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RealtorEdge
O C T O B E R 2 0 0 8
1
eptember was a great
month for RAGFL
members! Not only did
MLS statistics show
signs of market improvement, but
RAGFL launched its newest mem-
ber-benefit­­
Unveiled
at the General Membership Break-
fast on Thursday, September 11th,
Immobel is a state of the art, inter-
national tool offering members indi-
vidual websites which converts MLS
listings into 13 languages. Servicing
over 350,000 real estate profession-
als throughout the USA and Eu-
rope, Immobel gives you­­RAGFL
members­­the ability to market
international properties while
also giving real estate professionals
around the world the ability to mar-
ket your US listings to their clients!
NAR statistics reveal that foreign
homebuyers accounted for
25% of all sales transactions
between May 2004 & May
2005, we all know how
critical the international
market is to our business...
and our pockets.
As the event's
guest speaker, Janet
Choynowski, founder
and CEO of Immobel,
took the over 240 attendees (a sold-
out crowd) through a detailed tour
of the product and offered on-site,
October 2008
Vol. 10 No. 10
The mission of the Realtor
®
Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale is to secure the interests of its members and their ability to conduct a thriving business, to pro-
mote the highest standards of professional practice in the real estate community, and to support members in maximizing their individual potential for success.
Calendar ...................................... 2
Calendar of Events October
Commercial ................................. 4
Become Part of the Commercial Team;
Second Annual SOCR Fall Symposium
Takes on South Florida; Working with
the Commercial Attorney; Don't Miss
Commercial Day in Orlando
Cover ............................................ 1
RAGFL Launches Immobel at Membership
Breakfast
Government ................................ 8
Short Sale Tax Dispute; Retail Camera
Mandate Moving Forward; Supreme Court
Strips Amendment 5 and Others from
November Ballot; Federal Judge Dismisses
Hometown Democracy Amendment
International .............................. 10
International Expo Comes to RAGFL;
Transnational Referral Certification;
Certified International Property Specialist
(CIPS) Goes East
MLS ............................................ 12
Recent Instanet Solutions Systems
Upgrades; MLS Statistics; iCheck Statistics
News and Notes ........2, 3, 9, 11, 12
2008 RAGFL Member Awards Deadline
Approaching; RAGFL Annual Dues
Reminder; RAGFL Member Claudette
Bruck Wins Prestigious FAR Award;
NAR Chief Economist Updates RAGFL
Leadership; Recent Changes Made to
Escrow Rules; Past Presidents Keeping
in Touch; RAGFL Delegation Convenes in
Orlando
President's Column .................... 3
Recharge with New Services as We Head
into Fall
Professional Development ......6, 7
Completing an Effective Purchase and
Sales Contract; Get with the Code ­ Code
of Ethics Training; GRI III ­ Real Estate
Specialties; CRS 201 ­ Listing Strategies
for the Residential Specialist; Turning
Knowledge into Action; Getting to Know
Your Instructors ­ Terri Stewart
®
October
2008
I S S U E
RAGFL Launches Immobel
at Membership Breakfast
International Product Launch Energizes Members
S
in-depth train-
ing including
helping users
set up their
own websites.
With an inter-
active and very
helpful ques-
tion and answer
session, Janet also
gave the audience proven tips on
how to get foreign buyers looking
at members' listings.
Missed the Membership
Breakfast? No problem.
As busy professionals, we recognize
that you can't always attend every
valuable RAGFL event, so
in response to our sold-out Mem-
bership Breakfast, RAGFL is
pleased to offer members several
additional opportunities to get
hands-on Immobel training. Please
go online to
to find a course date and a time
convenient for you.