MEMBER TYPE / COUNT
REALTOR® 1,307
Offices 131
Affiliate 281
Click here to see which RVAR members have switched firms, gone inactive, or joined recently.
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BOD Election Results
Congratulations to the following winners of the election for the 2019-2020 RVAR Board of Directors. 496 votes were cast in the election.
- Dana Berenbaum - MKB, REALTORS®
- Jay Kilby - RE/MAX All Stars
- Julie Kingery - RE/MAX Mountain to Lake
- Lori Shultz-Moore - Wainwright & Company, REALTORS®
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®).
The Broker representative for the 2019 Board has not yet been announced.
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2019 Awards & Installation Breakfast
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
Blue Ridge Hotel & Conference Center (formerly the Sheraton
Roanoke) from
8:30 until 10:30 AM. The cost is $15 to attend which includes a deluxe breakfast. Special awards will also be presented.
Click here to register.
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Dues Reminder
To date, 711 members have already paid their 2019 REALTOR® dues (which includes dues to RVAR, VR and NAR.) The final date to pay 2019 dues is Monday, January 14th. 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. Any member may contact
Susan Edwards to request a dues bill via email or mail.
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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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NAR Commitment to Excellence: C2EX
NAR has recently launched its Commitment to Excellence (C2EX) program, to empower REALTORS® to demonstrate their professionalism and commitment to conducting business with the highest standards.
REALTORS® originally defined professionalism more than 100 years ago when the Code of Ethics was created. C2EX takes professionalism to the next level by enabling NAR members to assess their expertise in 10 elements of professionalism (11 for brokers):
* Code of Ethics
* Article 10 - Fair Housing
* Advocacy
* Laws, Regulations and Legislation
* Trust and Integrity
* Proficiency in Technology Tools
* Data Privacy and Security
* Areas of Practice
* Superior Customer Service
* Professional Reputation
* Broker
C2EX is not a designation or a course. It's not a requirement, but a benefit available to all REALTORS® at no additional cost. To get started, log into
www.C2EX.realtor and take the self-assessment that measures your current proficiency in each area. Based on your results, the platform will generate customized learning paths, recommend experiences and provide tools and resources to increase your knowledge, skills and professionalism.
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The 2018 Community Service Committee needs your help by volunteering just a little of your time during the holiday season!
The Community Service Committee will again be volunteering with the Community Christmas Store. The dates for this year's Christmas Store are Thursday, December 6 (Open House),
Friday, December 7 and Saturday, December 8. We will have three opportunities to volunteer - Monday, December 3rd from 5:30PM to 8:00PM to help sort donations and set up and/or Friday, December 7th from 8:30AM to 12:30PM and/or 2:30PM to 6:30PM to assist with the guests as they "shop" in the store. The site of the Community Christmas Store is still to be determined.
The Community Christmas Store serves families in Roanoke County, Vinton, Salem and Craig County and its mission is to assist families in need in a dignified manner during the holiday season. In 2017, over 1000 people were served during the two days of the store operation and it is operated solely by volunteers.
Join in and help make a difference by donating just a few hours of your time at one or both volunteer opportunities. Please click here to sign up for Monday, December 3rd. Please click here to sign up for December 7th AM shift or click here for December 7th PM shift. Or call RVAR to have us register you.
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A variety of MLS field changes will be implemented in December (the exact date will be announced.) Click here to review the field changes, which will affect listings in all property types. Agents will not be required to change their listings; however, agents will likely want to take advantage of the new options to update their active listings.
Also in December (on the same date as the field changes above), changes will be made to some of the FlexMLS settings. Click here to review the setting changes. When the FlexMLS contract was renewed, FlexMLS agreed to assist an MLS Work Group in reviewing over 275 settings to determine which changes would improve our MLS system. Special thanks to the MLS Settings Work Group, chaired by Donna Marie Harris (Long & Foster), MLS Policy Committee, Broker Council and Board of Directors - all of whom assisted in the review process.
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The 445 homes sold during the month of October reflects a slight decrease of 1.5% from September, 2018. A link to the October 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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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 next 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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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.
I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan - UPDATE
The Virginia Department of Transportation, the Office of Intermodal Planning and the Investment Department of Rail and Public Transportation are in the process of finalizing their plans for addressing some of the needed improvements along the entire I-81 corridor. They have held three public meetings in localities along the corridor, including in the Roanoke area, to hear suggestions and concerns. The team and the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) plan to report those findings to the General Assembly in December, prior to the opening of Session in January 2019.
RVAR understands the importance of I-81 to the vitality, economic development and future for our region. While it is not financially feasible to make all the suggested improvements to the entire corridor, there are multiple important and needed improvements for our region within the proposed plan. There is a wealth of information and maps showing proposed improvements including potential funding options at
http://www.va81corridor.org/. Any funding options will require legislation from the General Assembly. We will continue to monitor the study and the funding options as they progress through the General Assembly.
You have an opportunity to get involved and provide feedback until November 30, 2018. After reviewing the study documents and projects recommended for our area, you can submit comments /input by contacting Ben Mannell, study manager, at
VA81CorridorPlan@OIPI.Virginia.gov.
Article provided by Joe Sutliff, RVAR Director of Economic & Governmental Affairs.
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RPAC & You!
 RPAC
is the REALTORS® Political Action Committee.
Tom Turner, an associate broker with Hall Associates and 2018 Chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee, consistently contributes to RPAC. Tom says "REALTORS® can't stay on top of all the issues impacting our real estate businesses. RPAC issues are our issues and RPAC helps to protect our businesses. RPAC funds are used at every level, including locally, to directly support our interests and the candidates who support our profession."
If you have already contributed to RPAC for 2018, we say
"Thank you!!" If you have not contributed yet, it is not too late. Your contribution, as small as $15, will make a difference.
Click here to contribute today or include RPAC when you pay your 2019 dues!
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. For any questions please contact Joe Sutliff at RVAR.
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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, 506 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 one more Code of Ethics training class scheduled this year: 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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Charity of the Month
Community Christmas Store
The CCS mission is to assist families in need in a dignified manner during the holiday season. The CCS goal is for recipient families to select their Christmas items according to the individual needs and preferences of each family member.
100% Volunteer! Remarkably, the CCS is operated solely by volunteers. There are no paid employees or staff. Approximately
90% of all funds donated to the CCS go directly to the families served. These families are residents of Roanoke County, the Town of Vinton, the City of Salem, or Craig County.
In 2017, the CCS served 1,101 people during its two days of operation. There were 491 families consisting of 730 children and 371 adults. In 2018, our goal is to serve 600 families, with an anticipated budget of at least $65,000.
The CCS volunteers work year-round to collect donations, hold fund raisers, and work to find a generous building owner willing to donate the use of a building for the store during November and December. They coordinate their efforts with churches, various organizations, businesses, schools, and individuals. The volunteers shop for goods, assemble shelving, stock and decorate the store. They review applications from potential shoppers, purchasing specifically for the needs, sizes, and ages of eligible applicants.
The eligible families are notified of the time and location for their shopping. When they arrive, they are greeted by friendly volunteers who assist them in finding new clothing, new toys, new household items, and food for their family. They do not need to bring any money. The CCS is completely free of charge.
For more information or to volunteer please visit our website at
http://roanokevalleyccs.org/ .
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Upcoming Education
Code of Ethics Training - One more Code of Ethics Training class remains. This 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 on the date below to register:
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Our
RVAR Family
Sympathy
RVAR offers condolences to David Hipes of BB&T upon the death of his mother
Congratulations
RVAR congratulates
Freedom First Credit Union - the recipient of the Roanoke Regional Chamber Small Business Award for Not for Profits, Large category.
Let RVAR know
if you have news to share.
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Upcoming Events & Deadlines
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November 22nd-23rd
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Office Closed for Thanksgiving
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November 29th
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Deadline to apply for 2019 Committees
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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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December 24th & 25th
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RVAR Office Closed
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December 31st
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RVAR Office Closed
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January 1st
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RVAR Office Closed
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January 14th
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Deadline to Pay 2019 Dues
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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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