Upcoming Events:
Attend REALTOR Day at the 57th Annual Parade of HomesTM n Licensed REALTORS get free admission into
hood in Lakeway. REALTORS® are invited free of charge
Parade of HomesTM on REALTOR Day
F
on REALTOR® Day. REALTOR® Day is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21. For free admission that day, a or 57 years,
REALTOR® must present his/her business card at the ticket
the
gate (does not include guests).
Builders As-
sociation Austin
Home
of
Greater
has
made
The tour features a stunning line-up of seven Tuscan and Hill Country contemporary custom homes ranging in price from $750,000 to $1.5 million.
dream homes become
Come explore “attainable luxury by the lake” right here
reality at its annual Pa-
in Central Texas. Visit www.AustinHomeBuilders.com and
rade of Homes™.
the “Greater Austin Parade of Homes™” on Facebook for
This year ’s tour is at Rough Hollow’s Bluffs neighbor-
more info.
October 16-31 Parade of Homes The Bluffs at Rough Hollow 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (closed Tuesdays) October 18 ABoR TREPAC Golf Tournament Grey Rock Golf Club - 8 a.m. October 20 NAHREP Monthly Luncheon Cool River Cafe - 11:30 a.m. October 21 REALTOR Day at Parade of Homes The Bluffs at Rough Hollow - 11 a.m. October 21 SMC “Strike Against Hunger” Bowling Tournament Showplace Lanes - Noon to 5 p.m. October 21 NAPMW Austin Mortgage Monster Mash Bottle Auction Bash Norris Conference Center - 5:30 p.m. October 27 Realty Round Up Austin Convention Center - 8:30 a.m.
—Associates—
In Progress october 2010 • Vol. 15 • Issue 6
enjoyable. entertaining. It’s all about you.
October is Time to Invest in TREPAC; Calendar Year Begins this Month
R
EALTORS may think they are in the business
Line asked Christy Gessler, TREPAC Trustee for Region 8
the road, fully insured and being cautious as you drive
of selling houses, but if keeping more of their
of the Texas Association of REALTORS, to deliver a mes-
along, then WHAM! Out of nowhere, you are broadsided
sage to her colleagues to encourage them to “Do Your
by another vehicle. After checking to make sure you are
commissions is important, then politics is also
their business. The best way to make their voice heard in that constantly competing arena is by contributing to the
Dues” and here is what she had to say:
okay and checking to see if anyone else was injured, you
When someone mentions TREPAC, what do you
check for damage to your vehicle and the other driver’s
Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee (TREPAC),
think? Hopefully you think of a powerful force pro-
vehicle. Then you attempt to exchange insurance in-
the non-partisan, voluntary, and non-profit political grass-
tecting private property rights and the real estate in-
formation. You learn the other driver is not insured.
roots fundraising program which supports candidates for
dustry in Texas. Hopefully you think of a TREPAC
Now what? You have a big problem on your hands:
federal, state and local elected office who create a favor-
investment as insurance for your business.
able business environment where REALTORS can make a
You don’t? Well it’s time to change your
profit, protect the rights of property and homeowners, and
train of thought.
enable the real estate industry to flourish. In short, TREPAC protects pocketbooks. Proof of that is seen in a long string of successes, including Prop 6,
extra costs to have your vehicle repaired, possible costs to repair the other vehicle, and increased
TREPAC is one of
rates
for
your policy as soon as
the strongest political ac-
you file the claim. Com-
tion committees in the state.
pare this to investing in
which prevented an ad-valorem (property) tax on personal
Why? Members!! We have
TREPAC. If you are not con-
vehicles. If left unchecked, this new tax could have spread
strength in numbers but cur-
tributing, you are at risk. We
statewide to all Texas REALTORS® and other independent
rently only have approxi-
contractors.
mately
October is the time to take pride in having such an effective grassroots political program by investing back into
40
percent
need to encourage all Texas
of
REALTORS® to do their
members participating (that means in-
part and contribute. Again, our
vesting!) in TREPAC. Can you imag-
strength lies in numbers and the more
TREPAC because it marks the beginning of the TREPAC
ine the benefit we would enjoy if
we can spread the word about
calendar year when dues and pledges are solicited. Realty
everyone invested their fair share?
TREPAC and the benefits of insur-
P. O. Box 81366 Austin, Texas 78708-1366
Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Austin, Texas Paid Permit #715
You can visit us online 24/7 at www.realtylineonline.com
We can get
ing our business, the more our in-
there, but we need YOU! Let
dustry and the interests of private property owners in
me roll out a scenario for
Texas will be protected.
you:
Another reason to invest: The Texas Legislature is fac-
Every responsible person
ing a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall and will be
insures their car, their home,
searching for new sources of revenue, including taxes on
their lives, their health, even
your commissions and sales taxes (i.e., transfer taxes) on
their computer and smart
real estate transactions. Just include your TREPAC invest-
phone…. so, why wouldn’t
ment on the upcoming dues billing cycle. One time, once
you insure your business?
a year, $35 fair share. Those funds are then re-invested
For as little as $35 per year,
into candidates that support our issues and agree that
you can protect your interests
Texas real estate is one of the backbones of our local econ-
and those of private property
omy and should be carefully protected. It is so easy to “Do
owners in Texas.
Imagine
this….you are driving down
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