CAPITAL AREA
REALTOR
®
GCAAR affiliates:
With you every step of the way
Official publication of the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®
November/December 2020
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TH IN BT ET TE TR ER TH AN LO CL AL NN OO TH IN GG I SI S BE TH AN LO CA
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R E ALTOR
CAPITAL AREA
®
GCAAR affiliate members–p. 6
From the GCAAR Classroom–p.14
GCAAR Affiliate of the Year–p. 10
Looking back at 2020–p.30
FEATURES
in every issue
6
Get to know GCAAR’s affiliate members
4
A Letter from the President
10
Meet GCAAR’s 2020 Affiliate of the Year: Dan Cumberland Jr.
10
Welcome, new affiliate members!
11
Association News
11
Affiliate Member Toolbox
15
Member Services Corner
18
From the GCAAR Classroom
20
REALTOR® Toolbox
22
Legal Hotline
24
NAR Director’s Report
26
State Association Updates
27
Bright MLS
28
Economic Outlook
32
Welcome, new REALTOR® members!
35
RPAC investors
12
Empower your future with C2EX
14
NAR Good Neighbor Award winner: GCAAR member Greg Masucci
30 Looking back on 2020
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What a year … and where to even begin?
President Danai Mattison Sky
Secretary Harrison Beacher
Immediate Past President Koki Adasi
President-Elect Jan Brito
Treasurer Frank Snodgrass
Chief Executive Officer Edward Krauze
Directors Avi Adler Thom Brockett Samantha Damato Carlos Evans Jody Goren Gwen Henderson
Marcus Jaffe Daniel Schuler Andres Serafini Sandra Stewart Christopher Suranna Kirsten Williams
R E A LTOR
CAPITAL AREA
®
Managing Editor Rachel Cromidas
Advertising Representative Arlene Braithwaite
Design & Layout Sharon Thorpe 4 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
Looking back, 2019 was a year of what we thought was tremendous change in our industry. And then came 2020—a year that yielded what I’d call a massive shift in perspective and growth in our industry and beyond. We’ve certainly navigated our share of disruptions, but what I know for sure is that we’ve had our eyes opened. We’ve rallied around each other. We’ve successfully pivoted—and we’ve grown together in many ways. Our world was rocked in March 2020. But GCAAR adjusted to our virtual world, and we accomplished quite a bit, from hosting our first-ever virtual, record-breaking REALTOR® Fest, to advocating against recordation tax increases and in favor of Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) adjustments—and so much more! There are two accomplishments, in particular, that I’m especially proud of leaving as a legacy for our association: the GCAAR Cares Emergency Relief Program and the History & Power of Real Estate webinar series. As I said earlier this year, “May all of us make leading with compassion and empathy a priority.” These initiatives are a testament to that goal. See our “Looking back on 2020” article in this issue for details about how these programs are making a difference. I am hopeful that my year as your GCAAR president will be remembered not just for the challenges we faced, but for all that we have achieved together in spite of them. I’m forever grateful for the tireless efforts of our incredible GCAAR staff, and for our amazing executive team and Board of Directors, who rallied and supported our goals. While 2020 certainly wasn’t what any of us expected, it was a great ride nonetheless! It has been an honor to serve you.
Danai Mattison Sky
R E ALTOR
CAPITAL AREA
®
Capital Area REALTOR® Volume 7, Issue 5, November/December 2020 (USPS 017-467) is published five times a year by the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (GCAAR), 15201 Diamondback Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850-3779. Corrections can be sent to communications@gcaar.com. Periodicals postage paid at Gaithersburg, MD and additional mailing offices. Member subscriptions account for $10 of each member’s annual dues. Annual subscriptions are available to non-members for $25. Subscription inquiries may be sent to Capital Area REALTOR® at the above address. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Capital Area REALTOR®, ATTN: GCAAR, 15201 Diamondback Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850-3779. The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® makes no warranties and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the officers, directors, or staff of the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®.
Since 1990 the Preferred Qualified Intermediary for 1031 Exchanges!
Your Preferred Local Qualified Intermediary for 1031 Exchanges Contact us for free consultations & information Bill Horan, CES® bill@1031.us
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The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® accepts submissions of articles and photographs and the items become the property of the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®. The publisher reserves the right of full editorial authority and to decline publication of any article not deemed proper. Reprint with permission only. Reprints may be obtained by contacting the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® at 301-590-2000, or send an email to communications@gcaar.com. REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies and may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to its Code of Ethics. Copyright© 2020 by the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®. All rights reserved.
STAY IN TOUCH
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020 5
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Get to know GCAAR’s affiliate members When you need real estate services, please use our GCAAR affiliate members. They're part of our GCAAR family! GCAAR’s affiliate members represent every element of a real estate transaction. From providing loan estimates to conducting home inspections to moving the buyer’s items into the new home, you can always find a GCAAR affiliate nearby over the course of the home-buying process. Likewise, when a homeowner is looking to sell, there is a GCAAR affiliate there at every step, from staging the house to creating virtual video tours to conducting settlement negotiations and more. GCAAR affiliate members are vital to ensuring a seamless process in every real estate transaction, and we thank them for all their contributions to our community and beyond. In this issue, you’ll find our full affiliate member directory*, and also learn about some of the ways they’re striving to meet the needs of their clients and our community during these unusual times. *Directory is accurate as of Nov. 9, 2020
6 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
GCAAR affiliate members Bradly B. Adams
Shawn Barsness
Michael J. Bramnick
Bryan J. Catalano
Daniel F. Cumberland Jr.
Stewart Title & Escrow
Embrace Home Loans
Bramnick Law LLC
Paragon Title & Escrow Co.
Moyer & Sons Moving & Storage
Michelle J. Adams
Mark A. Bayer
Melissa G. Brault
Leslie O. Childs
Jonathan R. Dailey
Adams, Morris & Sessing
Bayer & Kaufman LLP
KVS Title LLC
Village Settlements, Inc.
Prosperity Home Mortgage
James Addy
Kevin L. Bayly, Jr.
Elliott Bresler
Jessica K. Chipoco
Helen A. Dankos
Fidelity Direct Mortgage
Community Title Network
M&T Bank
Blue Note Title, Inc.
RGS Title LLC
Bryan Aguirre
Alan A. Beal
Stephanie .S Brewer
Casey L. Cirner
Christopher B. Darby
Capital Insurance Partners
Mid-Atlantic Inspection Services
Classic Settlements
Miles & Stockbridge P.C.
Counselors Title LLC
Michael Ahearn
James G. Becci
Craig Bricker
Loretta F. Clark
John Daroff
Citizens One
Avanti Inspections
SunTrust Mortgage
SunTrust Mortgage
The Law Offices of Jill Pogach
Jonathan R. Bromberg
Henry C. Clarke, Jr.
Christopher J. David
Bromberg Rosenthal LLP
Clarke Title LLC
Champion Title & Settlements
Lexus Broussard
Walter H. Clews
Michelle M. Davis
ProTec Inspection Services
AmeriSpec
Prosperity Home Mortgage
Jamica N. Browne
Georgina B. Clough
Ray Dayhoff
Caliber Home Loans
Double Eagle Title
Prime Property Inspectors LLC
Guy D. Brunetto
Robert L. Cockerille
Linda de Marlor
Carol Brunetto State Farm
HD Bros
Tax-Masters, Inc.
James S. Bubar
John M. Coester
David A. Deckelbaum
James S. Bubar Attorney
CLA Title & Escrow
Settlementcorp
Steven M. Buckman
Sean Coleman, Esq.
Todd Deckelbaum
Palisades Title Company
Settlement Ink
Settlementcorp
John E. Burkinshaw
Cassandra Compton
Daniel A. Deist
Womack Pest Control
Fairway Mortgage Corp.
Top to Bottom Services
Carolyn P. Burns
Spencer Crawley
Tina L. Del Casale
KVS Title LLC
Counselors Title LLC
Sandy Spring Bank
Diann G. Burns
Josh Crockett
Joe Detrick
Double Eagle Title
Super Home, Inc.
Classic Settlements
Gregg M. Busch
Chris A. Crummitt
Anthony R. DeVol
First Savings Mortgage
Picture Perfect LLC
RGS Title/Traditional Title
Gregory P. Butler
Melissa Cruz
Andrew C. DiPaola
Top to Bottom Services
Covenant Title & Escrow LLC
KVS Title LLC
Laura M. Caceres
Spencer Cullen
Shannon C. Doyle
Titan Title
MortgageStar LLC
MBH Settlement Group LLC
THIN LINE HOME INSPECTIONS Thin Line Home Inspections gives back to the community by donating a portion of every home inspection to the non-profit charities Platoon 22, Nourish Now and the National Organization for Victim Assistance. Its employees also volunteer at Nourish Now, a local food bank. Syed M. Ahmad
John J. Becci
Fidelity Direct Mortgage
Avanti Inspections
Karen H. Alegi
Folusho J. Bello
Covenant Title & Escrow LLC
Foremost Appraisals & Realty
Matthew D. Alegi
Deborah L. Benkert
Shulman Rogers Gandal Pordy
First Savings Mortgage
Gary L. Anderson
Melissa Berkowitz
Anderson Inspection Consultant
Curbio Inc.
Kevin D. Anderson
Brett Bessell
Standard Title Group LLC
Brett Bessell
Sarah M. Anderson, Esq.
Tom Biegler
Universal Title/Mason Law Firm
SunTrust Mortgage
Jonathan Asfour
Andrew Blate
Super Home Inc.
Beautiful Home Services LLC
Joel S. Bailey
Scott Bloom
Caliber Home Loans
Columbia Property Management
Stephen M. Ballard
Zachary G. Bodine
Avenue Settlement Corporation
Fairway Mortgage Corp.
Kevin Barnabas
Lisa S. Bosse
Home Land Environmental
Paragon Title & Escrow Co.
Shari C. Barnes
Andrea Bournias
S.C. Herman & Associates Inc.
Counselors Title LLC
Mark Baron
Pat Bowman
Mortgage Link
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Ruben G. Barrios
Lynn C. Boynton
Von Paris Moving & Storage
Lynn Candle Boynton Esq.
Kelly L. Calamitsis Community Title Network
Carol L. Calomiris RGS Title
Joseph Campagna Freedom Mortgage
Noah D. Cantor KVS Title LLC
Eric L. Carpenter US Inspect LLC
Patrick J, Casey Fulton Mortgage Company
MILES & STOCKBRIDGE This legal firm launched a new initiative in July, the Miles & Stockbridge Black Business & Start-Up Initiative, to support Black entrepreneurs and businesses by providing introductory legal counsel at no cost or a reduced cost. As they told us: “We focus on helping to eliminate or temper some of the barriers uniquely experienced by Black entrepreneurs and businesses, such as a lack of funding (particularly as it relates to legal expenses) and a lack of access to a network experienced in the challenges confronting all businesses.” CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020 7
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Michael M. DuFour
Ben Goldman
Elby Hernandez
Roy L. Kaufmann
Elliot Liss
First Savings Mortgage Corp
Eastern Title & Settlement
Titan Title
Jackson & Campbell P.C.
Capitol Title Insurance Agency
Susan L. Eleff
Scott B. Goldschein
D. Leigh Hewartson
Chris J. Kearney
Bruce F. Lowrey
Susan Eleff Attorney at Law
Pinnacle Settlement Services
Pride Settlement & Escrow LLC
Intercoastal Mortgage LLC
Pacemaker Development
Antonio R. Fabrizi
Amy M. Goldstein
Michael Hollman
CJ Kemp
Richard W. Luchs
JK Moving Services
BMIC Mortgage, Inc.
Village Settlements, Inc.
SunTrust Mortgage
Greenstein DeLorme & Luchs P.C.
Suzanne Feinstein, Esq.
Stanley H. Goldstein
Michael C. Hollman
Monica Kenny
Chris Lunn
RGS Title
Capitol Title Insurance Agency
Hollman & Flynn Title LLC
Perry Moving & Storage
Chase
John J. Ferguson
Julio Gonzalez Del Solar
Michelle M. Hopkin
Billy Kinberg
Adam D. MacBride
Main Street Settlements, Inc.
The Greentree Group
ProTec Inspection Services
Intercoastal Mortgage LLC
First Savings Mortgage
William V. Horan
Robert W. Kirchner
David Maged
Realty Exchange Corporation
Caliber Home Loans
Pinnacle Title & Escrow, Inc.
Min Hu
Morgane R. Klareich
Marci L. Maged
Eastern Title & Settlement
Masters Title & Escrow
Pinnacle Title & Escrow, Inc.
John W. Hutton
Arthur F. Konopka
Diana L. Magee
Hutton Patt Title LLC
Law Office of Arthur Konopka
Magee Appraisal Service
Beth Irving
Daniel J. Kotz
Ayda Makou
Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll P.C.
First Class Title, Inc.
CLA Title & Escrow
Charles M. Itte
Lisa C. Lamphier
Beth F. Malakoff
KVS Title LLC
Lakeside Title Co.
Matthew E. Landsberg
Marc T. Malakoff
CLA Title & Escrow
Lakeside Title Co.
Ricardo A. Lasso
Ryan D. Malet
Lasso & Lasso P.C.
Shulman Rogers Gandal Pordy
Tony C. Launi
Bryan S. Malickson
Capital Area Realtors FCU
Capitol Title Insurance Agency
Kimberly Lawson
Joseph E. Martin
Capitol Title Insurance Agency
Keller Williams Capital Prop
Bobby Y. Lee
Andrea Martinez-Conte
Sage Title Group LLC
Classic Settlements
Sara G. Lenes
Michelle Mathews
Corridor Mortgage Group, Inc.
Movement Mortgage
Alvin C. Lewis
Nicolas Matsangakis
Perry Moving & Storage
First Home Mortgage
Rhonda M. Lewis
Paul Maysak
Prime Lending
PNC Bank
Peter D. Lim
Janet J. McIntosh
Thin Line Home Inspections
Stewart Title & Escrow
Irene M. Lindner
Michael P. McNamara
Lindner & Associates, P.C.
Southern Trust Mortgage
Marc Lipman
Ann Marie Mehlert
Shulman Rogers Gandal Pordy
Lerch Early & Brewer
JUNK UNLIMITED LLC This year, Junk Unlimited recycled more than 12,000 pounds of recyclable material as part of its work as a junk removal service. Junk Unlimited also donated more than $20,000 worth of goods to veteran-friendly charities, and helped clean up the community by removing illegally dumped bulk trash from Maryland's wooded areas.
Itte Associates, Inc.
David Jacobin Andrew FitzGerald
Todd I. Greenbaum
Citizens One
Law Office of Andrew FitzGerald
Title Town Settlements
Harvey S. Jacobs
Gregory E. Flynn
Josh Greene
Jacobs & Associates
Hollman & Flynn Title LLC
Eastern Title & Settlement
Alexander M. Jaffe
Samantha J. Foti
James M. Griffin
First Home Mortgage
Curbio Inc.
Counselors Title LLC
Hasan Jamil
Nicholas Framarini
Alan C. Grubb
Chase
MortgageStar LLC
4U Inspection Services
Debbie P. Jensen-Grubb
Eugene Frazier
Willie Gunn
4U Inspection Services
Prime Lending
HomeTeam Inspection Service
James S. Johnston
Michael S. Frissell
David C. Hahn
All Around Inspections
Law Offices of Michael Frissel
Village Settlements, Inc.
George Joseph
Eric K. Garrett
John C. Hansen
Movement Mortgage
Home Land Environmental
J Hansen Appraisal Assc LLC
Michael C. Joseph
William J. Gessner
Joseph E. Hansen
Prosperity Home Mortgage
Exchange Solutions Group LLC
Sage Title Group LLC
Patti Kalamets
Vivian Gilbert
Derek C. Harman
Village Settlements, Inc.
Home Staging by Vivian LLC
Fairway Mortgage Co.
David B. Kanstoroom
Jordan N. Giles
William C. Harris
KVS Title LLC
SunTrust Mortgage
Fulton Mortgage Company
Vimal Kapoor
Patricia Gillis
Noreen Hathaway
Prime Property Inspectors LLC
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Counselors Title LLC
Thomas J. Karras
Mallory E. Gladding
Teola Hawes, Esq.
Seneca Realty
Curbio Inc.
Mid-Atlantic Settlement Services
Brian L. Kass, Esq.
George P. Glekas
Rick Hearn
Kass Mitek & Kass PLLC
GPN Title, Inc.
Mid-Atlantic Settlement Services
Bradley A. Katzen
Frank Goldenberg
Thomas E. Helf
Prosperity Home Mortgage LLC
Village Settlements, Inc.
Shaner & Helf LLC
8 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
SANDY SPRING BANK Employees representing this personal and business banking company have logged more than 2,100 volunteer hours in the district metropolitan area since January. Even through COVID, the company says it’s been able to encourage employees to volunteer in the community, and has donated to Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland, Toys for Tots, Capital Area Food Bank and the Alzheimer's Association.
CAPITOL TITLE INSURANCE AGENCY
Rob Mercer
Brendan O'Conor
Gus Rose
First Home Mortgage
MBH Settlement Group LLC
Beautiful Home Services LLC
Jill Michaels
Moira B. Olevsky
Sabrina M. Rosenberg-David
Michaels Title & Escrow LLC
MBO Settlements, Inc.
Mike's Locksmith LLC
Jill P. Michaels
Olympia Overton
Robert N. Ross
The Law Offices of Jill Pogach
Capital Area Realtors FCU
Intercoastal Mortgage LLC
Elif S. Michalski
Matthew L. Palmer
Bradley M. Rothstein
Realty Title Services, Inc.
Caliber Home Loans
Paragon Title & Escrow Co.
William P. Minturn
Katherine Palumbo
Randy M. Rothstein
MortgageStar LLC
Paley Rothman
Paragon Title & Escrow Co.
Roland L. Mitchell
David Parker
Rob Rothstein
Bulwark Home Inspection LLC
Village Settlements, Inc.
Paragon Title & Escrow Co.
David P. Modell
Louis J. Patierno
Russell A. Rothstein
Law Offices of David P. Modell
PNC Bank
SunTrust Mortgage
Bryan Moran
Tiffany Perry
Vaughn W. Royal
Fairway Mortgage Corp.
Pride Settlement & Escrow LLC
Vaughn W. Royal Attorney at Law
Elizabeth L. Morris
Louis S. Pettey
Nicholas W. Rozek
Adams, Morris & Sessing
Fenton Title Co.
Embrace Home Loans
Robert W. Moses
Alex Phillips
William E. Rozek
Moses & Aiken, LLC/Home Team
Beautiful Home Services LLC
Embrace Home Loans
Thomas W. Muldoon
Beau R. Pichon
Michael N. Russo
Counselors Title LLC
Lakeside Title Co.
Council Baradel
Cherise Mullen
Vincent Mark Policy, Esq.
Jacob A. Ryon
Pinnacle Settlement Services
Greenstein DeLorme & Luchs P.C.
First Home Mortgage Corp.
Timothy Mullin
Wendy D. Pullano
Christopher T. Saabye
Counselors Title LLC
Bregman Berbert Schwartz Gilda
Logan Title
David J. Munson
Paul Pykosh
Sadaf Saberi
David Munson Insurance
Embrace Home Loans
Kase & Associates
Monica P. Murphy
Philip S. Raskin
Michael W. Sacks
Preferred Staging LLC
Paragon Title & Escrow Co.
The Sacks Law Firm PLLC
Vittorio N. Muzzatti
Deise A. Rezende
Ralph Sampson
RGS Title
Smart Home Inspects
Junk Unlimited LLC
John G. Nalls
Barbara Rhodes
Kenneth L. Samuelson
Counselors Title LLC
Double Eagle Title
Laura L. Nash
Employees of Capitol Title Insurance Agency have been active volunteers and financial supporters of the following local organizations this year: The Veterans Airlift Command, Stepping Stones Shelter, Operation No Person Left Behind, the Montgomery County Police and Fire Departments, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the University of Maryland Athletics Internship and Mentor Programs. Brendon M. Shepard
Scott T. Sweitzer
District Title A Corp.
Prime Settlement
Noel A. Shepherd
Richard R. Switalski
Fulton Mortgage Company
Pinnacle Settlement Services
Jennifer L. Sherwood
Patrick Tangney
Green Home Solutions of MD
Logan Title
Shawn Shomali
J. D. Teitelman
Movement Mortgage
First Savings Mortgage Corp.
Tim M. Shotzberger
Clinton Thompson
Home Land Environmental
Interstate Moving & Storage
P. Joy Siegel
David Toaff
Settlement Ink
First Home Mortgage
Alexei Silverman
Carol E. Toeller
The Law Offices of Jill Pogach
Prime Property Inspectors LLC
Sherry Skinner
Lisa Tyler
Interstate Moving & Storage
PNC Bank
Colleen C. Smith
Anya M. Walker
TruPlace
David Munson Insurance
Stephanie Smith
Elizabeth L. Walker
Mid-Atlantic Settlement Services
KVS Title LLC
Timothy Smith
Brian Washington
Freedom Mortgage
Prime Lending
Colleen Smyth Cogan
Ryan A. Waters
Counselors Title LLC
First Home Mortgage
Bari Solomon
Sandra L. Watkins
Pinnacle Title & Escrow, Inc.
Alban Home Inspection Services, Inc.
Donald N. Sperling
Anthony D. Webber
Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll P.C.
Ikon Home Inspections
Kimberly D. Sperling
MD Dept. of Housing & Community
Samuelson Law LLC
Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll P.C.
Fred Westerlund
Joyce A. Rhodes
James E. Savitz
Arnold D. Spevack
Edward Jones
Edmund J. Flynn Company
CLA Title & Escrow
Lerch Early & Brewer
Glenda M. Wheeler Allen
Phil A. Newman
Michael C. Ridgway
Erika B. Schiller
Marty Stanton
SunTrust Mortgage
Community Title Network
Monarch Title, Inc.
KVS Title LLC
Roxann Novel
Allyson Riggs
Eric Schneider
Danielle Steele
Roxann Novel Appraiser
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Covenant Title & Escrow LLC
4U Inspection Services
Paul B. Nowacek
Alison W. Rind
Donna L. Seeker
Joel L. Steinberg
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Lerch Early & Brewer
Donofrio Property Inspections
CLA Title & Escrow
Quinn O'Connell Jr.
Claudia I Roca
Kaitlyn Seger
Jeffrey Stempler
Law Offices of Quinn O'Connell
Monarch Title, Inc.
CLA Title & Escrow
First Home Mortgage
Matthew O'Connor
Thomas R. Rodden
James M. Semeyn
Marc A, Sushner
Caliber Home Loans
RGS Title
Wells Fargo Private Mortgage
Certified Title Corporation
Patti O'Connor
Lee Anne T. Rodriguez
Timothy J. Sessing
Steven M. Sushner
SunTrust Mortgage
Pride Settlement & Escrow LLC
Adams, Morris & Sessing
District Title A Corp.
Stephen O'Connor
Sara M. Rodriguez
Daniel Shea
Jason A. Sutton
SunTrust Mortgage
Titan Title
Chase
Certified Home Specialists
Cecilia Weller
MBH Settlement Group LLC Law Office Glenda M. Wheeler
Kevin M. Wheeler 123 Junk
John B. Willingham Citizens One
Donald R. Wilson Transwestern
Chanin Wisler First Washington Mortgage
Peter Yanni Freedom Mortgage
David H. Yi Providence Mortgage, Inc.
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ÂŽ â&#x20AC;&#x201D; November/December 2020 9
new affiliate members!
<xx< Congratulations to winner Dan Cumberland Jr.!
A
s a kid growing up in Germantown, Dan Cumberland Jr. used to watch the big blue Moyer & Sons Moving & Storage trucks pass in front of his house, and as a teenager, he spent his summers doing volunteer work with the Montgomery County Recreation Department. Years later, these two life experiences would come together when Dan joined Moyer & Sons Moving & Storage as the marketing director, and took over the Moyer & Sons Community Partners Program, which has focused on helping eliminate homelessness in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia. While working with partners such as the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, Interfaith, KindWorks, Homes Not Borders, and A Wider Circle, Dan has been able to assist in food and clothing drives throughout the region, help move a few hundred pounds of mulch to beautify shelters, move furniture into a new home for refugee families, and take time to talk with individuals experiencing homelessness to find new ways to work together as a community. As a member of GCAAR’s Community Service Committee, Dan has assisted in providing volunteer opportunities for all members of GCAAR. Dan directly supported REALTOR® Fest’s silent auction in 2019, has given thousands of dollars in grants to community partners, has helped prepare Stepping Stones Shelter for displaced families, and regularly drops off Moyer boxes to GCAAR members for many of its food and clothing drives. In fact, Dan recently picked up thousands of items for the committee as part of its 2020 Shoebox Drive, getting essential items to individuals experiencing homelessness within Montgomery County. Dan has served as a presenter at several GCAAR seminars on topics involving safety, regulations and the future of the moving industry. Dan was born and raised in Montgomery County and attended Seneca Valley High School and the University of Maryland. He lives with his family in Gaithersburg. In his free time, Dan enjoys hiking, watching the Baltimore Orioles play, and participating in the non-profit haunted attraction, Markoff’s Haunted Forest. In its Affiliate of the Year, GCAAR looks for a member who is actively involved in sponsoring and volunteering at events yearround, participating in a committee and going above and beyond to help the community.
Welcome, new affiliate members! Andrew Blate Beautiful Home Services LLC
Kimberly Lawson Capitol Title Insurance Agency
Gus Rose Beautiful Home Services LLC
Antonio R. Fabrizi JK Moving Services
Janet J. McIntosh Stewart Title & Escrow
Michael N. Russo Council Barade
Alex Phillips Beautiful Home Services LLC
Elizabeth L. Walker KVS Title LLC
Willie Gunn HomeTeam Inspection Service
Deise A. Rezende Smart Home Inspects 10 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
Explore next year’s economic forecast in an upcoming webinar Kick off the new year and find out what it may have in store for the real estate community with the help of GCAAR’s upcoming webinar on 2021’s economic outlook. We are hosting the webinar featuring Dr. Lawrence Yun, chief economist and senior vice president of research at the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), and Dr. Jessica Lautz, vice president of demographics and behavioral insights at NAR, on Monday, Jan. 25. You will be able to hear these two experts discuss the financial forecast for 2021 and how buyer and seller behaviors have changed as they adapt to COVID-19. Register at gcaar.com/calendar.
Learning more together about the “History & Power of Real Estate” In August, GCAAR and the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® (DCAR) launched the “History & Power of Real Estate” webinar series. In an effort to keep the conversation about racism at the forefront and advocate for positive change, GCAAR and DCAR are focusing on educating members about the context and history around race and real estate in Montgomery County, MD and the district. So far, we have had experts present on the history of Lincoln Park and redlining in the district. GCAAR and DCAR are proud to continue to host these webinars in 2021.
Profession Sessions Starting in the spring, GCAAR launched a series of webinars, “Profession Sessions,” to provide more valuable, career-building content to our members. We will continue to offer these free sessions monthly to give you a variety of options to enhance your career. A few popular sessions have covered topics such as the Maryland Mortgage Program, the ins and outs of online notarization and how to use SentriLock products.
Monthly Zoom trainings Do you have questions on how to use Zoom for your GCAAR continuing education classes or webinars? We're here for you! On the first Thursday of every month, GCAAR offers an opportunity for you to ask questions on how to successfully operate Zoom in the context of GCAAR classes and webinars. Interested in joining? Visit gcaar.com/calendar to sign up for the next session.
Affiliate Member Toolbox As a GCAAR affiliate member, one of the many benefits you receive is discounted sponsorships throughout the year. Not only do you receive a 20% discounted rate, you also receive sponsorship exclusivity for our Profession Sessions, New Member Orientation and Broker/Manager Forums. To learn more about how you can sponsor these affordable sessions, visit gcaar.com/sponsorship or email events@gcaar.com.
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
11
<xx< Earn NAR’s C2EX endorsement C2EX is a program designed to help REALTORS® showcase their professionalism and gain a competitive edge. Since the National Association of REALTORS® launched the program in 2018, it has served more than 60,000 NAR members. Earning and maintaining the C2EX endorsement fulfills NAR’s Code of Ethics training requirement. Visit C2EX.realtor for more information.
Congratulations to GCAAR's C2EX-endorsed members! Koki Adasi
Thai-Hung Nguyen
Jan Brito*
Jessica Olevsky
Thomas Brockett*
Shameeka Price*
LaCrisha Butler
Matthew Rathbun*
Jonathan Coles
Bonnie Roberts-Burke
Harold Huggins
Betty Spradley*
Kevin Hughes
Christopher Suranna
Tatianna Jackson*
Kevin Turner
Tammy Locher
John Young * Newly endorsed C2EX members
C2EX testimonials “The role of a REALTOR® is so unique; we hold everyone’s hands through transactions and major life events. It is thus imperative that we strive to provide the best services to all parties in the transaction and build goodwill in every interaction. The National Association of REALTORS®' C2EX program provides the perfect developmental step for REALTORS® in their continuous education toward becoming the best they can be. All REALTORS® would benefit from the thorough review of ethics, advocacy and regulations that C2EX provides. I found this course to be not only a great reminder of our Code of Ethics, but also a resource for new tools.” —Jessica Olevsky, Concierge Home Team of JPAR Preferred Properties
“I began my C2EX journey in September 2020, and it has been a wonderful experience— particularly its learning platforms, where you can touch up on your knowledge as a REALTOR® in so many categories. The category that stuck out to me the most was the Code of Ethics and the ‘pledge of performance and service,’ in which the REALTOR® agrees to abide by the Code of Conduct. C2EX is a great tool for all levels of REALTORS®, whether you are new or
well-seasoned, and I would recommend C2EX to any real estate professional.” —Tatianna Jackson, eXp Realty LLC
12 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
OWN YOUR PRESENT. EMPOWER YOUR FUTURE. You can lead the way. Commitment to Excellence empowers you to enhance and showcase your high level of professionalism. It gives you an advantage in an increasingly competitive market and shows consumers you’re committed to conducting business at the highest standard. Be committed to excellence.
Get started with this award winning program today at C2EX.realtor.
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020 13
<xx< GCAAR REALTOR® Greg Masucci named national Good Neighbor Award winner
T
he National Association of REALTORS® has named GCAAR member Greg Masucci as one of its five 2020 Good Neighbor Award winners. NAR recognized Masucci for his work with A Farm Less Ordinary, an organization he and his wife co-founded in 2016 to employ young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Massucci is a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Residential in Washington, D.C. and Atoka Properties in Purcellville, Va. At A Farm Less Ordinary, based in Bluemont, Va., young men and women learn to grow produce from seed to harvest, attend farmers’ markets as ambassadors for people with disabilities, and build their skills and confidence in a supportive environment. You can read more at magazine.realtor/GregMasucci. NAR’s Good Neighbor Awards honor 10 REALTORS® annually for making an extraordinary impact on their communities through volunteer work. Nominees are judged on their personal investment of time along with their financial and material contributions to benefit their cause. To be eligible, nominees must be NAR members in good standing. With the award, Masucci received a $10,000 grant for his charity and is being featured in NAR’s REALTOR® Magazine.
“I am proud to honor Greg Masucci for dedicating so much time and passion to providing opportunities for people with disabilities,” says NAR President Vince Malta. More information about the Good Neighbor Awards is available at www.realtor.org/gna.
14 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
SentriLock 2021 billing begins in January Plan ahead! Payment is due in February 2021 On Jan. 5, 2021, SentriLock will begin billing for its 2021 SentriLock annual service fee. Your GCAAR annual dues do not cover this fee—this is a separate expense. The cost is $135 for 2021, and payment is due by Sunday, Feb. 28, 2020. You will receive email notifications about your invoice, so please make sure SentriLock has the correct email address on file for you. For your security, SentriLock does not store your credit card information, which means you need to provide your payment information each year. You can pay your SentriLock fee in one of the following ways: • Online: Log on to lb.sentrilock.com/lbs and click on the gear icon next to your name in the top right corner. Then click on “SentriLock Cart” in the drop-down, and click the credit card button. Here you will be able to securely pay through SentriLock’s e-commerce network using a credit card. • Phone: To pay via phone, call SentriLock at 513-618-5800, or its toll-free number at 1-877-327-9606. Please make sure to have your SentriLock External ID ready. • Mail: You may pay by a check made out to SentriLock and mail it to the following address. With check payments, please include your SentriLock External ID on the payment. SentriLock LLC Attn: Agent Billing 7701 Service Center Dr. West Chester, OH 45069 As of 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, SentriLock will suspend outstanding accounts and assess a $50 reinstatement fee to the account. Suspended accounts can be immediately reactivated via full payment to SentriLock.
SentriLock is going cardless in 2022: Are you ready? SentriLock will be going cardless in 2022. If you haven’t done so yet, please make sure to download the SentriKey app and familiarize yourself with it before SentriCards are discontinued. If you are having any difficulties with the SentriKey app that SentriLock has not yet been able to resolve, or you have other questions or concerns, please reach out to us by emailing MemberServices@gcaar.com. We always welcome your feedback and want to make sure you receive the assistance you need.
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
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<xx< Save the date for District of Columbia license renewals! As you’re making plans for 2021, don’t forget when broker and salesperson licenses are up for renewal in the district. • For brokers: Feb. 28, 2021 • For salespersons: Aug. 31, 2021 Be sure to regularly check GCAAR’s Class & Events Calendar, gcaar.com/calendar, for the most up-to-date listing of GCAAR’s upcoming CE, designation and certification classes!
How to navigate licensing reciprocity in the D.C. metropolitan area In the D.C. metropolitan area, it is very easy for potential clients and customers to cross over into Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia for their buying and selling needs. That means multiple licenses may be necessary for your business. Here are some reciprocity tips for members licensed in Maryland, the district and Virginia. Maryland only provides reciprocity with Pennsylvania & Oklahoma, but you can request an Out of State License Recognition from the Maryland Real Estate Commission. You will need an original letter of license certification showing your full licensing history from the state where you were first licensed and the state where you are currently licensed.
18 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
Send the original document to the MD Real Estate Commission within 30 days of the issue date, along with a personally signed cover letter, your mailing address and complete contact information, including an email address.
Send this information to: The Education Administrator Maryland Real Estate Commission 500 N. Calvert St. Baltimore, MD 21202-3651 The MD Real Estate Commission will let you know whether you qualify to register for the exam: “Education and experience from a home state are reviewed for transferability, individually for each applicant. Waivers may be offered only to active licensees.” How to obtain District of Columbia reciprocity, if you are licensed in MD and VA: • Complete a 3-hour DC Real Estate Commission-approved Fair Housing course before taking the district portion of the Salesperson exam. • Pass the district portion of the Salesperson exam. • Obtain an original letter of license certification from your original jurisdiction. The certification letter must be dated within 90 days of receipt and contain an official seal. • Submit an application for a license, along with the original letter of license certification, to the DC Real Estate Commission with the required fees within six months of passing the examination.
How to obtain VA reciprocity, if you are licensed in the district and MD: • You must have an active VA license. • Get fingerprinted for a background check. • Pass the VA portion of the Salesperson exam. • Obtain an original letter of license certification from your original jurisdiction. The certification letter must be dated within 60 days of receipt and contain an official seal. • Submit an application for a license, along with the original letter of license certification, to the VA Real Estate Commission.
Application must be received within 45 calendar days of the time the board receives the fingerprinting results.
For more information on reciprocity in each of these states, you can visit the following state licensing websites: Maryland: dllr.state.md.us/license/mrec/mrecout.shtml District of Columbia: dcopla.com/realestate/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2019/04/DC-Salesperson-Guidelines-v2.pdf Virginia: dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Real-Estate/How_to_Apply_Individual/
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
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<xx< Understanding your REALTOR® insurance options The National Association of REALTORS® offers a plethora of insurance plans that can benefit you and your family.
T
he REALTORS® Insurance Place platform, formerly known as the REALTORS® Insurance Marketplace, provides plans for members that include health, dental and vision insurance coverage as well as telemedicine. They also have benefits specialists available to explain different options and discuss how to save on some of the costs of healthcare. You can find the following options among the available plans, though eligibility and availability vary by state:
• A private Major Medical Health Insurance Exchange, offering qualified health plans that meet the mandates of the Affordable Care Act. • A private Members Medicare Exchange. Medicare-eligible NAR members may use this exchange to explore supplemental Medicare insurance options and access an online resource center containing a variety of educational tools. • Flexible Term Health Insurance, designed to be an affordable temporary medical policy with a limited coverage period (up to 364 days in a calendar year). • Members TeleHealth, which provides access to licensed physicians through telephone, smartphone app, web chat or email, and offers a convenient and cost-effective way to get a diagnosis and treatment for non-emergency medical conditions. • Members Supplemental Health Plans, which is designed to be combined with major medical health insurance plans to help pay for services and out-of-pocket expenses that your regular insurance may not cover. Plans available include Accident Deductible Protection and REALTORS® Core Health Insurance.
20 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
• REALTORS® Dental Insurance, which is an exclusive group plan just for NAR members and their families, providing coverage for preventive, basic and major dental expenses with the dentist of your choice. • REALTORS® Vision Insurance, an exclusive group plan just for NAR members and their families. There are two guarantee-issue group plans available: a PPO option and a non-PPO option. Both provide great, competitive rates and include annual eye exam benefits and savings on frames, lenses and contact lenses. • For Pet Insurance, there are two plans available to choose from that provide reimbursement for covered pet healthcare costs. The plans offer varying levels of coverage for cats and dogs. • Drug Card America, a free discount pharmacy drug card that offers savings on select generic and name brand prescription drugs. • REALTORS® Group Life Insurance, an exclusive NAR member benefit with specially negotiated competitive rates. Your spouse or domestic partner is also eligible for this coverage. You can take this coverage with you if you switch your brokerages or job as long as your premiums are paid when due.
Various enrollment options are available for the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland.
The district allows for enrollment in the following plans: • REALTORS® Core Health Insurance • Members' Accident Protection
“We love helping NAR members get the coverage they need, in a timely way, for a price they can afford.” SHANNON KENNEDY, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SASID
• REALTORS® Dental Insurance • REALTORS® Vision Insurance • Short Term Medical (Flexible Term Health) • Members TeleHealth
Maryland allows for enrollment in: • REALTORS® Core Health Insurance • Members' Accident Protection • REALTORS® Dental Insurance • REALTORS® Vision Insurance • Short Term Medical (Flexible Term Health) • Members TeleHealth
Virginia allows for enrollment in: • Short Term Medical (Flexible Term Health) • Members TeleHealth • Vision Insurance • Pet Health Insurance REALTOR® members may enroll in a plan through the REALTORS® Insurance Place website (nar.realtor/realtor-benefits-program) or by calling 877.267.3752. Members may also call for complimentary consultations and assistance with enrollment by phone. You can follow the REALTORS® Insurance Place on Facebook (facebook.com/REALTORSInsurancePlace) and Twitter (@realtorsinsura1) for daily updates on the types of coverage and special offers. “We love helping NAR members get the coverage they need, in a timely way, for a price they can afford,” says Shannon Kennedy, president and CEO of SASid, which administers the REALTORS® Insurance Place. “Member value is our mission with every plan and product that we offer through REALTORS® Insurance Place. We work with carriers and the NAR to provide offers designed to be cost-effective, and easy to obtain online or through a complimentary consultation with one of our licensed benefits specialists by phone at 877.267.3752.”
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
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<xx<
Legal Hotline
By Chris Darby, Tom Muldoon and John Nalls of Counselors Title, LLC, and Pardo & Drazin, LLC, General Counsel
DISCLAIMER: The answers provided here are the opinion of the authors, are for informational purposes and are only for GCAAR members. Neither Counselors Title, LLC, nor Pardo & Drazin, LLC, is providing legal advice, but rather providing a general statement of law. No lawyer/client relationship is–or will be–established as a result of this material. Readers are encouraged to retain their own counsel for their specific questions. Answers may have been edited for formatting purposes. 22 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
QUESTION: I just ratified a contract for a client and used the GCAAR Montgomery County
Jurisdictional Addendum. My client is a first-time Maryland homebuyer and we clicked the box saying such, which also states the seller will pay all the taxes unless expressly stated otherwise. The title company is saying that, because we didn't write in explicitly that the seller pays the closing costs, then the costs are split 50-50. Could you please help in providing clarity as to how the language of that addendum is to be interpreted?
ANSWER:
Maryland law does provide that, unless agreed otherwise, the seller shall pay all local transfer and recordation taxes (as well as half of the state transfer tax). However, if the buyer is a first time Maryland homebuyer, the last sentence of Paragraph 3B2 (“TRANSFER AND RECORDATION TAXES”) of the Montgomery County Jurisdictional Addendum (GCAAR Form 1312) specifically provides: Buyer and Seller hereby expressly agree that payment of the recordation and local (county) transfer tax shall be shared equally between Buyer and Seller unless the space provided above in this subparagraph is completed specifying a different express agreement. (Note: In the event Buyer elects to pay all of state recordation tax and local county transfer tax, Seller must still pay the non-waived portion of the state transfer tax.) This language changes the presumption set up in the statute. Accordingly, the taxes should be shared equally based upon the language shown and the failure of the parties to specify how transfer and recordation taxes are to be paid.
QUESTION: How do I get an interpleader filed?
My seller client is requesting the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) for a deal that failed to close, and the buyer’s broker and agent have not been responding. The EMD is held by the buyer’s broker.
ANSWER:
An interpleader action needs to be filed by the escrow agent identified in Paragraph 4 (“DEPOSIT”) of the GCAAR Sales Contract (GCAAR Form 1301), which is typically either the title company or one of the brokers involved in the transaction. While the contract allows the escrow agent the option to file an interpleader, it is usually a means of last resort, when all other efforts to get the parties to agree to a disposition have been exhausted. There is really no mechanism in place to force the escrow agent to file an interpleader, other than continuing to request that they do so because the parties will not be able to agree. If that doesn’t work, one of the parties could file an action seeking return of the deposit to try to force the issue. All of these are time-consuming and expensive options that should be avoided if possible. The contract does allow the escrow agent to request reimbursement for their cost and attorney’s fees in filing the interpleader action.
QUESTION: We need to serve the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) in connection with the sale of a single family property, but the purchasers will also be occupying and need to serve a 90-day notice to quit. How are the two related?
ANSWER: While these subjects are definitely intertwined, they are separate legal concepts and should
really be viewed as such. A current or former tenant may have rights as it relates to TOPA that would not necessarily be dependent upon their current or continued occupancy in a property. Contract purchasers, in conjunction with the seller, can provide tenants (after expiration of a lease term or for month-to-month tenancies) with a 90-day notice to vacate (see Form 13: https://dhcd.dc.gov/service/rent-control), should the buyer plan on occupying the property. The timeframes for these different notices may have a significant impact on closing, and the buyer’s occupancy dates should be considered.
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020 23
<xx<
OWN YOUR PRESENT. EMPOWER YOUR FUTURE.
NAR responds to White House eviction moratorium The National Association of REALTORS® responded swiftly to administration efforts to universally prohibit evictions without considering the impact on America’s housing providers. REALTORS® understand the economic distress that families are feeling during this pandemic, and we applaud the effort to keep families in their homes. But while this eviction moratorium provides temporary relief to families, it places huge burdens on housing providers. NAR President Vince Malta met with Trump administration officials in mid-September to highlight our concerns and stress the need for a more sustainable long-term solution.
NAR research found 38% of REALTORS® own at least one rental property, and more than 40% of rental units nationally are owned by “mom-and-pop” owners who will struggle to pay bills in light of this decision. Without a sustainable solution, this executive orYou can lead the way. Commitment to Excellence you to enhance andcome showcase der could createempowers an eviction avalanche January, with effects across the American your high level of professionalism. It gives you an advantage in an increasingly competitive economy. market and shows consumers you’re committed to conducting business at the highest standard. Be committed to excellence. NAR continues to press Congress to enact legislation
that would instead provide emergency rental assistance programs directly to housing providers, and believes the best— Get started with this awand ard w inning pronly—way ogram todato y atbring C2EXrelief .realtoto r. America’s renter households without creating perhaps another crisis for property owners is through rental assistance.
Commitment to Excellence (C2EX) program celebrated with international awards NAR’s C2EX program has earned international recognition in the form of two Brandon Hall Group Awards in the “Excellence in Learning” category. This program, which was designed to help REALTORS® enhance and showcase their professionalism, is built around 10 competency areas (with a bonus 11th area for brokers), ranging from data privacy to customer service. Since its launch in 2018, C2EX has made a significant impact on our industry by helping more than 60,000 members build professionalism and gain a competitive edge in their field. C2EX offers a completely customized path to success based on your existing level of skill in each competency. Once you have completed each competency area, we’ll provide marketing materials, including a personalized endorsement certificate and social media messaging. Earning and maintaining the C2EX endorsement also fulfills NAR’s Code of Ethics training requirement. Visit C2EX.realtor from any device to get started. 24 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
Update on NAR’s fair housing efforts NAR believes fair housing protections are vital for creating thriving and inclusive communities across the U.S., and NAR is working to acknowledge and redress the harms caused by discrimination in American real estate. NAR created a Fair Housing Policy Committee and a Director of Fair Housing position, and promoted Andrea Moore to the newly created role of Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion & Talent Opportunity. Moore will work on initiatives to improve diversity and inclusion throughout NAR and across the industry. Bryan Greene, who spent 29 years with HUD and was its top official overseeing Fair Housing Act enforcement, will serve as the director of fair housing. As REALTORS®, we follow a strict Code of Ethics that defines us as professionals and explicitly prohibits any type of discrimination. And, as the largest trade association in the country, NAR pledges to continue to use its powerful voice to champion efforts that build more inclusive communities and encourage diversity within our industry.
Protecting the Qualified Opportunity Zones (“QOZ”) program NAR is focused on defending the QOZ program, which provides tax incentives for investing in underserved communities, known as “Opportunity Zones.” One of the few bipartisan tax initiatives in recent memory, the OZ program attracts new capital by allowing those with unrealized capital gains to roll such gains into an investment in an Opportunity Fund (i.e. a business operating in an Opportunity Zone). If the new investment is held for at least five years, capital gains taxes owed on the prior investment are reduced by 10%. If the investment is held for at least 10 years, any capital gains on the new investment become fully tax-free. NAR has supported legislation that would require a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of the OZ program, and continues to argue that the program benefits low-income communities. CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020 25
<xx< Announcing DCAR’s REALTOR® of the Year award winner:
Christopher Suranna
The District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® is proud to announce that Christopher Suranna is the recipient of the 2020 DCAR REALTOR® of the Year award. Licensed in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, Chris, of RLAH Real Estate, has been selling real estate since 2004. He was the 2018 President of DCAR and currently sits on the GCAAR Board of Directors. Always seeking out new opportunities to grow, Chris has held volunteer positions on many committees at the local, state and national level. Chris most recently received his CIPS (Certified International Property Specialist) designation with NAR. As a REALTOR® Party major investor and President’s Circle member, he was also inducted into the National Association of REALTORS® RPAC Hall of Fame in 2019. He has been a top producer every year since entering the real estate profession. Working almost 100% by referral, he enjoys working with first-time homebuyers and clients relocating to the D.C. metropolitan area. Chris is the chairperson of the Advocacy and Public Policy Committee of the newly created national organization, the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling around the world exploring new cultures and cuisines.
Congratulations, Chris, on this monumental achievement!
Save the date for next year’s Maryland REALTORS® Annual Conference & Expo Maryland REALTORS® has announced its annual conference will return to Ocean City, MD, in 2021. Please save the dates of Oct. 12-14, 2021. The Clarion Fontainebleau will host the conference, and courses are being developed for educational tracks for newer agents, seasoned agents, brokers/managers, commercial/property management and more. Make sure to check the Maryland REALTORS® website (mdrealtor.org), social media and Maryland REALTOR® Magazine for more information on this event and other 2021 news.
26 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
5 Bright MLS tools
and tips to help you this winter As we all look toward 2021, the start of a new year can be the perfect time to get organized, streamline your work and take your prospecting to the next level. This may include exploring some of the features you haven’t used in Bright MLS before. Here are five Bright MLS tools and tips to help you in the coming months.
1.
Take advantage of listing statuses: If your client plans to take their listing off the market this winter, there are two statuses you’ll want to consider. • Temporarily Off Market allows you to halt showings for a limited time while still marketing the property. During this time, days on market (DOM) and cumulative days on market (CDOM) will be paused, and it will not reset. • For sellers who may want to take their property off the market for a longer period of time, the Withdrawn status is your best choice. After 60 days have passed it can be entered as a new listing (don’t forget to set the old listing to Canceled), and the DOM/CDOM will be reset to zero.
2. Bright contacts: Not sure which clients you should target next? Your saved contacts should be your first
stop for prospecting. Log into Bright and from the “Clients” menu, select “Contacts” under “Email.” You can filter by “Last Use” or “Last Portal Visit” and find clients you worked with at any point in the past four-plus years. You’ll be able to glance through and create a list of leads to reach out to in the months ahead.
3.
Sell score with Remine Pro: Knowing who your contacts are is just the first step. Once you have your contact list, how can you determine who might be financially ready to sell? Visit bright.remine. com and search for your clients’ properties. View their sell score and mortgage information to help identify those who may be in a financial position to sell and those who may be waiting a few more years.
4. Add mortgage information with RatePlug: Get a head start on potential home financing concerns by giving your clients accurate monthly home payment estimates up front. Included as part of your Bright subscription, RatePlug allows you to add mortgage information from your trusted lenders to any of your client automated emails, and it features an interactive mortgage calculator right within the email. From the “Clients” menu in Bright, click the RatePlug link under “Email.” 5. Screen prospective tenants online with RentSpree: If you work with rental properties, RentSpree can help you manage the tenant application and screening process all together—which means you won’t have to gather paper lease applications or wait to receive credit scores, background checks and eviction reports by mail. It’s free to use and returns results within minutes. Learn more at brightmls.rentspree.com.
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020 27
<xx< Nadia Evangelou, NAR Research
Wrapping up 2020: The state of housing and the economy in the District of Columbia metropolitan area
T
his year, amidst the previously unimaginable pandemic that we’re living through, one in three adults substituted some or all of their typical in-person work for telework, compared to one in 20 adults who worked remotely before the pandemic, according to U.S. Census data.
With many people adjusting to the “new norm” and 2020 coming to an end, let’s take a look at the conditions of the economic market and the housing market––in the District of Columbia metropolitan area and beyond.
Employment Because millions of people lost their jobs as a result of emergency shutdown orders, unemployment was undoubtedly one of this year’s biggest challenges for the economy. In the beginning of April, when most states were under stay-at-home orders, more than 6 million people filed for unemployment benefits, and the nation’s unemployment rate rose to 14.4% from a pre-pandemic rate of less than 3.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Six months later, both the number of new filers for unemployment and the unemployment rate has dropped substantially: The number of new filers dropped below 800,000, while the unemployment rate fell below 8% in September. In the DC metropolitan area, employment grew 2.2% in September compared to May, recovering 22% of the jobs lost due to the pandemic.
Housing market The housing market’s recent recovery is truly remarkable. While activity paused for the first couple of months when the pandemic started, home-buying activity increased continuously from June through October. Both existing and new-home sales have already risen to higher than pre-pandemic levels. Specifically, existing home sales rose by 21% in September compared to a year prior, to 6.54 million, according to NAR. This is the highest level of sales activity since the end of 2006. In the meantime, the strong momentum in the housing market is expected to continue for the rest of the year. Data shows there is a very strong pent-up demand, as contract signings were up 21% from a year earlier in the second week of October. 28 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
At the local level, the housing market is also outperforming itself compared to previous months, with home-buying activity that is higher than in pre-pandemic months in both the district and Montgomery County. Home sales rose 56% in the district and 42% in Montgomery County while home prices increased 11% and 14% in the district and Montgomery County, respectively, according to Bright MLS. Inventory is more limited than ever in much of the country, Montgomery County included, pushing prices up, but in the district housing inventory increased 31% in September compared to a year earlier.
Source: Bright MLS
Mortgage rates Mortgage rates
Mortgage rates have reached a new record low 11 times this year, and stabilized near record lows below 3% for more than rates four months. a result, a the 30-year fixed low rate 11 times this year, and Mortgage have As reached new record declined more than 80 basis points from the first week of 2020 to the present. But 3% for more than fouryear. months. a result, the rates could fall even further before the end of the With theAs Federal Reserve to 30-year fixed rate decl hold interest rates steady at near-0% through 2023, mortgage rates are expected from the first week of 2020 to the present. But rates could fall even fu to continue to hover near record lows. This significant change can keep interest rates low for longer periods, translate into both of cheaper Withwhich the could Federal Reserve to long holdperiods interest rates steady at near-0% thro mortgages and a stronger housing market.
expected to continue to hover near record lows. This significant chang
These ultra-low mortgage rates make home-buying more attractive, lowering the borrowing cost for many homebuyers. For which instance, although median home longer periods, could translate into prices both long periods of cheape rose to $640,000 by 11% in the district, the qualifying income is still lower than a year earlier when mortgagehousing rates weremarket. 80 basis points higher. The qualifying income to buy a typical home in the district was $100,000 in September, compared to $101,000 a year earlier. These ultra-low mortgage rates make home-buying more attractive, lo
many homebuyers. For instance, although median home prices rose to CAPITAL AREA REALTOR â&#x20AC;&#x201D; November/December 2020 29 the qualifying income is still lower than a year earlier when mortgage ÂŽ
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Thank you, GCAAR President Danai Mattison Sky and 2020 board leadership!
Looking back on 2020 A
s the year winds down, we’re taking a look back at the accomplishments that we’re most proud of this year. Our GCAAR leadership, staff—and you, our members—have all worked together to make this a successful year for our association, which is all the more incredible given the unprecedented restrictions that came into play in response to the global pandemic. Some of this year’s highlights include: • Creating a COVID-19 Addendum to the GCAAR Sales Contract to further protect our clients, thanks to the swift efforts of our Forms Committee. • Providing access to GCAAR store inventory through UPS shipping and curbside pickups in our District of Columbia and Rockville offices. • Putting together a COVID FAQs Leadership Video Series, with the help of our GCAAR Executive Committee and Board of Directors. • Re-imagining the New Member Orientation and transitioning all of our classes to a virtual format.
We also kept up with our regular work and met our goals, undeterred by the pandemic: • With the help of our Government Affairs team, we advocated for Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) adjustments and ensured documents could still be filed in Montgomery County; we also testified and advocated to prevent recordation tax increases. • We launched the first annual GCAAR Good Neighbor Award to recognize GCAAR members for their commitment to community service. • We hosted our first-ever, virtual, five-day REALTOR® Fest––a record-breaking event complete with continuing education classes, panel discussions, professional development webinars and a happy hour— organized and marketed in less than three months.
30 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
Two of our other major accomplishments, thanks to our GCAAR leadership and staff, were the launch of the GCAAR Cares Emergency Relief Program and the History & Power of Real Estate webinar series. • The GCAAR Cares Emergency Relief Program was created to support members who have been personally impacted by COVID-19. We’ve already been able to help close to a dozen members in need, as of this publication. • We established the History & Power of Real Estate webinar series to educate our membership about the history of racism in U.S. housing policy and how we can use that knowledge to further anti-racism efforts in our industry. As our 2020 president Danai Mattison Sky noted in her letter at the beginning of this issue, these initiatives are both an essential part of making sure GCAAR is “leading with compassion and empathy,” and giving back to our REALTOR® community. Through all of this, we can’t thank Danai and our 2020 GCAAR Board leadership enough for their excellent leadership and hard work to bring all of us together to continue serving you in the best ways that we can. Here are some other ways GCAAR is reflecting on what we’ve all accomplished together this year.
Looking back at GCAAR’s public advocacy amid the pandemic While you were hard at work finding the best ways to maintain and adapt your business operations this year, GCAAR’s Government Affairs team worked with local and state officials to ensure you could do so safely and securely. We successfully advocated for the reopening of the Montgomery County Circuit Court Land Records Office to keep real estate transactions running smoothly, and we ensured Maryland and the District of Columbia kept key real estate-related activities classified as essential activities and/or allowed with new precautions. The pandemic brought with it an unprecedented need to move our educational courses online, particularly as we planned our first-ever virtual REALTOR® Fest. With the help of other local Maryland associations, as well as Maryland REALTORS®, GCAAR lobbied the Maryland Real Estate Commission to increase the limits on virtual class attendance and ease overly restrictive regulations. This allowed us to offer not just a full schedule of classes to our members, but more classes and credits than ever before. On the local legislative front, GCAAR has been working tirelessly to oppose tax increases in Montgomery County. GCAAR leadership testified at the Planning Board as well as at the County Council hearings on the matter, and we’ve met with all county councilmember offices on the issue. And with the help of NAR’s Advocacy Everywhere team, we launched successful Call For Action campaigns to help drive the message home for our councilmembers. Stay tuned for updates in the new year, as our efforts to protect your businesses during the pandemic and the industry from higher taxes continue.
Looking back and celebrating GCAAR members’ community spirit GCAAR was forced to pause volunteer efforts when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the D.C. metropolitan region in March, but those efforts resumed in July and continued through Thanksgiving. GCAAR members sorted and packed food at Martha’s Table in July, then packaged food for distribution to those in need at the Capital Area Food Bank in September. In October, volunteers prepared and packaged food at Food & Friends. GCAAR members also contributed to a Thanksgiving Food Drive hosted by Horton’s Kids throughout October and November. While that drive continued, volunteers worked with Comfort Cases to pack backpacks of essential and comfort items for children entering the foster care system. In total, GCAAR volunteered with five different nonprofit organizations from July through November, working to provide food and goods to adults and children in need throughout the region.
We’re proud of the services and support we’ve been able to provide and the innovations we’ve shared with our GCAAR community this year. We look forward to continuing to serve you in 2021! CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020 31
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August
Welcome, new REALTOR® members! We are pleased that you have chosen to join our association. GCAAR is your voice for real estate issues in Montgomery County, Maryland and the District of Columbia. We offer venues for networking to enable you to connect with your peers and exchange best practices. We invite you to take full advantage of your benefits as a member.
Patrick Cornelius
Danielle Y. Herrera-Edwards
William M. Medley
Juana I. Sanchez
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Samson Properties
Heymann Realty, LLC
Craig R. Abney
Keller Williams Realty Chantilly Ventures, LLC
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Emillie DeBoissiere
Elrita R. Houston
Juan A. Mercedes
Leslie Y. Sanchez
Bennett Realty Solutions
eXp Realty, LLC
Fairfax Realty Premier
Michael A. Adeshoga
Compass
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Chris M. Dorsey
Connie Y. Hu
Jane J. Morrison
Manjit Singh
Prestige Realty LLC
Keller Williams Realty McLean
Independent Realty, Inc.
Cheryl A. Aiello
Century 21 New Millennium
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Danielle A. Dycks
Gregory A. Jackson
Juan M. Munoz
Insuk Sung
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Taylor Properties
New Star First Realty, LLC
Nicole L. Andrews
Samson Properties
Compass
Shaun E. Ferrari
Abdolreza Jahanbani
Andrew C. Murray
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Amina K. Sylla
Dawn J. Armstrong
Samson Properties
Douglas Realty LLC
Shade R. Fleming
Jeffrey A. Johnson
Robert L. Nelson, Jr. Keller Williams Realty Reston
Tiffany N. Bailey-Washington
Compass
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty
Fairfax Realty Premier
Michael Fortune
Uros Joksimovic
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Betty J. Baron
Source One Realty LLC
Samson Properties
Lauren E. Fox
Suhair H. Judi
RE/MAX Realty Services
Smart Realty, LLC
Terrence D. Gadson
Gilbert R. Kall
Coldwell Banker Realty
eXp Realty, LLC
Richard D. Garcia
Mai R. Karadsheh
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Weichert REALTORS®
Javier E. Garza
Arshia S. Kia
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
KW Metro Center
Shatra M. Gholson
Alicia Kihlander
Samson Properties
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Sharon K. Gilbert
Michelle Kim
Sharon K. Gilbert
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Adelina Gilmanova
Jeannie J. Kim
Douglas Realty, LLC
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Matthew P. Gorman
Richard F. Kramer
RE/MAX Professionals
Rick Kramer Real Estate
Martha I. Gozalo
Frank Mangum
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Frank Mangum Realty, Inc.
Thea C. Graham
Larry P. Mark
Coldwell Banker Realty
G&G Group, LLC
Jesse R. Greaves
Agustin S. Martinez
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Spring Hill Real Estate
Christopher K. Harold
Michele L. McCarty
Chambers Theory, LLC
Redfin Corporation
Jessica L. Hastings
Collin W. McKinstrie
Weichert REALTORS®
Samson Properties
Yessenia D. Herrera
Brandon L. McLaughlin
Smart Realty, LLC
Pearson Smith Realty
KW Metro Center
Max Bennink Compass
Samuel D. Blesi Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Leanne C. Bonter The ONE Street Company
David M. Buckley Keller Williams Realty McLean
Tekla Bucur Urban Igloo, LLC
Samantha A. Carter Coldwell Banker Realty
Rickeeda L. Carter Bennett Realty Solutions
Katie R. Cawood Keller Williams Capital Properties
Jon J. Chamberlain Old Line Properties LLC
Beverly P. Chang Coldwell Banker Realty
Gabriele Ciner Keller Williams Capital Properties
George R. Connor Ten Thousand Realty
Carla C. Cornejo Smart Realty, LLC
32 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
Steve M. Noumbissi Richard O. Nyachiro Weichert REALTORS®
Richard O'Brien Keller Williams Capital Properties
Jessica F. Odrich TTR Sotheby's International Realty
Adeyemi A. Odunlami New Concept Realty Services
Maiki Paul Samson Properties
Nicholas Portelli Redfin Corporation
Erick E. Quiroz Pinto Century 21 New Millennium
Jaime H. Ramirez Samson Properties
Christine R. Reams Weichert REALTORS®
Andrea E. Rizkallah Rosado Fairfax Realty Premier
Xaviera V. Rosado Fairfax Realty Premier
Sherif H. Saeed Weichert REALTORS®
Franklyn J. Salas Keller Williams Capital Properties
Malek Sima Z. Samiy Coldwell Banker Realty
HomeSmart
Kiara S. Tate KW Metro Center
Bryce G. Thompson Donna Kerr Group
India M. Trimmer Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Alexandru Turcan Pearson Smith Realty
Trevaris J. Tutt Occupy Real Estate Group, LLC
Krishnakumar C. Vadakuttil Weichert REALTORS®
Woodford S. VanMeter Redfin Corporation
Ashley Vonada Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Yining Wang Union Plus Realty, Inc.
Charlotte R. Waters Roberta & Co. Real Estate
Sarah J. Westney Compass
Jonathan C. White Keller Williams Capital Properties
Stephanie P. Williams Keller Williams Realty
Thomas H. Xosa Metro Star Realty LLC
September Veronica O. Acha Ngwodo Samson Properties
Jasmine Adjetey Coldwell Banker Realty
Bekwele I. Amadi Fairfax Realty Elite
Andrea Andrejic Avery-Hess REALTORS®
Christine N. Dietrich
Caitlin M. James
Gene E. McKevie
Hayma T. Rajamani
Justin M. Walsh
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
eXp Realty, LLC
Weichert REALTORS®
Keller Williams Preferred Prop
Weichert REALTORS®
Dana B. Drew
Samantha James
Rachael P. McMillan
Richard Reed
Monique M. Wehausen
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Compass
Samson Properties
SRG National Harbor, LLC
John Edwards
Jesse J. Jaramillo
Tina L. Melichar
Laura B. Reif
Jesse D. Wilensky
Nitro Realty
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Compass
Courtney Jenkins
Yolanda G. Menjivar-Vasquez
Misty Roane
Pennylane G. Wilks
KW Metro Center
Coldwell Banker Realty
Kristin Rodriguez
Stephen Wolff
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed
Marsha L. Romero
Timnah Yefet
Fathom Realty
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty
Pearson Smith Realty
Manuel D. Ferrufino eXp Realty, LLC
Carlos E. Flores
Diran Balogun
RLAH Real Estate
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Maricris D. Flores
Navid Bastani eXp Realty LLC
Denise R. Beaudoin
Pearson Smith Realty
Diana L. Flores Coldwell Banker Realty
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Stephanie P. Forbes
Jamaal F. Beazer
Marybeth G. Fraser
Exit Landmark Realty
Coldwell Banker Realty
KW Metro Center
Ashley M. Bennett
Stephen J. Gabauer
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Century 21 New Millennium
Erica L. Boyd
Keller Williams Realty Centre
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Kenia V. Garcia Melody R. Goodman
RE/MAX Elite Services
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Melinda A. Burke
Nicholas Greek
Josie W. Bulitt
Compass
Jordan Chapman Pearson Smith Realty
Oksoon H. Choi Fairfax Realty, Inc.
Sandy S. Choi Avery-Hess REALTORS®
Fabio Chung Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty
Patricia Ann Clark-Jackson eXp Realty, LLC
Christan R. Constantine Century 21 Redwood Realty
Amylex P. Conteh Living In Style Real Estate
Billy W. Cullipher Coldwell Banker Realty
Kunlavee Dangcham eXp Realty, LLC
Daan De Raedt Property Collective Partners, LLC
Maura R. De Raedt Property Collective Partners, LLC
Bianca DeStout
Pearson Smith Realty
Daniel W. Jette Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Devin L. Merritt
Anthony J. Johnson
Keller Williams Capital Properties
ERA Realty Group
Analissa Johnson Samson Properties
De Wayne C. Jolly eXp Realty, LLC
Andrew T. Jones eXp Realty, LLC
Darcel K. Jones Weichert REALTORS®
Michele S. Jones Coldwell Banker Realty
Jordan Judd Avanti Real Estate
Christopher Junior eXp Realty, LLC
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Susan K. Kash
Felecia C. Green Brissett
Joshua L. Kenes
Compass
Weichert REALTORS®
Century 21 Redwood Realty
Mohamed L. Hammami
Katie King
Keller Williams Realty Falls
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Dietrick E. Hart
Charles A. Krampf
Redfin Corporation
Reed Haynie
Weichert REALTORS®
TTR Sotheby's International Realty
Rachel M. Miller Execuhome Realty
Keyna Mitchell Samson Properties
Melissa A. Morales Century 21 New Millennium
Noelia Y. Morris eXp Realty, LLC
Dawn S. Myles Keller Williams Capital Properties
Riva I. Neam NextHome Envision
Hannah S. Nielsen Compass
Arinzechukwu Ofodile Coldwell Banker Realty
Anthony Paolini Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Andrew S. Rubin RE/MAX Realty Centre, Inc.
Soo C. Shin New Star First Realty, LLC
Charles F. Shuford Exit Landmark Realty
Gurvinder Singh Fairfax Realty, Inc.
Karla Smith
October Michael L. Albrittain The Albrittain Group LLC
Riki Alkoby HomeSmart
Adolat Almetova
Exit Landmark Realty
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Craig B. Smith
Eva K. Anifantis
Living In Style Real Estate
TTR Sotheby's International Realty
Shanita Stinnett The Agency Maryland, LLC
Leslie J. Backoff
Jarod K. Stokes
TTR Sotheby's International Realty
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Jillian Stringer
Frederic Ball RLAH Real Estate
TTR Sotheby's International Realty
Leroy W. Battle
Keller Williams Realty
John W. Pascoe
Karen L. Sutson
Brandon Bedford
Weichert REALTORS®
Bennett Realty Solutions
Coldwell Banker Realty
Lucas Pekarski
Bonnie A. Sweet
Ana K. Bejarano
KW Metro Center
Weichert REALTORS®
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Evani A. Perez
Jonathan Tenjo
Alicia Benderly
Eluvial Realty
RE/MAX Advantage Realty
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Amsley M. Pietranton
Petena Thomas
Jason C. Berto
Pier Associates Real Estate
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Yoav Pinto
Tracy M. Thompson
Keller Williams Capital Properties
RE/MAX Elite Services
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Sara A. Birberso
Marcia P. Turk
Bradley J. Boland
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Keller Williams Realty
Phyllis B. Papkin
Urban Development Ventures
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Robert W. Kuletz
Heather N. Henson
Mona Lawson
McEnearney Associates, Inc.
Samson Properties
Keith Herrmann
Caroline C. Lesousky
Keller Williams Realty Falls
Compass
Summer J. Hine
Saaheb S. Mahant
McEnearney Associates, Inc.
S 4 Realty, LLC
Daniel C. Hixon
Mohammad Makhmalbaf
Keller Williams Realty
RE/MAX Success
Nick Hurson
Ronald M. Manning
Kelsey Bolze
Redfin Corporation
TTR Sotheby's International Realty
Sheri L. Turnbow
Argent Realty, LLC
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Keller Williams Realty
Marcus Jackson
Margarethy Martins
Georgiana S. Tyler
Jack Buchen
Smart Realty, LLC
Joshua J. Prouty
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Century 21 Redwood Realty
Coldwell Banker Realty
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Brittany Jacoby
RE/MAX Town Center
Hassan Rahmani
Donovan J. Tyson
Keller Williams Realty Reston
Compass
Keller Williams Realty
Clifford T. McCormick
Douglas J. Porter Coldwell Banker Realty
Jacqueline R. Prince
KW Metro Center
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Coldwell Banker Realty CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020 33
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Lester D. Butts, III
Sean M. Firestone
Moise K. Kakou
Waris Mojaddidi
Tamara S. Ross
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Weichert REALTORS®
Coldwell Banker Realty
Douglas Realty, LLC
RE/MAX Allegiance
Frederick C. Cain
Julius Gamble, Jr.
Robert E. Kenney
Gustavo Molina, Jr.
James M. Sabol
At Home Real Estate, LLC
Coldwell Banker Realty
KW Metro Center
Pearson Smith Realty
Melanie B. Cantwell
Xiaoling Gao
In C. Kim
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Redfin Corporation
Signature Home Realty, LLC
Shawn P. Mountgordon
Weichert REALTORS®
Jade Carter KW Metro Center
Geoffrey T. Chesman Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Erin Clark Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Elexxus M. Clarke Exit Deluxe Realty
Suzanne M. Collins NextHome Envision
Nicholas M. Collins Nhabit Real Estate Co.
Laurel M. Constantine Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Maria Contos TTR Sotheby's International Realty
Ricardo L. Cooper Samson Properties
Jahmari A. Cooper III Keller Williams Capital Properties
Catherine T. Coridan Keller Williams Realty
Christine M. Cornejo-Harvey Keller Williams Realty
Diana Cortijo Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Todd L. Crain Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Kristeal D. Cunningham Samson Properties
Janaya M. Davis Avery-Hess REALTORS®
Gurpratap S. Deo Samson Properties
Milton Diaz Coldwell Banker Realty
Alissa J. Dillon Redfin Corporation
Barbara A. DiPietro Nhabit Real Estate Co.
Mark C. Downs Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Elliott Emuh Altruist Realty, LLC
Francis P. Fernandez De Castro
Amina L. Garrett
Cheryl R. Kincaid
eXp Realty, LLC
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Lawrence C. Garrett
Mariana Koegel
Compass
Bennett Realty Solutions
Victoria M. Glakas
Varun Kohli
Keller Williams Realty Chantilly Ventures, LLC
Redfin Corporation
Holly P. Glass
RE/MAX Realty Centre, Inc.
TTR Sotheby's International Realty
Prokash W. Gomes Samson Properties
Nancy A. Gordon KW Metro Center
Lori Graham Keller Williams Realty
Nadia Green eXp Realty, LLC
Nishika Green HomeSmart
Camille E. Kolick Thomas Kolker Keller Williams Realty McLean
Brett J. Korade Keller Williams Realty Reston
Joseph M. Kotula Washington Fine Properties
Sanjay Lakhmani Keller Williams Capital Properties
Jeanne D. Langdon Washington Fine Properties
Arlene A. Layfield
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Joseph A. Muldoon Compass
Temeka L. Mumford Keller Williams Preferred Prop
Mark Nabity Samson Properties
Daniel T. Najafi Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Deepak Nathani eXp Realty LLC
Quintin M. Nichols Keller Williams Capital Properties
Willard Oakley Compass
Daphne Paisible Keller Williams Capital Properties
Brittney J. Parker Coldwell Banker Realty
Denise L. Parsons
Samson Properties
Keller Williams Realty Chantilly Ventures, LLC
Susan Griffith
Christopher J. Lee
Tiffany M. Payne
Bennett Realty Solutions
Parlay Real Estate, LLC
RE/MAX Success
Claudia Grinius
Monica Leid
Howard Pedlar
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Samson Properties
Colin W. Gunderson
Donna M. Lewis
Nicole Petersen
Keller Williams Realty
Keller Williams Capital Properties
TTR Sotheby's International Realty
Linda Hamafari
Rossana MacDonald
Monique Pierce
Karen R. Greenidge Parker
RE/MAX Realty Group
Ann S. Hayward Coldwell Banker Residential
Graciela C. Henriquez Keller Williams Capital Properties
Vail Henry Realty One Group Capital Properties
Jesus O. Herrera Martinon First Decision Realty
Jonathan K. Holland SRG National Harbor, LLC
Craig A. Horness Compass
Britney A. Joseph Executive Investment Realty, LLC
Rany A. Justin Keller Williams Realty
Keller Williams Capital Properties 34 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020
Hagan Realty, LLC
Coldwell Banker Realty
G&G Group LLC
Eduardo M. Machado
James P. Podoley
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Coldwell Banker Realty
Sharon E. Martlock
Charonda D. Pryor
HomeSmart
Keller Williams Alexandria
Morgan McAuliffe
Lintoya T. Ramgeet Anuniru
Compass
Weichert REALTORS®
Justin D. McNeal
Tyler S. Ramlal
Keller Williams Capital Properties
Samson Properties
Gabriel L. Melrod
James Ricciuti
Redfin Corporation
Century 21 Redwood Realty
Peter M. Merriam
Robin K. Rice
Keller Williams Alexandria
Compass
Eduardo M. Miranda
Damaris J. Rosales
Compass
Exit Landmark Realty
Karen Miranda
Jason J. Rosenwach
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Yannick K. Mitheo Keller Williams Capital Properties
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Maria R. Salguero Ruth Schilling Compass
Kristian S. Sheils Avery-Hess REALTORS®
Melanie Sholl Keller Williams Realty #29
Mary C. Soltesz Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Steven F. Sontheimer Bankable Realty, LLC
Emily M. Sower Washington Fine Properties
Jasmine M. Spruill Coldwell Banker Realty
Shawnda Steward Compass
Ben C. Suarez The ONE Street Company
Yasha Taginya Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Brandii N. Taylor-Daniels Century 21 Redwood Realty
Fikirte Tesfaye Samson Properties
Pamela A. Thompson Exit Realty Center
Mica R. Varga Realty One Group Capital Properties
Van P. Vaughn Coldwell Banker Realty
Soumya D. Veerachandran Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Yunia M. Velasquez Elan Real Estate, Inc.
Alicia S. Walker Century 21 New Millennium
Blair A. Woodson The Agency Maryland, LLC
Cynthia R. Woolbright NK Real Estate Group
Douglas G. Young Pearson Smith Realty
Mawugnon D. Zouhongbe Keller Williams Capital Properties
Thank you to our 2020 Major and Large RPAC investors Golden “R“
Ed Krauze Carole Maclure Frank Pietranton, Jr. Bonnie Roberts-Burke Dale Ross Chris Suranna Holly Worthington Crystal “R“
Jamie Coley Fred Kendrick Mike Moran Sterling “R“
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Joe Detrick Tony DeVol Lauren Donnelly Carlos Evans Michael Fowler Jennifer Frewer Jeffrey Ganz Carlos Garcia Lee Goldstein Gwen Henderson Robert Jenets Michael Joseph Linda Kibunja Peter Locker KT Maclure Tony Mancuso Hank May Thomas Muldoon Barbara Nalls Betty Pair JD Teitelman Stephen Withrow
•
RPAC INVESTOR TESTIMONIAL: “I’ve been involved in RPAC for over 10 years. RPAC helps ensure our country's leaders are protecting the rights of homeownership and everyone in our entire real estate community. It’s protecting my livelihood as well as the others around me. Over the years there have been so many significant wins that have been directly related to RPAC and its leadership. Currently, the fact that REALTORS®, lenders, title agents and our associated organizations are still able to conduct business in this pandemic is proof that the committee works. Investing yearly in RPAC is helping me ensure that we can continue to have strong, smart leadership looking out for our industry.” — JOE DETRICK, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE PRIVATELY HELD TITLE FIRM CLASSIC SETTLEMENTS
CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — November/December 2020 35
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Join the Join the Join the LARGEST LARGEST LARGEST Independent Independent Independent Brokerage in Brokerage in Brokerage in Maryland Maryland Maryland
00% 1 % 0 ION 0% S 1 S I N 0 M O 10COM SOIN S I M I S COM MIS COM
100% commission for $49/mon 100% commission $49/month 85% commission for $0/mon 100% commission forfor $49/month 85% commission for $0/month 85% commission for $0/month
100% Commission on 2 Sales – (3% of $300,000) x 2 100% Commissionon on22Sales Sales– –(3% (3%ofof$300,000) $300,000) 100% Commission x 2x 2 Monthly Broker Fee (No Agent Transaction Fees) MonthlyBroker BrokerFee Fee(No (NoAgent AgentTransaction Transaction Fees) Monthly Fees)
$18,000 $18,000 $18,000 - $49 $49 - $49
Your Monthly Income Your MonthlyIncome Income Your Monthly
• Commission paid same day as settlement Commission paidsame sameday dayasassettlement settlement • Full broker service ••Commission paid Fullbroker broker service • Seminars by industry leaders ••Full service Seminars byindustry industry leaders • Open your own branch at no extra cost ••Seminars by leaders Openyour yourown ownbranch branchatatno noextra extracost cost ••Open
$17,951 $17,951 $17,951
• Set your own commission rates • Set your own commission rates • In-House lender and title company • Set your own commission rates • In-House lender and title company • Training/mentoring program • In-House lender and title company • Training/mentoring program • In-House Continuing Education • Training/mentoring program • In-House Continuing Education • In-House Continuing Education
Office Locations Office Locations Office Locations Annapolis, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Columbia and Bowie (NEW OFFICES) Annapolis, and Bowie (NEW OFFICES) Annapolis,Bethesda, Bethesda,Silver SilverSpring, Spring,Columbia Columbia and Bowie (NEW OFFICES)
LicensedMD, in MD, DC VA, DC and now PENNSYLVANIA Licensed Licensedin in MD,VA, VA, DCand andnow nowPENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA Call Today (800) 590-0925 www.TaylorProperties.co/careers Call www.TaylorProperties.co/careers CallToday Today(800) (800)590-0925 590-0925 www.TaylorProperties.co/careers CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — May/June 2020
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