Suburban West Realtors Association
Suburban West Weekly
December 4th, 2019
IN THIS ISSUE
  • Bright Off-MLS Policy: Enforcement Date Postponed to February 1st

  • Applications Are Now Live for the 2020 Leadership Development Program!

  • Last Chance to Enter Into the RPAC Sweepstakes to Win a 2-Year Lease on a Toyota Highlander

  • Reminder: REALTOR Membership Dues Now in Cycle 2

  • New Dates Posted for Required Membership Course: Ethics Over Instincts

  • C/I Exchange to Meet on Friday, December 13th

  • Philly Council Moves to Phase Down Abatement After Abandoning Cap on Tax Break

  • Calendar of Events 
  

 



BRIGHT Off-MLS Policy: Enforcement Date Postponed to February 1st

In order to encourage maximum compliance and minimum confusion for MLS Participants regarding the BRIGHT Off-MLS policy, the team at BRIGHT decided to postpone the issuing of fines from December 1st, 2019 to February 1st, 2020.
The practice of pocket listings remains one of the most pressing issues facing the real estate industry today.  It withholds information from consumers, stifles competition in the marketplace, and disrupts cooperation between professionals - while also challenging the spirit of fair housing laws.
The policy, which requires listings be entered into the MLS within one business day of public marketing, was put into effect October 16th and it remains active today. BRIGHT is currently monitoring the situation and people considered in violation are being notified. However, during this busy year-end time, BRIGHT decided to concentrate on providing extra training and communication, while holding off on enforcement for two months.
This additional access to tools and information, combined with a wider window to gain working experience with the policy, should help achieve the goal of implementation with as few penalties as possible. Read more.

Applications Are Now Live for the 2020 Leadership Development Program!

Suburban West is excited to announce that the 2020 Leadership Development Program applications are now live and available for submission! Now in its sixth year, the program's objective is to empower our members to maximize their business and leadership skills and to build their confidence to take their business to the next level.
The winter curriculum will begin in February and will feature the following workshops:
  • The Five Dysfunctions of Working With Others (February)
  • Emotional Intelligence: The Missing Link to Effective Leadership (February)
  • LeadTech: Technology for Your Leadership Role (March)
  • Spokespersons Training with PAR (March)
  • Effective Negotiating Skills in Today's Ever Changing Real Estate Landscape (March)
Both Realtor® and Affiliate members are encouraged to apply for the program. Applications can be found below:
Applications are due by Tuesday, December 31st, 2019. For questions or to submit an application, please contact Kristin Tornetta.

Last Chance to Enter Into the RPAC Sweepstakes to Win a 2-Year Lease on a Toyota Highlander

Want to join your fellow members for a chance to win AND show your support of pro-Realtor® and pro-homeownership political candidates who will be instrumental in addressing the legislative challenges facing real estate? Then make sure to make your RPAC investment for automatic entry into the 2019 RPAC Sweepstakes for a two-year lease on a Toyota Highlander!
If interested in participating, members will need a make a $99 total investment in 2019 to be automatically entered for the drawing by this Thursday, December 5th. The drawing will take place on Friday, December 6th in Malvern. To enter, please submit your 2019 investment via this secure online link. RPAC investments can also be called in the Association office by dialing 610-560-4800. Questions? Contact Steve Farace.

Reminder: REALTOR Membership Dues Now in Cycle 2

Are you still unpaid for the 2020 Realtor® membership year? If yes, please note that the deadline to submit your dues during Cycle 2 is December 31st. In addition to ensuring that your membership is not interrupted, you will realize savings over the membership fees charged during Cycle 3 (January 1st-January 31st). 
Members still needing to submit dues have the option to submit the payment in full or via installment plan and can click here to pay online through our secure system. Questions? Contact SWRA Bookkeeper, Cathy DiMarco, by dialing 610-560-4800.

New Dates Posted for Required Membership Course: Ethics Over Instincts

Our sense of right or wrong and our tendency to do one thing over another thing is instinctive. Decision making is often navigated on auto-pilot. In most cases a Realtor®'s auto-pilot or instincts are aligned with the Code of Ethics. Ethics Over Instincts: Sharpening the Real Estate GPS (Suburban West's 2019-2020 Required Membership Training Course) will address common scenarios where instincts and ethics clash giving attendees an opportunity to adjust their practice as needed.
Click here for a list of course dates available now in December and January. Please note that the class will continue to be offered frequently through December 2020 as all SWRA Realtor® members must take this 3.5 hour training by December 31st, 2020. To register for an Ethics Over Instincts class, click here (once logged in, scroll over "Events" and then click on "Upcoming Classes").

C/I Exchange to Meet on Friday, December 13th

The Commercial/Industrial Marketing Exchange is set to meet on Friday, December 13th beginning at 8:15am at the Association office in Malvern. The event will begin with the Marketing Exchange where you can bring your ‘haves’ and ‘wants’, including flyers for discussion during the first portion of the session and help best serve your clients. Following the listing exchange will be the presentation – topic and presenter TBD. Registration is not required. Questions? Email Steve Farace.

Philly Council Moves to Phase Down Abatement After Abandoning Cap on Tax Break

A bill that aims to “phase down” Philadelphia’s controversial 10-year tax abatement on residential construction was introduced at a recent city council meeting. The meeting was the last opportunity to introduce legislation in the current council session. The bill would phase out the abatement, reducing it by 10% each year. Another piece of legislation that would increase the value of the city’s homestead exemption for homeowners was also introduced. As those two bills moved forward, another abatement reform measure failed to make it to the floor. That bill would have capped the value that can be exempt from taxes under the abatement. The real estate industry, including developers and building trades unions, oppose any form of cap. Read more.
For more news items from the Suburban Realtors® Alliance, click here to access their Weekly News Briefs.
How Do I Save? How Do I Purchase the Pass?

Calendar of Events
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Suburban West REALTORS Association
1 Country View Road, Suite 201, Malvern PA 19355
P: 610-560-4800 | F: 610-560-4801		 Association of REALTORS School
1 Country View Road, Suite 101, Malvern PA 19355
P: 610-560-4900 | F: 610-560-4801
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