The Source: September 2023

 
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Welcome to The Source

The Source, a cutting-edge newsletter produced by NVAR, immerses readers through captivating video content, expert insights, and scenarios. Elevate your industry expertise by checking back each month for engaging multimedia and invaluable professional advice.

The Source is your inside scoop on legal, governmental, and ethical developments in the real estate industry.

September 2023 Headlines

NVAR does not recommend using an addendum to renew a lease.

The best practice for REALTORS® when renewing a tenant is to use an entirely new standard lease. 

Imagine the following scenario: You have just completed a showing with your clients. As you exit the property, a person representing themselves as “Randy the Realtor®” approaches and informs you that he has the next showing appointment. Randy then asks if you wouldn’t mind handing him the key to save him the trouble of opening the lockbox. 

What should you do?

Each year, NVAR compiles legislative and regulatory policy goals and proposals for the coming year. This 2023-2024 NVAR Legislative Agenda is the result of months of meetings and feedback taken directly from NVAR’s 13,000 members.

It has been vetted and approved by the NVAR Public Policy Committee and the NVAR Board of Directors.

Issues, Trends and Reports

1
On January 17, 2023, Loudoun County voted to update Section 4-1400 of their Zoning Ordinance to require that all home sales within the Airport Impact Overlay District (“AIOD”) include a disclosure notice to prospective buyers regarding the potential for airport noise near their homes.

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9
A new Statement of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities under the Virginia Residential landlord and Tenant Act is available for all leases as of July 1, 2023. Landlords must provide this form to any prospective tenant for both parties to sign along with the lease.

If your forms provider does not have the current version of the Statement, please find both the English and Spanish versions here.

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7

One noteworthy trend is that NVAR has received fewer complaints – especially in the first six months of 2023. Is the current real estate market causing this drop? Are Realtors® more professional? Are there fewer issues to report? Is there not enough awareness about the available dispute resolution processes?

Take a look at the numbers to learn more.

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5

Advocacy and Government Affairs updates from Washington D.C., Richmond and across Northern Virginia. The REALTOR® Advocacy Report is your source for news from the NVAR Government Affairs Team.  

 
 

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17
A look at economic development, rezoning, and residential and commercial projects happening in Northern Virginia.

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8
The NVAR Citation System can address violations such as unauthorized access and advertising issues. The Citation System allows for a respondent to accept responsibility for the violation by paying a designated fine and attending appropriate educational courses.

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6
REALTORS® pledge themselves to protect and promote the interests of their client. This obligation to the client is primary, but it does not relieve REALTORS® of their obligation to treat all parties honestly.