february 2020 • vol. 41, no. 5...the tech helpline is free for wra members free support on pc/mac,...

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Executive Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

MN and WI Continuing Education . . . . .2

Snow Bowl Date Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Golf Outing Date Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Get Your REALTOR® Membership Card . . .3

Tech Helpline for REALTORS® . . . . . . . . .4

Avoid Social Media Trouble . . . . . . . . . .5

Code of Ethics Training Every 3 Years . . .6

Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

February is Black History Month . . . . . .8

Tour Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Dates to Remember . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Fair Housing Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Call for Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

MLS Flex Tip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Welcome New Members . . . . . . . . . . . 12

www.larawebsite.com

RIVER CITY REALTOR®

T H E V O I C E F O R R E A L E S T A T E ™ I N T H E G R E A T E R L A C R O S S E A R E A

FEBRUARY 2020 • VOL . 41, NO . 5

R E A L T O R ®

Continued on next page

NAR Approves MLS Clear Cooperation Policy 8.0

In November, at the NAR Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors approved the “MLS Clear Cooperation Policy”. It reflects a significant change as to how and when listings are submitted to the MLS. Here is the policy:

Below are the changes to the NAR model MLS Rules. These changes will be reflected in the Model MLS Governing Documents found in the 2020 Handbook on Multiple Listing Policy (updated version expected January 2020):

Section 1.01 – Clear Cooperation – Within one (1) business day of marketing a property to the public, the listing broker must submit the listing to the MLS for cooperation with other MLS participants. Public marketing includes, but is not limited to, flyers displayed in windows, yard signs, digital marketing on public facing websites, brokerage website displays (including IDX and VOW), digital communications marketing (email blasts), multi-brokerage listing sharing networks, and applications available to the general public. (Adopted 11/19)

Note: Exclusive listing information for required property types must be filed and distributed to other MLS Participants for cooperation under the Clear Cooperation Policy. This applies to listings filed under Section 1 and listings exempt from distribution under Section 1.3 of the NAR model MLS rules if it is being publicly marketed, and any other situation where the listing broker is publicly marketing an exclusive listing that is required to be filed with the service and is not currently available to other MLS Participants.

Section 1.3 Exempt Listings – If the seller refuses to permit the listing to be

disseminated by the service, the participant may then take the listing (office exclusive) and such listing shall be filed with the service but not disseminated to the participants. Filing of the listing should be accompanied by certification signed by the seller that he does not desire the listing to be disseminated by the service.

Note 1: Section 1.3 is not required if the service does not require all (indicate type[s] of listing[s] accepted by the service) listings to be submitted by a participant to the service.

Note 2: MLS Participants must distribute exempt listings within (1) one business day once the listing is publicly marketed. See Section 1.01, Clear Cooperation.

Implementation by all MLS’s is a must. This is a NAR mandate. Our Director’s has adopted the By-Law change with implementation May 1, 2020.

Make our Marks Remarkable

The term REALTOR® is not only a trademark owned by NAR and protected by federal law, it is also a valuable membership benefit that distinguishes members from all others in the real estate business. Watch this entertaining, three minute video to learn how members can protect the value of the mark by using it properly. Remember, a REALTOR® isn’t “just another real estate agent.” Being a REALTOR® means more. Visit: https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=6BfRbyUX2A4

Executive Report2

Vol. 41 No. 5 • February 2020 River City REALTOR®

Kristal [email protected]

Ryan [email protected]

Char [email protected]

LARA Website www.larawebsite.com

RIVER CITY REALTOR®

The RIVER CITY REALTOR® is published by the

La Crosse Area REALTORS® Association

608-785-7744 • 866-425-7744

www.larawebsite.com

EDITORChar Glocke, RCE, AHWD

785-7837 • [email protected]

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEPresident

Josh Neumann608-385-5548 • [email protected]

President ElectKent Gabrielsen

608-784-9930 • [email protected]

Secretary/TreasurerLance Dembraski


Past PresidentSteve Lillestrand


LOCAL DIRECTORS

Brandon Haugen 608-385-4831

[email protected]

Jessica Himmer608-385-1491

[email protected]

Eric Johnson773-719-3020

[email protected]

Kathy Johnson608-783-7766

[email protected]

Damon Olson608-784-4660

[email protected]

Tom Wilson608-518-1850

[email protected]

Advertising rates for the River City Realtor® are $6.00 per column inch payable in advance. All new advertising or changes in ads should be delivered to the Association Office, camera ready, by the 15th of the month prior to pub-lications. Make checks payable to the La Crosse Area REALTORS® Association.

Frequently Requested Phone Numbers:

WRA Legal Hotline • 608-799-4468

DSPS • 608-266-5511

Zip Forms Support • 1-800-383-9805

Metro MLS Helpdesk • 1-800-490-3731

It’s a Busy Time of Year: Get InvolvedBy Char Glocke, Association Executive

Happy Winter! So far, we have been lucky as to our weather.

We will have to see how the rest of the season plays out!

Our Committees are up and running. Many events have the

dates set and the final details are being worked on.

Please mark these dates on your calendar!

• Snow Bowl – March 6,

• Golf Outing – July 20,

• WI CE Classes offered, February 18, March 2, and April 15.

• MN required CE Class – working on a date and speaker.

Membership Renewal was great. We renewed 375 REALTORS® - 91% and we renewed

64 Affiliates – 80%. Thank you for renewing your membership.

REALTOR® Government Day is February 5. There is still time to register and join us

for a day filled with Legislative issues and visiting with our Legislators at the Capitol.

Coming May 1, 2020, NAR Mandated Policy – Clear Cooperation 8.0 will be

implemented. Check out the article on the front page that gives you an introduction

as to what changes are going to affect all of our subscribers. If you have questions,

please call me.

Our Association is off to a busy start. Thank you to the members that have helped

plan the above activities. Great year ahead!

Have a great month! Happy Valentine’s Day!

In the months leading up to implementation, the MLS will be in an education mode to make sure all our subscribers will know and understand the new policy. I will be doing office visits, emails will be sent, question and answer sessions will be held at the Association Office, and a MLS Breakfast is in the planning.

Please keep a watch for educational opportunities that will help you be “In the Know” as to Rules and Regulation changes, information on the adoption of the “Delayed Listing Status”, and the sanction schedule for non-compliance.

This new policy will change the way our subscribers do business in relation to the MLS. Make sure you are “In the Know.”

If you have questions, please contact Char at 608-785-7744.

- Continued from page 1

NAR Approves MLS Clear Cooperation Policy 8.0

mailto:[email protected]



http://larawebsite.com

www.larawebsite.com












3Announcements


Snow Bowl 2020 ScheduledThe annual Snow Bowl is scheduled for Friday, March 6, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. at Features, West Salem. Mark your calendar and plan to attend this fun event. Check out the flyer in this issue of the newsletter.

Golf Outing Date ScheduledThe Golf Outing is scheduled for Monday, July 20 at Cedar Creek. The Committee will be meeting in February to start the planning. Mark your calendars and plan on having a fun filled sunny day!

RPR Webinars AvailableMany RPR (REALTORS® Property Resource) webinars are available. You can take these webinars online when your schedule allows. Click on this link to access: https://blog.narrpr.com/workshops/?_type=webinars.

How Well Do You Know the Code of Ethics?Article 16 – REALTORS® shall not engage in any practice or take any action inconsistent with exclusive representation or exclusive brokerage relationship agreements that other REALTORS® have with clients.

– Amended 1/04

MN CE Is Coming!I am in the process of scheduling the MN required CE Course. Chris Prescott, who has had rave reviews from those that attended our course is not available any longer. I have a great lead for an instructor. Watch your email for more information soon.

WI CE Courses Are ScheduledJohn Sayas is coming to La Crosse! Our WI CE courses are scheduled. Course 1 & 2 set for February 18, Course 3 & 4 is set for March 2 and Course 5 & 6 is set for April 15. The flyers with the details are attached in this Newsletter. Please call and sign up today. All WI CE must be completed by December 14 of 2020.

Get Your REALTOR®

Membership CardAt the beginning of each year, the National Association of REALTORS® creates new membership cards which can be personalized to your liking.

Getting your card is simple:

1. Visit the Membership Card page at:

https://www.nar.realtor/membership-card.

2. Log-in with your nar.realtor username and password. Forgot your username or password? Look it up here, or call NAR’s Member Support at 800-874-6500 if you’re still having trouble.

3. Your designations and certifications are pulled directly from your NRDS records.

The card can be added to your Apple Wallet, saved to Google Pay, or sent to you directly via email as a PDF file.

Life is too short to get bogged down and be

discouraged. You have to keep moving. You have

to keep going. Put one foot in front of the other,

and smile and just keep on rolling. - KOBE BRYANT

“

“

What is RPAC?

RPAC is YOUR way to be constructively engaged in

politics – effectively, efficiently and ethically. BE part

of the ACTION in the REALTORS® Political Action

Committee. Our Committee will begin our fundraising

soon. Please invest when one of our Committee

Members asks. RPAC is an investment in your business.

4


Member News

The Tech Helpline is FREE for WRA Members

Free support on PC/MAC, Tablets, Phones, Printers, Networking, Outlook, Virus Removal & More!

Your WRA membership includes free access to a toll-free technical support team to assist you with technical issues. When your WRA membership includes free access to technical support, it speeds up the time it takes to troubleshoot technology issues and get your gadgets up and running smoothly. Not only do you get quick access to an IT team for problem resolution, but you also get assistance with WRA login steps, purchases and evaluating new technology! One to two calls to the WRA Tech Helpline could pay for membership in itself versus hiring a local technician.

Firms with existing IT departments: Consider offloading smartphone inquiries. The WRA Tech Helpline stands ready to assist with questions related to all makes and models of smartphones, whether an iOS or Android device.

Helpline Features:

• Instruction for installing and configuring new hardware and software.

• Diagnosis and repair of computer hardware and software issues.

• Advice for purchasing hardware, software and services.

• Basic instruction with major software applications.

• Recommendations for upgrades and updates.

• Advice for performance optimization.

• Troubleshooting network issues.

• No limits on the number of calls.

• Experienced, reliable, professional and courteous assistance.

WRA Tech Helpline: Call toll-free at 866-610-7997 Email: [email protected] Chat: chat.techhelpline.com

Hours (Central time):Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The WRA Tech Helpline hours are subject to change without notice.

The important thing is that

your teammates have to know

you’re pulling for them and

you really want them to be

successful. - KOBE BRYANT

“

“

L4984

mailto:support%40techhelpline.com?subject=

http://chat.techhelpline.com

5Member News


Appleton | Arcadia | Green Bay | Holmen | Janesville | Kenosha | La Crosse | Wauwatosa | Winona

Here to protectyour property rights

through everyseason!

www.townncountrytitle.com

1. Venting about another agent. This is a common subject to come up in relation to the Code, says Katherine Lawton, NAR’s manager of Professional Standards and Administration. It’s not smart to air your frustrations about a colleague online because it could violate Article 15, which prohibits REALTORS® from making false or misleading statements about other real estate professionals related to transactions or business practices. You can also get into trouble in blog comments by suggesting another agent’s client take a negative action against that agent, D’Agosta warns. For example, responding to a frustrated seller by saying “Fire your listing agent and I’ll help you” can easily become an ethics violation.

2. Sharing another agent’s listing. Re-tweeting or sharing another agent’s listing on your own social media timeline could constitute an improper advertisement of their listing. This commonly happens when agents visit an open house and, after leaving, post about it on their feeds. You cannot engage in any practice that is inconsistent with exclusive-representation agreements that practitioners have with their clients, states Article 16. Lawton recommends getting the listing agent’s permission — a verbal agreement is fine — before sharing anything about their listing online.

3. Watch what you share on personal accounts. Many agents have Facebook business profiles that note their role as a real estate professional and the company they work for. That generally satisfies the requirement of Article 12, Standard of Practice 12-5, that REALTORS®

Social Media Posts That Get You in Trouble

must clearly identify themselves and their company when advertising online. But your personal Facebook profile may not include such details, and if you post listings or other advertorial material on that page, you could be violating the Code. Bruce Aydt, ABR, CRB, senior vice president and general counsel for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Alliance Real Estate in St. Louis, says it’s not always clear when a post constitutes advertising. His rule of thumb is that if you’re in doubt, include a link in the post to a webpage that displays your company’s logo prominently. That’s especially important on Twitter because you often can’t fit the name of your company in each tweet.

4. Commiserating on commissions. A common topic that comes up in real estate–related Facebook groups is commissions. If someone is complaining about a commission they received and asking for feedback, it can be tempting to spill your own experience. But aside from it being in poor taste, you could be revealing confidential financial details about your client if you speak in too much detail about a commission, Wilcox says. Article 1, SOP 1-9, requires REALTORS® to preserve the privacy of confidential information about their clients even after the end of their business relationship. You would need their permission first before revealing such details publicly in order to avoid an ethics violation.

6


Member News

608-783-9265 www.newcastletitle.us

750 North 3rd Street, Suite B, La Crosse, WI 54601 | 9542 East 16 Frontage Road, Onalaska, WI 54650

The last thing you need

is your deal to crumble.

With New Castle as your closing agent

Without

As a Realtor®, you know the risks that

homebuyers face. Use New Castle Title to

safeguard that the deal doesn’t crumble and

everyone gets their sweet reward in the end.

Code of Ethics Training Requirement Now Every Three Years

At its Nov. 11, 2019 meeting, NAR’s Board of Directors approved a

change to NAR’s Code of Ethics training requirement.

Since 2001, REALTORS® have been required to take Code of Ethics

training to retain their membership. Originally, the training

was required every four years, but in 2017, NAR changed the

requirement to every two years. A presidential advisory group

(PAG), appointed in 2019, made several recommendations to the

NAR Leadership Team. One of its recommendations was to extend

the requirement to every three years in order to give members

more time to fit it into their continuing education schedule and to

give local associations adequate time between cycles to administer

the program.

• The current Cycle 6 deadline is extended from Dec. 31, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2021.

• The next cycle (Cycle 7) will begin Jan. 1, 2022, and end Dec. 31, 2024.

The Leadership Team sought feedback from several committees before bringing the proposal before the board of directors.

Separately, the Leadership Team approved several recommendations of the PAG that didn’t require a board vote:

1. That the learning objectives for the existing member Code of Ethics training be revised to include content on professional

conduct, courtesies, business etiquette, and real-life scenarios.

2. That NAR establish Code of Ethics training equivalency options that members can take to satisfy the Code of Ethics training

requirement and that the Commitment to Excellence (C2EX) endorsement be an equivalency option.

3. That only courses and equivalencies provided by a local, state, or national REALTOR® association can satisfy the Code of

Ethics training requirement.

4. That an implementation team be appointed to develop a microsite that compiles all available options for fulfilling the Code

of Ethics training requirement, including C2EX ethics modules, NAR-approved online courses, and links to association-

approved courses.

National Underwriter and Local Experience

Multicultural Services

Top Tools for Agents

Customer Ownership Information Center

Go Digital Secure Portal for Customers

National Recognition


Property Type Volume Median Sold Price

Residential 10,763,788 165,000

Condo 913,400 207,000

All 11,677,188 166,400

7La Crosse County Sold & Active Listings – January 2020

SOLD/ACTIVE RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS CURRENT ACTIVE LISTINGS

0-2 3 4+ TWO CONDO TOTAL SINGLE CONDO

PRICE-CLASS/TYPE BDRMS BDRMS BDRMS FAMILY CO-OP UNITS FAMILY CO-OP

29,999.99 and under 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0

30,000 - 39,999.99 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

40,000 - 49,999.99 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0

50,000 - 59,999.99 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

60,000 - 69,999.99 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0

70,000 - 79,999.99 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0

80,000 - 89,999.99 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0

90,000 - 99,999.99 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0

100,000 - 119,999.99 3 1 1 1 0 6 4 0

120,000 - 139,999.99 4 2 2 0 1 9 5 0

140,000 - 159,999.99 1 3 2 0 0 6 16 1

160,000 - 179,999.99 0 4 1 0 0 5 7 0

180,000 - 199,999.99 0 0 3 0 0 3 17 1

200,000 - 249,999.99 0 5 2 0 1 8 22 5

250,000 - 299,999.99 0 2 3 0 1 6 26 2

300,000 - 399,999.99 0 0 2 0 1 3 45 1

400,000 - 499,999.99 1 1 1 0 0 3 5 1

500,000 and over 0 0 2 0 0 2 27 5

TOTALS 10 20 19 1 4 54 183 16

AVERAGE 150,123 190,875 281,161 103,000 228,350 216,244 327,955 345,288

MEDIAN 130,900 165,000 240,000 103,000 207,000 166,400 264,900 269,900

Information is supplied by seller and other third parties and has not been verified.

Copyright © 2019 by Multiple Listing Service, Inc. See FBS copyright notice.

Unit Sales by Time on Market

DAYS RES CONDO

1 - 30 26 2

31 - 60 11 1

61 - 90 4 0

91 - 120 2 0

121 or over 7 1

TOTAL SALES 50 4

TYPE RES CONDO

Adj Rate Mtg 1 0

Assumable 0 0

Cash 6 1

Conventional 31 3

FHA 4 0

Land Contract 0 0

Other 3 0

TYPE RES CONDO

Owner Fin 0 0

Private 0 0

USDA 0 0

VA 3 0

WHEDA 2 0

TOTAL SALES 50 4

Unit Sales by Financing Type

8


Member News

Tour Information

Load Your Own Tours and Open Houses

Agents now can load their own tours and open houses

in Flex. If you have any questions, please call Ryan at

608-785-7838.

MLS Tour BoundariesThe current dividing line between

the North and the South Tour is I-90.

Exceptions:

• Holiday Heights and Mayfair Addition are North Tour

• Burns, Bangor, Hamilton, and Monroe County

are North Tour

• Washington and Barre are South Tour

• French Island is South Tour

• Dakota and Dresbach are North Tour

• La Crescent and Hokah are South Tour

North/South Dividing Line

is I-90

February is Black History MonthFebruary marks the beginning of Black History month – an annual celebration that has existed since 1926. But what are the origins of Black History Month?

Much of the credit goes to Harvard Scholar Dr. Carter G. Woodson who was determined to bring Black History into the mainstream public arena. Woodson devoted his life to making “the world see the Negro as a participant rather than as a lay figure in history.”

In 1926, Woodson organized the first annual Negro History Week, which took place during the second week of February. Woodson chose this date to coincide with the birthday of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln – the two men who had greatly impacted the black population.

Over time, Negro History Week evolved into the Black History Month that we know today – four week long celebration of African American History.

Agent CodeCongratulations to Steve Lillestrand for finding his Agent Code in last month’s newsletter! Call the Association Office if you

find yours in this month’s issue and you will win a free dinner at the next General Membership Meeting!

Legal Updates Available at WRA.orgAt www.wra.org you can search legal updates for the topic of your choice. This publication is emailed to all members on a

monthly basis. Important information is covered in these updates. It’s a great resource and benefit of membership for you.

Wearing Your REALTOR® Pin?Each day you leave your home, you should be wearing your REALTOR® pin. Not everyone that has a real estate license is a REALTOR®. Be proud! Wear your pin! What was that? You can’t find your pin? Just stop by the Association Office and we will give you a replacement pin for free.

9


Dates to Remember

S M T W T F S

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

February March

5 Open House Deadline

3 p.m., North Tour

5 REALTOR® &

Government Day


3 p.m., South Tour

18 WI CE 1&2 Cedar Creek

19 Open House Deadline 3 p.m.

North Tour


South Tour


3 p.m., North Tour

6 14th Annual Snow Bowl


3 p.m., South Tour


North Tour


South Tour

Birthdays - February

2 Ray Wrobel

2 Garrick Olerud

3 Mitchell Kirk

4 Tyler Rachwal

4 T.J. Walker

4 Kassidy Taggart

4 Tony Reyerson

4 Jon Schuster

6 Wendy Pertzsch

7 Kathy Appleman

7 Carmen Fortun

9 Marquita Hollins

9 Lindsey Blatz

9 Anastasia Gentry

10 Cristina Kovacs

12 Susan Brooks

12 Amy Hatlevig

12 Jill Raven

13 Ben Bockenhauer

16 Lori Love

17 Pam Eilertson

17 Angela Greene

18 Amber Metcalf

18 Alex Loesel

18 Tegan

McClain-Wise

19 Dan Veglahn

20 Melissa Sample

20 Nicole Martin

20 Cathy Fox

21 Haley Spears

21 Cathryn Howland

23 Leroy Holm

25 Beth Pendleton

27 Katie Walters

27 Dennis O’Malley

28 Tara Jaeger-Olson

28 Pete Peterson

28 Connie Mumm

Birthdays - March

2 Kabo Xiong

4 Kassidy Taggart

5 Kathy Raabel

5 Dean Dregne

5 Jeanne Button

5 Kathy Johnson

8 Fred Prassas

8 Sally Lysne

9 Betty Bertrang

10 Dawn Garms

10 Ryan Olson

12 Mark Davig

12 Violeta Toteva

12 David Dregne

12 Katie Lawton

13 Jacob Martin

14 Dustin Dregne

14 Jacob Burch

15 John Drake

15 Brad McNally

15 Richard Staff

16 Vicki Johnson

16 Trent Ziegler

17 Sue Mravik

17 Steve Lillestrand

17 Niki Paisley

20 Angela Seubert

20 Linda Soller

20 Christopher Wurzel

22 Kylie Mason

22 Aaron Slavey

23 Amanda Konsitzke

23 Troy Arenz

25 Chadd Hatlevig

25 Kong Vue

27 Adam

Weissenberger

27 Shawna Alt

28 Daniel Pederson

30 Joe Van Aelstyn

30 Christopher Oates

FINANCING GENERATIONS OF HOMEOWNERS

*The Wisconsin’s #1 Mortgage Lender designation is based on information gathered from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data compiled annually by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council. The results of the data were obtained through RATA Comply, July 2018. • Loan products are offered by Associated Bank, N.A., and are subject to credit approval and involve interest and other costs. Please ask about details on fees and terms and conditions of these products. Property insurance and flood insurance, if applicable, will be required on collateral. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. (11/18) 13183

Associated Bank is committed to

providing a better lending experience

for our customers. We’ve been helping

our neighbors buy homes—and stay in

them—for over 150 years. Our responsible

approach to lending reflects not only our

core values but those of the customers we

serve. We’re strong and ready to lend.

Jacob Martin 608-793-3836 • Onalaska • NMLS: 523832

Jacob Burch 608-793-3896 • La Crosse • NMLS: 488699

10


Member FDICSubject to approval.

HELPING YOUR CUSTOMERS

FROM START TO FINISHWith competitive rates, local servicing, and more than 60 years of

mortgage experience, we’re the right bank for their next home.

Discover the Merchants Bank Difference

Dawn GarmsOnalaska Office

(608) 779-8222

Tina MuellerOnalaska Office

(608) 779-8294

B.J. HamiltonLa Crescent Office

(507) 895-9708

Fair Housing Corner BUILDING A NATION OF NEIGHBORS

Key Points

• Parents are naturally interested in how their children will adjust to a new home and neighborhood, and usually there is no legal risk in responding to this question.

• This question may be an attempt by a homebuyer to indirectly ask you the face, religion, or nationality of the neighborhood’s residents

• This may be a question or trap set by a tester.

Areas of Liability

If you respond to this question with information on the racial, religious, or ethnic backgrounds of the neighborhood residents, you could be open to charges of discrimination.

Actions to Take

• Respond only to the question asked.

• Never volunteer information concerning race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial

status, or nationality of the residents in the neighborhood.

“Are my kids going to have other kids to play with?”

Where Will You Be When You Get The Call

For Action?

As a busy professional on the go your lifeline to clients and your office is your phone. Fewer and fewer of us are tied to a traditional desktop or laptop anymore to complete the functions of our work. Smartphones and tablets are how we increasingly manage our information and daily tasks

The REALTOR® Action Center Mobile App – Don’t Just Get It – Use It! Download and Login Today!To download, text “App” to 30644 and remember to login!


11

statebankfinancial.bank800.880.7151

Make living easy, and financing easier, with State Bank FinancialState Bank Financial has the perfect financing

options for your condo buyer.

For current rates and additional information, please call Carol J. Porath

at 608-791-4231 Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System Registry #649032. *All mortgage loans subject to credit approval

Member News

Valentine’s Day Fun Facts

• Every year, more than 36 million heart shaped boxes of chocolates are sold across the country.

• Sorry men, it looks like you’ll be spending twice as much as women this year on gifts. The average man spends

$130 on Valentine’s Day, while women spend about $70.

• Don’t forget about your pets! Every year, around 9 million people buy their pets a Valentine’s Day gift.

• February 14th is the second largest card giving day of the year, just after Christmas. This year, it’s expected

that 1 billion cards will be exchanged around the world.

• Teachers receive the most Valentine’s Day cards, followed by kids, mothers, wives and girlfriends.

• Hallmark was one of the first to mass produce a Valentine’s Day card, all the way back in 1913.

• More than one-third of men are comfortable not receiving anything from a lover on Valentine’s Day.

MLS Flex Tip: Quick Search for All!Full Search Will Retire in November of 2020

FBS, FlexMLS software vendor, has announced they will retire the Full Search module in November, 2020. Full Search is being discontinued to accommodate shifts in technology and redeploy resources to make existing and new products more successful.

Metro MLS understands that this announcement may be unwelcomed by our members. The main goal of Metro MLS is making the transition of our members as smooth as possible. To facilitate the transition, new tools and resources are being planned and created to assist in this “end of life” process

For example, they are working closely with FBS to include the County-Municipality related scroll feature you enjoyed in Full Search, to Quick Search. Secondly, they have added the Contingency flag to all inheritable property type templates.

Finally, all your saved searches and contacts will not disappear. It only changes where you start your search!

12 Welcome New Members

Welcome Jesse DeSantell of New Directions Real Estate. Jesse has been married for 12 years and has 3 children. They recently moved to Westby where they can’t wait to get involved with the community.

Welcome David Taylor of Edina Realty. David has been married for over a decade and has 3 children. He loves books, games and stories. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family playing Scrabble or Risk.

Welcome Dawn Johnson of Century 21 Affiliated. Dawn has 2 grown sons. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, sewing, and volunteering at church and the teen center

Welcome James Westpfahl of OneTrust Real Estate. James is married and has 2 children

Welcome Lauren Lockington of BHHS North Properties. Lauren has 1 dog and volunteers at WAFER in her free time. She enjoys the polar plunge, reading, and writing.

Welcome Chris Todd of Edina Realty. Chris is married with 2 children. In his free time, he likes to hunt, fish, and is a volunteer fireman in Fountain City.

Welcome Marian Precht of Coulee Real Estate. Marian has 2 children and enjoys fishing, being outdoors, and reading.

Welcome Teressa Mellor of Gerrard-Hoeschler, REALTORS®. Teresa is mom of 2 and grew up in La Crosse. She enjoys spending time skiing, hiking, running, and boating.

Welcome Jeri Rask of Cindy Gerke & Associates. Jeri has a 19-year-old daughter. She loves to do anything outside and spending time with family.

Welcome Jessie Skiles of McClain Realty. Jessie is a mom of 2 who relocated from Texas 3 years ago. She recently has been involved in Sparta Young Professionals.

Welcome Tina Weisensel of Re/Max First Choice. Tina is married with 1 daughter and her second child arriving the end of February. In her spare time, she enjoys running, golfing, DIY home projects, and spending time with family

Welcome Hannah Haggerty of OneTrust Real Estate. Hannah enjoys traveling, cooking and exploring new restaurants. She volunteers for boxer rescue and loves interior decorating

Welcome Amanda Moore of LUX Real Estate. Amanda is married with 2 children. She enjoys spending time with her daughters, family time, and traveling.

Welcome Kaitlynn Tuschner of Century 21 Affiliated. Kaitlynn’s family has been in Wisconsin for multiple generations. In her free time, she helps coach softball and she also puts in time for local fundraisers and organizations.

Welcome Nolan Wahoske of Bi-State Realty and Appraisals. Nolan is also a bartender at Pettibone Boat Club and Sloopys Alma Mater.

Welcome Divna Miljkovic of Gerrard-Hoeschler, REALTORS®. Divna was born in Serbia and moved to Wisconsin in 1991 with her husband. She has four children and loves the Coulee Region.

Welcome Penny Ammerman of Keller Williams Premier Realty.

The moment you give up is the moment you let

someone else win. - KOBE BRYANT

“

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no photo available

• Awards will be given for the

“Low Score” & “High Score”

• Door Prizes drawn throughout the event for bow-

lers and non-bowlers

• This is a Non-Competitive event!

• Teams are randomly formed

• Team Poker Game at Lanes!

• Great Networking Opportunity

• It’s Just for fun!!

*Register & Prepay for this event*

Call 785-7744 or email [email protected] by Monday, March 2nd 2020.

(If you cancel after this date, you will be billed)

Space is limited (48), so make your reservation today!

1144tthh AAnnnnuuaall SSnnooww BBoowwll

Friday, March 6th, 2020 at 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Please arrive by 2:45 for lane assignments

Features Sports Bar & Grill/West Bowl Lanes

1425 W. City Hwy 16 in West Salem

$5.00 per person paid prior to this event or $6.00 if paid at the door.

(Includes 2 games of bowling, shoes, soda, pizza and prizes)

Bowlers and non bowlers RSVP by Monday March 2nd.

FeaturingTravis Everette Keynote Speaker

Business strategist and educator, Travis Everette (DREI) is actively involved at almost every conceivable level in the real estate field. Producer of the hugely popular series of YouTube lectures used by more than 150,000 licensees across the country, this award-winning speaker provides relatable content with a memorable energy and insightful observations on real-life solutions to everyday challenges. Get ready for fun, engagement and learning with actionable strategic tools to help you achieve success. Don't miss two $150 drawings at Opening Session towards WRA education! Must be present to win.

Northwoods Fun

LocationLake of the Torches Casino & Convention Center510 Old Abe Road (Located on Highway 47)Lac du Flambeau, WI 545381-888-599-9200

Hotel reservationsRoom rate: $90/night Reserve by: January 12, 2020Room block group name: WRA Winter Convention

TO REGISTER, VISIT WRA.ORG/WINTCONV OR CALL 1-800-279-1972

Winter Convention 2020One of the WRA's Best-kept SecretsWorkshops, CE and outdoor fun! Enjoy a bags tournament, the casino and some of the best snowmobiling trails in the state.

A Winter Wonderland Awaits...Mark your calendar for January 28-29, 2020, and kick off the new year with Winter Convention, featuring motivational speakers, informative workshops, CE, exhibits and winter fun, including a bags tournament, casino gaming and some of the best snowmobiling trails in the state.

Program Highlights

Day 1: Tuesday, January 28, 2020

>> Broker lunch (ticketed event) >> CE Course 1: Wisconsin Listing Contracts>> CE Course 2: Wisconsin Offers to Purchase >> Cocktail hour>> Cornhole tournament>> Exhibits>> Opening Session with Travis Everette>> Welcome party >> Workshops

Day 2: Wednesday, January 29, 2020

>> CE Course 3: Wisconsin New Developments>> CE Course 4: Wisconsin Real Estate Ethics and

Consumer Protection (includes NAR Code of Ethics)>> CRS Lunch (ticketed event) >> Exhibits>> Workshops

>> More online >> wra.org/WintConv

La Crosse Area

REALTORS® Association Presents:

2019-2020 Wisconsin Real Estate Continuing Education

WI CE Course 1: Wisconsin Listing Contracts and

Course 2: Wisconsin Offers to Purchase

February 18, 2020

Total - 6 Hours WI CE Credit / 6 Hours MN CE Credit

Instructor - Attorney Jonathan Sayas

Where: Cedar Creek 2600 Cedar Creek Lane Onalaska, WI 54650

When: Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Time: 8:00 - 8:30 Registration, Bagels, English Muffins & Coffee 8:30 - 11:30 Course 1 and Exam 11:30 - 12:15 Hot Lunch Served 12:15 - 3:15 Course 2 and Exam

Check-in opens 30 minutes before class. Please be on time. Those arriving late will not be permitted in class.

Cost: Member - $71.00 Non-Member- $81.00

Includes 6 hours of WI CE (also approved for 6 HRS MN credits), Bagels, English Muffins and Coffee. Hot lunch (see lunch menu)

Lunch Menu: Garlic Herb Chicken over Rice, Vegetables, and Rolls

One Course Member - $56.00 (No Lunch) Only: Non-Member - $66.00 (No Lunch)

There are no refunds for cancellations after February 12, 2020 or

for No-Shows.$10 late fee if registering after.

Sign up today and support your local Association!

About the Instructor: Jonathan M. Sayas serves as Wisconsin underwriting counsel for Stewart Title Guaranty Company. Jonathan received his Juris Doctor from Valparaiso University in Indiana and is licensed to practice before all courts in the state of Wisconsin and U.S. Federal District Court - East District of Wisconsin.

Mail/Fax/Email/ or bring form & check or credit card to: La Crosse Area REALTORS® Association, 111 6th Street South, La Crosse, WI 54601 Fax: 608-785-7742 | Phone: 608-785-7744 | [email protected]

Course 1 – Wisconsin Listing Contracts:

Provides licensees mandatory instruction on seller disclosure obligations and defects. This course takes a deep dive into advertising rules and reviews advertising mistakes that led to discipline from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. Course 1 also revisits on of the biggest problem areas in a transaction: distinguishing between real and personal property and what is or is not included in a sale. You will take away instantly applicable pointers to help your sellers avoid disputes with buyers about real and personal property.

NAME: FIRM NAME:

Please Check One: Do you need MN CE? [ ] YES [ ] NO Please Check One: [ ] COURSE 1 ONLY [ ] COURSE 2 ONLY [ ] BOTH COURSES AMOUNT. ENCLOSED: $ Check #

To pay by credit card, complete & sign below (We accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express)

Card : ____ ____ ____ ____-____ ____ ____ ____-____ ____ ____ ____-____ ____ ____ ____ Exp: ________/________ CVV Number: _____________

Address where credit card statement is mailed Zip Code

Signature (required for charges):

[ ] Please check here if you require special services or DIETARY NEEDS. Please attach a description of needs.

Course 2 – Wisconsin Offers to Purchase: Provides licensees mandatory instruction on inspections and testing. This course distinguishes between the use of an amendment and a notice. You will learn each form should be used in relation to the Inspections Contingency. Course 2 walks through the intricacies of the Financing and Appraisal contingencies and explores how they work together and how they stand alone. Finally, this course reviews the Closing of Buyer’s Property Contingency, the bump clause, and how to avoid common mistakes when using that contingency.

La Crosse Area



WI CE Course 3: Wisconsin New Developments and

Course 4: Ethics and Best Practices

March 2, 2020




When: Monday, March 2, 2020





Lunch Menu: Pork Medallion Mashed Potato, Vegetables, and Rolls


There are no refunds for cancellations after February 26, 2020.

$10 late fee if paid at the door.




Course 3 – Wisconsin New Developments:

Provides licensees mandatory instruction on the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services complaint and discipline process. This course analyzes new statues and administrative code provisions that affect your transactions and looks at the history that led to those changes. Finally, Course 3 reviews Wisconsin case law, including a case that affects when a firm earns commission.

NAME: FIRM NAME:







Course 4– Ethics and Best Practices:

Provides licensees mandatory instruction on misrepresen-tation and concealment. Course 4 explores how to negotiate professionally and build better relationships with fellow agents. You’ll explore your toolbox of options for working with other agents professionally to advance the interest of your clients. You’ll also learn what is new in the ever-evolving world of fair housing and how best practices can help you avoid a fair housing complaint.

Satisfies the National Association of REALTORS®

Code of Ethics requirements.

La Crosse Area



WI CE Course 5: Wisconsin Real Estate Law and Practices

and Course 6: Wisconsin Real Estate Transactions

April 15, 2020




When: Wednesday, April 15, 2020





Lunch Menu: Chicken Stir Fry and Rolls


There are no refunds for cancellations after April 9, 2020.

$10 late fee if paid at the door.




Course 5 – Wisconsin Real Estate Law and Practices:

Adds variety to continuing education curriculum by ex-ploring three distinct topics - how to avoid getting sued, waterfront properties, and unexpected disruptions to a business - in one course to keep discussions interest. First, you'll learn best practices to avoid complaints and litiga-tion. Next, you'll explore Wisconsin's 15,000 lakes, 12,600 rivers and streams, and 84,000 miles of terrain and learn how regulation of waterfront properties affects your transactions. Finally, Course 5 discusses business inter-ruptions caused by a flood, fire or a medical event. You'll learn how to protect your business from the unexpected and plan ahead for disruptions to your business.

NAME: FIRM NAME:







Course 6 – Wisconsin Real Estate Transactions:

Offers diverse topics to break away from regular continu-ing education content. Curious about tips and pointers for vacant land transactions? This course offers an hour-long discussion of the highlights of a vacant land transaction. Wondering about the most common mistakes with a con-dominium offer? Learn what not to do in a condominium transaction. Have questions about agency and multiple representation you have always wanted answered? Re-view multiple representation as well as the do’s and don'ts of representing multiple parties in a transaction.