Week of August 4, 2008
We Need Help With Painting! P-p-p-l-e-e-e-e-e-e-a-s-e!
If you have a few hours to spare on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week during regular business hours (8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.), please stop by 2716 Kentucky Ave S, St. Louis Park, MN 55426. Just show up and we'll set you up with a shirt and painting supplies! Lunch, water and soda will be provided! Any amount of time is acceptable! We're suggesting either 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. but we're not holding you to it. At this point, it's not even necessary to register. But if you think of it, let Amy Ransom know you're coming by: amyr@mplsrealtor.com or 952.988.3124. view, print, share our informational flyer!
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There are fewer homes to choose from for today's prospective buyers than there were a year ago. There are currently 32,978 residential housing units up for sale in the Twin Cities region, down 5.5 percent-or about 2,000 units-from this time last year. The cause of the lessened supply is a decrease in new listings combined with more homes coming off the inventory list by way of "sold" signs. For the week ending July 26, there were only 1,816 new listings, a drop of 16.5 percent from one year ago. Newly signed purchase agreements (pending sales) for the same year-over-year comparison increased by 5.1 percent.
Click the logo below or click here for this week's full report. Visit Market Info for more research reports.
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Tuesday–Wednesday, August 5–6
Wine & Beer Tasting Event at Stella's Fish Cafe – One Day Left to Register
Date: Tuesday, August 5
To register, contact Linda Stoeckicht at lindas@mplsrealtor.com or 952.988.3157. You can also register here. Deadline: Thursday, July 31. Younger professionals and first-timers are more than welcome! View a printable flyer!
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President Bush Signs Housing Bill On July 30, 2008, President Bush signed H.R. 3221, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. It is now Public law 110-289. The legislation contains significant modifications to the FHA housing program, some modification (but not elimination) of downpayment assistance programs, a new regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, a contingency plan to shore up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, new programs to assist distressed borrowers refinance their mortgages to avoid foreclosure and a new $7,500 tax credit to provide an incentive for first-time homebuyers. View key provisions | Homebuyer Tax Credit FAQs | Seller-funded downpayment provision Source: National Association of REALTORS®, The Washington Report
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If you have any questions regarding your DisplayKEY or invoice please contact GE Security at 1.877.699.6787. Payments can be made online or by phone:
Source: GE Security
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The annual DisplayKEY bill was due July 17, 2008. If payment is not made by Monday, August 11, GE Security will inactivate outstanding accounts.|
Browse purchasables by clicking "ONLINE STORE" at the top of www.mplsrealtor.com. Or click "MY ACCOUNT" to start fleshing out your MAAR account information. Once inside your account, click "Review or Change Member Personal Information" to get started on helping people find a more complete rendition of you when they click "Find a REALTOR®" on our website.
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Yo Pro! MAAR's Young Professionals
Thus, we are looking for agents under 40 years of age interested in participating in a focus group at MAAR's office in late August (details to come). Topics for discussion will include the creation of a professional network, education options, class formats, service needs, and program offerings—all with the younger REALTOR® in mind. To register or receive more information, please contact Aubray Olson, MAAR Member Services Representative, at aubrayo@mplsrealtor.com. Seating is limited, so if you want to participate, contacting Aubray sooner is better!
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view 1-page PDF document | view website Source: City of Minneapolis
Like other Inspections programs (i.e., Point of Sale) this ordinance would seek to prohibit a home from being sold without inspection and issuance of a final Certificate of Property Maintenance by the city. The North Metro REALTORS® Association (NMRA) took the lead on this issue because Columbia Heights is located within their jurisdiction, Anoka County. But since members from both NMRA and MAAR work with buyers and sellers in Columbia Heights, we made a point to support NMRA's efforts to reject the RIBS program. Representatives from both associations attended the public hearing on July 28. Indications from the city and newspaper articles hinted that the proposal was a "done deal" and would pass the council with an effective date of August 28. And then Columbia Heights residents showed up and spoke up, including 29 residents who testified that they opposed the ordinance in no uncertain terms. After closing the public hearing, the city council voted unanimously to drop the proposal.
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2008 Ushers in the eBallot for Board of Directors Election We would like to remind you that we are featuring an electronic ballot for the first time this year in September's MAAR Board of Directors election. If you want a paper ballot, please contact MAAR at 952.933.9020 to request one, and we will assure that you receive your ballot at the mail address specified in your personal account with MAAR. Next week we will include photos and bios of all nominees in enotes and on our website.
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MAAR 2008 Golf Tournament – Beat the Rush Golf Cheap Make Your Way to the Fairway Newcomers welcome! | Click here or on the image below for registration and details!
Source: Tom's Golf Tips, www.tomsgolftips.com
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Next WCR Meeting: Wednesday, August 6
Questions about WCR? Visit www.twincitieswcr.org. Or contact Maura Kolars, President, 612.382.5990 or Colleen Schultz, VP of Membership, 952.221.5215.
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The GeoVista Neighborhood Tours (linked on the Property Full Displays) have been discontinued. The company stopped technical support and had no plans to update the photos, many of which were up to ten years old and no longer reflective of the home or neighborhood. Because of increasing complaints from NorthstarMLS subscribers, we removed the links. Although not street-level views, you can get an alternate view of the neighborhood by clicking the globe icon on any listing to open the Virtual Earth map. Click the icon in the upper left (next to the zoom control) to switch to the Bird's Eye View. Source: Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS)
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Free Homebuyers' Fair in Brooklyn Park
Date: Wednesday, August 13 Source: City of Brooklyn Park
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STCAR Offers CRS 200 Core Course in September
STCAR is offering a $25 discount for REALTORS® who register by Friday, August 8, plus this course is approved for 15 hours of Minnesota Real Estate Continuing Education.
Source: Southern Twin Cities Association of REALTORS®
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2008 REALTORS® Conference & Expo – Orlando, November 7–10
Register today and discover how the Conference & Expo is your GPS for navigating the real estate market. more Source: National Assocation of REALTORS®
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We are well-represented at the top of the experience heap here at MAAR. According to our last member survey, the average age of MAAR members is 48, and less than 15 percent of our members are under 35. For the sake of our profession's longevity (and our association's viability), it's in our best interest to get out there and network with the "generation next" that will represent today's and tomorrow's REALTORS®.
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Join the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) on Thursday, September 18, as they present the Bad Apple Trio in a comedy show fundraiser to support veterans and their families statewide who are in crisis with primarily housing and employment support. For more information about MACV and the services they provide, visit www.mac-v.org. To learn more about the event, call 612.379.3580 and ask for Rose Lindsay. One hundred percent of all event proceeds benefit the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans.
Source: MACV
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Office Depot – Business AdvantEdge Partner
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© 2008 Minneapolis
Area Association of REALTORS®.
All rights reserved.