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| Featured Story
New .Realtor Domain Set For Launch in October
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| Announced in 2011, the .Realtor domain is the clearest way to show your clients or potential clients online that you are a member of the REALTOR organization, you adhere to a higher standard of ethics and you are a source they can trust. The domain will be free for the first 500,000 NAR members for the first year. Members will also have the option of purchasing additional .Realtor domains at that time. After year one, the domain price will be $39.95. Bulk broker and franchise pricing is still in development. NAR launched a priority sign-up last year for the new domain, but that does not guarantee or lock-in any one domain. If you joined the priority registration list, you will have 72 hours before the general membership to claim your domain(s). October 20th is the day to visit www.claim.realtor and be among the first to have a .Realtor website. Additional details on priority registration will be provided.
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| Association News
Deadline for the Membership Dues Installment Plan is Friday, September 5th
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| The following is a brief reminder that if you are interested in paying your 2015 REALTOR membership dues via monthly installments, the deadline for enrolling in the plan is this Friday, September 5th. Please access the 2015 Installment Plan Enrollment Form and return via fax to 610-560-4801 or by emailing completed document to Suburban West Bookeeper, Cathy DiMarco. It is important to note that you can choose to pay your dues in full beginning October 1st by just waiting to receive your Suburban West dues invoice via email that day. For an overview of your dues payment options, click here. For membership dues questions, please contact Cathy DiMarco or call 610-560-4800.
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| Association Tips Legal Tip: Antitrust and Social Media
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| Antitrust violations occur when two or more competitors (for purposes of this discussion real estate agents or firms) enter into an agreement to restrain trade such as: fix prices or other terms of a contract; allocate markets, customers or client; or boycott competitors, suppliers or vendors. An agreement does not have to be written or formal. Anytime two or more real estate agents or firms have an informal meeting: phone call, email, Internet or other social media discussion relating to competitors and subsequent to that informal discussion any of them adopt conduct or take action suggested in that informal discussion could be considered an antitrust violation. How many times have you been involved in a group chat or social media exchange of comments about what real estate agents or firms think about a business, business model, advertiser, vendor or other real estate related business entity or their practice? And how often does that conversation fall into or stem from a questions about what everyone thinks about or how everyone might "deal" with that entity? For example, let's say on FaceBook an agent expresses frustration over the fees charged by an advertiser or other vendor. A flurry of comments follows and a comment is made that agents have the choice to stop using that vendor. The comment garners many "likes" as well as subsequent comments of support. While this sounds like an innocent show of support for a fellow REALTOR, if participants in the discussion or "likes" subsequently take action to stop working with that vendor there could be a charge of conspiracy against that vendor - a possible antitrust violation. Read more.
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| Professionalism Tip: Real Estate Commission September Meeting
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| Four times each year the Real Estate Commission sets aside time for public comment. While all board meetings are open to the public, this time is set aside for licensees and members of the public to discuss licensure issues with the Commission without appointment. The Commission will hold their September meeting on September 16th from 18th in Philadelphia at Temple University Center City. A public comment session is currently scheduled for September 16th from 2:00pm-4:00pm. This is your opportunity to discuss or ask questions about the licensed activities of real estate brokers and salespersons, cemetery brokers and salespersons, cemeteries, rental listing referral services and real estate schools.
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| SWRA Seminars & Events
Starbucks Mornings: Safety Tips for Today's REALTOR
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| Every year, real estate agents around the country are threatened, robbed or assaulted while fulfilling the everyday requirements of their jobs (including this local tragic event). By learning from these unfortunate incidents, we can make adjustments to the way we do business and avoid violent crimes. Please note that as Suburban West members, you also have access to NAR's REALTOR Safety Field Guide which provides countless articles, books and videos that provide practical advice about how to increase your awareness of your surroundings and what might be suspicious. These resources will help you be better prepared to protect yourself, other agents and your clients in highly vulnerable situations.
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| Suburban REALTORS Alliance Coatesville OKs 10-Year Comprehensive Plan
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| Coatesville's city council adopted the final version of its 10-year comprehensive plan. Vice President David Collins noted, "This is an important document, in my opinion, for the future revitalization of Coatesville because it lays the groundwork, it defines the path." The plan calls for accelerating the approval process for developers who are interested in building the city, celebrating the history, continuing leadership in city council, moving forward with the "new city/old city" concept, and using the train station as a catalyst for change. Copies of the comprehensive plan can be found at Coatesville City Hall and should be on the city's website later in the week.
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| Association of REALTORS School
Short Sales & Foreclosures Certification Course Returns on October 10th
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| Designed for real estate professionals at all experience levels, the National Association of REALTORS' Short Sales and Foreclosures (SFR) Certification course (October 10th; 9:00am-5:00pm) will give you the framework for understanding how to:- direct distressed sellers to finance, tax & legal professionals
- qualify sellers for short sales
- develop a short-sale package
- negotiate with lenders
- tap into buyer demand
- safeguard your commission
- limit risk and protect buyers
As many REALTORS can attest, your ability to close short sales and foreclosures depends in part on your confidence in seeing these transactions through. Begin building your confidence today by signing up for the SFR course on October 10th! Click here to register (access the Education Calendar) or call 610-560-4900.
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| SWRA Forums
C/I Exchange Meeting September 12th
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| There are unique aspects to commercial real estate that differ greatly from residential. For an individual primarily involved in the residential side of the business, it can be challenging to handle a commercial client. To assist our members, the Association has maintained a Commercial/Investment Marketing Exchange that meets monthly to help our members learn and discuss the commercial real estate business in a comfortable environment with commercial real estate experts. The C/I Exchange will meet next Friday, September 12th (8:30am-10:00am) at the Association office in Malvern. This month's topic is "Looking Ahead: Grocery Stores in 2015" presented by Jeff Metzger of Food Trade News. Registration is not required, but please email Steve Farace to be added to the C/I Exchange email list to be notified of future free commercial presentations.
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| Reminders: Candidate Profiles Now Available for 2015 Board of Directors Election
Offsite, Evening & Saturday Schedule Posted for Required Training
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New .Realtor Domain Set for Launch in October
Deadline for Dues Installment Plan This Friday, Sept. 5th
Association Tips: Legal & Professionalism
Starbucks Morning: Safety Tips for Today's REALTORS
Coatesville OKs 10-Year Comprehensive Plan
SFR Certification Course Returns on Oct. 10th
C/I Exchange Meeting Sept. 12th
Candidates Profile Now Available for 2015 BOD Election
Off-site and Off-hour Schedule Posted for Required Training |
Payment & Registration Center
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You can register for courses and events, pay Suburban West invoices and see past invoices and courses in our
Log-in using your user name and password. Uncertain of your log-in information? Call the Association office at 610-560-4800. |
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Sept 8; 9:00am-3:00pm
Sept 9; 9:00am-10:30am
Sept 10; 10:00am-12:30pm
Sept 10; 1:30pm-4:00pm
Sept 12; 10:00am-12:30pm
Sept 12; 1:30pm-4:00pm |
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DocuSign Transaction Rooms
888-600-4146
DocuSign Support Center 866-219-4318
PA Real Estate Commission 717-783-3658
PAR Legal Hotline 800-727-5345
RPR Help Desk
877-977-7576
Suburban REALTORS Alliance 610-981-9000
Supra Support 877-699-6787
TREND 877-330-9900
zipForm Support 586-840-0140 |
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