February 22, 2010

Corpus Chrisit Association of REALTORS — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:17:55 GMT

Got Lunch Plans For Thursday?

"So Where are you having lunch on Thursday?"
"I don't know, how about you?"
"I'm going to lunch at Victorian Hall to talk to my fellow REALTORS about my latest listings; buy something sweet so I can donate to "Walk With Pride" to help kids in our community and have a chance to win two FREE tickets to hear Lawrence Yun, a nationally respected real estate economist whose coming to town next month...plus learn about leadership, all for only $10. Want to come?"

"Well, when you put it that way, definitely! Now, I've got lunch plans for Thursday, how do I sign up?"

Reservations

Make your reservations today. Cost is $10 for reservations pre-paid by Feb. 22. Cost is $15 at the door. To make your reservation, go to www.ccaronline.com. Click Membership Services, then Calendar of Events or call or e-mail Shanon at 991-8221 or shanon@ccaronline.com

The Luncheon is at Victorian Hall - 5550 Kostoryz, February 25 fro 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. for CCAR members.

The luncheon is generously sponsored by First American Home Buyers Protection Corporation.

Tray Bates Elected Regional Vice Presidente

At the the Winter TAR (Texas Association of REALTORS) Meeting in Austin this past weekend, Tray Bates,
chairman-elect of the Corpus Christi Association of Realtors was elected Region 11 Vice President, a position Roy del Bosque has generously served in for two consecutive terms (4 years). Thank you Roy for all your time, all of your volunteer service in this position and all of your expertise! We thank you!!

Bates will begin his 2-year term in 2011.
" I am so pleased," says del Bosque, " that Tray was elected as Region 11 Vice President. I think he will do a great job and serve our region and our members well over the next two years."

In case you are not aware, there are, within TAR, 15 regions in the state of Texas. The Corpus Christi Association is in Region 11, which includes Victoria, Beeville, Alice, Kingsville, McAllen, Harlingen and down to Brownsville, over to South Padre Island and then back up to Corpus Christi across the bridge to San Patricio, to Rockport and up to Port Lavaca.

Early Voting Extends Through This Week, Take Advantage of It

Early Voting for the Republican and Democratic Primaries began last week and runs through Friday, February 26. With the heavily contested Governor's race and other local races, Primary Election Day - Tuesday, March 2 - is expected to have a large voter turnout and long lines.

There has already been a much higher than normal turnout for early voting. So, don't miss out on Early Voting. It will definitely pay off to vote Early!!!

For early voting locations and times, go to the Nueces County web site. Click on the link below. You will also find a sample ballot there for your review.

http://www.co.nueces.tx.us/countyclerk/elections/

Please take the time to exercise your right to vote! Your vote does make a difference.

Thank you!

Newest GRI Graduates...Congratuations!

THEY DID IT!

Teresa Sanchez, Century 21 Best of the Best; Iva Fuzzel, Re/Max Land & Homes, Victoria; Tracy Graves, Re/Max Land & Homes, Victoria; Chris Duff, Re/Max Metro Properties; Pete Tovar, Corona Realty; Elisa Benavidez, Century 21 Hallmark, Alice; and Ana Morcate, Keller Williams Realty-Island.

This group of REALTORS recently completed the GRI Real Estate Finance course which for them was the third and last course to earn the Graduate Realtors Institute - GRI designation. Congratulations Graduates!
HOW DO YOU EARN A GRI DESIGATION?

To earn the GRI designation, Realtors must complete the three GRI courses: Finance, Marketing and Brokerage. Each course is four days long. Realtors earn 30 hours of core credits or 9 hours of MCE credits upon completion of each GRI course. Courses can be taken in any order. There is no annual fee to keep up with the GRI designation.

Issues Making NAR's Top Ten Legislative List for 2010

The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) has designated the following items as their Top Ten Legislative Priorities for 2010

1. Mortgage Interest Deduction/Capital Gains
Aggressively oppose any and all proposals that would reduce the value of the mortgage interest deduction or that would erode the $250,000/$500,000 capital gains exclusion on the sales of a principal residence.

2. Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Restructuring/FHA Insurance Program/Loan Limits/Financial Services Reform/FHA Condominium Rules
Advocate policies that would ensure there is adequate liquidity in the mortgage market while providing for the safety and soundness of government sponsored enterprises (GSEs), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration.

3. Short Sales
Continue efforts to improve the short sale process; monitor implementation of the Home Affordable Foreclosure Avoidance (HAFA); seek an extension to the tax code provision (scheduled to expire at the end of 2010) that provides relief from taxation on certain mortgage debt that is forgiven by a lender.

4. Commercial Real Estate Lending
Urge the adoption of federal policies that promote increased lending and access to credit in commercial mortgage markets.

5. Eminent Domain
Support efforts to ensure that when the government exercises its eminent domain authority, the taking is for a legitimate public purpose and that just compensation is provided to the property owner.

6. National Flood Insurance And Affordable Property Insurance
Urge Congress to strengthen the National Flood Insurance Program to support nationwide access to affordable property insurance.

7. Small Business Health Coverage
Represent the interests of REALTORS and small employers as Congress continues efforts to increase access to affordable health insurance coverage and control rising healthcare costs.

8. Depreciation - Tenant Improvements
Press for renewal, extension and a permanent rule that would permit a 15-year cost recovery period (depreciation) for leasehold improvements (The prior provision expired on Dec. 31, 2009)

9. Wetlands/Clean Water Act/Water Issues
Oppose federal legislation that would delete "navigable" from the definition of waters subject to the Clean Water Act wetlands permits and thereby potentially extending the federal government's reach to backyard ponds and roadside ditches.

10. Transportation Re-authorization Funding
Support transportation reauthorization legislation that provides funding to an array of transportation modes that reflect the needs of all transportation users and emphasizes repair and maintenance over development of new capacity.

Keep an Eye Out For MLS Billing

Next Week, keep an eye out for Second Quarter MLS Billing Statements. We don't want anyone to skip or miss them, so keep a look out! They will be on line beginning next Monday, March 1, 2010.

For Your Reference:2010 MLS Quarterly Billing Schedule

2010 MLS QUARTERLY BILLING SCHEDULE

Invoice Invoice Suspension Supra
Available Due & LatFee Suspension
& Late Fee
1st Quarter -Jan-March
12/1/09 12/31/09 1/4/10 1/15/10
______________________________________________________
2nd Quarter - April - June
3/1/10 3/31/10 4/1/10 4/15/10
________________________________________________

3rd Quarter -July - September
6/1/10 6/30/10 7/1/10 7/15/10
_______________________________________________

4th Quarter - October - December
9/1/10 9/30/10 10/1/10 10/15/10
________________________________________________

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On The Calendar

On The Calendar this week...
Feb. 22-26

Mon - Friday - Early Voting - State Primary Election
Tues. 8:15 a.m. Staff Meeting
Wed. 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Transaction Desk Class - CCAR Office

Thurs. 11:30 - 1p.m. Membership Luncheon - Victorian Hall

Corpus Christi Association of REALTORS
5250 Everhart
Corpus Christi, TX 78411
www.ccaronline.com
361-991-8221 Fax: 361-991-3471

CCAR Monday Memo

February 22, 2010