Ask Regina

With the transition period next year, will I need continuing education?

EVERYONE will need some form of continuing education by April 30, 2012, (exception: Sales agent choosing the 30-hour Broker classroom course for transition). The Education Department is offering two full days of ‘elective’ classes on July 21st and 22nd at a price you won’t believe! Members, six hours of elective c.e for $40!!!! From learning how to reduce your property taxes, not only for your clients but for YOU, as well, to learning about Credit Report Management are informational topics worth attending. I attended these courses and could not believe what I did not know! How much do you know about GREEN in real estate? Click here to find out more and hurry to sign up for “Going GREEN in Real Estate.” Lastly, did you know that the NAR Ethics quadrennial cycle started again, in 1/1/09? Have you taken an ethics course for NAR’s requirement? Yet, another offering for you to complete this requirement! These 4 courses are on a first-come first-serve basis so STOP and sign up now! For more details, click here or call the Education Department at 630-324-8400. See you on July 21st & 22nd! To guarantee your seating, click here and follow the link on the right side for CURRENT EVENTS. Search by the date of your desired courses. See you there!

MORe Events

Date change for FHA 203K Lunch and Learn: Wade Meitz of Prime Lending will put on a FHA 203K Seminar on Thursday, July 1st, from noon-1:30 p.m. in the Downers Grove Office. Tracy Sorge of Fifth Third Bank is sponsoring the lunch. Class size is limited so you must click here to sign up and you must be registered to attend.

Make Technology Work Harder to Grow Your Business - You are invited to attend RETechCon 2010. Sponsored by CACR, this all-day event is June 30th. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis and between the four associations, we have more than 30,000 REALTORS® so don't delay. Click here for more information.

V.I.R. Member Miles Boone will be taking headshots for MORe members at a reduced rate of $50 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24th, in our Downers Grove Office and on Wednesday, Aug,.4th, in our Tinley Park Office. Please call Ron at (630) 324-8422 or Amy at (630) 324-8428 to set up an appointment. Click here for more information.

Mainstreet is offering two e-PRO webinars, one from 9-10 a.m. and the other from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3rd. This complimentary 60-minute webinar provides invaluable insight into the online e-PRO® course, the only Technology Certification course offered by the National Association of REALTORS®, Click here for more information on the morning webinar or click here for the afternoon webinar. To register for either workshop, click here.

Property Tax Lunch and Learn: Anastasia M. Poulopoulos of AppealMyTaxes.biz and Nicholas Masella, a State Certified Appraiser, will present Lunch and Learn seminars on Real Estate Property Tax Reduction. The Thursday seminar in Tinley Park is full. The other seminar will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 24th, in the Naperville Office. Home Warranty of America is sponsoring the complimentary lunch. Click here for more details.

MORe News

Effective July 1, 2010, MORe will be moving all members to e-billing. This means that you will be receiving all MORe statements via email address instead of paper mail. E-billing is reliable and cost effective for the Association.

Please verify that your email address on file is correct. This can be done by visiting the "My Account" page on the MORe website and clicking on the email address link on the left side. Provided the email address is correct in our system, you do not need to do anything else. You will automatically be enrolled in e-billing.

However, if you wish to avoid receiving continuous email reminders explaining e-billing, you may sign up for e-billing yourself on the "My Account" section of our website. For additional information about e-billing, please click here.

You do still have the option of receiving paper statements. The cost will be $3 for each paper statement. To download the opt-out form, please click here. The form must be filled out and returned to the accounting department. The completed form will confirm that you understand you will pay an additional $3 per paper statement.

Thank you for helping MORe move to a MORe financially responsible association for our members, as well as the environment.

Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS® is teaming-up with Community BenefitBar to provide a NO cost (not even postage) unique internet marketing tool designed to help REALTORS®:

• Promote yourself!
• Stay top of mind with current and future clients!
• Have positive ultimate exposure within your community!
• Make a difference in your community, with organizations you care about!
• Most Importantly, Generate New business!

1) Members, please click here for information and either fill out the Contact Us form or sign up (takes about 3 minutes). 

2) Someone from Community BenefitBar will contact you to explain how easy it is to get started and show you why this is a perfect fit (about a 7-10 min call).

We can guarantee;

• NO cost-NO selling-NO training-very little time needed!
• Thousands of organizations already doing this in the USA as well as 9 other countries!
• We have been live with our technology since January of 2007

You will make a positive difference with organizations of any size that you care about; Llittle League teams, schools, religious organizations, charities, universities, associations, clubs…etc. For additional information on this unique Internet marketing tool, please click here to sign up or contact Jeff Boraz at (636) 346-3386 or Keith Grosz at (314) 616-1954, they will be happy to walk-you through the process and answer all of your questions.  

Education News

SFR (Short Sales and Foreclosures Resource) – NAR’s latest certification with a different twist! Want to receive your SFR certification or have you received it but would like to know more about REO’s? Why not join the CRS Council in conjunction with Mainstreet for: Short Sales and Foreclosures: Protecting Your Clients' Interests (CRS 111) on August 4, 2010, from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the MORe Downers Grove classroom location. This course provides REALTORS® with dialogues and systems for working with financial institutions and other owners of REO properties.You’ll be able to negotiate successfully with financial institutions and other owners of REO properties and sell/list REO and short sale properties. Upon the successful completion of this course, the student will also be able to give competent advice and counsel to homeowners who are in danger of losing their home through foreclosure and help clients maintain possession of their homes by creating “short sales” on qualified properties that will lead to the successful sale of those properties. It merits 3 hours of ELECTIVE state continuing education credit. Click here to find out more. To register, click here and follow the link on the right side for CURRENT EVENTS. Search by course date of August 4th.

Salesperson Transition: There will be no renewal for the salesperson licenses next year on 4/30/11 because of the License Law Act changes which will require all sales agents to make the transition from a salesperson to a broker status. The salesperson renewal has been extended to April 30, 2012. The transitioning options for a salesperson to become a broker will be: 1) need to pass a proficiency exam and 18 hours of C.E.; 9 hours CORE/9 hours ELECTIVE. You will have only ONE attempt to pass this exam; or complete a 30-hour post broker classroom course and pass the exam. There is no CE required if you elect to take the 30-hour classroom course. You will have several attempts to pass the 30-hour exam. THE TRANSITION PERIOD WILL ONLY TAKE PLACE between 5/1/11 thru 4/30/12!!! Because the Education Department is an IDFPR approved pre-licensing school, Mainstreet will be offering the proficiency exam and the 30-hour post broker classroom course at all three locations; Downers, Tinley and Naperville. We will provide a variety of dates/times for both the proficiency exams and 30-hour post broker course during the transition year. We will try our best to make this transitioning as smooth as possible for our membership and non-members. Questions can be directed to the MORe Education Department staff.

Managing Broker Transition: Your next renewal period will be 4/30/12. Because of the License Law Act changes, all managing brokers will also have a transition. If you are registered at IDFPR as a sole proprietor, you will need to make the transition. The transitioning options for a managing broker will be: 1) need to pass a proficiency exam and 24 hours of C.E.; 6 CORE/6 ELECTIVE/12 HR. BROKER MGMT. COURSE. You will have only ONE attempt to pass this exam; or complete a 45-hour managing broker classroom course and 12 hours of C.E.; 6 CORE/6 ELECTIVE HOURS. You will have several attempts to pass the 45-hour exam. THE TRANSITION PERIOD WILL ONLY TAKE PLACE between 5/1/11 thru 4/30/12!!! Because the Education Department is an IDFPR approved pre-licensing school, Mainstreet will be offering the proficiency exam and the 45-hour managing broker classroom course at all three locations -- Downers, Tinley and Naperville. We will provide a variety of dates/times for both the proficiency exam and 45-hour post broker course during the transition year. We will try our best to make this transitioning as smooth as possible for our membership and non-members. Questions can be directed to the MORe Education Department staff.

Non-Managing Broker (Applies to those whose license is held in a real estate brokerage firm): Your next renewal period will be 4/30/12. There is not a transition for you!! After May 1, 2010, you will revert back to 12 hours of continuing education; 6 hours CORE/6 hours ELECTIVE. You will need to complete the 12 hours by 4/30/12.

Designation Corner

The National Association of REALTORS and its affiliated Institutes, Societies and Councils provide a wide range of programs and services that assist members in increasing skills, proficiency and knowledge. Designations and certifications acknowledging experience and expertise in various real estate sectors are awarded by NAR and each affiliated group upon completion of required courses.

Mainstreet has also developed its own real estate-related certifications, the Certified Negotiation Consultant (CNC) and the Certified Staging Consultant (CSC) that is recognized through NAR.

The Education Department would like to congratulate the members for the completion of their designation and/or certification. Click here for a complete list.

Earning credit for GRI Course I has never been easier. Submit the $95 administration fee with a completed application to the REALTOR® Institute along with proof of completion of an approved program (see application). Click here for a copy of the GRI schedule.

MRED News

Did you know MRED holds classes on using connectMLS at all three Mainstreet locations?  Classes should be taken in order (connectMLS 1-7), seats are limited so register ASAP by visiting MRED or by calling MRED at 630-955-2754. Classes are complimentary; however a credit card reservation is required. You are only charged $35 if you do not show up for a class you are registered for or if you did not cancel within the 2 business day cancellation policy. Click here for a schedule of classes in the MORe offices. Please NOTE if we do not have enough agents registered 1 business day prior to the class being held it WILL be cancelled and registrants will be notified via email and telephone. Please call at the above number with any questions. If you would like to see other training locations, click here.

Commercial News
Certificate of Completion: Receive a Certificate of Completion by attending five or more Commercial educational seminars during 2010. After each educational seminar that you attend, you will receive a letter of acknowledgement from the committee. After meeting the criteria of five or more educational seminars, you will receive your Certificate of Completion at the end of the year. All sessions must be completed in this calendar year. Commercial events are held on the 2nd Friday morning of each month (or as otherwise scheduled). Cost is $50 for the remainder of the year.

Each event will conclude with a networking haves and wants session.  Bring your commercial deals, listings. This is a great opportunity to market and develop leads.

2010 Schedule

July--No Seminar
August 13--Understanding A Commercial Lease
September 10--Closing A Commercial Transaction
October 8--Attorneys’ Panel – Best Practices
November 12--Tax Base Commercial Issues
December 3--Forecast Breakfast

Professional Standards

Respect for the Public: If occupants are home during showings, ask their permission before using the telephone or bathroom.

What’s the Buzz?

The DuPage/Will WCR will hold a Top Producer Panel at its next meeting from 1-3 p.m. on Friday, June 18th, at Mullen’s Bar & Grill, 3080 Warrenville Rd. in Lisle. Panelists include Elena Falco of Grove REALTORS, Chris Hochstedt of Exit Real Estate Partners, Mike LaFido of RE/MAX Cornerstone and Jill Rudman of RE/MAX All Pro. Seating is limited so click here to make your reservation. Cost is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers

Realty Executives Great Lakes Region is hosting a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois on Wednesday, June 16th, at Brunswick Zone, 1555 W. 75th St. in Woodridge from 6:30-9 p.m. Registration is only $30 per person and includes bowling, shoes, balls, all-you-can-eat pizza and all-you-can-drink pop. Contact Sharon at (630) 747- 5339 or Lesle at (630) 561-0297 to register or for further information.

The South Suburban PADS Golf Outing will be held on Saturday, July 24th, at Gleneagle Country Club in Lemont with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. Cost is $100 per golfer and includes golf, cart and dinner. Sponsorships are also available. Click here for more information.

Let us know what you’re doing that’s newsworthy! Are you using any innovative business approaches? Received any awards? Have a human interest story? Do you have any new ways of dealing with diverse clients? Click here to send your story. If we think the local media will be interested, we’ll ship it off to them pronto – and – we’ll jot it down in this section of E-blast. Questions? Contact Ron Brow.