central pasco association of REALTORS®

EALTOR® NEWS

VISIT US ONLINE AT CPARFL.com

An Association Created by REALTORS® for REALTORS® In the 21st CENTURY

PRESIDENTEd Anderson

Action 100 RealtyEd@Action100Realty.com

PRESIDENT-ELECTToby Caroline

Sun ‘N Fun RealtyTobyParadise@aol.com

VICE PRESIDENTDeborah Catterton

Charles Rutenberg RealtyDebCatt@gmail.com

SECRETARYMargie Bradley

SouthShore Homes & Properties MargieBradley@msn.com

TREASURERAlex Koumiss

StarLight RealtyAlex@StarLightRealtyTampa.com

PAST PRESIDENTPatsy PetermanSeagrass Realty

Patsy.Peterman@gmail.com

DIRECTORTonya Bouvette

Prudential TropicalTBouvette@PruTropical.com

DIRECTORVicki Derbes

Prudential Tropical Realty VDerbes@PruTropical.com

DIRECTORLynn Mooney

SouthShore Homes & PropertiesLynn@LynnMooney.com

DIRECTORPete Rundel

Action 100 RealtyPete@Action100Realty.com

DIRECTORJoan Staut

Sun ‘N Fun RealtySellParadise@gmail.com

BUSINESS PARTNER LIAISONLynne Tonte

National Property InspectionsSteifflover@verizon.net

Presented by the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce on March 15th and 16th was a tremendous success. The spotlight was on shopping local first. There were over 130 local business representing health, wealth, education, home and garden, security, storage, and especially real estate needs.

A “taste of town” was also included for lunch on Saturday to showcase local restaurants. CPAR’s booth won first place for the theme of “Spotlight on the Town”. A banner of the town of Bardstown, Kentucky hung proudly behind our table. The photo used on the banner was taken by Kip McGinnis, who lives in Bardstown, and was most gracious to allow us to use the photo free of charge. Bardstown, KY was awarded the Best Small Town in the United States in 2012, and is part of the Bourbon Trail. The business buildings on the banner were tagged with CPAR’s local sponsors.

A contest was held to guess thenumber of gold foil-covered chocolates in

a treasure chest. The winner, James Scott guessed 418 (the box held 408) and received not only the box of chocolates but a $100

gift certificate to The Grove Cinema for dinner and a movie. The two runners-up, Diane Walker and Lori Ingles, each won a $25 gift certificate to A&A Boutique, a new up-scale consignment store on Bruce B. Downs near Seven Oaks.

Kudos to Vicki Derbes and her committee for all their hard work and time spent working in the booth representing CPAR

at this event. Great job!!

Thanks go out to our sponsors for this event: Inland Homes, Coast Insurance, Great Florida Insurance, RAM Insurance, National Property Inspections, BJ’s Custom Auto Upholstery, Ierna’s Heating & Cooling, Home Again Interiors, Mulligans Irish Pub, Wesley Chapel Florist, Star Light Realty, Prudential Tropical Realty, Caroline Contractors, Title Acquisitions, and A&A Bou-tique. A special thanks also goes to Good Guys Signs on Hillsborough Avenue for the excellent work in producing the banner.

CPAR won 1st place for the 2nd year at The 2013 Community Spotlight Expo

VOL. 4 ISSUE 2 MAR/APR 2013

L to R

PREZa word from the

Do you have your fingertips on the pulse of what is happening in the real estate market right now? Do you know what changes are taking place with legislation that will affect your business? Do you know what is happening in the bigger picture of your market area? Do you know what changes have been taking place in the mortgage market? Do you know what is happening with government assistance programs for buyers and HAFA? Do you want to know how to more effectively market yourself as a Realtor?

The Secret to Making More Connections and Staying Ahead in the

Real Estate Game

Do you know the best way to do these things and more at a very low cost or no cost to you?

Most people will say “yes” to all of these questions, BUT if you really listen to that little tiny voice in the back of your head, it is probably saying, “no”.

We all like to think we are staying current and totally on top of things happening in real estate and we really don’t like to admit we aren’t as current as we’d like to be. Try as we may, there is so much change happening that the only thing we can say is consistent IS change.

So, what is this low cost/no cost option available to you? Bonus! It really won’t take that much of your time!

Get more involved with your Central Pasco Board of Realtors! General meetings are a great place to network with other agents and our Affiliate Partners. By talking with other agents, you can find out what they’ve experienced and make connections for referrals. The featured speakers bring vital information to us each month and present topics which are timely and useful to help you accelerate your business. Best of all….it’s only an hour or so each month!

How much time do you spend watching television, playing Facebook games, or doing other idle time activities each month which do nothing for your professional or personal growth? The answer is probably more than a little over an hour.

Why not take advantage of what you are already paying for? CPAR also offers a multitude of free or low cost workshops as well as networking events. These events and workshops are yours for the taking!!

If you have great ideas about additional workshop topics, connections for speakers, expanded networking gatherings or anything you would like to see happening….make suggestions and GET INVOLVED! This is YOUR Board.

The very best place to begin is to start attending some of the meetings and workshops. While you may be thinking “I’m not missing anything important if I don’t go”…how do you know that YOU aren’t the important part that’s missing? Not only are you missing out on the information and networking for yourself, others are missing out on what you have to share and making a connection with YOU.

So, carve out a little of the “couch time” and plan to get in on some of the things happening in CPAR and in the rapidly changing real estate market. Learn new things to better your business. Expand your network. Get in on the networking. You are an important piece to the puzzle and we need you!!

Ed Anderson

AE Corner

A.E.’s Corner - FAQ’s...

Below are the answers to many of your frequently asked questions. Why am I getting billed again? I thought I paid my dues in December. Here is a list of your recurring bills and due dates: * Local, State & National dues: Billed in September and due by Dec. 30th * MFRMLS: Billed in April and due by May 15th * Supra: Active Key—billed in August and due by September 28th eKey—charged to your credit card on the 28th of each month Why is my home inspector and/or appraiser asking for a CBS code?

If your home inspector and/or appraiser has a Supra key, they are required to use the CBS code to obtain the key from your lockbox. The code does not need to be on. If you do not remember the CBS code, see the “Supra Online Account Access” article in this newsletter for directions. How often do I have to take the Code of Ethics and what do the “Cycles”

mean? NAR requires every agent to take the Code of Ethics every four years. They call each four year period a “Cycle”. Cycle 3 was completed in 2012. The current Cycle 4 is from 2013—2016. That means that you will need to take the Code of Ethics sometime between 2013 and 2016, either online or in a classroom setting at a local board. Will my current Supra key work with the old and new boxes? Yes, all keys will work with both the new and old lockboxes. (The new lockboxes have both Bluetooth and InfraRed technologies.) What about the lockboxes that were not exchanged? Will the InfraRed

boxes still work? Can I still exchange them? The InfraRed (old) lockboxes can no longer be exchanged but will continue to work until the batteries run out.

FAQs...

CALENDAR AS OF MARCH-DECEMBER 2013MARCH 201326 Fusion Training Classes (3 per day) 9 AM to 11 AM; 12 Noon to 2 PM; 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM Centurion Financial Group; Wesley Chapel27 CPAR New Member Orientation 11 AM to 12:30 PM Meadow Pointe II Clubhouse; Wesley Chapel

APRIL 20132 Mixer 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM Prime Bar; Wiregrass Mall; Wesley Chapel4 CPAR New Member Orientation 1 PM at CPAR Office - Conference Room

11 GMM at Pebble Creek Golf & Country Club 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM Mercedes Gonzalez-Hale, Attorney16 Fusion Training Classes (3 per day) 9 AM to 11 AM; 12 Noon to 2 PM; 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM Centurion Financial Group; Wesley Chapel18 First Time Buyers Assistance - Jan Muhrlin 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM Meadow Pointe II Clubhouse?? Education Seminar – Social Networking 11 AM to 12:30 PM Meadow Pointe II Clubhouse

MAY 20132 New Member Orientation 1 PM at CPAR Office - Conference Room

9 GMM at Pebble Creek Golf & Country Club 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM Speaker: Margy Grant, Florida Realtors VP & General Counsel13-18 NAR Mid-Year Legislative Meetings - Washington, DC21 Fusion Training Classes (3 per day) 9 AM to 11 AM; 12 Noon to 2 PM; 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM Centurion Financial Group; Wesley Chapel

JUNE 20134 Mixer 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at GrillSmith in Wesley Chapel5 The 2013 District 6 Technology Expo 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Cocktails 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM 4050 Dana Shores Dr., Tampa (near Tampa Airport)6 CPAR New Member Orientation 1 PM at CPAR Office - Conference Room13 GMM at Pebble Creek Golf & Country Club 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM Speaker: Joe Flynn - Landy Insurance •E&OInsurance

JULY 20132 CPAR New Member Orientation 1 PM at CPAR Office - Conference Room11 GMM at Pebble Creek Golf & Country Club 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM Speakers: Richard Gehring/Planning and Development Administrator for Pasco County and Melanie A. Kendick/Senior Planner -Economic Development

AUGUST 20131 CPAR New Member Orientation 1 PM at CPAR Office - Conference Room6 Mixer 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM Location TBD8 GMM at Pebble Creek Golf & Country Club 11:30 AM to 1:30 pm Speaker: Barbara Hurst - Total Design Source

SEPTEMBER 20135 CPAR New Member Orientation 1 PM at CPAR Office – Conference Room12 GMM at Pebble Creek Golf & Country Club 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM Business Partners Fair & Chinese Auction

OCTOBER 20131 Mixer 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM Location TBD3 CPAR New Member Orientation 1 PM at CPAR Office – Conference Room10 GMM at Pebble Creek Golf & Country Club 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM Speaker: Judge Edward C. LaRose/Appellate Judge

NOVEMBER 20137 CPAR New Member Orientation 1 PM at CPAR Office – Conference Room8 -11 NAR REALTORS Conference & Expo San Francisco, CA.14 Installation & Awards Banquet 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM

DECEMBER 20135 CPAR New Member Orientation 1 PM at CPAR Office – Conference Room12 GMM Christmas Party & Gift Exchange Pebble Creek Golf & Country Club 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM

CPAR Business Partner sponsored Mixers are held the first Tuesday of every other month. In April, we visited Prime Bar at The Shops at Wiregrass, where we had our biggest turn out yet! We had over 20 Realtors and over 40 in total attendance. Our next Mixer will be on June 4th at GrillSmith in Wesley Chapel. Come on out for fantastic food, good networking

and a great time with some of the best Business Partners and Realtors in the market!

BUSINESSPARTNERS

CPAR affiliated

LYNN TONTE

Deborah Farmer PMN, ePROBroker/Owner • 813.310.0444

The Brightest and Best Making a Difference for You!

Ruth Peeples Account Executive cell 813-240-4277

Featured WALTER PRICEwith Price Appraisal Group

MARCH 14TH MEETING

SPOTLIGHTGMM

The CPAR General Membership Meeting was held on Thursday, March 14th at Pebble Creek Golf and Country Club. Our featured speaker was Walter Price with Price Appraisal Group. Walter reported some very interesting statistics concerning our housing market.

Central Pasco:

• 17% increase in home sales over 2012

• Average Sales Price $157,000 up 5% from $150,000 in 2012.

• Has the highest Sales prices in Pasco County

• 317 Active Listings – 20% are distressed, short sales, REO

• Has 3 months of active inventory

Overall Pasco County is up 7.4% in average sales prices.

Hillsborough County:

• Has 2 months of inventory

• Median sales price is $151,000

• 12.7% increase in home values over 2012

Some other interesting information:

• Prices are going up because of cash sales and more bidding wars again.

• When running comps, you cannot use new construction for existing

home sales.

• Comps must be apples to apples – cannot comp non waterfront

property against waterfront property

• Square footage for living area much have heat and AC

• A room must have a closet to be considered a bedroom

• Appraisers are required to use a certain % of distressed sales in an appraisal.

We also heard from Kimberly Anderson with Centurion Financial Group. Kimberly discussed the value of filing for BP Claims to get a portion of the benefits resulting from the BP oil spill.

Our sponsors were Cooper Financial Services, Florida Mortgage Advantage and Hillsborough Title.

Congratulations to our prize winners! Mary Ann Carroll won roses from Christine Cooper with Cooper Financial Services. Cindy Maxie won roses from George E. Cooper with Florida Mortgage Advantage. Vicki Derbes won the gift card from Kim Martin with Hillsborough Title and Toby Caroline won 50/50. It was a fun informative and interesting session.

Lou Molnar, Broker(813 484-5211

www.Lou-Molnar.comHow Can We Help You?

Wesley Chapel (813) 973-2240Land O’Lakes (813) 996-4747

Introducing CPAR Board AttorneyMERCEDES GONZALEZ HALE

The speaker for April 11th meeting at Pebble Creek Golf & Country Club, was CPAR’s Board Attorney, Mercedes Gonzalez Hale. Mercedes has been practicing law in the Tampa area for over 20 years and was the Hiring Partner in the Tampa office of DLA Piper, one of the largest law firms in the world with over 4,200 lawyers. While at DLA Piper, she represented large franchisers throughout the US and advised clients in general real estate related matters. During this time, a significant portion of the litigation work she handled was on behalf of Cendant Corporation. Prior to starting her own law firm, Mercedes worked at Broad and Cassel, a statewide law firm with over 175 lawyers. Ms. Hale has represented many real estate brokerages and has vast experience handling real estate related matters, both on the transactional side and on the litigation side. She has extensive experience handling jury trials, bench trials and arbitration. She has successfully represented clients in a variety of commercial litigation cases, including construction related disputes, real estate related disputes and landlord tenant disputes, and has also successfully represented clients in complex business matters involving: trademark infringement claims, copyright infringement claims, franchising disputes, antitrust disputes, unfair competition disputes, including covenants not to compete, and other business torts. Her transactional experience includes drafting commercial lease agreements, shareholder agreements, operating agreements and purchase contracts.

Ms. Hale was recently appointed by the Florida Bar to serve on the Florida Realtor-Attorney Joint Committee. She also serves on the Consumer Protection Law Committee of the Florida Bar and she also serves on a Grievance Committee for the Florida Bar.

At our GMM, Mercedes discussed the difference between the FAR/Bar contract versus the CRSP12. She stressed that REALTORS need to read and understand both contracts and how they differ. She also stated to “disclose and document.” If you disclose with no documentation you don’t have proof of what transpired. The thicker

the file with documentation in chronological order the better your attorney can defend you. Food for Thought: It’s better to have a written paper with client’s signatures than to pay for an attorney. The Errors and Emission Insurance only handles so much. Each agent needs to have their own E&O Insurance.

Reminder: We are having an expert on E&O Insurance for our June meeting.)

Also at this meeting:• The sponsor of the door prize was Joe Flynn with Landy Insurance. Joe gave an Office Depot gift card.• The winner of the door prize was Rose Vasilakis with Future Home Realty • The winner of the 50/50 was Lee Cannon.

Article by Deborah Catterton, Vice President - CPAR

APRIL 11TH MEETING

SPOTLIGHTGMM

WELCOMEnew member

MEMBERSHIP RECOGNITION

Member Count: Primary: 158 Secondary: 31New agents:

Charles Rutenberg Realty Nancy Degen

Coldwell Banker Action Realty Deanna Stinsman

Coldwell Banker Advantage Team Kathleen Greaves

Gulf Coast Executive Realty, Inc.Michael Jonas, Broker

Adam Jonas

NewHomePrograms.com, LLC

Michelle Babbino

SSLynn Mooney, BrokerMargie Bradley, Sales AssociateGerald Collings, Sales AssociateTiffany Languedoc, Sales AssociateHelen Williams, Broker Associate

email SSHPfl@tampabay.rr.com• 813.641.2204 • 800.482.5015 • 813.501.1400 FAX

27642 Cashford Cir., Suite 101 • Wesley Chapel, FL 33544813.333.1807 (P) • 813.936.4765 (F) • 813.453.8425 (C)One Stop Shopping for Insurance • Income Tax Prep • Notary Public

Since 1992

Dorsey SawickiAgent/Principal

dorsey@mycoastinsurance.com

mycoastinsurance.com

central pasco association of REALTORS®

How To Perform a Mail Merge Using Gmail Here's a simple tip to make bulk email more personal.

Have you ever wished you could use Gmail to personalize a mass email to your contacts? While traditional email programs such as Outlook have offered basic mail merge functions for years, many users of web-based mail such as Yahoo! and Gmail have missed out on the ability to leverage mail merge functions.

Well, now Gmail users have access to a relatively simple method that makes it possible to perform mail merge functions. This step-by-step tutorial by Amit Agarwal of Digital Inspiration shows you everything you need to know to make mail merge work:

http://www.labnol.org/software/mail-merge-with-gmail/13289/

Be sure to watch the video for a helpful overview, and read the instructions below the video to try it for yourself.

The next time you're planning an open house, a party at your home, or even a holiday note to your inner circle, add a little more personality to the stock email with a mail merge. It's also great, free alternative for agents who have yet to invest in a mailing list service or software package.

Source: OakleySign.com

Article by Lynn Mooney, CPAR Director & Past President 2011

SMILEbig CPAR 2nd year at The 2013 Community Spotlight Expo

Call 813.973.2004

• Residential • Commercial • Insurance Inspections• 203k Consultants

Fred TonteOwner/Inspector

Lynne TonteOwner/Marketing

Experience our Service, Integrity and Professionalism

“Inspecting the world, one home at a time!”

www.npiweb.com/tonte

America’s Premier Inspection Service

or email: csi.npi@verizon.net

George E. Cooper

NMLS#367456www.FloridaMortgageAdvantage.comPhone: 813-996-6100Fax: 813-996-6117george@FloridaMortgageAdvantage.com

Residential Mortgages –– all kinds, including 203K, HARP, andPurchase Reverse Mortgages. Thinking outside the box!

“Loan Simple –– Your Florida Mortgage Advantage

DID YOU KNOW… that you can access your SUPRA account information online?

Follow these steps to view pin numbers, lockbox shackle codes and lockbox

CBS codes (needed by non-realtors that need to access your listings with their keys—ie: inspectors, appraisers, etc):

1. Go to http://www.supraekey.com 2. Click on the “SupraWEB, Login for Real Estate Agents” box in the upper right corner of the screen. 3. If this is the first time you have logged in to SupraWEB, you will need to

first register. Your user ID would be your NRDS number (the same number you use to login to MFRMLS).

4. Now you will be able to see all of your account information. To view Lockbox information (shackle code, CBS code, or listing number, if assigned): 1. Click on the “Listings” tab at the top. 2. Click on “Keyboxes” under “Quick Links” on the left of the page. NOTE: Lockboxes are listed by Serial number. If your lockbox is assigned to a listing, that information is also available.

With eKey, your Smartphone is the Key...

Do you have a Smartphone? Want to carry just one device? CPAR has a limited supply of Smartphone adapters (Fob 3).

Upgrade NOW to turn your Smartphone into your lockbox key!

FIRST download the free eKey ‘app’:

iPhone – Select ‘App Store’ icon, select Search and search for Supra eKEY, select the app, & tap Install Android – Select ‘Market’ icon, select Search and search for Supra eKEY, select the app, & tap Install BlackBerry – Select ‘App World’ icon, select Search and search for Supra eKEY, select the app & tap install

Call 813.406.6081 to schedule an appointment. Please bring with you:

Bring BOTH ActiveKEY& Smartphone Payment for the fob is by check or credit card

* Visit www.supraekey.com/Products/Pages/eKEY.aspx for more details on eKeys.

OFFICE ADDRESS: 27642 Cashford Circle, Suite 110, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 • Phone: 813-406-6081 • Fax: 813-712-2865 • Info@CPARfl.org

www.CPARfl.com

GUEST SPEAKER

Margy Grant, Esq., CAE, RCE

Vice President and General Counsel Florida Realtors

Will Speak On:

“Borrowing” photos/Getty

Off MLS-Listings Fair Housing Shops & IDX

Personal Law Suits Outside D & O and E & O Insurances

Thursday May 9, 2013

Pebble Creek Country Club 10050 Regents Park Drive

New Tampa, 33647

11:30AM—1:30 PM

11:30 AM—12:00 PM Registration & Networking 12:00 PM—1:30 PM Lunch & Meeting

~Reservations~

Internet: www.cparfl.com Call: 813-406-6081

$15.00 Advance Reservations—$20.00 without Reservations

Sponsored by: Hillsborough Title

OFFICE ADDRESS: 27642 Cashford Circle, Suite 110, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 • Phone: 813-406-6081 • Fax: 813-712-2865 • Info@CPARfl.org

www.CPARfl.com

SP

6215

9

Together... We Succeed!

May 7, 2013 • 11 am - 1:30 pm Silent Auction & Exciting Raffles

Centre Club • 123 S. Westshore, 8th floor Tampa, FL 33609

Luncheon TickeTs $35 per person in advance

($40 per person at the door)

RSVP by May 2 to: WWW.WCRTAMPA.COMor call 813-633-2666 ext 1

GueST SPeAkeR: 2013 WCR

State President, Amy Worth Paul

Dream... Believe... Achieve in 2013!

Special

Tribute to

Past

Presidents!

WCR AnnuAL diSTRiCT Vi COnFeRenCe.

Bring your donations for “The Springs SHeLTeR” for a Special Tribute for our local families in need on Mother’s day.

Visit www.intercontinental.com for hotel reservations

Advertise in the

Bi-monthly CPAR eNewsletter

Ads are FULL COLOR 3-1/2” X 2-1/2” Your AD is also a HYPERLINK TO YOUR

WEBSITE Issued in an eMagazine format Artwork due by the 20th of February,

April, June, August, October, December Distributed to all CPAR members Mass emailed to a Bay Area REALTOR®

database of 6,800+/- subscribers

COST ONLY $30 PER AD or $150 for annual commitment

CONTACT Deborah Farmer TODAY For Ad Placement Deb@StarLightRealtyTampa.com ~ 813-310-0444