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November 2008
Index of all
messages
from the Association President
Dues dollars ensure protection, support at every level
By Barb Cline, AAR President
Since becoming president of the Aurora Association of REALTORS®, I have been asked by many members why I chose to serve. The answer is simply that I am committed to each of you, the members of AAR, and to our profession.
Some of you have asked, “Why do we even have an Association?” One reason is to ensure that our profession is not legislated out of existence. Another is to give us a place to find the most current and relevant education possible so that we may more effectively serve our clients.
Your dues – divvied up
We recently received our dues billing, mailed in mid-September from AAR.
Of my total dues bill, I paid $115 to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). What am I getting for that $115?
Well, due in part to NAR’s lobbying efforts, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac withdrew their declining markets policies, meaning my buyers don’t have to pay an extra five percent down payment. NAR also worked hard to help shape the homeownership tax credit put in place by the federal government earlier this year; it’s a hard-won tool at your disposal to encourage your customers to jump off the fence and get into the home buying market. Also thanks to NAR lobbying efforts, high-cost area FHA, Fannie and Freddie loan limits were made permanent. The National Association continues to work to reform seller-funded assistance programs instead of totally eliminating them and confronts negative media reports head-on through its national public relations campaign.
Of my dues bill, $140 went to the Colorado Association of REALTORS® (CAR). What am I getting
for that $140?
The state Association recently prevented a ballot measure that would have allowed a transfer tax on real estate. CAR worked closely with the Department of Regulatory Agencies to preserve the function of the Division of Real Estate and the Real Estate Commission. Why should I care? Both my clients and I are protected when the state establishes the minimum knowledge necessary for a licensee to conduct a real estate transaction; when I am assured of the competence of my peers through continuing education; and when I know there is a strong investigatory arm ready to quickly and efficiently investigate complaints and a disciplinary process that enforces existing laws and regulations in a timely manner consistent with due process.
CAR also helped ensure that an affordable E&O insurance plan is available to all licensees and made certain that you and I weren’t faced with a license fee increase at this time.
The remainder of my dues bill was allocated to AAR. What have they done for me?
The staff and my fellow members work with local governments to maintain healthy communities and protect our quality of life. Each and every voice and vote is important, but when voices band together on an issue at the local level they tend to be heard more clearly. My local Association provides leadership and participation at the state and national level to protect and help me.
AAR gives me great opportunities for quality education. Certainly, our valued affiliates and many of our companies offer classes. However, without our Association’s setting the benchmark, would we have the same quality and quantity of educational offerings? AAR offers an immense number of classes with the most up-t- date information at very competitive prices (often free) so we can serve our clients effectively. Many of the classes have continuing education credit. And it’s all easy to find on AAR’s website, www.AuroraRealtors.org.
Dues make the difference
There are about 36,000 active real estate licensees in Colorado. CAR’s membership at the end of August was about 27,000. That means that you and I provide support for those who do not choose to become REALTORS® - about 25 percent of the total number of licensees. Do I like that? No. Will I drop my membership in protest? No way!
Our profession is too important to me. I trust it is to you as well or you wouldn’t be reading this. Together we can make the difference!
You can reach Barb Cline with questions/comments at (303) 523-2722 |
