The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) is holding their annual Midyear meetings this week in Washington D.C. The mid year meetings provide an opportunity for each state association to meet with their legislators on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. The
MAR Federal Political Coordinators, along with over 130 REALTORS® members from around the state, are in Washington D.C. this week to meet with members of the Michigan delegation on industry-related issues. Top industry priorities on the national level include access to affordable healthcare and protecting the mortgage interest deduction. The purpose of the meetings is to thank those legislators who have aided in crafting sound legislation to keep the REALTOR® agenda moving forward and to also continue keeping communication lines open regarding critical issues of the real estate community.
In addition, be on the lookout in your inbox for a MAR Public Policy Podcast this week from Washington D.C. Rob Campau and Brad Ward will be reporting on legislative initiatives and top priorities from the NAR Midyear meetings. If you’d like to listen to previous podcasts, please visit the
MAR Web site.
Expand your horizons this fall, and grow professionally at the 2009 MAR Convention & Expo. Online registration is now open for the Convention & Expo, which is being held October 7-9, 2009 at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, in Acme, MI.
Visit the newly launched 2009 Convention & Expo Web site, to find all your Convention needs. New on the site this year, includes “Convention Chatter” a Convention based blog, and a “Why Attend” section, a useful area for members who have never attended a MAR Convention. Also included on the site is Special Event information, Fees & Registration, Sponsor & Exhibitor resources, Hotel & Area information and more!
Register now, and save! There are discounted rates for repeat attendees, as well as members who are attending Convention for the first time.
MAR is proud to sponsor the Referral Expo 2009, with Michael Beck, of XLeaders.com and Melynn Sight of Nsight Marketing. In tough economic times, getting quality referrals is more important than ever. Because we want our members to succeed in their business, we’ve arranged for each and every MAR member to attend the 2009 Referral Expo, at no cost. Included in the event is a line-up of some of the best and brightest referral marketing experts in the world to share
exactly how to successfully generate referrals.
The virtual event will be held over the phone, and runs from May 18
th through May 29
th.
Learn More and Register Today!
The award winning, Michigan REALTOR® magazine is pleased to offer more advertising options. In addition to its display advertiser opportunities, the magazine will feature the Market Place where for as little as $200 members can place a business card sized ad. You can place an ad to gain referrals, promote your services, etc. This is a great way to get your name in front of over 23,000 real estate professionals across the state. MAR is currently taking reservations for its August issue. For more information, or to place your ad contact Joe Kras at 800.454.7842 or jkras@mirealtors.com.
Also, make sure you check out the Michigan REALTOR® online to view past issues, get information on display advertising and view a list of our current display advertisers. This and more can be found at the
MAR Publications Web site.
By: Greg Stinton, NAR
A gentleman is at the airport, waiting for his flight to board. While seated at the gate, he decides to check his email. He takes out his laptop and boots it up. When he checks for wireless connections nearby, he finds a couple. He decides to connect to the one with a very strong signal, assuming that means that he’ll have the best connection. Then he goes about his business: reading emails, browsing the Internet, even doing a bit of online shopping. Shortly thereafter, the gentleman shuts down the laptop, boards his plane, and travels to his destination.
What the unsuspecting gentleman did not know and would not realize for some time was that, despite its legitimate appearance, the WiFi connection he used was actually a dubious, connection set up by a hacker. This particular hacker set up this WiFi access point with a deceptive name and strategically placed it in a location where quick connectivity is extremely important. That hacker can now sift through anything on our gentleman’s computer, including passwords, personal information, credit card numbers, and bank account information!
This story is entirely fictitious, although the concept is grounded in fact. And REALTORS® need to be especially wary. While using an unsecured wireless connection to hack into your personal information is fairly rare, wireless security is a serious issue for anyone who regularly does work outside of their office. For REALTORS®, the need for outside productivity necessitates better Internet security. And since REALTORS® are entrusted with the personal information of their clients on a daily basis, they have still more reason to exercise caution.
Are you wondering just how safe you are when using WiFi access points? Over the past few years there have been significant changes in the WiFi world; now anyone using these Internet connections must be both skeptical and careful. As someone who has set up and who monitors his own WiFi access point in my home, I can tell you that most of these kinds of connections are not very secure. In fact, as I sit here at my desk, I can find no less than fifteen unsecured wireless connections that could be used to steal information from any computer connected to them.
Moreover, the victims of such crimes are very vulnerable. When someone is a victim of identity theft over WiFi, they likely will not be aware that their information has been stolen until it is used illegally. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce the risks.
So now you know to be wary of WiFi connections, what can you actually do about it?
Keep your computer clean
Even if you are not shopping on the Internet while unknowingly connected to a fake WiFi access point, any form data or information stored on your computer can be accessed by a hacker. A particularly gifted hacker may even be able to find personal information entered on your computer even if it is not stored information in your browser. The best way to counter hackers’ attempts to steal your information is to keep them from finding the information they seek. Any information that is sensitive should always be protected on your computer with encryption or at least password protection.
Be aware
If you find yourself in a hotel or café where you know the operating business charges for WiFi, don’t connect to an unsecured free access point. While only a very small fraction of WiFi access points are deceptive and while most people will never come across an access point that is less than reputable, be aware that unscrupulous hackers can use such access points to steal sensitive information from your computer.
Use WiFi access points cautiously
It’s probably not necessary to avoid all WiFi access points, but you can certainly be safer when using them. Knowing the source of the access point can help you ensure it hasn’t been set up by a hacker. But even if you know the source, avoid inputting sensitive information, which means avoiding personal banking, Internet shopping, or even reading emails while using WiFi connections. More often than not, I find that these tasks can probably wait until you are back on a trusted and secure Internet connection.
Turn off auto connect
Many laptops automatically connect to WiFi networks that have a strong, stable signal. Make sure you turn that option off. Your computer will not know the difference between a reliable WiFi source and one that only appears to be reliable. Forcing yourself to find the connection you will be using means that you can make sure you are choosing the right one.
Use a 3G connection
Most new notebooks have the option of connecting to 3G mobile phone networks. If your laptop has a 3G radio built in, you can buy a SIM card or simply sign up with a mobile provider. Also, most mobile phone providers offer USB or express card slot mobile Internet radios. Using a 3G connection is one of your best options if you can justify the monthly access fee. Because the data is coming from the cell towers and your provider, it not only offers the convenience of a constant connection, it eliminates the worry that your connection is not trustworthy.
While most mobile users will never deal with fake WiFi access points or hackers, the need for increased scrutiny is evident, and can be met by following these simple suggestions. And while some of my suggestions might seem overly cautious or impractical, I hope that this article encourages you to be more aware of the potential dangers when using WiFi access points.
With the help of McClelland & Anderson, we are taking the most commonly asked questions from our legal hotline and putting them in e-news. We will be featuring a different question each issue.
QUESTION: I represent a buyer who is buying a foreclosed property from a bank. The bank has made a condition of the contract that it holds the earnest money deposit. I believe that this is illegal. Am I correct?
ANSWER: NO. There is no prohibition against the seller holding the earnest money deposit. Both the amount of the deposit and where it is held are negotiable items between the buyer and the seller.
MAR Legal Update Video Series
MAR has added the 5th installment of the Legal Update Video Series to Mirealtors.com. Gail Anderson covers lease option materials.
Watch the Video Now
Errors & Omissions Insurance
Real Estate Errors & Omissions (E&O) coverage from Pearl Insurance is underwritten by the A rated (by A.M. Best) XL Insurance companies (through Greenwich Insurance Company and Indian Harbor Insurance Company). Our E&O program has earned sponsorships from over 40 national, state, and local real estate associations, including the Michigan Association of REALTORS® since 1993.
Because Pearl understands real estate professionals hectic lifestyles, we designed our Click. Quote. Buy. process for E&O shopping. We've made it easy for you to login, obtain a quick E&O quote, and, if qualified, even buy your policy, online immediately at www.pearlinsurance.com/quote/.
As a Pearl E&O insured, you'll receive valuable risk management tools and services to help educate you on effectively minimizing your legal liability. All attendees of our Risk Management Seminars are eligible for premium credits. In addition, you'll gain access to our entire online library of monthly Risk Managers and receive mailings of our quarterly newsletters. View samples of our Risk Management information here. Call us today at 800.289.8170 or visit www.pearlinsurance.com/quote/ for more information on Pearl Insurance E&O for real estate professionals.
Pearl and MAR Welcomes New Regional Director
Pearl Insurance is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Spomer as your new Pearl Regional Director. He is taking over this territory from Lisa Scoble, allowing her to devote more times to her duties as Vice President, National Sales Manager.
Steve has been the Regional Director for Pearl's Midwest territory since joining the company in 2007, and brings with him a wealth of real estate experience and expertise. He has been licensed in the state of Illinois as a real estate broker for over 15 years and worked for the nationÍs largest home warranty company for five years before joining Pearl. Throughout his career, Steve has gained distinct knowledge of the real estate industry, including an understanding of the major issues real estate brokers face daily. He believes that customer service and communication are the most important facets of his work, and he finds his extensive real estate background most rewarding when explaining coverage options to his loyal Errors & Omissions Insurance customers.
MAR welcomes Spomer, and looks forward to continuing to work with both Spomer and Scoble.
View all MAR Edge Programs & Benefits Here