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Anne Meczywor Elected to Lead as 2010 President

Anne Meczywor has been elected to serve the assocation in 2010 and brings dynamic energy to the job. President's Report

Franz Forster Named REALTOR of the YEAR!

We are proud to honor Franz Forster as an ourstanding Realtor leader in 2009. Read More REALTOR of the YEAR Award

MLS Leader Elected in 2010
Mark McIlquham

Mark has been elected to lead the MLS in 2010, dealing with our most important business tool, the MLS database. read more

Mary White Named Good Neighbor Award Winner

Mary White has been recognized for her dedication and volunteer service to the betterment of our Berkshire Community. read more

Board of Directors' Details

President, Anne Meczywor
President Elect, Carlyne Mills
Vice Pres., Chapin Fish
Sec/Treasurer, Maureen McFarland
Past Pres., Franz Forster

Directors, Chrissy Wooliver, Barbara Osborne, Sue Baum, Debbie Dwyer, Deane Christopolis, Suzanne Crerar, Mark McIlquham

MLS President,Mark McIlquham
MLS V.Pres., Andy Perenick
Sec/Treasurer, Dawn Van Ness
MLS Past Pres., Barb Hassan

Directors, Jen Harvey, Tom Elder, Mary Turek, Anne Meczywor and Mary White

Obtain up to 12 hours of continuing education for Broker & Salesperson license renewal.

Our own Sandy Carroll will be on hand to educate you on Technology & Real Estate Brokerage and the ever popular Michael Shepard will follow with important information regarding Real Estate Laws  Event details

Agenda Topics: Go Green! Sandy Carroll will present valuable new tools to save you green, help your business stay green and make every non-Berkshire REALTOR green with envy!

• Update on the New Internet Listing Syndication System from the MLS
• Debut of New Consumer Website with free marketing resources for REALTORS
• Overview of New National Database of all US properties & what it means to you
• 3 easy ways to Save Serious Money just by being a Berkshire REALTOR
• New Smoke Regulations, flyer and clarifications / Q&A
• New Contracts & Forms, Important New Clauses
• Explaination of Changing closing cycle due to RESPA efdfective in 2010
• New Data Secuirty Law affecting Brokerages, March 2010
• Board Happenings: Dues Collections / New Building / New Staffing
• FlexMLS Features: New features now, more coming in February!
• What's on your Mind / Feedback to the Board / Staff.
• Calendar of Events

Do you already have great listening and negotiating skills?  This would be the perfect training for you!

Ah yes, it's that time again... annual renewal of your REALTOR® membership. While local and national dues have stayed the same, Massachusetts dues have increased by $9 for 2010. The breakdown is as follows:

Additionally, there are 3 levels of affiliate membership.

We have several options for you:

• To view a single credit card payment form, click here
• To pay online now with paypal, click here
• To view the 4 payment creidt card payment plan, click here
• To resign your membership for 2010, click here
• To contact the staff about options, click here.

You will also be receiving an email directly from our accounting software that will allow you to pay the invoice directly to our credit card processor and avoid paypal. Keep an eye out for that as well.

Two special provisions in the present tax credit law assist members of the military, intelligence and foreign services in taking advantage of the homebuyer tax credit, said McMillan.

Armed services members, as well as intelligence service and foreign service personnel, who are on active duty and out of the U.S. for 90 days during any part of 2009, get an additional year to buy their homes, to May 1, 2011.

Another benefit is a waiver on the time of occupancy of the home purchased with the tax credit. Homebuyers who purchase their home using the tax credit must use that home as a principal residence for a period of no fewer than three years, or must forfeit the entire credit. Military, intelligence and foreign service members do not have to repay the credit if they have to sell their home after fewer than three years occupancy due to official business.

Thanks to Uncle Sam and some temporary tax credits, it pays right now to go green. Although a lot of attention has been paid to the $8,000 home buyer tax credit that was established earlier this year by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, that legislation also included a number of tax breaks for homeowners who want to improve their home’s energy efficiency.  

The Residential Energy Property Credit increases the energy tax credit for homeowners who make certain energy-efficient improvements to their existing homes, in many cases giving the homeowner a credit of up to 30 percent of the cost of the project. Most of the improvements must be made from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010, but some projects will be eligible for a tax credit through 2016.  These additional tax breaks reinforce the value of going green, can increase a home’s value to potential buyers and will serve to help the environment in the long run.  

Realtors understand the long-term investment and savings associated with greener homes.  As green building issues become more important to buyers, sellers and businesses, more and more Realtors are adding value to the real estate transaction by developing green business practices and educating themselves and their clients about the benefits of energy-efficient home and building features.  

Most energy-efficient improvements to existing homes now qualify for a tax credit of 30 percent of the project cost, up to $1,500. Exterior windows, skylights and doors with a qualifying U-Factor (which measures how well it insulates) and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (which measures how well it blocks heat caused by sunlight) are eligible, as are certain metal and asphalt roofs. In addition, the credit covers installation costs for HVAC, gas, oil and propane water heaters and biomass stoves. The deal gets even sweeter for owners who enhance their home with geothermal heat pumps, solar energy systems or small wind energy systems. They qualify for 30 percent of the entire cost – including installation – and the credit doesn’t expire until December 31, 2016.  

There are no upper or lower income limits on energy efficient tax credits. For detailed information about all eligible projects, visit http://energystar.gov/taxcredits.  Please also remember when doing home improvement projects to save your receipts and the ‘Manufacturer's Certification Statement’ for your records in order to qualify for tax incentives.  Now is the ideal time for homeowners looking into “greening” their home. 

This isn’t just a fad. Energy efficiency and the cost savings that come along with it will never go out of style.

A partnership of local Realtor Assocation across Massachusetts joined together in late 2009 to apply to the National Assocation for assistance in training members on Foreclosure Prevention and Short Sale Processing. A 7-series set of videos was created specifcally for you, and a live training program will be scheduled in 2010 free of charge to all Realtors of the Berkshrie County Board. Check the calendar for details on the live session, and visit our Online Education Center to view the videos at no cost.

4 Minute Message from NAR President, Vicky Cox-Golder