MEMBER TYPE / COUNT
REALTOR® 1,210
Offices 133
Affiliate 242
Click here to see which RVAR members have switched firms, gone inactive, or joined recently.
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September is REALTOR® Safety Month
Did you know that:
- 44% of female REALTORS® and 25% of male REALTORS® have experienced a situation that made them fear for their personal safety. The most common situations that caused fear: open houses, vacant or model homes, unlocked properties and properties in remote areas.
- 44% of members use a smart phone app to track their whereabouts in order to alert colleagues in case of an emergency. (The Find My iPhone app is the most widely used app.)
- 39% of members have participated in a self-defense class; 20% have attended a REALTOR® safety class.
These statistics come from NAR's recent REALTOR® Safety survey.
REALTORS® interact with strangers for a living. Make safety a priority in all of your interactions.
Click here for a collection of NAR's safety tips - ranging from open houses to showing rural properties.
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Openings on 2018 RVAR BOD--Six Candidates Already Verified
RVAR's Board of Directors has announced the following leadership openings for 2018:
President-elect,
Vice President and
3 Director positions. Based on Bylaws revisions approved last year, the process for applying for a Director or Officer position has been streamlined:
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A period of RVAR membership is required: 2 years for Directors, 3 years for Vice President
and 4 years for President-elect.
* No more than 2 members from the same firm may serve at the same time on the Board of
Directors, with the exception of the Immediate Past President.
* All applicants must meet the following objective criteria:
o Must have served on an RVAR Committee, Task Force etc. within the previous 10 years;
o Must not have had a Virginia Real Estate Board violation within the previous 2 years;
o Must not have had a Code of Ethics violation within the previous 2 years.
The deadline for candidate application is
Monday, October 2nd. To date, four Director candidate applications have been verified by the Credentials Committee:
Jerry Cohen of Park Place Realty,
Cece Currie of Poe & Cronk Real Estate Group,
Phyllis Johnson of RE/MAX Lakefront Realty and
Meg Smith of RE/MAX Valley, REALTORS®. In addition, the President-elect application has been verified for
Neil Conner of The Real Estate Group and the Vice President application has been verified for
Walter Grewe of Long & Foster.
If you are interested or have any questions about the requirements and benefits of serving on the Board of Directors, please contact President
Kathy Chandler or CEO
Laura Benjamin.
Click here for more information on the candidate application process, including the application form.
Continuing their service on the 2018 Board will be: President
Connie Hash (MKB); Immediate Past President
Kathy Chandler (MKB); and Directors
Bitsy Davis (Long & Foster),
Becky Fields (BHHS Premier),
Jeff Fletcher (BHHS Premier) and Renee Wiggins (RE/MAX All Stars).
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2018 Dues Confirmed
The 2018 dues amount has been set at $545 -- the same amount as for 2017:
NAR $155
VR $120
RVAR $270
Anyone who pays dues by
Wednesday, November 1st (includes a November 1st postmark) can take advantage of a
$50 discount.
The dues bill will include a request for a voluntary contribution of $30 to RPAC (REALTORS® Political Action Committee.)
The final date to pay 2018 dues is
Friday, January 12th.
Watch your inbox the last week of September for an email with instructions on how to access and pay your dues bill online. Dues bills will NOT be mailed to offices this year. However, any member may request to receive a hard copy invoice via mail.
Questions? Contact
Susan Edwards at the RVAR Office.
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 The Affiliates Committee has their game plan set for this year's Affiliate & REALTOR® Night at Hidden Valley Country Club on Tuesday, October 17th from 5pm-8pm. We are proud to announce that this year's theme is a Championship All-Star Night. Put on your favorite gear and show some team spirit! Make plans now to attend and be sure to bring lots of business cards for a chance to win some fantastic prizes!
Don't miss the excitement as we enjoy an evening of fun, 'stadium' inspired culinary treats and the opportunity to support our fantastic team of Affiliate members! Tickets are just $15 if purchased by October 12th ($20 between October 13-17) and includes 2 drink tickets.
Click here for all the details and to order your tickets now! Let's knock it out of the park!
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September Forms Update
The following forms updates went live in zipForms on September 14th:
Exclusive Right to Represent Seller Agreement -
Click here for a summary of the revisions. Several of the revisions streamline existing paragraphs. Plus a new section has been added to alert the Seller to the potential and/or consequences of recordings within the property.
Summary of Rights - This document is being added to RVAR's library in zipForms. Though not required, this document discloses details of the Virginia Resident Property Disclosure Act, including exemptions and the list of items for which "owner makes no representations", with signature lines to acknowledge receipt of the information.
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RVAR Contributes to REALTORS® Relief Fund
The RVAR Board of Directors has contributed $2,000 to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation on behalf of victims of the recent hurricanes. The Foundation was formed by NAR shortly after the 9/11 tragedy, and has provided mortgage and rental assistance to victims of more than 50 disasters. The Foundation is a 503(c)(3) charitable organization, with 100% of all funds collected going directly to disaster relief causes. (NAR covers all administrative costs.) The REALTORS® Relief Foundation welcomes contributions - not only in times of disaster, but at any time throughout the year.
Click here to contribute.
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National Flood Insurance Program Extended
President Trump signed a three-month extension to the National Flood Insurance Program on September 8th, giving Congress more time to come up with a long-term financial solution for the program. (The program was slated to expire on September 30th.) With this new extension, the program will now expire on December 8, 2017.
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RVAR Endorses Candidates in Local Races
Roanoke County Board of Supervisors: The Board endorsed the following candidate:
Jason Peters Vinton District
The Roanoke County candidates were interviewed on issues related to economic growth, Explore Park expansion, 419 Town Center, broadband availability and regional cooperation with other localities. The endorsed candidate's campaign will receive a $1,500 RPAC contribution.
Botetourt County Board of Supervisors: The Board endorsed the following candidate:
Todd Dodson Amsterdam District
The Botetourt County candidates were interviewed on issues related to economic growth, infrastructure needs, broadband availability, schools and "workforce" housing. The endorsed candidate's campaign will receive a $1,500 RPAC contribution.
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NAR Profile of Real Estate Firms
NAR has just released its 2017 Profile of Real Estate Firms, based on survey responses from over 6,000 firm executives who are NAR members. For the third year in a row, the vast majority of real estate firms have an optimistic outlook for the future of the industry's profitability and growth.
Highlights of the Profile are:
- Seventy-nine percent of real estate firms have a single office, typically with three full-time real estate licensees, consistent with 2016.
- Eighty-four percent of firms are independent non-franchised firms.
- Eighty-one percent of firms specialize in residential brokerage.
- Forty-three percent of firms reported actively recruiting sales agents in 2017, a slight decrease from 2016.
- Fifty percent of firms expect competition to increase in the next year from non-traditional market participants.
- Thirty-eight percent of all firms said they have an exit plan for when they decide to retire or exit the real estate industry.
- The typical residential firm has been operating for 14 years, while the typical commercial firm has been operating for 18 years.
- Eighty percent of firms encourage their agents to volunteer in their local community and 43% at their local Association of REALTORS®.
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REALTOR After Hours - Save the Date!
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VR Convention in Roanoke
Virginia REALTORS® Convention
comes to The Hotel Roanoke, October 3-5, 2017. Plan to  attend and welcome fellow REALTORS® from across Virginia.
The Convention is a must-attend opportunity to grow your business through powerful education from the nation's real estate stars and relationship building with successful members. Attending the Convention gets you 'in the know' about Virginia real estate and puts you in the mix with industry leaders from the state and nation.
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VR Property Management Conference
Property managers should make plans to attend the Virginia REALTORS® Annual Property Management Conference, November 15 - 17, 2017 in Charlottesville. The schedule is packed with classes -- most of which qualify for CE / PL / Broker Management credit. Topics include: Fair Housing for Property Managers, Policies on Assistance / Service Animals, Criminal Background Checks, an update on VR's Property Management forms and a 2017 VRLTA Update. Click here for more information or to register.
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"Your Vote is Your Voice!"
Election day is only 49 Days away! Are you registered & ready to vote?
Every election is important. This year is no different. 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.
Registering to vote or updating your address is quick and easy! The deadline for registering / address changes is Monday, October 16th. Click here to check your voting information today! You can also submit for an absentee ballot from this site. You can even send the link to your clients!
Remember to VOTE on Tuesday, November 7th!
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RVAR Adopts Boys and Girls Club
 The RVAR is proud to announce that Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia has been added to our annual list of charitable organizations we support.
The mission of Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia is "to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens". Through youth development, strong core beliefs and a sense of community, Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia strives to give hope and opportunity to the youth of Southwest Virginia.
Stay tuned in October for a big announcement on ways you can help RVAR support Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia.
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"My RVAR Commitment Matters": Julie Kingery
 Julie Kingery, GRI, with RE/MAX Mountain to Lake Realty, says emphatically that she is involved in the RVAR "so I know what's going on!"
Julie explains, "my involvement and the education opportunities offered are very important to me as I take my business to the next level. My involvement keeps me in the loop with RVAR, as well as, Virginia REALTORS® and our National Association of REALTORS®. All the education keeps me apprised of new forms, laws, regulations and changes in our industry, which is super important. I want my clients to know and trust that I know what I'm doing. It's fun to be able to answer a client's questions that they've seen online or heard from someone else, and I know immediately whether it's a true issue or if it's just a rumor."
Julie continues to point out that being involved on Committees and attending events "gives us such great opportunities to form relationships with other REALTORS® and our Affiliates. It's always a plus working with agents, lenders, attorneys, home inspectors, settlement firms, movers, etc. when we have great relationships already established!"
"Another plus is walking into such a friendly environment at our RVAR office! Being greeted by my name always makes for a better day! Thank you RVAR!!"
Julie currently serves as the Vice Chair for the Programs & Special Events Committee and on the MLS Work Group.
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Upcoming Education
CRS 121: Win-Win Negotiation Techniques - RVAR's Education Committee, in partnership with the Virginia CRS Chapter, is pleased to bring this new CRS one-day course to Roanoke on Thursday, October 19th, 8:30AM-5:00PM at the RVAR Office. Well known CRS instructor Mark Given will provide negotiation strategies to enable you to achieve successful results. Learn how to prepare effectively for negotiations and respond more effectively to the most common issues that arise during transactions. This class is offered at the special low rate of $99. Click here to register.
Want to learn more about earning the CRS designation? Contact Kim Martin, liaison to the Virginia CRS Chapter (804-249-5722).
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Understanding New Construction -- RVAR's Education Committee offers this FREE two-part series, taught by Brian Wescott of David James Homes.
* Exterior - Thursday, October 26th, 10AM - Noon
Types of construction, foundations, insulation, roofing and siding
* Interior - Thursday, November 2nd, 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.
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GRI 503 Business Planning - November is the perfect time to create your business plan for 2018. Join instructor LeRoy Houser for this class on Thursday, November 9th (9AM-4:30PM) at the RVAR Office. Learn to develop your personal brand, set goals for the future and identify your market niche. Plus learn how to hire the perfect administrative support. This class is required for the GRI designation and provides 2 hours PL credit (current industry issues/trends). Click here to register.
Already have your GRI designation? Contact Louann@rvar.com to register for this class at a reduced rate of $45 (includes materials and filing of CE credit, but no exam required.)
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Fair Housing -- RVAR's Education Committee presents this class in conjunction with the Moseley Dickinson Academy of Real Estate, Wednesday, November 15th, 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 -- This Wednesday, November 29th (9AM - Noon) 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.
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Our RVAR Family
Congratulations
RVAR congratulates Mary Dykstra of MKB, REALTORS® upon her selection to serve as second 3 year term as a Virginia RPAC Trustee.
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Upcoming Events
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October 3rd-5th
October 17th
October 19th
October 26th
November 2nd
November 9th
November 10th
November 15th
November 16th
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VR Convention, Hotel Roanoke
Affiliate & REALTOR® Night
CRS 121: Win Win, Negotiation Techniques
Understand New Construction - Exterior
Understand New Construction - Interior
GRI 503: Business Planning
Office Closed for Veterans Day
Fair Housing
REALTOR® After Hours at Pinball Museum
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Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS®
Proudly Recognizes Our 2017 Partner / Sponsors
Platinum Level Partner / Sponsor
Diamond Level Partner / Sponsor
BB&T Home Mortgage
The Roanoke Times
Virginia Mountain Mortgage
Gold Level Partner / Sponsor
Acquisition Title & Settlement Agency, Inc.
Bill Meador Insurance Agency
Blue Eagle Credit Union
Colonial Mortgage Company
Consolidated Construction Services, Inc.
Integrity Home Mortgage Corporation
Southwest Virginia Moving & Storage
Virginia Title Center, LLC
Virginia's All-American Movers
Silver Partner / Sponsor
Bug Man Exterminating, Inc.
Colonial Title & Settlement Agency, LLC
First American Home Buyers Protection
First Citizens Bank
HMS National Home Warranty
HWA (Home Warranty of America)
Seal-Tite Basement Waterproofing Co.
VIA Insurance Agency, LLC
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