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 NEXT 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)!

CAR Membership Applications and MLS Forms
The CAR Membership Application, MLS Clerical Access, and MLS Waiver Request forms are now located on our Web site at coastalassociationofrealtors.org. You will find them under the REALTOR® Resources section. We ask that you please take advantage of this new feature.

NAR Midyear Meetings & Trade Expo—NEXT WEEK!
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.

Postage Rates Increase Beginning Monday
Just in case anyone didn’t get the news, first class postage goes up to 41 cents on Monday, May 14. Here’s just a few of the rate changes (www.usps.com/prices/):

NAR’s New Member Profile Shows Earnings Correlate To Experience
Just in time for the National Association of Realtors’ annual Midyear Meetings, the trade organization has released its bi-annual Member Profile for 2007. Among key findings:

• Agents communicate with their clients about 50% of the time, up from 44% in 2005
• Median income is down by roughly $2,000 since 2005
• 25% of business is repeat business from previous clients

Click here for NAR’s summary.Click here for Realty Times’s perspective.

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 http://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!

Abbreviated Appreciation Curtails Cash-Outs
Cash-out refinancing for larger balances is slowing, but it’s costing consumers more to trade in old loans for new ones in the latest boom-gone-flat study. Full story >>

Do We Have Your Correct E-Mail?
We send this Weekly Update, as well as other important information to members via e-mail. You can call the CAR Office or send an e-mail to membershiprecords@gcaar.com to update your e-mail address on file.