Over the past month, the MAR, along with local realtor associations and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) hosted foreclosure avoidance comprehensive training (F.A.C.T.) seminars to help REALTORS® get the tools they need to help their clients avoid foreclosure. The seminars were well attended and many REALTORS® earned three credit hours towards their yearly continuing education requirement. Additional F.A.C.T. seminars were also held in the evening to educate the public about the foreclosure process and to help many connect with programs that may help them stay in their homes. The seminars were held across the state, including Lansing, Flint, Detroit and Southfield, with an upcoming seminar to be held in Marquette. A big ‘thank you’ goes out to the local associations and organizations that helped to make these forums a success.
For those who missed the seminar or are looking for further information to assist their clients,
click here to visit the Foreclosure Prevention and Response section on the MAR website. Information is available detailing the foreclosure basics, upcoming seminars, assistance programs from MSHDA and legal articles and videos from MAR’s legal counsel Greg McClelland. Check back often as information from the F.A.C.T. seminars will be made available shortly.
Revised Truth in Lending Act Disclosure Requirements Take Effect on July 30, 2009
Lenders will be subject to new disclosure requirements for mortgage loans under the
Federal Reserve Board Truth in Lending Regulation (Reg Z). The new requirements apply to loan applications filed on or after July 30, 2009 (about two months earlier than originally planned).
The new rules are complex and compliance will be a challenge for lenders.
The 2009 MAR Convention & Expo is offering more networking opportunities than ever. Being held October 7-9 at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, there is no better place to make connections, have fun, and increase your successful business solutions. In addition to your knowledge sessions, attend these events for fun & functional networking opportunities:
Take a swing at The MAR REAL Tour 2009
Convention Golf Outing,on the Wolverine. Included in your outing fee are range balls, continental breakfast, boxed lunch on the course, two complimentary drink tickets and prizes at the conclusion of the outing. Fees for the outing are $110 per person.
Register Here! Dance into the fall night at the
REALTOR® Royale with DJ, drinks and dancing. Come together with your peers to celebrate a successful convention, new ideas learned and a beautiful season in our state of Michigan, as the leaves change their colors in Traverse City with MAR. Included in registration fee.
Experience Leelanau Wine on the
REALTORS® Wine Country Tour. Enjoy narrated tour of six prestigious wineries including a fabulous box lunch at Corky’s Wine Bar and Beach Bistro at the Vineyard Inn on Suttons Bay including tastings for $55.00 per person.
Register Here! Network in the Expo following the Grand Assembly on Wednesday, head to the Expo Hall for the Welcome Reception and get your first peak at the exhibitors. On Thursday, enjoy lunch in the Expo, and after a long day of knowledge sessions, attend the Happy Hour in the Expo, there is no better way to network this year! Included in registration fee.
Check out the
MAR Convention Web site, for an entire schedule of events, including knowledge sessions that will help you succeed. Early registration fees end September 10, 2009, register today, and don’t miss your chance to save!
Register Now!
HGTV and Mountain Road Productions are looking for new in the business REALTORS® for their upcoming docu-drama ‘Real Estate Rookies’. It will be shot in a number of US locations, and the show is looking for a diverse selection of people covering a variety of markets: rural, suburban and urban – and especially someone starting out in the Detroit area. The television series will follow each rookie to give the viewer an inside look at how a person gets started in real estate sales.
If you are interested download the casting form below.
HGTV ‘Real Estate Rookies’ Casting Form
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 am a REALTOR® representing sellers with the sale of their property. In order to generate some traffic, my sellers suggested that we give away instant lottery tickets to the first 20 people who come to an open house. Is this legal?
ANSWER: YES. There is no prohibition against the giving away instant lottery tickets to a predetermined number of prospective buyers. What you need to avoid, however, is conducting any raffles or other games of chance at open houses.
Are you overwhelmed with the amount of real estate news stories, and don’t have time to sort through what’s important and what’s not? Start following the Michigan Association of REALTORS® on Twitter, and get the most important real estate news, as it happens. Start following today, and get up to date “tweets” on the latest legislation, industry news, and stories with tips and techniques to help your everyday life.
Throughout the United States there is a growing concern about the high costs of long term care and the impact those costs have on financial security, retirement planning and quality of family life.
In response to this concern, MAR members, and their eligible relatives, can now receive a premium discount on Great American Life long term care insurance products through the MAR Edge member benefit program.
For more information on the long term care insurance discounts please contact Great American Life's long term care help line at 800.557.5721.
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