association Office Closed
February
8
Lunch Meeting ........................ 11:45
Lender Day
Fat Fish Pub
Buffet provided ($10.00 + tax)
15 Presidents' Day Assoc Office Closed
18 New Member Orientation ... 8:30-5:00
(CAR Springfield Office)
24 Cont. Ed. RD 900 .............. 9:00-12:00
Cont. Ed. ETH 1518 ............ 1:00-4:00
8
Capital Area
REALTORS®
would like to
thank the
Midwest Bank for
hosting the
Galesburg area CE
courses in October.
REALTOR® REVIEW
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE)
Designation Course
February 3 & 4, 2016
Negotiation is a life skill. When we “negotiate” with someone, we
are actually trying to influence or persuade them to agree with or do
something. Negotiation training is provided by universities and colleges, as well as
by private companies around the world. Corporate America businesses spend
millions of dollars on negotiation training each year to ensure the best results are
achieved for their companies. This two day course includes the following:
Competitive Win-Lose Hard Bargaining vs. Collaborative Win-Win Negotiating;
Psychology of Buying; Persuasion Principles; CNE Model and Planning Guide;
Case Studies; Skill Practice/Role Plays and Group Discussion
Topics. Attend the CNE 1 two day course and earn the CNE
Designation and 6 hours of elective CE credit. (No annual
renewal fee). To more information download the flyer at
http://tinyurl.com/ztmlokv. (Note: this designation is not
affiliated with our endorsed by the National Association of REALTORS®)
2016 Winter Continuing Education Schedule Available
As you consider your New Year's Resolutions why not resolve to finish all of your
continuing education requirements sooner rather than later. The benefits include a
greater selection of available courses as well as reduced stress in your life.
Included as an attachment to this month's REALTOR® Review is CAR's 2016
Winter CE schedule and below is a summary listing of these courses that are held
in conjunction with the IAR Licensing and Training Center:
February 3 & 4, 2016 - (Instructor: Kerry Kidwell)
9:00 - 4:00 p.m. - RB 708 - Certified Negotiation Expert (6 Hrs Elective)
Jacksonville Area
Continuing
Education
The following classes will
be held at the
Jacksonville Savings
Bank, 1211 West Morton
Avenue, Jacksonville, IL:
February 19, 2016:
9:00 - 12:00 p.m.
RD 900 - Real Estate
Safety Matters
(3 Hrs Elective)
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
ETH 1518 - Code
(3 Hrs Elective) (This
course meets NAR's
quadrennial
requirement for Code of
Ethics training due
12/31/16)
Instructor Kerry Kidwell

February 16, 2016 - (Instructor: Kerry Kidwell)
9:00 - 12:00 p.m. - COM 1065 - Discovering Commercial Real Estate (3 Hrs Elective)
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - RD 900 - Real Estate Safety Matters (3 Hrs Elective)
February 17, 2016 - (Instructor: Kerry Kidwell)
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. - ETH 1518 - Code of Ethics Overview (3 Hrs Elective)
(This course meets NAR's quadrennial requirement for Code of
Ethics training due 12/31/16)
February 23, 2016 - (Instructor: Kerry Kidwell)
9:00 - 12:00 p.m. - COR 1644 - Core A: Quiz Me - License Law, Escrow, Fair
Housing and Agency (3 Hrs Core A )
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - COR 1629 - Core B - Legal Issues: Advertising and the Real
Estate Agent (3 Hrs Core B)
March 17, 2016 - (Instructor: Kerry Kidwell)
9:00 - 12:00 p.m. - RB 714 - Developing a Marketing Plan (3 Hrs Elective)
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - COR 1640 - CORE B: Disclose! Disclose! Disclose!
(3 Hrs Core B)
(See page 8 for courses held in Galesburg, IL) 
9
Capital Area
REALTORS®
would like to
thank the
Jacksonville
Savings Bank for
hosting the
Jacksonville area
CE courses in
October.
REALTOR® REVIEW
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
Governmental Affairs Update
By Neil Malone, Governmental Affairs Director
2016 … Off and Running!
With the holiday season over, we jump right into a busy time for the volunteers and staff of the Governmental
Affairs Committee. Here are a few items of interest that will have the committee off to a running start:
January Public Policy Meetings - Illinois REALTORS® will meet Jan. 18 – 21, 2016 in East Peoria for the
annual IAR Public Policy meetings to make sure REALTORS® continue to have a voice in the local, state
and federal public policy issues and legislative battles that affect their business. Included in these meetings
will be the 2016 RPAC Auction, to be held on Tuesday evening, January 19th. This annual event is the
largest individual fundraiser of the year for RPAC, and generates tens of thousands of dollars each year to
benefit the REALTORS® Political Action Committee.
Drones – The or dinance pr oposed by the Spr ingfield City Council to r egulate dr ones in the city has been
put on hold. At CAR’s request, it will be held until the state and federal regulations governing the use of
drone are completed. Please note that any commercial use of drones still requires a Section 333 waiver from
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Legislative Session – The 99th General Assembly will reconvene this month beginning on January 13th when
the House and Senate will return to Springfield to continue working toward a state budget. Be sure to mark
your calendars for the annual REALTOR Lobby Day and Capitol Conference to be held on April 5, 2014. It
is a great opportunity to meet with your elected officials on issues that are important to the Real Estate
industry, and to showcase the strength of the REALTOR® association! An added bonus in 2016 is that the
Illinois Association of REALTORS® is turning 100 this April, and will also hold a special anniversary
reception to commemorate this milestone on April 5th.
Primary Elections – Primary Elections will be held on March 15, 2016. In the Springfield area there will be
several contested primaries.
50th Senate (GOP Primary) – Senator Sam McCann is being challenged by Bryce Benton. (No
announced Democrat challenger at this time)
95th House (3-way GOP Primary) – Appointed State Representative Avery Bourne (who replaced
Wayne Rosenthal) faces Dennis Scobbie and Christopher Hicks. (Winner faces Mike Mathis, the
only Democrat to file)
96th House – Two-term State Representative Sue Scherer (D) will face the winner of the GOP Primary,
which pits Cynthia Deadrick Wolfer against Gary Pierce (although an objection to his nominating
petitions is pending).
99th House (GOP Primary) – Appointed State Representative Sara Wojcicki-Jimenez (who replaced
Raymond Poe) take on Kent Gray. (Winner to face Tony DelGiorno, the only Democrat to file.)
Finally, in the 74th House District GOP Primary (near the West Centr al Chapter ), the r ace to
replace retiring State Representative Don Moffitt features Republicans Wayne Saline, Daniel
Swanson, and Michael DeSutter all vying for the opportunity to take on Democrat Bill Butts. 
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REALTOR® REVIEW
MEMBERSHIP NOTES
New Member Orientation
The new member orientation program is scheduled for Wednesday, February 17,
2016 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. and Thursday, February 18, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00
p.m. All new REALTOR® members are require to complete this course. To
register for this course call Kathy Nichelson at the Association at 698-7000.
New Members
The following individuals have been approved for membership in the Association,
subject to completion of Orientation were applicable:
Designated REALTORS®
Diane Davenport
Freedom Real Estate
REALTORS®
Ketki Arya
Heather Davidsmeyer
Lezlie Hearn
Lindsay Hillery
Adam Jeffrey
Julie McCormick
Matthew McFee
The Real Estate Group
Davidsmeyer Real Estate
The Real Estate Group
Mel Foster Co.
Craggs REALTORS®
Freedom Real Estate
RE/MAX Professionals
Local Affiliates
Michelle Brown
Tim Robinson
Illini Bank
Diamond Residential Mortgage
MLS Participation Only
Chad Davidsmeyer
Davidsmeyer Real Estate
TRANSFERS
Mel Foster Company
Jennifer Evans, Rhianna Schroeder (from Century 21 Tucker-Swanson)
RE/MAX Professionals
Pam Biswell (from Landguys, LLC)
DROP:
REALTORS®:
Doris Bailey, Karen Benjamin, Tamara Britz, Judy Burgess, Cliff Carlson,
Christina Clay, Chris Cleeton, Carol Copelin, Meredith Crouse, Brenda
Cumming, Nancy Dahlberg, Rolland Hannam, Lou Matsko, Gregory Nimmo,
Michael Patterson, Cheryl Paulsgrove, Kenneth Reid, Laura Riemer, Jan
Ruby, Lerin Sapp Cunningham, William Slater, Michele Sommers, Jeffrey
Sutzer, Sonia Tankersley, Jenna Wilkerson
Affiliates:
Larry Bunting, Tom Cavanagh, Ed Clark, Dan Cody, Gretchen Fitch, Mindy
Goodman, Steven Howard, Jan Roth, Chris Smith
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Frequently Used
Phone Numbers:
Capital Area
Association of
REALTORS7:
Phone:
217/698-7000
Fax:
217/698-7009
Websites:
www.SeeHouses.com
www.SeeBuildings.com
Illinois Association of
REALTORS7
Phone:
217/529-2600
Fax:
217/529-3904
REALTOR7
Store: 800/529-2696
Member
Line: 800/752-3275
Website:
www.illinoisrealtor.org
National Association of
REALTORS7
Phone:
312/329-8200
Fax:
312/329-8576
Website:
www.realtor.org
Office of Banks and
Real Estate:
Phone:
217/782-3414
SentriLock:
Phone:
877/736-8745
support@sentrilock.com
http://lockbox.sentrilock.com/
MarketLinx:
Phone:
800/334-0831
REALTOR® REVIEW
CALENDAR
AT A GLANCE
January 2016
7
Leadership Academy
Welcome Reception
4:30-6:30
8 Governmental Affairs
10:00
11 Board of Directors
9:00
Forms Committee
10:30
12 IAR ProStand. Workshop 8:15-3:30
13 Leadership Academy I
9:00-1:00
14 Wine Down:
Aff Table Top Event
4:00-6:00
18 Martin Luther King Jr Day
Assoc Offices Closed
19 CREN Luncheon
19-21 IAR Policy Meetings
22 Office Admin Workshop 10:00-11:30
28 Leadership Academy II
9:00-1:00
ANNONCEMENTS
Thank You & Goodbye
We thank Danny Ahern for all of his hard work and dedication on
behalf of CAR. Danny has moved on to pursue other opportunities.
CAR Welcomes New Staff
We welcome to CAR our new Customer Care
Rep Lori Mitchell. Lori will be taking Danny
Ahern’s place at our front desk. We are very
excited to have Lori join us. Please make her
feel welcome to the organization. Her email is
admin@caaronline.com.
February
1
2
3
4
5
9
10
12
15
16
16
17
18
Governmental Affairs
1:00
Break For Hot Topics
9:00
CNE Certification Course 9:00-4:00
Finance & Exec Committees
10:30
CNE Certification Course 9:00-4:00
MLS Committee
9:00
Board of Directors
9:00
REALTOR®/Aff Committee
11:00
Leadership Academy III
9:00-1:00
Presidents' Day Assoc Offices Closed
Cont. Ed. COM 1065
9:00-12:00
Cont. Ed. RD 900
1:00-4:00
New Member Orientation 1:00-5:00
Cont. Ed. ETH 1518
2:00-5:00
New Member Orientation 9:00-5:00
Capital Area
3149 Robbins Rd.
Springfield, IL
62704
217.698.7000
Fax: 217.698.7009
The offices of the
Capital Area REALTORS®
will be closed
January 18th in honor of
Martin Luther King Jr Day
CAR MONTHLY REPORT
Single Family Residential
Time Period
Dec 14
Dec 15
YTD 14
YTD 15
Listings Processed
206
180
5,125
5,151
Units Sold
304
281
3,179
3,782
Dollar Volume
39,360,617
39,223,156
505,068,876
528,215,711
Ave. Sale Price
129,476
139,584
135,808
139,666
All Property Classes
Time Period
Dec 14
Dec 15
YTD 14
YTD 15
Listings Processed
271
227
6,089
6,177
Units Sold
330
329
4,052
4,153
Dollar Volume
54,503,503
44,481,853
573,849,940
602,609,259
www.SeeHouses.com
12