Want to help plan Stafford’s growth?

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Story from the Free-Lance Star reporter, Katie Thisdell. Contact her at kthisdell@freelancestar.com or at 540/735-1975.

Over the next 20 years, Stafford may see 29,000 more homes and apartments. But the question is, where should they go?

County officials are in the process of reevaluating the Urban Development Areas, seven mixed use developments where growth was anticipated but are no longer required by the state. Instead, the Planning Commission is looking at less stringent “targeted growth ares.”

And for another few days, you can share your thoughts on where those are.

A survey will be online through 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, and the Planning Commission will discuss county growth, among other issues, at its June 1 retreat.

The survey includes more background information, maps and questions on how commercial and residential development should be distributed.

Questions can be directed to Michael Zuraf or John Harbin at 540/658-8668.

RAR Hosts Gubernatorial Candidates Cuccinelli and McAuliffe

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Joint Gubernatorial Appearance with Terry McAuliffe & Ken Cuccinelli

June 17, 2013 | 9AM – 11AM at the U of R Jepson Alumni Center
Terry McAuliffe & Ken Cuccinelli
The Richmond Association of REALTORS®, in cooperation with the Virginia Association of REALTORS®, presents an appearance and Q & A session to provide insight into the plans candidates for Virginia’s next Governor have to help our state and its housing market thrive. If you would like to submit questions for the Q & A session to follow the appearance, please email them to egreenfield@rarealtors.com by 5:00p.m. on June 12, 2013.

This event is free to attend, but advance registration is required.

For more information and to register, visit this site:  http://rarealtors.com/news-events/news/gubernatorial-appearance/.

Quantico looking at land use and wants your input

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Stafford, Prince William, and Fauquier Counties are partnering with Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico (collectively named the “JLUS Partners”) to prepare a Joint Land Use Study (JLUS). The JLUS Partners will conduct Public Meetings in May and June to inform the communities about the JLUS process, but most importantly they want to obtain input and feedback from local residents and property owners.

PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR MCB QUANTICO JLUS

Seek Public Input on Community Land Use Issues

Wednesday, May 29, 2013, 6-8 PM
Presentation at 7 PM

Hilldrup Moving & Storage
4022 Jefferson Davis Highway, Stafford, VA 22554

(Take I-95 Exit 148 toward Quantico, turn right on Russell Road, and merge onto
Jefferson Davis Highway/US Rt. 1. Destination will be on left)

Thursday, May 30, 2013, 6-8 PM
Presentation at 7 PM

Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center – Rooms 1101-A and 1101-B
14715 Bristow Road, Manassas, VA 20112

(Take I-95 Exit 152B to merge onto VA-234N/Dumfries Road toward Manassas,
turn left onto Bristow Road and destination will be on the right)

Wednesday, June 12, 2013, 6-8 PM

Presentation at 7 PM

“Old” Cedar Run Rescue Squad Building
3558 Catlett Road, Catlett, VA 20119
(Take I-95 Exit 152B to merge onto VA-234N/Dumfries Road toward Manassas, take the VA-28S ramp
to US-17, merge onto VA-28 S/Nokesville Road, destination will be on the right)

We hope you will attend one of these public meetings. Each meeting will be identical in format so come to the one that is most convenient for you!  Please forward this email announcement and/or the attached newspaper advertisement to your family, friends, and neighbors. Everyone is welcome to attend and the JLUS Partners will benefit from hearing from a wide variety of interests.

For more info, visit: www.staffordcountyva.gov/quanticojlus.

Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® Supports Affordable Housing Awareness Week

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The Central Virginia Housing Coalition (CVHC) hosted Affordable Housing Awareness Week to bring a focus to the necessity of stable, affordable housing for the local community. The week consisted of a roundtable discussion with Virginia Supportive Housing about the value of stable housing for at-risk individuals and culminated with a Free Housing, Credit, and Budget Counseling Fair held at the Goodwill Community Resource Center.

At the event, certified counselors provided free counseling sessions to individuals and families on budgeting, building credit, home purchase, and loss mitigation. Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity also hosted two homeownership orientation sessions. More than 60 individuals took advantage of the free counseling sessions.

Fair attendees were also able to speak with other non-profit agencies including Quin Rivers about additional services. Each attendee was given a goodie bag providing information about home purchase and coupons for free items at Chick-Fil-A and Dairy Queen.

Keystone Improvements Are Coming!

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MRIS Keystone: Entering Listings is About to Get Easier

The new Keystone is designed to dramatically improve the time (and clicks) it takes to enter a listing. With a new look, easier navigation and real time mandatory field alerts, you’ll be able to add more listings in less time! Here’s a quick list of the top enhancements:

  • So Long "Save & Continue" – Instead of having to “Save & Continue" each section, you will be able to use the navigation menu on the left of the screen to move through the sections, all of which will be displayed on one page.
  • Easy to See Notifications – New real time red “alerts” identify the location and number of required fields that are missing or incomplete in the listing. You no longer need to submit to the MLS to check if you’re missing any. You’ll know right away!
  • For Those Who Love to "Tab" – Previously unavailable in Keystone, you will be able to use keyboard functionality, including the use of the "Tab" key and other keyboard "shortcuts" for even faster listing input.
  • Set Your System to Auto-Save – Keystone will now have an auto-save feature that can be set to save in intervals from 1 up to 15 minutes, or turned off completely, if desired so you won’t lose your work.

Visit MRIS.com/KeystoneHelp to access New Keystone training videos, classes, user guides and more.

Don’t forget that the internet browser you use can impact the speed of websites you visit including Keystone and Matrix. If you use an older version of Internet Explorer like IE 7 or 8, your systems may be running slower than you realize. Now, you can go to MRIS.com/Browser to determine what browser you are using and decide if it’s time to upgrade!

DPOR FIXES LICENSE TRANSFER ISSUE

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This just in from VAR CEO Rick Lugg, thanks for a job well done!!!

In early March 2013, the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) issued clarification about its real estate licensee transfer policy that created concern about when a transferring licensee is able to practice at his new firm. In response, VAR has been consistently working with DPOR staff and Virginia Real Estate Board members on a solution that will allow licensees to transfer seamlessly to a new firm.

We are pleased to report that the Real Estate Board took action today that will allow licensees to begin their affiliation with a new firm immediately. The Board approved a streamlined transfer process that allows a licensee to begin work at his new firm on the day the transferring agent and new broker sign and submit a fully completed application to DPOR.

The new transfer application process will require the following:

  • The new broker must affirm that she has checked to make sure the transferring agent’s license is active and has not expired. She can do this by going to DPOR’s License Lookup page (http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/LicenseLookup/) and entering the agent’s name.
  • The new broker must agree to assume supervisory responsibility of the transferring licensee, effective as of the date the new broker signs the fully completed transfer application. The new broker also affirms her belief that the licensee is of good character and competent to practice real estate.
  • The transferring licensee, by signing the transfer application, certifies that he has notified his old (current) firm that he is leaving.

Submission of the application and fee must occur immediately, and the new broker and transferring licensee should ensure the application is fully completed prior to submission to avoid any unnecessary delays in processing. If there are deficiencies in the application, the licensee and broker will be notified and will have ten (10) days to correct the application to avoid possible disciplinary action.

The streamlined transfer application and accompanying guidance document are available on the Real Estate Board web page at http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Real-Estate/.