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

Change is coming for zipForm® users with the final transition to zipForm® Plus on July 15th. zipForm® Plus offers new features, new technology and an improved user experience, including:

*    Enhanced user interface

*    E-signature integration

*    Improved search tools

*    Customized email signatures

*    Photo customization

*    Integrated storage

Click here to learn more about zipForm® Plus.

Your account will be automatically upgraded on July 15th. No action is required by you. All saved data from zipForm® 6 Professional will automatically be available in zipForm® Plus. No need to transfer files or import any data.

You may start using zipForm® Plus at any time -- many members have already switched.

Please take a moment to ensure that the computers you use to access zipForm® meet the minimum system requirements below.

Minimum System Requirements	Recommended System Requirements
Windows XP and above (Windows XP will require Google Chrome 26 and above or Mozilla Firefox 18 and above) Mac OSX 10.6 and above Internet Explorer 9 and above Mozilla Firefox 18 and above Safari 5.1.7 and above Google Chrome 26 and above Minimum Screen Resolution: 1024x768 2GB RAM PDF viewer that meets current Adobe PDF standards Internet connection	Windows 7 and above Mac OSX 10.6 and above Internet Explorer 9 and above Mozilla Firefox 18 and above Safari 5.1.7 and above Google Chrome 26 and above Recommended Screen Resolution: 1280x800 and above 2GB RAM PDF viewer that meets current Adobe PDF standards Internet connection

1. Revision to Purchase Agreement -- Effective July 1st

 
Please note: The phrase "and a receipt obtained" is not new. However, as of July 1st, the requirement for "a receipt obtained" will apply to all methods of delivery, including hand delivery.


2. Inspection Addendum -- Effective August 1st

Several revisions to the Inspection Addendum are being made as a result of suggestions recently received.

a. Paragraph G will be renamed Additional Structures and/or Systems to be Inspected (instead of Additional Inspections).
b. Results of Inspections -- Home and Additional Inspections: The following one word change should help clarify the meaning of the first sentence.

3. Exclusive Right to Represent Buyer Agreement -- Effective August 1st

Paragraph 6 Service Fee will be changed to give Broker the option to credit or not credit the Service Fee to the Buyer once the Buyer closes on the purchase of property.

Paragraph 7 Brokerage Fee will be changed to insert a blank line for the Broker and Buyer to spell out the Broker's fee, rather than the three options currently provided.

Virginia currently has 29,676 REALTORS®. How does that compare with the number of overall employees in Virginia?

Since 1980, REALTORS® have made up 0.7 percent of the total workforce, on average, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. But that percentage is not the same for all states.

Over the past 34 years, either Hawaii or Arizona has had the highest share of REALTORS® per employed persons each year. The state with the lowest share of REALTORS® in the workforce over the past 34 years has rotated between Mississippi, Maine, West Virginia, South Dakota and North Dakota.

As for Virginia, 0.71% of all employees are REALTORS®.

The new Real Estate Board Regulations will not be effective July 1st. At this point, they are in the Office of the Governor awaiting his signature. Upon his signature, the regulations must be posted in the Virginia Register of Regulations for 30 days before they become effective.

At this point, VAR does not have a timeline for the Governor's signature. When the regulations are signed, RVAR and VAR will notify members and provide educational tools to help them comply.

RVAR's Board of Directors has announced the following leadership openings for 2015: President-elect, Vice President and 4 Director positions. The only stipulation for applicants is that there can be no more than two REALTORS® from the same firm serving on the Board at any given time. NOTE: The Immediate Past President is exempt from this requirement.

August 1st is the deadline for receipt of written applications. The Nominating Committee will request a personal interview with each candidate in early August and recommend a slate of Officers and Directors to the Board of Directors. The membership will be notified of this slate in early September. Petition candidates may also file during September. Should there be any contested positions, an election by ballot will be held in the fall.

Continuing their service on the 2015 Board will be: President Vic Coffey (RE/MAX All Stars); Immediate Past President Donna Greer (Long & Foster Hales Ford Bridge);  and Directors Bryan Musselwhite (Poe & Cronk), Jeff Snyder (The Real Estate Group), and Richard Wimberley (RE/MAX All Points.)

Any questions about leadership responsibilities or the nominations process should be addressed to Nominating Chairman  Richard Limroth or Chief Executive Officer Laura Benjamin.

Click here to offer your input or a suggestion for the Association.