Beware the Ides of….Mixed Signals?

On this day and in the days to follow, remember this: In a recovery that's just getting going, don't expect all the economic arrows to point the same way at any given moment. There will be good days and there will be bad.
Click here for a great article on accepting the mixed signals coming out of today’s market!

Barbara West
Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

A Bit of Inspiration for Your Monday and Beyond

At some point during the last year, have you found yourself feeling a bit anxious, worried or frustrated? Or maybe you’ve experienced all three? C’mon admit it, we all have!
But in times like these, it’s important to hold your head high and realize the true value of a positive mental attitude.
Follow the link below and discover eight ways that you can create and maintain a positive mental attitude in today’s market! Read and pass along!

http://rismedia.com/2009-06-25/8-ways-to-stay-positive-in-todays-market/#ixzz0JqUnmRR6&D

Barbara West
Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

Home Builders May Get Tax Help

State lawmakers are presently trying to give homebuilders a temporary break from property taxes on unsold homes. The state House recently approved a bill that would allow builders to defer for up to three years the portion of property tax generated by building a new home.

The builder would continue to pay tax on the value of the land. The increased property taxes generated by improving the land with a home would have to be paid by the builder when the home is sold or in 2013. The bill would apply only to new homes that have never been occupied.

The bill is meant to provide "temporary relief for a segment of North Carolina's economy that we all know has been hit hard," said Rep. Margaret Highsmith Dickson, a Fayetteville Democrat and co-sponsor of the bill.

N.C. Lawmakers May Slap Sales Tax on Services, Though Not on White Collar Jobs

North Carolina lawmakers are considering taxing a broad variety of everyday services. You could pay more for a haircut, a pedicure, a clutch replacement or getting your yard mowed. But the services of accountants, lawyers and other white-collar workers would be exempt.

A 4.5 percent state sales tax already applies to all goods and about 30 different types of services, including equipment rental and printing, among others. Both the House and the Senate have proposed expanding the tax to about 50 services including storage, entertainment, personal services, installations, repairs and maintenance.

Barbara West
Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

Let Us Know What You Think!

Hello All! Here's another convention question for you: How would you (the faithful convention attendee) encourage a first-time attendee to register for the convention?

Keri Epps
Meeting Planner
kepps@ncrealtors.org

Field Guide to Social Networking for REALTORS®

Every junior high kid seems to have a Facebook or MySpace page. Why should you, a real estate professional? Learn about social networking websites, see how other real estate agents have embraced social networking to increase their presence on the Internet to attract more clients, learn about the variety of social networking websites and much more.

View NAR’s “Field Guide to Social Networking for REALTORS®” for more on how social networking can benefit you. For more information, follow the link below. http://www.realtor.org/library/library/fg125

Monica Huckaby
Legal Programs Coordinator
mhuckaby@ncrealtors.org

Summary of July 2009 Forms Changes Now Available

As always, a number of changes to the NC REALTORS® Forms library will take place July 1, 2009. Sixteen “residential” forms have been updated and one new form has been introduced. Members can now access the July 2009 Forms Changes Summary by logging into the NC Association of REALTORS® website at www.ncrealtors.org. Once logged in, please click on “Forms & Contracts” in the upper left hand corner. Scan to the bottom of this page and under “Links & Resources” click on “Forms: Summary of July 2009 Forms Changes.” Once there, members can view “marked-up” copies of the forms by clicking on the form name in the summary.

For any additional questions, please contact the NC Association of REALTORS®’ Legal Department at 800-443-9956.

Monica Huckaby
Legal Programs Coordinator
mhuckaby@ncrealtors.org

Sign Up for the GRI 300 Series in August and Stay at the Grove Park Inn at a Discounted Rate!

Fall sessions of the Graduate Realtor Institute will begin August 10-13. We will start with the 300 Series in Asheville at the Grove Park Inn. The Grove Park Inn is offering huge savings on sleeping rooms until June 26, and a chance to win a 2-day getaway! This offer is exclusively for REALTORS® attending the GRI 300 series August 10-13 and staying at the Grove Park Inn. You MUST register before June 26 to receive savings on the hotel room!

Click here for details: http://www.ncrealtors.org/uploads/0809grihoteldiscount.pdf

Ellie Edwards
Assistant Director of Professional Development
eedwards@ncrealtors.org

Treasury Provides $3B More for Foreclosure Program

The government will provide another $3.1 billion to a group of mortgage servicing companies as an incentive to modify loans to combat record levels of foreclosures. The Treasury Department said recently that the modifications, which included reductions in projected payments for some companies, pushed the total amount for the program to $18.3 billion, from $15.2 billion.

The biggest adjustment was made for Countrywide Home Loans Servicing LP, part of Bank of America Corp., which received an increase of $3.3 billion, bringing its total to $5.2 billion.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jLCzENs9CrKgzPalTshubdKkoPcgD98S0GA81

Barbara West
Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

May Housing Construction Jumps by 17.2 Percent

Construction of new homes jumped in May by the largest amount in three months, an encouraging sign that the nation's deep housing recession was beginning to bottom out. In another encouraging sign, applications for building permits, seen as a good indicator of future activity, rose 4 percent in May to an annual rate of 518,000 units. For more information, follow the link below.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/business/story/782855.html

Barbara West
Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

Durham Named Among ‘Best Places to Live’ by US News

After reviewing more than 2,000 locations nationwide-and considering such factors as sales taxes, housing prices, average number of children per square mile, proximity to healthcare, and the availability of educational institutions-U.S. News & World Report magazine recently identified Durham as one of this year’s best places to live. The magazine focused on areas with strong economies, low living costs, and plenty of entertainment options.
http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2009061005?OpenDocument

Barbara West
Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

N.C. Foreclosures Down 32 Percent

The number of new foreclosures in North Carolina during the month of May dropped nearly 32 percent from the same month a year ago, new data from RealtyTrac show. On a month-to-month basis, foreclosure filings were down 16 percent from April to May. Nationally, fewer foreclosure notices were filed in May with a 6 percent decrease compared from April.

For more information, follow the link below.
http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2009/06/08/daily54.html?ed=2009-06-11&ana=e_du_pap

Barbara West, e-PRO
Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

Register Today for the NC REALTORS® 2009 Forms Changes/Update Webinar

Join the North Carolina Association of REALTORS® on Tuesday, June 23rd at 10:00 am for an important video webcast on recent changes to the NC REALTORS® Forms library. This year’s forms update will include changes to 16 forms in the current library and the introduction of one new form.

Although there are no changes to the Offer to Purchase and Contract form this year, there are some important clarifications and additions to the Contingent Sale Addendum, which underwent a significant rewrite in 2008. In addition, there are several important changes to the listing agreements and buyer agency agreements, including changes pertaining to compensation, dual/designated agency and disclosure of a client’s mailing address in the event of an earnest money dispute. Also, a new “Agreement to Procure Tenant” form has been developed for use by listing firms in situations where, because of the current market, the seller desires the firm to market the property for sale or lease.

Click this link to register: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=59455

Monica Huckaby
Legal Programs Coordinator
mhuckaby@ncrealtors.org

How Often Do You Use YouTube or Video to Sell Real Estate?

With over 11 billion videos viewed online in a single month, and YouTube’s widespread popularity, we want to know how N.C. REALTORS® are taking advantage of these powerful marketing tools! Do you or any of your agents use YouTube or video as part of a real estate business strategy? Let us know! Email Barbara West at bwest@ncrealtors.org. We would love to hear from you!

Barbara West, e-PRO
Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

NCAR Guaranteed-issue Limited Benefit Health Insurance

Available to NC REALTORS® is a guaranteed-issue limited benefit medical plan called Transchoice®, underwritten by one of the nations leading insurance carriers, Transamerica Life Insurance Company and Central Insurance Advisors, LLC. Transchoice®, helps pay basic medical expenses related to hospitalization, surgery, physician office visits, prescription drugs, accidents, x-rays, lab tests and much more. Guaranteed issue means everyone is accepted for this plan, without any preexisting or age restrictions. The benefits are paid directly to you to help cover those out-of-pocket costs, or they may be assigned to your physician or hospital. Three plans will be available to pick and choose the best benefits for you and your family at very affordable rates. For a detailed outline of the plan please call Central Insurance Advisors, LLC toll free at 1-877-925-1840 or visit www.transchoicencar.com.

Kristin Miller
Marketing Specialist
kmiller@ncrealtors.org

Current Challenges and Issues

REALTORS®,

As you may know, NAR recently held its first-ever Real Estate Summit during the Midyear Legislative Meetings in May. Take a few minutes to watch the video and listen to what top government officials and industry experts had to say about the challenges we are facing.
http://www.realtor.org/meetings_and_expo/midyear_and_trade_expo/real_estate_summit

As a direct result of the Summit, NAR has made progress on two critical issues: improving the short-sale process and HUD’s efforts to monetize the first-time homebuyer tax credit. Check out President Charles McMillan’s latest podcast which includes updates on both topics.
http://www.realtor.org/about_nar/presidents_report/_podcast_archive/mcmillan_hudguidlines_20090602

Barbara West, e-PRO
Communications Specialist
bwest@ncrealtors.org

Additional Tax Credit Info

The $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers can be used for closing costs, but can't be used to cover the minimum 3.5 percent down payment. FHA-approved lenders received the go-ahead to develop bridge-loan products that enable first-time buyers to use the benefits of the federal tax credit upfront, according to eagerly awaited guidance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on so-called home buyer tax credit loans that was released on Friday (May 29).

Here’s more: http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2009052901?OpenDocument&LID=RONav0019

Julie Woodson
Director of Public Affairs
jwoodson@ncrealtors.org

Let Us Know What You Think!

Hello REALTORS! Your NCAR Meeting Planner here!!!

We are currently working on the 2009 Convention, and really want to make this convention the best. This is where you come in. From this point on, we will be posting questions every two weeks. And we're counting on you to give us your feedback.

First question is easy: I would like to know what tools you take home from the Convention and Expo that benefit your business the most?

To give us an answer, just post a comment on this blog entry. We look forward to hearing from you!

Keri Epps
Meeting Planner
kepps@ncrealtors.org