Website redesign on the way!

Last year, we asked you for your input for the new GHAR website (set to launch later this year). Over a hundred of you responded to our survey. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, which have been invaluable as we sort out our new website navigation and content in order to support and promote your professional growth!

In the online survey, we asked you to rank a list of categories by importance. Below are the top four that were the most important to you:

1. Education (class description, instructor bios, webinars, podcasts)
2. Legal (forms, cases, updates)
3. Toolbox (Realtor tools for business, client handouts, industry information)
4. Communications (Press releases, statistics, latest assoc. news, articles, blog, videos)

When asked why you ranked the categories the way you did we found that these were the most relevant to you because they related to your everyday business.

In our survey we asked you how often you visited and the reasons for your visit to GHAR, CAR, and NAR’s websites. Classes, housing statistics, membership information, and legal forms were the most popular topics while visiting GHAR’s website.

Respondents visit CAR’s website for education and event information. Legal information was the most popular reason for visiting the state association’s site.
 

We found that half of you don’t go to NAR’s website. Those who do, visit to keep up with the latest real estate news, peruse the latest housing statistics, and look up designation information.

Several of you asked if we would make the new website compatible with the iPad and half you responded that you would access the new website using a smartphone or tablet.

We’ll keep all of these survey results in mind when we re-design the new website. Please don’t hesitate to pass along any suggestions and/or information that might make the GHAR website better suited to help your business. Stay tuned for a new look soon!

Christian Disbrow
Director of Information Technology
GHAR

Be Legally Aware!

      Greetings!

The Legal Awareness Committee has been busy with questions from our members about GHAR forms.  In response to some recent concerns about the Short Sale Rider, the Sale of Buyer’s Property Contingency Removal, and the mortgage contingency in the purchase contract; this year’s Committee Chair, Susan Schenker, has put out three videos to help explain. 

First, the purpose of the Short Sale rider is to empower the buyer to set their own timeline for how long they are willing to be held under contract.  For example, if the buyer writes in 60 days and the lender has not come back with written approval during that time period, then the contract is terminated.  The committee added two options in a short sale rider. Option one: the notice receipt date box is checked, meaning the buyer does not have to begin the process of applying for a mortgage or setting up an inspection until the bank has approved the sale. Option two is to check the appropriate box in paragraph 4 that says, “see contract for contingency dates” if the buyer chooses to proceed as per the original contract dates.  Watch the Short Sale Rider video.

The second video concerns item #2 of the form Sale of Buyer’s Property Contingency Removal.  When the Buyer represents to the Seller that the Buyer has the financial ability to purchase the sale pending Property, even if the Buyer is unable to sell their presently owned property, the Buyer must give the Seller proof of such ability with financial documents.  This should be verifiable proof, such as financial statements, banks statements, gift letters, etc. to show that the Buyer has the necessary liquid funds to close on the sale pending Property without closing on their presently owned property.  Then the original contract is in effect with the original closing date as indicated. Watch the Hubbard Rider video.

Lastly, Susan addressed a question put forth by a member of the GHAR regarding the standard Real Estate Purchase Contract mortgage contingency. That question being, “should the contract be changed to require buyers to immediately apply for a mortgage after execution of a contract and to require that there be no intentional slowdown of the process such as would be the case if the appraisal request is held back?”.  The contract now reads that the "buyer will make prompt and diligent efforts to obtain a written mortgage commitment......".  A dictionary defines "prompt" as "at once or without delay" and defines "diligent" as "constant in effort to accomplish". Therefore the buyer is contractually obligated under the standard terms of the GHAR Purchase Contract to apply for a mortgage within a reasonably immediate period (the committee believes that to be one or two business days after execution) and without slowing down the process through any efforts that the buyer has control over and in fact, to require the buyer to try to expedite the process in a business reasonable way. Requesting that the appraisal be ordered immediately would be in keeping with the contract.  In fact, a new GHAR Appraisal Rider is under construction to further address this issue, stay tuned! Watch the video.

The Legal Awareness Committee is responsible for creating and maintaining the real estate contracts that you use in your business.  Sharing information with you is one of the ways GHAR maintains the highest of standards in the real estate profession!

Happy Selling!

Susy Hurlbert

Director of Executive Services

Thank you for your compliance!

As an approved Real Estate Continuing Education provider in CT, it is important that GHAR follows the rules set forth by the Department of Consumer Protection Real Estate Commission. I'm sure most of you are aware that the start and end times of the continuing education classes are very strict. Even though you may have a perfectly valid reason, we absolutely cannot allow individuals to enter the classes after the official start of the course nor can we let classes out prior to the end time. We appreciate the efforts that you all have been making to arrive at the courses before the scheduled times, so we thank you!

Certificates
The state once again is requiring us to provide a CE certificate, which we will do provide electronically. This document is for your records and does not need to be sent to the state unless you are audited.

Again, thanks for your compliance. We work hard to provide the best instructors and the most relevant courses! Please feel free to give us feedback as we'd love to hear from you.

A notice from the Department of Consumer Protection:
The CT Department of Consumer Protection, Real Estate Commission, has given a warning to all schools that students MUST arrive before the scheduled start of class and will not be permitted to leave before the end of a CE course. DCP has announced that they will be auditing classes, therefore, students will be turned away for late arrival. If you are late, we will do all we can to reschedule you for another class at no extra cost. If you know you will be late then please call to reschedule. DCP has warned that schools will lose the ability to provide CE if found non-compliant with their regulations. GHAR cannot risk losing our ability to provide CE courses to our members who rely on us for license renewal. Thank you for your time and understanding. Don't hesitate to call Member Services with any questions: 860-561-1800.

Another FREE Tool to Help Your Business from GHAR

Throughout the 15-plus years that I have served as President & CEO of GHAR, I have always focused on what we can do to add value for you, our members. After all, you are the most important aspect of the association. Anything we can do to keep you more involved and interested is likely to be well worth it. That’s why I’m proud that we are able to provide a new online tool to help your business – completely free!

Last year, we brought you free zipForm 6 Professional, an easy-to-use contract program, designed to simplify the real estate process. This year, Digital Ink will tie that contract program to an electronic signature software that ensures that all of the content and the digital signature are protected throughout the entire "signed, sealed and delivered" online process. Digital signatures permanently secure the content and identity of signers. Don’t just take my word for it, read the white paper: http://dl3.zipform.com/marketing/DigitalInk_Whitepaper.pdf

FREE WEBINAR: Learn about your new member benefit, and how you can use it to get signed documents quickly, easily, and professionally! The training will cover sending and receiving signatures with zipLogix Digital Ink, and it will show you the client's point of view when signing documents.
Reserve your Webinar seat now: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/495435072

We, at GHAR, understand that it is important for our members to have the latest technology tools that will help increase your professionalism, productivity and profitability. Once you sign up for or renew your free zip-Form subscription, you’ll receive Digital Ink absolutely FREE! No other REALTOR® Association in Connecticut provides this value and we are proud to be the first.

Enjoy!

Jeff Arakelian
GHAR President & CEO

To: All struggling homeowners

The Community Involvement Committee of GHAR received grant money from NAR in 2010 and did such a good job of running a series of Foreclosure Prevention Forums for the public that they gave us more money this year! Saturday, November 5th, 11am at GHAR will mark the 5th and perhaps final forum.

It's been hard work but also very rewarding. The committee has met some amazing volunteers and homeowners throughout the process. Overall, we've given free foreclosure and legal advice to over 55 people. How inspiring to meet those willing to do all they can to keep their dream of homeownership!

Just as inspiring has been the community of volunteers willing to give their time. We've created strong alliances with great people like attorney Jeff Gentes from the Connecticut Fair Housing Center who has given his time, knowledge and also supplies our handouts. Rose Holbrook from the CT Housing & Finance Authority voluntarily shares the programs available to struggling homeowners and we have had a few of the foreclosure mediators from the State Foreclosure Mediation Program willing to share the process that our state has set as an example for others.

We are also pleased to have Casey Healey from The Healey Law Firm LLC in Cheshire, who will join us for this last forum. This will be the second forum that Casey is volunteering to share her years of foreclosure and bankruptcy law experience.

The audience is not only made up of struggling homeowners looking for answers but REALTORS® like you are also encouraged to attend. Those that have atteneded, have been pleasantly surprised by how well the forum is organized and how much helpful information is distributed. So, please help us spread the word about November 5th at 11am so that we can make this last forum our very best forum.

Keara

Communications Director

Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS®
433 South Main St, Suite 106, West Hartford, CT 06110
t: 860.561.1800
http://www.gharonline.com/
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Emailing Attachments in MLS

We get MLS questions from agents all the time. Below is a question asked by a GHAR member just last week. It's also a question I think every agent has probably wondered about at some point.

Q. Can you make it so we as agents can send the listing attachments to the clients rather than us wasting paper? It is much more efficient and Eco friendly. If clients don't like what they see in the disclosures why waste their. Now I have to print, scan and email.

A. There are several ways you can get the attachments to your clients without having to print and rescan them.

If the listing agent has marked the attachments as "Public Access" then your clients will be able to access the attachments by clicking on the photo of a listing you email to them, and clicking on the Attachments tab.

MLXchange won't let you email attachments directly, but when you open the PDF attachment there is an email button above that screen that you can use to email each attachment separately. If there is more than one attachment that you want to email you can hit the File "save as" button and save each file to your computer hard drive and then email them as a group from there.

If you have any questions email me or call me at 860-561-1800.

Shelley L. LaPaugh

Director of MLS

Are we ethical?

It’s no surprise that once in awhile REALTORS® find themselves in an ethical dispute over misunderstandings, miscommunication, or lack of adequate communication. In the five years of my tenure at GHAR, however, I've noticed that the number of Ethics complaint and Arbitration filings is steadily going down. Anyone can file an ethics complaint and it costs nothing, so why aren't more complaints being filed? Do you really think ethical behavior has improved over the last five years? Do you understand the process? Please share your thoughts with us!

When another REALTOR® or member of the public calls me regarding an ethical issue with one of our members, I may ask if the Complainant has tried to work it out directly with the member or their firm’s principal broker (managing broker/owner). Open, constructive discussion often resolves questions or differences eliminating the need for further action, and an apology certainly goes a long way in these situations. A reminder about a specific Article in the Code of Ethics may also evoke the ethical conduct needed to bring about a successful transaction. However, if there is no resolution after discussing matters with the REALTOR®, Office Manager, or Principal broker, then filing a formal ethics complaint is the best option.

Please help me get a pulse on what is really going on in the field by completing this brief survey. Your thoughts and suggestions are important to improving our Professional Standards process at the local level. Thanks for all you do!

Susy Hurlbert
Director of Executive Services