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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®.
We wish you a Happy & Safe Holiday Season!
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Member Type | Count --------------------------- REALTOR@ 1148 Offices 135 Affiliate 174 Click here to see which RVAR members have switched firms, gone inactive, or joined recently.
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Greer Named REALTOR® of the Year
Donna Greer, Managing Broker for Long & Foster's offices at Smith Mountain Lake and Rocky Mount, received RVAR's REALTOR® of the Year award at RVAR's December 11th Installation and Awards Breakfast.
Greer has been a REALTOR® for 11 years, serving in many volunteer capacities for RVAR and VAR. She served as RVAR's President in 2014 and continues to serve, chairing two RVAR Committees in 2015.
The REALTOR® of the Year award is RVAR's highest honor, recognizing a local REALTOR® who demonstrates outstanding REALTOR® spirit, business accomplishments and community involvement.
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Harris Installed As RVAR President
Donna Marie Harris of Long & Foster, REALTORS® was installed as RVAR's President on December 11th at RVAR's Installation and Awards Breakfast. Also installed were Kathy Chandler of MKB, REALTORS® as President-elect and Connie Hash of MKB, REALTORS® as Vice President.
Three new Directors were also installed: Jerry Cohen of Park Place Realty; Neil Conner of The Real Estate Group and Walter Grewe of Long & Foster, REALTORS®. Your 2016 Board of Directors stands ready to serve you!
RVAR welcomed VAR President Bill White of Richmond to conduct the Installation ceremony. Bill began his real estate career in Roanoke and served as RVAR's President in 1983.
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Hannabass Receives RVAR Community Service Award
Tina Hannabass of MKB, REALTORS® received RVAR's REALTOR® Community Service Award at RVAR's December 11th Installation and Awards Breakfast.
Hannabass was recognized for her many volunteer efforts on behalf of The Rescue Mission. In addition to recognizing Hannabass, RVAR made a $1,000 contribution to The Rescue Mission in her honor.
The REALTOR® Community Service Award recognizes a local REALTOR® who gives of his or her time to an organization that improves the quality of life in the greater Roanoke Valley.
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Eight Firms Win Distinguished Service Awards
Each year, RVAR recognizes those firms whose agents have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the real estate profession by attending RVAR educational classes, serving on RVAR/VAR/NAR Committees, earning professional designations, contributing to RPAC and attending RVAR/VAR/NAR events. The Distinguished Service Awards were presented to the following firms at the December 11th RVAR Installation and Awards Breakfast:
Small Firms (1-15 agents)
Mountain to Lake Realty
Park Place Realty, LLC
Medium Firms (16-35 agents)
RE/MAX All Points
RE/MAX All Stars
The Real Estate Group
Large Firms (36 or more agents)
BHHS Premier, REALTORS®
Long & Foster, REALTORS®
MKB, REALTORS®
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To date, 748 members have already paid their 2016 dues (which includes dues for RVAR, VAR and NAR.) The final date to pay 2016 dues is Tuesday, January 5th. (Dues payment must be received by RVAR by that date.) Questions or want a dues bill emailed to you? Contact Susan Edwards at the RVAR office.
On Wednesday, January 6th, RVAR will begin the process of terminating the membership of any REALTOR® whose dues remains unpaid. Then on Thursday, January 7th, MLS access will be terminated and Supra keys deactivated.
There are many ways for you to pay: (1) Pay online at RVAR's website, (2) Fax completed invoice to (540) 772-8058, (3) Mail completed invoice to Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS®, 4358 Starkey Road, Roanoke VA 24018, or (4) drop your payment off at the RVAR office between the hours of 8:00AM and 4:30PM (RVAR also has a drop box for after hours payments). If paying by check, please make payable to RVAR.
Once membership is terminated for non-payment of dues, payment of the annual dues plus a reinstatement fee of $150 shall be required to reinstate membership in RVAR, provided reinstatement is made within 60 days following termination. After that, application as a new member is required to restore membership in the Association.
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RPAC Exceeds Goals for 2015
Thank you to the 477 REALTORS®, Affiliates and RVAR staff who contributed to the 2015 RPAC fundraising campaign. RVAR exceeded all of the goals set for us by VAR, raising over $48,358, including 21 Major Investors (contributions of $1,000 or more.) Click here to see those who contributed more than their fair share.
Special thanks to Mary Dykstra of MKB, REALTORS® who chaired RVAR's RPAC Fundraising campaign. Thanks also to Kit Hale of MKB, REALTORS® who traveled around the country raising RPAC funds as NAR's REALTOR® Party Liaison.
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2016 Code of Ethics Revision
The National Association of REALTORS® has adopted one revision to the Code of Ethics, which will go into effect January 1, 2016. NAR will post an online version of the 2016 Code of Ethics soon.
The following revision has been made to Standard of Practice 12-5 related to advertising (the revised language is underlined):
REALTORS® shall not advertise nor permit any person employed by or affiliated with them to advertise real estate services or listed property in any medium (e.g., electronically, print, radio, television, etc.) without disclosing the name of that REALTOR®'s firm in a reasonable and readily apparent manner either in the advertisement or in electronic advertising via a link to a display with all required disclosures.
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Online Rental Scams Continue
Online rental scams continue to be a problem. Such a scam was recently reported in the Roanoke area where a prospective tenant paid a deposit for a purported rental, which turned out to be a scam.
Click here for guidance on what REALTORS® should do, including tips for your buyers and sellers.
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NAR's Remodeling Impact Report
"REALTORS® know what remodeling projects bring the biggest bang for the buck," according to NAR President Tom Salomone. The 2015 Remodeling Impact Report, the first of its kind from NAR, assists homeowners who are preparing to sell in choosing the best projects to attract buyers. The Report also focuses on which projects bring homeowners the most satisfaction.
REALTORS® named kitchen upgrades, complete kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations and new wood flooring as the interior projects that most appeal to potential buyers. When looking at the interior projects that yield the biggest financial results upon resale, REALTORS® ranked hardwood flooring refinishes (100% of project cost recovered upon resale), insulation upgrades (95% recovered), new wood flooring (91% recovered) and converting a basement to a living area (69% recovered) as projects to consider.
With regards to exterior projects, REALTORS® said new roofing, new vinyl windows, new garage doors and new vinyl siding are most appealing to potential buyers and are highly valued upon resale.
The report also revealed that 38% of homeowners did the remodeling project themselves; 28% hired a professional.
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REALTORS® Share Safety Tips
RVAR has published safety tips every month in 2015. NAR has also focused on REALTOR® safety this year, collecting safety tips from REALTORS® nationwide. Click here for a sampling of practical tips used by REALTORS®.
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Upcoming Education
Let Social Media Work For You: Instructor Stacey Wanish with Atlantic Bay Mortgage returns to focus on the topic of using social media to expand your real estate business, Wednesday, January 13th, 10AM-Noon at the RVAR Office. Though this class is FREE, advance registration is appreciated. Click here to register.
The Psychology of Peak Performance: The Blue Ridge Mortgage Lenders Association invites REALTORS® to begin your year by attending The WIN Method: The Psychology of Peak Performance. This class will equip you with the mental skills and strategies necessary for optimizing your performance at work and in your daily life. This class will be offered on Thursday, January 14, 2016 at the Salem Civic Center. Click here for the registration form. The special registration fee of $15 includes both the presentation and lunch.
Roanoke County GIS Update: The Roanoke County Economic Development Department is hosting an update to the Roanoke County GIS enhancements on Thursday, January 14, 2016 at the South County Library Auditorium (6303 Merriman Road, Roanoke, 24018). The new "Site Selector" application is an online interactive, user friendly tool that helps agents search for buildings and sites, while combining your property searches with key community and demographic information. There is no charge to attend. Click here for registration and class information.
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Our RVAR Family
Congratulations
RVAR congratulates Brian Mason of Atlantic Bay Mortgage upon being inducted into the MS Society Hall of Fame.
RVAR also congratulates Corbin Prydwen of Wainwright & Co. for receiving a Preservation Award from the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation for his neighborhood revitalization work in West End. Hats off to Alcova Mortgage for being honored by the Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association for donating the most toys in the Association's annual Toys for Tots campaign.
Sympathy
RVAR expresses sympathy to Pat Dew of Barker Realty upon the death of her daughter; to Joyce Donoho of Lichtenstein Rowan, REALTORS® upon the death of her mother; to Fawn Foley of Long & Foster, REALTORS® upon the death of her father; to Kathy Storberg of MKB, REALTORS® upon the death of her sister and to Gary Flora of MKB, REALTORS® upon the death of his mother.
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UPCOMING EVENTS & DEADLINES
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December 24th
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RVAR Office Closes at Noon
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December 25th
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RVAR Office Closed for Holiday
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December 31st
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RVAR Office Closes at Noon
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January 1st
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RVAR Office Closed for Holiday
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January 5th
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Final Date to Pay 2016 Dues
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January 13th
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Social Media Class
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January 14th
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Peak Performance Class
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January 18th
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RVAR Office Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
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2015 RVAR Partner / Sponsors
The RVAR proudly recognizes our
2015 Partner / Sponsors
for their generous support this year!
Platinum Level Partner / Sponsors
Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group
Corridor Mortgage Group
Freedom First Federal Credit Union
Southwest Virginia Moving & Storage
SunTrust Mortgage
Virginia Varsity Transfer & Self Storage
Diamond Level Partner / Sponsors
Alcova Mortgage
First Choice Title & Settlement, LLC
Integrity Home Mortgage Corporation
Performance Title & Settlement, Inc.
Union Mortgage Group
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Gold Level Partner / Sponsors
Acquisition Title & Settlement Agency, Inc.
Bank of North Carolina Mortgage Division
Bill Meador Insurance Agency
Colonial Mortgage Company
Consolidated Construction Services
Laura R. Wright, Attorney at Law
Movement Mortgage, LLC
The Bullington Law Firm
Virginia Title Center
Silver Level Partner / Sponsors
Bank of Floyd
BB&T Home Mortgage
Bug Man Exterminating, Co. Inc.
Colonial Title and Settlement Agency, LLC
First American Home Buyers Protection Corporation
First Citizens Bank
HMS Home Warranty
HomeTown Mortgage
Member One Federal Credit Union
Seal-Tite Basement Waterproofing Co.
Virginia's All American Movers
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Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS®
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