July 2009: C.A.R. Forms Tutor™ Makes It Easier To Search For Form Assistance

Volume 9, Issue 7

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

-  C.A.R. Forms Tutor™ Makes it Easier to Search for Form Assistance

-  Learn About your Member Benefit: Forms Advisor™ 

-  Clarus MarketMetrics® Update

-  WINForms Online® Training for DRE Credit

-  FREE Webinar Training for WINForms®

-  WINForms® Certification Program

-  Green Living Brochure for ePUBS™ for WINForms®!

C.A.R. Forms Tutor™ Makes it Easier to Search for Form Assistance 

C.A.R. Forms Tutor™ now provides a much easier, user-friendly way to get help filling out forms   to enhance a member’s experience. Recently, the user interface was modified to make searching for a form much easier. Members can now request search results in three ways: alphabetically, by forms category or by form code. Drafts of the recent form revisions as well as the specific changes to those forms are now an option, too.

To view blue line drafts of the April Forms Revisions, select the “Latest Revisions” button from the Forms Tutor homepage. We’ve also added a couple of helpful features like a demo video that offers a C.A.R. Forms Tutor™ tour and a Tips & Tricks link.

Visit the new C.A.R. Forms Tutor® free member benefit by visiting the C.A.R. Web site (www.car.org ) and clicking on the C.A.R. Forms Tutor™ icon

Learn About your Member Benefit: Forms Advisor™  Forms Advisor™ is an online tools that help you identify which C.A.R. standard forms to use and how to complete them. Forms Advisor™ features C.A.R. Forms Tutor™, which provides audio and text instructions for completing the forms as well as legal Q&A component.

Using Forms Advisor™ is easy. You enter the phase of the transaction that you are in and complete transaction specific questions. Forms Advisor™ directs you to relevant forms for that type of transaction. The process is fast and simple to use. These software products are available for C.A.R. members only.

Also, visit the new C.A.R. Forms Tutor™ free member benefit by visiting the C.A.R. homepage www.car.org and clicking on the C.A.R. Forms Tutor™ icon under Quick Links section.  Join us for a free webinar training on Wednesday, July 29th. To register, please visit https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/152501713 . More webinar training schedule are available at www.car.org/winforms/formsadvisor/

Clarus MarketMetrics® Update

12 Associations of REALTORS® offer Clarus MarketMetrics® as a member benefit. The associations include:  Monterey County, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara County, Silicon Valley, San Mateo County, Coastal Mendocino, Marin, North Bay, Northern Solano County, San Francisco, Solano, and San Benito. BAREIS MLS and SFAR are paying for this new member benefit. Santa Cruz AOR also is providing its members access to Clarus Investor®. More information is available at http://www.clarusresource.com/press_releases/index.html

WINForms Online® Training for D.R.E. Credit! You can now receive 3 hours of Consumer Service credit towards your Department of Real Estate continuing education requirement by taking a live C.A.R.-sponsored WINForms Online® class. Get an in-depth training and tips on how to use your WINForms Online® application. Learn how to: Create a Transaction, E-mail forms, Import/Export between WINForms® application, Create and Apply Clauses, and more!

A C.A.R. Certified trainer teaches the class and provides certificates, along with a WINForms® All-In-One Manual and more. The next WINForms Online® for DRE Credit training will be held at the following Local AOR’s: North Bay AOR on August 5th.

To have this training held in your area, contact your Local Association of REALTORS®. Minimum attendance of 30 students is required. For more information, contact Fatima Sogueco at 213-739-8315 or fatimas@car.org. This course is available in live-lecture format only.

FREE Webinar Training for WINForms®

WINForms® department continually offers additional training to all its users. This free training is designed to benefit everyone from first-time WINForms® users to the more experienced looking for additional functionality. Topics include:

• How to Create and Apply Templates on WINForms® applications
• WINForms® E-mail Integration
• Clause Editor features
• WINForms® Transaction Toolbar Tips
• Import and Export Feature and more!

Here are the Top 5 reasons why you should become a WINForms® Certified Trainer:

If you’re a residential agent who handles a few commercial transactions each year, AIR Essentials™ for WINForms® is a must have. AIR Essentials™ for WINForms® is an add-on library for WINForms Online® and contains 15 key AIR forms for only $99 annually. Compared to $399 for access to AIR’s full library of forms, this add-on library is a fantastic deal. Upcoming AIR Essentials™ for WINForms® Webinars:

Wednesday, July 29th - 11:00am – 11:30am
To sign up, follow this link: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/141866225

Wednesday, August 5th – 11:00am – 11:30am
To sign up, follow this link: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/594840865

Wednesday, August 12th - 11am-11:30am
To sign up, follow this link: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/127809185

Did you know the behaviors of home buyers have changed?  “After back-to-back years of sharp declines, home sales in California rebounded in 2008 and early 2009,” said C.A.R. President James Liptak. “The increase reflected the combination of favorable prices, low mortgage rates, and home buyer tax credits, fueled primarily by sales of distressed properties that accounted for more than half of the state’s transactions. Housing affordability has improved dramatically in response to the decline in home prices along with historically low mortgage rates, creating a tremendous opportunity for home buyers in California.”

Get the facts you need and more, including:

• Distressed sales made up more than half of sales in California.
• Almost half of all buyers bought a home through a regular market sale.
• Most home buyers are optimistic about the future direction of home prices.

Join C.A.R. Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young as she kicks off Gain the EDUTIZING Edge in San Francisco on August 4th. California REALTORS®, don't miss this opportunity to energize your marketing plans!

• When: Tuesday, August 4, 2009
• Time: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• PLUS Networking Cocktail Reception from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Cosponsored by NorBAR
• Where: Palace Hotel, San Francisco
• Cost: $59 special rate for C.A.R. members (EDUTIZING Edge session only)
• Special Package with Inman Connect: $329 includes full Inman conference ($610 savings)

Join us for a fast-paced blend of strategy and tactics - all designed to build business in today's market! In this exciting session, you will learn how to communicate your local expertise and connect to potential customers in ways they value. To register and more information, visit http://www.car.org/tools/330771/