Focus on Fair Housing, Finance, Professionalism

Every year, NVAR compiles legislative and regulatory policy goals for the following year. The legislative program is developed based on feedback and recommendations from NVAR members. The process begins in March, when NVAR committees and forums, as well as the membership at-large, are asked to submit issues to the NVAR Public Policy Committee for consideration. Following approval by the NVAR Board of Directors, NVAR forwards the program to the Virginia Association of Realtors® for consideration in the statewide list of legislative priorities. 
   
The 2017 NVAR legislative program includes some simple language amendments to clarify laws, as well as several major policy changes. The full legislative program may be found at go.NVAR.com/Advocacy. 

• CONDO ACT RIGHT OF CANCELLATION – NVAR will seek legislation to mirror the Condominium Act with the Property Owners’ Association Act with respect to the right of cancellation of the contract if the purchaser has not been notified that the resale certificate is unavailable and the resale certificate is not delivered to the purchaser.  

• VIRGINIA RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY DISCLOSURE ELECTRONIC DELIVERY – NVAR will seek legislation to clarify the residential property disclosure statement to allow the disclosure to be delivered electronically — which is already a common practice. 

• FAIR HOUSING – It is the position of NVAR – and the NAR Code of Ethics—that all consumers should be treated equally in their housing transactions. NVAR will support legislation under the Fair Housing law to prohibit discrimination in housing transactions on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. 

• STUDENT LOAN DEBT REFINANCING – NVAR will support legislation to develop creative solutions, including the authority to refinance student loan debt, to mitigate the impact of rising student debt on homebuyers and to protect the dream of homeownership for all Americans. 

• INDUSTRY COMPETENCY/PROFESSIONALISM and REAL ESTATE TEAMS – NVAR supports legislation to enhance the knowledge and professionalism of Virginia’s real estate licensees. To this end, Realtor® members from six associations throughout northern and central Virginia have met and proposed legislation to define real estate teams and their responsibilities; to look at the educational requirements for those brokers who supervise teams; and to consider strengthening the licensing and education requirements of licensees. NVAR and these associations will work with VAR during 2017 to research best practices to enhance and maintain the professionalism of the industry.