VanEd - Real Estate School News

President Trump Speaks at the National Association of REALTORS Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo

With all of the happenings this week at the NAR Legislative Meetings and Expo in Washington, D.C. we want to remind everyone that the President will address the members. We are posting the live stream here.

For more information on the meetings, please visit https://www.legislative.realtor/.

 

 

California Bureau of Real Estate issues alert about Price Gouging - Important Ethics Reminder for all Licensees

Ed Note: The CalBRE issued the following alert which we are re-posting in order to help all licensees identify key regulatory (and frankly, morale) issues related to pricing after emergencies and natural disasters.  Please remember that the clients and customers coming to you for help in these situations need your help and you are charged with assisting them without price gouging.  Further, REALTORS® will want to consider how the Code of Ethics plays into these situations and we would argue that the Preamble of the Code dictates how we should react in these situations:

From the Preable:

(REALTORS®) identify and take steps, through enforcement of this Code of Ethics and by assisting appropriate regulatory bodies, to eliminate practices which may damage the public or which might discredit or bring dishonor to the real estate profession.  REALTORS® having direct personal knowledge of conduct that may violate the Code of Ethics involving misappropriation of client or customer funds or property, willful discrimination, or fraud resulting in substantial economic harm, bring such matters to the attention of the appropriate Board or Association of REALTORS®. (Amended 1/00)

 

Alert to Real Estate Licensees and Others Who Lease or Rent, or Offer to Lease or
Rent, Residential Real Property in the Fire-Ravaged Counties of California Where
a state of emergency Has Been Declared:

The Critical Importance of Not Taking Unfair Advantage of Consumers, and Knowing -- and
the Pitfalls of Failing to Strictly Follow -- the Laws Pertaining to “Price Gouging”

By Wayne Bell, California Real Estate Commissioner

This Alert has been written because the California Bureau of Real Estate (“CalBRE”) has been informed
that one or more real estate licensees may be involved in unlawful “price gouging” (with respect to the
rental of residential real property) in one or more counties devastated by the recent fires and where a
state of emergency has been proclaimed.

California law provides, in section 396 of the California Penal Code, that upon and after the declaration
of a state of emergency (including one resulting from fire), those persons who rent or lease, or offer to
rent or lease, rental housing [for a term of less than one year] at a rate more than 10 percent above the
rate immediately prior to the onset of the state of emergency, are committing a misdemeanor and
engaged in an “unlawful business practice”.

Violations of the law are punishable by imprisonment or a fine of not more than $10,000, or by both
that fine and imprisonment.

“Unlawful business practice” actions can also be brought against those who violate the anti-price
gouging law, under section 17200 of the California Business and Professions Code.
CalBRE will also carefully investigate claims in connection with price gouging by its licensees and take
appropriate disciplinary action.

The people who have suffered losses due to the horrific fires should never have to suffer further from
price gouging. In exercising its disciplinary functions, and in enforcing the Real Estate Law with respect
to residential rental services in the State of California, CalBRE will continue to make protection of the
public its highest priority.

######################################################
(Issued on October 16, 2017)

Heading to the TAR Convention & Expo? Stop in and Say Hello!

If you will be in attendance at this year's Texas REALTORS® Conference and Trade Expo be sure to come by and see VanEd at booth 904! 

With over 10 years in the TX online education industry, we are one of the most trusted online schools in the state, and we are ready to be your education partner. Visit with us on Sunday to learn more and see our 2017 TREC-compliant coursework.

One Day Only

Trade Expo

Sunday, September 10, 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

View the Schedule by Clicking Here!

(View last year's Trade Expo in Action below!)

 

VanEd Presents: Teams in Nebraska Real Estate ~ A New CE Course for Nebraska REALTORS®

In partnership with the Nebraska REALTORS® Association, we are proud to present our newest ARELLO Certified continuing education course, Teams in Nebraska Real Estate.

On July 1st, 2017 new Team and Advertising regulations adopted by the Nebraska Real Estate Commission (NREC) became effective.  These rules require that Team advertising shall always include the team name as recorded with the team’s designated broker and any Team advertising shall prominently display the name the broker supervising the team conducts business under as recorded with the Commission adjacent to the team name and similar or greater in size and visibility than the team name.

Advertising featuring the name of an affiliated associate broker or salesperson shall prominently display the name the broker supervising the affiliated salesperson or associate broker conducts business under as recorded with the Commission adjacent to affiliated licensee’s name and similar or greater in size and visibility than the affiliated licensee’s name.

The regulations also discuss the requirements for real estate team names, and what words or terms are disallowed for use by teams.

Teams in Nebraska Real Estate

For those licensees actively working in teams or who wish to form or join a team, the NREC also requires that three hours of your continuing education requirements be in courses on teams or team leadership which has been approved and so designated by the Commission.

Team members, team leaders and designated brokers who supervise teams shall complete the required team training a minimum of once every four years and within 180 days of joining a team, being named a team leader or allowing and supervising a team.  The purpose of this course is to provide tools and information that will allow students to better evaluate if a team environment is right for you, identify what makes a good team work well, and understand the roles of and rules for the members, leaders and brokers who supervise Teams in Nebraska Real Estate. This course meets the NREC CE requirements for team members in Nebraska and has been approved by the Commission. 

Learn more about and register for the new Teams in Nebraska Real Estate Course online by clicking here.

Missouri YPN presents 7th Annual REBarCamp St. Louis, September 21st at T-Rex

Early bird registration of $10 through the end of August. Proceeds benefit the Realtor Relief Fund.

Get Tickets!

 7th Annual REBarCamp St. Louis 7.0

BarCamp is an open, participatory workshop-event whose content is provided by attendees. RE BarCamp is a BarCamp for Real Estate. Bring your Laptop, iPad and tablets and be ready to learn.

• 8:30 AM Registration & morning coffee provided by Choice Home Warranty
• 9:00 AM Opening Remarks, kick off the day
• 9:30-10:15 AM Breakout Sessions
• 10:30-11:15am Breakout Sessions
• 11:30-12:30 - LUNCH with many options within 2 blocks
• 12:30-1:15pm Breakout Sessions
• 1:30-2:15pm Breakout Sessions
• 2:15pm Afternoon break, snack provided by Insight Title
• 2:30-3:15pm Breakout Sessions
• 3:30-4:15pm Breakout Sessions
• 4:15-5pm Happy Hour

Morning refreshments and Happy Hour are provided. Follow our Facebook page to hear about the latest updates! facebook.com/rebarcampstlouis Watch our Twitter hashtag #rebcstl for more details!

Have questions about REBarCamp St. Louis 2017? Contact [email protected] with any questions.

Proceeds from 2017's event will support Realtor Relief Fund in Missouri.

There are NO REFUNDS offered for canceling or not attending this event. You may transfer your registration to someone else. Contact Kim for details and assistance @ [email protected].

DATE AND TIME Thu, September 21, 2017 8:15 AM – 5:00 PM CDT Add to Calendar

LOCATION T-REX 911 Washington Avenue St. Louis, MO 63101 View Map

REFUND POLICY No Refunds FRIENDS WHO ARE GOING   Connect to Facebook

 

Use the link here to get your $10 early bird tickets today.

Get Your Tickets at Eventbrite

Get Tickets!

Key Flood Insurance Legislation Moves Forward after NAR, House Committee Reach Agreement

 NAR says significant improvements to the “21st Century Flood Reform Act” have cleared the way for endorsement of the bill.

In a welcome press release the National Association of REALTORS® touted changes to the 21st Century Flood Reform Act which includes a commitment to retaining "grandfathering" - a policy that protects homeowners from significant rate increase when a flood map changes.  This key provision had been left out of the initial draft of the bill.  The new bill limits increases to fees and limits rate increases which earlier versions of the bill had included.

This legislation protects taxpayers, as well as homeowners, which is no easy task. The September 30 reauthorization deadline still looms in front of us, and Realtors® are eager to see this legislation progress quickly. Leaders on both sides of the aisle are well aware that this issue touches 22,000 communities – in every state, both coastal and inland.

                                                --  NAR President William E. Brown

The bill expects to achieve reforms to improve the financial stability of the National Flood Insurance Program, to enhance the development of more accurate estimates of flood risk through new technology and better maps, to increase the role of private markets in the management of flood insurance risks, and to provide for alternative methods to insure against flood peril, and for other purposes.

In February NAR put out their brief on The National Flood Insurance Program, which reads as follows;

NAR Principles for Flood Insurance Reform

(February 17, 2017)

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was essential to completing nearly a half million home sales in 2015, according to NAR research. However, the program as currently structured is unsustainable for policyholders and taxpayers alike. For these reasons, NAR supports a strengthened NFIP coupled with a robust private market to offer choices and maintain access to flood insurance in all markets at all times. NAR believes:

• NFIP reauthorization should be long term.
• To keep rates affordable, the federal government should provide pre-disaster risk mitigation options – including guaranteed loans, grants and buyouts for property owners to build stronger or relocate to higher ground.
• Private flood insurance options should also be encouraged where cost effective, provided that NFIP remains a viable option for property owners.
• Premiums should be more accurately priced to the property specific risk, but any rate increases should be gradual and phased in over many years.
• There should be better oversight and training of insurance companies marketing NFIP policies, and an adequately supported Homeowner’s Advocate at NFIP to directly assist policy holders with rate disputes.
• Flood mapping should be done at higher resolutions with a streamlined and less expensive appeal process.

NAR Names New CEO

NAR Senior Executive Bob Goldberg will head the nation’s largest trade association.  In this video, NAR President William E. Brown announces the hiring.  Learn more on the nar.realtor website by clicking here.

 

Prince Philip "Graduates" ~ Along with a few other notable people! Our Favorite Stories from May

All month issues surrounding both rulemaking and legislative issues were at the forefront of the real estate industry news cycle. We could hardly even glance at Instagram before we were drawn right back into the fray of policy and debate. 

Below are the top stories this month our staff spent time discussing. Whether we wanted to or........  well, you decide.

 

The ARELLO Mid-Year Meetings went off without a hitch. We were in attendance speaking with regulators from around the world on issues ranging from approvals to policies.  Many were focused on possible changes to the structure of the CFPB and tax reform issues. Also, look for coming changes in Washington's pre-license course outlines.

NAR holds Mid-Year... errr... Legislative Meetings in D.C.

Two years on and we still can't get the name of the Biannual Meeting correct. Oh well.

We posted the NAR 360 video before we saw the Internal News Service Special Report. We would have preferred that option first, and think you may as well. In the report, NAR discusses rule changes to MLS and IDX systems, as well as key issues surrounding UpStreamRE's new structure (and funding through 2018).  Our takeaway was the same as the only comment on the article - should they change the name to DownStreamRE? 

Click Here to Read the Internal News Service Special Report.

Click Here to watch the NAR 360 Video.

 

AdAge

Ad Age magazine reported on the new bill sponsored by Rep. Marsha Blackburn called (ready for this?)  Balancing the Rights of Web Surfers Equally and Responsibility Act of 2017.    That's right.... it's the BROWSER Act.  After voting to remove the privacy rules for ISPs, it appears that this representative may have heard from constituents who wanted some protections put back in place.  Apparently, not without a catchy name for the Bill, which has not yet made it to a committee.

Click Here to read more in Ad Age.

 

Speaking of Bad Acts

In his piece in The Hill David Reiss, Professor of Law at the Brooklyn Law School, writes on the Financial Choice Act and how it will gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. This will, in his words, "return us to the Wild West days of the early 2000s".  Hopefully, for Professor Reiss and the rest of us, legislators remember that history repeats itself before they make any changes that would allow predatory lending to again rise to the level of "commonplace".

Click Here to read more in The Hill.

 

Missouri GRI Launch Date Announced

One of our favorite things to do around here is announcing new programs, and this month was very cool!  The Missouri Association of REALTORS® and VanEd are proud to announce that the Missouri GRI program will launch online on June 1st, 2017!   

With the first wave of courses coming we will also be offering a 12-hour CE package that includes Core, Elective and Ethics renewal coursework.  All of us are very excited about the new program and the launch. You can learn more online below or contact us here for more information.

Learn More about the Missouri GRI Program by Clicking Here.

 

Real Estate Book of the Month

We currently have 7 books we are looking at right now, but this month we revisited Mark Leader's book, Mark of a Leader.  You can find his book online at LeadersChoice.com.  Back in 2008, this book became popular and now we are looking back at some of the insights. 

Learn more about when this was the book of the month in 2008 on Lisa Spaulding's Active Rain blog.

 

Graduation Announcements

Prince Philip declares he will retire from royal public duties at the age of 96 (quitter) and now we know more about what his "graduation" to private life will look like. The Sun reported this month that Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh has decided that he will no longer carry out public engagements from the autumn of this year. In taking this decision, The Duke has the full support of The Queen."   

We were pleased to hear that since we're just not settled on if the Queen can still order the Duke's head to be removed or not.  Learn more in this handy article from The Sun.  (Yep - Royal Watch is always on over here)

And then, in what is becoming an almost annual event, we here at VanEd are proud to announce another high school graduation. Congrats go out to Katarina, daughter of Managing Partner, on her recent accomplishment and graduation this month. We look forward to all your coming endeavors, and we even saved all those words of wisdom for the celebrities!

 

Apply by December 5th to take part in the 2017 CAR Leadership Academy

Applications for the CAR Leadership Academy will be accepted until December 5th, 2016 for the 2017 year.  CAR Leadership Academy is an exclusive four-month training and development program designed to nurture future association leaders. It is focused on developing participants’ industry and association knowledge.

As a member of the Leadership Academy, you will experience:

• Small group meetings with past and current CAR leadership to give you inside knowledge of the organization’s vision and the challenges of leadership
• Cultivate relationships with new colleagues, strengthen your personal relationships and broaden your referral network
• Refine your presentation skills and gain media training
• Broaden your understanding of federal policy initiatives that strengthen the ability of Americans to own, buy and sell real estate
• Develop leadership skills to be applied at the Association level and in your career

By becoming a member of the CAR Leadership Academy, you will gain the skills to transform connections into involvement and action. REALTOR® members who would like to strengthen their leadership abilities and who are passionate about the industry are encouraged to apply.

Learn More online and apply online by visiting the Colorado Association of REALTORS® Leadership Academy web page at http://www.coloradorealtors.com/leadership-academy/.

2016 National Association of REALTORS® Conference and Expo ~ Nov. 4-7

It's that time of year again, where REALTORS® from all over the world gather to share ideas, products, solutions and to learn what is coming next in real estate.

This year the NAR Annual Conference and Expo is in Orlando, themed "Educate. Innovate. Celebrate.", and as always VanEd is there. This week we're working on new and existing GRI Programs and meeting with affiliates and partners.  If you see our team make sure to say hello!

Can't make it to the conference this year? No problem! Follow along in real time with the social media streams on the NAR Conference Live site!

Conference Live is the home for all things NAR this week.  Right now you can view the NAR 360 session, see whose attending and read articles and notes from various sessions.  Join us in following along as the conference unfolds.   

Looking for convention information or need to download the mobile app? Visit the main convention page at http://www.realtor.org/convention.nsf/ where you can also find the entire convention, expo and meeting schedule.

Click the Banner below to view the Conference Live Social Media Stream!