December 2007

On November 15, ABoR proudly debut the new and improved Abor.com. The redesigned Abor.com features all the tools and information you have come to expect from ABoR’s member site, bolstered with new features and improved navigation. Key elements of the updated Web site include:

Streamlined Courses Section

Expanded Events Calendar

Improved Member Account Area

Interactive Comments Feature

It’s time to renew your ABoR membership to ensure you resume receiving your member benefits. In 2007, ABoR continued to deliver premium services to Central Texas REALTORS®. As the primary resource for property information in the Austin area, ABoR has successfully:

increased your visibility to consumers in an annual advertising campaign

protected property rights

created opportunities for you to network with colleagues

delivered superior continuing education

used your input to develop business tools that save you time and money

Are you an ABoR member dedicated to serving your community? If so, we want to hear from you. Members who give back to their communities are encouraged to submit their names and a brief description of their volunteer activities to the ABoR Marketing and Communications Department.

MarketLinx is diligently working to resolve the intermittent Web server delays that are hindering the performance of MLXchange. Two hotfixes were implemented which seem to be improving the system performance. In addition, MarketLinx is addressing issues with cross-browser access for client e-mails, ADOM/CDOM and daily auto-notification. These are a couple of the larger issues in the works while most minor problems are being resolved within 48 hours. We appreciate your patience as MarketLinx resolves these issues.

MarketLinx is phasing out TEMPO, so our move to MLXchange is a necessity. TEMPO 3 as you knew it will no longer be available as MarketLinx changes the user interface for that system to match MLXchange. Many MLSs across the nation have moved to MLXchange including the Southeast Florida MLS, the Regional MLS of Minnesota, the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS®, the Memphis Area Association of REALTORS®, the Connecticut Statewide MLS and the Mississippi Gulf Coast MLS.

We invite you to utilize the comments feature to share your thoughts with your colleagues. However, if you have a problem that requires resolution, e-mail mlssupport@abor.com so that our staff can immediately investigate the issue. The previous story and comments have been archived as we updated the News in anticipation of our monthly e-mail broadcast. The archives can be accessed via the archives links on the right side (see News Archives).

Need help with MLXchange? Through January, MarketLinx is offering extended help desk hours to ACTRIS subscribers: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Call 866/776-0661 or e-mail actrishelpdesk@marketlinx.com.

An ABoR member recently brought to our attention a new scam being perpetrated on Craigslist. In the scam, a listing the agent had for sale was also being fraudulently listed for lease. The individual who placed the lease listing on Craigslist claimed to be the owner of the property, hoping to secure a tenant for the home while completing missionary work in Africa. An Internet search found this same scam being conducted in Memphis, Phoenix and San Francisco.

We encourage you to remind your clients and potential clients to use caution when investigating listing information online. Avoid divulging personal information and always consult a REALTOR®.

The Austin Board of REALTORS® and the Travis County Tax Assessor’s Office want to improve voter registration in Travis County. Through a campaign known as “Move the Vote,” REALTORS® are invited to either pass along voter registration materials to clients or register them on the spot.

Are you interested in becoming a deputy registrar? Contact the ABoR Government and Community Affairs Department. Deputy registrars are volunteers who assist in registering eligible citizens to vote by distributing, reviewing and accepting completed registration applications. This is an especially crucial time as the deadline to register to vote in the March Primary Elections is February 4, 2008. Are you registered to vote? Confirm your registration with your county tax office. For local county tax office information, click here.