RVAR Needs You

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! Click here for how to volunteer, plus info on each RVAR Committee. Please submit your request by Wednesday, December 5th!

Remember when you were a brand new REALTOR�, wide-eyed, bushy-tailed, and full of hope for your new career?   One of my favorite duties as President is to speak with REALTORS� at New Member Orientation. Their positive outlook is infectious, and a reminder that our success, or lack thereof, is directly related to our attitude.   A positive attitude is one of the most important tools in our real estate tool belt, but certainly not the only one.   I always try to give them more tools by sharing a few "if I only knew then what I know now" lessons from the real estate school of hard knocks.

Besides a positive attitude, new agents need to know the importance of mastering our local sales statistics. They have just passed a real estate exam and know the definitions of "encumbrances" and "special warranty deed", but that exam prep vocabulary doesn't help them effectively counsel buyers and sellers in a recovering market. Now, more than ever, we need to know the numbers and be prepared with a 30 second elevator speech when asked, "How's the market?" Our local trends show that we are on the backside of the bottom, and consumers can feel the energy. As the missionaries for the housing recovery, it is imperative that we continue to preach the good news and help consumers analyze the improving data. Every month at this time, RVAR releases the previous month's sales statistics to the media and the public. You'll find those numbers on our website . Those statistics will give you a good snapshot of the previous month, and show you our month-over-month and year-over-year trends. Once you analyze the trends, you'll see the stage is being set for continued recovery. In order for prices to stabilize and increase, inventory levels need to fall and number of contracts need to increase. Look at the numbers, and you will see that happening in the Roanoke Valley. This could be the last winter for real estate investors to pick up properties on the clearance rack. Investors will continue to lead the recovery by depleting distressed inventory, and in turn improving the overall condition of our inventory by investing in much-needed renovations.

Certainly, a mastery of statistics will also help in our contract negotiations. The other bit of advice I give the new agents was the importance of being a "REALTOR's REALTOR�". Bi-partisanship is the buzzword of the times, and it certainly applies to real estate transactions. While we each represent one party in a transaction, a successful REALTOR� knows how to reach across the aisle and work with the other agent to get a win-win for both parties. As we veterans know all too well, deals are much harder to keep together these days. Now, more than ever, we all need to work together to keep this recovery going. Statistics show that most homebuyers move every five to seven years. You won't work with that client again for years, but you could work with that agent again in a few months. We are all in this together, to quote our past president, Joe Sutliff, so let's make sure we help each other up the steep hill of recovery.

Donations for Storm Victims

The REALTOR� Relief Foundation has already raised $1,275,000 for housing-related assistance to victims of Hurricane Sandy. That amount includes a $10,000 contribution from the Virginia Association of REALTORS� and a $500,000 contribution from the National Association of REALTORS�.

Founded shortly after the events of September 11, 2001, the Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, administered by NAR. All donations received are used for housing-related expenses for the primary residence affected by disaster, such as rent, mortgage payments, costs for temporary shelter or costs to rebuild.

100% of donations are distributed directly to help those in need. NAR covers all of the overhead and administrative costs.

Click here for information on how to donate (online or by check.)

Do Not Attend Charity Ball Proceeds

Are you one of the 301 members who have not yet taken Code of Ethics training? If so, then December 31st is your deadline.

NAR requires all REALTORS� to complete 3 hours of Code of Ethics training every four years. The current four-year cycle ends December 31, 2012.

What are your options?

Option 1: If you take your CE license renewal classes online, then you may very well have already taken the required training at some point in the last 4 years. If you take your online CE through any of the schools listed below, then all you need to do is fax (772-8058) or email your certificate to Susan Edwards. RVAR has already confirmed with each of these schools that the ethics portion of their CE training conforms to NAR's requirements.

        Moseley, Moseley-Flint, McKissock Education, Potomac Real Estate School,

        ICE, Alpha

NOTE: Moseley-Dickinson Academy of Real Estate shares its CE course rosters with RVAR. RVAR has already given credit to anyone who has taken an ethics CE class from this school.

Option 2: RVAR has scheduled one more ethics training class with John Dickinson on December 18th (9AM-Noon) at RVAR. This class not only fulfills NAR's requirement but also counts for 3 hours CE ethics credit.

Option 3: Any member can go to NAR's website and take the required training online for free (though no CE credit is provided.) NAR provides both a residential and a commercial version of this online class.

Dues Reminder

To date, 618 members have already paid their 2013 dues (which includes dues for RVAR, VAR and NAR.) The final date to pay 2013 dues is Monday, January 7th. Questions? Or need another copy of your dues bill? Contact Susan Edwards at the RVAR office.

Upcoming Events and Deadlines