September 2009 Update Magazine

GRI ePRO CIPS RCESRES CAE GRIREEN DESIGNA

REALTOR CAE CRS RECRS GRI ABR SRES

ABR GRI CRS SRERCE REALTOR CRSCAE SRES CIPSePRO GRI ABR CIPS RCE SRESSRES REALTOR

It’s September:

Should You Be Back InSCH OL?

UpdateT h e V o i c e f o r r e a l e s T a T e i n n o r T h e r n V i r g i n i a nvar.com

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE ECONOMIC SUMMIT WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 — SEE PAGE 11

REALTOR® SAFETY WEEK: TIPS SHARED

PlUssaVe The DaTe: ocToBer 13

CONVENTION AND RPAC BREAKFAST

published by the northern virginia association of realtors®

September 2009

realtor®

1 Preapproval is subject to satisfactory appraisal and title review and no change in financial condition. If the rate is not locked or rate protection expires, any rate increase may lower the loan amount for which the borrower has been preapproved.

THIS INFORMATION IS INTENDED FOR MORTGAGE, REAL ESTATE AND/OR BUILDER PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY AND IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR CONSUMER OR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender © 2009 Bank of America Corporation. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. 00-62-0197D 04-2009 AR70173

Exceptional real estate professionals deserve exceptional serviceWith a wide range of home loan programs and a commitment to customer service, Bank of America can help you reach out to more potential homebuyers.

We offer:

• Preapprovals for qualified buyers so they know how much they can afford before they shop for their new homes1

• Personal service from our local team

• A range of home loan products, including fixed and adjustable-rate mortgages

Contact us today to find out how we can help more of your clients get the home financing that’s right for them.

Alexandria703.922.2100

Fairfax703.227.2500

McLean703.848.2031

Sterling703.433.5458

Annandale703.813.5171

Leesburg703.443.2183

Oakton703.319.2616

2009 Chairman of the Board

By Susan Mekenney, 2009 Chairman of the Board

ON BALANCE: NVAR Strives To Offer Exceptional Programs, At A Time When They Are Needed Most

UpdateRealtoR®

Interested in advertising? Please call 703. 207. 3206 for information.

chairman of the board

NVAR ReAltoR® UPDATE SeptembeR 2009 3

September 2009 Volume 92, Issue 7

2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORSChairman of the Board: Su san Mekenney, ABR, CRS, GREEN, GRI, ePro Chairman-Elect:Vinh Nguyen Immediate Past Chairman: Jane A. Quill, ABR, CRS, CIPS, GREEN, GRI, SRES Secretary/Treasurer: Karen Trainor

DIRECTORS-AT-LARGEVal August, CRS, GRIJulia Avent, ABR, CRS, GRISue Bowers, CRSLaura Fall, CRSScott Fortney, CRS, ePROPat Kline, GRI, SRESDiane Mun LeeAndrew Norton, ABR, CRS, GREEN, GRI, SRESPeter Rickert, ABR, ePro, GREENMario Rubio, SRESTrudy Severa, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRESJon Wolford

Publisher/CEO: Christine M. Todd, CAE, RCEEditor-In-Chief: Jill M. LandsmanManaging Editor: Ann GutkinE ditorial Assistants: Ainsley McDougal, Allyson TeevanMarketing & Sales Manager: Tracy ReynoldsGraphic Designer: Tricia ChroussisContributors: Lisa Fowler, Adam Gallegos, Jonathan Hill, Michele Lerner and Lisa Vierse May

The Realtor® UPDATE (ISSN 10988475) is published nine times a year by the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors® as follows: combined issues for January/February, July/August and November/December, and monthly issues for March, April, May, June, September and October. Periodicals postage paid at Fairfax, VA 22030 and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions account for $19 of each member’s annual dues. Annual subscriptions are available to non-members for $39. Subscription inquiries may be sent to the Realtor® UPDATE at the address below. Copyright 2009 by the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors®. All rights reserved.

Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Realtor® UPDATENorthern Virginia Association of Realtors®8403 Arlington Boulevard, Suite 100 Fairfax, VA 22031-4601

Telephone: 703. 207. 3200FAX: 703. 207. 3268Web: nvar.comE-mail: [email protected] Advertising Info: [email protected]

August 3 marked another milestone in the annals of NVAR. That was the day we instituted paperless annual dues billing. By eliminating paper billing, we not only took a huge step toward making our association green, but such efficiencies allow us to maintain the same dues structure for the past 10 years without sacrificing member services. In today’s conservative business climate, budgets are often cut and services eliminated, however, our NVAR continues to provide the same outstanding services to its members without missing a beat.

» Our ongoing relationship with George Mason University offers us several market updates with Dr. Stephen Fuller each year, as well as regular reports from John McClain in our Update magazine. And of course, GMU also co-hosts our annual Economic Summit— this year marks our thirteenth—which will take place on September 23. This year’s summit theme is: Balancing Act: Housing and The New Economic Reality.

» Our free annual convention will be held October 13 and will offer educational forums, a trade show, plus two fabulous opening and closing speakers at a new location—Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale.

» We have special members-only pricing for our extensive choice of educational classes and Realtor® store items (conveniently located in both Fairfax and Herndon).

» We are one of the few local associations with our own full-time lobbyist, who is extremely well respected in Richmond. Just participate in one of our annual legislative trips to see for yourself!

» Our new building will be among the first LEED-certified association buildings in the state. Watch for updates on nvar.com.

» Our communications department has become the Voice for Real Estate in Northern Virginia for the local news media.

Without a doubt, we are a premier association with both national and international recognition, largely due to our well-respected CEO Christine M. Todd, who will be celebrating 20 years with us in September. NVAR continues to be the best deal in town. But it is you, our members, who make our association what it is. Thank you for your continued support and membership. See you at our Economic Summit.

Follow us on Twitter and become a fan of our Facebook page.

1 Preapproval is subject to satisfactory appraisal and title review and no change in financial condition. If the rate is not locked or rate protection expires, any rate increase may lower the loan amount for which the borrower has been preapproved.

THIS INFORMATION IS INTENDED FOR MORTGAGE, REAL ESTATE AND/OR BUILDER PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY AND IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR CONSUMER OR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender © 2009 Bank of America Corporation. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. 00-62-0197D 04-2009 AR70173

Exceptional real estate professionals deserve exceptional serviceWith a wide range of home loan programs and a commitment to customer service, Bank of America can help you reach out to more potential homebuyers.

We offer:

• Preapprovals for qualified buyers so they know how much they can afford before they shop for their new homes1

• Personal service from our local team

• A range of home loan products, including fixed and adjustable-rate mortgages

Contact us today to find out how we can help more of your clients get the home financing that’s right for them.

Alexandria703.922.2100

Fairfax703.227.2500

McLean703.848.2031

Sterling703.433.5458

Annandale703.813.5171

Leesburg703.443.2183

Oakton703.319.2616

SRES CAE GRI ABR REALe-PGREEN DESIGNATION CAERREALTOR CAE ePRO RCE CRS SRES CIPSCRS RCE GRI ABR SRES GREABR CIPS GRI CRS SRES CAE GRRCE REALTOR CRS GRI ePROCAE SRES CIPS ABR GRI

It’s September: Should You Be Back In SCH OL?

The NVAR Annual ConventionPlease visit us at booths 201 & 202

Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus

October 13, 2009

Our competitors can’t measure up!

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NVAR Convention & Trade ShowPlease visit us at booths 201 & 202

Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus

October 13, 2009

SRES CAE GRI ABR REALe-PGREEN DESIGNATION CAERREALTOR CAE ePRO RCE CRS SRES CIPSCRS RCE GRI ABR SRES GREABR CIPS GRI CRS SRES CAE GRRCE REALTOR CRS GRI ePROCAE SRES CIPS ABR GRI

It’s September: Should You Be Back In SCH OL?

The views expressed in this publication may not reflect NVAR policy, and may be the opinions of the writer or interviewee.

3 Chairman of the Board Column: NVAR Offers Exceptional Programs

6 New Members; NVAR Partners

7 NV/RPAC Investors

8 NV/RPAC Breakfast Flier

9 NV/RPAC Breakfast: Begin Convention Day with POLITICO

10 Letters to the Editor

12 Going Green: MRIS Adds Eco-Friendly Fields

15 Agents Need to Know: Appraisal Clarification; Truth in Lending

24 In Memoriam: Nathan Booth

25 NVAR.com's Online Dues Payment Instructions

28 NVAR Convention Details; Buy-A-Brick Campaign Continues

30 Technology Corner: Making A Web Site That Works

32 Designations & Specialty Courses; ABR Graduates

33 Education Calendar

36 MRIS: Stay Connected

38 Appraiser & Affiliate Directories

in this issue


Features 18 Realtor® Safety

Week: Members Share Worthwhile Tips

26 2010 Board Candidates Named; Important Election Dates

16 Market Update: Lower Price Homes Driving Sales Uptick

20

In This Issue

Q2 Rental Statistics 35

NVAR Thanks Our 2009

PARTNERS

platinum

GOlD

SilVER

BROnZE

FRiEnDS

6 SeptembeR 2009 NVAR ReAltoR® UPDATE

elcome New MembersWnew members

Fouzi AfshariYoung Chang Ahn

Daniel AkliluRegina AmannNathan Ames

Zumrut AndicanArlene ArcherWilliam Asrat

Jonathan BaileyFrancine Balinskas

Shila BarishSue Bedi

Kylie BelcherEdmund BeresRachel Berlin

Richard BessomBabak BineshAllen Bonner

Carolyn BrancatoLeslie Braunstein

Lois BuonoSuzanne BurchMaria Cantos

Kevin CarrAnn Casey

Dinora Chacon PazKyong Chang

Michael ChangSaul Corral

Elizabeth CorrellusBeth Dadisman

Hitesh DevKashif Dewan

Nayyar DinDonna Dorsey

Alexandra EarnshawErin Edwards

Susan EllisRebecca EsguerraRamona Estephan

Kathleen FarrarBen FornshellAllison Garcia

German GonzalezWilliam Gorham

Adriana GrardSheila Gregory

Hipolito GutierrezAmir HabibzadehRobert Hamilton

Patricia HarrisAnthony Haupt

Ashley HetheringtonDonald Hill

Carolyn HoffmanPaul HontiverosJoseph HubbellStanislav IlyevJane JacksonAni Jerikian

Saadia JohnsonSushil Kapur

Walt KeelJames Kerr

Jennifer KerrPatrick KesslerKaren Kidwell

Janet KimWoon KimJill Kinder

Michael KucherHaeyoung Lee

Hyon LeeFelicia LeeGen-Kuo Li

Yaztka LiconaKimberly Maddox

Haroon MalikCheryl Malkin

Eduardo ManusAgustin MartinezEvelyn McCamey

Michele McCarthyColleen McGlenAlberto MendezSuzanne MeyleKevin Minchew

Rahmatollah Mohaghegh

Steven MooreDonna Moran

Hydar MostafaeiPeter Nelson

Joseph Nguyen

Leona NutterDai Oh

Jaime PalaciosTony Park

Joseph ParkerBruce PetersLuyen Pham

Lynn PinaSilvia PosadaKristine Price

Christopher PughPatrick ReaLeslie Reid

Joseph RitcheyYarisis Rivera-Rojas

Dale RossBetsy Rutkowski

Bilal SaghirSanjay Sainani

Christie SchumacherAnna Schwoerer

Mohammad ShahAsiya Shamim

Butsakorn SirirutSteven Smallwood

Hasan SpallThera SpurlingAmy Stewart

Sylvester TomlinKimcuc Tran

Suresh VemulapalliLisseth Viafara

Reid VossSuzanne WaksMary Walker

Gongwei WangYan Wang

Simon WarnerAmber WasonLuther WellsMonica Yafi

Clark YaoJoan YarosNigar Zaidi

Roberto ZaniYara Zohdy

Wei Zou


Golden R ($5,000)John McEnearneyNVARTom Stevens

Sterling R ($1,000)Julia AventScott AveryWayne A. BabbJerry M. BartlettCharles W. Bengel, Sr.Wilburn (“Bob”) BlountMichael K. BosleyDavid CharronAngela EliopoulosMargaret C. HandleyJo Anne JohnsonLilian JorgensonSita KapurPat KlineLuis A. LamaScott A. MacDonaldKayvan MehrbakhshSusan MekenneyTom MeyerShane Scott McCullarVinh NguyenSusan Oh Tracy PlessJane A. QuillAnne RectorPeter A. RickertZinta Rodgers-RickertTrudy SeveraTrish SzegoChristine M. Todd

Governor’s Club ($500)Sue BowersPat BuckRobyn BurdettMonica Sims CrimminsDan DanielsFlorence DanielsLaura FallDiane Mun LeeKaren TrainorGayl WarmanDonnan WintermuteJon S. Wolford

Capitol Insider ($250)Bob AdamsonTammy BagnatoMary BayatGail BeltTerry BeltBrian BlockTom BoyleAlicia BrownMarilyn CantrellMoon Y. ChoiCharilyn Wells CowanGrant DoeMaryann DunnMaureen M. DunnVirgil FrizzellSuzanne GranoskiKenton D. HamakerPeggy HamakerDavid HawkinsDavid HessDoris HoustonMargaret C. IrelandBurma Klein

Nicholas LagosLaura MarshKim McClaryMaureen O'HaraRebecca A. OwenJason Quimby Fetneh H. SchachtAudrey E. ShayJohn StedmanJake SullivanMarjorie Thomas

$99 ClubJohn A. AdamsKevin P. AdamsJames A. AgnewRafael F. AguileraBarry H. AllbrightSatish AminLarry L. AndersonKannan M. AnnamalaiMary J. AnthonyJane ApplegateRoger L. ApplegateGay AshleyJake E. BaerCarlo BaiettiGayle T. BaileyGlen L. BairdFahad F. BakirRonald C. BarberThomas E. BeamesWylie BeanLee A. BeaverBarbara A. BechtleOleg A. BelinskyCharlie Bengel, Jr.Janice BharPatricia Blackburn NassiefCharles A. Blessing, Jr.Carolyn A. BoazAnn BogatJose A. BoggioPhil BolinJaime R. BordaFrances C. BoyleJoan C. BreadyMichael E. BriggsJudith W. BroseeJames BryantChamplin BuckWilliam BuckJudy H. BuckleyShirley BufordBetty H. BuseyMadeline CaporiccioMichael J. Casey, Sr. Tillie B. CassidyJan H. ChangLin ChenUi Kyong ChungCandy L. ClantonClyde C. CobleRobert L. ColeGianna CopelottiDebi CorbattoMary Beth CoyaJill CroftGary CuffJames R. DalkinSusan H. DalyDottie B. DaneOmprakash DeDonald S. DeBraggaBic Nguyen DeCaro

Lynne DePasoDonald W. DevineMichael J. EastmanDavid EatonKathie M. EatonVincent E. EkubanNita C. ElderStephanie Y. EllisPatricia L. EstradaSusan Deputy FadoulNancy FahyPatricia A. FairmanBev FeitshansLauren Peterson FellowsMiriam R. FernandezMarilyn FeuchtSuzanne M. FieldsGary FitzgibbonJames H. FosterLarry A. Foster, Jr.Paul W. Foster III.Ruth E. FosterCharles T. FowlerSteve FrishmuthPaul GaleF. Gary GarczynskiAnne GardnerClarence E. GattonRobert D. GeringCathie GillJohn W. GillJohn N. GloriosoTeddy GoodsonCarol GrecoReggie GreenAnn GutkinStephen I. HalesBill HalloranDelk A. HamakerRay L. HamiltonDorothy HarmonShawn HarrisAli S. HasanBarbara HendricksonLars HenriksenJanet Franklin HewittDavid Sunghee HongCharles R. Hooff IIILucinda HoveskelandPete HowellRuth B. HowellTom HulfishKenneth A. HunningsJudith A. Thompson IsomSamuel JackninVirginia JacobDavid C. JandrositzRosemarie S. JohnsonTammy S. JonesJohn H. KangZamarrud KarimCarol A. KearneyAugustine M. KimJane N. KimMihwa KimLauren M. KivlighanRobert F. KoenigRolfe S. KratzDana E. LandryAnita S. LasanskySharone C. LathropAndy LauerDara H. LaughlinKip H. LaughlinBill Lauler

Doris C. LeadbetterRay LeaheyChin W. LeeFrank G. LeeJae In LeeLeah LeeMichael T. LeeSherri L. LeeAshley C. LeighDiane LenahanGlenn E. LewisSonni LiebermanLawrence LindseyFrank Borges LLosaUca LoayzaMary LoenichenHenry A. LongElizabeth LucchesiDavidson B. LungerHelen A. Lyman-HealyAntoinette C. MacAulaySandra L. MacDougallAnn B. MalcolmAliyah N. MalikArya MansouriZora MansouriRonald MarracciniSandy L. MasonClark L. MassieLisa Vierse MayRaymond G. MayerJohn G. McAllorumPam S. McCoachJames J. McGrathTimothy E. McGrathJohn A. McMillinRoss McWilliamsR. Ann MeekinsDebbie MenzerDavid P. MichalskiDarlene MickeyErnie F. MillerPuran C. MittalCheryl C. MonnoPriscilla MooreKaren A. MorganDiane G. MurphyAllene V. MurrayEdward J. NachazelRoger NakazawaJames W. NellisPatricia NewmanTan A. NguyenThai-Hung P. NguyenJerar NishanianAndy NortonDaniel R. OdioLydia A. OdleEddie OhPeggy OremlandBarbara V. OwensDavid Palmer, Jr. Eleanora S. PanizzaBill ParkLindsey PeakeJulie A. PearsonGerman PenaLeonor M. PerezJim K. PhillipsJoAnn PiekneyDiana PieperA ndrea S. Powell-PierobonRobert A. PratherRobert M. RaderCatherine Rafferty

Dick R. Rager Sr.Bill Rakow Thomas E. Reed IIIThomas E. Reed IVEsin A. ReinhardtPatricia H. RhoadsJoan L. RhodesRhonda Taylor RichardsonKen RichmondTreena RinaldiChristopher S. RobinsonJames J. RobinsonMike RokniDave RosenmarkleEvelyn W. RossMario T. RubioTerry P. RyanGeorge SaabJames A. SabatinoJohn S. SaboGene SampsonJoyce H. SargentPeter SchlossbergTazuko SchmitzE lisabeth M. SchneidermanConnie SchreiberTerry SeamanParham ShariatzadehNancy C. ShawLinwood Scott SheltonJoyce R. ShefticStacey ShindelarGwen SigdaKevin M. SillsArlis J. SimmonsCarol J. SimmonsSuzanne SimonMaureen C. SimpsonSukh K. SinghHope SkillingAnise W. SnyderJim J. StakemNora C. StamperJane H. StottlemyerCarol A. SutfinSwindell SuttonDavid G. SweetHelena S. TalbotApril A. TaylorJonathan Dee TaylorGordon N. TeaguePauline C. ThompsonHortencia TorresKarina V. Torres-FerrerKathy TrainorTrong M. TrinhJeffrey C. TurnerKenneth C. UlsakerTerrell T. VarleyKamleash VermaArthur L. WaltersMichael J. WardmanB. Bruce WaszKatherine F. WatkinsDonald M. WeinrothRichard A. WhealenJudith F. WhiteKevin A. WilesSandra WilkinsonJulia Secord WilliamsM. W. WorthyLarry F. WuLaura YiTina L. ZimmermanBenjamin C. Zurun

2009 nv/rpac contributors

THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO REACH OUR GOAL!


Tuesday, October 13, 2009

John Harris Editor-in-Chief

Jim VandeHeiExecutive Editor

Coffee & Registration: 7:30 a.m. Breakfast & Presentation: 8 - 9:30 a.m.

Sponsored By:

Virginia will be one of only two states to elect a new governor this November. Will it be a

referendum on national voter sentiment or a bellwether of elections to come?

NV/RPAC welcomes the co-founders of POLITICO, the newest powerhouse in political journalism,

to break down the races and issues just three weeks before election day. As always, we’ll

be joined by a host of Virginia’s federal, state and local elected o�cials.

Cost: $35 per personFree to 2009 NV/RPAC

Contributors of $250 or more

Name(s):

O�ce Phone: ( ) - Email:

Enclosed Payment of: $ for Registrations @ $35 each; $250 NV/RPAC Donor Attendees (FREE)

Check Enclosed Card #: American Express Expiration Date: Discover Signature: Master Card MAIL TO: NVAR Visa

Register online at nvar.com or fax to 703.207.3269Questions? Contact Lisa May at 703.207.3201 or [email protected]

Attn: Government A�airs8403 Arlington Blvd., Suite 100Fairfax, VA 22031

Northern Virginia Community CollegeRt. 236, Annandale CampusCultural Center Forum

Please make checks payable to NVAR


rpac breakfast

You’ve heard them on WTOP, ABC 7, NewsChannel 8 and CBS’ Face the Nation. Now you can hear the voices of

POLITICO in person at the 2009 NV/RPAC Convention Day Breakfast!

Founded in 2007 by Washington Post reporters John Harris and Jim VandeHei, POLITICO and its Web counterpart POLITICO.com have rapidly become the go-to source for all things political. It is Washington, DC’s first truly multi-platform news source catering exclusively to the nation’s 24-hour political news consumer.

Prior to forming POLITICO, Harris spent 21 years at The Washington Post, covering local politics, Virginia

state politics, and national issues. During the Clinton years, Harris covered the White House and eventually

used that experience to write a history of the Bill Clinton presidency titled, The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House.

The Atlantic Monthly hailed it as, “a responsible, honest, tough, and—best of all—considered assessment of Clinton’s presidency.”

VandeHei began his journalistic career at Roll Call, covering the GOP majority. From there he moved to The Wall Street Journal, where he wrote about the White House and Congress. He landed at The Washington Post in 2002, where he covered the politics beat, including the 2004 election.

VandeHei and Harris’ vision for POLITICO and POLITICO.com was an organization that would maintain the journalistic integrity and respect of a traditional newspaper while taking advantage of new media, reaching audiences outside Washington. In just two years, daily circulation of POLITICO has exceeded 50,000 total readers, with 25,000 on Capitol Hill alone, more than both Roll Call and The Hill. In addition, POLITICO.com is reaching nearly 6 million unique visitors per month.

In addition to hearing Harris’ and VandeHei’s up-to-the-minute analysis on federal issues and Virginia’s statewide elections, you will also meet Northern Virginia’s federal, state and local elected officials.

The NV/RPAC Breakfast is one of the most popular political events NVAR hosts each year. We know you won’t want to miss it! Learn more about this event and register using the flier on the facing page. ❈

On Tuesday, October 13 Breakfast with a Side of Virginia PoliticsPOLITICO Co-Founders to Headline 2009 NV/RPAC Breakfast

By Lisa Vierse May, NVAR Government Affairs Manager

letters to the editor


Dear Editor,

I just wanted to let you know that I was looking at your Web site and saw your special edition, “Beyond the Golden Rule.” I cannot tell you how fabulous it is. Kudos to you, your leadership and staff for putting together one of best “special” magazines that I have seen in 31 years of working in association management.

I printed a copy and have already showed it to my Professional Standards Administrator and told her that we need to be working on something like this to put out to our membership this year. Hope you don’t mind if we use it as a guide. Again, I cannot say enough about this supplement.

Best regards, Kathy Hartman, RCE Chief Executive Officer, Santa Cruz Association of Realtors®

Letters to the

EditorKudos from California About Our Ethics Magazine

letters to the editor


Dear Editor,Many condominium buildings have a “railing” where all lockboxes are attached. There could be several or several dozen. Others leave them at the concierge desk. Some agents are diligent about identifying the unit number on the outside of the lockbox and also labeling the key that is inside the box. Failure to label the lockbox is a major inconvenience, but failure to label the key itself presents even greater concerns. Agents, who retrieve several keys at a time, have a terrible time keeping them straight. Most agents are not going to retrieve one key at a time, trek up to the unit, trek down and sometimes outside the building to return the key, get the next key, and then repeat the process until all units have been shown.

Often the unlabeled keys are mixed up and do not get returned to the correct lockbox. Agents sometimes find that when they go into the building and up to the unit they want to show, the key does not work. This past weekend, I actually opened several lockboxes and found notes inside that said, “If this key does not work, try one of the other keys from the other lockboxes.” The buyer client with me was appalled. It was hard to accept that an agent could insert such a note, but not take the effort to label the key, which would have ensured that it was returned to the proper lockbox.

This is an easily resolved issue. It needs attention, both as a professional courtesy among agents, and regarding the security of each seller’s property. Please, when a lockbox is being placed anywhere at all, other than on the front door of the property in question, label the key as well as the lockbox!

Sincerely,Gail Belt Belt Team Partner, Keller Williams Realty

Labeling Condo Keys In Lockboxes Is Key

BALANCING ACT:Housing & The New Economic Reality

Sponsored by:

QUESTIONS?Call 703.207.3210 Register at nvar.com

13th Annual Economic Summit

Wednesday, September 23, 20098:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

GMU, Johnson Student Center, Dewberry Hall

Décor DecorumHome Staging & Interior Re-Design

mris goes green


MRIS Goes Green Before investing in green

renovations or the construction of a green home, owners and builders will want to assess their potential return on investment. A recent move by the Metropolitan Regional Information Systems to include eco-friendly fields in its listing options may help with this analysis.

One measure of ROI is how much the green option will save in energy costs over time. Other important gauges are whether the green options increase the home’s value or help sell the home more quickly. These are questions that currently cannot be answered in Northern

Virginia. Some other regions of the country have these statistics, but each locality has its unique set of variables. The addition of new fields to MRIS that listing agents can use to advertise these green features will allow Realtors® to begin analyzing sales performance of green homes. These fields will also help agents working with buyers who would like to find homes with eco-friendly features.

“In the Pacific northwest, I have seen this impact the market in significant ways,” said Kria Lacher, a Realtor® in Portland, Oregon and an innovator of the greening of MLS systems. “There are now appraisers who are studying the data and they are able to add value to the green features. Realtors® are now becoming versed in sustainability issues and market

their properties successfully because of the MLS changes. The market demand is rising for green homes. To see a study about how this breaks out for different housing types, visit pdxgreenscene.blogspot.com.”

MRIS has been receptive to Realtor® requests for green fields and worked closely with NVAR and other local associations to implement the first

What Shade are Your LiStingS?

store coupon 10% discount!

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mris goes green


round of additions in May. Below is an outline of these new fields, with brief descriptions of each green feature.

Building Features: AmenitiesDual Flush Toilets: A toilet that has two flush options, 1.6 or 0.8 gallons of water per flush.

Solar Tubes: Allow natural light to travel from the roof through the tube and into a room. From inside the home, these tubes look like recessed light fixtures, and do not allow as much heat transfer as skylights.

Silestone Counters: Natural quartz featuring antimicrobial protection certified by National Sanitation

Foundation (NSF) and GREENGUARD.

PaperStone Counters: Made with bamboo fibers and recycled wood chips; the only countertop material made with water-based resin. The material contains no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and is UV stable, so the color stays true.

Fireplace Gas Insert: Placed inside the firebox, this delivers heated air into the room and minimizes heat loss.

Recycling Area: Indicates that trash recycling is available for the home.

Building Features: WindowsLow-E Windows: Low emittance (Low-E) films block most solar heat gain while transmitting most visible light. Windows treated with Low-E film help in both winter and summer, with little heat leakage coming

inside on a hot summer day or leaking outside in the winter.

Category: Heating & Cooling SystemProgrammable Thermostat: A thermostat that allows home owners to program a desired temperature for different times of the day and week.

Solar Rough-In: A home that has the structural and mechanical preparation necessary for solar panels.

90 percent Forced Air: Annual Fuel Utilization (AFUE) is the most widely used measure of a furnace’s heating efficiency. It measures the amount of heat actually delivered to a house compared to the amount of fuel that is supplied to the furnace. A furnace that has a 90 percent AFUE rating

By Adam Gallegos

Green Fields, continued on page 29

Take Your Businessto the

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Realtors® Applaud Appraisal Clarification as Good First Step

The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Charles

McMillan: “NAR and our 1.2 million members are pleased that the Federal Housing Finance Agency has instructed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to take action to clarify confusion over the new Home Valuation Code of Conduct for home appraisers implemented this past May.

“Our members were experiencing delayed and lost sales because of poor appraisals conducted often by inexperienced appraisers who were not familiar with the area. The ramifications were so great to our members and to the housing industry that I met with the New York Attorney General’s office and with the head of the FHFA to share our concerns.

“In those meetings I shared an NAR survey that found 76 percent of our members, representing both buyers and sellers, had experienced an increase in appraisal time since the new HVCC rules were enacted. Similarly, 71 percent of Realtors® noted an increase in the use of appraisers who were not from the local area. These factors often adversely affected the sale or the sales process, which occasionally resulted in the loss of a sale or a homeowner’s inability to refinance into today’s lower rates. I expressed our serious concern in the meetings.

“… Today Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac issued clear guidance on two very important points that we raised in our meetings. First, the guidance states that lenders should use appraisers who have clear experience in the geographic area. Second, it clarifies that appraisers are not prohibited from talking to real estate agents.

“NAR has asked Congress and the FHFA to immediately implement an 18-month moratorium on the new HVCC rules to further address unintended consequences of this new rule. We will continue to push for this, but are pleased that this first step was taken today.”

For more information, visit realtor.org/hvcc. ❈

Truth in Lending: Recent Changes Affect Home Buyers

Lenders are now subject to new disclosure requirements for mortgage loans under

the Federal Reserve Board’s revised Truth in Lending Act (Regulation Z). The new regulations affect mortgage applications filed after July 30, 2009.

The requirements apply to all mortgages secured by a borrower’s home, including primary and second homes and refinancings. Investor loans continue to be exempt.

Key changes include:

» Lenders must give good faith estimates of mortgage loan costs within three business days after the consumer applies for a loan (early disclosure). The lender may not collect any fees before the disclosure is provided, except for a reasonable fee for obtaining a credit report.

» The closing may not take place until expiration of a seven-day waiting period after the consumer receives the early disclosure.

» Consumers may shorten or waive the three-day and/or seven-day waiting periods for a documented, “bona fide personal financial emergency,” but only after receiving an accurate Truth In Lending Act disclosure.

» If the annual percentage rate (APR) changes by more than 0.125 percent, the lender must provide a corrected disclosure to the borrower and wait an additional three business days before closing the loan. The APR includes not only the interest rate on the loan but certain other costs related to settlement.

Additional information on this change can be found at nvar.com. ❈

FIGURE 1 Percent Change in Sales by Price Range NVAR

1st half of 2008 — 1st half of 2009

% chg 2008 - 2009

Less than $200,000 193%

$200,000 - 299,999 52%

$300,000 - 399,999 1%

$400,000 - 499,999 -9%

$500,000 - 599,999 -2%

$600,000 - 699,999 -9%

$700,000 - 799,999 -1%

$800,000 - 899,999 -29%

$900,000 - 999,999 -31%

$1 million or more -15%

Average Days on the Market

1st half of 2009 Fee Simple DOM

Less than $200,000 96 101

$200,000 - 299,999 78 80

$300,000 - 399,999 77 75

$400,000 - 499,999 72 71

$500,000 - 599,999 75 75

$600,000 - 699,999 79 79

$700,000 - 799,999 101 101

$800,000 - 899,999 110 113

$900,000 - 999,999 139 141

$1 million or more 156 153

-50%

0%

50%

100%

150%

200%

Less

than

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- 5

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- 6

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- 7

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- 8

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$900

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- 9

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99

$1 m

illio

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e Figure 1

Percent Change in Sales by Price Range NVAR

1st half of 2008 - 1st half of 2009

Source: MRIS, GMU Center for Regional Analysis

0

50

100

150

200

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00

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101 80 75 71 75 79

101 113 141 153

Figure 2 Average Days on the Market by Price Range

NVAR 1st half of 2009



market update

By Lisa A. Fowler, PhD, George Mason University, Center for Regional Analysis

In the Northern Virginia region, sales were up 16 percent in

the first six months of 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. The strongest gains were in Fairfax County, where the number of sales was up 19 percent. However, as sales activity has picked up, prices continue to fall region wide. In the first half of this year, the average price of a home sold in the Northern Virginia region was about 14 percent lower than the average price in the first half of 2008. When analyzing the types of homes selling, it is evident that lower-priced homes are driving sales in 2009.

The number of homes sold for under $200,000 in the NVAR region increased from 470 in the first six months of 2008 to 1,112 in the first six months of 2009, an increase of nearly 200 percent (Figure 1). Sales of homes priced in the $200,000s were up 52 percent. Sales of higher-priced homes have been markedly lower in 2009 compared with 2008. For example, the number of homes sold for between $800,000 and $899,999 was down almost 30 percent in the first half of 2009 compared with the first half of 2008.

There is a shift to lower-priced homes across all housing types in the region. In the first half of 2009, about 40 percent of condominiums sold for less than $200,000, compared with only 19 percent of condominiums sold during the same period in 2008. Similarly, 44 percent of single-family attached/townhomes sold for under $300,000 in 2009, compared with 24 percent in 2008. And among single-family detached homes, 34 percent of those sold in the first six months of 2009 sold for less than $400,000. In the first half of 2008, only 20 percent of single-family detached home sales were below $400,000.

LOWER-PRICED LISTINGS SET THE SCENE

The sales trends are directly related to the new listings coming on the market. In the first half of 2009, there were nearly 2,000 new listings in the Northern Virginia region priced

under $200,000, representing about 12 percent of new listings. In the same period during 2008, only about 7 percent of new listings were under $200,000.

At least three factors are at play: 1) sellers are lowering their prices to attract buyers, 2) foreclosures and short sales are forcing some owners to sell, and these homes tend to be in the lower price ranges and 3) owners of less-expensive homes are selling while potential sellers of higher-priced homes are waiting on the sidelines.

Despite an increase in sales activity of lower-priced homes, homes under $200,000 were on the market longer than homes in slightly higher price ranges (Figure 2). In the first half of 2009, homes selling for less than $200,000 were on the market an average of about 100 days, compared with 80 days for homes in

Awesome Interest Rates and Bank-Owned Properties Contribute to Affordability Factor

lower homes

% chg 2008 - 2009

Less than $200,000 193%

$200,000 - 299,999 52%

$300,000 - 399,999 1%

$400,000 - 499,999 -9%

$500,000 - 599,999 -2%

$600,000 - 699,999 -9%

$700,000 - 799,999 -1%

$800,000 - 899,999 -29%

$900,000 - 999,999 -31%

$1 million or more -15%

Average Days on the Market

1st half of 2009 Fee Simple DOM

Less than $200,000 96 101

$200,000 - 299,999 78 80

$300,000 - 399,999 77 75

$400,000 - 499,999 72 71

$500,000 - 599,999 75 75

$600,000 - 699,999 79 79

$700,000 - 799,999 101 101

$800,000 - 899,999 110 113

$900,000 - 999,999 139 141

$1 million or more 156 153

-50%

0%

50%

100%

150%

200%

Less

than

$20

0,00

0

$200

,000

- 2

99,9

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- 8

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Figure 1 Percent Change in Sales by Price Range

NVAR 1st half of 2008 - 1st half of 2009


0

50

100

150

200

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00,0

00

$200

,000

-

299,

999

$300

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101 80 75 71 75 79

101 113 141 153

Figure 2 Average Days on the Market by Price Range

NVAR 1st half of 2009


FIGURE 2 Average Days on the Market by Price Range NVAR

1st half of 2009


market update

DriVing sales UPTickAwesome Interest Rates and Bank-Owned Properties Contribute to Affordability Factor

the $200,000s, 75 days for homes in the $300,000s and 71 days for homes in the $400,000s.

Thus, while the first half of 2009 saw a dramatic rise in home sales under $200,000, many of these lower-priced homes still linger on the market and homes priced in the $400,000s seem to be moving fastest. Several factors may be creating this situation. First, many homes in the NVAR region priced under $200,000 are condominiums. It has become increasingly difficult for condominium buyers to find financing. Since foreclosure rates nationally have been higher for condominiums, lenders have been more hesitant to lend. Also, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been more cautious about insuring loans made to potential condominium buyers. Compounding that, Fannie Mae now requires up to 30 percent down to avoid an interest rate surcharge on a loan for a condominium, and it will only insure loans to people buying new condominiums in projects where at least 70 percent of the units are sold or under contract to owners.

The FHA, which is one of the only alternatives for buyers without a 20 percent down payment, will provide loans only to condominium buyers purchasing a home in an

FHA-approved condominium project. The difficulty in finding financing for condominium purchases likely has slowed the sales of new condominiums in the region. It has also made it more difficult for buyers looking for affordable housing.

Foreclosures and short sales, which tend to be concentrated among lower-priced homes, will also increase the days on the market of these homes. While foreclosures and short sales have not been as prevalent in the Northern Virginia region as they have in other parts of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, they do have an effect on the lower-priced market.

DOWN PAYMENT STILL A STUMBLING BLOCK

The major impediment to increasing sales activity among higher-priced homes seems to be the down payment. Fannie Mae recently reinstated higher-level conventional loan limits for the Northern Virginia region to $729,750. As a result, the interest rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage of between $417,000 (the general Fannie Mae loan limit) and $729,750 is only about 0.5 percentage points higher than the rate for a loan under $417,000. (Non-conforming jumbo loans above $729,750 typically still have interest rates of 2 percentage points or so higher.) However, Fannie Mae requires 20 percent down. In most cases, a move-up buyer will have to sell a home at a reasonable profit to be able to put 20 percent down on a new home. This “trickle up” effect will take time and will start with an increase in sales of moderately-priced homes. The conforming jumbo limit of $729,750 converts to a limit of about $650,000 beginning January 1, 2010.

During the next few months, it is expected that more moderately-priced homes will continue to sell well, particularly townhouses under $300,000 and single-family detached homes under $400,000, while condominium buyers will find good prices but have difficulty obtaining financing. As more move-up buyers are able to sell, they will put pressure on the higher-priced homes. Buyers looking at homes above $700,000 should be aware of the relatively favorable interest rates that may not be available in 2010. ❈

During the next few months, it is expected that more moderately-priced homes will continue to sell well . . .

homes

realtor® safety first


NVAR knows how important

Realtor® safety is. That is why, in connection with 2009 Realtor® Safety Week, which takes place this year from September 13-19, we invited NVAR News readers to share their safety best practices.

“My safety tip would be to follow your instincts, never meet a stranger alone and to verify information before you meet the prospect,” says Ilona Motz, Associate Broker with RE/MAX Presidential. She shared the following story, which has convinced her to always stick to the safety rules:

I received a sign call on a vacant townhouse I had on the market. The male caller wanted to see the house on his

lunch hour. I asked him some pertinent questions and he gave me his work phone number, told me where his current rental was located and sounded like a solid prospective buyer. I agreed to meet him. Normally I have a person come to the office, but this man claimed

to work by the listing and the office was six miles away. If I agree to meet a buyer at a listing, I take someone with me, but there was no opportunity to line anyone up on such short notice.

I went to the townhouse ahead of schedule and turned on all the lights. I then went across the street to chat with a neighbor. The townhouse complex had a 5-foot wall around its border and there was only one street into the complex, so I kept my eye on the street to watch the man drive in. At the appointed time, an athletic-looking young man dressed in running clothes called out my name from in front of the

RealtoR® Safety Week

realtor® safety first


listing. It was the prospect. He had jumped over the wall to come into the complex!

I went to greet him and the hairs on my neck stood on end. Warning bells went off in my head. I opened the front door of the vacant house and invited him to tour without me.

After he left, I tried to verify the information he had given me. It was all false, a dead end. His name, the work phone number, all invented. He was pretty inconspicuous in his running gear – a pleasant-looking guy out for a jog on a nice day. I had a feeling that if the neighbor had not also seen the man or if I had toured the house with him, things could have turned out differently.

Would Your Safety Instincts Prevail? More Tips to Keep You Safe:

Johanna Devon, Principal Broker, Commercial, Land & Residential Brokerage: Rule number one in my

office – on our first visit to new listing that is bank owned or an abandoned short sale, we do not go alone. We carry a complete tool kit with flashlight, screwdrivers, drills, trash bags, gloves, masks, shoe covers and mace.

Jane A. Quill, Associate Broker, RE/MAX Presidential: I always let my sister or someone at the office know the name, telephone or cell phone and the e-mail of the person I am meeting at a property. If possible, I have the client meet me at the office during business hours.

Marta L. Valldejuli, Century 21 Olde Dominion, Inc.: After reading for years in the Realtor® magazine how Realtors’® safety was compromised while at work, I decided to join a martial arts school and started Tae Kwan Do. Three years and five belts later I have lots of skills to defend myself. I am ready for anything that comes my way. We can never be too

careful. Our jobs are very dangerous, because we are dealing with a lot of people we don’t know. Safety should be in our heads first and sales later!

Debbie Wicker, AssociateBroker, RE/MAX Allegiance: Very “low tech” and pretty intuitive, but once I’m inside a house, vacant or otherwise, if no one is home I lock the door behind me. . . . If something feels creepy or odd, I leave immediately.

Safety Always

Thank you to all our members who shared their safety tips. For more Realtor® Safety Week materials, including a dynamic widget that automatically updates safety messages on your desktop, visit realtor.org/safety. Continue to check the Web site year-round, as NAR will provide quarterly updates on new resources, including Webinars by safety experts. For more information, e-mail [email protected]. ❈

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GRI ePRO CIPS RCE SRES SRES CAE GRI ABRGREEN DESIGNATIOREALTOR CAE ePRO RCE CRS SRCRS RCE GRI ABR SRESABR CIPS GRI CRS SRESRCE REALTOR CRS GRICAE SRES CIPS AePRO GRI CIPS RCE SRES ABR GREESRES REALTOR A

It’s September:

Should You Be Back InSCH OL?20 SeptembeR 2009 NVAR ReAltoR® UPDATE

By Michele Lerner

Motivation to Learn ShouLd Be a LifeLong QueSt, But there iS no tiMe Like the PreSent.

GRI ePRO CIPS RCE SRES SRES CAE GRI ABRGREEN DESIGNATIOREALTOR CAE ePRO RCE CRS SRCRS RCE GRI ABR SRESABR CIPS GRI CRS SRESRCE REALTOR CRS GRICAE SRES CIPS AePRO GRI CIPS RCE SRES ABR GREESRES REALTOR A

It’s September:

Should You Be Back InSCH OL?


Experts agree that education, whether in real estate contracts, social media, using high

technology tools or negotiating a short sale, benefits Realtors® and their customers. During slower markets, real estate agents are often

advised to beef up their designations and renew their enthusiasm for the

profession with a few classes, but the cost of some of these

courses can be an obstacle. Now NAR’s new initiative

for 2009, “Right Tools, Right Now,” allows NVAR and other associations to reduce their fees for some classes.

“The ‘Right Tools, Right Now’ program is designed to get the resources and training into agents’ hands immediately so they can keep their business moving forward,” says Anne Gardner,

Vice President of Education and Business Specialties for

NVAR. “NAR is reducing fees to us so we can pass along the

savings and offer more low-cost or free educational opportunities

than ever before. For instance, in September we are offering the ABR

classes at reduced fees.”

Realtors® with six to 40 years’ experience have varying opinions about the real estate

training they have received through their brokerages, NVAR and other providers, but most find that interacting with other agents provides almost as much education as the actual classes.

“A lot of the benefit from taking classes is the opportunity they provide for agents to learn from each other,” says Vivian Lyons, a Realtor® with Weichert Realtors® of Great Falls, and in business for 17 years. “Agents share experiences in class that we can learn from, and often I find that their experiences are [issues] that you can’t foresee but that can happen to all of us.”Lyons takes more than the required classes out of

personal interest and also to make sure she stays up-to-date on real estate’s changing market.

Realtor® Dianne Van Volkenburg, with Weichert Realtors® in Great Falls, has been in business for six years and prefers to take classes online.

“I highly recommend online classes for continuing education because they fit into my time schedule, and I feel as if I am really learning the material,” says Van Volkenburg. “The quizzes at the end of each class force you to focus. Recently, I took a class that covered the rules and regulations of Internet advertising, which was eye-opening.”

Marilyn Cantrell, a McEnearney Associates associate broker in McLean, has been in business 22 years, and is an advocate for extra real estate education. Cantrell has earned nearly every possible designation.

“Newer agents need to take as many classes as they can, especially if they are not being given extra training in their offices,” says Cantrell. “I see a lot of agents in classes who have been in business a long time, and I think it’s because they recognize that we won’t survive unless we keep up our knowledge of the constant changes in our industry.”

There's Something for EveryoneCantrell recommends classes in negotiations, short sales and foreclosures, buyer expectations, seller expectations, and appraisals. She also endorses a seminar on the Silver Metro Line which she says gave her great information to pass on to her clients living in that corridor or interested in investing there.

Beth Elrefai, a Realtor® for six years with RE/MAX Select Properties in Sterling, says she takes additional classes, too, and finds she always gets something out of each session.

“It’s important to keep training and learning beyond the required courses in order to give better service to our clients,” says Elrefai. “The ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative) program was exceptional because it puts you in the mindset of focusing on how to protect your buyers at all costs and to be vigilant about the buyer’s point of view.”

Leslie Mitchell, an associate broker with RE/MAX Gateway in Chantilly, and in business for 10 years, says that she believes the best set of classes she has taken are for the

Back in School, continued on page 22

back in school

CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) designation, because they were dynamic and interesting.

“The GRI (Graduate, Realtor® Institute) course was great, too, but it would be better if Realtors® could take this course when they are first licensed because it has so much good information,” says Mitchell.

Associate broker Gerry Staudte, Long & Foster Real Estate in Burke, and in the real estate business for 16 years, recommends the NVAR broker course, which he says gave him a better understanding of real estate law, contracts and appraisals that he can use to help clients.

“I also earned a CSP (Certified New Home Sales Professional) designation which was taught by a vice president of Winchester Homes and provided me with a lot of understanding about how homes are built.”

Staudte re-reads the sales contract every six months to refresh his understanding of the terms and conditions in the contract, and recommends that agents take a refresher course in contracts to protect their clients and themselves.

Many agents, including Staudte, suggest that all agents should take a class in short sales and foreclosures, since this is an area rife with conflicts and confusion.

“I would like to see classes on short sales become mandatory for agents because there are too many inconsistencies in the way they are handled,” says Lyons. “These problems damage our reputation with the public and with our clients.”

Elrefai recently earned a CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert) designation and highly

recommends this course. The CDPE designation specifically teaches agents about short sales and foreclosures, and how to handle them when working from either the buyer or the seller’s side.

Lyons says the two classes that she recommends the most to agents include one on home inspections, which made her more aware of what issues are worth worrying about on behalf of her clients.

“I also suggest taking a class on ‘Unconventional Transactions,’ which was full of specific examples and pitfalls to watch out for, including short sales,” says Lyons.

“I think a great class would be ‘New Buyer Counseling’ which could include information on how to help buyers understand the short sale and foreclosure market,” says Mitchell. “A lot of buyers don’t understand that it really isn’t a buyer's market when you are looking at homes under $500,000 right now, and they don’t understand that you can’t low-ball a foreclosure. It would help [us] learn ways to approach buyers to make sure they understand this.”

Gayl Warman, an associate broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Alexandria who has been in real estate for 40 years, says that agents can never take enough fair housing classes.

“Fair housing classes bring out a

discussion of ethics, which I think is important for agents,” says Warman. “So much of what we do is about perception, and we need to be careful of how we treat people.”

Warman also recommends that Realtors® receive training on condominium and home owner association rules that can affect contracts.

“You can’t take for granted what home owner association dues cover and what they don’t,” says Warman. “I’ve seen deals fall apart over these issues.”

Green Realtor® designation classes are drawing a lot of attention from agents, and Warman believes that knowledge of green building practices will become increasingly important in the future, when she expects green features to become a big influence on property values.

“The three-day green designation class we are offering through NAR’s Green Council is one of the most successful of our new courses,” says Gardner.

The Current Course BuzzInterest in particular courses waxes and wanes with the market, so that agents are currently asking for classes on short sales, social media and green real estate, said Gardner.

Back in School, continued from page 21


back in school


back in school


A green construction course, “Anatomy of a Green House,” will be offered by NVAR in the fall.

“One of the things we do at NVAR is investigate reputable teachers for all our classes. Realtors® are inundated, and so are we at NVAR, by offers of classes and designations that are not approved and won’t even count for continuing education credits,” says Gardner. “Our Education Advisory Group acts as the eyes and ears of the staff to analyze trends and help the staff determine which courses are needed. I rely on contacts around the country to help us sift through course offerings to find quality materials and teachers.”

Gardner also checks in with Realtors® during class breaks to ask, “What are the three things on your mind right now?” in order to get a feel for the topics most important to agents and to find ways to keep Realtors’® businesses profitable.

Using social media to improve business seems to be on the minds of many agents these days. “I recently took a class on using Twitter and Facebook for business which

was extremely helpful,” says Debbie Miller, a McEnearney Associates associate broker in Arlington who has been in business for 15 years. “I’d love to take more classes on using those tools and blogging, especially to find out from other agents what really works as a marketing strategy.”

NVAR held a session in June with a panel of agents, experts at using social media, to share their experiences in a hands-on session.

“Now we have created a ‘wiki’, a sharing site for our members where they can post ideas and ask questions of each other,” says Gardner. “The agents who are doing this are all incredibly intuitive and this has become a participatory process.” Agents can access the wiki through nvarwiki.com.

Professionalism and Ethics: Essential for EveryoneMiller and other agents mentioned that many Realtors® could benefit from a class in professionalism and etiquette.

“We’ve lost a lot of protocol and manners, and it would be nice to see

everyone reminded of the value of returning phone calls, giving agents feedback on their listings and even little things like calling a seller or an agent to cancel an appointment instead of not showing up,” says Miller.

Gardner says that it is always difficult to control conduct in a business of independent contractors.

“We published a special issue of Update magazine on professionalism in May, which has received a lot of positive feedback, not just from our members but also from other associations around the country,” says Gardner. “Problems with professionalism need to be addressed as a training issue, but part of it is also a supervision issue. You can certainly bring up these issues in continuing education classes, but you can’t mandate behavior.”

Gardner says that in addition to addressing the topic in the magazine, professional behavior is discussed as a risk issue in broker training classes, because brokers can find themselves responsible if their agents are conducting business inappropriately. She says the topic is covered in a soft way throughout the 30-hour post-licensing classes, too.

“I think all agents should continue to educate themselves with classes and with books on every topic, even on time management skills, how to structure your day and how to maintain a positive attitude,” says Mitchell.

Whether attending classes on short sales, social media or studying contracts, Realtors® armed with extra knowledge have a better chance of succeeding in these challenging times. ❈

You can read more of Michele’s writings in her recently published book, “Homebuying: Tough Times, First Time, Any Time,” published by Capital Books, and available for purchase at Capital-books.com. The book will be available in the NVAR Realtor® Shop soon.

“ I think all agents should continue to educate

themselves with classes and with books

on every topic, even on time management

skills, how to structure your day and how to

maintain a positive attitude.”

- Leslie Mitchell, Associate Broker

RE/MAX Gateway


in memoriam

Dr. Herbert Nathan Booth, who proudly served as

the 1999 Northern Virginia Association of Realtors® President, died peacefully in his Alexandria, Virginia, home on June 26 at age 70. He made his mark as a real estate industry instructor, advocate and mentor, whose NVAR Realtor® School classes were often filled with returning students. In 2000, Booth was named NVAR Realtor® of the Year and in 2006 the Virginia Association of Realtors® named Booth its Realtor® of the year.“Nathan was in a class by himself,” said Christine M. Todd, NVAR chief executive officer. “He loved his students, his profession and the entire Realtor® family that he served so well. On a personal level, I will miss his enthusiastic spirit, our long conversations about being raised in New York City and his love of God and country. We will all miss him.”

Booth’s tenure as NVAR President was only part of his legacy, as he made his mark as an instructor of international real estate; professional standards practices and policies; technology tools; and real estate finance. VAR named him the Outstanding George Rink Educator of the Year in 2003 because of his service as a real estate instructor and industry leader.

In 2004, the 30,000+ members of VAR elected Booth as its President, enabling him to represent the real estate industry statewide. That year,

he chaired the Virginia Real Estate Educational Foundation.

On March 12, 2005, Booth was a presenter at the Solutions Forum in preparation for the National White House Conference on Aging. At that time, he was the Senior Advisor and National Spokesperson for the Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES), which had 10,000 members throughout North America.

Booth was also a recipient of the Omega Tau Rho medallion based on his exemplary dedication and service, and the high esteem by which fellow Realtors® held him.

Serving on the current National Association of Realtors® Board of Directors, Booth was a huge proponent of education for real estate professionals. He advocated for certification programs and continuing education and served on committees focusing on international real estate, fair housing and diversity.

Booth was quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Realty Times, REcyber.com, Realtor® magazine and served as a reporter for the TV Series “Real Estate Digest.” He was a speaker in several countries about international real estate, the Seniors Real Estate Specialist

designation, cultural diversity and the use of technology tools in the real estate business.

Dr. Booth is survived by his wife of 16 years, Cindy Hausch-Booth, daughters Jacqueline Booth and Gail Labbe, son Dr. Keley J. Booth, five grandchildren, two sisters, one brother, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members. ❈

Remembering Realtor®

By Jill M. Landsman, NVAR Communications Director

Nathan Booth


Save a Stamp, Save a Tree, Save Time—Renew Online!NVAR Goes Green with Online Dues Payments

2010 dues billing began on August 3, 2009. To ensure a smooth renewal, follow these simple steps:

» Go to nvar.com

» Click on the large, red “Pay Dues” button

» Follow the login and payment instructions

To view the invoice amount for your 2010 dues, you must log in to nvar.com.

Don’t want to pay online with a credit card?Simply print out the renewal invoice that is available on nvar.com and mail it, together with your payment, to NVAR, P.O. Box 586, Merrifield, Virginia, 22116; OR bring your renewal invoice and payment to the NVAR Fairfax or Herndon locations.

Pay on time to avoid a late payment fee of $50, effective 10/1/2009.

Dates To Know:August 3, 2009: Dues Billing Period Opened

September 30, 2009: Renewals Must Be Received

October 1, 2009: $50 Late Fee Imposed

Payment by October 1, 2009 will keep all your member benefits active.

RENEW AGAIN FOR 2010 – PAY ONLINE IN 2009

online dues payments


Robyn BurdettBurdett, CRS, GRI, CDPE, has been a member of NVAR since 1988. She is currently an active real estate agent, a Managing Broker/Branch Vice President and trainer for RE/MAX Allegiance, and a Brian Buffini Mentor. Burdett is a member of the Government Affairs and Bill Review Committees at NVAR, as well as the Risk Management Committee and Bill Review Committee at VAR. She serves as Chairman of the NVAR Grievance Committee, is a member of the NVAR Leadership Institute and the NVAR representative to the Fairfax County Economic Advisory Committee. Burdett actively promotes professionalism, ethics and education among Realtors®.

Tammy BagnatoBagnato has been an NVAR member for 12 years,

volunteering on NVAR’s Forms

Committee and Arbitration

Committee (also past Chair).

She serves as an agent with

Coldwell Banker, and was the

number one NVAR New Homes

Sales Agent in 2006. Bagnato

has taught new agents through Coldwell Banker’s

education and goal-setting programs, and has been

a volunteer life skills instructor through Fairfax and

Loudoun counties’ correctional facilities. A student of

economics, finance and behavior, her ability to listen

and understand the needs of clients and colleagues

has earned her the privilege to be a Top Producer and

respected Realtor®.

Tracy ComstockAn NVAR member since 2000, Comstock is active in the association, serving on the Grievance Committee and Community Outreach Group while also serving as Vice Chair of the Korean Realtors® Forum. She is also a Board Member for the Washington Korean Realtors® Association. Additionally, Comstock

volunteers at the Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington and Asian Real Estate Association of America. As a 2009 graduate of the NVAR Leadership Institute, she is eager to continue contributing to the industry by serving on the NVAR Board. Comstock resides in Arlington with her husband of 12 years and their son.

Delk HamakerHamaker, a member of NVAR since 2001, has served on the Standard Forms Committee since 2004 and currently chairs this committee. Along with his role on Forms, he is an active member of the Grievance Committee, Broker Forum and the Leadership Institute.

Hamaker is a fourth generation Northern Virginian,

a product of the area’s fine public school system and a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College. As principal broker of KDH Real Estate, a family-owned

and operated office, he manages a successful team

and is an active agent with experience in both residential and association management.

IMPORTANT DATES TO KNOWMonday, September 7, 2009 - Election begins at noon, and voting is available online at nvar.com

Friday, October 9, 2009 - Election closes at noon

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 - Election results announced at NVAR Annual Convention

board candidates

2010 Board of Director Candidates Named


board candidates

2010 Board of Director Candidates NamedSita Kapur Kapur started her real estate career

in 1997 as a sales associate for

Long & Foster. She served as a sales

associate and an Associate Broker for

RE/MAX from 2002 to 2008, before

starting her own brokerage in 2008.

She holds the Certified Residential

Specialist and Graduate Realtor®

Institute designations. She is also

an Accredited Staging Professional.

Kapur graduated with honors as a

civil engineer from Virginia Tech and obtained her MBA in

finance. She is a member of NVAR’s Standard Forms and

Grievance Committees. Previously, she has been a member

of the Arbitration Committee. Kapur is currently training to

serve as a mediator.

Frank Borges LLosaLLosa is the broker/owner/blogger/twitterer at FranklyRealty.com and creator of the free-IDX site: FranklyMLS.com. Both his blog and search site are Inman 2009 Most Innovative Award finalists. LLosa frequently volunteers at NVAR and VAR teaching free technology classes on photography, videos and blogging. On the Board, he plans to increase technology throughout NVAR and help Realtors® become better agents. He was taught: The best thing a Realtor® can have is a great Realtor® on the other side. Since only one in 10 members vote, LLosa says, “Please don’t forget (and tell a friend) to vote... for me.” More at: ChooseFrank.org.

Merlin Smith An NVAR member since 1995, Smith currently serves on the Professional Standards Committee. He has served on the Standard Forms Committee and also on the Grievance Committee as a member, vice chair, and chair. Smith volunteers as an election officer for Fairfax County, and has been involved in fundraisers for The Children’s National Medical Center. He is an instructor for CE Classes through

RE/MAX Premier’s School of Real Estate. Smith is retired from the U.S. Army, is married and has three grandchildren.

Scott MacDonaldMacDonald has been an active member of NVAR since May of 1988 and has served on many NVAR committees, including Professional Standards and Arbitration, and is a former Board member. Currently, he sits on the Budget and Finance Committee, all while overseeing three successful real estate offices and running a winning sales team. MacDonald is a certified teacher for the VREB, actively attends

educational conferences to advance his knowledge of the industry and holds the belief that education is the key to success. As the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Gateway, MacDonald instills this belief in all of his agents.

Trudy SeveraAn NVAR member since 1994, Severa has been an active volunteer. She has served on the NVAR Board since 2005. From 1995-2000, she was a member/chairperson of the NVAR Education Committee. She has

also participated on the Community Outreach Committee and Education Advisory Group. In 2007, Severa was part of the planning committee for NVAR’s annual convention and a graduate of the inaugural class of NVAR’s Leadership Academy. During the past year, she has served on the Economic Summit Planning Committee, the Finance Forum as well as the Budget and Finance Committee. She looks forward to the opportunity to continue to serve.


nvar convention

NVAR Buy-A-Brick Campaign

Help Lay the Groundwork Today for NVAR’s Future Tomorrow!

Bricks are available for purchase for $250 each, from now through October 1, 2009.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to leave your mark on NVAR for future generations! For a limited time, NVAR is o�ering its members the chance to purchase an engraved brick that will be placed on an entry pathway to our

new Fairfax headquarters building.

This is a limited time o�er!

For more information or to purchase a brick, visit nvar.com or call 703.207.3200.

Save the

Date!

10/13/09

Sponsors:

green fields


converts 90 percent of the fuel to heat. The other 10 percent is lost through the chimney.

Category: DocumentsEnergy Star Certification: The home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the International Residential Code (IRC) and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them more efficient than standard homes. The Energy Star label should be prominently displayed in the circuit breaker box of the home.

Category: Building/Rooms/FloorsRenewable Floor Coverings: Includes rapidly-renewable products such as linoleum, bamboo, recycled-content tile or non-VOC carpet. If you are not sure about a particular floor covering, look for the Forestry

Stewardship Council (FSC) label. The FSC certifies product groups made from well-managed forests, controlled sources and recycled wood or fiber.

Category: Building Utilities/WaterTankless: Refers to tankless water heaters, which heat water instantly without the use of a storage tank. They avoid the standby heat losses associated with storage water heaters.

Grey Water: A system for reusing water that has already been used in the home (except from toilets), for other purposes. A typical application is landscaping irrigation.

Rainwater Harvesting: A system for the gathering and storing of rainwater. Again, one of the most typical applications is landscaping irrigation.

Coming Soon: The Next Round of FeaturesThere are other green home features still under consideration for the

next round of additions to MRIS. To view the list of proposed additional features, visit NVAR’s Green Resources page by clicking on the “resources” tab of nvar.com.

“The new green fields are a reflection of what buyers are asking for,” said Brooke Schara of Arbour Realty in Arlington. “As agents and customers continue to be educated, we will see a huge benefit to having these fields in MRIS.”

As Realtors® explore these new options for marketing client listings, it is important to support claims that are made about a home’s green features. Listing agents should ask the home owner for documentation. A little research can save a lot of headaches down the road. The NAR Green Designation is a great place to learn more about green building practices and green home features. Visit: greenresourcecouncil.org. ❈

Adam Gallegos, principal broker of Arbour Realty, is a member of NVAR’s Green Task Force.

Green Fields, continued from page 13

technology corner

Making A Web Site That WorksMaking A Web Site That Worksdiscovering untapped resourcesBy Ainsley S. McDougal, NVAR Online Communications Manager


For Realtors®, having a good Web site is comparable

to having a good business card 20 years ago. Without a presence online, a lot of opportunities can be missed. Potential clients move on to the Realtor® who understands how powerful the Internet is in today’s market.

The 2009 NAR Member Survey reported that 60 percent of all Realtors® have a Web site, and “the typical Realtor® has had a Web site for five years.”

“My blog site allows me to be ‘open for business’ whenever someone has a question about local real estate…,” states Realtor® Heather Elias with Century 21 Redwood. Her current blog-style Web site at LoCoMusings.com was established more than two years ago, but Elias has had a Web presence since starting her business in 2005.

Elias cites ample evidence to show that 75 percent of her clients are generated from her Web presence, which is not surprising considering the national statistics. NAR’s survey revealed that 72 percent of Realtors® with a Web site received customer inquiries from their site.

Simply setting up a basic site is a place to begin, but that alone is not the strategic solution in a long-term business marketing plan. There are specific elements that are decision-makers for people viewing a Web site.

Listings SearchProviding the ability to search all listings in a defined area, not just the Realtor’s® own listings, is an obvious plus for consumers.

“[Our site] allows us to showcase our listings 24/7. We also have control over the content of our listings, which allows us to add text, photos and links once a new listing is loaded,” states Realtor® Leslie Wilder with McEnearney Associates, whose site is 3wilders.com.

One option to accomplish this is to utilize an IDX (Internet data exchange) or MLS Search, which is offered by MRIS for an annual fee. Elias pays for this service as a part of her Web site.

Market Data & StatisticsConsumers look to a Realtor® as an industry expert. Listings alone do not provide sufficient information for a potential client to make an educated decision. As a Realtor®, it is critical to provide market statistics and to understand the trends occurring in local markets.

The DC Metro area is transient due to the number of diplomatic and government positions. People often move here with little understanding of each neighborhood.

As a resource for our members, nvar.com provides detailed statistics and market analysis. Members may even post these tools on their own sites, provided NVAR is cited as the source.

Showcasing Individual ExpertiseA Realtor’s® Web site is a key component in providing information to the public, and serves to highlight expertise in a given market or field. Showcasing an area of specialization, such as Senior Real Estate Specialist or the Green Designation, or demonstrating knowledge of a particular suburb can be a valuable Web marketing tool.

Loudoun County is a market in which Elias specializes, and she puts her insider knowledge to good use by posting updates when construction begins in certain areas or other factors affecting the housing market occur.

There are other ways to provide added value to clients. Wilder’s team utilizes their site to provide resources such as market statistics and links to utilities, schools, counties, local events and more. This information has helped differentiate their three-member team, all of whom are multi-year members of NVAR’s Top Producers club.

technology corner


Getting to Know YouConsumers are naturally drawn to sites that demonstrate who the Realtor® is professionally, but also offer information about the individual.

Elias accomplishes this through her blog-style site. “It allows people to learn about me as a person and a businesswoman in a comfortable, low key manner… they don’t have to ‘interview’ me,” she says. “It’s like a 24-hour storefront that highlights my experience, expertise, market knowledge and personality.”

By revealing some personality, a Web site can make potential clients feel a connection with a Realtor® before ever approaching him or her for their real estate needs.

Closing The DealFor most Realtors®, creating a good Web site means hiring a professional design firm. Realtors® often must explain to potential clients that they are likely to lose money by selling a home by themselves, instead of

hiring the right professional. Web design is similar.

There are professionals who are best equipped to offer advice about layout, content, color scheme and other details. It is worth hiring a professional not only to save time and money, but also to help create an accurate online representation of your qualifications as a Realtor®.

A good place to start is by searching for other good Web sites, then finding out who designed them. Tip: design firms usually include their identifying information in the footer – or bottom – of the site.

Once your site is designed, the yearly maintenance costs drop significantly. NAR’s survey shows about half of all Realtors® with a Web site spend less than $500 per year.

Remember, as an independent contractor, expenses related to business development could provide an income tax write-off. Check with your tax advisor for those details.

Wilder has the benefit of being with a company that provides its agents individualized Web sites to help promote their businesses, a service now offered by many real estate companies. The 2009 NAR survey revealed that approximately half of all Realtors® with

a Web site were provided the site by their firm.

A Web site is a valuable business investment, and its long-term value should not be underestimated. “The cost of not having a Web site… far outweighs the actual cost that we invest in our Web site,” says Wilder. ❈

“ The cost of not having a Web site… far outweighs the actual cost that we invest in our Web site.”

- Leslie Wilder, 3 Wilders group, Mcenearney associates

Serving the Real Estate Settlement Needs of Our Community in “Royal Style”

We have 8 convenient locations serving Virginia, Maryland & the District of Columbia

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designations

CongratulationsABR Graduates

Marcy M. Bates

Joyce H. Becker

Laura Dunkel

Susan L. Elbertson

Elizabeth Elrefai

Lizette Schlieve

Susan C. Whittenberg

Designations & Specialty CoursesTo register for a course listed or to view a class description, visit realtorschool.com

Principles of Real Estate Course Do you know someone who is ready to begin a career in real estate, but he or she doesn’t know where

to start? The 60-hour Principles of Real Estate course developed by experienced real estate agents goes beyond the basic Virginia license requirements and truly prepares the student for the next stage with career path opportunities and exclusive access to industry leaders. Day and evening courses are available.

Seats are limited and will fill fast! Our next session is Mon., November 30!

Principles Exam Prep CourseDo you want to get additional training before taking the PSI Exam? Then our one-day comprehensive review course is for you. Taught by an experienced instructor, this course provides you with the extra knowledge you need to pass the state exam. Our next session is Sat., November 7.

GRI 401: Understanding Agency This one-day course includes a detailed review of Virginia’s law that governs brokerage relationships with both buyers

& sellers and landlords & tenants, agency disclosure, property disclosure and much more! It takes place on Thurs., September 10 at the NVAR Herndon Service Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost for members is $90; cost for non-members is $140.

ABR: Accredited Buyer Representative ABR is geared toward agents who want to enhance

their buyer representation skills and provide proof to prospective buyer-clients of their proficiency at servicing the needs of special buyers. This two-day course, to take place on Mon., September 14, and Tues., September 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at NVAR Herndon Service Center is the first step in becoming an ABR candidate. An eight-hour Elective course, Short Sales and Foreclosures, is also required. Cost for NVAR members is $325; cost for non-members is $345.


class schedule

POST LICENSINGfairfax headquarters

DATE COURSE TIME

9/2 Post Licensing Day 2 - Fair Housing and Real Estate Law 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

9/9 Post Licensing Day 3 - Listing Process and Selling Process 8:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

9/11 New Member Orientation 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

9/16Post Licensing Day 4 - Business Planning, Finance and Technology

9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

9/23 Post Licensing Day 5 - Contracts 9 a.m. - noon

herndon

DATE COURSE TIME

9/26 New Member Orientation 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

CONTINUING EDUCATIONfairfax headquarters

DATE COURSE TIME

9/12 16 hr CED - Day 1 8:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

9/19 16 hr CED - Day 2 8:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

9/22 Broker CE Part II - Brokerage Risk and Liability 8:45 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.

9/22 Broker CE Part I - Productive Agents and Offices 1 - 4:45 p.m.

herndon

DATE COURSE TIME

9/2 Broker CE Part II - Brokerage Risk and Liability 8:45 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.

9/2 Broker CE Part I - Productive Agents and Offices 1 - 4:45 p.m.

9/15 16 hr CED - Evening (part 1A) 6 - 9:30 p.m.

9/17 16 hr CED - Evening (part 1B) 6 - 9:30 p.m.

9/22 16 hr CED - Evening (part 2A) 6 - 9:30 p.m.

9/24 16 hr CED - Evening (part 2B) 6 - 9:30 p.m.

9/23 CED: 8 hr Mandated Course 8:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

9/24 CED: The New Rules of Real Estate Finance 8:45 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.

9/24CED: Financing Options for the Home Purchase and the Self-Employed

1 - 4:45 p.m.

DC CONTINUING EDUCATIONfairfax headquarters

DATE COURSE TIME

9/15 DC Ethics and DC Fair Housing 9 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.

PRINCIPLES OF REAL ESTATEfairfax headquarters

DATE COURSE TIME

9/14 - 11/2 Principles of Real Estate: Evenings 1 - 14 6 - 10 p.m.

11/30 - 12/15 Principles of Real Estate: Day Series 1 - 9 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

11/7 Principles Exam Prep Course 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

12/19 Principles Exam Prep Course 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

FEATURED OFFERINGS fairfax headquarters

DATE COURSE TIME

9/3 Broker Finance - Day 4 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.



9/21 Weathering a Stormy Transaction 9 a.m. - noon

9/24 Broker Law - Day 1 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.






herndon DATE COURSE TIME

9/10 GRI 401: Understanding Agency 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

9/14 Accredited Buyer Representative - Day 1 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

9/15 Accredited Buyer Representative - Day 2 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

9/16 Advertising I & II 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

9/18 Short Sales and Foreclosures (ABR Elective Course) 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

10/8 GRI 402: Financing Alternatives 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.Bank of America and NVAR are proud to bring you the best in continuing education!

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� 25 locations throughout Virginia, Maryland,and Washington, D.C.

� More than 300,000 residential settlements per-formed!

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Wherever Your Business May Take You…

Alexandria(703) 519-7600

(703) 519-9471 FAXAnnandale*(703) 642-6100

(703) 642-6142 FAXArlington*

(703) 351-0300(703) 351-9978 FAX

Ashburn(703) 726-9222

(703) 726-9368 FAX

Burke(703) 239-9600

(703) 239-0605 FAXCentreville*(703) 818-8600

(703) 803-2867 FAXFredericksburg

(540) 372-4100(540) 372-4114 FAX

Gainesville*(571) 248-8777

(571) 248-8788 FAX

Lake Ridge(703) 491-9600

(703) 492-7494 FAXLorton

(703) 495-9600(703) 493-9302 FAX

Manassas*(703) 396-8838

(703) 396-8809 FAXMcLean

(703) 903-9600(703) 903-9606 FAX

Oakton(703) 242-9600

(703) 242-0725 FAXSterling

(703) 421-3300(703) 421-6353 FAX

Reston**(703) 742-9600

(703) 742-9698 FAXSpringfield

(703) 451-6600(703) 451-1181 FAX

Stafford(540) 288-1747

(540) 288-1797 FAXWarrenton

(540) 341-7700(540) 341-8574 FAX

Winchester(540) 723-0662

(540) 723-0664 FAXRealtor® Hotline

(877) 660-5150

Bethesda(301) 654-9800

(301) 654-8598 FAX

Gaithersburg(240) 683-4850

(240) 683-6676 FAX

Olney301-570-3600

301-570-4541 FAX

Rockville(301) 230-0070

(301) 230-2536 FAX

Silver Spring*(301) 680-0200

(301) 680-2043 FAX

Washington, DC(202) 966-0550

(202) 966-5250 FAX

VIRGINIA OFFICES

MARYLAND & WASHINGTON, D.C. OFFICES

*English & Spanish **English, Spanish & Italian

RGS MapAd-NVAR:Layout 1 8/12/09 1:03 PM Page 1

Q2 2009Q2 2008

List

Rent

Price Q2 2009Q2 2008

List

Rent

VolumeALEXANDRIA

Q2 2009Q2 2008

List

Rent

Price Q2 2009Q2 2008

List

Rent

VolumeARLINGTON

Q2 2009Q2 2008

List

Rent

Price Q2 2009Q2 2008

List

Rent

VolumeFAIRFAX CITY

Q2 2009Q2 2008

List

Rent

Price Q2 2009Q2 2008

List

Rent

VolumeFAIRFAX COUNTY

$1,898

$1,981

$1,931

$1,996

363

344

213

335

$2,135

$2,151

$2,050

$2,237

428

446

253

416

$1,970

$1,872

$1,838

$1,811

43

37

26

39

$2,001

$1,984

$2,033

$2,089

2,188

2,218

1,304

2,193

Q2 2009Q2 2008

List

Rent

Price Q2 2009Q2 2008

List

Rent

VolumeFALLS CHURCH

$2,193

$2,106

$2,254

$2,247

29

27

24

18

Q2 rental statistics


Brought to you by:Second Quarter Rental Stats

N W?mris tools


Are You AvailableMRIS Helps You Stay ConnectedBy Jonathan Hill, MRIS Vice President, Business Development

Industry studies show that 78 percent of consumers will work with the first agent who

responds to them. As a result, today’s real estate market demands a greater degree of mobility and access to information. To help you meet this challenge, MRIS offers new resources to help you stay connected with prospects and clients.

Matrix Mobile – Access Matrix Anytime, AnywhereAs a customer benefit, MRIS offers a product called Matrix Mobile that provides you with the capability to search MLS data from a wireless handheld device with Internet access wherever there is cellular coverage. Matrix Mobile gives you many of the Matrix features directly from your mobile device, including access to Matrix searches by all property types, agent, tax records and open house. Also included is access to your cart, saved searches, contacts and multiple property photos just as they appear in Matrix. It all loads quickly onto your mobile device. You may click directly on a phone number or email address in a listing to contact the agent.

To access Matrix Mobile, simply follow these steps:

» Enter http://matrixmobile.mris.com/ into the Web browser on your mobile device.

» Enter your MRIS ID and PIN in the login screen

» Once you have accessed Matrix Mobile, save the Web site address/URL to your “favorites” for quick and easy access in the future

Matrix Mobile is an Internet-based application accessible from any Web-enabled mobile device such as a BlackBerry®, Apple iPhone, Palm TreoTM or Windows Mobile device.

realPING – Impress Your Clients with Your Responsiveness NOWA Web site can be beautiful, it can be state-of-the-art, but if it is not actionable, or does not compel a visitor to reach out, it is not effective. As a result, MRIS has partnered with realPING to offer you a communications tool that empowers real-time assistance for online visitors. realPING’s “Click to Talk NOW” custom e-button can be placed on your Web site, virtual tours, blogs, online newsletters, email signatures, and even in Matrix email banners.

When Web site visitors, blog readers, or email recipients click your realPING “Talk to Me NOW” button, they get a branded-to-you call page where they enter their phone number. Within seconds, their phone rings and the call is connected to any phone you desire. Your caller ID can even display “realPING” so you know that you should take that call! In addition, at any time during the call, you can “push” content to the caller’s Internet browser remotely from your phone without hanging up. Web site pages that are usually “pushed” include agent/broker Web sites, new listings, mortgage information, PDFs, PowerPoints and even virtual tours. You can access this innovative lead generation tool for $8 per month. One realPING “click to talk” button can be placed on an unlimited number of Web-based applications and email signatures.

With a growing expectation among consumers for responsiveness, you can differentiate your service using this new tool. Become the first to “connect” with clients and answer their questions, whenever you like. ❈

Does Your Client Need Real Answers About Homeownership?Here’s The Starting Line.



When it comes to serving your clients, it pays to deal with a name you know and trust. As a subsidiaryof Cardinal Bank, Cardinal First Mortgage is an outstanding choice. Our multiple mortgage programsand generous loan amounts suit all kinds of homeowners in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC.Plus, Cardinal First Mortgage’s great service, attention to detail, and reliability make the loan processsmooth and simple.

First Mortgages • Refinancing • Construction-To-Permanent Loans

The Difference Is ServiceIn addition to very competitive rates, you’llenjoy the responsiveness and attention of ourloan officers. These skilled professionals aremortgage experts who can provide valuablesupport to your clients as they choose andapply for a mortgage. www.cardinalfirstmortgage.com

Cardinal

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ortgage

A name you trust…with mortgages expressly designed for your clients’ needs

or more information on Cardinal First Mortgage’s programs, pleasecall Jamie Bleakley at 703.848.2850 or visit us online atwww.cardinalfirstmortgage.com.

A subsidiary of Cardinal Bank

For current rates

Cardinal First Mortgage Ad_Final:Layout 1 7/27/09 4:37 PM Page 1


appraiser & affiliate directories

APPRAISERSA+ Appraisals 703-765-7579AAA Appraisals 703-865-5303Advantage Appraisal 703-817-1127Advantage Realty Services 703-866-5050Alan Lord and Associates 703-768-1954Apex Appraisal Group 703-919-3942Atlantic Appraisal Pros 703-622-5555B. H. Potter 703-848-2470Barnesville Associates 301-972-7518Bentley Appraisal Group 703-478-0666BFM 703-670-2586Bishop Real Estate Service 703-978-9322Bruce W. Reyle and Company 703-273-7375Cambyse Goodarzi Appraiser 703-744-6849Capitol Appraisal Service 703-691-8800Cardinal Management Group 703-569-5797Chevy Chase Bank 301-907-5850Chevy Chase Bank, FSB 703-648-9796Classic Appraisals 703-675-2265Cooper Residential Svcs. 540-939-4057Dale D. Barr, Jr. 703-730-2272Dan W. Mori 703-339-6136DCO Appraisal Services 301-855-3886Dennis J O’Brien 703-850-8445Diane Beachy 703-732-8058Dickman & Associates 703-938-6633Distinctive Homes Realty 540-338-4606 Dittmar Realty Group 703-893-0900 Donald R. Drake, Jr. 571-237-9430Elite Appraisal Service 571-331-6374F & F Appraisals 703-963-1743Forte Appraisal Service 703-433-2205Front Rowe 571-213-6489G. Miller Real Estate Appraiser 571-261-5355Gee Appraisers 703-451-9020 Glenn B. Staples & Associates 410-224-5524Gordy Appraisals 703-582-5018H K Bentley Appraisers 800-575-7513Harry Graef 571-213-7249Harry H. Arikan 703-216-5147Hartmann Group 703-406-7621Hendershott Appraisal Services 703-280-1637Home Appraisers 703-709-5695Homestar Real Estate Services 571-261-3367Hundley and Associates 703-212-9080Hundley and Associates 703-212-9080IK Hwan Kim & Associates 443-739-9867Inman Appraisal Services 703-644-9877Integra Appraisal Services 703-758-7750James W. Mumaw Co. 540-659-8586JDC Appraisals 301-438-3300John Halacy Appraisals 571-214-3865 John L. Brady, Jr. 571-237-7430JR Witt & Assoc. 703-266-9312Karas 703-753-5635

Lawrence Mc Guire 703-123-4567Leah Powell CRA 703-304-6552Lesley Omega Appraisers 703-403-2024LSA Appraisal 703-222-3300Marcia Ellen Cunningham 703-391-0514Marquee Properties 703-754-7945McGraw Appraisals 703-963-3988Metro Appraisal Services 703-644-7772Michael S. Mc Mahon 703-476-9472Monir Moshashaie 703-255-6451Nancy M. Pruett 571-277-1671New Dominion Appraisal Services 703-280-1554Newlevel Appraisal Group 301-252-3253Nikki Li Upton 240-476-4380 NOVA Home Appraisals 703-585-7357NoVaStar Appraisals 540-786-8220NVA Appraisal 703-477-3178Omni Appraisal Services 703-591-4001P & C Appraisals 540-548-8625Parker Appraisal Service 703-762-2549Philip Arnold Appraisal Co. 703-250-2132Premier Home Appraisals 703-865-7622Preston Hummer 703-929-0857Real Estate Appraisals 4 You 703-794-9118Rebecca Gerstle 703-441-9147 Renner, Hansborough & Reese 301-258-8181Residential Appraisal Group 304-724-6041Residential Appraisal Services 703-338-0961Residential Valuation Services 703-815-4407Residential Value Services 540-347-4570Ryan Appraisal Services 301-694-6500Sandra A. Le Blanc 703-629-6842 Silvey Appraisals 703-577-1946SML Appraisal Service 703-636-2938Square Feet Appraisals 703-519-1790Stewart Jarrett R E Appr & Cons 703-671-3662Suburban Appraisers & Consultants 703-591-4200Survey Appraisal Group 703-289-9910Susan Vanderzyl 703-969-3822T. L. Hoover Appraisal Service 703-354-8981The Appraisal Center 703-204-4410The Benjamin Group 703-836-2554The Mid-Atlantic Group of Virginia 703-442-4780 VA-MD Appraisal Group 571-438-0604Washington Appraisal Group 703-813-8160 William E. Culbertson R. E. 703-322-1200William Patten & Associates 703-642-8224Woodbridge Appraisal Service 703-978-3444World Mortgage 703-934-5502WTH & Associates 443-280-3276

AFFILIATESApplicAnt Screening National Tenant Network 866-387-6320cArpet cleAning ACS Ayoub Carpet Service 703-255-6000Chem-Dry of Prince William 703-680-1212

commiSSion AdvAnce Commission Express 703-560-5500conStruction ServiceS HCC Remodeling Group of NoVA 540-253-5788Sun Design 540-751-1360educAtion courSeS & SeminArS Center For The Arts at GMU 703-993-8641Moseley Real Estate School 866-667-5595Starker Services 800-332-1031environmentAl ServiceS Keystone Home & Environmental 571-261-3192Pollard Environmental 804-377-8383Soils & Environmental Services 703-856-8638FinAnciAl ServiceS Acacia Federal Saving Bank 703-506-8148Aurora Financial 703-734-7704Bank Of america 703-319-5647Bank of america - annandale 703-750-4056Bank Of america - Oakton 703-319-5647BB&T Mortgage - Arlington 703-855-7403BB&T Mortgage - Bethesda 301-493-8386BB&T Mortgage - Woodbridge 703-492-5936BF Saul Mortgage 703-787-4835CitiStar Funding Group 301-468-7063CitiStar Funding Group Reverse 301-367-4213Countrywide Home loans 703-803-0198Franklin American Mortgage Co. 703-956-3544George Mason Mortgage 703-407-2385Greenpoint Mortgage 703-750-0080Hutt Financial Group 301-571-6153HSBC Mortgage 202-496-8956HST Mortgage 703-766-4636Intercoastal Mortgage 703-449-6828Into Homes Mortgage Services 703-425-8100JP Morgan Chase Bank 703-641-6296MetLife Home Loans 703-631-0098MetLife Home Loans 703-631-0098National City Mortgage 703-658-0613Navy Federal Credit Union 703-255-8480Prosperity Mortgage 703-222-1800SunTrust Bank 202-624-1245Suntrust Mortgage 703-623-9703SunTrust Mortgage 703-279-6073Union Mortgage Group 703-941-0711VHDa 804-782-1986Wells Fargo Home Mortgage 703-803-3500Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Reverse 703-587-4363government ServiceS Fairfax County 703-324-4804grAphic deSign BTW Images 703-543-6383Simpatico Design Studio 703-837-0584gutter repAir Gagnon’s Gutterworks 703-523-6225home AppliAnceS Sears Commercial 800-717-1787

appraiser & affiliate directories


home cleAning ServiceS Maid Brigade 703-823-1726home inSpection Alban Home Inspection Svcs. 301-662-6565All American Home Solutions 202-329-7054All Pro Services 703-385-1347American Home Inspections 703-239-2175Best Home Inspections 703-753-1176Building Specs 800-859-7037Clingenpeel Properties 703-409-5292Commonwealth Home Inspection 703-533-8212Consumer Resources 703-690-8484Home Pro Services 703-560-4663Hurlbert home Inspection 703-830-2229LuxRE Inspections 703-716-1100Nappers Home Inspection 571-292-4557Old Dominion Home Inspection 703-242-2520Pillar To Post 703-352-1333U.S. Inspect 703-293-1400home repAir ServiceS Finco Construction Co. 703-359-2555G’s Remodeling 240-388-4250Handyman Connection 703-351-6595Mid-Atlantic Waterproofing 301-206-9500Mr. Sandless 703-794-9663home StAging ServiceS Antique & Contemporary Leasing 703-548-2050Callidora Associates 703-273-7896Decor Decorum 703-655-4789Home Staged Designs 703-209-7009Feng Shui Eyes 703-893-4702Preferred Staging 703-851-2690Staged Interior 703-261-7026Staged With Style 703-517-2336home WArrAnty 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty 703-587-6735American Home Shield 540-250-2064HMS 800-843-4663Home Warranty of America 703-595-8965Old Republic Home Warranty 800-445-6999inSurAnce ServiceS TASC 800-422-4661inveStment plAnning R.E. Investor Solutions 703-999-9842Junk removAl 1-800-GOT-JUNK 703-934-4678College Hunks Hauling Junk 800-586-5872legAl ServiceS Brincefield Hartnett, P.C. 703-836-2880Compliance Counsel, PC 703-261-7097EquiTitle/Tate, Bywater & Fuller 703-938-5100Joseph A. Cerroni, Esq. 703-941-3000Keegan & Associates, PLC 703-691-1700Kidwell, Kent & Curran 703-764-0600Peterson, Noll & Goodman, PLC 703-442-3890Sykes, Bourdon, Ahern & Levy 703-517-7910

mArketing/mediA Cox Communications 703-378-3953Cox Media 703-953-3521Lands and Home of Northern VA 703-673-8475PropertyMinder 800-743-5820Raggo Advertising Products 540-341-7844The Washington Post 202-334-7680mold ServiceS MoldAid 877-932-7177Real Estate Rescue 540-303-0355moving & StorAge Able Moving & Storage 703-330-3772Ace Movers & Rentals 703-707-9400Busy Buddies 703-422-0797JK moving & Storage 703-280-4282Quality Service Moving 703-495-8900Relocation Systems/North American 703-925-2028 Van LinesTown & Country Movers 703-560-8600Victory Van Corporation 703-751-5200neW home Builder Brambleton Group 703-542-2925Dominion Valley Country Club 703-753-6688pAinting Blue Door Painters 703-504-2000MDB Painting 703-724-0263perSonnel ServiceS Personnel One 202-623-3204peSt control ServiceS Alexandria Pest Services 703-923-0925Asian Pest Services 703-752-1634Connor's Pest Control 703-321-0400Country Termite & Pest Control 540-338-7821JK Pest & Termite 703-622-2450Patriot Termite 703-330-9170Perma Treat Pest Control 703-777-7050PMSI 703-723-2899ProTech Pest Control 703-440-8000Suburban Pest Service 703-335-6030plumBing Plumbing Express 703-461-0345printerS Mc Clung Companies 240-475-5547Stephenson Printing Inc. 703-642-9000reAl eStAte photogrAphy Bert Goulait Photography 703-945-0194reAl eStAte SignS Realty Sign Post Co. 202-256-0107retirement plAnning Entrust Mid Atlantic 301-360-9510rooFing DryHome Roofing & Siding 703-230-7663Townhouse Roofing & Siding 703-467-0206Settlement ServiceS Absolute Title & Escrow 703-842-7525Central Title & Escrow 703-658-1300

Dominion Title Corporation 703-757-9500Ekko Title 703-537-0800Evergreen Title Company 703-354-7060First Guardian Title & Escrow 703-494-4000JDR Title 703-821-0099Key Title - Annandale 703-354-0561Key Title - Reston 703-437-4600mBH Settlement Group - alexandria 703-739-0100mBH Settlement Group - annandale 703-852-3000mBH Settlement Group - arlington 703-237-1100mBH Settlement Group - Burke 703-913-8080mBH Settlement Group - Fair Oaks 703-279-1500mBH Settlement Group - Kingstowne 703-417-5000mBH Settlement Group - mclean 703-734-8900mBH Settlement Group - Oakton 703-277-6800mBH Settlement Group - Reston 703-813-9333mBH Settlement Group - Vienna 703-242-2860Mid-Atlantic Settlement Svcs 410-252-1208monarch title - alexandria 703-852-7700monarch title - Herndon 703-890-0820monarch title - mclean 703-852-1730NVT&E 703-938-3200Paragon Title & Escrow Co. 301-986-1114Realty Title Services 703-917-4100RGS title - alexandria 703-519-7600RGS title - annandale 703-597-3209RGS title - arlington 703-351-0300RGS title - Burke 703-128-9600RGS title - Centreville 703-818-8600RGS title - mclean 703-903-9600RGS title - Oakton 703-242-9600RGS title - Reston 703-742-9600Signature & Stewart Settlement 703-709-0600Smart Choice Settlements 703-658-2299Stewart Title And Escrow 703-352-2900The Settlement Group 703-933-3090The Title Group 703-273-9600Tuscarora Title Corporation 703-777-4261Universal Title 703-658-1369StructurAl engineer SQ Consultants 703-759-4901technology ServiceS Listingbook 540-662-1718 Realty Empowerment Systems 866-213-3709virtuAl tourS Real Estate Shows 703-876-4929RealBiz360 240-687-1008WeB Site development Impact Design Solutions 703-216-3737

Bold signifies nvAr partners(Last updated August 10, 2009) Do you have a correction to this list? Please e-mail changes to Tracy Reynolds at [email protected].

September 2009 Update Magazine

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