Realtor Edge August 2009 Page 1

RealtorEdge

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

August 2009

Vol. 8 No. 11

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 August

Commercial ..........................4

Strong Commercial Real Estate
Market Critical to Jobs and Economy;
Update Your RCA Records; Fall Line-
Up of Commercial Courses & Events;
Commercial Leasing Seminar

Cover .....................................1

Symposium Educates Realtors

;

Encourages Homebuyers

Government ....... 6, 7, 9, 10, 11

What You Should Know about the
$8,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit; Learn
More about Running for Office;
Help First Time Homebuyers Utilize
$8,000 Tax Credit at Closing; RAGFL
Awarded Grant; 2009 Florida House
of Representatives Report Card;
2009 Florida Senate Legislative
Report Card

MLS ................................ 11, 12

MLS Rules & Regulations; Software
Available for Your Smartphones; MLS
Statistics July; iCheck Stats July

News and Notes .......2, 3, 6, 10

Association Director Elections Soon
to Come; RAGFL Membership
Renewal; Fire Up Your Brain at
Florida's Biggest, Baddest Brainstorm
2009 Annual Convention and Trade
Expo; RAGFL Members Bond at
Bimini Boatyard Bash

President's Column ..............3

Clients on the Fence About Buying?
Time To Take Advantage of Free
Money is Running Out.

Professional Development ..7

Immobel & Clarus MarketMetrics; 14
Hour Continuing Education Course;
GRI II Real Estate Specialties; 45
Hour Post Licensing

www.R-World.com

August

2009

I S S U E

Symposium Educates

Realtors

and Encourages

Homebuyers

Free community event provided resources and information

or the third time in over a

year, over 350 real estate

professionals and interest-

ed homebuyers once

again packed the War Memorial
Auditorium on Thursday, July 30th
to attend RAGFL's free 2009 Hous-
ing Symposium. With an informa-
tion-packed agenda under
the theme, "Has South Florida
Turned a Corner on the Road to
Recovery", the event was in high
demand for Realtors

looking to

get up-to-date information on the
current housing market.

RAGFL CEO Richard W. Bar-

kett kicked things off by presenting
the Association's exclusive city-level
MLS statistics which give a snap-
shot of home sales in select Broward
County cities. Cheryl Marken,
Operations Specialist for the De-
partment of Housing & Urban
Development (HUD) then helped
clarify details of the $8,000 federal
tax credit program. Nancy Palilo-
nis, Housing Program Supervisor
for Broward County, followed up
and discussed the additional money
and affordable housing programs
available via the county. Last but
not least was the panel of housing
experts who discussed the current

economic and housing markets. The
esteemed panelists included: Cheryl
Marken; Sid Spiro, CEO of Regent
Bank; Dr. Ned Murray, Associate
Director of Florida International
University (FIU) Metropolitan
Center; Lois Wexler, Commis-
sioner and Chair with the Broward
County Housing Council; Harriet
Johnson Brackey, Personal Finance
Columnist with the Sun-Sentinel;

Cynthia Shelton, President of FAR;
Christine Hansen, Broker/Realtor

with Century 21 Hansen Realty
and Nancy Palilonis.

Many thanks go out to everyone

who attended the Housing Sympo-
sium, especially our generous spon-
sors who made the event possible.

Click here

for complete details and

additional information including
the presentations and handouts.