Join the Austin Board of REALTORS at the 2009 Visit on the Hill Protect your industry and make a direct impact on your state’s legislation by joining the Austin Board of REALTORS at the 81st Texas Legislative Session. On Tuesday, March 31, REALTORS from across Texas will unite at the State Capitol to educate our representatives on issues directly impacting private property rights and the real estate industry. Among the most important issues facing Texas REALTORS this year are appraisal reform, transfer fee prohibition, business vehicle tax exemption and energy efficiency incentives. Your participation in this event shows our elected officials that REALTORS are active voters who wish to influence public policy and elections. Support your profession by attending the 2009 Hill Visit. ABoR’s Government Affairs Department will be holding training sessions for all members who wish to take part in the Hill Visit.
Members are strongly encouraged to attend a session, which will cover what to expect when visiting the Texas Capitol, how to effectively communicate with lawmakers, and where ABoR stands on the important issues. Morning and afternoon orientation sessions will be held on Tuesday, March 17 in the ABoR Auditorium. The morning session will last from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the afternoon session will last from 12 to 2:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided for all attendees. On the day of the visit, REALTORS are invited to meet at the ABoR offices, located at 10900 Stonelake Blvd., and take a chartered bus to the Capitol at 8 a.m. The bus will return to the ABoR office at 4 p.m. A box lunch will be provided. Members interested in attending the Hill Visit must contact the Government and Community Affairs Department at 454-7636 or government@abor.com no later than Friday, March 13.
Upcoming Events: MARCH 4 Austin Mortgage Bankers Meeting Austin Country Club - 11:30 a.m. MARCH 19 (SEE PAGE 2 FOR DETAILS) TREPAC Chili Cook Off ABoR Auditorium - 6 to 8 p.m. MARCH 25 ABoR Foundation Mueller Tour Mueller Development - 11:30 a.m. MARCH 26 WCR Monthly Networking Meeting ABoR Auditorium - 11 a.m. APRIL 2 Crawfish Boil Builder/REALTOR Mixer Falconhead West - 6 to 10 p.m. APRIL 22-23 (SEE PAGE 2 FOR DETAILS) ILHM Designation Course Hosted by Gracy Title @ The Crossings MAY 18 AMBA Spring Golf Event Great Hills Country Club - 10 a.m.
o ci a t e s i n a s sprogress FEBRUARY 2009 • VOL. 13 • ISSUE 10
Enjoyable. Entertaining. It’s all About You.
Green up your business by pursuing NAR’s Green Designation Already broken New Year’s resolutions? Then set a new one — to earn one of the real estate industry’s newest educational credentials — the National Association of REALTORS’ Green Designation. It addresses the concerns of consumers that are seeking real green expertise, not just lip service. You can be the one they come to for answers and, as a result, have a real and lasting impact. “Green living is becoming more and more important to both REALTORS and consumers alike,” says Marjorie Phillips of the Williamson County Association of REALTORS. “Consumers are seeking green expertise and they can be coming to you for answers. The Green Designation is an invaluable asset for any real estate professional.” Get out your calendars because there are two upcoming opportunities to take the official Green Designation course, a two-day class that also requires an additional elective class, for a total of 18 hours. The Austin Board of REALTORS is sponsoring a course on March 16-17 and the Williamson County Association of REALTORS is offering one on April 6-7. (In addition, WCAoR will host a “GoGreen” expo on July 25 at the Dell Diamond.) The course gives students a broad understanding of green real estate principles, including regulatory issues, zoning and building codes as they relate to sustainability. Students will learn the significance of LEED, Energy Star and other rating systems and learn how to help buyers and sellers distinguish between the financial advantages of properties that are eco-friendly and energy efficient. By earning this designation, you can become the real estate resource for all things green, and as a result, will green your own business. Susan Brown of John Horton Realty was one of the first REALTORS in the
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country to pursue the designation, and she says it has been well worth the time, effort and expense. “My husband and I are involved in a green condominium project in Round Rock and I thought I ought to bone up on the issues so I could be an authority,” she says. She took the class in November prior to the NAR convention in Orlando and has since reprinted her business cards — on recycled paper of course — to include the designation. “I was pleasantly surprised to find the class was so practical,” she says. “I was skeptical at first because green means a lot of things to a lot of people. Some want to save the planet, and that’s terrific, but there are also small but significant ways to give clients energy and water savings or to provide for a healthier environment GREEN DESIGNATION for those who have health problems such as TWO-DAY COURSE asthma, for instance.” Austin Board of REALTORS March 16-17 In addition to the two-day courses, ABoR is Williamson County Association offering a one-day class on March 18 called April 6-7 Green Real Estate in Austin. REALTORS will learn from third party green building professionals in the fields of appraisal, home inspection and lending, and from energy audit and rater providers. Representatives from the City of Austin departments and programs related to this field will also inform participants of the abundant resources, rebates and incentives available to serve their green real estate clients. Representatives from Austin Energy will be on hand to answer questions about the energy audits that will be required this summer for homes that are placed on the market. Sally Yaryan, ABoR director of professional development and education says she has seen an increasing interest in the class and expects more as the date approaches. “ABoR is determined to play a positive role in making energy efficiency a successful endeavor for the community and Austin REALTORS,” she says, “This practical course will spearhead that effort.” With global warming and the rising cost of energy weighing heavily on consumers’ minds, environmentally friendly real estate is more important than ever before. Ensure you have the knowledge and resources to serve today’s eco-conscientious homebuyers. For more information on the Green Designation, visit www.greenresourcecouncil.org.