We’ve been telling you for months that Matrix is coming, and now is the time. Fusion has already been retired, and Tempo will be retired on November 14. As we have continuously said, this wasn’t our choice. We were literally the last MLS in the country using Tempo, so CoreLogic decided to cease supporting the product. We had evaluations of all of the available options and Matrix had the best of Fusion and Tempo combined. If you haven’t taken a course in Matrix yet, there’s still time. You may read more about Matrix here. No one likes change, so we have tried to make this as painless as possible. Remember that we (the HAR Board of Directors) are REALTORS® too.

This is also your last chance to apply for the various advisory groups and area networking groups. You may see a complete list and find out how to apply here. The advisory groups are where the real work is done and almost all the ideas begin at HAR. Whether your passion lies in politics or education or events, there’s something for everyone. These are competitive positions, but they are also very rewarding to know you are making a tangible difference for your profession.

One of the advisory groups is the Young Professionals Network or YPN. Each year we receive so many nominations for the 20 Under 40 Rising Stars in Real Estate Awards given by the YPN. It is always a tough decision about who shows the best balance of production, community service and leadership to earn the honor, but the nominations continue to impress us every year. This year’s recipients may be seen here, with a chance to learn more about them. When you see the call for nominations next year, make sure you nominate someone you think is deserving—or nominate yourself.

You could also nominate yourself—or someone else—for the REALTOR® of the Year and John E. Wolf Community Service Awards. The nomination form may be found here. These are the highest honors bestowed by HAR each year, and you may read the award criteria to see if someone you know might be worthy. I have no doubt we will see some amazing nominations this year in particular.

The above mentioned award recipients will be recognized at the REALTOR® Celebration on December 14, which is also when all of the member of the 2018 HAR Board of Directors will be sworn in. It is always a sold out event, so you may begin purchasing tickets on November 1. For more information, please read here.

While there were many ways our community was impacted by Hurricane Harvey, the latest MLS statistics certainly show that to be true for the real estate market. Whether it was sales increasing, as closings that were delayed due to the storm were able to be completed, or the soaring rental market, as people needed to find somewhere to live while their homes were being repaired or rebuilt, the greater Houston market showed how it is #HoustonStrong. You may read all about the latest stats here.

Until Next Month,

Cindy Hamann
HAR Chair of the Board