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Capital Area Realtor
®
The official newsletter of the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®
July - August 2011
Inside This Issue Association News....................................... page 3 Ask the President..............................page 4 GCAAR in the News.................................... page 4 Broker/Manager Forum....................page 4 NAR Director’s Report.......................page 5 GRI Graduates..................................page 6 Committee Spotlight...........................page 6 Technology.......................................page 7 ABCs of Real Estate..........................page 8 International Seminar.......................page 8 GCAAR Cares....................................page 9 GCAAR Housing Fair..........................page 9 Leaky Roof Happy Hour.....................page 9 Education Schedule................................page 10 Reverse Mortgage...........................page 11 YPN Networking Cruise....................page 11 Public Policy.............................................. page 12 Market Reports...............................page 14 RPAC Update..................................page 16 Quiz.................................................................page 17 Green Resources.............................page 18
USPS: 017-467
Volume 17, Number 4
www.gcaar.com
Brenda Small Named 2011 GCAAR REALTOR® of the Year GCAAR is pleased to name Brenda Small as its REALTOR® of the Year for 2011. Brenda is currently Associate Broker and Manager of Prudential Carruthers REALTORS®, Uptown Branch, in Washington, DC. Brenda is a former GCAAR president and board member and is also the Immediate Past President of the Washington, DC Association of REALTORS® (WDCAR). She has served on a number of national, state, and local boards and committees, including the National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors Local Representative and Federal Housing Policy Committee; the Maryland Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors, Issues Mobilization, and Nominating Committees; and the WDCAR Board of Directors, Public Policy, Grievance, and Cultural Diversity Committees, and its Education Advisory Group. As a GCAAR member, Brenda has been an active participant on a number of committees, including Chair of the Public Policy Committee (2008, 2006,
2005), the Leadership Development and Advisory Group, and Nominating Committee. Among her many civic activities, Brenda has been a speaker for the Greater Washington Urban League and Home Free USA first-time home buyer seminars for many years, and actively supports Hannah House, Sunshine Kids for children with cancer, and Fannie Mae’s annual Help the Homeless Walkathon. Currently, she is mentoring a single mother of four who is working on her GED diploma. “When you think of Brenda, leadership, professionalism, and commitment to excellence immediately come to mind. She brings 100 percent to everything she does, whether it’s writing a real estate contract, educating first-time home buyers, or mentoring at a women’s shelter. She epitomizes the best of our Association,” says Adrian Hunnings, 2011 GCAAR President. As Brenda aptly says, “service and giving are a personal commitment and a significant aspect of my life’s purpose and work.”
classes I have ever taken. I was ready to get out of the reverse mortgage business altogether because the process was so confusing, however, after leaving Eric Rittmeyer’s class, I am ready to go out and start doing that business again! Thank you GCAAR for putting together such a great day of learning.”
Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® 8757 Georgia Avenue, Suite 600 Silver Spring, MD 20910
REALTOR® Fest Scores Big! Over 400 attendees enjoyed a day of informative classes, networking, great food, and more at the 2011 REALTOR® Fest on July 11, at the Bethesda North Marriott and Conference Center. Attendees had the opportunity to get up to nine hours of CE credits and they took full advantage of it! The caliber of classes offered sparked rave reviews. As Isabel Curtis-Crouch of Ivan Realty remarked, “I have taken a lot of courses, but I have to say that the Reverse Mortgage Update was one of the best
Attendees packed the trade show, winning a bevy of fabulous door prizes provided by the vendors. Big winners included Vivian Portis, who won the 60” 3-D TV courtesy of MRIS, and Harold Levy, who won an iPad courtesy of Embrace Home Loans. GCAAR’s committees were also in full force providing information and prizes. Special thanks to all of our sponsors, attendees, and GCAAR committee members for making this year’s REALTOR® Fest a rousing success. We look forward to seeing you again in 2012! See REALTOR® Fest pics on page 3.