Subdivision law can be complex and in Arizona failure to comply with it poses significant legal risks to the people involved in a real estate transaction. Contrary to popular opinion you don’t have to be a developer, a contractor or even create a lot line to get labeled a subdivider:

By law, A.R.S. 32-2101(54) states you are a subdivider if you own or have owned 6 or more lots in a single platted subdivision and offer any number of them for sale. All subdividers are required to obtain a Public Report(s) prior to offering lots for sale in accordance with A.R.S 32-2181 et seq. and Commissioner’s Rule R4-28-B1207.It is the act of selling that requires a Public Report, not ownership. There is no time limit connected with this. It makes no difference when you acquired or sold a lot. Upon acquiring fee title or an equitable interest in the 6th lot within a single platted subdivision, a Public Report is required prior to its sale.

You could purchase and sell 2 lots every five years and as soon as you acquire an interest in the 6th lot and offer the lot/lots for sale, you would be in violation if you did not obtain a Public Report.

This means that a bank or lender who forecloses on more than 5 properties in a single platted subdivision may be required to get a public report before offering REO properties for sale. ADRE has taken the position that this is the intent of the statute and has begun informing lenders of potential violations.

Violations of Arizona subdivision law is a felony and currently accounts for several disciplinary actions which you can find by checking the Arizona Department of Real Estate’s Bulletin.

Anyone who could potentially be labeled as an owner of 6 or more parcels should:

1.  Contact the Arizona Department of Real Estate’s Development Services Division

2. Read ADRE’s Red Flag Checklists concerning subdivisions

3. Review the ADRE Subdivision Brochure

4. Consult legal counsel about complying with the statute and potential liability.

Nothing in this blog post should be considered legal or tax advice. As with all complex real estate issues you should always consult a legal or tax professional for appropriate counseling and advice before taking any action.

One option that an Arizona homeowner may have if they are delinquent in payments and facing potential foreclosure is to short sell their home. A short sale means working with their real estate professional and their lender to try and get the payoff balance reduced so that the seller does not have to bring money to the closing table. These are complex transactions and homeowners should consult a real estate professional and seek appropriate legal and tax advice in such transactions. There are many options available. Homeowners in this situation are strongly encouraged to explore all potential options including all of the following:

1. Talk to your lender. There are many lenders who have created forbearance (forgiving part of the back payments and interest) or loan modification programs (to alter the interest rate or payments). Find out what your lender is willing to do before you decide to sell your home.

2. Rent the home. It may be possible for you to rent the home without resorting to the sale of it.

3. Contact the Pima County Community & Economic Development Department’s Foreclosure Prevention Coalition. They hold foreclosure prevention workshops, have a number of resources and may be able to help you keep your home. They even have a very detailed workbook called the “Arizona Foreclosure Information Workbook”

4. Consider bringing money to the closing table as the seller to pay your loan off in full.

5. Talk to a bankruptcy lawyer about the potential of filing for bankruptcy protection.

6. Surrender a Deed in Lieu to your lender in exchange for them releasing you from the liability.

7. Contact HomeOwner Assistance Organizations that offer help to distressed homeonwers. Here are a few of them:

• Hope Now
• Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America
• Work It Out

8. Call the Arizona Foreclosure Help Line at 1-877-448-1211 for over the phone counseling.

These many only be a partial list of your options. Nothing in this post is meant to be construed as legal or tax advice and as with all complex homeownership issues you should always contact appropriate legal and tax professionals before taking action.

“Glimmer” has found its place as one of the most influential books I have ever read. I now believe that the subtitle “How design can transform your life, and maybe even the world” isn’t overreaching at all. Warren Berger will make you think about everything you do in a whole new light. Contained in the book is a whole new way of looking at the way we do things, from getting through the day, to selling products and services, to interacting with our clients. I wrote so many notes and margins on the sides and blank spaces in this book that it will take me a lifetime to implement and that’s sort of Berger’s point.

Business today needs massive shifts in the way we do things. This book will help you:

• Understand the importance of design and its underlying principles
• Design everything you do through the eyes of consumers and end users
• Refuel creativity and innovation
• Overcome barriers and create breakthroughs in your thinking
• Redesign you, your business and your life

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Stuffed full of amazing insights, ideas and concepts. We need this to get to the next level.

You can find outt even more about Warren Berger and his thinking by visiting his site.

There is also a Glimmer Site which applies all of this thinking to selling, advertising, the marketing of various products and services.

Glimmer will help you understand that we do not live in an age of information overload, we live in an age of data overload. Raw data is what we are swamped with. For that data to rise to the level of information – for it to be informative – it must be organized, simplified, clarified and well, in a word, designed.

1. Use a Title That Attracts Attention and Creates Interest

People read posts based on their title and whether or not it means anything to them. We know that “How To” is the most common search that people make on the internet. he more interesting and helpful that your title appears to those who see it, the more readership that your blog is likely to receive.

2. Create Items of Value

Think about what the people you want to interact with really need. Your post should scream, “Hey, here’s some great stuff I thought of and I want to share it with you!” “Wait until you see this information I have found!” “I couldn’t wait to share this information, resource or idea with you.” So if you are sharing useful information, get that into the title.

3. Make Them Practical & Useful

Practicality and usefulness. If you create things that people can actually use then the power of your blog will increase exponentially. What is more important is that if the readers find it useful then you systematically increase the likelihood that they will pass the information along to others to whom it would be helpful. Getting the information viral is what takes blogs into the stratosphere.

4. Give Them Longevity

Ask yourself will I will be able to use this information again in the future. Anything that you do repetitively ought to be a possible concept or topic for a blog. It can preserve the continuity of what you say and pay back huge time efficiency if down the road when the topic comes up or you need to pass the information along you can simply send them or link them to your blog post on that topic. You will be amazed at how much more efficient blogs can make you with your time.

5. Link and Refer People to Them Often

You have to promote your blog. That is another reason why your posts should be helpful, useful information that you are proud to share. Provide people with the links to them at every opportunity. You can send the links to in emails, post them to twitter, facebook, linked in and your other social media sites.

6. Include  Links, Links and More Links

• “Nine Signs of Effective Blog Posts” by Darren Rouse on ProBlogger
• “Writing Effective Blog Posts” by Chris Brogan
• “Five Simple Ways to Open Your Blog Post With A Bang” by Brian Clark on CopyBlogger
• “Five Quick Steps to Effective Blog Writing” by Top Hosting Center
• “Writing Effective – Attention Getting Titles & Headlines on Your Blog” by Lorelle at WordPress

7. Get Consistent & Persistent About Key Words

Most blogging sites give you an opportunity to set key words for your blog posts. Use them. Keywords are your new marketing angels. Be consistent about certain words to create your image. Internet search engines pick up key words and they also pick up the accumulated use of key words with certain companies or people. The more you use the same key words over and over again the more  you or your company will become associated with those particular words or phrases.

8. Get It Simple. Write in Outlines.

People don’t generally read long text passages on the internet. They scan. Organize your blog into a few easy points. A numbered set of rules or tips. Use white space in between and use bullet points when you can. Write in short, simple sentences and paragraphs. The more you make the information easy to scan and digest the more well received your blog posts are likely to be.

9. Ask Questions / Create a Dialogue

We don’t know what it is about questions on the internet, but people feel compelled to answer them. So ask questions, pose inquiries. You can do it the title. You can do it in the post itself. It all acts to create the act of engagement which is the real beauty of blog posts anyhow. You know you are on the right track when you can get commentary going.

10. Invite Guests to Blog With You

Invite others to comment. Invite the experts and people you respect to guest author a blog for your site. Collaboration breeds interaction. So what is your favorite or best blog tip you would like to share? We will be using this post as a training tool. Would you please help us educate our students and clients by making a comment about the best blogging tip you know?

Sunday – December 13th

9:00am – 12:00pm Get Linkedin

Linkedin is the ultimate professional social networking venue. Grow your professional reputation, starting NOW! Don’t get left behind.

2:30pm – 5:30pm Diversity in Your Hood

No theory. No preaching. This class is straight talk about what you need to know about diversity in your neighborhood in order to be successful.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Monday – December 14th

9:00am – 4:00pm FaceBiz

Maximize your relationships and increase your business on Facebook using this marvelous social media tool.  BRING YOUR LAPTOP if you have one, if not, don’t worry, you will be amazed at what you will learn!

2 Day Event Is Sponsored By:  Tubac Golf Resort and Spa And Landmark Title

Held At:  Tubac Golf Resort and Spa, 1 Otera Rd, Tubac, AZ

Check Out The Event Specials!

Real Estate CE 3 Hrs. Legal Issues

Opening escrow takes a contract and a check. Closing escrow takes skill, knowledge and expertise. We make sorting through preliminary title requirements easy. Every real estate agent should know the reasons behind certain title requirements. Full of practical real world examples and tips from actual escrow officers and title professionals regarding the meeting of certain requirements to avoid costly delays and leave your client happy and satisfied.

Title Security Agency of Arizona

6390 E. Tanque Verde, Tucson, Arizona

1:00 PM to 4:00 PM – Monday, December 7, 2009

Real Estate CE 3 Hrs. Agency Law

In today’s real estate world, social media has become King. You need to be where your clients are and that is interacting in the world of social media. This course will help you understand how much social media can advance your real estate business. Learn what other top producing real estate professionals already know. Your future is directly tied to your understanding of what social media is, how it works and how you can use it. Don’t get left behind. The time is NOW!

Sponsored by: Landmark Title Assurance Agency

Held at:  Sertinos, 8898 E. Tanque Verde, Tucson, Arizona

9:00 AM to 12:00 PM – Friday, December 4,  2009

Today you cannot afford to be without the power of social media. It is literally transforming the ways in which we do business, how we interact with our clients and customers and the manner in which we grow our business. Join us for this FREE one hour introduction to the world of social media .

Sponsored By: Title Security Agency of Arizona

Held At: Country Inn Suites – 7411 N. Oracle Rd., Tucson, Arizona

2:00 PM to 3:00 PM – Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Seating is limited. To reserve a seat, call Course Creators at 520.360.0280

Come and learn how to maximize the power of Facebook! You will come away with whole new ways to increase your business and maximize your revenue using this marvelous social media tool. This course is being sponsored and taught at:

Landmark Title

7090 N. Oracle Road, Suite 152, in Tucson, Arizona

9:00 AM to 4:00 PM – Monday, November 9, 2009