No tax credit? No problem! - Columbus Board of Realtors

Announcements
Walk the Foundation Walk
The CBR Charitable Foundation Fund is again selling brick pavers to be
installed in time for the rededication of the walkway and the Third Annual
Bricks, Brats & Beer Festival on Thursday, June 17! The REALTOR®
Foundation Walk is located at the main west entrance to CBR and commemorates
those who have made donations to the CBR Foundation Fund.
Show your REALTOR® pride and become part of CBR history where you
know your paver symbolizes your enduring support of the fund that helps
build the future of central Ohio real estate! Brick orders must be received
by May 7 in order to be installed in time! Bricks start at only $100 and 100
percent of the proceeds from the pavers go directly to the CBR Charitable
Foundation Fund, supporting real estate-related programs and qualified
entities whose goals are to improve the overall real estate environment in
central Ohio. For more information, contact Kelly Lavelle at (614) 475-
4000 ext. 247, e-mail Klavelle@ColumbusRealtors or for a copy of the
order form, visit Columbusrealtors.com/REALTOR_Tools/foundationfund.
The completed form can be faxed to Kelly at (614) 475-4091.
Post-License Real Estate Grant Applications
being accepted
CBR’s Equal Opportunity Committee is accepting applications for the
CBR Multi-Cultural Post Licensing Grant. These grants are awarded to
newly licensed REALTORS® to help with start-up costs, i.e., annual
CBR membership fees, classes, business cards, etc. Grants are awarded
twice a year, with the next funding period set for July with an application
deadline of June 30. The grant is not a loan; therefore repayment is not
required. For a copy of the grant application, go to www.ColumbusRealtors.com/15774.cfm
or if you have questions about the grant, call Lynn
Hackworth (614) 475-4000 ext. 248.
KeyCard update needed for showing
Licking County listings
If you plan to show properties in Licking County, you must first have
your SuperKey or e-Card updated for that area. To do so, contact CBR’s
KeyBox Administrator Tammy Foor at (614) 475-4000 ext. 282 with your
Key’s serial number and your four-digit PIN. The process requires 24 to
48 hours for the changes to take effect, but once this has been done the
Key will update for both the Columbus Board of REALTORS® as well as
the Licking County Board of REALTORS®.
CBR and Hondros College offers online
CE specials
Register now for online CE through Hondros College and save money
while enjoying the flexibility to complete courses when and where it’s
convenient for you. Through May 31, CBR members can take $20 off
a 30 Hour Package and get 30 hours of CE for just $179 or take $5 off
any single course. Simply use discount code CBRP39 during checkout to
receive the package discount and discount code CBRS39 to save on one
course. When you choose Hondros College for your CE, you gain immediate
access to your certificate as soon as you complete your course. You
can start your course as soon as you register or when you have time and all
of the courses are relevant, easy, engaging and educational.
NAR launches its Heart of the
Market Program
NAR’s Marketing Group has recently launched its Heart of
the Market program to engage members in an activity that
will foster the positive relationship between members, State
and Local Associations and NAR, as well as with their clients
and communities. A series of Web pages have been created
on REALTOR.org where members can submit personal
stories on how being a member of the Association has made
a difference to them, their clients and their community. Once
the stories are posted to the ‘Gallery,’ members will be able
to easily share their story via their personal Facebook page,
Twitter and e-mail. Association staff may also participate
in this program; focusing on how being part of the REAL-
TOR® family has made a difference to them, their members
and their community. The site (TheHeartoftheMarket.com)
will remain open through 2010. Check it out!
$172 million for Ohio homeowners
facing foreclosure
Recently the Ohio Department of Commerce announced
that the state will receive $172 million in federal assistance
for Ohio homeowners facing foreclosure. The Ohio Housing
Finance Agency (OHFA) will receive the funds and will
work with Save the Dream Ohio partners and organizations
throughout the state to administer funds. This follows the announcement
by the Obama Administration that Ohio is one
of five additional states to receive a total of nearly $600 million
from the federal government’s Housing Finance Agency
Innovation Fund for the Hardest Hit Housing Markets. For
more information, visit columbusrealtors.com/NewsDetail.
aspx?ID=311.
First-ever REALTOR® Nationwide
Open House event a real success!
Last month the board participated in the first-ever REAL-
TOR® Nationwide Open House. Participation nationwide
included 32 states and Ohio had 33 participating boards
including Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Toledo. Here
in central Ohio, we had 1,616 open houses on Sunday, April
11! (We had 989 open houses in 2008 and 398 open houses
in 2009 during the Open House Extravaganza events.) We
surveyed participants and here’s what you said…
• Over 40% of you had 2 or more open houses
o 15% had 4 or more open houses
• Over 1/3 of you had 7 or more visitors at your open house
• 3/4 s put up the blue balloons
• 85% thought the REALTOR® Nationwide Open House
was a success
• And 95% said we should do it again.
…So we are – August 1. But we also have a Super Sunday
Open House on June 27 for homes that are $150,000 or less.
36 • May/June 2010 • In Contract Magazine • www.ColumbusRealtors.com