The ECAR Sales Statistics Chart has been updated with unit sales from all of 2011. This chart is for members to use in communications and marketing with customers and clients. It is not intended to replace any statistics members use in their own marketing each month, but only to supplement what is already being used. A pdf version of the chart is now also available. ECAR members can access the chart by clicking here.

Questions or comments? Contact Michaela at michaela@ecaor.com or 850-243-6145.

If you ever wondered if Realtors® have any power in Tallahassee, you need to attend Great American Realtor® Days. In 2012, because of redistricting, the legislative session is January 10 through March 9, and Great American Realtor® Days are on February 14 and 15. (Yes, Valentine’s Day.)

As 2012 Florida Realtors® President Summer Greene says, “If real estate is your profession, politics is your business.”

From Florida Realtors® website:

Great American Realtor® Days are two days set aside during Florida’s legislative session when Realtors® converge on the Capitol to voice their opinions on legislative issues.

Members are briefed on the status of pending real estate legislation and meet with and lobby legislators.

For more information about Great American Realtor® Days and to register, click here.

If you've even occasionally listed or sold commercial properties through the MLS, you may have noticed a field called Loopnet. But do you know what it is?

So what is is this field, what does it do, and how do you use it?

Basically, Loopnet is a website developed for commercial real estate. ECAR has no official direct connection to this website so listings in the MLS, even ones that utilize the Loopnet field, do not get sent automatically to this site. And there is no link to click to get straight to the Loopnet website.

In order to view properties, or add a property to the site, you must be registered. But it is free for a basic membership. As with any website outside of the MLS, we have no record of the usernames and passwords set up on this site, so we can't help you if you forget either one.

I won't get into details about how to enter properties or search, but it appears to be a fairly basic process not unlike many other websites. What I do want to include is what this website does have to do with the MLS, and how is the Loopnet field on the MLS listing connected to this website.

The Loopnet field in the MLS is simply a reference to the Loopnet website. Part of the property entry process on the Loopnet website is to select subcategories. The main categories include property types such as retail, residential income, office, etc. The subcategories take it a step further with options such as Retail-Commercial Service Station/Gas Station. When you enter the property into the Loopnet website, make a note of the subcategory numbers that you select. Then when you enter the property into the ECAR MLS, you can enter that number.

Again, there's no direction connection between the ECAR MLS and Loopnet. So when you see the subcategory numbers on listings in the MLS, they are there to help you find that particular property when you search the Loopnet website.

If you have any questions about this Tip, or the MLS in general, please call us at 850-244-2411, or email susan@ecaor.com.

~ Susan Beck, MLS Director
Emerald Coast Association of REALTORS
Fort Walton Beach, FL

Make plans today for the first Broker Breakfast of 2012 on Friday, February 3, 2012 beginning at 8:30 am at ECAR! Learn about changes to ECAR staff. Hear from the Realtor Outreach Committee (ROC) on an upcoming campaign to make a difference! Find out what you need to know from the Florida Realtors Mid Winter Business Meetings! Plus much more!

Breakfast is free and door prizes will be given away thanks to our great sponsors: Beach to Bayou Property Inspection, McNeese Title, and Waterstone Mortgage!

Sign up online or contact Michaela at michaela@ecaor.com or 850-243-6145 to register!

GRI I Standards of Practice is coming to ECAR!

What is it?GRI I: Standards of Practice will provide you the latest in real estate practices; everything from effective closing techniques tofair housing and agency issues. Approved for 11 hours specialty CE credit and 3 hours of CoreLaw, GRI I meets all the continuing education requirements for your renewal OR if you're a new licensee, take GRI I for 45 hours of Sales Associate Post Licensing Credit.

Why should you sign up?GRI designees earn $22,400 more per year than those without their GRI. Our instructors are highly qualified and actively involved inFlorida's real estate industry, and the classroom experience will provide you opportunities to network and share best practices withfellow Realtors.

How much is it? Sign up by January 27 and pay $400. After that, the day class begins, the cost goes up to $425. If you sign up for all three GRI classes in 2012 at ECAR, the package price is $999 (sign up by Jan. 23).

Register by contacting Florida Realtors at 1-800-669-4327 or go online to http://www.floridarealtors.org. More info.

Contact Stephanie White, ECAR Education Director for more information!