The power of the Realtor® Party was in effect during the 2010 Florida Realtors® Convention in Orlando. The Legislative and Political Forum committee at Florida Realtors®, whose Vice Chair is ECAR Director Bob Hudgens, managed to secure visits from 5 major political candidates: Gubernatorial candidates Florida CFO Alex Sink (D) and businessman Rick Scott (R), and US Senate candidates Governor Charlie Crist (I), Congressman Kendrick Meek (D), and Former House Speaker Marco Rubio (R). State and national media covered their speeches. ECAR also recorded the candidates, and the videos are now available for you to view.

Florida Realtors® is not making any recommendations in the races for Governor or US Senator. Watch the candidates and decide for yourself.

Candidates for Governor:

CFO Alex Sink - Democrat

Rick Scott, businessman – Republican

Candidates for US Senate:

Gov. Charlie Crist - Independent

Congressman Kendrick Meek – Democrat

Former House Speaker Marco Rubio – Republican

Election Day is Tuesday, November 2.

If you have any questions about Realtor® involvement in politics, contact ECAR Government Affairs Director Cliff Long

The Emerald Coast Association of REALTORS® will close at 1:00 p.m. Friday, September 3 and will be closed Monday, September 6, 2010, in observance of Labor Day. Over the long weekend, emergency MLS and Supra support will be available by calling 850-244-2411. Offices will reopen at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

The claims process changed hands Monday, August 23, 2010, and BP is no longer in control of paying claims. The BP claims process was replaced by the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, headed up by Kenneth Feinberg who is control of the $20 billion trust to pay claims. In addition to the trust, Feinberg also set aside a $60 million emergency fund for real estate professionals who experienced losses from the oil spill; Florida received $16 million from the emergency fund. This fund is designed to give real estate licensees emergency financial help.

Florida Realtors® (your state association) is the administrator of the $25 million emergency fund for Florida and has hired an outside company, NCA, to handle the claims process. NCA claims adjustors are sitting here at ECAR waiting to help real estate professionals who lost transactions and/or income due to the oil spill. They will pay claims directly from the emergency fund. A maximum of $12,000 is being paid out to individuals who can show loss – and not just within one mile of the beach. If you think you don’t have a claim because BP said so, file anyway.

Even if you’ve filed a claim with BP and have been paid or are still waiting for payment, you can still file a claim through the emergency real estate fund.

Below is the documentation required for filing claims:

LOSS OF INCOME CLAIMS:

• Signed Tax Returns for 2007, 2008 and 2009.
• Commission Statements for 2007, 2008, 2009 and especially 2010 to date showing the property sold, amount of commission and dates the commissions were paid. Typically the broker can generate this document. Otherwise bring pay stubs or create a spreadsheet with this information.
• Driver’s License
• Your Real Estate Agent license. (If you are a broker, bring broker’s license and brokerage license)
• Hardship letter
• Map of sold OR listed properties to show locations in relation to the Gulf.
• Copy of letter from BP that accompanied any funds received from BP

LOSS OF SPECIFIC TRANSACTION: (MUST BE FILED BY THE BROKER)

• Listing Agreement
• MLS information reflecting offer of compensation or any other commission agreements or other commission communications.
• Independent Contractor Agreement or other documentation reflecting split between broker and sales associate.
• Cancellation information, letters, and all relevant communication regarding lost transaction due to oil spill as cause of collapse of transaction.
• Documents providing details on efforts to mitigate losses or why no efforts were taken.
• Documentation of payments received from private insurance
• A detailed explanation of economic need for this emergency payment.
• Copy of Florida broker’s license.
• Other proof, if applicable.

Below are the requirements for filing a real estate claim under the emergency fund:

• Claimants must hold a current Florida real estate license and have been actively licensed in Florida at the time the loss of income was incurred.
• The only claims allowed under this emergency fund are for those based on loss of income, as a result of the spill.
• All claims based on a loss of commission for a specific transaction for the sale of real estate may only be filed by a broker or brokerage firm.
• Commissions lost on both residential and commercial sales are eligible.
• Both brokers and sales associates may file individually for a loss of income.
• Claims that are not eligible: commercial real estate income, rental income, rental commissions and claims resulting from property damage or other personal claims. These claims should be filed with the Gulf Coast Claims Facility directly.
• Claims will be limited to $12,000 per claimant for all losses. As this is an emergency fund, it is not designed to fully reimburse losses.
• Initial claims are restricted to loss of income from April 20, 2010 through July 31, 2010. Subsequent claims may be filed for loss of income from August 1, 2010 through October, 31, 2010, depending on fund availability. A separate claim will be required for each corresponding time period. Maximum payment to any individual claimant, in aggregate, shall not exceed $12,000.

Decision making process:

· If the claim is approved, a check or payment will be made immediately.

· If the claim is deemed not in compliance with the program, it will be sent to Florida Realtors® for a preliminary review prior to a denial being issued.

· If the claim is denied, the claimant may file an appeal.

Go to http://www.fl.gulfreclaims.com/ or call 1-888-498-6944 to file your claim or for more information on what you need to file your claim.

If you had a claim number with BP, you will need to re-file with the Gulf Coast Claims Facility at http://www.gulfcoastclaimsfacility.com/. All of your documentation should transfer over, but contact the facility to be sure. Filing a claim through the emergency fund does not mean you cannot file a claim with the Gulf Coast Claims Facility.

The November elections are approaching, and Realtors® and business leaders statewide are united squarely against Amendment 4 which will appear on the November ballot. Please help us get the word out. Vote NO on 4 yard signs are now available on a first come first serve basis at ECAR. Please stop by and pick up your sign today. They are expected to go fast!

For more information on the fight against Amendment 4 please visit: http://www.florida2010.org/

View the 2010 Proposed Amendments to read more about the Amendments on the ballot in November.