MembersA publication for the Members of the Northern Nevada Regional MLS M

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What’s Inside:

Fannie Mae Wrap Up

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

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Mark Your Calendar forSaturday, April 10, 2010!

On Time and Worry Free!Spread the Word!

Area Wide Open House DaySaturday, April 10, 2010

MLSU Registration Form

Paying Online

1314 Meet our Staff!

Thank You, Members and Guests!Announcement of Drawing Winner

MLS Listing Data – Available to the Highest Bidder?

A Picture is Worth a Thousand WordsNNRMLS Photo Policy

MLS Lockbox Etiquette

Tech Expo Fannie MaeEvent a Success

In this Month’s Issue

Prepare your Internet Explorer for Paragon 5

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Tech Expo Fannie Mae Event a SuccessAt the February 24th NNRMLS Tech Expo and Fannie Mae event, we welcomed over 350 members to meet with technology vendors and hear Fannie Mae speak. Was it the technology, Fannie Mae or both that inspired so many members to attend? In an effort to ascertain the motivation behind the success, we have sent out a survey – click here for a link if you attended the event but have not yet responded to the survey.

We had a waiting list of 80 members and while not all were able to attend the luncheon portion of the day, we are very pleased to say the entire waiting list was offered a seat for the Fannie Mae presentation, though some were accommodated only at the last moment. Only 12 members who registered failed to attend – another staggering figure based on past experience.

Presentations were given from technology partners such as Listingbook, Trendgraphix, GE Supra, New American Mortgage. Agent Pro 24/7, a Paragon 5 demo, Centralized Showing Services, ListHub, GeoJet and Ticor Title. These presentations were well attended as were the booths. Decisions on future products will be impacted by the feedback offered by event attendees.

After the Technology portion of our event, five members of Fannie Mae took the stage. I hope our members feel the implications of Fannie Mae investing the resources to send so many, and such senior personnel, to our market to speak directly with our members. From the stage, the Fannie Mae representatives stated that it was equally important that they hear directly from members as it was for our members to take away information to help them successfully close transactions.

Topics covered by Fannie Mae: Making Home Affordable Program - HAMA & HAFA Home Affordable Refinance HomePath Requirements of a Fannie Mae Listing Broker Links and Resources offered by Fannie Mae For the Fannie Mae Presentation, click here For the Fannie Mae Handouts, click hereFor Fannie Mae Realtor® Resources, click herewww.makinghomeaffordable.gov www.hmpadmin.com Fannie Mae Look-up Tool at: www.loanlookup.fanniemae.com (also linked from NNRMLS member site and Paragon homepage)Immediate Borrower Assistance at 1-888-995-HOPEHousing Counselors at www.hud.govFannie Mae Resource Center: 1-800-7FANNIE

Our special thanks to Mark Ashworth, EO of Realty 500 for acting as our MC. Thank you to all our members for making this event such a success. The Trustees of the Northern Nevada Regional MLS are proud to have provided this program. We hope to host similar events for our members in the future.

Servicer/Asset Manager Issues Foreclosed Homes Marketing and Sales Approach Information for Selling Agents re: Fannie Mae properties Active Listing Timelines

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Scheduled to coincide with National Open House Weekend, sponsored by the National Association of REALTORS

First Time Home Buyers Credit requires open escrow by April 30, 2010

Improvements based on the feedback of our members

Functionality enhancements to www.NNRMLS.com Open House widget

Better Marketing through local media outlets (Reno and Carson areas)

Camera Ready Art available for member’s independent marketing

Watch for registration forms and other details

We Open Doors! April 10, 2010

Mark Your CalendarSaturday, April 10,2010

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The Trustees of the Northern Nevada Regional MLS have approved an Area-Wide Open House event to coincide with the National Association of REALTORS Open House

Weekend. Like the Event held last August, this Area Wide Open House Event will allow the public to view much of the available inventory in Northern Nevada with plenty of time to get under contract prior to the April 30th deadline for the First Time and Move-Up Homebuyer Tax Credit.

We have taken into account our member’s feedback from last year’s event. We are improving the functionality for the public of the Open House section of our public website, as well as giving members the ability to add/remove properties with direct access.

NNRMLS will dedicate marketing resources to promote the event as a whole but will not be buying ad space for specific addresses. We are exploring the ability to provide local newspapers with daily updates of the homes open for their Open House newspaper sections. We will identify homes that will be holding open houses in our New Digital REALTORS Real Estate Directory. Finally, NNRMLS will provide camera ready artwork to help members enhance their listing specific marketing efforts.

NNRMLS will use the MLS logo colors and balloons for branding in marketing for all media. Therefore, we will again provide balloons (though of better quality) for members. However, as with last year, NNRMLS does not have plans to provide helium. Last year our Associations invited their Affiliate Members to participate by providing helium stations the day of the event; if Affiliate Members would like to participate at this level again for our April 10th Event, we will help them to estimate how much helium could be needed to avoid another shortage. We will include information regarding helium for the balloons in future member communication.

We will send out an all member email announcement when the nnrmls.com website is ready to take Open House insertions. We hope you will participate in “We Open Doors”, the NNRMLS Area-Wide Open House Event held Saturday April 10th from 1pm to 4pm.

Mark Your Calendar for Saturday, April 10, 2010!

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For making the eventa huge success!

Winner of our Drawing

She will receive1 month FREE NNRMLS dues AND

a FULL page ad in theREALTORS® Real Estate Directory

Thank you,Members and Guests!

SPEAKS!

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Congratulations!

Elizabeth Quinn

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When NAR created its new wholly owned subsidiary, the REALTOR Property Resource (RPR), they effectively put the listing data of MLSs on the table – a commodity for sale or purchase.

RPR is asking to license the listing data of every MLS in the nation in exchange for software available to NAR members that layers in public data, demographic information, psychographic statistics, and community analytics over the MLS listing data – active and historical. RPR will use this layered statistical information to create what they are calling the REALTOR Valuation Model (RVM) and will sell the valuation of any given parcel to Lenders, Wall Street entities, government agencies, etc. RPR will also create other products for sale to these Customers based, in part, on the MLS data.

Never before has the MLS listing data been available “for sale.” The entire concept has opened up new lines of thinking all over the industry and represents a sea change for the use of listing data. The first reaction of MLS leadership nationwide was to question, “Is NAR and RPR placing adequate value on the MLS listing data; why won’t they agree to share the revenue they expect to receive in selling the analytical information based on our data?” Other entities have been listening and at least one (First American CoreLogic) promptly began to offer to license the data for their own analytical products – for sale to the same entities that RPR will attempt to convert to customers. This business model offers a revenue share but no elegant software tool in exchange for the listing data.

Many Broker Participants of the Northern Nevada Regional MLS (15%) attended an initial presentation from RPR where the business model was explained and the value of the new RPR product was demonstrated. In March, Broker Participants are invited to a similar presentation by First American CoreLogic, who is offering a share of the revenue in exchange for licensing our MLS data. After this second presentation, Broker Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the two business models and offer their feedback to the Trustees of NNRMLS on how our MLS listing data may be protected and/or monetized.

It is an interesting discussion and one that the Trustees will be considering with diligence and care before making any decision.

MLS Listing Data – Available to the Highest Bidder?

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In addition to the marketing reasons illustrated in Rolandas’ article regarding photos, it is also a required aspect of the listing input process. Recently we have an increase in the number of incidents of violation of the Photo Policy. The Photo Policy states that you must upload a photo within 5 days of the listing entry if it is a local listing. If it is a rural listing, you have 10 days. Not only must the photo be uploaded within the required timeframe, the photo must be legible and original to the listing agent, as well.

Focus on NNRMLS Photo Policy

There is a reason picture books are very popular with little kids. Although they can’t read yet, these kids can grasp the idea just by looking at the illustrations. As we transition from childhood to adulthood, we still prefer the concept of describing objects via pictures rather than words. Whether it’s family vacation photos, maps or advertisements, the human mind is more captivated by images than lengthy descriptions.

This brings me to the topic of listing photos in Paragon. While inputting listing information is very important, uploading photos to your listing is equally significant (and required). Still, it appears that Picture Administration is a bit of an afterthought to the whole listing input process for many of our members. Here are some tips to use photography to make your listing more marketable:

• Upload more than just a primary photo – this will help to increase the marketing appeal to seller’s property and help the potential buyers visualize their new home.• Make sure the photos are not fuzzy - you want the buyers to see that amazing kitchen.• Consider the limit on picture count - in Paragon you have 9 available spots to upload pictures, please use them wisely. Agents often upload numerous photos of a living room or a kitchen

and have just a few spots for the rest of the house.• Try not to include yourself in the picture - it happens sometimes when agents take bathroom photos and capture themselves in the mirror.• Highlight the best features and avoid messy areas - the house might have marble countertops or hardwood floors, so to show these features you might need to move homeowner’s stuff around.

Please consider these tips next time you take a photo.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

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So as a refresher course here are the rules regarding MLS Photos (NNRMLS Rules and Regulations Section 2.E.13.a thru d):

Photographs of listed property shall depict the property for sale and shall not include text or pictorial overlays or marketing/promotional messages made on behalf of the listing broker or seller. Additionally the subject property must be prevalent in the photo.

It is the responsibility of the listing agent to be certain that a photograph is submitted for every listing input into the MLS, regardless of location.Properties within the geographic area of the member’s association must be input into the MLS system within 5 days, excluding weekends and holidays; properties listed in rural areas or areas outside of the jurisdiction of NNRMLS must be submitted within 10 days of listing input.

Copying a photograph, drawing or virtual tour from another listing for use on your own listings, regardless of the listing status, is prohibited unless written permission is obtained from the member who originally loaded it/them into the system. A copy of the written permission must be submitted within 48 hours of NNRMLS request.

Are you aware that your new listing may be sent in an auto email the same day? Depending on when a listing is input, it could be sent to a potential buyer within minutes of the listing agent saving the listing. Additionally, some websites upload new listings more often than others and research shows that if there is no photo the general public will not look at that listing. Please don’t overlook this important tool in marketing your property. But also, we do not want to send you a violation notice. If you have any questions please call Linda at 823-8838 or send her an email linda@nnrmls.com.

MLS Lockbox Etiquette

Photographs of listed property shall depict the property for sale and shall not include text or pictorial overlays or marketing/promotional messages made on behalf of the listing broker or seller. Additionally the subject property must be prevalent in the photo.

It is the responsibility of the listing agent to be certain that a photograph is submitted for every listing input into the MLS, regardless of location.

Properties within the geographic area of the member’s association must be input into the MLS system within 5 days, excluding weekends and holidays; properties listed in rural areas or areas outside of the jurisdiction of NNRMLS must be submitted within 10 days of listing input.

Copying a photograph, drawing or virtual tour from another listing for use on your own listings, regardless of the listing status, is prohibited unless written permission is obtained from the member who originally loaded it/them into the system. A copy of the written permission must be submitted within 48 hours of NNRMLS request.

How many times have you gone to show a home, or have been called by a fellow agent trying to show your listing, and the key was not put back into the lockbox? One is one time too many, especially if you have clients with you. Remember when you open a lockbox and remove the key, always put the key back. Unless you have authorization please do not take the lockbox key with you.

Also, if the showing instructions say, “On lockbox call first,” you MUST call before showing the property. Do not assume that just because it’s on lockbox that it is safe to just go. There might be an attack dog on the premises, or an attack owner, and as we cooperate via the MLS system, we must respect the instructions communicated therein.

This article is posted as a result of an increasing number of lockbox/showing incidents reported to NNRMLS.

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Basic skills needed for everyday work in the MLS System. Learn how to search by building and customizing the search parameters specific to your clients needs. Prerequisite for the other Paragon classes

Learn to use the most popular functions of the system; add prospects and send automatic emails based on individual search requirements. Let Paragon do the work for you! Prerequisite MLS201 or 3 months use

Learn all aspects of entering a listing into the Paragon system. Increase your awareness of the requirements to avoid citations. Learn how to add photos and how to maintain a listing once it’s entered. Prerequisite: None

Build a CMA package through Paragon that includes cover letters, resumes, multiple formats for comparables, the ability to add a subject property and more. Prerequisite: MLS 201 or 3 months use

Learn how to maximize and use all of the mapping features of Paragon, including map searching, Geojet, Re-geocoding and more.

Study Hall classes are 1-hour sessions where you control the content of what is taught. Stop by to get help with a quick question or stay for the whole hour - the choice is yours!

Our MLS classes are taught in the state-of-the-art computer training lab at the Northern Nevada Regional MLS offices at 5650 Riggins Court, Reno. A $25 “No-Show” fee will be billed to your account if a cancellation is not received 24 hours in advance.

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Study Hall - Hands On Classes Only

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oMar 8 — 9:00am - 11:30am LaboApr 27 — 2:00pm - 4:30pm Lab

oApr 7 — 2:00pm - 4:00pm Lab

oMar 10 — 9:00am - 11:00am Lab

oMar 23 — 9:00am - 11:00am Lab

oMar 12 — 3:00pm - 4:00pm Labo Mar 19 — 10:00am - 11:00am LaboMar 26 — 3:00pm - 4:00pm Lab

oApr 2 — 10:00am - 11:00am LaboApr 9 — 3:00pm - 4:00pm Lab oApr23 — 10:00am - 11:00am Lab

oMar 25 — 2:00pm - 4:00pmoApr 6 — 9:00am - 11:00am

oApr 8 — 2:00pm - 4:00pm

oMar 9 — 9:00am - 11:00am

oMar 16 — 9:00am - 11:00am

oApr 20 — 2:00pm - 4:00pm

oApr 13 — 2:00pm - 4:00pm Lab

MLS 201 — Basic Paragon

MLS 301 — Contact Management

MLS 205 — Listing Input

MLS 465 — CMA Presentation

MLS 415 — Mapping

Study Hall

Hands-On Courses Online Courses Sign Up H

ere! Please check all the classes you plan to attend and fax to 775.823.8809N

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Office _________________________________________

Phone ___________________________

Email ___________________________________________________

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berto bring your

SafeMLS Token

to login to Paragon when

you attend class.

Do you have Paragon questions but don’t require a full class? Then Study Hall is for you! Want to set up a quick automatic email or customize a brochure? The choice is up to you! Each week we provide one hour of “open” training sessions where the curriculum is decided by you! Come and stay for the whole hour or come get some quick help and be on your way.

Register for Study Hall, or any class in our curriculum, by faxing or emailing the registration form, or sign up online. Contact Josh@nnrmls.com with any questions.

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Spread the Word!Help reach Northern Nevada buyers and sellers by forwarding the Directory link to your sphere of influence - your clients, family and friends! Every other Monday in the late afternoon, I mail the current magazine link to our advertisers and members. I also email the thumbnail that you can place on your website or in your email signature if you like! I have had great results so far - two of the first four Front Cover listings are now in escrow!

The Source for Real Estate Since 1992

For more information: Loy Mach

775.823.8838loy@nnrmls.com

www.rredonline.com

With all the hustle and bustle of today’s world it is easy to overlook or forget about a monthly payment. Do you find yourself in danger of losing MLS services and being charged the reactivation fee because you simply forgot to pay your monthly MLS bill? Maybe you should consider Auto Pay.

Setting up Auto Pay is quick and easy; all you have to do is fill out our Auto Pay Form to put a credit or debit card on file and your card will be charged between the 1st and the 5th of every month. When you sign up for Auto Pay with NNRMLS, you will still receive a monthly bill before your card is charged, that way if you have any discrepancies about your bill you can contact our office before your card is charged. You may find our Auto Pay Form in Paragon under MLS Documents, Other Forms, and Auto Pay Form 2009, or you may click here. You can fax or email the form to our office. Our fax number is 823-8809 or you can email your forms to arawls@nnrmls.com

Are you already on Auto Pay but need to make an update to your card, such as an updated expiration date? Don’t worry, just give us a call at 823-8838 and ask to speak with Amie R. I can take the change over the phone. If email works better for you, you can email arawls@nnrmls.com.

And remember, if we have any problems with your card going through, we will always contact you by email so be sure that your email address is updated with our office.

On Time and Worry-Free!

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There is nothing faster than paying online. We all fear that paying online with a credit card is a fraud risk, however, NNRMLS takes all precautions available to make this a secure site. But there are a few things to remember when paying online:

Be very sure you pay the correct month. If you have more than one month due and you pay the current and not the previous month, the system will show you as delinquent. Many times we can find this error, but it could get through thereby suspending your MLS service. If you find this is the case, please contact us as soon as possible. We cannot reverse the payment but we can note this on your account.

If you find yourself suspended and want to make the payment online in the evening, then you must call our office the next morning as soon as possible to reactivate your account.

You can print a statement for tax purposes at any time. So, if you are with your tax consultant or at home preparing tax forms late at night and realize you need the amount you paid for the previous year, you can get it immediately through the online payment section.

Remember if you are suspended and paying online, this will not activate your account immediately - you need to let us know.

Paying Online

CLICK HERE

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We hope you have heard the news about Paragon 5 and one of its best new features, the ability to choose from a list of five different web browsers. Paragon 5 will add Firefox, Opera, Chrome, and Safari to the list compatible web browsers. But if you wish to continue to use Internet Explorer, that is fine, too. Internet Explorer Version 6, a staple of Paragon use for several years now, is well on its way to being obsolete. As with most all software, IE 6 has been replaced with not just one but two upgraded versions, IE7 and 8. Most of the time, NNRMLS has the unfortunate duty to inform the early adopters to hold off on upgrades. This time we are letting you know it is time to upgrade.

How to tellIt is simple to tell which version of IE you are using. Simply select ‘About Internet Explorer’ from your help menu. Under the IE logo, your version number will be displayed. If you are showing a version less than 7.0, it is time to plan your upgrade.

The Upgrade ProcessThe upgrade is available directly from the Microsoft Website www.microsoft.com/ie, or through the windows updates. The install wizard will guide you through the installation process. Once your upgrade has been completed, you may need to reconfigure your computer for use with Paragon. First, we recommend running the Paragon System Setup Utility located behind the System Checker button on the Paragon login screen. Additional modifications may need to be made if you are unable to perform a search or use the Print+ feature in Paragon. Instructions are located on the Paragon FAQ page on the members.nnrmls.com web site or you may contact the NNRMLS tech support at (775) 823-8838. If you live outside the Reno, Sparks or Carson City area, you can reach us at (877) 823-8838.

Prepare your Internet Explorer for Paragon 5

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NNRMLS: 775.823.8838 (Toll Free) 877.823.8838

Members: members.nnrmls.comPublic Site: www.nnrmls.com

MLS access: nnrmls.fnismls.comParagon WiFi:

nnrmls.fnismls.com/paragonwifiTech Support:

MLS office: 775.823.8838 (Mon-Fri)Fidelity: 877.MLS.HELP (877.657.4357)

SUPRA: www.supraekey.com 877.699.6787

Shelley Specchio – Chief Executive Officershelley@nnrmls.com

Sean Murphy – Vice-President of Technologysean@nnrmls.com

Linda Conger – Membership/Policy Managerlinda@nnrmls.com

Sandi Phillips – Accounting Managersandi@nnrmls.com

Amie Duncan – Executive Assistantamie@nnrmls.comAmie Rawls – Receptionist

arawls@nnrmls.comRolandas Banys – Product/Technology Manager

rolandas@nnrmls.comJosh Kennedy – Training Coordinator/Tech Support

josh@nnrmls.comLoy Mach – Communications Specialist

loy@nnrmls.com

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