Get Involved
Events and opportunities you can get involved in
2023 Fall FAARside Newsletter now available
Your copy of the August Newsletter, the FAARside is here! Crack open a copy for updates on local real estate and so much more!
Inside you will find
- Message from the 2023 FAAR President, Carol Sondrini
- Message from the CEO, Page Browning
- 2024 Leadership candidate bios
- Thank you to RPAC investors
- Information on rollback taxes
- How Real Estate Compensation Works
- RPR how-tos
and more!
Right click here or the image and click “Save as” to download
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.
FAAR to interview candidates for November election
On Thursday, September 7, FAAR will host candidate interviews where members of FAAR’s Public Policy Committee will meet with individuals seeking election throughout the region to discuss issues and talk about their priorities should they be elected.
The goal of FAAR’s public policy program is to create lasting, positive relationships with elected officials through early outreach and support of those candidates who understand the value of real estate to the local economy and are willing to work with Realtors® on issues of vital importance to the industry and to property owners. The Association accomplishes this goal through making RPAC contributions to endorsed candidates with the goal of helping those candidates win in their elections. Running for office is very expensive, even at the local level, so any financial support is a big deal for candidates.
FAAR bases those endorsements on candidates’ responses to a detailed survey about real estate issues that can be reviewed here. The Public Policy Committee then follows up on those surveys with an interview that aims to dig deeper into their written responses by sharing information about the market and our Legislative Positions, which can be accessed here. This process is a long one but gives the Committee members a great introduction to potential new elected officials.
The Public Policy Committee decides which candidates to interview and often declines to interview challengers in seats of those incumbent elected officials who have been long-time supporters. Those decisions are made each election cycle and on a case-by-case basis. In the event of an open seat where the previous incumbent is retiring, FAAR makes every effort to touch base with all candidates running and give them the opportunity to interview. The Committee also decides endorsements on a case-by-case basis and does not always endorse in every race.
Members are invited to observe these interviews. They are taking place in the FAAR Board Room located in the Annex on the 1st floor of the building. Only members of FAAR’s Public Policy Committee are permitted to ask questions of the candidates. If you would like to attend any of the interviews listed below, please contact FAAR Public Policy Director Kim McClellan.
September 7 Candidate Interview Schedule
9:00am J. Bryan Nicol, Orange County District 5
9:30am Gerald Childress, Spotsylvania County Chancellor District
10:00am Howard Rudat, Stafford County Rock Hill District
10:30am Kerry Devine, City of Fredericksburg Mayor
11:00am Matt Kelly, City of Fredericksburg At-Large
11:30am David Sullins, King George County At-Large
12:30pm Michael Bush, Spotsylvania County Courtland District
1:00pm Deborah Frazier, Spotsylvania County Salem District
1:30pm Jannan Holmes, City of Fredericksburg At-Large
2:00pm Anne LeHuray, King George County At-Large
2:30pm Deuntay Diggs, Stafford County George Washington District
3:00pm Carrie Gonzalez, King George County At-Large
3:30pm Tom Coen, Stafford County George Washington District
4:00pm Will Mackintosh, City of Fredericksburg At-Large
FAAR sends letter to Stafford County about probate delays
The FAAR Board of Directors recently sent a letter to the Stafford County Clerk of the Court expressing concerns about the significant delays many are experiencing getting an estate through the probate process. Families detail waits of 6 months or more with bills and late fees piling up and issues getting needed information from creditors since probate is not complete. Agents fear that some impacted families may face foreclosure if they are not able to pay the mortgage, losing all of the potential equity in that sale.
FAAR copied the letter to the Board of Supervisors and two immediately responded saying that additional funding for the Probate Division had been approved as part of the budget and that our agents should start to see some relief soon. Click the button below to read FAAR’s letter to the County.
Regional Sales Price Keeps Increasing
The regional median home price was up again in July, with all but one locality seeing increases. The median sold price settled at $462,450 this month compared to $438,200 in July of 2022, representing a nearly 6% year-over-year increase. Units sold were down 20%, coming in at 502 compared to 631 units sold last July. Total sold dollar volume was down nearly 21%, posting approximately $243.6 million in sales for July of 2023 compared to $308 million in sales last year.
Caroline County posted its highest price on record, coming in at $385,000, an 18% increase from last year. King George County posted a second-month straight loss in median price, which came in 16% lower than last year. All other jurisdictions in the FAAR footprint saw strong price growth ranging anywhere from 4% in Stafford County up to 46% in the City of Fredericksburg.
FAAR Board of Director and property manager Dawn Josemans comments, “The rental market has slowed down since the first quarter of this year. We are no longer experiencing multiple applications when first listing a property for rent. The supply is fairly high as properties are sitting on the market longer. I am seeing an increase of days on market as each month passes. However, rents remain higher than this time last year. Home sales are still strong despite the time it is now taking to get under contract in an average situation. Contracts are asking for higher amounts in seller concessions to the buyer than last year as well. The market is just more complex now due to the changing interest rates that are scaring off inexperienced buyers and sellers worried about the time it is taking to go under contract.”
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 17% up to 21 days this July compared to 18 days last year.
Inventory was also down again in July, finishing out the month with 822 active listings compared to 1,016 last year, a 19% decline. New listings were down 32% from last year with 587 homes coming on the market in July of 2023 compared to 859 last year. New pending sales were down 21% in July, with 539 pending contracts compared to 679 last year.
Sample Ballot for the 2024 FAAR Board of Directors Slate of Candidates
Slate of Candidates- 2024 Leadership
Electronic Voting begins August 11 and ends September 13 at noon
Results will be announced on September 13, 3:00 PM, at the General Membership Meeting on the floor of the FAAR Expo (https://bit.ly/23faarexpo). The results will be communicated to the entire membership September 15.
Here are the candidates for your 2024 Board of Directors:
Officers
| President | Randy Walther |
| President-Elect | Lauren Tate |
| Vice President | Matthew Rathbun |
| Secretary | Gary Gardiner Jr. |
| Treasurer | Tamar Myers-Moffatt (year 1 of 2-year term) |
| Immediate Past President | Carol Sondrini |
REALTOR® Director Candidates: Two (2) positions open. You may select up to two (2) on this ballot.
Deanna Beltran
Dawn Curry
Denise Smith
Affiliate Director Candidate: One (1) position open. You may select one (1) on this ballot.
Nick Bohn
Returning Directors
LeAnn Black, term ends December 31, 2024
Abby Fitzsimmons, term ends December 31, 2024
Dawn Josemans, term ends December 31, 2024
Meghan Kala, term ends December 31, 2025
From Section 8a. of the Bylaws
“Additional candidates for the offices to be filled may be placed in nomination by signed petition of at least twenty percent* of the REALTOR® members. The petition shall be filed with the Secretary (via Chief Executive Officer pbrowning@faarmembers.com) by August 30, 2023. The Secretary shall send notice of such additional nominations to all REALTOR® members before the election.”
(As of 7/31/2023 there are 1876 REALTOR® members. 375 names are needed to complete the petition requirement and be sent to FAAR by August 30, 2023.)
REALTOR® Members can log in to vote from 8/11 to 9/13 at https://vote.electionrunner.com/election/ZRTkn
Your Voter ID is your NRDS/M1 Number
Your Voter Key is your NRDS/M1 Number
Candidate Videos
YPN Decent Exposure Panel Speaker Information
Speaker Contact Information
Gordon Duncan
Owner, Capitalize Marketing and Consulting
919-412-8161
Sarah Hurst
Realtor®, Coldwell Banker Elite
540-305-7244
Gavin Robyn
Owner, Next Door Photos Fredericksburg
540-735-6744
Exciting News About Bright’s Listing Preview
The highly anticipated final phase of Bright’s Listing Preview is here! Now, you can share your draft listings with key members of your office as well as the sellers—ensuring that your listing is as complete and accurate as possible before you publish.
You can share draft listings with:
• Co–List 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.
Realtor® Survey Shows Strong Demand for Housing in Walkable Communities
Research produced by the National Association of Realtors® shows a persistent demand for walkable communities, including the following findings:
When asked if deciding today where to live:
- 79% said being within an easy walk of other places and things, such as shops and parks, is very/somewhat important. 78% of those indicated that they would be willing to pay more for a dwelling in a walkable community.
- 85% said sidewalks and places to walk are very/somewhat important.
- 65% said having public transport nearby is very/somewhat important.
- 56% said they would prefer a house with a small yard and be able to walk to places vs. 44% who would prefer a large yard and would need to drive to most places.
- 53% would prefer an attached dwelling (own or rent a townhouse/condo/apartment) and be able to walk to shops, restaurants, and a short commute to work vs. 47% who would prefer a single-family home (own or rent) and have to drive to shops, restaurants and a longer commute.
According to the NAR study, Americans living in walkable communities are more likely to be very satisfied with their quality of life. This study shows that a substantial demand for walkability persists for Americans of all ages.
The biannual NAR Community & Transportation Preferences Survey polls residents in the 50 largest metropolitan areas of the United States.