Announcements

Do Not Call lists must be purged every 31 days now

Beginning Jan. 1, 2005, the Federal Trade Commission's Telemarketing Sales Rule will require telemarketers to access the National Do Not Call Registry and purge newly registered numbers from their call lists every 31 days. (Since March 2004, the rule required telemarketers to "scrub" their lists quarterly.)

Telemarketers may access the first five area codes of data for free. The Do Not Call Web site for telemarketers https://telemarketing.donotcall.gov. will inform you when your subscription account numbers expire and give you renewal instructions.

To date, consumers have registered approximately 81 million telephone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry. Consumers may register home and cell phone numbers by visiting www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the telephone number they wish to register.

A published Cell Phone directory?

Misinformation has been circulating, mostly via the internet, advising people to register their cell phone numbers on the Do Not Call registry with the threat of a national cell phone directory in the works. According to Jen Schwartzman, office of public affairs for the FTC, "It's a hoax. There's no special registry for cell phones, no deadline, and no plans to publish a cell phone directory for telemarketers."

Telemarketers are barred from calling cell phones (because it costs the recipient money in cell minutes) and FCC rules require that telemarketers purge their call lists twice a month of cell phone numbers, should they appear.

According to news reports, Sprint Corp., Cingular Wireless, AT&T Wireless Services Inc., Nextel Communications Inc., Alltel Corp. and T-Mobile USA Inc. have hired a company called Qsent Inc. to develop the directory assistance program. Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest wireless provider, supposedly is not participating. The purpose of directory assistance is to aid consumers, say the organizations, not telemarketers. They claim the directory will not be published and will only be available to 411 operators just as directory assistance is available for home and business phone numbers. The directory list will be opt-in only, which means you have to ask to be included.

Last chance to sign up for a 2005 CBR Committee

CBR Committees will begin meeting soon. If you haven't signed up, please see the insert in this magazine. Committees provide you with excellent networking opportunities as well as allowing you to have input on services the Board provides.

Remember, in order to qualify for the CBR Sales award, you must have fulfilled the service requirement of serving on a CBR committee (and meeting its attendance requirement) or serve as an officer in a real estate related organization. Rules and application forms are available at the CBR office and on the website at www.ColumbusRealtors.com (click on "Awards Programs").

Loan Limits Increased

Effective Dec. 10, 2004, the maximum VA guaranty will increase to $83,425 from the current $60,000 and the maximum loan amount will increase to $333,700 from the current $240,000.

On Jan. 1, 2005 the Freddie/Fannie conforming loan limit will increase to $359,650. The VA guaranty will also increase to $89,913 and the maximum loan amount will go up to $359,650.

The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 contains other provisions supported by NAR including extending the authority for VA Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) until 2008, extending the authority for VA hybrid ARMs until 2008 and providing the Secretary the discretion to limit interest rate increases for hybrid ARMs of more than 4 years.

Make the most of every moment with FamilyTime®

REALTORS® find that the flexibility and independence that comes from being one's own boss in the real estate business, compared to other careers, makes it easier for them to make time for their families, according to a new survey by the National Association of REALTORS®.

However, the demands of today's booming real estate marketplace are having an impact on REALTOR®'s schedules.

• Nearly 40 percent of REALTORS® said work interrupts them frequently or very frequently when spending time with their families. 
• Half of the REALTORS® in the survey said their family members would say that they either have no life outside work or are available to their families but are often distracted by work. 
• More than a third of all REALTORS®, 35 percent, said that they do not have enough time for their families and 21 percent are not able to make and fulfill commitments to spend time with their families.

NAR, in partnership with the Million Dollar Round Table, has created a new program called FamilyTime featuring an interactive DVD designed to help REALTORS® focus on activities families can do together and to make the most of your time together.

NAR's 2005 President Al Munsell has a very large family. Not surprising that Al is interested in making family values a focus of his administration this year.

A tool that everyone can use, FamilyTime® makes a great gift for clients as well as REALTORS® and their families. For more information and to order your copies go to http://familytimeorders.com or call 1-800-917-7035. Quantity discounts apply. Any NAR profits will be donated to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation.

Home sells for record $70 Million

The most expensive single-family home sale and the most expensive home sale in America to date was recently negotiated at just under $70 million, according to The Wall Street Journal. Revlon chairman and Citigroup Inc. investor, Ron Perelman lived with his wife, actress Ellen Barkin, in the oceanfront estate in Palm Beach, Fla., located on "Billionaires Row." The "Row" is also home to Donald Trump, Rod Stewart, and Netscape founder Jim Clark.

The 20,000 square-foot, Mediterranean-style home has 10 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, two pools and 400 feet of private beach. The property, designed by Abram Garfield, son of President James A. Garfield, was built in 1919.
Before this sale, a handful of luxury properties in the United States had sold for as much as $45 million.