President s Message. Fall has arrived in all its glory. Cool fresh air, bright colored leaves and an extra hour of sleep.

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1 40 Summer St. Fitchburg MA Ph. (978) Fax (978) Volume 38, Issue 11 News & Views November 2015 NCMAR Leadership President Bill Foss Exit New Options Real Estate President Elect Michelle Haggstrom Keller Williams Realty N. Central. Treasurer Locke Haman Exit New Options Real Estate Secretary April Cover ReMax Property Promotions Director Judith Murphy Keller Williams Realty N. Central Business Partner Director Rick Vallee, Fidelity Bank Past President Christina Sargent Foster-Healey Real Estate President s Message Fall has arrived in all its glory. Cool fresh air, bright colored leaves and an extra hour of sleep. The Fall Market Started Strong as Massachusetts Closed Home Sales Went Up Again in September. The fall home buying market started strong as closed homes sales went up in September over 17 percent compared to the same time last year. This is the fourth straight month of year-over-year increases in single-family home sales, and the second largest year-over-year increase in closed home sales this year (the largest was in July). Condominium sales closed up at almost nine percent, while median prices remained flat since this time last year. Fun is waiting for all who attend the November NCMAR Night Out at the Foggia Bocce Club on North Main Street in Leominster. I.C. Credit Union is our sponsor for the evening. Join us on November 19th at 5:30 pm for several games of Bocce. Don t forget to register for the Installation Banquet and Holiday Party on December 3rd at the beautiful Chockett Inn. Entertainment will be provided by DJ Ray Richard. Great opportunity for your office to get together and party with fellow NCMAR members. Please register by the deadline of November 30th. Bill Foss, 2015 President For details or registration flier see page 7. The Holiday Gift Program is underway. We are trying to help out 6 local agencies including MOC Headstart children, Children s Aid and Family Services children, YWCA assisting battered women and their children, veterans and their children, homeless men and women, the disabled and seniors. This is a terrific program that brings joy during the holiday season to help those that are less fortunate. See page 8 to sign up to buy for children, teens, seniors, disabled, homeless or veterans. The holidays are fast approaching so take time to enjoy the current market, season change and upcoming opportunities to visit with family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving. Till next time, enjoy! Bill

2 Page 2 News & Views November 2015 Notes from the MAR Legal Hotline Michael McDonagh, MAR General Counsel Ashley Stolba, MAR Associate Counsel Justin Davidson, MAR Staff Attorney Q. My buyer client recently made an offer on a property, but the seller has not accepted the offer. May the buyer withdraw his offer? A. Generally, the buyer may withdraw the offer prior to the seller s written acceptance. Once the seller provides written acceptance, however, that offer is binding and the buyer typically cannot withdraw without risk of losing his or her deposit, unless the withdrawal is based on an agreed upon contingency. Q. Is there a requirement in Massachusetts that a seller reject an offer in writing? A. No. Although a buyer may request that a written rejection be provided in response to their offer, there is no legal or ethical requirement that the seller do so. Q. Is it true that a consumer who signs an offer to buy a home has three days to change his mind even if a seller has accepted the offer? Q. I am selling my own listing to a customer who has asked me to recommend a home inspector. Is there a rule regarding seller s agents recommending a home inspector? A. The law prohibits brokers and salespersons who are not working in the capacity of a buyer s agent from directly recommending a specific home inspection company or home inspector. They may, however, provide a complete list of licensed home inspectors prepared by The Division of Professional Licensure, which can be accessed here: license.reg.state.ma.us/public/hi_biz/v_list_hi.asp. It is important to remember that this prohibition against recommending a home inspector shall not apply to agents working for the buyer as a buyer agent. Buyer agents are allowed to recommend a specific home inspector to clients. However, for liability reasons, it is always recommended that the buyer agent provide a list of several inspectors so that the client can choose a home inspector for themselves. A. No. M.G.L. c. 93, s. 48 allows a consumer three business days in which to cancel an agreement for the sale or lease of goods or services in excess of $25 which are used primarily for personal, family or household purposes if the contract was signed at a place other than the seller or lessor's office. For example, if a door-to-door salesperson convinces a consumer to sign a contract to have aluminum siding installed on his house, and the contract is signed at the consumer's dining room table, the consumer would have three business days in which to rescind or cancel the contract. However, this statute has not been held to apply to real estate transactions since real estate is not a "good." The reasoning behind the statute is that consumers who sign contracts in their homes are under higher pressure to do so than a person who signs a contract in a business office where he is free to leave. Q. As a listing agent, can I make home inspectors business cards or other promotional material available? A. The law states that real estate agents (except those representing the buyer) cannot make direct or indirect recommendations on the use of home inspectors to their clients. The promotion of business cards and materials could be seen as indirectly recommending those home inspectors and therefore a violation of the statute. The MAR Legal Hotline is available free of charge to all office principals and their designees who have completed the Hotline Authorization form. To obtain a copy of the form, visit MAR s website at or simply call the Hotline at The Hotline is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

3 Page 3 News & Views November 2015 Good Neighbor MaryAnn Bonneau MaryAnn Bonneau has been a full-time Realtor for over 32 years and has helped hundreds of people obtain their dream of homeownership. MaryAnn has served on various committees and has bee involved with several local charities including American Red Cross Blood Drive, American Cancer Society through Dana Farber Cancer Institute, taught CCD for Holy Family of Nazareth for many years, knitting Caps for Newborns and Soldiers Overseas to wear under their helmets and served as the Past Secretary of Fallbrook PTA. MaryAnn works for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Leominster. Maryann.Bonneau@NEMoves.com Phone (978) office Business Partner Spotlight Carlos Melón Francisco (Carlos) Melón, Attorney A 35 year resident of Westford, MA, Attorney "Carlos" Melón graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1999 and Suffolk University Law School (Boston, MA) in Carlos started his law career in neighboring Bolton, MA in a general practice firm and less than two years later began with Reynolds Law Offices. His legal interests and practice areas lie predominantly in real estate, wills and trusts, and small businesses. In addition to his legal background, Carlos brings with him 10 years experience in residential construction. Carlos is fluent in both Spanish and French. He is also a member of the Real Estate Bar Association and the Massachusetts Bar Association. Reynolds Law Offices 111 Main Street S. Lancaster, MA T: carlos@reynoldslaw.com

4 Page 4 News & Views November Committee Chairs Executive Committee Bill Foss Finance Committee Locke Haman Government Affairs Committee Barry Cunningham Member Services Committee Susan Wright Welcome New REALTOR Members In accordance with Article V Section 1 NCMAR By-Laws notice is hereby given to all REALTOR members of the intention of the named individuals to become members of the Association. If any REALTOR member desires to make objection or comment concerning the named individuals, such objection or comment must be made in writing to the President within 10 days of this notice. Johanna Grutchfield Meyer Aberman and Associates Jill Wholey Keller Williams Realty North Central Technology Committee David Hyre Community Involvement Committee Denise Wortman Communications Committee Locke Haman Grievance Committee Gayle Sabol Scott Phillips Foster-Healey Real Estate Jessica Barker Exit Realty Partners Diane Coolidge Realty Vision Peter Haley Aberman & Associates Professional Standards Committee Gary Bourque Scholarship Trustees Karen Shattuck MLS PIN offers free, hands-on training classes for our customers to learn the different levels of the Pinergy system. To register go to Top Producer Workgroup Lana Kopsala Awards & Recognition Workgroup Tom Ruble Young Professionals Network Katie Weldon MAR Directors Tom Ruble Bill Foss Michelle Haggstrom MAR Alternates April Cover Judith Murphy Darlene Sodano If you have problems registering online, please call our Customer Service at (800) , option 1, to register by phone. Registration is required to reserve your seat in each class. We recommend doing so in advance as seating is limited. All classes are free of charge for MLS PIN customers. MLS PIN Directors Rick Healey Paula Savard Training Videos are also available at Take a look at all the videos made for you to get the most out of Pinergy.

5 Knitting caps for Soldiers were I donated hats that I knitted and they were sent overseas for Soldiers who w them under their helmets to keep warm. When I see articles in the paper on-line,or TV, I try to help with my knitting. I do knit prayer shawls and donate to Leominster Hospital and Nursing Homes at times and I knit scarfs an nate them to Ginnys to help. I also donate knitted scarfs to my church. Same thing with Knitting Caps for ne overseas there is always an organization looking for them and they send them overseas for Newborns.

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8 NCMAR Holiday Gift Program 2015 We need your help! Please help make this holiday season very special for those who are less fortunate by purchasing a gift or gift card for one or a few. Want help with the shopping? You may make a monetary donation and the elves will shop. wrap and tag the gift with your name for you. Checks should be written to NCMAR or call Kathy Lore with your credit card information. Please complete the information below and to kathylore@ncmar.com or fax to An elf will contact you with your person s name and gift information. Name: Office: We would like to purchase for # of children or teens # of seniors or disabled # of homeless men or women # of veterans Thank you for your generosity. Deadline for gift drop off at Fitchburg office is December 8, 2015.

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10 Upcoming Events NCMAR Night Out Connect and Engage at the The Foggia Club 71 North Main St. Leominster, Mass. Sponsored by Dawn Ferry of IC Credit Union Meet with your fellow NCMAR REALTORS and Business Partners in an inviting atmosphere for networking on the 3rd Thursday of each month for drinks and appetizers. Thursday, November 19th, :30 to 8:30 pm The Member Services Committee will offer a 50/50 cash raffle where you may purchase tickets for $5 Half the funds raised from this raffle will go to a local charity. Calendar of Events November 4th Member Services Committee 9:30 am 5th Broker Forum on TRID 2-4pm 5th Free CE Class on Offers 6-8pm 9th MLS PIN Training 9:30 am & 1:00 pm 11th Veterans Day Office closed 18th Free CE Class on Environmental Issues 10- noon 19th NCMAR Night Out 5:30 pm? At the Foggia Club in Leominster 23rd Central Region Caucus at WRAR 1-3 pm 24th NCMAR Board of Directors 9 am 26th Thanksgiving Day office closed 27th Black Friday office closed. Join your fellow NCMAR members for a fun night out with plenty of networking, good conversation and a enjoyable time for all attendees. Pizza and Light appetizers are served. Beautiful Silver REALTOR bracelet! The cost is $20 and 100% of the proceeds will be used for homeless grants and disaster relief! Makes a great gift just in time for the Holidays! We have a limited supply. Purchase yours today! Kathy at kathylore@ncmar.com. December 3rd Installation Banquet and Holiday Party Chocksett Inn 5-6pm Networking and 6-10 Banquet and dancing 7th MAR Board of Directors Meeting and Installation Ocean Edge Resort, Brewster 10th Free CE Class on Residential Mortgage Loan from 6 to 8 pm 15th NCMAR Board of Directors Meeting 9 am 16th Free CE Class on FHA Loans 10 to noon 17th NCMAR Night Out at Slatterys Restaurant 5:30 to? 25th Christmas Day Office Closed North Central MA Associations of REALTORS, Inc. 40 Summer St. Fitchburg MA Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (978) NCMAR Staff Association Executive Kathy Lore, RCE, epro Ext.101 kathylore@ncmar.com Member Services Coordinator Justin Lore, epro Ext. 102 justinlore@ncmar.com Newsletter Deadline for submission for the next issue is the last day of the month. For information on Business Partner advertising, contact the Association Office. News & Views is available online at and every issue is ed to our members. Print copies of the News & Views are available to members upon request. The subscription is included in the yearly local dues.