Question: I recently paid an invoice. Why am I getting another bill?

Answer: PAAR sent out 2009 Annual Dues invoices on September 29th. Dues are collected annually for Local, State, and National Dues and Assessment Fees. PAAR collects the Dues and Assessment Fees for NAR and IAR and sends payment to them on your behalf. These charges are not the same as your Quarterly Association Fees.

Association Fees are invoiced quarterly and cover your MLS and/or CLS access, keycard, keycard insurance and lockbox leases. These fees are invoiced prior to the start of each quarter. The most recent invoice e-mailed was on November 12th for 1st Quarter '09 fees.

From the National Association of REALTORS®:
Between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2008, every REALTOR® is required to complete 2 1/2 hours of Code of Ethics training. Failure to comply with this required ethics training is a violation of a membership duty for which the member’s primary association will suspend membership until the training is complete.

Currently NAR/PAAR records indicate there are over 100 PAAR Members who have not made arrangements to complete their NAR Code of Ethics Quadrennial training requirement.

PAAR has compiled a list of Members by Company who have not signed up for class or sent verification of completion. To see if your name appears, Click Here.

The NAR Quadrennial requirement applies to everyone (including Appraisers) who holds membership at PAAR. There are no exceptions!!

If you have already taken your Ethics Course, you must submit verification by faxing a Course Completion document to Valerie at (309) 688-3120. Feel free to contact her at 688-8591 or by email at vduncan@paarealtors.com if you have questions.

Due to the large number of Members who still need to complete the Code of Ethics, PAAR has added another live CE class to our schedule. Each course (and home study) also counts as a 3 hour Elective class for license renewal. See below for our class information:

• Friday, November 21, 2008 ETH - 1519 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 17, 2008 – ETH 1518 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 17, 2008 – ETH 1519 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. (New Class!!)

We also have a Home Study Course available which must be taken by December 15th to comply and insure your records are up-to-date by the final deadline of December 31, 2008. Please contact Laine at the PAAR office to purchase the home study.

November 21, 2008

ETH1519 ... 9:00 a.m. - Noon
Code of Ethics Review
3 Hours Elective, Kerry Kidwell, Instructor

RD941 ... 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Risk Reduction & Technology Use
3 Hours Elective, Kerry Kidwell, Instructor

Do you know the difference between Pending and Contingent?

• A sale is considered Pending if there are no circumstances that need to be overcome in order for the sale to close (with possibly the exception of financing which appears to be solid). Pending listings are not available to continue to show.
  
• A Contingent listing means that there are criteria that need to be met before a sale can close and the sellers wish to continue to show their property. For example, a contract may have been accepted, but the sale is contingent upon the buyer’s financing , which may be shaky, therefore, the sellers are still showing the property.
  

It’s PAAR PRESIDENT’S CLUB PROGRAM time of year again!!!!

The end of this year is rapidly approaching and it will soon be time to apply for the President’s Club Award Program.

Do you have all your sales entered into Paragon? Are you working as a team? If you are, have you checked to see that sales or listing information has been entered under the team leader’s name and not a team member’s name?

Please check your production information in Paragon for completeness and accuracy to ensure you receive full credit for your accomplishments.

The Recognition/Awards Task Force will be meeting very soon to consider nominations for the following awards: REALTOR® of the Year, Affiliate of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Industry Achievement and Distinguished Member of Community Service. If you have a fellow member you wish to nominate for any of the above categories, please complete an award nomination form as soon as possible and submit to PAAR.

An interactive nomination form is included with this article and it is also available on the PAAR website under the Membership tab.

These awards will be presented at the Awards Banquet to be held on February 26, 2009 at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria.

Interested in seeing a list of past recipients?

• NAR’s Four-Point Housing Stimulus Plan
• City of Peoria’s Public Works Director meets with PAAR Government Affairs Committee

Please make a note of the following PAAR Holiday Schedule:

11/27/08, Thanksgiving Day Closed

11/28/08, Closed

12/24/08, Christmas Eve - Close at Noon

12/25/08, Christmas Day - Closed

12/26/08, Closed

12/31/08, New Years Eve - Close at Noon

01/01/09, New Years Day - Closed

Country Club of Peoria • December 11, 2008 • 5:30 - 10:00 p.m.

Enjoy a fabulous cocktail party, hors'doeuvres and complimentary beverage.

Music provided by JAMMSAMMICH!

Everyone is welcome! Invite assistants, secretaries, rceptionists, support staff and spouses ... anyone who helped make this a great year!

Make your reservation by December 4th and help someone less fortunate! Half the purchase price of the ticket will be used toward turkey gift certificates and PAAR will match the donation. We then distribute the certificates to over 22 local food pantries in the Tri-County area.

Tickets are $35.00 until 12/5 when they will increase to $40.00.

As you know, Going Green is a hot topic for all types of real estate. Consumers are beginning to place a special value on energy efficiency and other facets of Eco-friendly development.

NAR recently created a "Green" designation to enable agents to better serve their clients in this area of expertise. This designation is the only green designation recognized by NAR and it will be displayed on both www.realtor.com and www.realtor.org as a part of the agents NAR membership profile. This benefit, exclusive to NAR's Green Designation, will assist them in both prospecting and referrals.

To earn the designation, Realtors® must complete the core course plus one elective. The program is designed to help you:

• Understand what makes a property green
• Explain to clients and customers the cost benefits of green building features and practices
• Distinguish between industry rating and classification systems
• List and market green homes and buildings
• Discuss the financial grants and incentives available to homeowners
• Guide buyers in purchasing resource-efficient homes

To receive the designation, you must complete the two-day 12-hour Core Course and one 6-hour Elective in one of the following: Residential / Commercial / Property Management.

PAAR is considering offering the class for you to obtain your Green Designation. If you have an interest in obtaining this designation, contact Connie at 688-8591 to be placed on the list.

NAR Announces Realtor® Credit Union ... NAR announced during the NAR Convention that Realtors® have received a charter to start up a federal credit union. The new entity, Realtors® Federal Credit Union will be totally separate from NAR, with its own BOD and management team.

Professional Standards ... Standard of Practice 1-15 has been amended. The change clarifies that the duty to disclose the source of offers established in Standard of Practice 1-15 applies only where that information is specifically requested by a buyer or by a cooperating broker.

LaVonne Schleeter-President, 692-2752; Gene Anders-Vice President, 692-0291; Carol Horn-Secretary, 692-0788; Clifford Brown-Treasurer, 692-6435

Please contavt Clifford Brown to confirm sellers have paid their homeowners dues and Carol Horn so buyers' names can be included in the Edgewild Directory. Subdivision restrictions can be provided by any officer.