September 2002 - CBR Announcements

Columbus Board of Realtors®
September Announcements

CBR Standard forms Now on-line in auto-fill format
Problem with the SuperKey updates in August
Petit appointed as new Superintendent of the ODRE
Ohio Division of Real Estate issues updated Red Book
HUD $1,000 Summer Move-in Allowance Program
NAR signs FedEx as exclusive shipping provider
National Arbor Day Foundation membership through NAR
NAR Alert: Violating the Fair Housing Laws
Record your Living Will with the Franklin County Recorder's Office
Million Dollar Sales Club Award: Deadline is November 5 for
September is Realtor® Designation Awareness Month.
Can you speak a foreign language?

CBR Standard forms Now on-line in auto-fill format
The CBR standard forms (purchase contract, Exclusive Right to Sell, etc.) are now available in an on-line package through Professional Computer Forms (PCF). Although the MLS forms are not yet included at this time, they will be later this fall. If you purchase the program now, the MLS forms will also be included (at no additional charge) when they become available.
You have the option of purchasing an on-line version or desktop software (single user & multi-user office versions are available). You can demo the program for one day before you purchase. In order to access the forms, you will need to login using your fullname and real estate license number. www.formsrus.com/columbus.html
For more info, see the flier inserted in this issue of the magazine and the Professional Computer Forms ad on page 16.

We experienced a problem with the SuperKey updates
  In August and thought you would like to know what happened…
On the evening of Friday, August 23, a rather significant thunderstorm came through and blew a node in our phone system which caused our phone lines to go down. Although we were at the office as soon as we became aware of the problem, this particular part could not be replaced until just after noon on Monday. Thus the phones were down all weekend causing a problem
for members who had to update their SuperKeys.
Although we have no control over severe damage caused by an occasional Ohio storm, here's what we can do…
   The best way to avoid a problem is to Update your SuperKey during the week. Don't wait until the weekend when CBR staff are not in the office to assist you. You can update your SuperKey up to FIVE days in advance of your expiration day.
If you do experience a problem, call the 800 number on the back of your SuperKey. If we are unaware of the problem, Supra will notify us immediately. If we have already been notified, Supra may be able to provide an explanation and/or assistance.
   Check the web site. We will do our best to get an explanation up as soon as we are made aware of the situation. We do recognize that, if you are standing on the doorstep of an empty house with a SuperKey that doesn't work, an explanation on our web site will be of little value. However, if the phones are down, this will be our only means of communication.

Petit appointed as new Superintendent..
of the Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing
Anne Moorhead Petit has been appointed Superintendent of the Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing replacing Lynn Hengle who resigned after three years in the position. Petit came to the Division from Governor Taft's office, where she was Director of Constituent Inquiries and, prior to that, Events Coordinator. She has been employed in various other state agencies since September of 1995.
Petit also served as manager/real estate lender with the former Diamond Savings & Loan in Findlay, Ohio. A native of Findlay, she currently resides in Hilliard. For more info, see the interview in the September Ohio REALTOR®.

Ohio Division of Real Estate issues updated Red Book
The Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing is ready to release an updated Red Book. The Red Book contains all the real estate licensing laws, landlord tenant laws, civil rights laws and much more. The price for a Red Book plus the 2002 update will be $17. The price for the 2002 update only will be $4. These amounts include all shipping and postage charges.

HUD $1,000 Summer Move-in Allowance Program
The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) will provide $1,000 to homebuyers who sign a sales contract on a single-family HUD home by Sept. 30 and close within 30 days. The Cash Back Move-In Allowance will be issued at closing and can be used by the homebuyer for any expenses, such as moving costs and home repairs. The buyer must agree to live in the property as their primary residence for a minimum of 12 months to qualify. For more info on the program, click here.
For HUD properties in our area, click here.

NAR signs FedEx as exclusive shipping provider
The alliance, with FedEx companies FedEx Ground and FedEx Express, will provide Realtors® discounts that vary depending on which of the many FedEx services they use. These include both FedEx Priority Overnight and Standard Overnight envelopes less than 8 oz., the FedEx 2-Day and FedEx Express Saver, and both FedEx International Priority and FedEx International Economy services. Discounts are also offered on FedEx 1-Day Freight or FedEx 2-Day Freight and FedEx Ground services.
Another aspect of the program is an online benefit at fedex.com, where a shipping address book can be stored and labels can be created and printed.
For information, call toll free (866) 869-1171, and mention NAR code 155, or click here.

National Arbor Day Foundation membership through NAR
The National Arbor Day Foundation offers NAR members, Association staff, and their immediate families specially priced gift memberships certificates.
Gift memberships, sold to members for $8 and valid for
one-year, include a customized foundation membership card, choice of ten flowering or ten evergreen tree seedlings, The Tree Book – providing discount pricing on the purchase of more than 50 varieties of trees - and a subscription to the Arbor Day bimonthly newsletter.
Gift Certificates worth $25 can be purchased at a 20% discount for $20 and are redeemable for at least one shade, flowering or other tree variety or shrub. Certificates also come with a one-year membership, The Tree Book, a customized foundation membership card, and a subscription to the newsletter.

For more info, call 1-877-445-9917 or click here .

Encouraging sellers to choose buyers who are ‘Christian' is a violation of the Fair Housing Laws
Alert to members: Several NAR members have recently received promotional e-mails that link to the Web site of an organization that advocates activities that discriminate on the basis of religion, and which may, therefore, violate the Fair Housing Act. In particular, the Web site encourages sellers of real estate to seek and choose buyers who are Christians. The NAR legal staff wishes to remind all members that it is unlawful to discriminate in the sale or lease of real estate properties, as well as in the provision of real estate services, on the basis of race, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or familial status.

Record your Living Will with the Franklin County Recorder's Office
Experts claim that 50% of all Living Wills will not be found in the event of emergency, mainly because the Declarant (the patient) is not competent to communicate at that time. Your Living Will has no affect unless your family can find it. For this reason, Robert G. Montgomery, Franklin County Recorder, is encouraging residents to file their Living Will at the County Courthouse.
As of December 2001 the Franklin County Recorder's Office was linked to its electronic public access network via the Internet. Within minutes after a document is filed with the Recorder, it may be viewed on-line anywhere in the county, state or nation. With Living Wills being on file at the Recorder's Office, access can be obtained by any medical facility throughout the nation in a matter of seconds. For more information on locating “Living Will” forms call Robert G. Montgomery,Franklin County Recorder (614) 462-3930

Million Dollar Sales Club Award: Deadline is November 5 for
If you are planning to apply for the CBR $1, $5, $10 or $25 Million Dollar Club award, the deadline of November 5 is fast approaching. The sales award year is November 1, 2001 through October 31, 2002.
Remember, in order to qualify this year, you must have fulfilled the service requirement which includes serving on a CBR committee (and meeting its attendance requirement) or serving as an officer in a real estate related organization.
When submitting your application...
Closings PRIOR to Sept.1, 2000... you'll need copies of your name highlighted on HUD listing contract (if listing credit), and/or purchase contract (if sales credit).
Closings ON or AFTER Sept.1, 2000... you'll need copies of your name highlighted on HUD listing contract, and a completed Sales Certification Form, signed by you and the Settlement Agent.
It makes no difference if the listing agent(s) and selling agent(s) use the same form! You can use separate forms if you wish! Rules and application forms are available at the CBR office and on-line on the Awards page.

September is Realtor® Designation Awareness Month.
Professional designations could significantly increase your income? They also help you build your referral network, sharpen your skills and expand your knowledge. There's no better time to focus on your professional development than starting this month.
According to recent member studies, about 33 percenty of Realtors® have earned a professional designation. And those that have earned designations have incomes 120 percent higher than their peers without a designation!
The GRI and CRS are the two most popular designations among members. For more information on designations, click here.

Are you part of a Real Estate Team?
We are considering doing an article on Real Estate Teams in one of the upcoming In Contract magazines. If you would like to be a part of this, please contact Marque Bressler at (614) 475-4000 ext. 236 or via e-mail.

Can you speak a foreign language?
Hablas Español?
De vez en cuando, nosotros necesitamos contactar miembros que poseen la habilidad de hablar y escribir un idioma extranjero. Si usted domina el idioma Español perfectamente, por favor comuniquese con: Lynn Hackworth @ 614-475-4000 ext. 248 or e-mail.

Parlez vous Francais?
De temps en temps, nous avons le besoin de contacter des gens qui a des qualifications de langue étrangère. Si vous 'tes à l'aise en français, S'il vous plait contactez lynn Hackworth, directeur de communication à 614-475-4000. 248 or e-mail.

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
Gelegentlich haben wir ein Mitglied muß berühren, das Fremdsprache Fachkenntnisse hat. Wenn Sie fließend auf deutsch, bitte Kontakt Lynn Hackworth, Assistent Direktor der Kommunikation sind, an 614-475-4000 ext. 248 or e-mail