VanEd Newslog

NAR Conference Registration open online

Registration for the 2008 NAR Conference and Expo is open and can be completed online. This year's event will be November 7th-10th in Orlando and will be hosted at the Orange County Convention Center. Lance Armstrong will join NAR President Dick Gaylord for the General Session!

Visit http://www.realtor.org/convention.nsf/ for more information about the educational events and opportunities for networking at the conference. You can CLICK HERE to register online for the NAR Conference and Expo.

The NAR annual meetings will also take place the same week in Orlando, November 5th - 10th. All REALTORS are encouraged to attend. You can view a list of the Committee Meetings and Governance Schedule by clicking here.

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter proclaims April 21-16 Foreclosure Prevention Awareness Week

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter proclaimed April 21-26 as Foreclosure Prevention Awareness Week, which is a result of a $1.5 million National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling grant that was recently awarded to CHFA. The grant will allow CHFA to support marketing and outreach activities that guide homeowners at risk of foreclosure, as well as support the Colorado Foreclosure Hotline.

This week CHFA, the Colorado Division of Housing and Brothers Redevelopment, who operate the Foreclosure Hotline, have organized outreach activities that are meant to raise awareness about free counseling resources that are available to those who are at risk of foreclosure.

One of the events where outreach will take place this week will be the Adams County Housing Fair, which will be held on April 26th at the Adams County Fairgrounds from 10am to 3pm Saturday.

Click the link to learn more about the Colorado Foreclosure Protection Hotline, and you may also view a YouTube video about the hotline.

Van Education Center celebrates our 10th Anniversary!

Today Van Education Center (www.vaned.com) celebrates our 10th anniversary, and we wanted to take just a moment to thank all of our students, members, association partners, affiliates and YOU! You have helped make VanEd a nationwide leader in distance education for real estate, appraisal and mortgage brokers.

VanEd opened in 1998 as the first online real estate pre-license school in Colorado, and was one of the first online real estate education providers in the country. VanEd followed by teaching Continuing Education online. The next few years saw the online Appraisal program develop and VanEd became the online home to the Colorado Association of REALTORS® GRI, Graduate REALTOR® Institute program.

Today VanEd offers courses in more than 30 states, and is a recognized leader in online education. We  are proud to have been able to serve the industry for the past decade, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead. We will continue to provide the highest quality education and service to the highest caliber students.

And from all of us who have had the privilege of assisting our students over the years, we thank you for your support and look forward to the coming decade. And remember, whether you are currently a student or are planning a career in real estate, appraisal or the mortgage industries, we want you to know that our commitment to you remains the same. As always, we are here to help!

Registration is open for NAR Midyear Meetings

The REALTORS® Midyear meetings are scheduled for May 12-17 in Washington D.C. with the trade expo open from May 14-16.  REALTORS® can register now for the Midyear meetings online by clicking here. The Midyear meetings key component is the ability to interact with legislators and promote REALTOR® interests.

This year the trade expo will offer over 200 exhibitors and the NAR 100 year Centennial Celebration Gala black tie dinner will take place on Wednesday, May 14 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Tony Snow, former White House Press Secretary (2006-07) will lead the Legislative and Political Forum on Tuesday May 13th.

Register now by clicking here for the NAR Midyear Meetings and Trade Expo.

CREC approves Short Sale Addendum and Seller Authorization forms

At the February meeting of the Colorado Real Estate Commission, two new forms were approved dealing with short sales. The Short Sale Addendum, designed to be added to a transaction file whenever a short sale is involved, and the Seller Authorization form. The authorization form should be used at the time of listing to allow the lien holder to supply loan information to specific people involved in the transaction. The Short Sale Addendum is to be used with the Contract to Buy and Sell, and will allow various parties access to information and place certain filing deadline obligations on the seller.

>>>Click Here to view the Seller Authorization form

>>>Click Here to view the Short Sale Addendum

Both of these new forms are Mandatory for use in Colorado beginning March 31, 2008. VanEd has added both of these new forms to our Colorado Residential Contracts continuing education course. That course is available online at www.vaned.com.

Nebraska Governor's Showcase Community designation accepting applications now

Now through February 20th, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) is accepting nominations for the SHOWCASE COMMUNITY award. The winning community will receive the award from Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman on March 25 in conjunction with activities surrounding National Community Development week, scheduled for March 24-30, 2008.

Communities eligible to be nominated for the award must identify community development goals, and display that they can combine local, state and federal resources to complete high profile projects that have positive impacts on the community.

For more information or a Community Nomination form, click here. For information and ideas on how your community can celebrate Community Development week, click here.

VanEd Presents: Additional Texas MCE / MRE course: Affordable Housing now available

Master of Real Estate DesignationVan Education Center has begun offering an additional MCE course in Texas. Affordable Housing (course #08-00-010-6632) is now available for 8 hours of MCE credit. This course will also count for 12 hours of MRE, Master of Real Estate designation credit.

This course is designed to educate students about who is affected by the lack of affordable housing and to provide details about available resources with examples of how some communities around the country have patched together unique solutions to local housing issues.

To learn more, visit our Texas MCE program online today!

Another rate cut from the Federal Reserve

The Federal Open Market Committee today lowered the target federal funds rate to 3 percent. This marks a 50 basis point reduction from the previous target rate.

In its press release the committee stated that it expects inflation to moderate in the coming quarters, and that recent information indicated a "deepening of the housing contraction" as one factor in its decision. The Committee expects that this step, along with the earlier rate cuts, will help to promote moderate growth and help to mitigate risk to the economy.

The Board of Governors also unanimously approved a 50 basis point decrease in the discount rate (down to 3.5%).

Registration Open for the 2008 REALTOR® RALLY!

It's time to register for this year's REALTOR® RALLY, held in Denver at the Colorado Convention Center on Wednesday, March 19, 2008.

Over 275 Exhibitors bring the latest real estate industry tools, services and programs to the Rally.  Several Education Sessions will be held throughout the day, as well as a Keynote Session with featured speaker, Terry Watson.

VanEd will be in attendance, so come stop by and see us in Booth 181!

CLICK HERE to register for the Rally online,

or for more detailed information, including schedule and directions, go to www.RealtorRally.org

Notes from the Field: Look to first time home buyers to expand business

An article in the January 18th, 2008 edition of the New York times states that "the ideal home buyer now - in a reverse of what was true for years - is a renter who is not burdened with a house". The article, titled Sorting Out the New Housing Market, goes on to explain that owning a home which may be hard to sell has now become a liability.

First-time homebuyers typically need as much information and assistance as possible to be comfortable with the buying process. Savvy real estate professionals add knowledge about affordable housing hoemwonerhsip programs and types of first-time home buyer financing to their repertoire to inform buyers about available options.

Affordable housing is locally developed which means you need to understand what is offered in your community and who may be eligible. These programs are usually developed to provided the extra boost needed for a renter to become a home owner. It's worth check out and can help you build your business!

Guest Author Judy Richtel is a real estate broker and author of affordable housing courses for real estate professionals. She can be reached at www.wkre.com. 

Van Education Center to offer Military discounts on real estate and appraisal licensing courses

Van Education Center announced today that it will begin offering discounts on real estate licensing courses and appraisal licensing courses to active and retired military personnel and their spouses. Discounts of 10% off the full program price will be available online beginning today, and students will be able to register with the discount directly on the VanEd web site.

For those interested in learning more about the required coursework for real estate or appraisal courses, visit the VanEd web links below. Veteran discounts are available directly on the enrollment page. VanEd also continues to offer a 5 day Free Trial to all enrolling students. Have questions? Send us an eMail! We're here to help!

>>> Real Estate Licensing

>>> Appraisal Licensing

Colorado Division of Real Estate sunset hearing scheduled

The House Business Affairs and Labor Committee has been requested to conduct the sunset review of the Colorado Division of Real Estate. This review will also include the a review of the function of making available Errors and Omissions Insurance to Licensees and the Service of Process requirements.

The committee, chaired by Representative Marshall, is scheduled to meet on Monday, January 14th from 1:30pm to 5:00pm in House Committee Room 0107.

Colorado REALTORS® for Education Charity Grant program opens Spring cycle today!

The Colorado REALTORS^® for Education Charity Grant program opens the Spring grant cycle today, and applications are now being accepted online. Teachers interesting in applying for a grant can find more information and may apply online at www.vaned.com/charity.

The grant cycle will run through February, but teachers are reminded that each application must be verified by an administrator prior to being eligible for review by the board. Applicants should allow enough time to meet all application deadlines, and get the administrator approval.

For questions on the process or the deadlines, visit www.vaned.com/charity or email Mark Gavin and CAR.

Colorado Division of Real Estate special announcement on fee changes

In a Special Notice today, the Colorado Division of Real Estate announced that the fee schedule has changed with the start of the New Year for the processing of all application types. A copy of the special notice is below;

Special Notice From: The Colorado Division of Real Estate

To: All licensees

Fee Change:
       
The fee schedule has changed with the New Year for the processing of all application types (Change in status, License, etc). Applications post marked by 12/31/2007 will still be assessed the original fee for 2007. Applications post marked after 12/31/2007 will be charged according to the new fee schedule, which can be found by visiting the division website. http://www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate/

Renewal notice:

Please keep in mind that licensees have a 31 day grace period from the expiration date of their license to pay the renewal fee. An example of this would be a license which expires on 12/31/2007 will have a grace period extending until 01/31/2008 to complete the renewal process and pay the required fee. The division does recommend completing the renewal process as soon as possible to avoid last minute issues which may prevent your renewal.

Thank you,

The Colorado Division of Real Estate

VanEd Presents: Our best wishes for a successful 2008

From all of us at VanEd, we wish you and yours all the best in 2008. As a reminder, we will be closing our offices at 2:00pm MDT on December 31st and will re-open on January 2nd. Instructors will still be available online for student support via email, student forums and our Q & A's.

2007 was an exciting and challenging year. As we move into 2008, all of us at VanEd are excited about the new opportunities that are in front of us, and we look forward to continuing our mission of creating and delivering quality education and training for real estate, appraisal and mortgage brokers.

VanEd offers sign up bonus for Real Estate and Appraisal Pre-License students

Van Education Center announced this week that they are offering an additional book, The Language of Real Estate, by John Reilly,  Free with their Pre-License or Qualifying Education programs. This is the desk reference of real estate terms used by successful real estate and appraisal professionals, and pre-license students who begin a VanEd pre-license program will receive a copy of this valuable desk reference included for Free.

Holiday Special!          Enroll for a package in December and receive a free copy of the Language of Real Estate, a comprehensive dictionary of real estate terms designed for real estate professionals.

VanEd continues to lead the way in online pre-license education. Enroll today for a 5-day free trail, but don't wait to get started! The Language of Real Estate books are in short supply, so this offer is a limited time offer only! When we run out of books, the offer ends!

   >>> click here for Real Estate Pre-License Education Programs

   >>> click here for Appraisal Pre-License Education Programs

All the hot water you want for less money!

Who hasn't run out of hot water at just the worst time? Thanks to greatly improved "on demand" or instantaneous water heaters, those days are over. These great new models deliver unlimited hot water while they save money and space in your home. Tell your sphere or contacts how to take advantage of this convenience by directing them to EcoBroker's article on the subject.

   >>> Water Heating - instantaneous water heaters

This reliable green information is brought to you courtesy of the EcoBroker Certified professional designation, currently being offered online by Van Education Center. To learn more or to sign up for the EcoBroker courses online, visit http://www.vaned.com/ecobroker/ today!

Foreclosures Rates at Record High - Crisis or Opportunity?

The Mortgage Bankers Association reports that rates for starting and in-progress foreclosures are the
highest ever.  The report shows that besides the record level of foreclosures, there is a record level of borrowers who are 90 days late on their mortgage payment or more, which will likely raise the amount of future foreclosures.

In light of this news, there is an obvious way to maximize your retirement account, namely buy low and wait for the market to come back up, as most think it will.  However, you and your retirement account could swoop into a foreclosure situation to support the home-owners rather than simply buy the property.  Self-directed IRAs can also be used to loan the home-owner enough money to keep their house, assuming they can pay your IRA back with interest.  Secured and unsecured Notes are a common investment option for self-directed retirement accounts, and depending on the loan agreement, can maximize your retirement account as much or more than an investment property.

Having cash ready to go, as with a self-directed IRA or 401k is the key to jumping on an opportunity such as a foreclosure. The first step is contacting an IRA administrator for details on getting an account established and funded. Step two is finding a good investment, whether property or home-owners in temporary financial distress. Then it’s up to you to work with your IRA administrator to get the deal done.

Guest Authors Bill Humphrey and Catherine Wynne are Principals with Entrust New Direction IRA. Reach them online at www.newdirectionira.com.

Van Education Center wishes you a happy Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend!

VanEd will be closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday today, November 22nd and Friday, November 23rd. We will re-open on Monday, November 26th. We wish you and yours the best this holiday weekend.

While our staff is out for the holiday, our online courses are still available. Instructors will still be checking in, and students can still complete any educational offering, including continuing education courses online. For those students registering for Real Estate pre-license or Appraisal pre-license courses during the weekend, VanEd will be shipping textbooks and materials on Monday the 26th.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to send us an email by clicking here, and have a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving!

Colorado Division of Real Estate publication now out

The Division of Real Estate announced today that the Fall edition of the "Rocky Mountain Real Estate News" is now available. You can view a copy of the publication by clicking here, and a copy of their special notice is below;

The Fall edition of the "Rocky Mountain Real Estate News", a publication of the Colorado Division of Real Estate is now available. This new publication will combine the Colorado Appraiser Update, Colorado Real Estate News and Mortgage Broker Program into one comprehensive newsletter. Visit the newsletter section of the Division web site listed below to retrieve a copy of the latest newsletter.

http://www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate/newsletters/newsletters.htm

VanEd Presents: Colorado Contracts - updated for 2008!

Van Education Center has just completed our update of the Colorado Contracts course online to include all of the new forms required in Colorado. Beyond the CBS1, Contract to Buy and Sell, this course will also cover the new Source of Water disclosures, the revised Sellers Property Disclosure and changes to the Closing Instructions and the new Earnest Money Receipt form.

Students may take this course online today to prepare themselves for using the new forms. The forms are allowed to be used once promulgated on the Commission web site, and are mandatory January 1st, 2008.

Notes from the Field: Reduce your Carbon Footprint!

We all contribute to global warming every day. By calculating your carbon footprint, you can learn how much carbon dioxide your daily activities produce and the simple things you can do to reduce the impact you have on our environment. Get your kids involved with activities such as recycling and composting. Not only is it important to reduce your impact, but to teach your children how and why it is so important. Use the tools at the following address to begin making a difference:

                                                              http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/

You can also share this brief link to clients and help them to learn more about saving energy and money through "green" living.

Receive timely green information by signing up for EcoBroker's free newsletter. Click Here to sign up. This reliable green information is brought to you courtesy of the EcoBroker Certified(R) professional designation, currently being offered by Van Education Center. Find out more online by visiting:

                                                               www.vaned.com/EcoBroker.

HUD ban on private down-payment asisstance put on hold by court

A Federal court issued a temporary order on October 31st that halts implementation of a ban by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, on private Down Payment Assistance companies. In the ruling the U.S. District Court states that HUD's ruling lacked a "reasonable analysis"/ The new rule might put some companies out of business.

This temporary order will allow all Down Payment Assistance programs, such as Nehemiah and AmeriDream, to continue to operate and offer assistance to FHA borrowers while the lawsuit is heard in court. Both Nehemiah and AmeriDream filed suit in U.S. District court to overturn the HUD rule back in the beginning of October. Other plaintiffs include The Genesis Foundation and the Sovereign Grant Alliance. The rule had been set to take effect October 31st until the injunction was issued by the court.

Notes from the field: Will Social Security be Secure?

Social Security preservation has finally hit the campaign trail. Both John Edwards and Hillary Clinton have recently expressed concerns about the health of social security. Remedies could include both greater fiscal responsibility and eliminating the current $97,500 income limit for the social security tax. Experts predict that consumers will be expected to shoulder the burden of their retirement through IRA, Roth and SEP accounts, in addition to Health Savings Accounts, a new tax-deferred/tax-free savings option for every American.

Investing IRA assets in real estate is an opportunity that real estate agents and their customers may have previously overlooked, but that may become a more popular option. You can learn about these individual retirement options in various classes offered online by Van Education Center.

Guest Authors Bill Humphrey and Catherine Wynne are Principals with Entrust New Direction IRA.They believe that education is the most important ingredient when self directing into non-traditional investments. Reach them online at www.newdirectionira.com

VanEd Presents: EcoBroker Designation available online!

Van Education Center has partnered with EcoBroker to deliver the Nationally recognized EcoBroker Designation program online to all VanEd students. EcoBrokers stay current with the growing green real estate market and are better able to help their customers get the most when buying or selling a home. The EcoBroker designation provides the latest and most comprehensive energy and environmental real estate training.

The EcoBroker online courses may be approved for continuing education credit and all designees receive a full profile page on EcoBroker.com. The course package costs $395 and students have up to a year to complete all three online courses. Designees also have access to proprietary marketing templates and advertising opportunities.

You can view detailed program information, information about courses and benefits or register for the EcoBroker online courses by clicking here!

Redline version of 2008 Colorado Contract posted on VanEd

VanEd has put the redline version of the new 2008 Colorado contract to Buy and Sell real estate online. The form is available by clicking here, and highlights the changes made between the 2007 and 2008 Contract.

All other new and revised forms will be uploaded this week in both redline and clean copy for agents and managers to download. These forms are available for use as of October 30th and are mandatory for use January 1st, 2008. All contracts may be found online at VanEd by visiting the following link;

  http://www.vaned.com/contracts

VanEd Colorado Real Estate Licensing (pre-license) program gets upgrades

Van Education Center today announced that for all 168-credit hour and 120-credit hour online pre-licensing programs in Colorado, VanEd would accept partial payment programs for new students. This option will make it easier for new students to begin the educational programs that are necessary to earn their Colorado real estate Brokers license.

VanEd is the leader in online education in Colorado, and was the first online pre-license program in Colorado . VanEd is also one of the oldest online providers in the Nation, delivering real estate and appraisal education in more than 30 states, including being a primary real estate provider in Colorado, Nebraska and Texas. With a recent launch of a new Learning Management System (LMS), VanEd's online programs continue to be improved for both students and instructors.

To learn more about all of VanEd's programs, visit www.vaned.com.

CAR conducts public policy survey among REALTORS®

The Colorado Association of REALTORS® is conducting a survey in conjunction with NAR asking for members views on public policy issues at every level. Members are encouraged to complete the online survey to help the association target those issues that matter most to the membership and their clients.

For more information, and to find a link to the survey, click here or visit the CAR home page online at www.coloradorealtors.com.

Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 moves through committee

H.R. 3648, named the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, was moved through the House Ways and Means committee. The bill would amend the IRS code to exclude the discharge of indebtedness on principal residences from gross personal income.

The bill, introduced in committee September 26th, would create a permanent exclusion from taxable income of debt forgiven in a short sale or foreclosure. Current law requires the lender to send a 1099 to the taxpayer/borrower for the amount of any loan that is forgiven, treating that amount as gross personal income for tax purposes. This bill would exclude debt forgiven from the taxpayers gross taxable income.

For more information, VanEd offers the updated Taxation in Real Estate course online. This course includes a summary section that details these and other updates or changes to the real estate tax laws.

The bill also extends the private mortgage interest deduction that currently would only allow for loan contracts made in 2007 and carries this deduction through 2014. To pay for these and other changes, the bill would also amend the current exclusion of $250,000 ($500,000 if married filing a joint return) of gain realized in the sale or exchange of a principle residence. Currently if a taxpayer lives in a home for 2 of the previous 5 years the exclusion would be applicable to all gain realized during the life of ownership of the property. Under this bill, a taxpayer would only be able to utilize the exclusion to the extent that it relates to the period of time when the home was used as a principle residence. To read a description of the bill, click here.

Nebraska Property Tax Credit Act amount set for 2007

The Nebraska REALTORS® Association has published a letter that discusses the Nebraska Property Tax Credit Act, which was signed into law in May. The Act provides funding to a two year property tax credit for property owners in Nebraska.

Under the Act, the amount of the credit for each owner was determined after the September 15th valuation appeals deadline and was determined to be $83.22 per each $100,000 in real property value. Agents are reminded to make certain to account for the credit at closing. Language should be included that credits prorated taxes based on the date of closing.

To read the article from the NRA, which includes sample contract language, click here.

Notes from the Field - 43% of Americans are not ready to retire

How big is your retirement account? For 43% of Americans, from Generation Xers to Baby Boomers, not big enough.

The Center for Retirement Research (CRR) recently released a brief reporting that nearly 45% of households are at risk of not having enough money to retire. Why? One reason mentioned is that now Americans are using 401(k)s and IRAs to retire, not a regular annuity. With 401(k) plans, the individual is responsible for the funding and distribution of the retirement funds.

One possible solution is a self-directed IRA that allows investment in real estate, gold, private placements and LLCs, to name some options. Using investment vehicles that allow you to invest in real estate requires specialized education. Entrust New Direction IRA with an office in Lafayette, Colorado helps people with non-traditional investing and training, and has authored an online course for the MRE, Master of Real Estate Program taught online through VanEd that teaches these concepts and ideas.

For more information, log on to take the Real Estate Investments in IRAs and 401(k)s course online.

Guest Authors Bill Humphrey and Catherine Wynne are Principals with Entrust New Direction IRA.They believe that education is the most important ingredient when self directing into non-traditional investments. Reach them online at www.newdirectionira.com.

Pre-Registration for CAR Convention ends this week

The Colorado Association of REALTORS® annual convention and business meetings will run October 21st - 24th in Colorado Springs at the Broadmoor Hotel and Convention Center. Registration will be available on-site, but Pre-Registration for the event ends September 28th. Click here to see the planned speakers and events.

On-line registration is available for the convention and can be accessed by clicking here. Also, VanEd will be the provider of the CREC Annual Update course hosted by CAR at the convention. You can register for this class by logging in to your VanEd student account and selecting "Available Classroom Courses". Instructions for registration can be found by clicking here.

VanEd will also be in attendance at the Expo, so stop by and say hello. We will be raffling off free Continuing Education courses at the booth, so make sure to drop in a business card! Don't have a VanEd student account yet? You can create an account for free and then log in and view all of the current course offerings, including designation courses, on-line!

                                                                  >>> Click Here to create a free account!

VanEd launches new system for Pre-License students

Van Education Center Director Vann Hilty today announced that VanEd today launched a new Learning Management System, or LMS. The new administrative system includes more sophisticated instructor tools as well as a host of new features for Pre-Licensing students in Colorado. The system debuted for both the Nebraska Pre-License and Texas Pre-License students and instructors about 4 months ago with great success.

The new system is the cumulative result of more than 9 years of site development by VanEd. Students will see enhancements such as easier access to instructional support, greater ability to view resources and a new student account design that will offer students greater flexibility to manage their own accounts. Van Education Center staff and instructors will also be able to more readily update students on changing rules and laws through the new system.

Click Here to enroll in the Colorado Real Estate Pre-License program today on our new LMS!

VanEd now offers partnership opportunities to local associations. For more information on partnering with VanEd to deliver online education to your members, please contact at info@vaned.com.

CARHOF gets ready to Raffle the Grand Prize ~ A New Home!

The 2007 CARHOF raffle will again benefit the Colorado Association of REALTORS® Housing Opportunity Foundation, which works to promote affordable housing opportunities in Colorado.

This years Grand Prize is a new home built by Sanctuary Homes valued at $300,000. The winner may also choose to take $200,000 in cash. Only 10,000 tickets were scheduled to be sold in the raffle at $100 a piece. However, at this time CARHOF is reporting that only 1700 tickets have been sold so far and only 4400 tickets have been distributed. This means that with ticket sales ending in just over a month (the drawing will be held in Colorado Springs on October 25, 2007) the odds of winning the house are now even better! And CARHOF directs 50% of the profits from ticket sales back to the local associations around the state to support local communities through grant cycles and programs.

For more information you may online to the CARHOF Raffle page. Need tickets? Contact a local REALTOR® or the association office in your area or purchase tickets online using the following link - Purchase Tickets Now!

NRA Fall Meetings underway

The Nebraska REALTORS® Association 2007 Fall Meetings are being held this week in Lincoln. The Meetings opened on Tuesday and Continue today through Thursday with education events and the Board of Directors meeting.

Mildred Wilkins brings her knowledge of foreclosures and a changing market to today's session while tomorrow Steve Stazel and Mark Wehner teach courses on Professional Standards and Courtesy in the Industry. The Fall meetings and continuing education sessions conclude Thursday.

REALTOR Safety Week September 9th - 13th ~ Protect yourself

We are all reminded that our own personal safety is more important than that late night meeting in a vacant house. Remember to be on alert when showing houses and driving in a car with clients and customers. As part of REALTOR® Safety Week, we want to remind you to be aware of potential threats and institute a personal safety plan in your office.

In 2001 a Washington real estate agent was murdered and in response the Real Estate Safety Council was formed. They created a pamphlet highlighting many safety tips and agent resources. A copy of that can be found online by clicking here.

Some tips from us and from the real estate safety council; Use the buddy system and show houses with a co-worker. Have a call-in safe word for your office staff, and always let the office know who you will be meeting and where you will be going. Require your first meeting to be at your office and make copies of the Drivers License of each client to leave them that, along with a filled out New Customer form, with your office staff prior to departing on showings. When you head off for that evening listing appointment at a potential sellers home, take your buddy with you or have them either call you or you call them at specified intervals during the evening.

Every office or Buddy team should also have a distress code. This way when an agent in the field feels something is not right, or that they may be in danger, they can call in and use the distress word to let the office or their buddy know they need help.

These are just a few tips and ideas, but the most important safety tip is up to you; be aware, stay prepared. For more information on REALTOR® Safety week, visit the Realtor.org web site and read a special message from NAR President Pat V. Combs. There are videos on safety and even an online course that you can take to identify more ways to protect yourself.

Colorado Division of Real Estate reminds brokers about fingerprint requirements

The Colorado Division of Real Estate recently sent out a notice reminding licensees of the instructions and the requirements for fingerprint background checks required for license renewal for those real estate licenses expire December 31st, 2007.

2007 marks the final renewal cycle where fingerprints will be required for renewing licensees. Fingerprints that were submitted after July 1, 2004 are valid to meet the requirements. In addition, active licensees whose license expires anytime after December 31, 2007 have already met the fingerprint requirements. Fingerprints submitted as part of the requirements for Mortgage Broker registration will apply towards real estate broker's license renewals.

Any licensee whose license expires December 31, 2007 and who still needs to submit a fingerprint card should do so as soon as possible. Information and instructions can be found by clicking here. Also, if your license expires December 31, 2007 you can verify the status of your fingerprints online. You will need to log on to your online account. You may be required to set up a new account.

Click Here for Fingerprint information  -  Click Here for Fingerprint Status

Colorado Association of REALTORS® Housing Opprtunity Foundation to fund programs statewide

The Denver Business Journal reported Friday that the CAR Housing Opportunity Foundation announced that it will be issuing over $480,000 in grants to 80 nonprofit affordable-housing programs throughout Colorado.

CARHOF uses funds collected from donations and interest on real estate trust accounts to support organizations that provide housing and related services to low- or moderate-income residents. Each local association is allowed to determine the recipients of the grants.

Learn more about CARHOF by clicking here.

New 2007 Colorado Real Estate Manual is now available

The new Colorado Real Estate Manual was recently made available for purchase from Bradford Publishing. The new manual includes new chapters covering;

• Mortgage Broker Licensing Act
• Law of Affiliated Business Arrangements
• Revised Water Rights

The manual is also presented with new features to make it easier to use and read. You may click here or use the following link to download the order form to purchase your new 2007 Manual. Please note that you will want to call Bradford Publishing so that you can make sure to get the final price that includes shipping and handling.

>>>Click Here for Manual Order form

Consumer advisory issued on Foreclosure Rescue Services

The Nebraska Department of Banking & Finance issued an advisory last week urging consumers to be cautious when working with foreclosure rescue companies. The advisory stems from inquiries to the Department from consumers as rescue companies offer to take ownership of a distressed homeowners property.

The deal may work like this; the rescue company (or an individual) offers to take the property over and make the payments on the mortgage, allowing the homeowner to rent back the property and purchase the home back at a later date. The distressed homeowner may feel pressure to sign documents and relinquish ownership. The rescue company then assumes the remaining equity in the property and may sell the property at any time. The promise to keep the homeowner from foreclosure and save the homeowners credit may be used to coerce the homeowner into signing the property over.

The Department advises distressed homeowners to be cautious and contact lawyers or real estate professionals before signing any agreements. The full text of the Department Advisory can be found by clicking here.

Registration is open for the Colorado Association of REALTORS® Annual Convention

The 2007 CAR State Convention will be held October 21-23 at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. The convention will host numerous education offerings, including the CREC Annual Update Course scheduled for October 21st at 1:00pm. VanEd is proud to be the provider to the state association for this annual update course.

You can register online for the state convention by visiting the CAR website at www.coloradorealtors.com. You may also register for the CREC Annual Update course by logging on at VanEd and then selecting Classroom Courses under your Available Courses tab. For more information or assistance, email us at cecredit@vaned.com, or Click Here to register for the update course online.

VanEd Presents: Resort and Second Home Specialist (RSPS) designation program

Van Education Center is proud to now have 3 of the RSPS certification courses available to members online. The RSPS, or Resort and Second-home Property Specialist, is the NAR official Resort & Second-home certification program. The program requires completion of 2 core courses and 2 elective courses. One of the electives, Tax-Deferred (1031) Exchanges, is offered online. VanEd also offers two of the elective courses online, the CIPS International Real Estate for Local Markets course and the e-Buyer course.

To view detailed information on the RSPS Certification and the available courses, visit www.vaned.com/RSPS.  Applications to earn the certification should only be sent in after completing all 4 courses that are required (2 core, 2 elective).