GMAR



GMAR Board Of Directors

Thursday, March 17, 2015 • 12:00 PM

WSFP Wisconsin Exposition Center

Meeting Agenda

|Welcome | | | |

| | | | |

|Consent Agenda |P 2 |Approval | |

|Reports | | | |

|Chairwoman | |Information |5 Min |

| | | | |

|Treasurer | | | |

|2015 Audit* – Jenny Tarkowski, Wegner CPAs | |Approval |10 Min |

|February 2016 Financials |P 10 |Approval |10 Min |

| | | | |

|President |P 13 |Approval |20 Min |

| | | | |

|Departments | | | |

|Government Affairs | |Information |10 Min |

|Promotions/HGS | |Information |5 Min |

|Communications | |Information |5 Min |

|Professional Standards | |Information |15 Min |

| | | | |

|MLS | |Information |10 Min |

|Old Business | | | |

|None | | | |

|New Business | | | |

|None | | | |

|Adjourn | | |1:30 PM |

|Important Upcoming Dates: |

|REALTOR® Home & Garden Show – March 18th – 26th – WI Exposition Center, State Fair Park |

|GMAR BOD Meeting – Thursday, May 5 – Location TBA |

* Indicates information will be available at the Directors meeting. Updated: 3/12/2016 6:42 AM

GMAR Board Of Directors

Consent Agenda

1. It is moved, seconded and carried to approve the minutes of the Board of Directors meeting from January 20, 2016. p. 3

2. It is moved, seconded and carried to approve of the 120 new members who have applied to become members of the GMAR and paid the appropriate fees. p. 7

GREATER MILWAUKEE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES

Wednesday, January 20, 2016 • 12:00 PM

GMAR Headquarters, Wauwatosa, WI

1. Call to Order

Chairwoman Roxanne Platz called the meeting to order at 12:00 PM with a quorum present for the transaction of business.

Present: Roxanne Platz, Chairwoman; Mike Kollmansberger, Chair-Elect; Vickie Kelsall, Treasurer; Amy Curler, Corporate Secretary; Betsy Head, Past Chair; Joe Horning, Cindy Fleming, Kaye Erdman, Arthur Mays, Joan Read, Kel Svoboda, Tom Sykora, Jennifer Burns, Ted Dentice

Staff Present: Mike Ruzicka, President; Scott Bush, VP Operations; Marne Stuck, GAD, Caitlin McCrory, Communications Director; Chris Carrillo, CEO, Metro,, MLS

Excused: Dale Marciniak

2. Guests:

Bill Minett was presented with an Emeritus Membership, pin and certificate.

Jeremy Fojut, NEWaukee – Mr. Fojut explained how NEWaukee started, and it’s current mission as an organization to promote socializing/networking among millennials.

3. Consent Agenda

A. Minutes of November 19th, 2015 Board of Directors Meeting.

B. New Member Report (80 new members)

M/S/C to approve Consent Agenda.

4. Reports

A. Chairwoman’s Report

In the interest of time, Mrs. Platz did not provide a report.

B. Treasurer’s Report

1) Finances – Mike Ruzicka reviewed the GMAR’s November 2015 finances.

Statement of Financial Position – As of November 30, 2015, GMAR had $1,802,598 in Cash & Investment Balances, up $20,307 compared to last year. Accounts receivable were up $23,707 compared to last year. Prepaid expenses were down $2,579 compared to 2014. Total Assets were $3,570,434 which is up $23,195 compared to 2014.

On the Liability side, accounts payable were up $15,793 compared to last year due to payroll taxes and higher dues payable to NAR than last year; unearned revenue was up $35,377 due to Home & Garden Show income being higher this year; accrued vacation expenses were up $3,992; the long-term mortgage liability was down $31,643 which is the amount of principal to be paid on the mortgage in 2015. Overall, Total Liabilities were $1,563,141 which is up $25,569 compared to 2014.

For the month ending November 30, 2015, GMAR had Net Income of $139,608, up $24,179 from last year. Overall, Total Net Assets were $2,007,292; $2,374 lower than the same point in 2014.

Statement of Activities – Membership Through November 2015, $851,809 was collected in dues. We had an 87% renewal. Last year (2014) at the end of November, we had collected $772,631 in dues so we are $79,178 ahead of last year at the same time. New member budget for 2015: 464 REALTORS®, 50 DRs and 20 Affiliates. Through November, actual new members: 509 REALTORS®, 46 DRs and 12 Affiliates.

Promotions: Through November 30, Home and Garden Show income is $861,926 and expenses are $622,612. Current net income is $239,314. The revised budgeted net income for the Home and Garden Show was $260,004.

Expenses related to Public Policy and Professional Standards were basically all personnel costs, incurring expenditures primarily in Labor and Overhead.

Products (Wisconsin Real Estate Supply): Product sales through November 2015 were $7,599 lower than the sales through November 2014. Total product sales through November 2015 were $67,727. Total revised budgeted product sales for 2015 is $87,400.

The Leadership section includes expenditures for meetings, committees, officer expenses, strategic planning, NAR Home Buyer and Seller survey and NAR meetings. The main expenses recorded through November were officer stipends, registration fees and travel expenses for the Chairman and President to attend several conferences, the NAR Home Buyers and Sellers survey, NAR midyear meeting expenses, and Milwaukee Bucks season tickets.

The Administrative section includes investment and rental income and expenses for professional fees, salaries, fringe benefits, building, insurance, occupancy, property taxes, general office expenses and depreciation.

The bottom line shows Excess Receipts Over Expenditures of $139,608, which will be used up in the coming months. Last year our net revenue was $115,430 for the same time period. The revised budgeted net loss is $1,934.

M/S/C to approve the unaudited Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet) and Statement of Activities as of November 30, 2015, and recommend placing on file for audit.

C. President’s Report

Mike Ruzicka reported the following in addition to his written memorandum to the Board of Directors:

1) 2016 Real Estate & Economic Summit - On February 1st the GMAR is co-hosting its 4th annual real estate summit, with Marquette University taking a larger role in managing the event. The Association was able to secure NAR’s Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, to attend, along with MU economist David Clark, Executive Associate Dean of Business and Professor of Economics, and Dr. Mark Eppli, Bell Chair in Real Estate and Professor of Finance. Proceeds from the event will go to Marquette’s Real Estate Department.

The morning will be capped with a panel discussion featuring: Dr. Yun, Dr. Clark, Jim Imhoff, First Weber Realtors, Dave Belman, Belman Homes, and Lee Turner, Bank Mutual.

Mr. Ruzicka stated that the GMAR will pick up the tab for all Directors interested in attending.

2) GMAR Public Relations – The GMAR will work with Monica Baer, Baer-Carlson Communications, in 2016 to produce media opportunities highlighting the real estate market and solicit area media outlets with real estate-related stories.

The staff is developing a database of potential media stories and Mr. Ruzicka asked for the Directors’ thoughts on trends in the industry, recent happenings and other ideas for stories. A few examples included:

Single female purchasers

Female REALTORS®, women entering the business

Technology in real estate (drones, etc.)

First-time homebuyers

April Fair Housing Month

Impact of Interest Rates

3) Member Focus Groups – The Association plans to host a handful of member focus groups in the months ahead to gauge members’ opinions and concerns with their business. An array of members, including new agents and experienced agents, will be invited distributed throughout the region.

Mr. Ruzicka stated that these types of focus groups usually yield a gold mine of information, much of it detailed, on what is happening in members’ lives. Mr. Ruzicka stated that he would provide the Directors with a summary of the focus group results at subsequent Board Meetings.

4) 2016 Strategic Plan – The Directors examined the current draft of the GMAR’s strategic plan, which combined the results of staff review of the existing plan and the results of the September 3rd planning session.

Mr. Ruzicka distributed a copy of the document and explained some of the changes (additions highlighted in yellow and deletions in blue) he and the staff made to the document for 2016.

M/S/C to approve of the 2016 Strategic Plan.

D. Departments

1) Government Affairs

Marne Stuck reported:

• Fundraising numbers for RPAC and the Direct Giver Program in 2015 are:

o $90,750 total raised

▪ $53,965 RPAC

▪ $36,820 DG

The 2015 goal was set at $83,000. GMAR’s Concerned Realtors PAC will meet on Jan. 29 to set the 2016 goal and to discuss spring elections.

• REALTOR & Government Day 2016 registration is now open. As in the past, there will be a sponsored bus to and from Madison. Ms. Stuck is setting up meetings with Greater Milwaukee legislators.

2) Promotions

Sandi Anderson, reported that the 2016 Home & Garden Show:

• She stated that there are 100 booth spaces left

• “There’s No Space Like Home” is the theme for 2016

• The GMAR has attracted more sponsors this year including: Unilock, A+ Mortgage, WI Landscape Contractors Association, and WeatherTight

• The major feature at this year’s HGS will be an ultimate driveway/garage, with a car give-away on the last day of the show.

3) Professional Standards

Scott Bush provided the following report:

• Amy Purin from the City of Milwaukee contacted GMAR to alert us of multiple problems they are having with agents giving out lock box combinations. In addition, many of the homes have been burglarized for scrap metal. The city is concerned that licensed agents may be involved with the crimes. The city is assigning staff to investigate.

• 42 Ethics cases and 14 arbitration cases were processed in 2015. IN addition, approximately 20 cases were resolved utilizing ombudsmen services. Articles 1, 3, and 9 were the most violated. There were also violations of articles 2, 8, and 15.

• Information was provided for the St. Paddy’s Dash

4) Communications

Caitlin McCrory provided the following report:

• Email opens have slowed down in the winter months with the November average at 27.37%, December 26.98%, January 24.70%

• Facebook likes have gone up to 1,273. Twitter is also up to 271 followers

• Proposed continuation of restricting the amount of emails that are sent out to see if it makes a difference on open rates/member engagement

5) MLS

Chris Carrillo provided the following report.

• Metro MLS is RESO compliant

• Mr. Carrillo is happy for a good relationship with GMAR after hearing about the San Diego Association suing its MLS.

• MLS will have a commerce plug-in available later this year.

• The MLS staff has updated the residential property categories.

• Flex mobile is going live this spring.

• Mr. Carrillo will be debating Rob Hahn (aka Notorious R.O.B.) at the Inman Conference on January 27th.

5. Old Business

No Old Business was discussed.

6. New Business

No New Business was discussed

7. Adjourn

The meeting adjourned at 1:40 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Mike Ruzicka

President

New Member Report

120 new members, joined Nov. 10, 2015 – Jan. 13, 2016, for approval (DR's - 4; R's - 104 , A's - 12).

|R |Joseph |Albrecht |Exit Realty Horizons |

|LAC |Timothy |Alft |Waukesha County Tech College~WCTC |

|R |Andrea |Andrus |Counsell Real Estate Inc |

|R |Marin |Anguelov |Exit Realty XL |

|R |Pamela |Aveni |New Home Star Wisconsin LLC |

|R |Kevin |Barrett |Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage~WB |

|R |Carolena |Barth |Keller Williams Realty~Milw |

|R |Gina |Begos |United, REALTORS LLC |

|R |April |Blathers |Shorewest, REALTORS~MNM Falls |

|R |Rachel |Bluemel |Boss Realty LLC |

|R |Christi |Breimon Poppe |Lake Country Flat Fee |

|R |Jonathan |Brill |Realty Executives Elite~Men Falls |

|R |David |Brozovich |RE/MAX Realty 100~Milwaukee |

|R |Conceicao |Buhler |Shorewest, REALTORS~Racine |

|R |Christianne |Camera |Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage~MEQ |

|AC |Laurie |Carnahan |Waukesha County Tech College~WCTC |

|LACC |Penelope |Charlson |Inlanta Mortgage Inc |

|R |Barbara |Clement |Shorewest, REALTORS~Southridge |

|R |Taunya |Crilly |Powers Realty Group~Mequon |

|R |Steve |Demakopoulos |First Weber Inc~DLF |

|R |Adam |Deutch |RE/MAX Realty 100~Milwaukee |

|R |Zachary |Ebner |The Real Estate Elite |

|R |Joseph |Ehlen |RE/MAX Realty 100~Brookfield |

|R |Karen |Elwing |Shorewest, REALTORS~W North |

|R |Maximilian |Fahnrich |Shorewest, REALTORS~Racine |

|R |Sherry |Fechter |First Weber Inc~West Bend |

|R |Britney |Festge |Shorewest, REALTORS~W North |

|R |Maxwell |Feutz |Shorewest, REALTORS~New Berlin |

|R |Darrell |Fink |Cherry Home Realty LLC |

|A |Keith |Fisher |First Look Home Inspection Services SC |

|R |Lisa-Marie |Franco |Encompass Realty~Metro |

|R |Julie |Fromm |First Weber Inc~BK |

|RN |Bradley |Fuller |Weichert Realtors Precision |

|R |Sara |Garcia |American Realty LTD |

|A |Anne |Gibson |BMO Harris Bank |

|R |Gayle |Gintner |RE/MAX Insight |

|R |Brian |Gomez |Cherry Home Realty LLC |

|R |Shannon |Gooch |RE/MAX Preferred~CV |

|R |Lisa |Grady |RE/MAX Market Place |

|R |Margaret |Grandberry |Homestead Realty Inc~Milwaukee |

|R |Greg |Griswold |Homestead Realty Inc~Milwaukee |

|R |Travis |Gutche |Shorewest, REALTORS~New Berlin |

|A |Erik |Hansen |Scope Inspections LLc |

|R |Maysheng |Hay |HomeWire Realty |

|R |Brooke |Hinz |Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage~BRK |

|R |Lisa |Jacobson |Century 21 Affiliated~Wauwatosa |

|R |Gary |Jasiek |First Weber Inc~DLF |

|R |Rebecca |Johnson |RE/MAX Realty 100~Hales Cor |

|LAC |Jennifer |Johnson |Waukesha County Tech College~WCTC |

|R |LaTronda |Jones |Lloyd and Bobolink Realty LLC |

|DRN |Jeffrey |Kessler |Own Wisconsin |

|R |Ashley |Kraemer |Redefined Realty Advisors LLC |

|R |Matthew |Krawczyk |Romans Realty LLC |

|R |Ryan |Krombach |Century 21 Affiliated~Wauwatosa |

|R |Linda |Kropski |First Weber Inc~DLF |

|R |Megan |Kuchenbecker |Century 21 Affiliated~Racine |

|R |Katelyn |LeTourneau |Exit Realty XL |

|R |Tina |Lewis |Exit Realty Horizons |

|R |David |Liebherr |Century 21 Affiliated~Delafield |

|AC |David |Luczak |The Private Bank |

|R |Linda |Maenza |LaGalbo Realty, LLC |

|R |Tracey |Manbeck |Shorewest, REALTORS~OC |

|R |Ted |Martin |Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage~NS |

|R |Terry |Maxwell |Milwaukee Executive Realty |

|R |Kay |Mayer |Shorewest, REALTORS~West Bend |

|R |Stephanie |McCready |Shorewest, REALTORS~Burl |

|R |Nicole |Meeusen |Shorewest, REALTORS~Racine |

|LAC |Ernesto |Moncada |The Private Bank |

|R |Amy |Monsen |Shorewest, REALTORS~Mukwonago |

|R |Sara |Mulligan-Mauermann |Shorewest, REALTORS~Moreland |

|DR |Douglas |Nelson |New Home Star Wisconsin LLC |

|R |Karen |Nielson |Shorewest, REALTORS~West Bend |

|R |Angela |Packer |First Weber Inc~MF |

|R |Lance |Penniston |First Weber Inc~Racine |

|R |Jonathan |Peszko |Brooks Investment Group LLC |

|R |Griffin |Peterson |Keller Williams Realty~Milw |

|R |Marzieh |Petz |Century 21 Affiliated~Wauwatosa |

|R |Leslie |Pham |First Weber Inc~MF |

|R |Jaylene |Piraino |Shorewest, REALTORS~Mukwonago |

|R |Dustin |Pocernich |Shorewest, REALTORS~MNM Falls |

|R |Laura |Porter |Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage~WB |

|R |Daniel |Rajec |My Dwelling Inc |

|R |Jeffrey |Ranney |Shorewest, REALTORS~Moreland |

|R |Danielle |Ransom |North Shore Homes Inc |

|R |Ruth |Robertson |Shorewest, REALTORS~W North |

|R |Donna |Rogers |Homeowners Concept-Metrostar |

|R |Chad |Roulette |Keller Williams Realty~Milw |

|R |Ivy |Sanchez |First Weber Inc~Greenfield |

|R |Sandra |Sanders |Shorewest, REALTORS~West Bend |

|R |Katherine |Schroeder |First Weber Inc~BK |

|DR |Larena |Scruggs |Solution Realty LLC |

|DRN |Jason |Shapiro |Rising Realty LLC |

|R |Nancy |Simonson |Shorewest, REALTORS~Racine |

|R |Nicole |Smullen |Keller Williams Realty~Milw |

|R |Margaret |Soderstrom |First Weber Inc~MF |

|R |Maria |Soto |Shorewest, REALTORS~South Suburban |

|LAC |Jill |Sovick |The Private Bank |

|R |Elizabeth |Spencer |Shorewest, REALTORS~OC |

|R |William |Stalle |Keller Williams Realty~Milw |

|R |Kimberly |Stark |First Weber Inc~DLF |

|R |Sheri |Szeklinski-Scott |Shorewest, REALTORS~Southridge |

|R |Christopher |Thiede |Luna Listings |

|R |Damion |Thompson |Keller Williams Realty~Milw |

|R |Bridgett |Thompson |Shorewest, REALTORS~W North |

|R |Julie |Treutel |First Weber Inc~West Bend |

|R |Megan |Truskowski |My Dwelling Inc |

|LACC |Lee |Turner |Bank Mutual |

|R |Sherri |Underwood |WIHBN Realty LLC |

|R |Patrick |Walia |Century 21 Affiliated~Wauwatosa |

|R |Jeffrey |Wardon |Bielinski Homes Inc |

|R |Tamara |Washington |Realty Dynamics |

|R |Kyle |Weber |My Dwelling Inc |

|R |Emily |Wellman |Point 3 Realty LLC |

|R |Carrie |Wendt |My Dwelling Inc |

|R |Victoria |Wirth |LaGalbo Realty, LLC |

|LACC |Louis |Wonio |Inlanta Mortgage |

|R |Bee |Yang |Shorewest, REALTORS~W North |

|R |Kristopher |Zarek |Shorewest, REALTORS~Racine |

|R |Theresa |Zastrow |Mierow Realty |

|R |Michael |Zinke |Shorewest, REALTORS~Meadowbrook |

Membership categories: DR = Designated REALTOR®, R = REALTOR®, RN = REALTOR® No National; A = Affiliate, AC = Affiliate Corporate, LAC = Local Affiliate Corporate, LACC = Local Affiliate Corporate Contact

February 2016 Financial Statements

Statement of Financial Position

As of February 29, 2016, GMAR had $1,784,909 in Cash & Investment Balances, up $102,820 compared to last year.

Accounts receivable were down $48,074 and prepaid expenses were down $6,710 compared to 2015.

Total Assets were $3,266,934 which is up $27,708 compared to 2015 mainly due to having more cash.

On the Liability side, accounts payable were up $869 compared to last year; accrued vacation expenses were up $3,709; and the long-term mortgage liability was down $33,040 which is the amount of principal to be paid on the mortgage in 2016. Overall, Total Liabilities were $427,397 which is down $28,462 compared to 2015.

For the month ending February 29, 2016, GMAR had Net Income of $988,260, up $55,327 from last year. Overall, Total Net Assets were $2,839,537; $56,170 higher than the same point in 2015.

Statement of Activities

Membership: Through February 2016, $746,203 was collected in dues, which was a 92% renewal. We budgeted for a 90% renewal. Last year through the end of February, we had collected $722,219 in dues so we are $23,984 ahead of last year at the same time. New member budget for 2016: 464 REALTORS®, 50 DRs and 20 Affiliates. Through February, actual new members: 113 REALTORS®, 7 DRs and 6 Affiliates.

Promotions: Through February 29, Home and Garden Show income is $728,579 and expenses are $285,673. The budgeted net income for the Home and Garden Show is $230,000.

Expenses related to Public Policy and Professional Standards were basically all personnel costs, incurring expenditures primarily in Labor and Overhead.

Products (Wisconsin Real Estate Supply): Product sales through February 2016 were $378 lower than the sales through February 2015. Total product sales through February 2016 were $8,181. Total budgeted product sales for 2016 is $85,400.

The Leadership section includes expenditures for meetings, committees, officer expenses, strategic planning, NAR Home Buyer and Seller survey and NAR meetings. The main expenses recorded through February were memberships and travel expenses for the president.

The Administrative section includes investment and rental income and expenses for professional fees, salaries, fringe benefits, building, insurance, occupancy, property taxes, general office expenses and depreciation.

The bottom line shows Excess Receipts Over Expenditures of $988,260, which will be used up in the coming months. Last year our net revenue was $932,933 for the same time period. The biggest reason for this difference was that the dues income and Home and Garden Show income have been significantly higher in 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. The budgeted net loss is $20,935.

February 2016 Balance Sheet

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February 2016 Statement of Activities

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MEMORANDUM

To: GMAR Board of Directors

From: Mike Ruzicka, President

Re: March President’s Report

GMAR Membership

As you can see by the number of new members who have joined the association since the last Directors meeting, new members are joining at a healthy pace. We have 120 new REALTORS®, DRs, and Affiliates. We’re staying just ahead of what we had budgeted for 2016, and it doesn’t look like it will slow down this year.

At the HGS, we are inviting people to ‘Consider a Career in Real Estate’ with a sign at the information booth. There will be a generic brochure explaining the licensing process, and the booth staff will inform people that many of the real estate companies at the HGS also have schools or training programs for new licensees.

Greater Milwaukee Political Environment

I don’t need to tell you how absolutely toxic the current political environment is. The national sentiment that has elevated Donald Trump is certainly present on a local and state level, to wit: the Bradley vs. Kloppenberg State Supreme Court Race, or the Barrett vs. Donovan race, etc. But, we won’t know exactly how much it is rooted in the populace until April 5th’s primary.

The anti-establishment reaction of the public is what has pushed what were once fringe candidates and pulled out the stops of general decency (i.e. making fun of a candidates’ appearance). However, some of the scrutiny is fair and probably warranted as this article portrays, County Pension Scandal Poster Boys.

I asked for your vote to endorse establishment candidates Tom Barrett and Chris Abele in their respective races, because the anti-establishment candidates are much worse, and I believe would be horrible for our interests even though we may not be enamored with the incumbent. As an “establishment” institution, the REALTORS® Association (all three levels) has to take positions that are in our members’ best interests for the long-term.

2015 GMAR Audit

Jenny Tarkowski, Wegner CPAs, will be on hand at the Director’s meeting to present our 2015 audit. Based on preliminary results, we finished 2015 in the “black” and Wegner did not have to make any adjustments to the GMAR’s bookkeeping.

Real Trends Survey P 16

I would like to get your opinion of the GMAR sending out a survey sponsored by Real Trends that would measure agent perceptions of mortgage services. Real Trends has partnered with a bank, but there is no promotional material or identification of that bank. I have added the survey questions to this report for your review.

Usually, if a survey was clearly promoting or even identified with a particular lender we would not send it out. However, in this case because it is sponsored by Real Trends and the lender is not identified, it appears to be a good way to capture information.

Member Benefits

We have recently been approached by or investigated various potential member benefits companies such as SavvyCard and Social Survey that I would like to present to the Directors. These specific products have some merit, although there are some detriments too.

However, I would like to explore such options a) to help members’ business, and b) to show the Association is active and thinking about improving their membership experience.

So, we will probably kiss a lot of frogs in the quest to find a few feasible offerings.

GMAR Public Relations P 18

We have garnered a fair amount of media coverage in the first couple months of the year, especially related to Lawrence Yun’s presentation at the February 1st Real Estate & Economic Summit.

In addition to our usual monthly MLS statistics press releases, Monica Baer, Baer-Carlson, generated some free media for us:

Mixed Signs for Milwaukee Real Estate Market (WUWM)

“Things are selling:” Milwaukee experiencing real estate boom, especially condo sales (Fox 6)

Real Estate Boom in Milwaukee (CBS 58)

We are looking at promoting a story on rental scams, a topic Scott Bush has been getting a lot of calls about, and possibly partnering with another entity to create “Top” lists. Top dog friendly communities, top walkable communities, etc. to promote to local media.

Member Focus Groups

We are still in the planning stages of conducting member focus groups in the region. We will invite an array of members, including new agents, experienced agents, geographically distributed throughout the region.

I would welcome any questions you may have that would help pull information and insight from the agents we interview.

These types of focus groups usually yield a gold mine of information, much of it detailed, on what is happening in members’ lives. I will provide the Directors with a summary of the focus group results at subsequent Board Meetings.

Recurring Status Reports

Kettle Moraine REALTORS® Council Meeting Minutes *

GMAR Communications Report *

GMAR Member Involvement P 20

MLS Membership Stats P 21

2016 GMAR Directors Roster P 22

2016 GMAR Calendar P 23

GMAR Strategic Plan P 25

The information provided for this survey is confidential and will be reported in the aggregate only. Your individual answers will not be shared with anyone.

Top of Form

* 1. Are you an active licensed residential real estate agent? (Someone who represents clients in buying or selling of homes)

Bottom of Form

2. Do you consider your real estate career your primary occupation?

3. How long have you been a real estate agent?

4. What is the name of your brokerage/company?

5. Where is your brokerage/company located?

6. How long have you been with this brokerage/company?

7. How many transaction sides have you closed in the past 12 months?

8. What is the average sales price of the properties you sold in the past 12 months?

9. In the last 12 months have you functioned more as a listing agent or a buyer's agent?

* 10. Choose the TOP THREE sources of information that you use to stay current with trends in real estate?

11. How important are the following efforts to you in generating leads?

12. In general, what is the key to a successful client relationship with your customers? Please select ONE FACTOR that you consider the most important.

13. Do you work with foreign buyers?

* 14. Do you provide services to affluent clientele? Affluent clientele are defined as households with annual incomes of $250,000 and above.

* 15. How often do you recommend a mortgage provider to your clients?

16. What type of mortgage provider do you generally recommend?

17. Please list the specific mortgage provider(s) that you recommend.

18. How satisfied are you with the performance of your primary recommended mortgage provider within each of the following areas.

19. How long have you had a relationship(s) with the mortgage provider(s) that you recommend?

20. How often do your clients use a mortgage provider that you've recommended? Please enter the percentage [0-100%] of times your client utilizes the recommended provider.

* 21. What are the TOP THREE reasons that your clients may choose to use another mortgage provider rather than the one you recommended?

22. Please indicate how important the following items are to you when deciding whether or not to recommend a mortgage provider to your clients.

23. Below is a series of phrases that might be used to describe banks and financial institutions that provide mortgage and home equity loans.

For each bank or financial institution, please select all statements that you feel accurately describe that institution. You may choose as many or as few statements as you wish for each.

24. In the past 12 months, what percentage [0-100%] of home buyers that worked with you used a pre-qualification/pre-approval letter during their home search?

25. Have you or your clients encountered any issues with pre-qualification/pre-approval letters in the past 12 months?

* 26. Which do you prefer, a pre-qualification letter or a pre-approval letter?

* 27. Do you have a preference for a pre-qualification/pre-approval letter from a certain financial institution?

8. In the last 12 months, what percentage [0-100%] of your transactions had a mortgage financing problem?

* 29. Please select the THREE PROBLEMS that have been the most prevalent for you and your clients.

30. How important is technology to you in how you run your business?

31. Where do you learn about new technology for real estate? Please select all that apply.

32. Which of the following online advertising tools have you used in the past 12 months? Please select all that apply.

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Realtors' economist predicts rising mortgage rates

By Paul Gores

Feb. 1, 2016 – Mortgage rates, which have averaged less than 4% on 30-year loans for three of the last four years, could be at 4.5% by the end of this year and then hit 5% in 2017, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors said in Milwaukee Monday.

"We are in a rising interest rate environment," Lawrence Yun told more than 150 real estate professionals and others attending the fourth annual Wisconsin Real Estate & Economic Summit at The Wisconsin Club.

Yun said that while there are several variables weighing on the direction of mortgage rates, the Federal Reserve seems determined to see rates rise off their historic lows. Although increases in short-term rates controlled by the Fed do not directly affect 30-year fixed rate mortgages, "the Fed nudging the short-term rates higher could begin to nudge the long-term rates higher," Yun said.

Worries about China's economy have helped keep mortgage rates from increasing this year, but concerns about the growing overall U.S. debt and the possibility of consumer inflation if gas prices stabilize or go up are factors that could help undo what generally has been a no-inflation climate in the U.S., he said.

"I believe as the Fed begins to hike rates — two more times this year, four more times next year — rates will go up," Yun told attendees of the event, which was sponsored by the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors and Marquette University.

Only once in the last four years has the average annual interest rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the U.S. been above 4%, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac. That was in 2014, when the rate average rate for the year was 4.17%, with points of 0.6. Points are fees paid by some borrowers to get a lower rate. A point equals 1% of the loan amount.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage was 3.85% with 0.6 points in 2015; 3.98% with 0.7 points in 2013; and 3.66% with 0.7 points in 2012. In 2006, the year before the recession started, the annual average for 30-year fixed rate mortgage was 6.41%, with 0.5 points.

Yun said he expects the U.S. economy to "again be subpar" this year.

"Jobs will still come around, less than last year because of smaller growth," Yun said. "But watch out for consumer prices inching up in the second half, which will lead to mortgage rates beginning to rise."

Yun said he expects sales of existing homes nationally to be "roughly flat," but with prices going up.

Marquette economics professor David Clark, who regularly analyzes sales and price data for the Wisconsin Realtors Association, said he also thinks mortgage rates will rise. Clark said he expects the Wisconsin housing market for existing homes, which grew by 11.4% in 2015 — its best year in a decade — to expand at a more moderate pace in 2016. The state housing market is limited by tight inventories of homes for sale in areas that are more urban, he said.

"Keep in mind it (2015) was still an awfully good year," Clark told the real estate agents. "I think you're going to continue to be quite busy in 2016."

Last year, the median price of existing homes sold in Wisconsin was up 5.1% from 2014, at $155,500.

"I think median prices are likely to rise, probably on par with what it was last year — maybe a little bit lower," Clark said. "So I think we're set up for a relatively solid year."

David Belman, president of Belman Homes and the 2016 president of the Metropolitan Builders Association, said he thinks new-home construction will be "flat" this year.

In 2015, permits to construct new homes declined about 1% from 2014 in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties, to 1,225 from 1,237, data from MTD Marketing Services of Wisconsin Inc. shows.

| |

GMAR Member Involvement

| |2010 |2011 |

|Joan Read |Joe Horning |Mark Kivley |

|Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage |Shorewest, Realtors |RE/MAX Lakeside |

|626 E Ogden Avenue |17450 W. North Ave. |1200 E Capitol Drive |

|Milwaukee, WI 53202 |Brookfield, WI  53045-4337 |Milwaukee, WI 53221 |

|O 414.277.9500 |P 262.827.4200 M 262.640.0925 |O 414.961.8000 M 414.406.1840 |

|joan.read@ |jhorning@ |kivleyteam@ |

|NRDS: 90006480 |NRDS: 90096259 |NRDS: 90020696 |

|(3yr term from Exec Roundtable) |(3yr term from Exec Roundtable) |(3yr term from Exec Roundtable) |

|Betsy Head, Past Chairwoman |Roxanne Platz, Chairwoman |Dale Marciniak |

|Realty Executives Integrity (2nd Term) |First Weber Group, Realtors (2nd Term) |RE/MAX Realty 100 (1st Term) |

|412 E Silver Spring Drive |2750 Golf Rd, Suite A |10303 W Oklahoma Ave |

|Whitefish Bay, WI 53217 |Delafield, WI 53018-2063 |Milwaukee, WI 53227-4135 |

|O 414.906.4500 M 414.967.7700 |O 262.646.6800 M 262.370.7767 |O 414.327.7020 M 414.429.2344 |

|betsyhead@ |rplatz@ |dale@ |

|NRDS: 90050499 |NRDS: 90028348 |NRDS: 90024500 |

|Cindy Fleming |Vickie Kelsall, Treasurer |Mike Kollmansberger, Chair-Elect |

|First Weber Group, Realtors (2nd Term) |Century 21 Affiliated (1st Term) |Shorewest Realtors (1st Term) |

|17345 W. Bluemound Road |1033 N Mayfair Rd, Suite 321 |921 Meadowbrook Rd |

|Brookfield, WI 53045 |Wauwatosa, WI 53226-3442 |Waukesha, WI 53188-7315 |

|O 262.782.3110 M 262.424.5711 |O 414.543.5403 M 262.332.2233 |O 262.548.9393 M 262.271.5702 |

|cindyfleming@wi. |vkelsall@ |mikek@ |

|NRDS: 90017596 |NRDS: 90010989 |NRDS: 90076658 |

|Kel Svoboda |Arthur Mays |Jennifer Burns |

|Century 21 Affiliated (1st Term) |Realty Among Friends (1st Term) |Realty Executives Integrity (1st Term) |

|1033 N Mayfair Rd, Suite 321 |8301 W Lisbon Ave |810 Cardinal Ln, Suite 110 |

|Wauwatosa, WI 53226-3442 |Milwaukee, WI 53222 |Hartland, WI 53029-2390 |

|O 414.543.5403 M 414.213.9014 |O 414.444.2696 M 414.975.7796 |O 262.369.8900 M 262.617.9333 |

|kel@ |amays@ |jennifer@ |

|NRDS: 90098433 |NRDS: 90051977 |NRDS: 90076496 |

|Tom Sykora |Amy Curler, Corporate Secretary |Ted Dentice |

|Coldwell Banker Residential Brkrge (1st Term) |First Weber Group (1st Term) |Shorewest, Realtors |

|870 E Paradise Drive |1720 Clarence Court |17450 W. North Ave. |

|West Bend, WI 53095 |West Bend, WI 53095-8543 |Brookfield, WI  53045-4337 |

|O 262.334.5589 M 262.573.7323 |O 262.335.6280 M 414.550.6849 |P 262.827.4200 M |

|tom.sykora@ |acurler@ |tdentice@ |

|NRDS: 90023055 |NRDS: 90019647 |NRDS: 90017283 |

| |At Large |At Large |

| |To Be Appointed By Chair-Elect |To Be Appointed By Chair |

| | | |

| |(Term Exp 12/31/2017) |(Term Exp 12/31/2016) |

2016 GMAR Meetings & Events Calendar

Update: March 12, 2016

January

1 GMAR Fiscal Year begins

5 GMAR Orientation

14 GMAR Executive Committee Meeting/Conference Call

20 GMAR Board of Directors Meeting – 12:00 Noon, GMAR Headquarters

21-22 WRA Board of Directors Meeting – Madison Club, Madison, WI

25 February Newsletter Deadline

26-29 Inman Connect – New York, NY

TBA GMAR Youth Foundation Board Meeting – GMAR

February

1 Marquette Univ & GMAR Economic Summit – Wisconsin Club

2 GMAR Orientation

2 Kettle Moraine Council Mardi Gras – The Hitchin’ Post, West Wend

7 Super Bowl

18 GMAR Audit – Wegner & Assoc.

22 March Newsletter Deadline

March

1 GMAR Orientation

2 REALTOR® & Government Day – Monona Terrace, Madison, WI

10 GMAR Executive Committee Meeting/Conference Call

13 Youth Foundation’s St. Patrick’s Day 5K – Hart Park, Wauwatosa, WI

17 GMAR Board of Directors Meeting – 12:00 Noon, GMAR Headquarters

18-26 92nd REALTORS® Home & Garden Show – Wisconsin Expo Ctr, West Allis, WI

21 April Newsletter Deadline

April

5 GMAR Orientation

TBA GMAR Youth Foundation Board Meeting – GMAR

25 May Newsletter Deadline

28 GMAR Executive Committee Meeting/Conference Call

29 WRA Board of Directors Meeting – WRA Headquarters

May

2 Brewers Bash – Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI

3 GMAR Orientation

TBA MLS Board of Directors Meeting

5 GMAR Board of Directors Meeting – 12:00 Noon, GMAR Headquarters

10-14 NAR Mid-Year Meetings – Washington, D.C.

20 Deadline for NAR Committee Applications

23 June Newsletter Deadline

June

TBA Downtown Diggs

7 GMAR Orientation

15-16 WRA AE Conference – Arbor Vitae, WI

TBA Budget Review

20 July Newsletter Deadline (announce GMAR BOD Applications)

July

1 GMAR BOD Candidate Applications available to members

5 GMAR Executive Committee Meeting/Conference Call

12 GMAR Orientation

TBA GMAR Youth Foundation Board Meeting – GMAR

14 GMAR Board of Directors Mtg – Ironwood Golf Course

14 GMAR Summer Golf Outing – Ironwood Golf Course

25 August Newsletter Deadline

August

2 GMAR Orientation

4-5 WRA BOD Meeting – Lake Geneva, WI

TBA Kettle Moraine Council Golf Outing – Scenic View CC, 4415 Club Dr, Slinger, WI

22-23 NAR Leadership Summit – Chicago, IL

22 September Newsletter Deadline

TBA GMAR Nominating Committee Meeting – GMAR Headquarters

31 Last day for GMAR BOD Candidates to submit Applications

September

1 Nominating Committee notification of BOD Candidates to membership

13 GMAR Orientation

8 GMAR Executive Committee Meeting/Conference Call

TBA MLS Board of Directors Meeting

13-14 WRA Convention – Wisconsin Dells, WI

15 GMAR Board of Directors Meeting – 12:00 Noon, GMAR Headquarters

26 October Newsletter Deadline

30 GMAR Board of Directors Write-In Candidate Deadline

October

4 GMAR Orientation

TBA GMAR Youth Foundation Board Meeting

9-15 GMAR Board of Directors e-Election

24 November Newsletter Deadline

TBA Budget Review Meeting

November

1 GMAR Orientation

11-16 NAR Convention – Orlando, FL

10 GMAR Executive Committee Meeting/Conference Call

17 GMAR Youth Foundation Annual Meeting – 11:30 AM, GMAR Headquarters

17 GMAR Board of Directors Meeting – 12:00 Noon, GMAR Headquarters

21 December Newsletter Deadline

30 Chairwoman’s Holiday Party & GMAR Annual Mtg – Potowatomi Casino

December

6 GMAR Orientation

TBA WRA Management Conference – Country Springs Hotel, Waukesha, WI

19 January Newsletter Deadline

31 GMAR Fiscal Year ends

GMAR Strategic Plan

Approved by GMAR Board of Directors: May 7, 2015

Updated: January 11, 2016

Mission: “To help our members help their clients”

I. Professional Standards/Ethics

II. Government Affairs

III. Promotions

IV. Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

V. Leadership

VI. Committees / Task Forces

VII. Subsidiaries

VIII. Outside Organizations/Affordable Housing

IX. Association Management

A. Membership

B. Communications

C. Social Events

X. Other

I. Professional Standards (LSB)

Goal #1: Keep members actively engaged in upholding the REALTOR® Code of Ethics (COE).

• Ethics education programs

• Pathways to Professionalism education

• Alert members about the need for everyone to be stewards of the COE: 1) File a complaint if they experience a COE violation; 2) Remind them that years in the business does not inoculate them to COE violations and; 3) If they allow infractions to go unnoticed, and take control of their industry, it opens the door for gov’t intervention.

Goal #2: Fairly and efficiently administer member arbitration program.

• Create Inter-board Arbitration Agreement; offer it to neighboring associations

• Professional Standards Committee Training

Goal #3: Inform members of Professional Standards’ Programs Efforts and Accomplishments

• Utilize videos more widely

• Create an online form to file complaints

II. Government Affairs (MJS/MRR)

Goal #1: GMAR Board of Directors establish the Association’s policy(-ies) on issues of importance to create a thriving real estate market.

Goal #2: Create strategies to advocate adopted public policy positions.

• Refer to Appendix A for current GMAR Public Policy / Gov’t Affairs Policy Positions

• Key “Quality of Life” topics to develop policy positions on:

o Schools/Education

∙ Continue to integrate GMAR members with MPS and other school districts via school visits, meetings, etc.

o Taxation

∙ Examine conducting an analysis/study of tax impact on buyers’ ability to buy (i.e. Public Policy Forum, UWM/MU, Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance).

∙ Explore asking the state for local option taxation to lower property taxes without lowering services.

o Infrastructure

∙ Waukesha water petition

o Jobs/Economic Development:

o Crime/Public Safety:

• Review/Update Positions Regularly

Goal #3: GMAR should have a high level of visibility among elected officials/policy makers in order to advocate issues and execute strategy effectively.

• Meet with elected officials/policy makers

o Top 25 Communities (Mayors/Aldermen)

o MPS Superintendent/Board Members

o Regional County Leaders

o State Senators/Representatives from region

o Candidates for Offices

• Closely monitor developments in the City of Milwaukee, specifically:

o Department of Neighborhoods (DNS) (Mayoral)

o Department of City Development (DCD) (Mayoral)

o Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee (ZND) (Council)

o Other committees/task forces as needed

• Host GMAR candidate schools at regular intervals to educate members on how to run for elective office, and to get members to think about running in the future in order to promote the GMAR’s pro-real estate public policy agenda.

o Video of Scott Allen and Chris Howard discussing running.

• Heighten GMAR’s profile among policymakers via strategic sponsorships

o MMAC’s Madison Night in Milwaukee, Milwaukee Night in Washington, DC, WisPolitics Headliner Luncheons, Public Policy Forum, etc.

• Communicate with elected officials via publications promoting GMAR’s interests

o Send NAR’s “On Common Ground” publication to top 25 municipalities and MKE Common Council

• Host meetings/focus group with members in the region and local boards

o Provide Status Updates on GMAR, WRA and NAR

o Discover New Issue Trends and Candidates in Local Communities

• Utilize 3rd Party Funds to carry out goals and objectives:

o WRA Homeowners Alliance

o NAR Realtor Party – “Call-for-Action System,” RPAC FR grants, RPAC Major Donor Recognition, Voter Registration Drive, etc.

Goal #4: Provide information on government policies, laws, ordinances, and resources to members to help them effectively conduct their business.

• Sign Ordinance Database Updated

Goal #5: Keep Concerned REALTORS® Political Action Committee (CRPAC) funded in order to promote pro-REALTOR® candidates and elected officials.

• Review List of Current Trustees & Recruit New Ones

• Promote Direct Giver & CRPAC/RPAC Giving at Office Meetings.

• Appendix B: 2015 GMAR PAC Fundraising Plan

Goal #6: Inform members of Government Affairs Program Efforts and Accomplishments

Goal #7: Assume a greater leadership role in Greater Milwaukee.

III. Promotions (SAA/KB/DK)

Goal #1: Promote events to the public that highlight the services REALTORS® provide.

Goal #2: Educate consumers about home ownership and the real estate market.

Goal #3: Provide revenue to the Association.

• Home & Garden Show (HGS)

o Find the new trends in show promotions (i.e. cooking stage, ‘Green,’ etc.)

o Attend other national shows for ideas (i.e. Philadelphia Flower Show)

o Conduct consumer / attendee survey

• Downtown Open House / Diggs

o Urban lifestyle expo

o Determine what critical mass of units is required to host an event in other neighborhoods and cities (i.e. Waukesha, West Bend)

o Examine conducting a housing study on Downtown Milwaukee marketplace (i.e. DCD study of early 2000s)

IV. Multiple Listing Service (MLS) (CC/MRR)

Goal #1: Create environment for MLS to provide effective services to GMAR members

• Stay Abreast of Latest MLS Issues

o Attend meetings/conferences (i.e. COVE, CMLS)

• Jointly Promote Member Technology Education

V. Leadership

Board of Directors (MRR/LSB)

Goal #1: Make informed decisions that are in the best interest of the members of the GMAR and the future of the real estate industry.

• Executive Roundtable (Top 10 Firms)

o Addendum A

Goal #2: Provide Adequate Oversight of GMAR Functions, Policies and Finances.

Executive Committee (MRR/LSB)

Goal #1: Function When the Board of Directors is Not in Session.

VI. Committees / Task Forces

Nominating Committee (MRR/LSB)

Goal #1: To recruit the highest quality candidates to run for the GMAR Board of Directors

Professional Standards Committee (LSB) (See: I. Professional Standards)

Concerned REALTORS® Political Action Committee (CRPAC) (MJS/MRR) (See: II. Government Affairs)

Public Policy Task Force (MJS/MRR) (See: II. Government Affairs)

REO Task Force (LSB/MJS)

Goal #1: Assist members in the REO market to effectively and efficiently deal with troubled properties.

• Advocate REO problems and issues with the City of Milwaukee’s Dept of Neighborhood Services (DNS)

• Create REO Blog for members and DNS to post information about the REO market

VII. Subsidiaries

Multiple Listing Service (MLS) (See: IV. Multiple Listing Service (MLS))

Wisconsin Real Estate Supply (WRES) (MRR/DK/AAD)

Goal #1: Provide real estate products to members

Goal #2: Increase non-dues revenue

Goal #3: Create comprehensive plan to improve profitability of WRES

Youth Foundation (LSB)

Goal #1: Promote the welfare and betterment of children and young people, contributing to their physical and intellectual development and character formation.

VIII. Outside Organizations/Affordable Housing

Goal #1: Proactively support housing affordability in the GMAR market area.

• Affordable Housing

o Place Members in Homebuyer Education Organizations (i.e. HRI)

Goal #2: Improve GMAR’s Reputation and Influence in the non-profit and government housing agency universe.

• Encourage GMAR members to participate and take a leadership role in regional housing organizations.

IX. Association Management (MRR/JAH/AAD)

Membership (JAH)

Goal #1: Streamline membership in the GMAR to be as effortless and efficient as possible

• Create an online application

Goal #2: New Member Orientation – Introduce Professional Standards, Code of Ethics, Pathways to Professionalism, Fair Housing, and other important concepts to new members

• Explore revamping orientation.

Goal #3: Seek added value benefits for members

• Are we relevant to members? “Relevance is achieved by helping members achieve their desires, hopes and aspirations.” What content engages our members, creating relevance?

• Identify membership segments & determine products/services for each, and how to market to them.

Goal #4: “Touch” 20% of GMAR Members Annually

• Office Visits, “Brown Bag” Lunches, etc.

• Provide BOD with “Communications Report” showing status of 20% “touch” goal

Goal #5: Recruit new members, “Consider Career in Real Estate”

• Explore working with technical colleges and other second career outlets

• Signage, Job/Career Fairs, Web Posts, Advertising, In-person “Consider a Career in Real Estate Seminar” education sessions

• Flier: “Why is a career in real estate favorable/lucrative?”

• Home & Garden Show booth/location for people to explore a real estate career

• Create an Affiliate Focus Group to explore what services the GMAR can and should offer Affiliate members to encourage more to join.

Goal #6: Consolidate with neighboring associations.

• Value Proposition Campaign – Create compelling argument for GMAR membership.

• Work with brokers to achieve consolidation within companies.

Communications (CKM)

Goal #1: Distribute information that is relevant to members’ business

• Hand-outs for members to give to their clients:

o How a real estate transaction works - graphic

• Educate Buyers / Sellers about:

o Short 1-2 Minute Videos on Buying/Sale Process, Buyer Agency, etc.

• Look at WRA / NAR resources to distribute

o NAR Home Ownership Matters

o Wisconsin Works ()

o NAR Real Estate Today Radio Show (, Link on GMAR.ws)

• Link WI Taxpayers Alliance School Facts & Public Policy Forum Education Reports web pages.

• Review existing content to send out to members.

Goal #2: Re-Evaluate GMAR Communications Strategy

Goal #3: Utilize Multiple Platforms in Communicating with Members

• E-mail, Social Media, E-Newsletter, YouTube/Video

• In-Person Office Visits

• “Affiliate Digest”

Goal #4: Develop consumer focused Public Awareness Campaign

Goal #5: Public Relations/Press Coverage of GMAR to heighten REALTOR® image.

• Create GMAR Media Guide

• Create “Top 10” lists

o Top 10 Communities (based on per capita sales), # of Sales (transactions), DOM (fastest selling), # of listings per 1,000 inhabitants, etc.

o School Districts

o Lowest Taxes

o Safest Communities

• Utilize Monica Baer to promote “REALTOR® Message” and obtain free media

Social / Educational Events (JAH/BMS)

Goal # 1: Provide venue for members to learn, network and socialize, reinforcing the benefits of membership.

• Affiliate Member Forums

• Economic Outlook Summit

• Brewers Tailgate Party

• Golf Outing

• Bus Party

• Chairman’s Holiday Party

X. Other

Research & Statistics (MRR)

Goal #1: Set the agenda for the discussion of the housing market by disseminating statistics and analysis in the Greater Milwaukee market.

• Housing Statistics

o Distribute MLS data analysis

o Create better process for deciphering statistics

o Explore relationship with media to do monthly or quarterly press conf on stats

o Utilize “National Trend Indicator Reports” (price distribution) stats

• Year-End/New Year Outlook Economic Summit

Goal #2: Select research projects that will explore and promote understanding of the dynamics of the real estate market in Greater Milwaukee.

• Explore Relationships with Marquette Center for Real Estate and/or UWM to conduct research on the Milwaukee housing market:

o Study RE Market (i.e. Projections)

o Study Effectiveness of City Ordinances/Policies

o Study Market Segments (i.e. % of Female Buyers in Market)

• Study creating a staff research position

GMAR History (MRR)

Goal #1: Educate members and public about the long history of the GMAR and organized real estate in the Greater Milwaukee marketplace.

• “Then & Now” Interviews

• Commission 125th Anniversary History (2017)

Professional Development (MRR)

Goal #1: Provide opportunities for staff to grow in their positions to provide better services to the membership.

Appendix A: Public Policy / Government Affairs

GMAR Public Policy Positions

Members of the Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS® (GMAR) sell and market more than individual homes, land or businesses; they also sell the quality of life associated with property. This quality of life can extend well beyond the legal boundaries of property to social institutions that purchasers rely on in their daily lives. To customers and clients, as well as other members of the public, the community where a property is located is as important as the property itself.

In recognizing the importance of the quality of life that is inextricably related to property, it is in the Association’s interest to influence activities and organizations which impact the quality of life associated with property, at its discretion.

The GMAR has identified five general quality of life subject areas consisting of:

1. Education/MPS

2. Taxes

3. Jobs/Economic Development

4. Infrastructure

5. Public Safety/Crime

We refer to these five areas as “pillars” of the REALTOR® “Location, Location, Location” mantra regarding the most important aspects of the quality of life associated with a property. We call them pillars, because they shore up the “Location” mantra. If any one of the “pillars” begins to crumble, a property becomes less valuable.

Education/MPS (Adopted by GMAR BOD 09/16/2010)

The quality of schools is a significant component of the quality of life associated with property. In fact, the quality of schools is often the primary factor in the decision by families, and even businesses, on where to purchase property.

With this knowledge, the linkage between real property and the quality of schools must also be of significant concern to REALTORS®, because the quality of schools is directly related to the ability of REALTORS® to conduct their business.

GMAR Goal: To have a regional educational system that produces knowledgeable and skilled graduates who are capable of lifelong learning.

2010-2011 Agenda

• Support efforts to adopt federal "Race to the Top" standards including:

o Common standards and assessment.

o A system that provides timely reports on student performance.

o Elimination of any legal barrier to evaluating teachers and principals based on student achievement.

o Authority to intervene in struggling schools.

• Advocate that children in all schools are at the national average of proficiency in core academic subjects (i.e. reading, writing and mathematics).

Choice & Charter Schools

• Continue supporting the existence of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) and charter schools.

• Eliminate barriers to the creation of additional high-quality education options in Milwaukee (i.e. implicit or explicit enrollment caps on Choice and Charter schools).

• Eliminate MPS limits on the percentage of system schools that can be Charter schools

• Allow use of surplus MPS buildings for non-MPS educational options including high-performing Choice and independent Charter schools

• Expand the number of entities authorized to establish Charter schools

• Increase funding for both Choice and Charter schools and reverse cuts on Choice schools that put them at risk.

• Work toward funding equity for all children in Milwaukee by increasing Choice and Charter per pupil funding levels to 80% of the MPS funding level. [The choice parents make as to which school to send their child to has a dramatic impact on state financial support for a child – with funding ranging from over $13,000 per child for a student in MPS to $7,700 per child in a charter school and only $6,400 in a Choice school.]

Milwaukee Public Schools

• Explore a change in MPS governance, including the possibility of moving authority to the Milwaukee Mayor’s office.

• Reform MPS labor agreements to reduce legacy costs and increase the district’s long-term fiscal stability.

• Advocate that MPS achieve a graduation rate equal to the national average for similar sized districts.

• Clearly define what a “high-performing school“ is.

• Measure performance for all schools in the city.

• Hold schools accountable for their results, expanding high performers and reforming low performers.

• Create alternative certification routes for teachers and administrators to attract more high quality leaders and staff.

• Liquidate surplus MPS property and facilities to generate district revenue.

Other

• Add REALTOR® or business leader to the MATC board (an important link to workforce training).

• Implement changes that were made to the State Workforce Training System at the local level, increasing dollars directed at training and creating stronger linkages between K-12 education, technical colleges and employers.

Taxation (Approved by GMAR BOD 03/20/2013)

The GMAR believes lowering property taxes in the Metropolitan Milwaukee market area is a significant public policy objective.

The Association understands our state’s long history of relying on funding most municipal services through the property tax. However, over time, the property tax (essentially local governments’ sole means of raising revenue) has become a burden on homeowners’ ability to pay the tax and prospective home buyers’ ability to purchase a home in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Furthermore, the GMAR believes property taxes place enough of a burden on prospective home buyers that it is a significant disincentive to purchase property.

Lowering property taxes is not a simple or easy task, but the GMAR believes it can be achieved by maintaining a close watch over how and where government spends its resources, as well as funding municipal services via other revenue sources that are not dependent on property ownership are important dual objectives.

The Association will support lawmakers and policymakers who seek more efficiency in government operations and back the exhaustive debate of reductions in government services, while also supporting the creation of different sources of revenue that do not place current or prospective homeowners in danger of losing housing choices.

Residency (Approved by GMAR BOD 03/20/2013)

The PPTF also discussed Governor Walker’s proposal of eliminate residency for all public employees. The TF separated the issue into two parts, a) the policy requiring employees to live within a political jurisdiction, and b) the impact eliminating residency would have on the market.

Given the wide array of opinions among the GMAR’s membership on the merits of residency, the PPTF decided not to take a position in favor or against residency. However, regarding the market impact of the pending policy change, the TF felt it would not dramatically impact the marketplace at this time.

Furthermore, given the improving real estate market and low levels of inventory, the market could absorb an increase in supply of homes.

The TF was concerned about a “grass is greener” effect some public employees might feel after gaining their new rights. The TF’s would caution public employees to contact their REALTOR® and take a very close look at whether listing their home is the smart move financially, for each family and for their quality of life.

The TF also wanted the Association to send a note out to the membership outlining the GMAR’s position, to prepare them to talk about it to clients or the media.

The GMAR has requested assistance from NAR’s My REALTOR® Party effort to poll public employees in Milwaukee to determine their likelihood of exercising their new right, should it pass.

Appendix B: 2016 GMAR “Concerned REALTORS® PAC” Fundraising Plan

• GMAR CRPAC Meeting – January 29, 2016

o Joe Murray-WRA, Director of Political and Governmental Affairs, will attend to prognosticate 2016 state and national elections.

• Mail direct giver fundraising letter to all past DG’s week of Feb 1 (approximately 150 DG’s from 2012-2015 – typically generates $5K-$7K )

• RPAC Trustee phone banks to follow up letters (Feb, March)

• REALTOR® & Government Day – March 2, 2016

o “Game/raffle” on bus to benefit CRPAC

• KMRA Auction – May 2016 (raised $7K in 2015).

• GMAR golf outing - July 14 (CRPAC game on course, or afterwards during happy hour)

• Dues billing insert (1/2 sheet to 4,000 members) with RPAC successes

• Reach out to GMAR Affiliates (185) Are they aware of the DG Program? Susan Muller, Chicago Title, is writing an email to all affiliates and will send.

• NAR and WRA Calls For Action (CFA) follow up after their initial blast to GMAR members.

o RPAC/Public Policy Task Force/Board of Directors

o Managers of large offices

Other fundraising tools:

• GMAR monthly newsletter article

• Special announcements (videos)

• Office visits throughout year (17 visits in 2015)

• Large Donor Council - new prospects to Jim Imhoff

• Convert members who contribute outside the RPAC/DG

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