Blog

Regulators Increase Appraisal Threshold

October 3, 2019

On September 27, 2019, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (collectively “the Agencies”) adopted a final rule increasing the threshold for requiring an appraisal in residential real estate transactions from $250,000 to $400,000. Federally related transactions under $400,000 […]

Legal Corner: Social Media, Advertising and Ethics

September 30, 2019

Advertising media is constantly changing. New social media platforms pop up every week giving Realtors® more choices and easier access to mass advertising. Because of the quick pace of technology, the rules, both the Code of Ethics and the Virginia Regulations, have not kept up with the pace. Here are tips to help you navigate […]

Annual Meeting Update: Slate of Directors for 2020 and Bylaw Changes Approved

September 27, 2019

The Annual Meeting of the Dulles Area Association of REALTORS took place on Thursday, September 26th, 2019, 12:15-12:45PM at the Holiday Inn Dulles, 45425 Holiday Drive, Sterling, VA during the DAAR RECHARGE event.  Following the delivery of President Phyllis Stakem’s annual state of the association address, the following slate of directors were approved by motion […]

Watch the FHA Condo Rule Facebook Live: 9/26

September 20, 2019

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is expected to release new Federal Housing Authority (FHA) condominium financing policies on October 15, 2019. The new rules should benefit your real estate clients and customers by allowing more buyers to obtain low down-payment mortgages on affordable housing options. Join the NAR FHA Condo Rule Facebook […]

August 2019 Loudoun County Market Trends Report: Average Sales Price to Original List Price Ratio Hits a 10-Year High

September 19, 2019

Overview • The inventory of homes listed for-sale in Loudoun County during the month of August were at a same-month ten-year low of only 993 homes. Active listings decreased 19.5% from last August; moreover, residential listings have steadily fallen by 56.7% since a peak of 2,294 available homes in 2014. • August 2019 (closed) sales […]

You Don’t Have to Worry About Misplacing your RE License Pocket Card Again

September 11, 2019

Earlier this month, you should have received an invitation to go digital! That’s because your RE license, as well as other individual licenses and certificates issued by DPOR, are now available in digital format. DPOR has partnered with online credentialing service Merit to offer your digital DPOR license to you for free. This service is […]

GSE Reform Proposal Unveiled

September 11, 2019

On September 5, 2019, the White House released a proposal to reform the nation’s housing finance system and privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The recommendations, if implemented, will impact operations of the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSE) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). While the plan involves potential administrative, regulatory, and legislative […]

5 Common Real Estate Safety Myths by Tracey Hawkins

September 10, 2019

5 Common Real Estate Safety Myths Most professionals believe these ideas will improve their personal security in the field. Sometimes, they’re wrong. by Tracey Hawkins Real estate brokers and agents have hyped certain safety protocols in an effort to beef up personal security in the field, but some of the ideas that have become popular in […]

NAR Report: Moving with Kids Impact on Buyer and Seller Preferences

August 22, 2019

The act of moving into a new home or selling a home can be a hectic period for both home buyers and sellers. So it is not surprising to learn that changing residences with children in tow adds another level of chaos to the process. That is according to a new report from the National […]

Are you Ready to Achieve Excellence? Start Your Journey and Earn Recognition

August 21, 2019

The National Association of REALTORS recently rolled out a Commitment to Excellence (C2EX) program designed to empower REALTORS® via a self-assessment tool that measures proficiency in elements of professionalism, known as the C2EX Competencies. Based on the results, the platform generates customized learning paths, recommends experiences, and provides tools and resources to increase knowledge and […]