Dorsey Installed as RVAR President

Meg Dorsey of MKB, REALTORS® was installed as RVAR’s President on December 9th at RVAR’s Installation and Awards Breakfast at the Hotel Roanoke. Also installed were Jay Kilby of RE/MAX All Stars Realty as President-elect and Julie Kingery of Mountain to Lake Realty as Vice President. 

Five Directors were also installed: Cathie Daniel of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Smith Mountain Lake Real Estate; Thomas Fellers of MKB, REALTORS®; Amber Mason of Keller Williams Realty Roanoke; Stan Spiewak of BHHS Premier, REALTORS® and Todd Wampler of Century 21 Wampler Realty. RVAR’s Broker Council appointed Amber Mason to serve as the Broker representative on the 2023 Board. 

Continuing their service on the 2023 Board will be: Immediate Past President Ashley Donahue of Wainwright & Co., REALTORS®; Shannon Hines of Long & Foster; Rob Logan of The Real Estate Group; and Kelly Soriano of Wainwright & Co., REALTORS®. 

Your 2023 Board of Directors stands ready to serve you!

Woltz Named REALTOR® of the Year

Jim Woltz of Woltz & Associates received RVAR’s REALTOR® of the Year award at RVAR’s December 9th Installation and Awards Breakfast. 

Woltz has been licensed for 49 years. He has served on a variety of REALTOR® Committees, including chairing an NAR Committee and serving on NAR’s Board of Directors. 

The REALTOR® of the Year award is RVAR’s highest honor, recognizing a local REALTOR® who demonstrates outstanding REALTOR® spirit, business accomplishments, community service and civic involvement. 

Apgar Receives RVAR's Good Neighbor Award

Angie Apgar, of American National Bank & Trust, received RVAR's 2022 Good Neighbor Award at RVAR's December 9th Installation and Awards Breakfast.

Apgar was chosen for her leadership and many hours of service with The Community Christmas Store of Roanoke Valley. In addition to recognizing Apgar, RVAR made a $1,000 contribution to The Community Christmas Store in her honor.

The RVAR Good Neighbor Award, previously the REALTOR® Community Service Award, recognizes a local REALTOR® and/or an Affiliate who gives of his or her time to an organization that improves the quality of life in the greater Roanoke Valley. 

Homes Sales for November

2023 REALTOR® Dues Reminder

To date, 873 members have already paid their 2023 REALTOR® dues (which includes dues to RVAR, VAR and NAR.) The final date to pay 2023 dues is Thursday, January 12th. Simply go to www.RVAR.com and click on User Login (upper right hand corner). Follow the instructions to log in to access and pay your dues bill online. OR drop by the RVAR office with your check or credit card 8AM-4:30PM M-F OR use the drop box outside RVAR’s front door. Any member may contact Susan Edwards to request a dues bill via email or mail.

Code of Ethics Change for 2023

The National Association of REALTORS®, at its November Convention, adopted two changes to the Code of Ethics which will go into effect January 1, 2023.

Article 10 was changed as follows, replacing ‘handicap’ with ‘disability’:

“REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, disability handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity. REALTORS® shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

REALTORS®, in their employment practices, shall not discriminate against any person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. 

Standard of Practice 3-9 was changed as follows, to clarify that it is the seller, not the listing broker, who establishes terms related to the marketing and sale of the property.

“REALTORS® shall not provide access to listed property on terms other than those established by the owner or the seller listing broker.”

Purchase Agreement Revisions Coming in January

In July, 2022, RVAR introduced revisions to the RVAR Purchase Agreement. After several months of use, the Standard Forms Committee identified several needed changes and clarifications.

RVAR is targeting January 18th to roll out the next revisions to the Purchase Agreement. Watch for more information, including updated training videos.

The key revisions are:

• Paragraph 14 Inspections – Revised septic inspection language, eliminating the check boxes for the different types of septic inspections. Also added docks to the list of inspections.
• Paragraph 15 Inflow & Infiltration Inspection – Reworded to ensure the blank for the number of business days Seller has to request the I&I Inspection is filled out correctly.
• Paragraph 16 – Changed the title of this paragraph to Preoccupancy or Presettlement Verification, in order to eliminate reference to ‘Inspection”. Created a new Paragraph 16C to focus solely on change in condition at walkthrough, so can be more easily referenced in Paragraph 17.
• Paragraph 17 Seller’s and Purchaser’s Option – Clarified that this paragraph references only Paragraph 16C (see above) and Paragraph 29D (Title). Also, changed ‘Remediation Limit’ to ‘Seller Obligation Limit’.
• Paragraph 29G(e) Business Days – Changed definition to reference majority of banks in both the Roanoke Valley and New River Valley. 

RVAR's Family Fun Night on the Ice

Join us for a night of fun and fast paced hockey with the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs on Friday, February 24th.  

Tickets will be just $12 for adults and $10 for children (under 12) and includes admission and a meal voucher to be used at the concession area.  

Order as many tickets as you would like - bring your family & friends for a fun, exciting evening at the Berglund Center!! The puck drops against Vermilion County at 7:05PM.

These will be pre-purchase only tickets and must be ordered by 2:00PM Monday, February 20th. Tickets can be picked up at the "Will Call" window on game day.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, January 10th.

2023 REALTOR® & Affiliate Night

If you could move in time, where would you go? That is the question as the 2023 Affiliates Committee asks you to step into our ‘Time Machine’. That is the theme for the 2023 REALTOR® & Affiliate Night scheduled for Tuesday, April 18th from 5pm-8pm! Also, the event will be moving to the Roanoke Country Club. 

Registration for the event will begin soon!

RPAC Exceeds Goal for 2022!

Thank you to the 600 REALTORS®, Affiliates and RVAR staff who contributed to the 2022 REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) fundraising campaign! RVAR exceeded all the goals set for us by Virginia REALTORS®, raising over $50,000 including 22 Major Investors (contributions of $1,000 or more). A sincere thank you to all those below who contributed more than their fair share.

Upcoming Education

So You Want to be a Landlord: If you own or are interested in owning rental property, plan to attend this class to learn the risks and rewards. Instructors Jamie Bailey of Alcova Mortgage and Mac Westland of Keller Williams Realty Roanoke will share their experience and the systems they use to manage rentals and screen tenants. Funding options for the purchase of rental property will also be addressed.

Click here to register for this FREE class on Wednesday, February 15th, 11AM-12:30PM. This class provides two options to attend (1) attend class in person (limit of 35) or (2) attend via Zoom. 

RVAR’s Education Committee is finalizing plans for more classes:

• Closing Disclosure Documents; March 15th, 11AM-12:30PM
• Manufactured Homes; April 12th, 11AM-12:30PM
• Setting Expectations for Sellers; April 25th, 11AM-12:30PM
• Septic Systems: Dirty Little Secrets; May date pending

Virtual GRI Classes: RVAR has partnered with Virginia REALTORS® to offer virtual GRI classes throughout 2023. Each class is offered in two half-day sessions. Below are the classes offered through March 2023. 

GRI 506 Risk Management

January 18^th 9AM-12:30PM

January 19^th 9AM-12:30PM

Instructor: Doug Wolfe

Students will get a crash course on risk management, escrow, equal services, environmental concerns, and state and federal regulations such as lead paint and antitrust. CE Approved = 6 hours Legal Update with Flood Content; PL Approved = 3 hours Risk Management and 3 hours Escrow Requirements. Click here to register.

GRI 504 Working with Buyers

February1st 9AM-12:30PM

February 2nd 9AM-12:30PM

Instructor: Nancy Pav

Students will learn the categories of active buyers, techniques for lead generation, components of the home showing process and negotiation strategies. The class will also review the mortgage process and financing options, including options for first time buyers. CE Approved = 6 hours Real Estate Related; PL Approved = 2 hours Real Estate Finance. Click here to register.

GRI 505 Working with Sellers

February 21st 9AM-12:30PM

February 22nd 9AM-12:30PM

Instructor: Nancy Pav

Students will learn proven strategies for lead generation for Sellers, plus tips for listing presentations and marketing listings. PL Approved = 2 hours Current Industry Issues / Trends. Click here to register.

GRI 502 Sales Contracts

March 14th 9AM-12:30PM

March 15th 9AM-12:30PM

Instructor: Michael Guthrie

Students will receive guidance and tactical skills for writing and presenting a variety of real estate agreements, such as disclosure forms and sales contracts, including contingencies. CE Approved = 6 hours Real Estate Contracts; PL Approved = 6 hours Contract Writing. Click here to register.

Our RVAR Family

Sympathy

RVAR offers its sympathy to Tammy Rickman of Rickman Realty, LLC upon the death of her father. RVAR also offers condolences to the friends and colleagues of Carolyn Crabtree of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Smith Mountain Lake Real Estate upon her recent passing.

Congratulations

RVAR congratulates Donna Marie Harris of Long & Foster Roanoke upon her re-appointment to VAR’s Public Policy Committee.

Upcoming Events & Deadlines

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