News and Updates

Weekly Market Activity Report

Housing activity for the week ending January 2, 2010 took a predictable surge upward following the holiday break. New listings rose to 688 for the week—down 37.3 percent from a year ago—while pending sales posted a number of 378—down 11.7 percent from a year ago. We will likely have to wait another week for all the holidays and frosty weather to get flushed from our year-over-year comparisons to get a full understanding of where our market is headed.

A few additional stats for the New Year:

Housing Affordability continues at historic levels: rising to 208 for January, an 8.3 percent increase from the previous year and a good sign for buyers in the year to come.

The Months’ Supply of Inventory is back in balanced market territory at 5.0 months. This is a dramatic 34.2 percent under the supply at the beginning of last year.

With a balancing supply and demand and the possibility of rising interest rates on the horizon, this is a unique opportunity time for Twin Cities' home buyers.

VIEW FULL REPORT | VIEW MORE RESEARCH REPORTS

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The 100+ – December 2009 Update

Our tracking tool for local housing market activity has been updated with data through December 2009. | GO TO THERE

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Housing Supply Outlook – January 2010

Five. It's a magic number. The last time there was five months of supply or less in the Twin Cities housing market was March 2006. George Bush was president, Kanye West was known more for his talent than his eccentricities and the market was on the cusp of a 24-month slide in home sales and prices.

The biggest drops in supply are in the lower price ranges, where homes are selling quickly. For perspective, there's only 2.6 months of supply under $120,000, while there's 30.2 months of supply above $1 million. Home prices are still soft across the board, but the largest price declines in 2009 were found in the condo segment, where the average sales price for the year was 17.1 percent lower than in 2008. | VIEW HSO

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2010 Membership Renewals: Unpaid Members Are Now Inactive — All Services Suspended

If You Have Paid Your Dues, Thank You! Otherwise, Please Read On
Members who did not renew their 2010 MAAR membership by January 5 are now inactive, and all services have been suspended. The current membership renewal amount is $475 ($375 Annual Dues Renewal amount, a $50 Reinstatement Fee, and a $50 Late Payment Dues Renewal Fee).

NOTE TO BROKERS: If you currently hold a license for an inactive member, you are required to renew their dues by February 2, 2010, or terminate their license with the Minnesota Department of Commerce by this date to avoid office wide termination.

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

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Two Scholarships Available for NAR Midyear Meetings in Washington, DC

MAAR offers two scholarship opportunities for REALTORS® to flex their legislative muscles and stretch their political vocal chords while rubbing elbows with Minnesota elected officials at the 2010 NAR Midyear Legislative Meeting, May 10–15, 2010, in Washington, DC.

An interest in politics is not an application requirement but being knowledgeable on industry trends, housing policies and critical issues facing the real estate industry and specific communities may help. Please review application requirements and apply accordingly.

The Ann Brockhouse Scholarship will be awarded to a MAAR member who demonstrates a commitment to advancing the real estate industry through education and involvement or potential leadership involvement within MAAR.

The Emerging Markets Services Scholarship will be awarded to a MAAR member who demonstrates their commitment to serve the emerging markets communities with efforts to increase homeownership among diverse communities in Minnesota.
Applicants must submit a copy of their business plan with this scholarship application.

If you have questions regarding the scholarship or application, please contact Donnie Brown at 952.988.3133 or donnieb@mplsrealtor.com.

Application deadline: February 1, 2010.

Ann Brockhouse Scholarship Form | Emerging Markets Services Scholarship Form

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Videos Aid REALTORS® on Risk Management

NAR's Risk Management Committee has produced three videos covering risk management planning, identity theft, and lead-based paint. | CHECK 'EM OUT

Source: National Association of REALTORS®

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Lead Generation Among Program Benefits

Deals on computers and lead generation are among the latest offerings from the REALTOR Benefits® Program. | LEARN MORE

Source: National Association of REALTORS®

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2010 NAR Public Awareness Campaign in Full Swing

This year’s campaign began early, with radio spots airing in November 2009 and new TV spots airing in December. This is the first time since the campaign’s inception that spots will air year-round. Beginning January 18, national print and online advertisements will join the TV and radio spots to help reach even more home buyers and sellers, more effectively.

The ads are clearly having an impact. A March 2009 survey indicated that only 60 percent of first-time buyers were aware of the home buyer tax credit; Public Awareness Campaign tracking research conducted in October 2009 showed that the ads helped raise awareness dramatically – to 95 percent of first-time buyers.

After the tax credit expires on April 30, 2010, the Public Awareness Campaign will be ready with new ads that promote REALTOR® value in these challenging times.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the 2010 tax credit campaign and the strategy behind the current campaign and the results of past efforts.

Source: National Association of REALTORS®

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More

"Give me more. I want more and more and more." – Brother Ali, "Truth Is"

There's so much more we could tell you each week, but we have to cut it off somewhere. If you want to see more benefits available to you from the National Association of REALTORS®, CLICK HERE.

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Survey

Thank you so much! We now have enough surveys to do meaningful research! We will leave the survey open until Friday, January 15 in case you haven't had time to voice your opinion yet. But hurry-hurry! We're about ready to start compiling the results.

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). 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

Joint News Release

On Tuesday, January 12, the three local REALTOR® associations will be releasing the 2009 end-of-year housing statistics at a joint news conference to be held at the office of the Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS® at 10:00 a.m.

Local REALTOR® leaders will be on hand to answer questions about where we've been and where we're going in terms of the local residential real estate industry.

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Education and Professional Development

Limited Supply of 2010 Unlimited CE Passes
Back by popular demand, we are again offering a $99 Unlimited CE Pass for 2010. There are only 500 available for purchase, on a first-come, first-served basis. Get yours now while supplies last. Fewer than 360 are available as of January 11.

Please be aware of the most important change in terms for the 2010 Unlimited CE Pass: After three course "no shows" (not attending a class for which you are registered), your CE pass will be terminated.

As always, please call or cancel your registration online if you know you won't be able to attend a class.

2010
Please know that we are busy working on the 2010 course catalog. Classes will soon be posted on our website. Keep checking enotes and our website for updates. We’re working as fast as we can!

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News from NorthstarMLS

New Features Coming to NorthstarMLS Matrix January 14

• CMA Wizard: A new and easier way to create your CMAs step-by-step.
  
  
• Speed Bar: A quick search bar available from wherever you are in Matrix. Use it for quick shorthand searches of listings, tax records, open houses and agents. You can even create your own shortcuts!
  
  
• My Matrix and Contacts Management: Redesigned to better organize everything by client with special filters to help you work more efficiently.
  
  
• Price Search: Search for prices in "000s" meaning you no longer need to enter the three zeros at the end. For example, to search homes in the $200,000 to $350,000 range, you will enter "200-350" instead of "200000-350000."
  
  
• Drop the asterisk: When searching Street Name in listings and tax records, you can drop the asterisk at the end for wild card search. The system will automatically assume it is there.
  
  
• Search Criteria on PDF Reports: Your search criteria will now display at the end of any PDF report you run. No more writing them in by hand!

MORE INFO

NorthstarMLS Matrix Unavailable Wednesday Night, January 13
NorthstarMLS Matrix and Matrix Mobile will be unavailable Wednesday night from 10:30 p.m. until approximately 5:00 a.m. Thursday morning. This downtime is necessary for the system upgrade that will bring the new features described above.

• Although Matrix will be unavailable during this period, you can still conduct your business using the NorthstarMLS back-up system, NorthstarMLS REsearch. If you need to use the MLS Wednesday night and have never used REsearch, it is suggested that you take a few moments before then to familiarize yourself with the system.
  
  
• Home Base will also be up and running. You may add/edit listings, photos and supplements, but they will not appear on Matrix until the system is back up and the replication process catches up (about one hour).
  
  
• Auto-Emails you have created for your clients will not go out during the downtime. When the system is back up, the Auto-Email process will restart. Because there are so many thousands of auto-emails set up on Matrix, it may take several hours for the process to catch up.

Want to Learn More About Using WEBForms? Sign Up for a Webinar!
A free WEBForms Webinar will once again be offered on Wednesday, January 13, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. The webinar lasts just 60 minutes, plus time at the end for you to ask questions. Attending webinars is convenient and can be done from your office or home. All you need is a computer with Internet access and either a telephone or audio capability on your computer. The call-in telephone number is not toll-free, but the PC audio is free.

Chris Prescott is your instructor. Chris is a Twin Cities real estate agent and WEBForms power user. In this application overview, he will show you how to use the application most efficiently with tips and tools such as Transaction Kits and Templates.

Chris is also available for a fee to come to your office for an onsite WEBForms training session. If interested, contact him directly at Chris@PrescottGroup.us. | SIGN UP FOR THE FREE WEBINAR

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Events

RealEstateHomePages.com Free Seminar – January 20

Join RealEstateHomePages.com for a free, two-hour seminar to grow your business, automate your marketing, and preview website and property search systems. The seminar includes training on website options, search engine optimization tips, lead capture, drip email and more.

Date: Wednesday, January 20
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Location: 5750 Lincoln Dr, Minneapolis, MN 55436
SIGN UP – FREE

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Minnesota Construction Conference – Strategies & Opportunities

$99, $129 Day of Event
4 Hours of Real Estate and Appraiser Continuing Education Credits are Pending Approval
from the Minnesota Department of Commerce for this Course.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

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Market Experts Host Free One-Day Webinar Seminar – January 28

Register at REALTOR® University for one or more of seven free webinars on January 28 to help adjust your business to today's market conditions. Topics include re-crafting marketing messages, using mobile phone apps, increasing your listings, and applying tech tools. Former NAR Chief Economist John Tuccillo will also provide an economic overview.

The day-long event is offered as part of NAR's "Right Tools, Right Now" initiative. | LEARN MORE & REGISTER

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Yo Pro Squaretables – Speed Learning at the MAAR Office – February 11

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at MAAR office
5750 Lincoln Dr, Edina, MN 55436
(happy hour to follow at Cooper)

Squaretable Facilitators and Topics:

Jeff Allen | MAAR Research Manager, "Short Sales and Foreclosure Stats"

Nobu Hata | REALTOR Edina Realty, "Website Trends"

Suzanne Snyder | Program Director Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation and its
Housing Resource Centers, "Down Payments and Closing Cost Programs"

Herb Tousley | Director of the Real Estate Program at the University of St.Thomas,
"RE Behind the Scenes-Property Taxes and Tax Appeals"

"Squaretables" is the name of our quick-hit information and networking event geared toward young professionals (and welcome to all). The format is fast and fun. Check out one table for about 20 minutes, take what you need, ask what you want, move to next table, take more, and so on.

Why Squaretables? Because our tables aren't round. Attendance is limited by the size of our room. Register early with Aubray Erhardt at aubraye@mplsrealtor.com or 952.988.3120 or find us on Facebook. This free event tends to fill up fast.

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