News & Updates
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When you add up all of your income from every possible source, and that total is less than $200,000 ($250,000 on a joint tax return), you will not be subject to this tax. The 3.8% tax will never be collected as a transfer tax on real estate of any type, so you’ll never pay this tax at the time that you purchase a...
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The following is a message from Lowe's in regards to the LowesREALTORBenefits.com program - a NAR Member Benefit that allows you to send FREE, personalized mailings and coupons to your clients, as well as purchase Lowe's gift cards at a 5% discount. In response to feedback from REALTORS®, the Lowe's Program for REALTORS® will launch a new,...
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In This Issue: Fannie Mae Update | This Thursday is RPR Day at SAAR! | Registration Now Open: Water Wonders/Water Worries - Will Enough Be Enough? | New MVP offer! | Beat the Heat with Tech Tuesday Webinars this Summer! | AAR 2013 Broker Summit: Right in Your Own Backyard | Get Lean and Mean at the Property Management Bootcamp Week...
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Fannie Mae Takes Additional Steps to Streamline Short Sale Process, Increase Early Communication with Real Estate Professionals Contact: Callie Wolk, 202-752-3117 WASHINGTON, DC – Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTC) introduced a new tool to help real estate professionals successfully close short sales. Listing agents are now asked to...
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This article originally appeared in the Summer 2013 issue of the SAAR Journal. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) just launched a new program called REpurposed Apps. This website is a place for Members to learn about and share great apps. The theory behind this new endeavor is that there are tons of great apps out there that may...
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OK everybody listen up!! The City of Scottsdale is starting it’s citizen input phase of the General Plan Update this month. They are starting the first series of the discussion with workshops focusing on “Neighborhoods and Housing” (see details below). The General Plan update is a critical piece of our quality of life in...
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This article originally appeared in the Summer 2013 issue of the SAAR Journal. Click here to read more. Drowning is a fast and silent killer. In the time it takes to text a message or answer the phone, tragedy can occur. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly ten people drown in non-boating accidents every day...
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Whether using a Mac or a PC, most zipForm® users are aware of the “Java issues”. Apple will sometimes update their software and automatically disable Java, causing Mac zipForm® users to have to re-enable it, and sometimes even re-download it. Even on a PC, sometimes getting the correct version of Java installed and activated is a pain. To get...
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TAX STRATEGIES FOR THE REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALThis seminar is presented by Ron Reed of Bradford and Company, Inc., with excerpts from the "Tax Strategies for the Self-Employed" audio course. Identify $12,000 or more in NEW deductions that can be used right away to pocket thousands. Tax LAW, presented in simple English that all of us can...
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As you all know by now, the cities and towns of metro Phoenix will now embark on the most dreaded time of year...road barricade and detour season. Why do they do this kind of construction in the hottest months of the year? The simple answer is that we don't want to inconvenience our wonderful visitors who graciously keep our property...
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Every May, thousands of REALTORS® make their way to Washington, DC to stress the importance of our issues directly with lawmakers during the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Midyear Meetings. NAR recently posted this year’s talking points for our members who will be meeting with members of Congress May 13-18: ...
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We hear a lot of complaints about real estate-related junk mail. Whether it’s new listings, recruitment emails, or just plain junk, it can get overwhelming filtering through all of those emails! So, what can you do? Here is a tutorial on how to filter out most of the solicitation e-mails so you don’t have to sort through them in your...
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There are lots of technology tools out there that can help you with your real estate business, but we know sometimes it can be hard to find them. Soon, you will have access to REPurposed Apps, a NAR initiative about smartphone and tablet Apps that have been re-purposed for use in real estate. You can also get information from the REALtech blog...
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What's your technology superpower? Find out at the ARMLS TECHNOPALOOZA 2013 on April 17th at the Mesa Convention Center. Check-in starts at 7:30am and the program runs from 9:00am to 3:30pm. Registration is $20 (plus minimal service fee) and includes all technology exhibits, classes, parking, continental breakfast and box lunch. Don't leave...
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STAAR NIGHT (Unplugged)! Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 Tickets on sale now! STAAR Night is a fundraiser for the Hutch Fund, a disaster-relief fund for SAAR Members. It will be held the evening of Tuesday, May 21st at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Don't wait! Tickets are first come, first serve! Click here to purchase your...
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Have you seen this trend? It was started by Tennessee REALTOR® Brian Copeland of Village Real Estate Services. In honor of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics Centennial, Copeland changed his Facebook Cover Photo to this fun image! The Code of Ethics is one of the many things that set you apart as a REALTOR® and not just a licensee! Show your worth to...
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This article originally appeared in the SAAR Journal Spring 2013 issue. You probably already know that the majority of home buyers begin their search online. You also probably know it is important to have a website; but do you know how to use your website as a lead-generating machine? Here’s a hint: It has very little to do with listings. 10 years...
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There are times when work engulfs us. Sometimes it’s two steps back for every step forward. We get buried in our business. It doesn’t take much of this to create massive stress. So, what can we do? In the world of real estate, technological advances can be overwhelming. Changes in the market also occur at a rapid clip. In order to stay on top of...
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Many of us long-time Valley of the Sun residents know what a great place this is to retire and own a home. If you are like me, you are frequently asked for advice on whether or not our area is amenable for retirees. Is it affordable? How is the transportation? What about health care availability and costs? Will taxes be a...
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Seeking to make a better connection with consumers online, Web site realtor.com® (yes, with a lowercase “r”) unveiled new branding this week. The rebranding effort covers — for now, anyway — the corporate logo and the overall design and structure of the Web site. “We wanted to focus in the near term on the new look and feel,” says Andrew...
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With the announcement that MongoFax has closed its doors, SAAR is pleased to announce its partnership with Impact Fax, an electronic faxing service that lets you receive and send faxes to and from your e-mail! No cover sheet or special software is needed to use this service. With this new service, SAAR Members can obtain their own fax...
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Since its formation in 2009, RPR’s core mission has been to provide access to robust property data, and advanced technology features in order to assist NAR’s 1,000,000+ REALTOR® members in creating new business opportunities, and to increase their efficiency in the housing market, to the ultimate benefit of their consumers. Today, RPR is proud to...
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Last night I attended a seminar hosted by Empire West Title that featured four of our states most successful REALTORS®. Wouldn’t you know it…the common theme throughout the stories about what helped them most was their involvement in their communities and civic organizations. Connectedness and volunteerism is one of the key pathways for...
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The General Plan update got into full swing last month with the 100 citizens selected to work on the General Plan update. I have used this space before to tell you how important this effort is for the future of Scottsdale. SAAR was fortunate to have Sabrina Walters, one of our SAAR Directors, selected to be one of the people on the...
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It’s been said that your home is your castle, and sometimes you need help defending it. NAR’s newest campaign, “Dreams,” assures consumers that NAR and REALTORS® are working hard to protect the dream and reality of homeownership for our families and our future. For more information on the campaign and downloadable tools for REALTORS®,...
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Quite a number of you have been pestering me (lol) for periodic updates on current events in our communities. When I have attended and spoken to RMS groups and at various brokerages and offices, attendees seem to really enjoy hearing about the latest big road project, special community event, public meeting or important civic initiative...
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This is a story of tragedy, love and compassion. It is also a story of perseverance and determination. It describes the heartbreaking case of 27 year old Nicole Glass and her friend and pregnant roommate, 27 year old Melissa Mason. Glass and Mason lived together in Glass’ home near 40th Street and Thomas in Phoenix. On or...
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January 11, 2013: On Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, NAR achieved a significant victory in obtaining a safe harbor in the QM rule for loans underwritten to the automated standards of the GSEs, FHA, VA, and RHS and within their respective loan limits for up to seven years and with regard to the GSEs, seven years or whenever they leave conservatorship....
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Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Treatment Gets One More Year (From the National Association of REALTORS®) While there is still very little focus on the importance of this law, the fiscal cliff deal did extend its provisions for one more year. The law – which was set to expire at the end of 2012 - is crucial to foreclosure mitigation efforts such as...
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I hope my dear friend and long-time SAAR staffer John Packham and his beautiful wife Miriam have an easier time of it in 2013. This same hope applies to all the rest of us who have had health challenges in 2012. I hope we don’t fall off the fiscal cliff, but if we do, I hope we land in a lake filled with expensive Cabernet Sauvignon....
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Upcoming Events
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Tech Tuesday Webinar: REALTOR TechnologyTue, Jun 18, 2013
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YPN Networking Happy HourWed, Jun 19, 2013Praying Monk
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Carefree/Cave Creek RMSThu, Jun 20, 2013Harrold's Corral
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Scottsdale Luxury Home TourThu, Jun 20, 2013Gainey Ranch Golf Club, 7600 E Gainey Club Dr
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RPR: Agent TrainingThu, Jun 20, 2013SAAR Education RoomRegister here: http://bit.ly/10Jkt91