News About your

2008 DUES

(You can pay your dues now by credit card and save $$!  Read below for information)

The portion of your dues that goes to the National Association will be increasing by $16 (from $64 to $80) in 2008, because they plan to add or increase the following services:

1. So that NAR can continue to significantly influence public policy, it is forging a new political partnership with their natural allies, residential and commercial consumers. Through a new Web site and other communication channels, NAR will provide the consumer a way to register their views.
2. NAR will launch a new “virtual” credit union to provide all REALTORS® a full range of financial services, including financial planning, retirement plans, and medical savings accounts. They are hoping to make this new service available to you within the next two years.
3. NAR values technology as a critical part of your business and they will be establishing NewCo., a company that invests and develops technology products and services for the real estate industry.  Best of all, you, as REALTORS® will own and control these new innovations.

Currently, your OCBOR local dues are $189.00 with a $30.00 Strategic Planning Assessment. We are in the budgeting process now, and it will be necessary to raise our Strategic Planning Assessment to $100.00 for 2008. That will bring your local contribution to $289.00 per year.  This increase will go towards funding a highly expanded Public Relations program that includes on-going exposure using all media formats including television, radio, web, and newsprint.

The bottom line is that you will be looking at a dues increase when notices are sent in early September, and we wanted you to be prepared. To help ease your burden we have added the ability for you to pay your 2008 dues by credit card until December 31, 2007.

Starting IMMEDIATELY you can pay your 2008 dues on-line at Realtor.org using your credit card.  Using your NRDS number you then access the “MY ACCOUNT” area.  Scroll down to the bottom of that page and you will see the link that will allow you to pay your dues on-line.  This is a secure site and you can use it with confidence.

To encourage you to use this function we are providing the following incentives:

1. Pay your dues including your RPAC fair share contribution between now and October 15th and save $15.00.
2. Pay your dues including your RPAC fair share contribution between October 16th and November 1st and save $10.00.
3. Pay your dues including your RPAC fair share contribution between November 2nd and December 1st and save $5.00.
4. All dues paid after December 1st will not qualify for a discount but can still be paid on-line with your credit card.
5. Dues paid after December 31st will not be payable on line and must be paid to your Broker no later than January 15, 2008.