Happy Thanksgiving from HIS

We at HIS would like to wish you and your loved ones the happiest of Thanksgivings. We would also like to express our sincerest gratitude to you, our loyal customers – our appreciation for you is truly beyond measure.

__________________________________

We will be out of the office Thursday, November 25th and Friday, November 26th, returning on Monday, November 30th. If you should need us you may leave a message in our emergency voice mailbox by calling the main office number and pressing * (star). Leave your message and your contact information and our phone system will notify our on-call staff that there is an emergency message. Phone: 1-800-628-3121, if calling from the neighbor islands, or 599-4224, if calling from Oahu.

Enjoy a safe and fun holiday weekend with your family and friends.

Aloha and Mahalo,

The HIS Ohana

December Online Training Schedule

Happy Holidays!

Last chance to brush up on your REsearch skills before 2009 ends!  Sign up for one of our other online training classes this December and…

• Learn our trainers tricks & tips for farming
• Brush up on your basics
• Discover ways to attract new customers

Below are the online classes scheduled for the month of December.  To sign up immediately, simply click on the links below.  Space is limited so please RSVP soon!  If you are going to participate/watch as a group, only one person needs to sign up.

Remember, after you have participated, please make sure to fill out the survey or e-mail me your feedback so we can continue to improve upon our training efforts!  Mahalo.

November 23 – 27

Orientation: Tuesday, November 24th from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/174421562

Enter & Manage Your Listings and How to Utilize Forms: Tuesday, November 24th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/806466874

December 1 – 4th

Basics to Searching & Formats: Tuesday, December 1st from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/673337843

Prospecting, Contacts & Calendar: Tuesday, December 1st from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/542656642

ORIENTATION: Thursday, December 3rd from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/505362554

Enter & Manage Your Listings and How to Utilize Forms: Thursday, December 3rd from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/799592459

December 7 – 11

Update, CMA, Farming & Labels: Monday, December 7th from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/510504306

Maps: Monday, December 7th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/849131819

Basics to Search & Formats: Wednesday, December 9th from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/476097378

Customizing & Downloads: Wednesday, December 9th from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/568505091

LIVE, In-Office Class on Oahu!
REsearch TMK: Friday, December 11th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Registration Web Link: http://www.hawaiiinformation.com/Research/idx/mlshawaii/TrainingCalander.asp

Prospecting, Contacts & Calendar: Friday, December 11th from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/443984819

December 14 – 18

Update, CMA, Farming & Labels: Tuesday, December 15th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/906105418

ORIENTATION: Wednesday, December 16th from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/599623019

Enter & Manage Your Listings and How to Utilize Forms: Wednesday, December 16th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/138672346

Basics to Searching & Formats: Thursday, December 17th from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/567609730

Maps: Thursday, December 17th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/350169819

December 21st

Prospecting, Contacts & Calendar: Monday, December 21st from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/368116891

Instructions on how to register for the above webinars:

• To register, please click onto the applicable link located below the class.  The link will then take you to the registration site.
• Please complete all the required fields marked by a red asterisks (First Name, Last Name, Email Address, Phone, Organization AKA Office Name).
• Click “Register Now” to complete the registration process.  Once registered a confirmation email will be sent to your email address to confirm your registration along with a unique web ID number and instructions on how to login to the session on that day.
• If you need login assistance, please feel free to contact our Customer/Technical Support team at (800) 628-3121, press # and then 457.

System Requirements

• PC-based attendees – Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista
• Macintosh®-based attendees – Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Questions? Comments?  I’d love to hear from you!  Please feel free to e-mail me at erin@alohaliving.com or call directly at (808) 748-8759 or toll free 1-800-628-3121 ext. 159.

Mid IDX: Find Your Perfect Middle Ground

With 17 features and functions, our Mid IDX will put your clients right where they need to be.  And with a mid-level price that is just right it’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.

What you’ll find in our Mid IDX Suite:

Search…

By New Fields City, Zip Code, County (New)

• The Entire state from one page vs. four (New)
• Using Sorting options, high to low, low to high etc. (New)
• With Dynamic Regional Maps (New)
• Using Multiple MLS Numbers (New)
• By Address (New)
• By Open House (New)

Map It – Our Mapping features just got better!  Now, property location data will now be significantly more accurate than most mapping systems that merely estimate a location using street address. In some cases, you’ll now be able to display a position within 10 inches of the property* versus discrepancies of up to five miles using the address method.  (*Accuracy of 10 inches is possible only when updated property information with longitude and latitude coordinates is available.)

• Map Details – View a single property (New)
• Interactive Map Search – View multiple results on a map) (New)

Customize

• Customizable CSS – The ability to personalize your IDX color, font, layout, etc. (New)
• Agent Photo and Contact Information prominently displayed (Improved)

Detailed Property Information & More

• Property Description
• Display – Days on Market (New)
• Virtual Tour
• All Photos
• Photo Captions (New)
• Print Page (New)

Want More? Upgrade to our Full IDX Suite easily:

With our Full IDX your clients will have access to all of the features and functions above, as well as:

Search

• Save Search – Consumers provide contact information to save their search criteria (New)
• Hot List – Consumers provide contact information to save their favorite listings (New)

Call To Action

• Schedule Showings (New)
• E-Mail a Friend (New)
• Ask an Agent (New)
• Open House Schedule (New)
• Mortgage Calculators (New)

Take our Mid IDX for a test drive using our new product demo.  Click HERE to access it.  For a personal tour of the Mid IDX and more information, contact Colleen Yasuhara our account manager who will walk you through it at 808-748-8751, toll free at 1-800-628-3121 #151 or via email at Colleen@AlohaLiving.com.

Exciting VOW Update!

Added Latitude and Longitude Data Vastly Improves Mapping Accuracy

With this upgrade to our VOW feeds, property location data will now be significantly more accurate than most mapping systems that merely estimate a location using street address. In some cases, you’ll now be able to display a position within 10 inches of the property* versus discrepancies of up to five miles using the address method.

How Will It Work?

We’ll now be populating previously unused fields in the VOW feed with latitude and longitude coordinates. Field “mapX” will specify a property’s latitude, and “mapY” will specify the longitude. These coordinates will specify the “centroid,” or the very center, of the property, for maximum accuracy. This data is one of the many
advantages of our parcel-based MLS!

How Is This Better?

On other systems, searching for a property without a street address is a challenge. For example, Google Maps would be unable to find ‘Kaniahiku House Lots’ without an address, or many other properties in a newly built subdivision. With integrated latitude and longitude coordinates built into your VOW, displaying the property with pin-point precision is not a problem at all.

*Accuracy of 10 inches is possible only when updated property information with longitude and latitude coordinates is available.

_______________________________________________

Question? Feedback? I’d love to hear from you!

Erin Shaw
Marketing Coordinator
Hawaii Information Service
Phone: 808-748-8759
E-mail: Erin@AlohaLiving.com

Tax Credits for Home Buyers Extended and Expanded

As you probably well know by now, the tax credits for first time home buyers have recently been extended and expanded – creating amazing opportunities for you to help prospective and recent first time buyers reap the benefits of buying now, especially since the market is in their favor.  Here are a few ways you can capitalize on this situation:

• Go through your sphere of influence (list of contacts) and reach out to everyone who qualifies as a first time buyer and encourage them to contact you.  Consider sending a few of your favorite listings from different areas of your island, as well as in different price ranges to give them an idea of what’s out there.
• Closed in the past five to eight years with clients who qualify for the $6,500 credit?  Now is a perfect time to get back in touch, offer to answer any questions they may have about how to go about taking advantage of this credit.  Your continued assistance will go a long way, most of all to keep you top of mind as THE go-to agent when they are ready to buy or sell in the future.
• Educate your clients.  Send them to AlohaLiving.com where we have posted the following information for buyers to reference.

Happy selling!

_______________________________________________________________

First-Time Buyers Have Until April 2010 for $8,000 Tax Credit

If you can afford to purchase a home, it’s always the right time to buy — regardless of the market. Now, however, home buyers actually have extra reason to consider home ownership: lower prices, anxious sellers, reasonable interest rates and best of all, the wildly successful $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers has recently been extended, and the program has been expanded to include existing homeowners. In addition, income limits and credit opportunities have been increased.

With the $8,000 tax credit for new buyers, and up to $6,500 available for current homeowners who have lived in their primary residence for at least five of the past eight years, there is something for everyone. But act now — these amazing opportunities are only good until April 30, 2010.

Homebuyer Tax Credits in Review

The tax credit creates a near-perfect opportunity for first-time home buyers and existing first home owners. Who qualifies? How does it work? Here are a few frequently asked questions and helpful sites with more information from the National Association of Home Builders:

* A “first time home buyer” is any person who has not owned a principal residence in the past 3 years prior to the purchase.
* To qualify the sale of the home must be purchased by April 30th, 2010 and must close by June 30th, 2010.
* In Hawaii, it will typically take 60 days to close a sale, if all goes right. Make sure to give yourself a good buffer, just in case things come up to push it back.
* The tax credit can be applied to your 2008 or 2009 tax returns.
* Any type of home qualifies for this program, even newly built ones!

The newly passed legislation (in effect Dec. 1, 2009) brings with it a few additional items of note:

* If you are a qualified first time home buyer who is currently in the process of purchasing, you do not need to worry about the previous Nov. 30th deadline.
* Buyers will have to purchase their home by April 30th, 2010, but will have an additional two months following that (until June 30th, 2010) to close.
* Existing homeowners who have lived in their primary residence for at least five of the prior eight years and whose homes are worth $800,000 or less are now eligible for up to a $6,500 credit.
* The income limit for qualifying buyers has also been increased. Limits for a single purchaser have gone from $75,000 to $125,000 and for couples, from $125,000 to $225,000. Don’t fit into these two groups? Credits are also available on a diminishing basis for those above these particular income limits.

For more in-depth information about the first-time buyer credits available, visit this NAHB sponsored site.

To begin your property search and/or find a real estate professional who can help determine what price range you qualify for CLICK HERE.

Reminder – November REsearch Training Classes

Online Training Classes

Sign up for one of our other online training classes this November and…

* Learn our trainers tricks & tips for farming

* Brush up on your basics

* Discover ways to attract new customers

Below are the online classes scheduled for the remainder of the month.  To sign up immediately, simply click on the links below.  Space is limited so please RSVP soon!  If you are going to participate/watch as a group, only one person needs to sign up.

Remember, after you have participated, please make sure to fill out the survey or e-mail me your feedback so we can continue to improve upon our training efforts!  Mahalo.

_________________________________________________________________________________

November 9 – 13

Orientation: Thursday, November 12th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/734911018

LIVE, In-Office Class on Oahu!
REsearch TMK: Friday, November 13th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM HST
Registration Web Link: http://www.hawaiiinformation.com/Research/idx/mlshawaii/TrainingCalander.asp

November 16 – 20

Basics to Searching & Formats: Monday, November 16th from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/130293818

Prospecting, Contacts & Calendar: Monday, November 16th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/272612770

Enter & Manage Your Listings and How to Utilize Forms: Wednesday, November 18th from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/667958082

Maps: Wednesday, November 18th from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/729167658

Customizing & Downloads: Friday, November 20th from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/935198347

Update, CMA, Farming & Labels: Friday, November 20th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/493748635

November 23 – 27

Orientation: Tuesday, November 24th from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/174421562

Enter & Manage Your Listings and How to Utilize Forms: Tuesday, November 24th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/806466874

_________________________________________________________________________________

Instructions on how to register for the above webinars:

* To register, please click onto the applicable link located below the class.  The link will then take you to the registration site.

* Please complete all the required fields marked by a red asterisks (First Name, Last Name, Email Address, Phone, Organization AKA Office Name).

* Click “Register Now” to complete the registration process.  Once registered a confirmation email will be sent to your email address to confirm your registration along with a unique web ID number and instructions on how to login to the session on that day.

* If you need login assistance, please feel free to contact our Customer/Technical Support team at (800) 628-3121, press # and then 457.

System Requirements

* PC-based attendees – Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

* Macintosh®-based attendees – Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Questions? Comments?  I’d love to hear from you!  Please feel free to e-mail me at erin@alohaliving.com or call directly at (808) 748-8759 or toll free 1-800-628-3121 ext. 159.

Full IDX: Nothing But The Best

With 24 features and functions, our Full IDX is not something to be missed.  Want to put the ultimate set of home-finding resources at your client’s fingertips?  Look no further.

What you’ll find in our Full IDX Suite:

Search…

• By New Fields City, Zip Code, County (New)
• The Entire state from one page vs. four (New)
• Using Sorting options, high to low, low to high etc. (New)
• With Dynamic Regional Maps (New)
• Using Multiple MLS Numbers (New)
• By Address (New)
• By Open House (New)
• Save Search – Consumers provide contact information to save their search criteria (New)
• Hot List – Consumers provide contact information to save their favorite listings (New)

Map It

• Map Details – View a single property (New)

• Interactive Map Search – View multiple results on a map) (New)

Customize

• Customizable CSS – The ability to personalize your IDX color, font, layout, etc. (New)
• Agent Photo and Contact Information prominently displayed (Improved)

Detailed Property Information

• Property Description

• Display – Days on Market (New)

• Virtual Tours

• All Photos

• Photo Captions (New)

Call To Action

• Schedule Showings (New)
• E-Mail a Friend (New)
• Ask an Agent (New)
• Open House Schedule (New)
• Mortgage Calculators (New)
• Print Page (New)

Take our Full IDX for a test drive using our new product demo.  Click HERE to access it.  For a personal tour of the Full IDX and more information, contact Colleen Yasuhara our account manager who will walk you through it at 808-748-8751, toll free at 1-800-628-3121 #151 or via email at Colleen@AlohaLiving.com.

Cause for Celebration!

Amidst all of the action that has been happening around the office lately, we almost didn’t stop to share that HIS/REsearch enjoyed 100% uptime in the fiscal year ending 6/30/2009.  Now if that’s not a great reason to celebrate I don’t know what is!

Wahoo!

Changes to HAR Forms Within REsearch

Just a quick note to let you know that the names of a couple of HAR forms will be changing.

They are:

• “Agreement of Sale Addendum to the Purchase Contract” has been shortened to “Agreement of Sale Addendum”
• “Existing “As Is” Condition Addendum” has been shortened to “”As Is” Condition Addendum”
• Also, the “Purchase Contract” and the “Purchase Money Mortgage Addendum” both underwent revisions.

To find out what the specific changes were the best thing to do is contact HAR directly.  Here is where you can find their contact information: http://www.hawaiirealtors.com/about_us/contact_us.asp

Have a great week and please let me know if you have any questions regarding these changes/revisions or anything else.

-Erin Shaw