The Virginia Association of REALTORS is seeking input from local associations and their members on issues encountered when dealing with homeowners associations.  The VA General Assembly returns for session in January, so we need your help in determining what kind of issues need legislative attention.  Please consider the following questions:

1. Do you have POA’s or HOA’s in your region who are charging more than the law allows for disclosure packets?

2. Are POA’s or HOA’s in your region requiring Realtors® to pay for disclosure packages? Are they requiring that the documents be paid for upfront?

3. Are there POA’s or HOA’s in your region that are doing things or requiring things that you or your Realtors® want brought to our attention?

If you have any issues you’d like to share with FAAR, please email or call Kim McClellan, GAD, at 540-373-7711 or kmcclellan@faarmembers.com

Come visit the Government Affairs Booth at FAAR’s Trade Show next Thursday and receive this water bottle FREE if you’re a Key Investor!  Not sure if you’re a Key Investor?  Want to learn about how to become one?  Come visit the booth and learn more about FAAR RPAC’s Key Investor club.  See you at Trade Show!

to join her for a breakfast at Belmont on September 10, 2010 at 8:30am. The celebration will be honoring women in leadership roles in the community.  Speaker Bill Howell will be the master of ceremonies joined by Susan Allen, former first lady of Virginia and the Honorable Janet Polarek. 

The Host Committee

Cessieand Bill Howell                                                Lisa and Richard Stuart                                              Kelly and Scott Mayausky                                 Geniaand Mark Cole                                      Laura Rudy                                                                       Barbara Decatur                                                                 Ginnie and Jim Branscome                              Kelly and Fitz Johnson                               Tricia and Charles McDaniel                               Becky and Tom Reger                                                     Mona Albertine                                                           Holly Hazard                                                           Christy and Bob Thomas                                          Jackie and Daniel Payne                                             Mary Wynn and Charles McDaniel              Linda Worrell

Invites you to a breakfast in support ofSusan StimpsonStafford County Supervisor, Falmouth DistrictCelebrating Women’s Leadership:Business Owners, Stay at Home Moms , Elected OfficialsHow Women are Impacting our CommunityWith Special GuestsSusan Allen, Former First Lady of VirginiaandThe Honorable Janet PolarekFriday, September 10th at 8:30 a.m.Belmont224 Washington Street, FredericksburgRSVP by September 7thSpecial Thanks to AKA Printing for their SponsorshipPaid for and authorized by Stimpsonfor Supervisor

From left: Kim McClellan, Barbara Jean LeFon, Congressman Rob Wittman, Drew Fristoe, Latana Locke

FAAR members delivered a check to Congressman Rob Wittman today in support of his reelection bid for the U.S. House of Representatives.  Congressman Wittman has been a good friend to REALTORS since being elected to Congress three years ago.  He understands the importance of a long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, protecting homebuyers access to mortgage credit, and supporting the housing industry. 

The general election takes place on Tuesday, November 2nd.  If you are not registered to vote and would like to do so, click here to visit the Virginia State Board of Elections.

On July 27th, President Obama announced through his blog that the Administration will host a Conference on the Future of Housing Finance at the U.S. Treasury Department Building in Washington, DC.  The event will feature experts from the housing industry, consumer and community organizations, industry groups, and other stakeholders.  The group will have an open discussion about housing finance reform.

Earlier this year, the Administration put out a questionnaire for public comment seeking input on reforming the housing finance industry with a special focus on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  The Administration intends to deliver a housing finance reform package to the U.S. Congress by January 2011. 

If you would like to read the original blog post announcing this conference, click here.

With the proliferation of social media sites and the spotlight shining on the latest, greatest shiny object, blogging can be overlooked by real estate agents and brokers as being key to their marketing efforts.

Blogging does seem to be a lot of work. It seems complicated. People have varying opinions about what to post, where to post it, and how often you need to post. Add to that the insecurity of real estate agents who might feel uncomfortable writing regularly and the vast majority of agents miss the opportunity to create a place to establish their brand and reinforce their professional (and personal) identities on line. So the question arises “Do I really need to blog?” and the answer comes back loudly and clearly:

“Yes!”

With the advent of low-cost, simple electronic publishing, people are constantly seeking out and sharing content that they perceive is valuable. As a professional service provider, blogging helps you become a source of valuable, relevant content for the members of your community. Blogging also serves the purpose of creating electronic marketing materials for your business that can be found by search engines when people are looking for information on specific topics, or even when they’re searching for you directly.

Your blog is where you establish a personal résumé online surrounded by content you share. The content doesn’t have to be written posts; it can be video if you’re more comfortable in front of a camera than a keyboard, or photos sent from your phone or camera. Just establishing an “internet base camp” will allow you to build up electronic content that can act as a hub for your other social media interaction. A living electronic library where your photos, brand, and history are the center of the collection of information you either create or curate for your community.

The wonderful thing about blogging is the cumulative effect of small efforts. Even a blog with only 3 posts a week has 156 unique pieces of content with information relevant to your community by the end of the year. Any one of them can be found in a Google search months or years after you post it, increasing your opportunities to be found by consumers who want to do business with you. For that reason alone, even if blogging didn’t increase your professional position in the eyes of consumers, blogging would be an almost mandatory marketing program for REALTORS.

Bill Lublin, CRS, CRB, GRI, CSM

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On Monday, July 19th, REALTORS and builders from across the Fredericksburg area told various local elected officials about the challenges facing the housing industry today and ways that we can work together to make things better.  A total of twelve elected officials from all levels of government were on hand to hear from REALTORS and builders and to discuss hot topics in their jurisdictions and what they are doing to address those issues.

Many comments were made about shrinking budgets and expanding needs and nowhere is that more evident than in the transportation sector.  There was unanimous agreement that the I-95 corridor is a major issue for the growth and economic vitality of the region and that it must be fixed.  Everyone agreed that the VRE expansion to Spotsylvania County was a big step in the right direction for the traffic woes of the area but more needs to be done. 

REALTOR Karin Whitley presented information about the value of the Virginia housing market to the state’s economy and to the health of the Fredericksburg area.  She discussed the need for adequate access to mortgages for homebuyers, a long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, and a stable supply of homes to keep the market affordable.

This morning I attended an interesting forum hosted by Bea Phelps, Executive Vice President of FABA at their headquarters on Lafayette Street to discuss the current Spotsylvania Tax Exempt Credit that was being issued to buyers of new construction, green homes (energy efficient).  Bea had initiated conversations with Supervisor Hap Connors who joined FABA along with County Chairman Gary Skinner and  Brian Scott, Director of Information Services/ Development Services Administrator.

Spotsylvania builders have been using this economic development tool- a 5 year property tax exemption on new “green” residential and commerical construction and renovations as a way to entice buyers to the area, in efforts of boosting home sales and the local economy.  It has been very successful and is being used by large commercial developers so that according to  county officials, it is now having an adverse impact on financial projections.  However, at today’s meeting the builders and a few realtors were able to point out the positive benefits of the exemption, including enhanced property values, taxes and long term revenue generation, job creation and new innovative green industry clusters. The group also emphasized that homes being renovated that exceeded 30% energy efficency are also provided the exemption and cause no ancillary drain on public services.

Because of the projected adverse fiscal impact, the Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on 8/10/10 at 7pm to eliminate this exemption.  Connors and Skinner met with FABA today for alternatives that address board member concerns while maintaining some exemption and other incentives as part of a comprehensive “Green Building Incentive” package which would provide for a win/win.

  After much discussion about workable alternatives, FABA President, Glen Raymond of Goglia Builders will create a smaller FABA task force to develop options for the board to consider. Connors and Skinner will be able to meet with FABA prior to the hearing to best understand the options available.

More specific information on this exemption is available at: http://www.spotsylvania.va.us/departments/cor/realestate/index.cfm?id=18292

While our association supports positive growth from not only Spotsylvania, but Stafford, City of Fredericksburg, King George and Caroline Counties, this is a relative hot topic. If there are other issues of concern in our region that deserve attention, your postings are highly encouraged.

 The only thing more dangerous than this drastic slump in the economy is uneducated Realtors- let us hear from you, so we all know what’s going on!

Those interested in affiliate memberships at FABA can go to www.fabava.com for more information, learning how the builders directly affect our business is critical to our ongoing housing success.

NAR is offering a FREE webinar to REALTOR members on Fannie and Freddie HAFA short sale rules as part of Right Tools, Right Now.  Below is the event description and registration instructions.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac recently released rules for processing short sales and deeds in lieu of foreclosure in accordance with federal short-sale guidelines known as HAFA (Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives), which took effect in April.
The rules from Fannie and Freddie differ in significant ways from one another and from the federal HAFA program. This webinar is intended to familiarize you with the two companies’ rules and help you understand how they differ from each other and from the federal rules.

Presenters:
Robert Kimble, Freddie Mac
Shane Hartzler, Fannie Mae
Scott Thompson, Fidelity National Financial

Hosts:
Jeff Lischer, NAR Government Affairs
Stacey Moncrieff, REALTOR® Magazine

REGISTER