Homes Sales for July

Openings on 2024 RVAR’s BOD



Applications are currently being accepted for the following openings for 2024: President-elect, Vice President and 3 Director positions. The application period ends on Monday, October 2nd. 

The qualifications for applications are simple:

• Applicant must have served on an RVAR Committee, Work Group etc. within the previous 10 years;
• No Virginia Real Estate Board violation within the previous 2 years;
• No Code of Ethics violation within the previous 2 years;
• No more than 2 members from the same firm may serve at the same time on the BOD with the exception of the Immediate Past President. 

To date, the Credentials Committee has verified the applications filed by Julie Kingery (Mountain to Lake Realty) for President-elect; Todd Wampler (Century 21- Wampler Realty) for Vice President; Chelsea Dyer (Divine Fog Realty) for Director; Amber Mason (MKB) for Director; and Glenda Morris (Long & Foster) for Director. 

If you are interested or have questions about the requirements and benefits of serving on the Board of Directors, contact President Meg Dorsey or CEO Laura Benjamin. 

Slated to continue their service on the 2024 Board will be: President Jay Kilby (RE/MAX All Stars); Immediate Past President Meg Dorsey (MKB, REALTORS®); and Directors Cathie Daniel (BHHS Smith Mountain Lake); Thomas Fellers (MKB, REALTORS®); Stan Spiewak (BHHS Premier, REALTORS®); and Todd Wampler (Century 21 Wampler Realty.) 

MLS Tip of the Month

The following tip is offered by the MLS Policy Committee.



The legal name of the Seller is required for all listings – with one exception, see below. And the agent’s phone number can NOT be used in place of the seller’s phone number.

• NOTE: In cases where a municipality withholds the property owner’s name from the public records, then the owner name field can remain blank in the MLS listing.

Broken Lockbox?

Ever wondered "Where do I take a broken lockbox to have my key removed?" or "Who can I call to have a broken lockbox removed from a door?" RVAR has contracted with the following area locksmiths, who will remove the key or box and invoice RVAR for the service. 

In the Roanoke area, Security Lock & Key 

  343-7600, 3736 Franklin Rd., SW, Roanoke 

In the Rocky Mount area, Virginia Shoe & Lock Services (ask for Kevin) 

  483-5435, 143 Franklin St., Rocky Mount 

In the SML area, Bill's Lock & Key 

  297-2946, 2532 Radford Church Rd., Moneta 

• Return your broken lockbox to the RVAR office for a replacement lockbox, at no charge.  

Contribute to Disaster Relief

The REALTORS® Relief Foundation (RRF), founded by NAR in 2001, welcomes contributions – not only in times of disaster, but at any time throughout the year – and 100% of all funds collected go to disaster relief causes. Every dollar donated goes directly to victims of disasters for housing-related assistance. The National Association of REALTORS® is pleased to cover 100% of administrative expenses.



Just in 2022, $3,650,000 was dispersed to 1,800 families following disasters caused by floods, fires, tornadoes and hurricanes.

RVAR’s Board of Directors has contributed $1,000 to RRF. Click here to learn more and/or contribute.

Are You Using the REALTOR® Mark Correctly?

For over 100 years, the REALTOR®, REALTORS®, and REALTOR® Logo trademarks (the “REALTOR® Marks”) have differentiated members of the National Association of REALTORS® (“NAR”) from non-member real estate professionals. REALTOR® has one meaning, a member of NAR, and indicates a real estate professional’s pledge to adhere to NAR’s strict Code of Ethics. The REALTOR® Marks also signify NAR members’ commitment to protecting clients, the public, and other real estate professionals, as well as to conducting business with integrity, and providing high standards of real estate services. 

Click here to review NAR’s REALTOR® Marks manual and see if you are using the REALTOR® Mark correctly.

The 2023 RVAR Golf Classic returns to Roanoke Country Club on Friday, September 8th. Tournament Day will start with check-in and a box lunch at 11:00am and a shotgun start at 12 noon. Roanoke Country Club has done an outstanding job hosting our event and we're excited to return. Plus, it's a great way to start your weekend!

The price for this year's event will be $75.00 per player/$300.00 per team. The cost will include lunch, range balls, golf, a Mulligan package (including one (1) each of a Mulligan, Red Tee & Grenade Lob) and a post play reception with great prizes.

The Community Service Committee will again be holding a 50/50 raffle to assist in supporting RVAR charities, so bring some cash.

Start putting your team together today! Come and play for $1,000.00 in CASH prizes (plus some braggin' rights) to the top two Net and Gross scoring teams.

We will also have a Hole In One contest for a chance to win $20,000.00!

Click here to register!

Pinball and Pizza

Join us for an evening of delightful nostalgia and endless fun at the Roanoke Pinball Museum & Roanoke Starcade, at Center in the Square, on Thursday, September 14, from 5pm to 7pm! Immerse yourself in the captivating world of pinball, reliving the classic arcade experience amidst a stunning collection of vintage machines. And what pairs better with the timeless thrill of pinball than a slice of mouthwatering pizza? As the lights flicker and the machines buzz with excitement, you can also enjoy a selection of wine and beer, adding a touch of sophistication to your gaming adventure. Don't miss this chance to embrace the past, savor the flavors, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Join us at the Roanoke Pinball Museum & Roanoke Starcade – where pinball and pizza unite for an unforgettable evening! This is a free event brought to you by our amazing Partner/Sponsors.

Click here to register!

Save the date...

RVAR Fall Tailgate

Grab your favorite jersey and join us for the RVAR Fall Tailgate scheduled for Thursday, October 12 from 5pm-7pm. Stop by the RVAR office and enjoy great food, drink and networking with your favorite RVAR members.

For the second year in a row we will also be holding a Cornhole Tournament. 20 (two person) team limit with a cash grand prize. The cost of the Tournament is $40/per team until Thursday, October 5. The cost from October 6-12 will be $50/team. So, sign up early! The Cornhole Tournament benefits the RVAR Community Service Committee.

Registration starts on September 1.

DON’T MISS IT!!

We Need Your Help!

The RVAR Sock Drive, benefiting the Roanoke Rescue Mission, continues! We have collected 2,227 pair of socks so far. We need your help to get to our goal of 5,000. Collection boxes are located at the RVAR, in the main lobby and in the RVAR Training Room, at the back of the building. So, each time you come to the RVAR bring along a pair of new, unworn socks to help fill our collection boxes. The drive will last until October 1st. 

Good Neighbor Award   

Each year the RVAR, in association with its Community Service Committee, accepts applications for our Good Neighbor Award, presented to a REALTOR® and an Affiliate for their charitable work in our community. We are excited to offer these awards again for 2023!

The recipient will receive recognition for their efforts as well as $1,000 for their respective charity.

If you know someone that has made a difference in our community and you would like to nominate them for these awards, please contact Jim Sweetwood at jim@rvar.com or 540-772-0526 for more information on the nominating process. Deadline for nominations is Thursday, November 9th.  

Your Vote is Your Voice! Register to Vote!

Election day is Tuesday, November 7th. Are you registered to vote? Do you have clients that might need help registering?

Every election is important. This year is no different. This year, all seats in the Virginia General Assembly are up for election. Plus local elections for open seats on County Boards of Supervisors.

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!

Early voting will begin on September 22, 2023. To see who is on the ballot in your area, click here to view the list of candidates by localities. 

Remember to VOTE this election season!  

Virginia REALTORS® Offers Free Member Benefits

All Virginia REALTOR® members have access to two key member benefits. (For new REALTORS®, these benefits will be activated for you within the first month of your membership.)

A Tech Helpline is available to all Virginia REALTOR® members. Simply call 1-800-276-4216 for support for hardware, software, networking and digital devices. (Or send an email to support@techhelpline.com.) You will be asked to provide your name and email address, plus your NRDS number. Click here for more information.

Housing Wire+ Get the latest industry news, data and research insights that are sure to help you with your business. Unlock unlimited article access across Housing Wire, Real Trends, Reverse Mortgage Daily and many more exclusive HW+ benefits! You can choose your newsletter preferences, so the information you receive is curated just for you.

Ready to get real estate news, data and research insights? Get started here!

Visit Fairhaven today – and earn 1 hour of free CE!

Virginia REALTORS® is offering 1 hour of free real estate related CE credit for this self-paced course, available on demand. Fairhaven is a scenario-based training program created by the National Association of REALTORS®. Agents will confront discrimination in real estate transactions from the point of view of both agent and client.

In the training, agents work against the clock to sell homes in the fictional town of Fairhaven, confronting various scenarios in which discrimination gets in the way. Agents make choices about how to handle each scenario, advancing through the simulation based on their answers. At each step, the course provides actionable feedback to give agents the tools to prevent and address discrimination in their daily business transactions.

Click here to learn more and/or register for this course.

NOTE: Only Fairhaven training taken through the Virginia REALTORS® Learning Center will qualify for credit. This course is not approved for Post License education as it does not meet the time requirement. 

VAR PMX 2023: Property Management Conference

PMX is the largest event targeted specifically to Virginia’s property managers. PMX 2023, the Virginia REALTORS® annual Property Management Conference is a can’t miss event specifically for property managers! You will learn things you need to grow and maintain a thriving property management business. Take advantage of unparalleled growth and networking opportunities that includes the ability to earn CE credits with classes targeted specifically to your needs as a property manager.

This conference will be held Wednesday, October 18^th – Friday, October 20^th at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels in Williamsburg. Click here to register and/or review the schedule.

Upcoming Education

Social Media Marketing: Success Stories: Learn from a panel of REALTORS® who use social media successfully in their business. A quick review of the rules governing social media marketing will also be provided at this class on Tuesday, August 29^th, 11AM-12:30PM. The panelists will be:

• Katy Cookston – Instagram / Reels

Keller Williams Realty Roanoke

• Alyshia Merchant – Facebook

Nest Realty Roanoke

• Andy Griesinger – Videos

eXp Realty LLC Ballantyne (Charlotte, NC)

This class is offered by RVAR’s Technology Committee. Click here to register for this FREE class. This class provides two options to attend (1) attend class in person (max of 35) or (2) attend via Zoom.

50 Shades of POA (the Property Owners Association Act): Attorney Jim Gilbert of Gilbert Law PC will address all aspects of the POA Act on Wednesday, September 13^th, 11AM-12:30PM. Learn what properties fall under the POA Act. Learn the difference between the POA Act and a road maintenance agreement. And learn the buyer rescission rights under the POA Act. NOTE: This class was originally scheduled for May 24^th; however, changes to the POA Act went into effect July 1^st. The September class will encompass the latest changes to the Act.

Click here to register for this FREE class. This class provides two options to attend (1) attend class in person (max of 35) or (2) attend via Zoom.

RPR: Your Best Mobile Friend: RPR is the REALTORS® Property Resource, the nation’s largest public records database, with complete MLS data plus additional data from other sources, exclusively for REALTORS®. And it’s a FREE benefit from NAR.

Join Jay Kilby (RE/MAX All Stars) on Tuesday, September 26^th, 11AM-12:30PM to learn how he uses RPR’s mobile app. He claims this will become your favorite real estate app!

Click here to register for this FREE class. This class provides two options to attend (1) attend class in person (max of 35) or (2) attend via Zoom. 



Social Media Marketing: MORE Success Stories: Learn from another panel of REALTORS® who use social media successfully in their business. Join us on Wednesday, October 11^th, 11AM-12:30PM. The panelists will be:

• Hal & Kris Cone - Videos

eXp Realty

• David & Dana Spangler – Facebook

Keller Williams Realty Roanoke

• Heather Watson - Reels

Divine Fog Realty (Lynchburg)

This class is offered by RVAR’s Technology Committee. Click here to register for this FREE class. This class provides two options to attend (1) attend class in person (max of 35) or (2) attend via Zoom.

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 October. 

GRI 502 Sales Contracts

September 6^th 9AM-12:30PM

September 7^th 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

October 4th 9AM-12:30PM

October 5th 9AM-12:30PM

Instructor: Doug Wolfe

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

October 24^th 9AM-12:30PM

October 25^th 9AM-12:30PM

Instructor: Donna Austin

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.

Upcoming Events

2023 Platinum Level Partner/Sponsor