LCBR BULLETIN BOARD

   EMAIL: litch.b.r@snet.net

Linda was presented with the GNA clock shown below and CAR will donate $500 to a charity of her choice. She received the award for her charitable work involving the Civil Air Patrol.

The Board and all its members would like to congratulate Linda for receiving this honorable award which was presented to her by CAR at the Leadership Conference on December 4th, and thank her for all of the support she continuously gives to those in her community! 

Henry W. Wenz Good Neighbor Award Recipient
Linda Hull, Coldwell Banker Realty 2000

L to R: Bryan Tunney, REALTOR®;
Linda St. Peter, REALTOR®; David A. Luzi, REALTOR®
 

REALTOR® CHRYSLER PROGRAM BENEFIT EXTENDED - Due to the ongoing success of the savings program, NAR has extended its agreement with Chrysler Group LLC under the Association’s REALTOR Benefits® Program, continuing the exclusive savings benefit for members for an additional two years, through 2015. This new agreement also expands vehicle eligibility to include the FIAT® 500L.

The agreement extends Chrysler’s distinction as the “Official Automobile Manufacturer of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®” and features the popular $500 cash allowance offer: REALTORS®, association staff (and immediate family residing in the same household as the member or staff) are eligible to receive a $500 cash allowance on the purchase or lease of select new Chrysler, Jeep® Dodge, and Ram vehicles, and – now – the FIAT® 500L.  

Additionally, exclusive to REALTORS®: a no charge, two-year “On the Job” service contract that includes eight oil changes (including diesel), lube and filter- with their purchase or lease.  

Altogether, REALTORS® taking advantage of this program receive the value of their NAR membership dues for more than 6 years!   

The following fact sheet outlines specific benefits. If you have questions about this offer or the REALTOR Benefits® Program, please call me at x8269 or contact a member of the REALTOR Benefits® Team listed in the “NAR Contact Information” section of the fact sheet.

NAR EDUCATION PROGRAM ABOUT AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE - Buying health insurance is often a daunting task leaving individuals and small businesses feeling lost and confused. This confusion has been intensified, now that the Affordable Care Act mandates everyone has to have insurance in 2014. Members have turned to the National Association of REALTORS® looking for help and guidance, and wondering where to begin and what NAR has to offer.   

I’m pleased to announce a new health care awareness initiative driven by NAR. This initiative brings information and knowledge to members in an easy and accessible way. A new health insurance topic page has been created on REALTOR.org (http://www.realtor.org/topics/health-insurance) featuring: articles; info graphics; link to the Affordable Care Act Website; and link to the REALTORS® Insurance Marketplace, a REALTOR Benefits® program supported by partner SASid (Smart and Simple Insurance Development).  

Also, a live webinar will be presented on December 12 at 11:00am (CST). The webinar will provide an update on what’s happening in health insurance, responsibilities to comply with and options. It will also answer popular questions about the open-enrollment deadline and whether to use a private or public exchange. To register, click here.

For more information review the Health Insurance and the Affordable Care Act: What REALTORS® Can Do Today Fact Sheet which outlines the health insurance awareness initiative and its benefits to members. For more information please contact those listed in the "Contact Information".  Fact Sheet
 

INTERNET EXPLORER 11 COMPATIBILITY - Internet Explorer 11 Compatibility - With holiday shopping season fast approaching we realize many of you using MLXchange/Fusion will soon be purchasing/receiving new computers with Windows 8 OS and IE11 Browser.  Please be advised that it's currently necessary for users with Windows 7 or Windows 8 to add the domain name (i.e., mlxchange.com, fusionmls.com, fusionmlx.com, mlxtempo.com, etc.) to Internet Explorers Compatibility View and Trusted Sites lists. Also a reminder that Internet Explorer 10 and 11 must be run in Desktop mode, not Metro mode.
 

CHANGE TO BROKER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS - Effective January 1, 2014 the 30-hour Principles and Practices course which is currently accepted towards the 60 hour course requirement for broker or salesperson pre-licensing will no longer be accepted. Effective January 1, 2014 the only acceptable Principles and Practices of Real Estate course completion certificate will  be that of an approved 60-hour course. Read more...
 

• In 2011, NAR applied with ICANN to operate a new branded .REALTOR top level domain (TLD).
• Soon hundreds of new domains will be available on the Internet, but only .REALTOR means the trusted source in real estate. Only members of the National Association of REALTORS®.
• Only members of the National Association of REALTORS® and the Canadian Real Estate Association can call themselves REALTORS®, and only REALTORS® will be allowed to use the .REALTOR domain in connection with their name.
• Sign up now to be one of the first in line to reserve your .realtor domain as soon as it's available.
• For more info and the latest updates: including Talking Points, FAQ, and an informative video visit www.realtor.org/domain.

NAR PRESIDENT'S PODCAST -Gary Thomas, NAR's 2013 President testified in Washington about the importance of a government guarantee and the preservation of the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. Gary provides a recap of his visit in his latest podcase.  View Podcast
 

FREE TRAINING - Don't miss your opportunity to attend the A Place to Live That I can Call Home training course On December 3, 2013 in Torrington.  During this training you will learn about housing options in CT and how to work toward obtaining your own home. For more information and/or to register visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2QBW2PZ.
 

YOUR SAFETY MATTERS! -  A large selection of safety resources are available at no cost to REALTOR® members. Don't take your safety for granted, make sure you utilize these resources.  We have highlighted some of the resources available below, however, you will find all of the resources available at http://www.realtor.org/topics/realtor-safety.

REALTOR® Safety Forms: More Than Just Space Filler - Read this REALTOR® safety article to learn about the different forms available through NAR's Safety Resources. Read Article...

Safety Tip #2 - Checking-in - When you have a new client, ask him/her to stop by your office and complete a Prospect Identification Form (Find a copy online at www.realtor.org/Safety). Also, photocopy their driver's license and retain this information at your office.  Be certain to properly discard this personal information when you no longer need it. 

REALTOR® Safety at the Office - Watch this REALTOR® safety video to learn about safety at the office.

FREE REALTOR Safety Webinar - Attend the How to Detect and Redirect Unwanted Attention from Past, Present or Potential Clients webinar scheduled for December 19, 2013. Registration is required.  Click here.

Banners & Widgets - Did you know you can download and display REALTOR® Safety banners and widgets on your website?  To get the code for a banner and/or a widget, click here.
 

BARBECUE DINNER DOOR PRIZE - One of the grand prizes for this year's Annual Fundraiser was a Barbeque Dinner for four at the Residence of Linda & David Hull which was won by Karen Grimes with Fahey Associates, REALTORS®.  Karen and her friends recently enjoyed their dinner with REALTOR® Linda Hull and her husband David. The dinner consisted of herb pork loin, rosemary sweet potatoes and white potatoes, Linda's mothers recipe of  scalloped corn, baby carrots and sweet peas and for desert cranberry truffle. The Board and all of their members would like to thank Linda and David for providing such a lovely door prize!

L to R: Marianne Murray, Assistant with Fahey Associates, REALTORS®;
 Jane Hinkel, REALTOR®; Anne Tyrell, REALTOR®;
 Linda Hull, REALTOR®; Karen Grimes, REALTOR® 

TWO OF A KIND - At today's Board of Directors meeting it was obvious that great minds dress alike when Secretary Carolyn Fugere of Litchfield Hills Sotheby's International Realty and Director Alison Lundie of William Raveis Real Estate showed up in very similar outfits.

L to R: Alison Lundie, Director; Carolyn Fugere, Secretary
 

LCBR APPLICATION FEE WAIVED -  The application fee of $100 has been waived for any new members joining now through March 31, 2014! We have many great benefits of membership including free CE in September, free zipform access, discounted TenantTracks membership and MORE! Call the Board office for more details about joining today, 860-482-9816.
 

ONLINE CONTINUING EDUCATION - LCBR is partnered with The CE Shop to provide CE training in an easy to use on-line format; you can access great online continuing education courses that are state approved and 100% accredited!  Additionally, once you complete the course you can access your certificate instantly and The CE Shop manages all reporting to the state.  As an ADDED BONUS: at checkout enter the promotional code GIVE10 to receive 10% off your purchase when you enroll in any online CE  course taken through our online course catalog, and in addition The CE Shop will donated 10% to Habitat for Humanity! This promotion expires December 31, 2013.     You must use the following link to  register for these courses, click here to register. 

NEW COMMERCIAL COURSE AVAILABLE: Commercial Real Estate: Landlord Representation course is now available in The CE Shop course catalog!  This 3-hour course is designed to provide licensees with a thorough understanding of the career of a landlord representative.  To learn more about the course visit http://lcbr.theceshop.com/.

What Members Need to Know About Health Reform - Now that the online state health insurance exchanges are open, brokers and agents are facing decisions about their health insurance coverage. REALTOR® Magazine has published a guide explaining what parts of the Affordable Care Act affect real estate professionals, and detailing coverage options that you can share with your members.  (This information is provided courtesy of the National Association of REALTORS®.)