Business Resources
Resources for your real estate business.
10 Benefits to being a FAAR Member
Your membership is what you make of it! Are you taking advantage of these FAAR benefits?
Market Statistics and Trends
Discounted Education
Member Lounge & Conference Room
Professional Standards
FAAR services regarding complaints and commission disputes reduce the possibility of expensive legal proceedings.
Networking Opportunities
Affiliate Marketing Program
The Video Studio
Affiliate Access
Bright MLS
Advocacy & Action
Available Meeting Space at FAAR | Reserve or Rent a room
Available Meeting Space at FAAR
Rental Fees
Classroom*
Members
Events of 4 hours or less**: $75
Events of more than 4 hours: $125
Non-Members/Non-profit
Events of 4 hours or less: $100
Events of more than 4 hours: $150
Non-Members/For-Profit
Events of 4 hours or less: $150
Events of more than 4 hours: $250
Board of Directors Room/Small Conference Room***
Members & Non-profits: $50/hour
Non-Members: $100/hour
(no AV available)
Technology Fee
Affiliate Marketing Partner: Free
Members and Non-Profits: $25
Non Members: $50
Rental Guidelines— The policies set forth below apply to use of FAAR rental areas:
*Brokers may use the classroom for sales meetings free of charge once a quarter, pending availability.
** If a rental overlaps morning and afternoon, the renter will incur a “more than 4 hour” charge.
***Members may use the Boardroom or Small Conference Room free of charge once per year, pending availability.
- Prohibited:
- Recruitment or profit-making ventures.
- Classes that offer NAR Designations or Certifications, or CE/PL.
- Alcohol and banquet services that require catering setup, such as open flames, multiple outlets. Cold party platters/box lunches are acceptable.
- FAAR provides coffee and coffee cups.
- Paper products such as paper plates and napkins are to be furnished by the renting organization.
- Guests in the FAAR building are to observe common courtesy to the FAAR staff and reasonable care of the facility.
- Renter is responsible for cleaning up after the event is completed including depositing all trash in the proper receptacles and keeping the kitchen area clean.
- If using the classroom, the technology fee includes the use of wall-mounted TV in the classroom, laptop, and wireless Internet service. It is highly recommended to bring presentations on thumb drive.
- If using the classroom, it will be set up in the standard classroom style. If you require another configuration of table and chairs, please plan on arriving in advance of the event to set up.
#MemberMonday | Meet Kenny Franklin
Kenny Franklin
Hometown
Stafford County
Current Location
Stafford County
Title
REALTOR®, ABR®, AHWD, e-PRO®, SFR, MRP with Next Home Elite Plus
Number of Years in the Industry
As a REALTOR® – 12
Why do you love working in real estate?
I love architecture, local history, interacting with people and solving challenges. I would say these are pluses for working in the real estate industry.
Favorite Work Story
How much space do I have??? Too many stories to pick one. But… there is a story about working with one of Kenny White’s buyers and the home owner was home in her hot tub. I’ll let Kenny tell the rest of the story.
What are you most proud of in your career?
Being I’m a 2nd generation REALTOR®, 2nd generation Home Inspector and the 3rd generation in construction… carrying on the skills and work ethics that I was taught growing up working in my father’s construction company and 2 hardware stores.
Do you have a special cause or volunteer your time?
I have been a sound tech for over 25 years and volunteer at my church, Stafford Crossing Community Church. I also go on national & international church mission trips building homes, repairing homes and building relationships. I’ve built/repaired homes in Jamaica, Honduras, Mississippi, Virginia, West Virginia, Navajo Reservation and Long Island. I’ve done relational work in Mumbai, India.
Fun Fact
In high school, I lived across the street from Betty Jasmund in Aquia Harbour.
I’m a licensed home inspector and a certified Radon testing tech. I’ve owned/operated a home inspection business for 29 years. I’ve performed over 10,000 home inspections and over 2,500 Radon tests through the years. I know a thing or two about houses because I’ve seen a thing or two.
#MemberMonday | Meet Jennifer Caison
Name
Jennifer Caison
Hometown
Manassas, VA
Current Location
Fredericksburg, VA
Title
Associate Broker at Coldwell Banker Elite
Number of Years in the Industry
15
Why do you love working in real estate?
I enjoy meeting new people on a regular basis from all walks of life and assisting in their biggest financial purchase in life is rewarding. A sense of accomplishment is felt when people are so very thankful for the knowledge and guidance I provide during their transaction. Flexibility of my schedule to be involved with my son is also very important.
Favorite Work Story
I had been an agent for about all of 3 years when I met a client who I took to view a home that had an elevator in it. Crazy as it sounds, we got stuck in the elevator and could not get it to open. Thankfully I had my cell phone in my hand and started calling my office to get someone to either come over or call the owners to get us out. About 10 minutes had passed and my clients starts hyper-ventilating and freaking out. She bent down and was trying to breathe the air from the little crack between the elevator floor and the house, gasping for air. I was so nervous something was going to happen to her. When she told me how panicked she was, I just blurted out, “Don’t worry, if I have to, I will kick this door down and get us out.” She stared at me for a minute and then began to chuckle and said, “Are you serious, do you think you can?” I said, yes, this door to the house doesn’t feel very secure, I think I can. We both started to laugh. Not even 5 minutes later the listing agent had gotten in touch with the owner and they arrived to let us out. It was the longest 20-25 minutes ever. I had never seen anyone who was claustrophobic react when in a tight space. We still keep in touch to this day and people who know the story always say, Now that is an agent who will do whatever it takes!
What are you most proud of in your career?
Friendships made through clients
Achieving the Professional Honor Roll from FAAR for the past 8 years
International Diamond Society Award for the past 5 years at Coldwell Banker Elite
Being a mentor for new agents
Do you have a special cause or volunteer your time?
I volunteer and head a canned food drive, cereal drive and coat drive for SECA -(Spotsylvania Emergency Care Assistance) every year. I also volunteer as a team Mom for several of my son’s sports and activities
Fun Fact
I love old classic cars, hot rods and drag races. People always joke about how fast I talk, type, write and how I am always in a hurry and it definitely fits with my love for drag racing. First to the finish line!
#MemberMonday | Meet Lynn Lenahan
The Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® Member Spotlight feature allows members of the community to get to know each other before working with each other in a transaction. Each member answers a series of questions to reveal more about themselves as people. It is FAAR’s hope that learning about an individual may spark connections that blossom via email, phone conversations or in-person meetings at events and classes.
Name
C. Lynn Lenahan
Hometown
Fredericksburg (Spotsylvania)
Current Location
Town of Bowling Green
Title
Assoc. Broker, ABR, AHWD, GRI @1st Choice Better Homes & Land, LC
Number of Years in the Industry
19+
Why do you love working in real estate?
Real estate is an amazing career! It’s never dull or boring, there’s ALWAYS something going…things to learn, things to share. It’s ever changing, fresh! My father always said find a need and fill it. I can’t imagine anything more fulfilling than helping people through the process of settling into that perfect spot they can call HOME. I just get caught up in all the excitement right there with them. It’s awesome!
Favorite Work Story
My favorite work story is not a single incident, but a realization. Every time I’m with a client and we are selling or looking for a home, the process is like painting (which I have a new appreciation for with our latest Sip and Paint’s). At first there is nothing…a clean canvas. Then there’s an expectation of what the final product or outcome will be. Each of us may paint on this canvas with different tools and may see the process differently. Suddenly, in the midst of all the different “things” getting put on that canvas, the final image begins to emerge. And when it’s done, it’s just beautiful. And I was blessed with the skills and knowledge to help it get there.
What are you most proud of in your career?
The thing I am most proud of is my adherence to the Code of Ethics and Professionalism. It’s not that I don’t make mistakes. It’s a very intricate career and sometimes there are sticky situations. I believe in being honest, truthful and treating others with respect. Interacting with others in a respectful way is huge!
Do you have a special cause or volunteer your time?
I’m very active in my church and community. We do a lot with cooking events: Annual Pig Roast (October-ish), Annual Oyster Roast (March), Chicken Q (on Derby Day), Annual Fish Fry (2nd week of August), Annual Brunswick Stew at Harvest-fest (October). I don’t know who has more fun, the people that attend (and they are VERY popular events) or me. Profits go to various organizations benefiting the children and elderly in the community. I’m also a big advocate for blood donation with the American Red Cross…once every 60 days like clockwork! One more thing…anything to advocate for animals…that’s me!
Fun Fact
We have a place on the Eastern Shore at Chincoteague. It’s a camper with a stick-built room attached and a fenced yard on a permanent site. We own everything BUT the land. We love our Chincoteague neighbors in our little section. We have a pontoon boat, a golf cart and jet skis. We pack up the dogs and head down whenever our schedules permit. I lovingly named it our “Shack @ the Shore”. It’s paradise. While there, I have conducted more business and ratified more contracts than I can count.
Update on Recent Bright MLS Performance Issues
This was sent to each shareholder association CEO regarding the current lack of performance of brightMLS
Good afternoon all –
I wanted to provide you with a brief update on ongoing system performance issues with the replication of data between our two primary data centers which variably affected all three systems.
Problems initially began on Thursday, February 1. These performance issues impacted the availability of listings to search on brightmls.com, mris.com, and third party sites. We believed that we had a work around for the problem until we identified a permanent resolution with Oracle. However, these issues surfaced again on Friday and spiked late Friday afternoon to an unacceptable level. To resolve these issues, we pointed all systems to one data center to allow the replication to catch up.
Saturday, a similar issue surfaced affecting the availability of showing links on mris.com and trendmls.com, and the flow of those listings to brightmls.com. That issue was resolved Saturday afternoon.
We are still operating most applications from one data center which is creating periodic slowness when searching mris.com.
We posted messages through the weekend and today on the applicable systems and social media sites.
I am sure you know that these issues are frustrating for our subscribers and that we are doing everything we can to resolve them quickly. In particular, these issues have added additional frustration to subscribers in Central PA where there was already a growing sentiment that system changes and updates are happening too slowly.
We are closely monitoring the situation and taking proactive action every hour to avoid any further service degradation.
Please let me know if you have questions.
Thank you,
Tom
Tom Phillips
President and CEO
610-783-4650 x3334
660 American Avenue, Suite 203
King of Prussia, PA 19406
www.brightmls.com
#MemberMonday | Meet Charlotte Rouse
The Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® Member Spotlight feature allows members of the community to get to know each other before working with each other in a transaction. Each member answers a series of questions to reveal more about themselves as people. It is FAAR’s hope that learning about an individual may spark connections that blossom via email, phone conversations or in-person meetings at events and classes.
Name
Charlotte Rouse
Current Location
Fredericksburg
Title
REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Elite
Number of Years in the Industry
8
Why do you love working in real estate?
I Love working in the community Where I live and where my children go to school. It’s a privilege to help clients and get their trust in one of their bigger decisions in life, selling or buying a home. I’m lucky enough to have many clients turning into wonderful friends, and then being introduce to help addional family members. I’m very passionate about my job and high level customer service
What are you most proud of in your career?
Long term clients and their referrals – International Presidents Club Award and Emerald Club
Do you have a special cause or volunteer your time?
Member of the Rappahanock Rotary Club and sit on the Germanna Community Foundation Board.
Fun Fact
Born in Sweden and fluent in 4 languages. Worked 17 years in software sales and worked in 6 different startup in Silicon Valley
FAAR Partners with VDOT on Transportation Video
Are your clients concerned about the endless rows of orange construction barrels up and down area roadways? Help them make sense of what is under construction, how it will impact their commute in the short-term, and how it will benefit the community in the long-term. FAAR partnered with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in the summer of 2017 to film the five minute video below which features a quick explanation of the region’s most visible road projects.
Watch, share, and help get the word out!
King George Economic Development Update
King George #1
Event Sponsor Don Smith with NSCW addressing the crowd
King George #2
Event Sponsors NSWC with speaker, KG Economic Development Director Ryan Gandy
King George #4
King George #3
He readily understands the importance of broadband access for today’s consumer. The County has received a $30,000 grant to create a solicitation for internet service providers to bring expanded broadband service to more areas in the County. As many Realtors explained, it is no longer just a luxury but a basic infrastructure requirement for many people looking to move to the County.
Ryan also touched on new businesses coming to the County with the focus of most of that being retail services to serve the resident and commuter population. While he agrees that more sit down establishments would be great, the demographics and density of the County don’t always make sense for businesses. He stated that if he talks to 40 businesses in a year and one actually locates to the County, that’s considered a victory. The economic development process is slow and many factors go into whether a business will locate operations in a specific area.
He also mentioned that there is some expanded residential development coming to the County but that multifamily apartments and townhouses are still not the primary focus of that development. The County will soon be working on a mixed use ordinance to open up more opportunities for developers to achieve higher densities but he said it’s important that elected officials hear from citizens who want that kind of denser development that can house individuals and families looking for lower cost housing options.
2018 February FAARside Newsletter now available!
Your copy of the February Newsletter, the FAARside is here! Crack open a copy to learn all about projects the Association completed in 2017 and help shape the future of the Fredericksburg REALTORS® Foundation. But that’s not all!
This edition includes
- Sentrilock Lockbox Firmware Updates
- Message from the 2018 FAAR President, Kevin McGrath
- Thank you to RPAC investors
- Tax Reform and You
- The Search for the Best Spring Awards Season
- Virginia REALTORS® Advocates for you and your business
- Yearly CE/PL and Designation/Certification Schedule
and more!
Right click here or the image and click “Save as” to download
Press Releases
January Real Estate Market Kicks 2018 Off with a Bang
January kicked off a good start to the year in the local real estate market posting significant gains in total sold dollar volume, median sold price, and units sold. Days on market, which has been continually declining compared to the prior year, decreased...
Fredericksburg REALTORS® Foundation Awards $1,200 Grant
The Fredericksburg REALTORS® Foundation provided a $1,200 emergency housing assistance grant to Mental Health America of Fredericksburg (MHA). The grant was used to repair the home of a client of the organization participating in their Senior Visitors Program. The...
December Closes Out a Strong 2017 for Local Real Estate Market
The 2017 real estate market posted a significant increase in total sold dollar volume and modest increases in both median sold price and units sold. The year closed out with a total sold dollar volume of $1,856,321,321 which represents an 11.5% increase over the...
November Posts Modest Gains in Local Real Estate Market
November posted modest gains for the local real estate market with slight increases in total sold dollar volume and median price and decreases in units sold and days on market. Total sold dollar volume increased nearly 3%, coming at $125,014,068. This increase was...