July 2009 Archives

You may have heard about Virginia's Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act: It requires that Realtors® (and others) call the Virginia Utility Protection Service -- aka Miss Utility -- before putting up any sign that involves sticking something in the dirt, other than "coat hanger" signs.   Even putting up a typical spike sign is considered "excavating," and Realtors® or their sign companies who don't first get the go-ahead from Miss Utility face up to a $2,500 fine. In fact, the SCC's Division of Underground Utility and Railroad Safety originally prohibited even those coat-hanger signs; VAR fought for and won at least that concession.

DAAR hosted a symposium with banks and REALTORS® on Monday, July 27th to foster a greater understanding of the mortgage options for troubled homeowners and challenges arising from complicated real property transactions such as short sales.  Moderated by Gwen Pangle, Principal Broker of 1757 Real Estate and NAR's Federal Political Coordinator for Congressman Frank Wolf (VA-10), the event featured Congressman Wolf, officials from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and representatives from Bank of America and the Virginia Mortgage Lenders Association.

On Tuesday, July 21st, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors (LCBOS) voted to extend a program  that authorizes a volunteer sign collection group to remove illegally placed signs within the Commonwealth of Virginia's right-of-ways located in the County.  The Code of Virginia (33.1-373; 33.1-375) prohibits advertising within the limit of any highway, which includes the roadway, shoulders and median strips.  Penalties for placing illegal signs can include removal of advertisement, fines and paying for the cost of removal.