President's Perspective

Our Changing Industry. . . "Bring It On!"

Chris Reese
President

Remember when it was great to be able to obtain a 13.5% wrap-around mortgage? Remember FHA assumable, non-qualifying mortgages with closing costs being a $45.00 assumption fee? Remember bringing your buyers hot coffee in the middle of the night while they camped out in front of Buckeye Federal to get bond money at 11.5%?

Remember when there were no home inspections, buyer agency, fact sheets, fax machines, cell phones, and, if you were lucky, the office had a computer? Remember when all you needed to sell real estate was an MLS book, a one page contract and an 019 lock box key?

We need to remember that our success in this business is in direct proportion to our adjustment and conformity to change. Just look at what has occurred so far this year, in the market and at our board?

We finally "sun-set" the diminishing MLS books and the Real Estate Weekly. We put into place new measures for the security and accuracy of our data. MLS added a new client listing site, and is always upgrading search fields.

In August, our market had 20.9% more active listings and 5% fewer sales than last August. The good news is that, our inventory decreased and our sales increased from July.

We are staying positive and educating our buyers that with inventory and low rates, this is truly the best time to buy.

And more change is coming!

Mobile Technology -- I told you about this new tool formatted to the CBR Tempo? System last month. A virtual MLS Book for our hand. CBR will provide this new technology as a member benefit. You just need to have unlimited internet access on your cell phone.

Electronic Online Voting -- Yes, that's right, vote for the new directors with a point and click. Between November 7th and 17th, members will cast their ballot by logging onto a website. You will receive an email from Internet Crusade with the candidate bios, your NRDS and Special Pin numbers, and you will be able to vote electronically. This first time, CBR will mail the bios along with the electronic voting instructions. This is SURE to increase our voter participation. It will also be a catalyst to paying dues online, surveys, and make it much easier to communicate with the membership. Important: Please make sure CBR has your correct email address. Click here for more info.

Lockbox Conversion -- We are looking at converting the old KeyBoxes over to the new iBox. This will be a one-for-one exchange at no extra cost to members, and probably take place in January 2007. We will have many more options available with the iBox including availability to beam from a "blue-tooth" devise. More information to come.

Sales Associates Day -- October 26th at the Aladdin Shriners' Complex. The committee is staying with the "Real Estate is a Circus" theme, and calling it "The Greatest REALTOR® Show on Earth". Registration is at 8:30 am, Annual Business Meeting from 9-11; Expo 11-1, and then 1:30-4-30 is a dynamic speaker! Terry Watson's topic will be "Avoiding Road Kill: Top 10 Stupid Things that Realty Smart REALTORS® do to Mess up Their Lives". If you haven't heard Terry before, do yourself a favor and go to this class. It will be informative, FUN, and the shot in the arm we need right now. I guarantee you won't fall asleep.

NAR Convention -- New Orleans -- November 10-13. They are calling it "NARdi Gras". We will hear from former Presidents George Bush (SR), and, Bill Clinton. The celebrity concert will feature Harry Connick, Jr, who conceived the idea of building houses for displaced musicians and their families. It will be known as Musicians' Village. NAR, (through its state associations) agreed to build 54 homes to be sent to New Orleans. Seven of those will go directly to "Musicians' Village.

If you would like to volunteer to help rebuild New Orleans, there are many other projects. Beginning Nov 7 through Nov 14, bus transportation will take REALTORS® to all project sites, and NAR will also provide box lunches. Activities will include a variety of projects from pouring concrete foundations, building walls, painting and finishing, to cleaning areas and bringing a school back to life.

OAR Convention -- After the Convention elections, CBR has even more celebrities in our midst?Barbara Lach will be 2008 NAR Region 6 Vice President. Nancy Sharp was elected 2007-2009 NAR Director at Large for Ohio. Bob Miller will be the OAR District 6 Vice President. Pat O'Neil will be next year's President of OAR. And our past president, Doug McCloud announced his intention to run for 2008 OAR Treasurer! The convention was a great time and as always very educational. You'll find a complete report submitted by current District 6 DVP Lynda Long on pages 20-21.

In conjunction with the REALTOR®- Habitat Partnership for Gulf Coast Recovery Operation Home Delivery project, OAR asked local board presidents to contribute to building the Ohio house being shipped to New Orleans. You would be proud to know that your President did her share in building 36 walls. I must say that it was a long, muscle straining, nail pounding, hammer hitting project, but so well worth it.

In closing, keep your head up, tell them to buy, go to the upcoming events, and CONFORM TO THE CHANGES. Happy Selling!