News and Updates

Weekly Market Activity Report

'Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the market,
REALTORS® were selling houses in the Twin Cities, some wearing parkas.

For the week ending December 12, there was such a clatter,
Pending sales flattened out, unlike a step ladder.

542 for the week, which was 2.5 percent under last year,
When market volatility was in the stratosphere.

New listings were down to a more normal fashion,
With 1,028 added this week, a stable ration.

Santa may be bringing sellers some Christmas luck,
With the laws of supply and demand in flux.

"On Original Price, on Days on Market!" he calls,
But Housing Affordability makes sellers feel mighty tall.

With just one week left in the year 2009,
The Twin Town Market looks to end just fine.

VIEW FULL REPORT | VIEW MORE RESEARCH REPORTS | VIEW FUNNY PHOTO

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Holiday Hours

The MAAR office will be closed on December 24 and 25 and again on January 1. We will be open on December 31 from 8:00 a.m. to noon.

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MLS Rebate

Thanks to efficient management and cost-cutting measures, RMLS (Regional Multiple Listing Service) ended the year with a surplus of funds paid by MLS participants in 2009. RMLS disseminated those dollars to the shareholder and customer associations, including MAAR. The MAAR board unanimously agreed to rebate these surplus funds to MAAR MLS participant subscribers. Brokers will see a $16.00 credit for each licensed subscriber on their January first-quarter online MLS statement.

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Yo Pros Named 2009 YPN Chapter of the Year

The Minneapolis Yo Pros won the first-ever YPN Chapter of the Year Award. Learn more about this group of young real estate professionals and how they are changing the industry for the better. | MORE

Source: National Association of REALTORS®, REALTOR® Magazine

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Field Guide to Buying & Selling During the Holidays

The holiday season is here. Your buyers and sellers are asking if this is a good time to buy or sell a house. Find out the pros and cons, how to stage a home during this time of year, and whether to decorate or not. | MORE

Source: National Association of REALTORS®, Information Central

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2010 Membership Renewals Dues Are Overdue

$50 Late Payment Dues Renewal Fee in Effect
On top of the $50 late payment fee, an additional $50 reinstatement fee will be due if payment is not received by close of business on January 5, 2010 (totaling $100 in fees at that time). All payments received after December 7 without the $50 late dues renewal fee will be held for processing. Suspension of all services will occur if payment is not received by the final deadline of January 5, 2010.

Our policy on suspension, termination and applicable late dues renewal and reinstatement fees is pretty clear cut. We sincerely try to avoid these unpleasantries by making you aware of our policy throughout the annual dues renewal process.

Many of you have paid, and we thank you for your prompt attention. Those that haven't paid their dues yet were sent a second notification last week.

CLICK HERE to view all information on the 2010 dues renewal, including policy on terminations and reinstatement fees, foundation contributions, RPAC contributions and bylaws.

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Minnesota Association of REALTORS® Announces New Short Sale Form

On Wednesday, December 23, the Minnesota Association of REALTORS® will be releasing a new, 1-page form titled "Short Sale Notice: Seller." This form will be made available on their website on December 23.

Source: Minnesota Association of REALTORS®

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MAAR's Got Live Chat!

Sometimes you want an extra bit
of live assistance. Our staff is
ready to listen in real time.

Click "Live Chat" at www.mplsrealtor.com
(located on the top tab).

 

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Centralized Showing Service Acquires Showing Solutions

Centralized Showing Service, Inc. has announced the acquisition of Showing Solutions, Inc. Both companies are based in Overland Park, KS, and schedule home showing appointments and collect showing feedback for REALTORS® around the country. | VIEW NEWS RELEASE

Source: Centralized Showing Service

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Survey

We Need More Survey Entries! At Least 140 More!

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY NOW

Please tell us where you're at with us, where you want us to be, and what you've been up to. The 2009 MAAR Membership Survey will truly help direct us and, as a bonus, there are 3 cash prizes ($100, $50, $50). Fill out by January 8 to be eligible for the prizes. We'll run the survey until we have enough to make some serious decisions. If it helps at all, some font sizes were enlarged for easier reading.

Your opinions and privacy are important to us. All individual responses and emails will be kept confidential. We will not sell, share or lease this information with third parties.

NOTE: IF YOU COMPLETE THE SURVEY HERE, PLEASE DISREGARD THE PRINTED SURVEY THAT CAME WITH THE WINTER 2009 ISSUE OF THE REALTOR®, MAAR'S PRINTED QUARTERLY MAGAZINE.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY NOW

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Departments

Public Affairs

Water Service, Foreclosed Vacant Properties & Winterization:
What You Should Know

If you are representing a vacant property in the Saint Paul, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Maplewood, West Saint Paul, Lilydale, Mendota, Mendota Heights, Newport, Roseville, South Saint Paul, Sunfish Lake and Little Canada you need to know procedures outlined by the Saint Paul Regional Water Services (SPRWS). The SPRWS is the provider of water to Saint Paul residents and the surrounding communities above.

They have provided a summary of information that will help you and your clients when it comes to matters of water service shut-off, winterization, water turn on and billing procedures. | MORE INFO

Source: Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS®

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Education and Professional Development

2009 Classes in the Books; Working on 2010 Calendar
We'll have another round of classes for you this spring. We're in the process of solidifying dates and times. Watch enotes for more information in the coming weeks.

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News from NorthstarMLS

Fob-U-Less News: NorthstarMLS to Eliminate the Need for Key-Fob SafeMLS Tokens

In the coming months, NorthstarMLS will adopt the newest version of SafeMLS security that will make it easier and more convenient for you to access NorthstarMLS while increasing their ability to identify and stop unauthorized use of services. The push-button "key fob" tokens are going away!

MAAR and NorthstarMLS understand that the tokens have been an inconvenience. With the latest technology advancements, the new tokenless version of SafeMLS provides an even higher level of protection. Best of all, you can be assured that NorthstarMLS' convenient Single Sign On and administrative support logins will continue to offer you the benefits to which you have become accustomed.

Over the next couple of months, you will start to see this next generation of SafeMLS Secure Login taking shape. The new Secure Login combines information you enter at login—a user ID, PIN and password—with a technology that recognizes your own personal keystroke and computer use patterns to verify your identity.

Until we get there, the SafeMLS key fobs are still required for NorthstarMLS access and must be replaced if broken or lost. A lost key fob will still require payment for replacement. Even though they will be phased out soon, we still incur the full cost from the vendor for all replacements that are not the result of a defect.

We are very excited to bring back the convenience of quick login without losing any of the protection for NorthstarMLS listings and systems. Stay tuned for more information.

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Events

Happy Holidays from All of Us to All of You

Two dates stand out on our calendar at the moment: December 25 and January 1. Enjoy your holidays. We will return enotes to your inbox when they're over.

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