2010 License Law Changes

On July 1, 2010, the new real estate license law (RCW 18.85) goes into effect, and your real estate licensing requirements will change. It is very important for you to understand what the new law means to you.

As of July 1, 2010:

* A salesperson license will continue to be in effect, but will be considered a broker license.
* An associate broker, branch manager, or designated broker license will continue to be in effect, but will be considered a managing broker license.
* All current licensees will be required to take a 3 clock-hour Transition Course (now available!) prior to their first renewal after July 1, 2010. After this renewal, licensees will be issued new licenses (i.e., a salesperson will be issued a broker's license, and a broker will be issued a managing broker's license).
* You will have to undergo fingerprint and background checks every six years.
* You will have to meet the following new requirements to get a license:
o For a broker's license, you must:
+ be at least 18 years old;
+ have a high school diploma or equivalent;
+ complete 90 hours of education (a 60 clock-hour Real Estate Fundamentals course and a 30 clock-hour Real Estate Practices course) within the two years prior to taking the licensing examination. (Now available!)
+ pass the real estate broker licensing examination; and
+ complete a fingerprint background check through the Washington State Patrol and the FBI.
o For a managing broker's license, you must:
+ be at least 18 years old;
+ have a high school diploma or the equivalent;
+ have three years' full-time experience as a real estate broker;
+ complete 90 hours of education (including a 30 clock-hour Real Estate Broker Management, a 30 clock-hour Business Management, and a 30 clock-hour Advanced Real Estate Law) within the three years prior to taking the managing broker examination; and
+ pass the managing broker licensing examination.
* If you were first licensed on or after July 1, 2010, you will have to complete the following for your first renewal:
o 30 clock-hour course in Advanced Real Estate Practices,
o 30 clock-hour course in Real Estate Law, and
o 30 clock-hour elective course, including 3 hours of Core.

Note: those licensed on or after July 1, 2010, do not need to take the Transition course for their first renewal.

Here are some other important changes that will take effect on July 1, 2010:

* New licensees will be subject to heightened supervision by their managers for two years.
* Only managing brokers can have supervisory authority. (Thus, team leaders must be managing brokers.) All delegations of authority must be in writing and signed by the designated broker and managing broker.
* A real estate firm will be separately licensed.
o The firm's designated broker (who is responsible for all of the firm's actions) must have a controlling interest in the firm.
o All advertising must include the firm name or assumed (DBA) name as licensed.
o Listings (and other brokerage services contracts) are the property of the firm, not the individual licensee who signs the documents.
o Firms may use more than one assumed name approved by the department when conducting their real estate activities.
* A managing broker may be the designated broker for more than one firm at a time.
* The definition of "business opportunity" is clarified so that a real estate license is only required if the business opportunity includes an interest in real property.

Ninja Selling

I recently returned from Hawaii after attending the Ninja Selling seminar in Honolulu Hawaii. I am excited to assist sellers/buyers with the new techniques learned. Many thanks to the members of the Group Realty.

Six Keys to Ninja Success
The foundation of Ninja Selling is to develop your talents in six key areas.

1. Energy, focus and thought.
   Understanding physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy. Learning how to focus this energy. Learning how the brain works, how to focus our thoughts, and how we become what we think about.
2. Mastery.
   Making the commitment to seek mastery in your life. Learning how to consistently produce results that are so beyond the ordinary that many call them miracles. Learning how ordinary people can achieve extraordinary results.
3. Socratic Selling.
   Learning how to stop selling and start asking the right questions – and then listening. Ninja Selling is less about selling and more about helping people buy. Ninja Selling is about learning to be a master communicator.
4. Controlling the process.
   Learning to control the sales process and having your customer control the decisions.
5. Customer focus.
   Ninja Selling is customer centric. It is based on deep market research into what customers want, how they think, and how they make decisions. Ninjas learn how to become perceived as “Trusted Advisors” by their customers.
6. Focus on what works.
   Ninjas learn to focus on doing the “Vital Few” that make the difference. They are able to have high incomes per hour because there is little wasted effort. They learn the rituals, routines, and habits of success.

Move In Ready

FREE RECORDED INFORMATION 24/7 AT 1-800 348-7497 (EXT 1075)

4 bedrooms upstairs with laundry
Downstairs Den, Formal Living & Formal Dining
Kitchen w/ eating area & Family room
Wood laminate flooring from entry to bath, hall and entire kitchen
Theatre lighting up stairwell
Bay windows in formal living and master bedroom
Master bench w/ storage in the bay
6 panel white doors with upgrade on nickel handle
Rocker style lighting switches throughout house
Fully fenced, 3 car garage, backs greenbelt

FREE RECORDED INFORMATION 24/7 AT 1-800 348-7497 (EXT 1075)

Ever wonder what OPEC really is...

What is OPEC?

OPEC is an acronym for Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. OPEC was formed in 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq with five founding member countries. Currently OPEC is a cartel composed of 11 oil producing countries. Current member countries include: Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. OPEC's stated purpose is said to serve three main functions: 1) Help stabilize world oil prices 2) Ensure oil producers achieve a reasonable rate of return on production 3) Ensure a stable supply of crude oil for consumer use. OPEC has a current goal of $27 US per barrel of oil.
How much crude oil do the OPEC countries produce?
Collectively these countries hold approximately 77% of known world crude oil reserves. In terms of daily crude oil production OPEC countries currently produce about 41% (24.2 million barrels per day) of the world's crude oil. The oil exported by the OPEC countries accounts for 55% of all oil traded internationally. OPEC countries also represent about 15% of total world natural gas production.
How does OPEC set oil prices?
OPEC does not "set" oil prices. OPEC manipulates the free market price of crude oil by setting caps on the oil production of its member countries. Twice each year, ministers from each OPEC country meet in Vienna, Austria to review the status of the international oil market and to forecast the future oil demands in order to agree upon an appropriate crude oil production level.

From http://www.gasbuddy.com/

Fellow agent attacked

A few nights ago one of the agents in my office was victimized by a purse thief. During the attack the agent broke one finger in three places while fighting off the attacker. I spoke to the victim over the phone yesterday. She is doing well. Her son was frightened by the attack. He thought the attacker was trying to take his mother from him.
The pictures were taken from Fox Q13 News.

mt rainier from vashon island

mt rainier from vashon island
Originally uploaded by youragentmatters

I took this picture of Mt Rainier yesterday from Vashon Island. It was a record breaking 79 degrees in the Seattle area.

Pending home sales index off 1.9% in February: NAR

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- In a sign that the U.S. housing market may weaken further, an index of sales contracts on previously owned homes fell 1.9% in February from the prior month, the National Association of Realtors reported Tuesday.
The index, considered a leading indicator of existing home sales, was down 21.4% from the February 2007 level.

Link to the story by By Ruth Mantell, MarketWatch


http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/index-pending-us-home-sales/story.aspx?guid=%7B0FC1AA34-8C53-4BC5-AAB4-E845EFF8084C%7D&dist=msr_1

West Seattle Trick or Treat

Bellevue Lochmoor

Big Announcement from DinoRossi on Thursday

Big Announcement from DinoRossi on Thursday
3 Simple Steps To Help Us Get Dino To “Yes!”
Sign Our “Run Dino Run!” Petition TODAY (link)
You have probably read in the paper or heard on the radio that Dino Rossi will make a major announcement on Thursday. Here at the WSRP we are hopeful, but not taking anything for granted – right up until the last second we’ll be doing everything we can to make sure Dino says “Yes!” to running for governor again.
That’s why we’re making this one last final push to gather signatures for our “Run Dino Run!” online petition. Please click here (link) TODAY to urge Dino Rossi to run. We will deliver all signed petitions before his major announcement.
Our petition drive follows close on the heels of our wildly successful “Run Dino Run!” Fall Dinner. The good news is, even if you weren’t able to join us at the Fall Dinner, you can still help us persuade Dino Rossi to run for governor, but there’s only two days left to do so!
Here’s three simple steps you can take to help us get Dino to say “Yes!”:
Step 1: Sign the online petition TODAY urging Dino to run (link).
Step 2: Make a secure, online contribution to the state party if you can (link).
Step 3: Send this email to your friends and family.
Gov. Gregoire and the Democrats will not voluntarily release their one-party stranglehold on state government. Your contribution of $100, $50 or $25 today will help us to implement the programs necessary to elect a strong Republican governor like Dino Rossi.
We can’t do it without your help. You can help us put an end to the out-of-control spending, tax increases and serial mismanagement that have been the hallmark of the Gregoire Administration. With your support, we can re-defeat Christine Gregoire in 2008! But time is running short…
Dino Rossi is our strongest potential candidate, and we need your help TODAY to make sure he says “Yes” on Thursday and runs for governor.
Please sign the online petition urging Dino to run (link), and make a small contribution to the state party if you are able. Then please forward this e-mail to your friends and family to help us spread the word.
Let’s do everything we can to convince our friend to “Run Dino Run!”
With your help, I’m optimistic that Thursday will be a day of great rejoicing, but let’s not take anything for granted. Please sign our petition TODAY. Thank you.

Chairman Luke EsserWashington State Republican Party
P.S. Dino’s big announcement is on Thursday and we have no time to lose! Please sign the online “Run Dino Run!” petition TODAY (link) and make a small contribution to our efforts to re-defeat Christine Gregoire if you are able. Working together, we can put an end to the stranglehold of one-party government perpetrated by Gov. Gregoire and the Democrats.

Paid for by the Washington State Republican Party. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. http://click.emailgop.com/?ju=fe661574706c047d7117&ls=fe521c7777600c7c7d13&m=fefa1677776d05&l=ff2f11747563&s=fe5b15767162027e7310&jb=ffcf14&t=