2015 VAR year-end report

2015

2015 Year in Review

Year-End Report

ENGAGED

ACTIVE

INVOLVED

ENGAGED • ACTIVE

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INVOLVED

10231 Telegraph Road Glen Allen, VA 23059 | General Office Hours: 8:30am – 5pm (804) 264-5033 fax: (804) 262-0497 | E-mail members@VARealtor.com

Deborah A Baisden 2015 President Virginia Association of REALTORS®

Letter from VAR President What an exciting year this has been! VAR, along with members like you, has been hard at work representing our business interests while working to strengthen our REALTOR® community.

In the beginning of 2015, I was still the brand new President of Virginia Association of REALTORS® after my installation during our October 2014 annual convention. I knew that with the dedicated leadership, committed Board of Directors, and our amazing membership, we could make a big difference.

And, we definitely have by concentrating on these important points: • Engaging in advocacy • Empowering and supporting our VAR leaders • Cultivating partnerships and professional growth • Delivering exceptional service • Identifying and mentoring future leaders One of the areas where our focus has impacted Virginia REALTORS® has been through our advocacy. With hard work and team effort, every one of the bills we introduced or supported was passed and signed by Governor Terry McAuliffe.

In our Virginia Leadership Academy, we are setting up our REALTOR® community for a solid future. Not only have our 19 class members from this year grown in their own careers, they have spearheaded a partnership with Homes for Our Troops, a terrific cause that helps U.S. military veterans and their families.

On a personal note, I also had the chance to visit many of our local member associations around Virginia this year. It was extremely gratifying to meet the wonderful REALTORS® who call the Commonwealth home.

Thank you, Deborah, for all of your service to VAR!

Installed during the Virginia Association of REALTORS® annual convention held in Virginia Beach, Deborah Baisden began serving as President in November 2014, following the national convention.

A REALTOR® since 1989, Ms. Baisden is recognized as a top producer in the Hampton Roads area and for her leadership as a past chairwoman of the Hampton Roads REALTORS® Association (2004). She is a distinguished recipient of the REALTOR® Salesperson of the Year award (1999) and the Code of Ethics Award (2005), and has been an honoree of her local association’s Circle of Excellence for 24 consecutive years.

Baisden has engaged at the National level as a member of the NAR Board Jurisdiction Committee since 2010 and as a member of the Presidential Advisory Group on Membership Structure. Her long involvement with VAR has encompassed public policy, governance review, strategic planning, and budget development; she served on the Board of Directors from 2008 to 2011, preceding her commitment to the Leadership Team.

Take a little time to enjoy this special Year-End Report and read more about how VAR is making a difference. And thank you for the opportunity to serve as your 2015 president. It’s been an honor representing you.

Regards,

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2014 RPAC Awards On February 10, 2015, the 2014 RPAC Awards were held at the Omni Richmond Hotel. The ballroom was filled with local association members who were honored for raising more than $713,000, exceeding the goal of $702,000. RPAC dollars help support legislators who are aligned with REALTORS’® business interests and the rights of property owners.

Mary Dykstra, VAR past president and chair of the Virginia Fundraising and Broker Involvement Group (FBI) served as the event’s MC. Deborah Baisden, 2015 VAR president, presented the awards to the recipients.

President Deborah Baisden and attendees from around the Commonwealth participated in the Legislative Advocacy Conference held in February 2015.

Leadership and Board of Directors

Legislative wins for REALTORS®

Every year, the leadership team and Board of Directors devotes their time, energy and extensive knowledge to helping Virginia’s REALTORS® and VAR members.

Working with legislative sponsors, delegates and senators, members, and local associations, VAR was able to announce that all the legislative proposals put forth by the advocacy team during the 2015 session of the Virginia General Assembly passed with overwhelming support.

Deborah A Baisden, GRI President Bill White President-Elect Claire Forcier-Rowe, GRI, ABR, ABRM, CRB, CRS, SRES, SRS Vice President Patricia Sury, GRI, CRB, CRS Treasurer Bradley J. Boland Immediate Past President Terrie Suit CEO Sherry Bailey, GRI Beckwith Bolle Candice Bower, GRI, ABR, CRS Antoinette Brown Peggy Burke Charles Cornwell, ABR, CRS Heather Embrey, GRI, CRS John Finn, GRI J. Kemper Funkhouser Gail Gowin, ABR, CRS George Grundy, GRI Michael Guthrie, GRI Nathan Hughes Matthew Kahn, CRS Linda Kinsman Patricia Kline, GRI Jason Meeks, GRI, CRS Susan Mekenney, GRI, ABR, CRS, GREEN Jay Mitchell, GRI, ABR, CRB, CRS, SRES Thai-Hung Nguyen, ABR, CIPS, CRS Maria Nicolau, GRI, ABR, SRES Forrest Odend’hal Nancy Piland, GRI, CRS Karen Smith, GRI, ABR, CRB, CRS Linda Terry, GRI Dan Vollmer, GRI, ABR, CRS Shanna Wiseman Jon Wolford

“The advocacy process works. Through our due diligence, ongoing education for our members about the issues, and making our positions known to our legislators, we can affect change and create laws,” said Deborah Baisden, the 2015 President of the Virginia Association of REALTORS®.

RPAC makes a difference.

Just look at the numbers!

VAR President Deborah Baisden speaks with Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.

Without your support, RPAC cannot remain a powerful voice on key legislative issues. Your dollars help us make our voice heard.

Defeated a 500% increase We helped defeat a budget amendment that would have increased the deductible that property owners, including YOUR clients, pay to have their leaking underground oil tanks cleaned up and repaired by 500%. The current $500 deductible was proposed to go up to $2,500.

The petroleum tank increase was a budget amendment.

Prison time: 1 to 6 years We added a felony charge to any criminal who lures or entices a REALTOR® to a property with the intent to do harm. The added felony will increase a criminal’s sentence by up to 6 years.

The 1-6 years are the statutory sentencing guidelines.

Save $150 – $500/hr. on attorneys’ fees RPAC continued to refine legislation that allows property managers to represent your clients in General District court without needing an attorney. So, how much would your attorney charge per hour?

Typically, attorney fees range from $150 – $500/hr.

Get Active, VAR’s annual Legislative Advocacy Conference, allows our members to have quality one-on-one time with their elected representatives and influence Virginia housing policy through REALTOR® Day on the Hill.

$12,000 back to consumers Under a new law that VAR drafted, we have made it easier for Virginia consumers who have received a court judgment to collect damages from the Real Estate Transaction Recovery Fund. The average claim is approximately $12,000.

The $12,000 figure is an estimate given to us by the DPOR finance staff on the average claim that comes before the Board.

Wiped out $200 /per sign fines We worked with a state legislator to prevent a proposal creating daily fines of $200 for any sign in any public right of way. How often do you use such signs for your listings? 10 days for 1 sign = $2,000.

The $200 per sign was the language in the proposed bill we were able to stop.

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Future leaders among us The bi-annual Virginia Leadership Academy had a class of 19 strong in 2015. This program is designed to identify and mentor new leaders to serve in local, state and national REALTOR® associations.

The VLA class was selected through a competitive process based on diverse criteria prioritizing community engagement and REALTOR® achievement. VAR encourages them to pursue leadership roles in advocacy and professional development for the real estate industry.

Congratulations to the graduates of the 2015 class:

Tom Davis III, former member of the House of Representatives speaks at Get Active, VAR’s annual Legislative Advocacy Conference.

Making a difference in the lives of Virginia veterans The Virginia Leadership Academy, class of 2015, chose to support Homes For Our Troops as their class project. This national organization helps build and provide mortgage-free homes for disabled post-9/11 veterans, including those in Virginia.

In addition to supporting ongoing builds in Virginia through volunteer work, the class raised more than $60,000 towards this year’s partnership, and to create a legacy of giving to support homes for Virginia heroes.

Miguel Avila, Long & Foster Real Estate Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS® Karen Hall, At Home Real Estate Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS® Navona Hart, Real Living Cornerstone South Central Association of REALTORS® Cindy Hawks, Keller Williams Realty Hampton Roads REALTORS® Association Rhonda Howlett, Virginia Capital Realty Richmond Association of REALTORS® Philip Innes, RE/MAX Commonwealth Richmond Association of REALTORS® Ernie Lightfoot, VSE Capital Realty Blue Ridge Association of REALTORS® Theo Lodge, Real Living at Home Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS® Lisa Lowery,Long & Foster Real Estate Williamsburg Area Association of REALTORS® Marina Marchesanim, Piedmont Fine Properties Greater Piedmont Area Association of REALTORS® Sherry Maser, Howard Hanna William E. Wood Hampton Roads REALTORS® Association Anthony McGhee, Assist 2 Sell First Rate Realty Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® James Nolen, RE/MAX 8 New River Valley Association of REALTORS® Steve Overgard, RE/MAX Commonwealth Southside Virginia Association of REALTORS® Fatima Pereira-Shepherd, Long & Foster Real Estate Prince William Association of REALTORS® Sarah Santa Ana, Move4Free Realty Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS®

President and CEO of Homes for Our Troops, Major General Timothy McHale with Virginia Leadership Academy class members.

Rebuilding lives with new homes Homes for Our Troops is a national non-profit organization that builds mortgage-free, specially-adapted homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans.

These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our veterans sacrificed while defending our country, and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and rebuilding their lives. Currently, the group has built over 190 homes and has 52 projects in progress.

Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents of every dollar donated to Homes for Our Troops has gone directly to the program services for Veterans. HFOT builds homes where the Veteran chooses to live, and continues its relationship with the Veterans after home delivery to assist them with rebuilding their lives.

The Virginia Leadership Academy cultivates leaders from the thousands of REALTORS® in Virginia, sharpening their skills and developing their potential. Graduates put their skills to use in their communities and professional lives.

Rebecca Straley, Fathom Realty Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® Chip Taylor, Century 21 Battlefield Real Estate Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® Will Wiard, Real Living at Home Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS®

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All local associations complete Core Standards

Legal & Regulatory Update New Regulations

One of the most exciting achievements for VAR and our local associations in 2015 was the completion of the new service and organizational criteria set by the National Association of REALTORS®.

Local, state, and territorial associations of REALTORS®, as a condition of membership in NAR, must meet its Organizational Alignment Core Standards.

Every local Virginia association and VAR completed the criteria well ahead of the June 30, 2015 deadline.

Raising the bar

‘‘

Take advantage of all the training and networking opportunities afforded to you as a member of the Association.

There is a wealth of knowledge and information that can be shared.

‘‘

— Deborah Baisden, 2015 President Virginia Association of REALTORS®

The standards were approved by NAR’s Board of Directors in May 2014 and replace a previous set of organizational standards. The purpose of the new standards: to raise the bar for REALTOR® associations and ensure high-quality service for REALTORS®.

These standards consist of 6 components: Code of Ethics Advocacy Consumer outreach Unification Technology Financial solvency Part of these standards is the need for an up-to-date strategic plan. To help associations meet that particular standard, NAR trained facilitators and provided grants for associations to complete the strategic planning process.

VAR also has a menu of services available to help local associations meet the annual criteria.

Governor Terry McAuliffe signed the new Virginia Real Estate Board Regulations on August 3, 2015.

These regulations go into effect on November 1, 2015. VAR provided a number of member resources including a series of messages, videos, sales meeting materials, articles, and a new training course.

Ombudsman Training Starting January 1, 2016, the National Association of REALTORS® will require local and state associations of REALTORS® to offer ombudsman services to members, clients, and consumers. VAR legal staff assisted the Professional Standards Education Subcommittee in the development and offering of an ombudsman training program beginning in the summer of 2015 and continuing through 2016.

Legal Hotline VAR Legal Hotline is a free, members-only benefit for brokers. Callers can receive answers to questions about Virginia real estate law and timely information on legal and regulatory issues. The legal team staffs the legal hotline and responds to approximately 30-35 calls per week.

Continuing Education Courses VAR legal staff presents more than 16 CE courses to local associations averaging five per month. The available class listing includes: • Advertising: Promoting Your Business the Right Way • Agency: A Complicated Relationship • Broker Pitfalls and Resources • Commissions: Getting Paid the Right Way • Common Legal Hotline Questions & Answers • Common Legal Questions & Answers • Critical Contract Issues • Dilemmas Facing Real Estate Licensees • Disclosure Shall Set You Free • Earnest Money Deposits: Navigating Dangerous Waters • Good Intentions but Risky Results: Balancing Client Interests and Legal and Ethical Obligations • Real Estate Laws You Need to Know • Scams: If it Sounds Too Good To Be True…

• Sneaky Regs. — Little Known but Important Regulations • VAR’s Purchase Contract: The Ins & Outs • VAR’s Suggested Office Policy Manual

Professional Standards Road Show VAR sponsors local training for boards of directors; professional standards and grievance committee members; certified ethics trainers; executive officers and staff; and mediators to learn the concepts and management of professional standards. The Road Show program in partnership with local associations were held in: • Abingdon • Ashburn • Charlottesville • Christiansburg • Colonial Heights • Danville/Martinsville • Fredericksburg • Glen Allen • Hampton • Harrisonburg • Herndon • Lynchburg • Williamsburg

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New program and curriculum from GRI announced The Virginia Association of REALTORS® will launch a new Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI) designation program in 2016. The past year has been busy with development.

At the beginning of 2015, the Professional Development Committee began the process of improving, developing, upgrading, and refining the curriculum to conform to new standards established by NAR.

REALTORS® with the GRI designation have in-depth training in legal and regulatory issues, technology, professional standards, and the sales process.

To meet NAR’s new standards, VAR has updated its GRI program to offer 10 classes — each six hours long — totaling 60 hours of coursework for the completion of the designation. VAR will continue to offer the program in partnership with our local associations.

We are working with our cosponsors to develop the 2016 calendar of offerings and will notify members when that becomes available.

To earn the GRI designation in Virginia, a REALTOR® must: • Complete the required coursework within five years • Receive a passing grade for each module examination and not miss more than 15 minutes of any one-module session • Hold membership in the National Association of REALTORS® • Complete the GRI designation application and pay the one-time application fee

Brokers gather for special sessions The focus was on brokers at VAR’s Broker Day, held May 6, 2015 at the Boar’s Head Inn, Charlottesville. Christine A. Singhass of Fredericksburg acted as the mistress of ceremony for the event.

Rich Casto, a REALTOR® and former broker led a morning session on his “Seven Steps of Accountability” system. In the afternoon, Rich provided insight on how brokers can motivate and increase their agents’ productivity.

Additionally, the Virginia Department of Professional & Occupational Regulation (DPOR) shared how the DPOR investigation process works.

VAR’s Deputy Counsel, Blake Hegeman also presented the Legal Hotline’s most frequently asked questions.

The room was filled with brokers making connections and listening to inspiring speakers at Brokers Day 2015.

Commercial Day a big success On March 24, 2015, VAR held its first Commercial Day aimed at bringing commercial REALTORS® together for networking and education. More than 60 commercial REALTORS®, business leaders and state government officials attended.

Speakers included Martin Briley, the president and CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), and Chip Dicks, of FutureLaw, a former member of the Virginia General Assembly.

Briley provided a clear picture of the benefits the Commonwealth offers to companies across the country, and around the world, to set up businesses in Virginia. Dicks reviewed new legislation of interest to the audience — about variances, zoning, and property management and explained the details of changes to the laws.

A deal making presentation offered REALTORS® the opportunity to showcase some of their listings. Properties from all over the state were featured.

Commercial real estate professionals met at the first Commercial Day hosted by VAR.

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