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July 2013July 2013

digest

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digest Tuesday July 3oth Tuesday July 3oth Tuesday July 3oth

7:30am Hot Breakfast

8:00am Annual Meeting Begins

8:30am Marketing

RAMC Annual MeetingRAMC Annual MeetingRAMC Annual Meeting

Hear committee reports and elect your 2014 Officers & Directors

Mark your calendars TODAY. Our annual meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 30th at 8:00am. It will be sponsored by Ellen Snow & Mari Quevedo of Kolter Homes. Residential Marketing will commence at 8:30am, as usual.

We’re delighted to announce an out‐standing group of nominees for Officers (President, President‐Elect, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer) and Directors for the coming year. On pages 8‐9 you will find a list of nominees and their qualifications, along with the continuing Board members.

We are grateful to the Nominating Commit‐tee for their conscious work: Chair Marty Carmody, David Derrenbacker, Cheryl Gay‐dos, Edward Long, and Jennifer Atkisson‐Lovett.

Association Bylaws provide the opportunity for additional nominees to be proposed through a petition process. Should any member be proposed by petition, the peti‐tion should contain the signature of at least

10% of the Realtor® membership and sent to the Association office prior to July 15, 2013 to the attention of Christy Bearse/Secretary Treasurer or Joy Lane/EVP.

The nominees will address the members during Residential Marketing on July 16th and 23rd. Please arrive promptly at 8:30am on those dates to get to know all the candi‐dates so you can make an informed deci‐sion!

Advanced Voting Opens July 23rd, 2013.

Voting will open at 8:30am on Tuesday, July 23rd. Realtor® members may cast their vote by obtaining a ballot from the front desk at the Association during normal busi‐ness hours. All votes must be cast in person with the eligible voting member’s identity verified by staff prior to being provided a ballot.

Voting will close 8:30am at the Annual Meeting on Tuesday, July 30th.

See pages 8‐9 for the list of nominees.

Questions? Contact Joy Lane, Executive Vice President (772‐678‐7248)

Welcome to our newest RAMC staff member Renee Jordan, Professional Services Director.

And

Congratulations to Helene Gratton, RAMC Administrative Assistant, on receiving her

American Citizenship!!

REALTOR®ASSOCIATIONOFMARTINCOUNTY43SWMontereyRoadStuart,Florida34994

Phone(772)283‐1748Fax(772)288‐0215

[email protected]

OFFICERSPresident

[email protected]

President‐ElectJENNIFERATKISSON‐LOVETT,CRS,GRI

[email protected]

VicePresidentANGIELAVIANO,CRS,GRI

[email protected]

Secretary‐TreasurerCHRISTYBEARSE,CPA

christy@florida‐homefinders.com

DIRECTORSSUEANDERSEN,[email protected]

[email protected]

DIANABRUTON,AHWD,CRB,LTG,[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

DENNISFADDEN,CRS,GRI,SRES,[email protected]

CHERYLGAYDOS,GRI,SFR,TRC,[email protected]

[email protected]

STAFFJOYLANE

[email protected]

JEREMEYBINGHAMGovernmentAffairsDirector

GovernmentAffairs,RAMCFL.org,[email protected]

MARISAMOLEIROMLSDirector

MLS,Marketing,[email protected]

[email protected]

RENEEJORDANMembership&EducationDirector

Education,Sponsorship,[email protected]

Want to reach RAMC members with your message? Contact Marisa

for information on advertising in the RAMC digest at [email protected]

Deadline for the August edition is July 19th.

National Association of REALTORS® 888‐874‐6500

Florida Association of REALTORS® 407‐438‐1400

Florida Legal Hotline 407‐438‐1409 Free advice from an Attorney for members of Flor‐ida Realtors®!

Florida Tech Helpline 407‐587‐1450 (M‐F 9am‐8pm / Sat 9am‐5pm) Free expert assistance and support for all your technical needs.

DBPR 850‐487‐1395 www.MyFloridaLicense.com/dbpr (FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation)

Check your CE credits and license renewal information at:

www.MyFloridaLicense.com

MLXchange/Fusion Help Desk 888‐825‐5472 M‐F 8:30am‐8:30pm / S‐S 8:30am‐3pm

Form Simplicity 407‐587‐1430

KURIO 888‐935‐8746 http://martincounty.kurio.mobi

ListHub Support 877‐847‐3394 (press 2)

ListingBook 866‐353‐3456

RealBiz 360 888‐732‐5249 (press 2)

Realtor.com 800‐878‐4166

RPR (24‐7 Support) 877‐977‐7576

ShowingTime 800‐379‐0057

Supra 877‐699‐6787

Important Phone Numbers and Web Sites

VerifyyourCECreditswithDBPRVerifyyourCECreditswithDBPRVerifyyourCECreditswithDBPRIt is very important to keep all your continuing education letters to validate your coursework. These letters will tell you the course names and how many credits you received. If the credits did not get transmitted successfully to DBPR, then you will be able to use the letters to verify your attendance.

For questions, please call the Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395 Monday‐Friday, 8 a.m. ‐ 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. ‐ 2 p.m. EST.

>> Click here to Verify CE Credits at DBPR Online

>> Click here for Florida Realtors® Education Contacts

For more information about Florida Licensing requirements, you can visit the Florida Realtors® website by clicking here

mailto:[email protected]?subject=RAMC%20Digest%20Advertising

http://www.realtor.org

http://www.floridarealtors.org/

http://www.floridarealtors.org/LegalCenter/index.cfm

http://www.technologyhelpline.com/

http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/

http://www.myfloridalicense.com

https://www.myfloridalicense.com/info.asp

http://www.floridarealtors.org/Education/LicensingRequirements/Education-Contacts.cfm

https://www.floridarealtors.org/Education/LicensingRequirements/index.cfm

MembershipNew Business Partner Offices Willoughby Golf Club 3001 SE Doubleton Drive Stuart, FL 34997 72‐220‐6000 Michelle Reilly

Nations Title Agency of Florida, Inc. 3505 East Frontage Rd., Suite 165 Tampa, FL 33607 321‐338‐5504 Melinda Knight Melissa Vogley

Brightway Insurance/The Barletta Agency 17128 SE Indian St. Stuart, FL 34997 772‐872‐7800 Vincent Zanfini Roy Monk

New Secondary Business Partners Brian Tierney Group One Mortgage

New REALTOR® Members Terri Bramlett Prudential Florida Realty

Walter Eric (Rick) Deal Sailfish Point‐Sotheby’s Int’l Realty

Pamela Duncan Keller Williams of Greater Martin County

William Govel III Keller Williams of Greater Martin County

Diane Jeanfaivre Prudential Florid Realty

Robin Keeley RE/MAX of Stuart

Emilie Kirkpatrick RE/MAX of Stuart

Katherine Neurohr Coldwell Banker Residential Realty

Alexandra Owen Water Pointe Realty

Michelle Sue Pollom Water Pointe Realty Group

Laura Stracuzzi Purkey RE/MAX of Stuart

Kelley Ann Quinn Prudential Florida Realty

Laura Steinauer Premier Realty Group

Patricia Tompson–Slavin Keller Williams of Greater Martin County

Tan Tran Lifestyle Realty Group

Donald Widmayer Jr. Nettles Coastal Realty

New Secondary REALTOR® Members Jason Flannery Water Pointe Realty Group (Jupiter)

New Designated REALTOR® Michael Brady Brady Real Estate Services

New MLS Members Lisa Ammons Illustrated Properties—Sewall’s Pt.

Mark Eble Water Pointe Realty Group

Connie Geraldo‐Silver RE/MAX Masterpiece

Joseph McDuffee Illustrated Properties—Sewall’s Pt.

Susan Prahl Illustrated Properties—Sewall’s Pt.

New REALTOR® Office #1005 Brady Real Estate Services 2018 SW Olympic Terrace Palm City, FL 34990 772‐781‐1190 DR: Michael Brady

Before You Leave Home

Strip your wallet of any credit or debit cards, identification, etc. that you don’t absolutely require for your trip. Then take photos of the cards you’re taking. This is an easy way to access card numbers if you need to report them stolen.

Take photos of any jewelry you’re taking as well, in case you need to file an insurance claim. Better yet, leave anything valu‐able at home!

When packing for your trip, include a small flashlight and a rub‐ber doorstop—you’ll find out why in the next section.

Arriving at Your Hotel

If you catch a taxi at the airport, make sure it is a licensed cab. Is it clearly marked? Is the driver’s registration visible? In some cities, unregistered drivers may solicit business. Getting in one of these illegal vehicles can result in being overcharged, robbed, or worse.

When you get to your hotel, arrive with safety in mind. Re‐quest a room with a safe, and then use it for the duration of your stay. Stow electronics, jew‐elry and other valuables every time you leave the room. As soon as you get to your room, give it a once‐over for:

A working safe

Secure door locks, including at least one that can’t be opened with a key card

Floor map with fire exits

Place your flashlight on a nightstand in case of a power outage, and use your doorstop to jam the door closed once you’re in for the night.

Be aware of who is riding in the elevator with you. It’s a good habit to stand near the buttons of the elevator rather than mov‐ing to the rear of the car to make room for others. That way you maintain some control over stopping the elevator or calling for help.

Also be aware of other people in the hallway on your floor as you’re arriving. If you feel you’re being followed, don’t go to your room alone. Head for the lobby and ask for a hotel bellman to escort you to your room.

Attending the Convention

Any time you’re out of town, make sure your mobile phone is charged at all times, even if it means plugging your charger in during sessions. You don’t want to be stuck in a new town with no phone service.

When traveling outside the convention facility, remove your name badge—an obvious indicator that you’re from out of town, likely traveling alone, and carrying cash.

Before you leave your hotel or the convention, know where you’re going (your smartphone can help with this—but load your locations in advance). If you get lost, ask someone trustworthy, such as a security guard or a hotel concierge.

If you are walking alone and feel uneasy, make or take a phone call as you go. Assailants may be less likely to attack if the poten‐tial victim is in mid‐conversation. Or, try to travel in a group.

Follow these basic steps on your next business trip, and make them a habit every time you travel—you’ll decrease the risks that come with travel. And, as always, pay attention to your sur‐roundings at every stage of your trip. That’s the single most im‐portant safety tip, no matter where you are.

Stay Safe at Conventions

Traveling to a convention—whether juggling suitcases, stowing valuables in hotel rooms, or wandering a strange neighborhood wearing an attendee badge—can make you vulnerable to pickpockets, theft, and other crimes. Following these tips may help keep your next convention experience safe and secure.

Much of the information here is taken from safety expert Andrew Wooten’s video REALTOR® Safety at Conventions, which can be found at REALTOR.org/Safety along with other free safety resources.

(Source: Andrew Wooten’s REALTOR® Safety at Conventions video, 2011)

Download article (Word: 26 KB)

http://www.realtor.org/videos/realtor-safety-at-conventions




http://realtor.org/Safety








http://www.realtor.org/sites/default/files/publications/2012/final-convention-safety-2012-08-01.doc

June 2, 2013—The Stuart‐Martin County Chapter Women’s Council of Realtors® hosted “A Day at the Races” fundraiser to benefit Safe Space and the Chapter’s Education Fund. Mem‐bers, adorned with their most stylish “Derby Day” hats, gath‐ered at The Reef Waterfront Restaurant in Port Salerno to cheer on their favorite horses. The horses with such names as Tropical Breeze, Tropical Storm, Ant Colony, Double Trouble, Fifty Shades of Hay and Big Red Lips were “owned” by Chapter members and local Realtors®. The races were projected on the screen and the crowd bet their “funny money” on the out‐come. Winners were put in a drawing for great prizes donated by members and local businesses. The races were sponsored by Better Homes and Gardens Laviano & Associates, Kolter Homes, RE/MAX Masterpiece Realty, Coldwell Banker Resi‐dential Real Estate, BNI and Merit Title.

A special “Thanks” to:

The Reef Waterfront Restaurant

Cindy Reddish, Reddish Quarter Horses

Richard Stratman, ADT / Protech

RE/MAX Masterpiece Realty

Art Gagliardo, Innovative Computer Works

The Race Committee

The crowd had a great time and plans are underway for 2014’s Day at the Races!

And….They’re Off with the Stuart Martin County Chapter Women’s

Council of Realtors®

Stuart/Martin County Chapter

Photos courtesy of Mark Dolan Photography

District III Meeting Update

We had a fantastic District III meeting with St. Lucie County, Jupi‐ter/Tequesta/Hobe Sound and Palm Beach County Chapters. The WCR Florida State President, Amy Worth‐Paul was in attendance and Dennis Giannetti, The Breakthrough Ninja, gave us some great tips on taking our businesses to the next level!

Courtesy of Realtor® Magazine

June 2013 | By Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Sales associate Diana Baylor juggles her real estate responsibilities with the demands of carpools, school schedules, and extracurricular activities.

While a career in real estate can offer some flexibility in your schedule, many practitioners say it can be a difficult balance to squeeze in a family and social life when you’re expected to be available 24/7. Between clients demanding immediate responses to their inquiries and the relentless evening and weekend appointments, your time can disappear in a flash.

“You’re always on call,” says Baylor, a sales associate with RE/MAX Masters in Covina, Calif. “You have to be flexible and find the per‐fect balance. Everyone’s balance is a little dif‐ferent.”

How have you been juggling it all? Suffering through sleepless, work‐filled nights? Missing out on family events? Well, it’s time to shift strategies. We asked real estate professionals and time management experts to share ideas for how you can take better control over your schedule.

The Team Approach

Baylor, the mother of two children under 5 years old, devotes about 40 hours a week to working on her real estate business. How does she do it all? She embraces a team approach to real estate, even with agents outside of her brokerage.

Baylor and her partner, Javier Guerrero with RE/MAX Masters’ Quiroga Team, decided to work with sales associates at a separate real estate brokerage called Westside Estates Agency in Beverly Hills. Baylor and Guerrero work with two other agents from the broker‐age, so that all four can cast a wide net over the Los Angeles area.

The two teams swap referrals but also assist each other’s sellers and buyers in some cases. For example, if Baylor has a client who is inter‐ested in seeing properties in downtown Los Angeles or the Hollywood area, she’ll have an agent based there with Westside Estates meet with her client to handle the showings there. Baylor will still handle the contracts and do the behind‐the‐scenes work if the client finds a property to purchase. The relationship works the other direction if Westside Estates Agency has clients interested in the Covina area. The

two agencies work together, handling show‐ings and contracts, and then split the commis‐sion.

The clients benefit from the arrangement by getting an agent knowledgeable about each area. Plus, they have more agents working on their behalf. Agents get to split up the work‐load, reach a wider audience, and avoid long commutes to and from appointments.

Partnering could help you better take control over your schedule. Also, divvying up some of your responsibilities may bring you more san‐ity.

Some agents use the services of a virtual assis‐tant — personal assistants who work off‐site to assist you on an ongoing or temporary basis with any number of tasks, from blogging, web design, writing listing ads, coordinating your marketing, and more. You can find virtual assis‐tants through many channels, such as the In‐ternational Virtual Assistants Association, REVA Network, or Virtual Assistant for Real Estate, among others.

Sorting Out the ‘Productivity Puzzle’

Does this sound familiar? You start your day checking e‐mail, posting to your social net‐works, and responding to messages and before you know it, it’s already after noon and you haven’t delved into any of your top priorities.

To strike a better work‐life balance, you may need to carefully evaluate how you’re using your time. Time management is an essential skill for successful professionals, yet it’s rarely taught, says Sara Caputo, founder of Radiant Organizing, a consulting company.

“You are never going to be productive and successful if you can’t manage your time,” Caputo says.

Caputo, author of the e‐book The Productivity Puzzle, has done extensive work with clients to address organizational and productivity‐related time zappers. Through her work, she’s identi‐fied where time management skills can help.

1. Identify your priorities.

“You can’t chase everything that you have in front of you,” Caputo says. “You need to be crystal clear about what your priorities are.” Identify your “core four,” she says.

Try this exercise: In the middle of a piece of paper, draw a big plus sign. In each quadrant, write one of the four core areas of your life — for example, business, family, health, and

spirit. Maybe one might be a specific hobby or passion. Ask yourself how well you are focusing your time and energy on these four areas. Try to write down the percentage of time you spend in these areas. For example, if 75 per‐cent of your time is spent on work, you may not have 20 percent to devote to an extracur‐ricular activity if it’s outside your core four without sacrificing in the other areas you iden‐tified, Caputo says.

2. Organize your physical workspace.

A cluttered workspace can stifle decision‐making. Set up your workspace to help you focus, particularly if you work from home, Caputo says.

If you work from home, dedicate a space away from the rest of your house for your work, such as a corner of a room, guest room, or home office. Make sure you designate a separate space away from the day‐to‐day activities of your personal life.

Map out your workspace using these four main areas: in, out, pending, and working. Where are each of these areas in your workspace? The pending area should be all active items you need to do, whereas the work area is where you sit down and complete those items. Keep the work area clear unless you are actually working on something.

Use a warm‐cold system to organize your workspace, keeping what you need and use most often close to you — the “warm” zone. Cooler items that don’t require as much use or immediate response can be kept further away.

3. Create more than one to‐do list.

Caputo has three: a to‐do list that focuses on today, one for this week, and a master list (or a “10,000‐foot view” list) of what’s coming in the future. When a task comes at you, you can then plug it into one of the three to‐do lists. Caputo recommends having meetings with your family and spouse so that you can plug family events into your to‐do lists as well.

4. Take an “hour of power.”

Unplug from all your technology and carve out time to work at a deeper level. You’ll be amazed at how much you can get done, Caputo says. Schedule a 59‐minute time block several times a week that will serve as optimal concentration time. Break away from your e‐mail, phone, social networks, and meetings. Accomplish the most difficult and time‐

YES, You Can Achieve Work-Life Balance Are all the demands of a successful real estate business dragging you down? Get better control of your

schedule so you can have a life outside of work too.

Continued on next page>>

http://realtormag.realtor.org/author/melissa-dittmann-tracey

Ethics

A rticle 7 of the Realtor® Code of Ethics states:

In a transaction, REALTORS® shall not accept compensation from more than one party, even if permitted by law, without disclosure to all parties and the informed consent of the REALTOR®’s client or clients. (Amended 1/93)

Buyer A engaged REALTOR® B to locate a small commercial property. Buyer A explained his exact specifications indicating that he did not wish to compromise. They agreed that if REALTOR® B could locate such a property within Buyer A’s price range, he—the buyer—would pay a finder’s fee to REALTOR® B.

Two weeks later, REALTOR® B called Buyer A to advise that Seller C had just listed a property with him that met all of Buyer A’s specifications ex‐cept that the listed price was a bit higher than Buyer A wanted to pay. Buyer A inspected the property and liked it, but said he would adhere to his original price range. REALTOR® B called Buyer A three days later to say that Seller C had agreed to sell at Buyer A’s price. The sale was made and REALTOR® B collected a commission from Seller C and a finder’s fee from Buyer A which was not disclosed to Seller C, REALTOR® B’s client.

Several weeks later, Seller C learned about the finder’s fee that REALTOR® B had collected from Buyer A and filed a complaint with the Board of REALTORS® charging REALTOR® B with duplicity and unprofessional conduct. The complaint specified that when REALTOR® B had presented Buyer A’s offer at less than the listed price, he, the seller, was reluctant to accept it, but REALTOR® B had convinced him that the offer was a fair one and not likely to be improved upon in the current market; and that REALTOR® B had dwelt at length on certain disadvantageous features of the property in an attempt to promote acceptance of the offer. The complaint charged that REALTOR® B had actually been the agent of the buyer while holding himself out as the agent of the seller. Further, Seller C asserted that REALTOR® B had never mentioned that he was representing the buyer or intended to be compensated by the buyer.

At the hearing, REALTOR® B’s defense was that he had served both buyer and seller faithfully; that he had not ac‐cepted Seller C’s listing until after he had agreed to assist Buyer A in locating a property; and that in his judgment the listed price was excessive and the price actually paid was a fair price.

A Hearing Panel of the Board’s Professional Standards Committee, which heard the complaint, concluded that REAL‐TOR® B had acted in violation of Article 7 of the Code of Ethics. His efforts to represent the buyer and the seller at the same time, and the fact that he intended to be compensated by both parties, should have been fully disclosed to all parties in advance.

CASESTUDY

Each month we feature an article from the current year’s REALTOR® Code of Ethics put forth by the National Association of Real‐

tors®. Along with the article is a case study, or example, to illustrate a scenario in which the article would apply to a situation.

Did You Know?

The REALTOR® Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice changes periodically based on updates made by the National Association of

REALTORS®. A new version is released every year and can be found at http://Realtor.org

consuming and least enjoyable tasks first. If you have multiple tasks to accomplish, set a timer and then move onto the next‐highest level task when it dings. People tend to work more efficiently when under deadline pressure, Caputo says.

5. Plan ahead and maintain.

Set yourself up for success tomorrow by look‐ing ahead at the end of each day. “One of the biggest challenges for many people is not tell‐ing yourself how to spend your time. You allow your clients to dictate it, instead of you,” Caputo says. “You need to control your time.”

Take 15 minutes at the end of each day to tie up loose ends, so that you can have a clean break from your work life to your personal life.

“Define two or three things so you can press the reset button for the next day,” Caputo says. This can be anything from taking the time to clear out your e‐mail inbox at the end of the day to cleaning up your work files to writing your to‐do lists for tomorrow or next week.

Maintenance is the strongest piece to the pro‐ductivity puzzle, Caputo says. If you don’t maintain your processes, everything will fall apart again. “The worst thing is that four months later you haven’t done any mainte‐nance of your systems and then you have to devote an entire Saturday to cleaning out the trunk and filing bills,” Caputo says.

Do the best you can—for now.

You can’t do it all. But if you find your stress level or even your health is beginning to be

effected by your massive list of to‐dos, you may need an intervention. Whether that’s finding ways to better manage your time, stay‐ing focused on more high priority items, or soliciting extra help, like Baylor did.

“We live in a world that says everything has to be perfect,” Baylor says. “But you just have to do the best you can. I’m still trying to find that perfect balance. I try to carve time each day to do certain things to move my business for‐ward. But sometimes I have to say ‘no’ to my clients and reschedule things. That’s hard to do. But my children come first. I try to do the most I can. I may not be No. 1 in my office right now, but I know one day I will be.”

“Yes, You Can Achieve a Work‐Life Balance” (Cont.)

http://Realtor.org

NomineesforOfficers(Term:10/1/13thru9/30/14)

Nominee for President

Jennifer Atkisson‐Lovett CRS, GRI, CLHMS, SFR

Firm: RE/MAX of Stuart

Position: Broker/Co‐Owner

Specialty: Residential Sales, Property Mgt. & some Commercial

Education: FSU—BS/Marketing Mgt. & BS/International Busi‐

ness Operations

Number of Years Licensed: 18

Prior Business: Retail Management

Realtor® Association Activities: 2013: RAMC President‐Elect, MLS Com‐mittee (Chair), Nominating Committee; 2012: Technology Task Force, MLS Committee (Vice Chair); 2011: Nominating Committee, Facility Task Force, MLS Committee, Marketing Committee, Grievance Committee, Leadership Development Task Force (Vice Chair); 2010: Strategic Plan‐ning, Grievance Committee, Nominating Committee, Professional De‐velopment, Awards Committee; 2009: VOW Project Team, MLS Com‐mittee (Chair) 2008: Nominating Committee (Chair), Broker Internet Risk Task Force, Board of Directors, 2007: RAMC President, FAR‐NAR Travel Policy Task Force, Strategic Planning; 2006: President‐Elect, FAR Meetings Committee, Political Task Force, Professional Development, Strategic Planning, Strategic Planning; 2005: Vice‐President, RAMC Ser‐vices Task Force, Strategic Planning, Top Producers Council, MLS Con‐version Task Force; 2004: Volunteer Resources Project Team, Top Pro‐ducers Council, MLS Vendor Task Force, Finance Committee, Awards Committee; 2003: Secretary‐Treasurer, Finance Committee, Top Pro‐ducers Council; 2002: Board of Directors; 2001: Marketing Committee, Technology Project Team.

Civic Activities: 1996‐Present: Junior League Martin County; 2012: Mar‐tin County North Little League volunteer

Nominee for President-Elect

Dennis Fadden CRS, GRI, SRES, SFR

Firm: Coldwell Banker—Stuart

Position: Sales Associate

Specialty: Residential Real Estate

Education: BS in Nuclear Engineering; MBA


Prior Business: Sr. Manager at a Nuclear Power Plant

Realtor® Association Activities: 2001‐2004 Gov’t Affairs; 2002‐2003 Technology Committee; 2005‐2007 Strategic Planning; 2004 Top Pro‐ducers Council; 2004 Rising Stars (Chair); 2005‐2007, 2013 Board of Directors; 2005‐2006 Prof. development (Chair); 2005 Finance; 2006 Curriculum Committee; 2006 Voting TF; 2007 FAR NAR Travel Policy TF; 2007‐2011 Habitat for Humanity (Chair); 2007‐2010 Grievance Commit‐tee; 2008‐2009 Nominating Committee; 2008/2012/2013 MLS Commit‐tee; 2009‐2010 Political Screening Committee; 2010 Communications TF; 2011 Finance Committee; 2011‐2013 Charity TF

Civic Activities: 2005‐2013 West Point Society of the Palm Beaches & TC (Director & Vice Pres.); 2003‐2008 Military Offices Association of Amer‐ica (Director & Secretary); 2009‐2011 Habitat for Humanity (Director); 2004‐2005 Martin County Code Enforcement Board Member; 2000‐2001 Sewall’s Point Code Enforcement Board Member

Nominee for Secretary-Treasurer

Christy Bearse CPA Firm: Fenton Lang Bruner & Associates


Specialty: Residential

Education: BA in Accounting—Bentley University


Prior Business: CPA

Realtor® Association Activities: 2012‐13 Secretary‐Treasurer; 2008‐13 Finance Committee (‘12 Chair, ‘08‐09 Vice Chair); 2011‐2012 MLS Com‐mittee (‘11 Vice Chair); 2008‐13 Residential Marketing Committee; 2010‐2013 Strategic Planning Committee; 2006‐2008 Image & PR Com‐mittee (’08 Chair); 2009‐11 Director

Nominee for Vice President

William (Bill) Dean CRS, GRI Firm: Century 21 IRP Realty

Position: Broker‐Owner


Education: Georgetown University—BSBA Accounting


Prior Business: Radnor Development Corp.—Regional V.P.; Pioneer Western Properties—V.P. of Real Estate Syndication; Price Water‐house—CPA.

Realtor® Association Activities: Board of Directors (Director); Finance Committee; Grievance and Professional Standards Committee; Strate‐gic Planning Committee; and various special task force committees.

Civic Activities: St. Mark’s Episcopal School Board of Advisors ‐ 10 years; JTAA (Jupiter Tequesta Athletic Assn) Youth Coach (Softball, Soc‐cer & Basketball) ‐ 14 years; JTAA Soccer & Basketball Board Member—9 and 8 years, respectively

Your Vote Counts!

Early voting begins on July 23rd and closes at

our Annual meeting on July 30th.

NomineesforDirector—SelectFour(4)

Continuing Directors

Dan Brady, CCIM, CRB

Firm: Water Pointe Realty Group of Stuart, Inc.

Position: Broker/Associate

Specialty: Residential & Commercial

Education: IRCC: Economics—Tax Accounting; Cumberland College: Major in Biology, Minor in Chemistry


Prior Business: Wholesale Florist (1975‐1985); Chief Fire/Rescue Mar‐tin County (1971‐1976)

Realtor® Association Activities: 1992 Ethics Training Committee (Vice Chair); 2011‐2013 Marketing Committee; 2011‐2013 Finance Committee

Civic Activities: 1971‐1976 Fire Rescue Martin County; 1987 OPUS‐Martin County High School

Marie Caiazza

Firm: Priority One Properties of Florida, Inc.

Position: Shareholder/Training Director/Sales As‐sociate


Education: Masters Degree in Education


Prior Business: Elementary School Teacher

Realtor® Association Activities: 2011 Marketing Committee Member; 2012 Marketing Committee (Vice Chair); 2013 Marketing Committee (Chair)

Civic Activities: 2005‐Present Director/Offsite Ministry for Manors at

Jeff Clark, CRS

Firm: Coldwell Banker—Stuart


Specialty: Residential Sales


Prior Business: Towing Service Owner

Realtor® Association Activities: 2003 Social Committee (Chair); 2010 Award Committee (Chair); 2013 MLS Committee (Vice Chair); 2012‐2013 MLS Task Force (Chair); 2010‐2012 Strategic Planning Committee

Civic Activities: 1998‐2011 Angel Flight

Diana Bruton, CRB, CIPS, PMN Tom Baker Joan Rogers Rick Boschen, SRES

Robert (Bob) Castellano, GRI

Firm: Premier Realty Group



Education: Columbia University, Master of Science in Engineering


Prior Business: AT&T (28 yrs.); Owned Marine Business; Ran a local non‐profit

Realtor® Association Activities: 2011 Marketing Committee; 2011‐2012 Charity Committee (Chair)

Civic Activities: 2001‐Present Knights of Columbus; 2004‐Present Treasure Coast Humane Society; 2014 Paws & Claws Fundraiser (Chair); 2011‐Present Honor Flights (Volunteer & Contributor)

H.B. Warren, SRES, e‐Pro, CDPE

Firm: The Keyes Company, Realtors®

Position: Broker/Associate


Education: B.S. Business Administration

Number of Years Licensed: 25 in Florida; 29 years total.

Prior Business: Developer

Realtor® Association Activities: 2012 Gov’t Affairs; 2012 Grievance Committee.

Civic Activities: 2003/2008 Volunteered at various public schools in Martin County.

Save the Date!Save the Date!Save the Date! RAMC’s Annual Installation

Luncheon for the 2014 Officers and

Directors will be held on

Friday, Sept. 27th at 11:45am at

the Clubhouse at Mariner Sands

Friday, July 19, 2013

9:00am - 1:00pm

$25 - RAMC Auditorium

4 hours CE Credit

Convenient Take this course at your local board! No need to invest

extra travel time!

Cooperative Share the experience with other members from your local

board

Collaborative Participate in this session with other local boards,

and network with REALTOR® members from

across the state

Road Map to a Successful Closing Taught by Denis Milonas

Part of the FloridaRealtors® Virtual Campus Series Imagine that you decide to take a day trip to a place you have never been before. Do you simply drive and hope you find it, no GPS or map in tow? Of course not! Over time, some Realtors® may go into closings without a “road map’ since they conduct them so often. Doing so, however, can prove problematic and may lead to becoming lost. Offered in both a three and a four hour CE Credit format, this course will help real estate professionals understand the importance of knowing who is responsible for the various parts of the closing, how to overcome the problems that may be encountered, and getting to the closing table and ensuring that the Realtors® fees are received without obstacles or road blocks! No two closings are exactly the same, and this course will ensure that Realtors® stay on track. Objectives: Upon completion, the student will be able to: Provide options in the event of failed inspections for Roof, Termite, Electrical, or Building code deficiencies, differentiate between closing activities of a conventional contract, a cash purchase, and a HUD/VA financed transaction, provide options that would lead to a timely closing on a property with a correctable title problem, prepare a net sheet for buyer’s required cash to close and sellers net proceeds based on a price and terms provided by the Instructor, construct a timeline outlining every step between contract acceptance and actual closing for each party (Listing Broker, Selling Broker, Buyer, Seller), and list the options a Broker has in the event of an escrow dispute for deposit(s) they are holding.

Register Online (RAMC members only):

• Log into http://www.RAMCFL.org • Click on Register for Classes • Click on the class your wish to

register for • Click on Register Now • Enter credit card information if

there is a fee • Click on Register • Click on Print Register on

Confirmation page

Or, call RAMC at 772-283-1748 to register.

No refunds or credits for no-shows. Please cancel 48 hours in advance if necessary.

Invest in your success with RAMC Education.

RAMC is committed to providing you with a variety of educational programs designed to enhance your real estate career. Whether you are looking to renew your license, update your skills, or become certified in a certain area of real estate, RAMC has a course for you.

If you have questions or need additional information, please email [email protected]

http://ramcfl.org/

mailto:[email protected]

education outlook Realtor Association of Martin County

Invest in your success with RAMC Education. RAMC is committed to providing you with a variety of educational programs designed to enhance your real estate career. RAMC offers several programs each month. Whether you are looking to renew your license, update your skills, or become certified in a certain area of real estate, RAMC has a course for you. If you have questions or need additional information, please call us at 772-283-1748 or visit the website at ramcfl.org

Check In Please arrive 10-15 minutes before class begins in order to allow time for check-in. On site registrations will be permitted if seats are available.

Registration Online (members only):

• Log into http://www.RAMCFL.org • Click on Register for Classes • Click on the class your wish to register for • Click on Register Now • Enter credit card information if there is a fee • Click on Register • Click on Print Register on Confirmation page

Phone – 772-283-1748

43 SW Monterey Rd, Stuart, FL 34994

July 2013 Courses Basic MLS Wednesday, July 10th 9am- 12:30pm 3 CEUs FREE Learn the rules and regulations, MLS overview, client set up, listing input, search & maintenance, add photos, print reports & add a listing to open house tour. Intermediate MLS Wednesday, July 10th 1:30pm- 4:30pm 3 CEUs FREE Listing search review, prospecting, hot sheets, financial functions and CMAs. Realist Hands On! Thursday, July 11th 9am- 12 noon FREE Limited to 20 Realist is the public records/tax roll information service provider for RAMC MLS. Learn how to run searches for mailing lists, exports, and create mailing labels among other functions. Fusion Hands On! Thursday July 11th 1:30pm- 4:30pm FREE Fusion MLS is a cross-browser alternative platform to replace the IDS solution, and it's quicker! Limited to 20 attendees. New Member Orientation Thursday, July 18th 9am to 4pm FREE For new RAMC members. Live Webinar “Road Map to a Successful Closing” with Denis Milonas Friday, July 19th 9:00am- 1:00pm 4 CEUs $25.00 This course will help real estate professionals understand the importance of knowing who is responsible for the various parts of the closing, and how to overcome the problems that may be encountered. No two closings are exactly the same. This course will ensure that Realtors® stay on track. Life Line Health Screening Thursday, July 25th 8:30am-5:00pm In order to receive a $10.00 discount off the cost of your screening package, Pre Registration is required. Register through the designated Helping Hands phone number: 1-800-324-9458 or online at: www.helpinghandsforhealth.com. For every member who registers, Life Line Screening will make a $10.00 donation to our association.

http://ramcfl.org/

http://www.helpinghandsforhealth.com/

School Supplies Drive 2013

It’s that time again! Please bring in School Sup-plies to Marketing or to the front desk any time

from now until August!

This year, the Boys and Girls Club doesn’t have the resources to do as large a drive as it has in the past. RAMC is digging deep to help local

students and taking on the School Supply Drive all on our own. Please consider placing this

flyer and a collection box in your office.

We will also accept cash donations and we’ll purchase items most needed at the end of the

drive on your behalf.

REQUESTED SCHOOL ITEMS INCLUDE:

*Pens *Two-Pocket Folders *Pencils *Notebook Paper *Pencil Boxes *Colored Pencils *Glue Sticks *Binders *Markers *Subject Notebooks *Scissors *Rulers *Erasers * Composition Books

Notebooks

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

DRIVE JULY 1 -

AUGUST 1

RAMC will be hosting a health screening event health screening event health screening event provided by Life Line ScreeningLife Line ScreeningLife Line Screening

Thursday July 25, 2013Thursday July 25, 2013Thursday July 25, 2013

Register NOW & Receive $10 off! We are pleased to announce that we will be offering ultrasound screenings to scan for Stroke, Vascular Disease and Osteoporosis. These simple non‐invasive tests detect abnormalities BEFORE they cause a stroke or other serious event.

Screenings for Atrial Fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm) and Blood tests for complete lipid panel, high sensitivity C‐Reactive Protein* and diabetes are also offered. These are all health factors that put us at higher risk of developing vascular and heart dis‐ease.

In conjunction with the Helping Hands program, Life Line Screening is proud to offer us $10 back for every member who signs up and attends this screening.

To help us, while bettering your own health (and receiving your own $10 discount), please register for the screening now. There are two ways to register:

1. Call: 1‐800‐324‐9458

2. Register Online at: www.helpinghandsforhealth.com

Trusted by hospitals nationwide. Life Line Screening has partnered with over 370 hospitals across the country and has screened over 6 million participants. Why? Because the ultrasound screenings that they offer can help save your life.

1. Stroke/Cartoid Artery Screening—$60.00 Ultrasound scan of the carotid arteries that screens for buildup of fatty plaque—a leading cause of strokes.

2. Heart Rhythm Screening (Atrial Fibrillation) ‐ $60.00 A quick and easy test using EKG electrodes placed on the arms and legs to identify the presence or absence of an irregular heartbeat.

3. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening—$60.00 Ultrasound screening for an abdominal aneurysm (enlargement) that could lead to a ruptured aorta.

4. Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening—$60.00 Evaluates for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the lower extremities, which increases the risk of heart disease.

5. Osteoporosis Risk Assessment—$50.00 Ultrasound screens the heel for bone mass density. Osteoporosis is painless and silent in its early stages.

Package 1: Stroke, Vascular Disease & Heart Rhythm Package—4 tests for only $149!

Package 2: Add an Osteoporosis Screening for only $10 more—5 tests for only $159!

A $116 savings!

For questions and additional information, please call the number listed above.

http://www.helpinghandsforhealth.com/

2013 RPAC Donors2013 RPAC Donors2013 RPAC Donors

Brenda Alexander Linda Prange

Christine Bearse M. Jacqui Thurlow‐Lippisch

Christopher Clifford Margaret Dyer

Carolyn Knight Mary Ann Villalva

David Powers Mary Bradley

Deborah Wood Mary Brodeur

Debra Duvall Patrick Stracuzzi

Dennis Fadden Patrick Stracuzzi, Jr.

Diana Bruton Phillip Parisi

Edward Long Randy Wisniewski

Elmira Gainey Rick Boschen

Erin Odwazny Ricou Hartman

Gary Scott Roger Spugnardi

Gilbert Gerhardt Sandy McAlister

Helene Gratton Stephen Bohner

James Bruner Stephen Osburn

James Gallagher Susan Maxwell

Joan Thomson Thomas Baker

John Gonzalez Vincent Laviano

Joy Lane William Dean

Katherine Coury William Vanderwerff

Keri Burgess

Kevin Powers

$99 Club Members

Capitol Club Members

Colleen Sample

Elizabeth Elliott

Jennifer Atkisson‐Lovett

Nick Potts

Priscilla Baldwin

Terri Kasnic

Angie Laviano

Dennis Fadden

Jeremey Bingham

Julia Sansevere

Rosalind DeGraff

Statesman’s Award

President’s Circle Maria Wells

Golden “R” Sustaining Member

“Thank You” “Thank You” “Thank You” to our June Program Sponsorsto our June Program Sponsorsto our June Program Sponsors

Program Date Sponsor Sponsor Company

Marketing 6/4/2013 Mary Phipps & Karen Long Harbor Community Bank

Form Simplicity 6/6/2013 Brad Dunning Ozone Wizard

Advanced MLS 6/7/2013 Gail Kleeman Group One Mortgage

Basic MlS 6/7/2013 Mike Searle Searle Insurance & Associates

Marketing 6/11/2013 Janelle Dowley Two Men and a Truck

“Preparing a Listing Contract” 6/14/2013 Kevin Sargent Seacoast National Bank

Realist 6/17/2013 Peggy Hornick East Coast Mortgage

Fusion 6/17/2013 Ellen Snow Kolter Homes Group

Marketing 6/18/2013 Karl Moore CitruSolutions

Orientation—A.M. 6/20/2013 Mark Dolan Mark Dolan Photography

Orientation—P.M. 6/20/2013 Mike Searle Searle Insurance & Associates

Marketing 6/25/2013 Brad Dunning Ozone Wizard

“Art of Controlling the Sale” 6/26/2013 Jim Fischer First American Title

6

REGISTER TODAY and spread the word.

Visit floridarealtors.org/convention

Powerful Reasons to Register For Full Convention...Now!

1. Guaranteeyourseat!SeethePropertyBrothersLIVE!The HGTV stars will lead our General Session August 16. (1 comp ticket with FULL convention registration. After July 15, if seats are still available, tickets can be purchased. $35 for members. $50 for non-members. This event WILL sell out!)

2. Morethan35educationsession(severalforCEcredit). Learn more to earn more and do it all under one roof.

3. TwodaysintheTradeExpo. More than 150 industry experts and exhibitors will be on hand to rock your business world and make you stronger than ever.

4. TwodaysintheSolutionCenter(InsidetheTradeExpo). See custom presentations of products and services designed specifically for Realtors®!

5. 1compticketto“ANightInChicago!” (You WON’T miss the ultimate Chicago Tribute Band . . . if you register for FULL convention now. 1 comp ticket with FULL convention registration. Additional tickets can be purchased by any attendee for $30)

6. Accesstoanonlinelibraryofaudiorecordingsofmostoftheeducationsession. (Available after convention)

FLORIDA REALTORS® 2013 CONVENTION & TRADE EXPO

MEETING DATES: August 14-18 • TRADE EXPO DATES: August 15-16

ROSENSHINGLECREEK,ORLANDO

News You Can Use Foreclosure Settlement a Bust For Many

WASHINGTON – June 25, 2013 – Steven and Joan Bailey say they’re two‐time victims of a broken foreclosure system.

In 2010, they lost their North Carolina home to a foreclosure they say shouldn’t have hap‐pened because they were seeking a loan modification at the time. This year, they ea‐gerly awaited their check from a big bank settlement engineered by the government to compensate millions of borrowers for past foreclosure abuses. They expected at least $6,000 or even the maximum – $125,000.

Their check arrived in April – for $800. Less than a month’s rent on their apartment.

“Another disappointment,” says Steven Bai‐ley, a land surveyor who has become a fore‐closure activist in Colorado.

Almost all the checks have gone out from a settlement that government regulators ini‐tially touted in 2011 as their most aggressive effort to root out banks’ errors, hold them accountable and right the wrongs done to many homeowners. The outcome falls short of the vindication many borrowers expected.

Regulators initially promised independent case reviews to millions of homeowners in‐volved in foreclosures in 2009 and 2010. They abandoned that pledge this year when they renegotiated the 2011 settlement with the banks, a trade‐off they said was necessary to get money in borrowers’ hands faster.

Nearly $3.4 billion has been paid out to 3.9 million borrowers since mid‐April. An addi‐tional 300,000 or so borrowers will get their payments in the coming weeks.

The payouts, far from closing the books on an economic catastrophe that rocked millions of households in the worst years of the Great Recession, have instead reignited old feelings of anger and frustration. As Bailey and others like him see it, the banks and the government have at last put a price on foreclosure injus‐tices – and it’s too low.

The renegotiated settlement created a $3.6 billion pot to compensate borrowers for shoddy foreclosure practices that ran the gamut from wrongful foreclosures to lost consumer documents.

About two‐thirds of the recipients received $300 – the smallest possible amount. Fewer than 1,200 got $125,000, the most allowed. The rest fell into one of 10 other categories for compensation, mostly in the $400 to $7,500 range.

How exactly individual borrowers’ compensa‐tion was determined is just one of many ques‐tions being asked about the settlement’s de‐sign and fairness. Regulators defined the cate‐gories for compensation, set the amounts and

laid out the rules for mortgage servicers on how to slot people. Those who fit in more than one category were assigned to the one paying the highest amount, regulators say.

Some critical details about the settlement remain a mystery to the public and even to members of Congress, including how many foreclosure errors were discovered in a lim‐ited number of cases that were actually re‐viewed.

“I am deeply concerned by the lack of trans‐parency surrounding this settlement and by the fact that we still have no idea how many illegal foreclosures each bank committed,” says Rep. Elijah Cummings, D‐Md.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D‐Mass., has criticized regulators for allowing companies that alleg‐edly broke mortgage‐servicing laws to assign borrowers to the various compensation cate‐gories for payment. “I just find this one amaz‐ing,” Warren said at a recent Senate hearing.

The agreement the government made leaves consumers little recourse. They cannot appeal their payouts to banks or the regulators. But they can still sue their servicers.

“It’s outrageous. People were clearly expect‐ing more than $300,” says Bruce Marks, chief executive of the homeowner advocacy group Neighborhood Assistance Corp. of America.

The primary banking regulator for the settle‐ment, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, has received about 2,000 com‐plaints or inquiries about the settlement, including 900 questioning payment or their compensation category, OCC spokesman Bryan Hubbard says.

Promises made but not kept

The settlement is far different from what OCC and Federal Reserve officials said would hap‐pen when they announced enforcement ac‐tions against 14 big banks, including Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, on April 13, 2011.

After allegations surfaced that many foreclo‐sure documents had been improperly pre‐pared in what became known as the “robo‐signing” scandal, bank examiners spent months reviewing the banks’ departments for servicing mortgage loans and processing fore‐closures. Describing their examiners’ findings, the OCC and Fed news releases used phrases such as “pattern of misconduct and negli‐gence,” “significant and pervasive compliance failures” and “unsafe and unsound practices.”

As part of the settlement, regulators said anyone involved in a foreclosure case in 2009 or 2010 on their primary home whose case was handled by one of the servicers could ask for a review – and they’d get one. Almost 500,000 did. The banks hired consulting firms to conduct the reviews, and regulators over‐

saw the process.

That plan changed early this year. The reviews were stopped with fewer than 104,000 com‐pleted. Regulators said they were taking too long. Servicers paid about $2 billion for them.

Instead of the reviews, $3.6 billion was to be split among the 4.2 million eligible borrowers. Everyone would get something, whether they were harmed or not. An additional $5.7 mil‐lion would go into mortgage relief programs. Regulators largely gave up on identifying who was harmed and in what way.

The new plan would “get more money to more people more quickly,” said OCC Director Thomas Curry when it was announced Jan. 7.

The regulators instructed the servicers on how to slot people based on how far they’d gotten in the foreclosure process. Someone involved in a completed foreclosure some‐times received more than a person whose foreclosure was halted.

Disputes and disagreements

Max Caycoya, 42, an engineer in Houston, got a $500 payout that left him angry and con‐fused. He says he had a loan modification request denied in 2010, so he expected $6,000 for being in the “modification request denied” category. The $500 meant that he landed in either the “all other loans” or “modification request approved” category.

“This makes no sense to me,” Caycoya says.

John Failla, 47, a casino supervisor in Tucson, was denied a loan modification from Bank of America, he says. He expected $6,000 and got $500.

BofA says Failla was never denied a loan modification because he was never consid‐ered for one. The bank says Failla, after re‐questing a modification, called to say he’d decided to pursue a short sale.

Failla disputes that. He says he filled out a loan modification application and pursued a short sale only after the modification was denied. He has complained to BofA about his payout. “I’d like my other $5,500,” he says.

The Baileys have a slightly different story.

They fell 30 days behind on their mortgage payments in 2009 but caught up, according to a credit report from Equifax that they pro‐vided.

They say Wells Fargo then invited them to enter the government’s loan modification program, and bank employees told them not to make payments for several months until the trial modification started.

A payment history from Wells Fargo, which the Baileys also provided, shows they made their three trial payments on time. They say they continued to make those new lower

payments for months afterward.

In April 2010, they learned they’d been de‐nied a modification and they owed $13,750. The couple didn’t have the money, and their house was sold in a foreclosure auction that fall.

Many other homeowners had similar experi‐ences, says Neil Barofsky, who formerly headed a government watchdog team that monitored federal spending for bailouts and foreclosure prevention programs during the financial crisis. Homeowners were wrongly told to skip payments to qualify for trial modi‐fications, got stuck in long ones, then were denied, he says.

The Baileys say they deserved a $125,000 payout because they were current on their mortgage at the time they entered the gov‐ernment’s modification program and did all that was asked of them while in it.

Wells Fargo refused to comment on individual cases. The Baileys, like many others, began their trial modification when the U.S. govern‐ment was pushing servicers to start trial modi‐fications without checking to see whether borrowers could afford the payments and qualify for a permanent modification, says Tom Goyda, Wells Fargo spokesman.

As for slotting people for payouts, “we fol‐lowed the rules as they were set up” by regu‐lators, he says.

Questions linger

Settlement critics question the size of the settlement pot, given that so few reviews were actually done.

Some consumer advocates question how useful the actual reviews would have been, given that servicers were paying for them. But they would have provided more insight into foreclosure errors than is known now, hous‐ing advocate Marks says.

The settlement “was going in the right direc‐tion. They were going to find harm and pro‐vide restitution,” he says.

Failla, for one, wishes that the actual reviews had been done, even if they had taken years: “I’m sure I would’ve gotten more than $500.”

Max Caycoya was included in the settlement with mortgage servicers over past foreclosure abuses, but he says he should’ve gotten more than he did. Copyright © USA TODAY 2013, Thomas B. Shea

Consumers More Confident in June – A Lot More

NEW YORK – June 25, 2013 – The Consumer Confidence Index surged 7.1 points higher in June – its third consecutive monthly increase. The Index now stands at 81.4, up from 74.3 in May. The Present Situation Index that meas‐ures attitudes about current conditions, in‐

creased to 69.2 from 64.8. The Expectations Index that gauges attitudes about conditions six months from now improved to 89.5 from 80.6 last month.

“Consumer confidence … is now at its highest level since January 2008,” says Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at The Confer‐ence Board, which creates the monthly Con‐sumer Confidence Index. “Consumers are considerably more positive about current business and labor market conditions than they were at the beginning of the year. Expec‐tations have also improved considerably over the past several months, suggesting that the pace of growth is unlikely to slow in the short‐term, and may even moderately pick up.”

Consumers saying current business conditions are “good” held steady at 19.1 percent, while those saying business conditions are “bad” decreased to 24.9 percent from 26.0 percent. Consumers’ appraisal of the job market was also more positive. Those claiming jobs are “plentiful” increased to 11.7 percent from 9.9 percent, while those claiming jobs are “hard to get” edged up to 36.9 percent from 36.4 percent.

Consumers’ expectations regarding the short‐term future improved again in June. Those expecting business conditions to be better over the next six months increased to 20.3 percent from 18.7 percent, while those ex‐pecting business conditions to worsen de‐creased to 11.4 percent from 12.2 percent.

Consumers’ outlook for the labor market was also more optimistic. Those anticipating more jobs in the months ahead improved to 19.6 percent from 16.3 percent, while those antici‐pating fewer jobs decreased to 16.1 percent from 20.0 percent. The proportion of consum‐ers expecting their incomes to increase dipped slightly to 15.2 percent from 15.6 per‐cent, while those expecting a decrease de‐clined to 14.4 percent from 15.3 percent.

Nielsen conducts the monthly Consumer Con‐fidence Survey, based on a probability‐design random sample, for The Conference Board. The cutoff date for the preliminary results was June 13.

© 2013 Florida Realtors®

New Home Sales Hit Fastest Pace in 5 Years

WASHINGTON – June 25, 2013 – Sales of new homes rose in May to the fastest pace in five years, a solid gain that added to signs of a steadily improving housing market.

New home sales rose 2.1 percent last month compared with April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 476,000, the highest level since July 2008, the Commerce Department re‐ported Tuesday.

The median price of a new home sold in May

was $263,900, up 3.3 percent from a year ago.

Sales of new homes remain below the 700,000 annual rate that’s considered healthy by most economists. But the pace has in‐creased 29 percent from a year ago.

Analysts say the housing recovery is looking more sustainable and should continue to boost economic growth this year, offsetting some drag from higher taxes and federal spending cuts.

The sales gains in May were led by a 40.7 percent increase in the Midwest followed by a 20.7 percent gain in the Northeast. Sales were also up 3.6 percent in the West but they fell 9 percent in the South.

The inventory of unsold homes rose 2.5 per‐cent to 161,000 in May, the highest level since August 2011 but still just 13 percent higher than the record low for inventories set in July 2012. Prices of new homes have been rising in part because more people are bidding on a limited number of homes.

The National Association of Realtors reported last week that sales of previously occupied homes surpassed 5 million in May. It was the first time that’s happened in 3 1/2 years.

Sales of previously owned homes rose to an annual rate of 5.18 million in May. The last time sales had exceeded 5 million was in No‐vember 2009, a month when the pending expiration of a home‐buying tax credit briefly inflated sales.

Steady hiring and low mortgage rates have encouraged more people to buy homes. And with demand up, prices rising and few homes on the market, builders have grown more optimistic about their prospects, leading to more construction and jobs.

Last week, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke cited the housing gains as a major reason the Fed’s economic outlook has bright‐ened.

Still, mortgage rates have jumped in recent weeks. And they’re expected to rise further now that the Fed has signaled it plans to scale back its bond purchases this year if the econ‐omy continues to strengthen. A pullback in the bond purchases would likely send long‐term borrowing rates up. Higher mortgage rates could slow some of the housing mar‐ket’s momentum.

For now, a brighter outlook for housing has made builders more optimistic. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index rose in June to 52, up from 44 in May.

That was the highest reading in more than seven years and the largest monthly increase in more than a dec‐ade. A reading above 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as good rather than poor.

News You Can Use

Trend IndicatorMAY 2013

Price Range 0-2 3 4+13 Total

Units12 Total

Units2013 2012 Price Range

13 Total Units

12 Total Units

2013 2012

<$99,999 38 14 1 53 51 139 178 <$99,999 37 24 131 166

$100 - $199,999 23 33 7 63 57 196 283 $100 - $199,999 21 31 171 179

$200 - $299,999 9 32 4 45 46 141 192 $200 - $299,999 14 15 116 115

$300 - $399,999 1 11 12 24 20 146 147 $300 - $399,999 4 3 63 60

$400 - $499,999 0 4 6 10 11 93 89 $400 - $499,999 3 1 29 25

$500 - $599,999 0 4 0 4 5 48 60 $500 - $599,999 2 0 7 10

$600 - $699,999 0 1 1 2 1 24 42 $600 - $699,999 0 0 4 5

$700 - $799,999 0 1 1 2 1 24 42 $700 - $799,999 0 0 4 5

$800 - $899,999 0 1 1 2 2 21 27 $800 - $899,999 0 1 6 7

$900 - $999,999 0 0 0 0 3 13 19 $900 - $999,999 0 0 2 3

$1 - $1,499,999 1 1 1 3 5 39 38 $1 - $1,499,999 0 0 1 11

$1.5 - $1,749,999 0 0 0 0 1 12 8 $1.5 - $1,749,999 0 0 0 0

$1.75 - $1,999,999 0 0 0 0 1 15 20 $1.75 - $1,999,999 0 0 0 1

$2 - $2,499,999 0 0 0 0 2 14 13 $2 - $2,499,999 0 0 0 0

$2.5 - $2,999,999 0 0 1 1 2 13 13 $2.5 - $2,999,999 0 0 0 0

$3 - $3,499,999 0 0 2 2 0 5 9 $3 - $3,499,999 0 0 0 0

$3.5 - $3,999,999 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 $3.5 - $3,999,999 0 0 0 0

$4 - $4,999,999 0 0 0 0 0 6 6 $4 - $4,999,999 0 0 0 0

>$5,000,000 0 0 0 0 1 11 9 >$5,000,000 0 0 0 0

Total Units 72 101 38 211 213 1,000 1,210 Total Units 85 75 544 602

Avg Price 135,028 242,678 580,519 266,787 327,348 587,572 533,892 Avg Price 170,560 160,464 224,566 242,664

Med Price 95,000 210,000 365,000 180,000 195,000 325,000 279,900 Med Price 125,000 135,000 189,000 185,250

Total Val 9,722,000 24,510,455 22,059,705 56,292,160 69,725,118 588,746,643 646,543,124 Total Val 14,497,600 12,034,785 122,163,963 146,083,449

Residential CondominiumSold by # of Bedrooms Inventories Sold Inventories

Type 2013 2012 2013 2012 Type 2013 2012Assum 0 0 4.74 5.68 Assum 0 0Cash 119 113 Cash 64 57Conv 77 70 Conv 19 14FHA 10 18 FHA 1 0VA 3 5 VA 0 0

Seller 1 1 2013 2012 Seller 1 0Other 1 6 6.40 8.03 Other 0 4

DOM 2013 2012 DOM 2013 20121-30 76 65 1-30 24 1931-60 38 35 31-60 18 361-90 29 24 61-90 11 4

91-120 11 14 91-120 8 9121+ 54 73 121+ 22 39

Residential Condo

Absorption RateCondo

Solds by Number of DOM Solds by Number of DOM

Solds by Financing Type Absorption Rate Solds by Financing TypeResidential Residential Condo

Absorption rate: indication of average length of DOM

To calculate the absorption rate, divide the number of listings in your market by the number of sales during that month. For

example, if your market had 300 home listings last month and 100 sales, the absorption rate

is three months.

Based on MLS information from the Realtor Association of Martin County, Inc.

Closed Sales

Cash Sales

New Pending Sales

New Listings

Median Sale Price

Average Sale Price

Median Days on Market

Avg. Percent of Original List Price Received

Pending Inventory

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

Produced by Florida REALTORS® with data provided by Florida's multiple listing services. Statistics for each month compiled from MLS feeds on the 15th day of the following month.

Data released on Thursday, June 20, 2013. Next data release is Monday, July 22, 2013.

Months Supply of Inventory 6.8 11.4 -40.2%

May 2013 May 2012Percent Change

Year-over-Year

231 219 5.5%

110 100 10.0%

273 190 43.7%

274 250 9.6%

$264,000 $244,500 8.0%

$353,090 $442,527 -20.2%

67 80 -16.3%

1,166 1,664 -29.9% Inventory (Active Listings)

92.0% 88.7% 3.7%

497 (No Data) N/A

$160K

$180K

$200K

$220K

$240K

$260K

$280K

Me

dia

n S

ale

Pri

ce

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2,000

2,200

2,400

2,600

2,800

Tota

l In

ven

tory

0

50

100

150

200

250

Clo

sed

Sal

es

Monthly Market Summary - May 2013

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M

2009 2010 2011 2012



2009 2010 2011 2012

Martin County Single Family Homes

Closed Sales

Cash Sales

New Pending Sales

New Listings

Median Sale Price

Average Sale Price

Median Days on Market

Avg. Percent of Original List Price Received

Pending Inventory

Inventory (Active Listings)

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

Produced by Florida REALTORS® with data provided by Florida's multiple listing services. Statistics for each month compiled from MLS feeds on the 15th day of the following month.

Data released on Thursday, June 20, 2013. Next data release is Monday, July 22, 2013.

Months Supply of Inventory 6.2 10.2 -39.2%

May 2013 May 2012Percent Change

Year-over-Year

128 100 28.0%

97 73 32.9%

130 83 56.6%

145 125 16.0%

$101,050 $106,875 -5.5%

$146,535 $133,584 9.7%

68 114 -40.4%

612 855 -28.4%

89.8% 84.5% 6.3%

205 (No Data) N/A

$70K

$80K

$90K

$100K

$110K

$120K

$130K

Me

dia

n S

ale

Pri

ce

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

Tota

l In

ven

tory

0

50

100

150

200

Clo

sed

Sal

es

Monthly Market Summary - May 2013


2009 2010 2011 2012



2009 2010 2011 2012

Martin County Townhouses and Condos

July2013July2013July2013MONDAYMONDAYMONDAY TUESDAYTUESDAYTUESDAY WEDNESDAYWEDNESDAYWEDNESDAY THURSDAYTHURSDAYTHURSDAY FRIDAYFRIDAYFRIDAY

1 28:30am—Residential Marketing, Area 9, Map L

3 4

RAMCCLOSED

5

8

98:30am—Residential Marketing, Area 10, Maps M, N & Indiantown

109am—Basic MLS

1:30pm—Intermediate MLS

119am—Realist (HANDS‐ON)

1:30pm—Fusion (HANDS‐ON)

12

15 168:30am—Residential Marketing, Areas 1 & 7015, Maps A & Z

17 189am—New Member Orientation

199am—”Roadmap to a Successful Closing”

22 238:30am—Residential Marketing, Area 1, Map Y

EARLY VOTING BEGINS

24 258:30am—BOD Meeting

Lifeline Health Screenings (All day event)

26

29 308:00am—RAMC Annual Meeting

8:30am—Residential Marketing, Area 3, Maps B & C

31 1

1pm—”FHA/VA Financing & Mar‐kets & the Economy” w/Paul Marek

2

9am—ListHub Broker Training Session

11am—LIstHub Agent Training Session

RAMC REALTOR® Store

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AUGUST

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