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June 2008
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AvatarHomes.com
900 Town Center Drive, Poinciana, FL 34759
;@J:FM<I 8E 8M8K8I :FDDLE@KP =FI PFLIJ<C= Ç M@J@K 8M8K8I?FD<J%:FD 9<CC8C8>FJD s @JC<J F= 9<CC8C8>FJD s 98EP8E 98PJD s :FIP C8B< @JC<JJD s GF@E:@8E8 s I@F I@:F s JFC@M@K8 s JK<IC@E> ?@CC s K<II8C8I>FJD s NFF;JC8E;@E>JD Offers, incentives and seller contributions are subject to certain terms, conditions and restrictions which include use of designated lenders, title companies and closing agents. Offer good for a limited time only. Developer may change home design, materials, features, amenities, method of construction, prices, and promotions at any time. Developer also reserves the right to withdraw any offer without notice. Availability subject to change. Ownership of a home will require the payment of additional fees, including association assessments and mandatory club dues. Association assessments and mandatory club dues are subject to change from time to time. Please review all documents carefully to determine fees associated with home ownership. Golf facilities are privately owned and operated and membership and additional fees for golf required. Purchase of a home does not grant any use of or access to the golf club or golf facilities. Offers are product and community specific and may not be combined. See your sales person for details. Values on special offers are approximate. Pursuant to the Fair Housing Act, housing in Solivita® is intended for occupancy by at least one person 55 years of age or better per home, although the occupants of a limited number of the homes may be younger, but no one under 18 years of age may be in permanent residence. Avatar New Homes of Florida Contractor No. CQ 1005469. Copyright © 2007 Avatar Properties Inc. All rights reserved. Avatar Properties Inc., 900 Town Center Drive, Poinciana, Florida 34759. 9163.1207 QB# 1224 Commission is based on Total Purchase Price less incentives and applicable discounts, if any. Valid only for new prospects registered after November 15, 2007. Purchaser must execute the Purchase and Sale Agreement, Cooperating Broker Agreement and Purchasers may be required to close within 30 days of the contract date. Avatar reserves the right to change or withdraw any offer at any time. Subject to the terms of the Cooperating Broker program the complete terms of which are included in the Cooperating Broker Agreement, which must be signed by the Broker at the time of the purchase and sale agreement is entered into with the Purchaser. Associate must register the Purchaser prior to the first contact with the Seller, must be a lead not already registered and must be procuring cause of the sale. Broker must be a licensed real estate broker in the state of Florida and the Sales Associate must be a licensed real estate broker or sales associate in the state of Florida and a designated agent of Broker at the time of sale and the time of closing. Commission is deemed earned and paid at time of closing.
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President’s Perspective By Hope Andrews The month of June is recognized as “National Homeownership Month” and it is the perfect opportunity to remind our members that we must continue to actively promote the “Now is the Time to Buy” campaign in our community and at-large and educate the consumer about our historically low interest rates, large selection of inventory, and prices that are reachable for investors, first time homebuyers, and basically anyone who is looking to purchase a home. Now, I would like to take this opportunity to give our members a mid-year Association update: • NEW ONLINE “GREEN” OSCEOLA REVIEW MAGAZINE – The Association is pleased to offer our members the opportunity to receive the Osceola ReVIEW magazine as a monthly email attachment. This will help to reduce paper use and help maintain a healthy environment. You can make the choice whether to get the magazine as an email attachment or view it each month on our website as an interactive document! On the homepage, you will be able to flip through the pages and click through any link or URL address. It is also an exciting way to advertise your company! If you would like to get the magazine as an email attachment only, please email our Director of Communications, Gwen Dukes at communications@osceola-realtors. com and she will be more than happy to accommodate your request. • FLAT SCREEN TECHNOLOGY FOR THE CLASSROOM – The Board of Directors approved the purchase of a LCD Flat Screen to enhance the education experience of or new and existing members. Did you know that in the first quarter of the year over 780 members registered for more than 28 June 2008
offerings hosted by the Association? One of our major initiatives in the Designing Future Business Plan was to provide exceptional education on a wide range of topics for the membership. • COMMERCIAL LISTINGS TO GO TO NAR CIE – Osceola will begin sending all commercial listings that are entered into the MFRMLS System to the National Association of REALTORS® new Commercial Information Exchange (CIE), this will allow world wide exposure to these listings. • CYBERHOMES PARTNERS WITH YAHOO - Currently your active listings are being sent to Cyberhomes.com to gain exposure to a large audience in a partnership with Fidelity National Real Estate Solutions and now the listing information will be distributed to Yahoo. The leads generated from the Cyberhomes.com website and Yahoo are directed back to the listing agents/brokers at NO FEE. I encourage all brokers to contact our CEO, David Bennett to find out how they can participate with Cyberhomes at no charge. It’s a service provided to you as a member of the Association. • JOB BANK – Did you know that the Association has a job board on the Association website for brokers and agent to advertise administrative position? This new feature will save you time and money when looking an administrative position for your team or firm and is absolutely free of charge. • UNITED NETWORKS OF AMERICA (UNA) – We now have some relief for your medical expenses and it a program that is at NO COST to our members and their families. The UNA Prescription Drug card is just what the doctor ordered, a saving on prescriptions. That’s right simply go the Osceola website www.osceolarealtors.org and click on the UNA graphic on the right Continued on Page 5.
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CEO Perspective By David B. Bennett, CAE SPOTLIGHT ON GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS The Association would like to encourage all of our members to get politically involved at the local level of government. The Association’s Public Policy Committee, of which Randy Hillman is the Chairperson, is endeavoring to tackle issues that have an impact on real estate and your livelihood as a REALTOR®. The Osceola County Association of REALTORS® supports candidates based on where they stand on key industry related issues. Building power and influence in our community requires our membership to be involved at all levels of government. The Public Policy Committee has appointed committee members to be identified as Liaison Team Members for the following: • City of Kissimmee • Renee Clark • Cheryl Grieb • Rosebud Kinkead • Robert Loos • Martin Nichols • City of St. Cloud • Mark Baker • Dale Settles • Celebration
• Martha E. Parra • Cheryl Grieb • Osceola County School Board • Tim Weisheyer • Sean Ferguson • Jenny Morrison • Martin Nichols Some recent areas of involvement that the Committee has undertaken are: • City and County Budget/Finances • Lake Toho Development • Property Taxes • Commuter Rail • CRA Master Plan • Lynx Bus transfer station in Kissimmee • St. Cloud Preserve apartment community We are keeping our eyes open on some other community issues that we plan to delve into such as: • Kissimmee Lakefront Redevelopment • Destiny Development at Yeehaw Junction • Osceola School Board Superintendent • Access Osceola Channel • Economic Development I hope this gives you a clearer picture of what your Association and in particular, the Public Policy Committee, is doing to make sure REALTORS® are involved and giving them a voice to our esteemed members of local and state government. If you would like to participate, please call the Association at 407-846-0117. ■
• Poinciana • Tim Weisheyer • Robert Loos • Four Corners • Sean Ferguson • Osceola County • Daisy Lopez-Cid • Carol Ann Burnette 4
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Betty M. Dobbie President
897 Towne Center Drive Poinciana, Florida 34759 Ph: (407) 343-1560 Cell: (786) 316-9270 Fax: (407) 343-1561 www.prominenttitle.com bdobbie@prominenttitle.com
June 2008
President’s Perspective.
REALTORS® e ifferenc AD Making
Terri Carroll, REALTOR® Community Volunteer The Association would like to pay special tribute to Terri Carroll for her notable contributions to the Osceola community and the Association. Terri is a Sales Associate with Steve Fusilier and Company, Inc. She was recently recognized, as a member of the St. Cloud Greater Chamber of Commerce, at the Quarterly Luncheon and received two awards: Ambassador of the Quarter and Volunteer of the Quarter. She has amassed many hours of volunteer time in the Osceola community and has actively participated in several charity events over the last several years: RELAY FOR LIFE - St. Cloud, Angling Against Cancer; she is a committee member of all Chamber events such as St Cloud Life, St Patrick’s Day Parade, Politics in the Barn, July 4th celebration, Annual Banquet, Fall Festival, and the Holiday Parade; and she is an ambassador (2008 co-chair), who visits and greets new members as they join the Chamber.
Continued from Page 3.
hand side of the screen and sign up, it’s that simple! MFRMLS UPDATES: • MFRMLS FINANCE COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT - The Board approved the appointment of Veronica Malolos to serve on the MFRMLS Finance Committee. This committee is charged with monitoring of the Association owned MLS which serves over 35,000 participants and has an 8 million dollar budget • Seller’s Concessions on Sold Listings MLS has added an optional free form field to allow the seller’s concession information that would be displayed in the Broker Sold Report. The implementation of this new field has been referred to staff. • 55+ Communities - MLS has added a new field labeled “Special Community Restrictions” be added to the Community Features drop down option to be used for 55+ community identification among other restrictions. I hope that this information illustrates to you that your Association is dedicated to its members and the Osceola community. Let’s make the rest of 2008 great! ■
Terri has been a member of the Association since 2002. She is serving as the 2008 New Member Welcome Committee Chairperson for the Association. She is also an active member of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® (WCR).
Being a REALTOR® is about building relationships and helping people when needed.
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National Homeownership Month – Are you currently renting? Thinking about becoming a first-time homeowner? June has been declared National Homeownership Month. A time where nationwide focus is given to help individuals and families recognize the dream of homeownership. This year commemorates the 40th Anniversary of the historic 1968 Fair Housing Act. On April 11, 1968 President Lyndon Johnson urged congress to approve the Fair Housing Act just one week following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a tribute to Dr. King’s legacy and commitment to civil rights. One of the Act’s central objectives was to prevent discrimination based on race in the sales or rental of housing. This historic Act has since empowered people from all races and ethnicities to pursue the dream of equal access to housing. In 2002 President George W. Bush enhanced our nation’s commitment to equal housing opportunities for all by designating June as National Homeownership Month, with the goal of increasing minority homeownership in America by 5.5 million by the end of the decade.
Our Association is one-thousand percent behind this important nationwide initiative. As REALTORS® unlocking doors to homeownership is our business, and National Homeownership Month is a good time to raise awareness about the important social, economic and personal benefits of this cornerstone of the American Dream.
Betty M. Dobbie President
897 Towne Center Drive Poinciana, Florida 34759 Ph: (407) 343-1560 Cell: (786) 316-9270 Fax: (407) 343-1561 www.prominenttitle.com bdobbie@prominenttitle.com
Realtors® Real Knowledge Real Service Real Value
The Osceola ReVIEW magazine is going “green” and you get to make the choice! You can opt to receive the magazine in email form, or you can view it on our website as an interactive document. On the web, you will be able to flip the pages and click through any link addresses. It will also be a great way to advertise! Please email Gwen Dukes at communications@osceola-realtors.com only if want to receive the ReVIEW electronically or if you don’t want the hardcopy or email and would prefer to view it on our website. 6
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Education Corner
All classes will be held at the Association (unless noted otherwise)
To register for any classes please visit the Association website www.osceolarealtors.org, click on “Online Member Services” button, enter your username and password and then click on the Education Calendar. If you have any questions, please call the Association at (407) 846-0117.
GOAL SETTING Thursday, June 26, 2008 Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon Instructor: Cynthia DeLuca Location: Osceola County Association of REALTORS® Classroom Description: This course is designed to help the real estate agent set attainable goals for their career. You will go through the process of setting real career related goals.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are registered and unable to attend, please call the Association to cancel, or you will incur a $20 cancellation fee. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
Cost: Free CE Credit: 3 hours
MLS Training Classes There is one MLXchange Training class held each month. This is a mandatory class for new members. Even if you have already taken this class, you are invited to attend as a refresher course at any time.
GRI COURSE 3 September 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9, 2008 Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Location: Osceola County Association of REALTORS® Classroom
ROADMAP TO CLOSING Thursday, June 5, 2008 Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Instructor: Cynthia DeLuca Location: Osceola County Association of REALTORS® Classroom Description: This course provides help and options to agents for their clients in regards to failed inspections and other problems they may encounter during a closing. Cost: Free CE Credit: 4 hours
Description: Do your negotiating and counseling skills need sharpening? Have you considered expanding your business into property management? Are you current on the tax implications of buying and selling residential property? These are just a few of the time topics that are covered in GRI 3. The GRI designation – Graduate, REALTOR® Institute – is the nation’s #1 real estate designation. It is earned through state associations whose REALTOR® Institute courses of study meet the standards established by the National Association of REALTORS®. The designation is available only to members of NAR.
QUADRENNIAL CODE OF ETHICS (2 SESSIONS – PICK ONE) Thursday, June 19, 2008 Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon/1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Instructor: Dick Fryer Location: Osceola County Association of REALTORS® Classroom
Cost: On or before August 15, 2008 Members: $272.50 Non-Members $292.50
Description: All REALTORS® must fulfill the NAR Ethics Training once every four years. This session will help you handle difficult situations with proper ethical behavior.
CE Credit: Approved for 30-hours Broker Post licensing <or> 11-hours specialty CE credit.
Cost: Free CE Credit: 3 hours
June 2008
After August 15, 2008 Members: Non-Members:
$292.50 $312.50
Register online at: www.osceolarealtors.org. Click on blue button “Online Member Services”. Enter your username and password, and click on the Education Calendar.
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Today, REALTORS® work hard to provide fair access to affordable housing and homeownership year-round. By commemorating Fair Housing Month in April and National Homeownership Month in June, it marks the time for REALTORS® and our Association to take extra time out to focus on the education of our members, as well as consumers. By spending time on areas like homeownership counseling, new FHA and conforming loan limit programs, avoiding predatory lending pitfalls, workforce housing initiatives, diversity and smart growth initiatives, REALTORS® and consumers alike gain knowledge and become closer to achieving the ultimate goal of equal housing access for all. Visit the National Association of REALTORS® website at www.realtor.org to learn more about these programs that support homeownership and strong communities: • • • •
Housing Opportunities Diversity Smart Growth Fair Housing
There are easier ways to get There EXPOSURE are easier ways to get
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***Ask about the Osceola REALTORS® discount*** ***Ask about the Osceola REALTORS® discount*** 8
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Here are just a few good reasons why Now is the Time to Buy a Home: • Pride of Ownership - Pride of ownership is the number one reason why people yearn to own their home. It means you can paint the walls any color you desire, turn up the volume on your CD player, attach permanent fixtures and decorate your home according to your own taste. Home ownership gives you and your family a sense of stability and security. It’s making an investment in your future. • Appreciation - Although real estate moves in cycles, sometimes up, sometimes down, over the years, real estate has consistently appreciated. The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight tracks the movements of single family home values across the country. Its House Price Index breaks down the changes by region and metropolitan area. Many people view their home investment as a hedge against inflation. • Homestead Exemption – Amendment 1 was recently passed in the State of Florida that doubles the Homestead Exemption. An additional exemption of $25,000 applied to the value between $50,000 and $75,000. • Portability – Effective immediately, homeowners may transfer up to $500,000 of their Save Our Homes cap. If their new homestead is more valuable than the old homestead, a taxpayer can transfer up to $500,000 of the entire old CAP dollar amount. If a taxpayer downsizes, the percentage of protection will transfer to the new homestead. Starting from 2007, property owners who sell their homestead, have up to 2 years to transfer the CAP to a new homestead. • Mortgage Interest Deductions - Home ownership is a superb tax shelter and our tax rates favor homeowners. As long as your mortgage balance is smaller than the price of your home, mortgage interest is fully deductible on your tax return. Interest is the largest component of your mortgage payment. • Property Tax Deductions - IRS Publication 530 contains tax information for first-time home buyers. Real estate property taxes paid for a first home and a vacation home are fully deductible for income tax purposes. • Capital Gain Exclusion - As long as you have lived in your home for two of the past five years, you can exclude up to $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for a married couple of profit from capital gains. You do not have to buy a replacement home or move up. There is no age restriction, and the “over-55” rule does not apply. You can exclude the above thresholds from taxes every 24 months, which means you could sell every two years and pocket your profit--subject to limitation--free from taxation. Continued on Page 10.
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Association Staff David B. Bennett, CAE, Chief Executive Officer ceo@osceola-realtors.com Gwen Dukes, Director of Communications communications@osceola-realtors.com Jeri Peyton, Executive Assistant deputyceo@osceola-realtors.com Michelle Smith, Director of Knowledge Services education@osceola-realtors.com Bob St. Gordon, Controller accounts@osceola-realtors.com
Here are just a few… Continued from Page 7.
• Equity Loans - Consumers who carry credit card balances cannot deduct the interest paid, which can cost as much as 18% to 22%. Equity loan interest is often much less and it is deductible. For many home owners, it makes sense to pay off this kind of debt with a home equity loan. Consumers can borrow against a home’s equity for a variety of reasons such as home improvement, college, medical or starting a new business. Some state laws restrict home equity loans.
Stephanie Escurra-Hendricks, Member Services Representative sales@osceola-realtors.com Anneris Rivera, Member Services Representative memberservices@osceola-realtors.com
Association Office 1105 Shady Lane Kissimmee, Florida 34744 www.osceolarealtors.org Email: communications@osceola-realtors.com 407.846.0117 • 407.846.0217 fax
Newsletter Submissions In order to share the wealth of information contained in this newsletter in an efficient manner, please submit your articles via e-mail or fax by the 10th of the month. Please clearly indicate that submission is for the Osceola Review. Editor-in-Chief: Gwen Dukes Articles: communications@osceola-realtors.com Advertising: accounts@osceola-realtors.com For advertising inquiries please contact Bob St. Gordon at the Association Office. Your advertising defrays the cost of publishing. Thank you for your support. The Osceola ReView is published exclusively for the Association by PIP Printing & Document Services Kissimmee, Florida 407.847.5565 • 407.847.2698 fax Pip@pip920.com Disclaimer: The Osceola ReVIEW is published for the members and affiliates of Osceola County Association of Realtors®, Inc. by Pip Printing and Document Services as a courtesy. Pip nor the Association assume any responsibility for article content or advertising message as submitted for inclusion in the newsletter. Advertising and articles are not endorsed by Association, nor is there any implied warranty by the Association or its staff.
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10 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional: 1. Education & Experience 2. Agents are Buffers against “looky loos” 3. Neighborhood Knowledge 4. Price Guidance 5. Market Conditions Information 6. Professional Networking that Enables you to Make a Wise Selection 7. Negotiation Skills and Confidence 8. Handles the Volumes of Paperwork 9. Answers Questions After Closing 10. Develop Relationships for Future Business
Association Leadership
Association Leadership President Hope Andrews
Treasurer Minetta Garay
President-Elect Sean Ferguson
Past President Jack Frey
Vice-President Marie Collins
Directors Riva Alexander Jose Alvarez Andrey Bustamante David DeLoach
Secretary Len Goffredo
Cheryl Grieb Kemp Howland Jerry Kelley Rosebud Kinkead Richard Knapp Veronica Malolos Denise Sacks Legal Counsel Danny Villazon
June 2008
June 2008
RIGHT EARNE T MONEY REQUE T
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Leadership Meetings
BOARD OF DIRECTORS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2008 AT 9:00 A.M.
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ReVIEW
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&OR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY AND THE PROTECTION OF YOUR VALUABLES YOUR 2%!,4/2¸ MAY INSIST THAT PRECIOUS ITEMS SUCH AS COLLECTIBLES OR RARE PAINTINGS NOT BE DISPLAYED DURING THE VIRTUAL
2%!,4/23¸ QUALIFY BUYERS BEFORE BRINGING THEM INTO YOUR HOME 4HEY SERVE AS THE POINT OF CONTACT SO THAT YOU DON T OPEN YOUR DOOR TO JUST ANYONE WHO COMES ALONG 0ROSPECTS ARE SCREENED TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO PURCHASE YOUR HOUSE AND ONLY THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE WILL BE SHOWN THE PROPERTY
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Concerned about your existing mortgage? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; If you have clients or know friends or family who are in danger of facing foreclosure and need immediate help, call 888-895-HOPE or visit www.995hope.org. Homeownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s HOPEâ&#x201E;¢, a counseling service provided by the Homeownership Preservation Foundation, can work with the homeowner to find a solution.
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Knowledge Services News By Michelle Smith, Director of Knowledge Services CLASS REGISTRATION Over the past couple of months, several classes have had to be cancelled due to lack of registrations. If we do not have at least 20 people registered for a Continuing Education class on the Tuesday before the class, the class will be cancelled. After the class is cancelled, people contact the Association to inquire about the class….. You may be asking yourself, “What does this have to do with me?” Well, if everyone who is interested in attending a class, registers online, then I will be able to see the demand for the class beforehand. It is much easier to register for a class and cancel if necessary, than to not register at all and have the class cancelled. We typically have many members that show up for a class and say that they registered for the class but their name is not on the Sign-In Sheet. Please make sure that you go all the way through the process until you see a page that says “Print your receipt”. It is not until you see this page that you are registered. The steps for registering for a class online are listed below. Please note that I am always here to assist you, just give me a call or drop me an email. All registrations for educational classes go through the website. Please follow the steps below to register: 1. Go to www.osceolarealtors.org 2. Click on “On Line Member Services” 3. Enter your log on ID (this is your NRDS/MLS ID) 4. Enter your password 5. Click on “Education Calendar” 6. Register for all the classes you would like
DID YOU KNOW? Occasionally, the Association receives many inquiries regarding the questions below. Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions concerning the education requirements that are mandated by both the State of Florida Real Estate Commission and the National Association of REALTORS®. Question: Can I take “specialty” continuing education courses until they add up to 45 or 60 hours to fulfill the post-licensing requirements for sales associates or brokers? Answer: No. Post-license courses for brokers and sales associates are specifically approved for that purpose and designed to build on knowledge acquired during the pre-licensing education courses. A sales associate or broker’s license is provisional until completing the post-license education requirement. Question: Can I take a correspondence course to fulfill the post-licensing requirements for brokers or sales associates? Answer: All real estate pre/post licensure and continuing education courses are offered online. For a complete list of approved real estate schools please visit: http://www.myflorida.com/ dbpr/re/publications/re_schools.pdf. Question: If I fail the salesperson’s post-license course exam, can I re-take the exam? Answer: Yes. Students failing a post-licensing education examination must wait at least 30 days but no more than one year from the date of the original examination to retake the examination. Only one retake is permitted. Otherwise, students who fail the end of course post-licensing examination must repeat the course before being eligible to again take the course examination. Question: If I miss a post-licensing session due to illness, can I make up the session? Answer: Yes. Make-up classes may not extend more than 30 days beyond the scheduled end of course examination without approval of the Continued on Page 13.
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Knowledge Services News. Continued from Page 13.
Commission. Make-up classes must be the classes missed by the student and must consist of the original Commission-prescribed course material. Question: What happens if I do not complete the sales associate’s person’s 45-hour post-license education requirement before the expiration of my initial sales associate’s license? Answer: Your license becomes void, and you have to retake the pre-license course, pass its exam, and retake the state exam. In short, you have to start from scratch. Question: What happens if I do not complete the broker’s 60-hour post-license education requirement before the expiration of my initial broker’s license? Answer: Your license reverts to a sales associate’s license. Question: What are the continuing-education requirements for an active or inactive broker licensee? Answer: You must take a minimum of 14 hours of commission-approved classroom instruction during each license renewal period (excluding the first renewal period of your current license when 60 hours of post-license education is required.) Three of the 14 required hours must consist of the commission-prescribed Core Law. The other 11 hours may consist of “specialty” course on real estate practices approved by the Commission. A licensee who takes the 3-hour Core Law course in each year of the renewal period shall be allowed a total of 6 hours toward the 14-hour requirement. In that case, the “specialty” course hours need total only 8 hours. Question: Can I take correspondence courses to fulfill the 14-hour continuing education requirement? Answer: Yes. A FREC-approved equivalent correspondence course or other FREC-approved forms of distance learning may substitute for the live instruction. Question: What are the continuing education requirements for an active or inactive sales associate’s licensee? June 2008
Answer: A minimum of 14 hours of commission-approved classroom instruction during each license renewal period (excluding the first renewal period of your current license when 45-hours of post-license education is required). Three of the 14 required hours must consist of the FREC-prescribed Core Law courses. The other 11 hours may consist of “specialty” courses on real estate practices approved by FREC. A licensee who takes the 3-hour Core Law course in each year of the renewal period is allowed a total of 6 hours toward the 14-hour requirement. In such even, the “specialty” course hours need total only 8 hours. Question: Tell me something I probably don’t know? Answer: A licensee can earn 3 of the required 11 continuing education hours in the “specialty” area by attending a FREC meeting where disciplinary cases are considered. Licensee must attend the entire day of hearings to earn the credit. Seven days advance notice must be given to the Education Section of the Division of Real Estate so attendance may be monitored. Question: What do I need to know about license reactivation? Answer: If you hold an involuntarily inactive license, make sure you complete the reactivation education within two years of the first day you failed to hold a valid and active license. After the second year, the broker’s or sales associate’s right to reactivate automatically expires. If the time elapsed is less than one year, the reactivation requirement can be fulfilled by satisfactorily completing 14 hours of continuing education as described in Rule 61J2-3.009. If time elapsed is more than 12 months but less than 24 months, the requirement is 28 hours of prescribed classroom hours of the prerequisite course for licensure as a salesperson. The subjects emphasized are real estate law and license law, and a 70% grade on the quiz is required to pass. I hope that these topics have been of some assistance to you, but remember I am always here to assist you in your educational needs. Just give me a call at (407) 846-0117, ext. 109, or send me an email at education@osceola-realtors.com. ■
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Legal Ease By Randy Hillman No Magic in Quit Claim Deeds For reasons that are not clear to me many people have come to the conclusion that the Quit Claim Deed or as it is incorrectly called sometimes, Quick Claim Deed, has some kind of magical powers in transferring property. In reality, it is the worse way to receive a transfer of property. Most property is transferred by Warranty Deed. The FAR/BAR Contract provides that in most circumstances transfer will be by warranty deed. A deed is only signed by the owners/sellers of property. It is not signed by the buyer. When a seller executes a warranty deed, he is warranting that he
is the owner of the property, and he has the right to transfer the property. A seller who executes a quit claim deed is not representing he owns the property. He is only represents that, if it owns it, he is transferring it to the named buyer or grantee. If a seller transfers property by warranty deed, and does not own the property, he could be sued for damages because he is warranting he owns the property. A Seller who signs a quit claim deed cannot be sued because he is not even representing that he owns the property. Of course, most buyers do not have to rely on the representations of sellers as to ownership of property. They obtain title insurance which protects them should the seller not have the right to transfer the property. Over the last several years, many people have decided transferring property is something they can do themselves. They obtain forms off the internet or from office supply stores, complete the forms, and then have them recorded.
Texas Hold â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Em Tournament
Continued on Page 15.
There will be professional poker dealers for each tournament date! Tournament dates are: June 7th, July 19th, Aug 9th at the Association with the grand finale being held during the RPAC Auction on Saturday, September 6, 2008, the day of the auction. The maximum number of people per tournament date that can play is 48 per tournament date. Anyone can play in the tournament and the entry fee is $60 per tournament date (or $150 for all 3). There will be 6 winners each night that are guaranteed a seat in the finalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; competition on September 6th. There will be beer, wine and finger foods.
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You must register online to attend this event at: www.osceolarealtors.org. Then click on Online Member Services then to 2008 Texas Hold â&#x20AC;&#x153;Em Event. Osceola
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Legal Ease. Continued from Page 14. The Florida Statutes are very specific about requirements for a deed to be valid. Deeds need to show the marital status of the parties, and may need to indicate that the property is not homestead. These requirements are not known to most people who are trying to save attorney fees by completing the deeds themselves. Many times failing to correctly fill out a deed results in title problems that end up costing more time, money and aggravation than can be imagined.
of transfer. However, if there is a mortgage on the property, documentary stamps are due based on the amount of that mortgage. Although preparing and recording a deed may seem like a simple mater, doing it wrong may create problems that can become very expensive to fix. ■
The Clerk of Court, who in most counties handles the recording of deeds, will not tell you when there is a problem with the deed that is being recorded. However, the Department of Revenue does audit recorded documents to insure the proper recording taxes are paid. They are looking for transfers where only the minimum documentary stamps are paid. Indeed, individuals who are preparing deeds for themselves many times try to save money by representing that there was no money paid at the time
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Full Service Marketing For YOUR Listings... Think BIG. Think Homes & Land. Congratulations to the following agents whose personal website on HomesAndLand.com received the most views in March 2008: ~ Robert Anarumo ~ 1441 views ~ Matthew Allen ~ 1092 views ~ Abdul Aitboukil ~ 875 views ~ Jeri Anarumo ~ 584 views ~ Karen Orriss-Ross ~ 511 views For advertising information,
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HomesAndLandOrlandoResort.com June 2008
we want to extend our sincere appreciation to our Sponsors! Premier Sponsor
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RPAC Texas Hold `Em Tournament At the Association 6:00pm
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Young Professionals Network Location: TBD
MLS Designer Tools 10:00am-12:00noon
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Roadmap to a Successful Closing 9:00am-1:00pm 4 CE hrs.
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MLS Marketing/ Network & Knowledge 8:30am-10:00am
Public Policy 5 Committee Meeting 3:00pm-4:00pm
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MLS Marketing/ Network & Knowledge 8:30am-10:00am
Committee Meeting 10:00am-11:30am
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Introduction to MLXchange 9:00am-12:00noon
Friday
New Member Welcome 9:00am-11:00am
RPAC Auction
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Property Broker SeriesManagement Meeting Module 7, 8 & 9 Rentalhomes.com 2:00pm-4:00pm Presentation MLS Marketing/ 12:00noon-2:00pm Network & Knowledge Lunch Provided 8:30am-10:00am RSVP Required!
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Thursday
Listing Maintenance 1:00pm-3:30pm
OBC Meeting 1:00pm-2:00pm
Monthly Planner
June 2008
As America becomes more diverse, the top goal of immigrants is to own their own home. REALTORS® can help buyers of any cultural background achieve the American dream of homeownership. Knowing how to work effectively with diverse populations can help you build business success in today’s multicultural real estate market.
la compañía compañía hispana hispana de de ®®
“REALZAN EL EL PROCESO PROCESODE DELA LATRANSACCIÓN TRANSACCIÓN DE BIENES RAICES” DE BIENES RAICES” 1201 Emmett Emmett Street Street••Kissimmee, Kissimmee,FL FL 34741 34741 407-931-1343 407-931-1343 phone phone••407-931-1415 407-931-1415fax fax Arbor Ridge
®
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OK
, so maybe we can’t make you famous or turn you into a celebrity, but we can get you noticed and provide the recognition you deserve within the community. Have you won a recent award or been honored for your charitable work? If so, let us know and we will feature you in our “Realtors® Making A Difference” section of our Association magazine the Osceola ReVIEW and the Osceola News Gazette. Send your information and photo to Gwen Dukes at communications@osceola-realtors.com.
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Built to Order™ is built around your clients. Their individual style. Their way of life. And, most of all, their budget. It’s an experience that ensures they’ll have a home they truly love.
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888-KB-HOMES Tammy M. Bowers Rachel Haggard kbhome.com Julie Head Broker Cooperation Welcome. ©2008 KB Home (KBH). Payment of Broker Co-op requires Broker to accompany andHead register Tammy M. Bowers Rachel Haggard JulieAgent buyer on first Dept. visit and comply with Broker Co-op Agreement. See Built toManager Order™ options and upgrades offered at KB Home Closing Manager Operations Closing Studio. All options/upgrades require additional charges, may require ordering at predetermined stages of construction and Closing Manager Manager Agent are subject toDept. change/discontinuation anytime by KBOperations Home. KB Home is not a custom homebuilder.Closing Photo shows upgraded landscaping/options and may not represent community’s lowest-priced homes. See sales representative for details. Equal housing opportunity. CBC051212 ORL-72771 407-931-2889 phone 322 N. John Young Parkway 407-931-2889 phone 322 N. John Young Suite Parkway 407-931-2852 fax 1 407-931-2852 fax Suite 1 KBHOME AD e-mail:flt@cfl.rr.com Kissimmee, FL 34741 XXXXXJune 0601 Oscar.indd 6/6/08 9:26:32 AM 20081 e-mail:flt@cfl.rr.com XXXXX 0601 4 COLOR Kissimmee, FL 34741 2
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Luis Arteaga........................................CAC International Realty William Borgemeister.........................Coldwell Banker Feltrim Maria Castro................................... Prudential Sapphire Realty Tennille Cortese.............................. Paradise Home Realty, LLC Maria Cristancho........................................ Luxury Realty, Inc. Iluminado Cruz.......................................... Watson Realty Corp. Chadwick Donnally.........................Sunshine Quest Realty, Inc. Yadira Fernandez........................Exit Real Estate Professionals Kelly Freeman............................Coldwell Banker Ackley Realty Kris Korapati......................American Realty Group of USA, LLC Shyam Kotwal...............................First Choice Real Estate, LLC Joshua Kriegler.............. Appraisal Specialists of Central Florida Yadira Lopez...................................Sunshine Quest Realty, Inc. Dianna Mashburn..................................... Watson Realty Corp. Natalia Mesa..................................Direct Realty Solutions, LLC Tania Moreno........................................Sky Land Realty Group Rene Ojito........................................REMAX Premier Properties Juan Paradas............................................... 6T9 Realty Village Victor Perez.....................................................365 Realty, LLC Marilyn Rankin........................................ Sunshine Real Estate Penny Reis....................................... MLS By Owner Realty, Inc. Carlos Richiez........................................................... CJ Realty Jose Rodriguez................................. Coldwell Banker Solomon Patricia Sarfert............................... Paradise Home Realty, LLC Fabio Serna . ............................................ Watson Realty Corp. Cheryl Straub..............................Assist 2 Sell Advantage Realty
NEW AFFILIATE OFFICES BUTLER MORTGAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . BARBARA BOWLING 1012 W. Emmett St., Ste. B * Kissimmee, FL 34741 Phone: (407) 931-3800 * Fax: (407) 931-3801 BUY-YOUR-SIDE HOME INSPECTIONS . . . . TOMMY JOYNES 6301 Lake Road * St. Cloud, FL 34771 Phone: (407) 892-0911 PROMINENT TITLE INSURANCE AGENCY, INC . . BETTY DOBBIE 897 Towne Center Drive * Poinciana, FL 34759 Phone: (407) 343-1560 * Fax: (407) 343-1561 QUBTY FINANCIAL GROUP . . . . . . . . . . . . DAVID QUBTY 7800 W. Sand Lake Road, #206 * Orlando, FL 32819 Phone: (407) 370-3030 * Fax: (407) 370-2040 WORLD FINANCIAL MORTGAGE GROUP . . . . TODD KOZLOSKI 6750 Turkey Lake Rd., Suite 1 * Orlando, FL 32819 Phone: (407) 345-4730 * Fax: (407) 345-4731
NEW REAL ESTATE OFFICES 6T9 REALTY VILLAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JUAN PARADAS 13574 Village Park Drive * Orlando, FL 32837 Phone: (407) 506-0463 * Fax: (407) 859-6621 AMERICAN REALTY GROUP OF USA, LLC . . . KRIS KORAPATI 12701 S. John Young Parkway * Orlando, FL 32837 Phone: (407) 965-5040 * Fax: (407) 888-4716 FIRST CHOICE REAL ESTATE, LLC . . . . . . . SHYAM KOTWAL 13574 Village Park Drive * Orlando, FL 32837 Phone: (407) 855-0809 * Fax: (407) 888-4719 MLS BY OWNER REALTY, INC . . . . . . . . . . . . PENNY REIS 4700 Millenia Blvd., Suite 175 * Orlando, FL 32839 Phone: (407) 854-5576 PARADISE HOME REALTY, LLC . . . . . . . . PATRICIA SARFERT 811 W. Garden Street * Pensacola, FL 32501 Phone: (850) 477-5615 * Fax: (850) 475-2744 SUNSHINE REAL ESTATE . . . . . . . . . . . . MARILYN RANKIN 438 Pinewood Circle * Davenport, FL 33896 Phone: (863) 353-1598 * Fax: (337) 893-8245
1105 Shady Lane â&#x20AC;˘ Kissimmee, FL 34744
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