March/April 2014 REALTOR® Report by Real Agent Rewards

Official Publication of the St. Louis Association of REALTORS速

速

St. Louis Association of

REALTORS速

The Voice for Real Estate in St. Louis7,000 members strong. March / April 2014

Surviving the Elements

Volume 10 - Number 2

REALTOR® Report

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President’s Message SLAR is a part of a regional lockbox system that also includes the East Central, Franklin County, Jefferson County, Mineral Area (as of March 31), and St. Charles County Associations/ Boards of REALTORS®. This assures buyers and sellers that, through their REALTOR®, they may access properties in surrounding areas without barriers.

Beth Braznell, 2014 President

A Refresher on Supra Rules and Regulations With the upcoming Supra keybox exchange (March 31-April 2), we have received a lot of questions about Supra. The Supra rules and regulations were last updated in 2007. Supra technology and the way we REALTORS® use our boxes and electronic keys have changed, so the rules and regulations will be examined this year. Supra is not owned by SLAR. Supra is the manufacturer and supplier of the boxes and the electronic keys. SLAR controls the sales of keyboxes, the leasing of ActiveKEYS, the set-up of eKeys, and the repair and replacement of lost or damaged boxes and keys.

The SLAR Grievance Committee has seen a number of Supra violations, so let’s take a quick tour of the rules and regulations. Remember, these rules and regulations do not apply to keyboxes other than Supra.

Supra Rules & Regulations: • You must make an appointment to show unless the MLS contains the instructions “no appointment required” or “show at will.” There are hefty fines for entering without permission. • Listing agents must provide a sign-in sheet in any listing that has a Supra box. Anyone who opens that box must sign in. Failure to do so may void your errors and omissions insurance (check with your E&O carrier). • If you enter a property and no sign-in sheet is provided, leave your business card with your signature, the date and time on it. Just dropping a card is not sufficient to protect you if something goes wrong. If the owner is home and lets you in (you don’t open the keybox),

then you don’t have to sign in. • If there is no sign-in sheet, call the listing broker immediately, then call the Association at 314-576-0033 to report it. This will forestall any action taken against you for failure to sign in. • Listing agents must log all appointment calls prior to showing. If you don’t use a showing appointment service, make sure that you log all appointment requests (date and time of call, showing agent and contact information, date and time of showing). • Of course, you know that we never, ever share keys. A broker may loan their key to an agent in their office if the appropriate form is completed and sent to SLAR before the key is used. But this is very temporary; agents must bring their defective key to SLAR for repair or replacement before 5 p.m. of the next business day.

• Check with your E&O carrier about using combo boxes on your listings. Some E&O carriers will not cover situations arising from the use of nonSupra boxes.

You can review the Supra rules and regulations at www.stlrealtors.com/ member-benefits/supra. Remeber the seller can’t waive the Supra rules. For more information about the upcoming keybox exchange, please visit www.stlrealtors.com/newsupra

Contents 22

Professional Development

CEO Corner

It’s a Big, Big World

From Around the Industry 8

12-13 14-17

Legislative Report

SLAR Stats

Law & Ethics

2014 - CE Schedule

23-24

Staff Spotlight 26 Calendar of Events

REALTOR® Store Special

REALTOR® Report

St. Louis Association of

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12777 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141 (314) 576-0033 – main line (314) 275-7888 - education line (314) 576-7143 - fax www.stlrealtors.com

REALTORS®

2014 Board of Directors Executive Committee Beth Braznell, President Janet Judd, President Elect Sandy Hancock, Vice President/Treasurer Mickey McNearney, Secretary

REALTOR® DIRECTORS: Marc Levinson, Member at Large Donna Zerega, Immediate Past President Doug Dolan, Commercial Division President Dawn Kennedy, CEO

Term Ends 2014

Term Ends 2015

Term Ends 2016

Bob Bax* Gail Brown Kimberly Cameron Jan Thomas

Tom Kennedy Mickey McNearney David Townsend Glenn Vatterott

Vivian McBride

Mike Carter Eric Friedman Tiffany Hamilton Pat Malloy Mike Travaglini

National Association of REALTORS® Directors:

REALTOR® ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS:

AFFILIATE DIRECTOR:

Beth Braznell (Board President) Janet Judd (Board President-Elect) Nate Johnson (Director)

Glenn Vatterott (Large Firm Representative) Bruce Aydt (Distinguished Service Award)

Jill Butler

Marc Levinson

Sharon Hutson

*Sandy Hancock (Bob Bax filling 2014 year)

St. Louis Association of REALTORS® Staff Chief Executive Officer Dawn M. Kennedy, CEO- MSPM, RCE, e-PRO, GREEN dkennedy@stlrealtors.com Direct Line: (314) 590-2319

Education Kim Russell, Executive Assistant krussell@stlrealtors.com (314) 576-0033 ext. 318

Monica Wilson, Assistant mwilson@stlrealtors.com Direct Line: (314) 275-7888

Membership & Finance

Legislative Celeste Rueter, Sr. Vice President, Governmental & Legislative Affairs crueter@stlrealtors.com Direct Line: (314) 590-2307 Maureen McDonnell, Assistant Director of Governmental Affairs mmcdonnell@stlrealtors.com 314.576.0033 ext. 310

Karen Dunn, Director of Professional Development kdunn@stlrealtors.com Direct Line: (314) 590- 2312

Martina Johnson, Public Affairs Fundraising Coordinator mjohnson@stlrealtors.com (314) 576-0033 ext. 309

Commercial Division Susan Wagner, Vice President, Professional Specialties & Standards swagner@stlrealtors.com Direct line: (314) 590-230 Tina Luehrmann, Commercial Specialist tinal@stlrealtors.com

REALTOR® Shoppe Hours of Operation Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. For advertising information, please contact Foley Publications at 1-800-628-6983 or visit www.foleypub.com To submit articles for consideration in the REALTOR® Report, email Editor-in-chief Dawn Kennedy at dkennedy@stlrealtors.com.

Rick Capelli, Senior Vice President of Membership & Finance Tammy Williams, Membership Specialist rcapelli@stlrealtors.com Direct line: (314) 590-2313 twilliams@stlrealtors.com Judy Partsch, Membership Specialist / REALTOR® Shoppe Jessica Perez, Bookkeeper jpartsch@stlrealtors.com jperez@stlrealtors.com

Communications, Marketing & Public Relations Laura DeVries, Director of Communications and Marketing ldevries@stlrealtors.com Direct line: (314) 590-2301 Lorraine Zahn, Communications Administrative Assistant / Receptionist lzahn@stlrealtors.com

Lauren Smith, Marketing Coordinator lsmith@stlrealtors.com Becca Grober, Communications Coordinator bgrober@stlrealtors.com

Mid-America Regional Information Systems (MARIS) 1714 Deer Tracks Trail Ste. 200, St. Louis, MO 63131

(314) 984-9111

Paul Prince, President pprince@marisnet.com Denise Bielicke, Vice President of Operations dbielicke@marisnet.com Tracey Yost, Membership Manager tryost@marisnet.com Brad Whitrock, Support Specialist bwhitrock@marisnet.com Olivia Yarbrough, Marketing & Communications Specialist oyarbrough@marisnet.com David Price, Senior Vice President & Systems Manager dprice@marisnet.com

www.marisnet.com

Katie Otto, Vice President of Member Services kotto@marisnet.com Jason A. Darrough, Support Manager jdarroug@marisnet.com Carol Morrow, Accounting Coordinator cmorrow@marisnet.com MARIS Support, MLS Issues support@marisnet.com

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CEO Corner

By Dawn M. Kennedy, SLAR CEO

March and early April are fraught with association activity as we complete our lockbox exchange. The new, Bluetooth iBoxes will be a slightly higher cost to the individual or corporate boxholder but well worth the upgrade in terms of fresh batteries and usability. Supra has also agreed that if you use an eKey (a code on your phone versus a physical piece of Supra equipment) your bill will be quite a bit lower. The Bluetooth iBoxes have many benefits including: • Longer shelf life due to fresh batteries and more importantly the new boxes have auto shutoff – instead of sitting in “run” mode • If you use an Android device or iPhone 4S and above you will no longer need to carry a separate fob to open the iBoxes • The new iBoxes have a longer shackle so they fit better and more easily • The new iBoxes also include a container large enough to hold several keys and/or gate cards at once Other resources offered by SLAR include online CE classes (just visit our website) and new, fresh content in our live CE courses. I hope most of the membership availed itself of the free shredding truck on March 13th. If you missed it, don’t worry, it will be offered again later this year. Be watching for the SLAR annual report, due out at the end of April. As always, your

leadership wants you to know where your dues dollars are being spent. Our new rookie video series launched in February and so far, it has been met with rave reviews. This is just one more resource to help members become a success. If you are interested in receiving the series in your inbox monthly just contact communications@stlrealtors. com. Happy Selling!

Military Relocation Professional Certification Course

Help current and former military service members take full advantage of military housing benefits and support. This certification focuses on educating real estate professionals about working with current and former military service members to find the housing solutions that best suit their needs and take full advantage of military benefits and support. Utilize our local military demographic statistics to formulate marketing strategies and determine your best service offerings for sellers and buyers. Learn how to provide the real estate services—at any stage in the service member’s military career—that meet the needs of this niche market and win future referrals. Hone your knowledge and skills for working with active duty military buyers and sellers, as well as veterans with the NAR's Military Relocation Professional Certification. The MRP Certification course will help you identify clients that qualify for VA housing benefits and enhance your sensitivity to issues specific to military families. As a certified MRP, you will become part of a nationwide directory network for referrals and resources that will increase your earning potential by working with military relocation clients. Gain confidence and pride in providing a much needed to service to the men, women, and families that have served our country.

Date:

May 14th, 2014

Time:

Registration - 8:30AM Class - 9:00AM-5:00PM 6 Hours of Elective CE

Place:

SLAR 12777 Olive Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63141

Cost:

$99 $25 of each registration will be donated toward homeless veterans

Instructor: Bryan Bergjans, MBA Commissioned Officer, Lieutenant U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve

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It’s a BIG, BIG World The Inclusivity Advisory Group promotes Fair Housing practices and educates members on diversity issues of race, religion, disability and sexual orientation through programs that promote membership awareness and inclusion.

By Bryan Bergjans , Prime Lending

Have you helped a VET today? Staff Sergeant James Prince of the Army National Guard was being called to duty due to a heavy snowstorm approaching the area. Two inches of ice had already accumulated with 9-12 inches of snow to follow. SSgt Prince patrolled the surrounding counties with his convoy of three Humvee’s following snowplows. His convoy received orders from dispatch that a family of three were stuck in a ditch in the middle of the storm with no heat for hours. The father, mother, and infant child had been driving from Nebraska to Minnesota and got stuck on the side of the road and their vehicle was out of gas. Unfortunately, the Humvee’s also became trapped in the snow while en route to the family. SSgt Prince could see dim lights up a head from the trapped vehicle and ordered another Sgt to assist. These two guardsmen started to run on foot towards the trapped vehicle. They quickly realized the family inside the car was not able to communicate in English. After some frustrating moments of misunderstood communication, SSgt Prince was able to get the infant from his parents. The baby was suffering from hypothermia and was barely alive at that point. SSgt Prince wrapped the baby up in army blankets and started running back towards the convoy through thick snow, about a half mile away. SSgt Prince noticed that the baby wasn’t crying or very responsive due to the severe hypothermia. As

a father of six kids of his own SSgt Prince understood how fragile this life was and prayed to God that the baby would live. Once he reached the convoy, he hopped in the back of the Humvee and desperately tried to warm the baby back up. After what seemed to be a lifetime the baby finally opened its eyes and started to cry. “It’s just what we do; I don’t need recognition.” --SSgt. James Prince United States Army National Guard. I know him as James Prince, my client, who as of today is represented by a green folder on my Operations Manager’s desk. The buying process is difficult. There are regulatory rules, disclosures, and minimum timelines established for getting paperwork turned in to processing. I followed up with James a few times concerning signatures needed for paperwork. James apologized to me for the delay, and informed me that he had been stuck in a snowstorm. Uncle Sam had him working late from Thursday through Sunday. At that point, he told me the story I mentioned above. My stomach dropped and I realized, here is a man who spent four days in horrible conditions saving lives and I am giving him a hard time over signatures? James didn’t even tell me about saving lives; it was my second line of questions that got it out. These are the men and women in the armed forces; they do not expect anything in return and spring into action when called upon.

According to the Census information in 2012, Missouri’s population is about 4.57 million people. Of that, approximately 494,000 are veterans, roughly 10 percent of our population. This information suggests one out of every ten of your clients is a veteran. According to the Census, two out of every ten men in Missouri have served or are currently serving in the Military. Over 50% of the veterans in Missouri are between the ages of 35-62. As we tuck our families in at night, or we go about our lives as normal, the men and women of our armed forces are called upon constantly. They do not receive bonus checks or commissions and most of the time not even a single bit of recognition for acts of bravery. This is why we owe it to them and to those who have come before them to be aware of the culture in which they serve. Let’s focus on how we can stand watch for them as they do for us. Becoming educated on programs and services that can assist our veteran community in becoming first time homebuyers is the least we can do. Real estate professionals are the front line for these brave men and women, and they are relying on all of us to be on point and sharp when it comes to assisting them with the biggest purchase of their lives. So ask yourself, have you helped a VET today?

REALTOR® Report

Live Market Data Available At Your Fingertips! Want Market Snapshot Reports available at the touch of a button? This new member benefit, brought to you by SLAR and MARIS, is now available on www.stlrealtors.com! Visit this page to view a live snapshot of the market or create a custom search by selecting a specific zip code, school district, county, or municipality at the top left side of the page.

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Me NEW mb er B ene fit!

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Recommend your buyers call us today. Jim Bruns St. Peters, MO 636-922-9831 www.wfhm.com/loans/saintpeters NMLSR ID 400201

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Jeff Fothergill Kirkwood, MO 314-238-1355 www.wfhm.com/loans/kirkwood NMLSR ID 792134

Joe Bulla St. Charles, MO 636-922-9818 www.wfhm.com/loans/stcharlesbranchmo NMLSR ID 48914

Roger Holdenried Chesterfield Plaza 636-777-7801 www.wfhm.com/loans/chesterfieldplaza NMLSR ID 402080

Cherity Freeze Shiloh, IL 618-622-2877 www.wfhm.com/loans/wellsfargobranchil NMLSR ID 400487

Bob Cohoon Chesterfield, MO 636-730-3335 www.wfhm.com/loans/chesterfieldmorebranchmo NMLSR ID 244632

Scott Sanders Imperial, MO 636-467-2236 www.wfhm.com/loans/imperialmobranchmo NMLSR ID 400210

Tiffany Keasler Glen Carbon, IL 618-650-7501 www.wfhm.com/loans/glencarbonbranchil NMLSR ID 403830

A PriorityBuyer® preapproval is based on our preliminary review of credit information only and is not a commitment to lend. We will be able to offer a loan commitment upon verification of application information, satisfying all underwriting requirements and conditions, and providing an acceptable property, appraisal and title report. Not available on nonconforming products or for certain FHA transactions. This information is for real estate and building professionals only and is not intended for consumer distribution. Information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without notice. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ©2012 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. AS974785 1/13-4/13

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From around the industry…. Never a dull moment…

Complete Streets…

Just when we think we can let our guard down and focus our attention on serving our clients and growing our business, something rears its head to remind us that we must always be on the lookout for things that may negatively affect our industry. This also reminds us that regardless of our profession within the real estate industry, the professional associations are key to our success. The St Louis Association of REALTORS®, Home Builders Association of Eastern Missouri, Missouri Land Title Association, Mortgage Bankers Association, Associated General Contractors, and American Society of Home Inspectors are just a few of the associations that work to keep their members informed with regard to regulatory and statutory changes. These associations also often lobby for, or against these changes as appropriate. It’s good to know these associations “have our back” while we try to focus on doing business. However, for your association to be effective it takes the commitment and dedication of its members as they are the “eyes and ears” out in the field and oftentimes may be aware of issues of concern before they have hit the radar of the association staff. Not to mention, all the associations are running on leaner budgets today and just don’t have the staff to stay on top of the roughly five counties and 100+ municipalities that most of our business is done within.

On the surface, the “Complete Streets” bill that was introduced in St. Louis County late last year didn’t appear to be anything negative. However, thanks to the diligent work by the staff at SLAR, HBA, and the AGC, along with input from their respective members, the bill was thoroughly vetted and it was revealed that, as proposed, there would be a negative impact on housing, primarily with regard to new homes. This was a topic of much discussion at our last couple of forum meetings and fortunately, because of the efforts of all involved, the provision of the bill that applied to private development, which was the primary concern of our forum members, was removed.

It takes a forum… I am also reminded of the importance of cooperation and interaction between the various professions every other month when our St. Louis Industry Forum meets and members of the aforementioned associations, as well as others in the industry, come together to share their insights, concerns, and issues with the others. The most recent meeting was no exception as there were many issues discussed that need our attention. Without the input of those in the profession to assure the necessary changes were made it could have been a negative impact on the St. Louis real estate market and industry.

BIG fines from the CFPB… The Dodd-Frank act was signed into law in 2010 and there was much conversation among members of our industry at the time it passed. Since passage, components of the new law have gone into effect, which has caused some unsettling things to rear their ugly head. Wendy Cromer, of Security Title, brought the most notable one to the forum’s attention. Wendy reminded us that the Consumer Finance Protection Board (CFPB), which is charged with implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act, is a self-funding organization. The revenue the CFPB generates is typically in the form of fines for non-compliance with laws and regulations it has been charged with overseeing. In addition to some extremely large fines that have been levied against industry giants, we are now seeing the CFPB go after small banks and mortgage companies in the state of Missouri. This was the case in January when a lender was fined for illegal kickbacks regarding its office rental agreement. Since many members of SLAR are involved in office rental agreements of some type, it would be in your best interest to have your agreements reviewed by an attorney to make sure you are in compliance.

More expensive to buy a home thanks to Recorder of Deeds…

by Dennis Norman St. Louis Industry Forum Chairman and Past SLAR President MORE, REALTORS®

Copy that?… Wendy Cromer also shared her industry’s concern about the Recorder of Deeds’ goal to increase the cost for copies of recorded documents to the title plants. These copies are critical in maintaining a title plant and creating a title commitment. If copies become too expensive it could result in increased costs to the consumer. The MLTA and its members are working on this issue.

City hall to investors…let us tell you how to run your business… Mark Rubin, an independent investor and member of the forum, shared his concern about a trend of many municipalities requiring “absentee owners” to hire a property management firm within their city to manage their rental property. This is actually just the latest of many actions over the past few years by various municipalities to put increasing regulation on landlords and absentee property owners.

Landlords are target of new ordinance….again…. Speaking of private property rights, another upcoming issue is the “Residential Rental Property License” ordinance to be introduced by Councilman Mike O’Mara. This ordinance will require owners of residential property in unincorporated St. Louis County who wish to rent the property to others to obtain a license to do so, and will further impose additional requirements to obtain an occupancy permit for residential rental properties. SLAR is currently monitoring the legislation. Stay tuned for updates… As I said in my opening sentence, “just when you think you can let down your guard…”.

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314-954-8204

vtran@FirstIntegrity.com 77 West Port Plaza Suite 200 St. Louis, MO 63146 314-878-7900

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20+ Years of Real Estate Publishing Excellence!

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This spread is dedicated to the wisdom of Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom– his quotes and to how he survived a storm...

“It is no use saying, ‘We are doing our best.’ You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.” 6 things every homeowner should know (and you should tell them)

• Empty out the closets– keep only what is absolutely necessary in them—half empty closets scream storage is plentiful in the home • Clear all appliances and knick knacks off the kitchen counters– expansive countertops will be the impression • Get a jump start on packing– pack up all personal photos, mementos and collections before the house goes in the MLS • Remove any furniture that is merely decorative or can be lived without– it will make the rooms look bigger • First impressions are made before they hit the front door– invest in dec-orative flowers and pots for the outside of the home • Remember not everyone is an animal lover– move food and water bowls and kitty litter boxes to the garage before a showing—pet “hotels” while your home is on the market will make selling easier

“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” 3 Paths to Success Expand and Capture Leads List, List, List Use technology and other resources to leverage your time

“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”

1 Touch your sphere of influence somehow in some way

2 Learn something new about

your industry, be it learning a neighborhood, using a technology, or learning about legislation that affects you.

6 Things you must do daily 3 Review your goals– post them on

the fridge, on your mirror, in your car , but read them every day

4 Review the MLS Market stats 5 Don’t leave the house without knowing current market rates

6 Review a form you have not used in awhile, read the contract that you use everyday. Just learn those forms inside and out

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“If you are going through hell, keep going.” “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

5 things Consumers Expect (From REALTOR.com) #1. Personable - They want someone that they feel comfortable talking to. #2. Tech Savvy– They want a REALTOR® who will respond immediately. #3. Knowledgeable- A REALTOR® knows their way around the real estate process, how to negotiate, and the area. #4. Trustworthy- Someone that is going to tell them the truth whether they want to hear it or not. #5. Integrity- An agent that will put their interest above his/her own If you do not possess these five attributes it might be time to develop them

5 Ways to jumpstart your business 1) Get off the CE train and earn a designation or certification– find, craft, and grow your niche 2) Don’t forget your own backyard– create a neighborhood newsletter for door to door distribution– mention not only listings and sold comps but area events, interviews with the neighbors, birth announcements etc– give them reasons to read about the neighborhood not about you. Your information can be discreetly posted on the front page. Get involved in your community 3) Work expireds 4) If you are new in the business find a trusted mentor to help you through 5) Wear your REALTOR® pin, EVERYWHERE!

“This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.” 4 things you need to assess today! Your phone Service– Is your plan working for you? Do you need unlimited text? Your technology use– are you using everything you are paying for? Have you quantified the return on your investment? Your website—see how it looks on a mobile phone– test it now Your use of association tools and resources: leverage your dues dollars by taking advantage of all the free offerings at SLAR, MAR (legal hotline) and NAR– the REALTORS Credit Union for professional development loans or car loans, REALTORS® Core Health Insurance, REALTORS® Dental Insurance, auto insurance, prescription cards and more

REALTOR® Report

Legislative Report Dear Members, For the last four years, it has been my honor to serve as your Sr. VP-Governmental & Legislative Affairs. I have truly enjoyed my work at the St. Louis Association of REALTORS® and sincerely appreciate the support that has been given to us in all aspects of our work in the Governmental Affairs Department. I have learned A LOT and will take those lessons with me as I begin a new adventure! On February 27, I announced that I have taken a position with Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis (formerly Variety Club) as their Annual Fund Manager. My last day at SLAR is Thursday, March 13, 2014. I look forward to watching as SLAR’s Governmental Affairs Department continues to grow and do great things. I am leaving you in the very capable hands of Maureen McDonnell and Martina Johnson. Please reach out to them and support them. I wish you and SLAR nothing but the best and hope that our paths will cross again in the future! Sincerely, Celeste Rueter Sr. VP-Governmental & Legislative Affairs

Capitol Conference A Success! On January 15th, 300 REALTORS® from across Missouri, including more than 40 St. Louis REALTORS®, visited Jefferson City to advocate on behalf of the REALTOR® community. SLAR members spoke with their legislators about the protection of historic and low-income housing tax credits and the removal of trial de novo in landlord/tenant disputes. REALTORS® from every branch of the industry were there to exercise the power of the REALTOR® party. “REALTORS® are absolutely prepared to fight whatever battle is needed to protect the American dream of home ownership in the state of Missouri,” said Jim Gamble, 2014 President of Missouri REALTORS®. Thank you to all who participated and made your voice heard!

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by Celeste Rueter, Senior Vice President Governmental and Legislative Affairs

SLAR Successfully Modifies St. Louis County Complete Streets Legislation & Saves Money For Developers You may have heard several news stories in the last few weeks regarding Complete Streets legislation in St. Louis County. “Complete Streets” means designing a transportation corridor which enables safe, accessible travel for all users: pedestrians (including those using a wheelchair or other personal assistive mobility device), bicyclists, transit users, and motorists. Complete Streets elements include improvements such as ADA compliant pedestrian access and transit stops, bike paths, lighting, and landscaping. While a few other local jurisdictions have passed Complete Streets legislation, most have limited its application to public works projects. The original bill introduced in St. Louis County was also limited to public projects and gave the County Highway Department a lot of flexibility when it came to administering the policy. Read more here.

Westwood The Village of Westwood recently informed SLAR that all occupancy code requirements, building inspections, and property maintenance will be administered by St. Louis County. Property owners may apply at the St. Louis County Government Center at 4556 Lemay Ferry or call 314-615-4191 and an application will be mailed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the St. Louis County Manager of Neighborhood Preservation, Joe O’Connell, at 314-615-4191.

Florissant The City of Florissant recently started a down payment assistance program. The Down Payment Assistance Program will match the down payment of potential homebuyers up to $6,000. If the homeowner lives in the home for five years, the loan will be forgiven.

continued on page 13

Legislative Report

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continued from page 12

Major Investor Reception

Urban Affairs at the Zoo

On February 12th, REALTORS® met to make their RPAC pledges and enjoy an evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and socializing at the exclusive St. Louis Club in Clayton. The event was sponsored by NAR and hosted by NAR Major Investor Council Representative, Bob Borgmann, and 2014 SLAR President, Beth Braznell.

At the February Urban Affairs Forum, over 50 REALTOR® members convened at the Zoo’s newly renovated Living World building to learn about the Zoo’s expansion plans in the Clayton-Tamm neighborhood. The Zoo is in the process of demolishing the site of Forest Park Hospital, and gave the REALTORS® an exclusive sneak peak of their detailed blueprints to expand across I-64. David F. McGuire, Vice President of Architecture and Planning, shared the Zoo’s dreams for the future including a gondola, conversion of the south parking lot into a new exhibit, and possibly even a Zoo themed hotel on the old hospital site.

While enjoying the panoramic views from the St. Louis Club, attendees listened to legislative updates from Ed Lawler, Director and Chief Corporate Fundraiser from NAR; Erin Hervey, Missouri REALTORS® Vice President of REALTOR® Party and Local Board Relations, and Celeste Rueter, SLAR’s Senior Vice President of Governmental and Legislative Affairs. Networking with the legislative team at the local, state, and national levels of the REALTOR® Party is a rare opportunity presented only to Major Investors. Other perks offered to all Major Investors include a complimentary fleece jacket from Missouri REALTORS®, and recognition in both the SLAR lobby and the 2015 Installation program. The evening raised $35,000 in Major Investor pledges. For 2014, a total of 45 SLAR members have committed to protecting the real estate industry, bringing the total to $54,500 in pledges. That’s over 50% of SLAR’s yearly RPAC monetary goal! Thank you to all who pledged to become champions of the REALTOR® Party. For more information on how you can become a Major Investor, contact Martina Johnson by email at mjohnson@ stlrealtors.com or by phone at 314-576-0033 for more information.

The Zoo expansion topic resulted in one of the best attended forums ever for Urban Affairs, but it is just one of many exciting presentations in the Spring Urban Affairs lineup. The March 6th forum will be a dual presentation featuring CORTEX Innovation District and nearby central corridor development, including a long-awaited Ikea store. The May Urban Affairs Forum topic, Better Together STL, will be sure to draw crowds of REALTORS® eager to learn about how efficiencies can be achieved in local government and whether a merger between the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County is a viable option.

RHAF 25th Anniversary Appeal Founded in 1989 by SLAR past President Ellen O’Brien, The REALTORS® Housing Assistance Fund (RHAF) will reach a milestone 25th birthday this year. To commemorate RHAF’s 25th anniversary, a capital campaign has kicked off in an effort to double last year’s fundraising efforts with a goal of $50,000. The money will be allocated to local charities that combat homelessness and provide transitional housing through RHAF’s annual grant program. Please consider making RHAF your charity of choice for a month in 2014 to help us reach this goal. Thank you to RE Barcamp for their generous donation to RHAF’s 25th Anniversary campaign!

REALTOR速 Report

SLAR Sold Stats

JANUARY 2014

MARIS - NAR Report Sold Statistics

Residential Totals

Active,Contingent and Pending

Bedrooms

Price Class

2 or Less

4 or More

Total

Active

$29,999 and under $30,000 - $39,999 $40,000 - $49,999 $50,000 - $59,999 $60,000 - $69,999 $70,000 - $79,999 $80,000 - $89,999 $90,000 - $99,999 $100,000 - $119,999 $120,000 - $139,999 $140,000 - $159,999 $160,000 - $179,999 $180,000 - $199,999 $200,000 - $249,999 $250,000 - $299,999 $300,000 - $349,999 $350,000 - $399,999 $400,000 - $449,999 $450,000 - $499,999 $500,000 - $549,999 $550,000 - $599,999 $600,000 - $649,999 $650,000 - $699,999 $700,000 - $749,999 $750,000 - $799,999 $800,000 - $849,999 $850,000 - $899,999 $900,000 - $949,999 $950,000 - $999,999 $1,000,000 - $1,249,999 $1,250,000 - $1,499,999 $1,500,000 - $1,749,999 $1,750,000 - $1,999,999 $2,000,000 - $2,999,999 $3,000,000 or over

60 23 15 10 7 7 8 10 16 11 8 9 1 3 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

36 14 17 17 17 14 14 11 23 33 25 28 14 33 18 17 6 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

12 4 4 5 4 3 0 1 5 7 9 5 10 20 31 22 15 10 14 6 7 3 3 2 2 3 0 2 0 3 1 3 0 3 0

108 41 36 32 28 24 22 22 44 51 42 42 25 56 49 39 24 11 14 9 7 3 3 2 2 3 0 2 0 3 1 3 0 3 0

79 35 52 39 39 42 35 42 67 72 50 36 34 61 54 23 25 22 11 14 7 5 5 2 6 1 6 2 1 6 10 2 1 0 1

Count

191

341

219

751

887

Average Price

$70,230

$138,071

$354,389

$183,898

$202,145

Median Price

$46,000

$125,000

$290,000

$129,000

$124,900

Total Amount

$13,413,852

$47,082,222

$77,611,083

$138,107,157

$179,302,679

Contingent

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Pending

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Days on Market Statistics 1 - 30 Days:

214

Total Units Sold:

31 - 60 Days: 171

751

61 - 90 Days: 120 Avg Market Time:

91 - 120 Days: 82

121 - 180 Days: Avg Sold Price:

180 + Days: 74

$183,898

| 14 |

REALTOR速 Report

SLAR Sold Stats

FEBRUARY 2014

MARIS - NAR Report Sold Statistics

Residential Totals

Active,Contingent and Pending

Bedrooms

Price Class

2 or Less

4 or More

Total

Active

82 18 8 10 6 7 2 7 14 6 7 8 4 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

38 20 22 14 15 11 12 11 27 27 33 28 17 28 17 5 5 2 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

8 6 4 2 1 4 2 2 4 13 10 15 5 27 31 20 11 14 7 5 2 2 3 2 1 0 0 2 1 1 0 2 2 1

128 44 34 26 22 22 16 20 45 46 50 51 26 59 50 26 16 16 9 7 2 3 3 2 1 0 0 2 1 1 1 2 2 1

67 34 43 36 38 37 43 32 64 80 65 55 41 92 51 51 43 13 15 10 17 11 4 7 7 3 6 1 3 5 7 2 3 3

Count

186

338

210

734

989

Average Price

$64,258

$134,561

$309,274

$166,732

$224,451

Median Price

$35,653

$119,450

$252,500

$125,000

$144,900

Total Amount

$11,951,983

$45,481,584

$64,947,594

$122,381,161

$221,982,454

Contingent

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Pending

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Days on Market Statistics 1 - 30 Days:

261

Total Units Sold:

31 - 60 Days: 119

734

61 - 90 Days: 116 Avg Market Time:

91 - 120 Days: 80

121 - 180 Days: Avg Sold Price:

180 + Days: 59

$166,732

| 15 |

REALTOR® Report

MarketTrends Report January 2014 St. Louis City

January 2014

1 YR of % Change

Median Sales Price

Key Metrics

$99,000

65.0%

1600

400

Average Sales Price

$133,012

30.9%

1500

350

1400

300

1300

250

1200

200

1100

150

1000

100

Homes for Sale

Closed Sales

% of Original Price Received

91%

Closed Sales

177

2.3%

Homes for Sale

1160

-15.3%

Days on Market

110

-8.3%

900

-12.5%

800

Months Inventory

0.2%

2014 2013 DATA IS INCLUSIVE OF THE FOLLOWING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES—Single Family, Condos, Coop, and Villas

2014

2013

Historical Median Sales Price for St. Louis City

2013 2010 2014

2011 2012

Sale Price, Median All Data from Mid America Regional Information Systems. Powered by 10K Research and Marketing.

MarketTrends Report January 2014 St. Louis County

January 2014

1 YR of % Change

Median Sales Price

Key Metrics

$137,000

33.0%

6000

Average Sales Price

$191,668

22.5%

5250

1100

4500

1000

3750

900

3000

800

2250

700

1500

600

750

500

400

% of Original Price Received Closed Sales

94%

1.2%

691

-21.2%

Homes for Sale

3,857

-15.2%

Days on Market

-18.8%

Months Inventory

20.0%

Homes for Sale

Closed Sales

1200

2014 2013 DATA IS INCLUSIVE OF THE FOLLOWING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES—Single Family, Condos, Coop, and Villas

2014

2013

Historical Median Sales Price for St. Louis County

2013 2010 2011

2012

Sale Price, Median All Data from Mid America Regional Information Systems. Powered by 10K Research and Marketing.

2014

| 16 |

REALTOR® Report

MarketTrends Report February 2014 Stats as of 03/04/14 St. Louis City

February 2014

1 YR of % Change

Median Sales Price

Key Metrics

$89,766

12.2%

1600

400

Average Sales Price

$114,937

7.9%

1500

350

1400

300

1300

250

1200

200

1100

150

1000

100

Homes for Sale

Closed Sales

% of Original Price Received

91%

Closed Sales

192

2.7%

Homes for Sale

1200

-16.3%

Days on Market

120

18.8%

900

-25.0%

800

Months Inventory

-0.9%

2014 2013 DATA IS INCLUSIVE OF THE FOLLOWING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES—Single Family, Condos, Coop, and Villas

2014

2013

Historical Median Sales Price for St. Louis City

2013 2010 2014

2011 2012

Sale Price, Median All Data from Mid America Regional Information Systems. Powered by 10K Research and Marketing.

MarketTrends Report February 2014 Stats as of 03/04/14 St. Louis County

February 2014

1 YR of % Change

Median Sales Price

Key Metrics

$133,750

13.4%

6000

Average Sales Price

$179,465

5.5%

5250

1100

4500

1000

3750

900

3000

800

2250

700

1500

600

750

500

400

% of Original Price Received Closed Sales

94%

1.3%

628

-23.2%

Homes for Sale

4,065

-14.9%

Days on Market

-23.9%

Months Inventory

0.0%

Homes for Sale

Closed Sales

1200

2014 2013 DATA IS INCLUSIVE OF THE FOLLOWING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES—Single Family, Condos, Coop, and Villas

2014

2013

Historical Median Sales Price for St. Louis County

2013 2010 2011

2012

Sale Price, Median All Data from Mid America Regional Information Systems. Powered by 10K Research and Marketing.

2014

| 17 |

REALTOR® Report | 18 |

Law & Ethics By Dawn M Kennedy, SLAR CEO

Weathering the Storm In every career, a person is bound to hit some rough spots. For many, there is nothing more turbulent than an arbitration or ethics hearing. It is important to remember that adequately preparing for your hearing is YOUR responsibility. It is also important to know your rights as well as responsibilities. Following are some tips that may help you weather the storm of a hearing. 1) In ethics or arbitration READ the outline of hearing procedures document that is sent to you prior to the hearing. The Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual (CEAM) specifically states that should you have not received the guidelines they may be presented to you at the hearing, you may ask for a recess to review them if presented for a hearing. 2) Be prepared for evidence to be submitted at the hearing that may not have been provided by the other party prior to the hearing, If you need to review them ask for a recess. Remember that it is the chair’s discretion whether or not to recess or even reschedule a hearing. The chair rules on the admissibility (whether or not the evidence can be considered by the panel) of evidence presented at the hearing. The chair’s ruling is final. 3) Every member has the right to a fair trial, what is referred to as due process. It is important to understand that the concept of “fair” is defined in the CEAM. Your hearing should be free from bias, coercion, and fraud. Your due process rights are the following: The right to present your case fully, the right to cross-examine witnesses, the right to have witnesses, the right to adequately review evidence presented at the hearing, and the right to have a legal counsel or a designated REALTOR® member represent you during the hearing. 4) There is also a concept called procedural due process error. This refers to the internal workings of the association. For

example, the professional standards staff failed to notify you of the hearing, the staff did not give you the opportunity to challenge panel members or the staff failed to give you timely notice (as defined in the manual). To prevent procedural due process errors, review the outline of an arbitration/ or ethics hearing document to ensure your rights were respected in the process. The outlines of procedure for a hearing are available on the NAR website in the Law & Policy Section. Specific to arbitration, the following guidance is offered: There is no defined concept of procuring cause beyond the framework of a series of uninterrupted events which cause the successful close of a transaction. Procuring cause may involve whether or not the REALTOR caused the interruption through estrangement (a behavior of the REALTOR caused the client to discontinue the implied or written agency relationship) or abandonment (the consumer concluded the REALTOR was no longer interested or able to in serve him/her adequately based on the REALTOR’S actions and behaviors). There are 6 factors a hearing panel may consider in arbitration: Factor #1. No predetermined rule of entitlement

“Every arbitration hearing is considered in light of all of the relevant facts and circumstances as presented by the parties and their witnesses. “Rules of thumb,” prior decisions by other panels in other matters, and other predeterminants are to be disregarded” (NAR, 2014). Factor #2. Arbitrability and appropriate parties

“Hearing Panels may consider questions of whether an arbitrable issue actually exists and whether the parties named are appropriate to arbitration” (NAR, 2014).

Factor #3. Relevance and admissibility

The “Hearing Panel believes may assist it in reaching a fair, equitable, and knowledgeable decision is admissible” (NAR, 2014). Factor #4. Communication and contact— abandonment and estrangement

“Panels will consider whether, under the circumstances and in accord with local custom and practice, the broker made reasonable efforts to develop and maintain an ongoing relationship with the purchaser” (NAR, 2014). Panels have a list of questions they may ask verbally to determine the relationship. They may also use that list of questions during executive session (when they determine the outcome of a case) to review the evidence and testimony. Factor #5. Conformity with state law

“The procedures by which arbitration requests are received, hearings are conducted, and awards are made must be in strict conformity with the law” (NAR, 2014). Factor #6. Consideration of the entire course of events

“The standard of proof in Board-conducted arbitration is a preponderance of the evidence, and the initial burden of proof rests with the party requesting arbitration (NAR, 2014). In either and ethics or an arbitration the burden of proof is the responsibility of the person requesting the arbitration or filing am ethics complaint. The responding party does not have to “prove” their case; they are presumed to have acted correctly and the complaining party must prove otherwise through evidence and testimony. It is not up to the hearing panel to prove your case for you or to assume that you do not know your rights and responsibilities. If you want to ride out the storm of a hearing successfully; be fully prepared. If you need more time to prepare your case or to hire an attorney, ask to have it rescheduled.

REALTOR® Report

| 19 |

NOW OFFERED ONLINE! NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AN ONLINE LEARNING EXPERIENCE TAILORED TO YOUR ASSOCIATION

Real Agent Rewards is an online educational experience for REALTORS®. It started with a need for additional new member orientation classes and varied educational formats. It has grown into an outlet for professional development and continued member engagement. The program was developed for NEW and EXISTING members.

RealAgentRewards.com Exclusive benefits are only available to those who participate. Benefits include tech tutorials, educational materials, and much more.

Communicate with others from your Association using the online forums tool. The forums allow you to discuss best practices and troubleshoot problems.

Rewards are up for grabs, including discounts at the SLAR REALTOR® Shoppe, free CE classes and much more.

Each program is specifically designed for the local Association. The St. Louis Association of REALTORS® is the first local Association to adopt Real Agent Rewards.

New badges will be added regularly. Test your knowledge and your involvement by completing the Quick Start or REALTOR® Advocate Badge.

New members now have two options for completing new member orientation. Orientation can be taken in person at SLAR or online at www.realagentrewards.com.

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION PROFFESIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION ALL AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Existing members brush up on your REALTOR® knowledge or access one of the many professional development resources available at www.realagentrewards.com.

Want to learn more? Contact info@realagentrewards.com or 314.576.0033.

Pick Up Your New Supra Bluetooth iBoxes:

Keybox Exchange March 31st - April 2nd | 9am - 4pm | DoubleTree Hotel - Westport

» More models of smartphones and tablets communicate directly with the BT LE iBoxes. No additional hardware required for most phones, including the newest models of the iPhone and iPad! » BT LE iBoxes are equipped with a larger key container than the old boxes. The new container is large enough to hold several keys and/or gate cards at once. » The shackle can be more easily removed from the keybox for simple handling when placing the BT LE iBox on a property. » BT LE iBoxes include a lithium batteries with a six year lifespan. » iPhone adapters/fobs will be needed only with the iPhone 4 and below. The iPhone 4S and above, the Android, and all other non-Apple devices will not need an adapter or fob.

Important Note: If you are an agent or broker who does not own any SUPRA boxes you do not need to attend this event. Questions? Visit our website at www.stlrealtors.com/newsupra or email Rick Capelli at rcapelli@stlrealtors.com.

FAQ Summary Question: Who should attend the Keybox Exchange? Answer: If you are a broker or an agent who owns any of the current SUPRA iBoxes, you will need to attend this Keybox Exchange. We recommend that you be as organized as you can and bring all your old iBoxes at same time to your assigned slot. Question: Are keys being changed...or just the boxes? Answer: This not a key exchange or upgrade. Boxes only. All our current devices, the ActiveKEY and the current eKEY devices, will all work with the new boxes. Question: What is the cost of the Keybox Exchange? Answer: The terms of the exchange are one for one. You must bring your current iBoxes in order to receive the new BT LE iBoxes free of cost. You must be an active REALTOR速 and member of SLAR to participate. Question: What are the times of the Keybox Exchange? Answer: Take a look at the table below to determine your appointment time. Appointment times are determined by last name. Please avoid scheduling showings close to your appointment time. Allow one hour to exchange your keyboxes. If you cannot come at your appointed time, please trade with another REALTOR速. Important Note: The exchange will end at 3:00pm on Wednesday, April 2nd.

REALTOR® Report

| 22 |

Professional Development Building and sustaining a strong real estate career is a challenge for many REALTORS®. Who doesn’t want the American dream of owning a home? Your potential clients do, but you have to first reach your own dream, your own potential to help them. With the market improving and interest rates still low, now is the time to expand your expertise as a real estate professional. What is the best way to do this? Through education in areas that will raise your level of confidence, set you apart from the competition and help you become an effective, highly skilled “go-to” resource for your clients. Education comes in all forms and from many sources. It can be overwhelming just trying to decide how best to spend your time and money to get the most valuable, relevant training to boost your income and better prepare you to respond to ever-changing market trends. Here’s the good news… SLAR is here for you! This is a license renewal year, so that means the Missouri Real Estate Commission requires you to complete 12 hours of continuing education by June 30 if you’re a Broker. And for Sales Agents, the deadline is September 30. The Education Department, in collaboration with the Education Committee and the Inclusivity Advisory Group is working hard on your behalf to bring educational programs that include an extensive schedule of CE classes (instructorled and online), designation and certification classes, as well as workshops, seminars, technology series and symposiums. The MRP (Military Relocation Professional) Certification is coming to SLAR on May 14. Upon completion of this 1 day course, you will be able

to adapt your skills and craft a strategic marketing plan to provide your professional services to the current and former military buyer. With statistics showing over 134,000 Veterans living in the St. Louis area and 500,000 in Missouri, does the MRP Certification seem like a good investment in your professional success? Another exciting educational day at SLAR happens on June 19. This is your opportunity to get ahead of the curve on energy efficient housing, Smart Growth and 203k renovation loans. An estimated 63 million more Americans will be in need of housing in the coming two decades. This growth will impact our local communities; younger generations will be more interested in sustainability, affordability and convenience when making their housing choices. Real estate agents don’t just sell homes, they sell neighborhoods. As Smart Growth gains popularity through demand and necessity, a wide range of housing opportunities and choices will be created. Consider a proactive approach to learning about the 10 principals of Smart Growth to prepare for the future. It’s not as far away as you might think! Look for more details to be announced in the coming weeks on this full day symposium. It’s a Big, Big World is an annual event derived from a unified collaboration between the Education Committee and the Diversity Committee (now called the Inclusivity Advisory Group). This event is in its 2nd year and the plans will include a lively educational program centered on promoting diversity and inclusivity in our membership and communities; with special features such as as food

By Karen Dunn Director of Professional Development trucks, entertainment, a raffle and some surprises along the way. This is an exceptional day to gather in the spirit of acceptance, understanding, camaraderie and just plain fun! “Survive the Elements” is the theme of this edition of the REALTOR® Report however, I think we, as real estate professionals can do better than survive whatever new trends, challenges and market fluctuations come our way. We don’t have to wait to respond to the elements – preparation, planning, education and implementation will control the elements that influence your success, your ability to reach your potential and achieve your own dream. The Education Department, the Education Committee and the Inclusivity Advisory Group exist to serve and improve the experience of the members of this Association. The issues we tackle are worthy of our attention, often times easy to identify and address but sometimes they’re complex and sensitive issues that require extra thought and care. All are equally important and treated accordingly. The icing on the cake is the gratification that comes from making a difference to our members. We hope you will take advantage of the learning opportunities coming your way with CE classes, MRP Certification, Smart Growth/EEH Symposium and “It’s a Big, Big World” this year. Our website www.stlrealtors.com, will provide you with the most up-to-date information on all our educational offerings and events.

REALTOR® Report

| 23 |

Education Schedule 2014 Continuing Education Schedule St. Louis Association of REALTORS 

REALTORS - 12 credit hours required to renew license in 2014, one courseSchedule must be Core St. Louis Association of are REALTORS® 2014your Continuing Education and the remaining courses may be either Elective or Core. REALTORS® - 12 credit hours are required to renew your license in 2014, one course must be Core and the remaining courses DEADLINE may be eitherFOR Elective or Core. IS JUNE 30, 2014 – SALES LICENSEES SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 BROKERS DEADLINE FOR BROKERS IS JUNE 30, 2014 – SALES LICENSEES SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 Core CYCLE = Fulfills NAR Ethics requirement E = Elective E = Elective CORE= Core CORE=Cycle 4 = Fulfills NAR4Ethics requirement MARCH 2014

DAY

TIME

COURSE

CREDITS

INSTRUCTOR

MAR 3

MON 1p-4p

REPRESENTATION OPTIONS IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI

3hrs CORE

Kim Daugherty

MAR 5

WED 1p-4p

CONTRACT TO CLOSING

3hrs Elective

Stacey Sanders

MAR 5

WED 6p-9p

CREDIT SCORES AND REPORTING – WHAT MATTERS

3hrs Elective

Vinh Tran

MAR 7

FRI

NAVIGATING VA LOANS IN MISSOURI

3hrs Elective

Bryan Bergjans

MAR 10

MON 1p-4p

FUNDAMENTAL DISCIPLINES TO MANAGE AND REDUCE RISK

3hrs CORE

Vivian McBride

MAR 12

WED 1p-4p

LISTING CONTRACT

3hrs Elective

Beth Braznell

MAR 14

FRI

SELLERS, BUYERS, HOME INSPECTION, FAIRY TALES, QUOTES OF THE REAL ESTATE SALE

3hrs Elective

Gerry Loesch

MAR 19

WED 9a-12p

REFLECTIONS & TEACHABLE MOMENTS IN REAL ESTATE (the Inspector/Engineer’s Perspective)

3hrs Elective

Gerry Loesch

MAR 19

WED 1p-4p

CODE OF ETHICS, LAW & YOUR BIZ

3hrs Elective

John Williams

MAR 19

WED 6p-9p

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE…5 Key Issues that are Front and Center in Residential Real Estate

3hrs Elective

Jason Pashia

MAR 24

MON 1p-4p

CONTRACT TO CLOSING

3hrs Elective

John Williams

MAR 26

WED 9a-12p

THE MREC AND YOU: 20 EASY WAYS TO LOSE YOUR LICENSE

3hrs CORE

Michele Sloan

MAR 26

WED 1p-4p

STAGING SELLS

3hrs Elective

Liz Connolly

MAR 26

WED 6p-9p

REPRESENTATION OPTIONS (AGENCY)

3hrs CORE

Beth Braznell

9a-12p

(Meets the NAR Cycle 4 Ethics Requirement)

continued on the following page

REALTOR® Report

| 24 |

Education Schedule St. Louis Association of REALTORS® 2014 Continuing Education Schedule REALTORS® - 12 credit hours are required to renew your license in 2014, one course must be Core and the remaining courses may be either Elective or Core. DEADLINE FOR BROKERS IS JUNE 30, 2014 – SALES LICENSEES SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 E = Elective APRIL 2014

CORE= Core DAY

Cycle 4 = Fulfills NAR Ethics requirement

TIME

COURSE

CREDITS

INSTRUCTOR

APR 2

WED 9a-12p

MISSOURI LAWS GOVERNING THE TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTY

3hrs CORE

Kim Daugherty

APR 2

WED 6P-9P

NAVIGATING VA LOANS IN MISSOURI

3hrs Elective

Bryan Bergjans

APR 4

FRI

CASE OF THE CODE OF ETHICS

3hrs Elective

Michele Sloan

APR 7

MON 1p-4p

REFLECTIONS & TEACHABLE MOMENTS IN REAL ESTATE (the Inspector/Engineer’s Perspective)

3hrs Elective

Gerry Loesch

APR 9

WED 1p-4p

Contract to Closing

3hrs Elective

Stacey Sanders

APR 12

SAT

9a-12p

THE MREC AND YOU: 20 EASY WAYS TO LOSE YOUR LICENSE

3hrs CORE

Michele Sloan

APR 12

SAT

1p-4p

LISTING CONTRACT

3hrs Elective

Beth Braznell

APR 16

WED 1p-4p

FAIR HOUSING

3hrs CORE

Beth Braznell

APR 16

WED 6p-9p

CONTRACT RIDERS & ADDENDUMS

3hrs Elective

Stacey Sanders

APR 18

FRI

NAVIGATING VA LOANS IN MISSOURI

3hrs Elective

Bryan Bergjans

APR 21

MON 1p-4p

THE CASE OF THE CODE OF ETHICS

3hrs Elective

Michele Sloan

APR 28

MON 1p-4p

THE BASICS OF REAL ESTATE IRAs

3hrs Elective

Patrick Hagen

9a-12p

(Meets the NAR Cycle 4 Ethics Requirement)

REALTOR® Report

| 25 |

Pressed for time but need to complete your CE requirements? Online courses are now available through SLAR. Need to take Continuing Education or Pre-Licensing courses at your convenience? This exclusive new member benefit, brought to you by SLAR, is now available on our website! •

Save Time: Complete courses from the comfort of your home or office.

•

Reduced Costs: Purchase “choice packs” at a reduced rate! 12 hours for $74 vs. $100!

•

Flexibility: Take the course of your choice on any day or time that works for your schedule.

To reach the portal visit: www.stlrealtors.com → Professional Development Tab → Online Courses Questions? Please contact our Education Department at 314.590.2312 or education@stlrealtors.com.

As a real estate professional you sell more than just homes, you sell neighborhoods! Smart Growth is about recognizing and understanding the various facets of a vibrant community and how to achieve a balance among them. More than ever, homebuyers want the

convenience and value of smart growth.

Learn how to work with this niche market! Morning Session - Smart Growth for the 21st Century, Instructor Nate Johnson Afternoon Session - 203k Renovation Loan,

VALUE - Communities that develop according to smart growth principals cost less for individuals to live in. DEMAND - Demographic and economic shifts make smart growth development mode the right one for the 21st century!

REALTOR® Report

| 26 |

Staff Spotlight Tina Luehrmann has been with the St. Louis Association of REALTORS® since June of 2000 and currently serves as the Commercial Services Specialist. She enjoys working with the Commercial REALTORS® and the IREM and CCIM St. Louis Chapters coordinating events such as lunches, education classes, award banquets, golf tournaments, and tradeshows just to name a few. She enjoys the different aspects of the event process and seeing the events be successful. Tina got her BA in Psychology from the University of Missouri St. Louis which has given her a strong background working with committees, groups and members. If you have any interest in the CCIM or CPM Designation or joining the Commercial Division be sure and contact Tina at 314-576-0033 or tinal@stlrealtors.com with any questions. One of Tina’s favorite things is to travel to Florida with family to visit Disney World.

We build

Community The Consort Homes building tradition began more than 85 years ago right here in St. Louis. Through economic ups and downs and 15 U.S. Presidents, the legacy started by John E. Jones continues today with the same dedication to quality, design and value. Discover open floor plans, dramatic interiors and impressive exteriors at any of our model homes, or visit us online. We can’t wait to welcome you home.

The Consort Homes

Tradition A ST. LOUIS BUILDING TRADITION FOR MORE THAN 85 YEARS

www.MyConsortHome.com or 636-327-4390

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For advertising informaion: 303-758-7878 foleypub.com

20+ Years of Real Estate Publishing Excellence!

The 5-Minute Pre-Approval

The Perfect Loan Process Mission: Making Your Life Easier The Shafman Group designed The Perfect Loan Process with one purpose: to make life easier for buyers, sellers, and their real estate agents. Here are a few highlights of The Perfect Loan Process:

• Weekly updates every Friday. • Constant communication with all parties. •

All it takes is a 5 minute phone call to determine if we can pre-approve your client. We’ll have the pre-approval document to you and your client the same day. Contact The Shafman Group to get started on your Pre-Approvals. Scott Shafman, NMLS 243704 Senior Mortgage Banker (314) 313-2429 cell

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Winter home market slump is real, By Jim Gallagher, St Louis Post Dispatch economist says Home sales are falling this winter, and there’s more to it than just the frigid weather, says Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors. The national decline in recent months is “much worse” than the normal seasonal drop in home sales, he said. “It’s like something turned a switch off,” he told hundreds of real estate agents gathered for the St. Louis Association of Realtors’ annual breakfast Thursday. St. Louis County, the heart of the metro area, saw 12 percent drop in sales from November through January, compared to the same period a year earlier. Sales rose 8 percent for all of last year and 14 percent in 2012. Although home values seem to have moved, too, the direction is in dispute. The real estate data firm CoreLogic says prices rose 5 percent last year in the St. Louis metro area. Zillow, the real estate website, says overall home values actually finished the year down by 4 percent. Yun sees two certainties for 2014: companies will hire more people, and mortgage rates will go higher. Those will have opposite effects on the housing market. Rates on 30-year mortgages averaged 4.33 percent this week. He expects them to be a percentage point higher by the end of the year. “Rates will be rising, we just don’t know when and how fast,” he said. Rising rates make houses less affordable. The rates have risen

about 0.7 percentage point over the past year, and that may explain part of the recent sales slump. The effect is partly psychological. There is “jealousy and envy” among would-be buyers who missed out on lower rates. They may be holding back now, Yun said, but they’ll enter the market when they realize that the cheapest rates won’t return. That effect may be more muted in St. Louis than elsewhere because houses here are relatively cheap compared to income. On the other hand, jobs are growing more slowly here than elsewhere, Yun noted. More hiring would mean more people able to buy houses. Agents here and elsewhere have been complaining about a lack of homes to sell. At the current sales pace, St. Louis has a four-month supply of homes on the market,

while a six-month supply considered a balanced market.

That may explain part of the recent sales slump, Yun said. Buyers can’t find a house they like, so they decide to wait. Blame the low rate of new home construction, and tightfisted bankers are responsible for that. Home building in St. Louis is running at less than half the rate of the middecade boom. Reprinted with permission from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Click here for the link to the online article http://www.stltoday. com/business/local/winter-home-marketslump-is-real-economist-says/article_ cdfab80a-8f1e-5f8f-a2de-6b0f7f89af54. html.

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Thank You SmartHouse!! Premier Sponsor of the Energy Efficient Housing Contest

Your Whole-Home Comfort & Energy Improvement Company Our goal is to be an industry leader in “Home Performance Contracting”, to deliver superior home performance solutions, service and value to our customers, rewarding opportunities for our people and to improve the world we live in.

Winner of the York TM9X 95.5% Energy Efficient Furnace Sponsored by SmartHouse Marty Hart of the Lemay Housing Partnership!

Call Us Today- 314-644-1570 * SLAR Brokers– remember SmartHouse is available to present Smart (Sustainable/Green) housing information at your next sales meeting! Contact Marc Bluestone at marc@callsmarthome.com

REALTOR速 Report

What successful people do:

80% are focused on accomplishing some single goal. 63% listen to audio books during commute to work 81% maintain a to-do list 67% write down their goals 79% network five hours or more each month 88% read 30 minutes or more each day for education or career reasons 44% wake up three hours before work starts 74% teach good daily success habits to their children 86% believe in lifelong educational self-improvement (paraphrased from DaveRamsey.com)

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REALTOR® Report

Calendar of Events

March March 6 - WCR Luncheon - Maggiano’s Little Italy March 12 – Executive Committee Meeting March 13 – Affordable Healthcare Act Overview and Q&A - SLAR March 13 - Shredding Truck – SLAR (10AM to Noon for SLAR Members Only) March 19 – Board of Directors Meeting

April April 1 & 2 – SUPRA Keybox Exchange - Doubletree Hotel Westport April 3 - WCR Luncheon - Maggiano’s Little Italy April 16 – Executive Committee Meeting April 23, 24, 25 – MR Business Conference – Double Tree Hilton St. Louis - Chesterfield

May May 1 - WCR Luncheon - Maggiano’s Little Italy May 14 –Military Relocation Professional (MRP) Certification Course - SLAR May 21 – Executive Committee Meeting May 28 – Board of Directors Meeting

March 31 – SUPRA Keybox Exchange - Doubletree Hotel Westport

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Welcome New Members

DESIGNATED REALTOR® Dennis N. Devereux Dennis N. Devereux, Broker Anthony Jones RBA Realty John O. Kjar John Oliver Kjar, Broker Lamont Ray Road Map Realty Laurie Zafiropoulos LAMAR Realty

DESIGNATED REALTOR® Previously REALTOR® Carolyn Mantia Clarity Street Realty

DESIGNATED REALTOR® Previously REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® Christopher Bock Real Estate Cowboy, LLC Kevin Goalby Gateway Real Estate Group, LLC Peder B. Hulse Hulse Commercial Real Estate

John Jackson John Jackson Neighborhood Real Estate Company, LLC Sherenta Walters Infinity Real Estate Solutions

DESIGNATED REALTOR® DUAL MEMBER Benjamin Levin Mangus Properties, LLC (Primary membership – Benjy Levin, Broker)

DESIGNATED REALTOR®/ STATE CERTIFIED APPRAISER Carie A. Brakensiek Accurate Appraisal Services, Inc.

AFFILIATES Marcie Bollegar USA Mortgage Patrick Brady Continental Title

Lisa Cella Refined Design STL Mark Lange Centrue Bank Nick Najjar Cutco Logo Gifts Joel Smiley Attracting Resources, LLC Erin Watkins HSA Warranty