Relocation
In 2011 online CE must be ARELLO approved
For the vast majority of Realtors®, satisfying the Virginia Real Estate Board's (VREB) continuing education (CE) requirements is something you do to improve yourself and your professionalism. To stay current on what's happening in the industry, you seek out high-quality education like (shameless plug) the REal Show, courses from your local association, or from other approved real estate schools.
Housing policy advisory committee wants your input
Gov. McDonnell has embarked on a mission to create the Commonwealth's first statewide housing policy. The policy is expected to guide the Commonwealth's approach to issues such as homelessness, affordable housing, workforce housing, economic development, healthy neighborhoods, effective coordination with transportation, environmental issues and other housing related opportunities.
Time is running out to provide comments or ideas to Gov. McDonnell's Housing Policy Advisory Committee. On July 9, the suggestion box will be closed. If you'd like to provide input to the Advisory Committee, act now.
Commonwealth magazine arrives this week
Watch your mailbox this week for the latest issue of Commonwealth Magazine. Here's what to expect:
The REal Show: Online registration is open
The managing editor of HousingWire (Richard Bitner), NAR's Chief Economist (Lawrence Yun), Virginia's preeminent real estate lawyer (Lem Marshall), the industry's social media guru (Jeff Turner), a Super Bowl winning quarterback (Joe Theismann), a dozen other experts to help you earn (and keep) more money, and 1,000 of Virginia's top-performing Realtors. They'll all be at the REal Show. Will you?
New Residential Disclosure Form now available
In accordance with new laws passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2010, the Virginia Real Estate Board (VREB) has updated the Residential Property Disclosure Statement to reflect a statutory notice requirement concerning wastewater systems. Please use the new form beginning July 1, 2010.
NAR reports pending home sales surge in April
Driven to take advantage of the homebuyer tax credit before it expired on April 30, buyers sent the pending home sales index soaring in April, according to NAR.
Touting the results of the homebuyer tax credit, NAR's chief economist Lawrence Yun said:
“The home buyer tax credit brought close to 1 million additional buyers into the market, which is now helping the trade-up market and has significantly improved the inventory situation. This stabilized home prices more quickly and has preserved about $900 billion in home equity; in turn, that is keeping additional households from going underwater and risking foreclosure.”
Watch this video for more context:
RE BarCamp RVA: June 23 at RAR
The Richmond Association of Realtors and VAR are teaming up to bring you RE BarCamp RVA. "RE BarCamp RVA? What the heck is that?" you say?
A BarCamp is a FREE unconference, meaning there is no set agenda of topics before everyone arrives at the site. At the beginning of the event anyone in attendance can “pitch” an idea such as leading a discussion on the use of Twitter for real estate, a discussion on best practices in dealing with a Short Sales, hot mobile applications or using Facebook for real estate. Each idea is written on a post-it note and posted on the wall at the front of the room.
Virginia Realtors to gather for annual convention at the REal Show
The annual convention for Virginia Realtors, The REal Show will be held October 1-3 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Featured speakers will include legendary Washington Redskins quarterback JoeTheismann and Richard Bitner, managing editor of Housing Wire.
The 90th annual convention of the Virginia Association of REALTORS (VAR), offered in cooperation with the Hampton Roads REALTORS Association (HRRA), is expected to draw several hundred attendees from around the state, with Realtors, brokers and specialists coming for education sessions and a large real estate trade expo.
State negotiating to keep tolls low for Midtown Tunnel drivers
State officials are negotiating for lower proposed tolls with Elizabeth River Crossings, a private group that wants to expand the Midtown Tunnel. Officials put the cost of adding a second tube to the Midtown Tunnel, refurbishing the Downtown Tunnel and extending the Martin Luther King Freeway at an estimated cost of $1.9 billion. Transportation officials say the proposed construction would fix two of the region's worst traffic bottlenecks.
The planned estimated base toll for both the Midtown and Downtown tunnels is $2.17 for cars and $6.52 for trucks. State officials are trying to get the tolls lowered -- perhaps to as low as $1.50.
Fairfax County School Board adopts $2.2 billion budget
The Fairfax County School Board passed a $2.2 billion spending plan, $35 million less than the current budget. The plan includes nearly $200 million in budget reductions and cost avoidances, including the elimination of 204.3 positions, nearly half of which are from central offices. Spending per pupil decreased by approximately $300 from last year.
Homeowners benefit from a strong school system, and young families looking to buy often seek out homes in "good" school districts.