december focus
DESCRIPTION
ÂTRANSCRIPT
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 General
Membership
Meeting
10 11 NMO
Class
12 13
14 15 16 Con-Ed
Class
17 18 BOD
Meeting
19 20
21 22 23 24 Office
Closed
25 Office
Closed
26 27
28 29 30 31 Office
Closed
December 2014
Thank You to Aaron
Swintek with Cutco for
sponsoring our Continuing
Education Class on Nov.
12th.
Thank you to Peggy Rich-
ard with Dearborn Federal
Credit Union for
sponsoring
our General
Membership
Meeting on
Dec. 9th.
Thank you to Mark
Jefferson with Parks Title
for sponsoring our New
Member Orientation on
Dec. 11th.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Directors
Luis Rodriguez—President Ted Easterly
Al Makled—President Elect Robert P. Marx
Justin Roy—Treasurer Frederick
Tavolette
Carrie Gandolfo—Past President Sam Baydoun
Benjamin Welch
REALCOMP
GOVERNOR
USER
COMMITTEE
DABOR
STAFF
Dean
Eveslage
Mahmoud
Sobh
Laura
Green—CEO
Ted
Easterly
Andrea
Fitzgerald
Victoria
Strojny—
Admin. Asst.
Sandra
Kolar-Alt
CONGRATULATIONS to Karen Ellstrom for winning our survey contest!
Karen won a $25.00 Gas card to BP! Way to go!
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WASHINGTON (November 11, 2014) – Advances in mobile technology have the potential to radically change the ways con-sumers search for real estate online, according to a session at the 2014 REALTORS® Conference & Expo that peered into what can happen in the future regarding big data and real estate.
At the session, National Association of Realtor®’s Managing Director of Data Analytics Todd Carpenter discussed how big data
and mobile computing can be leveraged by brokers, agents and real estate portals to more effectively market homes to con-
sumers. Attendees also gained insight into how evolving mobile technologies will allow consumers to assemble personal, in-
tuitive real estate searches without the guidance of a web marketing portal.
According to Carpenter, the Internet of Things, which is using and transferring data over networks through a device and with-
out human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction, will transform consumers’ experience of searching for real estate
online. He shared big data examples, including mobile apps that are already revolutionizing the way individuals go about their
day, such as tracking daily physical activity, navigating traffic in real-time and managing a home thermostat from afar.
“A buyer could eventually ask an agent about how a home functions – such as how well it heats or the amount of electricity it
uses during certain parts of the day – and receive an immediate answer with detailed graphics and analysis,” said Carpenter.
“That information may not be readily available to buyers today, but it’s coming soon as more individuals use their
smartphone to connect their home to the internet.”
Added Carpenter, “Everything from transportation to the healthcare industry are helping individuals make informed decisions
about their lives based on data collected from their smartphone. These advances in mobile technology will make it easier for
Realtors® to communicate valuable information to their clients during the home buying and selling process.”
Carpenter said IoT and predictive analytics are helping the real estate industry better understand transaction and market da-
ta to the benefit of the industry, agents and consumers. The amount of data collected will likely continue to increase and will
be used more to predict buyer and seller behavior as well as trends in home preferences and neighborhoods. This includes
highly-customized home searches that encompass factors such as proximity to work, public schools and restaurants.
“Realtors® should educate themselves about big data and be knowledgeable of how it’s being collected through mobile de-
vices,” said Carpenter. “Buyers will increasingly use their smartphone during the search process – often times before first
talking to an agent. Realtors® who adapt and embrace big data will add considerable value to their relationship with clients.”
Last year NAR launched a new Predictive Analytics group that examines and analyzes member and customer trends from a
variety of data sets to help the association’s members make better business decisions and meet the needs of their clients.
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1 mil-
lion members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
Big Data Will Play an Important Role in the Future of Real Estate and for Realtors®
Media Contact: Adam DeSanctis / 202-383-1178 / Email
Clink pictures for more detailed Information
Stun-Gun Laws Kubaton Laws
Click below for detailed video
Now available at the DABOR store: Kubaton defensive key chains, Hard plastic
“dog like” defensive key chains, Pepper spray pens.
REALTORS® enjoy a broad range of deductions and other advantages under the federal tax code
because the government enables brokers to treat agents as independent contractors, not employ-
ees. But you need to take a strategic, organized approach to your financial situation to make sure
you don’t leave money on the table or get socked with a big bill at tax time.
These tips from tax professionals can help you plan wisely during the remainder of 2014:
Gather your records. As an independent contractor, you’re running your own small business.
The IRS expects you to keep accurate records of business expenses and log your activities. “The IRS
will be very generous to agents if they have receipts,” and accountants also appreciate clients who
are well prepared when they come in for advice, says Don Williamson, professor of taxation at
American University in Washington, D.C., and an accountant with Lamonaca & Williamson in Falls
Church, Va. “The key is to account for each expense so I can go through the checkbook or the credit
card statement and identify those things.” There’s another reason to keep good records: Your ac-
countant may be able to find ways you might have missed to cut your tax bill. For example, although
the IRS allows you to use a simplified method to claim a home office deduction instead of detailing
those expenses on your tax return, taking the simpler approach could result in a smaller deduction,
says certified public accountant Peter G. Baker, owner of Business Planning Group in Washington,
D.C.
Meet with a tax expert. You may see an accountant every spring to help you file your taxes,
but what about the rest of the year? Your tax situation is evolving every day, so it’s smart to have an
ongoing relationship with a financial adviser who can help you plan ahead, says Jennifer K. Greco, a
CPA with Cooper Williams LLC in Salt Lake City. “The best thing is to go in to see your tax profes-
sional, bring your financial statements, and say, ‘This is where I am right now. How much am I look-
ing at taxwise, and what can I do to minimize that tax?’ ” Greco says.
Tax Time Is Now As the end of the year approaches, take control of finances to avoid unpleasant IRS surprises.
NOVEMBER 2014 | BY SAM SILVERSTEIN
Continued on next page………...
Take stock of your earnings. As the year winds down, analyze your commissions and other
taxable income since January and project what you expect to earn through Dec. 31. “Once we know
how successful you’re going to be, we can manage your tax bill” by coming up with a strategy to
minimize your taxable income, says Baker.Also, be sure to consider the tax implications of signifi-
cant transactions before you move ahead with them. For example, you can avoid capital gains taxes
when selling real estate by investing the money in another piece of property instead of taking it in
cash—but you need to make the proper arrangements in advance, says Greco.
Invest in your business. As an independent contractor, you are able to deduct—subject to
limits—the cost of computers, mobile phones, office furniture, and other equipment you acquire for
the day-to-day operation of your business in the year you acquire the items. So buying a new laptop
or smartphone, or even a vehicle, could be an easy way to lower your tax bill. Ask yourself, however,
whether you really need the items, advises Greco. “People will say, ‘I’m going to buy a new comput-
er because I need the write-off.’ But if you don’t need a new computer, don’t spend the money.” Be-
sides big-ticket purchases, remember that even small everyday expenses add up—and can translate
into deductions. “Good real estate agents realize that almost everything they’re doing has some po-
tential business purpose to it,” Baker says. He recommends paying electronically for everything you
buy—even small items like coffee—as an easy way to ensure that bona fide expenses don’t slip
through the cracks.
Expect uncertainty. Some elements of your return may remain unsettled as the end of the
year draws near—and even beyond Jan. 1—because tax laws are constantly in flux. For example, the
cost of mortgage insurance premiums is traditionally a deductible expense, but it won’t be for 2014
unless Congress approves the necessary legislation. The limit on deductible equipment purchases is
also up in the air.
Lawmakers know taxpayers expect them to act, says Evan Liddiard, senior policy representative–
federal taxation for the National Association of REALTORS®. “Congress is very aware of the need
to pass certain expired tax provisions that will apply to 2014, and will likely do so late this year or
early next year,” he says.
Still, the best course of action is to plan for the worst and be sure you’ve put aside enough money
to cover your tax bill in the event expected deductions aren’t available, Baker says. Ideally, you
should have been taking this into account when sending quarterly estimated tax payments to the
IRS. But if not, you’ll remember why you saved for a rainy day.
QUESTION: I represent a buyer who has made an offer of $150,000 on a house listed at $180,000. The listing agent called and told me that the sellers were rejecting the offer and that the sellers would take no less than $170,000. My buyer then submitted an offer for $170,000, which the sellers promptly accepted. Although everyone in this transaction is happy, my broker believes that the listing agent breached a fiduciary duty owed to the sellers by telling me the bottom line price the sellers were willing to accept. Is my broker cor-rect?
ANSWER: POTENTIALLY, YES. Michigan case law has held that a broker representing a seller may not suggest to a purchaser that the seller will accept less than the stated price. Harvey v Lindsay, 264 Mich 118 (1933). Under your circumstances, unless the sellers gave their agent permission to disclose the minimum price that they were willing to accept, the listing agent may have breached a fiduciary duty owed to her sellers.
Legal Hotline
From the NAR Code of Ethics
FOURTH LEGAL FUND ASSESSMENT FEE REDUCED (Repeat)
On Friday, November 21, 2014, Realcomp's Board of Governors approved a motion to re-duce the amount of the fourth payment of the legal fund assessment, from $51.00 to $35.00 per subscriber.
This reduction was made possible both by the cost saving measures (i.e. renegotiated agree-ments, etc.) realized by Realcomp over the last few months and an increase in Realcomp subscriptions/subscribers.
This revised amount for the fourth payment will appear on the first quarter-2015 invoices, which will be e-mailed out on or around De-cember 1st.
Lastly, we will be sure to keep you advised of any adjustments that occur regarding the fifth and final payment.
Article 4
REALTORS® shall not acquire an interest n or buy or present offers from themselves, any member of their immediate fami-
lies, their firms or any member thereof, or any entities in which they have any ownership interest, any real property with-
out making their true position known to the owner or the owner’s agent or broker. In selling property they own, or in
which they have any interest, REALTORS® shall reveal their ownership or interest in writing to the purchaser or the
purchaser’s representative
Don’t get left out! There is still time to take advantage of your November Offer. Sign up for the .REALTOR Association Marketing Program before December 3 to earn the brand
new The Little Blue Book: Rules to Live by for REALTORS® 2 Pack. Your December MVP AE Offer: YOUR OFFER DATES: December 3-31, 2014 YOUR ACTION: Register for the 2015 Joint AE Institute YOUR REWARD: 2014 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers-Download REWARD VALUE: $19.95
Register for the 2015 Joint NAR / CREA AE Institute, the premier event for AEs and Associ-ations March 13-16, 2015, in Vancouver, British Columbia and earn the brand new 2014 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers-Download. The AE Institute raises association ex-ecutive awareness of real estate industry issues and provides professional development opportunities so that AEs across the country can better serve the REALTOR® organization and its members. By registering for the AE Institute, not only will you be receiving an awesome free product, you will also have the opportunity to network, learn and plan for 2015 at the single largest gathering of REALTOR® AEs from both the US and Canada. Mark your calendar! _____________________________________________________________________ AE MVP Tip: Download the MVP Widget and place on your website. Offers are changed automatically twice a month, on the 1st and the 16th. This a great way to keep your mem-bers informed of new MVP offers get the widget here. _____________________________________________________________________
THIS MONTH'S MVP OFFER FOR AEs AND ASSOCIATIONS
Don’t Forget to Pay Your 2015 DABOR Dues
Your 2015 DABOR membership dues are ready to be processed. All dues payments are due in full no later than January 1, 2015. Dues for renewing REALTOR members are $461.00. This includes your DABOR dues, MR and NAR dues. Payments made by credit card will be charged a $5.00 processing fee.
Go to www.dabor.com and click on the "Pay Dues" button, enter your primary email address and fol-low instructions. You may have to register if you have not paid online before. Call the office if you have any questions.
What does my DABOR membership do for me?
Your DABOR membership affords you significant benefits ranging from education courses and infor-mation resources to marketing and networking events and money-saving discounts. Take advantage of the numerous, valuable resources available to you through DABOR:
REALTOR® Family Benefits
As a member of DABOR you belong to the three-tiered REALTOR® organization that also includes the Michigan REAL-
TORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®. Take advantage of the many valuable benefits available at the state and national levels.
DABOR Benefits
DABOR is a smaller version of NAR’s Information Central. DABOR employs a full time Chief Executive Officer and Direc-tor of Member Services, who are knowledgeable and professional.
DABOR has (5) Directors and (4) Officers, elected by its REALTOR® members, to set policies that mold and drive the Association.
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Continuing Education
Get discounts on continuing education courses and credit towards your Real Estate license. DABOR sponsors CE courses conveniently at the board office. Courses are designed specifically for the real estate professional and cover topics such as: contract basics; analysis and creative transaction s; client counseling and representation; legal issues and more.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
DABOR is involved in community service and fundraising activities that provide members an opportunity to get involved and give back to the community where they benefit and serve.
GRIEVANCE, ARBITRATION AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
DABOR maintain standing committees on Professional Standards and Grievance .DABOR screens and processes ethics complaints from members and the public to support REALTOR integrity.The Grievance Committee investigates violations
of the REALTORS® Code of Ethics in order to assure that the highest professional standards are maintained. Where arbi-
tration is required, the DABOR Professional Standards Committee hears disputes between the members.
DABOR requires training in Ethics and Professional Standards to ensure that our Professional Standards Committee is
well qualified and adheres to the guidelines established by the Michigan Association of Realtors. DABOR helps to enforce
the ethical conduct of Realtors for the protection and benefit of the public and our members.
MEMBER SERVICES AND COMMUNICATION
DABOR keeps its members informed on DABOR events, education, local real estate and community news through our e-
newsletter—the monthly DABOR Focus, with pertinent information and helpful links.
DABOR is the REALTOR® face to the community and works with local government, businesses, and the public to keep them aware of how vital our REALTOR® members are to the role of homeownership in our community .
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
DABOR provides members the opportunity to:Participate on committees – member input is solicited and incorporated into program changes with committees that meet throughout the year : Attend General Membership meetings, Social events, Annual Installation of Officers, PumpkinFest and other events throughout the year, Educational opportunities.
Receive New Member Orientation –focusing on member benefits, safety, committee participation, professionalism, pro-fessional standards, Code of Ethics Course and Business Planning.
AWARDS
DABOR recognizes hard work, effort and participation through its REALTOR® of the Year Award, Rookie of the Year Award and Affiliate of the Year Award. Each year, deserving members are nominated for these distinguished awards. The winners are announced at the Annual Membership Meeting in September.
Standard Forms Access standard forms on Realcomp designed specifically for use by Michigan practitioners. The standard forms include: Exclusive Right to Sell, Exclusive Right to Lease, Exclusive Right to Sell or Lease, Tenant/Buyer Representation and Exclusive Right to Exchange Property.
Committee and Leadership Involvement Help steer the future of the Dearborn Area Board of REALTORS®. All members are eligible to serve on a committee. All committees meet at the DABOR office. DABOR’s ’s committees include: Finance, Grievance, Legislative, Member Services, Professional Standards, Legislative/RPAC.
Michigan REALTOR Member Benefits DABOR member benefits include: access to Michigan REALTORS Legal Hotline, discounts on national designation cours-es, legislative advocacy, information resources via dabor.com, e-newsletters and free webinars on hot topics and more. Michigan REALTORS also offers members discounts ranging from financial and insurance products to transaction man-agement software and travel discounts. For a full list of MR discount programs, visit the Member Benefits Section at
www.mirealtors.com/.
Advocacy at the State Capitol DABOR, together with the Michigan REALTORS®, is representing you at the State Capitol and fighting to protect real estate interests. Make an impact, protect your business interests and communicate REALTOR® views to your legisla-tors by participating in DABOR’s Calls for Action via e-mail.
Annual Michigan REALTORS Conference
The Annual Michigan REALTORS Conference, held annually in the fall, is the premier real estate event attended by practitioners from across the state. Earn continuing education credit, market client properties at the 2 day confer-ence. Attend knowledge sessions, network with leading professionals at a welcome reception and visit with exhibitors providing the latest products and services.
NAR Member Benefits
NAR member benefits include: legislative representation, professional designations and online CE courses, annual meet-
ings, REALTOR.com and more. NAR’s REALTOR® Benefits Program offers members access to discounts on products and
services ranging from insurance and technology products to marketing and office solutions. For a full list of discount pro-
grams, visit the REALTOR® Benefits Section at www.realtor.org.
Tip #3 Don’t be too public
Limit the amount of personal information you share. Consider advertising
without using your photograph, home phone number and/or home ad-
dress in the newspaper or on business cards. Don’t use your full name with mid-
dle name or initial. Use your office address—or list no address at all. Giving out
too much of the wrong information can make you a target.
Tip #4 Touch base
Always let someone know where you are going and when you will be back; leave
the name and phone number of the client you are meeting and schedule a time
for your office to call you to check in.
State Licensing Requirements
During the 3 year licensing cycle each agent must complete a minimum of 2 hours approved legal coursework
each year. In addition, each agent must also complete 12 hours of approved coursework of their choice. The
additional 12 hours of coursework may be completed anytime during the 3 year cycle.
**New licensees
In the first and second year of the license cycle, licenses issued on or after November 1 of the current year do not
require con ed for the current year. In the third year of the license cycle licenses issued on or after July 1st no con
ed is required.
Cycles-2010-2012 / 2013-2015 / 2016-2018 / 2019-2021 etc.
DABOR Bulletin Board
Continuing Education Requirements
DABOR Presents along with NCI and Associates 6 hours of continuing education
including 2 hours of yearly mandatory legal update. The following dates are
scheduled for 2014. Check-in for all classes is 8:30am. Class time is 9:00am-
3:30pm. Lunch is included. All students must register and pay prior to class.
No walk-ins.
December 16
Accuspect Home Inspection Co. (734) 678-0975 -
Dale Raines
Adam's Cleaning Services, Inc. (313) 561-3303-
Adam Seccombe
American Home Shield (800) 800-8880 - John M.
Light
America's Preferred Home Warranty (800) 648-
5006 - Jeff Becker
Assenmacher and Associates P.C. (313) 277-
5800 - Jerome E. Assenmacher
Cutco Closing Gifts (248) 703-9938 - Adam
Swintek
Dearborn Federal Savings Bank (313) 565-3100 -
William White
Dearborn Federal Credit Union (313) 322-8239-
Peggy Richard
EHomeScore.com (248) 912-5512 - Frank Mas-
troianni
First American Title Insurance (734) 692-9914 -
Frank Lucarelli
Flagstar Bank (313) 271-1260 - Rafi Sabbagh
Home Inspection by Pros (734) 483-3400 -
Robert Armstrong
Housemaster Inspection Services (888) 848-0202
- Tom Rusco
Morse Moving & Storage, Inc. (734) 484-1717-
John Green
Parks Title (313) 505-6606 - Mark Jefferson
PNC Financial Services (734) 281-5219 - Ali
Shami
PrimeLending A Plains Capital Company (313)
274-6500 - Chuck Hage
Reckingers Heating and Cooling (313) 562-3456 -
Steve Krstevski
Sam’s Club (734) 285-4754 - Lorene Rome,
Gabriel Martinez
Title Solutions Agency, LLC (734) 259-7130 -
Brad Nolit
Title One Inc. (734) 427-8006 - Bernie Youngblood
Title One Inc. (313) 561-6631 - Debbie Kudla
Vis-Home (734) 945-0396 - Boris Kochubievsky
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage (515) 213-4291- Jim
Linnane
January 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
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11 12 13 14 15 BOD
Meeting
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