Blog
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 […]
New FHA Condo Rule Expected to Yield Thousands of New Homeownership Opportunities
August 14, 2019
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is expected to release new Federal Housing Authority (FHA) condominium financing policies. 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. Specifically, the rule will extend certifications from two years to three, […]
Sometimes You Have to Say No
August 14, 2019
Bad bills, aka pieces of legislation, pop up regularly. Listen to the latest Real Politics Podcast from the Virginia REALTORS® to find out what happens when they are introduced and what we do to fight bills that don’t benefit members. Click to hear the Bad Bills Real Politics Podcast.
You’re Invited: Learn What Happens Inside the U.S. House of Representatives, 9/13, 9:30AM
August 6, 2019
Are you interested in understanding how federal laws impact your real estate business? Join us on Friday, September 13, 2019, for a discussion with our Northern Virginia Congressional delegation about issues such as health care reform, transportation infrastructure, and the National Flood Insurance Program. Bring your questions! The Town Hall is free but pre-registration is […]
Are You Using Your Listing Photos Legally? Learn How to Protect Your Agents from Copyright Violations.
July 24, 2019
Listing photos are a key piece of your agents’ marketing plans. They’re so important that a lot of agents will hire a professional photographer to capture the features of the listing in all the right ways. Posting the pictures that a photographer has taken isn’t always as straightforward or simple as one might think. It […]
USDA Makes Changes to its Single-Family Housing Loan Programs
July 18, 2019
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service (RHS) loan programs enable people who live in rural areas and small towns to obtain safe, affordable housing. The following changes to the guaranteed and direct single-family loan programs will go into effect this summer: Revise the definition of very low-, low-, and moderate-income to allow for […]
Effective July 1, 2019, Unlicensed Assistants Can Either be Employees OR Independent Contractors
June 28, 2019
If you think this is a new law, you are right. July 1st marks the enactment of this and other new laws in Virginia. While the 2019 General Assembly Session ended in February, there was still some back and forth between the Governor and legislators through early May. This year’s legislative changes covered several areas […]
Loudoun County Short-Term Rental Registration Opens July 1, 2019: Real Estate Licensees Exempt
June 27, 2019
Many operators of short-term residential rental property in Loudoun County are required to register their rental property every year with the county. Real estate licensees and people represented by a real estate licensee are exempted from the registration process. A short-term residential rental is “the provision of a room or space that is suitable or […]
What’s in the Loudoun 2019 Comprehensive Plan for the Real Estate Industry?
June 24, 2019
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors finalized the Loudoun County 2019 Comprehensive Plan on June 20, 2019. The plan includes policies on land development, transportation, capital improvements, and public programs in Loudoun County through the year 2040. The new plan: Includes policies that are designed to increase residential density in the eastern part of the […]
DAAR partners with NAR in Supporting AHP Efforts
June 20, 2019
The Dulles Area Association of REALTORS® supports the National Association of REALTORS® defense of the Department of Labor’s Association Health Plan rule. Earlier this year, a federal court ruled that provisions of the DOL’s rule were unlawful, a ruling that adversely impacts REALTORS® seeking more cost effective and comprehensive health insurance solutions through AHP options. […]