DAAR - Education - June 2009 Archives

June 26, 2009 comment now

The National Association of Realtors recently reported that 40% of all Realtors have been involved in the sale of a distressed property over the past year. Over the past several months distressed sales have accounted between 35 and 50 percent of all existing home sales nationally. The Issue- Realtors skirting, expoiting and defying the Code of Ethics and MLS rules and banks' actions or inactions causing Realtors to be in violation of the Realtor Code of Ethics. Local, State and National Associations of Realtors are actively working on this issue.

In the meantime, Realtors should be talking with their brokers about how to solve this issue and if needed contact the VAR Legal Hotline if you don't know how to handle a certain situation. Also, Special Counsel Lem Marshall has a great video "Ethical Considerations in Short Sales" that is worth the time to watch. - Stay Tuned for More!

Still More News About Criminal Background Checks

June 25, 2009 1 comment

After an inquiry by Schaefer Oglesby, Past Chair & Member of the Virginia Real Estate Board to PSI about the lenghly time frame for criminal background checks as stated in the PSI bulletin, PSI contacted the State Police and now has revised their information bulletin.The timeframe for criminal background checks is now Up to Two Weeks instead of the previous Ten to Twelve weeks as originally published. Now that's great news!

Important Announcement about Criminal Background Checks

June 19, 2009 comment now

The following information has been provided to us from PSI Exams about the new criminal background checks for initial licensure in Virginia;

Effective July 1, 2009 fingerprinting will be mandatory. Before submitting an application for a Virginia real estate license, each applicant must submit a set of fingerprints to the Virginia Central Criminal Records Exchange for the purpose of conducting a state and national fingerprint-based criminal history record.

DAAR Members Graduate from Leadership Loudoun Class of 2009

June 18, 2009 comment now

DAAR is pleased to recognize REALTOR® members who graduated from the 2009 Leadership Loudoun Program, a nine-month leadership development program which engages leaders to improve their knowledge of the community, to explore challenges and issues, and to increase their effectiveness as leaders by becoming agents of positive change. Jackie Hagenston, Long and Foster's Team Works in Sterling, and Jay Thomas, Keller Williams, Leesburg graduated along with twenty-seven other leaders from the area.

Don't Miss this great Opportunity to obtain any or all of these Professional Designations On-Line!

June 18, 2009 1 comment

Until midnight on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 you can take any or all five of Realty U's nationally recognized online designation courses for HALF OFF!

Accredited Home-Staging Specialist (AHS),
Accredited Luxury Home Specialist (ALHS),
Certified Neighborhood Specialist (CNS),
Certified Negotiations Expert (CNE),
Certified Short Sale Professional (CSP)

Plus check out these bonuses....

Revised Residential Property Disclosure Statement Form Effective July 1st, 2009

June 11, 2009 comment now

In 2009, the General Assembly amended the Residential Property Disclosure Act (the Act) in HB 1856 during its 2009 session. The revision to the Act required that the Virginia Real Estate Board revise the Residential Property Disclosure Statement Form to include information on stormwater detention facilities. Effective July 1st, 2009, agents must use the revised form. For more information, visit the Department of Professional Occupation and Regulation.

Criminal Background Checks Required for New Licensees

June 5, 2009 comment now

Effective July 1, 2009, the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation will obtain criminal history record information on all applicants for initial real estate licensure per legislation (HB2541) approved during the 20009 General Assembly session. On renewal license forms, licensees will be required to affirm they have no criminal convictions that have not alrealdy been reported to the Virginia Real Estate Board. DPOR will not automatically run background checks on renewals, the licensee has the obligation to affirm they have complied with the reporting provision. Remember, current law mandates reporting convictions within 30 days to the Virginia Real Estate Board.

NAR Launches GreenREsourceCouncil.org

June 1, 2009 comment now

The Green Resource Council announced the launching of the newly redesigned GreenREsourceCouncil.org, a web site dedicated to promoting NAR's Green Designation to consumers and Realtors® alike. NAR's Green Designation is the first of its kind from NAR and offers specialized green real estate training for residential, commercial and property management professionals.