DAAR History

The Dulles Area Association of REALTORS® (DAAR) has a long and distinguished history. Although the name has changed during its 62 years of existence, the community leadership and accomplishments have been consistently outstanding.

On July 1, 1962, DAAR originally received a charter from the National Association of REALTORS® as the Loudoun County Board of REALTORS® (LCBOR) to have jurisdiction over the use of the term REALTOR® in Loudoun County.

On October 29, 1967, the Board, as it was called then, incorporated the first Multiple Listing Service (MLS) of Loudoun County. On August 7, 1969, the Board incorporated and held their first official general membership meeting. Most of the meetings were held at Johnson’s House of Beef in Leesburg, which just closed its doors in early 2008. As meetings grew in size, they were moved to the Laurel Brigade Inn and the offices were in newly-hired LCBOR “Secretary” Faye Vance’s basement.

In 1972, LCBOR moved into its first headquarters at 33 South King Street, which was known as the “Old Stone House.” Annual local dues for salespeople were increased from $2 to $10 that same year.

As Loudoun County grew, so did LCBOR. In the late 1980’s, LCBOR purchased a third unit on King Street for potential office use, but in the interim leased it out to the State Police. Meanwhile, NAR gave local boards the right to use the term Association in their names and LCBOR changed to the Loudoun County Association of REALTORS® (LCAR).

The late 1980’s also brought about significant changes to the way real estate was conducted in the area. Computers were making their way into the MLS System and creating opportunities and challenges for the industry.

In partnership with the Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS® and the Prince William Association of REALTORS®, LCAR formed the Common Data Base System (CDBS) by contracting with the same vendor, PRC, to share listing information. At the time, there was one Board of Directors (BOD) for the MLS comprised of representatives of the three associations who shared our first lockbox system, a Multac Recording Box.

In 1991, Faye Vance announced her retirement and Jeanette G. Newton started as the new Executive Vice President of LCAR.

As the market slowed in the early 1990’s, the size of the association began to drop while there were many changes on the horizon. In 1992, a Regional MLS was formed that combined listings into one database. Members would have to insert their phone handsets into a “computer” in order to print out listing information on shiny thermal paper.

1992 was a year of “firsts” for LCAR.  We had our first Christmas in April, RPAC Golf Tournament and Charity Auction to benefit shelter-based charities.

In 1995, LCAR membership declined to 500 but stood ready to venture into a wholly owned subsidiary, the Metropolitan Regional Information System (MRIS) along with an electronic lockbox system with Supra.

At that same time, NAR implemented “Board of Choice” for members. With the fear of being swallowed up by larger associations, LCAR assembled a committee comprised of past presidents to develop an action plan that would enable the association to continue to grow. In 1996, after an uphill battle, the Virginia Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors approved our name change to the Dulles Area Association of REALTORS®.

Under the new name, the Association flourished under Board of Choice and moved into the third condo in an effort to expand our education program. Our new Proprietary School was becoming a success.

In 2000, DAAR engaged in a long battle with the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors on growth issues. We were on the map, receiving help and being noticed by NAR as an example of what could and needed to be done to fight the slow-growth management trend.

Now part of one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, DAAR sold its condos on South King Street in 2002 and moved to an expanded space on Sycolin Road in Leesburg.

In 2004, DAAR had its first million dollar budget and the services offered to members were growing exponentially. In 2005, DAAR opened up its first branch office at the Dulles Airport location and was able to offer expanded GRI and CCIM classes. From this point on, DAAR was the eighth largest association in Virginia out of 30 associations.

DAAR’s influence at the state and national association grew as the first VAR president from DAAR in 20 years was installed in 2005. By 2006, DAAR had a representative on every advocacy group at VAR as well as two NAR directors and an NAR Committee Chairman. In 2019, VAR will have installed DAAR’s fourth VAR President.

In 2012, the Association celebrated our 50th anniversary and moved to a more centralized location in Ashburn. In response to a strengthening advocacy program, the Association formed its own PAC, the Dulles Area REALTORS Political Action Committee in 2015.

Between that time period, the DAAR Board of Directors developed an aggressive Strategic Plan designed to take the association to the next level.

In 2016, Jeanette Newton retired after twenty-five years of service to the members. Christine Windle, the association’s Government Affairs and Communications Director for ten years, began serving as the association’s Chief Executive Officer.

In 2020, Christine Windle departed the Association and Amanda Brewer was hired to serve as the Chief Executive Officer.

In 2023, Amanda Brewer departed the Association and Allan Marteney was brought on to serve as the Chief Executive Officer.