MEMBER TYPE / COUNT
REALTOR® 1,303
Offices 131
Affiliate 278
Click here to see which RVAR members have switched firms, gone inactive, or joined recently.
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Dues Discount Reminder
Anyone who pays 2019 dues by
Thursday, November 1st (includes a November 1st postmark) can take advantage of a $50 discount. Simply go to
www.RVAR.com and click on User Login (upper right hand corner). Follow the instructions to log in to access and pay your dues bill online. The final date to pay 2019 dues is
Monday, January 14th.
Any member may contact
Susan Edwards to request a dues bill via email or mail.
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Fall Election for RVAR Board of Directors
RVAR's 2019-2020 Board of Directors has 4 open Director positions. Seven candidates have applied for these 4 positions:
Dana Berenbaum, MKB, REALTORS®
Veronica Faz, BHHS Premier, REALTORS®
Jeff Fletcher, BHHS Premier, REALTORS®
Shannon Hines, Long & Foster, REALTORS®
Jay Kilby, RE/MAX All Stars
Julie Kingery, RE/MAX Mountain to Lake
Lori Shultz-Moore, Wainwright & Co.
Electronic ballots will be used, delivered via email on Tuesday, October 30th. Voting will end at Midnight on Wednesday, November 14th.
Congratulations to
Walter Grewe of Long & Foster, REALTORS® who has been elected to serve as the 2019 President-elect and
Ashley Donahue of Wainwright & Co. who will serve as 2019 Vice President, since no additional candidate applications were received for these positions.
Continuing their service on the 2019 Board will be: President
Neil Conner (The Real Estate Group); Immediate Past President
Connie Hash (MKB); and Directors
Barry Bridges (Weichert Bridges & Co.);
Jerry Cohen (Park Place Realty) and
Meg Smith (MKB, REALTORS®).
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2018 Affiliate of the Year Awards
Paula Brown, SVP Mortgage for Freedom First Credit Union, received RVAR's 2018 Affiliate Individual of the Year award.
Acquisition Title & Settlement Agency, Inc. was honored with RVAR's 2018 Affiliate Company of the Year award.
Both awards were presented on October 16th at RVAR's Affiliate and REALTOR® Night and were given in recognition of outstanding support of RVAR, as exhibited by event attendance, sponsorships and volunteer efforts.
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Healthcare Options for REALTORS® Are Changing
Recent changes to Virginia law have opened up more healthcare options for REALTORS®. Virginia REALTORS® has partnered with BeneFinder to make exploring these new options quick and easy.
Click here to learn more about your new healthcare options, including a form to request a call from BeneFinder to determine the best options for you.
OR
Click below to register for a BeneFinder webinar to learn more. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing instructions on how to join the webinar.
Thursday, November 1st, 10:00-11:00AM.
Wednesday, November 14th, 12:00-1:00PM.
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REALTOR® After Hours 
Expand your mind and your network by joining us for REALTOR® After Hours,
Thursday, November 8 - 5:30 'til 7:30 at the Science Museum of Western Virginia at Center in the Square, 1 Market Square, SE, Roanoke, VA 24011
Food *Beverages *Networking *
Interactive Exhibits
Be a WINNER .... CASH PRIZES!
Bring a business card for a chance to win! Drawings for REALTORS® ($100-$50-$25-$25) and Affiliates ($50-$25-$25)
50/50 Raffle for our Charities -Hosted by Community Service Committee
Click here to register or print out a fax-in registration form. For info contact:
[email protected].
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The
"Economic Update: All About YOU & Your Business" is excited to present updates on timely topics that have an impact on you and your business.
Michael Burnette, Director of Economic Development for Franklin County, will be our presenter. Michael will highlight the exciting economic development happenings in Franklin County, including an update on the new Summit View Business Park and the positive impact this has on your business.
The next
"Economic Update" will be held on
Tuesday, December 11th at the RVAR office starting at 8:45AM with coffee, juice and pastries provided. The presentation will begin at 9:00AM with a brief welcome followed by Michael Burnette's presentation and include time for questions & answers. We will conclude no later than 10:00AM.
There is NO CHARGE to attend this event, but seating is limited.
Click here to register or contact the RVAR office.
The
"Economic Update" has the goal of providing local, informative presentations regarding topics that affect you and your business. All REALTOR® and Affiliate members are encouraged to attend.
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SAVE THE DATE - Awards & Installation Breakfast
Mark your calendar now and make plans to join us as we celebrate the many successes of 2018 and install our 2019 Officers and Directors including our 2019 RVAR President,
Neil Conner. Our Installation & Awards breakfast will be held on
Friday, December 14th at the
Sheraton Hotel Roanoke from 8:30 until 10:30 AM. The cost is $15 to attend which includes a deluxe breakfast. We will also be giving special recognition to our REALTOR® of the Year, and the Community Service and Distinguished Service Award recipients.
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Election day is quickly approachin
g!
Every election is important. This year is no different.
Virginians will be voting on one of our two US Senators and our US Members of Congress. There are also two proposed Virginia Constitutional Amendments on the ballot as well. If you live in the Virginia's 8th House District, there is a special election to fill the seat vacated by Greg Habeeb.
When REALTORS® vote, our elected leaders notice. As a REALTOR® member, make certain your voice is heard before decisions are made that affect your business. Get out and VOTE!
Remember to VOTE on Tuesday, November 6th!
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RVAR & You!
 What is the value of RVAR to you and your business? Do you believe the RVAR is important to your business?
Adam Lynch, an agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Smith Mountain Lake Real Estate, strongly believes being involved in RVAR is important!
Adam says, "RVAR is very valuable to my business. My years of work and involvement on various RVAR committees allows me to be on the front line for affecting change that can help our profession."
Adam believes there are huge benefits for being involved. He continues, "being involved helps me to stay informed on real estate related issues being discussed and keep up to date on new laws and best practices."
He adds another important benefit is that "the connections I have made through RVAR makes it easier for me to work with other agents."
Adam currently serves on the RVAR Economic Development and Governmental Affairs Committees, and serves as the Chair for the Lake Council. He also serves on Virginia REALTOR®'s Public Policy Committee.
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The 452 homes sold during the month of September reflects a slight decrease of 1% from September, 2017. A link to the September home sales statistics, including 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.
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NAR Requires Ethics Training by December 31st...
Don't let your time run out . . . this is an NAR requirement!
According to RVAR records, 567 members still need to take this training (or let RVAR know that they have taken the training)!
NAR requires all REALTORS® to complete 3 hours of REALTOR® Code of Ethics training every two years. The current two-year cycle will end 12/31/2018. Failure to meet the requirement is a violation of NAR's membership requirements and will result in suspension of membership until the requirement is met or until membership is automatically terminated.
If you have already completed the REALTOR® Code of Ethics training for your license renewal, just send a copy of the certificate of completion to Susan Edwards. If you have joined within the last 6 months and have not yet attended New Member Orientation, you will receive ethics training credit at Orientation.
RVAR has two more Code of Ethics training classes scheduled this year: Tuesday, November 6th (9AM-Noon) and Thursday, December 13th (1-4PM) Click on the link to register.
Also, you can go to NAR's website for this class! NAR provides two options -- either with CE credits ($29.95 cost) or without (which is free and only meets NAR's requirements.) Click here to access NAR's ethics training options.
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RVAR Needs You in 2019
When you volunteer for one of RVAR's Committees, you serve not only your Association but yourself as well! Research shows that members who work on Association committees are:
1. Better informed (that's good for business)
2. Better networked (ditto)
3. Better prepared to act on trends and regulations impacting their business
Join a Committee and let RVAR help improve your business! Both REALTORS® and Affiliate members are welcome to serve.
Click here to volunteer for a Committee, plus review a description of each Committee's purpose and how often it meets. Please submit your request by
Thursday, November 29th!
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Lesson Learned: Offering Incentives
RVAR was recently asked whether a listing agent can offer an incentive to a potential buyer or bonus to a selling agent? The answer to both scenarios is Yes. The Code of Ethics provides guidance on both scenarios.
When a listing agent offers "premiums, prizes, merchandise discounts or other inducements to list, sell, purchase or lease", Standard of Practice 12-3 requires the listing agent to
"exercise care and candor in any such advertising or other public or private representations so that any party interested in receiving or otherwise benefiting from the offer will have a clear, thorough, advance understanding of all the terms and conditions of the offer." Does the offer have an expiration date? Is the offer contingent on a full price offer? Be sure to disclose all conditions of the offer.
If a bonus is offered to a selling agent, then Article 7 requires the following:
"In a transaction, REALTORS® shall not accept compensation from more than one party, even if permitted by law, without disclosure to all parties and the informed consent of the REALTOR®'s client or clients." NAR advises that only through adequate prior disclosure can the parties be fully aware of any potential conflicts of interest that may affect their ability or willingness to rely on the objectivity of the REALTOR®'s advice and counsel.
Take advantage of all the lessons to be learned in the Code of Ethics.
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MLS Monitoring Tips
The MLS Monitoring Committee constantly reviews the listings in the MLS system. Based on some of the most recent issues spotted, the Committee offers these reminders:
1.
Below Grade Square Footage: Last year, square footage in the MLS was separated into Above Grade and Below Grade, with fields provided per level.
Above Grade is defined as that part of the dwelling that is ENTIRELY above ground.
Below Grade is defined as the area that is ALL or PARTLY below ground level. The Committee has spotted an increase in below grade SQFT errors - where the entry level should be marked below grade, but is incorrectly marked above grade.
Click here for guidelines on the square footage per level for each style of home in the MLS.
2.
# Vehicle Spaces: For Residential / Farm / Rental listings, Primary Covered Parking is a required field. If any option is marked other than 'not applicable', then the # of vehicle spaces is required. For example, if the property has a 2-car attached garage as its primary covered parking, then the # of vehicle spaces is 2. Reminder: There are two optional parking fields - for Additional Covered Parking and Uncovered Parking - where you can enter more vehicle spaces.
3. Internet Access: All property types include an optional field for Internet Access. This field includes the type of access (cable, DSL, undetermined or other, see remarks), plus the current Internet provider. Though this field is optional, more buyers and buyer agents are searching by this field to identify suitable properties. The Committee encourages you to complete this field on your listings.
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Awards for Outstanding REALTORS®
Friday, November 16th
is the deadline for two important RVAR awards. Both awards have the same deadline - and will be presented at the December 14th Installation and Awards Breakfast.
REALTOR® of the Year: If you can think of a fellow REALTOR® who is well respected, known for professionalism, volunteers time to RVAR and/or the community, then you should take a moment to nominate that deserving colleague for RVAR's most prestigious award. The nomination process is as simple as writing a letter to RVAR's CEO
Laura Benjamin
explaining whom you want to nominate and why. RVAR will contact all nominees to obtain their resumes. The winner will be selected by the past five recipients of this award.
Click here
to see who has already won this prestigious award.
Community Service Award
: RVAR created this award in 2005 to honor one REALTOR® each year who has contributed to improving our community by volunteer service to a local program or organization (not necessarily related to housing). The nomination process is simple - just write a letter to
Jim Sweetwood
at RVAR explaining whom you want to nominate and why. RVAR will contact all nominees to collect the necessary information. RVAR will donate $1,000 to the award recipient's charity of choice.
Click here
to see who has already won this award.
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Brokers: Distinguished Service Awards
The Distinguished Service Award is presented each year by RVAR to those firms whose agents have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the Association through Committee service and attendance at RVAR classes and events. The deadline for Brokers to submit an award application is
Friday, November 16th, for the award period November 1, 2017 through October 31, 2018.
Click here for the application form. RVAR will be able to provide firm attendance/Committee service/RPAC records during the award period by
Monday, November 19th. Contact
Laura Benjamin at RVAR with any questions about this award.
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Charity of the Month
SPCA
Since 1916, the Roanoke Valley SPCA has made the welfare of homeless and unwanted animals a priority and in 1958 the RVSPCA became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
We provide a safe and loving home for animals for as long as they need it. Only those animals suffering from conditions that are beyond help are ever euthanized.
The Adoption & Education Center is at 1340 Baldwin Avenue, Roanoke, approximately one-quarter mile east of the Roanoke Civic Center, south from Route 460 (Orange Avenue).
To learn more about us or to volunteer please visit our website at
https://rvspca.org/.
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PMX 2018: Property Management Conference
Property managers should make plans to attend the Virginia REALTORS® Annual Property Management Conference, November 14 - 16, 2018 in Harrisonburg at the new Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Center. This Conference is an annual sell-out that combines the most up-to-date information with networking opportunities among fellow property managers. The schedule is packed with classes -- most of which qualify for CE / PL / Broker Management credit. Click here for more information or to register.
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Upcoming Education
GRI 502 Sales Contracts - Charlottesville instructor Michael Guthrie will conduct this class on Tuesday, October 30th (9:00AM-4:30PM) at the RVAR office. You might be able to market a house, but can you close a deal? This course covers a variety of real estate agreements, such as contracts and disclosure forms. CE credits = 6 hours Real Estate Contracts; PL credits = 6 hours Contract Writing. Click here to register.
Already have your GRI designation? Contact Louann Pagans to register for this class at the reduced rate of $45, includes materials and CE credits, but no exam. |
Understanding New Construction -- RVAR's Education Committee offers this FREE two-part series, taught by Brian Wescott of David James Homes.
- Exterior - Thursday, November 8th, 10AM - Noon - Types of construction, foundations, insulation, roofing and siding
- Interior - Thursday, November 15th 10AM - Noon - Ceilings, flooring, wall coverings, countertops, water heaters, HV/AC
Click here to register for the Exterior class. OR click here to register for the Interior class. |
| Treat Your Business Like a Business - Now is the time to start planning and mapping your course for the new year. This class on November 9th, 9AM-Noon, taught by REALTOR® Mary Beth Pauley of Staunton, will show you how to create a business plan that will ensure your activities move you closer to paying for your success. Click here to register for this FREE class. |
Fair Housing -- RVAR's Education Committee presents this class in conjunction with the Moseley Dickinson Academy of Real Estate, Friday, November 16th, 2:00-4:00PM at the RVAR Office.
New members: This class is free -- earn 2 hours PL or CE credit.
Existing members: Pay $10 at the door for 2 hours CE credit.
Click here to register.
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Code of Ethics Training - Two more Code of Ethics Training classes remain. These classes, taught by John Dickinson, not only provide 3 hours of CE credit for license renewal, but also meet 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 on the date below to register:
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Our
RVAR Family
Sympathy
RVAR expresses sympathy to the colleagues, family and friend upon the passing of Lorna Hall of MKB, REALTORS®. RVAR offers condolences to Liz Edlich of Wainwright & Co., REALTORS® upon the death of her sister and to Bill Thomasson of The Real Estate Group upon the death of his mother.
Congratulations
RVAR congratulates
Bobby Fothergill of Virginia Title Center upon his installation as 2019 President of the Blue Ridge Mortgage Lenders Association.
Let RVAR know
if you have news to share.
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Upcoming Events & Deadlines
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October 30th
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GRI 502 - Sales Contracts
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November 1st
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Dues Discount Deadline
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November 6th
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Ethics Training
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November 8th
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New Construction - Exterior
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November 8th
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REALTOR® After Hours @ Science Museum
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November 9th
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Treat Your Business Like a Business
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November 12th
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Office Closed for Veteran's Day
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November 15th
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New Construction - Interior
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November 16th
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Fair Housing
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November 22nd-23rd
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Office Closed for Thanksgiving
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December 11th
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Economic Update
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December 13th
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Ethics Training
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December 14th
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Installation & Awards Breakfast
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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
The Federal Savings Bank
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
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