Blog
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 […]
Important Notice: Pay Dues for SentriLock by 12/20 to Avoid Late Fee
December 12, 2018
To streamline the process for obtaining access to SentriLock keyholder services, members received an invoice directly from SentriLock for your key service renewal. Accordingly, key service renewal fees are no longer be paid directly to the Dulles Area Association of REALTORS® as it will be paid to SentriLock. Beginning in November, you received several emails from SentriLock notifying […]
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 […]
Active Under Contract vs. Pending Status: What You Need to Know
November 28, 2018
There are two statuses in Bright that seem similar, but have different meanings: Active Under Contract and Pending. While both of these statuses are used when a contract is in place, there are a few differences you’ll need to know about. The difference between Active Under Contract and Pending Status in Bright When a listing is in Active Under […]
Virginia REALTORS: Provide Your Opinion about the VREB Regulations
November 27, 2018
Now is the time to have your voice heard! The Virginia Real Estate Board (VREB) has begun the process of looking at and possibly amending the regulations that you, as a REALTOR®, are required to follow. The Virginia REALTORS has created a survey for you to take where you will have the chance to voice your […]