Austin Realtor Online Edition - Austin Board of REALTORS®

October 2009

Chairman’s Corner

Dear Member,

When I’m out networking in the local community, sometimes I’ll hear REALTORS® ask, “what exactly do I get for the dues I paid to the association?” Perhaps you too have asked yourself this question. The answer is simple. Membership in local, state and national real estate associations provide a multitude of benefits for participating members. As ABoR’s Chairman of the Board, I’d like to share with you some of the many benefits you’ll receive as a member in these associations.

Legislative advocacy: Associations lobby for the issues important to their members and unites the voice of the local industry to affect the course of public policy. Associations are not only looking after the needs of their members, they are also potentially stopping harmful legislation and policies from being passed.

Legal information and tools: Having the latest information, forms and tools available can help reduce your liability and avoid costly problems. ABoR strives to keep our members up-to-date on all things pertinent to their businesses.

Education and networking opportunities: Increasing your knowledge can help your business prosper and make you a better REALTOR®. Clients want an agent that is on top of latest trends and knows what they are talking about. From ethics to MLS to continuing education courses, ABoR offers educational opportunities that help you stay on top of your game.

Partnerships: Associations partner with different companies and vendors to bring their members special discounts on a variety of products and services. These discounts are available exclusively for members, simply because of their relationship to the association.

Freebies: Most associations will offer some sort of free stuff to their members. Whether it is content to use for your Web site or insights about local consumers, this information can help you do your job better.

The value of membership in each of these organizations is apparent. As we all know, it is up to each REALTOR® to be active in their associations and take advantage of the benefits available.

Jay Gohil
2009 Chairman of the Board

Vote in November 3 Election

The Texas Association of REALTORS® (TAR) is encouraging Texas REALTORS® to vote for propositions 2, 3, 5 and 11 in the upcoming election on November 3. Propositions 2, 3 and 5 all pertain to appraisal reform measures, and Proposition 11 limits the circumstances under which private property can be taken for public use. Each of these propositions is supported by TAR and ABoR. Early voting for the election begins on October 19 and ends October 30.

Submit Your Feedback About Realty Round Up

ABoR’s annual trade show, Realty Round Up, was held on October 7 at the Austin Convention Center. This year’s event kicked off with Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell’s participation in the ribbon cutting ceremony. ABoR also donated four native Texas trees to the City of Austin during Realty Round Up, as part of our ongoing efforts to help grow a greener Austin. You can check out photos from the fun-filled event on ABoR’s Facebook page.

ABoR would love to get your input on this year’s trade show. All members, even those who did not attend the event, are welcome to participate in the online survey. One lucky participant will win a $20 Starbucks gift card. Click here to participate in the survey today and let ABoR know what you think.

Hang On to Your Tokens

As many of you know, ABoR planned to switch to a tokenless system that would allow MLS subscribers to log in to MLXchange this summer. However, after much system testing, ABoR is not satisfied with the results and has delayed the conversion indefinitely. MLS subscribers should continue to use their SafeMLS token to access MLXchange. ABoR will continue to work with our vendor and will keep you updated as we progress towards a solution. Members can also refer to the welcome screen in MLXchange for future updates.

NAR Call to Action Underway

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) is currently asking REALTORS® to participate in a call to action to support extending the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit. Take part in NAR’s call to action by visiting http://takeaction.realtoractioncenter.com/campaign/hbtc .

Look for Your WTP4 Call to Action

Participate in ABoR’s call to action in support of Water Treatment Plant 4 (WTP4) on Friday, October 16. ABoR members who live in the city of Austin will receive an e-mail with details on how they can participate.

On October 22, the Austin City Council will continue voting on how to proceed with WTP4. The city’s water needs are expected to exceed current capacity within the next seven years. Action is needed now to help ensure that our future water needs are met. Austin requires a comprehensive water strategy that includes conservation and the construction of WTP4. Relying on two aging water treatment and distribution plants is not a prudent solution. WTP4 is needed to help meet the city’s future water needs.

Be sure to look for your e-mail on Friday, October 16 for more details, including instructions on how to participate in the call to action.

New MLS Field Required: Builder Name

During the September ACTRIS Directors’ meeting, a motion was passed that will make the “Builder name” a required field for residential and farm listings in MLXchange, if the “Year Built” field equals “New,” “Under construction” or “To be built.” This change will allow members to perform more detailed searches for their clients. In addition, the change will help members be more knowledgeable about the home builders of central Texas by associating property details with specific builders. This change is expected to be implemented in November. For more information, contact the MLS Support team.

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