February is REALTOR® Professionalism month at DAAR.  Join us on Wednesday, February 24th at noon for a Lunch Matters we're calling "One Bad Apple Spoils the Bunch".  This Lunch Matters class will include real stories from DPOR to help you avoid the same pitfalls as well as time to talk as a group about what unprofessional behavior you're seeing and what can be done to improve REALTOR® professionalism.

We want to make sure we always have enough food and drink for our Networking Matters.  On the other hand, we hate to buy a bunch of stuff that we just end up throwing away because it won't keep until the following month.  So, we need your help to accurately calculate how much to buy.  How can you help?  By letting us know that you intend to come by pre-registering online.  

To that end, anyone who pre-registers for a Networking Matters will benefit from the $5 pre-registration price.  Registrations done the day of the event and walk-ins will cost $10.  Or you can avoid all this hassle but taking advantage of our Buy 8/Get 1 FREE special, and I'll do all the work to pre-register you.  And, if you can't make it one month, no worries since you get one month free.

The next Networking Matters is on Thursday, February 4th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the DAAR office.  Many thanks to our February sponsor:  Go2Guys Home Services.

The following DAAR membership forms have been updated and the new forms are now available on the DAAR website:

• New Member Application
• Secondary Member Application
• Association Transfer Application
• 2010 Dues Schedule
• Supra Key and Lockbox Transfer Form
• Affiliate Member Application
• Member Record Change Form

If you keep copies of these forms in your files, please replace them with the updated copies which you can download and print the forms by clicking on the form name above or from the Membership Forms page.

Our first Networking Matters was a big success!  But now we're making it even better.  In the spirit of creating a relaxed "hanging out at Happy Hour vibe", we're discontinuing the class portion of the event.  We're also offering a Buy 8/Get 1 FREE special.  Just $40 gets you pre-registered for the rest of the year.  No hassle, no remembering to register.  Just show up!  And you get one FREE!

Loudoun's real estate market showed various positive signs of recovery in 2009 although the housing industry throughout the nation was in the throes of a dramatic downturn for at least four years.  Obvious signs are sales and pricing trends.  Although it was expected, the year ended with an 8.3 percent decline in sales compared to 2008. 

A brand new year is almost upon us.  With it comes an opportunity to re-organize and refresh, to  re-energize business, and to prepare for the impending market rebound.

"Preparing for the Market Rebound" is DAAR's theme for January.  You will find this theme reflected in the January Lunch Matters and Networking Matters classes, special offers in the DAAR store, and in posts to the DAAR website.  More specifically:

Thanks to DAAR's generous membership, the Community Services Committee will be distributing funds raised at the very successful 18th Annual Charity Auction and Dinner.  Members are welcome to attend the check distribution ceremony which will be held at the DAAR office on Wednesday, January 6th at 4 p.m.