December 10, 2014
Featured Article
Suburban West Members Give Back Through YPN Coin Drive/ Raffle
In the spirit of the holiday season, this fall Suburban West's YPN Committee hosted its Third Annual Coin Drive and Raffle to Benefit Philabundance - click here to see pictures from the event.
Suburban West is proud to announce that the total raised was $3,202. By collaborating with the food industry and others committed to ending hunger throughout our community, Philabundance can feed one person one meal for just 50 cents - that's 6,404 meals that will help the less fortunate in our communities.
On behalf of SWRA and YPN, we would like to thank the 20 offices who hosted coin drive jars at their workplace and individual REALTORS and Affiliates who contributed to this great cause and purchased raffle tickets. Lastly, congratulations to the big winners of the raffle baskets:
  • Philadelphia Eagles Basket - Kathy McQuilkin: RE/MAX Professional Realty, Exton
  • Currie Spa Basket - Sue Orloff: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, Newtown Square
  • Fitbit Flex Fitness Basket - Paul Carr: Long and Foster, Drexel Hill
  • ChaddsFord Winery Basket - Hilda Guerra: Keller Williams, Media
Association News
Offices Honored for 2014 RPAC Support
Forty Suburban West REALTOR offices were recently honored for their collective support of RPAC in 2014. These offices were recognized as part of the RPAC Office Throwdown Competition, developed this year to honor offices who went above and beyond in their financial support and participation through their collective investment in RPAC. There are two types of honors that were presented to the deserving offices:
  • Per Capita Investment - for this award, we established 5 different categories based on the size of the office. Within these categories, we honored the top three offices based on their collective per capita investment. A total of 15 offices received awards for their significant per capita investment.
  • 100 Percent Participation - this award recognizes those offices who has 100% Fair Share Participation from its agents, meaning that all REALTORS in an office invested at least $15 in RPAC. A total of 32 offices received certificates for reaching this milestone.
For a complete list of offices that were recognized, please click here.
Suburban West congratulates each of these offices and their broker for the tremendous RPAC support they demonstrated in 2014.
Industry News
Free NAR Webinar Offers Updates on RESPA and TILA
The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) invites members to take part in a webinar "Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) Update - Big Changes in 2015" on Thursday, December 11th (2:00pm-3:00pm). This free webinar will focus on the major changes coming next year to RESPA and the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). NAR's Director of Real Estate Services, Ken Trepeta and K&L Gates attorney Philip L. Schulman will discuss the updates to RESPA and TILA that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act plans to enforce.
Click here to register for the free webinar. Also, to learn more before the webinar, download the presentation Schulman displayed at the 2014 REALTORS Conference & Expo about the upcoming changes.
Association Tips
Professionalism Tip: Suburban West Launches Professionalism Exchange
This Professionalism Tip is provided by SWRA Staff Paula Tansey
Professionalism encompasses a REALTOR's obligation to the Code of Ethics, license law and the common sense courtesies that make the relationship between clients, customers and other REALTORS work. Suburban West's Professionalism Exchange is an opportunity for members to come together to share and evaluate concerns about professionalism. The Professionalism Exchange is a continuation of SWRA's Pathway to Professionalism efforts which began in 2008 with this 15 minute video program. The video was designed to raise the awareness of the critical importance of professionalism within the industry. Members were encouraged to view the video on their own.
The Professionalism Exchange is a live forum and will be 90 minutes in length. Each session will open with a brief update on any new information from NAR, PAR and the state Real Estate Commission. The remainder of each session will be open to members in attendance who wish to share issues with their peers. The forums will be moderated by a panel of REALTORS and Association legal counsel, William J. Weber, Esquire.
The first Professionalism Exchange will take place on Friday, January 16th at 9:00am at the Association office in Malvern. This session is free for members but registration is required - reserve your seat here (access the Events Calendar) for this exciting new seminar.
Association of REALTORS School
Association of REALTORS School Seeking Instructors
The Association of REALTORS School is currently seeking instructors for existing and new programs. The ideal candidates are individuals with 5 years of experience in real estate; who have a sincere interest in real estate as a profession; and a desire to share their passion with others. Training is available and may be required of those without formal teaching experience.
To tell us of your interest, please download the instructor application form and return it to Paula Tansey by December 12, 2014. Questions may be directed to Paula via email or by calling the Association of REALTORS School at 610-560-4900.
Suburban REALTORS Alliance
West Chester Redistricting Proposal to be Presented
Though the West Chester School District redistricting plan has not yet been finalized by the school board, some attendance boundaries will change for the coming school year, according to a November 26th letter from Superintendent Jim Scanlon. About 526 students will be asked to change schools due to redistricting in the West Chester Area School District. The final redistricting proposal was presented to the school board on December 8th at the Spellman Admin Building in West Chester. The board is set to make its final decision on December 15th. A map of the proposed plan is available at www.wcasd.net.
Suburban REALTOR Alliance News Brief - sign up to recieve these notices for free through the SRA Action Center.
Reminders:
C/I Exchange Meeting This Friday, December 12th
The Commercial/Investment Marketing Exchange will meet this Friday, December 12 (8:30am-10:00am) at the Association office in Malvern. This month's topic is TBD. 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.

Membership Dues Now in Cycle 2
Are you still unpaid for the 2015 membership year? If so, the following is a brief reminder that the Cycle 2 dues payment deadline is December 31st, 2014. Click here to pay your outstanding dues online. The organization is committed to providing the most value for your dues dollars while helping to contain your expenses. We hope you will continue to take advantage of the programs and services developed to help you be more successful in your career. Have dues questions? Contact Cathy DiMarco.

In This Issue
Suburban West Members Give Back Through YPN Coin Drive and Raffle

Offices Honored for 2014 RPAC Support

Webinar: Big RESPA Changes in 2015

Association Tips: Professionalism

Association of REALTORS School Seeking Instructors

West Chester Redistricting Proposal to be Presented
Payment & Registration Center
You can register for courses & events, pay Suburban West invoices and see past invoices & courses by logging into our Payment and Registration Center.

Log-in using your User Name (First and Last Name) and Password (Last Four Digits of Your Social Unless Changed). 

Having difficulty logging in? Call the Association office at 610-560-4800.
Mark Your Calendars!
Dec. 15 & 16; 9:00am-5:00pm

Dec. 17; 10:00am-12:30pm

Dec. 17; 1:30pm-4:00pm

Dec. 19; 10:00am-12:30pm

Dec. 19; 1:30pm-4:00pm
Important Numbers
for REALTORS
DocuSign Transaction Rooms
888-600-4146

DocuSign Support Center
866-219-4318

National Association of REALTORS (NAR)
800-874-6500

PA Real Estate Commission
717-783-3658

PAR Legal Hotline
800-727-5345

Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS (PAR)
800-555-3390

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
Suburban West
REALTORS Association

100 Deerfield Lane, Suite 240 | Malvern, PA 19355
P: 610-560-4800 | F: 610-560-4801


SWRA Website | Directions
About Us | SWRA Staff | Email SWRA
 
Association of
REALTORS School

100 Deerfield Lane, Suite 240 | Malvern, PA 19355
P: 610-560-4900 | F: 610-560-4801


ARS Website
Email ARS
100 Deerfield Lane Suite 240 | Malvern, PA 19355 US
powered by emma
Subscribe to our email list.