Vancouver real estate agent Linda McClellan was installed as 2010 President of the Clark County Association of Realtors at the group’s annual installation and awards luncheon Thursday at Heathman Lodge.

McClellan, an agent with Prudential NW Properties in Vancouver, was sworn in with four other new officers and 10 board members who will preside over the association next year. About 175 people attended the luncheon, which also honored seven group members and affiliates with special awards.

The group will focus on legislative lobbying on behalf of the industry, which has been hit hard by a slumping market in the past two years, said McClellan, who foresees a better year for local home sellers in 2010.

This year, Clark County home sales made year-over-year gains each month

since June, according to “benchmarks,” a service of Riley & Marks in Vancouver. Through November, a total of 4,992 home sales represented a 3.7 percent increase over the 4,812 homes sold in the same period in 2008.

“It would be really nice to see this trend continue,” McClellan said.

But home sales are still off substantially from the industry’s peak years. In 2005, a total of 12,344 Clark County homes sold through November. Home sales totaled 9,491 for the same period in 2006.

The association’s membership peaked at 2,200 members in 2006, and dropped to 1,870 members in 2008. Membership numbers dropped to 1,495 members this year, a 32 percent decline in two years.

The group has already trimmed its 2010 budget by 14 percent, McClellan said.

“We’ve got to tighten our belts just like anyone else,” she said.

As a result, fewer board members will be offered travel expenses for conferences. However, the association is keeping its 2.5-person staff, McClellan said.

Award presentations

Those recognized this year by the association were Joni Vilhauer, Northwest Children’s Outreach, First Citizen; Kirk Faulkner, Pinnacle Mortgage Planning, Individual Affiliate; Landerholm Law Firm, Group Affiliate; Terry Eccles-Pettet, Realty Pro, Realtor Horizon Award; Linda McClellan, Prudential NW Properties, Realtor Achievement; Sherri Adams, Century 21 Cascade Pacific, Realtor of the Year; and the Vancouver Business Journal, Media.

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