my florida resource - oct/nov 2011

The monthly magazine of My Florida Regional MLSOctober/November 2011

Volume 1, Issue 6

MFRMLS has been thinkingThis Fall...

“green.”

ALSO, MFRMLS partners with Office Depot.page 7

MFR is putting all documents online.page 3

The MLS (i.e. MLXchange) is “going green.”page 5

October/November 2011

My Florida ReSource MagazineOctober/November 2011

Volume 1, Issue 6

My Florida Regional MLS (MFRMLS)5032 Goddard Avenue

Orlando, FL 32804Tel: (407) 218-8607

Toll-Free: (800) 686-7451Fax: (407) 293-6461

About MFRMLSMy Florida Regional MLS is Florida’s larg-est multiple listing service with over 32,000

subscribers. Owned by 15 Shareholder REALTOR® Boards and Associations in

Central and Southwest Florida, MFRMLS offers a comprehensive suite of productiv-ity and marketing tools to professionals in

the real estate industry.

Positioning StatementMy Florida Regional MLS is the only real estate information resource that helps our members deliver quality service to their

customers by providing the tools and op-portunity to succeed in their profession.

2011-2012 MFRMLS OfficersBill Dryburgh, President

Melody Hall, President-ElectSteve Amburgey, Vice-President

Bob Grant, Jr., TreasurerAaron Chandler, Immediate Past President

MFRMLS ExecutivesMerri Jo Cowen, CEO

Jay Markell, CFO, COODeanna Rogers,

VP of Business DevelopmentCarole Burgess, VP of Administration

Jennifer Thompson-Kersting,VP of Marketing and Education

Editorial StaffNatashia Ford, Editor

Doug Wise, Editor, Creative Director

In this issue...

In every issue...

Featured

Featured

Featured

Featured

Featured

3 This Fall MFRMLS has been thinking “green.”3 MFRMLS is putting all documents online4 No more printed course handouts4 Transaction Desk, including InstanetFax5 The MLS is “going green!”6 No more Mongo Fax!7 Office Depot-MFRMLS Partnership: Member Savings

8-11 Training & Tips—Habla Espanol? Then MFRMLS is speaking your language.—Help Desk Tip: How to prepare an InstanetFax cover sheet.—Recent My Tips of the Week

13-15 Resources—Have you failed today?—5 Ways to Keep in Touch with Past, Current, and Future Clients

17-18 Real Estate News—Condo, Home Sales Rise in 3Q 2011—2011 tax credits available for ‘green’ updates—Lenders to start factoring in energy costs?

19-20 Spotlights—Team Member: Doug Wise, Communications Specialist—Product and Services: Proxio

21-22 Compliance Corner (NEW SECTION!)23 Commercial Real Estate News (pre-sented by MFCRE)—Realtors Expo: CRE Markets to See Improvement in 2012, 2013

24 Around the House (an article for cur-rent and future homeowners)—10 ways to prepare for home ownership

www.MFRMLS.com October/November 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 2

This Fall MFRMLS has been thinking “green.”By MFRMLS Staff

As the leaves have turned and start to collect on the ground (at least in some areas of the country) and most publications design themselves with Fall colors, we thought we’d change the scenery a bit and devote this issue of My Florida ReSource to “going green.”

After all, we do live in Florida, where it’s green all year round!

However, we’re taking about a different kind of “green”: the kind of “green” that involves conservation and protecting the environment. More specifically, we’re talking about reducing the amount of paper we use, as well as our strain on the environment. So, how is MFRMLS “going green?”

We’re glad you asked. Here are a few ways MFRMLS is “going green,” and how you can “go green,” as well!

MFRMLS is putting all documents and flyers online!Just like with this magazine, MFRMLS is starting to put more of its handouts and flyers online.

Pretty soon you’ll notice all of our handouts and flyers either on MFRMLS.com or linked to on Issuu.com. Subsequently, many of these documents will no longer be provided by MFRMLS in paper.

For instance, already on Issuu.com is an online version of our new member Welcome Packet (http://issuu.com/mfrmlscommunications/docs/welcome_packet_updated_files), that we have begun distributing to new members electronically – rather than handing out in paper and in person.

Another great thing about making our documents available online is that we can link directly to the websites of our products and services, without you having to clutter your home or office with a bunch of documents.

TransactionDesk, including

Authentisign and InstanetFax!

Although we discussed TransactionDesk in the August issue

of My Florida ReSource, it would be difficult to discuss “going green”

without mentioning TransactionDesk.

Whether you’re using Authentisign to provide your signature to an

electronic version of a contract, using the unlimited document storage or using InstanetFax to fax important

documents to someone’s email, TransactionDesk makes it easy for you

to “go green.”

For more information on TransactionDesk, please visit http://www.mfrmls.com/member-benefits/

transactiondesk-member-benefits

Important note about Mongo Fax

Effective January 1, 2012, MongoFax will no longer be offered as a

member benefit through MFRMLS. InstanetFax, a product of Transaction

Desk, will serve as the replacement for your faxing needs. InstanetFax is available to all MFRMLS members as

a free faxing solution.

For more information on the elimination of Mongo Fax, please see “Mongo Fax Discontinuation Notice”

on page 6.

So, does that mean MFRMLS course handouts will no longer be printed for MFRMLS classes?That’s correct. Beginning in January 2012, all course handouts for MFRMLS classes will no longer be printed.

Prior to class, members will have the following options for obtaining the course handout for that class:

1) Downloading the online version of the handout to their laptops, if they are taking their laptop to class or if they are attending a class that does not have a PC lab.

(The Associations/Boards that have a PC lab are: Sarasota Association of REALTORS® (SAR); Pinellas REALTOR® Organization (PRO); Greater Tampa Association of REALTORS® (GTAR); Punta Gorda–Port Charlotte–North Port Association of REALTORS® (PGPCNP)).

2) Downloading the online version of the handout and printing prior to com-ing to class.

3) The link to the online handouts will also be included in the registration con-firmation emails that are sent prior to classes, as well as the course descriptions and other places.

So, what is the link to the course handouts?

http://www.mfrmls.com/resources/document-library/cat_view/53-education-documents/105-course-handouts

Additionally, in MLXchange, under the Resources menu on the right-hand side of the homepage, there is a category called “Education” where a link to course handouts can be found. Please see the screenshot below.

5 | My Florida ReSource | October/November 2011 Volume 1, Issue 6

The MLS is “going green!”By MFRMLS Staff

Several new “green,” energy-related fields are coming to MLXchange this December, making it easier than ever for you to identify “green” property features for your clients. These new fields are being added to Residential, Income, Rental and Commercial property types.

For Residential, Income and Rental property types, those fields are:

—Green Certifications

Example pick list options: Energy Star Home, EarthCraft House, FGBC (Florida Green Build-ing Coalition) Green Certified, Florida Friendly Yard Recogni-tion, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes and more.

Please note: If listing agent selects that the property has a green certi-fication, the agent will be required to upload proof of the green certifi-cation as an attachment.

—Green Energy Features

Example pick list options: Energy Star Dishwater, Energy Star Win-dows, Gas Tankless Hot Water, Geothermal Heat Pump, Hydro Power, Humidistat, Solar Power and more.

—Green Water Features

Example pick list options: Dual Flush Toilets, High Efficiency Faucet/Fixtures, Irrigation–Low Volume, Whole House Water Pu-rification and more.

—Green Landscaping

Example pick list options: Flori-

da Friendly/Native Landscaping, Vegetable (Productive) Garden and more.

—Air Indoor Quality

Example pick list options: Bath Fans Vented to Outside, Fresh Air Ventilation System, Range Hood Vented to Outside, Whole House Vacuum System and more.

—Disaster Mitigation

Example pick list options: Above Flood Plain, Fire Resistant Exte-rior, Hurricane Insurance Deduc-tion Qualified, Hurricane Shut-ters/Windows, Safe Room and more.

Additionally, plans are in the works to add some of these new “green” fields to MyFloridaHomesMLS.com, mak-ing it easier for consumers to search for any of your properties that meet any “green” standards.

For Commercial property types, the following new “green” fields are being added:

—Green Certifications

Example pick list options: FGBC Green Certified Building, Energy Star Registered, Florida Green Lodging, Florida Friendly Land-scape and more.

Please note: If listing agent selects that the property has a green certi-fication, the agent will be required to upload proof of the green certifi-cation as an attachment.

—Green Site Improvements

Example pick list options:

Building Orientation, Bike Rack, Brownfield Redevelopment Site, Parking for Fuel Efficient/Hybrids, Exterior Lighting is Dark Sky Compliant and more.

—Green Water Features

Example pick list options: Cis-terns, Grey Water System, Low Flow Faucets-Sensors, Irrigation System-Reclaimed Water and more.

—Green Energy Features

Example pick list options: Energy Monitoring System, Green Roof, LED Lighting, Reflective Roofing Material, Solar Water Heater and more.

—Indoor Air Quality

Example pick list options: No/Low VOC Cabinets/Countertops, Air Filters MERV 10+, No Smok-ing in Interior of Building and more.

More than anything, we wanted to let you know about these upcoming changes, and please stay tuned to the News section of MFRMLS.com, as well as to future issues of My Florida ReSource for information on the MLS “going green.”

2011 tax credits available for ‘green’ updates.

Lenders to start factoring in energy costs?

Real Estate News: page 18


By MFRMLS Staff

Effective January 1, 2012, MongoFax will no longer be offered as a member benefit through My Florida Regional MLS (MFRMLS). The decision to not re-new the MFRMLS contract with MongoFax was made after a detailed audit of our current member benefits revealed a duplication of services.

InstanetFax, a product of TransactionDesk, will serve as the replacement for your faxing needs. InstanetFax is available to all MFRMLS members as a FREE faxing solution. And now, TransactionDesk is even available for Agent Assistants, Office Assistants and Company Assistants, giving all Assistants access to InstanetFax, as well.

Some of the benefits to InstanetFax include:

• No limitation to the length of the email address

• Send and automatically have a fax back cover sheet sent along with your fax

• Watermark documents – draft/confidential

• By using the intelligent coversheet you can:

— Password protect attachments

—Split attachments

—Automatically eliminate the need for a cover page

• Offline faxing option

—Note: If you want to utilize the “offline” coversheet option, you will need to download it to your computer for future use.

For detailed InstanetFax instructions visit http://www.mfrmls.com/member-benefits/instanetfax.

To watch a brief InstanetFax Tutorial visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLL1yO3n4VM&feature=youtu.be.

We are certain once you familiarize yourself with InstanetFax, you will enjoy all the benefits it has to offer. We encourage you to begin acquainting yourself with InstanetFax early to ensure a seamless transition from MongoFax.

As with anything, change can be unsettling, however we are fully committed to providing you with the resources you need to begin using InstanetFax.

If you need any additional assistance in regards to getting started with Insta-netFax, please feel free to contact our Help Desk department at 800-686-7451 Option #1 or 407-218-8607 option #1.

MongoFax Discontinuation Notice


By MFRMLS Staff

My Florida Regional MLS (MFRMLS) is always seeking new opportunities to pass along benefits to its members. That’s why we’re excited to announce … drum roll, please … a partnership with Office Depot!

MFRMLS and Office Depot have es-tablished a strategic partnership, with the mission of providing a compre-hensive and price competitive Busi-ness Supplies program to MFRMLS members.

Whether you’re a broker with many offices or an independent agent who works from a home office, the goal is to provide you with the lowest discount possible, because of your membership with MFRMLS.

So, what types of products and services does this partnership with Office Depot cover?

This partnership is designed to cover a wide variety of office sup-plies and services that are utilized by those in the Real Estate industry. This partnership also provides pric-ing benefits with solutions in Copy & Printing, Cleaning & Breakroom products, Technology products and Furniture.

What are the benefits of signing up for an Office Depot account (through MFRMLS)?

—Reduced pricing (more reduced than a standard, non-MFRMLS Of-fice Depot account).

—Four convenient methods of shopping.

—Free next-day delivery in major markets with purchases of $50 or more.

How do I sign up for an account?

Each business or individual (de-pending upon preferred method of account set-up) will be individually responsible for their own billing, and will be able to establish invoice or credit card billing.

Office Depots provides this pro-gram without any contracts, com-mitments or sign-up fees.

To SIGN UP, please see visit http://www.mfrmls.com/re-sources/member-savings/mfrmls-savings

Office Depot is Taking Care of Business for millions of customers throughout Florida, and around the globe. Domestically, Office Depot pro-vides products and services through 1,135 retail stores, a dedicated busi-ness sales force, top-rated catalogs and a $4.2B e-commerce operation. More specifically to MFRMLS, Office Depot is Florida-based with 143 stores statewide, including approximately 60 stores within the MFRMLS member-ship area.

Overall, this program is designed to provide MFRMLS members with dis-counts that they normally wouldn’t be able to attain on an individual basis.

MFRMLS partners with Office Depot!Office Depot: Taking care of business for MFRMLS members!

We thank you for allowing us to serve you, and we know Office Depot looks forward to serving you, as well.

Already have an MFRMLS Office Depot account? Need help?

Please contact your Office Depot ac-count manager, Michael Whitewolf, at [email protected].

Office Depot’s Customer Service De-partment is available Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. local time. The Custom-er Service Department is available to assist you with any questions you may have concerning product, pricing, merchandise returns, and support ser-vices. The toll-free number for your convenience is 1-888-263-3423. You will need to provide them with the following account number, 57569808, so that they may access your order through the correct account.

To SIGN UP for an MFRMLS Office Depot

account, please visit http://www.mfrmls.

com/resources/member-savings/mfrmls-savings

&


By MFRMLS Staff

Recently the WAV Group wrote an article about MLSs offering classes in Span-ish and highlighted MFRMLS as an MLS leader in providing training to its Spanish-speaking members.

According to the WAV Group, “we took note when My Florida Regional MLS announced the launch of CoreLogic Data Co-op to their members, and offered two training classes in Spanish … If you are a technology service provider – MLS or Vendor – you may want to take the guidance from MFRMLS to heart. I am pretty confident that their high customer satisfaction scores are in part derived from sensitivities like this.”

Here is a link to that article: http://waves.wavgroup.com/2011/09/20/technolo-gy-service-providers-should-think-spanish/

Well, did you know MFRMLS has also begun offering Spanish lessons for its staff?

“My goal in teaching Spanish to the staff is that they will be able to assist members in basic day to day questions or at least that they will be able to take a message,” said Ivette Jimenez, MFRMLS trainer and Spanish instructor. “The benefit to our members is that they will be able to be assisted by anyone in the office.”

Ivette also teaches the MFRMLS member classes in Spanish.

“If it’s a new product, I try to do at least two classes in Spanish,” said Ivette. “I discuss it with the education directors of the Associations or Boards.”

Otherwise, MFRMLS has at least one day a month where a class (or classes) are provided in Spanish, whether through a webinar or on-site.

For more information on upcoming classes or webinars, please visit http://www.mfrmls.com/resources/education-and-training

Habla Espanol? Then MFRMLS is speaking your language.MFRMLS is highlighted by the WAV Group for its classes in Spanish; has also begun offering Spanish lessons for its staff.

Training& Tips

My goal in teach-ing Spanish to the staff is that they

will be able to as-sist members in basic day to day questions or at

least that they will be able to take a

message.

“

“


Help Deskfrom the

tips

A helpful tip from the MFRMLS Help Desk.

1) From the Smart Links section on the home page of MLXchange (under the Resources column) log into TransactionDesk.

2) Once in TransactionDesk click on InstanetFax.

How to prepare an InstanetFax Cover Sheet

Training& Tips


3) Follow the instructions in the left column.

4) After filling in Recipients Email, Subject, and Message for the cover sheet,members can then select to include a Fax-Back Cover sheet (an optionnot offered in Mongo Fax).

5) Once everything is filled in, click on create InstanetFax Cover Sheet. Then click where it says “click to open., or right-click...”

Help Desk Hours:

Monday–Friday: 7:30 AM–8:00 PM

Saturday–Sunday: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM

Toll Free: (800) 686-7451

Local: (407) 218-8607

Select "Option 1" in the phone menu to be connected to the Help

Desk.

6) You’re done!


Recent My Tips of the Week

Training& Tips

Did you know that it is very easy to check and see if your property is secured by FannieMae?

1. From the MLXchange HomePage, click on the category under Resources labeled Services & Tools.

2. Then click Fannie Mae Loan Lookup.

3. Fill in at least the required info (Street Address, Zip Code and confirmation that you are authorized to lookup this information along with the Captcha).

4. Click Get Results to review the findings.

IMAPP and Multiple Browsers: Did you know you can access IMAPP outside of MLXchange on various browsers, including Safari (for iPhone and iPad), by using the direct sign in link: http://mfr.imapp.com?

Here’s how!

1) Go to http://mfr.imapp.com

2) Select the button titled “Login via SafeMLS Single Sign-On”

3) This will take you to a login screen that looks exactly like MLXchange (but it’s not MLXchange, so don’t be scared away). Enter the same ID and Password you use to access MLXchange. You now have access to IMAPP outside of MLXchange!

MLXchange: Did you know it is possible to search for properties that are not Bank Owned or Short Sales in the MLS?1. Go to the Search tab in MLXchange.

2. Find the Special Sale Provision field and change the search information to “none.”

3. Add any other desired search criteria.

4. Your results should not contain any Bank Owned or Short Sales.

Looking for more My Tips of the

Week? Please visit

http://www.mfrmls.com/resources/education-and-

training/my-tip-of-the-week for an archive of

previous tips.

FannieMae backed loan?


Class is Now in Session!

Have you been to MFRMLS University? This training portal will connect you to the many courses available to you as an MFR Member. Online, or in person, we’ve got a class for you.

Looking to learn in your pajamas? With easy registration and no waiting, you can bring our trainers into your home through live and recorded webinars. Available online, you can save gas and you can save time. Best of all, the courses are free.

Need face time? No problem. MFRMLS University also con-nects you to live courses taught at your association/board by MFRMLS instructors. With interactive sessions in a classroom setting, you’ll be an expert in no time.

In-person or online, MFRMLS University can help you boost ered with

your membership. Log on today to learn more!

www.MFRMLSUniversity.com

Go Big "U"


Resources

By Anand Patel

Let me explain. To really make it big in real estate, we have to accept the fact that failing — A LOT — is part of the equation. We all know real estate is a numbers game, we just have to remember that every time we fail (i.e. FSBO says, “I just bought this new how-to book and I’m selling my home myself!” Buyer says, “Sorry, I’m work-ing with my sister’s ex-boyfriend’s step mom who just got her real estate license.”) we are one step closer to getting that “Yes!” If we aren’t failing at least weekly, preferably DAILY, we aren’t stepping outside our comfort zone enough. This means we are settling and not pushing ourselves be-yond what we “think” we are capable of accomplishing. We all know, deep down, we can each do MORE. I have

to remind myself all the time when I get in a rut.

So what do we do to keep moving forward, being persistent, resilient, and staying motivated in the face of “failing” daily?

• Make a game out of it. Why can’t failing be fun? Keep tally on a whiteboard in your office of each call that’s a “No” and then celebrate the eventual “Yes!” with a simple pat on the back, a little victory dance at your desk, or buy yourself that new jacket you’ve been want-ing as a reward. Do whatever it takes to make it fun and enjoyable.

• Don’t take it personally. Each person you don’t attempt to call or

approach, you are already 100 percent guaranteed NOT to get their business. What do you have to lose?

• My favorite method: Have a theme song you play in your mind that pushes you each time you “fail.” I like to use the sage rapper Jay-Z’s song “On to the Next One.” Maybe your theme song is Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop,” Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down,” or Chumbawamba’s

one hit wonder “Tubthumping (I Get Knocked Down).” Find a song you like that motivates you to keep moving forward in spite of con-stant rejection.

We all picked an industry that takes a lot of “failing” to succeed, but this is what makes us who we are as REAL-TORS®. This is why we are so resilient (this is also why many employers in other industries look to recruit former real estate professionals). Don’t be afraid to fail, bounce back and keep failing daily…and remember with each rejection — it’s “On to the Next One!”

Anand Patel is a broker licensed in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Mis-sissippi with Elite REO Services and Elite Premier Properties. You can con-nect with Anand on Twitter: @anand_tampa; Facebook: www.facebook.com/livingelite; LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anandpatel1 or on the Web at www.anandsblog.com.

Copyright National Association of RE-ALTORS®. Reprinted with permission.

Source: http://ypnlounge.blogs.realtor.org/2011/11/08/have-you-failed-today/

Have You Failed Today?Successful real estate agents are failures.

Failure :)


http://shortsale.mfrmls.com

5032 Goddard AvenueOrlando, FL 32804

[email protected]

Eligibility Criteria

Submission Guidelines

Where additional documentation is requested, servicer response time will be

issue by working through the servicer. Real estate professional may submit the case in the event the servicer has not provided:

an initial response within 20 days,

or, if the real estate professional has received an approval from the servicer for your transaction, but either the mortgage insurer or second lien holder has imposed a closing condition that is not possible for the borrower to meet.Real estate professional must address all “actionable” requests from the servicer before submitting the issue.

http://loanlookup.fanniemae.com/loanlookup/

Real estate professional must be a member of a participating MLS.Real estate professional must be the listing agent for the property.Real estate professional must obtain a signed Borrower Authorization Form (BAF) from the homeowner(s) and submit it to the MLS; http://mfrmls.com/shortsale/docs/SSAD-BAF.pdf

a request Tuesday and had TWO calls from

houses but she called the second time because I

I call responsive! And she couldn’t have been

-M. HuntAltamonte Springs, FL

1-800-686-7451 [email protected]


By David Krichmar

Any time you come in contact some-one who needs a REALTOR®, you should add them to your database. Trust me, I know this idea in itself is not brilliant. Once you have a data-base, how do you keep in touch with those clients?

The key to having a database is to stay in touch with past clients, current cli-ents, and future clients. Not just past clients. What about someone who contacted you but did not need your services at that time; that is defined as a “future” client. So if you don’t already, add every person and email address to your data base as soon as they contact you. Now would be a great time to start. Once you have a growing database, let’s talk about 5 ways to keep in touch with them.

1. e-Newsletters - Again, not a rocket science idea; you probably already do this. But if not, start doing it. Many email marketing programs will do the newsletter for you and send it out monthly. Making this the easiest way to keep in touch. Make sure the newsletter does not just talk about real estate, but other topics as well. This gives a better chance of your contacts actually reading the information and finding it helpful. Keep in mind, not everyone needs a REALTOR® right

at this moment. But they always are looking for helpful information.

2. Friend them on Facebook - As Facebook has grown, the majority of folks are on Facebook daily. So friend your database on Facebook. This makes it easiest to keep up with their needs and life events. Most people look at Facebook as being private, so not all clients may accept your friend request. In this example I suggest just friending past clients, that way you have the strongest relationship with them.

3. Follow them on Twitter - Unlike Facebook, not as many of your clients maybe on Twitter. But it is still worth following the ones who are.

4. Connect on LinkedIn - I would not suggest LinkedIn is as effective as friending someone on Facebook. But, it is just one more way to stay in touch on a professional level.

5. Make them your friends - As corny as this sounds, it should be your goal. Keep in contact with your clients, interact with them and even ask for business. Do not assume because they have your business card that they will call you in a year when they buy a home. Email them to say hi or even pick up the DREADED phone and call them.

By now, you should have a database of past, current, and future clients. If not, get to work and start one. Obvi-ously, none of the ideas on this list are brilliant. But, when done correctly they can allow you to consistently get referrals from your client list. And

5 Ways to Keep in Touch with Past, Current, and Future Clients

getting referrals will make you feel Brilliant!

David Krichmar has been in the real estate business since age 19 and is currently a mortgage expert in Sugar Land, Texas. Connect with him at www.daveyourmortgageguy.com or @DaveMortgageGuy.

Copyright National Association of RE-ALTORS®. Reprinted with permission.

Source: http://ypnlounge.blogs.realtor.org/2011/10/26/5-ways-to-keep-in-touch-with-past-current-and-future-clients/

Resources


Florida’s Existing Home, Condo Sales Rise in 3Q 2011ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida’s existing home and existing condo sales con-tinued to show gains in third quarter 2011 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the latest housing statistics from Florida Real-tors®.

Existing home sales rose 12 percent in 3Q 2011 with a total of 46,759 homes sold statewide; during the same pe-riod the year before, a total of 41,728 homes changed hands according to Florida Realtors. Statewide sales of ex-isting condos in the third quarter rose 13 percent compared to the year-ago sales figure.

Florida’s existing-home median sales price continued to stabilize and remained level at $136,000 for the three-month period; in 3Q 2010, it was $135,900. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half for less.

In the year-to-year quarterly compari-son for existing condo sales, 20,383 units sold statewide in the third quarter compared to 17,980 units in 3Q 2010 for a 13 percent increase. The statewide existing-condo median sales price was $89,600 in the third quarter; a year earlier, it was $83,700 for a 7 percent increase.

“The quarterly numbers confirm the general improvement in Florida’s housing market in both sales and prices that we’ve been seeing since January 2011,” said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. John Tuccillo. “However, this positive trend isn’t

receiving the attention it’s due because of the interaction of people’s expecta-tions, perceptions and reality. When you come out of a recession, people expect the real estate market to take a huge jump forward, and when it doesn’t, they perceive that the market is ‘bad’ or still down. However, the reality is that the Florida market is improving and it has been for some time – it’s just improving more slowly than initial expectations.”

Mortgage rates continued to hover around historical lows in the third quarter. According to Freddie Mac, the national commitment rate for a 30-year conventional fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.31 percent in 3Q 2011; one year earlier, it averaged 4.45 percent.

Two charts showing statistics for Florida and its MSAs are attached. One chart compares the volume of existing, single-family home sales and median sales prices in the third quarter of 2011 to the third quarter of 2010, based on Realtor closed transac-tions from local Realtor boards/asso-ciations within the MSAs. The second chart compares the volume of existing condo sales and median sales prices in third quarter 2011 to third quarter 2010, based on Realtor closed transac-tions from local Realtor boards/asso-ciations within the MSAs.

Florida Realtors®, formerly known as the Florida Association of Realtors®, serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative

representation to its 115,000 members in 64 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Media Center website is available at http://media.floridarealtors.org.


? Real Estate News

WASHINGTON – Sept. 19, 2011 – Adding green technology to a home can help homeowners save money in the long run, but some may not be able to af-ford the upfront investment. Several tax credits effective this year, however, can help homeowners – and buyers – save on green updates.

Here are two main tax credits available for those interested in making energy efficient improvements to their homes:

1. Wind, solar, geothermal and fuel cell tax credit: This tax credit is available for existing homes and new construction. Homeowners can receive a credit up to 30 percent off the cost of their improvements between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 this year. The following green updates qualify: Geothermal heat pumps, solar pan-els, solar water heaters, small wind energy systems, and fuel cells.

2. Qualified energy efficiency improvements: This credit gives a 10 percent tax credit for purchases “placed in service” between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2011. The maximum credit for a taxpayer for all taxable years is $500, and no more than $200 of such credit may be attributable to expenditures on windows. This rule means that taxpayers who have claimed $500 or more of this tax credit in prior years, particularly 2009 and 2010, can no longer participate in the program.

Learn more about what upgrades are eligible as well as how to apply on the National Association of Home Builders’ website.

Reprinted with permission. Florida Realtors®. All rights reserved.Source: http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=265069

2011 tax credits available for ‘green’ updates

WASHINGTON – Nov. 2, 2011 – Rising utility bills can greatly affect a homebuyer’s ability to afford a house, sometimes even more so than proper-ty taxes or homeowner’s insurance. As such, a new bill introduced in the Sen-ate is calling on lenders to start taking into account a home’s energy costs in standard mortgage underwriting – right along with principal, interest, taxes and homeowner’s insurance.

The bipartisan bill, SAVE Act (Sen-sible Accounting to Value Energy) would require the three major mort-gage agencies – Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Ad-ministration – to factor energy costs into every loan they insure, guarantee or buy. To gather estimated costs of energy bills on a home, lenders would use data from previous utility bills or from an Energy Department survey database.

The bill also calls on the mortgage agencies to instruct appraisers to raise their property valuations when energy efficiency savings on a home can be shown. The higher value could then be used by a buyer to justify a higher loan amount if needed.

Source: “Mortgage Lenders Could Soon Take Homes’ Energy Costs into Account,” BostonHerald.com (Oct. 30, 2011)

© Copyright 2011 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688

Reprinted with permission. Florida Realtors®. All rights reserved.Source: http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=266923

Could lenders start factoring in energy costs?

Did you read that the MLS (i.e. MLXchange) is going to have new “green” search fields?

Page 5.


Every month we spotlight one MFR team member, in order to help distinguish the dedicated, hard-working, friendly faces we have on our MFR staff. We truly believe we have an outstanding team of individuals. And, of course, this is no coincidence, as we look to provide our members with outstanding service.

So, without further ado, we are pleased to spotlight (drum roll please) … Doug Wise, Communications Specialist and new dad.

How long have you been working at MFR?I’ve been with MFR for a little over seven months.

What aspect of your job do you enjoy the most?I love communicating with our members about various products or opportunities that might help them achieve more success. It’s also a pleasure to work with our various departments on any items that need to be communicated.

In general, I love communicating with a clear plan and goal in mind, and then getting feeback and results.

Any hobbies outside of work?I enjoy hanging out with my family, including my 10 month old daughter. I also enjoy sports, theater and film—but, have to be honest, my daughter is where most of my attention is outside of work.

What’s the number #1 thing you’ve learned about being a dad?It’s going to be a lot harder to tell my daughter “no” than I thought.

Where were you born and where were you raised?I was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Fl.

If there’s one place in the world, all expenses-paid, you could visit tomorrow, where would that place be and why?Probably all of Europe. Although I’ve been to France and Germany, I would love to travel all of Europe and take in lots of history. And, of course, some relaxing too. So, I’d want to do it all.

Thank you Doug!

Spotlight

MFRMLS Team Member

Doug Wise, Communications Specialist


Spotlight

Product and Service

Proxio

Spotlights“Proxio” Helps Members Reach Beyond BordersProxio is a foreign language portal which translates listing information to nine-teen different languages on the MyFloridaHomesMLS.com consumer website. Proxio truly enhancing the marketing exposure to potential buyers and inves-tors beyond the domestic U.S. borders. Considering that nearly 13% of the consumer website traffic originates from foreign soil, the leadership and staff at MFRMLS were excited to roll out this member benefit. In addition, local buyers within the United States whom speak a primary language other than English can take advantage of the new translation feature.

While viewing the Home Page of MyFloridaHomesMLS.com, take notice of a row of flags depicting the various different languages from their respective for-eign countries. When a flag is clicked upon, the new page assumes the new language and the journey begins.

Users will be able to observe property features and descrip-tions in their language, with the exception of Public Remarks which will remain as entered by the REALTOR® in MLXchange. Additionally, users will have the ability to convert Square Foot measurements to the Metric System, if they so choose. They will even have the ability to covert the listing price from U.S. Dollars to the currency associated to that country’s flag. Currency conversion rates are updated daily as a convenient value-added benefit.

Member Benefits

MFRMLS Members will have the opportunity to brand themselves as an in-ternational real estate specialist. As part of the agreement with MFRMLS and Proxio, members will receive a FREE Proxio Basic subscription containing a profile page listing their fluent speaking languages, contact information and a profile photo. Since the Proxio Basic subscription is free, it is highly recom-mended that all MFRMLS members activate their profile page as soon as pos-sible.

For more information on Proxio, please visit the Proxio pager under the Member Benefits menu on MFRMLS.com: http://www.mfrmls.com/member-benefits/proxio


Compliance Corner

MFRMLS prides itself on accurate data, and one of our goals is to main-tain a listing service that is successful for everyone. With that said, we want to thank all of our members who comply with our rules and regula-tions.

If there is a violation, a warning will be issued. Most warning notices allow 24 hours for correction before a fine is assessed. However, failure to change the status of a listing is a more serious offense, which is an automatic fine without any warning notice.

Thank you.SEPT. statistics for rules violations:

Total number of Warnings: 8,619

Total number of Agents Reported: 1,403

Total number of Fines assessed: 99

Top Five Violations for SEPT.

1. Status – failure to change the status from pending to sold within two busi-ness days of the closing.

2. Active with Contact (AWC) – failure to have seller’s written authorization and/or add the “Active with Contract” in the Public Remarks directly after “Short Sale,” if applicable.

3. Short Sale – failure to add “Short Sale” as the first two words in the Public and Realtor Remarks.

4. Incorrect Photo – failure to add a front exterior or rendering, or aerial photo or water view photo in the first photo slot. If a water view or aerial photo is in the 1st slot, the 2nd photo slot must contain a front exterior photo. If plac-ing a water view photo, it must be a photo from the property/unit. Photos may not contain any contact information, text, etc.

5. Driving Directions – are required and must be for narrative directions that include full street names, beginning and ending points and use standard direc-tional designations. Reference to online electronic mapping isn’t allowed (e.g. Mapquest, Google, GPS is not acceptable.)


Compliance CornerOCT. statistics for rules violations:

Total number of Warnings: 10,378

Total number of Agents Reported: 1,391

Total number of Fines assessed: 79

Top Five Violations for OCT.

1. Status – failure to change the status from pending to sold within two busi-ness days of the closing.

2. Short Sale – failure to add “Short Sale” as the first two words in the Public and Realtor Remarks.

3. Active with Contact (AWC) – failure to have seller’s written authorization and/or add the “Active with Contract” in the Public Remarks directly after “Short Sale,” if applicable.

4. Driving Directions – are required and must be for narrative directions that include full street names, beginning and ending points and use standard direc-tional designations. Reference to online electronic mapping isn’t allowed (e.g. Mapquest, Google, GPS is not acceptable.)

5. Incorrect Photo – failure to add a front exterior or rendering, or aerial photo or water view photo in the first photo slot. If a water view or aerial photo is in the 1st slot, the 2nd photo slot must contain a front exterior photo. If plac-ing a water view photo, it must be a photo from the property/unit. Photos may not contain any contact information, text, etc.

*Please note (of the month):Year End Statistics: Start checking your listings to insure accuracy.

Each month one of the top violations is Status. As 2011 is coming to end, we want to make sure your “pending” and “AWC listing” are closed out in MLX-change within two business days, and the correct selling agent is receiving the credit for the sale.

For more information:Please go to http://www.mfrmls.com/resources/rules-regs for a current version of, or questions about, MFRMLS rules and regulations. You can also contact a compliance or administration specialist at 1-800-686-7451 (option #4) for more information.

AreYOUa CommercialRealtor®?

For more information about becom-ing an MFCRE member, a Commer-

cial Information Exchange (CIE), please contact Connie Kazakowitz at 1-800-686-7451 (ext. 8668) or email

[email protected]

www.MFCRE.com


Commercial Real Estatepresented by

Realtors Expo: CRE Markets to See Improvement in 2012, 2013November 14, 2011By Nicholas Ziegler, News EditorCommercial Property Executive

“Blame it on the economy” was the take-home message at last week’s Commercial Real Estate Business Trends Forum at the 2011 Realtors Conference & Expo – but there are bright spots on the horizon. Accord-ing to Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Real-tors, relief for stressed markets should be coming in 2012 and in 2013.

According to Yun, the U.S. economy remains sluggish and continues to perform well below the desired pace of economic expansion. Still, he said at the current rate of growth, about 3 to 4 million jobs will be generated over the next 2 years. Additionally, Yun doesn’t forecast a second reces-sion, primarily due to the “strong cash potential that businesses could release into the economy.” However, a major-ity of CRE sectors are still experienc-ing rising absorption and little im-provement in asking rents.

One of the major questions still remaining is the performance of the multi-family sector. Unlike most other CRE areas, multi-family has seen an increase in asking rents, with absorp-tion rates increasing and vacancy rates falling. Yun attributed the change to the changing dynamics in the home-buying markets, noting that the lack of available credit is keeping many out of the realm of purchase for the time being.

A separate session at the Expo, “Buyer or Renter Nation?” addressed the same question.

“We knew that homeowners, on aver-age, accumulate more wealth than renters,” Ken Johnson, editor of the Journal of Housing Research, said at the session. “These findings indicate that homeownership is a self-imposed savings plan. Not everyone should own a home, but from a financial per-spective, people who are planning to stay in a property over the long term can benefit from buying.”

Yun’s overall message agreed with Johnson, going on to further state that “increasing rents combined with low interest rates are enticing some indi-viduals into the housing market.”

“I anticipate a small recovery in the next year in home values, which would help small business owners,” he said. “However, that’s only if legisla-tors and regulations don’t add ob-stacles to hinder the housing market recovery, such as modifying or elimi-nating the mortgage interest deduc-tion or increasing down payment requirements.”

Reprinted with permission. Commer-cial Property Executive.

Source: www.cpexecutive.com

MFCRE for your mobile phone

www.MFCRE.com


AroundHouse

the An article for current and future homeowners

We hope My Florida Resource is what it claims to be … a resource to you. We know anything that helps your clients in turn does the same for you. So we thought it would be nice to include this “Around the House” section. It’s a place where we share consumer articles with you that can be passed along to your clients or included in your newsletter content.

10 Ways to Prepare for Homeownership

The above article is just one of the many articles you can find in the consumer, handout section on Realtor.org. Their consumer articles are downloadable and able to be customized with your branding.

Here is a link to their consumer, handout section: http://realtormag.realtor.org/sales-and-marketing/handouts-for-customers/for-buyers

1. Decide what you can afford. Gener-ally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.

2. Develop your home wish list. Then, prioritize the features on your list.

3. Select where you want to live. Compile a list of three or four neigh-borhoods you’d like to live in, taking into account items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.

4. Start saving. Do you have enough money saved to qualify for a mort-gage and cover your down payment? Ideally, you should have 20 percent of the purchase price saved as a down payment. Also, don’t forget to fac-tor in closing costs. Closing costs — including taxes, attorney’s fee, and transfer fees — average between 2 and 7 percent of the home price.

5. Get your credit in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report to make sure it is accurate and to correct any errors immediately. A credit report provides a history of your credit, bad debts, and any late payments.

6. Determine your mortgage qualifica-tions. How large of mortgage do you qualify for? Also, explore different loan options — such as 30-year or 15-year fixed mortgages or ARMs — and decide what’s best for you.

7. Get preapproved. Organize all the documentation a lender will need to preapprove you for a loan. You might need W-2 forms, copies of at least one pay stub, account numbers, and cop-ies of two to four months of bank or credit union statements.

8. Weigh other sources of help with a down payment. Do you qualify for any special

mortgage or down payment assistance programs? Check with your state and local government on down payment assistance programs for first-time buyers. Or, if you have an IRA ac-count, you can use the money you’ve saved to buy your fist home without paying a penalty for early withdrawal.

9. Calculate the costs of homeowner-ship. This should include property taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities, and association fees, if ap-plicable.

10. Contact a REALTOR®. Find an experienced REALTOR® who can help guide you through the process.

Source: http://realtormag.realtor.org/sales-and-marketing/handouts-for-customers/for-buyers/6-creative-ways-afford-home


Are You Getting the Most out of YOUR Consumer Website?MyFloridaHomesMLS.com is YOUR Consumer Website. Similar to a Trulia or a Zillow, MyFloridaHomesMLS.com keeps YOU at the center

Keeping YOU at the Center of the Transaction.

custom link will be displayed on the landing page.

mfrmls.com

Try It Out Today!

Got Buyers?

Got Stats?


MFRMLS PROPERTY REPORT & LINK

Online, interactive housing payments & lending info displayed side-by-side with property information on a new Consumer Report

Keeps customers on listings longer

You choose the lender to display

Interactive mortgage tool allows homebuyers to play ‘what if’ scenarios to address their financing needs

PROPERTY FLYER PROGRAM

The system creates detailed flyers with property listing information and acurate mortgage payment information

Created with one mouse click

Can be emailed or printed

Promotes both the Agent and chosen Loan Officer

RatePlug provides your prospective homebuyers with valuablepayment information specific to each property they view.

1.

2. Provides marketing material for your Open House functions or general display.

How does RatePlug helpAgents in today’s market?

FREE to MFRMLS Members!Visit www.rateplug.com/mfrmls to enroll

3.*Participating lenders pay a license fee.


Looking for a calendar of upcoming training classes?Visit http://www.mfrmls.com/resources/training-and-events for a complete

calendar of upcoming courses.

Did you know we also offer live webinars?http://www.mfrmls.com/resources/training-and-events/webinars/cat.listevents/2011/05/20/-

Help Desk Hours:

Monday–Friday: 7:30 AM–8:00 PMSaturday–Sunday: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM

Toll Free: (800) 686-7451Local: (407) 218-8607

http://www.mfrmls.com/member-support/help-desk

Address:

My Florida Regional MLS5032 Goddard Avenue

Orlando, FL 32804

Telephone:

Tel: (407) 218-8607Toll-Free: (800) 686-7451

Fax: (407) 293-6461

Administration and Membership Question?

The Administration Department at My Florida Regional MLS has two main re-

sponsibilities—ensuring an accurate MLS database and maintaining your member-

subscriber information.

Whether you have questions about our MLS Rules and Regulations, listing viola-

tions, subscriber fees or simply need to update your contact information, our

Administration Specialists are ready to assist you.

Department hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

1-800-686-7451 (option #3)http://tinyurl.com/mfrmls-admin-

membership

December 2011 Feature:Felices Fiestas!Buone Feste!

Forhe Feiertage!Boas Festas!

Joyeuses Fêtes!

Mutlu Bayramlar!

Happy Holidays!

Going Global.


MFRMLS Associations and BoardsShareholder Associations and BoardsBartow Board of REALTORS®— http://www.bartowboardofrealtors.com/index.html

East Polk County Association of REALTORS®— http://epcar.com/

Englewood Area Board of REALTORS®— http://www.englewoodareaboardofrealtors.com/

Greater Tampa Association of REALTORS®— http://www.gtar.org/

Lakeland Association of REALTORS®— http://www.lakelandrealtors.org/

Manatee Association of REALTORS®— http://www.manateerealtors.org/

Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association— http://www.orlrealtor.com/Main/Main.asp

Osceola County Association of REALTORS®— http://osceolarealtors.org/

Pinellas REALTOR® Organization— http://tampabayrealtor.com/

Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte-North Port Association of REALTORS®— http://pgpcnprealtors.com/

REALTORS® Association of Lake & Sumter Counties— http://www.ralsc.org/

Sarasota Association of REALTORS®— http://www.sarasotarealtors.com/

Venice Area Board of REALTORS®— http://www.vabr.org/

West Pasco Board of REALTORS®— http://www.wpbor.com/

West Volusia Association of REALTORS®— http://www.westvolusiarealtor.org/

Member-Subscriber Associations and BoardsDesoto County Board of REALTORS®— N/A

Lake Wales Association of REALTORS®— http://www.lwar.net/

“Like” us on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/MyFloridaRegionalMLShttp://www.facebook.com/mfcrehttp://www.facebook.com/MyFloridaHomesMLS

Follow us on Twitter!@MFRMLS@MFCRE@MyFloridaHomes

Social MediaConverse with MFRMLS. Keep informed.


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my florida resource - oct/nov 2011

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