Homes Sales for December

RVAR's President Update

Click on President Meg Dorsey's photo to watch the latest video update from RVAR's Board of Directors.

February 1st Purchase Agreement Revisions

RVAR will roll out revisions to the Purchase Agreement on February 1st. The revised Purchase Agreement will be available in the RVAR library in zipForms and SkySlope on February 1st. Click here for a sample of the revised Purchase Agreement.

The key revisions are focused on clarifications to the inspection process:

• Paragraph 14 Inspections – Revised septic inspection language, eliminating the check boxes for the different types of septic inspections. Also added docks to the list of inspections.
• Paragraph 15 Inflow & Infiltration Inspection – Reworded to ensure the blank is filled out correctly for the number of business days Seller has to request the I&I Inspection.
• Paragraph 16 – Changed the title of this paragraph to Preoccupancy or Presettlement Verification, in order to eliminate reference to ‘Inspection'. Created a new Paragraph 16C to focus solely on change in condition at walkthrough, so can be more easily referenced in Paragraph 17.
• Paragraph 17 Seller’s and Purchaser’s Option – Clarified that this paragraph references only Paragraph 16C (see above) and Paragraph 29D (Title). Also, changed ‘Remediation Limit’ to ‘Seller Obligation Limit’.
• Paragraph 29G(e) Business Days – Changed definition to reference majority of banks in both the Roanoke Valley and New River Valley. 

Click here for a link to RVAR’s YouTube Channel, where you will find 7 training videos. Four of the videos focus on the new revisions – (1) an overview; (2) Paragraph 14A; (3) Paragraph 15; and (4) Paragraphs 16/17. Three of the videos focus on Paragraphs 14B, C and D, which were not revised. Each video is brief.

Special thanks to Kit Hale for recording the videos.

MLS Changes Coming February 15th

The MLS Board of Directors has approved the following changes, which will go into effect February 15th:

MLS Service Area Defined: The MLS Service Area has been defined as the following municipalities: City of Roanoke, City of Salem, Counties of Roanoke, Botetourt, Bedford, Franklin and Craig.

Any MLS member who has a residential, farm, lot/land and/or multi-family listing in those municipalities must enter the listing into the MLS. The only exception is when an MLS Listing Exemption has been submitted to the MLS, indicating that the Seller does not want the listing entered into the MLS. Commercial and rental listings are not required to be entered in the MLS.

Rental Listings: In response to questions raised, the MLS Board has confirmed that only residential listings of 30 days or more are eligible to be entered into the MLS. Short-term rentals of less than 30 days are not eligible to be entered into the MLS.

Questions? Contact RVAR CEO Laura Benjamin.

MLS Snapshot of MLS "Listing Check" Reports

During 2022, 350 “Listing Check” messages were sent through FlexMLS to Listing Agents and Listing Brokers. The MLS Monitoring Committee encourages you to review the most common issues reported:

• 155 = Wrong data (wrong area, schools, acreage, style, mapping, attached vs. detached)
• 39 = Wrong square footage
• 38 = Photos (missing front photo, LA sign in photo, photos not current) The MLS Rules require a front view photo for all listings – though for Land listings, the front view may be a street view, Lake view, aerial or drone view. Photos may not show a yard sign or any firm or agent promotion. The MLS Rules require that photos (including videos and virtual tours) accurately portray the interior and exterior condition of the property during the Active listing period for the property. 
• 35 = Missing data (Owner’s legal name, Other See Remarks with no explanation in Remarks) 

RVAR's Family Fun Night on the Ice

Join us for a night of fun and fast-paced hockey with the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs on Friday, February 24th.  

Tickets are $14 for adults and $10 for children (under 12) and include admission and a meal voucher to be used at the concession area.  

Order as many tickets as you would like - bring your family & friends for a fun, exciting evening at the Berglund Center!! The puck drops against Vermilion County at 7:05PM.

These will be pre-purchase only tickets and must be ordered by 2:00PM Monday, February 20th. Tickets can be picked up at the "Will Call" window on game day.

Click here to purchase your tickets!

RVAR Community Service Day

The 2023 Community Service Committee would like you to join us as we kick off the new year with our first Service Day Project.

RVAR will be volunteering with Feeding SW Virginia (1025 Electric Road, Salem, VA 24153) on Thursday, March 16. There are two opportunities to volunteer, 9:00am - 12:00pm or 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Choose one or, better yet, both!

Registration for this event begins on February 1.

Feeding Southwest Virginia was founded in 1981 and proudly commemorates 41 years of fighting hunger and changing lives through community partnerships.

The Food Bank is an affiliate member of Feeding America and for the last three decades the Food Bank's ultimate mission has remained the same: eliminating hunger in the region.

If you would like to donate or get more information for Feeding SW Virginia, please log on to their website at www.feedingswva.org. 

2023 REALTOR® & Affiliate Night

If you could move in time, where would you go? That is the question as the 2023 Affiliate Committee asks you to step into our ‘Time Machine’. That is the theme for the 2023 REALTOR® & Affiliate Night scheduled for Tuesday, April 18th from 5pm-8pm! Also, the event will be moving to the Roanoke Country Club. 

Don’t miss the party of the year! Registration opens mid-February.

2023 RVAR Spring Golf Tournament

The 2023 RVAR Spring Golf Tournament will be played on Friday, May 19th. This year our Tournament will be held at Ashley Plantation Country Club.

Get your team together and come out to the course! Great food, great prizes ($15,000 Hole in One Contest), and more!!

Registration begins on March 1st!   

We are excited to announce the date for the 2023 RVAR Golf Classic! This year’s event will be held on Friday, September 8 at Roanoke Country Club.

Stay tuned for more information!

RVAR Wins Triple Crown for 2022 RPAC Success!

A huge “Thank you” to the 627 REALTORS®, Affiliates and RVAR staff who contributed to the 2022 REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) fundraising campaign! For the eighth year in a row, RVAR has achieved the Triple Crown Award for exceeding all its RPAC goals set by Virginia REALTORS®. RVAR raised $51,702, including contributions from 22 Major Investors (contributions of $1,000 or more.)

Thank you to all who contributed!

NAR's Center for Financial Wellness: Tax Summit

NAR’s Center for Financial Wellness is offering a four-part series in February. REALTORS® are facing a long list of tax changes for the 2022 filing year. New and complex rules, annual inflation adjustments and tedious documentation can impact all taxpayers. Hear from certified professionals and get tips needed to save time and money while reducing your stress this tax season.

• A registration fee of $50 will give you access to all four Zoom sessions:
• Tax Basics and QB1 (February 1st, 2-3PM)
• Tax Trouble – Laws, Rules and Decisions (February 8th, 2-3PM
• Second Home and Investment Property Tax Tips (February 15th, 2-3PM)
• Lower Your 2022 Tax Bill with This Unique Wealth Building Strategy (February 22nd, 2-3PM)

Click here to register.

RVAR: A Decade Ago

How much has changed in the past 10 years? Click here to check out RVAR and the real estate market in 2013. 

Upcoming Education

So You Want to be a Landlord: If you own or are interested in owning rental property, plan to attend this class to learn the risks and rewards. Instructors Jamie Bailey of Alcova Mortgage and Mac Westland of Keller Williams Realty Roanoke will share their experience and the systems they use to manage rentals and screen tenants. Funding options for the purchase of rental property will also be addressed.

Click here to register for this FREE class on Wednesday, February 15th, 11AM-12:30PM. This class provides two options to attend (1) attend class in person (limit of 35) or (2) attend via Zoom. 

Understanding the Closing Process: Understand the closing process from start to finish, including tips for a smooth closing. Topics include: the importance of title insurance; the difference between a Closing Disclosure and HUD-1; how to prevent wire fraud; and what to expect on closing day.

Virginia Title Center, LLC is providing the presenters for this class: Patti Dickerson, Director of Operations & Marketing; Angie Smith, Settlement Processor; and Dawn Finney, Notary/Professional Mobile Closer on behalf of Virginia Title Center, LLC.

Click here to register for this class on Wednesday, March 15th, 11AM-12:30PM. This class provides two options to attend (1) attend class in person (max of 35) or (2) attend via Zoom.

RVAR’s Education Committee is finalizing plans for more classes:

• Manufactured Homes; April 12th, 11AM-12:30PM
• Setting Expectations for Sellers; April 25th, 11AM-12:30PM
• Septic Systems: Dirty Little Secrets; May date pending

Virtual GRI Classes: RVAR has partnered with Virginia REALTORS® to offer virtual GRI classes throughout 2023. Each class is offered in two half-day sessions. Below are the classes offered through April 2023. 

GRI 504 Working with Buyers

February1st 9AM-12:30PM

February 2nd 9AM-12:30PM

Instructor: Nancy Pav

Students will learn the categories of active buyers, techniques for lead generation, components of the home showing process and negotiation strategies. The class will also review the mortgage process and financing options, including options for first time buyers. CE Approved = 6 hours Real Estate Related; PL Approved = 2 hours Real Estate Finance. Click here to register.

GRI 505 Working with Sellers

February 21st 9AM-12:30PM

February 22nd 9AM-12:30PM

Instructor: Nancy Pav

Students will learn proven strategies for lead generation for Sellers, plus tips for listing presentations and marketing listings. PL Approved = 2 hours Current Industry Issues / Trends. Click here to register.

GRI 502 Sales Contracts

March 14th 9AM-12:30PM

March 15th 9AM-12:30PM

Instructor: Michael Guthrie

Students will receive guidance and tactical skills for writing and presenting a variety of real estate agreements, such as disclosure forms and sales contracts, including contingencies. CE Approved = 6 hours Real Estate Contracts; PL Approved = 6 hours Contract Writing. Click here to register.

GRI 507 Ethics & Professional Responsibility

April 4th 9AM-12:30PM

April 5th 9AM-12:30PM

Instructor: Tim Vohar

This course will clarify how the Code of Ethics helps your business and the reputation of all REALTORS®. Case studies will provide a hands-on opportunity for learning how to apply the Code in business every day. CE Approved = 4 hours Ethics and 2 hours Fair Housing; PL Approved = 3 hours Ethics & Standards of Conduct and 2 hours Fair Housing. Click here to register.

GRI 508 Real Estate Law & Virginia Regulations

April 26th 9AM-12:30PM

April 27th 9AM-12:30PM

Instructor: Jeff Wu

This course offers the most up-to-date changes to Virginia law and Real Estate Board regulations. Case studies will help you understand how the laws apply to you and protect the interest of your clients. CE Approved = 8 hours Legal Updates with Flood Content; PL Approved = 6 hours Real Estate Law and Board Regulations. Click here to register.

Our RVAR Family

Sympathy

RVAR offers its sympathy to Carol Potts of Embrace Home Loans upon the death of her daughter; to Roberta Taliaferro of The Real Estate Group upon the death of her sister and to Gwen Ashby of Coldwell Banker Townside upon the death of her mother. RVAR also offers condolences to the friends and colleagues of William Friel, broker of Allstar Commercial Solutions, upon his recent passing.

Congratulations

RVAR congratulates Veronica Perkins of eXp Realty Fredericksburg upon being named by The Roanoker Magazine to its “40 Under 40” list.

Upcoming Events

2022 Platinum Level Partner/Sponsor