April Announcements
NAR Good Neighbor Awards - deadline: May 1
ODRE still having problems with license renewal
Ohio ODRE On-Line
BIA Showcase of Remodeled Homes
CBR Foundation Fund Request for Volunteers
Legislative Conference
Cooperating with out-of-state Brokers (Commercial) -- 2 Standard Forms Required
Before/After Closing Checklist -- New Commercial Standard Form
New On-line Forms Coming - Residential & Commercial
NAR Good Neighbor Awards - deadline: May 1
Have you done volunteer work that has improved the quality of life in your community? If so, REALTOR® Magazine wants you to enter the third annual REALTOR® Magazine Good Neighbor Awards.
The Good Neighbor Awards recognize REALTORS® whose extraordinary commitment to community service has helped make their community a better place to live.
In November, five winners will be announced in REALTOR® Magazine and will be recognized at the 2002 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in New Orleans. The winners will receive, among other things, travel expenses to the convention, a $5,000 grant for their community cause, and a crystal trophy.
ODRE still having problems with license renewal
As you know, 2002 is the second year for staggered license renewals,
with the renewal date tied to the agent's birthday. In the initial year of 2001,
nearly 5000 agents were suspended for failure to renew on a timely basis. Although it was hoped that by now we would begin see a significant decline in the number of suspensions, ODRE's report covering the first two months of the year suggest that this is not the case. More than 300 agents were suspended in January and more than 200 were suspended in February.
Members need to watch for your renewal notices in the mail and return them promptly to avoid suspension. The notices are being sent to your home address 60 days in advance of your birthdays.
You now have the option of going on-line and using a credit card to complete the renewal process. You will need the PIN number included with the renewal notice.
Ohio ODRE On-Line
Real estate professionals can renew their annual licenses on-line and consumers can search for information about any real estate licensee now on the Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing's web site: http://www.com.state.oh.us/real Future additions to the system will include information regarding enforcement actions. For licensees, the new site will allow for online renews. Sixty days prior to the renewal deadline, the Division will mail to the licensee's home address a notice of renewal, which includes a file number and six-digit personal idenitification number (PIN). With this information, a licensee will be able to go to the site; enter their file number and PIN; update or verify their home address, phone number and e-mail address; pay the renewal fee using Visa or Mastercard; and print a confirmation page for their records.
The Division will continue to work on additions to its web site, such as submission of continuing education coursework.
BIA Showcase of Remodeled Homes
The Building Industry Association (BIA) will hosts it 2002 BIA Showcase of Remodeled Homes on Saturday, May 4 (10a-5p) and Sunday, May 5 (12p-5p)
The showcase includes tours of newly remodeled or restored homes in central Ohio, with newly remodeled kitchens, family rooms, master bedrooms, bathrooms, extended living space and many other innovative improvements.
Tickets for the two-day Showcase tour are $10 and will be available for purchase after April 22, at the BIA, 5898 Cleveland Avenue and at all Showcase locations. Single site tickets are also available for $3. For more info call the Hotline at 818-1398 (after April 22).
CBR Foundation Fund Request for Volunteers
Barbara Lach and Bruce Massa, 2002 Co-Chairs of CBR's Foundation Fund Advisory Board extend their invitation to all members who may be interested in helping achieve some special projects on this year's agenda. These projects include the: development of scholarships programs; identification of housing-related projects in the area needing CBR's support; development of materials to help promote the Foundation Fund; and, fundraising.
Anyone interested in joining a sub-committee of the CBR Foundation Fund should contact Stan Collins at CBR (614) 475-4000 ext. 235.
Or click here and email Stan
A contribution was made to the CBR Foundation Fund by the American Society of Association Executives on behalf of Larry Metzger.
Legislative Conference
Several CBR members attended the OAR Legislative Conference held last month. During the 2-day conference, experts and legislators spoke to us on urban sprawl, Issue 1, Term Limits, Ohio Real Estate Laws, school funding, annexation, predatory lending, licensing of home inspectors, wetlands, household sewage disposal and the political horizon. It was a very informational 2 days.
We also met with several of our own legislators. Pictured (L toR): Front - Senator David Goodman (R-OH 3rd), Lynda Long, Rep. Geoff Smith (R-OH 28th), Bob Miller, Nancy Sharp. Back - Greg Hrabcak, Chris Pedon, Larry Metzger, Pat O'Neil, John Myers, George Smith and Stan Collins.
Cooperating with out-of-state Brokers (Commercial) -- 2 Standard Forms Required
With the passageof HB 272 (which went into effect April 4, 2002), Ohio commercial brokers can cooperate with out-of-state brokers on commercial transactions in this state. The following two forms are specified in the new law when participating in this type of transaction.
1. Cooperative Agreement setting forth the terms of cooperation and compensation and a statement that the out-of-state broker and its agents agree to adhere to Ohio law.
2. Irrevocable Consent to Jurisdiction signed by the out-of-state broker.
OAR's legal counsel has prepared forms, which fully conform with the requirements set forth in HB 272. The forms have also been reviewed by the Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing.
The forms are available at CBR or on-line at ColumbusRealtors.com.
Before/After Closing Checklist -- New Commercial Standard Form
The CBR CI Standard Forms Committee has approved a new form - Closing Checklist. It addresses details to be addressed before and after the closing. Pads of the 2-sided 8.5” x 11” forms should be available at CBR for $5 in early April.
New On-line Forms Coming - Residential & Commercial
The CBR Member Services Committee has been given the go ahead to negotiate to have all of our Commercial and Residential forms made available on-line in an auto populating format. Until negotiations are completed, member costs cannot be confirmed, however, we anticipate being able to offer this service for less than the cost of our current forms software.
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