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 Game On!
 In the midst of an extremely challenging market, REALTORS from all corners of Ohio converged in Columbus to help the real estate profession chart a course to a better tomorrow.
The 98th Annual OAR Convention offered attendees the opportunity to spend time that was educational, enlightening and entertaining.
Nearly 1,000 REALTORS took time away from their business and families and spent four days last week to focus on the issues confronting the industry and Ohio's property owners. Inside is a report from the District Vice Presidents on actions that took place during the Convention.
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GRI Institute coming to Columbus
The Graduate REALTOR Institute (GRI) designation is the mark of a real estate professional who has made a commitment to providing a superior level of professional services. REALTORS holding this designation are highly trained in many areas of real estate and are better able to serve and protect their clients. Courses can be taken in any order. OAR will offer these classes in Columbus on the following dates:
GRI 100...Oct. 6-9
GRI 200...Oct. 27-30
GRI 300...Nov. 17-20
GRI 100 is certified for 30 hours of continuing education and includes ethics, civil rights and core law credit. Instructors will be Carl Hemmeler, Kristin Rosin, J.D., and Louise Potter. Register today and receive your early-bird discount. Register today!
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 Commercial listings coming to REALTOR.com
The National Association of REALTORS and Move Inc. have completed an agreement under which Move Inc. will provide commercial and investment real estate information on behalf of NAR's commercial members through Move Inc.'s network. Read more...
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Mortgage applications surge
Mortgage applications rose 33.4 percent last week on a seasonally adjusted basis, rising to 661.7 from 496.2 the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association weekly survey of mortgage activity. Total applications reached their highest level since early May.
On an unadjusted basis, the index rose 65.3 percent compared with the previous week, which was shortened by Labor Day. It was down 1.3 percent compared with the same week a year ago.
Refinances fueled the increase. The Refinance Index increased 88.1 percent while the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased only 2.4 percent. The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 51.6 percent of total applications from 36.3 the previous week.
Source: Mortgage Bankers Association
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Housing chief says recovery a year away
The housing market is a year away from improvement, says Steven Preston, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Preston predicts that it will be "the middle of next year or well into next year" before "we begin to see more consistency in buyers coming back into the marketplace."
The recovery from the housing crisis in 2009 is likely to be regional in nature, the HUD secretary says.
Source: Christian Science Monitor, David Cook
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FTC issues ban on pre-recorded sales calls
The Federal Trade Commission has issued new rules for prerecorded sales calls. All prerecorded sales calls must have an automated opt-out mechanism available by Dec. 1, 2008. Telemarketers will need to have written consumer consent for all prerecorded calls made after Sept. 1, 2009. Read this month's "Did You Know?" to learn about these recent changes to the rules.
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Time to understand FHA financing
Mortgages backed by the federal government through FHA represent the biggest growth area in home financing today. Members unfamiliar with how FHA works and why it's easier and quicker to use today than in previous years can learn what they need to know in an FHA Tool kit available on REALTOR.org. The tool kit includes an interactive CD, program booklet, and quick reference guide, among other features.
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Senate urges Gov. Strickland to revise prevailing wage policy
 Senate Republicans are urging Gov. Ted Strickland to adjust a prevailing wage policy released earlier in the month, arguing that the changes would cripple an already-weak Ohio economy, the caucus' leader said Wednesday.
Sen. President Bill Harris (R-Ashland) said members of his caucus are highly concerned that the policy--which the administration says represents more of a clarification--will cause damage to an already weak Ohio economy.
Short of a revision or retraction on prevailing wage, Sen. Harris said his chamber might act on post-election legislation that would clarify the law's application.
The administration argues that the proposal largely clarifies existing laws regarding the payment of the higher wage, but also offers new guidelines for environmental cleanup and machinery and equipment purchases on projects backed with public funds.
Union contractors who receive the prevailing wage say the higher upfront costs provide long-term benefits because the construction projects last longer and need less maintenance.
Source: Gongwer Ohio Report
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New investment fund to help additonal housing initatives
The Ohio Housing Finance Agency Board approved a new program that will support affordable housing initiatives in Ohio not currently funded through OHFA's standard programs. The Housing Investment Fund will provide an opportunity for developers and housing organizations to receive funding, helping them respond to changing housing needs around the state.
Proposals can be submitted for either grants or loans to be used for: the acquisition, holding, or disposition of residential real estate for public benefit; pre-development, construction and/or permanent financing for rental or for-sale property development; capital improvements for existing OHFA-financed properties; homebuyer education and counseling; activities or projects that address an urgent affordable housing need, as well as other activities and projects.
Applications will be accepted in two cycles to ensure organizations have an equal opportunity to request funds. The first application deadline will be Jan. 15, 2009 with up to half of the available funds being reserved for approved proposals. Additional information, including the cover form and template for the letter of intent, will be available soon at www.ohiohome.org.
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Save with OAR and NAR
Your membership in the Ohio Association of REALTORS allows you to take advantage of a number of member benefits. For questions about member offers and benefits contact Greg Stitz at stitz@ohiorealtors.org.
In addition, the National Association of REALTORS also provides its members many more benefits and offers.
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Tech Tips
 Back and forth with your browser...Want to quickly navigate back and forward in your Internet Explorer or Firefox browsing session, but can't be bothered with actually moving the mouse pointer to and clicking on those Back and Forward arrows at the top of the window? As long as your mouse has a scroll wheel: Just hold the Shift key down and rotate the wheel forward to go forward in your browsing history and backward to go back.
Caps lock on accidentally?...If you accidentally hit all caps in Word, you can easily fix it by following the steps below:
- Highlight the ALL CAPS text
- Hit SHIFT + F3
Photo albums in PowerPoint 2007...Power Point 2007 has a built-in feature that lets you create albums within seconds.
- Click on Insert tab.
- Click on Photo Album Icon and choose New
- Click on File/Disk button which allows you to select images from your hard disk
- Add them and then you can arrange the sequence by using up and down keys.
- After this just click on create and your album is ready. You can add notes to suit your needs.
- You can also add affects, fit your images and others.
Don't forget OAR's free Tech Hotline service...
866.478.TECH (8324) New EXPANDED hours of operation: M-F: 8 am - 8 pm ... S-S: 10 am - 4pm
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Education
Resorts & Second Home Markets...This 2-day course, held on Oct. 16-17, will teach the essentials of buying, selling or managing second homes. Register today!
30 hours online...Take your real estate continuing education hours online. You can take 3, 6 or all 30 hours in any combination...Sign-up today...
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