October 2009 Archives

We now have expanded CE course offerings to better serve your needs with fulfilling the Continuing Education requirements for license renewal. You now can take an 8 hour package of mandatory courses and choose from a variety of topics including Understanding Credit and Improving Credit Scores, Sustainable Housing and Building Green, Foreclosures, Short Sales, REOs and Auctions, Risk Management and some Commercial topics.

Post License Education is required within the first 12 months of licensure for anyone initially licensed on or after July 1, 2008.  The time frame has confused many licensees and has caused some to have their license placed on inactive status much to their surprise.

The rule is that you must complete the 30 hours of post license training within 12 months of the date your license was issued and not until the end of the 12th month.  Therefore if you were initially licensed on September 14, 2008 you must complete the post license training by September 14, 2009 and not by the end of September as many assume.  Failure to complete the required training will result in your license automatically being place on Inactive by the state.

Post License classes this week include two mandatory topic classes;

• Agency on Monday Oct. 19th 6-9pm, and
• Contracts (offer to Purchase) on Tuesday Oct 20th 1-4pm. 

Also a full day of CE/PL elective classes on Thursday the 22nd to include

• Red Flags Property Inspections with Home Inspector Keith Reeve of Home Inspection Professionals (9-12pm),
  
• FHA Loans with Senior Loan Officer Dan Goldsby of Prospect Mortgage (1-2pm),
  
• Land Acquisition with custom home builder Charlie Little of Fairhaven Homes (2-3pm)
  
• Renovation Loans with Loan Specialist Adam Davis of Wells Fargo(3-5pm).
  

Loudoun County's Department Housing and Community Development will discuss a number of housing opportunity programs available for your clients on Wednesday, October 28th, 10-11:30 am at DAAR.

The special meeting will highlight properties available through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, down-payment and closing cost assistance and home improvement programs. Featured speakers include Kelly Marrocco, Project Manager, Neighborhood Stabilization Program, Loudoun County Government and Dawn Klassen, Land Acquisition Manager, Office of Capital Construction Loudoun County Government.  Registration is free.  Sign-up today.

The internet is increasingly a part of everyday life. Research shows more and more consumers are using it in their search for a home. Because more than 80% start their home search by turning to the web, today's real estate agents need to understand available web technologies, how to use them, and the risks associated with their use.

Mark your calendars for the 2009 DAAR Economic Summit and Annual Meeting scheduled for Friday, October 30th from 8:00 am - 11:30 pm at the Loudoun County School Administration Building in Ashburn. A panel of top experts will discuss national, regional and local market trends and projections for 2010 and beyond.  Speakers include John McClain, Senior Fellow, George Mason University's Center for Regional Analysis, Greg Stratton, Research Economist, National Association of REALTORS® and Rosemary deButts, DAAR's Housing Market Consultant.  Registration fee ($20 for members/$25 for non-members) includes breakfast.   Sign-up today!

Over 40 members attended DAAR's Lunch Matters (formerly Lunch Speaker Series) to learn about Loudoun County's ever-changing 860-page zoning odinance.  Marsha Keim, Loudoun County's Zoning Permit Manager and Keith Fairfax, Zoning Enforcement Manager, discussed the county's sign placement rules, residential occupancy requirements, overlay districts and subdivision regulations.  For a glimpse at their presentation,

click here.