In order to streamline our communication efforts as well as prepare for our SentriLock conversion in June, CAR is revising its member profiles and its current Office/Agent lock box inventory. An update form was sent via fax to all Offices this week. Please have all completed forms returned to our office no later than April 1, 2008.

If your office has not received this form please contact us immediately.
Thank you for your cooperation. It is greatly appreciated!

WE invite you to get informed. The topics of discussion will include:

• SentriLock,
• MLS,
• Contracts and Zip Forms,
• and other important business!

Our Broker / Manager Roundtable will take place at the Ocean Pines Library in the Large Conference room on April 3, 2008 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Please RSVP online no later than April 1, 2008.

Congratulations to our 2007 awardees and many thanks to all who attended our event. It was a very festive party. Any award winners who were not present, can stop by the CAR office to pick up their award.

HELP WANTED

CAR is recruiting a full-time Communications/Internet Manager. If you know someone who is qualified and interested please have he/she send their resume to teresaf@CoastalRealtor.org.

 

EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2008

Sales of existing homes increased in February and remain within a fairly stable range, according to the National Association of REALTORS^®.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist and USA Today Top 5 ranked economist, said the gain is encouraging. "We're not expecting a notable gain in existing-home sales until the second half of this year, but the improvement is another sign that the market is stabilizing," he said. "Buyers taking advantage of higher loan limits for both FHA and conventional mortgages will unleash some pent-up demand. As inventories are drawn down, prices in many markets should go positive later this year."

Full Article Here >>

Second-Homes Accounted For One-Third of 2007 Transactions

The combined total of vacation- and investment-home sales declined with the overall market in 2007, but still accounted for 33 percent of all existing- and new-home sales, which is close to historic norms.

Eight in 10 second-home buyers consider it a good time to invest in real estate, compared with 59 percent of primary residence buyers. Forty-four percent of vacation-home buyers and 57 percent of investment buyers said they were likely to purchase another property within two years.

Full Article Here >>

 

INTERESTED IN THE GRI SERIES? Coastal Association of REALTORS® will sponsor the GRI 100, 200, 300 and/or 400 Series, if we know that at least 30 people are interested. Please contact Cindy at CAR to indicate your interest. Email cindyc@CoastalRealtor.org with your name and contact information and let her know which series you would be interested in attending.   WHC Training Offered April 10 & 11 Get Certified in Two Days and Earn 6 CEU Workforce Affordable Housing Seminar and Certification Classes will be held April 10 - 11, 2008 at The Greater Salisbury Chamber of Commerce, 144 E. Main St., Salisbury, MD. The classes will be from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on both days. Please arrive on time! Both days are required for certification. Once certified, you will be added to the REALTOR® search on www.mdhomeprograms.com WHC Day 1:  The first session on Thursday, April 10, will be a class on "Credit Smart" and no CE credit will be awarded. WHC Day 2:  The second session on Friday, April 11, will cover State and Local Programs, Federal and National Housing Programs. A total of 6 CE credits will be awarded. This training sold out when offered in January — please register now!   NEW Education Classes and NEW Variety of Times / Location Please check out the full schedule for daytime and evening April and May classes at our website. Just click on the class offering and you will be connected to the online sign-up form. Find ALL of the CE needed to renew your Maryland Real Estate license. See you in class!   Upcoming Classes and Training Opportunities Register Now! All Offered at the CAR Association Office unless mentioned otherwise 314 Franklin Avenue, Suite 106, Berlin, MD CLASS / CEU INSTRUCTOR TIME Monday, April 7 Basic ARIS Training 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Thursday-Friday, April 10-11 Location: The Greater Salisbury Chamber of Commerce Two-Day Workforce Housing Certification Training A total of 6 CE credits will be awarded. 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Friday, April 11 Principals of On-Site Sewage Evaluation (Includes Soil Borings and Wetlands) 1.5 hrs MD Professional Enhancement CE (Cat. F) Dan Smith 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 16 Location: WOR-WIC Community College "Ethics, Predatory Lending, Flipping" Seminar 3 hrs MD Ethics CE (Cat. D) Carl E. Ortman and Ned Delaney 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Monday, April 21 Advanced Distributed ARIS Training 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Monday, April 28 DPOL ARIS Training 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 29 DPOL ARIS Training 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.