• Provide the $8,000 tax credit to any buyer (not just first time)
• Set income limits at $150,000/$300,000 for single/married buyers
• Make the credit available until June 30, 2010

NAR desperately needs as many calls placed as quickly as possible to Sen. Cornyn's and Sen. Hutchison's offices asking them to support the Dodd-Lieberman-Isakson amendment that extends the tax credit.

Please place calls to each Senator's Tax Legislative Assistant. The phone numbers are:

Sen. Cornyn: 202-224-2934
Sen. Hutchison: 202-224-5922

Your assistance with this is critical, as there are several different amendments that will come forward on this issue and they are drastically different. We need to make sure the message is sent loud and clear to our Senators' offices that the tax credit is important and that the Dodd-Lieberman-Isakson amendment is the preferred measure. For more detailed talking points on this amendment, please click here.

Nominate a REALTOR or Affiliate of the Year
It's time once again to nominate a CCAR REALTOR and/or Affiliate member for the association's highest honors: REALTOR of the Year and Affiliate of the Year! Nominations will close on November 9, so be sure to nominate someone today by clicking here for the nomination forms.

The REALTOR of the Year Award recognizes one REALTOR in the association based on his/her work and effort on behalf of fellow REALTORS. The Affiliate of the Year Award recognizes an Affiliate member for his/her work and contributions to CCAR, which have benefitted the association and its membership.

The winners will be selected by committees composed of past recipients, and will be announced at CCAR's Installation of Officers and Holiday Breakfast on December 17. Remember, all nominations are due no later than Monday, November 9 and should be sent to the attention of Jonna Fernandez at: jonna@ccar.net or faxed to 972-265-4281.

Don't Fall for the Misinformation Campaign on Props 2, 3, and 5 
Taken from a message sent via TexasRealtors.com

Texans have the opportunity November 3 to vote on several important constitutional amendments. The Texas Association of REALTORS® is urging people to vote for Propositions 2, 3, and 5. These amendments will help ensure that tax appraisals in Texas are fair to property owners and uniform from county to county.

An e-mail misinformation campaign has been circulating that makes false statements about Propositions 2 and 3. The e-mail claims that passing these propositions will allow the state to start taxing homeowners. That is complete fiction. Here are brief explanations of what these amendments will actually do:
 
• Proposition 2 will require county appraisal districts to value a home as a home. Currently, appraisal districts can use the "best and highest use" method to value a residence based on its potential use. For example, a residence in a neighborhood zoned for mixed use could be appraised at a higher amount for its possible use as a commercial property.

• Proposition 3 gives the state the ability to make sure appraisal methods are consistent throughout the 254 Texas counties.
• Proposition 5 will make it acceptable for two adjoining appraisal districts to combine their boards of equalization if they wish-an option that rural counties may find attractive.

Don't let this misinformation campaign hurt the chances of passing these important amendments. If you need additional background materials to share with other REALTORS® and consumers, you can access a layman's explanation written by Texas Association of REALTORS® staff attorney Gabe Lopez.

Pay Early...Be Eligible to Win Great Prizes!
The 2010 Membership Dues Renewal Notice has been e-mailed to all of our members. Member invoices are posted on the CCAR Web site, www.ccar.net. The due date is Dec. 1, 2009, but if you pay your dues online by October 31, you will be eligible to win one of 75 great prizes. All those who pay by October 31 will be entered into a drawing for:

• One of five: 2010 membership dues reimbursements
• One of 10: PC Notebooks
• One of 15: iPod Nanos
• One of 20: American Express $50 gift cards
• One of 25: Starbucks $10 gift cards

To pay your dues online, go to www.ccar.net and click on "Pay Dues & Other Fees" under "CCAR Online Services."

• Log-in with your seven-digit real estate license number or member number and your MLS password (or last name if not a subscriber of ATS/MLS).
• Go to "Pay/View Bill Online," then proceed as directed on each page until you see "Successful Transaction" on the top of the page.
• PRINT the "Successful Transaction" page. This is your receipt.

IMPORTANT: When paying online, your transaction is not complete until you see a "Successful Transaction" message.
 
Remember, to be eligible for the drawing, you must pay your membership dues online by October 31. With 75 prizes, the odds of winning are pretty good!

CCAR EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Two-day/15 hour TREC Legal Update and Ethics + Contract and Negotiations
Day one of this two-day class includes Legal Update and Legal Ethics. Day two includes the TREC contract/addenda forms and understanding contract procedures. This class completes the 15 hours of MCE needed to renew your Texas real estate license.

Dates and time: Wednesday and Friday, November 4 and 6, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: $45 for CCAR members, $75 for non-members. MCE: 15 hours (includes six TREC legal hours). Instructor: Bob Baker. To register for this class, please click here.

NEW CLASS: "That's Not What I Meant!": Gestures and Body Language for the Real Estate Agent
This course will teach agents how to not embarrass themselves with international clients, as well as how to read differences in body language. Specific "do's and taboos" of body language, differences in negotiating techniques, and business practices from various countries will be discussed. Students will also learn how to use nonverbal communication to their advantage when having an "out of country" experience.

Date and time: Thursday, November 5, 9 a.m.-noon. Cost: $25 for CCAR members, $35 for non-members. MCE: Three hours (no legal). Instructor: Linda Gasaway. To register for this class, please click here.

Outlook TM "Contacting Your Contacts"
Are you still rolodexing? Create a technological rolodex database that keeps track of names, addresses and phone numbers. Once you have entered a person's name into Outlook, the possibilities are endless. You can instantly find, e-mail, print information about, or even create a map to a contact's business or home address. In this class you'll learn to:

• Add a contact and an e-mail sender
• Map a contact's address on the Internet
• Change display views of contacts list
• Create a distribution list
• Use mail merge to create mailing lists and documents
• Use e-mail
• Edit and delete a contact
• Use the Actions menu

Date and time: Thursday, November 5, 10 a.m.-noon. Cost: $18 for CCAR members, $28 for non-members. MCE: Two hours (no legal). To register for this class, please click here.

NEW CLASS: "How to Claw Your Way to the Top Without Ruining Your Nails!" This course will teach you strategies and techniques to positively influence your colleagues and clients and develop confidence to be calm and commanding anywhere, anytime. You'll learn how to use media to your advantage and how to climb the ladder of success by making more connections. This course will help you take an objective look at what your image says about you and what you can do about your image.

Date and time: Wednesday, November 11, 9 a.m.-noon. Cost: $25 for CCAR members, $35 for non-members. MCE: Three hours (no legal). Instructor: Linda Gasaway. To register for this class, please click here.

CCAR UPCOMING EVENTS
Annual Affiliate Holiday Auction - November 17
Mark your calendars for CCAR's annual Affiliate Holiday Auction on Tuesday, November 17 at 8:30 a.m. in the CCAR Banquet Room. Proceeds from the event will provide enhancements and educational tools for our association to better serve our members. In addition, those who plan to attend are asked to bring nonperishable food items and toiletries for donation to the Samaritan Inn. For more information, or to donate an auction item, please click here. The annual Affiliate Holiday Auction is sponsored by the CCAR Affiliate Committee.

CCAR Installation and Holiday Celebration - December 17
The annual CCAR Installation of Officers has joined forces with the annual Holiday Celebration! This combined event benefits the Collin County Children's Advocacy Center Rainbow Room.

Date: Thursday, December 17
Time: 11-11:45 a.m. (champagne reception), Noon (lunch)
Location: Embassy Suites - Frisco, 7600 John Q. Hammons Dr., Frisco, TX
Cost: $35/person (lunch), $400/table (lunch), $10/person (champagne reception)

This year's event will feature Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, as well as WFAA-TV News Anchor, Shelly Slater. Music will be provided by the Taylor Davis Band. The CCAR officers who will be installed for 2010 are: Olin Jaye, President; Mal Smith, President Elect; Leslie Rouda Smith, Secretary/Treasurer; and Dan Robertson, Immediate Past President.

As in years past, guests are encouraged to bring a new clothing, toiletry, or cash donation to benefit the Collin County Children's Advocacy Center Rainbow Room.

Reservations can be made by calling CCAR at 972-618-3800 or by clicking here.

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