REMINDER: ALL FLYERS ARE INCLUDED IN THE WEEKLY BROKER FAX

Final Days to Make Nominations
The Coastal Association of REALTORS® is looking for suitable candidates for the following awards:

• Rookie of the Year
• REALTOR® of the Year
• MAR Community Service Award (goes to an individual)

Deadline to submit nominations is FRIDAY, MAY 18. Please submit names to cindyc@coastalassociationofrealtors.com.

Deadline Extended to May 18! AND NOW, WIN A $100 GAS CARD!
Every year, CAR members volunteer thousands of hours of their time to charitable causes. This year CAR will again be recognizing everyone who has contributed to his or her community in the summer issue of Currents. Now is your time to shine—tell us what you did for your favorite community, school, charity or non-profit organization by completing a survey.

• Complete an online survey

Everyone who completes the survey will be recognized and will entered into a drawing to win a $100 GAS CARD! And, any information will be used to help CAR win another MAR C.A.R.E. Award! Last year, CAR won Third Place ($1,000). Help us win FIRST PLACE this year ($10,000)!

NAR Midyear Meetings & Trade Expo—10 Days Away!
Once again this year, NAR’s Midyear Legislative Meetings and Trade Expo will be held in Washington, DC. The meetings are FREE and are scheduled for May 14-19 and registration for the event is now open online. Click for more information or to register today.

ALSO: MAR Events During Midyear
In conjunction with our NAR Midyear Meetings, MAR has Capitol Hill Visits scheduled with the Maryland Delegation on Wednesday, May 16, and Thursday, May 17. The Midyear Meetings provide an opportune time to meet with your Congressmember. Please contact sheryl.bergman@mdrealtor.org if you are interested in participating in the NAR Midyear Hill Visits. Most of the meetings are scheduled between 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday in half-hour intervals. Federal Talking Points will be sent to those who have signed up prior to the meeting. MAR’s Congressional Reception honoring RPAC Major Donors and the Maryland Congressional Delegation will be held Wednesday, May 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Hill Visit attendees are invited to the reception and invitations will be sent directly to RPAC Major Donors.

MAR Committee Sign-Up
The 2007-2008 Committee Volunteer Form is now online. If you are already on a MAR committee, you do not automatically retain your status—you MUST fill out a form for next year. The form has been changed somewhat, and submissions are only being accepted online. Deadline for submissions is May 21. Please do it ASAP to retain a seat on your selected committees. The direct link is www.mdrealtor.org/cvf2007.aspx.

Registration is Open!
For the MAR ANNUAL CONFERENCE & TRADESHOW September 10-12 in Ocean City. Register now for education classes & Fun Day Events. This year, online conference registration allows you to: Make any class changes online, purchase additional tickets, and receive an improved Registration Confirmation. COST: 3-day Registration—$175 now through May 15; $50 discount for Rookie REALTORS®. Once you have successfully entered your NRDS#, please review your contact information, and scroll down to “REGISTRATION TYPE” to choose the registration type that applies to you. Then continue registering. Register now!

Reverse Mortgages Boom While the Rest of the Industry Swoons
Bank of America’s big move into reverse mortgages last week—acquiring Seattle Financial Group, the number three originator—is a sign of where the industry is headed: Gearing up for real estate-rich baby boomers. Look for larger, less costly reverse loans that can be used to buy a primary home, a second home or refinance an existing mortgage. Volume in government-backed reverse mortgages soared by 77 percent last year. Ken Harney reports.

Weak Home Sales, Lower Consumer Confidence Allow Mortgage Rates to Dip
Last Friday, Freddie Mac released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.16 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending April 26, down slightly from the previous week when it averaged 6.17 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.58 percent. Full story>>>

Ocean City Lions Club Bone Marrow Drive
The Ocean City Lions Club will hold a bone marrow drive on May 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Atlantic Methodist Church (4th Street in Ocean City). Donors may be between the ages of 18-60 and only a simple mouth swab test is needed. For further information, please contact Kasey Quillin at jkquillin@mchsi.com or call 410-352-3701. Full details>>>