Prescott Area Association of Realtors Empowers and Equips Its Members to Achieve Business Success While Serving Consumers in the Community
By Tara Fort
The Prescott Area Association of Realtors (PAAR) provides a wealth of information and resources to its agent members and consumers alike. With an extensive background in real estate and non-profits combined with a master’s degree in Public Relations, PAAR CEO Suzanne Westrum brings the perfect fit of skills to a busy organization in a fast-growing community.
“There are so many opportunities for PAAR to provide the best resources for our members,” Suzanne said. “Membership in the association is voluntary, but a brokerage may require its agents to join. Also, most agents find it beneficial to join simply because of the resources available to them as well as MLS access for broader exposure of listings.”
George Beitzel, 2022 President of PAAR and local Realtor says, “What many may not know is that not all real estate agents or licensees are Realtors®. Realtors® are members of our local association (PAAR) as well as members of the state association and the National Association of Realtors®. Realtors® are bound by a Code of Ethics, which exists to protect the public in real estate transactions. Therefore, when you hire a Realtor®, you are not just hiring any salesperson. You are hiring someone who is sworn to act in your best interest.”
Suzanne, George, and others on the PAAR Board and staff work at the direction of the members and serve as advocates to best serve the community. Suzanne said, “I enjoy getting to lead a great staff and work alongside a visionary board that is eager to try new things and not maintain the status quo. It’s exciting to be a part of the forward vision to make that happen.”
Housing Forecast for 2022
With unprecedented trends in the current real estate market, George adds his predictions for the season and says, “Prices will likely continue their upward trend this year, despite rising interest rates. Locally, interest rates will play a small role in holding low prices since a large portion of the sales are cash. We expect that the demand for housing in our area and nationwide will remain strong while more homes are added to the inventory as spring progresses.”
PAAR President-Elect and local Realtor Broker Faye Humphrey added, “If one is looking to downsize or upsize, I would first explore buying and building options. The findings may be surprising. Profits will be based on the availability of replacement homes.”
What Can PAAR do for me?
As an organization, PAAR maintains its position to provide information and classes for real estate agents and members. For consumers, PAAR can provide valuable market information such as median sales price, average days on the market, and number of listings in the area. Consumers can also explore the credentials and designations many Realtors® hold, including Military Relocation Professional, Real Estate Negotiation Professional, Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyers Representative, and more.
The organization’s website is a great place to start: www.paar.org.