MEMBER TYPE / COUNT
REALTOR® 1,261
Offices 130
Affiliate 268
Click here to see which RVAR members have switched firms, gone inactive, or joined recently.
|
CALL FOR ACTION -
Support the National Flood Insurance Program
 NAR has issued a Call for Action to encourage Congress to reauthorize the extension of the National Flood Insurance Program, which is scheduled to expire (again!) on
July 31, 2018. Without reauthorization, NFIP cannot issue or renew flood insurance policies, including areas around the Roanoke region.
We have seen and experienced the devastation of flooding in our area recently. This is an important issue for our area that will affect many of your clients if the NFIP is not reauthorized.
Our goal is to keep Congress' attention on the July 31st deadline, and get an extension and to raise awareness in Congress not to let the program shut down. Urge Congress to extend the NFIP and pass meaningful reforms to ensure long-term viability of the program.
Click here to take action now! Tell Congress to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program before it expires on July 31st. Please respond to this NAR Call For Action now!
|
2018 New Laws
The following new laws will take effect on July 1, 2018, unless otherwise noted.
Translation of Documents
- Encourages real estate licensees to assist the diverse population in the Commonwealth by referring a party to a translation service(s)
- Makes it clear the licensee is not liable for any inaccuracies of the translator
Condo & POA Summary Disclosure
Requires all Common Interest Communities (Associations) to provide the purchaser a statement form of limitations and considerations about important information contained in the disclosure packet. The statement encourages purchasers to read the disclosure packet for important information such as annual dues, special assessments, pet restrictions, and parking or vehicular restrictions. This form is to accompany the association disclosure packet.
Earnest Money Deposits
- Establishes a statute in right for a broker to give written notice to the parties and disburse an earnest money deposit in accordance with the clear terms of the contract
- Gives a broker an option to give a written notice of intended disbursement with a 15-day "protest period" (versus current 30 day period) for one of the parties to object in writing
Delayed Enactment
Two bills that passed this session of the General Assembly will not take effect until January 1, 2019. Those two bills are:
Team Legislation
- Defines a real estate team "two or more individuals, one or more of whom is a real estate salesperson or broker, who (i) work together as a unit within the same brokerage firm, (ii) represent themselves to the public as working together as one unit, and (iii) designate themselves by a fictitious name."
- Makes it clear that a Real Estate Team will have to obtain a business entity salesperson license
- Requires brokerage agreements to include the name and contact information of the supervising broker
Continuing Education Requirements
- Allocates 2 hours of the existing 8-hour broker education hours to the requirements for broker supervision under the Code of Virginia and the Real Estate Board Regulations
- Adds real estate finance to the existing curriculum for post-licensure education.
|
RVAR &
You!
RPAC is the REALTORS® Political Action Committee.
However, the REALTORS® Political Action Committee also serves and benefits our Affiliate members too!
Martha Boush,
President & Owner of Acquisition Title & Settlement Agency, Inc., has attended many Governmental Affairs and RPAC events. She says, "I am always impressed at how strong of a presence the REALTORS® and their lobbyists have at both the state and federal level. It is very impressive to see the difference we can make for our industry and our clients. My clients are also the clients of REALTORS®, and that is why I invest in RPAC."
Martha
says, "my involvement and investment in RPAC gives me the opportunity to meet and talk with many of our Legislators about specific issues we are facing in our business. I believe RPAC also brings integrity to our industry and I want to be involved and supportive of our industry."
The issues that impact your bottom line are the RPAC issues. Those are the issues we advocate for - to empower your success and protect your opportunities.
|
|
The 575 homes sold during May is the highest number of May solds since 2006. The 612 homes placed under contract is also the highest number of May "pendings" since 2005. A link to the May
home sales statistics, a 4-year comparison, is provided on the front page of RVAR.com. The MLS releases its monthly home sales statistics around the 15th of the following month.
|
Outdoor Remodeling Projects
Eighty-one percent of REALTORS® believe curb appeal is important in attracting a buyer to a residential or commercial property, according to NAR President Elizabeth Mendenhall. NAR partnered with the National Association of Landscape Professionals to create its
2018 Remodeling Report: Outdoor Features.
Landscape maintenance and tree care recover 100% of the costs at the time of the sale. When it comes to the enjoyment homeowners gain from outdoor features, a fire feature and irrigation system tied for first, both receiving a perfect Joy Score of 10. A new wood deck, water feature, statement landscape and new patio all received Joy scores of 9.7 or higher.
The most common outdoor projects for commercial properties are standard lawn care, completing a landscape management service and an overall landscape upgrade.
|
Family Fun Night
 The crack of the bat, the cheering fans, the smell of popcorn and roasted peanuts...What's more American than summer and baseball?!
Don't miss our next Family Fun Night with the Salem Red Sox on
Thursday, August 9th!
Join us for a picnic under the Roanoke Times Pavilion then stay and cheer on your Salem Red Sox!
To purchase tickets
click here. We will see you at the ball park!
|
Save the Date...2018 Annual RVAR Golf Tournament
 The 2018 RVAR Golf Tournament will be returning to Roanoke Country Club on Friday, September 7th. The day will start with check-in and a box lunch at 11:00AM and shotgun start at 12:00. Roanoke Country Club is an outstanding host of this event and this year's Tournament is shaping up to be the best yet. Plus, what better way to start your weekend!
Registration will begin in July!
|
Affiliates and REALTOR® Night
|
Charity Spotlight of the Month
 The Salvation Army has been at work in the Roanoke Valley since 1887. During this time there have been several facilities, programs, and changes. At the heart of the mission of The Salvation Army is service to the community. As such, as the needs of the community change, so then should The Salvation Army change. At its core The Salvation Army seeks to serve the least, the last and the lost and does this in a myriad of different ways. Some of these programs are common in other Salvation Army locations, while some are unique to the Roanoke Valley.
The Salvation Army operates a corps (church) and community center in Southeast Roanoke. Located in the former Belmont elementary school, the building is home to the administrative offices, classrooms, gym, full-service kitchen and cafeteria. Seven days a week, activities are taking place in the center, including worship services and programs in the chapel, youth character building programs, adult educational classes, a community art group, and "Seniors with Spirit" (senior day care), depending on the time of year. The large gym is used for Salvation Army programs and rentals.
For more information on the Salvation Army please visit their website at
virginiasalvationarmy.org/roanokeva/.
|
Upcoming Education
Code of Ethics Training - This Monday, June 25th (1:00-4:00PM) class, taught by John Dickinson, not only provides 3 hours of CE credit for license renewal, but also meets NAR's ethics training requirement. NAR requires all REALTORS® to complete 3 hours of Code of Ethics training every two years. The current two-year cycle ends December 31, 2018. Click here to register. Can't attend? This Code of Ethics Training class will be offered next on Friday, October 12th, 9AM-Noon.
Is Work / Life Balance a Myth? Learn how to reclaim your mojo! RVAR's Education Committee presents this FREE class, taught by Michelle Holling-Brooks, Certified Life Coach, on Thursday, August 16th (10:00-11:30AM). Learn the 5 simple steps to avoid negativity and how to recharge to feel like your authentic self. Click here to register.
REALTOR® Safety Class: Don't Be the Next Statistic- Learn how to increase your safety with tips to consider before every showing, including watching for danger signs. This Thursday, August 23rd (10AM-11:30AM) class will also demonstrate several self defense techniques. Instructor Bob Chandler (MKB, REALTORS®) will share his experience based on 25+ years on the Roanoke City Police force. Click here to register for this FREE class.
Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Classes:
- Annual Legal Update, Thursday, September 20th, 9AM-Noon at South County Library. Topics will be: 2018 New Laws + Disclosure Shall Set You Free. Counts for 3 hours Legal Updates with Flood CE; 1 hour Broker Management CE; 2 hours Current Industry Issues / Trends PL.
- Farm and Land Class, Wednesday, September 26th, 10AM-Noon. This popular class is being repeated to share everything you need to know about listing and selling farm and land properties. Speakers: David Hurt (MKB, REALTORS®) and Joey Cornwell (Farm Credit / Country Mortgage).
- ABR Designation Class, October 4th and 5th, 8:30AM-5PM with instructor Donna Austin.
- GRI 503 - Sales Contracts, Tuesday, October 23rd, 9AM-4:30PM with instructor Michael Guthrie.
|
Under the long-established policy of the Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS®, the Virginia REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®:
1. The broker's compensation for services rendered in respect to any listing is solely a matter of negotiation between the broker and his or her client, and is not fixed, controlled, recommended or maintained by any persons not a party to the listing agreement.
2. The compensation paid by a listing broker to a cooperating broker in respect to any listing is established by the listing broker and is not fixed, controlled, recommended or maintained by any persons other than the listing broker.
|
Our
RVAR Family
Sympathy
RVAR expresses sympathy to RVAR staffer Joe Sutliff upon the death of his mother and to Dee Anna Wright of Shepherd Realty Group upon the death of her father.
Congratulations
RVAR congratulates those recently named '2018 Best of' in The Roanoke Times SWVA Living Reader's Choice awards, which included categories for real estate firms and agents. Some of RVAR's Affiliate members were recognized, too!
Overall Best Auctioneer: Mountain City Realty and Auction, LLC
Overall Best Banking: Silver - Freedom First Credit Union; Bronze - Member One Federal Credit Union
Botetourt Best REALTOR®: Gold (tie) - Anne Huffman, RE/MAX All Stars and Todd Wampler, Century 21-Wampler Realty; Silver - Jennifer Ikenberry, RE/MAX All Stars; Bronze - Dayna Patrick, RE/MAX All Stars
Botetourt Best Real Estate Firm: Gold - RE/MAX All Stars; Silver - Keller Williams; Bronze - Long & Foster, REALTORS®
Roanoke City / County Best New Business: Gold - American National Bank
Roanoke City Best REALTOR®: Gold - Vickie Clarke, Long & Foster, REALTORS®; Silver - Norm Pullen, MKB, REALTORS®; Bronze - Valerie Eagle, Park Place Realty
Roanoke City Best Real Estate Firm: Gold - Long & Foster, REALTORS®
Roanoke County Best REALTOR®: Gold - Rod Rowan, Lichtenstein Rowan, REALTORS®; Silver - Robert Lichtenstein, Lichtenstein Rowan, REALTORS®; Bronze - Vickie Clarke, Long & Foster, REALTORS®
Roanoke County Best Real Estate Firm: Gold - Lichtenstein Rowan, REALTORS®; Silver - Long & Foster, REALTORS®; Bronze - Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS®
Roanoke County Best Insurance Agent: Gold - Bill Meador, Bill Meador Insurance Agency; Silver - Chance Miller, State Farm
Salem Best REALTOR®: Gold - Egon Hoffman, Barker Realty Co.; Silver - Kathy Basham, The Real Estate Group; Bronze - Vickie Breedlove, RE/MAX Real Estate One
Salem Best Real Estate Firm: Gold - Wainwright & Co., REALTORS®; Silver (tie) Barker Realty Co. and MKB, REALTORS®
Salem Best Insurance Agent: Bronze - Josh Morris, State Farm
Let RVAR know
if you have news to share.
|
Upcoming Events
|
June 25th
July 4th
August 9th
August 16th
August 23rd
September 7th
September 20th
September 26th
|
Code of Ethics Training
RVAR Office Closed for Holiday
Family Fun Night
Is Work/Life Balance a Myth?
Safety: Don't Be the Next Statistic
Annual RVAR Golf Tournament
Legal Update
Farm & Land Class
|
|
Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS®
Proudly Recognizes Our 2018 Partner / Sponsors
Platinum Level Partner / Sponsor
Diamond Level Partner / Sponsor
Gold Level Partner / Sponsor
Acquisition Title & Settlement Agency, Inc.
Blue Eagle Credit Union
Colonial Mortgage Company
Colonial Title & Settlement Agency, LLC
Consolidated Construction Services, Inc.
First Citizens Bank
Southwest Virginia Moving & Storage
Union Mortgage Group
Virginia Title Center, LLC
Silver Partner / Sponsor
Bug Man Exterminating, Inc.
First American Home Warranty
HMS National Home Warranty
Lawrence Moving & Storage
Old Republic Title
Seal-Tite Basement Waterproofing Co.
Sticks & Bricks Home Inspections, LLC
VIA Insurance Agency, LLC
|
|
|
|
|
|
