PAR President Frank Jacovini, third from left, with members of the YPN Advisory Committee

If there is one thing Realtor® Adrienne Loughery of Lansdale is passionate about in her career it’s helping to create opportunities for younger Realtors® to engage and bridge the generational gap in the real estate industry.

Loughery was instrumental in launching the Pennsylvania chapter of Young Professionals Network (YPN) to encourage more Realtors® to aid associations in technology, education, networking and leadership development. She is currently chair of the YPN Advisory Committee; a committee she says has been able to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time.

Three years ago, the National Association of Realtors® officially recognized YPN in Pennsylvania. Today, the chapter has grown its membership statewide and continues to expand its benefits to members. In response to the hard work of the original advisory board, PAR voted in September to add PA YPN as an official PAR committee. PA YPN held its first official committee meeting at PAR’s Winter Business Meetings earlier this month. Not only were the bulk of attendees at the YPN meeting first time attendees of the PAR business meetings, three members were able to attend the meeting virtually, a first for the association.  

“By organizing the state network first as primary hub of information for our members and local associations, we have been able to assist local associations and grow YPN membership,” said Loughery.

“PA YPN is for the young in age, young in experience and young at heart. We want people of all ages to attend our events. By focusing on hosting and facilitating social opportunities for members to network and learn from one another, we have helped to enhance the value of Realtor® membership,” she added.

With over 244 combined chapters at the local and national level, YPN not only establishes networking and educational opportunities for Realtors® but also works to raise awareness for RPAC, Calls to Action and membership recruiting.

“We are making good use of the opportunities we have been given and we hope it continues,” she said. “Our members are in key positions and continue to push the agenda of PAR. We love the association as much as we love YPN.”

Among the goals PA YPN hopes to accomplish are to get second generation leaders involved. They plan on continuing to provide social and educational opportunities for members to network and learn from one another. The group has several events planned for the future including a statewide softball tournament where local associations will compete against one another. All proceeds will benefit the Realtors® Relief Fund.

The YPN Advisory Committee is currently looking for dedicated Realtors® to join its 2012 work groups. Realtors® do not have to be a member of YPN to participate. Each work group is limited to six participants, with some positions already filled by YPN Advisory Committee members. 

Visit PAR’s website for a complete list of work groups including duties and responsibilities. Members are also encouraged to join PA YPN’s Facebook group.

It’s expected that next year, more Internet searches will begin on mobile phones than computers, according to Alexander Camelio, president of Barcode Realty.com by Barcode Publicity.

In addition, Google has been giving search preferences to mobile sites when the search originates on a smart phone.  Camelio said nine out of 10 home buyers search for a home on the Internet before contacting a Realtor®. That makes it vital for Realtors® to have mobile websites.

PAR has partnered with Barcode Realty to offer members the company’s services at a 20 percent discount.

“We want to help Pennsylvania Realtors® give consumers the easiest and best experience getting to their site,” he said.

Just because a website is mobile compatible, doesn’t mean it’s mobile friendly. “Mobile compatible died five years ago,” Camelio said. “Mobile development is constantly evolving and our goal is to deliver a premium experience to consumers when they access information from a mobile device.”

“People have big expectations when they view from their phone,” Camelio said. “More than 70 percent expect the website to load as quickly or quicker on their mobile phone. Sixty percent want the site to load in three seconds and only 74 percent are willing to wait five seconds. Half of all users won’t go back to the site if it doesn’t load quickly.”

“If your site isn’t loading quickly on a smart phone, it’s hurting your bottom line,” he added.

Barcode Realty.com offers a full mobile marketing platform, including a mobile website and a QR code generator that allows logos to be incorporated in the code. Existing codes can be recycled and redirected to another site without reprinting the code. The service also provides tracking and analytics from those accessing the site.

“We have one client that has seen a 30 percent jump in his website traffic and web visitors are averaging 10 pages per visit,” Camelio said. “Fifty percent of his web visitors are new each month. Those are great statistics and he can see where traffic is coming from and is able to better target his marketing.”

Learn more about products offered at parealtor.org.

PAR members are encouraged to login when first accessing the site. The user ID is the member’s NRDS ID number and the password is the password used on the old website.

Once logged in, PAR members can customize their own Realtor® page with links to their personal blog, social media sites, biography and a photo. Consumers can access the Realtor®’s page from the “Find a Realtor®” search button located throughout the site.

“Since more and more consumers are starting their search for a Realtor® online, the enhanced Realtor® search is a critical element of our new website,” said PAR Chief Executive Officer Dave Phillips.

The Realtors® Political Action Committee (RPAC) website also received a makeover with this update including new ways to invest, more videos and innovative marketing materials.

The new PAR website features include:

• Prominent advertising space on the homepage for association events like business meetings

• Individual pages for local associations, officers and district vice presidents

• Staff directory includes links to social media profiles

• Up-to-date legislative priorities

• One calendar, easy to sort by category

• Updated Legal Resource Library

• Standard forms are easier to find and learn about for use in transactions

• Mobile version (coming soon)

• Dropdown navigation

• Better results from search

• One-click to share a page (except members-only pages) to social networks or with email.

PAR members who are unable to log in are asked to contact the Solutions Center at 800-555-3390.

The PCIP is a program that is available to those who have been denied coverage by private insurance companies because of a pre-existing condition. The PCIP is administered either by each individual state or by Health and Human Services. In Pennsylvania, the state administers this program. The PCIP program is scheduled to be in effect until 2014, at which time the Health Insurance Exchanges would be available with options to choose from that would guarantee coverage.

However, the PCIP does have some eligibility guidelines that include stipulations such as that you have been without health insurance coverage for a minimum of six months and have already been denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

PAR members who currently are without health insurance coverage could have the access to the program.  For more information on PCIP visit pcip.gov or for direct information on Pennsylvania’s product, call 1-888-767-7015 or visit pafaircare.com.

Like other types of insurance, E&O can be confusing and hard for a Realtor® to determine which carrier has the best combination of coverage and premium. Recently the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® partnered with Black Ink as its exclusive E&O endorsed insurance broker.

“Every broker and agent knows they need the protection, but the premiums can be expensive,” said Mitcheom. “One of the big differences between us and companies who place policies with one carrier is that we are a broker for the Realtor®,” he added. “Our responsibility is with the Realtor®, not the insurance company.”

Brenda Florida, former real estate broker and director, Member Services for PAR, said she felt it was time for PAR members to have a choice. “There are many carriers who offer E&O insurance in Pennsylvania,” she said. “By endorsing Black Ink we’ve given members the best of both worlds; a competitive market and an insurance broker to give them advice on the best choice for their specific situation.”

PAR’s 2012 President Elect Bette McTamney had Black Ink give her a quote for her company located in southeast Pennsylvania. “Mike and his team did all the work. I gave them one application and they shopped it out to about six different carriers,” McTamney said. “They summarized the differences in coverage and premium and talked me through what the best solution was for my specific needs. The process was painless and I was able to secure better coverage that offered me a savings of over $400 for the year.”

Black Ink monitors four objectives when shopping for insurance companies:

1. Quality of the company
2. Appropriate coverage for individual business
3. Company that has a best method of claims handling
4. The most reasonable negotiated price

Mitcheom says the strength of the company lies with their customer service. “We have live people answering phones ten hours a day and return all calls within a 24 hour period. Our customer service is what keeps our clients loyal to us.”

Black Ink Insurance Services, Inc. is an independent insurance brokerage serving real estate brokers and agents since 1996. Black Ink serves over 6,000 clients in 28 states and has written over 35,000 policies in its 15 year history.

For more information about Black Ink and other member benefits, visit PAR’s Preferred PARtners page.

The first option covers preventative and basic procedures. The second option covers preventative, basic and major procedures. This option also allows members that see their dentist to roll over a portion of their unused annual maximum for services in the future. Each plan allows members to access preventive care without having the benefit deducted from their annual maximum.

“It was important to easyStreet to be able to offer a program that benefits members in a unique way,” said Brenda Florida, President, easyStreet Insurance Services. “Guardian is well respected and has an extensive dental network. easyStreet is excited to bring this program to our members.”

Enrollment is open to PAR members once per year and the initial enrollment period begins September 19th through December 15th for effective dates: November 1, 2011, December 1, 2011 or January 1, 2012.

Visit easyStreet Insurance or call 877-327-9650 to learn more about this new plan.

A Health Insurance Exchange provides a one-stop shop for individuals to choose from various health insurance options.  The bill required Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a federal exchange and to establish minimal guidelines in order for states to establish their own exchanges. HHS will also grant funds to each state to plan their exchanges.

In Pennsylvania, legislation to establish an exchange has just been introduced. Pennsylvania is still in the process of evaluating and determining the parameters and what their exchange will consist of. One of the key factors yet decided is who will be responsible for assisting those individuals with understanding the programs in the exchange.

As of mid 2011 only eight states have legislation establishing an exchange, while another 13 states had legislation vetoed or die in their congress. One state even returned their grant money back to HHS. Many states have had no legislation introduced at this time.

States have until January 1, 2013 to set up their exchange.  If a state chooses not to set up its own exchange by the deadline, the state will default to the federal exchange set up by HHS.  By 2014, the exchanges are to include programs that allow entry to those with pre-existing conditions. Full information and guidelines can be found at hhs.gov.

PAR members who currently are without health insurance coverage would have the access to programs once the exchange is established. easyStreet Insurance Services is hoping to be one of those that are able to assist individuals in their search.

Under this law, eligible preventive health care services are covered at 100 percent if performed by an in-network provider.  Depending on your age, preventive services such as routine vaccinations, flu and pneumonia shots, well-child visits, cancer screenings, cholesterol tests and diabetes testing fall within this legislation.  Detailed information on all the services covered can be found on www.healthcare.gov.

With these additions, many PAR members who are currently without health insurance could find that the routine items they once thought made health insurance unaffordable are now well within their budget.

easyStreet Insurance Services is here to help you find the right product to meet your budget.

There have been many changes to insurance carrier programs in order to become compliant with the healthcare reform bill of 2010, known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). This means both the availability and affordability of health insurance options from most of the carriers have changed for the good.

Last year, the PPACA required the carriers to include in or upgrade their plans to have features such as no lifetime benefit limits, dependent coverage up to age 26 and it prohibited pre-existing conditions exclusions for dependent children under age 19.

This means if you’re currently without health insurance coverage, you may have more accessibility to health insurance options thanks to these changes.  In addition, many carriers are introducing new high deductible products with a lower price point so that many of the plans are more affordable to many.

easyStreet Insurance Services is here to help you find the right product to meet your budget.