There is a lot to celebrate

2026 Marks The 100th Anniversary

Of Black History Month

PLUS Feb. 17th includes:

Start your day by practicing random acts of kindness. Buy a coffee for a stranger to celebrate generosity; it’s both National Random Acts of Kindness Day and National Cafe au Lait Day. Next, indulge in a fasnacht pastry, embracing culinary diversity on Fasnacht Day. Dive into a book for My Way Day, exploring different perspectives before deciding “Who Shall I Be.” Upgrade your entertainment system from analog to digital, paying homage to progress on Analog to Digital TV Day. Honor perseverance and resilience by learning something new on Global Tourism Resilience Day.

Hit the tennis courts or watch a match to appreciate dedication on National Tennis Pro Day. Reflect on the strength of the human spirit, perhaps by meditating or volunteering, for World Human Spirit Day. Join a fun crab race or cheer on the champion, embodying spirit and agility. Engage in science experiments, celebrating curiosity and innovation on National Public Science Day.

As the day progresses, immerse yourself in culture: attend a Mardi Gras parade, embrace new beginnings at Chinese New Year, savor some cabbage dishes, or revel in the festivities of Kosovo Independence Day. Indulge in homemade pancakes to mark Pancake Day, symbolizing luck and prosperity for Lunar and Korean New Year celebrations. Enjoy the motley of activities, savoring the essence of each unique day without getting bogged down in monotony.

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MSBR Website

Maryland REALTORS

National Association of REALTORS

Stay Connected with MSBR on these Social Media Platforms

Instagram - msbr9067

Facebook - MidShoreBoard

Tik Tok - @msbr.easton

LinkedIn - MidShoreBoard

Heat Up the Night when you join us on Feb 21st

80's Fundraiser Dance Supporting the Down Payment Grant

Sat. Feb. 21, 2026 VFW in Easton, MD 7-10pm

Registration is Open

Gather with friends, family, and neighbors for a lively, feel-good celebration inspired by the mixtapes we all loved.

All your favorite 80s hits—rewound and ready to dance!

$35/pp and $40 at the door

Cash Bar

Light Food, 50/50, Fun and DJ Included

Enjoy a night packed with music, dancing, themed activities, and plenty of retro fun. Come ready to make memories and support a great cause— 80s style!

Funds go to support the Down Payment Grant Program.

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80's Dance Sponsors Include:

$500 Footloose DJ Sponsor

Petra Quinn with REALTY Navigator

$500 Don't Stop Believing Sponsor

Sheila Washburn with Benson & Mangold

Take On Me Sponsors at $250

Jenn Dudley with Title Excellence

Shore United Bank

Hungry Like a Wolf Sponsors at $100

Karla Wieland Cherry with Meredith Fine Properties

Meredith Fine Properties

Zignature Curb Appeal- Mark Zador

Looking for 2-$250 and more $100 sponsors so 100% can go towards the Down Payment Grant Program.

Happy Fat Tuesday

Schedule for Switching out SentriLock Boxes

KEY DATES

March 10 – March 13: New Boxes will be picked up by Brokerage from the MSBR office.

March 10 – April 10: Both 2019 and 2026 lockboxes will work.

April 10: Deadline to remove ALL 2019 lockboxes from properties and return to your Brokerage.

April 17: 2019 lockboxes are permanently retired and will no longer function.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NOW

• Check all active listings for 2019 lockboxes.

• Schedule removal of 2019 lockboxes before April 10.

• Return all 2019 lockboxes to your Brokerage by April 10th.

• Attend a live virtual training session to learn the updates.

IMPORTANT REMINDER

After April 17, 2026, retired 2019 lockboxes cannot be reactivated. If left on a property, they must be cut off at the agent’s or broker’s expense.

Sign up for one of the LIVE VIRTUAL TRAINING SESSIONS

• Monday, March 9 – 11:00 AM

• Thursday, March 12 – 3:00 PM

• Wednesday, March 18 – 10:00 AM

Members of Mid-Shore Board of REALTORS IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Committee toured the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore.

Attitude and fun are pictured above:

Peter Frevel, Myisha Walker, Shandell Green, Stevie Brummel and Katie Steclair.

Terez Dorsey, President of the Frederick County and another FCAR member joined MSBR at the museum.

BRIGHT MLS fee increase effective July 2026

Beginning in July 2026, Bright MLS will implement a $2.50 monthly subscription increase ($30 annually). This first adjustment since 2022 will support continued investment in the technology, data quality, security, and service that power the MLS tools you rely on every day.

No action is required on your part. The new rate will automatically apply to billing periods starting on or after July 1, 2026.

In just 2½ years, because of your generosity and participation, MSBR has helped 56 families achieve homeownership through the Love Down Payment Grant Program.

Each of these families worked with MSBR REALTORS®; Title Companie and Lenders, turning the dream of homeownership into a reality—right here in our communities.

Let’s keep the momentum going.

You can make a difference by:

Making a one-time donation, or

Choosing a recurring donation to extend your impact all year long.

Every dollar matters.

Every contribution helps open the door to homeownership.

Together, we can help even more families take that life-changing step.

Thank You Lori McDonald with Eastern Shore Title

To crack down on Anti-Money Laundering, Title Companies will have additional paperwork for certain cash transactions. Lori noted that about 1/3 of her settlements in 2025 would have been affected.

To see all the new regulations & form: https://www.fincen.gov/rre-newsroom

Quick Fact: despite ever-evolving challenges in the real estate market, buyers and sellers want and are using a real estate agent to buy and sell. Even within a decade, there has been an increase in agent use.

In 2015, 89% of sellers and 87% of buyers used an agent during their real estate transaction.
In the 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 91% of sellers and 88% of buyers used an agent to buy and sell.

Welcome to the Year of the Horse

Entering the Year of the Horse, we're met with a lively mix of drive, bravery, and a readiness to move fast.

Horse years are often framed as energetic—more motion than pause, more momentum than contemplation. And the Fire Horse, in particular, is widely described as turning up the dial: energetic, determined, action-oriented.

Here's to a successful year!

Today’s national real estate market and why advocating for an increase in the housing supply and relaxing local zoning regulations are needed:

Considering the historical average level of housing construction and the 14 years of underproduction, our country still lacks 4.7 million homes.
Middle-income buyers are feeling the inventory shortage the most. About 420,000 listings in the price range of $260,000 and under are missing from the market.
Homeownership greatly enhances family net worth. Homeowners have 40 times the net worth of renters. Home equity and retirement accounts represent over 60% of households’ net worth.
In the last decade, the typical homeowner has accumulated more than $195,000 in wealth due to price appreciation alone.
Real estate represents 18.3% of U.S. GDP. Each home sale produces $125,310 in local economic activity and generates two jobs.
In 2024, state and local governments collected more than $797 billion in property tax revenue. Property taxes accounted for 38% of state and local tax receipts.
Real estate professionals are vital to thriving communities. 88% of REALTORS® are independent contractors at their firms and 65% are women. All help consumers navigate the intricacies of real estate transactions.

Lobby Day in Annapolis

Advocating for you and homeowners

Maryland agents across the state met with their elected officials last week to discuss bills on Taxation, Consumer Protection, Housing Supply and Industry Practices. Thank you to the MSBR agents who took the day to be heard in Annapolis.