February 2023 Newsletter

MEMBERS FIRST NEWSLETTER

Are you familiar with the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC)? RPAC is the best way we can maximize our political power and invest in our profession. The voluntary funds contributed to RPAC helps elect candidates for public office who share our views on issues that affect our community. Investing your fair share is much appreciated, but there are ways to elevate your investment, such as becoming a Major Investor. Major Investors are passionate about the future

of the real estate industry. For going above and beyond, they are rewarded and recognized with a variety of benefits and accolades. At OSCAR, we offer a unique way to become a Major Investor for less than $7 a day with our payment plan. Are you ready to make the commitment to invest in your profession and homeownership and begin receiving your exclusive benefits and accolades? For more information, please contact Dom Scalise at 407.846.0117 Ext. 204. Thank you for your investment!

Are you interested in expanding your leadership skills and/ or possibly serving on the Osceola County Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors? If so, I would strongly encourage you to consider attending our upcoming class, “The Leadership Puzzle...Putting the Pieces Together.”

Instructed by Adorna O. Carroll, President of Dynamic Directions, Inc., an international sales training consulting firm and a partner and co-author of the Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) designation course, has been training future leaders for local and state associations all over the US and Canada for over ten years by teaching leadership training programs and facilitating strategic planning sessions.

During this course Adorna will share with our members how to elevate their performance of their legal duties, responsibilites, partnerships, efficiency, management skills and more!

This course will give prospective board members an overview of what serving on the board of directors entails and how to lead successfully.

Space for this course is extremely limited. Again, this course is required for any members considering joining the Osceola County Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors. Reserve your spot today at OsceolaRealtors.org/Puzzle

EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH FLORIDA LEGISLATORS

Registration is now open for the Great American REALTOR® Days (GARD) scheduled for March 29-31, 2023, in Tallahassee at the State Capitol.

GARD is a great opportunity to make your voice count and sharing your opinions which will ultimately help shape the real estate business in Florida.

For only $375, you can attend as a represntative for OSCAR. Cost includes: registration, transportation, a 2-night hotel stay (double occupancy), a legislative luncheon, president’s dinner, visits to the capitol, and admission to the Florida Realtors Block Party. BONUS! This year’s attendees will take an EXCLUSIVE tour of NAR’s “ Riding with the Brand” bus on its national tour— its ONLY stop in Florida! Space is limited. Call or email Twis to reserve your spot and make a difference on Florida legislation!

IN THIS ISSUE

• RPAC Payment Plan

• The Leadership Puzzle

• Great American Realtor Days

• Welcome New VIPs

• RPAC Committee

• Realtors® Care Committee

• Global Alliance Committee

• OSCAR Benefit

• Commercial Alliance Committee

• December Market Statistics

• February Class Calendar

• Vital Industry Partner Directory

• Welcome New Members

TWIS LIZASUAIN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

CEO

New VIPs

Frank Reindl SnapHouss - Orlando

Greetings from the RPAC Committee!

Thank you for your contributions in 2022. Your dedication to advocacy efforts helped us EXCEED our financial, participation and major investor goals which resulted in Florida Realtors recognizing us with the Triple Crown Awards.

Cathy Done NorthPoint Mortgage

Becoming a VIP is an excellent opporunity to get your company’s name out to indviduals that can directly benefit from your prodcuts and/ or services. To learn more about becoming a VIP, contact Nancy Hubbard at nhubbard@ osceola-realtors.com

THANK YOU to all those that invested!

We look forward to your continued support for RPAC this year. Several fun events are being planned to help us meet our $155,364.79 goal. Do you have the cutest pet? If so, look for details on our 3rd Annual PAWSCARS Awards which will take place in March. You can nominate your pet in 5 different categories and members will vote on the winners.

In May, we are hosting an International Food and Wine Festival to include a silent and live auction, cornhole competition and our famous Fling the Ring game. Look for details on these events and more in the coming weeks. On behalf of the RPAC Committee, thank you in advance for your support this year. We appreciate you investing in our profession.

Global Alliance Commitee

The Global Alliance Committee kicked off the new year with our first in person meeting in over two years. It was a pleasure to see brand-new members and returning members committed to furthering global opportunities for all of our OSCAR members. We as a committee, want to help all of our members grow their international business and are excited to bring two global classes this March. Please sign up for “Introductions to International Real Estate” and/or “Building Your International Business.” Both classes will be taught by Pat Tan & Carla Raymann Kidd via ZOOM on Friday, March 17.

We are also honored to be considered for the NAR Diamond Award for a third time since 2019. It is the highest award which honors the most active REALTOR® associations working internationally. I want to offer special thanks to our immediate past Chair, Kymbat, for showing true expertise in her field and her willingness to share her time and knowledge with myself and this valuable committee. Also, thank you to our 2023 president, Imran, for his leadership, guidance, and for trusting me to follow his vision for this year.

JOE JOHNSON RPAC COMMITTEE CHAIR

CARA BRITAIN GLOBAL ALLIANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR

REALTORS® CARE Committee

PAULA BUI REALTORS® CARE COMMITTEE CHAIR

Happy New Year from your REALTORS® Care Committee! Our members eagerly welcome 2023 and the many, exciting opportunities it will bring us to serve our community as ambassadors of our Association and our profession. And, we already have a service project in the books!

Did you know that thousands of Florida Realtors® from across the state gather for the entire month of July each year to clean up lakes, beaches, and other waterways? OSCAR has selected July 5th as our date to participate in this important cause to Clean Up Florida Waters which is sponsored by Florida Realtors®. There will be more information to come so stay tuned! You won’t want to miss joining forces with your fellow OSCAR Realtors® on this day to help us do our part to Clean Up Florida Waters in our local community!

Osceola Brokers Committee

On behalf of the Osceola County Broker’s Committee, I would like to wish all of our Brokers and Managers a Happy New Year! We are excited for the opportunity to bring Brokers and managers together to provide relevant education that will assist in enhancing best-practices and effective strategies for achieving profitability as well as to provide great networking opportunities.

SHARON COLLADO OSCEOLA BROKERS COMMITTEE CHAIR

Broker-Owners, please save the date for our Lunch & Learn on Tuesday, April 4 at 11:00 a.m. to learn all things compliance. It’s so important for us to stay up to date with the latest changes in compliance and to understand the legal requirements of operating your business to ensure you, your agents and your clients are protected.

We are grateful for the opportunity to serve and look forward to seeing you at our upcoming event.

February Member Benefits Guide

Agents averaging 7 transactions and $75,500 in income!

Buffini’s new agent training program, a 14-week program, provides a step-by-step approach to building a successful real estate business. The program is aimed at newer agents looking for a firm foundation and those returning to the business after a hiatus—but the program will also serve those looking to take their business to the next level.

Exclusive Member Benefit: NAR Members receive a benefit of $100 off the 100 Days to Greatness Program. Brokers can offer 100 Days to Greatness as a companion program to their onboarding processes to help give agents a strong foundation in their business.

Start off on the right foot with a proven system!

To learn more and take advantage of this offer visit: buffiniandcompany.com/100DaysNAR

Commercial Alliance Committee

AMY NOBLE COMMERCIAL ALLIANCE COMMMITTEE CHAIR

The Commercial Alliance Committee is off to a strong start and many exciting ideas were presented at our first meeting. Those ideas included meeting with Osceola and Orange Counties regarding the Land Development Code, understanding commercial data platforms, commercial leases, and a more in depth look into mortgages. Be sure to keep an eye on the OSCAR communications for upcoming commercial events!

This committee thrives on creating networking opportunities and discussing ways to grow the industry. In doing so, we are looking forward to our first Commercial Exchange meeting of 2023. All members are invited to join us on February 7, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. located at our Association’s Board Room. The Commercial Exchange meeting is an excellent opportunity for non-Commercial Alliance Committee members to promote current Commercial listings and discuss any Commercial needs or wants. We look forward to seeing you there!

GREAT AMERICAN REALTOR® DAYS

FEBRUARY CLASS CALENDAR

So You Want to be a Broker

Classroom Only - Paul Fedynich

This course presents the considerations, possibilities, and the practicalities of owning your own real estate brokerage firm. Students will understand the reasons why not every Realtor succeeds in becoming a Broker, and how to be one of the people that do. With the proper preparation you can succeed, and this course will show you how.

ZOOM

Only - Chuck Bonamer

Understanding real estate law is part of every real estate licensee’s business. The more a licensee knows, the better he or she can work with customers and safeguard them from legal complications. This material will provide a “red flag notice” of when participants are potentially going into a danger zone—the unlicensed practice of law.

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in a Tech- Centered World - ZOOM Only - Jolita Brazzano

In the digital age, the world is truly at our fingertips, but how much of what we do is truly safe? In the real estate field, dealing with confidential information is a daily occurrence. Keeping this information safe is our duty! In this course, you will learn practical strategies and skills for safeguarding your information, as well as your customer’s information, against potential hackers!

ZOOM

Only - Reese Stewart

Mandatory ethics training requirements for new and continuing Realtor members was established by the National Association’s Board of Directors. The policy dictates that all active members must take a code of ethics class once every three years. The applicable dates are the same for all Realtors irrespective of when they join. The current cycle began January 1, 2022 and ends December 31, 2024.

Classroom

Only - Adiany Goffredo

This course provides students with the ability to not only learn, but to practice techniques that are research based and field tested. Students will develop the most professional and effective business style possible by fine tuning how they communicate with others in their roles as Realtors.

Classroom Only - Nishad Khan

When couples divorce, many assets need to be divided up. Of all the different assets involved in divorce cases, the division of real estate can be the most complex and contentious. Since real estate may generally be considered the most high-valued asset owned by a couple, many issues may emerge during negotiations of the division of marital assets.

ZOOM Only - Cynthia DeLuca

In the real estate profession, risk exists on several fronts. In fact, we don’t even have to have a transaction in order to create risk. This course will speak to and help you avoid the most common risks associated with the practice of Real Estate sales and management. Code

ZOOM Only - Gonzalo Mejia

Mandatory ethics training requirements for new and continuing Realtor members was established by the National Association’s Board of Directors. The policy dictates that all active members must take a code of ethics class once every three years. The applicable dates are the same for all Realtors irrespective of when they join. The current cycle began January 1, 2022 and ends December 31, 2024.

Core Law: Avoiding the Danger Zone

(Spanish) ZOOM Only - Gonzalo Mejia

Understanding real estate law is part of every real estate licensee’s business. The more a licensee knows, the better he or she can work with customers and safeguard them from legal complications. This material will provide a “red flag notice” of when participants are potentially going into a danger zone—the unlicensed practice of law.

Listing Contract - Classroom Only - Kim Bell

Listing Contracts are an important part of the real estate business. They effectively communicate who is responsible for doing what, give time for those items to be performed, and guarantee the listing broker to be paid for these services. This class will discuss the various types of listing contracts, the difference between them, and some other options to guarantee compensation while working to effectuate the sale of a property.

Credit Repair Guide - Classroom Only - Grant Simon

Credit scores can have a significant impact on your consumers financial life. This course provides the real estate professional with a deeper understanding of Credit, Credit Scores and the effect on their clients. You will learn what steps your customers need to take in order to achieve better credit, or repair existing bad credit.

Classroom Only - Dan Lopez

Mandatory ethics training requirements for new and continuing Realtor members was established by the National Association’s Board of Directors. The policy dictates that all active members must take a code of ethics class once every three years. The applicable dates are the same for all Realtors irrespective of when they join. The current cycle began January 1, 2022 and ends December 31, 2024.

Core Law: Avoiding the Danger Zone

Classroom Only - Dan Lopez

Understanding real estate law is part of every real estate licensee’s business. The more a licensee knows, the better he or she can work with customers and safeguard them from legal complications. This material will provide a “red flag notice” of when participants are potentially going into a danger zone—the unlicensed practice of law.

VITAL INDUSTRY PARTNERS

2020 Inspection Solutions

407 Inspections Inc.

A Clear Choice Title & Escrow

A.C.F. Home Inspections, Inc.

Acosta, Moore & Shrader, PLLC

American Ad Specialties, Inc.

Americas Homes Inc.

ANB Inspection Services, Inc.

Anchor Bay Financial

ARB Home Inspections, Inc.

Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group

A-Z Team Title, LLC

BPG Inspection, LLC

Budget Professional Services

Butler Mortgage

Cardel Homes

Celebration Title Group

Chief Inspection Services

Choice Home Warranty

Closer Look Inspections, Inc.

Cunningham’s Inc.

Cutco Closing Gifts

David Allen Productions

Dirk Webb and Friends

Double S Home Inspection

Farmers Insurance

Florida TitlePros, LLC

Frank’s Home Inspection, LLC

Gold Coast Schools

Harding Bell International

Home 1st Lending

Home Team Mortgage

powered by Absolute Home

Mortgage

Homebridge Financial Services, Inc.

Housemaster Home Inspections

Infill Consulting

Land Title Professionals, LLC

Luis A Martin’s Home Inspections

Magnolia Title Florida

Max Protection Group LLC

Moneycorp, Inc.

My Florida Mortgage Solutions

New American Funding

Notary Hive

Notary Service Professional

Old Republic Home Protection

Osceola County Property

Appraiser

Mortgage Group, Inc.

Patricia L. Daugherty, Atty. At Law

Photography by Skip Stowers

Pillar to Post Home Inspectors

Planet Home Lending

Pro-Master Home Inspection

Quality Title and Escrow

RBC Bank USA

Red Door Title Group

RiteStart Home Inspections, Inc.

SBS Inspections, LLC

Smart International Title

SnapHouss - Orlando

Solano Home Inspections Inc.

SouthState Bank

Stewart Title Company

Storm Recovery Experts

SunWest Mortgage

Systeco Services, Inc.

The Grove Resort & Water Park

TrustCo Bank

Two Men and a Truck

US Mortgage

ValueCast, Inc.

VHC Hospitality LLC

Widerman Malek PL

VITAL INDUSTRY PARTNERS

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Luciann Bonilla-EXP Realty LLC

Gus Cales-Florida Homes Realty & Mtg LLC

William Chavis Jr-Century 21 Wolf’s Crossing Realty

Krista Crobar-Fierce Realty

Jeremy Dalton-Weichert Realtors Hallmark Pro

Jesus Delgado-Florida In Motion Realty Inc

Catherine Galofre-Macken Realty Inc

Alejandro Garcia-EXP Realty LLC

Stacy Griffin-Heritage Real Estate Agency LLC

Maria Huertas Martinez-LPT Realty

Nancy Johnson-My Florida Real Estate Group LLC

Cesar Lugo Jr-La Rosa Realty, LLC

Matthew Macnab-Olympus Executive Realty Inc

Ana Maltby-Collective Group Realty, CORP

Eva Martinez-La Rosa Realty, LLC

Martha Meneses-My Realty Group, LLC.

Mirtha Merritt-La Rosa Realty Kissimmee

Maria Montero Briceno-Trimarchi Realty CORP

Freddy Morales-EXP Realty LLC

Adry Narvaez-EXP Realty LLC

Evelisse Ortiz-Keller Williams Legacy Realty

German Ramirez-Collective Group Realty, CORP

Suzanne Rodriguez-Keller Williams Realty Smart 1

Nataniel Rosario-Keller Williams Advantage III

Mandy Rountree-La Rosa Realty, LLC

Sara Verdesia-LPT Realty

Mareli Viersen-Keller Williams Realty at The Lakes