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Tuesday, September 18, 2007 This week's headlines... • Weekend-long Session has Legislators Under "House" Arrest |
Weekend-long Session has Legislators Under "House" Arrest House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford) vowed to “stay until the job is done” when he called the House into session on Friday. The “job” is to solve Michigan’s $1.75 billion deficit in the 2008 budget. As Friday night turned into Saturday morning, and Saturday night into Sunday morning, the Speaker still did not have a deal on the table to implement reforms and pass a proposed $1.1 billion hike in the state income tax. The proposal, in the form of House Bill 5194, remained on the board for the entire weekend but didn’t have the necessary votes. If passed, it would raise Michigan’s income tax rate from 3.9 to 4.6%. With no Republican support and numerous Democrats withholding their vote, the bill remains at a standstill. Note that many of the Democratic holdouts include “vulnerables” who narrowly won their seats in the last election cycle and are keenly aware of their districts’ sentiments when it comes to increasing taxes. The MAR staff has been active throughout the marathon session and continues to meet with legislative leaders to help play a constructive role in identifying government reforms that might solve the problem. The MAR strongly opposes any form of tax increase without them. The burden of government living beyond their means is felt by all Michigan citizens, and the MAR members want real reforms and cuts before any additional money comes out of the pockets of Michigan residents. MAR to Receive 2007 FHC Fair Housing Leadership Award MAR is being awarded the 2007 Fair Housing Center of Metropolitan Detroit’s Fair Housing Leadership Award, following the creation of a “self–testing” fair housing program. The plan is designed to help its members evaluate their real estate practices in terms of fair housing guidelines and determine if each client is being treated equally. This program is the first of its kind, as MAR is the nation’s original state REALTOR® association to implement such a program. MAR’s Chief Executive Officer, Bill Martin and President, Furhad Waquad spearheaded the program’s creation. Both are to be honored by FHC for their progressive efforts at the 10th Annual Fair Housing Leadership Awards Reception, held September 19, 2007, as well as in the September issue of “Fair Housing News.” MAR hopes the project will thrive and encourage similar associations to follow with their own fair housing programs. The MAR Convention & Expo is Just Around the Corner If you have yet to register for the MAR Convention & Expo taking place September 26 – 28 at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mt. Pleasant, make sure you do so soon! With Convention being next week, you will want to make sure you don’t miss out on the largest Michigan real estate gathering of the year, with over 1,000 attendees already registered. This year’s event is packed full of value for members. MAR is offering you the opportunity to learn from nationally recognized industry leaders as well as over 70 continuing education credits to choose from. This year, you can also earn appraisal CE. Feel overwhelmed with all these options? MAR is making it easier for you with our different focuses. If you want to learn more about a particular area of real estate, such as technology, just look for the sessions that are part of the that focus. MAR is also offering a commercial focus and appraisal focus that has educational and networking sessions just for those disciplines. To learn more about this year’s Convention & Expo and to register, visit MAR’s Web site or call 800.454.7842. MAR Magazine and E-News Receive Honors The Michigan REALTOR® magazine and the MAR E-News publication both received recognition at the 6th Annual Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE) awards program last week at The Henry Ford in Dearborn. 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: My client recently bought a home and remodeled it significantly. He never lived in the property. Is he exempt from the Seller Disclosure Act? ANSWER: NO. Such a circumstance does not fall within the narrow exceptions from the Seller Disclosure Act. The exception in the Seller Disclosure Act for sellers who have never lived in a home states: Transfers made by a person licensed under article 24 of Act No. 299 of the Public Acts of 1980 (residential builders), being sections 339.2401 to 339.2412 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, of newly constructed residential property that has not been inhabited. (Emphasis added). Be Among the First to Receive a Photo License!!! The first active Real Estate picture pocket license cards will be issued next week at the MAR 2007 Convention and Expo. This unique opportunity is made possible through the Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) and PSI Services, LLC (PSI). Your new photo license will contain a color photo, your name, signature, license number, expiration date and employing broker (if applicable). The pocket-sized, durable card is designed to be similar to a driver’s license. This card is expected to replace the wall certificate that licensees have been receiving (sometime in 2008). “DLEG and PSI are investing considerable resources to make this launch possible at the MAR Convention,” said MAR CEO Bill Martin, “Attendees should take advantage of this great opportunity. Imagine the comfort and security you can offer buyers and sellers with this card.” We look forward to making picture pocket license cards available at the Convention! Please plan to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.
Calendar of Events For more information, check the events page and the education calendar.
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