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The Twin Cities housing market is showing early signs of entering a positive phase of correction. The number of new listings entering the market for the week ending March 29 was 14.8 percent behind the same week last year, the fourth consecutive week of double-digit declines relative to last year. Unfortunately, pending sales remain lackadaisical (down 15.9 percent for the same time period comparison), so the total inventory of homes for sale continues to exhibit decelerating growth this spring season—an encouraging momentum change in our shifting supply-demand balance.
This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report features updated figures for several key metrics. In March, the Days on Market Until Sale held steady at 165 and the Percent of Original List Price Received at Sale dipped slightly to 91.0—both indicators of the continued advantage the buyer holds in this market. The April Months Supply of Inventory increased to 9.6 months, up 23.9 percent from this time last year. A market that's balanced between buyers and sellers would have roughly a 5- to 6-month supply of homes for sale. We haven't been there since 2005.
Click the logo below or click here for this week's full report. Visit Market Info for reports as far as the eye can see.
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 Creating Opportunities and Retention Through Agent Training
Whose responsibility is it to train agents? Most people say the broker. Some say the agent. Is there a role for the association? How does formal agent training equate to loyalty and retention?
Date and Time: Friday, April 11, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Location: MAAR Office, 5750 Lincoln Drive
Register with: Linda Stoeckicht at lindas@mplsrealtor.com or 952.988.3157. Brokers and managers welcomed. No cost.
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 As our real estate community is continually met with a challenging market, MAAR recognizes the need to establish programs and services specific to the needs of brokers and managers.
To reinforce this effort, MAAR is developing a series of "Broker Only" continuing education classes. We would like to invite brokers to participate in a light brunch focus group in developing course curriculum.
Consider participating in the creation of a new course for brokers facilitated by Nancy Scott and Rodolfo Trujillo:
Date: Thursday, April 10, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m. to noon
Location: PDC@RFC, 4450 W 76th St, Edina, MN 55435
Contact Linda Stoeckicht by April 7, 2008 at 952.988.3157 or lindas@mplsrealtor.com to register for the focus group.
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 Ask the Expert: Be the Complainant, Not the Respondent
on an Ethics/Professional Standards Complaint
Format: Lunch and Conversation
Date: Friday, April 11, 2008
Time: 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Location: PDC@RFC, 4450 W 76th St, Edina, MN 55435
(Located off France Ave and W 76th St)
Do you have a question about an ethical issue but don't feel comfortable asking your broker or co-agents?
Well, here is your chance to have a candid conversation with the expert, Jim Dattalo, about Ethics and Professional Standards. This will be a very informative and energetic dialogue, so bring your questions and concerns to the meeting...
Lunch provided, but RSVP is required! Contact Donnie Brown at donnieb@mpslrealtor.com.
Invite a co-agent or coworker and bring plenty of business cards for networking!
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 For a full, detailed look at how changing supply-demand dynamics are affecting various price ranges and property types in our regional housing market, take a look at the April Housing Supply Outlook. You won't find anything with this much detail on the Twin Cities housing market anywhere else. Highlights:
Inventory flattening. Remember all that talk about the record number of houses on the market and high inventory? That was then and this is now. The total number of homes on the market today compared to the same time a year ago is only 4.2 percent higher—a much lower number than we've seen over the last three years.
Inventory actually lower in many price ranges. If you compare the number of homes for sale today with the same time a year ago, five of the eight price ranges we track actually have less on the market. Only the three price ranges under $190,000 have more on the market now than they did a year ago. Home sellers who are priced at $190,000 or above actually have less competition for buyers this year than they did last year.
Condo market done declining? The condo market continues to show early signs of bottoming out. Inventory is down and prices are stablizing after two years of decline. That said, sales of condos remain sluggish and likely won't spike dramatically upwards anytime soon.
Contact MAAR Research Manager, Jeff Allen, at jeffa@mplsrealtor.com or 952.988.3126 if you have questions or comments about this research tool.
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St. Paul and the Minnesota Home Ownership Center are sponsoring a series of foreclosure prevention workshops for people who are concerned about making mortgage payments, know someone who is in trouble or just want more information. Two similar workshops last fall drew more than 250 people each.
Mortgage lenders and community-based organizations will be available to offer free advice and answer questions, and attendees will be able to hear short presentations on legal rights and the foreclosure process.
 Scheduled workshops:
• April 22: 4:30–8:30 p.m., Minneapolis Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Av N, Mpls.
• May 20: 4:30–8:30 p.m., Discovery Elementary School, 301 Second Av NE, Buffalo
• June 5: 4:30–8:30 p.m., Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Pkwy, Eagan
Call the Home Ownership Center at 651.659.9336 or go to www.hocmn.org for more information. St. Paul mortgage foreclosure prevention counselors are available at 651.266.6626 or www.stpaul.gov/foreclosure. Renters with foreclosure questions can call HOME Line at 612.728.5767.
Source: Star Tribune
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 Case Shiller is a highly reported real estate price index that is alleged to be more accurate than the statistics provided by the REALTOR® associations. The argument is that the REALTORS® report the average or median price of all sales from one year to the next, which is a different group of homes each year. Case Shiller only uses cases where the same home has sold twice, using the apples vs. apples argument. There is logic to this argument, but there are also significant problems. Pat Paulson, one of our more prolific board members broke it down nicely over at activerain.com, a good social network for REALTORS®. read more
His conclusion: All statistical measurements have flaws, including Case Shiller. In the end, nothing replaces a good REALTOR® in understanding the pulse of the market.
We can get behind that. So can David Michonski, CEO of Coldwell Banker Previews International, who provides compelling additions to Pat's post.
Source: blogs on activerain.com from Philip Kiracofe, David Michonski and Pat Paulson
(enjoy the benefits of crowdsourcing)
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 Once a month, the International Council releases a link-enabled PDF newsletter about a wide variety of international real estate happenings and news items, as well as CIPS opportunities of interest, a local cultural calendar and even a monthly list of international holidays.
It's a good read from your friends at MAAR and STCAR that takes you well beyond the 494/694 loop to the farthest reaches of the world.
Expand your real estate business. read it now
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 Call for Action: Permanent Loan Hike Needed
Higher FHA loan limits, passed as part of the 2008 National Economic Stimulus package, are set to expire at the end of the year. AEs: Now is the time for your members to contact their members of Congress in support of FHA reform legislation that includes realistic and permanent increases in the loan limits. Your members can respond to NAR's Call for Action on FHA reform at the REALTOR® Action Center.
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Let's Get Ethical!
 If the quadrennial ethics requirement were to end today, half of our membership would be mired in a NAR-sanctioned debacle. It's a good thing you have no fewer than 7 more chances to take a Code of Ethics class at one of several convenient locations we have established from April through November. And it's a good thing you're not a procrastinator...right?
Consult the education calendar for details on this and other dates and times.
Upcoming MAAR classes listed below. Start your registration process here.
Understanding the Senior Client
April 14, 9:00 a.m. – noon
Are you prepared for the age wave? By the year 2030, one in five people will be 65 years of age or older. Be prepared to help this expanding demographic group transition to a new way of living. This course covers social, cultural and historical events that have influenced the senior client.
Credits: 3
Location: MAAR Office, 5750 Lincoln Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55436
Tuition: $36 REALTOR®, $72 Non-REALTOR®
Health and Housing for Seniors
April 14, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
What questions need to be asked when moving a senior client into an environment that meets their health and physical needs? We will review various housing options including universal design. Help your senior client overcome the difficult obstacle when moving: "What should I do with all my stuff?"
Credits: 3
Location: MAAR Office, 5750 Lincoln Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55436
Tuition: $36 REALTOR®, $72 Non-REALTOR®
eEssentials 5 – Making Your Point with PowerPoint
April 15, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
PowerPoint gives you the tools to create impressive and informative visual presentations. You will learn about inserting photographs, changing presentation design, colors, slide transitions, auto-play and more.
Credits: 3
Location: The PDC@RFC, 4450 W 76th St, Edina, MN 55435
Tuition: $36 REALTOR®, $72 Non-REALTOR®
Call 952.988.3153 with additional questions. REALTOR® owned, REALTOR® operated.
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 Alrighty, folks. We're ready for you to start knocking the door down with an overflow of registrations these last couple of weeks. You won't find a bigger REALTOR® event in the state this year. If the truffle of your trade won't lure you in, how about a free car? Just by attending a vibrant Twin Cities REALTOR® Expo and taking advantage of plentiful CE opportunities, you could win a lease on a new Toyota Prius and other fabulous prizes.
From Denny Hecker: 2 car leases on a new Toyota Prius
Everyone receives a $25 gift cards to:
• Bellanote
• r.Normans and
• Advantage Rent a Car
Purchase tickets for additional chances to win a car lease at the Wishes and More booth.
From Luther Brookdale Chevrolet: win 1 of 6 remote starts – one every hour starting at 11 a.m.!
Also every half hour: T-shirts, watches, and car first-aid kits!
Register at www.tcrealtor.org today!
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 MLXchange System to be Discontinued
MLXchange was launched for NorthstarMLS users in 2005 as an option and alternate MLS system to NorthstarMLS Matrix. The purpose was to provide customer choice, an emergency backup system and to encourage the system vendors to compete with each other on features.
MLS subscribers have not exercised the customer choice option to anywhere near the extent expected. Since launch, MLXchange has claimed fewer than 5 percent of NorthstarMLS subscribers as users, despite promotional efforts and provided training. The high cost of MLXchange can no longer be justified for so few users. As a result, the contract for MLXchange will not be renewed after it expires in November.
Source: Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS)
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 On Tuesday and Wednesday, April 8–9, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Supra will be conducting maintenance at their data center. During this time, keyholders WILL be able to receive Update Codes via the Voice and Web systems.
Manual eSYNCs, web report generation, Agent Web Pay, and the IVR payment system WILL NOT be available to keyholders. Supra Keyholder Support will be available to provide assistance at 877.699.6787 for any keyholder who needs to update their key.
The benefit of this maintenance will be future increased capacity and speed, resulting in enhanced performance for keyholders.
Source: Supra
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 With Palm's Take Back and Recycling Program, you can recycle your old devices in honor of Earth Day on April 22.
Send in your Palm® smartphones, handhelds, and accessories in any condition for reuse and recycling. They'll even recycle phones that aren't made by Palm, so send those in, too!
Before you send in your phone, be sure to clear the phone's memory of information that you wouldn't want a stranger to see. Removing the SIM card isn't enough. To permanently delete personal information, follow the manufacturer's instructions for performing a factory reset for your specific model. Free data erasers on the web also offer instructions on how to do factory resets for various models.
Once you've deleted your personal information, place your retired mobile phones, handhelds and related accessories into a box large enough to ship them safely. Then print out and apply one of Palm's postage-paid mailing labels, and drop it in a mailbox. It's that easy!
Don't let your old devices sit in a drawer and don't throw them in the trash! They are made from precious metals, copper and plastics. Recycled components can be used to make other products, which reduces greenhouse emissions, keeps valuable material out of landfills and conserves natural resources.
For more information visit www.palm.com/recycle.
Source: Palm
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 WCR SPRING FLING LUNCHEON
Experience colorful cultures at the gem in the heart of Minneapolis, the Global Midtown Market!
 The April meeting is WCR’s annual fundraising event and promises to be very FUN and INFORMATIVE. Val Vargas, President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, will share information about how the Hispanic community makes purchasing decisions, particularly in the world of real estate.
You’ll also have an opportunity to taste delicious and gorgeous food from a variety of cultures through an intercontinental buffet lunch. It will be an adventurous treat for your taste buds!
 In addition to their special speaker, they will have a vendor fair with business-related and nonbusiness vendors, raffle items, and a grand prize worth $250—all for just $35!
(Proceeds to benefit St. Joseph Home for Children and to provide educational opportunities for WCR members.)
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 9, 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Itinerary: 11:00 a.m. to noon (social hour/vendor fair); noon to 1:30 p.m. (lunch/program)
Location: Midtown Global Market – Lake St and Chicago Ave, Minneapolis
(free parking validation in Midtown Exchange Range for up to 3 hours)
Cost: $35; TICKETS MUST BE ORDERED AND PAID FOR IN ADVANCE
WCR is not able to sell tickets at the door.
Ticket deadline extended! To reserve your spot, contact Jan Jakobitz at jan@WeDeliverHomes.com or 952.270.2617. Tickets available until Wednesday, April 2!
For more information about WCR, check out the local and national websites.
Source: Women's Council of REALTORS®
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 Five winners will receive $10,000 grants and national publicity
REALTOR® Magazine, the official publication of NAR, is seeking help in identifying nominees for the 2008 Good Neighbor Awards. The program—now in its ninth year—recognizes REALTORS® whose extraordinary commitment to community service has helped make their communities better places to live.
In November, five winners will be announced in REALTOR® Magazine and will be recognized at the 2008 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in Orlando. Five winners will receive a $10,000 grant for their community cause, travel expenses to the convention and extensive publicity to benefit their cause. In addition to the winners, five honorable mentions will receive $2,500 grants.
Eligible activities include any volunteer work that helps improve the quality of life in a community. Entry form, rules, judging criteria, and profiles of past winners are available here. Deadline for entry is Friday, May 23, 2008.
Source: National Association of REALTORS®
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 You are invited to attend the upcoming InternetCrusade® Technology Workshop featuring the e-PRO® Certification course, the only technology course offered and endorsed by NAR. Attendees will walk away with valuable technology tips that can be put to use immediately.
- Discover the four essential elements
of a successful website strategy.
- Learn easy ways to differentiate
yourself from the competition.
- Find out how to leverage the power
of a permanent email address.
Attendees will also receive a FREE full-featured website. This website includes everything you need to begin creating your own online branding including a web page for every listing with multiple pictures as well as free uploading of virtual tours. You also have the option to share your listings through syndication to Google, Yahoo and other media outlets.
You don't have to be a technology expert to attend this program. Get in tune with the wants and needs of today's Internet-empowered buyers and sellers. Start working smarter. Enroll at this FREE workshop and receive a $25 discount from the normal $359 fee and an 8-month enrollment (instead of 6 months) for this online course.
Watch an introductory video from Internet Crusade President Saul Klein on why you should attend an e-PRO Workshop!”or click here to sign up or call 1.866.377.0627 (toll free).
Next local e-PRO® Workshop:
Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
The PDC@RFC, 4450 W 76th St, Edina, MN 55435
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