Dedicated REALTORS attend training

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On January 30, members of the Shasta Association of Realtors attended training covering Ethics and Standards. Instructor Dave Tanner outlined recent updates to the Code of Ethics. The Code is updated regularly, and it’s important for professionals to keep abreast of the rules.
Pro standards trainingThese agents are giving freely of their time in order to raise the standard of professionalism among our membership. The Grievance Committee and the Pro Standards Committee provide enforcement of our Ethics and MLS Rules, and provide the public with a platform of recourse to have their real estate related issues heard. Without the volunteer work of these many professional REALTORS, both the public and the membership would suffer. Our thanks to all who attended. Skip MurphyPro Standards training

James Theimer and Redding School of the Arts

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James TheimerOn January 18th 2012 the Association was very fortunate to hear a talk by noted local Architect James Theimer of the Trilogy Architecture firm. He spoke about the recently completed Redding School of the Arts.
Redding School of the ArtsCross sectionPlans
This incredible school facility was designed from start to finish with green practices in the forefront. But even more importantly, it was designed to be an innovative teaching facility unlike anything before it. Taking full consideration of the setting, and the climate, this school is meant to keep the outdoors in. James is an enlightening and enthusiastic visionary designer on so many levels. His talk had the members full attention. If your were unable to attend this truly engaging talk, we have made arrangements for you to listen and follow along with the presentation.

An Outdoor School

A technical glitch cuts off the introductory remarks, but we think you’ll find the rest of the information as interesting and eye-opening as it was to the members in attendance. Readers interested in more about the design of this amazing teaching facility can find more at the Trilogy webpage devoted to the Redding School of the Arts. Such an impressive tribute to the values we place on education in our community. Thanks, James, and thank you to the McConnell Foundation for this gift to Redding. Definitely one of the best presentations we’ve seen here. Skip Murphy
James and the theater

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Nadine Bailey speaks to the membership

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Nadine BaileyOur guest speaker for January 4th 2012 General Membership meeting was Nadine Bailey, Field Representative for California State Assemblyman Dan Logue. Nadine brings insight about governmental and political matters currently taking place in Sacramento coupled with her long experience and deep understanding of the issues that matter to the Northstate. Nadine is a most engaging and dynamic speaker, and her talk that day was a good example. She is always well recived by the membership for her frank opinions and common sense perspective on the sometimes frustrating state political scene. The talk runs just about a half hour, and if you were unable to attend, the Association has made arrangements to have it available to you as a webcast. Click on the link at the bottom of the post to listen. Thanks Nadine, for your hard work advocating Northstate interests in state government. Skip Murphy
Nadine Bailey 2

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39th Annual Christmas Party for kids at the Elks Club

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The 39th annual Christmas Party for local kids with special needs put on by the Shasta Association of REALTORS at the Redding California Elks Club, with help and support from many members and businesses in our community. Our thanks go out to all the volunteers, helpers, and to the kids. All of you have filled our hearts with the spirit of the season once again. Skip Murphy

Shasta REALTORS Christmas party for kids 2011 from Skip Murphy on Vimeo.

Attorneys Jody Burgess and Clint Boren from Maire and Burgess

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Jody Burgess

Jody Burgess

Attorneys Jody Burgess and Clint Boren from Maire and Burgess spoke to the assembled General MLS membership on November 2, 2011. The talk covered a wide range of topics including Fiduciary Duties, Risk Management, and recent case law that will impact the practice of real estate in our region. These attorneys are always very interesting for our members to hear, and accordingly the meeting room was packed to standing room only. In case you were unable to attend, the Association has arranged to have the webcast of the talk available to you online at the player below. Additionally, we have been very generously supplied with the presentation slides that were shown as well, so you can listen and follow along. RealEstateDevelopments2011LocalBoard Also from Jody, “I have attached the Real Property Journal article that was recently published. It starts on Page 25, and it builds on the fiduciary duty issue I addressed at the meeting.”RPJ issue 3 2011 Final Our thanks go to Jody and Clint, and to the Shasta Association of Realtors for this educational event. Skip Murphy

Attorney Clinton Boren

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Improve your client’s credit score

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Kevin Kust of Continental Credit

Have you ever had a client who needed to improve their credit score in order to qualify for a home loan? Certainly, it’s become even more common in our current economy. On Wednesday October 19 the membership was treated to a talk about improving FICO scores from a proven professional, Kevin Kust of Continental Credit. Kevin can help your credit challenged buyer to improve their score using expertise accumulated over hundreds of people. Interestingly, he emphasized that his company doesn’t really do anything that the client couldn’t do on their own. But after listening to his well-tested

There was a slide show of illustrations

strategies, I think few ordinary consumers are going to be able to make all the right choices as to what direction and tactic. Indeed, many of the seemingly obvious things you might try, like paying off debts, can have the opposite effect on the score. It’s a complicated business, but one which can make a big difference in the buyer’s ability to purchase a home.

The meeting was very well attended and stimulated a lot of discussion. If you were not able to be there, the association has arranged for you to be able to have this information as a webcast at the bottom of this post. Additionally, there is more information about Continental Credit at their website , and you can get there by clicking on the image below. Be sure to listen to the webcast, and keep this crucial information handy for review later on when needed. You buyers will thank you! Thanks to the association for another excellent program. Skip Murphy

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Nursing students caught in Catch 22 bind

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The Association receives many deserving requests for charitable aid. We live in tough economic times, and that’s certainly true for our members as well. Your Directors must decide which requests are worth a collective response using our member funds. The Directors are very aware of the great responsibility that is required. Which of the requests would be supported by a majority of the members? Sometimes choosing can be agonizing. This request below hit home for a number of the Directors. Although we chose not give from the collective Association funds under our responsibility, a number of Directors gave from their own funds, and so we present the request here knowing that many of our members may feel the same way. Hard work should not be punished by a rule change after the fact.

From: “Douglas McConnell”
Date: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 4:04 PM To:
Subject: Student Nurses Fred,

Thank you for your interest and possible support. Currently I have paid for their expenses for September and October (budgeted). This was necessary just to keep them going as they had consumed their savings waiting for the July government check that never came. By September 1 they really were out of cash and had no money for gas or car repair. Getting to class was nearly impossible. They cannot really get a job as they are in their preceptor semester often working 12 hour days at various hospitals. Their schedule is erratic and they are really in school full time – thus the cash crisis. The Feds nationalized the entire student loan program for the US inside the Obamacare health legislation. The rules were changed as of July 1 and here we are. These students were deemed to have attained “too many” units and thus were ineligible for Federal loans or grants. Might we be punishing success and hard work? All this occurred just four months shy of graduation at the end of at least four years of courses.
Here is the KRCR clip. http://www.krcrtv.com/video/29238143/index.html

Link to Video

Link to video


Again thanks in advance for your help. I have put out about $4400 and I estimate another $5000 to $6000 will be needed to get to graduation. I have not set up a true 501 c-3 yet as they needed living and transportation funds immediately when this started.
I am convinced that Redding can help these talented young ladies achieve their DREAM. (Play on terminology)
Doug
Douglas H. McConnell, M.D., FACS Director of Cardiac Surgery Shasta Regional Medical Center Redding, CA 530.242.6422 douggtesurgeons.com

9/29/2011

What Realtors need to know about Lead Paint

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Mike and Debbie

Mike and Debbie talk about what Realtors need to know about lead based paint

On September 7, the Shasta MLS hosted a talk by Mike Brody of Choice Property Services, a certified lead paint inspector, along with his wife Debbie.
Mike Brody

Mike holds aloft a lead paint inspection device

They spoke about the changes to the requirements for treating lead based paint in homes and how that affects realtors. Relatively recent changes to legislation make it a requirement that any remodeling or repair to homes that may have lead paint be treated very carefully. Mike talked about the questionable reliability of hardware store self-test kits, and how he was trained to perform a professional inspection. There is a lot more to know. You have resources at the NAR to read, click on the graphic below. But your MLS has also arranged to have the talk available to you as a webcast in case you were unable to attend. Check it out at the bottom of this post. Not knowing could prove costly. Skip Murphy

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State Senator Doug LaMalfa speaks to members

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Doug LaMalfaTaxOur guest July 20 2011 General MLS membership meeting in Redding was California State Senator for the 4th District, Doug LaMalfa. He spoke to the membership about his perspective on the state’s budget crisis, and took some questions from the members.

Senator LaMalfa is always a welcome speaker at our meetings. His down to earth perspective comes across in his casual speaking style. His frustration with the politics-as-usual types that seem to populate Sacramento is evident. He had some specific ideas about how to deal with the critical budget issues that face our state. Doug LaMalfa

Because of redistricting, local lines on the political map may change, and Senator LaMalfa might no longer represent our area. That would be very much to the detriment of our region, since Doug LaMalfa has proven himself over his years of service to be both responsive and accessible to our local citizenry. He is also very aware of the issues of concern to our area, and the key differences between our regional needs and those of more urban areas. It would be a shame to arbitrarily lose his representation, and so we are providing you with a petition that you can sign to let your feelings be known. Click on the document below to print it.

Redistricting Petition

You can then get that back to the Association office ASAP, or contact the senator at his website. He spoke for just about an hour, and if you were unable to attend but still want hear his remarks, the association has made arrangements to have the recording presented here as a webcast below. Skip Murphy

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