PLEASE NOTE — ALL FLYERS ARE ATTACHED TO BROKER FAX!

Awards of Excellence Winners

Congratulations to the 2007 Awards of Excellence winners!

The names of the recipients are posted on our website under REALTOR^® Resources. Many thanks to our sponsors and to everyone who attended.

 

NAR's Midyear Legislative Meetings and Trade Expo will be held in Washington, DC. The meetings are FREE and are scheduled for May 12-17 and registration for the event is now open online.

Click for more information and to register today.

CAR'S PHONE NUMBERS HAVE CHANGED
Effective immediately our new phone number is 410-641-4409 and the fax number is 410-641-2995.

 
DOES YOUR OFFICE CONTACT INFO NEED UPDATING?
In order to streamline our communication efforts and prepare for our SentriLock conversion in June, CAR is revising its member profiles and its current Office/Agent lock box inventory. An update form was sent via fax to all Offices. Please complete all forms and return them to our office IMMEDIATELY. If your office has not received this form please contact us immediately. Your immediate cooperation is greatly appreciated!

It's time to salute the best of the best - and submitting nominations for our REALTOR^® Awards is easy!  Complete the appropriate nomination forms for outstanding real estate professionals for the following awards no later than Thursday, May 1, 2008. E-mail your nominations to cindyc@coastalrealtor.org or fax to 410-641-2995:

• REALTOR^® of the Year

• Rookie REALTOR^® of the Year

• Community Service Award (goes to an individual REALTOR^®)

Also: MAR will once again honor the top association in the state for its members' volunteer efforts in the community with the Community Action and REALTOR^® Excellence (C.A.R.E.) Award.

Please fill out this form no later than May 1, 2008.

The 2008 Maryland Legislative Session ended on April 7, 2008. Legislators passed three bills that were extremely important to Somerset County. Two bills HB612/SB 676 reduce the assessments on Commercial Waterfront Property. A third bill HB 591 would set a 20 percent cap on assessments for businesses in Somerset County, similar to the 10 percent cap already in place statewide for owner-occupied residential properties. All of these bills were passed as enabling legislation allowing the counties and their municipalities to reduce assessments on commercial waterfront properties and Somerset County to reduce assessments on businesses. These bills will now go to the Governor for signature. Three bills to help Maryland homeowners who are at risk of losing their homes due to foreclosure were passed as emergency legislation and went into effect on April 3, 2008. The bills are: SB 216/HB 365, Foreclosure Process, SB 217/ HB 360, Mortgage Fraud Protection, and SB 218/HB 361, Prohibition on Certain Foreclosure Transactions. For bill details go to: www.mdrealtor.org HB 1253/SB 844, Chesapeake Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program - Administrative and Enforcement Provisions, passed with amendments. The original bill required a 300 foot buffer; however, the bill has been amended to require a 200 foot buffer. In addition permits applied for before October 1, 2008 will be grandfathered in. Permits applied for after October 1, 2008 will have to abide by the new rules. This bill has been sent to the Governor for signature. The legislators also passed enabling legislation to allow Worcester County and the Town of Ocean City to grant tax relief to two amusement parks in Ocean City. This bill has been sent to the Governor for signature. HB 1424 which would have allowed counties and municipal corporations to impose a transfer tax died in committee. In addition HB 663, which would have allowed municipal corporations to impose an excise tax, was defeated. The Maryland Association of REALTORS® opposed both these bills and worked hard to defeat them. The sales tax on computer services was repealed. The $200M shortfall will be made up by placing a surcharge on the income of millionaires and cutting budgets on several state agencies.

 

Upcoming Classes and Training Opportunities Register Now! All Offered at the CAR Association Office unless mentioned otherwise 314 Franklin Avenue, Suite 106, Berlin, MD CLASS / CEU TIME EARN 3 REQUIRED CE THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT, April 16 Location: WOR-WIC Community College "Ethics, Predatory Lending, Flipping" Seminar 3 hrs MD Ethics CE (Cat. D) 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 30 Location: Wor-Wic's Berlin-Ocean City Instructional Center Legislative Update 3.0 hrs MD Legislative CE (Cat.A) 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Monday, May 5 New Member Orientation and "Ethics, Predatory Lending, Flipping" Seminar 3 hrs MD Ethics CE (Cat. D) 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 7 Location: WOR-WIC Community College Note new times & date Helping Clients Understand the Listing Agreement 1.5 hrs MD CE Professional Enhancement (Cat. F) 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Contract to Settlement Procedures for New Agents 1.5 hrs MD CE Professional Enhancement (Cat. F) 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.   Free E-Skills Workshop Coming May 21 Sign up early for this FREE "Sharpen your e-skills" e-Pro Workshop coming to CAR on Wednesday, May 21. You will learn about e-PRO, the only NAR approved Internet Certification Program, and gain other benefits: RealTown info Blog tips Web 2.0 and what that means to you! Attendee bonus: $25 discount off e-PRO course enrollment! To register simply visit: http://ePROworkshop.InternetCrusade.com or call toll free 1-866-ePRONAR (1-866-377-6627) See the info flyer here >>