kyrealtorsummer08

Kentucky

A publication of the Kentucky Association of REALTORS® S U M M E R 2 0 0 8

GREENThis Season’sFashionable Color

Vacation Homes

IndependentContractor Agreement

Get Involved in YOURAssociation

®

A publication of the Kentucky Association of REALTORS®

PresidentRobert A. DamronEastern Kentucky Association of REALTORS®

President-ElectJeffrey L. SmithNorthern Kentucky Association of REALTORS®

TreasurerJohn W. Smither, GRILexington-Bluegrass Association of REALTORS®

Treasurer-ElectSantosh S. Bhatt, ABR, CRSGreater Louisville Association of REALTORS®

Executive Vice PresidentSusan W. Helm, [email protected]

Communications/Marketing DirectorHunt [email protected]

Address letters and inquiries to:Kentucky REALTOR®161 Prosperous PlaceLexington, KY 40509

TF 800.264.2185T 859.263.7377F 859.263.7565www.kar.comemail: [email protected]

KAR members should always send addresschanges to their local board/association first.Subscription rates: $10 per year (included in dues) for members, $25 per year for nonmembers.

Kentucky REALTOR® is published quarterly (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) by the KentuckyAssociation of REALTORS®, 161 Prosperous Place,Lexington, KY 40509.

Application to mail at periodicals postage rates ispending at Lexington, Kentucky. POSTMASTER:Send address changes to Kentucky REALTOR®,161 Prosperous Place, Lexington, KY 40509.

All articles represent the opinions of the authorsand do not necessarily represent the opinions ofKentucky REALTOR® or KAR and should not beconstrued as a recommendation for any courseof action regarding financial, legal or accountingmatters by KAR or Kentucky REALTOR® and itsauthors.

Reproduction prohibited without permission.Copyright © 2008Kentucky Association of REALTORS®, Inc.All rights reserved.

ContentsVolume 1, Number 4, Summer 2008

SUMMER 2008 KENTUCKY REALTOR® 3

President’s Message 5

Tools You Can Use 6

Legal Update 8

Legislative Update 14

Housing Stats 17

KREC Information 18

Local Association News 22

A Day In The Life Of... 28

From the Helm 30

IN THIS ISSUE

Going Green 10

EcoBroker Designation 19

Vacation Homes 20

Green Terminology 27

REGULAR FEATURES

KAR News

4 www.kar.com

KAR ElectionsThe Kentucky Association of REALTORS® announces thefollowing openings for 2009 Leadership Positions.

Nominations are now being accepted for:President-Elect (1 position for 1 year term) Treasurer-Elect (1 position for 1 year term)At-Large Director (3 positions for 3 year term) Region Director (3 positions for 2 year term)Regions 2, 4 & 6At-Large Delegates (3 positions for 3 year term) NAR Director (for 3 year term)

Candidate nomination forms are due to KAR by August 15,2008. The nomination form, as well as election information,can be found on the KAR website by clicking “About KAR”and “Leadership.”

Nominations can be sent to:Kentucky Association of REALTORS®Attn: KAR Nominations869 East High Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40502

Elections will take place in September during the KARConvention & Expo in Covington, Kentucky.

Join KAR on Facebook now and be one of the first members tothe newest online KAR group! If you are not currently on Facebook,getting started is easy. Just log on to www.facebook.com and set up aprofile. It’s free and once you become a Facebook member, you canrequest to be added to the KAR group. Under the KAR logo on theright, click the link that says “Request to Join Group.” That’s all there isto it. To locate the KAR group, use the search feature or go directly tothe group by typing www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9244727021.

KAR AwardsEach year, KAR presents awards to recognize members andassociations through their unique contributions to theprofession and dedication to the industry. To access thenomination forms and find out more about the awards,visit http://www.kar.com/aboutkar.asp?p=recognition.

REALTOR® of the Year Award Deadline: Friday, August 15

REALTOR® Community Service AwardDeadline: Friday, August 15

Nat Sanders Education AwardDeadline: Friday, August 15

Kentucky REALTORS® Push for Changes in DCOver 40 Kentucky REALTORS® met with the entire Kentuckydelegation to Congress, including visits with SenatorMcConnell in his private leadership office and SenatorBunning in his office. Representative Chandler and other KYRepresentatives spent over 30 minutes discussing the issuesat the KAR lunch reception in the Capitol. KAR membersadvocated important federal issues such as housing stimuluslegislation, improving access to affordable insurance, andhealth care coverage for small businesses.

2008 KAR Broker Summit a SuccessThe 2008 KAR Broker Summit kicked off with a standingovation for Trends Report publisher, Stefan Swanepoel.Brokers and managers from across the commonwealthgathered in Louisville to network and enhance theirmanagement skills. Many left with knowledge of the latesttrends and issues affecting the real estate business.

We hope you can join us for the 2009 Broker Summit! More information will be provided in the next issue of theKentucky REALTOR®. Check www.kar.com for new details.

Sen. McConnell welcomed KAR members into his privateoffice reserved for the Senate Minority Leader.

Members of LBAR discussed important issues with Rep.Chandler during KAR's reception and hill luncheon.

Sen. Bunning met with KAR members in his office, decoratedwith various baseball memorabilia from his career.

With the housing market over the last few monthsbeing somewhat slower for many and othersstruggling to figure out how to make it in thisindustry, many REALTORS® are going to greatlengths to find and retain clients. You may becontemplating a change to your business plan, re-evaluating your marketing strategies or evenrethinking the way you approach a listingpresentation.

One thing is certain – whatever you do, behaveethically, keep to the basics and maintain the highestlevel of service possible to those you serve. Irecently came across a list that relates these steps ina humorous light and want to share them with you.Some of these may even help you shine in this less-than-perfect environment.

How NOT To Serve Your ClientsA Not-So-Good List of REALTOR® to ClientCourtesies

1. Show it anytime – they know their house islisted! Have a confirmed appointment beforeshowing any property. Record the date, timeand the name of the person who gaveconfirmation. Record this information in yourshowing log.

2. Always arrive early – you will impress theseller! Arrive on time for showings. Don't beearly. Occupied homes may have ownerspreparing to leave. On vacant houses, otherappointments may be scheduled.

3. Don’t call – we all know that real estate peoplerun late! If you are going to be more than 5minutes late for a showing, please call the listingsalesperson and/or office to notify the seller ofyour tardiness.

4. Make yourself at home and use the telephone– Do not use the telephone in someone's homeor business without prior permission! You neverknow when a telephone may be programmed.Use your cell phone or a pay phone.

President’s Message

Robert Damron,2008 KAR President

5. Tell them all the bad news about their listings –Please have the courtesy to let another agent know the good news about a showing as well asthe things that need attention. No listing can beall bad!

6. Leave the lights on and leave the doorsunlocked – No. Not really! Follow theinstructions of the listing office.

7. The nearest bathroom is at my office, no onewill know – Never use a bathroom at a listingunless it is marked “public.” Make sure your clients know not to use the bathroom either.

8. Low ball every offer – Feel the seller out!Courtesy is that you should be a professionalwho knows the market value of property. Makeoffers that reflect value and not “low” balls.

9. List them as high as we can and hope they willstill sell – Again, courtesy is that you should be aprofessional who knows the market value ofproperty. List property that reflects market valueand no “high” ball price.

10. Let everyone in your company know of your new listings first. Great rewards for ‘in-house’deals – Remember that you should treat all agentsthe same. Follow MLS rules and theREALTORS® Code of Ethics. If you are workingfor your seller, you will want to give the utmostexposure.

Robert Damron2008 KAR President

It’s Back to Basics and a Listto Show You How


6 www.kar.com

Tools You Can Use

Marketing Minute

Chat Widget for Your Websitewww.plugoo.com

Can potential clients reach you 24/7 through your

existing website? If not, they can now with a web-based

instant messaging tool called Plugoo. Plugoo can be

placed (for free) on your website, blog or social network

profile to enable simple, real time chat with potential

clients and web visitors interested in buying, selling or

finding out more about the services you provide. Setup

is easy and only requires you to subscribe to an Instant

Messenger client (your visitors do not need this to

communicate). Plugoo is also customizable, allowing you

to change the size, colors and welcome message to fit

with your website design.

When you're logged into your Instant Messenger

(Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, AIM,

GoogleTalk, Jabber or ICQ), you can instantly receive all

the comments of your visitors or any question they

might ask, and answer immediately. Plugoo allows you to

chat with up to five people at a time and conversation

between you and a visitor is strictly private meaning

other simultaneous visitors on the website don’t see the

conversation. If you are offline, visitors can still send

messages which will then be e-mailed to you or received

when you sign in to your Instant Messenger account.

Another great feature is myPlugoo, a simple link

(http://www.myPlugoo.com/yourname) to let your

friends to IM you from any website, email or blog. For

instance, you can add this link to your email signatures.

This way, your email recipients have the opportunity to

open up a Plugoo with just one click and start a live

conversation with you!

tinySpellhttp://tinyspell.m6.net/

Occasionally you need to check your spelling in anapplication that does not include a spell checker andyou don't want to launch your word processor just forthat. This is when tinySpell becomes handy. It is a smallutility that allows you to easily and quickly check andcorrect the spelling in any Windows application.

tinySpell will watch your typing on the fly andalert you whenever it detects a misspelled word. It canalso check the spelling of text that you copy to theclipboard.

One nice feature of this application is that you canenable/disable the program with just one simple click ifyou don’t want it to run on a consistent basis. tinySpellinstalls itself in the system tray for easy access andincludes several nice features such as a 110,000 worddictionary which words can be added to improve itsfunctionality.

Top Online Video SitesThe world of online video has become mainstream

for many industries and real estate can be listed amongthem. With such a diverse group of sites available forposting video, it’s hard to know which ones are the bestfor getting the word out. According to Hitwise, theleader is YouTube, which accounted for over 73% ofthe market share in the online video site category inMarch 2008 and a 32% increase since March 2007.Other top online video sites are MySpaceTV (9.2%market share), Google Video (4.06%) and Yahoo!Video (2.16%). Overall, the online video categoryaccounted for just over 1% of all U.S. internet visits inMarch 2008, a decline of 7 percent compared to March2007.

Get the 411 With 46645A service from Google that uses SMS (short

message service), also called text messaging, to sendrequests and receive precise answers to a variety oftopics. To utilize Google SMS, you must first have textmessaging services enabled on your phone (charges willonly apply if you currently pay per text). Send a text to46645 (spells GOOGL) with your question and inseconds your will receive a text message with resultsback to your phone. This free service is a handy way toget a listing for a nearby restaurant or other business,find the definition of a word, or look up the price of a


product, an area code or Zip code. You can also findmovie show times, weather, facts, definitions and more.If you are out and about and need information quick,these 5 digits are great to have at your fingertips. Tolearn more about how to use this service, visithttp://sms.google.com.

Got Gas?http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx

Have you ever wished you could find out howmuch gas was before you left the office, home, etc. andturned into the filling station only to find out gas wascheaper down the street? Now you can with MSNAuto. The site is pretty nifty and here’s why. You enteryour zip code at the site and it tells you which gasstations have the cheapest prices (and the highest) ongasoline in your zip code area. It's updated everyevening from over 90,000 gas stations across the nation.A recent search of the 40515 zip code in Lexingtonpulled up 30 stations in the area and ranked them inorder from the least expensive to the most expensiveand sorts them by address and charts all the locationson a map.

Top Ten Riskiest Housing MarketsTo find the country's riskiest real estate markets,

Forbes.com looked at the country's 40 largest metroareas and combined data on foreclosures fromRealtyTrac; job growth from the Bureau of LaborStatistics; transaction volume data from Radar Logic, aNew York real estate research firm; and vacancy andcurrent inventory rates from the U.S. Census Bureauand ZipRealty, an aggregator of multiple listing servicedata.

The riskiest markets were those that had thehighest foreclosure rates, slow job growth (or job loss)and a rash of listed homes. The top ten riskiest marketsidentified in the survey were:

1. Detroit 6. Las Vegas2. Orlando 7. Sacramento3. Cleveland 8. Denver4. St. Louis 9. Tampa5. Miami 10. Phoenix

Do you Jott?www.jott.com

Jott.com is one of the most convenient technology

tools that you can use as a real estate agent. It only takes

a few minutes to set up your account and the service is

free. Once your account is set up, you can leave a

message for yourself or broadcast a message to a friend

or entire group in a single, easy step.

Inside your account, you will need to enter your

important phone numbers, email addresses and other

relevant information such as group names and individual

contacts. To send a message, Jott will contact these

people using voice recognition software. For example, if

you wanted to let both the buyers and sellers of a

property know that you have scheduled an inspection,

you would call Jott. The system greets you and asks, "Who

would you like to Jott?" You reply by giving both the

buyer and seller names or you could also use a grouping

that you set up for that particular transaction. Jott then

takes your message and sends it to your recipients as an

MP3 file that can be played on a phone or computer. It

also sends an e-mail and a text version as well (if that

information was loaded in your account). This is more

efficient than texting and much safer, especially when

driving in rush hour traffic.

There are hundreds of applications for Jott. Here are

just a few that may take away daily stress: track your

expenses, a quick reminder on just about anything, plan

your daily errands and appointments and customize your

client communications.

Bits and Bytes

On April 24, 2008, Kentucky’s Governor signedinto law KAR’s own House Bill 638, which allows anout-of-state licensee to earn a commission in aKentucky commercial real estate transaction withoutfirst having to obtain a Kentucky real estate license.

House Bill 638 was written in response to RiverOaks Management, LLC v. Brown, a U.S. DistrictCourt case from Louisville, in which the Court heldthat the U.S. Constitution does not allow Kentucky orKREC to prohibit the payment of brokeragecommissions to out-of-state licensees.

HB 638 - OverviewHouse Bill 638 allows out-of-state licensees who

comply with the requirements of the Act to brokercommercial real estate in Kentucky on a limited basiswithout first obtaining a Kentucky real estate license.The out-of-state licensee must meet certainrequirements to take advantage of Kentucky’s licenselaw exception:

1. Hold a valid real estate brokerage license in a state other than Kentucky.

2. Have no license revocations or felony convictions in the previous five (5) years.

3. Enter into a ‘cooperation agreement’ with a Kentucky cooperating broker.

4. File a sworn ‘notice of affiliation’ with a Kentucky cooperating broker.

5. The transaction must be limited to specific ‘commercial real estate’ identified in the cooperation agreement.

6. Must comply with the Act’s limitations on brokerage activities in Kentucky.

7. All actions must be performed under the direct supervision and control of the Kentucky cooperating broker.

HB 638 - ‘Commercial Real Estate’House Bill 638 limits the real estate license

exception to transactions involving commercial realestate. ‘Commercial real estate’ under HB 638 meansany parcel of real estate located in this state that is:

1. Lawfully used primarily for sales, retail, wholesale, office, research, institutional, warehouse, manufacturing, or industrial purposes;

2. Lawfully used primarily for multifamily residential purposes involving five (5) or more dwelling units; or

3. Zoned for a business or commercial use by a planning unit acting pursuant to KRS Chapter 100.

Under the Act, ‘commercial real estate’ does notinclude single-family residential units such ascondominiums, townhouses, manufactured homes, orhomes or lots in a subdivision when sold, or residentialunits otherwise conveyed on a unit-by-unit basis, evenif those units are a part of a larger building or parcel ofreal estate containing more than four (4) residentialunits.

Legal Update

KAR’s Out-of-State Commercial Broker Bill Passes

Doug Martin is Legal Counsel for the KentuckyAssociation of REALTORS® and is a member ofMurphy & Martin, PLC in Lexington, KY.

House Bill 638 outlines broker requirements

8 www.kar.com

HB 638 - ‘Cooperation Agreement’The out-of-state principal broker must enter into a

written ‘cooperation agreement’ with the Kentuckycooperating broker. The ‘cooperation agreement’ must contain:

1. The terms of cooperation and compensation among the brokers.

2. Information sufficient to identify the specific commercial real estate transactions governed by the cooperation agreement.

3. The effective date and a definite termination date of the cooperation agreement.

HB 638 -‘Notice of Affiliation’The out-of-state principal broker and the out-of-

state licensee must file a sworn ‘notice of affiliation’with the Kentucky cooperating broker that containsthe following:

1. Contact and license information for the out-of-state principal broker, the out-of-state licensee and the Kentucky cooperating broker.

2. Effective date and termination date of the corresponding cooperation agreement.

3. Agreement to comply with Kentucky laws and KREC regulations.

4. Consent to participate in lawsuits brought against them in Kentucky courts, and consent to service of summons through the Kentucky Secretary of State.

5. Statement that the out-of-state principal broker and the out-of-state licensee have no license revocations or felony convictions in the previous five (5) years.

6. Consent to a criminal records check by KREC in an investigation of wrongful conduct pursuant to KRS 324.150.

HB 638 - Limitations on ActivitiesIn keeping with the limited rights granted to out-

of-state licensees, House Bill 638 limits in whatbrokerage activities an out-of-state licensee may engagewithout having to have a Kentucky license. Under theAct, the out-of-state licensee:

1. May co-list with the Kentucky cooperating broker - but may not list - the Kentucky commercial real estate.

2. May not hold escrow funds, security deposits, or other moneys in escrow or other accounts outside of Kentucky.

3. Must keep the Kentucky cooperating broker fully informed of all activities through prompt communications and copies of all documentation.

4. Must generally include the name of the Kentucky cooperating broker on all advertising. [Limited exceptions apply.]

5. May engage in preliminary exchanges of information and materials, discussions, and investment or other advice without constituting ‘brokerage’ or having to comply with the Act.

Out-of-state principal brokers and licensees interestedin taking advantage of Kentucky’s new commercial realestate license law exception should read carefully thefull requirements of House Bill 638.

The final adopted version of the Act may be found atwww.lrc.ky.gov/record/08RS/HB638/bill.doc. The newlaw becomes effective on July 15, 2008.


Under the Act, ‘commercial real estate’ does not include single-family residentialunits such as condominiums, townhouses, manufactured homes, or homes or lots in asubdivision when sold, or residential units otherwise conveyed on a unit-by-unitbasis, even if those units are a part of a larger building or parcel of real estatecontaining more than four (4) residential units.

10 www.kar.com

Feature Story

The term “green” has become a buzzword acrossthe country as marketers and industry players tryto capitalize on an eco-friendly movement that has

taken off with consumers. Interest across the board hasnever been so high for products and services that makeless of a dent in the environment and aim to lowercarbon footprints. Everything from apparel companiesto household cleaning products, even bottled watercompanies, have joined in the act and started promotingthemselves as being “green.” And it’s not just a fad thatis a flash in the pan, it’s a lifestyle that is quicklybecoming mainstream in our society.

This is true in real estate as well. Builders,REALTORS® and, yes, even lenders are educatingthemselves on the heightened interest being placed onthe green housing market and are beginning to offerservices tailored toward the “green” movement.Consumers themselves are giving the industry anopportunity to capitalize on this phenomenon. Takethese facts for example:

A recent NAR survey of REALTORS® whopractice residential real estate showed there is highdemand among potential home buyers for greenfeatures. Nearly nine out of 10 REALTORS® said theirclients are most interested in the energy efficientfeatures of green homes and their potential cost savings.

Nearly half of those surveyed said they frequentlydiscuss green building practices with their clients andnearly 90 percent agreed there will be even moreinterest in green building a year from now, evidencedby studies that show homes meeting EPA energyefficiency standards can save $200-$400 a year in utilitybills. Buyers seem to agree. Sixty-five percent ofhomebuyers view energy efficiency as an importantconsideration and 46 percent of buyers would like agreen home.

An informal survey of REALTORS® who practicecommercial real estate showed similar findings. One-third of those surveyed said green building is importantto their clients and more than half frequently discussgreen building practices with their clients. Nine out of10 agreed that a year from now there will be even moreinterest in environmentally friendly building.

So what can REALTORS® do to take advantage ofthe demands made by those seeking a more earth-friendly lifestyle? To start, REALTORS® should learnas much as possible about what exactly makes a greenhome and the benefits it provides to both buyers andsellers. On a personal level, this translates into how towork with buyers who are considering purchasing ahome that can provide lower energy consumption andcleaner indoor air, and how to instruct sellers on

GREENTHIS SEASON’SFASHIONABLE COLOR

By Hunt Cooper

KAR Communications/Marketing Director

But it’s not just a passing fad


changes that will make their homes more energyefficient and desirable to a particular buyer.

In order to become more educated, REALTORS®

have a plethora of resources at their disposal and moreinformation becomes available, it seems, daily. Bytyping “green living” or “green homes” in Google,millions of links will generate from various sources,which could take years to research. There are, however,several good starting points. For the basics,REALTORS® should understand what makes a homeEnergy Star® qualified, what benefits are provided bythe U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and theLEED Green Building Rating System, frequently usedterms (see page 27) and other basic upgrades andimprovements that could potentially make homes moremarketable for both buyers and sellers. There are alsogreen certification programs, such as EcoBroker (seepage 19) and Green Real Estate Education, designed toprovide training to address such topics as green homecertification, energy efficiency and sustainable design.REALTORS® are also prepared to provide solutionsfor issues that may arise in real estate transactions suchas mold, radon and poor indoor air quality.

The National Association of Home Builders(NAHB) began the National Green Building Programin 1998, which is continuing to help its members movethe practice of green building into the mainstream.Aspects such as energy efficiency, water and resourceconservation, sustainable or recycled products andindoor air quality are being promoted to becomeincorporated into the everyday process of homebuilding. To achieve this, the NAHB holds theNational Green Building Conference annually andhonors achievements and commitments to greenbuilding with the National Green Building Awards.

According to a survey in late 2007, the vastmajority of residential builders and developers - 90% -are interested in participating in a voluntary greenbuilding certification program. On the state level, theHome Builders Association of Kentucky took the leadfrom NAHB and recently rolled out its “Green BuildKentucky” Program, designed to make new homesbuilt in the state more environmentally friendly (seesidebar for more information of the program).

As for lowering the cost of purchasing “green,”some major mortgage lenders are trying to lure green-minded homeowners with discounts for upgrades thatmake a home more eco-friendly. Companies arepushing special programs for so called "green

mortgages,” which offer, among other things, discountson closing costs/fees for meeting certain standards, andcredits for making certain energy-efficient upgrades.

Certain states are getting in on the act as well(Kentucky is not yet one of them) by offering subsidizedmortgages that can help homeowners “go green.” Thegood news is not only do the improvements being madehelp the planet, but they can also save homeownersmoney.

National Association of REALTORS®

“Green” Building

The NAR building, alandmark in the heartof America’s capitalcity, serves as theWashington, D.C.operations center forthe association.

The building isthe first, newly constructed building in the District ofColumbia to meet “green” standards – high levels ofenvironmental performance as set by the U.S. GreenBuilding Council. For its achievements in the field ofsustainable environmental design, the building wasawarded the Silver Certification from the LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)Green Building Rating System.

The striking, glass-wrapped structure sets newarchitectural and environmental standards for the city,has been honored with several awards for architecture,design, finance and environmental projects, and creates adramatic presence with its breathtaking view of the U.S.Capitol only three blocks away.

Construction of the $46-million, 96,000 square footClass “A” building was begun in October 2002, and thebuilding was dedicated and opened for business twoyears later in October 2004. NAR occupies five floorsof the 12-story building, using more than 44,000 squarefeet. The remaining 48,000 square feet is rented.

To find out about the “green” features incorporated intothe NAR building, please visit http://www.kar.com/media/pdf/NARGreenBuilding.pdf

12 www.kar.com

Feature Story

What Makes A Home Green?According to the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA), residential and commercial buildingsaccount for more than one-third of the nation’s totalenergy use, 12 percent of water use, 68 percent ofelectricity consumption and 38 percent of carbondioxide emissions. Further, if you read the governmentstatistics, U.S. households waste more than $300 billionevery year because of inefficient energy use. Becausehomes and buildings have a major impact on theenvironment, it is important to know what featuresmake up a “green” home.

Most homes that fit the term “green” featureenergy efficient heating and cooling systems, lighting

and appliances, all geared toward achieving the seal ofapproval from the EPA’s Energy Star® program, whichencompasses over 50 types of products ranging fromfurnaces and appliances to complete homes. To qualifyfor the label, homes must be at least 15% more energyefficient than homes built to the 2004 InternationalResidential Code, and include additional energy-savingfeatures that typically make them 20–30% moreefficient than standard homes.

In new home construction, the “green” featuresencompass everything from land planning techniquesthat preserve the natural environment, site developmentthat reduces erosion and protects trees, indoor andoutdoor water conservation to the use of recyclable and

The Home Builders Association of Kentucky recently rolledout its “Green Build Kentucky” Program, designed to makenew homes built in the state more environmentally friendly.

“Green Build Kentucky” is a voluntary program for buildersbased on the National Association of Home Builders GreenBuilding Guidelines and the federal Energy Star® Program.It is compromised of six guiding principles as outlined in theguidelines:

• Lot preparation: Includes, among other things, how the home affects existing plants and trees and the placement of the home on the lot to take advantage of the winter sun.

• Resource Efficiency: Advance framing techniques and the efficient use of materials as well as conducting a recycling program.

• Energy efficiency: Building the home according to the Energy Star® Program.

• Water efficiency and conservation: Installation of low flow devices as well as other practices designed to conserve water.

• Indoor Air Quality: Managing the moisture content and ventilation of the home.

• Operation, Maintenance and Education: The builder will educate the home buyer on the maintenance techniques that need to be adhered to, as well as the buyer’s knowledge of the conservation systems in the home.

Builders who choose to build “green” homes will firstfollow the guidelines set by the Energy Star®Program, a successful energy efficient programadministered by the federal EPA. They will then earnpoints toward being green by incorporating efficientbuilding techniques from the other areas in theguidelines. All of the techniques leading to a “green”home will be inspected and documented by a thirdparty verifier, which will be an Energy Star® trainedHERS Rater.

The Home Builders Association of Kentucky and itslocal associations will provide education and trainingon the construction, marketing and financing of“green” homes. Classes have already been held inLexington and Northern Kentucky and will soon beheld in other areas.

HBAK Rolls Out New Green Program

By Bob Weiss, Executive Vice President of the Home Builders Association of Kentucky


Boone Tavern Hotel Gets “Green” Renovation

A comprehensive “green” renovation of thehistoric Boone Tavern Hotel in Berea, Kentuckybegan January 1, 2008. The $9.6 million, eco-friendly renovation project is designed toensure that the historic charm of Boone Tavern,which is nearly 100 years old, is preserved andenhanced. The renovation of Boone Tavern isexpected to earn the distinction of being the firstLEED-certified hotel in Kentucky, as recognizedby the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadershipin Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).After the renovation, the on-going operations ofthe hotel will be eco-friendly as well.

The environmentally focused renovation isconsistent with the historical values of BereaCollege, long recognized as a leader inpreserving Appalachian cultural and naturalresources. The full-scale renovation will revivethe ecological integrity of many features originalto the building’s design, such as:

• Open-air porches on two levels• Restoration of skylights in the original dining

room• Ventilating roof windows • Deciduous and native shade trees

• Efficient, state-of-the-art kitchen has replacedthe former one, which dated to the 1940s

• Guest rooms will be furnished with beds andother items made by Berea College Crafts

• Water saving features include dual-flushtoilets and shower heads that provide betterpressure while reducing water flow

renewable materials, waste reduction and recyclingduring the building process and throughout the life ofthe home.

Other simple ways homeowners can get into theeco-friendly act are caulking and weather-strippingwindows, replacing light bulbs with energy-efficientCF bulbs, using low-emission carpets, stains, andpaints, installing a programmable thermostat or addinginsulation to the attic. Advanced ways to implementearth saving features can be capturing rainwater inholding tanks, installing solar panels, smart irrigationsystems or geothermal heating and cooling and usingreclaimed wood on countertops and other furniture.

To reveal additional ways to save and possiblymake a home more marketable when it is listed, sellerscan have an energy audit performed, which will assess ahome’s energy usage, determine what improvementscould increase energy efficiency further and computethe savings and payback period of various options.Audit results can be used as a marketing tool if thesellers get a positive report or implementrecommendations as a result.

To find out more information about how to“green up,” start with these sites:

U.S. Green Building Councilwww.usgbc.org

Energy Star®

www.energystar.gov

Home Energy Rating Systemwww.hers.org

Environmental Protection Agencywww.epa.gov

For a complete list of “Green” terms everyreal estate professional should know, turnto page 27.

The Kentucky General Assembly officiallyconcluded legislative business in the early morninghours of April 15th, adjourning sine die until next

year. In addition to the highly contentious politicaldebate on issues such as casino gambling and the biennialbudget, legislators worked through re-election campaignconcerns and intra-party disagreements. Despite thesechallenges, the Kentucky Association of REALTORS®

(KAR) was successful in passing landmark legislationregarding commercial real estate transactions.Additionally, KAR lobbied on several other importantlegislative proposals of significance to the real estateindustry and small businesses in the Commonwealth,with a solid record of success the issues.

The KAR lobbying and government affairs effortsin Frankfort are at the most effective and strongest whenKentucky legislators are connected with the voices ofKentucky REALTORS®. Many of you received andresponded to important Legislative Calls for Action thispast session which enabled the KAR team to help passvarious bills. Every REALTOR® that took the time tocontact representatives in Frankfort deserves a solid“Thank You.”

One of the highlights of this past session was theintroduction and passage of a KAR-developed bill, HB638 regarding Commercial License Law. For a more in-depth look at HB 638 and what this new law will meanfor commercial real estate professionals in Kentucky, besure to read the article by KAR Counsel, Doug Martinon page 8. Continue reading for a summary of legislationof interest to Kentucky REALTORS®.

Commercial License Law, HB 638:HB 638 was introduced by KAR that passed the

Kentucky General Assembly and will go into law July15th. This important bill provides an efficient, structured

framework by which out-of-state real estateprofessionals can cooperate with their Kentuckycounterparts to buy and sell commercial real estate inCommonwealth. The bill is in response to and followsthe guidance of a Federal court decision regarding out-of-state brokers working with Kentuckians.

The new law requires an out-of-state broker andtheir Kentucky counterpart to enter into a writtencooperation agreement and specifying the details of thetransaction such as the terms of compensation andcooperation, and other important information.Additionally, the out-of-state real estate professional isrequired to file a Notice of Affiliation with the Kentuckyreal estate professional that includes importantinformation such as the license number, address, andconsent to Kentucky jurisdiction. Importantly, theKentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC) retains fullinvestigative powers and authority to respond tocomplaints of violation of the notice of affiliation.

KAR worked closely with the KREC, commercialbrokers, and our membership to achieve a responsible,consensus legislation that unanimously passed both theKentucky House and Senate.

Occupational Tax Collection Modernization,HB 729:

Another KAR-introduced bill, HB 729, theOccupational Tax Collection Modernization, was stalledin Committee. This bill would have created an online,centralized system for the calculation, collection, anddistribution of multi-jurisdiction payroll and licensetaxes. The proposed system would have beenadministered by the Kentucky Department of Revenueor a third party vendor, and would have created anonline form with the tax rate for each local entity as wellas calculation function. REALTORS® would then goonline, enter the payroll for each local jurisdiction andpay all of the taxes with one electronic transfer. Thesystem would be available for audit by localjurisdictions. It would dramatically reduce payroll taxcollection costs for local jurisdictions and encouragefiling by businesses currently ignoring the local laws.

This bill was in response to Kentucky localmunicipal and county governments across the state

Legislative Update

14 www.kar.com

2008 General Assembly – The KAR PerspectiveA Review of the Session

James SharpGovernmental Affairs DirectorKentucky Association of REALTORS®

Legislative Update


Kentucky General Assembly Promotes GreenREALTORS® can benefit from a new energy efficiency law

Did you know that the Kentucky General Assemblypassed an important “green” bill into law this year?HB 2, the Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Bill willbenefit REALTORS®, homebuilders, and individualconsumers through limited nonrefundable tax creditsfor certain green energy improvements as wellconstruction or sale of an Energy Star home.Improvements such as insulation upgrades, solar andwind systems installation, energy efficient lighting orHVAC systems qualify. Credits would total up to$500 per taxpayer for residential projects, up to $1,000per taxpayer on commercial and multi-family rentalproperty projects (for certain upgrades), $800 pertaxpayer for purchase or construction of an EnergyStar home and $400 for purchase of an Energy Starmanufactured home. The credits would be offeredbetween 2009 and 2015.

Additionally, HB 2 creates a high-performanceBuildings Advisory Committee to makerecommendations to the Finance and AdministrationCabinet. It directs the Finance and AdministrationCabinet to promulgate administrative regulations anddevelop standards and criteria for high performancebuildings.

REALTORS® should use this new green law to theiradvantage when showing homes to clients, especially ifthose clients are considering upgrading certainhousehold appliances like water heaters, central airconditioning units and electric heat pumps orconsidering new windows and insulation. Here is abrief summary of some of the tax credits available toresidential customers under HB 2:

Residential Improvements and Tax Credit Amount:• Energy Star windows or storm doors up to

$250• Energy Star electric heat pump, air conditioning

unit, natural gas, propane, or oil furnace or geothermal heat pump Up to $250

• Energy Star upgraded insulationu p to $100

These are just a few of the credits available to you andyour clients. For more information and a fullsummary of the new law, go to www.energy.ky.gov andclick on “Summary of House Bill 2 - EnergyLegislation” on the right side.

levying local payroll and business license taxes that differfrom one municipality to the next. Businesses andindividuals that cross each boundary are required to file areturn with each local government with an allocation ofthe payroll used on sites within the local jurisdiction. It’snot just a REALTOR® issue; service and constructionbusinesses are often filing dozens of local tax returns, thepreparation costs of which add up quickly, often greatlyexceeding the amount of tax owed.

Prohibiting “Inclusionary Zoning,” HB 447:State Representative and REALTOR® member

introduced HB 447, which would have diminished localgovernment’s ability to set the price of housing bypreventing local governments from approving ordenying a permit based on the price of the homes to bebuilt. Artificially dictating the price of homes rather thanallowing the market to determine price mayunintentionally cap the value of a home thus lower theequity value for families. This bill will not damageKentucky’s affordable housing objective by diminishingthe number of affordable homes for sale. It will allow afree, competitive market to continue.

Because of concerns from many non-profitorganizations, HB 447 was stalled in committee. KARhas a strong record of supporting affordable housing,and just last year helped pass a bill that would allow a$6.00 charge from every recording and filing fee to helpfund the Kentucky Affordable Housing Trust Fund forneedy citizens.

Expanding Affordable Housing Opportunities,HB 373:

This important bill, signed into law by the governor,doubles the debt ceiling of Kentucky HousingCorporation (KHC) from $2.5 billion to $5 billion. Theincrease enables KHC to assist at least 25,000 additionallow income households with safe, secure home mortgageloans.

Misclassification of Independent Contractors,HB 654:

In an attempt to address the issue of misclassifyingemployees as independent contractors, Rep. Stumbo filedHB 654. If the bill had passed, it would have permittedany interested party to file a complaint against acontractor they felt had been issuing 1099’s instead ofW-2’s. The complaint would have been filed with theDepartment of Labor, who would then have the

Big Blue R ($1,500 and up)Harrell N. Tague Jr.

Sterling R ($1,000 - $1,499)Dennis R. AndersonWilliam P. Snyder*

Thoroughbred R ($500 - $999)Gary BarlowJudy A. CraftRichard Y. Vreeland

Pearl R ($250 - $499)Tony ClarkSteve K. ClineJayne CoxSharon DickmanDonna W. EnsmingerBrenda G. GooslinRonald E. HughesBobbie JohnsonMelody MaloneJanet S. RobinsonCatherine J. SchrammJohn A. Stephenson

16 www.kar.com

Don C. Sullivan IIPeggy F. ThurzaJohn T. Vince Jr.Mike M. Wheatley

Commonwealth Club ($99 - $249)Connie K. AlbrechtGina R. AllenMary K. AllhoffNancy AllisonJoy E. AmannDana W. AndersonSarah A. BaileyKaye Bowles-DurnellJulie BradfordDavid L. BrayTed L. BrayCindy BrouilletteFreddie BrownPitsy M. BurenCindy A. CahillDoris E. CarverJesse L. CaseLynn T. CaudillJerry B. Cleland

James C. CollierRuss ConnorsJames W. CookShirley CultonRick CurbyJoe CusickGarlene DanielLynn DavenportDavid DavisJohn S. DavisDarrell DeflerAlfred T. DentBetty J. DilsTim EickhoffAnn ElliottStacey R. FergersonCharles M. FordGeorge ForeeLeo W. FrankDouglas A. GarnerElizabeth T. GibsonAaron T. GivhanGlenn E. Green Jr.Sandy GulickCindy Hack

* Hall of Fame members have contributed to RPAC a cumulative amount exceeding $25,000.

RPAC

Pat HaganWilliam F. HarnedMark HassJennifer Haubner-VoriesLaura H. HaydenLeslie D. HeathPaul N. HerronMelody J. HolderLynda G. HouckRobert T. HowardJohn F. HugginsThomas F. HughesSandy HuwelLoretta C. JobsPaula P. JohnstonKathy C. KimbelChuck KollerWilliam R. KopperudKurt H. KrugMary Ann KrumpelmanEvelyn M. LaceyNancy R. LageMaxine LittrellLaurie LoganCheery Malone

R. Douglas MartinBarbara A. MassmanDot M. MillerSandra MillsElizabeth MonarchChristine L. MorganPatricia NuccitelliEvelyn C. G. PageScott PanellaLenora ParadisKathryn S. PendletonBetty L. PeytonJ. Richard QueenTerri L. RaneyNorma G. RapierTheresa E. ReekersWilliam E. Rudd Jr.Mark SchafferMary Jo SchuermanDonald G. SimsJeff W. SmithSherry SpanyerStephanie SteffenLisa StephensonDavid L. StewartPhil Terry

opportunity to investigate the general contractor. If theDepartment found the contractor guilty, they wouldthen forward the contractor’s information onto otherrelated cabinets, including the Department of Revenue.KAR opposed this bill which stalled in the Senate dueto significant opposition.

Revised Continuing Education Requirements,HB 255:

A Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC)sponsored bill, HB 255 sought to establish newContinuing Education requirements for new real estatelicensees. This bill would have required 15 hours ofContinuing Education within a 12 month period forany new real estate licensees but would havegrandfathered existing licensees.

Although HB 255 passed the House after somediscussion on the issue, time ran out for Senateconsideration of this bill. During debate, an issue wasraised regarding the applicability of new agentorientation as CE under this law. However, the topicwas never fully clarified before the end of session.

Through April 30, 2008, the following REALTORS® contributed to the REALTOR® Political Action Committee(RPAC) at the major designated levels. By contributing to RPAC, you are able to support REALTOR®-friendlylegislators who believe in our industry and protecting private property rights, preserving the American dream ofhome ownership, fighting for tax reforms and reducing burdensome regulations on our business. For moreinformation on the value of RPAC and how it works for you, contact James Sharp at [email protected] or800.264.2185.

RPAC Contributors - $99 and up

Escrow violation changes, administrative andtechnical corrections, HB 254:

Another KREC bill, HB 254, moved through theHouse and was scheduled for consideration by a SenateCommittee. However, HB 254 was pulled after it wassuggested that an amendment would be filed to the bill.Ultimately, the Session ended before the bill could bereconsidered.

Once again, thank you to all who responded andparticipated in the Calls for Action. Your continuedinvolvement will help ensure Kentucky REALTORS®

have a strong and concerted grassroots lobbying effortin Frankfort. If you have any questions regarding thisor any other legislative proposal, or are interested inlearning how you can get your local associationinvolved in government affairs, please do not hesitate tocall James Sharp, KAR’s Governmental AffairsDirector, at 1-800-264-2185.


The national media coverage of the housingmarket makes it seem as though the entire

country is in a deep recession. Daily headlines —“Real estate prices are plummeting!” —“Foreclosures are at an all time high!” — “Pricespredicted to decline another 20 to 30 percent!” —are starting to take a toll on the local housingmarkets. Buyers in the state are fence sitting,thinking the bottom is yet to come and thatentering the market now is a bad financial move.

As many states saw the declines hit in 2007with large decreases in sales and prices, Kentuckyremained stable and ended the year on a somewhatpositive note – median prices rose almost 2% whilesales were down only 5% from the previous year.

In 2008, however, the negative coverage of thehousing market has started its rippling effect acrossthe Commonwealth. For the first quarter of 2008,total home sales slipped in every market acrossKentucky (down 19%) with home prices falling5%. And although this seems much worse than lastyear, as a whole, Kentucky has still managed tokeep the market in perspective. National figuressaw prices decline more than 7% during the firstquarter, steeper than what has been seen on thestate level.

“Now is a perfect time to buy,” says RobertDamron, president of the Kentucky Association ofREALTORS®. “The same reasons that wereprevalent last year still remain true today – interestrates are at historic lows, the selection of homes isabundant and buyers can get more house for theirmoney.”

One reason for the hesitation may relate to themortgage industry. As the subprime falloutcontinued into the later months of 2007, borrowerswere faced with more restrictive lending practices,according to Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chiefeconomist. Even though Kentucky didn’t see theextent of the problems in the foreclosure market asdid some other states, the carryover effect hascaused some tightening on borrowers in Kentucky.

The turnaround in Kentucky may be shortlived, however, as optimism is just over thehorizon. Members from around the state havevoiced opinions that the market will pick up as thewarm weather takes over and even Yun has statedthat “home sales and prices throughout most of thecountry are poised for improvement in the secondhalf of 2008.”

Board/Association # Sold # Sold # Sold % Median Price Median Price Median

2008 2007 2008 2007 Price %

Region One

Henderson-Audubon BOR 66 89 -34.85% 87700 111950 -27.65%

Hopkinsville-Christian BOR 85 134 -57.65% 86700 99900 -15.22%

Kentucky-Barkley Lakes BOR 63 77 -22.22% 98500 90001 8.63%

Madisonville-Hopkins BOR 92 105 -14.13% 92000 92380 -0.41

Mayfield-Graves BOR 66 69 -4.55% 72750 50250 30.93%

Murray Calloway County BOR 42 49 -16.67% 117450 113500 3.36%

Owensboro BOR 255 298 -16.86% 104000 84250 18.99%

Paducah BOR 155 169 -9.03% 119500 95000 20.50%

Pennyrile BOR 96 97 -1.04% 95500 99900 -4.61%

Region Two

Central Kentucky AOR 119 141 -18.49% 108250 110000 -1.62%

Heart of Kentucky AOR 355 424 -19.44% 135000 125000 7.41%

Old Kentucky Home BOR 88 144 -63.64% 102600 116600 -13.65%

REALTOR® Assn of SKY 394 519 -31.73% 121250 117000 3.51%

Shelbyville BOR 98 110 -12.24% 148888 152375 -2.34%

South Central Kentucky AOR 49 69 -40.82% 94000 113750 -21.01%

Region Three

Greater Louisville AOR 2695 3210 -19.11% 133800 134500 -0.52%

Region Four

Lexington Bluegrass AOR 1781 2074 -16.45% 137600 146900 -6.76%

Region Five

Northern Kentucky AOR 1157 1354 -17.03% 136000 137450 1.07%

Region Six

Ashland Area BOR 173 207 -19.65% 84500 85000 -0.59%

Cumberland Valley BOR 104 173 -66.35% 93000 95400 -2.58%

Eastern Kentucky AOR 100 124 -24.00% 105000 84112 19.89%

Madison County BOR 621 696 -12.08% 127500 134176 -5.24%

Pioneer Trace BOR 42 75 -78.57% 83000 90300 -88.80%

Somerset-Lake Cumberland BOR 135 139 -2.96% 95000 122000 -28.42%

Totals 17613 21023 -19.36% 106000 111950 5.61%

Housing Stats

National Media Takes Toll on Kentucky Housing

State remains optimistic for remainder of 2008

* Statistics are unavailable for the following local associations: Cave Run, Cynthiana-Harrison Co., Dix River and Frankfort** Statistics for Russellville-Logan Co. are included in those provided by the REALTOR® Assn. of Southern KY

Stats through 1st quarter - 2007 & 2008

As a sales associate, when you place your licensewith a new principal broker, you should enterinto a written independent contractor

agreement. This agreement should outline the paymentschedule, or commission split, to which you and thebroker have agreed. In addition, it should outline anyoffice responsibilities, such as phone or weekend duty,that are required of you.

Perhaps most importantly, the agreement shouldoutline what will occur in case you leave the broker’semploy or put your license into escrow at some pointin the future. While this seems like a burdensome thingto do when you are just starting a new businessrelationship, that agreement can be very helpful to boththe broker and the sales associate.

All listings belong to the principal broker, whetheryou have originated that business or not. When youleave, there are often listings that have not yet sold. Thequestions that need to be addressed in youremployment agreement are whether you will beentitled to move those listings upon your departureand also whether you will be paid for listings that closeafter your departure.

Many sales associates do not have a writtenindependent contractor agreement. So, if or when theydecide to leave that principal broker or to move theirlicenses to another company, these questions arise. It isvery difficult to know how such issues should behandled, because there has been no agreement.

If you do not have a written agreement and areleaving your current principal broker, you shoulddiscuss these issues at the time you decide to leave.Once you and the broker have come to an agreementas to how the listings and contracts will be handled,

reduce that agreement to writing. Your principalbroker certainly can pay you for listings that close afteryou leave, but he or she is not required to do so. Thatis why a written agreement will ensure that all partieshave a clear understanding of how things will behandled once you have departed.

KREC Information

18 www.kar.com

Independent Contractor Agreement

Lee Harris is GeneralCounsel for the KentuckyReal Estate Commission

All listings belong tothe principal broker,whether you haveoriginated thatbusiness or not.

Create a clearunderstandingbetween both parties

Important Update: The Kentucky Real Estate Commission has

increased the continuing education delinquency fine from $200 to

$500. This is for any licensee who did not complete their

continuing education requirement by the end of the calendar year.

The details of this regulation can be found in the KREC Licensing

Law manual 201 KAR 11:230 Section 7 or online by visiting

http://www.lrc.ky.gov/kar/201/011/230.htm.

EcoBroker offers the mostcomprehensive green real estatecurriculum available. In order to

earn the EcoBrokerDesignation, licensed realestate professionals must fulfilla straight-forward set ofrequirements that center on an

energy, environmental andmarketing training program.

The curriculum is $395 andincludes three day-longinteractive classes completewith quizzes, homework and

activities and concluding with a final exam. Unlikeother programs, every EcoBroker member is requiredto renew their certification on an annual basis throughthe program’s 4-hour annual update course.

The curriculum is designed to help real estateprofessionals address a variety of topics that impact theenvironment, such as green home certification programslike Energy Star® Qualified Homes, energy-efficiencyand environmentally sensitive design as well as healthissues that may arise in real estate transactions, such asmold, radon and poor indoor air quality. Affordabilityis also of key concern, offering agents information tohelp improve the efficiency and comfort of homes andleading to substantial energy cost savings for theirclients every month.

The designation offers agents a competitiveadvantage when building their client base as more andmore consumers are looking for agents with greenexpertise when buying, selling or retrofitting a home.

With national surveys indicating that 80

percent of consumersconsider themselves "green-minded,” people arelooking for innovative waysto live green and increasethe comfort, health andaffordability of their home.Consumers are looking tothe “experts” to help makegreen choices that contributeto environmentalsustainability easier. As aresult, a trend toward green building practices hasemerged to mitigate the environmental impact ofhome building and remodeling.

According to GreenBiz.com, the market for greenhomes is expected to rise from $2 billion to $20 billionover the next ten years. With this growth comesmisinformation and the need for education.EcoBroker International (EcoBroker) fills a niche inthe real estate space by offering licensed real estateprofessionals the only comprehensive greeneducational curriculum available, focusing on how tolive and build green.

EcoBroker is the first and largest provider ofgreen designation training for real estate professionals.Through EcoBroker’s unique energy andenvironmental curriculum, which emphasizeseverything from energy efficiency to solar energy toindoor air quality, real estate professionals acquire theknowledge and resources to become a CertifiedEcoBroker and assist clients in their pursuit of greenproperties that provide affordability, comfort andhealth. To date, EcoBroker has nearly 3,000 membersin 46 states, four Canadian provinces and theCaribbean.


Education

EcoBroker International can be reached by phone at 1-800-706-4321, online at www.ecobroker.com, and byemail at [email protected].

EcoBroker® Offers Green DesignationOffer Clients Added Benefits

Register now for the CRS/GRI Elective course, The New Negotiating Edge... A 5-Step Behavioral Strategy, aninnovative approach to effective negotiating strategies, taught by Ed Hatch. The 8-hour course will be held onTuesday, September 23 during KAR’s 2008 Annual Convention & Expo in Covington, Kentucky. Group discounts areavailable – registration fees are $125 for one person, $100 per person for groups of 2 to 4 and $75 per person forgroups of 5 or more. Download a registration form at www.kar.com/aboutkar.asp?p=conventionexpo.

20 www.kar.com

A Spotlight on...Vacation Homes

Lake Barkley and Kentucky LakeLocated in Western Kentucky, you will find both

Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, two of the world’sbest kept retirement and second home buyers’ secrets.As the largest tourist destination in the state, the lakearea’s recreational use amounts to millions of visits eachyear.

“Folks from Ohio to Minnesota, Hawaii andCalifornia visit the area and fall in love with the relaxedlifestyle, friendly people and breathtaking scenery,”says Glenda Ritchie, a REALTOR® with 1st RealtyGroup in Murray. “They ultimately decide to makeWestern Kentucky’s waterways their home.”

Her clients are known as “Besters,” Baby Boomersin the stage in life between being an empty nester andentering full-time retirement who are seeking a betterlifestyle. Ritchie admits, as she sits in her fainting sofaoverlooking the water, that she is a “Bester” and saysshe specializes in selling property to others like herselfwho want to make their dreams come true. Somethingthat she has, herself, achieved.

Considered a “niche marketing REALTOR®,”Ritchie says her buyers begin their search forwaterfront property three to five years before they areready to buy, usually live within a 500 mile radius ofeither lake and have an average income in excess of$100,000. They enjoy the water, are avid fishermen orpleasure boaters and are looking for a milder climate.“Besters,” she says, appreciate the small town ruralatmosphere of days gone by and the low crime rates.Ritchie confesses, “I don’t ever know where the keysto my home are.”

The lakes area has seen some impressive housingnumbers since 2003. Over the last six years, 656waterfront homes have sold in the 5 counties thatsurround Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. The

average sale price of these homes was $262,623 with thehighest price being $1.2 million and the low being$6,800. The average length of time on the market forwaterfront homes has been 206 days. Overallwaterfront homes in this period have brought 93.5% oftheir list value. In 2008, the list to sale ratio onwaterfront homes has remained constant. As anexample, Ritchie points out that the list to sale ratiothrough May this year is 93.17% on waterfront homes.

Demonstrating commitment to her niche, sheexplains that waterfront sales have made up only 5% ofthe total West Kentucky Regional MLS home salessince January of 2003, but that 78% of her personalsales during this time were waterfront homes.

To achieve this level of sales and interest, Ritchiesays she focuses much of her marketing attention to herwebsite and online activities. “Ninety percent of myclients make first contact with me through my website,which has received over 3.7 million hits since April of2006. To attract visitors to my site, I use the large listingsites like realtor.com and niche sites like lakehouse.com.In addition, I pay for placement on search engines usingvarious search terms and I advertise in the threedifferent homes guides, making the focal point of eachad a link back to my web site. Email is also a necessityfor me.”

She goes on to explain that 38 percent of her clientshave never been to either of the lakes before their initialtrip to look for their dream home. When they do visit,buyers spend an average of 3 days visiting and view anaverage of 13 homes before making a decision.

While my clients are here,” says Ritchie, “I wearmany hats - from tour guide to dining expert and areaactivity consultant. In fact, I keep a list of fishing guideson hand so I can call and book a half day fishing trip ifneeded.”

In 2007, vacation homes made up 12 percent of all existing- and new-home sales in the U.S. And, althoughlast year saw decreases in the number of vacation homes sold and a slight drop in the overall median priceacross the country, Kentucky’s vacation home market is a bright spot that seems to be picking up steam.Three lake areas across the state are highlighted below, providing the ins and outs of how this specializedmarket operates:

Community Profile

here from a different retirement destinations, especiallyfrom the north in the Cincinnati, Dayton andIndianapolis markets.

The number one way to reach potential buyers,Weaver says, is through the use of the internet. Buyerscan see what the area has to offer and browse throughavailable properties to get an idea of the homes availableand what they can get for their money. Somecompanies, according to Weaver, also use real estateclassifieds and home magazines catering to vacationhomes in the larger markets to directly connect withpotential buyers.

“Sometimes a tour of the area to show the differentneighborhoods and locations is necessary to determinehow close buyers want to be to lake access, shopping,restaurants, etc. We can then narrow down the list basedon the type of home or community they desire. Onoccasion, we have given boat tours to show potentialbuyers the area from the lake, plus it gives them achance to see all the fun they are missing out on!”

Cave Run LakeCave Run Lake, known as the “Muskie Fishing

Capital of the South,” draws anglers from states as farnorth as Michigan, and as far west as Minnesota and theDakotas.

Outside the real estate industry, promotionalefforts from the Morehead Tourism Commission, the


Lake CumberlandLake Cumberland is one of the largest man-made

lakes east of the Mississippi and is considered the“Houseboat Capital of the World.” The lake hosts oneof the largest annual Poker Runs in the nation eachSeptember, which attracts some of the nicest and fastestboats around. On a normal weekend one can enjoyseveral different water sports including skiing,wakeboarding, & tubing along with just relaxing in oneof the numerous coves along the shores of the lake.

Besides the lake itself, the area is home tonumerous other outdoor opportunities such as hiking,rafting/canoeing, horse-back riding, biking, ATVriding, & camping. The area is rich in history datingback to the pioneer days and especially during the CivilWar with the Battle of Mill Springs taking placed alongthe banks of the Cumberland River.

“With so much to do and see it is no wonder whyso many people have been interested in permanentlyrelocating to the area, retiring or purchasing a secondhome,” says Nelson Weaver, Broker/Co-owner of KeyAssociates Waterfront Realty in Somerset. “Our twolargest markets of buyers are those who are retiringhere and those purchasing vacation homes.”

Compared to other large national markets, theprices of properties are attractive and the cost of livingis typically much lower than where most of the buyersare relocating from. As with many vacation homeareas, Lake Cumberland is starting to see a largenumber of Baby Boomers either retiring or moving (Continued on page 26)

22 www.kar.com

Local Association News

Local boards/associations are encouraged tosubmit information for this section. Pictures must be at least 300dpi. Send allassociation news to [email protected].

REALTOR® Association of Southern KentuckyIn December of 2007, RASKY members

attended an @Risk Summit, organized by the Cityof Bowling Green and comprised of communityleaders, to address possible solutions to the potentialforeclosure crisis. While it was determined that ourarea has been minimally impacted by foreclosures, itwas at that meeting that a partnership began withthe REALTOR® Association of Southern Kentucky,the city’s Housing Assistance and DevelopmentServices (HANDS) and other non-profits andlenders to develop a program “Creating a CreditResponsible Community” with the title beingcoined by local president, Lonnie Gann. Theprogram is multi-faceted but the main focus of theREALTORS® will be to increase thehomeownership rate in the city at a time whenmany feel it is not a good time to buy.

While the program is still in its infancy, theprogram will be designed to create greater consumerawareness and to be more pro-active in assistingpeople into homeownership. To help ensure theprogram’s success, the association, along with theBowling Green Mayor, applied for and received the2008 Ambassadors for Cities Program grantawarded by the National Association ofREALTORS® and the United States Conference ofMayors. The program began in 2004 and itencourages cities and local associations to formpartnerships to promote affordable housing. TheREALTOR® Association of Southern Kentucky,along with the National Association ofREALTORS®, will be holding a public event toreceive the $5,000 grant (the date has not yet beendetermined). Since the program’s inception, 29cities have been honored and $145,000 has beenawarded.

Madison County Board of REALTORS®This year, the Madison County Board of

REALTORS® has had wonderful REALTOR®

participation in several community service events.Throughout April, MCBR joined with the MadisonCounty Animal Shelter to raise awareness on the

importance of animal adoption. REALTORS® wereencouraged to advertise for the shelter, as well asdonate cleaning supplies to help offset operatingcosts. The results speak for themselves - the shelterhad 65 adoptions during the month according toKeith Crawford, Director of the Madison CountyAnimal Shelter.

Earlier in March, the local division of theNational “Empty Bowls” Project hosted afundraiser to raise money for our local food banks.REALTORS® volunteered services as well aspurchased pottery bowls to help raise money forthe event.

Greater Louisville Association of REALTORS® In April, the GLAR Affiliates Council put on

their 3rd REALTOR® Appreciation Day atThunder Over Louisville! Over 1000 REALTORS®

and their families attended this popular event.GLAR had a prime location at the corner ofWitherspoon Street, right across from the GreatLawn, which showed an excellent view of thefireworks.

FREE tickets were given away to REALTORS®

by the GLAR Affiliate members who sponsoredthe event. Catered lunch was provided to allattendees and face painters and a balloon artistentertained the kids until it was time for thefireworks to begin. This fun-filled event would nothave been possible without our Affiliate Memberswho sponsored as well as the members of the hardwork and dedication this year’s Affiliate Council!

Darrell Logan, Community Service Director for MCBR and KeithCrawford, Director of the Madison County Animal Sheltern,Community Service Director for MCBR and Keith Crawford, Directorof the Madison County Animal Shelter


Madisonville-Hopkins County Board of REALTORS®The Madisonville-Hopkins County Board of

REALTORS® participated in the L.I.F.E. programon May 2, 2008. L.I.F.E. stands for “Learning ItFirst through Education” and is for the 8th gradestudents in our school system. Through the LIFEproject, students experience first hand what life willbe like as they make stops through 19 boothsconsisting of: transportation, insurance, utilities,housing, communications, child care, taxes, furnitureand clothing, just to name a few. They draw to seewhat career they have, if they are married and howmany children they have. They have one hour tovisit all the booths and make decisions that willmake the most of their “salary.” At our Housingbooth, they have the option to purchase a home orto rent. Most start out with the most expensive andthen come back to us for something to rent. We dosee several students each year that really seem to“get it!”

Our goal is to motivate the students to stay inschool, stay away from drugs and avoid teenagepregnancy. We stress to them, while they are at ourhousing booth, to be able to afford the biggerhomes, they need more education to be able to getthe better paying jobs! The best quote from a formerstudent sums it up really well, she said, “Iunderstand why my Mom is always in a bad mood!”She went on to say she didn’t know it was so hard inthe real world! When we, as REALTORS®, who aredonating our time, hear comments like that, it makesit all worth it. The MHCBOR has been participatingin L.I.F.E. since its beginning here 12 years ago.

Lexington-Bluegrass Association of REALTORS®The Lexington-Bluegrass Association of

REALTORS® (LBAR) was presented with the 2008Outstanding Achievement in Fair Housing Awardby the Lexington-Fayette Urban County HumanRights Commission (LFUHRC) for theassociation’s exemplary performance in fair housingpractices. For many years, LBAR has partneredwith the LFUHRC to provide fair housing trainingto members of the association. And, LBAR offerscross cultural training programs for members tolearn about doing business with clients from othercountries.

LBAR has also set up a regional book donationand reading program at elementary schoolsthroughout the region. The association will begiving more than 1,000 books to 99 elementaryschools in their 14 county coverage area. Theproject is part of a goal to become involved with theschool systems in innovative ways that willpositively shape the future of our community’schildren. The Community Education Task Force,established specifically for the elementary schoolbook donation effort, also has plans to reach out tohigh schools in Central Kentucky to focus onfinancial literacy.

MHCBR members provide students with the information needed tomake smart life decisions.

LBAR President Judy Craft presents books to Ashland ElementaryPrincipal Schuronda Morton. LBAR Comm. Ed. Task Force ChairMelissa Poynter looks on.

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According to spam filteringservices firm Barracuda Networks,the percent of all email that is

spam. Out of 1 billion e-mail messages, only one ortwo out of 20 e-mail messages are now not spam. In2001, Barracuda stated that spam accounted for 5%of all mail; that number rose to 70% by 2004, 80-85% by 2005 and 85-90% by 2006.

An unhappy customer will tell this manyor more people about a bad experience,and three-quarters will never buy fromyou again. Of course, only one in 10unhappy customers will ever tell youabout their experience.

Percent of respondentsfrom a Burst Mediastudy said that theirdaily routine would bedisrupted if they couldnot access the Internet for a week, with 42.9%saying that they would be significantly impacted.

Percent of first-time buyers are single females whopurchased their first home on a median income of

$44,500, according to the 2007NAR Profile of Home Buyersand Sellers.

The rule that says for each listing, knock on 10doors to the left, 10 to the right and 20 doors acrossthe street. People in these homes are the most likelyto know the listing family personally, and thereforeare most likely to want to help them find a buyer.Much easier than the old rule of “knocking on 100doors,”whichtakes alot oftime andenergy.

A Harris Interactive® surveyshows that younger adults(18-34) are more than twice aslikely to be at least somewhatlikely to consider purchasinga foreclosed home than U.S.adults ages 55+ (69% versus 32%).

The number of active users counted by the socialnetwork Facebook. You can join the KAR group onFacebook by using the search feature or access itdirectly at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9244727021.

According to a study by Point2, listings that added20+ photos generated nearly 10 times the number ofleads and over 15 times the number of views as alisting with just one photo. Over a 30-day period,properties which feature just one photo generatedapproximately 5 views and 1.37 leads, while listingsdisplaying 21 or more images received over 77 viewsand close to 11 leads.

Percent of participantsin the AOL RealEstate/ZogbyInternational surveywho said they feel their

home is worth more today than it was a year ago,and 56 percent do not think their home will beworth less in five years.

The Real Trends JunePULSE survey revealedthat 69 percent ofrespondents said thatthey strongly orsomewhat agree their market is showing signs ofimprovement. This shows material improvementfrom May where the equivalent number was only60 percent.

By The Numbers

10 times

95%

867.7%

31%

69 million

25%

10-10-20

2X

69%

state tourism department and other groups havespurred interest in this recreational oasis throughdifferent avenues such as print advertising and directmarketing as well as at regional boat, sport and travelshows in large areas such as Cincinnati, Indianapolis,Columbus and Cleveland.

With this interest comes the desire to own a pieceof the landscape and Scott Jenkins, a REALTOR® withNewsome and Associates Real Estate in Morehead andknown in the area as the “Cabin King,” has capitalizedon this niche, successfully selling this specialty now foralmost 7 years. According to Jenkins, when he firststarted, people were looking for a seasonal getaway.Now, he says, recreational property, which is a stablepart of the area’s market, has become a year rounddraw.

Cave Run Lake, known until recently as a‘weekend warrior’ lake, has transformed into a placethat has non-stop activity due in large part to the typesof buyers who have taken an interest in the area. Buyersinclude everyone from retirees and newlyweds tosingles and parents of college students who see it as away to have a place to visit and provide housing fortheir children while in college.

“Young people find this niche market appealingbecause it’s hard to get anything in the Morehead areafor $50,000-$75,000,” says Jenkins. “Most will forgo theconvenience and drive the 20-30 minutes to get to thearea where the cabins are. There is also the romanticismthat comes with owning a ‘cabin in the woods’ and tosome young newlyweds it’s hard to pass up this versesliving in a mobile home or even renting.

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Community Profile

A Spotlight on...Vacation Homes (Continued from page 21)

Because many of the homes were built originallyas weekend getaways, conventional financing was notavailable to buyers of these properties because theywere not built to the required specifications. However,as demand grew, owners of many of the original cabinshave remodeled and made necessary upgrades toalleviate these problems. Most new cabins, some ascomfortable and plush as regular homes, have beenbuilt to meet or exceed specifications needed toovercome the financing issues. Jenkins says that he hasa lot of cash deals, most using equity out of theirpermanent residence, to purchase their recreationalproperty.

When asked how he chose this niche, he said, “Itchose me, it just kind of fell in my lap. I like the peoplewho are interested in these properties because they arekind of like campers - relaxed, laid back, down to earthand would drop anything they are doing to helpsomeone.”

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY – Energy fromsources other than fossil fuels (coal andnatural gas), such as renewablesources like wind, sun, or runningwater.

CARBON FOOTPRINT – The totalamount of carbon dioxide emitted overa given time by a person, organization, or state. Usuallyexpressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).

DAYLIGHTING – Natural daylight introduced intointerior spaces and controlled specifically to reducelevels of electric lighting, minimize glare and optimizelighting quality.

ENERGY STAR® – Introduced in 1992 by theUnited States Environmental Protection Agency as avoluntary labeling program to identify and promoteenergy-efficient products to help reduce greenhouseemissions. Originally designed for computers andmonitors, it expanded to include office products, majorappliances, lighting, home electronics and more. Newexpanded programs now also include completebuildings such as homes, commercial and industrialbuildings.

GREEN POWER – Generally this is the productionof electricity from environmentally friendly sourcessuch as photovoltaic, geothermal, hydroelectric,biomass, hydrogen fuel cells, ocean energy and windpower. Many homes and businesses are takingadvantage of solar systems that not only makeelectricity but also heat water and interiorenvironments.

GREENWASHING – The practice of making anunsubstantiated or misleading claim about theenvironmental benefits of a product, service,technology or company practice.

GREYWATER – Waste water fromlavatories, showers, baths and sinks only.

This water can be stored in special equipment and may then beused to water lawns, gardens or otherrelatively benign non-potable uses such

as groundwater recharge. Water fromtoilets is called black water; it must be

properly drained to the sewer or septic system.

LEED – The acronym for "Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design." The LEED program wasdeveloped by the U.S. Green Building Council as asystem for rating new and existing commercial,institutional and residential buildings. It evaluates theoverall environmental performance during the lifecycleof a building and provides a tangible methodology foranalyzing the standards of a green building.

RECYCLING – A series of activities includingcollection, separation and processing by whichproducts or materials are recovered from the solidwaste stream for use in the form of raw materials in themanufacture of new products other than fuel forproducing heat or power by combustion.

RENEWABLE ENERGY – Energy harvested fromsources that are not depleted when used, typicallycausing very low environmental impact. Examplesinclude solar energy, hydroelectric power and windpower.

SUSTAINABILITY – A way of working and livingthat balances immediate needs for commerce, living,habitation, food, transportation, energy andentertainment with future needs for these resourcesand systems as well as the liveliness and support ofnature, natural resources and future generations.


Green Glossary

Getting Familar With Green Language

Two REALTORS®, each with different levels ofexperience in the real estate industry, explain why

they have chosen to actively participate in the industrythat provides for them and why it is important for allREALTORS® to step up and make a differencethrough volunteer service.

What made you want to become a REALTOR®?

Steve Hiland: I felt that belonging to a professionalbusiness organization would help me grow as a realestate agent and help to keep me motivated. I foundthat KAR and NAR were just such organizations.

Patricia Edison: I worked for a builder as anadministrative assistant which included working withsubcontractors, compliances officers, etc. Then I wentto work for a real estate investment company wholater sold the garden home portion of their businessand I was going to be out of a job. One of theexecutives I was working with said she was going toget her real estate license. She convinced me that Iwould be good at it so, I decided to go for it. So afteryears of working with properties in one form oranother, I decided to become a REALTOR®.

After becoming a REALTOR®, how long did ittake you to get involved and in what areas?

SH: I didn’t become active until I bought my ownagency and obtained my broker license. Afterattending a few KAR meetings, I realized that takingan active part would help me and my business grow,help keep me motivated and set a good example formy agents and fellow REALTORS®.

PE: Approximately one week after getting my license,I signed up for a Rookie REALTOR® Class. That wasthe absolute best thing I could have done for mycareer. I signed up for every free class offered by my

board. I wanted to know as much about the who,what, when, where and why of the business aspossible. The Rookies teacher told the class that eachof us should fill out one of the forms to be put on oneof the committees at the board. I did just that andwithin one year, I was placed on the CommunityRelations Committee.

What areas of the organization are you the mostpassionate about?

SH: Politics and education. I really enjoy visitingwith our state and federal politicians and talking withthem about what’s important to REALTORS® andour local communities and encouraging them tosupport our issues. I feel that education is a key tobecoming a more successful and more professionalREALTOR® and I work hard at the local and statelevels to increase educational opportunities forREALTORS®.

PE: First-time homebuyers and their process. Myfirst client told me that she was approved for a loan topurchase a home and that she would receive incentivemoney for completing classes. I went with her to herclass to find out what it was all about. Once at theclass, the instructor asked me if I would considerhelping their organization to educate their clientsabout sales contracts and purchasing a home. I agreedto offer my services and I still do those classes today.They are very rewarding.

What is your favorite part of being involved in theREALTOR® organization?

SH: The state and national meetings and conventionswhere I get to see old friends make new ones, pick upcurrent business information and view new productsand technology. I also enjoy serving on and chairingvarious committees.

Involved REALTORS® Steve HilandREALTOR®/Broker/OwnerKAR Delegate Body14 Years in Real Estate

Patricia Edison, ABR, GRIREALTOR®/Broker/OwnerKAR Region 3 Director7 Years in Real Estate

A Day in the Life of...

28 www.kar.com


PE: Networking is my favorite part of being involvedwith the REALTOR® organization. We never knowhow small things such as stuffing Christmasstockings, wrapping presents for Dream Factory Kidsor putting labels on water bottles for a Cancer Runcan bring us closer together as a group. It takes usaway from the daily grind and refreshes us.

Name the biggest highlight that has come as a partof volunteering in the REALTOR® organization.

SH: Serving as the Federal Political Coordinator forFirst District Congressman Ed Whitfield.

PE: My biggest highlight lies somewhere betweenbeing Rookie of the Year for GLAR, graduating fromLeadershipKAR and my inauguration as Region 3Director for KAR.

Has being involved helped improve your business?If so, how?

SH: Yes! I’ve picked up lots of information aboutcurrent business practices and new technology whichI’ve passed on to my agents.

PE: Of course! Great relationships are formed inthese groups and getting to know each other as fellowREALTORS® can be helpful. I used to sell quite a bitin counties other than my own. I refer these clientsand I have received referrals as well.

What would you say to a REALTOR® who isthinking about getting involved but hasn’t yettaken that first step?

SH: Every REALTOR® can benefit from theeducational and networking opportunities that willhelp them grow their business.

PE: Call your local board and ask to speak with theperson in charge of their various committees.

Outside of your participation in the REALTOR®

organization, what is your biggest hobby?

SH: I enjoy golf with my friends.

PE: I am involved in league bowling.

Are you involved with other organizations?

SH: I’m the Governmental Affairs Director for twolocal REALTOR® organizations, on the Board ofDirectors for Kentucky Western Waterlands, theLyon County Chamber of Commerce and theWestern Kentucky Regional MLS. I also do somevolunteer work for my church.

PE: I am a Sunday school teacher. I also serve on theHome Expo Committee with the Louisville UrbanLeague.

Volunteers are often referred to as superheroes.Who is your favorite superhero?

SH: I don’t consider volunteers to be superheroes.I feel everyone should be willing to give back to theorganizations they benefit from and to those groupsand individuals who genuinely need their help.

PE: My favorite superhero is the group of volunteersat GLAR, especially the trail blazers that give of theirtime and support to those of us just coming on today.

Last question, what is the best piece of adviceyou’ve ever received?

SH: Practice the “Golden Rule” and always strive forPMA (a Positive Mental Attitude) in everything youdo and say.

PE: You should be selling real estate!

From the Helm

30 www.kar.com

About a year ago, KAR Member ServicesCoordinator Becca Baxter came to me andasked if we had a recycling program. We didn’t.

She offered to set it up for us in the office. So Beccatook the initiative to contact the City of Lexington tofind out about recycling pick up. She ordered theneeded containers and once a week, Becca takes therecycling out to the curb, and brings it back in at theend of the day. Then, Becca designated certain trashcans for recycling and put nice recycling logos on thosetrash cans and she set up the separate recycling trashcans in various parts of the office. Paper, aluminumcans, glass and other recyclables go in one trash can,and other trash in the other cans.

Then we moved, and Becca didn’t let the programdrop. She made sure it continued in the new temporarylocation. And again, she did the work. Setting up therecycling cans where she knew they would be mostused (by the copier) and making sure it gets out eachweek.

There was no extra credit, no days off, no extrapay or any other type of special recognition (except forthe mention in this column). She did it, because sheknows preservation of her earth was important.

You see, recycling is a way of life for Becca. Shecouldn’t imagine that we wouldn’t participate in arecycling program at the office (shame on us for notdoing it these past several years).

Inspired by Becca, I looked up other ways wecould help save the earth. And I found that while doingour part to help the planet, we can also help ourwallets. So, being “green” and “saving green” can co-exist. Here are some ideas:1 Drink filtered tap water (if you don’t want it

directly from the tap). You can save a lot of moneyby drinking tap water instead of buying bottledwater. Plus, no trash!

2 Share rides to meetings. With the price of gas today,don’t be afraid to call up your fellow REALTOR®

and share a ride to REALTOR® associationmeetings together. Better yet, call up three or fourREALTORS®. Most cars hold four adultscomfortably.

3 Replace your light bulbs with energy-efficientlights.

4 Print on both sides of the paper. 5 Flip that switch to OFF. Save on your electric bill

just by turning off the lights, computers and otheroffice equipment when they are not in use, andespecially overnight. In a typical home, 75 percentof electricity is used by products in standby mode.

6 Buy Energy Star. The US Environmental ProtectionAgency has aprogram calledEnergy Star thatfeatures energy-efficient electronicsand appliances thatare better for theenvironment andsave consumer’smoney. When youneed a new printeror copy machine,consider upgrading to an environmental model.Check out www.energystar.com for moreinformation.

7 Create an office “green team” to find ways torecycle and save money.

8 Green your coffee. What? Instead of buying coffeein a disposable cup, bring your own coffee mug andask for your favorite coffee spot to “fill it up.”Perhaps they will give you a discount for usingfewer resources, but if not, at least you are reducingthe number of cups thrown away daily. Forexample: let’s say that one-half of the KentuckyREALTOR® members purchase one cup of coffee aday – that’s 5500 cups of coffee a day. Do the math… and bring your own cup! (By the way, that’smore than two million cups per year.)

I have been recycling at home for over a decade,but I never forced the issue at the office. So, thankyou, Becca, from all of us, for reminding us to make ita way of life at home and at the office.

MMaakkee iitt aa wwaayy ooff lliiffeeStanding outside the nation’s capitol building, KAR’s Executive Vice PresidentSusie Helm, along with dozens of KAR members, spent several days at the recentNAR Midyear meeting talking with Kentucky legislators about issues importantto the real estate industry.

Susan W. Helm, RCEKAR Executive Vice President

Becca BaxterKAR Member Services Coordinator

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