Be sure to pay your annual Supra Display Key invoice by the deadline --Monday, March 13th. The amount of the annual invoice is $196.16 (including tax and personal property tax.)

Agents can go online to www.supraekey.com for billing information -- or to pay online -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have any questions about your invoice, contact Supra support at 877-699-6787.

Reminder: This reminder applies ONLY to agents who use Display Keys. Agents who have switched to the eKey (the app on your smartphone) are charged monthly by Supra.

Have you given up your landline? Supra has a solution for you to update your Supra key. Supra offers a USB cradle that uses an Internet connection on your computer to connect to KIM. Simply bring in your old cradle, phone cord and charger to the RVAR office and exchange it for a USB cradle with installation CD at no charge.

Lockbox access hours to change: Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 12th. Standard lockbox access hours will change then to 9AM - 9:30PM.

The 2017 Community Service Committee needs your help by volunteering just a little of your time throughout the year!  The Community Service Committee is seeking REALTOR® & Affiliate Members to volunteer at the first RVAR Community Service Day Project for 2017 at Feeding America Southwest Virginia.  

Our first RVAR Community Service Day Project will be Friday, March 3rd at Feeding America Southwest Virginia (1025 Electric Road, Salem, VA 24153).  There will be two opportunities to volunteer that day either from 9:00AM - 12 Noon or 1:00PM - 4:00PM. Breakfast snacks and lunch will be provided for volunteers.  Our primary service will be helping to inspect and sort dented cans, crushed boxes, or other superficially damaged food to ensure the food inside is safe.  Please click here to sign up for the AM Shift. Please click here to sign up for the PM Shift. Or call RVAR to have us register you for a shift of your choice.  

Feeding America Southwest Virginia's mission is to feed Southwest Virginia's hungry through a network of partners and engage our region in the fight to end hunger. They distribute more than 20 million pounds of food annually to nearly 400 partner agency soup kitchens, rescue missions and food pantries throughout the 26 counties and associated municipalities that make up Southwest Virginia.  

Join in and help make a difference by donating just a few hours of your time.  Collectively, we believe our REALTOR® and Affiliate members can make a huge impact on our community and the people that live here.  Make plans to volunteer in 2017!   

Jerry Cohen , with Park Place REALTORS®, believes it is important to be involved with RVAR. Jerry states, "Constantly being around other REALTOR® & Affiliate members helps keep me up to date on current issues and what is happening in the business." Jerry appreciates the interaction with colleagues and enjoys working on transactions with "folks you know

 

His years of participating on various Community Service projects proves to be "a rewarding experience helping others in our community, working side by side with other REALTOR® and Affiliate members to make a difference."  

 

Jerry currently serves on RVAR's Board of Directors and the Community Service Committee.

Attention Brokers and Managers: Plan to attend VR's Spring Broker Day -- earn Broker CE credit and network with brokers from across the state. This year's Spring Broker Day will be held Thursday and Friday, April 6th and 7th at the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton in Charlottesville. (The program opens at 10AM on Thursday and ends at 3PM on Friday.)

Key speakers and topics scheduled:

Click here for more information or to register. And if you like to plan ahead, VR's Fall Broker Day will be held on Thursday, September 14th in Richmond, with keynote speaker Steve Murray of REAL Trends.

RVAR is seeking a person to fill a full-time position to help plan, promote and implement the various programs and events for the Association as well as continue to expand the successes of our Community Service projects. This person will serve as the Staff Liaison for the Program & Special Events, Affiliates and Community Service Committees, as well as help coordinate logistics for all the events of the RVAR.

Do you know someone who might be interested in this dynamic role as a team player who is detailed-oriented, energetic, and possesses the ability to plan and coordinate events and meetings? Communication and social media skills are preferred, along with knowledge of Microsoft software applications. The ability to multi-task is essential to this position. NOTE: RVAR employees are not permitted to have active real estate licenses.

Anyone interested should submit a resume and salary requirements to Joe Sutliff at the RVAR office.

The Key to Serving 1st Time Homebuyers: The second class in a two-part series is offered by RVAR's Education Committee in partnership with the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA). Learn how VHDA can provide affordable financing for 1st time homebuyers, including eligibility requirements for properties and borrowers, different types of financing offered by VHDA plus down payment assistance.

Click here to register for this FREE class, scheduled for Thursday, February 23rd,

1:30-3:30PM at the RVAR Office.

Master the Basics: RVAR's Education Committee will offer a FREE three-part series in March on the basics. Whether you are a new agent or a veteran, master the basics and improve your knowledge in three key areas of every transaction. Each class is taught by local specialists willing to share their knowledge.
    

March 8th: Lenders 101 (10AM-Noon) Learn what every lender needs - credit, income, employment, down payment and documentation.   

March 15th: Comps 101 (10AM-Noon) Learn how to create a CMA in FlexMLS and why comps are important in pricing a listing.

March 22nd: Closings 101 (10AM-Noon) Learn how to coach your clients on timing; the players in the process; and scheduling the closing.

Click on the links above to register for these FREE classes.

Renovation Financing: RVAR's Education Committee, in partnership with PrimeLending, will offer a Renovation Financing class on Thursday, April 6th, 2-4PM at the RVAR Office. This class will cover everything you need to know to help your buyers and sellers use renovation financing. This class will cover: acquisition; tax credits; energy efficiency financing; and mortgage qualifying guidelines and programs. This class is FREE OR pay $15 at the door for 2 hours of CE credit. Click here to register.

Boost Your Knowledge on Wells and Septic Systems: RVAR's Education Committee, in partnership with Virginia Tech, will be offering this class twice -- once on Tuesday, April 18th, 10AM-Noon at Westlake Golf Club and again on Tuesday, April 25th,

10AM-Noon at the RVAR Office. This class will be taught by an instructor from Virginia Tech's Household Water Quality Program. This class will focus on testing, common problems, treatment options and maintenance. In order to register for this FREE class, click here to register for the April 18th class at Westlake or click here to register for the April 25th class at RVAR.

GRI 506: Managing Risk: This Thursday, April 20th (9AM - 4:30PM) class, taught by

Donna Austin, will teach you how to avoid lawsuits -- including a crash course on risk management, escrow, equal services, environmental concerns plus state and federal regulations. This class qualifies for 6 hours of CE credit (Legal Update and Flood) plus PL credit -- 3 hours Risk Management and 3 hours Escrow Requirements. Click here to register.

Already have your GRI designation? Contact [email protected] to register for this class at a reduced rate of $45 (includes materials and filing of CE credit, but no exam required.)

Sympathy

RVAR expresses sympathy to Darrell Morris of Poe & Cronk Real Estate Group upon the death of his father; to Connie Hash of MKB, REALTORS® upon the death of her father; to Gail Perry of American National Bank upon the death of her father; to Todd Maxey of Keller Williams upon the death of his mother; to Aggie Romero-Sirrine of Damon Gettier & Associates upon the death of her sister; and to Brenda Arrington of Town & Country Realty upon the death of her husband.

Congratulations

RVAR congratulates the following newly installed leaders of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce: Chair Jessica Gauldin of TBS Construction; Chair-elect Adam Lynch of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Smith Mountain Lake Real Estate and Director Dana Montgomery of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Smith Mountain Lake Real Estate.

And congratulations to RVAR for winning the 2016 RPAC Triple Crown award, for exceeding all of our 2016 RPAC goals. And thanks to the 434 REALTORS®, Affiliates and Staff whose contributions made this award possible.

Let RVAR know if you have news to share.