Blog

We’re in Session: Join us in Richmond for the Chance to Advocate on Behalf of Your Business

January 9, 2019

Learn what’s ahead for your industry, engage with lawmakers and join Virginia REALTORS President Beckwith Bolle (2013 DAAR President) by taking part in the Virginia REALTORS 2019 Economic & Advocacy Summit on February 6th in Richmond, VA. This event offers education from industry experts and the chance to participate in town hall sessions with local legislators […]

Bright MLS: Legal Subdivision Now Available on Reports and in Listing Search

January 9, 2019

Based on your feedback, Legal Subdivision is now available on the main search screen. It has also been added to listings, where the information was previously available in MRIS and will autofill from the Bright tax record in Listing Management going forward. This is a non-editable field which contains information from a listing’s county assessment […]

Bright Launches LIVE YouTube Hands-on Clinics in January

January 4, 2019

Bright is launching interactive Training Clinics on YouTube! Join Bright as they host these virtual “hands-on” clinics that will cover time-saving tips and tricks, answers to top support center questions, and a live Q&A from bright instructors. Monday, January 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th at […]

What a Government Shutdown Means for REALTORS®

December 27, 2018

A Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government was not approved on Friday, December 21st, 2018 leading to a partial shutdown of some government operations. This partial shutdown, which includes some federal housing and mortgage programs, could cause settlement and financing delays. Here are a few ways loans may be impacted: Federal Housing Administration HUD’s Contingency Plan […]

Bright MLS Release Notes as of December 19th: Corrections and Improvements

December 20, 2018

The following release notes describing corrections and improvements to the Bright MLS system were made as of December 19: Importing photos and documents using Google Drive. Recently, we added a shortcut to Listing Management for importing photos and documents from OneDrive. Now you can do the same using Google Drive. Many subscribers use Google Drive to […]

Known Issues and Tips for Using Bright MLS

December 13, 2018

A message from Bright MLS on December 6th, 2018: With a major system conversion like this, there will be continued work in some areas to finalize information and ensure everything is working as expected. Please know that we are actively working to resolve the following items in Bright. In the meantime, we’ve provided some tips […]

What REALTORS® Need to Know About the New Tax Law

December 13, 2018

Changes to the U.S. Tax Code that potentially can save you thousands of dollars were enacted last year as part of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. The changes include a new deduction available to you as an independent contractor or sole proprietor for reducing your tax liability by 20 percent. How to take this […]

You’re Invited: NVAR Standard Forms Updates Class – Monday, 1/7, 10AM-12PM

December 6, 2018

You’re invited to learn about updates to NVAR Standard Forms on Monday, January 7, 2019, 10AM-12PM, DAAR, Ashburn.  Featured speaker Keith Barrett, Esq, Vesta Settlements, will review and answer questions regarding the latest changes effective January 1st, 2019.  Free for DAAR Members.  Register online here. For more information, view the flyer.  

Update from Bright MLS: 7 Need-to-Know Rules, Listing Status Changes, DOM and More

December 6, 2018

Now that you’ve been using Bright as your MLS, you may have noticed some differences that weren’t quite so obvious when you first logged in, especially when you consider the rules, statuses and available property types. It’s important that you become familiar with these nuances, as well as the new rules and definitions that impact […]

Conforming Loan Limits to Rise 6.9%

November 28, 2018

The maximum conforming loan amount that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can back will increase to $484,350 from $453,100 in 2019, a 6.9 percent increase, the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced today. NAR President John Smaby applauded the action, saying it will help keep homeownership within reach for many households by ensuring loan limits keep pace […]