Q4_

real estate - benefits - foreclosure - banks - florida realtors - public policy

magazine 4TH QUARTER OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 2015

Osceola ReView

WORKING FOR YOU The Keys to a Successful Business Website PAGE13

&

How to Embrace and Not Fear Technology PAGE19

& Go Global: 5 Tips to Get Started

PAGE22

THE SUCCESS 2013 Awards

OF OUR & Installation

RLuncheon PAC Highlights

PAGE26

WELCOMECONTENTS

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WELCOME/ CONTENTS OCT, NOV, DEC 2015 news 4 7 8 22 23 26

13 22

OSCAR Announcements Fourth Quarter AE Message The Land Report Go Global: 5 Tips to Get Started The Code is Your Business The Success of Our PAC

technology The Key to a Successful Business Website How to Embrace and Not Fear Technology

events

10 October, November, December 2015 Calendar

15 New OSCAR Members 16 Highlights from the RPAC Auction 18 Making Waves with RPAC

local trends

28

Market Dynamics

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Fourth Quarter Presidents Message: Do you find yourself excelling to finish strong this last quarter of the year with power starting goals for 2016? Grow it and plan it with OSCAR’s help! This is something that continually happens and changes. Your newly elected 2016 Officers and Directors have scheduled a strategic planning session to project what is most important to 2500+ members. They will review our recent survey and project goals and plans for the next 3-5 years all to help you be the most successful REALTOR® and keep you updated to improve the quality of your work life and how you do your business.

Expanded opportunities are all around us to grow our real estate career. The recent FR convention in Orlando was one of them. Kudos to our members who attended, giving our District 12 the highest attendance record! Some of you served as FR Directors and Committee members, and all had the chance for great education classes, legislative updates, vendor’s exhibits at the Expo, networking and more. In new business actions, two important things to note are that three hours of ethics training will be incorporated into a real estate licensee’s statutorily required 14 hours of Continuing Education credits every two years, and effective in 2017 FR will have an annual member assessment increase of $20 to be used in our state advocacy fund.

2015 OSCAR President, Karen Dierickx Our Community Involvement Committee continues to be active with raising money and supplies for a school supply drive, a quarterly blood drive, and an upcoming toy drive for foster children in Osceola County.

Please be sure to add a “Christmas Angel” to your Christmas shopping list this year. Stop by the OSCAR office for info!

Our Global Alliance Committee continues to reach out and support those working with international clients. Recently they sponsored a booth at the FR Expo for two days along side Experience Kissimmee and “Fluffy” our gator friend. Be sure to mark your calendars for our Global Luncheon on October 23rd, with special guest speakers Raphael E M Pratts and Charles Castellon. Watch your emails for further details!

Want to join a Committee? Applications for 2016 will be available shortly to complete and submit to President Jeff Perry and President-Elect Wanda Linscott to appoint Chair and Committee members. Also, I’m very pleased to announce that we have exceeded our RPAC fundraising goal for the year. Well done, REALTORS®!

October 3rd starts the new requirements regarding all financed real estate transactions. No longer will you see the HUD closing document you are used to. Instead there are two consolidated forms: the LE - Loan Estimate and the CDF - Closing Disclosure Form. Be informed on them for your buyers and sellers, especially on timed events. Make sure you make enough time for closings and maybe extend scheduled ones now.

Please be sure to join us for the Annual membership meeting on December 1st and mark your calendars for our Installation and Awards banquets on December 4th.

It certainly has been an honor and privilege serving as your 2015 President. Thank you everyone for a most successful year.

magazine contact Published by Osceola County Association of REALTORS®, 1105 Shady Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34744

advocates team

ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE/EDITOR: Carol Platt, CRB, e-Pro T 4078460117 E ae@osceola-realtors.com

SOCIAL MEDIA & MEMBERSHIP SERVICES: Nannette Cherry, nan@osceola-realtors.com

WEB MASTER: Chris Florence, CCIM, e-Pro webmaster@osceola-realtors.com

contributing writers

COMMUNICATIONS: Nannette Cherry nan@osceola-realtors.com

Interested in contributing to our quarterly publication?! We would love to hear from you.

We require that all works be original, meaning written by you, and do not allow promotion of your business.

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES COORDINATOR: Eli Perez, e-Pro eli@osceola-realtors.com AE ASSISTANT - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Kim Wagar, e-Pro, AHWD kim@osceola-realtors.com AE ASSISTANT - EVENTS: Christina Barnhardt, e-Pro christina@osceola-realtors.com

advertising

distribution

Digital or printed media packs available on request.

HEAD OF SALES: Chris Florence, CCIM, e-Pro webmaster@osceola-realtors.com

The ReView is printed quarterly. To subscribe contact our subscriptions team below.

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES: Ally Vallecillo, e-Pro ally@osceola-realtors.com ACCOUNTS: Bob St. Gordon, e-Pro MEMBERSHIP SERVICES: Yohanna Cruz, bob@osceola-realtors.com e-Pro yohanna@osceola-realtors.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER: Nannette Cherry, e-Pro communications@osceola-realtors.com

www.Osceolarealtors.org

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OSCAR Announcements

CONGRATS TO

CENTERSTATE BANK!

FEATURED SPEAKERS: RAFAEL E. M. PRATTS, CONSULTANT, FSBOC at ucf SPEAKING ON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND CHARLES CASTELLON, ATTORNEY SPEAKING ON benefits of holding title in land trusts for foreign investors

Congratulations to our valued affiliate, Centerstate Bank for receiving the prestigious recognition of being the BEST bank in Osceola County by readers of the Osceola News Gazette!

If you are looking for a new bank, or any other service, please check our Affiliate Listings on pages 30 and 31, or check out our website at OsceolaRealtors.org

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Your 2016 Officers & Directors The following Candidates will join 2016 President Jeff Perry in leadership.

Officers:

Our Global Alliance Committee paired up with Experience Kissimmee at the Florida REALTORS® Expo this past August. Our representatives were there to talk to REALTORS® about the growing international influence in real estate today.

While there, they offered a GoPro Camera to one lucky attendant, who just happened to be member, Dave Couture who is pictured here.

Congratulations, Dave! And thanks for stopping by!

We Want to Hear From You! Tell us your OSCAR Success Stories! We want to hear from our members about how classes, labs, and networking events are helping you gain your competitive edge and grow your success! Email your stories to communications@osceola-realtors.com.

President-Elect: Wanda Linscott Treasurer: Gerald Kelley Secretary: Becky Chirillo Directors for 2016-2018 Term Donnie Martinez Alexandra Arena-Gil James Williams Jose Ortiz Danny Hernandez Elected Officers and Directors will join the following Directors whose terms have yet to expire: Continuing Directors Jeff Perry - President Karen Dierickx - Past-President Continuing Directors Jason Daugherty 2014-2016 Tim Weisheyer 2015-2017 Joe Johnson 2015-2017 Maria Flores-Garcia 2015-2017 Marge Eddy 2015-2017

DUES BILLING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER Dues for 2016 are due December 1st! Your dues pay for valuable professional development training, and to help you maximize that benefit, we’re offering you a $100 education voucher toward any paid 2016 class if you pay before December 1st! Helping you gain your competitive edge through top notch education is just one of the ways we help you reach your SUCCESS! If it’s important to you, it’s important to us!

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OSCAR

4TH QUARTER ASSOCIATION

EXECUTIVE MESSAGE FANNING THE FLAMES OF YOUR

SUCCESS! MEDIA CONTACT: Carol Platt

PHONE: 407-846-0117

In the September issue of I-4 Business, Central Florida Partnership outlines their action plan toward regional prosperity. Their prosperity actions dovetail with OSCAR’s efforts toward member success. For example: 1.

Connectivity and Access – OSCAR provides members with easy 24/7 access through OsceolaRealtor. org, 24/7 online training and educational credit and non-credit courses, welcoming daily office hours and “live” telephone assistance for both REALTOR® and My Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service Center help, 24/7 My Florida Regional MLS database access, multiple onsite and offsite education and networking events to connect with fellow REALTORS® and Affiliate Businesses, and an easily accessible location near the intersection of Highway 192 and the Florida Turnpike (covering Osceola County from the North, South, East and West).

2.

Innovation and Investment – OSCAR develops new proprietary courses unavailable in the REALTOR® education marketplace and engages in a systematic process of identifying and bringing the most current,

2015

EMAIL: ae@osceola-realtors.com

relevant educational courses (with top ranking instructors) to our members.

OSCAR invests in our members, from the REALTOR® Advocates that serve them, to leadership development programs, to facility and classroom experience enhancements, to solid stewardship of membership assets for growth.

3.

Talent Cultivation – OSCAR serves as a partner with ALL broker members to help associates get started, move forward and garner a competitive edge for the associate’s real estate career success and the success of their broker! Our Leadership Team and REALTOR® Advocate staff engage in a constant cycle of continuous improvement in knowledge and service through professional updates, innovations, credentialing, and most importantly, a passion for our mission.

4.

International Business – OSCAR’s Global Alliance Committee is the recipient of the National Association of REALTORS® Platinum Award of excellence. Our innovative partnership with Experience Kissimmee was center stage at NAR’s Local and Global Business Forum in DC because we work together for international real estate investment in

Association Executive, Carol Platt our community utilizing the economic development expertise of Maria Grulich partnered with our members. This committee is local market, global business focused for member success!

Along with our Leadership Director Team under President Karen Dierickx, it is an honor to be engaged in external economic prosperity initiatives like the Central Florida Water Initiative, the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness and the Central Florida Metro Plan on the issues of transportation expansion. As we finalize the 2015 business year, our OSCAR flame burns brightly. I hope that you will end this year “on fire” for the people who depend on you, “on fire” for your community and “on fire” for the bright

future of free-market real estate.

Flame On!

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The Land Report

2015

LAND VALUE REPORT MEDIA CONTACT: Shane Platt, Farm Credit of Central Florida

Central Florida agricultural properties continue to be viable opportunities for farmers and ranchers to invest in for both income and land appreciation.

Discussions with farmers/ranchers and real estate brokers indicate buyers are interested in purchasing property for expansion or investment.

Citrus Citrus continues to be the weakest commodity group tracked. Greening is now a problem in all groves in Florida. Although lots of breakthroughs are mentioned about cures and new rootstocks, none are economically viable or available at this time. There are a limited number of good producing citrus groves on the market and many are reducing their prices to stimulate interest. Buyers are not pursuing these groves as they did in 2013-2014.

Citrus groves purchased for rehabbing have slowed and prices are trending down. A rehab tract has to have adequate water capacity and location for it to command the higher prices. Citrus grove values in Central Florida are stable for groves with adequate production to provide a net return.

Of thirteen documented viable citrus sales since March 2015, the average price was $7,710 per acre.

Sales ranged from $6,008 to $9,998 per acre as reported by the Polk County Property Appraiser.

Although fruit production is not verified in these transactions, the decline in citrus sales is reflected

EMAIL: SPlatt@farmcreditcfl.com

in the differential of twenty-two citrus grove sales in Polk County from November 1, 2014 to May 28, 2015.

All sales under $6,000 per acre were considered to be rehab or other use transactions. The average price for rehab land is $5,382 per acre. Many of these tracts are probably being purchased for other purposes. The last three quarters through September 2015 indicates a stable market for groves producing over 200 boxes to the acres, though the data indicates a declining market for rehab sales in Polk County.

Pastures Cattle ranches and larger pasture tracts have remained stable with location and quality still the driving factor for value. As noted in the past, when a property sells, it is location and amenities that drive higher values.

Strawberries No known strawberry sales have been recorded in the past 3 months.

Cropland Real Estate Brokers indicate that there is interest in cropland from clients, but that they are looking for

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quality tracts. The general consensus from brokers indicate that cropland in Hillsborough/Manatee County will sell for about $8,000 per acre and tracts in the interior will sell from $5,000 to $6,500 per acre. As with any agriculture tract, water, soil type and location will dictate value.

An investment group purchased a 2,677.81 acre cropland parcel in Immokalee for $5,642 per acre in June. A 1,151 acre tract was auctioned on September 17 for $10,200,000 or $8,862 per acre. On planted acres this parcel brought $11,308.

Although these parcels are outside the Central Florida focused territory, it indicates a direction for larger tracts in general.

Rural Lot and Residential Values The vacant lot market is seeing new activity that was almost non-existent after the downturn in the real estate market in 2008. The prices are much more realistic than what happened in the boom years of 2004-2006. Buyers for rural lots with the intention to build a home have increased in activity for 2015. Within the large Central Florida market, it is difficult to establish a value per county or even regionally due to the overall diversity of properties and individualization of the comparison sales.

Values are very individualized due to limited sales in most locations. Both residential and lot appraisal requests, year to date, are twice the volume of the same time period in 2014. This rural residential market is strongest in areas around the Orlando and Tampa Metropolitan Statistical Area.

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EVENTS THIS OCT/NOV/DEC

SEMINAR

REGISTRATION CONTACT Kim Wagar

EMAIL aeassistant@ osceola-realtors.com

OCTOBER 2ND

OSCAR Tech Lab Day

TIME: 9:00AM - 4:00PM OCTOBER 3RD

Rockin The Runway WCR Fashion Show TIME: 6:00PM COST: $55 LOCATION: Osceola Countil on Aging, 700 Generation Point, Kissimmee, FL 34744

OCTOBER 9TH

Antitrust/ Professional Standards Training 3 CE’s TIME: 1:00PM - 5:00PM LUNCH PROVIDED OCTOBER 12TH

MLS Basic TIME: 9:00AM - 12:00PM

MLS Compliance TIME: 1:00PM - 2:30PM

MLS Adding & Modifying Listings TIME: 3:00PM - 4:30PM

Toastmasters TIME: 5:30PM - 6:30PM OCTOBER 6TH

MLS Learn & Earn TIME: 9:00AM - 10:00AM OCTOBER 8TH

Demystifying the Appraisal Process 3 CE’s TIME: 9:00AM - 12:00PM INSTRUCTOR: Pat Reass

Preparing and Navigating the Listing Contract

TIME: 11:30AM - 1:00PM COST: Free to Members, Donations accepted to benefit the Global Disaster Relief Fund OCTOBER 29TH & 30TH

New Member Welcome

OCTOBER 19TH

Toastmasters TIME: 5:30PM - 6:30PM OCTOBER 20TH

Effective Risk Reduction

3CE’s TIME: 9:00AM - 12:00PM INSTRUCTOR: Cynthia DeLuca COST: Free to Members, $59 for non-members

4 CE’s TIME: 1:00PM - 5:00PM INSTRUCTOR: Pat Reass

Our office will be closed on November 26th and 27th for the Thanksgiving Holiday, and December 24th, 25th, and 31st for Christmas and New Years

Unless otherwise noted

Global Luncheon

TIME: 5:30PM - 6:30PM

7 CE’s TIME: 8:30AM - 5:00PM LUNCH PROVIDED COST: $99 for Members and Non-members

407.846.0117

OCTOBER 23RD

Toastmasters

At Home With Diversity (AHWD)

CALL

4 CE’s TIME: 1:00PM - 5:00PM INSTRUCTOR: Cynthia DeLuca COST: Free to Members, $69 for Non-members

OCTOBER 26TH

OCTOBER 13TH

OCTOBER 5TH

REALTOR® Professionalism & Follow-thru

TIME: 8:30AM - 12:30PM

Toastmasters TIME: 5:30PM - 6:30PM OCTOBER 28TH

MLS CMA Tools TIME: 9:00AM - 12:00PM

MLS Compliance TIME: 1:00PM - 3:00PM

SRS (2 Day) Designation Course

11 CE’s TIME: 9:00AM - 4:30PM LUNCH PROVIDED COST: $295 NOVEMBER 2ND

Toastmasters TIME: 5:30PM - 6:30PM NOVEMBER 3RD

MLS Learn & Earn TIME: 9:00AM - 10:00AM NOVEMBER 4TH

Choosing &

Writing a Successful Contract 7 CE’s TIME: 8:30AM - 4:30PM INSTRUCTOR: Cynthia DeLuca COST: Free for Members $129 for Non-Members

Classes are free to members unless otherwise noted.

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DECEMBER 4TH

Annual Awards & Installation Dinner

TIME: 7:00PM-10:00PM LOCATION: Osceola Heritage Park 1875 Silver Spur Ln Kissimmee, FL 34744 COST: $50 per person, $500 per table of 10 DECEMBER 7TH

New Member Welcome NOVEMBER 5TH

Florida Military Specialist (iCE - Live, In-House Streaming Course) 4 CE’s TIME: 1:00PM - 5:00PM INSTRUCTOR: Dick Fryer NOVEMBER 9TH

MLS Basic TIME: 9:00AM - 12:00PM

MLS Compliance TIME: 1:00PM - 2:30PM

MLS Adding & Modifying Listings TIME: 3:00PM - 4:30PM

Toastmasters

TIME: 5:30PM - 6:30PM NOVEMBER 10TH

MLS Compliance TIME: 9:00AM - 10:30AM

MLS Compliance TIME: 11:30AM - 1:00PM

MLS Compliance TIME: 2:00PM - 3:30PM NOVEMBER 11TH

NOVEMBER 17TH

Demystifying the Appraisal Process

3 CE’s TIME: 9:00AM - 12:00PM INSTRUCTOR: Pat Reass COST: Free for Members and $35 for Non-Members

NOVEMBER 16TH

Toastmasters TIME: 5:30PM - 6:30PM

MLS Basic TIME: 9:00AM - 12:00PM

MLS Adding & Modifying Listings

NOVEMBER 23RD

Effective Risk Reduction 3CE’s TIME: 9:00AM - 12:00PM INSTRUCTOR: Julianna Giordano COST: Free to Members, $59 for non-members

REALTOR® Professionalism & Follow-thru 4 CE’s TIME: 1:00PM - 5:00PM INSTRUCTOR: Julianna Giordano COST: Free to Members, $69 for Non-members

MLS the Mobile Agent TIME: 1:30PM - 3:00PM

DECEMBER 9TH

4 CE’s TIME: 1:00PM - 5:00PM INSTRUCTOR: Cynthia DeLuca COST: Free for Members $35 for Non-Members

DECEMBER 1ST

MLS Compliance

TIME: 5:30PM - 6:30PM

MLS Compliance

Toastmasters

TIME: 11:00AM - 12:30PM

Toastmasters

Preparing & Navigating the Listing Contract

MLS Branding in Matrix TIME: 9:00AM - 10:30AM

TIME: 8:30AM - 12:30PM

TIME: 5:30PM - 6:30PM

Annual Membership Meeting and Breakfast TIME: 9:00AM - 10:00AM

CAN’T FIND AN EVENT YOU WISH TO ATTEND?

TIME: 1:00PM - 2:30PM

TIME: 3:00PM - 4:30PM DECEMBER 10TH

Choosing &

Writing a Successful Contract 7 CE’s TIME: 8:30AM - 4:30PM INSTRUCTOR: Steven David COST: Free for Members $129 for Non-Members DECEMBER 14TH

Toastmasters TIME: 5:30PM - 6:30PM DECEMBER 21ST

Toastmasters TIME: 5:30PM - 6:30PM DECEMBER 28TH

Toastmasters TIME: 5:30PM - 6:30PM

Your REALTOR® Advocates work hard at providing you with the most up to date info going on here at the association. We are still human and may miss something so, if you can’t find information that you need, let us know. We welcome your encouraging input.

Email: Communications @osceola-realtors. com

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Marketing Tips

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THE KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS WEBSITE

MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Florence

BLOG: abrandaid.com/blog-marketing-strategies

Upgrading your business website can be one of the most effective ways to enhance the success of your business.

A website is often the first chance you get to make an impression on a prospective client or customer. It pays to make sure that the job is done correctly. So here are some helpful hints on what items a business owner should strive to include in a successful website:

Quality Content More than sleek design, a good business website will get people to explore who your company is and what you have to offer. This means business owners need to prioritize having plenty of information and content that will keep people looking around the website. It is also important to make the most relevant information most accessible. For example, a physical business should have a listing of open hours readily available. It is important to balance both information and content to make sure that the customer gets the information they want without being overwhelmed. The best business websites are able to incorporate both of these elements seamlessly.

Thoughtful Design Another key tenet to website success is matching the design with the product. Different services and products call for different kinds of designs. A professional service will tend to use darker hues, while a product for younger people will tend to rely on lighter color scheme to set the mood and tone. Professionalism is vitally important to getting the job done right. Setting up a proper website will result in increased sales across the board. With so much tomfoolery present on the Internet, a good website is able to cut through all the nonsense. Depending on the budget available, you may want to hire a professional to get the job done correctly.

EMAIL: chris@abrandaid.com

A Goal-Driven Strategy It is also important to make sure there is a system in place when orders start to come in. Too often companies find themselves in a precarious position by relying on unstable shipping or ordering services. Companies don’t always have the luxury of growing with their customer base. In fact, these situations can become feast or famine all too quickly. It is important to have goals set up for where you want the business to go, make sure that the entire ordering process is streamlined so your business can scale quickly if needed. It is always a disappointment when a business is not ready to meet the increased sales that a sudden popular website mention can provide.

A Quality Experience For Consumers Lastly, make sure that your product is reflective of the effort put into your site. For example, it is all too often the case where a business owner will build an amazing website, but fail to back it up with an amazing product.

The first concern should always be customer satisfaction.

While this can lead to feelings of frustration towards certain customers, it is in the best interests of your business. Of particular interest are the customers that provide the bulk of your business. It has typically been stated that 20% of the customers produce 80% of the business. Good business owners focus on those 20% above all and make sure that they are satisfied. Owning and building a business can be a hard endeavor, but the hard work will pay off eventually–and having your own website can help that pay off come sooner rather than later!

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WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST

MEMBERS!

New Members from our June Orientation

We’re getting so many new members that we have to add additional dates for our orientations! We’re so happy to have all of you with us. Each one of you adds to the success of this Association! Welcome to our family, REALTORS®!

New members from our July Orientation.

New members from our August Orientation.

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RPAC AUCTION The RPAC Auction is a very special event we host each year that brings REALTORS® together for food, fun, entertainment and fundraising in the name of our PAC. We set out a huge array of goodies and raised 133% of our goal! We couldn’t have done it without your help! Thanks for helping to make RPAC so successful! Your dollars will be hard at work advocating for you in the political arena!

President-Elect Jeff Perry

Your OSCAR advocates ready to be at your service!

Our Auctioneer, Donald Shearer in action

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Our lovely food sponsors, Stewart Title

Sue Vasquez makes a break for it on her winning bid

So many items for REALTORS速 to bid on!

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MAKING WAVES with RPAC!

Our Making Waves with RPAC event was also a resounding success! We hosted a mixer at the Osceola Heritage Park as well as an exclusive high-donor dinner with proceeds going to our very special PAC. We want to thank everyone who came and made these events so sucessful!

RPAC Task Force Members Angel Ortiz, Leslie Zimmerly, Daisy Cid, Rhonda Owen, Wanda Linscott, Sue Vasquez, Kelly Freeman, Diamela Atencio

OSCAR’s AE, Carol Platt and husband, Shane Platt

Bill Martin Florida REALTORS® CEO and his wife Denise were in attendance on their anniversary!

Cheryl Grieb and President Karen Dierickx

Sue Vasquez, Laurie Varner, Patrice Denike, and Diamela Atencio

Technology

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HOW TO EMBRACE AND NOT FEAR TECHNOLOGY MEDIA CONTACT: Brenton Hayden

Are you (or someone you know) afraid of implementing new tools in your business?

These simple steps will help you learn to stop worrying and love the tech.

It’s no secret that technology is essential for real estate professionals today. Twenty-seven percent of agents spent between $501 and $2,000 on technology in the last 12 months, according to NAR’s 2013–2014 REALTOR® Technology Survey. Most in the industry know the importance of investing in new technology— and you’d be hard-pressed to find an agent without a smartphone.

But these investments aren’t just about acquiring a cool new gadget; they’re for survival. And while many agents recognize the benefits, some are hesitant to implement new technology. After all, there are plenty of gimmicks out there, and it can be hard to know what’s valuable and what’s a waste of time.

This can translate into the opposite of the so-called “fear of missing out” (colloquially known as FOMO on social media and elsewhere). It’s a sort of “fear of tech-ing up,” wherein real estate professionals are missing out on business because they’re paralyzed by the vast field of technology solutions out there to help— or sometimes hurt—them.

Fighting Fears Fear of new tools is relatively common. Some psychologists believe that most people have at least some amount of nervousness when confronted with new technology. It can be difficult to give up something that you’re comfortable with in exchange for something that’s relatively unknown. And in today’s constantly changing world, it’s easy to feel disconnected and out of touch. Unfortunately though, this fear of technology is

exactly what’s holding many of us back.

Despite these fears, it’s becoming increasingly necessary for real estate professionals to embrace technology to stay competitive. Consumers are increasingly self-informed, and that’s influencing how they shop for real estate. With online listing portals at the ready, clients have easy access to information that was once exclusive to real estate pros. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 89 percent of home buyers consulted the Internet in some way for their real estate transaction.

Additionally, with tech-savvy millennials joining the industry, there’s even more competition. Decked out with supercharged phones and apps, they’re able to provide clients with prompt and in-depth information on demand, enabling a faster and smoother transaction.

“Technology is one of the few tools that agents can

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use right now to differentiate themselves and be more productive,” speaker and author Stephen Canale said in the Real Estate Agent’s Field Guide. “Those who don’t embrace technology tend to attract only consumers who are also not embracing technology. The agents don’t realize that there are other consumers out there who might do business with them if they had other capabilities.”

Figuring Out Which Technology to Use

How to Overcome These Fears

The key is to think of new technology as an opportunity to fix breakdowns in the real estate transaction process.

To cover the bases, real estate pros should consider tech solutions for mobile communication, real estate data, information storage, relationship management, listing presentation and staging, and social media management. If you don’t have a useful tool in each of those categories, you might want to look into what you’re missing.

It’s easy to fear what we don’t understand. Investing the time to master new technology allows you to familiarize yourself with new tools or software, and will in turn help you to become more comfortable with that which you fear.

First, it’s important to focus on the benefits of new technology. While learning how to use new tools may seem daunting, you can make this easier by actively cultivating a fresh perspective. Think about what new technology can do for you or your clients. Don’t let fear stop you from making a good investment in your business. See past short-term apprehension and look toward the long-term outcomes with the power of positive thinking.

Next, immerse yourself in training. Take a class or attend a webinar on the new technology you understand the least. Search for tutorials on YouTube and follow a few technology-oriented blogs. The more you know about the technology you seek to implement, the less daunting it will be.

It’s no surprise that the tools that successful real estate professionals are drawn to tend to be the ones that help them to be more efficient, productive, and organized.

Apps that enable them to respond to queries faster and keep them up-to-date with valuable information for clients are also popular.

While there’s no shortage of new technology available to tackle these tasks, the challenge is finding ways to use these tools to help make customers’ lives easier and better. By putting yourself in your clients’ shoes, and looking for ways to provide them with the best experience possible, you’ll stay competitive and current in this quickly changing digital age. I often find myself solving company and client problems with technology.

The first thing I think to myself when we’re facing a problem is “OK, there has to be an app for that.”

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online (http:// realtormag.realtor.org), July 2015, with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.

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Global News

GO GLOBAL: 5 TIPS TO GET STARTED Here are five tips to help you get in on the international niche no matter where you are in the country and no matter in the world where your future clients come from.

MEDIA CONTACT: Erica Christoffer

EMAIL: echristoffer@realtors.org

Ignore global real estate at your peril.

There are roughly 4.5 million active listings on REALTOR.com® International. In 2012, 30 percent of purchases by international buyers were in the $250,000 to $500,000 price range, up from 28 percent in 2011. The median price paid by an international buyer was $252,000, compared with the overall U.S. average of $165,000.

business customs.

Know What They Want: No amount of Internet research will give international buyers the full picture of your market. If you’re keenly aware of their needs—access to transportation, schools, shopping, luxury amenities, business hubs, and so on— you’ll be better able to match them with properties that meet those needs.

Here’s how to get started.

Correctly Calculate Conversions:

Speak Their Language: If you know a second language, focus your marketing toward prospects from the region or country where that language is primary. Helen Tam of Raleigh, N.C., says the most common concern among the foreign buyers she works with is the language barrier.

Understanding their culture is also a must.

Know How They Do Business: Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands (Adams Media, 2006) by Terri Morrison and Wayne Conaway will help you brush up on the body language, gestures, and facial expressions that predominate when doing business in other countries. The book covers more than 60 countries, each with a threeor four-page synopsis of how business is done. “I use it regularly when preparing for a transaction overseas.

It refreshes my memory of negotiating styles and helps me recall things to avoid in certain cultures,” Lauster says. The Do’s and Taboos book series by Roger Axtell is another great resource on international behavior and

The United States is one of only four countries in world that still uses traditional measurements, such as feet, miles, and pounds. Every other country uses the metric system. When listing the size of a property, it’s important to show accurate measurements in both feet and meters. You’ll also need to address currency conversion.

Exchange rates are constantly in flux, so make sure you’re using the latest rates and data by working with a currency exchange company or bank so that your clients know exactly what they’ll pay for a property.

Get Certified: The Certified International Property Specialist designation prepares Realtors® to serve the growing international market.

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online (http:// realtormag.realtor.org), January 2013, with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.

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THE CODE IS YOUR BUSINESS MEDIA CONTACTS: GRAHAM WOOD, BRUCE AYDT

EMAIL: ethics@realtors.org

Ethical dilemmas crop up daily. Here’s how to avoid running afoul of five of the most common REALTORS® Code of Ethics complaints Working in real estate comes with its fair share of irritations. Agents who don’t return calls in a timely manner or clients who make inappropriate demands can be frustrating, to say the least. But discerning when difficult behavior crosses the ethical line can sometimes be tricky—whether it pertains to your dealings with other REALTORS®, clients, or the general public. To help you distinguish actual infractions from misunderstandings or simply poor manners, we look at five real-life business dilemmas and describe how the REALTORS® Code of Ethics applies.

Disclosing Multiple Offers It’s heartbreaking to tell buyer clients they’ve been outbid when you didn’t even know there were other offers on the table. You may feel as if you’ve been wronged—but is it time to call your association’s grievance committee? Not necessarily.

Karen, an agent in West Palm Beach, Fla., blamed the loss of a deal last year on a listing agent who didn’t disclose competing offers until the eleventh hour.

Karen, who asked not to be fully identified because of the sensitivity of the matter, submitted her buyer’s offer and received a preliminary acceptance from the seller.

(Such an acceptance is not binding in the way a signed purchase contract is.) The buyer even had a home inspection done. But when pressed to move forward on the deal, the listing agent said the seller was considering other offers.

“The listing agent had previously told me she was just waiting for the seller to sign the official paperwork [for the buyer’s offer],” Karen says. “At no point did she say that we didn’t have an executed offer. She never said anything about other offers.”

listing agent has any duty to disclose multiple offers: The seller must grant permission to disclose such information, and the buyer or cooperating agent must ask for the disclosure. The same applies to revealing who obtained the offers—whether they were obtained by the listing agent, another agent with the listing agent’s firm, or a cooperating broker. So if Karen didn’t pose the question to the listing agent, or if the seller didn’t grant the listing agent permission to disclose, the listing agent did nothing wrong.

The lesson is this: Cooperating agents should always ask the listing agent if other offers exist and, if so, who procured them. They should also inform buyers that their offer and its terms are not confidential and can be disclosed by a seller to other parties. The exception: A confidentiality agreement between a buyer and seller— entered into before presenting the buyer’s offer—would obligate a seller not to disclose the buyer’s offer. While rare in residential real estate, such agreements are common in commercial transactions.

Transparency in Advertising Social media tools may appear to provide a more informal way of presenting listing data, but ads posted to Facebook are subject to the same advertising standards as those that appear in print. When putting listings on social platforms, REALTORS® have a responsibility to identify themselves as real estate professionals and to show their company affiliation.

Karen says she believes the listing agent’s lack of candor cost her the deal because her client missed out on the opportunity to increase the offer. However, failure to disclose other offers isn’t automatically a violation of the Code.

Brian Brooker, broker-associate at Carrington Real Estate Services in Boca Raton, Fla., spotted some listing ads on Facebook that gave him pause. They were posted by an agent he had long known from another state. What troubled him wasn’t the content but rather her failure to identify her brokerage. “I had just finished broker classes and passed my broker exam, so the advertisement without the company name stuck out like a sore thumb,” Brooker says.

What the Code Says (Article 1, Standard of Practice 1-15 and SOP 1-13(5)): Two conditions must be met before a

Many agents assume that displaying a picture of their brokerage on the backdrop of their Facebook

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business page takes care of Code compliance, Brooker adds. But that alone is not sufficient to meet the standard: Backdrop images don’t show up in Facebook newsfeeds, so individual postings must include the brokerage name.

This wasn’t the first time Brooker had seen this type of Code violation, but he chose not to get involved. “I didn’t say anything [to the agent] because the last time I said something to someone, they asked me sarcastically if I was the ‘real estate police,’ ” he says. “And I thought, you know what, I’m not.”

What the Code Says (Article 12): REALTORS® must present a “true picture” in their advertising. No matter the medium, they must properly identify themselves as REALTORS®, licensees, and real estate professionals and identify their company name. Common posts such as “just listed, 123 Sunrise Drive” with a description of the listing do not alone make it clear that the person posting is a real estate professional.

SOP 12-5 requires that any advertisement of real estate services or of listed property must disclose the name of the REALTOR®’s firm “in a reasonable and readily apparent manner.” Exceptions exist for media with “abbreviated” formats, such as thumbnails, text messages, and tweets. In these cases, the REALTOR® is not required to include the company name in the actual abbreviated format, as long as there is a link back to a display of the REALTOR®’s full information, including company name.

to the house with my digital camera,” Hutchens recalls.

“When I arrived, I found her on the side of the house wearing rubber gloves and scrubbing the termite rods with Brillo pads.” The seller requested that Hutchens take photos of the cleaned rods to “prove that the termite inspector was wrong” about the home’s current condition.

Hutchens rightfully refused—and the seller fired her.

The loss of the client was a small price to pay compared to the sanctions Hutchens could have faced had she done what the seller asked. That breach of the Code of Ethics would likely have violated the license law, too, and it could have put her real estate license in jeopardy and triggered legal action by a duped buyer.

What the Code Says (Article 2): “Avoid exaggeration, misrepresentation, and concealment” of “pertinent” facts about the property or the transaction, this Article says.

Typical scenarios that come up under Article 2 involve a seller who does not want to disclose a matter of significance about the home. To avoid the risk of a Code violation and possible legal action that may result from a seller’s failure to disclose, REALTORS® should err on the side of disclosure.

Similarly concerning is when a seller refuses to disclose an issue because it has been “fixed.” The problem here is that there are many ways to define how something was fixed. The best thing to do is to ask the seller for documentation of the fix, including a paid receipt, and then discuss disclosing and providing evidence of the fix to a new buyer.

Learn how state and local boards are making sure members adhere to the Code.

A seller’s refusal to disclose a significant fix to a property can result in serious liability issues for an agent if the agent knows about it and the fix fails or was inadequate.

Disclosure of Property Defects

What’s the penalty for a Code violation?

Sometimes, sellers would rather not disclose significant problems with a property, and it may seem that the responsibility to act in a client’s best interest gives listing agents a reason to go along with the pretense.

However, the Code prohibits REALTORS® from misleading buyers on the material facts about a home.

If an agent knows about a property defect, disclosure is necessary regardless of the seller’s wishes.

The maximum fine for an ethics violation is $15,000, but it’s up to each association’s hearing panel to decide what an appropriate sanction is for each case. In general, if the violation is considered to be relatively minor, such as an advertising mistake that did not cause significant harm and was mainly due to a lack of knowledge of the Code, a fine of $500 or less may be imposed.

But if the violation is very serious, such as an escrow account problem that caused substantial harm and was knowingly committed, then a fine at the top end of the $15,000 maximum may be recommended by the panel.

Sherry Hutchens, a sales associate with Dudum Real Estate Group in Walnut Creek, Calif., recognized this when one of her sellers tried to hide a termite problem with her home. Despite the termite rods—filled with chemicals—running from the foundation and along the stucco exterior of the house, the seller wanted to make it appear as though there was never a problem. “[The seller] called me one day and asked me to come

Client Confidentiality Certain client information is subject to confidentiality, even after the relationship ends between the client and agent. Most notably, a client’s price position, negotiating position, and motivation to buy or sell cannot be shared

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with anyone else. Here’s an example: Sellers tell the agent that they would lower their asking price from $245,000 to $210,000 if they had to. The agent is not free to disclose this, even if a deal falls through.

Linda Hobkirk has seen a number of agents break this rule. Her home state of Arkansas allows for dual agency, where an agent or brokerage can represent both the buyer and seller in a transaction.

The agent or brokerage must keep the buyer’s and seller’s information confidential at all times.

But in cases where a deal goes bad and the house falls out of contract, many agents have “loose lips” and start carelessly revealing information about buyers and sellers to third parties, assuming their duty to keep quiet ends when the client relationship does, says Hobkirk, an associate with Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette Real Estate in Rogers, Ark. “We are very similar to doctors and lawyers in that we must protect confidential information unless ordered by a sitting judge to release it,” she says.

Some information, however, is not subject to confidentiality. For example, since a seller cannot expect an agent to conceal significant property defects from a buyer, the seller likewise cannot demand that the agent keep that information confidential after their business relationship has ended. Therefore, an agent can disclose the existence of property defects to anyone, including another agent the seller decides to work with.

What the Code Says (Article 1, SOP 1-9): A client cannot require an agent to keep confidential any information that would be required to be disclosed to a buyer. Any other information defined as confidential may not be disclosed.

But the question remains concerning how long the duty of confidentiality lasts. SOP 1-9 says the duty of confidentiality exists during and after the termination of the agency relationship. However, if there is a conflicting standard under state law as to how long confidentiality lasts, state law will rule.

Many states follow the SOP 1-9 standard of confidentiality, but one state that differs is North Carolina, where state law says the duty of confidentiality ends at the termination of the agency relationship.

Soliciting Another Agent’s Listing or Buyer Agreement The only time an agent may not solicit another agent’s client is when that client is subject to an exclusive agreement with his or her agent.

However, when a client has a nonexclusive

agreement with an agent, the client is fair game to any other agent.

Exclusive agreements are in the best interest of the client, which is why the Code offers them protection. With nonexclusive agreements, sellers, for example, may work with several listing agents to list a property, but the agent who procures the buyer is the only one who gets paid. That offers little incentive for the listing agents to work hard for the seller when they know they may not receive compensation. In exclusive agreements, the client works with one agent, and that incentivizes the agent to do his or her best for the client.

Tammy O’Neill, an agent with RE/MAX Fine Homes in Newport Beach, Calif., had another agent go after her client despite their exclusive buyer agreement.

“I had an agent go to my client’s house right after I showed that agent’s listing and solicit my client to work with her in finding a home,” O’Neill says. “Yes, she went right to the door and tried to steal my client. Needless to say, it didn’t work, and my client and I closed on a beautiful house.”

The offending agent’s actions constituted a Code violation because she initiated contact with a client who was already subject to an exclusive buyer agreement. However, there are conditions where certain interactions between a client bound by exclusivity and another agent are fair.

What the Code Says (Article 16): On the seller side, sending mass mailings to groups that may incidentally include an owner who is exclusively listed with another agent doesn’t violate Article 16. However, REALTORS® are prohibited from discussing listing a property with such an owner— unless the owner initiates the contact. On the buyer side, SOP 16-9 requires that before a REALTOR® enters into an exclusive buyer agreement, he or she must use reasonable efforts to determine whether the buyer is already subject to one. Should the REALTOR® find that the buyer is already subject to an exclusive buyer agreement, the REALTOR® must direct the buyer back to his or her exclusive broker unless the buyer directs them otherwise.

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online (http://realtormag.realtor.org), March 2015, with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.

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THE SUCCESS OF OUR PAC MEDIA CONTACT: R. LAYNE MORRILL

“Money is the mother’s milk of politics.” That’s a quotation that has been repeated many times.

It has been, is, and shall always be true. Why? Because it costs money to campaign for public office, be it sheriff or president.

Very few who seek public office can, with their own funds, meet the expenses of a campaign today.

Thankfully, those of us who have great faith in our political process have the opportunity to participate. We can do so individually through our political party and together through our own political action committee.

It’s called RPAC—for REALTORS® Political Action Committee—but I look upon it as “Our PAC.” It’s truly both RPAC and our PAC, because it grants us the wonderful opportunity to band together to support our association and the best interests of the property owners of this great country.

By using our RPAC contributions for those who support our positions, we’ve fought the battle to protect mortgage interest deductibility.

We’ve fought to extend FHA loan limits to meet the needs of those who want to own their own home but aren’t able to crack that nut of the conventional marketplace.

The fight on behalf of homeowners over the issue of private mortgage insurance notification is over. We’ve won.

Let me give you a guarantee. Your NAR leadership is firmly committed to RPAC. We have 11 members of the Leadership Team and Executive Committee who so strongly

believe we can make a difference that they’ve become “Golden R” contributors to the tune of $5,000 each. Every member of the Extended Leadership Team has committed to become a Life Member by contributing $1,000.

Thanks to these and other generous supporters, RPAC is expected to be the country’s top PAC this year in terms of contributions to candidates. That kind of clout certainly boosts our ability to be heard in the often-noisy political process.

So I beseech you to do your part. Contribute at the level you find comfortable—$1 or $5,000.

Do your part, contribute, become a part of RPAC—our PAC! Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online (http://realtormag.realtor.org), September 1998, with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 1998. All rights reserved.

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Your community newspaper

Talk About Local! Talk About Real Estate! Hear all about what’s happening in town and around the region from local voices who live and work here like you do. Join the conversation with the Osceola News-Gazette. Tell the community what is happening with your real estate firm and why now is the best time to purchase a home.

We have attractive digital, email and print advertising options for you to build your sales.

J OIN T H E CO N VE RS AT I O N !

Call 407-846-7600

AroundOsceola.com

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MARKET

OSCEOLA COUNTY

DYNAMICS 2 years (monthly) - 8.1.13 to 8.31.15 KEY INFORMATION CONSTRUCTION TYPE All

OSCEOLA SFH DISTRESSED VS. TOTAL SALES UNITS SOLD

BEDROOMS All

BATHROOMS All

PROPERTY TYPES Residential (Single Family Home)

LOT SIZE All SQ FT All

THIS DATA IS DEPENDENT UPON TIMELINESS OF SALES AND TOTALITY OF INFORMATION REPORTED BY PARTICIPANTS. THE DATA REFLECTS ONLY THE SALES PUBLISHED THROUGH THE MID-FLORIDA REGIONAL MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE (MFRMLS) AND DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL SALES IN REPORTED AREAS. NEITHER THE ASSOCIATION NOR THE MFRMLS IS IN ANY WAY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS ACCURACY. DATA: TOTAL SALES = ALL MFRMLS OSCEOLA SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING (SFH) & PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD).

(SFH), (PUD)-REO/BANK OWNED/SHORT SALE FROM SPECIAL SALE PROVISION. AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET IS: DAYS TO CLOSED

SUPPLY & DEMAND NUMBER OF UNITS (FS) Monthly Change -15381 Monthly % -.53 Total Change -379.42 Total % Change -12.67

FOR SALE -12.7%

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MONTH’S SUPPLY OF INVENTORY (SOLD CALCULATION) Monthly Change -.13 Monthly % -1.77 Total Change -3.22 Total % Change -42.55

MSI SALE -42.5%

MEDIAN PRICE (SOLD) LOW, HIGH, AVERAGE, MEDIAN Monthly Change 812.74 Monthly % .53 Total Change 19,505.80 Total % Change 12.70

FOR SALE 12.7%

OSCARAFFILIATES TECHOSCAR

030 030

PROFESSIONAL

AFFILIATES ADVERTISING/ PUBLICATIONS The Osceola Gazette Matt Plocha 108 Church St. Kissimmee, FL 34741 T 407-846-7600 ext107 F 407-846-8516 mplocha@ osceolanewsgazette.com osceolanewsgazette.com The Real Estate Book Michael Martin 261 Specialty Point Sanford, FL 32771 T 407-878-1238 orlandorebook@ gmail.com

AGENT MARKETING SERVICES BrandAid Chris Florence 7354 Bent Grass Drive Winter Haven, FL 33884 T 863-557-7953 chris@brandaid.com www.abrandaid.com Video Merge, LLC Joseph Terp 6917 Narcoossee Rd. Ste 716 Orlando, FL 32822 T 321-800-2121 josephterp@gmail.com www.home.buyerscallingyou.com

ATTORNEYS CPC Law Charles Castellon 14129 Town Loop Blvd, Suite 200 Orlando, FL 32837 T 407-851-0201 F 407-851-9411 ccastellon@centralflattorney.com Law Office of Daniel Villazon, P.A. 1420 Celebration Blvd.

Celebration, FL 34747 T 407-483-0041 dvillazon@yahoo.com frecattorney.com Quinones & Oliver, P.L. Leslie Zimmerly 11513 Lake Underhill Rd, Ste A Orlando, FL 32825 T 407-249-5050 F 407-249-5008 leslie@QFPO.com www.QFPO.com

Roland H. Acosta & Associates Roland H. Acosta 399 Carolina Avenue, Suite 210 Winter Park, FL 32789 T 407-644-2531 F 407-628-9289 racosta@ acostaatlaw.com

BB&T Wealth Rob Andrews 114 N Tennesee Ave Lakeland, FL 33801 T 863-413-8919 F 863-413-8921 rob.andrews@bbandt.com www.bbt.com/wealth

Suarez Law Group Anthony Suarez 517 W. Colonial Drive Orlando, FL 32804 T 407-841-7373 F 407-841-7181 Suarez@cfl.rr.com

Butler Mortgage Barbara Bowling 1012 W. Emmett Street, Suite B Kissimmee, FL 34741 T 407-931-3800 F 407-931-3801 bblowling@ butlermortgage.com

CONSTRUCTION/ REPAIR/ RENOVATIONS Bud’s Septic Russell Jeffcoat 1512 Park Commerce Ct. St Cloud, FL 34769 T 407-892-7526 F 407-392-4599 Budsseptic@hotmail.com www.budsspetic.com Linscott Plumbing Services Wayne Linscott 2009 Jaffa Dr. St. Cloud, FL 34771 T 407-891-1700 linscottplbg@aol.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES/ INSTITUTIONS 1-866-Reverse Mortgage, Inc. Tim Linger 1536 Villa Marie Dr. Orlando, 32807 T 321-356-9229 F 321-710-2458 TimLinger@ 1866reverse.com www.1866reverse.com AmeriPro Home Loans John Riesebeck-Lopez 4703 NW 53rd Ave, Ste A3 Gainesville, FL 32606 T 407-846-4040 x 258 jrlopez@ameriprohomeloans.com www.jriesebeck. ameriprohomeloans.com BB&T Mark McRae 114 N Tennesee Ave Lakeland, FL 33801 T 863-284-2715 mmcrae@bbandt.com

www.bbt.com

Butler Mortgage Harry Urban 1012 W. Emmett St, Ste B Kissimmee, FL 34741 T 407-931-3800 F 407-931-3801 hurban@ butlermortgage.com Centerstate Bank of Florida, N.A. Scott Johnson 920 North John Young Pkwy Kissimmee, FL 34746 T 407-847-3800 F 407-847-8482 sjohnson@centerstatebank.com Centerstate Bank of Florida, N.A. Fred Wright 920 North John Young Pkwy Kissimmee, FL 34746 T 407-758-7486 fwright@nbcsecurities.com Equity Mortgage Bankers Odette Alaga-Tua 217 N Westmonte Dr, #2000 Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 T 407-504-5114 F 305-575-2580 oaliagatua@equitymb.com www.equitymb.com

Farm Credit

James Lewis 115 S Missouri Ave, Suite 400 Lakeland, FL 33815 T 863-682-4117 J.Lewis@farmcredit.cfl farmcredit.cfl.com RP Funding Scott Johnson 2700 Westhall Ln, Ste 120 Maitland, FL 32751 T 321-397-4189 F 888-851-7348 Scott.Johnson@rpfunding.com www.rpfunding.com

RP Funding Jon Woods 2700 Westhall Ln, Ste 120 Maitland, FL 32751 T 321-397-4189 F 888-851-7348 Jon.woods@ rpfunding.com www.rpfunding.com RP Funding Melissa Barry 2700 Westhall Ln, Ste 120 Maitland, FL 32751 T 407-925-6689 Melissa.Barry@rpfunding.com www.rpfunding.com Qubty Financial Group David Qubty 7680 Universal Blvd., Suite 405 Orlando, FL 32819-8998 T 407-370-3030 F 407-370-2040 dqubty@qubtyfinancialgroup.com Qubty Financial Group Sami D. Qubty 7680 Universal Blvd., Suite 405 Orlando, FL 32819-8998 T 407-370-3030 F 407-370-2040 dqubty@qubtyfinancialgroup.com Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Arlene Allert One Home Campus Des Moines, IA 50328 T 515-213-6500 F 55-213-6102 MLSmemberships@wellsfargo.com www.wellsfargo.com

HOME INSPECTIONS AmeriSpec Inspection Services Melinda Kalogridis PO Box 471038 Celebration, FL 34747 T 407-607-4302 Inspect@amerispec.net www.amerispec.net/ centralflorida Buy Your Side Inspection Tommy Joynes 1101 Pennsylvania Ave St. Cloud, FL 34769 T 407-780-0911 thefloridainspector.@gmail.com thefloridainspector.com

OSCARAFFILIATES REVIEWOSCAR

031 Closer Look Home Inspections Keith Wilson 7862 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy, #115 Kissimmee, FL 34747 T 407-319-4608 Keith@closer-look-inspections.com www.closer-look-inspections.com Firm Foundation Home Inspections,Inc. Aubrey Kahn 2200 Sylvan Court Kissimmee, FL 34746 T 321-624-0254 akahn.firmfoundations @gmail.com tophomeinspection.com ELG Group, LLC Geraroldo Nunez 2213 Grand Cayman CT Ste 111 Kissimmee, FL 34743 T 407-791-2991 gnunez@ELG @gmail.com Housemaster Home Inspections Colin Williams 527 Brack Street Kissimmee, FL 34744 T 407-343-4677 F 407-947-5354 cawilliams@housemaster.com osceola.housemaster.com JDIFG Bob Djordjevic 14513 Gainesborough Dr Orlando, FL 32826 T 407-620-6457 F 407-479-3457 FloridaHomeInspector@ gmail.com Pilar Home Inspection Peter Boorman 106 Haversham Way Davenport, FL 33897 T 407-729-2579 peter.pilarhi@gmail.com www.pilarhomeinspectors.com Pillar to Post Sam Grasso 8200 Lynch Dr. Orlando, FL 32835 T 407-512-5995 F 407-512-6707 sam.grasso@ pillartopost.com www.pillartopost.com/ samgrasso Sitepoint Inspection Services, Inc Luis Nigaglioni 529 Burford Circle Davenport, FL 33896 T 321-278-9238 luis@sitepointinspection services.com

REAL ESTATE SCHOOLS/ EDUCATION IFREC Real Estate Schools Richard Fryer 5029 Edgewater Drive Orlando, FL 32810 T 407-644-7277 F 407-647-5227 robin@ifrec.com

REALTOR速 SERVICES Creating Wealth USA, LLC August Byllot P.O. Box 470654 Celebration, FL 34747 T 863-255-5858 augie@ creatingwealthusa.com creatingwealthusa.com

TITLE/ESCROW/ INSURANCE SERVICES A-Z Team Title, LLC

Bernard S. Edwards 102 Park Place Blvd.

Kissimmee, FL 34743 T 407-932-0529 F 407-932-1587 bernie@azteamtitle.com Alex Insurance Agency Alex Ramos 6 Broadway Kissimmee, FL 34741 T 407-847-5839 F 866-854-5354 alexinsurance@aol.com www.AlexInsuranceUSA.com Allstate Kathryn Delong Insurance Agency Kathryn DeLong 809 Mabbette St Kissimmee, FL 34741 T 407-965-5612 kathryndelong@allstate.com Allstate Kathryn Delong Insurance Agency Tim Weisheyer 809 Mabbette St Kissimmee, FL 34741 T 407-965-5612 F 407-409-8322 tim@yourkissimmee.com

American Latin Title Maria de Fatima De Assuneao 13574 Village Park Dr. , Ste 135 Orlando, FL 32837 T 407-363-7704 F 407-363-7706 Fatima@americanlatintitle.com www.americanlatintitle.com Brokers Title Services, LLC Teresa C. Tavera 5401 S. Kirkman Rd, Suite 207 Orlando, FL 32819 T 407-476-2033 F 407-413-8745 teresa@brokerstitleservices.com Brokers Title Services, LLC Fresa Tavera 5401 S. Kirkman Road, Suite 207 Orlando, FL T 407-476-2033 D 407-413-8745 fresa@brokerstitleservices.com www.BrokersTitle Services.com Esquire Title Company Charles Castellon 14129 Town Loop Blvd, Ste 200 Orlando, FL 32837 T 407-851-0201 F 407-851-9411 charles@cpclaw.net cpclaw.net Integrity First Title Betty M. Dobbie 908 Mabbette Street Kissimmee, FL 34741 T 407-846-4500 F 407-846-4533 bdobbie@integrityft.com Quality Title & Escrow LLC Lisa Bennett 1801 Lee Road, Suite 205 Winter Park, FL 32789 T 321-304-3906 F 321-304-3009 lisa@qtefl.com Quality Title & Escrow LLC Juanita Figueroa 715 Mabbette St. Kissimmee, FL 34741 T 407-483-8861 F 407-483-8869 juanita@qtefl.com www.qtefl.com Stewart Title Rhonda Owen 1401 Budinger Ave. St. Cloud, FL 34769 T 407-846-7477 F 407-846-6573 rowen@stewart.com

Stewart Title Rayelynne Ketchum 1401 Budinger Ave. St.Cloud, FL 34769 T 407-957-9000 F 407-957-8055 rketchum@stewart.com Tiede Insurance Craig Tiede 2342 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial HWY Kissimmee, FL 34744 T 407-744-0043 Craigtiede@allstate.com

OTHER SERVICES ADT Security Services Carlos Sanchez 6830 Shadowridge Dr, Suite 211 Orlando, FL 32812 T 407-666-4526 F 407-479-3162 maxcgroup@hotmail.com ADT.com Concordia Studios Kemp Howland 355 Falling Waters Dr Poinciana, FL 34759 T 407-222-4847 F 407-705-2562 Kemp.Howland@ gmail.com concordiastudios.com Culligan Water Deborah Hutchison 2101 W. Landstreet Rd Orlando, FL 32809 T 407-425-6686 F 407-425-1005 dhutchison@culliganflorida.com www.culliganorlando.com Heritage Park Inn Chalencia Seay 2050 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy Kissimmee, FL 34744 T 407-846-4545 F 407-932-2268 Sea@TheHeritageParkInn.com Wild Palms Productions Victor Salgado 2420 Cypress Trace Circle Orlando, FL 328254 T 321-948-3512 wildpalmsproductions@gmail.com wildpalmspro.com

elin

PRSRT STD U S POSTAGE PAID MID-FL FL PERMIT NO. 581

Osceola County Association of REALTORS® 1105 Shady Lane • Kissimmee, FL 34744

WELCOME NEW

MEMBERS Dalia Abouelkhair - Ghali Realty, INC Gilbert Abreu - La Rosa Realty LLC Nelson Acosta Suarez - Odry Vargas Realty Group Zoraida Aguirre - J.P. Capital Realty Inc. Ali Alabdally - La Rosa Realty LLC Kenia Aliaga Gorrin - La Rosa Realty LLC Diane Alldredge - La Rosa Realty LLC Patrice Alzate - Agent Trust Realty Corporation Cira Amadon - 365 Realty, Inc. Katrina Anarumo - Florida Realty Marketplace LLC Rob Andrews - BB&T WealthAdriana Mounir Assouli - La Rosa Realty LLC Shadi Badran - Ghali Realty, INC Walter Barahona - La Rosa Realty LLC Melissa Barry - RP Funding Anotnia Bayron - Homs Realty Group Inc. Anthony Billitteri - Ashtian Realty Donaldo Blandon - Roman’s Pro Realty LLC Jetnareth Broom - B Live Real Estate Lucia Calicchio- Cozy American Home Florida Inc Christian Carbano - La Rosa Realty LLC Irina Carp - The Property Firm Jessica Casillas - Keller Williams at The Lakes Julietle Castaneda - Empire Network Realty Inc. Maria Cendon - Roman’s Pro Realty LLC Laurence Courtney - Changing Latitudes Real Estate Services, LLC Amie Crews - Re/Max Blue Water Nadine Dawson - Watson Realty Corp.

Carlos DeJesus - Exit Realty Champions Meisoon Deleon - La Rosa Realty LLC Kat DeLong - Allstate Kathryn DeLong Insurance Agency Thamires Dias - Century 21 All Homes & Property Carlos Diaz - Odry Vargas Realty Group David Diaz De Arce - Central Fl Investors Realty Stoney Dunlop - Re/Max Realtec Group Samuel Eckerson - Heritage Park Realty Barry Eisenberg - Arista Realty Group, LLC Gloriluz Feliciano - Florida Realty Investments Pilar Fernandez - Keller Williams at The Lakes Maria Flores - One Way Realty Inc. Margo Freeman - Sunbrella Real Estate Kelly Fuller - Weichert Realtors Hallmark Pro Jacqueline Garcia - Roman’s Pro Realty LLC Daiana Garcia Medrano - Homs Realty Group Inc. Fernando Gil - Urban Square Realty Inc Ferlenny Giraldo - Agent Trust Realty Corporation Ross Glunt - Sunbrella Real Estate Magali Gonzalez - Watson Realty Corp Natalia Gonzalez - Urban Square Realty Inc J’whon James - Lababidi Realty Group Felicia Jones - La Rosa Realty LLC Kristen Jones - Exit Realty Champions Bobbi Jo Justice - Keller Williams Classic II Realty Chan Koo Kang - La Rosa Realty LLC Jason Kelly - Better Homes & Gardens Fine Living Asim Khan - HomeFirst Realty Russell Laggan - Carrington Real Estate Services, LLC Anthony Lal - La Rosa Realty LLC Nini Lamadrid - One Way Realty Inc. Joseph LaRosa - La Rosa Realty LLC Delaindse Leon - Weichert Realtors Hallmark Pro James Lewis - Farm Credit Patrick Lewis - Keller Williams Classic II Realty Dimarie Lleras - One Way Realty Inc. Darshani Lokhnath - Godwin Realty Group James Lowe - Keller Williams at The Lakes Kate Ly - Coldwell Banker Ackley Realty Giselle Mahadeo - Watson Realty Corp.

Jacqueline Malagon - La Rosa Realty LLC Gustavo Manrique - DBG Realty Deborah Mansell - Evista Resources Realty Inc Ana Manzo - Agent Trust Realty Corporation Vanessa Martinez Macareno - La Rosa Realty LLC Christopher Masheck - Century 21 All Homes & Property Mark McRae - BB&T Wealth Doris Menendez - Florida Lighthouse Realty Paul Michelotti - Greater Orlando Realty Partners LLC Monique Milan - Keller Williams Classic II Realty Robert Milligan - Allison James Estates & Homes Anderson Moran - Luxury Realty, Inc.

Amy Mosher - C21 Blue Sky Realty Group Oscar Murillo - Keller Williams Classic II Realty Bruno Nogueira - Watson Realty Corp.

Jonathon Ortiz - La Rosa Realty LLC Rafael Padilla - Inteli Realty Group, Inc. Fernando Parra - La Rosa Realty LLC Adriana Pedrosa - Vitoria Realty Virginia Pena De Henandez - HP Property Solutions, LLC Barbara Pisciotta - Watson Realty Corp.

Thomas Popadak - Re/Max Marketplace II LLC Amanda Porras - Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Florida Realty Karen Quiroz - La Rosa Realty LLC Rajendra Raghunath - Overton Realty, Inc. Paola Ramirez - Weichert Realtors Hallmark Pro Christina Ramnauth - Watson Realty Corp Iliana Reyes - Florida Realty Investments Rosemarie Richter - Homestead Realty Inc. Alan Riley - Re/Max Realtec Group Oscar Roldan - Keller Williams Advantage III Dennis Romero Osorio - Weichert Realtors Hallmark Pro Ariana Rosario - La Rosa Realty LLC Ashley Rowe - Watson Realty Corp Vivianne Rybaczuk - Coldwell Banker West Realty Smith Salomon - La Rosa Realty LLC Jose Serpa - Luxury Realty, Inc. Elizabeth Serrano - Century 21 All Homes & Property Julie Shaver - Weichert Realtors Hallmark Pro Ivette Soto Alejandro - C21 Blue Sky Realty Group Jonathon Sullivan - Florida Pines Realty, LLC Alexander Thurdekoos - La Rosa Realty LLC Danuta Trip - Watson Realty Corp.

Marggie Velazquez - La Rosa Realty LLC Urban West - Urban Square Realty Inc Lilivette Vasquez - Keller Williams Classic II Realty Patrick Wolfe - Keller Williams Classic II Realty Holly Wolfer - Evista Resources Realty Inc Fred Wright - Centerstate Bank of Florida N.A. Madie Zilke - Sunbrella Real Estate

AFFILIATE

OFFICES

Allstate Kathryn DeLong Insurance AmeriSpec Inspection Services BB&T Bud’s Septic Service Inc Centerstate Bank Farm Credit