REALTOR® Review holiday 2013 by Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®

realtorreview 速

An e-publication of the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS速

Happy Holidays

Welcome new CEO & GAD

fall 2013

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realtor

Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®

review

fall 2013, Vol. 5, No. 4

111 Realtors Way, Cary, N.C. 27513 Phone: 919-654-5400; Fax: 919-654-5401 www.rrar.com RRAR Officers Asa Fleming, President Frank DeRonja, Vice President Mollie Owen, President-Elect Harriett Doggett, Secretary/Treasurer Stacey Anfindsen, Immediate Past President RRAR DIRECTORS

features

7 Broker Notebook: My Favorite Busi10 ness Tools, Toys and Tessa Hultz named new CEO

Gadgets The author shares essential online tools for greater productivity.

Vince Bankoski

Becky Harper

Diana Braun

Grayson Hodge

Brenda Carroll

Morty Jayson

Kelly Cobb

Linda Kolarov

Steina De Andrade Gina Miller

Frank DeRonja

Mindy Oberhardt

Bill Fletcher

Mark Parker

Van Fletcher

Teresa Pitt

Marshall Gay

Margaret Sophie

Tom Gongaware

Josh Swindell

Lewis Grubbs

Kevin Woody

realtor foundation of the triangle OFFICERS ®

lending a healing hand

President: Frank DeRonja President-Elect: Vince Bankoski Secretary/Treasurer: Morty Jayson

Realtor.com Unleashes the SocialBios Profile Manager Feature-rich social profile tool comes with powerful updates.

5 steps for taking back your brain Reset your priorities with these tips for “real” engagement.

RRAR Names New Government Affairs Director

home builders raise scholarship money

NCAR Regional Vice Presidents Harriette Doggett

Teresa Pitt

NAR Directors John Wood

Linda Trevor

triangle realtors® leadership academy dean Mark Parker Members are cautioned that the inclusion of a name, specific commercial product or service in an article, or in this publication does not imply endorsement by the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®. All advertisers in this publication wholly support the Fair Housing Act and fully promote equal opportunity housing. Copyright 2013 by the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®. All rights reserved. REALTOR® Review staff:

departments

Patricia Gregory Rand, managing editor, patriciar@rrar.com Heidi Ketler, APR, editor, hketler@verizon.net

2 Welcome 3 President’s Message 16 Local Market Update 19 RRAR Events

Sandee Washington, communications associate, sandeew@rrar.com Shelly Beck, graphic designer, sbdesign@cox.net For editorial contributions and ad inquiries, please contact Sandee Washington at sandeew@rrar.com or (919) 654-5400.

rrar.com REALTOR Review ®

Preliminary Identity Colors

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welcome NEW MEMBERS! fourth Quarter 2013

Below are new fourthquarter Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® members. Shawna Ainsworth, Lennar Carolinas L.L.C. Terry Amos, Amos Home Repair-Design Christopher Anglin, Anglin Law Firm L.L.C. Edwin Argueta, The Force Realty William Arrington, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor William Bailey, M/I Homes of Raleigh L.L.C. Catherine Baldwin, Fonville Morisey/ Stonehenge Sales Office Karen Barlow, Realty World Premier Properties Samantha Barnhill, KB Investments & Realty L.L.C. Andrea Barton, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Lisa Baune, Coldwell Banker Advantage Krik Beard, Fonville Morisey/Falls Sales Office Robert Bechtel, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Dora Boesch, Keller Williams Realty Billy Boggs, Allen Tate Co. Inc. Jennifer Bolden, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Ann Bowman, BB&T Mary Brincefield, Coastal Federal Credit Union Eric Brinker, The Northgate Group Real Estate Co. L.L.C. Kristin Brown, Deans Group Realty L.L.C. J. Douglas Burchardt, Invitation Homes William Butler, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Nancy Caggia, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Jody Caputo, Fonville Morisey/ Jeanne Hendren Realty Group Patricia Carattini, Carattini Realty Inc. Debra Carson, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU William Carter, Carter Real Estate Christina Cermin, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Patricia Chartier, Fonville Morisey/Brier Creek Sales Office Christine Chauvette, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Ping Chen, First Triangle Realty Inc. Derek Christina, Fonville Morisey/Preston Sales Office Mary Kay Clapp, Go Realty Gwenn Clarke, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Anthony Collins, Keller Williams Roxie Comer, Keller Williams Realty Michael Connery, O’Neal & Associates Joyce Cooke, Re/Max One Realty Codjo Cossou, Keller Williams Preferred Realty Michael Coyne, Zip Realty Inc. Daria Crater, Spencer Properties Neill Currin, Bateson Realty Franklin Currin, Re/Max One Realty Elizabeth Darling, Hunter Rowe Samuel Davis, Keller Williams Brian Dean, Salem Street Realty Stacey Delgado, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Eli Detweiler, Lenox Auction & Realty Audrey DiFilippo, Wieland Properties Inc. Gregory Dinsmore, Fonville Morisey/ Lochmere Sales Office Uliana Dobre, M.O.R.E Real Estate Services L.L.C. Kelly Doggett, Fonville Morisey/Inside the Beltline Office Courtney Donnici, Fonville Morisey/Brier Creek Sales Office Vicki Droegemeier, Keller Williams Gretchen Duford, Rachel Kendall Team L.L.C. Christian Durango, Lindsay Suchy & Associates L.L.C. Thomas Eaves, United Country RochelleMoon Realty Melisa Edmonds, Fonville Morisey/Preston Sales Office

Brandon Edmundson, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Marietta Ellingwood, TriChoice Realty L.L.C. Alison Espinoza, Only Way Realty David Evancho, Fonville Morisey/Lochmere Sales Office Donald Evans, Allen Tate Co./Cary-Searstone Kristen Faucette, Fonville Morisey/Brier Creek Sales Office Stacy Fisher, Serenity Homes-By-Holmes Real Estate Douglas Fletcher, Fonville Morisey/ Stonehenge Sales Office Cheryl Fontenot, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Chris Foyles, Green Tree Caren Fried, Keller Williams Preferred Realty Michelle Friedlander, Fonville Morisey/ Stonehenge Sales Office Sheila Fritch, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Lars Fryland, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Bonnie Gambardella, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Al Garcia, Keller Williams Preferred Realty Andrea Giangrosso, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Alan Gill, NC Express Realty Sharon Goodrich, Goodrich Realty L.L.C. Chris Gorman, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Stephanye Graham, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Alexandra Guenthner, Allen Tate Co. Inc. James Guenthner, Allen Tate Co. Inc. Nancy Gugliotta, Fonville Morisey/Falls Sales Office Kristin Haines, Kristin Haines Traci Hall, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Jane-Ann Harris, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Timothy Harris, Keller Williams Preferred Realty April Harrison, Real Living Pittman Properties Kevin Harvey, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Lisa Hayes, Fonville Morisey/Lochmere Sales Office Gail Hayes, The Funding Source Mortgage Banker Denese Hayes, Green Tree Qi He, Coldwell Banker Advantage Charles Hellwig, Raleigh Cary Realty Inc. Shavonna Herron, Carolina MaxRealty Inc. Rhebia Heyward, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Lauren Hicks, Lauren Hicks Michael Higgins, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Alan Hillman, Fonville Morisey/Stonehenge Sales Office Carrie Hoffman, Coldwell Banker Advantage Mary Holder, Reeves Realty Inc. Jessica Ivy Holt, Allen Tate Co. Inc. Katherine Hopper, Katherine Hopper Debra Howard, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Paul Huber, Keller Williams Allen Hunter, Keller Williams Preferred Realty Patricia Hutzler, Hutzler, Realtors Ashley Interdonati, Youngsville Realty Inc. Jake Jablonski, K. Hovnanian Homes Rosemary Jenkins Durham, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Teresa Johnson, Keller Williams Preferred Realty Tamara Keen, Fonville Morisey/Brier Creek Sales Office Patricia Keleher, Fonville Morisey/Preston Sales Office Baxter Kiger, Raleigh Custom Realty L.L.C. Tina King, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Paul Kingman, Howard Perry & Walston-Triangle at Southpoint Mary Klemp, Wilson West Agency Deborah Komlo, Coldwell Banker Advantage James Kromenhoek, Coldwell Banker Advantage Kate Kujak, Keller Williams Melanie Lane, Fonville Morisey Realty

Brenda Langman, Powell Realty Desmond Leach, Anglin Law Firm L.L.C. Richard Lever, Bank of North Carolina Nicole Levesque, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Yong Liang, Dream Services Realty Inc. Esperanza Lim, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Jinding Lin, Bluestone Investment Management L.L.C. Yuxin Liu, Dream Services Realty Inc. Diana Lockamy, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Dianne Lovell, Beazer Homes Mark Luke, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Ann Mainor, Eastwood Construction L.L.C. Monte Maney, Coldwell Banker Advantage Karen Mark, Hunter Rowe Krista Martin, Fonville Morisey/Lochmere Sales Office Richard Martin, Re/Max United Shay Matthews, Fonville Morisey/Inside the Beltline Office Christina McCaffrey, Re/Max Preferred Associates Tammy McGee, Fonville Morisey/Brier Creek Sales Office Hannah McGrady, Total Source Realty/ Just Call Brenda Real Estate Barbara McInnes, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Michelle Means, Go Realty Jaime Merckle, Allen Tate Co. Inc. Lisa Michael, Keller Williams Preferred Realty Lorna Miller, Fonville Morisey/Lochmere Sales Office Jacqueline Moody, The Property Shop S. Vanessa Mouton, Go Realty Jonathan Murray, Champion Realty Inc. Conrad Navin, Simply Real Estate Inc. Ivan Nieto, Blue Endeavours Real Estate L.L.C. Daysi Nieto, Keller Williams Realty Ivan Nieto Juarez, Keller Williams Realty Sydney Norton, Lennar Carolinas LLC Michael Norton, Ismay Realty Group Nijiyah Nustar, The Property Shop Aurea Oliveira, Fonville Morisey/Preston Sales Office Carl Pankey, Allen Tate Co. Inc. Allison Pant, Keller Williams Preferred Realty Margrjet Paris, Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty Adam Parker, Fonville Morisey/Stonehenge Sales Office Tanya Pearson, Go Realty Suzanne Peerbolte, Keller Williams Realty Shannon Pence, Bateson Realty Katelyn Phillips, Fonville Morisey/Brier Creek Sales Office Elizabeth Pirro, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Natalie Pope, Pope Properties Lisa Porter, Ford Premier Properties L.L.C. Tonya Powell, Re/Max One Realty Lauren Praizner, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Connell Price, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Janet Pridgen, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Timothy Qualls, Ricky Fuquay Appraisals Michele Quick, Fonville Morisey/Brier Creek Sales Office Saundra Quickle, Fonville Morisey/Vandora Sales Office Paul Quinn, Wells Fargo Home Finance Josie Reeves, Kane Residential Jacquelyn Reiter, Keller Williams Preferred Realty Elizabeth Riddick, Standard Pacific Carolinas L.L.C. Heather Ritter, Real Property Management of Raleigh Bennett Robinson, Red Door Co. Michael Rose, Triangle Real Estate Group Bill Royster, Keller Williams Realty Matthew Runkle, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Lori Russell, Standard Pacific Carolinas L.L.C.

Hugh Russell, Dan Ryan Builders North Carolina L.L.C. Tina Safi, Re/Max United Jason Sanko, Coldwell Banker Advantage Bonnie Sasser, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Peter Schambs, Schambs Property Management Group Inc. Shannon Schwartz, Fonville Morisey/ Lochmere Sales Office Michael Sensing, Coldwell Banker Advantage Christina Serafino, Keller Williams Andi Shadden, Greater Triangle Home Consultants Inc. Gregory Shanker, Re/Max United Brenda Shipman-Scruggs, Only Way Realty Stacie Sidney, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Sapna Singh, Evershine Properties Inc. Jennifer Smart, Emerald Homes Shanell Smaw, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Justina Smith, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Lori Smith, Howard Perry & Walston New Homes Kelly Smith, Red Ship Partners L.L.C. Rachel Soltiz, List Assist Realty Kristen Spaduzzi, Allen Tate Co. Inc. Sherri Stecher, Fonville Morisey/Lochmere Sales Office Michael Stephens, Michael Stephens, Broker Jenny Stowe, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Thomas Sullivan, Century 21 Triangle Group Jennifer Summers, Deal Realty Laura Sutton, First Citizens Bank Destiny Sutton, Fonville Morisey/Inside the Beltline Office Fiquet Swain, Allen Tate Co. Inc. Carolyn Swenson, Real Living Pittman Properties Layne Taylor, Keller Williams Realty Brian Thomas, Carolina Southern Realty Elizabeth Tivnan, Go Realty Joelle Turlington, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Gina Turner, Raleigh-Cary Rentals Inc. Jade Van Ert, Keller Williams Patricia Vermillion, Hunter Rowe Jason Vickers, ForeverHome L.L.C. Gina Viles, Keller Williams Chris Walker, Coastal Federal Credit Union Danielle Wallace, Sunshine Real Estate L.L.C. Brooke Walton, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Kristy Wandle, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Ryan Warner, Coldwell Banker Advantage Stacy Weber, Sunshine Real Estate L.L.C. Gretchen Westerhoff Ryan, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Carrie White, Keller Williams Preferred Realty David Williams, Fonville Morisey/Preston Sales Office Laurie Williamson, Fonville Morisey/ Lochmere Sales Office Paul Williford, Coldwell Banker Advantage Gwendolyn Wilson, Re/Max United Nathan Wiltzius, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Howard Wise, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Barry Wishon, Raleigh Custom Realty L.L.C. Khee Wong, First Triangle Realty Inc. Edward Wood, Coldwell Banker Advantage Marguerite Woollen, The Barker Realty Group L.L.C. DeQing Wu, Eastern Property Corp. Jianong Wu, Howard Perry & Walston Realtor Ronald Wynn-Nolet, Fonville Morisey/Falls Sales Office Marzena Wyszynska, The Force Realty David Yurko, Fonville Morisey/Your Triangle Home Team Felix Zarzecki, Real Living Pittman Properties Ahmad Zein, Foursquare Real Estate Inc.

If you would like to sponsor a new member orientation, contact Betsy Ramsey at (919) 654-4500. REALTOR Review ®

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president’s message

RRAR Membership Benefits You! Dear REALTOR® Member,

Mollie Owen

The year 2014 is just around the corner, and it is time to renew your membership with the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®. Renewing your commitment to your local association also renews your membership at the state and national levels.

Member benefits include: • Free seminars and member programs • Discounted continuing education • State-of-the-art website and qualification for an Internet-based MLS • Professional standards administration • Centralized Showing Service • Political advocacy and RPAC administration • Discounts on facility rentals at One Eleven Place • Membership discounts at participating stores • Meetings, socials and networking opportunities • Triangle REALTORS® Leadership Academy • Computer training center offering many courses With more than one million REALTOR® members worldwide, the National Association of REALTORS® is the largest trade organization in the United States. An organization is only as strong as the commitment of its members, so by renewing your 2014 membership, you are ensuring the continued success of your association and your profession. Best of luck in 2014, and thank you in advance for your renewed commitment to the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®. Sincerely, Mollie Owen 2014 President

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MISSION STATEMENT The Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®, the area’s voice of real estate, promotes the highest ethical and professional standards and cooperation among its members; provides products, programs and services to meet the evolving needs of the real estate industry and consumers; and serves as a leading advocate of private property rights and community involvement. VISION STATEMENT “Anticipating and meeting the opportunities and challenges of our industry.” RRAR 2013 COMMITTEE CHAIRS Bylaws: Mollie Owen Building: Mollie Owen Communications & Public Relations: Mark Parker Community Service: Margaret Cohen Government Affairs: Lewis Grubbs RPAC: Mollie Owen Personnel: John Wood Grievance: Morty Jayson, Nancy Cashell, Teresa Pitt and Dayne Luck Hall of Fame: Ed Willer Nominating: John Wood RRAR 2013 COUNCIL CHAIRS Women’s Council of REALTORS® Chair: DeJane Perry Kerr Triangle International Council of REALTORS® Chair: Stuart Deibel The REALTOR® Foundation of the Triangle President: Frank DeRonja Top Producers Council Co-Chairs: Gina Miller & Sandy Edwards Property Management Council Chair: Debbie Henry Small Brokers Council Chair: Tim Devinney RRAR STAFF DIRECTORY Main Office (919) 654-5400 Fax (919) 654-5401 www.rrar.com RRAR Company Store, (919) 654-7253 Chief Executive Officer Tessa Holtz Association Services Director Betsy Ramsey, Ext. 1004, betsyr@rrar.com Association Services Associate Vicki Buckholtz, Ext. 1027, vickib@rrar.com Communications Director Patricia Gregory Rand, Ext. 1026, patriciar@rrar.com Communications Associate Sandee Washington, Ext. 1023, sandeew@rrar.com Education Director Cara Mottershead, Ext. 1006, caram@rrar.com Education Associate Sonya Yankoglu, Ext. 1024, sonyay@rrar.com Facilities Manager Mary Rachel Bowling, Ext. 1016, maryrachelb@rrar.com Governmental Affairs Director Christopher MacDonald, Ext. 1025, christopherm@rrar.com Information Associate Shelia Clark, Ext. 1001, sheliac@rrar.com Store Manager Yukari Powers, Ext. 1028, yukarip@rrar.com TMLS STAFF DIRECTORY Vice President of Operations Rachel Wiest, Ext. 1019, rachelw@trianglemls.com Communications/Data Asset Manager Christy New, Ext. 1008, christyn@trianglemls.com Compliance Director Letitia Pennington, Ext. 1014, letitiap@trianglemls.com Compliance Associate Raina Joyner, Ext. 1020, rainaj@trianglemls.com Data Distribution Director Carol Hamrick, Ext. 1007, carolh@trianglemls.com Membership Associate Kristina Faison, Ext. 1005, kristinaf@trianglemls.com MLS Systems Director Kathy Matheson, Ext. 1012, kathym@trianglemls.com MLS Technical Support Associate J Stepp, Ext. 1009, js@trianglemls.com MLS/Realist Support Associate Jennifer Horton, Ext. 1010, jenniferh@trianglemls.com Technical Operations Director Matt Nagy, Ext. 1017, mattn@trianglemls.com Training Development Manager Allan Nielsen, Ext. 1003, allann@trianglemls.com CTC/MLS Training Manager Lynne Brid, Ext. 1015, lynneb@trianglemls.com RRAR/TMLS MEMBERSHIP/ FINANCE DEPARTMENT Membership/Finance Director Randi Clodfelter, Ext. 1021, randic@trianglemls.com Finance Associate Pat Long, Ext. 1018, patl@trianglemls.com Finance Associate Jill Pressley, Ext. 1011, Jillp@rrar.com Membership Associate Kelly Hunsucker, Ext. 1013, kellyh@trianglemls.com

neighbors helping neighbors

Healing Place CEO Dennis Parnell, Healing Place Director of Grounds, Norm Tanner, RRAR CEO Tessa Hultz, President of REALTOR速 Foundation of the Triangle, Frank DeRonja, RRAR President Asa Fleming

Our generous members adopted 920 Angels, the most ever, this year!

Shawna Peak

Leslie Williams, Chris Foyle, Denese Hayes

Connie Coriale, Clarence Holmes

John Wood REALTOR Review 速

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voted unanimously to fund construction of the garden, which provides produce for use by Healing Place clients. Additional fruits and vegetables will be donated to Shepherd’s Table Soup kitchen in downtown Raleigh.

Foundation Helps Cultivate a Community Garden

“This garden is a welcome addition for us,” said Barrett Joyner, director of development at the Healing Place, “and we are delighted to have been selected for the foundation’s first community garden.”

“However many years she lived, Mary always felt that ‘she should never forget that first morning when her garden began to grow.’”

— Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden By VICkI BuCkHOLz

A men’s shelter in Raleigh has a community garden to nurture, thanks to a partnership between the REALTOR® Foundation of the Triangle and the Healing Place of Wake County.

The Healing Place is a non-profit rescue, recovery and rehabilitation facility for homeless persons with alcohol and other drug addictions. It provides shelter, food and rehabilitation for about 180 men every

day. (Women are served at a sister facility.) More than 1,300 men used the shelter in 2012. Of the clients who have successfully transitioned from the recovery program, more than

70 percent continue to be sober one year after graduation, a tremendous success rate for the Healing Place. The community garden design was the work of Caroline Tilley

and Mary Hendrika of Asher Landscape Design. “It was an exciting challenge to work on this project,” said Asher. “A beautiful and meaningful Thomas Sayer sculpture dominates the Healing Place’s central courtyard and is a source of pride and inspiration for the clients.”

The foundation board of directors voted unanimously to fund construction of the garden… “The courtyard is an important gathering space and the existing layout contains key elements with strong shapes and lines. For example, there is a long, angled wall engraved with the twelve steps to recovery. These shapes are carefully echoed in the design of the new garden’s beds, paths and pergola,” Asher explained.

Construction of the garden continues, with an anticipated completion in time for the 2014 summer growing season. Meanwhile, Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® members will continue volunteering in garden construction and planting. In addition, there will be opportunities to donate to or sponsor elements in the garden, such as memorial benches. “Many of us have known someone whose life has been touched by alcoholism or drug addiction,” said Frank DeRonja, foundation president. “As REALTORS®, reducing the number of homeless persons in Wake County is a cause we can all support. This is a wonderful organization doing critical and life-altering work. This has been a truly rewarding project.” For more information about The Healing Place, click here. Donations for the garden can be made online, as well. For information regarding sponsorship of specific garden elements or for other information, send an e-mail to vickib@rrar.com

The foundation board of directors REALTOR Review ®

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REALTOR Review ®

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Preview story from REALTOR® Review summer 2013.

Lending a Healing Hand below: RRAR leaders and members and REALTOR® Foundation of the Triangle board and community service members join leadership from the Healing Place.

Representatives of the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® have been hard at work on the finishing touches of the community garden at the Healing Place of Wake County men’s shelter.

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The garden is a project of the REALTOR® Foundation of the Triangle, designed to produce vegetables for Healing Place clients. Additional fruits and vegetables See healing hand on page 6

healing hand continued from page 5 RRAR President-Elect Mollie Owen and her son work on garden boxes for the healing place.

will be donated to Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen in downtown Raleigh. The project began this year, and completion is anticipated for the 2014 summer growing season. The Healing Place is a non-profit rescue, recovery and rehabilitation facility for homeless people with alcohol and other drug additions. It provides shelter, food and rehabilitation for women and men. The men’s shelter serves about 180 men every day. More than 1,300 men used the shelter in 2012. Women are served at a sister facility. Of the clients who have successfully transitioned from the recovery program, more than 70 percent continue to be sober one year after graduation, a tremendous success rate for the Healing Place. “The community garden will have positive impacts on so many levels,” said Dennis Parnell, president and chief executive officer of The Healing Place. “The garden will not just feed the body; it will also feed the soul. So many who are fighting homelessness and addiction need a tranquil place for reflection. This community garden will be one of those tranquil places.” REALTOR® Foundation of the Triangle President Frank DeRonja and his daughter enjoy a recent volunteer outing. REALTOR Review ®

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Tessa Hultz Named new CEO A

sa Fleming, President of the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® said, “We are delighted to have Tessa Hultz as our new CEO. She brings a unique skill set and her own brand of energy that will be a tremendous asset to our staff and members. On behalf of RRAR and TMLS, I wish her a warm welcome.” Hultz began her career in Association Management as the Director of Education with the Columbia Board of Realtors® in Columbia, MO. She then served three and a half years as the Vice President of Education for the St. Louis Association of REALTORS® which had more than 10,000 members at that time. Next she joined the Wichita Area Association of REALTORS® and South Central Kansas MLS in early 2010 as their Chief Executive Officer. About her new role, Hultz said, “The members of The Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® serve a beautiful and vibrant community and I am pleased to be joining them in the work they do here.” Hultz, her husband, Preston and son, John Preston (6) are renting to become more familiar with the area before purchasing a home. A gardener, Hultz offered rave reviews of the NC Farmer’s Market and looks forward to purchasing a home with enough sunshine to allow for her favorite hobby.

REALTOR Review ®

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From left, Christopher MacDonald catches up with YPN Chairs Kevin Starkey, Ginger Vereen and RRAR Chief Executive Officer Tessa Hultz.

RRAR Names New

RRAR hosts a welcome reception for Christopher MacDonald pictured left, Van Fletcher, Trish Rand, Teresa Pitt and Asa Fleming.

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Government Affairs Director C

hristopher MacDonald has joined Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® as the new government affairs director. “We are delighted to have Chris as our new government affairs director. He comes to us from the Vermont Association of REALTORS® and brings an impressive and diverse political background. The position has been vacant since August, because we conducted a thorough search to find the right fit for this integral role. On behalf of RRAR and TMLS, we are excited to have him join our team,” said, Tessa Hultz,

R.C.E., C.A.E., Chief Executive Officer of RRAR. A native of Essex Junction, Vt., MacDonald earned his degree in business science from Champlain College. He began his career as the Vermont state liaison to the federal Homeland Security agency. He worked on a number of political campaigns, including the presidential campaign of Mayor Rudy Giuliani in New Hampshire. In 2010, MacDonald began working for the Vermont REALTORS® Association as government affairs director. He led successful efforts to protect property rights, monitor regulaREALTOR Review ®

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tory oversight, promote downtown development and bolster avenues for owner financing. After Hurricane Irene hit Vermont, MacDonald was instrumental in helping homeowners get back on their feet. In addition to creating a Vermont REALTORS® Victim Grant Program, he rolled up his sleeves and helped homeowners muck out basements and reconstruct their lives. In his free time, MacDonald enjoys being outside and will jump at any chance to use his pilot’s license to explore the landscape.

Broker Notebook:

My Favorite Business Tools, Toys and Gadgets By Teresa Boardman

In the real estate industry we tend to talk about “technology” as if it’s unique to real estate and otherwise divorced from our business and personal lives. As a small business, I depend upon what I call everyday technology to keep overhead low and handle more business with less effort. Here are some of my favorite business tools, toys and gadgets: Galaxy s4 smartphone: It’s the smartest phone I have ever owned, and the battery lasts all day. It has more storage space than the most expensive iPhone, and the battery can be replaced. I like it even better after struggling with ios7 on my iPad.

Neat scanner: I keep telling the Mr. that if I had owned my Neat scanner during the peak before the crash we would be rich, and I would be retired by now. I can digitize 50 pages almost instantly, even if they’re two-sided, and email or store them. It is an amazing, durable, flexible piece of hardware. The Northstar MLS: I totally get why the big boys want to shut down MLSs. Our MLS levels the playing field so that the smallest independent brokerage can compete with them. Without the MLS and the services it provides, I would not be able to make as much money or serve clients as well. iPad: The dang thing has so Review REALTOR REALTOR Review ®®

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many uses, I don’t know where to start. Best of all, it’s lightweight, never rings and has 4G LTE data service. I am on my third iPad. WordPress: My blogs and websites all run on WordPress, which has apps that allow me to manage them from my smartphone or tablet. Evernote: Make staying organized easier than ever. Don’t be afraid to use it. Start today. Cloud storage via Dropbox and Google Drive: I use them both. MS Office 365: Instead of paying a small fortune for MS Office, I have a monthly subscription that allows me to have MS Office on up to five computers. Plus, I have the ability to use it on

the Internet (“in the cloud”). Google Docs: I use it for writing and for sharing and collaborating with my clients. Seller’s net sheets are just one example. Google Chromebook: Great for those times when an iPad just isn’t enough. I can use my phone as a hotspot, and I can use MS Office 365 or Google Docs. There is a webcam and, of course, a fullsize keyboard. They are inexpensive and make sharing very easy. LastPass: Software for creating and storing passwords so that as I hop from device to device I can log in. My car: Still the most complex, expensive and valuable piece of technology that I cannot run

my business without. Cars are never mentioned in articles about technology. Desktop computer: One with an obscene amount of RAM and a huge monitor is a photographer’s best friend. I suppose it’s OK for real estate, too. Chrome browser: I can use it on all devices and synchronize bookmarks and other settings. There isn’t a moment that goes by when I am not using some kind of technology, like the fancy new furnace that is heating my home and keeping me warm right now. I can control it with my smartphone. I can use the same smartphone to turn on the TV without ever getting out of my chair. Review Review REALTOR REALTOR l ®

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We like to talk or write about “technology,” which seems silly. There isn’t a moment that goes by when I am not using some kind of technology. I can use the same smartphone to turn on the TV in my office and watch the depressing news... I can watch the stock market drop, or I can turn it all off without ever getting out of my chair. There really are no universal “must-have” devices for real estate agents other than the smartphone and a reliable car. I believe I could survive as an agent for a couple of days just using those two amazing tools. Teresa Boardman is a broker in St. Paul, Minn., founder of the St. Paul Real Estate blog and Inman News contributor.

Realtor.com Unleashes the SocialBios Profile Manager By Paul Hagey

Realtor.com is unleashing its social profile tool SocialBios after two years in beta, with updates that include integrated reviews from LinkedIn and RealSatisfied, an image-enhanced profile framework and insight into social media profiles for agents of those who visit their profiles. The tool, which was named “Best Tech Startup” in 2011 by attendees at Inman Connect New York City, has been incubating since the portal’s operator, Move Inc., purchased it in 2011. It currently is used by approximately 34,000 agents on their realtor. com profiles. In addition to the updates listed above, agents can now. • Include up to three profile photos and a Vine video clip on their profiles. • Have multiple listing service information, like their new listings and open houses, automatically pushed to their profiles.

• Utilize an updated API (application protocol interface) tool that can be used to push profile information to other platforms. These updates accompany a suite of things SocialBios already did like allowing users to “like” agents on Facebook or give them a “+1” on Google from their profile page. It also gives agents the ability to broadcast the social media reviews they receive automatically through their social networks. The tool’s HyperSocial feature gives users the ability to see how they’re connected to an agent via Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Google Plus and LinkedIn. (See an example of a SocialBios profile here.) This SocialBios update is part of a bigger bet by Move that enhancing agent profiles will shift the starting point of a consumer’s connection with an agent from the real estate listing to the in-depth SocialBios profile, according to REALTOR Review ®

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Ernie Graham, founder of SocialBios and head of Move’s social product and development. “That’s my dream, my vision,” Graham said. For deep content on agents, consumers should be coming to a company affiliated with the Realtor.com brand, he said. Currently, SocialBios does not integrate with agents’ profiles and reviews on sites like Zillow and Trulia. Zillow pushed hard in its agent-focused roadshow this summer for agents to build out their agent profiles with reviews. Graham said he hopes SocialBios will incorporate reviews from these sites in the future to build a truly comprehensive profile. After a couple of years in the shadows, Graham said, this release is just the tip of the iceberg for SocialBios. “This is boring compared to what we’re going to come up with next,” he said. Paul Hagey is an Inman News staff writer.

5 Steps to Taking Back Your Brain We love our smartphones. There’s no denying it. In fact, we love them so much that we never want to put them down. Most of us constantly check for text messages, emails and the latest tweets, and Facebook updates at all hours of the day, whether we’re in a meeting, at lunch with a friend or just at home in front of the TV.

Of course, it’s easy to justify our smartphone love. They help us get more done. They allow us to stay plugged into what’s going on at the office. They help us organize our schedules, remind us when to pick up our dry cleaning and manage our growing social networks. See 5 steps on page 14 REALTOR Review ®

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5 steps continued from page 13

But, according to Vickie Milazzo, our smartphone obsession comes with a definite downside. She explains that our smartphones may be making us less, rather than more, smart and productive. “Being overly tapped into what’s happening on our smartphones isn’t a good thing,” says Milazzo, author of the New York Times bestseller, Wicked Success Is Inside Every Woman (Wiley, 2011, ISBN: 978-1-1181-0052-3, $21.95, WickedSuccess.com). “It prevents us from making the most of a networking event, because we’re texting and emailing the whole time. We suffer burn out from always being plugged into work, and as a result our overall productivity suffers. Our relationship-building skills suffer, because we aren’t used to communicating with people face to face. And in some respects, we stop thinking. For example, if your smartphone died, would you know when your next meeting was, what time your flight was leaving, who’s supposed to pick up the kids from school today? I know plenty of people who wouldn’t.” “Don’t get me wrong, when used responsibly smartphones can be great tools,” she adds. “But I think many of us would admit to allowing them to take over our lives. As a result, we miss out on the opportunities that are happening right in front of us. And it shouldn’t be that way.” Here, Milazzo offers five easy steps to take back your life from your smartphone, recover your common sense and rediscover

what it means to be productive:

1. Turn off cyberspace.

There’s no greater blow to productivity than breaking your concentration to reply to an email or text as soon as it hits your smartphone. Remember, no award will be handed out at the end of the day for the person who responded the fastest. “If you’re doing nothing but responding to emails and texts, you’re bouncing around like a pinball,” says Milazzo. “It’s also important to keep in mind that the purpose of email and texts is not to generate more email and texts. Unless a response is necessary in order for the sender to move ahead on a task or project, it’s okay to let them have the last word. The more you’re connected to your smartphone the less you’re connected to yourself and the important task at hand.”

If your smartphone died, would you know when your next meeting was, what time your flight was leaving, who’s supposed to pick up the kids from school today?

2. Tame the social media beast. Smartphone apps

make it fun and easier than ever to read our friends’ status updates and to see the photos they’ve posted on Facebook. It makes us feel good when they “like” something we’ve posted or when we’re tagged in one of their photos. That’s one reason social media is so addicting – it’s like experiencing human hugs all day long. Now that you understand why you like it, it’s time to tame the beast and take back your time. “Likewise, Twitter can quickly move from a social communication to an obsessive compulsive disorder,” said Milazzo. “You can get caught up following every trending hashtag, but do you really need to know or care about most of the things you read on Twitter? Yes, there is some social utility to it but like we saw during the Boston Marathon bomber manhunt it quickly turns into a lot of people feeling involved when they’re really contributing more noise than signal. Facebook and Twitter won’t be evaluating your performance at year’s end and probably can’t qualify you for a pay raise either.”

3. Turn off the lights and your phone. More and

more of us are using our smartphones as watches and alarm clocks, keeping it plugged in to recharge on the bedside overnight. So long as your phone is plugged in, so are you. Take a break from your phone. If it’s by the bed, you’ll get those late night calls, tweets and texts that interfere with precious sleep. “Plus, the easier you can reach your phone, the more likely it be-

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5. There’s no room in the restroom for a phone call.

comes that you’ll check email in the middle of the night and find something that will really disturb your sleep,” says Milazzo. “Can you really get the REM cycles your body requires if you’re still connected? “Unless there’s a likelihood of an emergency, [we absolutely follow these rules in our house] – the first is no smartphones in the bedroom. If someone dies overnight they’ll be just as dead in the morning, and we’ll be rested and ready to deal with it.”

4. Crunch kale instead of candy. Games are fun but

they have their place, and that’s not at the breakfast, lunch or dinner table, says Milazzo. Words with friends can wait until you’ve had words and meals with family. She says her family’s second rule bans smartphones from the table, whether at home or in a restaurant with friends.

“Checking your texts and email during a meal is the social equivalent of picking your nose in public or saying to your BFF ‘this conversation is really interesting, but excuse me while I score three more points…,’” says Milazzo. “Crunch all the candy you want, but let’s face it, clicking your mouse to get points to build a hen house for your farm or sending someone virtual hugs, flowers or groceries seems like a crazy waste of time.” REALTOR Review ®

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We all know that smartphones carry more germs than a toilet seat – so why contaminate your bathroom with your phone? “As a nurse, I can confidently tell you that the last place you want to be sitting and using your smartphone is a toilet seat, and I don’t care how many paper liners you’ve stacked up on that seat,” says Milazzo. “Not to mention – you’re sharing your business with total strangers.” Though it may seem painful at first, making these changes to your smartphone habits won’t kill you. “In fact, I think you’ll find that when you use your smartphone just a little bit less, you’ll get way more out of it. It can actually become the productivity tool you want it to be instead of a drain on your time and social skills.”

Local Market Update – October 2013 A RESEARCH TOOL PROVIDED BY TRIANGLE MLS

+ 10.3%

+ 12.6%

+ 8.5%

Change in New Listings

Change in Closed Sales

Change in Median Sales Price

Wake County

October

Year to Date

2012

2013

+/–

2012

2013

+/–

New Listings

1,522

1,679

+ 10.3%

17,526

19,662

+ 12.2%

Closed Sales

1,132

1,275

+ 12.6%

11,095

14,080

+ 26.9%

Median Sales Price*

$212,020

$230,000

+ 8.5%

$213,000

$221,000

+ 3.8%

Average Sales Price*

$252,884

$272,810

+ 7.9%

$250,282

$259,562

+ 3.7%

Total Dollar Volume (in millions)*

$286.0

$347.8

+ 21.6%

$2,775.9

$3,654.6

+ 31.7%

Percent of Original List Price Received*

94.7%

96.5%

+ 1.9%

94.6%

96.4%

+ 1.9%

Percent of List Price Received*

97.4%

98.1%

+ 0.7%

97.2%

97.9%

+ 0.7%

103

- 19.9%

112

- 18.9%

Inventory of Homes for Sale

6,465

5,814

- 10.1%

Months Supply of Inventory

6.1

4.3

- 29.4%

Days on Market Until Sale

* Does not account for seller concessions. | Activity for one month can sometimes look extreme due to small sample size.

2012

October 1,522

2013

2012

Year to Date

2013

1,679 , 1,132

1,275

17,526

19,662 11,095

+ 10.3% New Listings

+ 12.2% New Listings

+ 12.6% Closed Sales

14,080

+ 26.9% Closed Sales

Change in Median Sales Price from Prior Year (6-Month Average)**

All MLS

Wake County

+ 15%

+ 10%

+ 5%

- 5%

- 10% 1-2008

7-2008

1-2009

7-2009

1-2010

7-2010

1-2011

7-2011

1-2012

7-2012

1-2013

7-2013

** Each dot represents the change in median sales price from the prior year using a 6-month weighted average. This means that each of the 6 months used in a dot are proportioned according to their share of sales during that period period. | Current as of November 11 11, 2013 2013. All data from Triangle Multiple Listing Service Service, Inc Inc.. | Powered by 10K Research and Marketing Marketing.

For further information regarding TMLS Market Trends and Analysis please visit: www.TriangleMLS.com

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Local Market Update – October 2013 A RESEARCH TOOL PROVIDED BY TRIANGLE MLS

Entire Triangle Region

+ 9.3%

+ 16.7%

+ 6.4%

Change in New Listings

Change in Closed Sales

Change in Median Sales Price

October

New Listings Closed Sales

Year to Date

2012

2013

+/–

2012

2013

+/–

3,015

3,296

+ 9.3%

33,902

37,690

+ 11.2%

1,988

2,320

+ 16.7%

20,080

25,028

+ 24.6%

Median Sales Price*

$187,900

$200,000

+ 6.4%

$189,500

$197,500

+ 4.2%

Average Sales Price*

$224,017

$239,766

+ 7.0%

$225,827

$235,850

+ 4.4%

Total Dollar Volume (in millions)*

$444.8

$555.6

+ 24.9%

$4,526.3

$5,897.3

+ 30.3%

Percent of Original List Price Received*

93.5%

95.3%

+ 2.0%

93.6%

95.4%

+ 2.0%

Percent of List Price Received*

96.7%

97.3%

+ 0.6%

96.5%

97.3%

+ 0.8%

117

- 20.3%

120

100

- 16.1%

Inventory of Homes for Sale

14,378

13,281

- 7.6%

Months Supply of Inventory

7.5

5.5

- 26.0%

Days on Market Until Sale

* Does not account for seller concessions. | Activity for one month can sometimes look extreme due to small sample size.

2012

October 3 015 3,015

2013

3,296

33 902 33,902 1,988

+ 9.3% New Listings

2012

Year to Date

2013

37,690

2,320

25,028 20,080

+ 11.2% New Listings

+ 16.7% Closed Sales

+ 24.6% Closed Sales

Change in Median Sales Price from Prior Year (6-Month Average)** Entire Triangle Region

+ 10% + 8% + 6% + 4% + 2% 0% - 2% - 4% - 6% - 8% 1-2008

7-2008

1-2009

7-2009

1-2010

7-2010

1-2011

7-2011

1-2012

7-2012

1-2013

7-2013

For further information regarding TMLS Market Trends and Analysis please visit: www.TriangleMLS.com

REALTOR Review ®

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Please Join Us for the...

RRAR Awards and Holiday Party 111 Realtors Way, Cary

Thursday, December 12th 4:30-6:00 PM Awards

6:00-9:00 PM Party

Entertainment!

Spirits!

Hors d’oeuvres!

FREE to RRAR Members; $10 per Guest Advance Registration Required. Please Register at: www.RRAR.com by December 9th. Questions? Contact Vicki at vickib@rrar.com or 919-654-5400, 1027.

Review REALTOR REALTOR Review ®®

fall 2013 2013 l 18 l fall

RRAR events 20 Closed for Martin Luther King Day

December 5 New Member Orientation, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

21 Community Service Committee, 11:30 a.m.

11 RRAR Board of Directors, 9 a.m.

23 New Member Orientation, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

12 RRAR Awards Ceremony, 4:30-6 p.m.

Property Manager’s Council, 11:30 a.m.

Holiday Party, 6-9 p.m.

27 REALTOR® Foundation of the Triangle Board of Directors, 12:30 p.m.

19 New Member Orientation, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 23 Office Closes at 1 p.m.

February

24&25 Office closed for Christmas

5 Women’s Council of REALTORS®, 8:45 a.m.

31 RRAR 2014 membership dues are due

Top Producer’s Council, 11:30 a.m.

Office closes at 1 p.m.

6 New Member Orientation, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

January

10 RRAR BOD, 9:00 a.m.

1 Triangle MLS first-quarter User Fees due

13 Past Presidents Lunch

Office closed for New Years

14 Valentine’s Day

8 Women’s Council of REALTORS®, 8:45 a.m.

18 Community Service Committee, 11:30 a.m. 19 Small Broker’s Council, 9 a.m.

RRAR BOD, 9 a.m.

20 New Member Orientation, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

9 New Member Orientation, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 10 Inaugural Ball, 6:30 p.m., location TBA

March

15 Small Broker’s Council, 8:45 a.m.

5 Women’s Council of REALTORS®, 8:45 a.m.

Triangle International Council of REALTORS®, 11:30 a.m.

For more information, visit www.rrar.com

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Mollie Owen

Cordially Invites You to Attend the 90th Annual Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®

Friday, January 10th Social Hour Begins at 6pm

A DENIM &

Diamonds Event EntErtainmEnt by “40 LovE” The Pavilion at the Angus Barn 9401 Glenwood Avenue Raleigh

Wear Your Denim & Diamonds! $50 Per Person

PLEASE RSVP BY JANUARY 3RD AS SEATING IS LIMITED. To reserve a table for 8 or 10, please contact Vicki Buckholz at 919-654-5400 or Vicki@rrar.com. To Register Online, please visit www.RRAR.com.

HoSt “DaZZLE” SponSor: REALTOR Review ®

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Home Builders Raise $16,000-Plus for Scholarships The Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties 16th annual Scholarship Auction raised more than $16,000 dollars during an auction Nov. 19. 100 percent of the proceeds will fund $1,000 scholarships to help deserving local high school seniors with continuing education costs. The event was hosted by Pro-

Build in Chapel Hill. Doug Davis of Doug Davis Realty & Auction Co. served as the auctioneer. Since 1996, the HBADOC has awarded more than 199 scholarships, totaling more than $178,500. Students wanting to apply for a spring 2014 scholarship may submit their application by March 7. Winners are presented their scholhosted by:

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arships at the HBAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s April General Membership Meeting. The Home Builders Association has more than 600 members representing the residential construction industry in Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties. For more information, call (919) 493-8899 or visit www.hbadoc.com.