MAR on the Web

Access MAR news, updates, event information and connect with peers by finding MAR on the web. From Facebook to YouTube, MAR is extending its' reach to members, and wants to connect with you today!

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Mirealtors.com Feature

NEW! Appraiser News

Brought to you by the Midwest Appraisal Management group, the NEW Appraiser News section offers tips, tools and industry links important to the appraisal industry.

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Event Buzz

Convention SCHED

Have you visited the MAR 2011 Convention & Expo SCHED? It’s mobile phone and iPad ready, includes a personal agenda builder and is integrated for Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Browse the schedule and start planning today!

View SCHED

For more Upcoming Statewide Events, visit the MAR Website

In this issue:

Federal Advocacy Initiatives Come Home to Michigan 

My REALTOR® Party Webinar Series 

Apply for AEI and RCE Scholarships 

Online Registration Closes for 2011 MAR Convention & Expo Thursday, September 22

MAR Edge: Save on Shipping with UPS

The NAR Home Ownership Matters Bus Tour made stops last month in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. While REALTORS® understand the importance of pushing policy that will realize a strong market, this bus tour is bringing public attention to our top federal issues and helping provide more understanding of these policies to our elected officials.

The mortgage interest deduction (MID) continues to garner significant interest by Washington policymakers and was a key topic of discussion at both bus tour stops. Last year, Michigan homeowners benefiting from the mortgage interest deduction took an average of $10,000 in deductions. A recent national survey found over one-third of homeowners reported that the MID helps their family "very much" or "a great deal" in today's economy. 

Despite the fact that the MID benefits primarily middle and lower income families and helps many people become homeowners, some public policymakers are considering reducing or eliminating this important homeownership benefit. One of their targets may be eliminating deductions on second homes, which could dramatically impact Michigan.
 
Special thanks goes out to all of the staff and REALTOR® member leadership from NAR, MAR, GRAR and GKAR that made these events possible! 

To watch the press conference at the GRAR event, click here

To view photos from the Kalamazoo event, click here

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Find out more about this 11-week series designed to help associations to make best use of the tools, resources, and programs available through the My REALTOR® Party Initiative. The next webinar, How to Support a Local REALTOR® Champion Candidate, takes place on Sept. 20.

Webinars

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Applications are now being accepted for scholarships to the 2012 AE Institute, March 16-20, in Louisville, Ky. You can also apply for financial assistance toward your quest for the RCE designation.

Learn More

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Online registration for this year's MAR Convention & Expo ends this Thursday, September 22 at midnight. The Convention is being held on September 28-30 at the Amway Grand Plaza & DeVos Place.
 
Please urge members this week to secure their registrations for the Convention. Walk-in registrations will be taken at the MAR Registration area. Update your Association's or personal Facebook and Twitter to alert members of the online registration closing. Tag “MAR Events” on Facebook or using the #MAREvents tag on Twitter.

Visit MAR's Convention & Expo Web Site

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As an Michigan Association of REALTORS® member, your UPS rates have just gotten better. Through our partnership with UPS, you have exclusive access to the UPS Savings Program which provides great discounts on UPS domestic air and international services.

Enroll now to get the improved discount rate of up to 28 percent on these services.

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