August 2010

Chairman’s Corner

Greetings! There is a new sheriff in town by the name of Douglas E. Oldmixon. As the new administrator for the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), Oldmixon believes there are too many brokers who sponsor licensees without adequate supervision, as well as agent teams that are functioning like brokerages.

The ABoR Foundation is currently accepting applications for two open positions for Foundation Directors. As the charitable arm of ABoR, the Foundation provides deserving high school seniors with scholarships each year. As a Director, you will help raise funds for the annual scholarship program, as well as assist in increasing community relations with the Foundation. Meetings are held monthly.

The individuals selected for the available positions will serve three year terms from 2011-2013. Candidates must be ABoR members in good standing to be eligible. The deadline to submit an application is August 30. For details, contact Rita Barousse in ABoR’s Education Department at 512-454-7636, ext. 1602.

In an effort to bring more value to your membership with ABoR, we hosted a photo shoot that resulted in overwhelmingly positive (and gorgeous) results. Our thanks go out to all of the members who participated. Though spots for this free opportunity filled up quickly, we aim to hold another photo shoot again in the future. Stay tuned to ABoR publications and Abor.com for more information.

The clock is ticking, and Realty Round Up 2010 is fast approaching. Set for Wednesday, October 27 at the Austin Convention Center, located at 500 E. Cesar Chavez Street, this year’s event looks to draw a diverse crowd of REALTORS® and bring attendees a well-rounded set of educational sessions on topics ranging from the economy to REALTOR® safety.

Not only do you have a chance to attend this exciting event, there is still time to reserve exhibit space for the trade show. For inclusion in this year’s newly designed event program, exhibitors must reserve their booth space and pay in full no later than September 15. By exhibiting at Realty Round Up 2010: Spread Your Professional Wings, you are giving your company direct access to real estate professionals and key decision makers. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to showcase your products and services. View the available booths and download the Exhibitor’s Prospectus online.

ABoR has created a special website, dedicated solely to Realty Round Up. Be sure to check out the site or follow us on Twitter for more details as the show approaches. Tickets will go on sale in August, so stay tuned for more details. For questions regarding Realty Round Up, contact ABoR’s Trade Show Coordinator, Gina Willemsen, at 512-454-7636.

During tough economic times, we all need to look for inspiration. Do you know a REALTOR® who has inspired you by making lasting contributions to the real estate industry and their local community? Consider nominating this individual for one of ABoR’s annual Industry Awards. Nominations will be accepted for the following award categories: REALTOR® of the Year, Affiliate of the Year, REALTOR® Community Service Award, Salesperson of the Year, Rookie of the Year and the Cultural Awareness Award. Review full descriptions of each category online.

Nominating a colleague for one of these awards is simple. All you have to do is submit the online form by September 15. For questions regarding this year’s industry awards, contact Shirley Williams at 512-454-7636.

ABoR’s Political Action Committee is hosting two special mandatory continuing education (MCE) courses to benefit TREPAC. For $40, attend one of two special TREC Ethics MCE course offerings scheduled for Wednesday, August 18 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. or Saturday, September 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Show your support for property rights and the real estate profession by registering for your course today! Ethics courses will be held in Auditorium B at the ABoR offices located at 10900 Stonelake Blvd., Suite A-100.

Attending these courses will earn you three hours of MCE credit as you support the Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee (TREPAC). The proceeds from these two courses will be invested in TREPAC to protect the rights of REALTORS® and private property owners. These courses also count towards the mandatory ethics training required by the National Association of REALTORS®.

Register online for either of these courses. To learn more, contact ABoR Government Affairs Director Earl Hairston at 512-454-7636.

According to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) report by the Austin Board of REALTORS®, demand for real estate in Austin has remained stable despite the expiration of federal homebuyer tax credits at the end of April.

The volume of Austin area home sales in June 2010 was 1,987, down four percent from the same month in 2009. The median price of real estate in Austin increased four percent from June 2009 to $208,750 for June 2010.

“I think this report shows there is life for Austin real estate after tax credits,” said John Horton, Chairman of the Austin Board of REALTORS®. “Sales volume was down only four percent compared to June 2009, which was last summer’s peak month. In addition, the average time it takes to sell a home in Austin decreased for the sixth month in a row. Both of these factors point to long-term stability for our market.”

View the complete Austin housing report for June market stats.

In this month’s Legal Topics column, John F.K. McGill, J.D., of Hancock and McGill, L.L.P., discusses the Environmental Protection Agency’s renovation repair and painting rules.

Beginning in September, ABoR will be offering MLS training courses in south Austin at the Wyndham Garden Hotel located at 3401 South IH-35. As an added benefit to MLS subscribers, these training courses are available at no cost, despite not being held at ABoR. Register online to attend these south Austin training sessions, just as you would for all other MLS courses. You will notice the south location noted in the course title as you view the online registration page.

On Thursday, September 9, two classes will be held at the Wyndham Garden Hotel. Set for 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., the Client Gateway course will teach students the ins-and-outs of Client Gateway from setup to e-mailing listings. Later in the day, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., the Client Communications class will focus on teaching students how to utilize the tools in MLXchange for communication directly with clients.

Register online for these courses or the many other MLS training opportunities at ABoR. Check back to the registration page as more classes will be added as they become available. ABoR hopes to continue holding training courses at the south location in the coming months.

Supra has informed ABoR that they will soon be releasing the eKEY for the iPhone. The Supra eKEY adapter is a small device that plugs into the 30-pin-connector at the bottom of the iPhone. It allows the iPhone to communicate directly with the iBox by using low-powered Infrared. An eKEY for iPhone application is currently available as a demo for you to preview how the new product will work. Download the demo application online. 

ABoR is currently accepting pre-order requests for the new eKEY adapter. Due to high demand, ABoR has a limited number of eKEY adapters. To take advantage of this exciting new product, submit your iPhone eKEY pre-order request by e-mail. Reservations will be accepted on first-come, first-served basis. You will receive a confirmation e-mail upon submitting your pre-order request. When the adapters arrive at ABoR, you will receive an additional e-mail letting you know they are available, and the adapter will remain on hold for two weeks for you to pick up. Adapters cost $54.95, plus tax and payment is due upon pickup. For questions, contact our membership team at 512-454-7636.  

Don’t miss out on your chance to sample fine wine and listen to live music with your fellow REALTORS®. Join ABoR for the annual TREPAC Wine Tasting event on August 19 at the Central Market, located at 4001 North Lamar. The fun will begin upstairs above the cafe at 6:00 p.m. Browse silent auction items, sample delicious appetizers and enjoy wine samples until the evening’s festivities culminate at 8:00 p.m.

Wine tasting tickets cost $35 and can be purchased online through August 17 or until tickets sell out. If there are still tickets available after August 17, individuals interested in attending may purchase tickets at the door on the day of the event. For more information, contact Christina Ortiz in ABoR’s Government Affairs Department at 512-454-7636, ext. 1501.

The Texas Association of REALTORS® created a series of humorous videos on why you should invest in TREPAC. While these videos take a light-hearted approach to the subject, your investment in the Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee (TREPAC) is a serious business. Investing in TREPAC is investing in your profession. In 2009, TREPAC helped defeat numerous proposals that would tax real estate. Ensuring your rights as a REALTOR® and those of property owners are protected is TREPAC’s primary goal. Learn more about the issues TREPAC has fought hard for online. Do your part and invest in your profession today.