Volume 1 • Issue 2 - October 2012From our President

F C B O R M o n t h l y N e w s l e t t e r

Gerry is the President ofThe Four Corners Board of

REALTORS® You can contact her at

970-565-8408

Saying “Hi” from the Colorado Association of REALTORS® Fall Conference in Denver. We have had a full schedule and will be bringing you a report in next month’s newsletter. We will be getting up to speed on RPR, a service provided by CREN over the next few weeks. RPR will, over time, provide us with historical and current information regarding most properties na-tionwide. RPR is on-line in Paragon. I hope everyone has an opportunity to use it, and provide feedback. I think it has lots of potential for evaluating properties when doing CMA’s and helping us build good information on all our properties over time. It can also help us provide service to our buyers who are looking outside our area. With Winter coming on it is time to start helping our sellers get their properties ready for cold and wintery weather while keeping them in a sellable condition. I think that’s all for now. Don’t forget to vote!

Gerry Parker, President, Four Corners Board of REALTORS®

Important Updates and Reminders!

PARAGON DOWN TIME

Software corrections will be applied to your Paragon MLS system on Tuesday, October 30, 2012. This process will result in downtime begin-ning at 10:00 pm (Central) and concluding no later than 6:00 am (Cen-tral) on Wednesday, October 31, 2012.

During this time the Paragon MLS system will be unavailable for access.

PARAGON LAND CLASS UPDATEAn update has been made to the field “Modular or Mobile Allowed” in the Listing Input for the Land class. The choices are now No, Both, Modular Only, Mobile Only (SEE be-low).

Pending Sales Dip But Remain HighPending home sales dipped in August but remain at elevated levels compared with a year ago, NAR says. NAR’s forward-looking indicator for August, released last week, declined 2.6 percent to 99.2 from an upwardly revised

101.9 in July. “The performance in month-to-month contract signings has been uneven, with ongoing shortages of lower priced inventory in much of the country, and across most price ranges in the West, but activity has remained

at notably higher levels this year,” says NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/09/27/pending-home-sales-in-august-2012-slide-2-6-percent-nar/

The 2012-2013 Four Corners Board of REALTORS Board of Directors:

President/ Gerry Parker / 565-8408 / gparker@fone.net President-Elect/ Robin Rice / 565-8408 / robinrice@fone.netPast President / Leila Hanson / 749-2789 / leila@fone.net

Secretary/Treasurer / Bob Toles / 946-1194 / BobToles@yahoo.comDirector/ Brenda Bates-Smith / 565-2000 / brendaksmith@remax.net

Director/ Jo Ann Cauley / 565-8408 / joannc21@fone.netDirector/ Preston Dillon / 560-9144 / psdillon@rmi.net

Director/ Dawn Utrup / 570-3110 / dawn.utrup@gmail.comCAR Director/ Carol Click / 565-2000 / carolclick@remax.net

Association Office StaffAssociation Executive / Howard Thomas / 565-0112/ fourcornersboard@gmail.com

FCBOR CALENDAR OF EVENTS

1 10/23/2012 3:05 PMstaff

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 1011 12 13 14 15 16 1718 19 20 21 22 23 2425 26 27 28 29 30

November 2012Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

12 3 4 5 6 7 89 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 25 26 27 28 2930 31

December 2012

November 2012

Oct

28

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ov 3

Oct 28 29 30 31 Nov 1 2 3

Nov

4 -

10

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 General Election

Nov

11

- 17

11 12 13 14 15 16 179:00am 11:00am Board

of Directors Meeting(Board Office)

12:00pm 1:00pm Board Luncheon (Shiloh's)

Nov

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18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Thanksgiving Day

Nov

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ec 1

25 26 27 28 29 30 Dec 1

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

23rd AnnualParade of Lights

Please join usDecember 1, 2012

Main Street“The Sights and Sounds

of Christmas!”

23rd AnnualParade of Lights

Entry formFour Corners Board of Realtors®December 1, 2012 at 6:00 pm on Main StreetParade Theme: “SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS”

Name of company, club, organization or individual ___________________________________________

CATEGORY: COMMERCIAL__ NON PROFIT__ OTHER__ (individuals, schools, etc.) Participants are judged on: 1. THEME DEVELOPMENT; 2. CREATIVITY; 3. WORKMANSHIP; 4.. MUSIC & LIGHTS. There are 3 places awarded for each category

Rules and Regulations for ParticipantsThere is NOT an entry fee for the parade. YOU MUST COMPLETE AND SIGN AN ENTRY FORM.

1. Complete, signed entry form must be submitted by Thursday, Nov. 29th, 5:00 PM 2. Pick up number at parade. You must have a number!!!!!!!! 3. Display entry number on the left hand side of entry. 4. Judges & photographer will be located at the corner of Market & Main Street on the Northwest corner. Please pause for a few seconds for judging and pictures.5. To avoid a lapse in the parade, do not lag behind entry in front.6. ENTRIES CLOSE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 5:00 PM

THE CITY OF CORTEZ PROHIBITS CANDY OR ANY OTHER ITEM(S) TO BE THROWN BY PARADE PARTICIPANTS. PARTICIPANTS ARE ALLOWED TO HAND ITEMS TO CROWD ONLY. FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS NOT BEING ALLOWED TO HAVE ENTRIES IN FUTURE PARADES, REGARDLESS OF SPONSOR PLEASE HEED THIS WARNING. Cortez Police Depart-ment.

It is hereby agreed and understood that I/we have read the above rules and further that I/we agree to hold the Four Corners Board of Realtors® harmless from any accident or injury that might occur while participating in the Pa-rade of Lights.

_______________ ____________________________________________Date Signature _______________________________________________ _____________________________Address: PHONE #

EMAIL:________________________________________

SIGNED ENTRY FORM must be returned to: 2218 E. MAIN STREET, CORTEZ, CO 81321 (CENTURY 21 WEST SLOPE REALTY) FAX TO Terry McCabe; 970-565-8918 OR EMAIL TO terrymc@move2swcolo.com Phone Terry McCabe with any questions, 970-565-8408 ext. 115

Please join usDecember 1, 2012

Main Street“The Sights and Sounds

of Christmas!”

CD 1 – Diana DeGetteCD 2 – Jared PolisCD 3 – Scott TiptonCD 4 – Cory Gardner

CD 5 – Doug LambornCD 6 – Mike CoffmanCD 7 – Ed Perlmutter

The Colorado Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee (CARPAC), based in part on recommendations by a team of REALTORS® who interviewed candidates for these races, approved the following candidates:

HD 1: Jeanne Labuda HD 2: Mark Ferrandino *HD 3: Brian Watson HD 4: Dan Pabon *HD 5: Crisanta Duran *HD 6: Lois Court *HD 7: Angela Williams *HD 8: Beth McCann*HD 9: Celeste GamacheHD 11: Ellyn HilliardHD 13: Claire LevyHD 14: Dan Nordberg HD 15: Mark Waller *HD 16: Janak Joshi *

HD 17: Mark Barker *HD 18: Jennifer George HD 19: Amy Stephens *HD 20: Bob Gardner *HD 21: Lois Landgraf HD 22: Justin Everett HD 23: Rick EnstromHD 24: Sue Schafer *HD 25: Cheri Gerou *HD 27: Libby Szabo *HD 28: Amy Attwod HD 29: Robert Ramirez *HD 30: Jenise MayHD 32: Dominick Moreno

HD 33: Dianne PrimaveraHD 34: Steve LebsockHD 35: Brian Vande KrolHD 37: Spencer Swalm *HD 38: Kathleen Conti *HD 39: Polly Lawrence HD 40: Cynthia Acree *HD 41: Jovan MeltonHD 42: Rhonda Fields *HD 43: Frank McNulty *HD 44: Chris Holbert *HD 45: Carole Murray *HD 47: Clarice Navarro-RatzlaffHD 49: Perry Buck

HD 50: Skip Carlson HD 51: Brian DelGrosso *HD 52: Joann Ginal HD 55: Ray Scott *HD 56: Kevin Priola *HD 57: Bob Rankin HD 58: Don Coram *HD 59: J. Paul Brown *HD 60: James WilsonHD 62: Ed Vigil *HD 63: Lori SaineHD 64: Tim DoreHD 65: Jerry Sonnenberg *

Your voice counts • Bring this guide with you when you vote

SD 4: Mark Scheffel *SD 12: Bill Cadman *SD 17: Matt JonesSD 18: Rollie Heath *

SD 19: Lang Sias SD 21: Jessie UlibarriSD 25: Mary Hodge *SD 26: Dave Kerber

SD 27: David Balmer SD 28: Nancy Todd SD 29: Morgan Carroll *SD 31: Pat Steadman *

SD 35: Larry Crowder

HOUSE

CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES

SENATE

STATE LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES

The national REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC), based in part on recommendations from the Colorado Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee (CARPAC) has endorsed the following congressional candidates:

* CAR Friendly Incumbent.

www.ColoradoREALTORS.com

RealtorParty

®

Vote REALTOR® Party on November 6th The Colorado Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee (CARPAC), based in part on recommendations by a team of REALTORS® who interviewed candidates for these races, approved candidates based on their past support of property rights and other REALTOR® issues. Click read more for list of candidates.

NAR Issue Brief Rural Housing and the 2010 Census

Issue: Under current law, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) must revise the list of communities eligible for Rural Housing Service (RHS) Section 502 loans based on the 2010 census data. Unless Congress intervenes, USDA will soon begin using a definition not updated since 1974 which requires eligible communities to: 1) be outside of a metropolitan statistical area (MSA), 2) be “rural in character”, 3) have a serious lack of mortgage credit, and 4) have a population under 20,000. Background: Rural families face unique difficulties in finding access to safe, affordable mortgage financing. Programs like the Rural Housing Section 502 loan program are instrumental in providing opportunities for homeownership for these families. Section 502 loans can be used to build, repair, renovate or relocate a home, or to purchase and prepare sites, including providing water and sewage facilities. These loans are funded by private lenders, and simply insured by the RHS. The Section 502 program is self-funded and budget neutral, meaning that broadening the population definition will not place additional financial burden on American taxpayers. In 2011, the RHS helped nearly 140,000 rural American families become homeowners. Why is this important?

� Using the 2010 Census data and a decades old definition will mean that more than 900 communities are at risk of losing their eligibility for rural housing loans.

� The RHS rural population cap of 20,000 has not been updated in 38 years. Communities and populations have changed in that time. Relying on a decades old definition is unrealistic and doesn’t meet the needs of today’s rural communities.

� The federal Office of Management and Budget continues to include more and more areas into our Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) determination. Simply being part of an MSA disqualifies a community – regardless of population – from eligibility. Given changing demographic trends, this is unrealistic.

� Congress has grandfathered communities under this program routinely since 1980. � Grandfathering currently eligible communities or increasing the population cap will have NO

federal budget impacts. These programs are self-sufficient, i.e. funded by premiums paid by RHS borrowers. Grandfathering current communities will simply allow those already eligible communities to retain their eligibility and does not expand the program in any way.

� Now is NOT the time to reduce credit availability to struggling communities. What has NAR done?

� NAR has had many meetings and sent a number of letters to the Committees and Leadership of the House and Senate, urging them to provide this extension.

� NAR joined in a coalition of other real estate groups and rural housing advocates to urge Congress to act on this issue.

� In August, FPCs were urged to contact their Member of Congress to ask for their support. � NAR has worked closely with bill champions to push for legislation.

Status: � Senate Farm Bill (S. 2340) includes Senators Nelson (D-NE) and Johanns (R-NE) amendment

to grandfather currently eligible communities and increase the existing rural community population cap to 35,000. This amendment passed on a voice vote, with no opposition.

What’s Happening With The Membership?

COMMITTEE MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 2012

CommitteeBoard of Directors

Date/Time/LocationThursday, 10/15/12 - 9:00 - FCBOR

Contact InformationHoward - fourcornersboard@gmail.com

Good Bye and Good Luck!Lenore Becker - Mile High Dwellings

� Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill includes a one-year grandfathering clause. � Rep. Fortenberry (R-NE) has introduced a bill, HR 273, to grandfather communities through

the next census. � The RHS published a notice delaying implementation of the 2010 Census data through March

27, 2013. Congressional Ask: Pass legislation to provide a ten-year extension to the eligibility of existing communities for programs of the Rural Housing Service.

To take action, please click on the following link:https://realtorparty.realtoractioncenter.com/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2267&utm_source=org&utm_medium=banner&utm_content=rac&utm_campaign=rhs2012

Ethics Corner- By Steve StazelSteve Stazel is a senior ethics instructor for C.A.R. since 1979, teaching the Professional

Standards course here in Durango and across the state of Colorado. He has been a REALTOR since 1974 and is a member of N.A.R.’s Professional Standards Committee.

Steve is available to answer your ethics questions at303-773-3333 or email him at stazels@msn.com

YOU HAVE TWO OFFERS ON YOUR LISTING!Isn’t that the kind of problem you want? Well yes, however there are some concerns associated with multiple offers. If you have the time you may want to read “Presenting and Ne-gotiating Multiple Offers.” You can find this in Appendix IX to Part Four of the Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual which the board has in the office or you can get it on line from NAR.

If you don’t have the time to refer to Appendix IX remember that all negotiations on behalf of clients should “protect and promote” their interest, as stated in Article 1 of the Code. Sellers’ brokers should consult with the seller early on about what to disclose and to whom. Please read Standard of Prac-tice 1-15. If sellers instruct listing agents to disclose terms of competing offers, the listing broker may want to discuss with the seller the ramifications of any disclosures about competing offers.

Article 1 of the Code also requires all parties be treated honestly. Remember that the Preamble to our Code has long noted that “….REALTOR has come to connote competency, fairness, and high integrity…” If a seller directs you to advise offerors about the existence of other purchase offers, fairness dictates that all offerors or their representatives be so informed. Article 3’s mandate to cooperate implicitly includes the idea that listing brokers should make reasonable efforts to keep cooperating brokers informed. Finally sell-ers’ and buyers’ agents should discuss with clients what their negotiation options are if multiple offers arise

Remember that the decisions about how offers will be presented, how offers will be negotiated, whether counter offers will be made and ultimately which offer, if any will be accepted, are made by the seller---not by the listing broker.