in this edition: zipform renewal legislative update
TRANSCRIPT
February 23, 2017
IN THIS EDITION:
Zipform Renewal
Legislative Update
3 Legal Issues Facing Brokers
W. Mich. Regional Dashboard
Delayed Showings
Delayed Offer Presentations
Roster of Condo Associations
Membership Activity (New/
Inactive/Transfers)
Chicago’s Wrigley Mansion in
Foreclosure
HP 10B II Calculator Course
GRI III Coming to Grand Rapids
West Catholic High School
A weekly publication of the Grand Rapids Association of REALTORS (GRAR)
660 Kenmoor Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 | 616-940-8200 | www.grar.com
Pamela VanLuven | Editor
As you may be aware, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) negotiated with zipLogix to provide all members with the zipForms Plus product. In addition, GRAR – through MichRIC – has been providing members with Digital Ink and MLS Connect. Our contract with zipForm for these 2 products – Digital Ink and MLS Connect – recently expired. It has been renegotiated to provide these products (plus MLS Push) for those who wish to continue use through a subscription.
Previously, all members were charged a fee for use of the enhanced zipform products. Rather than asking all members to subsidize this cost for a product they don’t use, we are now offering the option to subscribe to dotloop agent premium or zipform premium products, at a cost of $7.50 per month (you may subscribe to both, if you wish, for $7.50 each per month). The subscription information for dotloop agent pre-mium was previously published.
Following is information on how to subscribe to the Zipforms enhanced bundle of products:
Zipforms: If you have a Single User or a Multi-User Broker copy of the Zipforms Plus product and you have not renewed your product yet, you should do so when you see the message that your product will be expiring soon. The Zipforms Plus product is brought to you by NAR and there is no charge for using the Zipforms Plus product.
GRAR – through MichRIC – is offering you an optional bundle of other Ziplogix products for your use. The bundle consists of Digital Ink, MLS Connect and a new product, MLS Push, at a cost of $7.50 per month. If you have already renewed, the bundle was included with your renewal and you do not need to do anything to use the bundled products. When you renew, your shopping cart will display the products bundled as well as other individual products you can purchase from Ziplogix directly, such as Zipform Mobile. If you do not want the bundle, you just need to uncheck those items in your shopping cart. If you received the bundle, but you did not want it, you should contact GRAR.
If there is a problem with your renewing the product, please contact the Ziplogix Help Desk at 586-840-0140. They are available Monday- Friday 24 hours/day and Saturday, Sunday and Holidays 10:00am – 10:00pm EST. The MLS Push product will be implemented in the near future. It will appear as an option when you are viewing listing information on FlexMLS and will allow the user to go from a listing on FlexMLS to their Zipform Plus account, automatically filling the cover sheet with information from the listing they were viewing. A notice will be sent to all Members when this product is live for use.
Making life better: People Homes
Community
Please take a moment to watch the Legislative
Podcast, filmed live and in one take from Detroit
last week during the Michigan REALTORS®
Achieve Conference. Thirsty for more legislative
knowledge? Curious as to how your Michigan
RPAC dollars are working on your behalf?
Check out the success stories below:
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS &
INCOME TAX CUTS: Governor Snyder, within
his January State of the State message,
discussed a continued need to enhance
Michigan’s infrastructure. Many in the Legislature are discussing reductions in the income tax. Given the
potential costs to the state coffers of either idea, coupled with the turnover in membership of the Michigan
Legislature due to our restrictive legislative term limits, we are educating the 40 new Legislators as to the
existing tax burdens associated with a transaction. We remain consistent that infrastructure proposals should
be paid for with some sort of nexus to the users of the service. We also volunteer that when tax revenues
drop significantly, often the idea of expanding the sales tax base to further include services tends to surface.
Taxing of commissions and affiliated services around a transaction would devastate our Association
membership.
SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS: Legislation is being introduced by a REALTOR® member and State
Representative Jason Sheppard. It will ban a local government’s ability to ban short-term vacation rentals. It
is becoming increasingly popular for local governmental units to entertain the idea of preventing short-term
vacation rentals and then act adversely in this arena. Rental rights are key to the value of one’s property.
Short-term property rentals are important to the culture of many communities around the state. We are
heavily engaged in this debate.
FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER SAVINGS ACCOUNTS: We are drafting legislation that will create a tax-free
savings account for a first-time home purchase. It would work in the spirit of how one can currently save for
educational expenses. Three other states have worked successfully on this issue. Given the student loan
debt situation facing potential buyers in the coming years, this tool could help support our market long-term.
PROPERTY TAX RECORD DATA: Legislation was signed recently that allows for a better access at a
reasonable cost structure in requesting quality electronic property tax record data from a County Treasurer.
We are working to see this concept be made applicable to townships and municipalities: Quality tax record
data accessible at a reasonable cost. Legislation will be introduced in the coming months.
SECONDARY MORTGAGE MARKET REFORMS: Expect proposals to surface in the coming year that
could substantially change the government’s role in the mortgage market. NAR will be engaged to make sure
that over the long-term in a stronger or challenged market that buyers have access to capital supporting our
market and mortgage options for our clients.
FEDERAL TAX REFORM: Realtors® will soon be seeing a sweeping tax reform proposal on the table in
Congress. The tax code currently contains provisions that are important to and help incentivize the owning,
buying, and selling of real property. Additionally, we will be reviewing the impact any changes would have to
industry practitioners and their business. We will be engaged in discussions with our elected officials as to
what any changes to these provisions would mean to the market and dues paying members.
Source: Michigan REALTORS® | Questions? Please contact Doug Merriam.
REALTOR® Magazine | Daily Real Estate News | February 17, 2017
There are three hot legal issues affecting real estate companies today that broker-owners
need to keep on their radar: website accessibility, copyright infringement, and cyber
fraud. During the 2017 REALTOR® Broker Summit in San Diego, NAR General Counsel
Katie Johnson summarized how brokers are at risk and what they can do about it.
ADA Website Accessibility: The Americans with Disabilities Act clearly mandates access to physical places of public accommodation. However, the law is ambiguous regarding websites. Circuit court decisions
are split on the issue, but Johnson predicts that regulations will eventually broaden to include online
accessibility standards. Generally, an accessible website interacts well with the adaptive software or
technology that people with disabilities use when surfing the web. This technology will read the text on
websites, including descriptions coded behind images for this specific purpose. Johnson recommends that if
your business website isn't already ADA accessible, then post an accessibility notice on your site letting
users know you are striving to be compliant. Include your company's contact information so they can reach
out and help you find a way to accommodate them. Learn more about ADA compliance.
Copyright Infringement: VHT, Inc., a nationwide photography services company, recently took Zillow to court for copyright infringement. VHT operated with a limited license, Johnson says, which only permitted use
of its property photos while the listing was active. As soon as the property was sold, the brokers and agents
no longer had rights to the images. However, Zillow was displaying photos after sale, as they were still
served up through local MLSs. Zillow filed a motion to dismiss, claiming that it was not the proper defendant.
However, the court ruled that Zillow must pay $8.3 million to VHT for violations. Zillow is going to appeal,
Johnson says, but this case directly involves photos commissioned by everyday real estate professionals.
There are two easy actions you can take immediately to protect your company from copyright violations,
Johnson says. First, require ownership or unrestricted permission for use of all your listing and marketing
photos taken by professional photographers. "It sounds so easy, but very few people do it," Johnson says. If
ownership of the images isn't an option, then the next best thing would be an exclusive license that allows
your company the use of images for any real estate business purposes. Download sample agreements at
nar.realtor. There's also the issue of other people's photographers, such as listing images coming from IDX
feeds that appear on your website. Johnson says the Digital Millennium Copyright Act provides safe harbor
from liability for those who register with the U.S. Copyright Office for $6. This will help protect your company if
someone contacts you about a photo you had nothing to do with on your site. If that does occur, Johnson
says, act quickly to have the image taken down by calling the MLS.
Cyber Fraud: One threat hitting the real estate industry particularly hard is a scheme that leads to wire fraud. It starts with email password hacking, which grants criminals access to money wiring correspondence.
Johnson says passwords are usually acquired through a phishing scheme, and once they’re in, they study
your email and wait for wire instructions. They use the opportunity to send their own bogus wire instructions
to clients. The money is sent to a fraudulent account, usually offshore, and is gone forever. One way to
protect your clients is to be open and honest with
them about this threat, Johnson says. "Get these
consumers on alert," she says. Tell them to be wary
and careful when transferring funds, or don't send
instructions via email at all. Some brokerages are
starting to forbid it, she says. The NAR legal team
has put together a short informational video that you
or your agents can share with clients explaining wire
fraud and warning signs. If it does happen to any of
your agents and their clients, contact the local FBI
field house immediately. The FBI is actively investi-
gating these crimes. Also, make all the financial insti-
tutions involved aware if a crime does occur. Learn
more about what you can do to protect your clients
against wire fraud.
Paid advertisement - Please click on image above.
Q: I heard that the Right Place is offering a tool to share economic and qualify of life data for West
Michigan. It seems like a great resource for out of town buyers. Do you know where I can access it?
A: Yes, the West Michigan Regional Dashboard is available at www.wmdashboard.org. It offers 34 different
data sets that cover a 13-county region from a social, economic, and environmental perspective. It is more
than an economic update, rather it provides everything from high school graduation rates and water testing
info to average commute times, crime stats, and more. The Dashboard is being maintained by the Right
Place, and the data will be updated on an annual basis.
Q: I have a new listing that will include a delay of showings and a delay in the presentation of offers.
Will the MLS accept that listing?
A: Yes, the MLS will accept a listing with these types of delays, provided: 1) the seller consents to the
delays in writing (in either the listing agreement or an attached amendment form), 2) the delays are disclosed
to cooperating brokers on the MLS (in the past we requested that these disclosures appear in the Agent
Remarks, but now are requesting that they be placed in the Listing Comments so that consumers are privy to
the information as well), 3) the delays are to a date certain (may not be indefinite) and, most importantly, 4)
the delays apply to all - including showings and offers procured by the listing office.
Q: I received a message from the MLS indicating that my new listing did not meet the minimum
requirements for submission for the reason that the Protection Period field in my listing contract was
left blank. It seems obvious to me that a blank field means that there is not a protection period. What
am I missing?
A: MLS Staff likely reached out to you to request that you complete that field and have the Sellers initial it as
evidence of consent. This is a risk reduction practice for the reason that a blank field does not equal a zero
amount. One might consider a contract with blank fields to be incomplete. Please keep in mind that Article 9
of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics requires that agreements be in clear and understandable language
expressing the specific terms, conditions, obligations, and commitments of the parties.
Q: Does GRAR still offer a list of Condominium Associations? If so, where would I locate it?
A: Yes, that list can be accessed from the public side of www.grar.com - Select GRAR Resources, then click
on the Public Policy tab, and then Condo Associations. The roster includes condo name, address, phone,
and contact person. See
sample at right. If you do
not see the Association
you are seeking, please
contact Julie Rietberg.
Paid advertisements - Please click on images above.
Paid advertisements - Please click on images above.
Housing shortage?
Realtor.com ranks Grand Rapids in the
Top 5 Cities Running Out of Homes the Fastest.
Since 2010, Grand Rapids has experienced
more people moving in than out.
Please click on the video above to learn more.
GRAR DATABASE TOTALS
AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 2017
566 Brokers
2,099 Salespersons
104 Appraisers
44 Life Members
181 Affiliate Members
Please click on the following links to view activity during the month of January 2017:
New Members Opted Not to Renew Change in Company Affiliation
Questions re:
GRAR’s member records?
Cheryl Krause (616) 940-8218
Search the Member Roster (REALTORS® and
Service Partners) online at
http://www.grar.com/
CHICAGO’S FABULOUS
WRIGLEY MANSION IN FORECLOSURE
A “Gilded Age” era mansion linked to one of
Chicago’s most storied families - the Wrigleys
(founders of the chewing gum and former owners
of the Chicago Cubs) has gone on the market. It’s
a beauty, but buyers should beware. It is also a
foreclosure. Please click here to continue reading.
Date: March 7, 8, 13, 14, 15
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Grand Rapids Association of REALTORS®
This session consists of 40 classroom hours that are approved for 30 hours of broker licensing credit w/3
hours of civil rights training. Topics include: income/expense analysis, time value of money concepts,
lender’s language, current tax law, installment sale calculations, and hands-on/practical approach to
investment real estate. An HP 10B II Calculator is required (available in GRAR REALTOR® Store). Please
click here for additional information and registration. Questions? Please contact Brittany Sheets.
March:
March 1 - 11:00 a.m. - Building a Partnership Between REALTORS® & Homebuilders (Lunch & Learn) - Contact:
Brittany Sheets - Sponsored by: Transnation Title Agency
March 2 - 10:00 a.m. - Marketing/Branding Focus Group - Contact: Julie Rietberg or Sue Jenkins
March 6 - HP 10BII Calculator Course - Contact: Brittany Sheets
March 7, 8, 13, 14, 15 - GRI III - Contact: Brittany Sheets
March 8 - 9:00 a.m. GRAR Board of Directors Meeting - Contact: Julie Rietberg or Sue Jenkins
March 9 - 9:00 a.m. - Candidate Review & Development Committee - Contact: Pam VanLuven
March 13 - 12:15 p.m. - Professional Standards Review Board - Contact: Sue Jenkins
March 15 - 8:15 a.m. - New Member Orientation - Contact: Cheryl Krause
March 16 - 9:00 a.m. - Grievance Review Panel - Contact: Pam VanLuven
March 16 - 1:00 p.m. - Tech/Mobile Focus Group - Contact: Julie Rietberg or Sue Jenkins
March 20 - 2:00 p.m. - Community Involvement Task Force - Contact: Brittany Sheets
March 21 - 1:30 p.m. - REBarCamp Task Force - Contact: Brittany Sheets
March 22 - 8:00 a.m. - 2017 Michigan Real Estate Continuing Education w/Jack Miedema - Contact: Brittany Sheets
March 22 - 9:00 a.m. - International Committee - Contact: Julie Rietberg or Sue Jenkins
March 23 - 2:00 p.m. - West Michigan Regional Forms Committee - Contact: Pam VanLuven
March 29 - GRARLA Bus Trip to Lansing - Contact: Pam VanLuven - Sponsored by: Evolve Bank & Trust
April:
April 10 - 1:30 p.m. - Government Affairs Committee - Contact: Julie Rietberg or Sue Jenkins
April 11 - 1:30 p.m. - YPN Advisory Council - Contact: Brittany Sheets
April 12 - 9:00 a.m. - GRAR Board of Directors Meeting - Contact: Julie Rietberg or Sue Jenkins
April 13 - 8:15 a.m. - New Member Orientation - Contact: Cheryl Krause
April 13 - 2:00 p.m. - West Michigan Regional Forms Committee - Contact: Pam VanLuven
April 14 - GRAR Office Closes at 3:00 p.m. in celebration of Good Friday
April 17 - 10:00 a.m. - Educational Programming Task Force - Contact: Brittany Sheets
April 19 - 9:00 a.m. - Safety Strategies Training - Contact: Brittany Sheets - Sponsored by: Mortgage1
April 19 - 1:00 p.m. - Safety Strategies Training - Contact: Brittany Sheets - Sponsored by: Mortgage1
April 20 - Michigan REALTORS® Broker Summit - Troy, MI
April 20 - Dotloop Training
April 25 - REBarCamp Task Force - Contact: Brittany Sheets
April 26 - MLS Policy Committee - Contact: Pam VanLuven
April 27 - GRARLA to Attend Fair Housing Center of West Michigan’s Fair Housing Luncheon/Workshop
April 29 & 30 - Regional Open House Weekend - Save the Dates! - Contact: Brittany Sheets
Other Important Dates:
September 20 - 2017 Michigan Real Estate Continuing
Education w/Jack Miedema - Contact: Brittany Sheets
September 27-29 - Michigan REALTORS® Convention
& Expo - Grand Rapids, MI
October 12 - Annual Meeting of Brokers & Certified
Appraisers - Contact: Julie Rietberg or Sue Jenkins
October 26-27 - GRAR Board of Directors Annual
Planning Retreat - Contact: Julie Rietberg or Sue Jen-
kins
November 3-6 - NAR Conference & Expo in Chicago, IL
December 15 - GRAR Annual Installation & Awards
Breakfast - Contact: Julie Rietberg or Sue Jenkins
Paid advertisements - Please click on images above.
The events listed below are not hosted by GRAR, but are shared for your information. If you are looking for
continuing education credits, we would encourage you to make certain that the course you select is approved
by the CE Marketplace (https://www.cemarketplace.net/):
February 23 - WCR “Meet Your Match”
February 23 - Credit Score & Mortgage Updates Lunch-n-Learn (Offered by Mortgage1)
February 23-25, 2017 - RPOA Presents: Michigan’s Largest FREE Real Estate Investor/Landlord Conference/Expo
March 2 - Commercial Drones: A Look at New Regulations & Applications for Commercial
March 6-9 & 13-16 - Real Estate Pre-Licensing Training with MiLicense.net
March 8 - New Construction Con. Ed. Course with Transnation Title Agency
March 9 - WCR Breakfast Program
March 9 - Sun Title’s Continuing Education Series - Real Estate Transactions (C001728) and Closing Experience
(C001730) - Held at Gerald R. Ford Museum
March 13–17 - Real Estate Pre-Licensing with Real Estate One Academy
March 14 - Michigan Business Brokers Association Meeting (West Chapter)
March 20-24 - Real Estate Pre-Licensing with MiLicense.net
March 25 - Review for the Exam - Real Estate Pre-Licensing with Real Estate One Academy
April 3-7 - Real Estate Pre-Licensing with Real Estate One Academy
April 12 - Title 101 Con. Ed. Course with Transnation Title Agency
April 13 - WCR New Member Orientation & Mixer
April 22, 29 & May 6, 13 - Real Estate Pre-Licensing with Real Estate One Academy (Saturday Classes)
April 24-28 - Real Estate Pre-Licensing with MiLicense.net
April 26 - 1031 Exchange Con. Ed. Course with Transnation Title Agency
April 27 - Fair Housing Center of West Michigan’s Annual Luncheon & Workshop Series
May 1-4 & 8-11 - Real Estate Pre-Licensing with MiLicense.net
May 8-12 - Real Estate Pre-Licensing with Real Estate One Academy
May 10 - Apps (Matt Muscat, Instructor) Con. Ed. Course with Transnation Title Agency
May 11 - Sun Title’s Continuing Education Series - Fraud, Data Security, & NPI (C001732) and Appraisals
(C001743) - Held at Gerald R. Ford Museum
May 15-19 - Real Estate Pre-Licensing with MiLicense.net
View more online. If you would like to post an event above, please forward the event name, date, time, and registration
link to Pam VanLuven.
GRAR’s Community Involvement Task Force will be meeting with administrators and/or board members from
West Catholic High School in the coming weeks to learn more about the school, its programs, volunteer
opportunities for real estate professionals, and to receive information that may be shared with real estate
consumers. Please watch this mailing for that information, or visit gowestcatholic.org to learn more. Thank
you, GRAR REALTOR® Jeff Blahnik, for facilitating the Task Force’s introduction to this great learning
establishment! If you are aware of any other organization or school that should be communicating with
GRAR, please reach out to Brittany Sheets at [email protected] to share contact information.