Can it possibly be November already? It seems like just yesterday that I was sworn in as chair of the Houston Association of REALTORS®…and yet, Margie Dorrance will be sworn in next month as chair for 2010.More

What an exciting time this is to be a REALTOR® in the greater Houston area.

And nothing is more exciting than REALTOR® Expo, which will be held Thursday, October 22 at the Reliant Center. This year's theme is "Stayin' Alive and Thriving in 2009"—and who doesn't love disco?  There will be great speakers before the Expo begins and then cash giveaways and complimentary hors d'oeuvres. More

I knew that many amazing things would happen during the year I was chair of the board, but I didn't think about HAR becoming the largest local REALTOR® association in the country as one of them.More

It has been an exciting and challenging summer for the real estate industry. The topic of appraisals has come up in more than one place in the last month. As you could see from the cover of this month's magazine, Texas Governor Rick Perry came to HAR's central office for a press conference/bill signing ceremony last month. More

With HAR's central office as the setting, Governor Rick Perry signed two appraisal reform measures into law on July 9. House Bills 8 and 3613 will help slow the pace of increasing property appraisals, provide additional oversight for the appraisal process, and grant a total exemption for the homes of veterans who are disabled due to their service for our country.More

Every summer, even though this is our busiest time of the year, people go on vacation and sometimes lose track of what is going on in the market and the industry. This is not the time to let our guard down. There are so many important legislative items that are proposed and moving through the U.S. Congress right now and other issues that need discussion with our elected leaders so we can resolve any differences before they become law.
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One of my favorite times of the year is when REALTORS® from across the country make the trek to Washington, D.C., as part of the annual mid-year meetings and legislative visits. I love it not only because it is such an amazing opportunity to see the impact that REALTORS® have on the political process, but also because I have the chance to see so many friends I have made from all over the U.S. I am especially proud that a record 80 HAR members traveled this past month to help make the REALTOR® voice heard. And it was.
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Every two years, something happens that energizes me more than ever. Every two years, our elected state leaders go to Austin for 140 days to pass laws that will make our state better going forward. More

While we might not want April to have bad weather, we are in a partly cloudy kind of real estate market right now. More

2009 is off and running, and I for one will look forward with a positive attitude about the market and overall economy. We will get through this, even though times might seem rough right now, and be better for it on the other side.More

The year is definitely under way and change is in the air. It is no different at HAR. Look for many great new tools and services to be launched in the coming months. The first of many positive changes is the 713-REALTOR sign rider and service, which you may read about in this issue.More

As we enter 2009, there are so many things that are changing. We will soon have a new president in the White House. The national economy is suffering like many of us have never seen. And the real estate market is in a downturn—another thing many REALTORS® have never experienced.More

What can I say about 2008? I was able to throw out the first pitch at REALTOR® Night at the Houston Astros. I was able to highlight some of our everyday REALTOR® Heroes both in this publication and the Houston Chronicle. Deborah Duncan mentioned my mom on the air during her TV show. This has truly been a year I will remember for the rest of my life.More

What a crazy time in the world it is. We are on the brink of electing a new president (and by the time you are reading this we will have someone new scheduled to move into the White House early next year). Companies in the financial sector are changing logos on their doors faster than they can be printed.More

I have never been prouder of the REALTOR® community than when I saw so many of our members helping each other in their time of need during the recent recovery period, which is ongoing.More

One of the biggest focuses of my tenure as chairman of HAR has been on affordable housing. HAR has partnered with the City of Houston on the Houston Hope program, as well as other affordable housing initiatives.More

Everywhere you turn these days, you see…green, environmentally-friendly, chemical-free, etc.  The nation seems to be obsessed with the environment right now, and I, for one, hope that obsession continues,More

If you have been reading the newspapers lately, then you know that everyone else in the country (and maybe the world) wishes they lived in Houston right now.More

While most people think residential when they think of HAR, the Commercial Gateway, HAR's commercial real estate division, has been growing in terms of both membership and prominence.More

It is only May, but we are already looking for the next great leaders among our Realtor® ranks. Yes, it is HAR Board of Directors candidate submission time. You will find the form to fill out online  to run for one of the director positions on the HAR Board.More

I never thought someone would call me a Nonagenarian—at least not to my face.  When I looked it up in the dictionary though, I found out that it means someone between 90 and 99 years of age.  In this instance, I think it refers to something, rather than someone though.  HAR enters its 90th year of existence this month.  Founded on April 15, 1918, HAR has been proudly serving its members ever since.

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The New HAR.com.That alone would be worthy of a year's worth of WOWs. 

 

Did you know that HAR.com had just more than one million (1,000,037 to be precise) unique visitors generating a record 1.2 billion hits in January. [more]

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February is a great time of the year to be a Realtor®. Statistics show that the highest number of listings occur in the period of March through August so February is prime time to lay the groundwork for a successful and busy year.  [more]

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This is my first column as the 2008 HAR Chairman so I feel such pressure to make it good.  I feel the pressure to ensure everything that we do good, but take comfort in knowing that I have the best association membership and staff in the country behind me to help make it continue to happen.

 [more...]

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WOW!  Has it been a year already?  It seems like just yesterday that I was sworn in to serve as chairman of the Houston Association of Realtors®—what I thought then and have only had confirmed—is the best association in the country.   [more...]

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Dear HAR Member:

 

This is the time of the year when brokers and agents begin to plan for the upcoming year. I want to take a few moments of your time to share the thought process here at the Association relative to the real estate industry moving forward.

 

This year has seen a number of significant changes in both the national and Houston real estate industry and marketplace that will directly effect Houston area REALTORS®.

• The real estate market
• The MLS dynamic
• The empowered consumer
• The government threat

[more...]

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The difference between being involved or committed as a member of HAR is your level of engagement.This month, I invite you to "get engaged" because the benefit of membership in HAR is enhanced when you take advantage of all of the tools.More

I am excited!!  I am so proud of the 2007 Realtor® Expo this year, not just because I am Chairman, but because it is the first time we have ever offered a grand prize that is the best possible prize for any Realtor® – a car!More

Have you ever stood in line for what seemed to be an eternity of wasted minutes while thinking to yourself, "once I get out of this place, I will never, ever return?" More

"One Billion Served"— a mammoth milestone and a huge headline for HAR.com.

But did you read the cover headline and ask: What does that mean to me and my business?  If you did, it is a fair and appropriate question.More

I can remember when I first began my career in sales.  Like many an inexperienced sales person, I could only focus on closing the deal—or—making the sale. While that is the bottom line and all-important to income and livelihood; with experience I learned that making that sale stick paid off in the very long term.

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Here’s a quick test:  Do you know what any of these terms mean?

• straw buyer
• nominee loans
• silent second
• marketing fees
• property flip
• chunking
  

You will want to become familiar with these terms because they are often used in connection with what is known as mortgage fraud.
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Let me share a fictitious, but typical weekend.  My girlfriend and I decide to plan a weekend trip.  So, we start looking up flights, hotels and then decide to go to www.tripadvisor.com to see how the flights and hotels rate for our destination.  Then, just to be sure, we check out some other opinions on www.rateitall.com.  Then I thought, it would be great to get a new piece of luggage for the trip so I went to www.ebay.com to find a rolling duffle.  I saw a great piece, but wanted to check out comments about the seller before I put my bid in.  We thought about books for the plane and went to www.amazon.com for good deals on some from the best sellers list, but didn't commit until we checked out what some readers had to say.  All that done, we decided to go out to dinner to a new restaurant.  "Whoa," she said, "let's look it up on www.b4-u-eat.com so we don't waste a trip." Reviews were good, we headed for the door. Whew!More

Six degrees of separation refers to the idea that if you are one "step" away from each person you know, then you are two "steps" away from each person who is known by one of the people you know, and you are no more than six "steps" away from each person on earth.More

When you think about your sources of news, you may first consider local television, network television, cable, national and local newspapers and some radio. All great sources, but when it comes to the Houston housing market, the Houston Association of Realtors® is the source of information that all of those sources look to for the Houston area real estate story. And it is important for HAR members to also take advantage of the great market information provided by HAR to learn the specific Houston area real estate story.More

Happy New Year, and I hope you rounded the curve on '06 with cautious excitement for the future. More

Time has flown and at the risk of sounding cliché, I truly was having fun. It is fun to represent some of the finest Realtors® in the industry.  It is also enjoyable to work on behalf of Realtors® in addressing the many market changes we have experienced throughout this year.More

As we move toward the end of the year, you will find this issue of the Houston REALTOR® rich with provocative articles for your business benefit.

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When you arrive at Realtor® Expo: Hooray for Hollywood-Take II, take a minute to plan how you will maximize the experience. You can approach Expo as you would a real estate transaction to get the biggest bang for the day!More

I don't know about you, but I can never resist anything that has to do with the Golden Age of Hollywood. It is such a signature on American Popular Culture and history, and believe it or not, has a basis in real estate:More

If you have never torn out an article from the Houston Realtor® Magazine before, you will be tempted to do so with several of the articles in this issue. This issue is all about business and the busy buying and selling season.More

Remember how cool you felt when you bought your first fax machine? Have you had a time since then when you wanted someone to e-mail because paper jammed and the fax was too, too slow? We can bet that as soon as a technology seems to be the best and fastest support system for business, there is another device or concept being created and improved to make things better.More

"Consumers are statistics. Customers are people." - Stanley Marcus

We can trust that Stanley Marcus knew what he was talking about, as one of the world's premier retailers; he pretty much defined customer service. And we can borrow from his philosophy in our businesses, especially as we position our firms for today's emerging markets. We can easily quantify the market potential of those people who are considered ethnic minorities or those who have recently moved into the greater Houston area from another country.

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Did you Get on the Bus? Or…Did you Send in Your TREPAC donation? Or… Have You Kept Your Dues Current?More

The Texas Association of Realtors® Political Action Committee (TREPAC) is the primary tool used by Realtors and other real estate professionals in Texas to elect officials who share our philosophy of strong property rights and a strong and healthy business environment.More

From July 2005 through the present, the Web site, Craigslist published more than 200 ads from metropolitan Chicago, with language such as "no minorities," "African Americans and Arabians tend to clash with me so that won't work out," "Ladies please rent from me," "Requirements: Clean Godly Christian Male," "Will allow only single occupancy," and "No children."More

Once a year we make history. It's commercial real estate history with one of the premier events in the country.More

I believe passionately in the mission and values of HAR, and I believe we will have a great year for building our REALTOR® community, while we spread the word to consumers that REALTORS are uniquely qualified to enable them to have the best experience in real estate transactions. We have a great message to deliver, and I am committed to making this year Simply the Best for HAR members.

Listen To HAR Chair Lorraine Abercrombie Introduce The February Issue of the Houston REALTOR.

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We Continue on an Incredible Journey!

Take a look at this quote from Carl Sagan and then just sit back, relax and reflect upon the past year at HAR. We have had one heck of a wonderful year!

"Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were.  But without it we go nowhere…"

Inspired by business guru and nationally known author, Tom Peters, I asked that we approach the year 2005 with an eye to re-imagine our industry and our roles.

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As we round the curve on 2005, we continue to raise the bar beyond what I believe many of us imagined. I know that we are the best Association in the country, and all of you continue to prove that every day in your businesses and in your participation in HAR.


Listen To HAR Chief Communications Officer Myra Jolivet's update on  REALTOR Celebration 2005.

 (click here to play)
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You can pay your 2006 Dues Online at www.har.com/dues.

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REALTORS Became Friends, Helpers and Donors in Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Imagine waking up one morning and being told to run for your life, from all that you own and know as familiar.  What would you take, or better yet, what would you choose to leave?  Baby pictures?  Your mother's quilts?  If you've ever had to make the decision, I bet you never forgot it and if you haven't lost everything, you count your blessings.

Listen To HAR Chair Toni C. Nelson Introduce The October Issue of the Houston REALTOR
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Many of you are aware that victims of the Hurricane Katrina disaster were temporarily housed at the Reliant Center, which is where REALTOR Expo 2005 was to be held. Under the extraordinary circumstances, HAR decided to cancel this year's REALTOR Expo.More

Inman Connect is a conference that was launched 10 years ago and dedicated to connecting innovation, new technologies and entrepreneurs with the best traditions and tried practices of real estate. It is about connecting real estate people with innovation.

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Have you noticed the signature below on HAR e-mails? It's the sign of something interesting!!More

Are you a movie buff and the smell of popcorn makes you want to sit for hours and watch the big screen?  Or has over-the-top Hollywood glamour always appealed to you?  Either way, you will find some common ground at this year's REALTOR® Expo...


Listen To HAR Chair Toni C. Nelson Introduce The August Issue of the Houston REALTOR

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Take a pep talk on fundraising by local legend, Carolyn Farb and mix it with a deep commitment to the issues affecting REALTORS®' lives and livelihoods – and you have the TREPAC Challenge.More

You could say our legislative agenda is in extra innings…we won some, we lost some and we are in overtime on others. This summer is a crucial time in our industry. In fact, for the next few years, all of us in the real estate industry must keep a playbook on state and federal legislation, so that we can know what forces can impact our business, negatively or positively.

Listen To HAR Chair Toni C. Nelson Introduce The July Issue of the Houston REALTOR

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Having recently returned from Denver, Colo. at a "Gathering of the Eagles" conference, a few headlines screamed out to me when I returned home. From the Austin American-Statesman I read, "Real Estate Agents Need to Deal with Changes in the Industry." And from USA Today, "REALTORS Fight Cost-cutters with Rule to Keep Fees High."

Listen To HAR Chair Toni C. Nelson Introduce The June Issue of the Houston REALTOR

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What a pleasure it has been to meet and converse with so many REALTORS® across the Houston area!  I have been able to hear, firsthand, the concerns of members about our industry these days.

 

Listen To HAR Chair Toni C. Nelson Introduce The May Issue of the Houston REALTOR

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"Agents of change" are currently entering our industry in record numbers, many of which would like to dislodge the REALTOR® as the first point of contact in a transaction or perhaps out of the equation altogether.



Listen To HAR Chair Toni C. Nelson Introduce The April Issue of the Houston REALTOR

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One of the most common complaints that we hear from listing agents is the inability to get the agents showing their listings to provide feedback.More

Consider this scenario. You've been courting a family searching for a house over the past few months and they finally found their dream home. You researched homes and neighborhoods and traveled with the family to those you thought might be a good fit.


Listen To HAR Chair Toni C. Nelson Introduce The March Issue of the Houston REALTOR More

Wow! What a fabulous year for residential real estate in Houston, Texas!  And many economists predict the same healthy trends to continue through 2005. So, when things are great, why would I select the theme, Re-Imagine Real Estate?
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What we did this past year is history. What is important is our future. Emphasis in the future is on member profitability, customer service, continuously growing technology-savvy buyers and sellers, and ever-evolving new business models.More

As entrepreneurs and independent contractors, it is oftentimes difficult to obtain quality insurance at an affordable price.
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When HAR.com was conceived, developed and launched, everyone involved had high hopes that it would become a useful, productive tool for REALTORS® and consumers alike.More

The political process at the federal, state and even local levels, can affect our industry in many ways.
 
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Gather your beads and business cards for the toss!! The Houston Association of REALTORS® is proud to present REALTOR® Expo 2004. More

In a profession where carpooling or traveling by public transportation is not generally a viable option, high gas prices can most assuredly put a cramp on the livelihood of your business.More

In the real estate business, two economic factors intertwine impacting the demand for real estate and lending activity—jobs and interest rates.More

How many of you watched with not-so-fond memories the news coverage of the devastating floods that swept through the towns just south of the U.S. border last month? Can you believe it has been nearly three years since Tropical Storm Allison dealt similar devastation to the citizens of our city? More

As real estate professionals, we must stay abreast of the historical events and current events impacting the purchase of the American dream.More

Managing sellers’ expectations can be a serious challenge in a market where overall home sales statistics seem to be going up indefinitely.More

Three factors, just like the three legs of a stool, support any real estate economy: job growth, interest rates and the relative supply of property either for sale or rent.More

The tagline for my chairmanship this year is "Taking Care of Business," and I plan to do just that.More

Wow! What a great ride! This year has flown by. I can hardly believe that I am already writing my last column as your chairman.More

The Houston Press recently recognized HAR.com in its "Best of Houston" special section. The article stated that HAR.com has the "Best Houston Info on the Web" for consumers looking to purchase a home. More

During my chairmanship I have spent much of my time devoted to HAR's mission statement, which is to help members achieve ongoing profitability.  I have also spent a lot of time preaching about the benefits of being good stewards in the Houston community.  This month I would like to touch on both topics.

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As all of you can attest, relationships are key in our industry. One way that HAR established for you to grow and cultivate these important relationships is through monthly area networking meetings.More

Boy, do we have a fun fall season planned for you.  Click here for more information!More

Wow! Can you believe how fast the year is flying by?  Before you know it we'll be toasting in another new year.  I am thoroughly enjoying my tenure as your chairman thus far, having been involved in so many exciting things. More

I'm sure by now you realize that the Houston Association of Realtors® is celebrating its 85th birthday.  Can you believe how much the real estate industry has evolved within the past 10 years, let alone the past 85? More

Wow!  What a trip! On April 8 more than 1,000 Realtors® from across Texas converged on the Capitol to discuss legislation that could be potentially harmful to consumers.More

Every American has a right to fair housing. The right to live where you choose, to raise a family, to own a home - in dignity and without fear of discrimination - is a fundamental right guaranteed to all. It cannot be denied to anyone because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap.
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For those of you who do not invest in the Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee, have I got a success story for you.  Thanks to the grassroots lobbying efforts put forth by Realtors and NAR's powerhouse Realtor Political Action Committee, recent actions by Congress have further delayed banks continuous attempts to enter into the real estate brokerage.  This is a tremendous victory for our industry!

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With the numbers all in, there is no question that 2002 was yet another successful year in the Houston real estate market.More

Dovie's plan for 2003.

This is the moment, this is the day
When I send all my doubts and demons on their way
Every endeavor,  I have made ever,
Is coming into play, is here and now today.
This is the Moment, Jekyll and HydeMore

As my term as your chairman comes to an end, I wanted to use my last column to reflect upon what HAR has accomplished this past year under my leadership.More

Get out the Realtor vote and support our industry by supporting Realtor-friendly candidates who will protect your interests.

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As many of you may already know, opportunity housing is an issue that I hold near and dear to my heart.More

Well, it's here. On Sept. 30 HAR will cut off the old MLS system. Stellar, and the new Web-based Tempo MLS system will take its place.More

HAR Chairman Shad bogany discusses the merger with the Montgomery County Realtors, Tempo updates and HAR's exciting new event Realtor Expo.

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