Your Vote Counts With Us:
2011 Board of Directors Election Process Information For You
Voting began on Friday, Sept. 3 and will conclude on Wednesday, Oct. 6 at noon.
The election will take place online only. On Sept. 3, you should have received an e-mail from NVAR providing you with your login and password. This is the same login and password used for dues payments. Also, the email included step-by-step instructions on how to cast your ballot.
Once you are logged in, you may select the candidates you want for the 2011 Board of Directors. Please remember that you must vote for the same number of candidates as there are open slots to fill.
Once you have cast your ballot, you will receive a confirmation e-mail.
The following candidates will appear on the ballot:
Julia Avent
Shane McCullar
Peter Rickert
Chris Call
Brian Block
Virgil Frizzell
Bob Adamson
Lorena Rios
Delk Hamaker
Thai Nguyen
Suzanne Granoski
Kevin Lee
Click here to view photos and bios of the candidates.
The following individuals have been elected to serve on the 2011 Board of Directors in the positions indicated:
Jon Wolford, Secretary-Treasurer
Pat Kline, Chairman-Elect
They will join Karen Trainor, as 2011 Chairman of the Board and Vinh Nguyen, as Immediate Past Chairman.
2011 Online Dues Renewal is Now Taking Place
Click on the large, red button to your right to begin your dues renewal process.
For detailed instructions about the dues renewal process, Click here.
Questions? Please contact one of our staff at NVAR’s Membership Department at membership@nvar.com or call us at 703.207.3256.
Important dates to know:
Aug. 2: Dues Billing Period Opened
Sept. 30: Renewals Must Be Received
Oct. 1: Late Fee Imposed
Nov. 1: SentriLock Disabled for Non-Renewal
September is Realtor® Safety Month
Click on the link below to access information from NAR that will keep you safe all year long.
In Memoriam: Warnetta Gussie
NVAR mourns the passing on August 21 of longtime Realtor® Warnetta Gussie, founder of Gussie Real Estate in Alexandria.
She is survived by her children, NVAR member Diane Gussie, Michele Lendt and David Gussie. Interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 14, followed by a memorial service at St. Paul’s Church, 228 S. Pitt St. in Alexandria at 4 p.m.
MLSs work with Fannie Mae to Assist Realtors® with Short Sale Issues
In cooperation with participating MLSs across the nation, Fannie Mae developed the Short Sale Assistance Desk to assist real estate professionals in handling post-offer short sale issues that may relate to servicer responsiveness, the existence of a second lien or issues involving mortgage insurance. For more information, click here.
Congress Enacts Changes to FHA Insurance Premiums
Congress has passed and sent a bill to the President for his signature that would give the FHA authority to adjust its annual mortgage insurance premium.
According to an FHA spokesman, effective October 4, the FHA will lower its upfront premium simultaneously while increasing the annual premium.
With this action, the FHA says it will be better able to address the increased demands of the marketplace and return the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund to congressionally mandated levels without disruption to the housing market.
Attention NVAR members!
Nominate yourself or your fellow NVAR members for 2010 Realtor® of the Year.
Nominations must be received by Monday, Sept. 13, 2010. The results will be announced at the closing session of the NVAR Annual Convention on October 12. To download the nomination form, click here.
New NAR REALTOR Benefits® Program: Dental Insurance
NAR's Marketing and Business Development department is pleased to announce this exciting new benefit available exclusively to NAR members and Association staff. REALTORS® Dental Insurance has been custom-designed to offer affordable and valuable large group dental insurance benefits to NAR members and their families nationwide. Plans provide coverage for preventive, basic and major dental expenses with the dentist of your choice. There are four plans to choose from. Click here to learn more.
What’s New in Forms
The Seller’s Estimated Costs of Settlement (often called the Seller Net Sheet) and the Purchaser’s Estimated Costs of Settlement forms were recently updated to bring them into alignment with the new 2010 Settlement Statement (HUD-1). Most of the changes to the form involved renumbering the HUD-1 lines to correspond to the line numbers on the new HUD-1, however there are also some substantive and stylistic changes that are worth noting. Click here to read about those changes.
New Virginia Real Estate Laws In Effect July 1
Legislation passed earlier this year by the Virginia General Assembly took effect July 1. These laws include:
• a new disclaimer on wastewater management systems in the Residential Disclosure Statement;
• clarification on directional real estate sign posting and calling “Miss Utility”;
• more stringent requirements for obtaining a real estate license by reciprocity;
• an expedited process for brokers to resolve disputed escrow accounts;
• new regulations on Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs); and many more!
Click here to read the full list of new laws affecting your business.
5th Annual Appraisal Summit
For those who were in attendance at the Appraisal Summit on June 16, 2010 at the NVAR Herndon Center, click here to access the presentation from NVAR CEO Christine Todd.
NVAR Social Media Engagement Series - Promo Video!
Is Your License Current?
Don't wait until the last minute to satisfy your CED/PL requirements. This could result in an unintended suspension of your license and termination of NVAR membership and SentriLock access with a possible $52.50 reactivation fee.
Keep track of your renewal deadlines, complete classes prior to the month before your license will expire, and don't wait until the last days of the month to pay your fees. Allow at least four to five business days for DPOR to process credit hours and renewal payments. And remember: DPOR’s 30-day grace period only applies to payment of the renewal fee without incurring a late fee; your license is still expired and you are not permitted to practice real estate during that time.
Go to dpor.virginia.gov today to see what CED/PL credits are needed prior to license renewal. Then visit nvar.com and click on Education to choose the courses that will satisfy these requirements. Questions? Contact our Education Department (registrations@nvar.com; 703.207.3244) or our Membership Department (membership@nvar.com; 703.207.3256).
Short Sales Ethics Dialogue Group
Five local Realtor® associations formed a group to write a set of guidelines to help agents in dealing with short sales. (Read More)