SEPTEMBER IS SAFETY MONTH AND EVERY DAY IS SAFETY DAY

SHOWING SAFETY REMINDER:

MAR and Maine Listings would like to remind all agents who schedule showings through ShowingTime for the MLS, if there is a substitution of agent for a showing, please let the listing agent know prior to the scheduled showing time. It can be alarming to the listing agent if he/she is expecting a certain agent at the showing and a different person shows up, especially if they have not met prior to the showing and the house is vacant. Stay safe and be courteous!

Trust your instincts, be safe, and let law enforcement and others know about any suspicious and unsettling interactions. Always.

Get more safety tips here.

STAY SAFE ON THE JOB: NAR’S SAFETY MONTH WEBINAR:

Register and attend this no-cost webinar on September 18 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. to learn best practices for staying safe during showings, how to conduct client meetings safely both in and out of the office, and hear real-life safety scenarios and learn effective response strategies. Register Now!

ED GARDNER IS A FINALIST! GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD:

The National Association of REALTORS® Good Neighbor Awards recognize REALTORS^® who have made an extraordinary impact through volunteer work. Ed Gardner, Broker/Owner of Gardner Real Estate Group in Portland and 2016 President of the Maine Association of REALTORS® is one of 10 finalists from across the U.S. to be honored in 2024. Congratulations Ed!

Ed founded the Equality Community Center (ECC) in Portland, which houses 18 LGBTQ+-focused nonprofits under one roof with below-market rent. This arrangement fosters collaboration and increases operational efficiency between the organizations. Additionally, Ed is spearheading the ECC’s latest project, the development of a 54-unit affordable housing complex for seniors.

Read more about Ed’s work and nomination

VOTE TODAY (and through October 2) to support Ed’s nomination and the Equality Community Center below!

**No limits to votes per day!

HOW TO REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT TO BE MAILED TO YOU: 

Ballots for Maine’s General Election become available 30 days prior to the election but can be requested now. Learn more about absentee voting and electronically request your own ballot to be mailed to you in advance of the November 5 General Election.

FRAUDULENT SELLER SCAMS

RED FLAGS INFOGRAPHIC:

Review the above infographic and share it with your colleagues. Recent fraudulent sellers were targeting properties in Biddeford and Windham

For prospective sellers who are not physically located near you/the property, ask them to Zoom, Google Meet, Facetime with you for a first meeting – and ask them to show their identification on the screen. While scammers may also have fraudulent identification, they are likely to be unwilling to show their face on a screen. You can use a phrase like, “it’s our office protocol for new customers and clients”. If they’re unwilling, likely a red flag. It is not enough to receive identification via email since scammers are using fake passports and/or drivers licenses.

For potential sellers who are nearby, always schedule first meetings with customers/clients in the office, verify their identity (take a photo of their driver’s license), and introduce them to a colleague. 

MAR CONVENTION:

24 SLOTS AVAILABLE

Challenge, Change, Opportunity (the MAR Convention) will be an in-person only event October 8-10 at the Samoset Resort in Rockport. Twenty-four full registration slots remain available which will be filled first-come, first-served. There are additional registration slots available for the Officer Installation and REALTOR® of the Year banquet only. View the preliminary convention schedule, registration details and deadlines

REASONS TO ATTEND THE MAR CONVENTION:

Earn up to 15 hours of Maine continuing education credits including national educator Kimberly Allard, attend the MAR Annual meeting and trade show, get hands-on training with FlexMLS and Maine Listings’ suite of products, celebrate our 2025 officers and local Board REALTORS® of the Year, and network with your colleagues and industry partners! Register NOW!

REGISTRATION CONFIRMATIONS:

All convention registrations are processed based on the date and time that the registration is received. Confirmation emails are sent from bonnie@mainerealtors.com. Read your confirmation closely. 

SAMOSET HOTEL IS SOLD OUT:

The Samoset hotel rooms and suites are sold out. There are numerous inns and motels within a few miles of the Samoset with beautiful amenities. Find complete list of nearby lodging options here.

CONVENTION EXHIBITS AND SPONSORS:

Exhibit spaces are sold out. We have a few sponsorship opportunities remaining for the 2024 convention. Please reach out to Tanya for additional information and to maximize your company’s exposure to our Association’s membership.

Hope to see you at the Samoset!

FORMS CHANGES ARE NOW ACTIVE:

On July 31, the updated MAR forms related to the NAR potential litigation settlement and Maine’s flood risk disclosure law became active in your Zipforms library. These updated forms should be used now.

WANT TO KNOW WHAT CHANGED?

View the changes, marked up versions of the forms You can find the forms in the REALTOR® Access Only section of the MAR website (password: codeofethics)

COMPENSATION AND LISTING AGREEMENT FAQ’S:

MAR Legal Counsel Hannah McMullen has drafted

FAQ’s about Compensation and Listing Agreements.

Find the FAQ’s on the REALTOR® Access Only section of mainerealtors.com (password: codeofethics)

HELPFUL RESOURCES

BUYER AGENCY COMPENSATION OPTIONS:

Check out this infographic that shows possible options as outlined in the FAQ’s document noted above

FACTS.REALTOR:

On March 15, the National Association of REALTORS® announced a proposed $418 million settlement agreement that would end litigation of claims brought on behalf of home sellers related to broker commissions. On April 19, the Plaintiff’s counsel filed a Motion for Preliminary Approval, and the judge has granted that motion for preliminary approval.

Visit Visit facts.realtor to find a copy of the proposed litigation settlement, regularly updated FAQ’s, informational videos, and resources for home sellers and homebuyers. Check back often for updates.

LAWSUIT - PENDING SETTLEMENT NOTIFICATIONS:

Consumers (and former clients for some) will begin to receive notifications about pending settlements for a few of the class-action lawsuits across the country. You may start to be asked about “the postcards” or notification letters in the marketplace. The notice gives members of the settlement class information about how to, e.g., make a claim or opt-out of the settlements if, for example, they want to bring their own lawsuits against one or more of the defendants. Under the recent NAR proposed litigation settlement announced on March 15, notifications for that proposed settlement could be distributed anytime following the August 17th deadline.

If someone asks for more details about any of the litigation settlements or whether they should make a claim or opt out of the settlements, you could suggest that they consult an attorney. You can also refer them to the website or phone number listed on the notice they received for further information.

Updated information about NAR’s proposed litigation settlement can be found on facts.realtor.