1. In This Week’s “The EDGE”
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
In This Week’s “The EDGE”
• Flood Relief Funds Are Available
• MLS Platinum Features New HAR Lead Capture Tools
• Houston Market Movements
• Give Yourself Some Credit
“The Edge” is a weekly tool for managers to use to inform their agents and stay current and up-to-date with important real estate industry issues.
Brought to you by the HAR Communications Department.

2. Flood Relief Funds Are Available
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Flood Relief Funds Are Available
If you were affected by the recent flooding and need financial assistance, the Texas Association of REALTORS® (TAR) stands ready to help.
TAR has set up a Disaster Relief Fund to assist those who suffered property damage to their primary residences as a result of the severe weather and flooding event that began on April 17, 2016. 
Assistance is limited to $1,000 per applicant and is restricted to those located within the jurisdiction of a participating local REALTOR® association and counties for which the governor has declared a state of disaster: Austin, Colorado, Fort Bend, Harris and Montgomery counties (see
Please complete the online application, or download the application and submit it via to or mail it to P.O. Box 2246, Austin, Texas
The Texas REALTORS® Disaster Relief Fund is being administered exclusively by TAR, not HAR.

3. MLS Platinum Features New HAR
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
MLS Platinum Features New HAR
Lead Capture Tools
At HAR, our goal is to continuously improve the value you as members receive from the MLS Platinum package by adding exciting new tools. We have upgraded the MLS Platinum package to include the HAR Lead Capture Tools. This gives you more ways to generate leads through the detail pages of sold listings on HAR.com.
Features:
HAR.com visitors can request the market value of any of your sold listings and contact you directly from the website.
HAR.com visitors can request the Real Estate Market Report to keep themselves informed about nearby listing and sales activity.
You receive leads regardless of whether you were the selling or listing agent.
View a list of products and services with the MLS Platinum package. Remember, this package will go live on July 1. Sign up today to ensure your continued access to all of these great tools!

4. Houston Market Movements
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Houston Market Movements
After a tough few days of torrential rains and flooding last week, the Houston housing market is getting itself back on track, just in time for the approaching summer sales season. We are also benefitting from steady growth in inventory. Here is the latest snapshot of local housing trends.
In the Houston region, for the week ending April 17:
• New Listings increased 8.0% to 2,882
• Pending Sales increased 21.7% to 2,315
• Closed Sales decreased 7.4% to 1,466

5. Give Yourself Some Credit
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Give Yourself Some Credit
Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR)
The Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) designation is the benchmark of excellence in buyer representation. Students will revisit marketing fundamentals: branding, relationship marketing, with an emphasis on electronic tools, social media, including blogs, Twitter, podcasts, and RSS feeds, search engine optimization (SEO) and other technologies. Practical tips in addition to examples of how agents leveraging these tools in the field make this course a must for all real estate professionals. The third elective day will cover Real Estate Marketing Reboot, which is approved for 8 hours of MCE. Sign up today for this special opportunity to learn about ABR. Fee includes the two-day ABR class and elective course. Please confirm your eligibility and review the requirements necessary to earn this designation by visiting the designation holder’s site or contacting the HAR Professional Development Department.
Date: May 2, 3 and 4
Location: HAR Central & HAR Montgomery (via video conference)
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Investment:  $299
Register at Questions? Call ext. 6