The Cleveland Area Board of Realtors (CABOR) has launched a speakers bureau to talk about the shape of local real estate with Northeast Ohio community and business groups. According to CABOR Speakers Bureau Chair and 2010 CABOR Affiliate Council chair, Dave Iammarino, CABOR is currently seeking presentation engagements for its six speakers with chambers of commerce, and public organizations including Kiwanis Clubs, Rotary Clubs, parent-teacher groups and other organizations.

“The purpose of the CABOR speakers bureau is to connect with the fabric of our region and provide the real truth about the local real estate market through speaking engagements,” explained Iammarino. “It is another way CABOR’s credentialed, local real estate experts are available to the community.”

The CABOR bureau’s 30-minute presentation “The Real State of Real Estate” explores facts about home ownership and brings national and local sales statistics together with key economic indicators to give buyers and sellers practical information about today’s market. CABOR offers all speakers bureau presentations at no cost to host organizations or guest audiences.

“The members of the CABOR Speakers Bureau are experienced REALTORS® who have their finger on the pulse of the real estate market,” added Iammarino. “They are experts in the field, working with buyers and sellers every day, sharing their knowledge, and keeping up-to-date on market changes.”

For more information, or to schedule an appearance, contact Dave Iammarino at (440) 829-4150 or Michael Valerino at (216) 901-0130, or visit www.CABOR.com.

The Cleveland Area Board of Realtors (CABOR) announced statistics for residential sales today for the month of September 2009. According to CABOR Chair Dianna Hosta-Stickey, home sales activity throughout Ohio made significant stride towards a rebound in September.

“CABOR members have reported more phone calls from interested buyers and seeing increased foot traffic at listings in recent months due in large measure to the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit,” explained Hosta-Stickney. “With favorable pricing, market conditions, attractive interest rates and sellers more realistic in their price expectations, market conditions are ideal. CABOR is hopeful that our elected officials will extend and possibly expand, the tax credit, as we cannot let the housing recovery expire.”

Statewide sales of new and existing homes during the first nine months of the year (January through September) total 77,566, 13.4 percent behind the 88,414 sales posted during the period a year ago. “Sales levels in the third quarter fell only 6.8 percent below the same period a year ago, a marked improvement from the drops Ohio experienced in the first and second quarters of the year, down 18.7 percent and 16.1 percent, respectively,” added Hosta-Stickney.

The state’s average sale price (January through September) of $129,201 marks an 8.1 percent decrease from the $140,559 posted during the period a year ago. The total dollar volume reached nearly $9.9 billion, a 20.4 percent decrease from the $12,4 billion posted in 2008. State sales in September reached 9,740, a 6.3 percent decrease from the 10,399 sales posted during the month a year ago. The month’s average price of $134,284 was 0.1 percent ahead of the 2008 mark of $134,105.

CABOR was presented with the RPAC Award by the Ohio Association of Realtors (OAR) on September 23, 2009 for meeting and exceeding our 2009 goal. The Cleveland area was among the top Ohio contributors to RPAC, generating $37,958 between January 1, 2009 and August 17, 2009 in voluntary member funds.   According to the Ohio Association of Realtors, RPAC goals for each board are calculated by the total number of membership, which is based on dues billing as of April 30, 2009 and multiplied by $10. Among the 50 participating boards and associations in Ohio, a total of $403,961.51 in RPAC funds has been raised this year as of August 17th.   The Realtor Political Action Committee or RPAC is a nonpartisan voice of the real estate community on local, state and national levels. RPAC relies on the voluntary contributions of board and association members to promote the improvement of government by encouraging and stimulating Realtors and others to take a more active and effective part in government affairs. RPAC also strives to encourage Realtors and others to understand the nature and action of government, and supports candidates for election to public office at the local, state, and national levels who share the views of Realtors on issues important to the real estate industry.   "Over the past several years, political action committees in the United States have become a vital factor in the political structure of our country," explains CABOR Chairwoman Dianna Hosta-Stickney. "Many major corporations and major trade associations maintain PACs." In 1969, the National Association of Real Estate Boards formed the Real Estate Political Action Committee (REPAC) and Ohio became the first state to sign an agreement with REPAC. In 1974, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) changed the name of the Real Estates Political Action Committee to the Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC).

The Northeastern Ohio Real Estate Exchange (NEOHREX) MLS System, a data sharing group consisting of notheast Ohio's two multiple listing services, reported gains in home sales for the month of June 2009.

The group has reported that single family homes sales increased 14.7% from May to June 2009. Similarly, condominium sales increased 19.7% for the same time period.

In addition to the sales increase, the average sales price increased in June and the average days on the market decreased.

To view the entire statistics report for June 2009, click here.

TO:   State and Local Presidents, Regional Vice-Presidents, Association Executives, Government Affairs Directors, Communications Directors, Federal Political Coordinators
FROM:       Dale Stinton, NAR Chief Executive Officer
            Jerry Giovaniello, NAR Senior Vice-President Government Affairs
RE:         The American Clean Energy and Security Act
DATE:       July 7, 2009

The recently passed American Clean Energy and Security Act has been met with much interest by our members.  As is usually the case with controversial legislation, some are fanning a few flames.  However, much of the fuel feeding the fire is simply incorrect.  Jerry and I are writing not to debate, rather simply to provide you with a brief description of how we got here and what steps we will be taking as we move forward.

NAR dropped its opposition to the American Clean Energy and Security Act when we successfully eliminated provisions that would have had a significant and adverse affect on the real estate industry.  Once these provisions were stripped from the house bill our advocacy efforts in the House of Representatives efforts ended.  NAR achieved the primary goal outlined by the Presidential Advisory Group on Climate Change and the Land Use, Property Rights and Environment Committee.  As the bill moves to the Senate NAR will maintain a "neutral" position while monitoring the situation. NAR  will OPPOSE any attempts to insert anti-REALTOR provisions into the Senate legislation.
Read more (PDF)

Read Energy Labeling Myths & Facts

 

TO:   State and Local Presidents, Regional Vice-Presidents, Association Executives, Government Affairs Directors, Communications Directors, Federal Political Coordinators
FROM:       Dale Stinton, NAR Chief Executive Officer
            Jerry Giovaniello, NAR Senior Vice-President Government Affairs
RE:         The American Clean Energy and Security Act
DATE:       July 7, 2009

The recently passed American Clean Energy and Security Act has been met with much interest by our members.  As is usually the case with controversial legislation, some are fanning a few flames.  However, much of the fuel feeding the fire is simply incorrect.  Jerry and I are writing not to debate, rather simply to provide you with a brief description of how we got here and what steps we will be taking as we move forward.

NAR dropped its opposition to the American Clean Energy and Security Act when we successfully eliminated provisions that would have had a significant and adverse affect on the real estate industry.  Once these provisions were stripped from the house bill our advocacy efforts in the House of Representatives efforts ended.  NAR achieved the primary goal outlined by the Presidential Advisory Group on Climate Change and the Land Use, Property Rights and Environment Committee.  As the bill moves to the Senate NAR will maintain a "neutral" position while monitoring the situation. NAR  will OPPOSE any attempts to insert anti-REALTOR provisions into the Senate legislation.
 testitng s
Read more (PDF)

Read Energy Labeling Myths & Facts

 

TO:   State and Local Presidents, Regional Vice-Presidents, Association Executives, Government Affairs Directors, Communications Directors, Federal Political Coordinators
FROM:       Dale Stinton, NAR Chief Executive Officer
            Jerry Giovaniello, NAR Senior Vice-President Government Affairs
RE:         The American Clean Energy and Security Act
DATE:       July 7, 2009

The recently passed American Clean Energy and Security Act has been met with much interest by our members.  As is usually the case with controversial legislation, some are fanning a few flames.  However, much of the fuel feeding the fire is simply incorrect.  Jerry and I are writing not to debate, rather simply to provide you with a brief description of how we got here and what steps we will be taking as we move forward.

NAR dropped its opposition to the American Clean Energy and Security Act when we successfully eliminated provisions that would have had a significant and adverse affect on the real estate industry.  Once these provisions were stripped from the house bill our advocacy efforts in the House of Representatives efforts ended.  NAR achieved the primary goal outlined by the Presidential Advisory Group on Climate Change and the Land Use, Property Rights and Environment Committee.  As the bill moves to the Senate NAR will maintain a "neutral" position while monitoring the situation. NAR  will OPPOSE any attempts to insert anti-REALTOR provisions into the Senate legislation.
Read more (PDF)

Read Energy Labeling Myths & Facts

 

TO:   State and Local Presidents, Regional Vice-Presidents, Association Executives, Government Affairs Directors, Communications Directors, Federal Political Coordinators
FROM:       Dale Stinton, NAR Chief Executive Officer
            Jerry Giovaniello, NAR Senior Vice-President Government Affairs
RE:         The American Clean Energy and Security Act
DATE:       July 7, 2009

The recently passed American Clean Energy and Security Act has been met with much interest by our members.  As is usually the case with controversial legislation, some are fanning a few flames.  However, much of the fuel feeding the fire is simply incorrect.  Jerry and I are writing not to debate, rather simply to provide you with a brief description of how we got here and what steps we will be taking as we move forward.

NAR dropped its opposition to the American Clean Energy and Security Act when we successfully eliminated provisions that would have had a significant and adverse affect on the real estate industry.  Once these provisions were stripped from the house bill our advocacy efforts in the House of Representatives efforts ended.  NAR achieved the primary goal outlined by the Presidential Advisory Group on Climate Change and the Land Use, Property Rights and Environment Committee.  As the bill moves to the Senate NAR will maintain a "neutral" position while monitoring the situation. NAR  will OPPOSE any attempts to insert anti-REALTOR provisions into the Senate legislation.
Read more (PDF)

Read Energy Labeling Myths & Facts