New C.A.R. Legal Articles

Member Legal Services has published a revised legal article, Firestorms: Basic Real Estate Legal Issues (November 17, 2008) and revised two legal articles, 2009 New Laws (December 1, 2008) and Landlord-Tenant Guide for REALTORS® (November 24, 2008).  They are available on Legal’s What’s New and the Legal Articles pages on C.A.R. Online at www.car.org.

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ForSaleByOwner.com makes erroneous claims 

Recent misleading information released by ForSaleByOwner.com claims that For Sale By Owner.com can help homeowners post their listings on REALTOR.com without working with a real estate professional.

Be assured that REALTOR.com does not in any way enable home sellers to advertise their home on its Web site without Broker representation.  REALTOR.com has asked For Sale By Owner.com to issue a retraction.

For more information click on the link below.

http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_release/2008/nar_realtorcom_set_record_straight_on_fsbo_claims

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C.A.R. Guaranteed Health Insurance Plans-Open Enrollment Has Been Extended!!!

C.A.R. Medical Open Enrollment has been extended from November 30th to December 15, 2008.  As long as the eligible C.A.R. Member mails their Completed Enrollment form plus the required monies with a postmark no later than December 15, 2008, they can apply for Medical coverage with an effective date of January 1, 2009.

There are no medical questions and coverage is guaranteed for all qualified C.A.R. members!

The five Anthem Blue Cross Plans and the eight Kaiser Plans plus all the rates and enrollment forms are available at www.realcare.biz/kn or you can call RealCare: 1-800-939-8088, option 202 for complete information.

Want Additional Listing Exposure?

MRMLS recently partnered with ListHub to help brokers gain maximum exposure online for their listing data.  ListHub allows brokers to market their listings in 24 major websites.  Brokers will need to opt-in to ListHub services to give ListHub permission to send their listings to real estate search sites FREE!!!

Brokers, please register at http://www.listhub.com/.

1.      To opt-in, click “Create Account” and complete registration.

2.      Click “Channels” and subscribe to one or all of the 24 websites.

Upgrade options are available for an additional fee.  Please go to www.listhub.com for more information.

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Sneak Peak at Matrix New Features

Driving Directions
            Get turn by turn driving directions to at least 20 listings at a time.

Interactive Customer Portal

            Customers have the option to rate and select listings as favorites or possibilities.

Visited Listings

            The ML number will change colors after you have reviewed the listing.

Quick Add to Contracts

            Quick link to add customer information during the email process

Refreshed new look and color scheme throughout Matrix

            A modern sleek look to the overall Matrix System.

Smart Search Menus

            Matrix automatically condenses search lists and links to what you frequently use.

Glowing Search Fields

            Search fields will change colors after some criteria have been specified.

Co-list Agents ability to Modify Listings

            Co-list agents now have the ability to modify and edit co-listed listings.

Detailed information will be published on these new and exciting features.  Keep your eyes peeled when you log on the Matrix home page.

For questions or support, please call (800) 925-1525 or visit www.imrmls.com/support.

Inland Valleys Association of REALTORS® is participating with the LAFD and Spark of Love to distribute toys to deserving children this holiday season.

Through your generosity, Spark of Love provides a new unwrapped toy or sporting good equipment to a child who would otherwise go without a gift.  Spark of Love works in connection, not in competition, with other charitable programs to fulfill the dreams of needy Southern California children.

IVAR has set up, for your convenience, a drop box in the Lobby of the Association so that you can drop off new toys or sports equipment.  We will collect toys through December 23, 2008.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

AND

INLAND VALLEYS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

presents

DISTRESSED PROPERTIES

SHORT SALES, FORECLOSURES & LENDER REO’s

Neil Kalin, Esq.

Course Objective:

§         Recognize different stages of distressed properties

§         Explain options of several workout solutions used between borrowers and lenders

§         Understand the credit impact of short sales, bankruptcy and foreclosure

§         Understand the tax impact of short sales, bankruptcy and foreclosure

§         Recognize the restrictions when equity purchases wish to buy property in foreclosure

§         Develop an approach to use with lenders who have Real Estate

Date:              Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Registration:  8am – 8:30am
Time:              8:30 – 12:30pm                                                       “NEW LOW FEE!”
Location:        IVAR
Fee:                $49 Members $59 Non-Members

To  RSVP please contact Jean at 951-346-4517 or via email at Jeanw@ivaor.com

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RPA-CA

THE RESIDENTIAL PURCHASE AGREEMENT

with

John Giardinelli, Esq.

This course does not offer CE Credits

Course Topics:

§         How to handle timelines and general contract issues

§         Defining contingencies – how to waive them and how not to get trapped

§         The various addendums and related forms

§         Practice tips for avoiding liability and disclosure

Date:   Friday, December 12, 2008

Time:  9am – 4pm (1/2 hour break - lunch not provided)

Place:  IVAR

Fee:    $15 Members

           $25 Non-Members

To register, contact Jean at 951-346-4517 or via email jeanw@ivaor.com

PLASTIC LININGS IN CANS

Bisphenol-A, the hormone-disrupting chemical found in plastic bottles, is present in the majority of canned foods.  The thin plastic lining found in canned goods contains traces of BPA that can migrate into food.  One way to avoid BPA-lined cans is to purchase foods packaged in Tetra Paks, aseptic cartons made from layers of paper, aluminum and polyethylene.

C.A.R.’s “Green Tops” are part of the Association’s effort to raise member awareness about environmentally sound practices and offer REALTOR® ideas for greening their business practices and better serving their green-minded consumers.

In observance of the Christmas Holiday, the Association will be closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, December 24, 25 and 26.

Have a happy and safe holiday!