REMINDER: ALL FLYERS ARE INCLUDED IN THE WEEKLY BROKER FAX

Message From the President
This update is in follow up to my message to you on November 12, 2007, regarding forming a partnership with the Sussex County Association of REALTORS® (SCAOR). We recently met with SCAOR’s Board of Directors to discuss partnering with them on various services, such as lockbox, MLS, education, and particularly sharing their Executive Vice President, Ruth Briggs King. The Board was very receptive to the partnership, but not to sharing their EVP.

As a result of that meeting, we have decided to continue our search for our own full time Executive Officer. We have contacted three of the candidates previously interviewed by the Search Committee and two are still interested in the position. The Board will meet with them at our next board meeting on December 12. However, this does not mean that we will discontinue our discussions with SCAOR. Both Boards believe that this partnership will be a good move for our associations

I would like to thank Cindy Canigiani for filling in as the temporary Executive Officer and her assistants Alicia Griffith and Beverly for their patience and understanding during this time of upheaval. Hopefully, by the first of the year, we will have hired our own EO.

We will be discussing this further at our General Membership meeting on January 17. I hope that all of you will be attending this important meeting. A complete agenda will be sent out via e-mail and posted on our Web site a few days before the meeting.

Respectfully,
Cassie Mead, President
Coastal Association of REALTORS®

General Membership Meeting
There will be a General Membership Meeting on Thursday, January 17, 2008 from 10 a.m. to Noon at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City. An agenda will be announced in early January. Please encourage all CAR members in your office to attend and RSVP by clicking here.

Attention Board Members!
Board dues for 2008 have been mailed and are due by December 31. Please either submit your payment or notify us if you do not intend on renewing your membership. If you have not yet received a bill, please contact the Association Office at 410-641-4409.

Holiday Closings
The association office will be closed Monday, December 24, and Tuesday, December 25, for the Christmas holiday. The office will also be closed on Monday, December 31, and Tuesday, January 1, for the New Year’s holiday. CAR wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday season!

Start the Year Off Right
Advertise the the winter 2008 issue of Currents, CAR’s quarterly newsletter. Get your ad placed in the magazine and seen by more than 1,500 REALTORS® in the tri-county area. Great spots are selling quickly! DEADLINE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21. Advertising rates are available by clicking here. The winter issue will arrive in member mailboxes in late January.

MAR Poster Contest—Volunteer(s) Needed
The Equal Opportunity Committee needs a person to coordinate with Wicomico and Worcester public schools for the MAR Fair Housing Poster Contest. This year, MAR is inviting churches, private schools, and other groups to participate. If anyone wants to learn more learn  about the MAR Poster Contest, please contact Nancy McKinley for an information packet at 410-749-1818, ext. 3655, or 410-430-3687.

Mortgage Rates Reverse Trend and Rise This Week
Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.11 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending December 13, 2007, up from last week when it averaged 5.96 percent as well. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.12 percent. Full story >>

December 2007 Real Estate Cybertips
The shirking dollar affects all of our wallets and one of the best measures of the average change in our purchasing power is the Consumer Price Index (CPI) that calculates the average price change of goods and services over time. Want an easy way to uninstall that program you don’t want on your computer any more? These tips and more. Full story >>

Existing Home Sales To Trend Upward in 2008, Says NAR
The National Association of REALTORS® has suffered some ridicule for its perpetually sunny housing forecasts, even while some markets have been drenched in bad news. But the newest forecast for 2008 is optimistic for good reason. Full story >>

Did you Know?
The 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange does not automatically avoid Maryland tax withholding for out-of-state sellers of Maryland property. See your favorite Title Attorney for further explanation.
 
From the Technical Corner:
Five Things You Forgot About In Your Home
#1 – Change Air Filters Regularly
Filters in central air or heating systems should be changed or cleaned regularly in season. Clogged filters force air systems to work harder and waste energy. Dirty filters will lead to clogged A/C coils and unwanted service calls. An effective filter, which can be replaced for just a few dollars, can save on energy bills, not to mention the high cost of repair bills to the overall system. Thank you to Alan Hoffman of Housemaster for providing this tip!

Workforce Affordable Housing Seminar & Certification Classes — Sign Up Now! The Workforce Affordable Housing Seminar and Certification Classes will be held January 10 - 11 at the CAR office, with MAR instructors. Classes will be from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on both days, with CAR providing lunch. The first session on Thursday, January 10 will be a class on “Credit Smart” and no CE credit will be awarded. The second session on Friday, January 11 will have the following three classes: State and Local Programs, Federal and National Housing Programs, and Bridging the Gap between Availability and Affordability. Each class will award 2 CE credits for a total of 6 CE credits. The classes are being offered free of charge, but after receiving certification you will be expected to be a member of a team that will provide workshops for the community to educate members of the community on programs that are available to help them get closer to their dream of homeownership. We will be providing workshops for the community in Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset Counties. If you are interested in receiving Workforce Affordable Housing Certification and joining our team, please click here to register to attend. Volunteers Anyone? The Education Committee is seeking one or more volunteers from the Salisbury/Snow Hill area to join our committee with the intent of getting input from that market. If you are interested call Carl Ortman @ 433-614-7756. Online Courses The Frederick Academy is proud to offer the latest in distance learning courses for the various states in which they are currently certified. Currently, Virginia authorizes continuing education and prelicensing both on-line and by correspondence course. For more information, go to www.frederickacademy.net. What are We Working On? The committee will be meeting with the Women’s Council to coordinate and combine speakers, seminars and CE. Look for the 2008 schedule soon.