Homes Sales for April

Join RVAR’s BOD in 2024

Are you ready to give back to the REALTOR® community? Do you have fresh ideas for change? Interested in a leadership role in RVAR?

RVAR's Board of Directors has announced the following leadership openings for 2024: President-elect, Vice President and 3 Director positions. The process for applying for a Director or Officer position is simple:

• The application period begins Tuesday, August 1st and ends on Monday, October 2nd
• A period of RVAR membership is required in order to apply: 2 years for Directors, 3 years for Vice President and 4 years for President-elect.
• No more than 2 members from the same firm may serve at the same time on the Board of Directors, with the exception of the Immediate Past President.
• All applicants must meet the following objective criteria:
• Must have served on an RVAR Committee, Work Group etc. within the previous 10 years;
• No Virginia Real Estate Board violation within the previous 2 years;
• No Code of Ethics violation within the previous 2 years.

The Board is a hardworking body of 12 REALTORS® who set policy for VAR. The group meets 10 times each year to consider issues, set the direction and manage the funds of the Association. If you are interested or have any questions about the requirements and benefits of serving on the Board of Directors, please contact Meg Dorsey or CEO Laura Benjamin.



Slated to continue their service on the 2024 Board will be: President Jay Kilby (RE/MAX All Stars); Immediate Past President Meg Dorsey (MKB, REALTORS®); and Directors Cathie Daniel (BHHS Smith Mountain Lake); Thomas Fellers (MKB, REALTORS®); Stan Spiewak (BHHS Premier, REALTORS®); and Todd Wampler (Century 21 Wampler Realty.) 

Form Changes Coming July 5th 

Several revisions to the RVAR standard forms library will ‘go live’ on July 5th in zipForms and SkySlope. Details and one or more training videos will be available prior to July 5th.

Revisions are being made to the following forms:

• Exclusive Right to Represent Seller Agreement
• Purchase Agreement
• Lot/Land Purchase Agreement
• Dual Agency Consent & Confirmation Agreement
• Designated Agency Consent & Confirmation Agreement

Save the Date

The 2023 RVAR Golf Classic is scheduled for Friday, September 8 at Roanoke Country Club.

Registration begins in July!

Save the Date

Our next RVAR Family Fun NIght with the Salem Red Sox is scheduled for Thursday, August 10.

Registration begins in June!

PUT A SOCK IN IT!

In what you may ask? Why, in our RVAR Sock Drive collection box. The RVAR Sock Drive, benefiting the Roanoke Rescue Mission, continues! Collection boxes are located at the RVAR, in the main lobby and in the RVAR Training Room, at the back of the building. So, each time you come to the RVAR bring along a pair of new, unworn socks to help fill our collection boxes. We have collected 1,737 pair on the way to our goal of 5000 pair of socks. The drive will last until October 1st. 

Check Your Listings for Common Errors

Since January 1^st, 110 error reports have been submitted through FlexMLS. The most common errors / issues reported so far this year are:

37 = Wrong data (wrong schools, taxes, style, #beds/baths, mapping, attached vs. detached, residential vs. land type)

18 = Missing data (owner’s legal name, owner’s phone # when showing instructions are to call seller, Other See Remarks with no explanation)

16 = Wrong SQFT

15 = Photos (Listing agent sign in photo, missing front photo) REMINDER: Photos submitted to the MLS must NOT show a yard sign or have any office or agent promotion. Also, one photo must show the front view of the property, which must be entered at the time the listing is entered into the MLS (though does not have to be the primary photo). For Land listings, the front view can be a street view, aerial or drone view or Lake view.

Virginia REALTORS® Committees for 2024

The Virginia REALTORS® is always looking for great volunteers to serve on its Committees. VAR is now accepting applications for 2024 Committee volunteers. Expand your horizons by working with REALTORS® from across the state. Click here to learn more about VAR’s Committee options and / or submit your application. (You will need your NRDS number to log in.) The deadline to apply is June 16^th. Questions? Contact RVAR CEO Laura Benjamin. 

VAR Summer Series

Virginia REALTORS® is excited to announce the return of its Summer Speaker Series! Three fantastic speakers will share industry insights and motivation! And each session is only $10.

VAR’s 2023 Summer Speaker Series kicks off on June 13^th, 2:00-3:30PM, with Do What Matters Most: 3 Habits to Improve Productivity, Happiness and Health presented by Thomas Blackwell. 68% of the workforce feels their biggest challenge is prioritizing their time. Discover a simple yet powerful solution to schedule your priorities and do what matters most. This translates into better leadership, higher productivity and better health. Click here to register for this live web event.

The rest of the series features:

July 11^th (2:00-3:30PM) Abhi Golhar: Build Your Influencer Brand

August 8^th (2:00-3:30PM) Chris Bird: Top Ten Tax and Investment Tips for 2023

Did you know that RVAR records its classes? Each class recording is posted on RVAR’s You Tube channel, with the link posted on the MLS Bulletin Board. 

Upcoming Education

Shoreline Management Plan: Do’s and Don’ts: AEP Senior Environmental Coordinator Neil Holthouser returns on Wednesday, June 14^th, 11AM-12:30PM to explain how the Shoreline Management Plan affects the sale of properties on Smith Mountain Lake and Leesville Lake. He will focus on the purpose of the natural vegetative buffer and vegetation removal. He will also focus on docks – both new and existing – as well as property inspections.

Click here to register for this FREE class. This class provides two options to attend (1) attend class in person (max of 35) or (2) attend via Zoom.

50 Shades of POA (the Property Owners Association Act): Attorney Jim Gilbert of Gilbert Law PC will address all aspects of the POA Act on Wednesday, September 13^th, 11AM-12:30PM. Learn what properties fall under the POA Act. Learn the difference between the POA Act and a road maintenance agreement. And learn the buyer rescission rights under the POA Act. NOTE: This class was originally scheduled for May 24^th; however, changes to the POA Act will go into effect July 1^st. The September class will encompass the latest changes to the Act.

Click here to register for this FREE class. This class provides two options to attend (1) attend class in person (max of 35) or (2) attend via Zoom.

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 July. 

GRI 501 Agency in Virginia

June 7^th 9AM-12:30PM

June 8^th 9AM-12:30PM

Instructor: Nancy Pav

This course will provide a detailed guide on important issues dealing with agency. Topics include brokerage relationships, agency disclosure, confidentiality and Code of Ethics requirements. CE Approved = 3 hours Real Estate Agency; 3 hours Real Estate Related; PL Approved - 3 hours VA Agency Law. Click here to register.

GRI 506 Risk Management

July 12^th 9AM-12:30PM

July 13^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.

Our RVAR Family

Sympathy

RVAR offers its sympathy to the colleagues and friends of Patty Meyers (Long & Foster Roanoke) upon her death. RVAR also offers condolences to Sylvia Journiette (Wainwright & Co.) upon her husband’s death; to Appraiser Doug Newbold upon the death of his father; to Alison O’Brien (MKB, REALTORS®) upon the death of her mother; and to Tammy Parrish (MKB, REALTORS®) upon the death of her father.

Congratulations

RVAR congratulates those recently named ‘2023 Best Of’ by The Roanoker Magazine, which included categories for real estate firms and agents. Some of RVAR’s Affiliate members were recognized, too!

Best Real Estate Firm: Platinum – MKB, REALTORS®; Gold – Cone Realty Group brokered by EXP Realty; Silver – Lichtenstein Rowan, REALTORS®

Best Real Estate Agent: Platinum – Hal Cone (EXP Realty Fredericksburg); Gold – Frazier Hughes (Keller Williams Roanoke); Silver – Brad Thomas (Mountain View Real Estate LLC)

Best Credit Union: Platinum – Member One FCU; Gold – Freedom First FCU

Best Local / Regional Mortgage Company: Platinum – Guild Mortgage; Gold – Virginia Mountain Mortgage; Silver – ALCOVA Mortgage

Best Mortgage Lender: Platinum – Alexander Dykes (Guild Mortgage); Gold – Steve Rexrode (Movement Mortgage); Jonathan Sweat (ALCOVA Mortgage)

Best National Bank: Platinum – Truist; Gold – Wells Fargo; Silver – First Citizen’s Bank

Best Regional / Local Bank: Platinum – Bank of Botetourt; Silver – American National Bank

Best Local Insurance Provider and Agent: Platinum – Bill Meador Insurance Agency; Silver – Derek Wiley Insurance Agency

And, three of the charities that RVAR supports were recognized as Most Worthy Groups to Donate to: Platinum - Angels of Assisi; Gold - Roanoke Rescue Mission; Silver – Roanoke Valley SPCA 

Upcoming Events

2023 Platinum Level Partner/Sponsor