Weekly E-Update           April 20, 2010

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Click here for a list of upcoming events

NEW Nationwide Open House Weekend – Recap
Over 660 open houses were held in Tucson over April 10-11 for the Nationwide Open House Weekend! We want to hear your Open House Weekend stories and see your photos from the weekend! Email them to laura@tucsonrealtors.org.

NEW TAR Expo – Sponsor/Exhibitor Registration Now Open!
Every year, thousands of REALTORS® make their way to the Tucson Convention Center to experience a one of kind event. The Tucson Association of REALTORS® Real Estate Expo! Click here to download the Sponsor/Exhibitor Packet.

NEW Save the Date! Member/Community Mixer – Toro’s Baseball Game 6/13
Save the date for the Association’s June 13 Member/Community Mixer at the Tucson Toros baseball game! The gates open at 6pm and the game starts at 7pm. Tickets will be free, we’ll alert you as soon as they are available.

Place YOUR Vote in the TAR Board of Directors Election!
Here’s your chance to make a difference in the future of the Association! The online election for TAR Directors and Affiliate Director began on Monday, April 19 and will end on Sunday, April 25. Before you cast your vote, click here to read the candidate biographies of those running for TAR Officer and Director (some officer positions were elected by acclamation). Should you have questions regarding the Elections, please contact Cheri at cheri@tucsonrealtors.org. 
Please click on the following link to access the elections:
REALTOR® Elections
Affiliate Elections

MONDAY Short Sale Seller Advisory
You’re invited to a FREE Training on Monday, April 26 from 10:00 am – 12:00pm at TAR. Join Judy Lowe, Arizona’s Real Estate Commissioner, Michelle Lind, AAR General Counsel/Asst.CEO and John Foltz, Chair of ADRE Short Sale Workgroup, for the unveiling of the Short Sale Seller Advisory A Resource for Real Estate Consumers. RSVP to Mary Utley at mutley@azre.gov. Click here for more information.

THURSDAY Property Management Trust Accounting
Do you know if and when it is legal for a Broker to deposit personal monies to a Trust Account? Arizona Revised Statute 32-2151 states in part the following: “It is not considered commingling if, when establishing a trust fund account, a broker deposits monies not exceeding five hundred dollars to keep the account open or to avoid charges for an insufficient minimum balance.” This and many other legal issues related to property management trust accounting will be presented at the “Property Management Trust Accounting” class being held at the Association office on April 22nd from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. 3 hours of Commissioner’s Standards will provided. To register, click here.

FRIDAY Discussion on the Streetcar
The Green Committee has invited Jim Glock, City of Tucson Department of Transportation Director; Adam Weinstein, owner and architect for The Mercado District; & Steve Farley, AZ Legislator to meet with our members and the community at large to talk about the Modern Streetcar and the exciting opportunities it means for Tucson. Join us April 23 from 9am-11am at TAR. For more info go to www.AgentsGoneGreen.com, click on Events.

FRIDAY Where the “Green” Homes Are
A Showcase of Sustainable and Energy Efficient Home Builders in Southern AZ brought to you by the Green Committee. Join us on April 23, from 2pm-5pm at TAR. This event is open to TAR members and the community at large. Brad Lancaster, the rainwater harvesting guru and sustainability teacher, will be speaking at 3pm. For more info go to www.AgentsGoneGreen.com, click on Events.

UPDATED SATURDAY 2nd Annual At Bat for Habitat Softball Tournament, April 24
PLAY BALL!!
The Habitat for Humanity Committee is hosting a softball tournament this Saturday, April 24 at Golf Links Sports Complex. Join us for the fun festivities! Come and tailgate with us!  The event will have activities for the kids and fun for the whole family. Come and support your teams!  Come out and meet Joseph Blair, Nic Wise and other U of A Alumni Athletes.
Thank you to our Sponsors: 
Corporate Sponsor: Long Realty Cares Foundation
Field Sponsors:  Bancapital Home Loans, Corona Estates, Long Realty Cares Foundation and the Arizona Basketball Alumni Foundation
DJ Sponsors:   Stewart Title and Corona Estates
Out Field Sponsors: Bank of the West, Lisa Burns with Fidelity National Home Warranty, Habistore, The Hearth Foundation, Metro Title Agency of Arizona, Obstetrix Medical Group, Safelight, Sikku, Ashira Davis-Love with Suburban Mortgage and Vantage West Credit Union
Jumping Castle Sponsor: The Heath Team of Sunstreet Mortgage, LLC
Tailgate Sponsor: Westar Kitchen & Bath

Schedule Your Appointment Today, American Red Cross Blood Drive, Monday, May 3
The Tucson Association of REALTORS® will sponsor an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Monday, May 3 from 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m.  To schedule your appointment, or for more information, contact Cheri Meadows at 327-4218 or American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CRSS or log on to www.redcrossblood.org Sponsor code:  Tucsonrealtors

Lead Based Paint Renovation/Repair Firms must be certified by April 22, 2010
On April 22, 2010, the EPA rule requiring the use of lead-safe work practices becomes effective and firms performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes built before 1978 must be certified, individual renovators must be trained by an EPA-accredited training provider, and the firms and renovators must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. For more information: http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/lscp-press.htm or view the NAR guidance videos at:
- View the National Association of REALTORS® lead paint renovation rule compliance guide overview
- View the National Association of REALTORS® lead renovation rule guide for real estate agents and brokers
- View the National Association of REALTORS® frequently asked questions for realtors
- View the National Association of REALTORS® lead renovation rule guide for property managers
- View the National Association of REALTORS® frequently asked questions for property managers
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Home Buyer Tax Credit…Time is Tickin’ Away!
The Tax Credit grants up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010 and up to $6,500 to current qualifying home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010. Click here for a printable brochure. To download free home buyer tax credit marketing materials, go to http://www.realtor.org/pac.nsf.

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY Low-Cost Preventive Health Screenings
Tucson Association of REALTORS® is happy to announce that Precision Ultrasound will be offering low-cost preventive health screenings to our members and affiliates, April 21 & 22 (Wed. and Thur.) at the Sheraton Hotel and Suites, 5155 E. Grant Rd. here in Tucson. As an introductory special, Precision Ultrasound will be giving a FREE $95 IMT (heart attack prevention screening) with every “Full Package” performed. Click here for more details or call (877) 487-7324 to make an appointment.

Affiliates! Advertise in the Tucson REALTOR® Magazine
Watching your costs in 2010? How about putting 5,300+ professional sales representative to work for you for as little as $300? Your ad in the Tucson REALTOR® Association’s official/bi-monthly e-magazine puts you in front of TAR’s 5,300+ members. REALTORS® have a vital service needed in their transactions. If REALTORS® don’t know you, or hear from you on a regular basis, they can’t be expected to use or refer your services to their buyers. Please call our publisher regarding their special Affiliate advertising rates. Foley Publications, Inc.(800) 628-6983.

UPDATED Attention Brokers, You're Invited to hear from ADRE Commissioner, Judy Lowe
Monday, May 24, 2010 from 8:30am to 10:30am
ADRE Commissioner, Judy Lowe, will be in Tucson on Monday, May 24 to continue communication with respect to proposed legislation and changes and updates in the Department.

TAR Facility Rental, click here for more information.

The GRI Scholarship Program, click here for more information.

Marketing Sessions and Home Tours, click here for more information.

Click here for Industry Events of Interest and Community Opportunities.

Risk Tip of the Week: AS-IS Addendum
Q: I am preparing an offer for my Buyer on a home that is advertised in MLS as AS-IS. What does AS-IS mean? What form do I need? Do I still need to do inspections and respond with a BINSR? Will I still receive the Seller Disclosures (SPDS, INS Claim History)?
A: If the Buyer agrees to buy the home AS-IS, use the AAR AS-IS Addendum with your offer to establish what the AS-IS terms are. This addendum states the property is being sold in its existing condition and the Seller makes no warranties to the Buyer for: Seller warranties (line 163-166), Zoning and fit for any particular use. As you do with the purchase contract and all other documents, make sure the Buyer reads the form so they know what they are agreeing to. Full Article This risk reduction tip provided by TAR is a general statement intended to raise important issues relevant to risk reduction. This tip is not intended to be legal advice. It should not be a substitute for advice of professional counsel or the assistance provided by an agent's Designated Broker.

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Register for Flexmls Training from Flexmls Staff!
Flexmls staff will be in Tucson April 19 through April 30 conducting training at the Sheraton on Grant Road and the Westin La Paloma. Click here to register.

Helpful Flexmls Documents
Flex Advanced handout
Flex Contacts handout
Flex Introduction handout
Creating a Contact Report

Flex MLS
Here are some items that you need to know before accessing the system for the first time:
The Flex MLS URL: www.tar.flexmls.com 
LoginID: Use tar. and then your agent id (example: agent id 1000 would login as tar.1000)
Password: The default password for accessing the system for the first time is tarnow. You will be asked to change your password upon login.
Items to be aware of:
• Listing Input will be turned off in the Flex MLS System to eliminate the possibility of duplicate listings while we sync our data with Rapattoni. Input will be available when we go live at the end of April.
• Your contacts will sync over from Rapattoni. Please note that you may add a contact in Flex but it is recommended that you do not also add it to Rapattoni as it will create a duplicate when syncing over.
• Prospect searches do not transfer over from Rapattoni as it is a function of the individual Rapattoni application. Searches will need to be recreated for your individual contacts. Please click on the following link on tips for making this easier: Creating a Contact Report
• DOM/CDOM is still being updated on the system and may not show accurately for the first few days of the membership preview.

Support Options:
Flex MLS Technical Support:
Phone: 888-525-4747
Email: support@flexmls.com

Quick Fixes for Common ActiveKEY Issues

Search San Carlos MLS!
San Carlos has turned on access for our members to their listing data. Go to http://tucson.interfacexpress.com Your Tucson MLS username and password work for San Carlos. Remember, access to this information is not intended to imply that you may sell real estate in Mexico; you must be licensed in the State of Sonora in order to practice real estate there. This is information may be helpful to you in servicing your clients, and may foster the development of referral networks.

Access To Nationwide Foreclosure Information!
The MLS agreement with RealtyTrac now allows Tucson MLS members to access foreclosure information for the entire country for a discounted rate of only $19.95 per month. This change also allows for use of more tools on the RealtyTrac website!! There is no minimum term required to sign up. The links to register for this service are located in the MLS under the ‘links’ tab, and there is also a button on the www.tucsonrealtors.org website.

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