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Roanoke Valley REALTOR®
Online
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Greetings!
You are receiving this online newsletter as a benefit of being a member of the Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS®.
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Member Type | Count ------------------- REALTOR® 1,049 Offices 135 Affiliate 177 Click here to see which RVAR members have switched firms, gone inactive, or joined recently.
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RVAR has always welcomed member input. Now we've made it even easier for you, by adding a Member Input button on the front page of RVAR.com. Fill out a simple form with your comment or suggestion. You may remain anonymous -- or, if you'd like a response, give us your name. Click here and give it a try! |
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.REALTOR Top Level Domain To Become Available in 2014
To make it easier for home buyers, sellers and investors to locate a trusted valued source of real estate information, resources and services online, NAR has applied for the branded .REALTOR top-level domain as an alternative to the commonly used .com and .org. Only members of the National Association of REALTORS® and the Canadian Real Estate Association can call themselves REALTORS® -- and only REALTORS® will be allowed to use the .REALTOR domain in connection with their name. State and local Associations and Multiple Listing Services will also be able to use the new domain.
Sign up now to be one of the first in line to reserve your .REALTOR domain as soon as it is available. This opportunity is exclusively for domains that include the names of REALTOR® members. By signing up now, you will receive an email message one day prior to general availability providing information on how you can claim your .REALTOR domain. PLUS NAR will provide the first 500,000 members who sign up with a FREE one-year license for a .REALTOR domain.
NAR anticipates the .REALTOR Top Level Domain being approved and becoming available sometime during the 1st quarter of 2014. Information on registration for REALTOR® firms will be provided at a later date.
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NAR Releases 2013 Seller and Buyer Survey
Did you know that, based on NAR's survey of 8,800 home buyers who purchased homes from mid-2012 to mid-2013:
- 88% of buyers and sellers used a real estate agent
- The typical buyer searched for 12 weeks and viewed 10 homes
- 66% of buyers were married couples -- the highest percentage since 2001
- 88% of buyers financed their home purchase, typically financing 90% of the cost
- The typical home purchased was 1,900 square feet in size, built in 1992, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms
- Sellers typically sold their homes for 97% of the listing price
- The share of for sale by owner (FSBO) sales was down to 9%, with the typical FSBO selling for $184,000, compared to $230,000 among agent assisted sales.
NAR annually gathers detailed information about the buying and selling experience. Click here for a one page snapshot of the key survey findings.
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Sign Regulation Change Announced
The Virginia Real Estate Board (VREB) will be implementing a sign regulation change, requiring the firm's primary or branch office telephone number to be included on any real estate for sale or for lease signs placed on a property.
Virginia's Governor must still sign the regulation change, after which an implementation date will be announced.
NOTE: The VREB has not specified the size or prominence of the firm phone number on the sign. Sign riders or stickers with the firm phone number will comply with the new regulation.
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Revisions to RVAR Purchase Agreement
A revised version of the RVAR Purchase Agreement will become available the week of February 3rd -- in zipForms® and for sale at the RVAR office. The key revisions include:
- An expansion to the Deposit paragraph to disclose when the Escrow Deposit is held by the Selling Firm, Listing Firm or other party.
- Revisions have been made to the following paragraphs to ensure compliance with Virginia statutes: Residential Property Disclosure, POA Disclosure, Condo Disclosure and Choice of Settlement Agent.
Next form to be revised: The RVAR Lot/Land Purchase Agreement will be reviewed by the Standard Forms Committee and revised, as needed. All members are welcome to submit suggested revisions to RVAR's CEO Laura Benjamin.
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Supra Annual Invoice for Display Keys
Supra's annual invoice for Display Keys will be sent out on February 7, 2014 with a due date of March 13, 2014. Supra has not yet confirmed the exact amount of the invoice. If you have any questions about your invoice, contact Supra support at 877-699-6787.
Reminder: Only agents who use Display Keys will receive an invoice. The 428 agents who have switched to the eKey (an app on your smartphone) are charged monthly by Supra.
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Supra Tip: A Possible Cause for eKey Problems
If your eKey app on your smartphone is not working properly -- or if you have had to delete and re-install the eKey app on your phone -- the solution may be as simple as updating your app.
Apps are like mini computer programs that are being re-written all the time with new and improved versions. If you do not install the newer version, the app will not continue to work properly. Whether you have an iPhone or a Droid phone, your phone will alert you when any of your apps need updating. (Or you can set your phone to automatically update your apps as needed.)
The moral of this story: keep your eKey app updated to ensure peak performance.
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2014 GRI Series Announced
RVAR's Education Committee has announced three GRI courses being offered this year. Click here for more information on each class. April 8 GRI 410 The Code of Ethics IS Good Business (required)
May 13 GRI 411 Successful Settlement: Managing the Transaction (required)
October 14 GRI 403 Personal Promotion (optional)
Plus, the Southwest Virginia Association in Abingdon will be offering GRI 406 (What Did I Agree To -- a required course) on May 20th.
Attention GRI Designees! You may attend any of these classes for only $35 per class. Enjoy the class, earn CE credits with no exam required.
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Upcoming Education Offerings
ABR Two-Day Class: The New River Valley Association of REALTORS® is offering the two-day ABR class, February 19th and 20th, featuring well-known instructor Adorna Carroll. This class will be offered at the New River Valley office in Christiansburg and provides 16 hours of CE/PL credits. Hardcore Prospecting & Lead Generation: This fresh, new 3-hour seminar taught by LeRoy Houser on March 6th has one focus ... LEADS and how to get them. At this seminar, you will learn the techniques and systems that the Top 20% of the agents use to sell 80% of the real estate. Click here more for information or to register.
Deal Shakers: You won't want to miss this two-part series offered by RVAR's Education Committee, focused on two of the most common 'deal shakers'. February 25th The Price is Right ... or Is It?
10AM-Noon Pricing from the REALTOR® and Appraiser perspective
Speakers will be: Curtis Burchett (MKB), Tom Fansler (Prudential Waterfront), Brad Elkins (Smith Mountain Lake Appraisals) and Richard Varney (Floyd & Varney LLC). February 26th Home Inspections ... It's a Fine Line10AM-Noon Home Inspectors' perspective plus review of RVAR Inspection Addendum
Speakers will be: Donna Greer (Long & Foster), John Langan (Pillar to Post) and Brian Wood (National Property Inspection.)
Special thanks to Jeff Reynolds (Long & Foster) who will moderate both sessions. Take advantage of these free, informative sessions. Attend one or attend both!
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Check Out NAR's Virtual Library
Did you know that all REALTORS® are eligible to take advantage of NAR's Virtual Library, containing a wide selection of e-books, audiobooks and videos on topics including business, finance, self-improvement and more. Up to 6 titles may be borrowed at one time -- at no charge. Click here to access NAR's Virtual Library. |
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RVAR A Decade Ago
How much has changed in the past 10 years? Click here to check out the real estate market and RVAR in 2004. (Hint: 2004 began with 1,238 REALTORS® and 1,925 residential listings in the MLS. 2014 began with 1,045 REALTORS® and 2,809 residential listings in the MLS.) |
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RVAR Training Room Available for Rent
Brokers may rent out RVAR's training room. The training room can be configured in three ways:
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Small training room
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12 classroom /30 theatre
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1/2 day $60 / full day $90
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Large training room
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36 classroom / 50 theatre
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1/2 day $90 / full day $150
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Full training room
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50 classroom / 80 theatre
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1/2 day $120 / full day $180
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Rental requests are based on availability. Evening and weekend rentals are also available. Additional charges apply for use of the LCD projector and screen; coffee service and room set up (no charge if you set up yourself.) For more information or to book RVAR's training room, contact Louann Pagans (772-0526).
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Our REALTOR® Family
Congratulations
RVAR congratulates Kit Hale of MKB, REALTORS® who was recently appointed to the REALTORS® Property Resource (RPR) Advisory Council.
RVAR also congratulates BB&T, winner of 2nd place in the 2014 Best of SML Awards for Best Bank/Mortgage Company.
RVAR expresses sympathy to those members who have recently lost loved ones: Beth Wilson and Becky Fields of Prudential Premier upon the death of their father; Glenda McDaniel of Long & Foster Hales Ford Bridge upon the death of her sister; Judy Poindexter of The Real Estate Group upon the death of her mother and Steve Hoover of MKB, REALTORS® upon the death of his father.
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Upcoming Events
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February 25th
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Deal Shakers: The Price is Right ... Or Is It?
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February 26th
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Deal Shakers: Home Inspections ... It's a Fine Line
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March 6th
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Hardcore Prospecting & Lead Generation
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March 19th
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Annual Tech Forum, Holiday Inn Tanglewood
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April 8th
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GRI 410
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April 23rd
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Roanoke City Fair Housing Seminar
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Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS®
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