A broker’s office policy saved him this week from potential harm. An out-of-state "buyer," who was unknown to the agent, was offended when an agent would not pick him up.
The CMR and MLS office will be closed Monday, September 3, 2018, in observance of Labor Day. The office will resume regular business hours Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at 9 AM.
Friday, August 31, 2018, CMR Members should watch their email for instructions on how to log in and cast their votes for the 2019 Board of Directors.
Buyer’s agent? Yes, if the buyer wants his agent to have it. Listing agent? No. The listing agent should only be given a list of repairs, if any, as a result of the buyer’s home inspection.
The Statute of Frauds requires that all real estate agreements be in writing and signed by the parties to be enforceable. Text messages between agents are merely conversation.
Three Standards of Practice have been added to the Ethics Citation Policy as citable (fineable) violations. Respondents in an ethics complaint can choose to admit guilt and pay a fine thus waiving rights to a hearing. The expedited process is working!
Two additional names have been added to the slate of officers and directors for the September 10 election by the petition process outlined in the bylaws. REALTORS® Selena Lovejoy and Linda Mote have been added to the list as options for the two Directors positions.
Taking a little time in advance to learn about a neighborhood in which you plan to hold an open house may result in turning a looker into a buyer.
Several schools and instructors teach the required Code of Ethics class. If you still need the class before 12/31 of this year and plan to take it by classroom, note the instructor’s credentials for teaching REATOR® Code of Ethics.
The CMR website has a new search feature that can help you find items faster than ever before. We have created an infographic showing how to use the search quickly.
Since CMR put its Ethics Citation Policy in Place in 2017, the bar has been raised on several fronts. The word has spread. One example is that few members are choosing to enter a listed property without following showing instructions since violating Article 3, SOP 3-9 is part of the citation policy carrying a $250 fine.
When your seller rejects an offer or offers, do you comply with license law and document that rejection?
There are many rules governing the use of "Coming Soon" in your advertising efforts. To help reduce confusion, we are created an infographic that we hope will simplify the matter.
It depends.
From an MLS perspective, owner/agent must be noted in REALTOR® remarks and cannot be noted in public remarks. The prohibition in public remarks is due to IDX agreements. If a consumer is finding your listing on another broker's website and sees "owner agent" in public remarks, the consumer is likely to leave the source website and go to the listing agent thinking they will get a "better deal."
Answer: ONLY, when ONE of TWO things occur
If you use MAR’s forms, especially the Purchase Agreement (F1), take advantage of the new video series where MAR’s Attorney, Ron Farris coaches you through the clauses and blanks on the form. Encourage your broker to schedule watching the videos in sales meetings. What an excellent learning tool!
The 2019 Code of Ethics will include an expansion of Standard of Practice 1-7 that will provide cooperating brokers confidence that their offer was presented to the seller. The new obligation...
If you know your party's extension, you can dial it at any time. The following staff members handle most of our day-to-day calls.
Genny Allison at extension 17 handles all day-to-day MLS entry or rules questions. Lindsey Brown at extension 21 can help you with education classes including new member orientation. Giselle Stromgren at extension 15 will be able to assist you with all billing matters. For a full list of staff and extensions, please visit the CMR Staff page.
If you use MAR’s purchase agreements, it is most likely in your clients’ and firm’s best interest that you use the most recent revision of them unless your Broker requires you to use an older version for specific reasons that they can verbalize. MAR frequently revises the forms for good reasons determined by a Committee of practicing Brokers across the state in consultation with MAR’s legal counsel. The most recent revisions of the Residential Purchase Agreement (F1) and Lots Purchase Agreement (F2) is 06/2018. Review the changes and consult your Broker if you are using an older version.
Eight criminals have been caught after they used email to scam real estate agents and buyers to commit wire fraud to steal approximately $15 million. Read the article about how a real estate company assisted the FBI in nabbing the criminals. As suggested in a separate article, you may wish to consider inserting the wire fraud email template into your email signature to help protect your clients.
If so, you must have shown some interest in or talent for local politics. On October 25, we’d like to provide some help to determine whether running for office is right for you. Central Mississippi REALTORS® and Mississippi REALTORS® intend to co-sponsor a one-day Candidate Training Academy for REALTORS® and friends of REALTORS® who have a sincere interest in the subject of running for public office.
There has been a lot of anxiety and frustration exhibited over the measures you all are having to take to comply with the new advertising rules that took effect July 1. Because you have had to go to a lot of lengths to become compliant, your tendency might be to scrutinize every sign, ad, and communication you come across to see if it is in compliance.
Each of you knows CMR as an Association likes to be first in everything and exceed any goal handed to us. Because of your effort, Mississippi was the FIRST state to exceed the 20% goal set by NAR for responses to the Call for Action on flood insurance.
With the July 1 deadline approaching to comply with the new MREC advertising rules requiring firm name and firm phone number in all forms of advertising, also remember that firm name display in advertising is an obligation of the Code of Ethics - Article 12, Standards of Practice 12-5 and 12-9.
Contacting a withdrawn seller is soliciting a listing that is still listed which is a potential violation of Article 16 of the Code of Ethics.
In our MLS, the listing agreement with the seller is still intact when a property is in withdrawn status. Withdrawn is a temporary status used when a seller doesn’t want the property shown while something temporary is going on (renovations, family illness, Christmas holidays, etc.).