Let’s all congratulate the newly-elected 2017 HAR Board of Directors. There were eight open spots that needed to be filled. After weeks of campaigning for election to the HAR Board of Directors, we finally announced the new members of the Board who will serve in 2017. These eight new board members join the returning board members to help lead your Association next year, and their decisions can have a lasting impact on the greater Houston real estate market and the entire industry. Thank you to those of you who voted, and I encourage those of you who didn’t to make sure you vote next year. You may see who your elected representatives are for 2017 here. And congratulations to Richard Miranda with Keller Williams Realty Greater Northwest for being elected as secretary/treasurer for next year. He joins an outstanding executive committee and will do us all proud.
The BIG e is HAR’s biggest membership event of the year, and this year brings some major changes. The BIG e is being rebranded as HAR Engage. Why the name change? We want the name of our largest REALTOR® event to reflect what the conference is about, engaging with our members and helping our members better engage with their clients. Another major change is that “Everyone is a VIP.” The ticket price of $99 provides you access to the seated luncheon. Some of the best speakers from across the country will be in Houston to help energize your business. Everything from the latest apps and consumer ratings to REALTOR® safety and the industry outlook will be covered by the best in the business. Read more about it and how to purchase tickets here.
The Houston economy has done a respectable job of resisting most of the effects of the energy industry downturn. However, July brought the first decline in residential sales activity since January. The good news is that housing inventory has grown to its highest level since November 2012. Our commercial division, Commercial Gateway, continues to support our members in their businesses. Part of that support includes the upcoming 20th Annual Commercial Real Estate MCE to be held at the Norris Conference Center. Attendees will hear from numerous commercial real estate industry and legal experts including Dr. James Gaines, Chief Economist for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, who will provide the Texas real estate forecast for 2017. The Commercial Real Estate Course provides 18 MCE hours (10 elective hours plus eight legal hours) required by TREC including TREC-mandated legal and ethics courses. To learn more about how to register to attend, please read here.
As many of you know, September is REALTOR® Safety month. HAR recently learned of some suspicious/dangerous behavior—reports ranging from the theft of prescription medication during an open house to a listing scam and even the return of “Foot Fetish Creep.” When we receive reports of this nature, we immediately notify all members by posting alerts on the Members Only Portal, on HARConnect and in the 5 Minute REALTOR®. You may read some helpful safety tips from NAR here. Also HAR’s Professional Development department is offering safety classes throughout September. You will find more information on these courses here. HAR cannot emphasize enough the importance of SAFETY FIRST for all real estate professionals and their clients.
As we near the end of the TREPAC fiscal year (end of September), I want to ask for one last push to help us reach our goal for the year. If you haven’t invested in TREPAC yet, then please read here to find out more and to see your fellow REALTORS® who have invested already. Consider doing your part to help protect homeownership and private property rights by supporting TREPAC today! I would encourage you to go to TREPAC.com to calculate your savings and see what your investment in TREPAC means to your and your client’s bottom line.
Until Next Month,
Mario Arriaga
2016 HAR Chair
