Baltimore Realtors® Need a Home! Can we help GBBR find a home for our board?

Baltimore Realtors®  Need a Home!  Can we help GBBR find a home for our board?

Who better to find a home for Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS® than Realtors® ?

                 

Can we help GBBR find a home for our board?

 

                                                 

 

'The Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS® is seeking to identify and consider the purchase of a building to house our offices, meeting rooms and training center. The board has been leasing the facilities at 1306 Bellona Avenue and wish to examine the options of making a long term investment of real estate. REALTOR® boards across the country who own their building overwhelming have healthier financial bottom lines than those who rent.'

                            Can we help GBBR find a home for our board?

Since I always ask my buyers for a wish list for their new home, below is the GBBR Wish List.   

Thanks!
The 2012 Building Task Force of GBBR

Can we help GBBR find a home for our board?

                                                             

What Ten Dollars Will Get You ... An Entire Day of Learning at GBBR!

Colette Massengale, Maryland Association Realtors ®  Legal Counsel, Carolyn Cook, Deputy Executive Vice President at Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS, Cathy Werner president of the Maryland Association of Realtors, and Kathy Connelly from the Maryland Real Estate Commission...  started the day by sharing ways we can keep from getting to know them better...at least in their official capacities.

What Ten Dollars Will Get You... An Entire Day of Learning at GBBR!

    

The GBBR's Business Building Workshop began with networking and breakfast at 9:00AM, a line up of nine speakers that went until 3:00 PM. There was a delicious lunch break catered by Qdoba of Towson.

We had nine expert panelists, breakfast, lunch and we  were able to connect with friends and colleagues. This entire day information packed day cost ten bucks! What a deal!

Thanks to Kim Jones   for, once again, organizing this information packed day. Kim is above with Bob Kimbell president of Greater Baltimore Board  of Realtors® and Mary Hartman.

Bob spoke about business building. Status Quo is NOT a Strategy! What prospecting is NOT and  Ten biggest planning mistakes. He is entertaining and an inspiring presenter!

Kim Jones presented over 60 Tech-Tips covering Smart Phone Apps, Web-Sites and Products to make your life easier and business more efficient.
 
One of my favorite rookie agents and ActiveRain member..Rosa Almond , brought some color and smiles to this knowledgeable panel of speakers... Alphonso Freeman, Jose Rivas and Russell G. Hughes.


For ten dollars, you could have had...An Entire Day of Learning at GBBR!

Margaret Rome
Author of Real Estate the Rome Way
www.HomeRome.com
410-530-2400

Today at GBBR Margaret Rome Signed up Another New Member!

Today at GBBR Margaret Rome Signed up another new Member for ActiveRain

                    

Take a look at new member Rosa Almond. I think ActiveRain is going to be nuts about this new member!
Rosa's enthusiasm, sitting in front of the class, was infectious. Can't wait to hear more about how she is going to use the idea of a bag of almonds tied with a pink ribbon. Rosa  Almond is nuts about Real Estate!!!!!!  

Wow in one day, one blogging class , Rosa signed up, posted and  even reblogged!

Today at GBBR Margaret Rome Signed up Another New Member! 

Congratulations on winning a copy of my book.  With your new commitment to blogging, I hope you find time to read it.

                                                                  
Welcome to ActiveRain.  Please go and give Rosa a warm AR welcome.

                                                    *********************
Another one of my ActiveRain new members is Stephen Cooper who was a wonderful addition to our class.
His question of frustration was perfect. Bridget McGee was a great help having her laptop and taking time to give you some pointers. You are a quick study and a big congratulations on your featured post. The First Thing I Should Do...

Why I Blog.... NOT...Why You Should Blog!

Why I blog...Not... Why You Should Blog!

On Thursday April 21^stat 9:30 AM (that's tomorrow) I will be speaking at GBBR  Rookie Society Invites Margaret Rome ..Blogging ActiveRain Why & How 

                                             

                                                        
Here is what I am going to say.

I am here to tell you the advantages that Margaret Rome has gotten from blogging. I am NOT  here to say:  You should be blogging.

Uh uh.

Over the years since 2006 when I first discovered ActiveRain and blogging... I have written a book, been featured in the Washington Post, been chosen as  Realtor Magazine's Open House Master  (and I don't do open houses)!

I have been the  # 3 ActiveRain blogger in the state of Maryland, have made an enormous amount of friends, connected with other professionals like Bridget McGee and  Chip Frye .  gotten sellers and buyers contacting me on a weekly if not daily basis.

I have had a wonderful outlet to showcase my properties and give them maximum exposure.

I was at a home inspection when the buyer started talking about how he found this home. He described how I wrote about the house like telling a story, how I weaved the neighborhood and the local restaurants into the story.

His agent, (who came into the business at the same time) was not a rookie..but asked what is a blog?  I spent some time explaining and offered to sign her up ( like I do many others) and her comment..oh never mind, I don't have time for that!

You can go read books, take classes, seminars, webinars and learn about blogging. If you really do want to learn, go sign up     http://activerain.com/action/referrals/homerome  

I am not worried anymore that I will be overwhelmed. Over the years I have invited thousands of people..149 have accepted and there is not even a handful that are really blogging.

So I am not here to say you SHOULD blog. I am here to say if you have an interest in blogging I am here to help you!

Here is the link to sign up for ActiveRain. http://activerain.com/action/referrals/homerome  

Call me when you have some time and I will walk you through the process.


Why I Blog...Not... Why You Should Blog!

It was another well attended GBBR Rookie Society gathering today in Baltimore.

Another well attended Rookie gathering today at  GBBR  put together by our energetic and very talented Kim Jones!

                                                            


The presenter was Andy Tibbals, Sales Account Executive of RBI Realestate Business Intelligence www.rbintel.com  which is a subsidiary of MRIS. Andy showed how to do market statistics and  how to get  market reports which can all be found on our MRIS sites. I am looking forward to using these free reports. Andy told us there are free webinars on Mondays and Thursdays 1:30-2:30. Will have to check them out.

                                                              

There were three sponsors each with gifts. Ed Byrnes,VP of Real Estate Title & Escrow, who I recently had a closing with had a drawing for a Panera Gift Certificate. Joy Waida, a stager and ActiveRain member gave $100 worth of  staging time and Prospect Lending gave away a Starbucks Gift Certificate. It has been said that agents love food and money...yes the winners seemed to be quite pleased.

                                       

Kim announced the speaker for next month

Rookie Society Invites Margaret Rome Thursday April 21st..Blogging ActiveRain Why & How

The group seemed interested so I collected cards from those wanting to know about ActiveRain, asking them to write AR on the back of their business cards.  I offered to help anyone, who signed up before our next meeting, get started  on ActiveRain and have just sent out invites to 10 people. How many do you think will sign up? If they all sign up, I will be one busy broker...but it will be my pleasure.

I have often said it is easier for me to get a listing than a new ActiveRain member and I have invited hundreds of people over the last few years.

Our blogging class next month should be very interesting and I hope we have some brand new AR members attend. Are you planning on joining us?

It was another well attended GBBR Rookie Society gathering today in Baltimore.

Rookie Society Invites Margaret Rome Thursday April 21st..Blogging ActiveRain Why & How

This seminar is  April 21, 2011 giving you plenty of time to put it on your calendar. Hope you will join us!                                      Thursday, April 21- 9:30am - 11:30am

GBBR 1306 Bellona Avenue     Lutherville, MD

Margaret Rome, GBBR's very own Diva of Active Rain and Author of, "Real Estate the Rome Way", voted 1 of Trulia's Top 10 Real Estate Books in 2008, along with.... Twitter Queen and Zillow.com's Peoples Choice Best Blog Award Winner, Marney Kirk,will be extolling the virtues of Blogging, sharing how it has helped to grow their businesses and explain in non-techie terms about the practical applications of Active Rain and Blogging. Come and learn how you could get started on the road to becoming perceived as a market expert to your sphere. This will be a 'how to' session, so you can put the theory you have heard up until now into practice.   Please Register Here You can call Kim Jones with any questions at 443-622-0902.   Read about another Rookie REALTOR event.                                                                             Hope you can join us. You will love the topic..                            Blogging ActiveRain Why & How

Learn How To Lower Your Tax Bill Before You Buy! Baltimore GBBR Thursday 2/17/11

Learn How To Lower Your Tax Bill Before You Buy! Baltimore GBBR Thursday 2/17/11

What are you doing Thursday morning?
                                            
Learn How to Lower Your Tax Bill Before You Buy!
Property Tax Assessment & Appeals, Baltimore GBBR Thursday 2/17/11


Property Tax Assessment & Appeals Process Seminar for REALTORS®

Thursday, February 17, 2011  •  9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.  •  GBBR Lutherville Office
 Roger Lee from the Baltimore County Department of Taxation and Assessments will be joined by his Baltimore City counterpart Owen Charles ...to educate us on the Assessment and Appeals Processes. 
Learn how to help, lower income, buyers apply to have the tax bill (for a property they plan to purchase) lowered before they even buy it. 
Think about how many buyers could qualify for a more suitable house, if the taxes were not so limiting!  Homeowners will benefit from this session as well.

  This session is sponsored by The GBBR Rookie REALTOR® Society(GRRS)   A rookie is defined as an individual who has been in the real estate business for less than four years; but GBBR members of all experience levels are well to come!
 RSVP to Jenifer League, GBBR Director of Education & Events at Jenifer@GBBR.org or (410) 337-7200

Thanks to Kim for always having such interesting programs and for working so hard for all of us.


                                                     

Need more information on program content?  Contact Kim Jones at grrs@kimjonesandcompany.com


Lower Your Tax Bill Before You Buy! Property Tax Assessment & Appeals, Baltimore GBBR Thursday 2/17/11

 RSVP to Jenifer League, GBBR Director of Education & Events at Jenifer@GBBR.org  or (410) 337-7200

Please join us Thursday morning at 9:30.

A Good Problem to Have.. Standing Room Only

Last week at the GBBR there was  a 'standing room only' crowd...at least for awhile ... the conference room overflowed until we were able to move to a larger space.

That is a good problem to have...Standing Room Only.

Thanks to Kim Jones of Keller Williams who does such a good job  arranging these get togethers at the Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS. This was the first smart phone workshop and was presented by technicians from  Best Buy Mobile. They were able to answer  lots of questions about all types of phones and tablets.

Since Best Buy sells many different brands, it was very informative...so much so there will be a follow up session on the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Droid.

                                   

                                              

Of  those 50 people, only one other had the Palm Pre... and that was the Best Buy technician. I really love this phone... obviously not a very popular one.
                                                                     
The absolute best phone or technology is the ONE YOU WILL USE!

At the next workshop, the Best Buy techs  will be able to  answer your questions and help you decide which phone may be best for your needs or to help you better utilize the phone you already own. Thanks to Kim and Best Buy for this well attended FREE workshop.

The next workshop is Friday February 4th 9:30 am - 11:30am. Hope you can make it.

Staying Up With Laws and Contract Changes in Baltimore

This past week I attended a session at GBBR listening to Carolyn Cook and Celeste Filoia.

Thanks to Kim Jones GBBR's Rookie REALTOR® Society: GRRS for putting the word out so we could all benefit from this very informative meeting. There were no CE credits, just lots of good information and an opportunity to ask questions.

                                                         

Some of the topics discussed were about the new disclosure for TEAMS, Advertising, Real Estate Signage, including directional signs, door knocking, not leaving literature at vacant properties, Tax information on MRIS, Septic systems, ground rents, Mortgage interest deductions, Lead Paint contractors needing to be certified and RESPA. Good discussions and questions continued long after the session ended.

Celeste Filoia from MAR's Legal Department and Carolyn Cook of GBBR highlighted the newly enacted laws and contract changes that are impacting the Real Estate Industry in Maryland. 15 hours of Education every 2 years is a pittance for those interested in being an asset to their clients.

                                 

Celeste Filoia from MAR's Legal Department and GBBR's own Carolyn Cook were  on hand to enlighten us about the changes that will impact the way we do business.

We are quite fortunate to have Carolyn, Filoia and Kim to keep us informed. Every single agent should have been there! The price was right! The information priceless!
Thank you all!

REALTOR Fair at GBBR today...CE credits...good friends...networking.

It Was a Good Day at GBBR today...CE credits...good friends...networking.

                              

Martin's West ...GBBR Realtor Fair. GBBR REALTOR Fair in Baltimore Thursday October 21st!

I took two really good classes that are highlighted in the program book. Bob Kimball  and Tom Drechsler were the instructors..both outstanding speakers since the subjects are not known for being especially exciting.
             
And there were so many friends and colleagues  at The Fair...no way could I name them all  but I did take a bunch of photos to share with you.
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Below are Alyse & Seth Dailey who is  a CyberStar that I met a few weeks ago.
Tom Drechsler -Attorney/Speaker
Helen Delheim,my friend/ Attorney/Associate Broker with  Bob Kimball-Speaker


    
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Next row is June Piper-Brandon  who is on AR, Roz Johnson-Broker/Owner Sales Force Realty with Seth Dailey and there is Bridget McGee aka Mortgage Mama, Joe Lancaster-Broker/Owner Lancaster Realty and Margaret Rome
   
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Below:
Alyse Dailey, Mary Zimmerman and Lane Chaisson. (Lane was the Remax buyer agent on one of my listings this past year. She is the ultimate professional)
Pretty girl with Don Kyle-"MR. IS"                                                                                                                                          
  Holly Liberto and Chris Davis,CEO , always with a smile, with GBBR Federal Credit Union.

   
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Kim Jones, Keller Williams, started the GBBR Rookie Realtor Society. Check out her classes on the 3rd Thursday of each month.                                                                                        
     
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Where ever there are REALTORS.. there is food and it was pretty and plentiful.
                                             

It Was a Good Day at GBBR today...CE credits...good friends...networking.

Lucky to have a fellow Rainer as a guest speaker for our GRI class....

Last Tuesday, I posted The Privilege of Speaking at the Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS (GBBR) was mine today!   

I ended by talking about ActiveRain member Stanley Barsch who won a copy of my book Real Estate the Rome Way. Stanley kept his promise to blog about the class. He posted this today.

  Lucky to have a fellow Rainer as a guest speaker for our GRI class....  
                                                                 

As you see below, he starts  his post..."The best thing about GRI training, is hearing from the veterans!...On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of having Margaret Rome, a fellow and well respected Rainer as a guest speaker for our class.

Via Stanley Barsch, REALTOR® 240.882.8512 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              240.882.8512      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (Realty Executives Premier):

The best thing about GRI training, is hearing from the veterans!

Jessica & I are two classes away from completing our GRI designation.  When we signed up for the designation, we knew it would be a long road ahead.  We first started the 100 series in August, then onto the 300 series, and almost done with the 200 series.

The best part of taking the GRI courses is to hear from veterans with war stories of how the business used to be.  Honestly, it never gets old hearing about the interest rates in the high teens, and how the industry used to have only one contract form.  Without a doubt, the real estate industry has changed for the better over the years.  Though, I wouldn't mind going without having to submit 50+ pages for a contract!

On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of having Margaret Rome, a fellow and well respected Rainer as a guest speaker for our class.  Margaret has gone almost two decades working with a large real estate firm, and then a smaller firm before opening up Home Rome.  The thing that impressed me most about Margaret, was the fact that she enjoys her career now more then ever.  It is because of agents (Brokers) like Margaret that makes motivation contagious!

Jessica & I were lucky enough to sit up front to listen to Margaret speak.  She had a drawing afterwords, for her book "Real Estate the Rome Way."  I was the lucky winner of that book, and I highly recommend it to you fellow Rainer's.  Log onto Margaret's website HERE to learn more about the book.

 Best Regards,

   

Start your next home search by map or location at http://www.barschteam.com

On the go?  Use our FREE mobile home search on ANY cell phone!  Text: stan  To: 87778

The Privilege of Speaking at the Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS (GBBR) was mine today!

 The Privilege of Speaking at the Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS was mine today!
                                                              

                                                     
Today was a wonderful day in Baltimore and I was able to do one of my favorite things...speaking with other agents about my passion for real estate. This was certainly not a first for me.  Speaking, Networking, Making Connections!! 

My Fast Start teacher, my mentor, my dear friend... Anne Hruby is teaching the GRI 200 Series and asked me to be a guest at today's class. No matter what is on my schedule, I will always be available when this special lady calls. There's Gold in "Them Thar" Years! Happy 50th Anniversary!

It was very refreshing walking into a full classroom of REALTORS, anxious to learn, and enthusiastically asking all kinds of questions. This was GRI module 203-Interpersonal Skills & Personal Assistants. Lots of good questions from how I got into the business, tell me about your first listing (I prompted that one), why did I become a broker, when did I decide to become a broker and some really good dialog developed.

It was good seeing so many agents doing something positive in this market, investing in their career. Too many people have accepted the "fact" that we're in a down real estate market and are becoming complacent. Here's a list of a dozen and a half ways to "make it rain" in real estate  A Dozen and a Half Ways to Make it Rain in Real Estate

Wrapping up, of course ActiveRain was mentioned.  Sitting right in the front row was Stanley Barsch and his wife Jessica...and yes he is a Rainer. We did a drawing for my book Real Estate the Rome Way and Stanley was the winner! Stanley promised to blog about today and I will be watching.
                                                               
                                           
The Privilege of Speaking at the Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS (GBBR) was mine today!

Almost a Free Lunch! GBBR GRRS..Speaking in Baltimore.

Almost a Free Lunch! GBBR GRRS..Speaking in Baltimore.

You saw the lineup of speakers on my last post, and what a great group of presenters they were! Tigers all, like the rookie tigers in the grass that kept us company.

Sharon McKenna spoke about being involved with the Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS^® (GBBR), WCR, MAR, designations like ePro, and staying up to date while networking.

Dale Block talked about working with buyers, how to find them, how to educate them, and how to ask the right questions. She gave lots of good information, and the class was taking notes like crazy.

Kay Dietz and Michael Rhoads shared how to make gazillions of dollars working expired and FSBO listings. They don't cold call, they cold knock...yep, they take a list each day and go to each of properties on the expired list, asking these sellers to relist with them. 

Alfonso Freeman, a dynamic young man, shared so much good information on working short sales and foreclosures. He actually educates the listing agents to get his deals through.

 

Beth Incorvati, a team leader, showed the class how to do a business plan and how to figure out what you want to make in a year. You would never interview for a job without knowing your salary, so go figure out what would you pay yourself! It was fun to hear Beth say that when she first met me she loved my "Sell Your Home with Margaret Rome" tagline, but her last name just was not working for that kind of rhyme, so she came up with "Better Call Beth" and it has been a success for her.

Kim Jones - who is the brains and energy behind the GRRS (GBBR Rookie REALTOR^® Society) - also gave a presentation on social media and, of course, the big topic was ActiveRain. I have been to these rookie sessions before, where only a handful of people show up - not today - the audience was closer to forty. Cards were collected, a drawing was held, and John Bailey with Long & Foster won a copy of Real Estate the Rome Way, autographed, of course.

When it was my turn, I spoke on working with sellers and getting them sold; I'm hoping someone from the audience will blog about my presentation. I am planning to send the 30+ people who gave me cards an invite to AR...in my spare time... with my three new listings, a contract to write, home inspection today and another tomorrow, and oh yes - RainCamp in DC this week - I am going!

Did I mention the almost free lunch by Danielle? Yummy Asian noodles, chicken breasts, fruit salad, stuffed zucchini, and to top it off…cookies with the GRRS logo!

It was an amazing day for everyone who attended the GRRS "How to Do Real Estate from A to Z" Workshop.