DESIGNATED
®
REALTOR ISSUE 2: APRIL 2017
Keep Tech in Top Shape Volunteer Opportunities April 26
NJREALTOR.COM
EVENTS AND DEADLINES April 18
May 15-20
April 26
May 25
NAR Legislative Meetings and Trade Expo nar.realtor/midyear
Webinar: 10 a.m. Getting started with RPR
Realtors® Day in Trenton 11 a.m. Masonic Temple
Realtors Care Day rcd.njrealtor.com ®
April 30
Deadline to complete CE and not be charged a $200 late fee njrealtorsace.com
June 30
Final deadline to complete 2017 CE requirement njrealtorsace.com
LOOKING
AHEAD
September 29
Deadline to invest $100 in RPAC for 2017 NJ Realtors® Circle of Excellence® Unit njrealtor.com/account
December 4-7
Realtors® Triple Play Convention & Trade Expo Atlantic City realtorstripleplay.com
November 1-6
NAR Annual Meetings and Expo Chicago, Ill. nar.realtor/convention
YOU’RE INVITED Bullfeathers Washington, D.C.
Thursday, May 18 4:00-6:00 PM Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails Registration is required. njrealtor.com/bullfeathers
New Jersey Realtors in Washington, D.C. ®
BY CHRISTINA GORDILLO FARRELL
W
ith the 115th Congress now in full swing, we are already seeing how the introduction of new tax policies and tax reform plans could impact the housing market across the country. Tax reform is high on the list of priorities that Congress wants to address this session. Realtors® have concerns regarding the proposed tax system plan that would nullify longstanding tax incentives of owning a home for the great majority of Americans. Realtors® are particularly concerned that the elimination of the mortgage interest deduction would cause the value of homes to decrease significantly. This would be especially detrimental if the value of a home falls below the amount of debt owed on it. While modifying the tax system to stimulate economic growth is the key driver behind Congress’ focus on tax reform, we must approach tax reform in a sensible way that will not harm the real estate industry or the American dream of homeownership. The MID was a main point of discussion when New Jersey Realtors® Leadership Team spent several productive days in Washington, D.C. at the end of February. While there, they attended key meetings with members and staff of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. Members of Congress were reminded that protecting the MID and ensuring its availability is critical to Garden State residents. New Jersey Realtors® and members of Congress discussed the
need for housing finance and the vital role government-sponsored enterprises and the Federal Housing Administration play in the marketplace. Student loan debt and New Jersey’s foreclosure rate were also principal points of conversation, as each has a significant impact on current and future homebuyers. In a high cost of living state, NJ Realtors® are working hard to keep the cost of homeownership affordable. With the National Flood Insurance Reauthorization set to expire on September 30, 2017, Realtors® continue to remind their Representatives that this is among the top priorities New Jersey is facing this year. Realtors® support a long-term reauthorization of the NFIP before it expires, coupled with a robust private market to offer choices and maintain access to flood insurance in all markets. Continued dialogue with congressional lawmakers during our annual hill visits is vital to Realtors® in New Jersey, as they provide a platform for the Leadership Team to discuss urgent issues impacting real estate in our state. Realtors® from New Jersey will return to Washington, D.C. again for the May Realtors® Legislative Meetings. While the February trip consisted of the state’s leadership team members, May’s meetings allow Realtors® from around the Garden State to talk with their legislator about federal policies that impact New Jersey’s real estate market.
Designated REALTOR® | april 2017 | 2
Quick View: zipLogix’s
Broker Dashboard
Included in membership with the state association, all New Jersey Realtors® have access to zipLogix, which hosts a comprehensive library of standard forms and contracts. In your capacity as a manager or broker of an office, you also have additional access to the zipTMS Broker Dashboard, which has the flexibility to meet the needs of many brokerages. It provides detailed statistics on your whole brokerage with just one interface.
ACCOUNT INFORMATION
REPORTING
See usage, users, libraries, and products all at a glance.
Various reports are available with dozens of options to view, sort, filter, and export.
AGENT ACTIVITY FEED
QUARTERLY SNAPSHOT
Transaction activity, status alerts, and changes are easily accessible.
Provides an overview of agent, team, and office performance.
LISTING MAP
WEEKLY TASK METER
Current listing transactions populate on a searchable map, powered by Google Maps.
MONTHLY STATISTICS
View and track data from office performance each month.
Track and manage dates, deadlines, and tasks.
5
Tech Safety Tips for Your Business
A
s Realtors® reliance on cloud storage, software-based client management systems, and smartphones as business tools grows, so does the need for a deeper understanding of the risks associated with technology. Though the positives of a tech-integrated professional model far outweigh the negatives, it’s still important that business owners arm themselves with the tools and knowledge necessary to keep their companies, employees, and clients protected. By integrating some basic safety practices into the everyday work place, it sets the stage for these habits to become commonplace in the office. Running through a list of recommended tech safety tips could easily encompass a complete day, but knowing that you have meetings to get to, listing presentations to finalize, and calls to return, we’ve compiled five top tips to get you started. 1. WATCH OUT FOR VIRUSES, SPYWARE, AND MALICIOUS CODE Make sure each of your office’s computers has antivirus software and antispyware installed. Computers should be regularly updated and
BY JOHN SHEHATA
employees should not be able to override or deactivate the software on their computers. 2. TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION IS A MUST Many services (i.e., email, online data storage, even your iCloud account) have the ability to use two-factor authentication. This means when you log in, you also receive a text message with a unique code that you must enter in order to gain access to your account. It adds a step but is one of the easiest and best ways to protect your data. 3. ESTABLISH SECURITY PRACTICES AND POLICIES There is a significant amount of sensitive information in real estate offices. Policies and procedures should be established and used for how employees should handle and protect personally identifiable information and other sensitive data.
data and also keep an extra layer of protection in place without having to remember all your individual passwords. 5. CREATE MOBILE RULES Mobile devices now often contain sensitive and confidential organizational information. Require users to password protect their devices and install all security updates to prevent information from being lost or stolen. Set a reporting procedure for lost or stolen equipment. For more tips on tech safety in the workplace, watch your mailbox for the May/June issue of New Jersey REALTOR® magazine. Our tech director will be providing an extended list of his tops tips for agents and business owners.
4. PROTECT YOUR PASSWORDS One of the easiest ways to protect online accounts is by using unique, complex passwords for each website. A password keeper will secure your Designated REALTOR® | april 2017 | 5
RPR
®
Broker Tool Set R
ealtors Property Resource®, which is available exclusively to Realtors® at no cost as part of NAR membership, has a division devoted to providing specific tools to brokers, owners, managers, and companies. The Broker Tool Set delivers immediate access to market snapshots and company performance metrics. Brokers can access over 100 charts, such as active listings, pending and closed sales, inventory, absorption, distressed listings, and sales.
to your brand. This applies both to the RPR website your agents access and the reports they create.
RPR has become a reliable source for Realtors® looking to separate themselves from the competition by providing anayltics and reports on a number of data points important to Realtors® and their clients.
Promote specific mortgage, title, home warranty, insurance, or other specialized services to agents on your branded RPR platform.
In addition to the data services and reports, RPR’s broker tool offers:
Company Branding
By customizing RPR reports, not only is your company name or logo prominently displayed, it further reinforces a consistent image related Designated REALTOR® | april 2017 | 6
Market Intelligence
Through RPR you can create customized market activity reports that include productivity, listing, sales, and market share metrics. The tool set also makes it easy to compile stats across multiple MLSs for a true picture of your company’s performance.
Affiliated Services
Get started with the Broker Tool Set To help brokers launch this program in their own offices, RPR hosts a number of webinars throughout the year that delve in to its broker tools and how brokers, managers, and company owners can use and share the datasets and reports with their agents and clients. These webinars are in
addition to the webinars NJ Realtors® and RPR will be hosting to familiarize all Realtors® with this resource, with the first introductory course taking place on April 18 at 10 a.m.
2017 RPR Broker Webinars April 20
10:30 a.m. RPR Overview for Brokers/Owners and Management
April 25
3:00 p.m. Market Data Tool Overview for Broker/ Owners & Management
May 11
12:30 p.m. RPR Broker Tools
New Jersey Realtors® Housing Opportunity Foundation
Realtors Care Day ®
E
stablished in 2004, the New Jersey Realtors® Housing Opportunity Foundation has taken an active role in creating and supporting opportunities for safe affordable housing for the citizens of our state. To date, the foundation has provided monetary donations to a variety of housingrelated charities; participated in hands-on events; and hosted classes, including seminars on employerassisted housing and financial literacy.
to strengthen the positive impact Realtors® have throughout the state. “Housing is the heart of neighborhoods and an essential part of the way communities function and thrive. Our Realtor® members give back to their communities in so many ways and this is one we can be most proud of,” says Christina Clemans, president of NJ Realtors® Housing Opportunity Foundation.
Ocean County Board of Realtors®, Passaic County Board of Realtors®, and Warren County Board of Realtors®. All of the projects being completed on April 26 will be on the exteriors of the selected homes and no prior experience is necessary for volunteers. Realtors® who are interested in participating in their local board/ association’s Realtors® Care Day project can signup at rcd.njrealtor.com.
One of the highlights of the foundation Participating local boards for the in recent years has become its upcoming statewide Realtors® Care Realtors® Care Day program. Realtors® Day include Burlington Camden Care Day events are organized by local County Association of Realtors®, boards/associations with the support Cape May County Association of the foundation and have proven to of Realtors®, Monmouth County be a remarkable way for Realtors® to Association of Realtors®, give back through exterior home improvements, including landscaping, outdoor cleanup, and safety modifications. The projects not only restore Make a difference in your a homeowner’s pride, community. but instill a revitalizing Detach yourself from your smartphone momentum in the for a few hours and connec t with your community. community! You
SAVE THE DATE!
REALTORS® CARE DAY
While traditionally Realtors® Care Day has taken place at various times throughout the year, the foundation recently created a oneday Realtors® Care Day event on April 26, 2017
don’t need to be a professional. Realtors® Ca re Day just requires compassionate vo lunteers with a willingness to help!
Visit rcd.njrealtor.com to
New Jersey Realtors® Housing Opportunity Found ation
WEDNESDAY
APRIL 26
2017
learn more.
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Limited Edition
Relive 100 Years of Excellence In honor of our centennial, New Jersey Realtors® has created a commemorative book that captures the essence of the association and highlights the many Realtors® who’ve helped shape the last 100 years.
$20 or two for $35
Net proceeds from book sales will benefit a special 2017 Centennial Scholarship for the NJ Realtors® Educational Foundation.
100
Years of Excellence
1940 -1949
iTY oPPorTuN housiNg N fouNdaTio
Pearl Harbor is bombed
GI Bill makes low-interest mortgages available to veterans
gnized
vital part ing is a turn At the thrive.
that hous
and d been reco function ltors dedicate It has long communities g the Rea Jersey preservin t. of the wayst century, New t role in grea prominen en State so of the 21 sing a more playing e the Gard blished its Hou ® itself to that mak hoods ltors esta ey Rea neighbor . r , New Jers in 2004 to foste dation As such ion e Foun miss nity a , affordabl Opportu upholds for safe rds nization Jersey go towa c)(3) orga in New dation The 501( opportunities that g to the Foun ut the state lic increasin ugho s provided lop pub thro Fund deve nizations options, housing. c)(3) orga eownership . r 501(invasion otheallied D-Day: The of Normandy er education e hom dabl ebuy affor for its create offer hom gnized ss, and rlotte ly reco the Cha awarene n is wide nsed from Day is a foundatio ® Care ram. Lice tion, the exterior In addi ® Day prog on, Realtors ugh Care thro ® Associati Realtors give back outdoor l Realtor bers to scaping, only Regiona for mem cts not le way ding land remarkab ovements inclu . The proje revitalizing ifications instill a home impr safety mod e, but also and ner’s prid cleanup, a homeow community. restore m in the momentu ®
“
I have assured our men in the armed forces that the American people wouldn’t let them down when the war is won.
”
— Franklin Roosevelt
44
59 19
24
Purchase your copy at 100.njrealtor.com