MEMBER TYPE / COUNT
REALTOR® 1,153
Offices 133
Affiliate 229
Click here to see which RVAR members
have switched firms, gone inactive, or joined recently.
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Changes to several MLS fields are coming in April. (The target date is April 11th. Watch the MLS dashboard for an announcement of the specific date.)
Click here for a detailed description of these changes, which include:
- Appliances: Adding Range Gas and Range Hood, plus renaming a few current selections.
- Basement: Reorganizing current selections.
- Parking Square Footage: Adding optional fields for square footage for Primary Covered Parking and Additional Covered Parking.
- Square Footage: Separating the square footage fields into Above Grade and Below Grade; plus adding optional field for Detached Above Grade Finished square footage.
- Smith Mountain Lake: Adding a Smith Mountain Lake area within Franklin County, Bedford County and Pittsylvania County.
FlexMLS and the MLS staff will make every effort to ensure a smooth implementation of these changes. However, after these changes are implemented, Brokers and agents are encouraged to review their listings to ensure continued accuracy and / or update their listings, if applicable.
Input Sheets: The older version of the MLS Input Sheets (rev. 2/2016) will be updated to reflect the April MLS changes. The newer version of the MLS Input Sheets (rev. 6/2016) will not be updated and will no longer be available after implementation of these changes.
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Advocacy @ Work
Advocacy @ Work is an article aimed at updating members on what is happening in our region regarding Economic Development and/or Governmental Affairs.
On Wednesday, February 8th, 25 REALTORS®, Affiliate members and staff from RVAR made office visits to our area Legislators as part of Virginia REALTORS® "Day on the Hill". The Virginia General Assembly considered over 2500 bills and resolutions during this session.
Virginia REALTORS® had 4 bills before the General Assembly , and all four bills were unanimously passed by both chambers and now await the Governor's signature. Here is a summary of those bills.
- Transfer of Security Deposits upon the Sale of a Dwelling Unit - Allows a property manager to transfer a security deposit to the owner and to simply provide notice to the tenants, versus having to obtain the written consent of the owner and tenants.
- Licensee Responsibilities Transfer of Escrow Funds and Foreclosures - Allows for a smoother transition for an existing tenant and a new owner following a foreclosure and clarifies the written property management agreement to continue in place following a foreclosure on a month-to-month basis.
- POA Act & Condo Act Amendments - This bill helps to further clarify and define aspects of POA / COA's such as the restrictions Associations can place on "For Sale" signs and imposes a $1000 fine on Associations if the disclosure packet is not delivered in the 14-day required timeframe.
- Amendments to the Residential Disclosure Act - Allows for electronic delivery of the form to the potential purchaser and cleans up the Residential Disclosure Act.
RVAR was also monitoring two other bills that had an impact locally. The Broadband Deployment Act, a bill that Delegate Kathy Bryon sponsored dealt with the expansion of broadband authorities, such as the Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority. I placed calls to our local legislators early in the process to monitor their positions and most opposed the original bill. As often happens with bills during session, this bill was amended multiple times and ended up at a point that the RVBA and the Roanoke Regional Chamber did not oppose it. It passed out of both the House and Senate with the amendments and awaits the Governor's signature.
The other bill we monitored dealt with an issue where landlords are having a lien placed on their properties by the Water Authority when a tenant fails to pay the bill. Last year, we held meetings with the stakeholders and worked with Chip Dicks, Legislative Counsel for Virginia REALTORS® to draft legislation to clarify the code. It now separates for the water authorities the process for collecting from tenants and the process for collecting from owners, if necessary. It also puts in place a process for the Authorities to do certain things, such as collecting security deposits from tenants to apply towards past due bills. Senator John Edwards was the patron of this bill, which now awaits the Governor's signature.
Botetourt County recently hosted a Housing Summit with about 100 stakeholders to begin the process of having conversations about the housing needs Botetourt is facing over the next few years as about 1200 new jobs are coming into the county. Kit Hale, Broker of MKB, REALTORS® and Chair of Housing Virginia was one of the speakers at the event. The Housing Study highlights some buildings in the county that are possible places for adaptive reuse and addressed the need for more apartment communities in the area. Please see the article about our upcoming Speaker's Forum that will highlight Botetourt's Housing Study.
Roanoke County's "ReImagine 419" will present the draft 419 Town Center Plan at a meeting on Thursday, March 23rd at 6:30PM at the South County Library. The plan is looking at changes to the 419 corridor around the Tanglewood Mall / Starkey Road area. If you are interested in attending, please join me & Laura that evening.
What's happening next? There are a number of legislative wrap up events that take place after the General Assembly session. The Bedford Chamber hosted their legislative wrap-up on Monday, March 13th which I attended in Lynchburg. The Roanoke Regional Chamber hosted its Legislative Wrap-up on Monday, March 20th, with 16 RVAR members attending. This year, all 100 House of Delegate members will be up for election along with the Governor and the Executive branch. RVAR will be monitoring those elections through the next few months. Stay tuned!
Article provided by Joe Sutliff, RVAR Director of Economic & Governmental Affairs.
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Millennials Top All Home Buyers
For the fourth year in a row, millennials comprised the largest number of recent home buyers: 34% millennials (buyers 36 years and younger); 30% baby boomers (buyers 52-70); 28% Generation X (buyers 37-51); and 8% the silent generation (buyers 71-91). NAR's recently released
2017 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends study reveals that more millennials are buying outside the city; student debt is common among Gen X and boomer households; and a growing number of millennials and younger boomer buyers have children living at home.
All but the oldest of buyers started their home search online. All generations typically looked at 10 homes over a 10 week period. Eighty-eight percent of purchases were financed. Millennials were most likely to consider buying a foreclosure property. Overall, buyers expect to live in their homes for a median of 12 years.
The typical seller sold their home for $43,100 more than they paid. Homes typically sold for 98% of the final listing price. The typical home purchased was 1,900 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, built in 1991.
Regardless of age, buyers and sellers continue to rely on real estate agents and brokers. In the 2017 study, nearly 90 percent of buyers and sellers worked with a real estate professional. This kept for-sale-by-owner transactions down to their lowest share ever (8 percent.) All generations of buyers relied on real estate professionals to help them find the right home, negotiate terms of the sale and help with price negotiations. Sellers also turned to real estate professionals to help market their home to potential buyers, sell within a specific time frame and price their home competitively.
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At a recent Real Estate Board meeting, the VREB expressed concerns about agents accepting compensation from someone other than their broker.
Remember that the Real Estate Board Regulations state that it is an improper brokerage commission to accept a commission, fee or other valuable consideration, as a real estate salesperson or associate broker, for any real estate services from any person or entity
except the licensee's principal broker or supervising broker.
Agents with questions about compensation and what activities are covered should consult their broker for guidance.
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RVAR Community Service Day Project - Renovation Alliance
RVAR's next Community Service Day is being held on
Saturday, April 29th as we support
Renovation Alliance, for their Community Renovation Day, an effort dedicated to rebuilding the homes of low-income homeowners across the Roanoke Valley. These projects usually consist of both some interior and exterior repairs, doing some painting, carpentry work as well as general clean up, lawn and garden work.
Would you help make a difference in our community by donating just a few hours of your time to join your fellow REALTORS® & Affiliates for a worthwhile and rewarding day? Your help is needed no matter your skill level! You can stay for part of the day or all day and lunch will be served for all volunteers. Sign up to help out by
clicking here to complete the volunteer form. This charitable effort is organized by RVAR's Community Service Committee and sponsored by our
2017 Partner / Sponsors. Contact
Joe Sutliff at the RVAR Office with any questions.
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Speakers Forum Presents!
Our Speakers Forum will kick off with a presentation by Nicole Pendleton, Planning Manager and Zoning Administrator for Botetourt County. Ms. Pendleton will give an update on the recently completed Housing Study for Botetourt County and talk about the housing needs Botetourt is facing over the next few years as 1200 new jobs come into the County. Botetourt's growth and successes will have an economic development impact on the entire region.
The Forum will be held on
Wednesday, April 12th at the RVAR office starting at 8:45AM with coffee, juice and pastries provided. From 9:00 - 9:45AM we will have a brief welcome followed by Nicole Pendleton's presentation. There is NO CHARGE to attend this event, but seating is limited.
Click here to register or contact the RVAR office.
The Speaker's Forum helps to provide local, informative presentations regarding topics that affect our businesses. The Forum welcomes all REALTOR® and Affiliate members and there is no charge to attend.
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MLS Tips: Important Reminders from the MLS Monitoring Committee
The MLS Monitoring Committee constantly reviews the listings in the MLS system. Based on some of the most common errors spotted, the Committee offers these reminders:
1. New listings must be entered into the MLS system within 24 hours (or by 5PM next business day) of the effective start date of the listing agreement. Reminder: You may not enter a listing and then say not to show it for "x" number of days.
2. An Active listing must be changed to Pending status within 24 hours of a fully ratified contract (or by 5PM next business day).
3. A Pending listing must be changed to Sold status within 10 business days of settlement.
4. Canceling any listing for the purpose of re-entering that listing as "New" by the same listing broker within a 30-day rest period is not allowed.
5. All Residential and Multi-Family listings must include at least one photo of the
front view of the property listed for sale.
6. For all listings, only the Owners' phone number is allowed in the owner phone number field and only the Tenant phone number is allowed in the tenant phone field. The listing agent's phone number should not be entered into the owner or tenant phone number fields.
Questions? Contact the RVAR / MLS office by
email or phone: 540-772-0526.
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REALTOR® After Hours @ the Lake
Come & get your groove on - 70's style! Join us on
Thursday, April 27th from 5:00 until 7:00PM at Bridgewater Bay Clubhouse in Moneta for our REALTOR® After Hours! There will be great food, music, door prizes, 50/50 cash raffle, lively conversation and... assorted beverages! This
free event is made possible by our
fantastic 2017 Partner / Sponsors!
REALTORS® -- Bring a Business Card
for a chance at 4 Cash Door Prizes
$100 -- $50 - (2) $25
Grab your favorite tie dye shirt and those fabulous bell bottom jeans and plan to join your REALTOR® & Affiliate friends for a fun evening... at the Lake!
Click here to register and for details about this
free event!
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"My RVAR Commitment Matters": Mary Chisholm
Mary Chisholm
, with MKB, REALTORS®, says "it is in my nature to give back." That is  why she finds it important to be involved with the RVAR. "I want to give back to the Association that supports me and my business. It is important to me to be involved and apart of providing a positive face on real estate."
Mary continues to stay involved in the RVAR, and balances her involvement among her business and family. She says that her volunteer involvement with RVAR helps to continue to "build the important relationships" for her business as well. Those relationships "help transactions go smoother and I continue to learn from both REALTOR® and Affiliate members by being involved".
Mary currently serves on both the Program & Special Events Committee and the Economic Development Committee.
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Virginia REALTORS® Spring Broker Day Update
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:
- Keynote speaker Leigh Brown will address "How to Make a Bazillion Dollars in Real Estate" and "From Pigs to Lions".
- NAR Economist Lawrence Yun will cover recent developments in the housing market and present his outlook for the next 12 months.
- Two legal classes will focus on earnest money deposits and the most common legal hotline questions.
- Plus a Managers Panel presentation.
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.
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NAR REALTOR® Expo in DC
NAR's Midyear Trade Expo will be held
May 17th and 18th (10AM-6PM), at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. The Expo features the latest in real estate products and services from over 100 industry-leading companies. There is something for every REALTOR®, such as lead generation systems, Internet prospecting solutions, virtual tour technology, financial services and more. Plan to stop by the show, talk with experts in the industry and find profitable ideas to gain an edge in today's market. Admission to the Expo is
FREE for all REALTORS®.
Click here for more information or to register.
And NAR's Annual Convention is in
Chicago November 3rd-6th. Why not plan to treat yourself after a successful year! Mark your calendars. Details will be available from NAR soon.
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Upcoming Education
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,
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
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.)
Roanoke City Fair Housing Classes: Roanoke City's Fair Housing Board is offering
two free fair housing classes in April. Both classes will be held in Fitzpatrick Hall at the Jefferson Center. On
Wednesday, April 26th, 9:00AM - 1:00PM, the City's
Semi-Annual Fair Housing Seminar will be held, taught by Mally Dryden-Mason from DPOR. This class is open to all REALTORS® and will provide CE credits. (NOTE: This class does NOT qualify for PL credit.) Then on
Thursday, April 27th, 9:00 - 4:00PM (with a break for lunch on your own), the City will host a
Reasonable Accommodations / Reasonable Modifications Seminar. This NEW seminar, also taught by Mally Dryden-Mason, will focus on how to respond to requests from tenants for reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications based on disability. (This class does NOT qualify for CE or PL credit.)
To register, email
Crystal Hypes with your name, which session you would like to attend (or both), plus your email address and real estate license number. Registration closes on Friday, April 21st or sooner, if the limit of 300 registrations are received.
Fair Housing -- RVAR's Education Committee presents this class in conjunction with the Moseley Dickinson Academy of Real Estate,
Friday, May 12th, 10AM-Noon 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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Our RVAR Family
Sympathy
RVAR expresses sympathy to the friends and colleagues of
Wayne Goodman of Barker Realty, upon his recent death. Wayne was RVAR's REALTOR® of the Year in 2005. Wayne was also the father of
Sarah Goodman, also of Barker Realty. RVAR also expresses sympathy to
Jonathan Sweat of Atlantic Bay Mortgage upon the death of his sister.
Congratulations
RVAR congratulates
Dennis Cronk of Poe & Cronk Real Estate Group upon being recognized among the "Most Influential Virginians of 2017" by
Virginia Business magazine in the category of real estate / construction.
Congratulations to
Michelle Dykstra of Hall Associates, who was recently recognized by
The Roanoker magazine as one of seven women, under 40, making an impact in our Region.
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Upcoming Events
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April 6th
April 6th-7th
April 12th
April 14th
April 18th
April 20th
April 25th
April 26th
April 27th
April 27th
April 29th
May 12th
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Renovation Financing
VR Spring Broker Day
Speakers Forum
RVAR Closed for Good Friday
Wells & Septic Systems: Westlake
GRI 506
Wells & Septic Systems: RVAR
Roanoke City Fair Housing Class
Roanoke City Reasonable/Accommodations Class
REALTOR® After Hours @ SML
Community Service Day - Renovation Alliance
Fair Housing
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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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