Market Data for February

2025 RVAR President Julie Kingery

Sweetwood Named COO



The Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS® is pleased to announce the promotion of Jim Sweetwood to Chief Operating Officer (COO). Jim has been a valued member of our team, demonstrating exceptional leadership and dedication to our mission.

Please join us in congratulating Jim on this well-deserved promotion!

MLS BOD Election Results

Congratulations to those who have been elected to serve on the 2025-2026 MLS Board of Directors:

•  Representing Large Firms: Norm Pullen, Keller Williams Roanoke
•  Representing Medium Firms: Tom Wilson, BHHS Premier, REALTORS®
•  Representing Small Firms: Betty Kingery, Mountain to Lake Realty

Since only one candidate applied for the large and medium firm seats, no online election was needed for those seats. MLS Brokers voted in an online election for the small firm seat.



Continuing their service on the 2025 MLS Board are: large firm representative Ed Smith; medium firm representative Rod Rowan; small firm representative Barry Bridges and RVAR CEO Laura Benjamin. 

Shower the Shelter – April Supply Drive for Roanoke Rescue Mission

Join us this April for Shower the Shelter, a community-driven supply drive supporting the Roanoke Rescue Mission! We’re collecting essential hygiene items to help provide clean, fresh starts for those in need.

Needed items are:

Body Wash (full size) Toothbrushes Deodorant

Shampoo (travel size) Body Lotion Combs/Brushes

Toothpaste (travel size) Lip Balm Feminine Hygiene Products

Your donations will directly support individuals and families seeking shelter and care. Drop off supplies throughout April at the RVAR Office and help us make a difference—one shower at a time!

Thank you for supporting our community!

2025 REALTOR® & Affiliate Night

The 2025 REALTOR® & Affiliate Night is scheduled for Tuesday, April 15 from 5pm-8pm at the Roanoke Country Club!

The Affiliate Committee is excited about our 2025 theme ‘Heroes & Villains’! We invite you to step into the shoes of iconic characters from your favorite stories, whether from comics, movies, mythology, or original creations. We can't wait to showcase the creativity and imagination of our Affiliate members while diving into epic storytelling and playful rivalries. 

Click here to get your tickets today! Don't miss it!

Revision to Termination of Contract Notice



RVAR’s Termination of Contract Notice was revised as of March 18, 2025 to reflect that if escrow funds are held by a VREB licensee, then release of escrow funds are governed by the Code of Virginia.

Click here to view the revised form. 

Fairhaven 2.0 – Win $100 VISA Gift Card

Fairhaven 2.0 is NAR’s dynamic online simulation where REALTORS® tackle fair housing challenges head on. Through realistic scenarios, practical insights and historical context, you will explore key topics like steering, bias, disability accommodations , assistance animals and standing up for clients facing discrimination.

This FREE course helps ensure that your business practices comply with the letter and spirit of the law, as well as the Code of Ethics. This course also meets NAR’s new fair housing training requirement which went into effect in January.

In honor of Fair Housing Month in April, RVAR will be giving away 3 $100 VISA gift cards to members who complete Fairhaven 2.0 during the month of April. Only REALTOR® members are eligible to win. 

Click here to learn more and take the course!

REALTOR® vs. Licensee



Every REALTOR® is a licensee, but not every licensee is a REALTOR®.

A REALTOR® is not only a licensee, but also a member of the National Association of REALTORS®. A REALTOR® is also required to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics.

In Virginia, as of February 28, 2025, DPOR had 49,803 active licensees. Virginia REALTORS® reflected 32,288 active REALTORS®.

NAR REALTOR® Expo in DC



NAR’s Annual Trade Expo will be held June 2^nd and 3^rd (10AM-5PM) at the Walter Washington Convention Center in downtown Washington, DC. The Expo will feature the latest in real estate products and services from industry-leading companies. The Expo is open to all registered attendees. Activities include informal networking opportunities, short information presentations and exhibitor product demos.

Click here for more information or to register to attend. (It’s FREE!)

NAR Committees for 2026



Would you like to help shape the direction of the National Association of REALTORS®? NAR welcomes applications for its 2026 Committees (there are over 90 different Committees.) Click here for the application form, which includes information on all NAR Committees. The deadline to apply is May 15^th. NAR will announce appointments in the fall.

Questions? nargovernance@nar.realtor

Did you know as a REALTOR®, you have free access to a wealth of knowledge through the NAR Library & Archives, featuring over 10,000 eBooks, audiobooks, reference guides, and research materials. The collection spans a wide range of crucial topics, including commercial real estate, sales strategies, design, finance, fair housing, artificial intelligence, and much more.

Whether you're looking for quick statistics, conducting in-depth research, or exploring the latest real estate trends, this resource has you covered.

Start Exploring Today! Visit https://www.nar.realtor/library-archives to dive into the collection or reach out to a librarian at librarian@nar.realtor for assistance.

UPCOMING EDUCATION

GRI: Are you interested in achieving your GRI (Graduate, REALTOR® Institute) designation? Our friends at the New River Valley Association of REALTORS® are offering GRI courses beginning in April.

The first course being offered this year is GRI 501: Agency in Virginia on Wednesday, April 9th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the NRVAR Classroom (125 Ponderosa Dr. Christiansburg). Regular price for each course is $115. This course is also approved for 3 Hours Real Estate Agency and 3 Hours Real Estate Related for CE or 3 Hours Virginia Agency Law for PLE.



If you wish to register for this course, click HERE and then scroll down to "Not a Member?" where you will create a username and password.

Click here to learn more or register. If you have any questions, please call the NRVAR office at 540-381-9354.

VAR Virtual CE Class – Contracts: Back to Basics: VAR is offering live web events throughout the year. This one-hour course, offered on Thursday, April 17^th, 10:00-11:00AM, will provide the building blocks needed to understand how contracts work in the real estate business. Learn how to create an enforceable contract. This course will also cover breach of contract, as well as the difference between terminating and releasing a contract. This course is approved for 1 hour of CE: Real Estate Contracts. No PL. The cost for this course is $15.

Click here to learn more or register.

Aging in Place: Join us to learn what features make a home suited to age in place. Learn what you can do to educate your clients. Chris Moore with Solid Rock Enterprises, Inc. will address this topic and answer your questions.



Click here to register for this class on Tuesday, April 22^nd, 11:00AM-12:30PM at the RVAR office. This class provides two options to attend (1) attend in person (limit of 50) or (2) attend via Zoom. 

The Price is Right: This class will focus on setting the list price using a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) based on (1) the FlexMLS method; (2) the CRS method; and (3) the REALTOR® Property Resource (RPR) method. Curtis Burchett and Beth Powell, both of MKB, REALTORS®, will demonstrate the use of each method.

Click here to register for this class on Tuesday, May 20^th, 11:00AM-12:30PM at the RVAR office. This class provides two options to attend (1) attend in person (limit of 50) or (2) attend via Zoom.

VAR Virtual CE Class – Ethics and Risks of AI: VAR is offering live web events throughout the year. This one-hour course, Thursday, June 26^th, 10:00-11:00AM, will provide an overview of artificial intelligence (A.I.), how it is impacting the real estate industry and potential pitfalls to avoid when utilizing A.I. software. This course is approved for 1 hour of CE: Legal Updates. No PL. The cost for this course is $15.

Click here to learn more or register

Did You Miss It? All of RVAR’s classes are recorded and posted on RVAR’s YouTube channel. Click here to view some of RVAR’s most recent classes you may have missed.

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