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RAMP REALTOR® Blogs
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Posted on 7/30/2011 12:15 PM By Joi Rogers |
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The following names have been submitted to be the slate of candidates for the general election from membership to a three-year term on the Board of Directors. Ballots will be sent early in September with the polls closing on at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, September 27, 2011.
Last Name
First Name
Barone
J. Matthew
Haislip
Charlene
Mancini-Wilson
Deborah
Palomera
Carol
Pirain
Reed
...
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Posted on 7/29/2011 2:01 PM By Jennifer Cloonan |
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Uncertainty is as much a part of this summer as the sweltering heat. While not as refreshing as ice cream on a hot day, RAMP Government Affairs is bringing you the latest scoop on the debt ceiling, and gathers for you the resources and expert opinions aimed to help REALTORS® prepare for the future. Click here for an article in the NY Times on “How a U.S. Downgrade May Affect Consumers.” Here's one important nugget I have pulled out for you to chew on . . . .
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Posted on 7/29/2011 1:53 PM By Jennifer Cloonan |
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With only the House having taken action to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program, concerns are becoming more serious on whether the Senate will take up the matter, let alone prior to the September 30th expiration date. You may recall from my prior blog entry that a lapse in June 2010 resulted in the delay or cancellation of 47,000 home sales nationwide. CLICK HERE for an issue summary from NAR on what to do should the program lapse again....
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Posted on 7/27/2011 3:59 PM By Jennifer Cloonan |
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According to American Banker, “Fannie and Freddie could continue to operate even if the U.S. debt ceiling is not raised by August 2. But raising the ceiling alone, without a budget deal, would leave them — and a mortgage market that relies on their guarantees — vulnerable"...
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Posted on 7/21/2011 9:28 AM By Joi Rogers |
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Attention: General Appraisers, Residential Appraisers, Broker Appraisers and Certified Pennsylvania Evaluators, Real Estate Appraisers and Real Estate Brokers and Associate Brokers
Allegheny County is seeking qualified individuals to assist with Residential Value Review.
Residential Value Review involves determining a preliminary value for individual, randomly assigned parcels. Reviewers are also expected to maintain acceptable daily productivity levels.
Qualified individuals could be hired as independent contractors at a rate of $225.00 per day.
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Posted on 7/19/2011 2:22 PM By Jennifer Cloonan |
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Much as one frames a house, or plates an entree, so goes media coverage. Here are three media stories, all posted today, on home prices and values in the region. Within each story are favorable, positive statistics. Read on...
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Posted on 7/19/2011 2:00 PM By Jennifer Cloonan |
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It's is no surprise that school districts are always on the hunt for resources, especially financial. Auctioning off items no longer useful or needed is emerging in Allegheny County as trend worth exploring. Click here to read an article on Quaker Valley's upcoming plans, as well as how the Moon Area School District fared. Want to learn about something even more innovative, yet charmingly old-school? Learn lessons from Claremont, Ohio, superintendent Neil Leist, who reached out to the business community. He details his efforts in a short book called "$uperintendent $aving $trategies." Click here to learn about how it got started, and he earned the nickname of the "Dumpster Diving Superintendent."
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Posted on 7/15/2011 10:25 AM By Jennifer Cloonan |
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The Federal Trade Commission has announced that is will not enforce the "MARS Rule" against real estate professionals...
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Posted on 7/13/2011 3:08 PM By Jennifer Cloonan |
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RAMP Government Affairs has received a request from a doctoral candidate to assist in gathering confidential responses for his research project "Examining Realtors as a Source of Neighborhood Context." In his own words, Joshua Battin shares that "this project recognizes the expertise of REALTORS® and will use that knowledge to better understand the social environment and networks in urban communities." He is specifically seeking responses for his dissertation research from REALTORS® who have knowledge of, are active in, or live in, the following Pittsburgh neighborhoods...
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Posted on 7/13/2011 2:54 PM By Jennifer Cloonan |
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The Allegheny County Department of Real Estate has notified RAMP Government Affairs that the new Common Level Ratio Factor for Allegheny County, as of July 1, 2011, is 1.17. Click here for the notice, and to view the rates for all counties throughout Pennsylvania...
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