1. Circle of Excellence Sales Award® Application Now Open
Tell Me More About the Award: New Jersey Realtors® Circle of Excellence Sales Award® recognizes members who have demonstrated excellence in sales. Units are earned for quantity and dollar value of closed transactions throughout the calendar year.
Is There Anything New with This Year's Application?: Yes, several changes were made to the application: The designation/certification industry unit will be accepted from Nov. 4, 2023, through Nov. 15, 2024. Transactions not listed as verified now require proof of closing. Applicants must provide the same proof materials as non-MLS transactions for all transaction units that are not in an MLS operating in New Jersey or recognized by New Jersey Realtors®. Options, renewals, and extensions for rentals can no longer be claimed for a unit. For more information, please visit coe.njrealtor.com and click "What's New" on the application start page.
2. Realtor® Palooza Set for Sept. 26 |
| What's Realtor® Palooza? We're so glad you asked! Realtor® Palooza is an all-day event held at NJ Realtors® Trenton Headquarters. The event will feature continuing education classes covering top-of-mind topics, networking opportunities, and a happy hour. How Much Are Tickets? Tickets are $25 and include continuing education classes, specialty morning coffee and donuts, food from our attending food trucks, craft beer, and so much more. |
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3. Conspicuous Statement About the Negotiability of Commissions Must Be Included in Pre-Closing Disclosure Forms |
| I'm Listening: To comply with the National Association of Realtors® proposed settlement agreement, beginning on Aug. 17, licensees working with sellers and buyers must disclose in conspicuous language that broker commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable. In addition to including this disclosure in brokerage services agreements (i.e. listing agreements and written buyer agreements), the conspicuous statement must also be included on all pre-closing disclosure forms that pertain to broker representation services, or if the form is government-specified, be accompanied by a document containing the conspicuous statement. The following examples of pre-closing disclosure forms must contain the conspicuous statement:
Where Can I Find the Forms? New Jersey Realtors® has a pre-closing disclosure form addendum regarding the negotiability of commission on ZipForm, which can be used to accompany any pre-closing disclosure form that does not currently include the conspicuous statement. New Jersey Realtors® also updated the CIS to include the conspicuous statement and is working on updating all other pre-closing disclosure forms to comply with this new requirement. |
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4. NAR Releases Federal Independent Contractor Call for Action |
| Aren't We Protected in NJ? Yes, New Jersey Realtors® are protected by state judicial rulings to allow for the continuation of real estate professionals to work as independent contractors. What's the Call for Action? To ensure real estate professionals' independent contractor status is federally protected under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the National Association of Realtors® urges all Realtors® to ask their representatives to cosponsor HR 5419—the Direct Seller and Real Estate Agent Harmonization Act. |
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5 Count Your Miles with TripLog |
| What's TripLog? New Jersey Realtors® is excited to introduce our newest member perks partner TripLog, a mileage tracker app designed for Realtors®. What Does the App Do? The app automatically logs your trips, has IRS-compliant reports for your tax filing, and tracks expenses and time. |
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