President's Perspective

Yes! We're campaigning!

By Greg Hrabcak
President

The Officers and Directors are pleased to announce that we have unanimously approved $200,000 for a 90-day marketing campaign to promote the value of homeownership in central Ohio.

Our message? -- "The Grass is Greener Here".

Although we will piggyback on the NAR's Public Awareness campaign, we will focus on the fact that all real estate is local and central Ohio is an excellent market in which to own a home.

Using billboards, radio, and print media to deliver our message to consumers, we will point them to a robust web site -- ColumbusHousingFacts.com -- which will provide facts and statistics supporting homeownership in our market.

We have 12 REALTOR® members trained to deliver this message to the public by speaking to outside groups, writing letters to the editor, contacting the media, etc.

The campaign runs April 15 - July 15 to coincide with the increase in market interest traditionally experienced in the spring and early summer.

FYI - The new web site will go live with the campaign on April 15. Board reserves are being used to fund this campaign. We believe the market is poised to improve substantially and this is the "spark" that will light the "fire."

And while we're on positive housing news, here are a couple articles we were pretty pleased with.

• The Columbus Dispatch printed "Sunny side of the slump" on March 17, 2008 which included positive points regarding the current housing market.
• "Ignore the Headlines" published online by Time/CNN on February 19, 2008, also pointed out that current market conditions should prompt savvy investors (and homeowners) to act now.
• Ohio placed #1 in a report in the March 2008 Site Selection magazine for landing industrial and corporate operations and expansions.
• And Forbes.com announced on March 10, 2008 that Columbus Ohio was the #1 up and coming Tech Center based on trends in patents in cities which showed the most improvement in technology development in the past 15 years.

Last month, many CBR members and leadership attended the 2008 Ohio Association of REALTORS® Legislative Conference, March 11-12 at the Columbus Renaissance Hotel.

Governor Ted Strickland addressed attendees followed by a keynote address from Richard Cordray, Treasurer of the State of Ohio.

We also had very informative panel discussions on Home Inspector Licensing and Health Care as well as an excellent forum on the topic of foreclosures which included our own Marianne Collins, Senior VP of Lending with Insight Bank.

Prior to the evening's legislative reception, OAR's Sr. VP Bob Fletcher provided an update on proposed and pending legislation of interest to the housing industry.

The next day's sessions included a lively `discussion' between Kevin DeWine, Deputy Chairman of the Ohio Republican Party and Chris Redfern, Chairman of the Ohio Democrat Party.

They were followed by an Overview of the 127th General Assembly from John Husted, Speaker, Ohio House of Representatives, and Bill Harris, President of the Ohio Senate.

These meetings drive home the reason we all need to support our central Ohio REALTORS® Political Action Committee (CORPAC). Please participate in the May Auction by donating an auction item, attending the event, and donating to CORPAC. Your support helps to support the following REALTOR® legislative concerns: Banks in Real Estate, Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae Reform; FHA Reform; Appraisal/Mortgage Reform; Flood Insurance; Natural Disaster Legislation; Small Business Health Care Coverage; and much more.

Please join me in supporting CORPAC.