Homes Sales for September

Dues Discount Reminder

Anyone who pays 2024 dues by Wednesday, 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. OR drop by the RVAR office with your check or credit card 8AM-4:30PM M-F OR use the drop box outside RVAR’s front door.

The final date to pay 2024 dues is Friday, January 12th. Any member may contact Susan Edwards to request a dues bill via email or mail.

Fall Election for RVAR Board of Directors   

RVAR's 2024-2025 Board of Directors has 3 open Director positions. Five candidates have applied for these 3 positions: 

Chelsea Dyer, Divine Fog Realty Co.

Carla Evans, Wainwright & Co., REALTORS®

Amber Mason, MKB, REALTORS®

Glenda Morris, Long & Foster, REALTORS®

Mac Westland, Keller Williams Roanoke

Electronic ballots were delivered via email on Wednesday, October 25^th. Reminder electronic ballots will be sent two more times to those who have not voted. Voting will end at Midnight on Wednesday, November 8^th.   

Congratulations to Julie Kingery of Mountain to Lake Realty who has been elected to serve as the 2024 President-elect and Todd Wampler of Century 21 Wampler Realty who will serve as 2024 Vice President, since no additional candidate applications were received for these positions.



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

Welcome New RVAR Staffer

RVAR welcomes Melissa Elder, RVAR’s new Membership & Lockbox Coordinator. Susan Edwards, who has held that position for many years, has become RVAR’s new Office Coordinator. Fun fact: Melissa’s grandfather, Tate McBroom, was RVAR President in 1953.

RVAR Sock Drive Success



The RVAR wants to thank everyone that donated to our Sock Drive! We had 4,126 pair of socks donated, that benefitted the Rescue Mission of Roanoke.

The “Economic Update” presents updates on timely topics that have an impact on you and your business. 

Pete Eshelman, Director of the Roanoke Outside Foundation, will be our guest presenter.

The “Economic Update” will be held on Tuesday, November 7th from 9am - 10am. The presentation will be a hybrid event and will begin with a brief welcome followed by Pete's presentation and include time for questions & answers.

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. 

"Your Vote is Your Voice!

Election day is Tuesday, November 7^th.

Every election is important. This year all 160 seats in the General Assembly are up for election, plus many local election races. 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. To see who is on the ballot in your area, click here to view the list of candidates by localities.

Remember to VOTE by or on Tuesday, November 7^th!

NAR’s 2023 Profile of Real Estate Firms

NAR’s recently released 2023 Profile of Real Estate Firms revealed that 81% of real estate firms operate from a single office, with typically three full time agents. 86% of firms are independent, non-franchised firms. The typical residential firm has been operating for 16 years, while the typical commercial firm has been operating for 25 years. Nearly 30% of firms expect profitability or net income from all real estate activities to increase this year (down from 58%.)

Maintaining sufficient inventory, housing affordability and keeping up with technology were noted as the biggest challenges firms expect to face over the next two years.

When asked about generational effects on the real estate industry in the next two years, the top concerns for firms were young adults’ ability to buy a home (63%), young adults’ view of homeownership (38%); and baby boomers retiring from real estate (27%). 

Click here to read more about NAR’s 2023 Firm Profile. 

RVAR Needs Volunteers in 2024

RVAR needs you in 2024! When you volunteer to serve on one of RVAR’s 12 Committees, you will be better informed, better networked and better able to impact decisions made. We need your time, talent and ideas!

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 Wednesday, November 29^th. Committee appointments will be made in mid-December.

Legislative Breakfast

RVAR is pleased to partner with the Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association and the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce to sponsor a Legislative Breakfast on Wednesday, November 29^th, from 7:30-10:00AM in The Community Room at the Salem Civic Center. The program includes a hot breakfast followed by a panel style question and answer session with area State Legislators about the upcoming 2024 General Assembly Session.



This event, including breakfast, is free. If you are interested in attending please, contact Jim Sweetwood at the RVAR. Registration will close November 27th (or when capacity is reached). 

RVAR Installation and Awards Breakfast

The 2024 RVAR Installation and Awards Breakfast will be held on Friday, December 8 from 8:30am-10:30am at the Hotel Roanoke. Tickets will be available beginning November 6th.

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.  

REALTOR® of the Year Award

Do you know a REALTOR® who is well respected, known for professionalism and volunteers time to RVAR and / or the community? If you do, then you should take a moment to nominate that deserving REALTOR® for RVAR’s most prestigious award. The nomination process is as simple as sending an email to RVAR’s CEO Laura Benjamin explaining who you want to nominate and why. RVAR will contact all nominees to obtain their resumes.

The nomination deadline is Thursday, November 9^th  The winner will be selected by the past five recipients of this award.

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. 

Upcoming Education

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 December:

GRI 503 Business Planning

November 8^th 9AM-12:30PM

November 9^th 9AM-12:30PM

Instructor: Jeff Wu

Do you have a well-laid plan for business success? This course covers the foundational skills for establishing a successful business. Learn how to develop your personal brand, identify your market niche and set goals for the future. PL Approved = 2 hours Current Industry Issues / Trends. Click here to register.

GRI 501 Agency in Virginia

December 7^th 9AM-12:30PM

December 8^th 9AM-12:30PM

Instructor: Nancy Pav

This course will provide a detailed guide on important issues dealing with agency. Topics include brokerage relationships, agency disclosure, confidentiality and Code of Ethics requirements. CE Approved = 3 hours Real Estate Agency; 3 hours Real Estate Related; PL Approved - 3 hours VA Agency Law. Click here to register.

Upcoming Events

2023 Platinum Level Partner/Sponsor