The Grapevine Monthly newsletter of the

Montgomery Area Association of REALTORS®

President’s Message for October….

Incoming Presidents Forrest Meadows and Kim McElroy will soon be appointing

2018 MAAR and MLS Committees . If you are thinking about getting more

involved in the Association, volunteer for a committee. You really learn a lot about

how the Association works by being an active participant. I mentioned at the

MAAR Annual Business Meeting that our Association is only as good as its

members. Help our Association to become even stronger - volunteer!

2017 Taste of MAAR on October 12th. This year’s theme is Octoberfest, and the

Teams seem to step it up each year. More details are on page 3 in this issue of The

Grapevine.

We are looking forward to the MLS Annual Business Meeting on October 18th.

MLS President Forrest Meadows will give the annual report, new REALTOR®

members will be introduced and the 2018 MAAR/MLS Secretary Election Results

will be announced.

Carol Andrews, 2017 President

“There’s No Place Like Home”

Congratulations to Kathryn Mount

2017 Affiliate of the Year

Timely Tidbits

MAAR/MLS Election. 2018 Election for the MAAR/MLS Secretary position is now

open. Online Voting closes October 17, 2017 at 2:00pm.

Vote Today!

Election Results will be Announced at the Luncheon

October 18, 2017

Congratulations to new 2018 Directors

MAAR Board of Directors Terri Allison

Linda Gugliotta Bassett

Myra Pruit

Sherry Weeks

MLS Board of Directors Danyalle Friday

On the Move. Want to know who our new members are and which agents have

transferred? Check out On the Move.

Affiliate Spotlight. Each month, we will highlight various groups of our Affiliate

membership to help you remember which companies support you and the Association.

Using the services of our local affiliate members can make your transactions proceed in a

more timely and efficient manner.

Publishers

Montgomery Advertiser

Kathryn Mount

334-240-0174

Tri-County Homes

Madelaine Gilchrist

334-221-1149

Teams

Affiliate Council

ARC Realty

Aronov Realty

Bay Equity Home Loans

Caliber Home Loans

D.R.Horton

ERA Weeks & Browning

Fairway Independent Mortgage

Guild Mortgage

House & Home

INterlinc Mortgage

Jim Wilson & Associates-New Park

Keller Williams Realty

LanMac Realty

New Waters Realty

Realty Central

Realty Connection

The Orchards at Pike Road

Wallace & Moody Realty

Join us at The Waters, our new

location, for a fun and tasty night

out. Teams will prepare German

or Octoberfest-ish dishes, and of

course, we will have plenty of beer.

October 12, 2017

5:00 PM—7:00PM

Education Update MAAR AREC School Code 69647

The Montgomery Area Association of REALTORS® will host Graduate, REALTOR®

Institute courses this fall at the Association office (4280 Carmichael Road, Montgomery,

Alabama). For cost information or to register: http://www.alabamarealtors.com/education/

certifications--designations.

GRI classes at MAAR

Class dates:

10/10 – Working with Sellers with Instructor Anne Powell

10/17 – Technology with Instructor Cherie Moman

10/25 – Professionalism with Bob McMillian

If you have questions about the payment process, please call AAR and ask for Jennifer

Bhojwani (334-262-3808).

October 11 Survive and Thrive Workshops for new and not so new agents who need basic

information on using Matrix and Transaction Desk. The first session, Matrix Basics, is from

1:00 – 2:00. The second session, Transaction Desk, is from 2:00 – 3:00. Registration is

required, class size limited. These workshops will be held again on November 29th, click on

the register here button for times.

A Housing Choice Voucher Program Workshop will be held on October 19 from 2:00 to

4:00 at MAAR. This workshop is for REALTORS® and landlords who work, or who are

considering working, with the Montgomery Housing Authority Housing Choice Vouchers

(formerly known as Section 8). The Director of Assisted Housing Programs will give an

overview of Housing Choice Program, touching on Enhanced Housing Quality Standards,

Rent Comparability and Payment Standards as well as the Landlord Portal. This two hour

workshop is FREE. Registration is appreciated. No CE.

Representatives from the Alabama Department of Transportation will be at MAAR to give the

annual Coliseum Boulevard Plume annual update on December 14 at 10 am. This update is

especially useful to members who have joined MAAR since the last update (November

2016). The Coliseum Boulevard Plume (CBP) affects some or all of the properties in

Chisholm, Eastern Meadows, Vista View, and the Highland Gardens neighborhoods in north

Montgomery.

REGISTER FOR WORKSHOPS AT MAAR ON IMS

The Certified New Homes Sales Professional (CSP) designation

course will be offered by

the GMHBA Sales and Marketing Council on November 7 - 9

at the Home Builders building at 7515 Halcyon Summit Drive Suite 200 For registra-

tion information contact GMHBA at 334-277-7766.

Taste of the River Region is FINALLY Here! 2017 ARPAC Raffle

Tickets are only $10 each and the winner gets all of the restaurant gift cards listed below:

Each restaurant gift card is valued at $50-$160!

Buy your tickets from members of the Governmental Affairs Committee,

Public Relations Committee

and the MAAR/MLS Boards of Directors.

Drawing held during Taste of MAAR on October 12th.

Participating Restaurants:

Arrowhead Country Club Filet Night

Blackfinn Restaurant

City Grill

Firebirds Restaurant

Itta Bena

Ixtapa

Jubilee Seafood

LaJolla

Our Place

Pratt Pub and Oyster Bar

Sinclair’s

Vintage Year

MLS Statistics - Click this link for the August MLS Statistics.

Confirm Your Contact Information on IMS! It is extremely important that you update

your email address and contact information on IMS. This feeds your other membership

files. Logon to IMS today, click Personal Information and verify that your contact

information is correct. Brokers, please remind your agents to update their personal

information on IMS. To access IMS, go to https://ims.montgomeryareahomes.com (or

use the link on the main page of MLS)

Use our Appraisers! We have 65 appraiser-members. (Click here) to browse or search

the Appraisal Roster. If you’re working with an appraiser who is not shown on the list,

encourage them to join MLS. Any appraiser citing MLS as their source of information

MUST be a member of MLS. Please continue to check your appraisals. Only members

can use MLS data for appraisals. Important note: If you give MLS information to

appraisers NOT on this list, you are in violation of the MLS Copyright and subject to

fines.

REALTOR® Courtesy. Be sure your email has a signature line that includes your name

and contact information. Agents are receiving contracts and other documents without any

information that indicates who sent the email.

Thank you for responding to the

REALTOR® Call To Action

Just a quick follow up after yesterday’s City Council Meeting.

Thank you to all that responded to our Call to Action. In the work session prior to the Council

Meeting it was noted by a Councilor that he was sure the other Councilors “received at least one of

the 9.4 million emails and/or phone calls this issue generated.” He was exaggerating of course, but

it shows the power behind your Voice when you take action as a group.

The ordinance regarding the “Rental Registry” was pulled from the agenda and replaced with a

Resolution asking the City to enforce regulations already on the books. A Resolution is merely a

request to act in this case and is not binding. So the Resolution isn’t much of a concern. You as

REALTORS® also are protected by a State Law that says you only have to have a business license

in the City in which you are located. We think this one is behind us because our members already

have the appropriate licenses.

As far as the “Vacant Structures Registry” goes that ordinance was sent to Committee to be re-

worked. We will attend those committee meetings and deal with the ordinance there. As always

you will be kept up to date on changes.

Thank you again for using the Power of the REALTOR® Voice! It was obvious in the meetings

that you made the difference and the Council was listening to your concerns. Thanks to those that

were in attendance. I won’t name names because I will miss someone but your presence was the

face of the emails and calls.

Thanks again and be on the lookout for updates on this issue as we move forward. ~ Brad

CODE OF ETHICS REMINDER. As a way to help our members stay mindful of

their responsibilities under the Code of Ethics, we include portions of the Code each

month.

Article 13 REALTORS® shall not engage in activities that constitute the unauthorized

practice of law and shall recommend that legal counsel be obtained when the interest of

any party to the transaction requires it.

Brokers...We need your help to process new members efficiently. When you have a

new licensee, PLEASE contact Sherrilyn Weaver at 396-0256 or

sweaver@montgomeryareahomes.com as the FIRST step in the membership process.

She will then email the new agent to make arrangements for completing the membership

application process.

The next New Member Orientation is scheduled for November 8-9, 2017. New

Member Orientation is open to new members only. Please contact Lynn or Sherrilyn for

additional information. Register for each day separately through

ims.montgomeryareahomes.com. Held at MAAR. Orientation includes a Code of Ethics

and a Contracts class. You will receive 3 hours CE credit per class.

New Members are required to attend Orientation within two Orientation cycles of

paying their application fee. This applies to both recently licensed agents and/or new

Qualifying Brokers/Designated REALTORS® who did not attend Orientation as a

newly licensed agent or at another Association.

New agents and appraisers must notify MAAR as soon as they place their license

with a member firm. This includes agents with temporary licenses or appraisers with

trainee licenses. If your new salesperson or appraiser hasn’t turned in their

membership application and paid their application and membership fees, they are not

eligible to attend Orientation.

Agents, please notify the Association when you transfer companies. Any active listings

will stay with your former Qualifying Broker unless the MAAR Transfer Form (Found

on Instanet) releasing the listings is signed by both your new and former broker. Your

$25 MAAR/MLS transfer fee must be paid to MAAR before the transfer will be

processed. Please complete the MAAR Transfer Form and fax it to Sherrilyn at 396-

5516. (Please note the MAAR Transfer form and fee are separate from the AREC.)

Brokers, be sure to notify the Association in writing when an agent leaves your

company.

Have Too Many Keyboxes? The Association is buying used keyboxes for $50 each.

Just email Sherrilyn Weaver (sweaver@montgomeryareahomes.com) and she will

contact you with a time to bring the boxes to the Association.

The new Matrix 7.0 is here...

Updated Client Portal

You’ll be excited to learn that the Client Portal in Matrix™ has a stunning new look and feel

with improved navigation and message alerts. The re-designed portal displays beautifully on

various devices, which gives your clients the freedom to access the site on a computer, tablet or

smart phone.

The Client Portal provides you with private websites that let you personally brand the

information delivered to each individual client. The portal serves as a powerful communication

tool by allowing clients to

categorize listings according

to their level of interest, as

well as logging conversation

notes between you and your

clients. Your clients can

further customize their portal

experience by creating and

saving searches of their own.

New Agent Headers& Footers

A n e w l i b r a r y o f

professionally designed

header graphics is available in

My Matrix. Go to the Header

& Footer tab to view the new

headers and choose one that suits your brand and personality. You can also upload your own.

Notifications of Portal Activity

You can now be notified via email or text when a contact is active on their portal adding listing

notes, saving favorites, etc.

Google Maps™

The street maps and aerial views now use Google Maps™ mapping service and are more up-to-

date for most locations.

“Forgot My Password” Option

There will now be a “Forgot My Password” link on the login page that allows the user to initiate

a process to rest their password without having to call the MLS.

You will need to set up your portal - Click Here for a Quick Start Guide.

Multiple Listing Service, Inc.

Annual Business Meeting Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Wynlakes Country Club

Program: MLS Annual Report

Election Results

Finance Report

Registration 11:15 Program 12:00-1:00

$10.00 per person by October 13th

$15.00 per person after October 13th.

Register through IMS

https://ims.montgomeryareahomes.com

MAAR staff cannot make your reservations.

The deadline to cancel reservations is

Noon on Friday, October 13, 2017

No Walk-ins.

Directions to Wynlakes Country Club

Take Vaughn Road to the main entrance of Wynlakes. Turn left at the second stop sign

(Country Club entrance - 7900 Wynlakes Boulevard.) Bear left in the parking lot.

Affiliate Spotlight Companies…

Cynthia Davis - American Home Shield

Jennifer Johnston - Bay Equity Home Loans

Katie Williamson - Palomar Insurance

October Calendar of Events

4 2018 MAAR/MLS Secretary Election Opens

5 Public Relations Committee 2:00 6 Deadline for Affiliate Council Declarations 10 GRI-Working with Sellers 11 Survive and Thrive Matrix 1-2 Survive and Thrive Transaction Desk 2-3 12 Taste of MAAR @ The Waters 5 – 7 17 GRI – Technology Online Voting Closes at 2PM 18 MLS Annual Membership Luncheon 11:15am 19 Affiliate Council 8:30 Housing Authority Workshop 2-4 24 Finance/EC 1:00pm 25 GRI – Professionalism 26 MLS Board of Directors 8:45AM MAAR Board of Directors 9:30AM

On the Move

September 1, 2017 – October 2, 2017

New Members Valerie Bohn – ERA Weeks & Browning Realty Dana Brewton – LanMac Realty Keldric Davis – Weichert Realtors 1st Choice Billy Ervin – Keller Williams Realty Angela G. Flowers – Bo Evans Realty Rich Gaines – ARC Realty – Elmore County Leonard Gomez – Cardinal Realty Group Corina Hamby – Elite Realty, LLC. Mark Molander – ARC Realty – Elmore County Kadra Parkman – Wallace & Moody Realty Michael Stroup – Harris And Atkins Realty Marlo Wilks – First Call Realty Hayesook Yang – Scott Koo Realty Welcome Back Previous Members Larry Alford – RE/MAX Properties II Jalidia Davis – Alabama HomeFinders, Inc. Sherri Gleaves – ARC Realty Nyoka Thomas – Keller Williams Realty New/Returning/Firms/Brokers – Appraisers/Affiliates Allstate @ Long-Lewis – Skip Nichols Trustmark – Matthew Stringfellow Former/Retiring Broker(s)/Appraisal Office(s)/No Longer with the MLS/Association None Former/Retiring Agent(s)/No Longer with the MLS/Association Patricia Evans – Keller Williams Realty Transfer From To Marie Maness The Goodson Group Century 21 Brandt Wright Josette Marshall D.R. Horton Homes Keller Williams Realty Jenny Motyka EXIT Hodges Real Estate Elite Realty, LLC. Jana Paulk Alabama HomeFinders, Inc. First Realty of Greenville Ashley Walters RE/MAX Tri-Star Camelot Properties LLC. Reginald Williams ARC Realty Kelly Realty, LLC.

MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICEFACTS AND FIGURES COMPARISONSAUGUST 31, 2017

PARTICIPATION: DR Brokers Appraiser* REALTORS® Sales Agents TOTALS

31-Aug-17 201 69 832 34 1136

31-Aug-16 240 759 40 1039

GAIN/LOSS -39 69 73 -6 97*Appraiser Members Listed Separate at Board Request

Month Sales, Number ofSale Price, MedianJan-17 338 $115,000 Feb-17 403 $122,000 Mar-17 509 $135,100 Apr-17 490 $131,648 May-17 552 $139,100 Jun-17 601 $146,000 Jul-17 597 $141,900 Aug-17 583 $132,975 Sep-17 487 $139,000 Oct-17 441 $131,000 Nov-17 402 $131,450 Dec-17 446 $140,000 Jan-17 419 $140,775 Feb-17 414 $122,500 Mar-17 519 $129,900 Apr-17 519 $145,900 May-17 639 $140,000 Jun-17 594 $150,220 Jul-17 578 $147,250Aug-17 535 $150,000

Updated 8/28/17

Appraisal + MLS Data = Members Only! Please continue to check your appraisals. Only members can use MLS data for appraisals. A list of appraiser members is included below. These are the MLS professionals who care enough to join in order to properly support you; use them! Important note: If you give MLS information to appraisers NOT on this list, you are in violation of the MLS Copyright and subject to fines. Brooks Autrey Mark Barrs Phil Bernstein Mickey Best Ira Betts Kevin Brightwell Tim Britt John Boone David Bowen Gene Brown Farrow Burks Rick Church Robert Enslen Janice Fendley Josh Finlay William Finlay William Finlay, II Neal Freeman Kathleen Gaylor Ben Glass William Goodson Ronald Brent Gordy

Terry Gray Ken Green John Hall, Jr. Tony Hallman Judith Haney William Hardy Larry Harvill Michael Hassell Howard Haynie, Jr. Ronald Hill, Jr. Douglas Hixon Beverly Holliday- Prescott Tommy Horton Don Ingram Judy Jones Bert Jordan Rick Lawrence Kreg LeMaster Mike Lowery Hobart Mardis Ami McKinney

Randy Messick Ben Moore Oralia Montgomery Shawn Murphy Penny Nichols Charles Nicrosi Michael Noble Warren Peacock Randall Petty Lisa Pratt Wayne Randolph Jim Rogers Kellie Ross Nathan Stephen Trey Stinson Jimmy Sutherland Joseph Lee Thomas Sherry Weeks Bryan Wilkinson Curtis Williams Dan Williamson Steven Wingard

CAVEAT: Appraisers are categorized as REALTORS® in the Association database. If you are a member appraiser and are not shown on the list, PLEASE contact us so we can update this list for our members. If we missed your name, we apologize!

Get Involved – Volunteer for a Committee! A brief description of each committee is shown below. If you want to affect the future direction of our Association, please return the volunteer form indicating which committee(s) you are interested in joining. Committee members are appointed by the incoming MAAR/MLS Presidents.

MAAR COMMITTEES EDUCATION Organizes, promotes and conducts educational programs, seminars, CE courses for Association members. Liaison to communities regarding educational matters. FINANCE & INSURANCE Oversees the financial and insurance affairs of the Association. Annually assists staff in the preparation of the Association budget. GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS Stays abreast of federal, state and local legislation affecting real estate. Organizes appropriate Association action to ensure the enactment of sound legislation. Screens candidates. Maintains a Legislative Contact Team. Promotes contributions to ARPAC. You must have contributed to ARPAC in 2016 to serve on this committee. GRIEVANCE Concerns itself with the investigation of complaints from the public or members regarding alleged violation of the Code of Ethics. Reviews request for arbitration from the public or members. You must have been a REALTOR® a minimum of five years to serve on this committee. PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS Responsible for careful and fair enforcement of the Code of Ethics through the hearing of cases involving unethical conduct complaints against members. Facilitates Arbitration Hearings. You must have served on the Grievance Committee two years to be eligible to serve on this committee. PUBLIC RELATIONS Develops Public Relations concepts; coordinates media coverage. Develops promotional material for the Association. Promotes the REALTOR® logo and image. Plans social activities for members and conducts the annual "Adopt An Angel" Christmas project.

MLS COMMITTEES FORMS Develop MLS forms and recommend form changes to the MLS Board of Directors. RULES & POLICIES Develop, recommend and enforce rules and policies approved by MLS Board of Directors. TECHNOLOGY Oversee computer system and software modifications.

Volunteer Form for 2018 Committees

I would like to serve on any of the following MAAR and MLS committees: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Print Name:

Firm Name:

Email:

Please complete this form and email it to Connie at the Association office before October 20, 2017. Individuals appointed to committees will be notified via email by December 9th. Email to caddie@montgomeryareahomes.com Please note that committees are appointed by the MAAR and MLS Presidents. Assignments are made that provide a balance of representation from various companies. Volunteering does not guarantee placement on committees.