CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Transcription
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
New Rive r Valle y As socia tion of RE ALTORS® 125 Ponderosa Dr. Christiansburg, VA 24073 Phone: 540.381.9354 www .nrvar.com www.facebook.com/nrvrealtors November 2014 Valley In this issue: 2 New Board Members 3 Call For Action Voice 4 News from VAR 7 Housing Stock Age 10 Installation Flyer 5 News from NAR 8 Hoarding Infographic 11 RPAC Contributors 6 October in Review 9 Conference & Expo 12 Affiliate List November —A Word from Our CEO— The election for the 2015 Board of Directors was a great success! Congratulations to our new Vice President, Frank Kregloe, as well as our new directors, Katrina Compton and Rob Jones. Please join us at our Installation Breakfast scheduled for Wednesday, December 10th at The Farmhouse Restaurant in Christiansburg, Virginia. Special guest and friend to NRVAR, Mr. Kit Hale, will be installing our new 2015 Board members as well as our new President, Amy Hudson. Several of our local members travelled to NAR’s REALTOR® Conference and Expo in New Orleans earlier this month. It was an informative event that focused specifically on where the REALTOR® family as a whole will be headed in the future and how our members can continue to be successful in an ever changing marketplace. The recent acquisition of Move, Inc., owner of Realtor.com, by NewsCorp was discussed in detail along with other pressing issues such as data syndication, finance reform, and the direction of the overall housing market as we transition into 2015; see comments on page 9 from our own Tina Merrit and Jeremy Hart. On the local level, I am excited to say that there will be new changes coming to the Association in 2015. One of these changes will be the introduction of ListHub as a member benefit! Our Association will “go live” with ListHub in January and will host a training session for both brokers and agents on January 21st. Also, the Association will be hosting an “RPR Launch” training session on January 14th. More information on these events and others will follow soon. In closing, the Association wishes you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! All the best, William Haithcock CALENDAR OF EVENTS Dec. 10—Installation Breakfast, 8:30 AM—10:00 AM, The Farmhouse Restaurant Jan. 5—Lunch & Learn, Noon—1:00 PM, NRVAR Classroom Jan. 14—RPR Launch & Training, NRVAR Classroom Jan. 21—ListHub Training, NRVAR Classoom Jan. 30—Annual REALTOR® Celebration, The Inn at Virginia Tech HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Valley Voice Page 2 Congratulations, New 2015 Board Members! Goals From the New Vice President I would like to again thank my peers for voting for me to serve as Vice President of the New River Valley Association of REALTORS®. I look forward to serving our membership and working with other members of the Leadership Team. I encourage each of you to contact me with any needs or concerns that you would like to see the Association address in the future. There are a couple of goals I hope to achieve in working with my counterparts on the Board: Frank Kregloe 2015 Board of Directors Vice President 1. I would like to make it easier for members to be involved with the Board and our various committees, knowing that your time is valuable and always appreciated. 2. I would like to add safety courses through the Association to keep us all safer on-and-off the job. Looking forward to serving in 2015, Frank Kregloe New 2015 Directors Rob Jones 2015 Board of Directors Director Katrina Compton 2015 Board of Directors Director Valley Voice Page 3 Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Tax Relief - House From the REALTOR® Action Center Urge Congress to Extend Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Tax Relief! Congress has begun its “Lame Duck” session with a big list of unfinished business items. Number one on that list for REALTORS® is an extension of “The Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act.” The income tax exemption on mortgage debt forgiven in a short sale or a workout for principal residences expired at the end of 2013. Without immediate action by Congress, distressed homeowners will have to pay tax on “phantom income” from forgiven debt. Many families have decided not to go through with short sales or seek workouts because of the uncertainty over the status of the waiver. This is not only unfair but harms families, neighborhoods and communities. Please urge your representative and senators in Congress to extend this tax relief now. Despite significant market recovery, more than 5 million are still “under water.” Nearly 1 million households are seriously delinquent on their mortgages or in foreclosure. Mortgage debt forgiveness tax relief is vital for these families. Please visit www.realtoractioncenter.com/realtor-party/act/calls-for-action.html and click on “Urge the House and the Senate to Extend Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Tax Relief” under “Current CFAs” to view all information and fill out the form to take action! As part of the Member Value Plus Program, members who respond to this Call to Action from November 16 to November 30 will earn a FREE copy the 2014 NAR Profile of Homebuyers and Sellers-Download. Go to mvp.realtor.org/ for further details about the program. Source: https://realtorparty.realtoractioncenter.com/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3381&utm_source=rac&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=taxRelief2014 Valley Voice Page 4 News from the Virginia Association of REALTORS® The VAR recently released the 2014 Third Quarter Virginia Home Sales Report, which contains an analysis by the Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech. The report found that though sales continued to decrease in September moving from Q2 to Q3, the decrease in sales was more moderate than the decrease from Q2 to Q3 in the previous three years. The New River Valley is located in the area the report refers to as “Roanoke/Lynchburg/ Blacksburg.” This area was found to have about a 3.3% decrease in sales, a greater decrease than this quarter last year; however, the area saw a slight increase (2.5%) from the median sales prices of last year. Despite the overall decline in home sales, historic trends suggest that the Virginia real estate market may be more active in the fourth quarter of 2014 than it has been in the previous three years. Spotlight on our REALTOR® Endorsed Representative: Joseph Yost Much of the New River Valley is located in Virginia’s District 12, which is represented by Delegate Joseph Yost in the Virginia House of Delegates. Yost was born in Giles County, and attended Radford University where he earned a Bachelors of Science and a Masters of Arts in Criminal Justice, both in just four years. Yost was first elected in 2011, and is currently the youngest member of the General Assembly at only age 26. He serves on the Education and Health, Welfare, & Institutions and Privileges & Elections Committees. His most recent cause has been advocating for the improvement of safety at the intersection of North Main Street and Route 460 in Blacksburg. He informed his constituents by email in early November that after contacting the Commissioner of VDOT, Charles Kilpatrick, work began on a new safety improvement at the intersection in the form of a flashing light that warns drivers on 460 when vehicles from North Main Street are preparing to enter the highway. Yost has received the REALTOR® endorsement from the VAR, who interviewed Yost and asked what the endorsement means to him. Yost responded, “I am honored to receive the endorsement from the Virginia Association of REALTORS®. Their efforts to protect the interests of Virginia property owners and the housing industry are important to Virginia’s economy and the quality of life of citizens in the 12th District and across Virginia.” Yost went on to highlight the importance of the real estate industry on the economy of his region by saying, “Virginia REALTORS® work every day to assist people in achieving their goal of home ownership. They are an integral part of the economy in the 12th District and in Virginia. I look forward to continuing to work with the Virginia Association of REALTORS® and the residents of the 12th District to support policies to create a climate for sustained housing recovery.” information from: http://www.realtorschoose.com/candidates/joseph-yost/ VAR Calendar of Events: November 2014 THE GOOGLE UNIVERSE BOOT CAMP with G. William James Where: Alpha College of Real Estate, 638 Independence Parkway, Suite 100, Chesapeake, VA 23320 When: December 4, 2014 - 9:00am - 4:00pm A full-day, 6-hour get-it-done workshop. Bring your laptop, tablet, and/or smartphone. Learn about Gmail, Google Voice, Google Documents, Google Calendar, Google Picasa, YouTube, Google+, plus Google Analytics, Mobile Apps, and more. Approved for 6 hours of real estate related credit for continuing education. Registration Fee: $79 through November 19; $99 afterward. VIRGINIA CRS CHAPTER INSTALLATION LUNCHEON: Join the Virginia CRS Chapter at the Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel & Conference Center in Glen Allen from 11:30 AM—1:30 PM on Dec. 9th for our CRS General Membership Meeting and Installation of 2015 Officers! Network with Virginia CRS Chapter members who have attained the credentials and value the benefits that have helped them build a successful real estate practice. We will be installing the Virginia CRS Chapter Leadership Team! Come and meet who will lead us in 2015! Visit www.varealtor.com/calendar for more information on VAR events Valley Voice Page 5 News from the National Association of REALTORS® “Rising rents and repaying The NAR released the 2014 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers Report on November 3, student loan debt makes 2014. This report has been compiled by the NAR since 1981, at which time the percentage of home buyers that were first-time buyers was around 40%. In this year’s report, the persaving for a down payment centage of buyers that were first-time home buyers was 33%, the lowest it’s been since 1987 more difficult” (30%). NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun explains the low amount of first-time home buyers, saying “Rising rents and repaying student loan debt makes saving for a down payment more difficult, especially for young adults who’ve experienced limited job prospects and flat wage growth since entering the workforce.” The survey found that the typical first-time buyer spent around $169,000 on their purchase, and 47% of these first-time buyers answered that the mortgage application and approval process was much more or somewhat more difficult that expected. First-time buyers seemed to have concerns about down payments, with 23% answering that it was difficult to save for a down payment. Many first-time buyers had to utilize outside resources for down payments, with 26% using a gift from a relative or friend for a down payment, and 10% selling stocks or bonds, or tapping into a 401(k) fund for their down payment. Thirty-five percent of first-time buyers, down from 39% last year, financed their purchase with a low-down payments Federal Housing Administration-backed mortgage. “FHA premiums are too high in relation to default rates and have likely dissuaded some prospective first-time buyers from entering the market,” says Yun. “To put it in perspective, 56% of first-time buyers used a FHA loan in 2010. The current high mortgage insurance added to their monthly payment is likely causing some young adults to forgo taking out a loan.” REALTOR® Fact of the Month When the REALTORS® Conference & Expo was in San Francisco in 1922, some took the "REALTOR® Special" train from Chicago. Too bad it wasn’t still around and heading to New Orleans this year! Good News for College Towns Article from REALTOR® Mag College is paying off for housing markets. Colleges and universities are having a strong effect on housing across the country, with metros that have heavy university influence outperforming national rates in home price trends, according to Clear Capital's latest Home Data Index Market Report. Clear Capital finds in a sample of 10 metros that each have a university presence, average price growth has been 32% since 2004. "College towns are just another example of how real estate trends are impacted by local market conditions," says Alex Villacorta, Vice President of research and analytics at Clear Capital. "It's clear a significant portion of loan dollars are going toward student housing costs, thereby creating a critical demand surge. Healthy student populations activate a positive feedback loop where housing fuels local economies and jobs, which increase the overall confidence and demand in these towns. “ NAR November Member Offers November 16 to 30, 2014 YOUR ACTION: Respond to the Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Tax Relief Call to Action YOUR REWARD: 2014 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers-Download Within 48 hours of form submission you will be sent an email to confirm that we have received your submission. You will receive a coupon code to order your 2014 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers-Download from the online store. You will have until December 31, 2014 to order your product before the coupon code expires. Value $19.95 Details: The Call for Action urges REALTORS to call on their representative and senators in Congress to extend this tax relief now. Only participants between November 16 and November 30, 2014 will be eligible for this offer. Only U.S. members of the National Association of REALTORS® are eligible to receive this offer. Must have a valid NRDS ID number and e-mail address to register. Go to mvp.realtor.org/ to view all details. Valley Voice Page 6 Looking Back: October in Review CE Class and New Member Orientation with Kemper Funkhouser Sponsored by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Coldwell Banker Townside Luncheon and Raffle to benefit the United Way of Montgomery, Radford and Floyd. Long & Foster 2nd Annual Chili Cook-Off to benefit the United Way of Montgomery, Radford and Floyd. They raised a total of $3,024 for the cause! CE Class with John Dickinson Halloween Photo Contest Winners Congrats, Katie and Chris! Annual Meeting and Board of Directors Election How Old Are They Now? See the infographic below about the ages of U.S. housing stock. Never Forget Your Safety September may be REALTOR® Safety Month, but it’s important that REALTORS® keep safety top of mind every day. In addition to a training presentation, helpful tips, articles, videos and webinars, NAR has updated www.realtor.org/Safety with Resources for REALTORS®, which provides information on safety smart phone apps, safety products and a growing list of safety experts. The REALTOR® Safety Program reminds members to know about the potential dangers they face every day, take precautions and be prepared to avoid risky situations whenever possible. Hoarding Disorder: What Should You Know as a REALTOR®? What Is Hoarding Disorder? Hoarding disorder was added to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as its own distinctive mental disorder in May 2013. Hoarding disorder is characterized by individuals excessively saving items that others would likely view as worthless. These individuals have chronic difficulty parting with possessions, often viewing them as something they will need in the future or something with sentimental value, which often leads to clutter that disrupts their ability to use living spaces for their intended purpose. Hoarding disorder affects about 2-5% of the population, which is between about 6 and 15 million people. This means as many as 1 in 20 people could be affected by hoarding disorder, leading to substantial amount of distress and disability for those individuals. Common Misconceptions about Hoarding Disorder MYTH: People who hoard don’t mind clutter and dirt. TRUTH: Most people with hoarding disorder must develop the ability to mentally block out the mess because they are so bothered by it. These individuals are actually often very ashamed of the state of their homes, which is why relationships with friends and family can sometimes be difficult. MYTH: A weekend “cleanout” is the best way to address hoarding. TRUTH: For many people, a forced or too-fast cleanout is just as traumatizing as involuntary surgery. Hoarding is a coping mechanism, and it shouldn't be stripped away before healthier ways of coping are established. It takes time, often months or even years, to help a person with hoarding disorder the right way. MYTH: People who hoard are severely mentally ill. TRUTH: Not all of them, and probably not even the majority. Many people with hoarding disorder maintain steady jobs and are able to keep up with other responsibilities. Often, people who hoard have had a traumatic experience or survived a period of terrifying instability, and they need a therapist’s help to process those experiences. However, the risk of re-traumatizing the person is very high when well-meaning “helpers” believe these and other myths about hoarding. Working with Clients Who Have Hoarding Disorder The most important thing to remember when working with clients who have hoarding disorder is to enter into a dialogue, and maintain an interactive process with the client. If you are working as a selling agent for a client with hoarding disorder, never try to create impossible demands. Remember that you are working with a disabled person, and demanding that someone with hoarding disorder clean out their entire house in a day would be like asking someone in a wheelchair to walk up a flight of stairs. It can cause pain and distress, and will likely not get you the result you’re looking for. Instead, enter into a dialogue with your client and create attainable goals based on the severity of their disorder. You may need to seek help from professional organizers or social workers to create a plan for getting the home ready to sell that will not severely distress your client. Do not forget to LISTEN to your client. Let them know that you understand the process is difficult for them and you’re there to help them get through it. Remember that those with hoarding disorder are often on bad terms with family and friends, and you may be their only support for the very stressful process of moving. Sources: http://www.psychiatry.org/hoarding-disorder, http://napomichigan.blogspot.com/2011/08/top-5-hoarding-myths-and-truths.html, http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/money/2014/10/25/selling-homes-hoarders-easy-task/17838967/ Valley Voice Page 9 REALTORS® Conference & Expo The NAR REALTORS® Conference & Expo was held from Nov. 7-10th in New Orleans this year. The Conference included education opportunities, exhibitors, and entertainment. If you were unable to attend, have a look below at some words from NRVAR attendees. After reading about the great experience everyone had, you may consider going to San Diego for next year’s event! Comments From NRVAR Attendees Jeremy Hart “I really enjoyed attending the NAR Conference in New Orleans - being surrounded by so many REALTORS® from around the world, set against the backdrop of a city literally rebuilding, was exciting. This was the first time I'd taken advantage of the opportunity to go, and it was well worth the effort. As I've served on the Data Strategies Committee, I really enjoyed hearing perspectives from agents in other states, and it's exciting to see our work moving forward. Additionally, having the chance to sit on sessions taught by some amazing, active REALTORS® was really pretty cool, and the takeaways from those sessions were fantastic. The conversations in the hallways, and in the French Quarter, with agents from literally around the world was, again, just incredible. Make sure you find a way to fit next year's conference, to be held in San Diego, into your schedule! Tina Merritt “Hello, NRVAR! Having recently returned from the NAR Conference, I was asked to share some updates and news you may find helpful and/or interesting. I presently serve on the Social Media Advisory Board; we advise NAR's Communications Committee with regard to online communications. First, we were introduced to T.J. Doyle, the new Director of Social Media at NAR. If you participate in any of NAR’s Facebook pages, you will probably come to know T.J. NAR has a members-only Facebook page which is very active and has some great discussions. If you have not yet joined, I recommend doing so. You will need your NRDS# when you ask to be added to the group. As you probably know, Move, who operates Realtor.com, has been purchased by NewsCorp. Expect to see lots of changes to Realtor.com in 2015. If you have any questions or problems, please let me know and I will try to help you or guide you to someone who can. The agent profiles on Realtor.com have been revamped. You can update your profile by going to: realtor.com/profile and logging in. Lastly, the “Everyone Social” initiative from Realtor.com provides relevant content you can share, as often as you choose. To get more information, simply email: social@move.com and ask to be signed up. Repurposed Apps is a website from the Center for Realtor® Technology for members to recommend and share apps that they use in their daily business. All of the items I have mentioned are free. They cover both iOS and Android apps and take care of answering that question we all have, ‘I wonder if there’s an app that does...’. Again, a free service. Go to: www.repurposedapps.com to sign up.” NRVAR 2015 Installation Breakfast Wednesday, December 10th, 8:30-10:00 AM The Farmhouse Restaurant, Christiansburg REALTOR® / Affiliate Members FREE* Non-members $10 Reservation / Cancellation Deadline: Friday, December 5th Register Online: www.nrvar.com, Internet Member Services E-mail: mls@nrvar.com Phone: 540.381.9354 *Please Note: $20 charged if reservations are made and not kept, cancelled after the deadline, or made after the deadline. United Way of Montgomery, Radford & Floyd needs your help! Please bring several or more items to the breakfast to help provide a nice holiday meal to needy families in our local area! Cash donations will also be gratefully accepted. Food suggestions: Gift cards - frozen turkeys Boxed macaroni & cheese Instant mashed potatoes Cooking oil French’s fried onions Canned hams Sugar Stuffing mix Pie pans Gravy 111 W Main Street, Christiansburg, VA 540.381.2066 info@unitedwaynrv.org www.unitedwaynrv.org Bisquick Flour Marshmallows Foil roasting pans Canned vegetables Corn muffin mix Pie crust mix Rice Pie filling Mushroom soup Yams Pudding mix Jell-O Pumpkin Milk 2014 RPAC Contributors Together we can reach our RPAC goal! Invest in RPAC today! RPAC Fair Share: Principal Brokers/Appraisers—$99.00 Associate Brokers—$65.00 REALTOR® Members—$35.00 Golden R $5000+ Charles Burnette Sterling R $1000+ Louise Baker Jeannette Boyd Beth Dalton Amy Hudson Tina Merritt James Nolen NRVAR $250+ Capitol Insider Jeremy Hart Donna Travis Phillip Russell Jeanne Stosser Joe Straub Susan Stroup Richard Varney James Wagoner Scott Ware Associate Broker Fair Share $65+ Diane Boon Dee DeHart Wayne Elliott C.R. Gardner Jean Keith Tom Miller Trula Tuck $99+ Club/Broker Fair Share Agent Fair Share $35+ Marshall Anderson Rachel Anker-Johnson Dennis Bane Don Barker David Branch Tommy Clapp Ed Cox Scooter Darnall Booie DeHart Connie Dodson Susan Erickson Judy Fithian Ed Gallimore Bill Gearhart Darin Greear Ben Harris Matt Hicks Leslie Jester Ron Kindrick Frank Kregloe Phillip Morris Nancy Page Doug Phillips Bryan Rice Donna Akers Donita Anderson Anne Collins Albimino Bernadette Alfonso Tiffany Armes Steve Ayers Jessica Benson-Taylor Laura Berry Chloe Bishop Daniel Bishop Reggie Britts Joel Burchett Sam Burnette Charlotte Chan Judy Chang Walters Barry Collier Pat Collins Karen Cox Barbara Cumbee Gary Douglas Cliff Dowdy Mike Eggleston Roxanne Elliott David Epperley Margaret Galecki Joyce Graham Sandy Grant Rolfe Grubb Rebecca Hale Mary John Hall Aaron Harris Adam Harrison Maggie Hicks Anne Hite Rachel Hogan William Isenhour John Johnson Brian Juanarena Robert Kincaid Stephen Kitchen David Lane Carol Lidgard Angela Lieb Susanna Lilly Bill Linkenhoker David Mann Nancy Massey Elaine McKaughan Rita McKinster Aloma Meador Rhonda Melton Zac Milton Katie Monroe Priscilla Morris Patty Mostaghimi Heather Nipper Mike Noren Joy Nosenzo Tom O’Neill Mihwan Park David Phillips Michael Poldiak Pam Powell Adams Jeffrey Price Derek Reynolds Benita Rice Howard Sadler Angie Simpkins George Smith Rhonda Snider Desi Sowers Jennifer Sowers Karen St. Clair-Nippert Sheila Stump Harry Surratt Stella Wheeling Chris Wilson Carrie Woodring Tom Woods Doug Wright Sheila Zellers Gerald Zirk Participation up to $35 Linda Carter Chandler Carrie Cassady Debra Chase Terry McCraw Joan Mitchell Kenneth Parsons Hank Schneider John Skelton Since 1969, the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) has promoted the election of pro-REALTOR® candidates across the United States. The purpose of RPAC is clear: REALTORS®raise and spend money to elect candidates who understand and support their interests. The money to accomplish this comes from voluntary contributions made by REALTORS®. These are not members’ dues; this is money given freely by REALTORS® in recognition of how important campaign fundraising is to the political process. RPAC doesn’t buy votes. RPAC enables REALTORS® to support candidates that support the issues that are important to their profession and livelihood. 2014 Affiliate Members Platinum Members - $2,000 Bronze Sponsors - $250 ProTechs Home Inspections Alcova Mortgage Advanta Clean of Southwest Virginia Radon Safe First Bank & Trust Company Advantage Title Insurance Agency, Inc. SAS Builders, Inc. Shelor Motor Mile Agricultural Economics, Virginia Tech ServiceMaster of Blacksburg Wells Fargo Home Mortgage ALL Pest Control Sean Shannon Photography All Seasons Pest Control, Inc. Squeaky’s Laser Wash Gold Sponsors - $1,000 Appalachian Inspections, Inc. Stage 2 Smile, LLC Atlantic Bay Brown Insurance Stateson Homes Freedom First Credit Union Bug Man Exterminating, Inc. SunTrust Mortgage Hometown Mortgage Clinton’s Transfer & Storage Superior Exterminating Co., Inc. Patrick K. Moore, P.C. CMG Leasing The Real Estate Book of Blacksburg & Spicer Law Firm, P.C. Community Housing Partners Southwest Virginia Moving & Storage Dunmar Moving/Allied Van Lines TownBank Mortgage Union Mortgage Group Embrace Home Loans, Inc. Transitions Home Staging & Redesign Eric Johnsen State Farm Turman State Farm Insurance Foxridge/Hethwood Apartments Valley Settlement Services Gay & Neel, Incorporated VHDA Henderson Roofing Whitescarver Photography, LLC Highlander Construction & WoodsEdge Silver Sponsors - $500 BB&T Law Office of Diane L. Bibb Pillar to Post Development The Roanoke Times Home Place Magazine Farm Credit of the Virginias National Property Inspections Quality Pro Home Inspections The Shaheen Firm, P.C. The New River Valley Inspections, Inc. Legacy Builders NRV, Inc. Member One Federal Credit Union Mid-States Title of SWVA National Bank Premier Transfer & Storage, Inc. For a comprehensive contact list, including address, phone numbers, and emails, please contact the Association Office. THANKS FOR READING! Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/nrvrealtors Member input is essential to the success of the NRVAR! If you have any comments or suggestions for the Association, please send them to Molly Oudekerk at molly@nrvar.com