Business Resources

Resources for your real estate business.
The 2023 Affiliate Directory is available for viewing

The 2023 Affiliate Directory is available for viewing

Flip through the directory to see all of FAAR’s affiliate members organized A to Z by company and also by service in the annual directory.

Not only will this guide you to some of the best companies in the local area, but the directory also contains committee contacts, member benefits, upcoming event calendar, how to make additions to your FAAR profile, and more!

Download your copy here or pick up a print copy of the directory at FAAR today!

Looking to search within all FAAR members? Use the member search function at faarmembers.com/member-search to sort by member type, languages spoken, and more

See anything missing or incorrect? Let FAAR know via email at lzuza@faarmembers.com

REALTOR® Cereal Drive returns this October

REALTOR® Cereal Drive returns this October

The REALTOR® Cereal Drive is back!

2022 was an amazing year for the annual REALTOR® cereal drive. Help us beat our 2022 numbers and reach the 2023 goal of 20,000 boxes, all of which go to local area food banks! Use the cereal drive as a way to reconnect with your sphere and look for REALTOR®-branded marketing pieces (post-card and flyer) to enhance efforts of collecting cereal from clients and customers.

Let us know if your office plans to participate by emailing Barbara Castillo McGrath with your office and contact information by October 3rd.

Collected cereal can be dropped off at the October 26th Halloween Mixer at Wilderness Run Winery from 5-7 PM or for large pick-ups, the Fredericksburg food van can be scheduled to pick up from your location!

Download this square image to help with your marketing

Download this square image to help with your marketing

Download this 8.5"x11" flyer to help with your marketing

Download the customizable 8.5″x11″ flyer to help with your marketing

or open the customizable 8.5″x11″ as a canva template 

FAQ

*Not attending the mixer?  Just drop directly at the food bank and inform Barbara Castillo McGrath of your box count by October 26 at bcastillo@faarmembers.com.

* Want your cereal to go to a different food bank/pantry?  No problem, take it wherever you like and send cereal counts by October 26 to bcastillo@faarmembers.com.

* Have too much cereal to bring to the Halloween Mixer Barbara Castillo McGrath will arrange a pick up for you, please email bcastillo@faarmembers.com by October 23.

*Collecting cash instead?  That’s great! Bring the donation to the Halloween Mixer or FAAR by October 26th and it will be counted as $1 = 1 Box!

Cereal Drive Office Contest Sign Up 2023

Yes.. I want my office to participate in the annual FAAR Cereal Drive.

2024 REALTOR Dues Renewal: How to Renew Your Membership

2024 REALTOR Dues Renewal: How to Renew Your Membership

Stay connected. Renew your REALTOR® membership today! 

Thank you for being a member of the Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS®.

See the value of your membership here.

View the benefits here.

REALTOR® Dues for 2024 ($737.00)

NAR Dues ($201)

Virginia Realtors® Dues ($191)

FAAR dues ($315)

RPAC Fair Share ($30)

 

Deadlines

December 15: Last day to pay dues without a late fee

December 16-31: $100 late fee assessed

December 31: Last day to pay dues and late fee

January 1: Membership inactive; pay dues and $275 reapplication fee to reinstate membership

 

Login Information

Login at faarmembers.com/myaccount to pay your dues for FAAR, VR, and NAR.

Click here to look up your username or reset your password if needed. (It is recommended to use your email on file and last name only for look up)

You may see a copy of your paid receipt on the “my order history” section of your account at www.faarmembers.com/my-order-history

For your protection and security, FAAR does not store your credit card data.  Thus, we cannot automatically process your payment or accept partial payments.

 

Exciting News About Bright’s Listing Preview

The highly anticipated final phase of Brights Listing Preview is here! Now, you can share your draft listings with key members of your office as well as the sellersensuring that your listing is as complete and accurate as possible before you publish.

You can share draft listings with:
CoList Agent
Team Lead
Office Manager
Broker
Sellers (up to 2)


Get the Most Out of Bright Listing Management


Listing Preview is just one of the ways Bright is streamlining your MLS experience.

Sign up to join an upcoming webinar to learn more about managing your listings through Bright!

Regional Housing Market Holds Steady as Summer Season Kicks Off

The regional median home price was up again in June, with all but one locality seeing increases.  The median sold price settled at $450,000 this month compared to $441,000 in June of 2022, representing a 2% year-over-year increase.  Units sold were down 16%, coming in at 625 compared to 748 units sold last June.  Total sold dollar volume was down nearly 12%, posting approximately $308.1 million in sales for June of 2023 compared to $349.1 million in sales last year. 

Stafford County saw its highest price on record in June of 2023, coming in at $525,000 for median price, a 5% increase from last year.  Stafford’s median price has increased $125,000 from just three years ago with a July 2020 median price of $399,000.  King George County was the only jurisdiction that saw a decline this month, but prices remain stubbornly high in that county as well.  The median price fell 6% in June of 2023 compared to last year, settling at $427,500 compared to $454,950 last year. 

FAAR Board of Director Kardin Lillis comments, “The past few months have been a bit of a roller coaster with interest rates and some uncertainty with Fed, which has spilled over into the real estate market.  The greater Stafford and Fredericksburg area is still showing a seller’s market with between one and two months of inventory.  We are seeing a slight bump in average days on market, and the return of home inspections, and even some seller closing cost assistance.  Overall, the market is strong and does not show signs of slowing as we head towards the end of summer.”  

Days on market, the time it takes from when a listing enters the market until it receives a ratified contract and is removed from active status on the multiple listing service, increased 64% up to 18 days this June compared to just 11 days last year. 

Inventory was also down again in June, finishing out the month with 851 active listings compared to 955 last year, a nearly 11% decline.  New listings were down 29% from last year with 652 homes coming on the market in June of 2023 compared to 918 last year.  New pending sales were down 18% in June, with 564 pending contracts compared to 685 last June. 

#MemberMonday Meet Gavin Robyn, Local Owner of Next Door Photos

#MemberMonday Meet Gavin Robyn, Local Owner of Next Door Photos

The Member Monday spotlight lets community members get to know each other before doing business together. Participants answer fun questions to reveal their personalities. We hope these types of features spark connections through email, phone calls, at in-person meetings, and at classes and events.

Name
Gavin Robyn

Hometown
Fredericksburg

Current Location
Fredericksburg

Title
Local Owner of Next Door Photos

Why do you love working in real estate?
Building relationships & serving my community has always been my passion. Real estate just ended up being the vessel for me to do that!

Favorite Work Story
During a shoot, I had a military wife/mom trying to get her house organized while her kids were running around. I started helping around, wiping down counters and taking out trash. And after, she told me how grateful she was that there were so many people willing to help her. Not just me, but her agent, and the agent’s other team members. This is why we do what we do!

What are you most proud of in your career?
Knowing that I am creating a long lasting positive impact, and that this business is cultivating generational wealth for so many wonderful families.

Do you have a special cause or volunteer your time?
Besides working at my church, I try as often as I can to offer my services for charity events so those memories can be captured forever.

Fun Fact
I’ve moved over 20 times!

How to Renew Your Real Estate License in Virginia through DPOR

How to Renew Your Real Estate License in Virginia through DPOR

The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) regulates the real estate industry in the state of Virginia. Real estate licensees are required to renew their licenses every two years. The renewal process is relatively simple and can be completed online or by mail.

To renew your license online, you will need to:

  1. Go to the DPOR website and log in to your online account.
  2. Click on the “Renew License” link.
  3. Enter your license number and expiration date.
  4. Pay the renewal fee.
  5. Complete the continuing education requirements.

To renew your license by mail, you will need to:

  1. Download the renewal form from the DPOR website.
  2. Complete the form and mail it to the DPOR address.
  3. Pay the renewal fee.
  4. Include a copy of your completed continuing education certificate.

As of 6/1/2023, the renewal fee for real estate licenses in Virginia is $65 for salespersons and $80 for brokers. The continuing education requirements are 16 hours for salespersons and 24 hours for brokers. NOTE: All salespersons renewing their licenses for the first time must complete 30 hours of post-license education (instead of continuing education). 

Your license will be renewed for a period of two years. You will receive a renewal notice in the mail approximately two months before your license expires.

If you fail to renew your license before it expires, you will be required to pay a late fee of $50. If you fail to renew your license for more than two years, you will be required to complete the entire licensing process again.

What if my license date has passed?

If your license date has passed, you are not permitted to practice real estate in Virginia. The term “active” refers to your account status at DPOR, not your license status.

For more information on renewing your real estate license in Virginia, please visit the DPOR website.

Here are some additional tips for renewing your real estate license in Virginia:

  • Start the renewal process early. The deadline to renew your license is the last day of the month in which it expires.
  • Make sure you have completed all of the continuing education requirements. You can find a list of approved courses on the DPOR website.
  • Pay the renewal fee online or by mail. You can also pay the fee by credit card over the phone.
  • Keep a copy of your renewal certificate. You will need this to show to clients and potential employers.

By following these tips, you can easily and quickly renew your real estate license in Virginia.

Are you taking advantage of all Bright has to offer?

Are you taking advantage of all Bright has to offer?

Are you taking advantage of all Bright has to offer? Recently, Bright added tools and features to help you provide even more value to your clients through your MLS subscription. Stand out from the competition and win new clients. Make the most of your MLS subscription this summer.

  • Share Before You Publish Listing Preview now lets you share draft listings with key office members—and the sellers—directly from Bright’s Listing Management. Ensure the most complete and accurate listings every time! Get the latest at brightmls.com/ListingPreview
  • Access the industry’s hottest headlines and market news with RISMedia Premier A $249 value, RISMedia Premier is included in your Bright MLS subscription! Enjoy the top source for residential real estate news directly from your Bright workspace. Learn more at brightmls.com/RISMedia.
  • Free floor plans are now available through CubiCasa Did you know that homebuyers consider floor plans to be one of the most desired data assets on a listing? It’s true! Floor plans are second only to standard photos and listing data in terms of what buyers want to see. CubiCasa’s mobile app—now available through Bright MLS—makes creating floor plans easy, fast, and FREE! Get started at brightmls.com/CubiCasa

Kickstart your business! Our experienced Customer Success Coaches provide exclusive spots every week for coaching sessions. If you’re looking for the latest on Bright’s prospecting features, have some questions about the latest Bright apps or need a little help with search, sign up for Office Hours at BrightMLS.com/OfficeHours.

FAAR Expo 2023: Save the Date for Fredericksburg’s Largest Real Estate Expo!

FAAR Expo 2023: Save the Date for Fredericksburg’s Largest Real Estate Expo!

The FAAR Expo is back, and it’s bigger and better than ever! This year’s event will be held on September 13, 2023, at the Fredericksburg Expo Center. The expo is a great opportunity for real estate professionals to connect with other professionals, learn about new trends, and find new ways to grow their businesses.

What to Expect at the FAAR Expo

The FAAR Expo will feature a variety of educational sessions, networking opportunities, and vendor booths. There will be something for everyone at the expo, whether you’re a new real estate agent or a seasoned veteran.

New additions

New additions to this year’s expo include the “Septic Adventure”! Come explore an above-ground septic exhibit in the middle of the expo center! The event will also feature the opportunity to book a headshot photography session ($50 per headshot) where you can get a new professional headshot. Not only will you get a new headshot, the proceeds from the session will benefit RPAC and count towards your annual investment.

Educational Sessions

The FAAR Expo will feature morning educational sessions including:

  • What’s in Store for 2024? Market Forecast & Trends Panel
  • Understanding Home inventory Seminar

These sessions will provide you with the insights to communicate the market changes prevalent in the real estate industry to your clients.

Networking Opportunities

The FAAR Expo is a great opportunity to network with other real estate professionals. You’ll have the chance to meet new people, learn about their businesses, and build relationships that can help you grow your own business.

Vendor Booths

The FAAR Expo will feature a variety of vendor booths from companies that offer products and services to real estate professionals. This is a great opportunity to learn about new products and services that can help you improve your business. Stop by Builders Row to meet with local builders and Retail Lane to connect with closing gift vendors and more.

Why Should You Attend the FAAR Expo?

There are many reasons why you should attend the FAAR Expo. Here are just a few:

  • Learn about new trends in the real estate industry
  • Find new ways to grow your business
  • Network with other real estate professionals
  • Get inspired by other successful real estate professionals

The FAAR Expo is a valuable resource for real estate professionals of all levels. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with other professionals in your field.

Vendor & REALTOR® Registration

Vendor registration & booth selection is underway. Contact Jennifer Saenz at jsaenz@faarmembers.com for more information.

FAAR REALTORS® who register on or by 9/5 will be eligible to register for FREE (including lunch) thanks to a decision by the 2023 FAAR Board of Directors. REALTOR® registration will open in July at faarmembers.com/calendar!

 

For more information on the education sessions and this year’s theme, visit faarmembers.com/expo

 

We hope to see you there!

Press Releases

November sees same trends hold in local real estate market

As 2023 draws to a close, the Fredericksburg regional housing market is experiencing much of the same as the last few months. Prices continue to rise against a backdrop of falling demand, stubbornly low housing supply, and volatile interest rates. Total sold dollar...

Prices continue to rise despite falling demand in housing market

The regional median home price was up again in October, despite shrinking demand heading into the winter season.  The median sold price settled at $440,000 this month compared to $425,000 in October of 2022, representing a nearly 4% year-over-year increase.  Units...

Inventory Low, Prices High in the Local Housing Market

The weather might be cooling off, but local home prices certainly are not.  The region’s median sold price was up nearly 4% in September coming in at $435,000 compared to $420,000 last September.  Volume of sales continues its downward trend posting a nearly 17%...

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