Friday, October 30, 2009

What's Next

So it's hard to believe that we are almost at the end of 2009. If you're like most, it has been a tough year and most of us are planning to hunker down and get ready for next year. We here at TCAR are plugging along, though, and are getting ready to plan for next year.

There are a few things happening in the next few days days that I thought I would run by everyone. The Triangle Community Coalition is doing a lunch and learn tomorrow, Tuesday November 10th at 11:30 am on how Senate Bill 831 and House Bill 1490 Helps in Tough Times. The North Carolina General Assembly just passed sweeping legislation meant to preserve and extend development approvals. This legislation is an effort to give opportunity to developers and property owners during the economy's downturn. Key note speakers are Lisa Martin, Director of Government Affairs and Eric Braun of K&L Gates, LLP. While you can't register online at this late date, please feel free to show up at the door or give Charlene a call at 919-228-2599. It's $15 and that includes lunch.

On Thursday TCAR is doing their final Showcase of the year with the American Health Institute and Fitness Building on Thursday November 12th at 11:30 am. AIHF is located at 8300 Health Park in Raleigh and this month's topic is "Exploring Corporate Health through Executive Wellness". Speakers include Chris Mangum, President of AIHF Executive Health and Dr. Jay Stevens, Chief Medical Officer of AIHF Executive Health. Lunch is included and is free to all TCAR members, non-members are $35. You can still register online or you can call us 919-228-2588, tweet us at tcarkim or email me at kimb@tcar.com.

Also happening this week is the Urban Land Institute's "Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2010", featuring Keynote Speaker Stephen R. Blank . This takes place at the Renaissance Hotel , 4100 Main at North Hlls in Raleigh, with registration starting at 7:30am and the program running from 8:00 to 10:00 am. Pricing is from $15 to $60. Today is the deadline to register online at www.uli.org/register and there is a discount if you register today.

Lastly, on something completely unrelated, dues billing went out last month. If you have not received your bill or have any questions, please let me know.

That's it for now, let me know if you have any questions or if I can be of any help.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Latest RCA Information

Once a month, RCA puts out some information regarding what's new within the commercial REALTOR world. Here is the latest.

The Commercial Block at the NAR Conference and Expo: ( http://www.realtor.org/commercial/commercial_day .)
Commercial sessions and events are better than ever this year so encourage your members to join in – November 13-16. Commercial has a dedicated area on the exhibition floor where you can relax, get information and visit. There’s a fun interactive event with Nathan Sawaya, the artist who builds LEGO® sculptures. He’ll lead an interactive building project, so tell everyone to stop by Booth # 3025. It’s the center of all things Commercial.

This is BIG!
" At a 5% discount/35% marginal tax rate, if $100K in assets are reclassified from a 39 to a 5-year recovery period, net-present-value savings are about $16K. " This is the kind of information members will hear at the Cost Segregation session at the NAR Conference and Expo in November. Saving a client $16K can’t hurt! Despite these tough times, encourage your members to attend. Paul White, CCIM, CPM, presents “Cost Segregation: Improving Cash Flow/Deferring Taxes” on Nov. 15 from 1:30 till 5 p.m. Advanced C.E. enrollment is required.
Go to http://www.realtor.org/educsess.nsf/PagesLUNew/09confce04 .

PODCAST* RCA Chair Tells It Like It Is!
Bob Toothaker courageously accepted the RCA Committee Chair position in January, 2009 under unexpected circumstances, and you might say it’s been a whirlwind ever since. The unprecedented economic downturn has commercial practitioners hanging on and hoping the market improves soon. In a podcast this month, Bob recounts efforts that he, NAR and RCA have worked on to keep our industry’s key messages before policymakers and Congress. Listen to the impressive work and modest accomplishments that occurred this year and – importantly – what advocacy continues. Follow this link to see the podcast: http://www.realtor.org/commercial/toothaker_podcast

Commercial Professionals Have Interesting Profile
Did you know commercial members completed a median of eight transactions in 2008 with average sales of $2+ million and their median income was about $100K? Plus 52% of members work for a commercial-exclusive firm and 10% saw an increase in international transactions.

Don't forget that the Commercial Mandatory Update is this Wednesday October 28th at 1:00. Cindy Chandler will be the instructor for the four hour required course at the RRAR location at 111 Realtor Way in Cary. Make sure you register today.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Which Generation Are You?

Last year I served on a National NAR Committee that was charged with looking at ways to communicate with the up and coming Generation X and Ys. NAR has their conference coming up next month in San Diego and one of the topics is Generational Marketing and Negotiating.

They sent along some information regarding the different generations and their characteristics and I thought I would pass that on to you folks. Honestly, I was sort of surprised when I saw the generation I'm supposed to be. Partly, because I didn't realize I was that old, but mainly how spot on it was. So here they are, does it sound like you? And more importantly, how are you going to alter the way you communicate with the clients that fit into those generations?

G.I. Generation: Born Between 1900-1924
  • Moral Standards and Values
  • Make and Follow Rules
  • Civic Duty and Patriotism
  • Hard Work, Self Sacrifice
  • Loyalty
  • Work Together for Common Goals
  • Conform

Silents: 1925-1945

  • Value Authority/Expertise
  • Respects other's opinions
  • Want options/choices
  • Mediate/talk-it-out
  • Need Affirmation
  • Risk Averse/Decision Paralysis
  • Delayed Gratification
  • Now is Their Turn

Boomers: 1946-1964

  • Idealistic and Involved
  • Creative/Entrepreneurial
  • Self-Satisfied
  • Career-Focused Workaholics
  • Success=Personal Achievement
  • Risk Takers
  • Entitled to the Best
  • No Fear of Credit or Leverage
  • What's in it for Me?

Generation X: 1965-1981

  • Why Me?
  • Skeptical/Pragmatic
  • Distrustful/Confrontational
  • Little Brand or Employer Loyalty
  • Self Motivated/Involved
  • High Tech and High Touch
  • Family/Friends Before Job
  • Time vs Space

Millennials: 1982-2000

  • Very High Tech-Speed
  • Inclusive and Interracial
  • Collaborative
  • Can Do/Optimistic
  • Future Investment Planning
  • Financially Oriented
  • Impersonal, Lack of Social Skills
  • Pressured, Stressed
  • Impatient, Want It Now

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

It's Coming! Dues Billing

Who can believe that we are now approaching the middle of October and that the Holidays (Ugh!) are right around the corner. This time of the year also means dues billing for 2010 will be going out. Currently, we are scheduled to email your dues invoice on the 19th of October. Yes, it's a little earlier but we thought we would give you a little more time to get those dues in.

On the morning of Monday, October the 19th, I arrange to email your dues invoice through the company that runs are membership management system. There is a mass email blast that occurs and every ones' bill should arrive in their email box no later than that afternoon. PLEASE check your SPAM box. Many times my emails end up in your trash and you may want to arrange with your IT people to white list us. All of you folks that have admin people, make sure you print up the invoice and give it to the people that take care of that stuff. Institute Affiliates will get their invoice but they can make arrangements for their payment through their respective affiliate groups in the manner that they require.

Okay, with that said, let's talk about a couple of things. First, in theory this is due to us by the end of January. Now if by January, you think there is going to be an issue, please contact me at the office, 228-2588 or by email at kimb@tcar.com . The bottom line is we really don't want our members to fall by the wayside. So let us know what is going on.

Second, let's not be thinking that all of that money is coming to TCAR. We're not rolling in the dough here and we too have been hit by the current economic situation much in the same way as everyone else has. You're $426 pays for membership into 5 groups: TCAR, NCRCA, NCAR, NAR and RCA. If you don't know the acronyms, let me know, but that's a pretty decent deal. I could expound on the fact that even at a time when things have been pretty tough, TCAR has really gone above and beyond to create programming that has been worth that alone. I won't go into all the other things available to you through all the other associations but we have blogged about it in the past. Look up the benefits of membership on a previous blog.

Third, keep in mind how that money gets divided up. $181 goes to TCAR and pays for the office, staffing and what all we do. Pretty remarkable with 580+ members and you can do the math. $115 goes to NAR and RCA and the last $130 belongs to the state Association. Really when you break it down and learn about what all these group accomplish, you would realize it's a pretty good deal.

Lastly, there is that RPAC contribution that looks like we're sneaking it into your bill. I promise that is not our intention. The issue is the way the program is written and unfortunately, that is the only way it can be added. However, I would like for you to consider this as not a contribution but an investment in your business. Many people are confused with RPAC and to clarify, that money goes to cnadidates/people that are running for political offices whose ideas are in line with what the REALTOR Associations are. No, it does not go to anyone political party, typically at the end of the year, the PAC is pretty well split between the two major parties. No, the PAC is not giving a boatload of money to any one candidate. In fact the most a candidate can get from the monies collected by an association is $2500. In the end, this money elects people that protect your clients and your paycheck.

So be looking for that invoice, give me a yell if you have any questions and thank you for being a part of our membership!

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Commercial Mandatory Update

All North Carolina Real Estate agents should be painfully aware that they are required to complete eight hours of continuing education every year. the commission's year starts in July and ends in June.If you have ever forgotten to complete the required classes, you know how stressful it is when your license ends up inactivated until you complete everything you need. I usually tell folks to check your education records on the Commission website in January so you can start planning on when you'll take the classes you need to finish up those eight hours in the allotted time frame.

Everyone needs to take the Mandatory Update. If you're a broker in charge, you'll need the four hour BICAR class, which, between the two, usually finishes off a BIC's requirements for the year. Everyone that is not a BIC needs an additional four hours in an elective of their choosing. What's difficult for commercial brokers is the fact many of the courses offered out there are for the residential REALTOR, meaning,in many instances, you're stuck in a class that really doesn't apply to what you do.

TCAR has always made an effort to bring classes to their members that are based on commercial examples. Every year we try to do the mandatory once in the fall and once in the spring, with a BICAR usually in the winter months and an elective added onto one of the other classes we offer. Hence, on Wednesday October 28th from 1-5 PM, we will be offering the 2010 Commercial Mandatory Update with Cindy Chandler. It is $55 for members and $75 for non-members. Registration can be done either online or by calling the office at 919-228-2588. It will be held at the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTOR building, 111 Realtor Way in Cary.

Cindy always suggest that I tell folks that the commission DOES give credit for this class but they always recommend that you take the residential class. I'm not sure for the reason but I always tell folks that. It's sort of a disclaimer but you get full credit for the Mandatory, so don't worry. As always if there are any questons or issues, please contact me at the office number or you can email me at kimb@tcar.com .