Announcements

New Junk Fax Prevention Act rules adopted

New rules were adopted April 5, 2006 by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) which amend the rules on unsolicited facsimile advertisements as required by the Junk Fax Prevention Act of 2005. Specifically, the Act now means . . .

You can fax to parties with whom you have an established business relationship (EBR).
- However, even in the case of an EBR, you must obtain the fax number directly from the recipient or ensure that the recipient voluntarily agreed to make the number available for public distribution;
An EBR (with regard to the Junk Fax Prevention Act) is defined as a prior or existing relationship formed by a voluntary two-way communication about the product/service you are offering. (i.e. A call asking only where your office is located does not establish an EBR. Also, a visit to your web site without additional steps taken or request for information does not establish an EBR.)
- Once established, an EBR continues indefinitely unless the receiver opts out.
Senders must provide clear and conspicuous notice and contact information on the first page of a fax that allows recipients to "opt-out" of future fax transmissions. The notice must include:
- A domestic contact telephone number and fax number
- The opt-out mechanism must be cost-free. So, if long distance charges could be incurred, you must also provide and 800-number, a website address or email address,
Fax senders must honor opt-out requests within 30 days.
The Act does not exempt small businesses or nonprofit trade associations from the rules.
The term "unsolicited advertisement means any material advertising the commercial availability or quality of any property, goods, or services which is transmitted to any person without that person's prior express invitation or permission, in writing or otherwise.

Click here for the complete Junk Fax Prevention Act of 2005 with proposed amendments Download PDF . These rules become effective 90 days after publication in the Federal Register. FYI - unlike the Do Not Call rules (which only apply to residential phone numbers), the Junk Fax Prevention Act applies to both residential and commercial fax numbers.

Grants & Scholarships

Multi-Cultural Post-Licensing Real Estate Grant -- CBR's Equal Opportunity Committee receives cash contributions from members that will be used each year to make a grant to a member of any multi-cultural group new to the real estate business, to help offset their annual CBR membership fees. Grants are awarded twice a year, following the application deadlines of June 30 and December 31. The grant is not a loan, therefore repayment is not required. Contact CBR's Lynn Hackworth (614) 475-4000 ext, 248 with questions.

John P. Hondros Scholarship -- for pre-license classes -- The Columbus REALTORS® Foundation Fund awards two scholarships annually for the complete Hondros College pre-license program including books and materials, a value of $1,300. Recipients are selected from applications received by the Scholarship Subcommittee following the application deadline of May 31. The John P. Hondros Scholarship is not a loan, therefore repayment is not required. Contact CBR's Brianna George (614) 475-4000 ext. 247 with questions. Click here for an application.

Columbus REALTORS® Foundation Fund General Scholarship -- The Columbus REALTORS® Foundation Fund also awards general scholarships to individuals in the Central Ohio area who are pursing degrees in real estate or in a related field at a college or university in the Central Ohio area. This scholarship also is not a loan, therefore repayment is not required. Recipients are selected from applications received by the Scholarship Committee following the application deadline of May 31. Contact CBR's Brianna George (614) 475-4000 ext. 247 with questions.

Latest NAR TV Ads Encourage Sellers to Tap Pros

In April, NAR premiered television advertising spots titled, "Don't Try This at Home," which encourage home sellers to protect what could be their largest investment by enlisting the help of a professional. Home owners who try to sell their home without professional help must overcome a number of hurdles, the ads say. As mentioned in the spots, the obstacles include making the appropriate disclosures, preparing the home for sale, pricing the home appropriately for a dynamic market and, most importantly, attracting qualified, motivated buyers.

New TV show portrays REALTOR® in positive light

"The Unit" is a CBS prime time TV show about the missions impossible of a clandestine military group of Army Rangers who answer only to the President and who make Navy Seals look like security guards. But the action drama is just as much about the soldiers' wives as it is about the men who save the world. While "The Unit" husbands are putting down tyranny and terrorists from Baghdad to Zimbabwe, the wives cope with the fact that their husbands are almost never home.

"Unit" leader, Jonas Blane (played by Dennis Haysbert, the first-black president assassinated in Fox Broadcasting's "24" action-drama series season opener this year) is married to Molly Blane, the matriarch of the wives' group. Molly is a real estate agent -- a darn good one. She empowers the wives with a joint real estate purchase that helps keep them busy managing property instead of wringing their hands over the fateful day a uniformed officer will show up with bad news about their husbands. The show airs on Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. on CBR. Check it out!

Upcoming Commercial Conference: Free & Online

NAR's REALTORS® Commercial Alliance (RCA) will host the first online convention for commercial real estate professionals June 6-12th, 2006 on CommercialSource.com .

Attendees can network, browse exhibitor booths and hear speakers during the free one week event. Through audio files, you'll hear experts from a variety of disciplines on subjects of professional development, investment strategies, tax policy, economic forecasts and general business "how-to." One class, "What Every Residential Agent Needs to Know about Commercial Real Estate," has crossover value for residential practitioners. Visit www.CommercialSource.com to register.

Fairfield County Auditor adds Internet Mapping to website

Barbara Curtiss, Fairfield County Auditor, recently announced the addition of internet mapping to their real estate website. The site will provide users the opportunity for a quick reference to map data in addition to the parcel data which was already online. There are many layers on the maps which can be click on or click off so the maps may be used for a variety of things. Click here to visit the Fairfield County Real Estate website at realestate.co. fairfield.oh.us (no www as this is a domain name) or at www.co.fairfield.oh.us/auditor and click on "Property Records."

Dealing with Foreclosures . . .

Foreclosure Intervention Specialist Class
Just a reminder about this unique certification class being held at CBR on May 15 & 16. The two-day course will address the aspects of foreclosure mitigation, short sales, listing an upside down property, and buyer agency. The class is approved for 12 CE hours. See page 1 of the Education insert for more details.

CHP debues new Homeownership Preservation Hotline

The Columbus Housing Partnership (CHP) has announced their involvement in a tollfree hotline and the training of more than 30 foreclosure prevention counselors. The Homeownership Preservation Foundation hotline (1-888-995-HOPE) will link callers to counselors trained to assist homeowners at-risk of foreclosure.

This venture is the result of a partnership between CHP, the Homeownership Preservation Foundation and NeighborWorks America.

NeighborWorks America has more than 245 members, which includes CHP. Its certified counselors help guide homeowners through bank foreclosure by suggesting financial remedies, acting as a liaison between the borrower and the lender, or encouraging the homeowners to meet with their local housing partnership.