the voice for real estate in el pasothe voice for real estate in el paso realtor elpasorealtor.com...

1 • elpasorealtor.com El Paso Realtor Magazine | MARCH 2011 MARCH 2011 | El Paso Realtor Magazine elpasorealtor.com • 1

E L P A S O

T H E V O I C E F O R R E A L E S T A T E I N E L P A S OREALTOR

elpasorealtor.com MARCH 2011

TEXAS REALTORS LEADERSHIP PROGRAMGET INVOLVED

discover

recruit

educate empower

le

ad

PLUS:PRESIDENTS REMARKSTREPAC VALENTINECALENDAR OF EVENTS

2 • elpasorealtor.com El Paso Realtor Magazine | MARCH 2011 1 • elpasorealtor.com El Paso Realtor Magazine | MARCH 2011

HOMEOWNERSHIPMATTERS

TO PEOPLE…TO COMMUNITIES…TO AMERICA.

Studies show that home ownership has a significant positive impact on net worth, educational achievement, civic participation, health and overall quality of life. That’s why,

for more than 100 years, REALTORS® have helped people find their piece of the American Dream.

Now, with some questioning whether home ownership is still good for America, it’s more important than ever to stand up for home ownership... in your community and in the nation’s capital.

Find out more about why Home Ownership Matters, how the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® is standing up for it, and how you can help spread the word, at REALTOR.org/homeownership.

©2010, National Association of REALTORS®

2 • elpasorealtor.com El Paso Realtor Magazine | MARCH 2011 1 • elpasorealtor.com El Paso Realtor Magazine | MARCH 2011 MARCH 2011 | El Paso Realtor Magazine elpasorealtor.com • 1

So much has been going on this month already. To begin with lets talk about my recent visit to Austin for the TAR Winter Meetings. There are some strong signs of economic recovery according to NAR. Total

membership last year was 86,518 (that’s down by only 1.6%) leaving us with 82,270 currently. The new Professional Stan-dards Citation Policy was approved by TAR Executive Board on June 4, 2010 and approved by the National Association of REALTORS® August 9, 2010. This is set for implementation January 1, 2011. The hope in all this is to help streamline the process of handling ethics complaints and still afford the Real-tor due process.

• The First Offense- Fine of $300.00 to be paid within 60 days of citation date, and completion of the NAR online Quadren-nial Ethics Training course within 60 days of the citation date.• Second Offense- Fine of $600.00 to be paid within 60 days of the citation date.• Third Offense- Fine of 900.00 to be paid within 60 days of the citation date.

To understand the new policy, go to TexasRealtor.com and read more.

TAR rolled out The Texas Realtor Advantage member benefits guide for 2011. There are several new benefits added. The PeoplePlusCard gives you and your family big savings on 10 great services, including Lifelock, roadside assistance, pharmacy, dental, chiropractic, lab and imaging, expense tracker, financial helpline, and doctors by phone. This is just some great examples so for a complete list go to TexasRealtor.com.

On April 12, 2011 we have Hill Visits, and we need to be heard in Austin and so we are asking for at least 2,000 plus members to show up. This allows us to visit and express our concerns and opinions with our local state leaders in Austin. Please try to mark your calendars for this event. Just another way your TREPAC dollars are used.

This month we started our first in the series of Stories of Success. Our first Speaker was Dr. Nachtmann, Dean of The College of Business Administration from UTEP who was so inspiring and an excellent speaker. I’m still receiving comments on how well he was received by our Association Members. Accent Homes provided lunch and gave us some wonderful insight on building and why their homes did not have all the problems with water pipes breaking.

Also this month, we had our first meeting to set up the LTP (Leadership Training Program). This will allow any of you who would like to aspire into leadership in the local, state, or national level to receive the knowledge and experience and expertise needed. The committee putting this together includes Rick Snow, Mickey Molina, Angela Ochoa, and Me.

The Association is here for all of you to enjoy and learn from. You must however, make the commitment to grow and get out of your comfort zone. We have so many new and exciting programs in store you don’t want to be left behind. Remember knowledge is power.

I wish all of you the best in our upcoming months, come grow and learn with us. Be part of Your REALTOR® Organization.

- Linda Bastraw

Knowledge is Power...

+ PRESIDENTS REMARKS L I N D A B A S T R A W

G R E AT E R E L PA S O

A S S O C T I O N O F R E A LT O R S

P R E S I D E N T

®


IMPORTANT REMINDERS

ASSOCIATION OFFICERS- Linda Bastraw [ President ]- Jennifer Stroh [ President- Elect]- Kenny Gross [Secretary/ Treasurer ]- Doug Hamilton [ Immediate Past President ]- Sharron K. Ramirez [ Association Executive ] ASSOCIATION DIRECTORS- Caroline Camfield - Susan Craig - Mackie Sue Gilchrist - Andrew Haggerty - Douglas Van Nortwick

ASSOCIATION DIRECTORS 2011-2012- Timothy Cantrell- Socorro Cochran- Jim Howard- Mickey Molina- Patti Olivas

MLS BOARD OF DIRECTORS- Rick Snow [ President ]- Angel Ochoa [ Vice President ]- Jesus Barrazas [ Secretary/ Treasurer ]- David Curiel- Dolores M. Guevara- Jim Howard- Robert Lozano- Frances Moran- William R. Stanton

TAR Nominating Committee - Sonja Van Nortwick

NAR DIRECTOR- Michael Bray

TAR DIRECTORS- Linda Bastraw- Doug Hamilton

TAR REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT- R. Scott Kesner

TAR TREPAC TRUSTEE- Elizabeth Leal

POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE- Al Jurado

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN- Kenny Gross [ Budget & Finance ]- Steve Carvalho [ Education ]- Alma Miller [ Fair Housing/ Equal Opportunity ]- Al Jurado [ Governmental Affairs ]- Socorro Cochran [ TREPAC ]- Angela Ochoa [ REALTOR®/ Builder ]

6400 GATEWAY EAST BLVDEL PASO, TX, 79905

(915) 779-3521

GEPAR QUARTERLY BILLING SCHEDULE

2nd QUARTER BILLING 2011

04/01/2011 • Suspension and $50.00 reconnect fee05/01/2011 • Suspension of office if members are pastdue w/ active license.06/01/2011 • Termination of office if members are pastdue w/active license

3rd QUARTER BILLING 2011

05/13/2011 • Notice will be e-mailed05/31/2011 • 3rd quarter payments due07/01/2011 • Suspension and $50.00 reconnect fee08/01/2011 • Suspension of office if members are pastdue w/ active license. 09/01/2011 • Termination of office if members are pastdue w/active license.

Statements may be paid by debit/credit card online or you can mail in checks. Remember, if paying by check, two checks are required. NO CASH PAYMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

If you are interested, call Isela at (915) 779-3251

E L PA S O R E A LT O R . C O M

We are looking for a few good men and women with the energy, commitment, passion and vision to meet the challenges of tomorrow to spearhead our training program and to fill the inaugural class of the El Paso Association of REALTORS® Leadership Program.

DONT DELAY SPACE IS LIMITED


> EXPERT ADVISORS

Standards of Practice 3-1S

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“Terms of compensation, if any, shall be ascertained by cooperating brokers before beginning efforts to accept the offer of compensation.”

On frequent occasions I am sure many of us have been called by an agent inquiring on one of our listings and asking if the compensation can be raised to an amount higher than what is published in the MLS. Is there anything unethical with asking such a question? The answer is no, as long as the request occurs prior to the showing of the listing. Once the agent has shown the listing, they accept the terms of compensation that are published and it is violation of the Code of Ethics to try to change the compensa-tion after the home has been shown. I had an agent ask me to change the compensation so I went out to the house to read the lockbox and discovered they had already shown it and asked the question afterwards. Likewise, the offer cannot be held “hostage” until a change in the compensation is agreed to by the listing agent. Standards of Practice 16-16 states “REALTORS® shall not use the terms of an offer to purchase to attempt to modify the listing broker’s offer of compensation to subagents or buyer/tenant representatives or brokers nor make the submission of an executed offer to purchase contingent on the listing broker’s agreement to modify the offer of compensation. “

Within the last couple of weeks, I talked with a list-ing agent who told me their seller/client called and told them another agent had told them if they listed their home with that agent, they could sell it. When the listing agent told the seller that the unethical agent could sell the home and be compensated for it,

the seller responded that they had told the unethi-cal agent this. The unethical agent told the seller that “they only sell their own listings”. It is hard to believe that another REALTOR® could sink to such despicable and blatantly unethical practices but the reality is that it does happen, and I believe these are the individuals who give the rest of us a bad name and denigrate our profession.

Here is a scenario that I was consulted on recently. A contract is executed and is in the option period. A non-realty item addendum has been signed and the seller has consented to leave an item that is not attached and at no cost to the buyer. The inspection comes back, and during the course of the nego-tiations the seller agrees to the repairs the buyer is asking to be done but states that the item which is personal property is no longer included in the sale. The selling agent tells the listing agent that the seller cannot do that being that buyer and seller had already signed the non-realty item addendum. The listing agent responds that during the course of nego-tiations while in the option period the seller can do whatever they want. It is easy to see both sides of the issue but after consulting with Gabe Lopez, Associate Counsel for TAR, he stated “In theory, the parties (buyer and seller) can negotiate anything during the option period. “ Therefore, the seller was perfectly within their rights to exclude the personal property while negotiating during the option period.I welcome your questions and comments to [email protected] I welcome your comments and questions to [email protected].

G E PA R N E W M E M B E R

E T H I C S I N S T R U C T O R


Without involvement, membership in the Greater El Paso Association of REALTORS® (GEPAR) is like making the team but sitting on the bench. You get to wear the uniform and hit the ball in practice, but you don’t get to play in the big game. It’s only half the experience.

Anyone can sell houses. The question is do you have what it takes to make a difference in the profession? If you have ever complained about the fees or the MLS or the lockboxes then you have an obligation to yourself and your fellow REALTORS® to get involved and make a difference. Are you man enough? Or woman enough?

discover

recruit

educate

empower

lead

4 • elpasorealtor.com El Paso Realtor Magazine | MARCH 2011 5 • elpasorealtor.com El Paso Realtor Magazine | MARCH 2011 MARCH 2011 | El Paso Realtor Magazine elpasorealtor.com • 5 MARCH 2011 | El Paso Realtor Magazine elpasorealtor.com • 5

When you talk with some agents you would think that our As-sociation is a secret world where there are closed door meetings that require passwords to get in, secret handshakes and coded messages. Everything is hush, hush and you never find out anything until the last minute. We aren’t talking about spies or detectives, it is the impression that the uninformed and disen-gaged have about our Association, and the funny thing is that everyone that lives in this secret world puts themselves there.

When you became a real estate agent you may have thought that the only reason to be a part of GEPAR was to have access to the MLS. Belonging to the association is so much more than that. As a member of GEPAR you belong to one of the largest trade organizations in El Paso, an organization that has the capability to help shape the future of El Paso. We can’t cre-ate change though, unless enough members are willing to get involved.

Involvement equals impact. If you want to have an impact on your politicians get involved (Governmental Affairs). If you want to know why your dues are what they are, get involved (Budget Committee). If you want the opportunity to get more education get involved (Education Committee). You get the point?

So now that you are sufficiently fired up, you probably want to know how to go about getting involved. Join a committee. Pick something where you think you could make a difference. Wher-ever you feel your strengths lie. The committees are: Budget and Finance, REALTOR®/Builder, Education, Equal Opportunity, Governmental Affairs, Professional Standards, and TREPAC. The form for committee participation is on ElPasoRealtor.com or you can call the board and ask for Isela. She can answer any questions you have about participation or direct you to the com-mittee chairman. If you can’t get on a committee right now go to the meetings anyway and sit in and listen.If you still have reservations about getting involved because you aren’t sure you have the skill sets necessary to handle the tasks, we can help you out there as well.

The Greater El Paso Association of REALTORS® is pleased to announce we will be offering the Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program beginning April 25, 2011. The key objectives of

this program are to discover, recruit, educate and empower the future leadership of our association.

The program lasts 8 months (don’t worry, it’s only one day per month with the exception of the opening session which is 2 days) and the content focuses on leadership for the 21st cen-tury. It aims at discovering the leader within finding the power behind the team, empowering the leader to work for the greater good of the association, and ultimately providing a direct path to association service and leadership.

We are looking for a few good men and women with the en-ergy, commitment, passion and vision to meet the challenges of tomorrow to spearhead our training program and to fill the inaugural class of the El Paso Association of REALTORS® Leadership Program.

Don’t delay as space is limited.

- RICK SNOW


Need help with MLXchange?There is a website for that!

Here are some of the key features available in the new MLXchange support site:

On demand Training & Video tutorials covering virtually every aspect of MLXchange

24/7 Availability to members with MLS Access from within MLXchange orby going to http://gep.mlxhelp.com

Supports most Internet Browsers & many smartphones

Online sign up for all MLXchange Training classes & Webinars

Search for Answers feature to find support articles by specific keywords

Document archives containing MLXchange & MLS related support guides as well as MLS services documentation

Live Chat feature which is available Mon-Fri 8:30am to 5:30pm

Coming Soon! Recorded Tutorials of future Trainings, Webinars and MLS Tips & Tricks videos

MLXchange has a brand new comprehensive support site designed to help you learn just about anything you need to know about MLXchange. This site has walkthrough's, tutorials & demos which show you how to use MLXchange. MLXchange manuals are also available and downloadable.

All upcoming mlxchange training classes & webinars will be posted on this site.

Sign up online for classes directly from the mlxchange support site!

To access the Support Site, login to MLXchange click on the HELP Icon under the Quick Links section on the Main page of MLXchange.

The Help button is also located in the upper right corner of the Main page as well. You can also find MLXchange help links such as video tutorials,how to guides & more on the main page of MLXchange under the Resource Links section.

SITE IS ACCESSIBLE 24/7!

The MLXchange Support Site is also accessible outside of MLXchange by going to http://gep.mlxhelp.com

PLEASE NOTE: You must select Greater El Paso Association of Realtors from the drop down then put in your User id (MLS ID) in the User id field. Under the password field you need to put in the password that you use to login to elpasorealtor.com, update your sentrilock card or to access MLX Wireless

(This is not the Clareity Security password that is used to login to MLXchange in most cases).

6 • elpasorealtor.com El Paso Realtor Magazine | MARCH 2011


Need help with MLXchange?There is a website for that!

Here are some of the key features available in the new MLXchange support site:

On demand Training & Video tutorials covering virtually every aspect of MLXchange

24/7 Availability to members with MLS Access from within MLXchange orby going to http://gep.mlxhelp.com

Supports most Internet Browsers & many smartphones

Online sign up for all MLXchange Training classes & Webinars

Search for Answers feature to find support articles by specific keywords

Document archives containing MLXchange & MLS related support guides as well as MLS services documentation

Live Chat feature which is available Mon-Fri 8:30am to 5:30pm

Coming Soon! Recorded Tutorials of future Trainings, Webinars and MLS Tips & Tricks videos

MLXchange has a brand new comprehensive support site designed to help you learn just about anything you need to know about MLXchange. This site has walkthrough's, tutorials & demos which show you how to use MLXchange. MLXchange manuals are also available and downloadable.

All upcoming mlxchange training classes & webinars will be posted on this site.

Sign up online for classes directly from the mlxchange support site!

To access the Support Site, login to MLXchange click on the HELP Icon under the Quick Links section on the Main page of MLXchange.

The Help button is also located in the upper right corner of the Main page as well. You can also find MLXchange help links such as video tutorials,how to guides & more on the main page of MLXchange under the Resource Links section.

SITE IS ACCESSIBLE 24/7!

The MLXchange Support Site is also accessible outside of MLXchange by going to http://gep.mlxhelp.com

PLEASE NOTE: You must select Greater El Paso Association of Realtors from the drop down then put in your User id (MLS ID) in the User id field. Under the password field you need to put in the password that you use to login to elpasorealtor.com, update your sentrilock card or to access MLX Wireless

(This is not the Clareity Security password that is used to login to MLXchange in most cases).

6 • elpasorealtor.com El Paso Realtor Magazine | MARCH 2011 MARCH 2011 | El Paso Realtor Magazine elpasorealtor.com • 7


COUNTY VISITS On February 8, 2011 members of the Governmental Affairs Committee and the Leadership Team of the Greater El Paso Association of RELATORS® meet with members of the El Paso County Commissioners Court to discuss issues that affect the RELATOR® community.

“STORIES OF SUCCESS” Learn. Grow. Succeed GEPAR welcomed Dr. Robert Nachtmann, Dean of the School of Business at UTEP for the new series of “Stories of Success” on February 17, 2011, where he communicated his success story. Lunch was sponsored by ACCENT HOMES of ANTHONY.

> ASSOCIATION EVENTS M A R C H 2 0 1 1


TREPAC VALENTINE HOTTIE CONTEST The Greater El Paso Association of RELATORS® TREPAC Leadership hosted the first fundraiser event of the year, TREPAC Valentine Hottie Contest on February 8th at the Holiday Inn. The contestants took advantage of the opportunity to “strut their stuff”. First Place winner was J.R. Camfield with Desert Agave Builders; Second Place winner was Danny Gerard, owner of Des-ert Agave Builders and Third Place winner was John Martin with Lone Star Title. TREPAC Leadership thanks all the contestants for making this a very fun and entertaining event, everyone who attended for their support, and last but not least, the advertisers for their very generous contributions.

> TREPAC CONTRIBUTIONS

LOVING KISSES ADVERTISERDesert Agave Builders

CUPID ADVERTISERFirst Light Federal Credit Union

HOTTIE ADVERTISERSCentury 21 The EdgeClassic American HomesElizabeth LealGolden Real Estate

CENTERPIECE SPONSORCentury 21 The Pass

TROPHY SPONSORJennifer Stroh.

Home Insurance AgencyOld Republic Home WarrantyRocky Mountain MortgageTeachers Federal Credit Union

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+ NAR ATTACHED PROPERTY H O M E S A L E S R E P O R T

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Real Estate Trend Indicator

Board: Greater El Paso Association of Realtors®

State: Texas

Date of Report: 02/15/11


+ NAR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL H O M E S A L E S R E P O R T

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Real Estate Trend Indicator

Board: Greater El Paso Association of Realtors®

State: Texas

Date of Report: 02/15/11


+ BY THE NUMBERS M A R C H 2 0 1 1 C O M PA R I S O N


MARCH

1 8:30 am - GRI 2 2 8:00 am - Orientation 1:00 pm - Young Professionals Network Mtg 1:30 pm - Education Committee Mtg 3 8:30 am - RCA Weekly Mtg 12:00 pm - CIBA Monthly Board Mtg 1:30 pm - Gov. Affairs Committee Mtg 2:30 pm - TREPAC Committee Mtg

7 8:30 am - GRI 2

8 8:30 am - GRI 2

9 9:00 am -Success Realty Mtg

10 8:30 am - RCA Weekly Meeting 12:00 am - Builder University

14 12:30 pm -Toastmasters

16 1:30 am - Budget & Finance Committee 2:00 pm - Executive Committee 17 8:30 pm - RCA Weekly Mtg

18 10:00 am - REALTOR/ Builder Cmte. 11:00 am - “Stories of Success” Cecilia Levine

21 12:30 am - Toastmasters 22 8:00 am - MCE

23 8:30 am - MLS Board of Directors 8:00 pm - MCE

24 8:30 pm - RCA Weekly Mtg 12:00 pm - Bank of America Short Sales

25 8:30 am - Board of Directors

28 12:30 am - Toastmasters

31 8:30 am - RCA Weekly Mtg

1 8:00 am - Education Day

4 12:30 pm - Toastmasters 5 12:00 pm - CIBA Monthly Mtg 1:30 pm - Education Committee Mtg 6 8:00 am - Orientation 1:00 pm - Young Professionals Network Mtg 7 8:30 am - RCA Weekly Mtg 1:30 pm - Gov. Affairs Committee 2:30 pm - TREPAC Committee Mtg 8 10:00 am - Realtor® /Builder University 12 8:00 am - TAR Hill Visits - Austin, TX

13 9:00 am - Success Realty Mtg

14 8:30 am - RCA Weekly Mtg

18 12:30 pm - Toastmasters

19 8:00 am - MCE

20 8:00 am - MCE 1:30 pm - Budget & Finance Cmte. 2:00 pm - Executive Cmte. 6:00 pm - TREPAC Casino Night “Jeans & Gems” Vista Hills Country Club 21 8:30 am - RCA Weekly Mtg 25 8:00 am - Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program

26 8:00 am - Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program

27 8:30 am - MLS Board of Directors

28 8:30 am - RCA Weekly Mtg 1:00 am - “Going Beyond the Basics” Young Professionals Network (YPN)

29 8:30 am - Board of Directors 11:00 am - “Stories of Success” Woody Hunt

APRIL

> MARK YOUR CALENDAR

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16 • elpasorealtor.com El Paso Realtor Magazine | MARCH 2011

Not many people get a chance to talk face to face withtheir legislators about issues that directly affect theirlivelihood. You, however, can be one of the few whostride under the dome of the Texas Capitol to makeyour voice heard on behalf of your business and the realestate industry.

When was the last time you visited your state Capitol?In elementary school? Come to Austin on April 12 forthe 2011 Legislative Hill Visits. And this time, instead ofplaying tag and rolling down the hills on the grounds,advance the Texas REALTOR® legislative agenda.

Timing is everything

April is a critical time for the Texas Legislature, as legislatorswill begin to fi nalize the state budget. With anexpected budget shortfall of around $20 billion, peoplewill be looking for new sources of revenue. In the past,real estate has been a popular target for new taxes andfees—you can help stop such proposals.

Teach the newbies

The 39 freshmen legislators have a lot to digest, withthe budget shortfall and redistricting expected to dominatethe session. Studying issues important to the real estate industry won’t be their fi rstpriority. That’s where you come in.You’ll put a face to the real estateindustry and help them understandwhy issues important to Texas REALTORS® are also importantto the state’s economy.

Have some fun, too

The Texas Association of REALTORS® will offer lunch at theassociation’s building across the street from the Capitol, where youcan mingle with staff, other Texas REALTORS®, and even a few statelegislators. Or you can even join the kids rolling down the hills on theCapitol grounds.

Where do I sign up?

Transportation and other logistics are coordinated by local associations,so contact your association for details.

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