04/18/2013

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Roanoke Valley REALTOR

Online  

 Roanoke Valley  Associathion of REALTORS

   

Greetings!

You are receiving this online newsletter as a benefit of being a member of the Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS�.
Contact RVAR
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Member Type  Count

-------------------

 

REALTOR�   1,066

 

Offices            134            

Affiliate           146

 

 Click here to see which RVAR members have switched firms, gone inactive, or joined recently. 

Who Comes to Open Houses?

The National Association of REALTORS� recently conducted a survey of 2012 buyers to find out who attended open houses as part of their home search process. Here's what they learned:
  • 45% of 2012 buyers attended one or more open houses
  • 45-64 was the age group most likely to find a home through an open house
  • Couples (married or unmarried) are more likely than single buyers to walk           through an open house
  • Repeat buyers are more likely to find their homes from an open house than first-time buyers
  • The South is the region of the US where buyers are more likely to find a home through an open house
  • Buyers who use a language other than English in the home are more likely to use open houses than buyers whose primary language is English
Just a reminder -- there is an easy and free option to promote your open houses. Simply register your open houses in FlexMLS (it's very simple.) Open houses entered into FlexMLS will appear on RoanokeValleyOpenHouse.com, as well as on REALTOR.com� and the REALTOR.com� Smartphone app. Open houses automatically expire in FlexMLS, so no further action required following the open house.


President's Message

Click below for President Betty Kingery's message on the latest home sales
statistics plus upcoming events and projects.  
RVAR - April 2013
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

April is Fair Housing Month

April, 2013 marks the 45th anniversary of the 1968 landmark Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Act prohibited housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap. Every April, REALTORS� celebrate Fair Housing Month to reaffirm their continuing commitment to fair and equitable treatment and a professional level of service for all in their search for real property.

In honor of Fair Housing Month, take a moment to renew your commitment to the REALTOR� Fair Housing Declaration below:

I agree to:
  • Provide equal professional service without regard to the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin or sexual orientation of any prospective client, customer or of the residents of any community.
  • Keep informed about fair housing law and practices, improving my clients' and customers' opportunities and my business.
  • Develop advertising that indicates that everyone is welcome and no one is excluded, expanding my client's and customer's opportunities to see, buy or lease property.
  • Inform my clients and customers about their rights and responsibilities under the fair housing laws by providing brochures and other information.
  • Document my efforts to provide professional service, which will assist me in becoming a more responsive and successful REALTOR�.
  • Refuse to tolerate non-compliance.
  • Learn about those who are different from me, and celebrate those differences.
  • Take a positive approach to fair housing practices and aspire to follow the spirit as well as the letter of the law.
  • Develop and implement fair housing practices for my firm to carry out the spirit of this declaration.

Additional fair housing resources are available from the National Association of REALTORS� and Virginia Association of REALTORS�. 

 

 

Code of Ethics: Disclosing Multiple Offers

The current real estate market is leading to more multiple offer scenarios. It's a good problem to have -- and a good time to refresh your memory as to your ethical obligations. According to the Code of Ethics, listing agents must have their sellers' approval to disclose the existence of offers.

    Standard of Practice 1-15: REALTORS�, in response to inquiries from
    buyers or cooperating brokers shall, with the sellers' approval, disclose
    the existence of offers on the property. Where disclosure is authorized,
    REALTORS� shall also disclose, if asked, whether offers were obtained
    by the listing licensee, another licensee in the listing firm or by a
    cooperating broker. 

Real Forestry Class   

Do you sell rural land? Whether you are selling 5 acres or 1000 acre tracts, the Real Forestry for Real Estate course will provide you with practical information. This May 8th course (10AM-3PM) will be conducted by Jennifer Gagnon of Virginia Tech and held at the VAR Office in Glen Allen. This course qualifies for 4 PL/CE/Appraiser credits. Click here for more information or to register.

REALTOR� After Hours at the Lake  

Derby Day is the theme of the May 2nd REALTOR� After Hours, 5-7PM at Bridgewater Bay Clubhouse. $100 prize for best barbecue. $50 prize for best Derby Day hat (women AND men are eligible to win.) Click here for more information or to register. 

We would like to acknowledge and Thank our sponsors for this event:
                Platinum - Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group & Freedom First Credit Union
                Diamond - Wells Fargo
                Gold - Acquisition Title & Settlement, Bank of America, Colonial Title &
                         Settlement, Franklin Community Bank & HomeTown Bank.

Water Quality Clinic  

Do you (or your clients) want to know more about the quality of your water -- especially if the water comes from a well, spring or cistern? Then plan to attend the Roanoke Valley Drinking Water Clinic on May 20th at 6PM at the South County Library. Virginia Tech is cooperating with Virginia Cooperation Extension to conduct this clinic -- which begins with a brief informational meeting then instructions on how to collect your water sample. The cost to have your water sample tested is $49.

 

The goal of this clinic is to give people with private water systems access to affordable water testing, help interpreting their water test results and information about possible treatment options.

 

Click here for more information or to register.

Every Affordable Housing Program in Virginia 

Lots of cities, towns and counties have affordable housing programs -- anything from help paying for fuel to assistance with buying a first home, to everything in between. Housing Virginia has compiled information on every affordable housing program in the state, sortable by location and by program type.  Check it out -- you'll be amazed at all the programs available in the greater Roanoke Valley.

REALTORS� Serving Our Community

Spring Food Drive: RVAR's Salvation Army Food Drive is underway throughout the month of April. Donation boxes are available in many offices and at the RVAR office. Click here to see a list of most needed items. Please make a food (or monetary) donation to help keep the Salvation Army's Pantry stocked. This food drive will wrap up at the end of April.

Rebuilding Together: Want to spend a beautiful Saturday in April enjoying a day of "good works", camaraderie and fun? Join fellow REALTORS� and Affiliates for Rebuilding Together, a national effort to rehabilitate houses on the last Saturday each April.
On Saturday, April 27th, RVAR will be rehabilitating a home including general clean up, painting, plumbing and plastering. To participate in this charitable effort sponsored by RVAR's Community Service Committee, click here to complete the volunteer form. Questions? Contact Susan Edwards at the RVAR Office.  

NAR REALTOR� Expo in DC  

NAR's Midyear Trade Expo will be held May 15th and 16th (10AM-6PM), at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. The Expo features the latest in real estate products and services from over 100 industry-leading companies. There is something for every REALTOR�. Plan to stop by the show, talk with experts in the industry and find profitable ideas to gain an edge in today's market. Admission to the Expo is FREE for all REALTORS�.  Click here for more information or to register. 

Upcoming Education Offerings

REALTOR� Safety: Don't Be a Victim: This April 24th class (10:00-11:30AM) will cover everything from REALTOR� safety in the field to safety tips for real estate offices. Another FREE class offered by RVAR's Education Committee. Click here for more information or to register.

GRI 401: Understanding Agency: Instructor Donna Austin will focus on brokerage relationships, agency and property disclosures and confidentiality in this May 7th class. This course qualifies for CE 3 hours agency and 4 hours electives OR PL 3 hours mandatory residential real estate agency law and 4 hours electives.
Click here for more information or to register.
 
GRI 404: Cyber REALTOR�: Learn the smartest choices to make for hardware, software and communications tools in this June 24th class. This course qualifies for CE 7 hours electives OR PL 4 hours electives.
Click here for more information or to register.
 
Already earned your GRI? You may attend any GRI class for only $35. Great way to update your knowledge and earn CE. (No test required.) 

RVAR's Speakers Council To Feature Cyrus Pace

RVAR's May 21st Speakers Council will feature Cyrus Pace, Jefferson Center Executive Director. The meeting is held at the RVAR Office, beginning at 8:15AM and ending by 9:30AM. Breakfast is provided. The cost to attend is $5 -- or you can join the Council for an annual cost of $35. Click here to register for this session.

RVAR's Speakers Council meets nine times a year, with a featured speaker usually related to economic development or quality of life issues in the greater Roanoke Valley.

Our REALTOR� Family

In Sympathy

RVAR expresses sympathy to Marcia Bryant of MKB, REALTORS� upon the death of father, and to Carol Plaskon of Lake Team Realty upon the recent death of her son. 

Upcoming Events

  

April 24th

REALTOR� Safety Class

April 27th

Rebuilding Together

May 2nd

REALTOR� After Hours at the Lake

May 7th

GRI 401

May 15-16th

NAR Legislative Conference & Expo

May 27th

RVAR Office Closed for Memorial Day

June 24th

GRI 404

 
Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS 
 www.RVAR.com | (540) 772-0526 | Email