MEMBERS FIRST
NEWSLETTER
February 2019
CODE OF ETHICS SUSPENSIONS START NOW
IN THIS ISSUE •
President’s Message
•
FR Scholarship Program
•
Great American Realtor® Days
•
FR Honor Society
•
Supra Ekey App Update
•
RPAC Committee
•
Global Alliance Committee
•
REALTORS® Care Committee
•
Class Registration & Waitlists
•
Class Schedule
•
Affiliate Business Partners
•
New Member Welcome
Being a member of the National Association of Realtors® means you hold yourself to a higher standard. The REALTORS® Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice set you apart from those who are not members by establishing objective, enforceable ethical standards that govern the professional conduct of REALTORS®. Every two years, REALTORS® are required to take the Code of Ethics course. Have you completed the Code of Ethics training for the 2017-2018 cycle? The deadline to complete the course was December 31, 2018. Members who are still not compliant have received numerous communications from us. If you completed the course online or at another Association, please send a copy of your certificate to membership@osceolarealtors.com so we can update your file. Effective immediately, if we have contacted you and you still have not completed your cycle 5 (2017-2018) ethics training, we will be suspending your service. Per NAR policy, if no action is taken after suspension your membership will be terminated on March 1.
Welcome Home! PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The Association has started 2019 with a huge jump! We are well on our way to accomplishing our 2019 RPAC goal of $81,117. As of January, we have collected $8,517. This month we are hosting our first RPAC Online Silent Auction, which will conclude on February 6 at 7 pm. Please visit www.501auctions. com/oscarauction to see what we have available. Winning bidders can pick up their items at the Association. Did you know that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of RPAC. Over the years, RPAC has given Realtors® a voice to speak out on issues that affect our businesses, and the ability to have a true impact on legislation at the state and federal levels.
DANNY HERNANDEZ
PRESIDENT
My fellow board members and I are truly excited to roll up our sleeves and make a significant impact on the success of our 3700+ members. Our Motto, “Together Towards Tomorrow“ has really been a motivator for our office staff, lead by CEO Twis Lizasuain. I encourage all of our members to attend classes and visit the Association to get to know our amazing staff. I personally have set a goal to meet as many Realtor Nation members as possible. We are here to help you succeed and want you to feel like you are at home when you walk into OSCAR.
Florida Realtors® Seeking Scholarship winners Do you have kids currently in college, or maybe one who is about to graduate high school? Do your clients? Be sure to share the news about the Student Scholarship Program offered through Florida Realtors® Education Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation that provides educational scholarships. Any Florida high school senior who will be attending an undergraduate college or university; any student currently enrolled in an undergraduate college or university (any major); or any student pursuing a graduate degree is eligible. There are no limitations as to location of the college or university attended, as long as the applicant indicates the intent to return to work in Florida after graduation. Proof of the student’s legal Florida residency is required. The application is only online. For more information please visit FloridaRealtors.org.
Deadline is March 4, 2019
Join me and a delegation of politically-minded members for Great American Realtor® Days being held in Tallahassee from March 18 20. During this event you will be able to engage with local and state legislators to discuss real estate-related topics that affect our industry. Homeownership matters, attending this event will also put you in a position were you can advocate for buyers and sellers to ensure that they benefit from changes in legislation as well.
TWIS LIZASUAIN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
If you are passionate about real estate and want to share your values with our congressional representatives, I encourage you to attend this three day event. Space is limited. Please do not wait to register. To reserve your spot, please contact Cheryl Slingerland at 407-846-0117 or cslingerland@osceola-realtors.com. I hope many of you take advantage of this amazing opportunity. See you on March 18!
March 18 - 20, 2019
Attend as a member of the Osceola County Association of Realtors® for
$275
Cost Includes: • Registration • Transportation • Double Occupancy Hotel Room for 2 Nights • Delegation Dinner • Florida Realtors® Block Party • Breakfast Meeting with Our Local Legislators SPACE IS LIMITED. CALL NOW TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT! Please contact Cheryl Slingerland at (407) 846-0117 or cslingerland@osceola-realtors.com to reserve your spot.
Deadline
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR FLORIDA REALTORS® HONOR SOCIETY
6
February
The Florida Realtors® Honor Society recognizes members for participation at the local, state, and national levels of the Realtor® organization; for activity in the National Association of Realtors’® Institutes, Societies and Councils; for designations earned, educational activities, and political involvement. If you are interested in applying, please submit your completed application to tlizasuain@ osceola-realtors.com by February 6, 2019.
Tips For the New Supra® eKey App The rollouts for the new Supra® eKey App is going well. Thousands of key-holders are updating their app each day. Based on member feedback, Supra has identified a few tips that we’d like to pass along. • Do not delete the existing eKEY app and then install the new one, which requires obtaining a new authorization code. Existing eKEY users should use the update feature in their app store. This process does not require a new authorization code. • The Android™ operating system now requires “location services” be enabled when using Bluetooth® devices. This applies to all Bluetooth devices including iBox BT LE as well as other Bluetooth devices such as speakers or a vehicle. A page with instructions on how to turn on location services has been added to the Supra® website, http://www.supraekey. com/CustomerSupport/Pages/Support/eKEY/Android-Location-Services-eKEY.aspx •
An updated version of the Android app will be released in the coming days to improve a few isolated icons and text items, as well as rare updating issues with specific devices.
Visit www.suprakey.com/ekey for more information on the new app.
RPAC Committee
Global Alliance Committee Association to Participate in First Outbound Trade Mission The Global Alliance Committee is proud to announce its participation in the 19th Annual Realtor Quest Trade Show and Conference in Toronto, Canada. With Canadians being the largest group of international buyers in Florida, it made sense to organize the Global Alliance Committee’s first outbound trade mission to coincide with the largest trade show venue in Canada. The purpose of this trade mission is to learn about vacation home opportunities and partnering with real estate professionals in Canada. The dates for this great international event are May 29-30, 2019. We are in the process of coordinating this event and will be providing specific details on how members can participate soon.
KELVIS MELO
GLOBAL ALLIANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR
REALTORSÂŽ Care Committe News IDignity Osceola is looking for volunteers to help with their next event on February 15. IDignity was created to assist the disadvantaged in Central Florida to navigate the complexities of obtaining their personal identification, such as birth certificates, Florida ID cards, and Social Security cards. In order to implement this program, it requires the assistance of volunteers. The volunteers will serve in a wide variety of roles including introducing the process to clients, filling out forms for clients, assisting agencies, or shepherding clients through the process. IDignity depends on the generous investment of time and resources by the local community in order to fulfill its crucial mission of restoring dignity and hope by providing identification. The volunteer registration is open until February 8. If you are interested in volunteering please visit http://osceola.idignity.org/volunteer/ or email idignity.osceola@ idignity.org. Event Location: First Christian Church, Kissimmee 415 North Main Street, Kissimmee, FL 34744 (Event parking available in the lot at the intersection of Church St. and N. Brack St.) We ask volunteers to arrive at 7 am for registration and breakfast. Orientation begins at 7:30 am. The event will begin at 9 am for clients.
Class Registration & Waitlists MONA SOMERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR We are seeing more and more of you utilizing the RAMCO Member Portal; good job! Access the portal by first accessing our website, OsceolaRealtors.com (by the way, our website mobile version is greatly improved!). If you haven’t checked out our website recently, please do so, as our “Education” tab has changed. Please don’t be discouraged if you find a class is full. Always contact us to be added to a waitlist. Not only will we utilize the waitlist on the day of class (please note that if you arrive without being registered you are never guaranteed a seat), but we will contact you first if we schedule a second offering of that particular class. For our Certified Real Estate Professional (CRP) classes, we offer each class at least two times per year; if the first class offering is full, please check for the second date. If the second date is full, please contact us to be added to the waitlist. As our membership grows, we will most definitely offer highly sought after classes more often. We can’t stress enough the importance of registering for classes. Because many of our classes are at capacity, arriving without being confirmed in the class means you likely will not receive a seat. We appreciate and encourage your feedback about professional development you are seeking! Please email me, msomers@osceola-realtors.com or Education Specialist Jasmin Gonzalez, jgonzalez@osceolarealtors.com if we can assist you in any way.
The Florida REALTORS® Mid-Winter meeting held many opportunities for professional development, networking, and communications. Did you know that the Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) designation program will be translated into Spanish? No specific date has been given for the completion of this big project, but we will keep you updated as we watch the progress.
FEBRUARY CALENDAR CRP Current Trends Luncheon
REDEEM YOUR EDUCATION VOUCHERS BEFORE 12/31/19
2/01/2019
11:30 am-1:00 pm
0CE
The CRP Current Trends Luncheon features local updates essential to staying abreast of what is happening in the community. This course is part of OSCAR’s exclusive Certified Real Estate Professional (CRP) program.
Core Law 2/04/2019 9:00 am-12:00 pm 3CE This course provides an advanced look into real estate law beyond the basic sales associates’ course. This course is not designed to make participants legal experts, but rather to help them identify and understand legal issues that arise. The more a licensee knows, the better he or she can work with customers and safeguard them from legal complications. This understanding will also help licensees avoid serious complications and minimize risk for themselves and their brokers.
Code of Ethics 2/04/2019 1:00 pm-4:00 pm 3CE All active REALTOR® members must take a code of ethics class sometime between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020. Failure to meet the mandate is a violation of membership requirements and will result in suspension of membership until the requirement is met or until membership is automatically terminated. This class meets the NAR mandated requirement for completion of a Code of Ethics class.
Realtor Professionalism and
2/05/2019
9:00 am-1:00 pm
Follow-Thru Whether you are brand new to real estate, or a veteran, if you want to grow your business to unprecedented heights then you need to be savvy in interpersonal communication. Today’s technology is impeding the finesse of communicating effectively with all types of individuals. This course will provide a guide on how to influence prospects and win in every crucial conversation. The “hard skills“ how to write a contact, conduct listing presentations and marketing are the easy skills to master. It’ s the “soft skills” or “people skills” that can trip you up if you’re not careful. We’ll discuss the process from contract through closing. Then we will discuss the fiscal and legal responsibilities and how that can affect the way you do business.
4CE
Investing in Income Properties The Big 6 Formula for Achieving
2/06/2019
9:00 am-1:30pm
3CE
Wealth in Real Estate Ken Rosen has been in the trenches of buying, selling and investing in real estate for over 50 years. He has brokered, bought and sold over $750 million worth of investment property. Along the way you could say he’s picked up a couple of tips. He shares these tips in his book and half-day seminar, “Investing in Income Properties - The Big 6 Formula for Achieving Wealth in Real Estate”. iCE Clarifying Service Animals
2/08/2019
9:00 am-12:00 pm
$$
3CE
Have you ever been in the situation where tenants are looking to rent a house with a no pet policy, or you have a buyer looking to purchase a condo in an association with a no pet policy, or maybe you had a short-term tenant bring their animal on vacation where no pets are allowed? If you haven’t chances are you will! Code of Ethics (In Spanish)
2/08/2019
1:00 pm-4:00 pm
3CE
All active REALTOR® members must take a code of ethics class sometime between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020. Failure to meet the mandate is a violation of membership requirements and will result in suspension of membership until the requirement is met or until membership is automatically terminated. This class meets the NAR mandated requirement for completion of a Code of Ethics class. MLS Basic (In Spanish)
2/13/2019
9:00 am-12:00 pm
0CE
This class introduces you to the Matrix MLS system and shows you how to use it for your business. Learn about: personalizing your settings in Matrix; exploring market areas; searching by criteria and location; and managing the emails your contacts receive from you. REGISTER: MFRMLS.COM MLS Compliance 101 (In Spanish)
2/13/2019
1:00 pm-2:15 pm
0CE
To ensure the integrity of listing information and to protect the cooperative nature of the MLS, rules and regulations are in place for how to enter listings and use MLS information. This class will walk you through the rules, to ensure the best possible MLS experience for all subscribers. REGISTER: MFRMLS.COM MLS Adding & Editing Listings
2/13/2019
2:30 pm-3:45 pm
0CE
(In Spanish) This class shows you how to enter listings into the MLS. Topics include: types of listings; required paperwork for entering a listing; key fields on the listing entry form; adding photos and attachments; listing remarks; sending listings to various portals and websites; and making changes to a listing. REGISTER: MFRMLS.COM Advanced Fundamentals of
2/19/2019
9:00 am-12:00 pm
3CE
Commercial Real Estate The purpose of this class is to tell you what those “Next Steps” are including educational opportunities available, how to land your first true commercial position, the best way to get commercial listings, and once you get a listing show you how to market the property effectively. You’ll leave the class more knowledgeable on what to do next and more confident that you can move forward in the direction of being a commercial real estate specialist.
Commercial Core Law 2/19/2019 1:00 pm-4:00 pm 3CE The Florida legislature passes and amends real estate laws and rules each year. Many of these changes can be daunting and overwhelming. Commercial Core Law will assist RealtorsÂŽ by focusing on changes to state and federal real estate license law, highlighting both laws and rules. The course will give a brief overview of commercial transactions vs. residential, discuss commercial real estate agreements, and discuss legal issues unique to commercial transactions. MLS Basic 2/20/2019 9:00 am-12:00 pm 0CE This class introduces you to the Matrix MLS system and shows you how to use it for your business. Learn about: personalizing your settings in Matrix; exploring market areas; searching by criteria and location; and managing the emails your contacts receive from you. REGISTER: MFRMLS.COM MLS Compliance 101
2/20/2019
1:00 pm-2:15 pm
0CE
To ensure the integrity of listing information and to protect the cooperative nature of the MLS, rules and regulations are in place for how to enter listings and use MLS information. This class will walk you through the rules, to ensure the best possible MLS experience for all subscribers. REGISTER: MFRMLS.COM MLS Adding & Editing Listings
2/20/2019
2:30 pm-3:45 pm
0CE
This class shows you how to enter listings into the MLS. Topics include: types of listings; required paperwork for entering a listing; key fields on the listing entry form; adding photos and attachments; listing remarks; sending listings to various portals and websites; and making changes to a listing. REGISTER: MFRMLS.COM
MLS Advantage 2/22/2019 9:00 am-11:00 am 2CE This class will show you how you can supplement your income with MLS Advantage. MLS Advantage allows participating boards and members to share available MLS listings across the state of Florida. With a single search, you can find all listings that match your search parameters from participating MLS boards. Property listing information can be auto-populated from MLSAdvantage directly into contracts in Form Simplicity. This valuable search tool is available only to members of subscribing Associations and MLS.
Foundations of Form Simplicity
2/22/2019
12:00 pm-2:00 pm
2CE
Find out what computer equipment and software requirements you need for the Form Simplicity program. Learn the time saving configurations of the various components within the Form Simplicity program. Keep your profile current, set up email notifications, create an email signature, and import contacts from various sources such as Outlook, Gmail, and electronic business cards. Optimizing Your Workflow in Form
2/22/2019
2:30 pm-4:30 pm
2CE
Simplicity From the moment you go on a listing appointment to the writing of a sales contract for a customer, the entire transaction can be handled with Form Simplicity. The objectives of this class are learn how to sign into the blank forms library, create a transaction, use auto fill tools for any static fields, import data, insert forms, share date with customers, and use digital signature features to seal the deal.
GRI 102 Starting Your Business
2/26-27/2019
8:00 am-5:00 pm
8CE
Standards of Practice (Course 1): GRI 101, 102, and 103 are each a 15-hour course with a 1.5-hour exam approved for 8 hours of continuing education specialty credit or 15 hours of sales associate post licensing credit per module.GRI 102 covers: contacts to contracts, goal setting, business planning, and professional success transaction by transaction. Choosing and Writing a Successful 2/28/2019
9:00 am-5:00 pm
7CE
Contract The purpose of this class is to assist you in competently preparing a purchase and sale contract for residential real estate. You will likely be nervous the first couple of times you prepare one, and that’s normal. However, that nervous anxiety should not be due to a lack of competence. Rather, you’re anxious because you want to do it right!
IMPORTANT: REGISTERING FOR CLASS Many of our classes, particularly CRP classes, fill quickly. Please enroll in any of the classes offered at the Association online at www.osceolarealtors.com, or by calling Membership Services. Parking Reminder: please park in designated parking spaces in front of the Association and in the rear grass parking area. Please do not park on the unmarked driveway pavement. It is also not recommended that members park close to the retention pond (unmarked pavement) due to intermittent construction activity.
Register for classes and events in 3 easy steps!
Affiliate Business Community A Clear Choice Title & Escrow A.C.F. Home Inspections, Inc.
Adames Pest Solutions, Inc. Advertising Mania Inc. Altrua Global Solutions ANB Inspection Services, Inc. Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group A-Z Team Title, LLC Best Home Inspections of Florida, Inc. Black Dog Drone Services BPG Inspection, LLC Budget Professional Service Butler Mortgage Carpet Cleaners USA Inc. Celebration Title Group Centennial Bank CenterState Bank of Florida, N.A. Chief Inspection Services Closer Look Inspections, Inc. CPC Law Creative Printing Services Cross Country Mortgage CTR Multi Service Inc. Cunningham’s Inc. Double S Home Inspection Edward Lian Photography Esquire Home Inspection, LLC First American Home Warranty First American Title First International Title Florida Blue Health Insurance Frank’s Home Inspections LLC Globe Home Protection Headquarters Home Warranty of America Homebridge Financial Services, Inc. Housemaster Home Inspections IFREC Real Estate Schools Inspect Central Florida
Integrity First Title Laureate Title Law Office of Daniel Villazon Luis A Martin’s Home Inspections Mattamy Homes Moneycorp, Inc. Moneyhouse US My Florida Mortagage Solutions New American Funding North American Title Company Old Republic Home Protection Oliver Title Law Olympus Insurance Company Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc Patricia L. Daugherty, Atty. At Law Photography By Skip Stowers Pillar To Post Prodigal Homes Inspection & Consulting Roland H. Acosta & Associates, P.A. Serenity Reserve, LLC Smart International Title, LLC Solano Home Inspections Inc. Stewart Title Company Suntrust Mortgage Systeco Pest Control The Grove Resort & Water Park The Headquarters Building Trustco Bank Uniform Cottage Varep Central Florida Chapter Victoria Real Estate Academy Wayne’s Home Inspections, LLC ZAP Home Inspections LLC
Affiliate Business Community
Edward Lian Photography
Welcome New
Members
Dwayne Aitkens - BHHS Results Realty Jorge Arias - Florida Realty Team Of Central Vanessa Augustu - Keller Williams Advantage III Michael Ault - Homepride Realty Services, Inc. Steven Ault - Homepride Realty Services, Inc. Angela Avonce - V Properties, Inc. Lulis Batista - Odry Vargas Realty Group, LLC Stephen Brecht - Starr Realty, LLC Michelle Butler - Keller Williams at The Lakes Lichelle Clayton Walters - Gold Star Realty & Management Paula Corbett - Florida One Realty International, LLC Michelle Cortes - Keller Williams Advantage III Nicholas Diaz - Allegiant Management Group, Inc Sherica Donaldson Rampasard -REMAX Premier Properties Gomaa Elsaid - Coldwell Banker Ackley Realty Luis Gutierrez - Luxury Realty, Inc. Keith Henry - Profiles International Realty Giuliana Izquierdo Colon - Keller Williams Classic II Richard Juarez - Keller Williams Classic II Nelly Latour Lozano - Home Trust Realty Group Paula Lessa - Starr Realty, LLC Cara Mann - C21 Blue Sky Realty Group Gladys Mercadal - Weichert Realtors Hallmark Pro Frederick Mulkey - Keller Williams Advantage III Abdelaziz Naji - Keller Williams Classic II Maria Noboa - Keller Williams at The Lakes Sarah Nowman - Exit Realty Champions Luisa Nunez - Keller Williams Classic II Jodenny Ogando - Homepride Realty Services, Inc. Karen Oliveira - K Realty Karla Ortiz Lopez - The Property Pros Real Estate, Inc. Diego Parra - La Rosa Realty, LLC Karla Ortiz Lopez - The Property Pros Real Estate, Inc. Diego Parra - La Rosa Realty, LLC
Welcome New
Members
Zoraya Quesada - Zea Realty & Associates Yezmin Restrepo - Keller Williams Classic II Jason Rodriguez - Keller Williams at The Lakes Cristian Rojas - Robert Slack Fine Homes, LLC Mayre Rojas - Agent Trust Realty Corporation Jesus Romero - La Rosa Realty, LLC Brandon Silverio - Keller Williams Classic II Benjamin Smith - Keller Williams at The Lakes Renee Stone - Florida One Realty International, LLC Michael Suazo - Keller Williams Classic II Aracely Tello - Property Outlet International Hilda Thevenin - La Rosa Realty, LLC
AND AFFILIATES William Chase - New American Funding Angel Davila - Cross Country Mortgage Maricela Flores - My Florida Mortgage Solutions Edward Lian - Edward Lian Photography Scott Lindquist - Esquire Home Inspection, LLC