Arcadia Association of REALTORS Blog

The Affiliate members of the Arcadia Association of REALTORS are key players within the Association. You see us at the Wednesday morning caravan meetings—lots of us: for example, Mike Waters of LandSafe Title, Pamela McSweeney of American Home Shield, Diane Balsamo and Ann Watson of Countrywide, Scott Shimamoto of Premiere Home Mortgage, Kim Welborn of Fidelty Home Warranty, and yours truly, now with Mountain Views Observer weekly newspaper, along with many more.

You’ve come to know us over weeks, months and years, but do you sometimes wonder what exactly an Affiliate member does?

Well, I think that Affiliate members are true supporters of the real estate industry in general, particularly the Arcadia Association. Not only do we offer you services such as loans, insurance, advertising opportunities, and so on, but we also offer support to you, the real estate professional. We work golf tournaments, help with the newsletter, offer services on Wednesday mornings at the MLS Caravan meetings such as greeting, serving coffee, providing inspiration, selling raffle tickets, and much more. When help is needed for a particular workshop or event, the Affiliates can always be counted on to assist.

Why do we do this you ask? It is because we believe in the real estate industry and in all of the AAR professionals in the industry. We want both to assist and support you in any way we can and also offer you the best in services.

Take advantage of this energetic and enthusiastic support network and support your AAR Affiliate Members whenever you can. After all, we’re all in this together.

By Ann Luke, Mountain Views-Observer

To contact Ann Luke, call 626.325.3111.

Comments(0)

Oh what a night!!! This year’s California Association of REALTORS® Legislative Days in Sacramento had a new added attraction… the first C.A.R. YPN (Young Professionals Network) function.  A small group representing the Arcadia Association attended this awesome reception.  It was an incredible event that was well attended by many REALTORS® from Association Boards all over the state. 

This event provided a great opportunity to share experiences and discuss issues that affect newer agents in their respective market places around the state. It was quite a treat to have the current N.A.R. President, Dick Gaylord, and C.A.R. Past Presidents, Jim Hamilton and Robert Bailey, in attendance at the event.  We felt honored when Dick Gaylord came over to join us. We talked about the state of the industry and the importance of having a YPN group at the Association level. 

Dick Gaylord was very complimentary and extended his words later that evening to Mary Rovarino, AAR Executive Vice President, regarding the vision that the AAR had at the YPN Reception.  We are all very thankful for being the first C.A.R. REALTOR® Association to have a YPN group. Dick encouraged us to keep up the good work and to update him of our progress!  Thank you Dick, we certainly will!

We would like to encourage all AAR REALTOR® members to visit the N.A.R. YPN blog site (http://narblog1.realtors.org/mvtype/ypn/) for further information about the YPN group, and while visiting, perhaps, share your thoughts and experiences with others.

Picture Caption

Members of the AAR Young Professionals Network group are pictured (L to R): Richard Streitz (AAR YPN Co-Chairman), Dawn Cassel (AAR Director), David Culwell (AAR YPN Co-Chairman) Dick Gaylord (N.A.R. President). Not pictured: Linda Vidov (AAR LGR Chairman).

Comments(0)

Arcadia REALTORS® have long been solution oriented and forward thinking.  This past month has shown that the experience of REALTORS® is well respected, and growing.  What’s more, the influence is something you can be a part of very soon.

C.A.R. Legislative Day in Sacramento - Early June brings the annual trip to Sacramento where we are able to meet with our elected officials to stop legislation affecting our industry such as:

·         Point of Sale Energy Audits

·         Taxes on Real Estate

·         Liabilities for REALTORS® in ancillary services (mortgages etc.)

The impact of several thousand REALTOR® walking through the halls of Sacramento helps shape our legislative agenda each year, and this year we are bringing several local REALTORS® up to this meeting.

City Summit for PEPsters – On June 25^th at the Santa Anita Golf Course, the PEPsters will have another opportunity to hear what is happening in our area.  We are inviting several of our local cities to present what new issues are occurring in their area, and what we can expect in the near future.  We are hoping to hear from Monrovia and Sierra Madre on the 25^th.  If you are interested in attending this meeting, please contact the association at (626) 446-2115.

N.A.R. Smart Growth Grant & Green Expo – Again on the cutting edge, the REALTORS® are looking to take a major step and present the first Green Expo to show REALTORS® and members of the community how making small changes to their existing practice can make a lasting impression on the environment… and their pocketbooks.  The National Association of REALTORS® gave the Arcadia Association of REALTORS® a grant in order to produce this event, and we are looking for individuals interested in being a part of the effort to put on this exciting event.

REALTORS® are making a difference in Arcadia, and you can be a part of the solution.  Get involved today, and together we can make a difference.

Comments(1)

William T. Kerr is the person who created Flag Day. He began his efforts as a school boy and continued through adulthood. He lobbied the government and did everything possible to bring Flag Day to the American public’s attention. The first Flag Day celebration did not take place until June 14, 1861, almost 100 years after its original design was adopted.

            President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed June 14^th as “Flag Day” in 1916. President Calvin Coolidge issued a similar proclamation in 1927; however, it did not become an official holiday until President Harry Truman signed the proclamation on August 3, 1949.

            Flag Day is a day for all Americans to celebrate and show respect for our flag, which is representative of our Independence and our unity as a nation…one nation under God, indivisible. It has a proud and glorious history. It was carried at the lead of every battle that was fought by Americans and many heroes have died while protecting it. We Americans are proud of our cultural traditions, our Nation, and our Flag. So fly your American flag with pride on June 14^th.

This material was derived from the Internet.

Comments(0)

The Arcadia Association of REALTORS is launching the AAR Community Involvement Program. This new program will recognize AAR REALTOR and Affiliate members who make a difference in their community by their volunteer efforts within a civic or charitable organization. After gathering this information via e-mail next month, the AAR will sponsor a large public awareness campaign promoting the efforts of these volunteers with acknowledgement in newspapers, flyers, bulletins and e-mails. An invitation to a “Thank You Recognition Reception” at the end of the year will be extended to show the AAR’s gratitude and appreciation to all of our community volunteers who respond to the questionnaire.

Comments(0)

Each Broker must independently establish the fee that he/she will charge for professional services rendered to his/her clients. The key to avoiding Antitrust vulnerability, based upon the fees that a Broker establishes for professional services rendered to a client, are to:

• Establish the fees unilaterally without consultation or discussion with persons affiliated with any other competing firm.
• Ensure that when the company’s Broker or salespeople discuss fees with actual/ potential clients they use words that clearly convey to the listener the fact that the company does, in fact, price its services independently when it establishes its commission structure.

Antitrust conspiracies may and have been found without any evidence that alleged conspirators actually consulted or reached an agreement with another before making a competitive business decision, such as establishing a fee structure. It is enough if a competitor announces to one or more competitors his/her intention to take a particular action and the competitors then adopt the same course of action within a short period of time.

The announcement can be construed as an invitation to conspire and subsequent action by the other competitors can be construed as an acceptance of this invitation, even in the event that a competitor had independently implemented the same policy. That being the case, Brokers never discuss or reveal their intentions concerning feels or other competitive business activities. They should also take steps to establish that they unilaterally determine their commission rates and splits. In the event that a Broker changes the firm’s rate or commission, he should document the reasons for that decision. A simple memo should do it.

The firm’s agents must take care to present policies to clients in such a way that would confirm that those fees were independently established. Some of the improper language is:

• This is the rate that every firm charges… 
• I’d like to lower the commission but no one else in the MLS will show your property unless the commission is X%. 
• Before you decide to list with XYZ Realty, you should know that because they are discount Brokers, members of the Association will not show their listings. 
• I’d like to reduce the commission……. Shorten the listing term… accept an Exclusive Agency listing, but if I do so the MLS won’t accept the listing.
• This is what all Brokers do.
• No one else will cooperate unless you accept the listing on these terms.

 At the same time, agents should never tell the client never to do business with another firm because other Brokers will not cooperate with that firm.

Comments(0)

The Arcadia Association of REALTORS was recently honored by receiving the Commercial Services Accreditation by the REALTORS Commercial Alliance of National Association of REALTORS in Washington, D.C. This prestigious award was presented to a total of just four local Associations throughout the state of California.

The RCA Commercial Services Accreditation recognized that the AAR has met at least twenty benchmarks. These benchmarks represent services, programs and products that benefit the commercial practitioner while engaging them as members at a more committed level. The Arcadia Association of REALTORS has demonstrated the ability to meet the unique needs of commercial members and is being recognized as a leader of excellence, along with twenty-six other Associations nationwide.

Congratulations to all the hard working members of the AAR Commercial/Investment Committee with Vice Chairman, Nick Zigic and Chairman, Paulina Lee and to the entire AAR membership. Once again, you can be proud of your Association in the knowledge that it is on the cutting edge by offering quality commercial education and services.

Comments(0)