September 2008

ABoR is currently seeking to fill two seats on the Austin Central Texas Realty Information Service (ACTRIS) Board.  ACTRIS directors govern the rules and regulations of the ACTRIS MLS system and make important decisions affecting local MLS services.

Each director position carries a three-year term that begins in 2009.  Directors are required to attend all ACTRIS Board meetings, which are typically held once a month.  According to the ACTRIS Bylaws, applicants must be primary REALTOR® subscribers for at least three consecutive years.

If you would like to get involved with your local MLS service, apply to be an ACTRIS director today.  Applications are available online and must be received by midnight on Tuesday, September 30.

Less than a month remains to help ABoR meet its 2008 Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee (TREPAC) fundraising goal of $227,000 and we need you.  ABoR currently requires $20,000 to meet its Texas Association of REALTORS®-appointed goal.  With important legislative issues on the horizon, such as a green home tax, tax on services and transfer taxes, your TREPAC investment is more important than ever.

ABoR continues to work to promote energy efficiency through education and incentives, but the city’s point of sale proposal still contains mandatory language. Your PAC contributions help our advocacy efforts by electing council members committed to defeating point of sale ordinances. We need your TREPAC investments to allow the REALTOR® voice to be heard in Austin’s City Hall.

Investments must be received by September 30 to be counted in this year’s total.  Mail your check to the Austin Board of REALTORS®, Attn. Government and Community Affairs, 10900 Stonelake Blvd., Ste. 100, Austin, Texas 78759 or contribute online.

TREPAC works to protect your profession from harmful legislation harmful in the national, state and local political arenas.  For more information on how TREPAC works for you, contact Emily Chenevert

Are your clients having trouble receiving Client Gateway e-mails?  There are a couple of reasons why their communications may have been interrupted:

• The saved search notification may have expired for that client.  Track your saved searches by reviewing the Prospecting box, located in the top left corner of the MLXchange homepage.  Click on the “Searches Expiring in 3 Days” link to view searches that will expire soon.

 

• Your MLS services were interrupted due to non-payment or a rule violation.

In either case, your saved searches are not eliminated – they are only turned off.  To find inactive searches, select “Saved Search Manager” from the drop-down menu under the Search tab on the MLXchange homepage.  On the Saved Search page, change the status (located at the top left of the page) to “Auto-Notification Off.”

Reactivate a search by clicking on the Search Name.  When the search screen is displayed, click on the Save Search button at the bottom of the screen.  The next page will display the auto-notification settings for that particular search and client.  Select “Yes” by Auto-Notification On to see all the settings.  Pay special attention to the frequency and expiration fields.  Click “Save” to activate the auto-notification for the search.

Submit your testimonial for the ongoing “I Am ABoR” campaign.  This initiative seeks to educate members on the benefits and services available to ABoR members.  If you are interested in sharing why you value your ABoR membership, complete this form and return the form by e-mail or fax to 512/454-5369, Attn. Marketing.  You will then be contacted by an ABoR representative.  A photo shoot is scheduled for mid-November.

ABoR’s Town Hall Meeting is just around the corner.  Join us on Monday, September 22 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Learn about the latest local, state and national news affecting your industry.  RSVP today to secure your seat.  When you register online, you’ll also be entered for a chance to win two Realty Round Up tickets, a SUPRA lockbox or a new laptop.  Contestants must be present at the Town Hall Meeting to claim their prizes.