realtor - Hampton Roads REALTORS® Association

hampton
roads
REALtor
®
Vol. 35 ~ Iss. 6
june 2014
Published for Members of the Hampton Roads REALTORS ® Association
Connect with Your
Member
Benefits
Let these invaluable resources be the
secret to your success in real estate.
plus: commercial coffee kroc center sneak peek; dispelling myths (& touting
the fun) of the network
(ypn); remote trespassing: hold back that flood
Local Lenders. National Strength.
For more than 140 years, BB&T’s local approach to banking has kept us close to our clients and the communities we serve. Our
lenders understand the nuances of the local market, which helps make buying a home a little easier. Experience the difference with
a local lender backed by the resources of one of the nation’s largest financial institutions. BBT.com/Mortgage
Chip Riggs
757-412-2354
BBT.com/CRiggs
NMLS# 415510
Brenda Winer
757-456-1095
BBT.com/BAWiner
NMLS# 415655
Bryan Martin
757-437-3783
BBT.com/BPMartin
NMLS# 415444
Gilroy Lino
757-576-6628
BBT.com/GLino
NMLS# 415437
Pat Hickman
757-456-1027
BBT.com/PHickman
NMLS# 415310
Adam Veith
757-523-4151
BBT.com/AVeith
NMLS# 914697
Gerard Golden
757-474-3287
BBT.com/GGolden
NMLS# 415174
Magali Fosse
757-456-1093
BBT.com/MFosse
NMLS# 432557
Tiffany Pulliam
757-318-6194
BBT.com/TPulliam
NMLS# 432821
Angela Sadsad
757-546-3003
BBT.com/ASadsad
NMLS# 432947
B A N K I N G
.
I N S U R A N C E
.
I N V E S T M E N T S
Branch Banking and Trust Company is a Member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.
Loans are subject to credit approval. Only deposit products are FDIC insured.
© 2014, Branch Banking and Trust Company. All rights reserved.
p. 2 HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 2014 REALtor ®
hampton roads
5A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words
6Member Benefits: Easy to "Carry"
but Impossible to Measure
8
"Commercial Coffee" Kroc Center Sneak Peek
10Calendar of Events & Meetings
11Calendar of Education
12HRRA Membership = Big Dividends
15You Get What You Pay For
...or You Could
16Dispelling Myths (& Touting the Fun)
of The Network - YPN
18What I Value About HRRA Membership
18HRRA, How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways...
19Welcome New Members
4
Connect with the Value
of HRRA Membership
HRRA Chair Amy Rhodes begins our
coverage of the many benefits of your
association membership.
14
Remote Trespassing:
Hold Back That Flood!
This month's Legal Corner looks at the
problems neighbors can cause through
neglect and mismanagement of land.
If you are interested in writing for the Hampton Roads REALTOR®,
send a note to [email protected].
Hampton Roads REALTORS ® Association
The Hampton Roads REALT OR ®
Chairman of the Board:Amy Rhodes
Chairman-Elect:Rusty Hulett
Vice Chairman – Finance:
Becky Claggett
Immediate Past Chairman:Patricia A. Steele
Executive Committee:Dorcas Helfant-Browning
Priscilla B. LeMoine
Ron Pearman
Approximately 3,700 copies of each issue of the Hampton Roads
REALTOR® are published monthly by the Hampton Roads
REALTORS® Association, Inc. (HRRA), 638 Independence
Parkway, Suite 100, Chesapeake, VA 23320. Subscriptions are
included in the annual dues paid by members.
HRRA reserves the right to edit or refuse all submissions for
publication. HRRA reserves the right to receive royalties from
some programs and services. Views and advertising expressed
in this magazine are not necessarily those of, nor endorsed
by, HRRA. The Hampton Roads REALTOR® is created for the
members of HRRA by Organization Management Group, Inc.
(www.ManageGroup.com).
DIRECTORS:
Troy Brinkley
Dayla Brooks
Shirley Conner
Jamie Cook
Jennifer Cool
Mark Edwards
Tonya Feamster
Terry Gearhart
Nikita Houchins
Jimmy Jackson
HAMPTON ROADS
REALTORS®
ASSOCIATION
Sherry Maser
Tanya Monroe
Stacie Powell
Brooks Sinnen
Laura Wenslaff
I am one.
Editor/Designer: Kim Breeding-Mercer ([email protected])
Advertising Sales: Lisa Nixon ([email protected])
and Norvie Ramos ([email protected])
®
Copyright © 2014 Hampton Roads REALTORS® Association; all
rights reserved.
advertisers
BB&T - 2
Chartway FCU - 9
East West Communities - 13
E.T. Lawson - 19
Prudential/Sasser - 7
ServPro - 15
Landmark Title - 20
TowneBank Mortgage - 15
HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 2014 p. 3
Connect with the Value
of HRRA Membership
Amy Rhodes
2014 HRRA
Chairman
What is the “value” of Hampton Roads REALTORS® Association’s member benefits? At first
glance you could easily say education and networking were very high
on the “value” list; the networking
opportunities at HRRA are extremely valuable for building relationships with industry sales leaders, real estate brokers, vendors and
tradespeople, but if you look a little
deeper you will find much, much
more.
One of the biggest values that is often overlooked is a
REALTOR®'s ability to take a cooperating broker to arbitration when
there is a dispute. Without this, the
only option would be to take the
firm to court. The National Code
of Ethics, Article 17, requires that
REALTOR® firms go to arbitration
and be bound by the decision.
Being active in HRRA helps
REALTORS® with their professional development. The committees
and councils within our association
are a huge value that you receive as
a member, if utilized. They are open
to all members and include:
• Government Affairs
• Global Real Estate Advisory
Group
• New Homes Council
• Property Management & Leasing
Council
• REALTOR®/Lawyer Committee
• Resale Council
• The Network (YPN)
HRRA also has specialized
councils for more specific development. The Affiliates Council is open
to all HRRA Affiliate members, and
Chairman’s Remarks
the Owners/Managers Council
is open to managers, brokers and
owners.
The networking
opportunities at
HRRA are extremely
valuable, but if you
look a little deeper
you will find much,
much more.
Here are just a few of the topics that these groups have covered
so far this year: “Doing Business
with the Chinese Community,”
“Immigration Reform,” “Social
Media Enhancing Your Business,”
“Contract Pitfalls,” “Listing Presentations,” “The Tax Assessment
Process,” “The Virginia Residential
Landlord and Tenant Act,” “Candidate Interviews for Endorsements,”
“Alternative Housing,” “Renovation Loans,” “Dealing with Difficult
Owners Through the Management
Contract,” “School Ratings,” and
“Fair Housing Implications.”
With the launch of The Realtors Property Resource, or RPR®,
HRRA scheduled many training
classes for both agents and brokers in order for them to learn to
use this exciting new resource. This
tool overpowers other websites and
price estimators by the stroke of a
key. Other websites pull from public records while RPR® pulls public
records as well as the MLS, overlapping the information and making it
much more accurate.
If you have not yet attended a RPR® training class, you
are missing one of the biggest
points of difference between a
REALTOR® versus a non-member
agent. This, in addition to our ongoing I am one® campaign, is a fantastic way to stand out in a market
where non-member agent competition is a fact of daily life.
Advocacy is another vital value
that the local association provides.
Whether advocating for land-use
issues, military support, education,
or our food bank collections and disaster relief efforts, the association
brings together forces that make a
difference in our communities.
HRRA is the connecting force
bringing you the political, networking and educational opportunities
for you to succeed in real estate.
Under all is the land. HRRA will remain politically engaged and will be
“the voice” to help protect private
property rights and continue to
bring value and benefits to its members. ~
Thank You to our 2014 HRRA Partners
BRONZE
p. 4 HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 2014 COPPER
AMBASSADOR
A Picture is Worth 1,000
Words
Recent photos of HRRA members and events
There was plenty of friendly competition during the Affiliate Council’s annual REALTORS® vs. Affiliates Kickball Tournament on May 7 at
Woodstock Park, followed by the after-party presented by The Network at Eagle's Nest Rockin' Country Bar in Chesapeake. The Affiliates
took home the trophy 6-4 in a hard-fought victory over the REALTORS®, but competition didn't end there. Friendly cornhole, billiards, and
mechanical bull-riding challenges heated up the after-party. Special thanks to event sponsor Atlantic Bay Mortgage
Group and door prize sponsors AGT Title Inc., Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group, BB&T Mortgage, Cox
Communications, First American Home Buyers Protection, George Mason Mortgage, HMS Home Warranty
of Virginia, McCaskey and Associates Inc., New Penn Financial, Norfolk Air
Heating Cooling & Plumbing, Prestige United Title Insurance, Safe House
Property Inspection, Smoke Detector Man, The Real Estate Printer, Title
Concepts, US Inspect, and ZooPro Wildlife Removal Inc. Thanks, too, to Dennis
Russell for kicking off the bull-riding fun by pledging a ride if a certain amount was
raised for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. A big thank you to everyone for
bringing out non-perishable food and monetary donations to help this worthy cause. (See
more photos from this event on HRRA's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hrrarealtors.)
HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 2014 p. 5
Member Benefits: Easy to “Carry”
but Impossible to Measure
Victoria Hecht
HRRA
Communications
and PR Specialist
The family teases that my tastes
tend to bulky bags because no puny
purse will do when one crams everything but the kitchen sink into her
portable “black hole.”
Truth be told, though, I steer
to hulking handbags because my
keychain could easily fill the compact clutches that some women
carry. The reason? All of those
“rewards” cards or tags—17 to be
exact, not counting those stuffed in
my wallet—make the chain (and, ultimately, the purse) a beast to carry.
Without benefit of those cards,
though, our family wouldn’t get
special discounts at our preferred
supermarkets, accumulate bonus
points at our favorite drugstore
chain, or check in easily at the dry
cleaner or gym. Heck, without the
“Pitpass” benefits card, we wouldn’t
earn free carwashes or sodas when
fueling, and who doesn’t appreciate
a no-cost carwash? Want one? Better be a rewards member!
Membership has its benefits,
for sure. You may put a price on
some benefits (like a carwash that
otherwise would have cost $8), but
the value of others—like how much
you save at the supermarket with
use of its “rewards” card—can’t
easily be measured. Rather, it depends on how often you shop there
and use the card.
A HRRA member needn’t carry a keychain card to reap rewards
of membership in the association.
But, as a member, you should remember that the more you use the
available benefits, the more you may
build your business. (And, yes, there
are some monetary savings in the
mix, too.) Let’s look at a few of the
beneficial HRRA offerings:
RPR®. The newly launched
Realtors Property Resource puts the
power of many databases—from
multiple national ones as well as
the local Real Estate Information
Network’s MLS info—into HRRA
members’ hands so that they may
create better, more accurate reports
p. 6 HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 2014 for buyers and sellers. Greater property information and valuation models from you equal better-informed
clients when they make decisions.
United voices for advocacy.
HRRA members also are part of
the 29,000-member Virginia Association of REALTORS® as well as
A HRRA member
needn’t carry a
keychain card to
reap rewards of
membership in the
association.
the National Association of REALTORS®, the United States’ largest
trade association with more than a
million members. There’s strength
in numbers, and HRRA, VAR, and
NAR use that strength to lobby and
develop policy for issues important
to homeowners and the real estate
industry. Virginia’s new First Time
Home Buyer Savings Plan, which
goes into effect July 1, is an example
of what may be accomplished with
the united power of REALTOR®
voices.
Lots of learning. HRRA
members receive discounts to Alpha
College of Real Estate and HRRAsponsored continuing education
and post-licensing courses and other
classes, while non-member licensees
do not. Fifty dollars in savings on a
course's tuition—such as the savings REALTORS® realize on The
Cyber REALTOR® GRI course, for
example—is no small amount; that's
equal to dinner for two at a pretty
decent restaurant!
Access to “I am one®” Campaign promotional materials.
HRRA’s website, www.HRRA.com,
hosts a wealth of information for
members, from calendars and class
schedules to association history
and member accolades. Go to the
“Members Only” log-in and you’ll
find a bounty of business-building
forms, information on the Community Buying Group and Office Max
Discount Program, and print-ondemand and downloadable “I am
one®” business cards, fliers, PDFs,
logos, and more that you may customize with your information.
REALTORS® work hard to earn
their designation; proudly proclaim
“I am one®” with these materials
under “Member Benefits.”
Networking opportunities.
Teammates during the annual
REALTORS® vs. Affiliates kickball aren’t just sports buddies with
whom you “kick it.” They might be
the next people with whom you do
business. HRRA’s myriad events—
from REALTOR® Day on the Hill
to the Wine & Cheese Social—offer
REALTORS® and Affiliates the opportunity to build relationships that,
in turn, build business. (And you’ll
have fun networking, too.)
Of course, two of the biggest benefits of HRRA membership—leadership development and
the available arbitration/mediation
forum that accompanies the Code
of Ethics—are invaluable tools
both personally and professionally.
There’s no measuring their worth.
If each HRRA member benefit meant its own “rewards” card,
it would take a mighty substantial
keychain to handle them all—and
I can’t imagine how big a purse it
would take to lug that! ~
WE HAVE INVENTORY
OFFERING A 1% BONUS!
$350’s
HOMES FROM THE
Fantastic Amenities, North Suffolk/I664
location. Spectacular pool/clubhouse steps
from your front door. Adjacent to Bennett’s
Creek Park on 50 acres with boat ramp/
deep water access. Playground, tennis,
skate park and picnic area. Builder pays
closing costs up to $10,000.
VISIT OUR 3 DECORATED
MODELS 11-5 DAILY
Directions From I664: Take Rt. 17 West (Exit 9A), left at Shoulder’s Hill Rd.,
then right at Bennett’s Creek Park Rd., at end of road follow signs to model.
757.483.4908 | TheWaterfrontAtParkside.com
Sales & Marketing by Prudential Towne Realty
© 2013 BRER Affiliates LLC. Real Estate brokerage services are offered through the independently owned and operated network of broker member franchisees of BRER Affiliates LLC. Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are
registered service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, used under license with no other affiliation with Prudential. Equal Housing Opportunity.
HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 2014 p. 7
"Commercial Coffee"
Kroc Center Sneak Peek
The Hampton Roads REALTORS® Association’s Commercial Alliance, in conjunction with Timmons Group, Creative, and Williams Mullen, held a “Commercial Coffee” at
the new Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc
Corps Community Center in Norfolk on
Wednesday, April 23, offering a sneak peek
at the 92,000-square-foot facility before its
grand-opening weekend.
The facility, with an indoor water park,
400-seat theater, and 7,000-square-foot fitness center, is located on Ballentine Boulevard
on more than 8 acres in the city’s revitalized
Broad Creek community. It bears the name
of the founder of McDonald’s and his widow, who bequeathed more than a billion dollars to The Salvation Army for the creation
of community recreation/education facilities
throughout the United States.
“The partnership between a not-for-profit
like The Salvation Army and the City of Norfolk is a great example of looking beyond the
limits of the previous industrial and retail uses
to the possibilities of what could be created,”
said Troy Brinkley, chairman of The Salvation
Army’s Hampton Roads Area Command Advisory Board as well as HRRA’s Commercial Alliance. “The new Kroc Center will transform
the heart of the community with recreation,
fitness, and the arts that minister to the body,
mind, and spirit of each person.”
According to Brinkley, the center was
made possible through a total philanthropic
gift of $110 million, including about $28 million raised by the community as a condition to
the Kroc donation. Of the total, $40 million
was used to build the facility, with the remainder going to an endowment to fund the cen-
Commercial Alliance
ter’s ongoing operations. The annual operating budget will be $5 million. The center also
represents the creation of 120 jobs.
The Commercial Alliance, whose member-firm representation includes attorneys,
appraisers, lenders, title companies, developers, and other groups associated with commercial leasing and sales, piggybacked the
Commercial Coffee with the newly completed
center’s opening as part of efforts to expose
members to significant new-construction and
commercial projects in Hampton Roads.
The Alliance seeks suggestions for new
commercial properties to preview as part
of Commercial Coffee. Send suggestions to
Renee Robins of Timmons Group at renee.
[email protected] or Tayloe Gwathmey
of Williams Mullen at tgwathmey@williams
mullen.com. ~
HRRA members toured the new Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center (pictured left to right): Russell Harris; HRRA
Immediate Past Chair Pat Steele; Troy Brinkley, chairman of HRRA’s Commercial Alliance as well as The Salvation Army’s Hampton Roads Area
Command Advisory Board; and HRRA Chair-Elect Rusty Hulett.
p. 8 HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 2014 Chartway’s
FIRSt-tIME HoMEBUYERS
pRoGRAM
Buying a home is easier than you
think. With Chartway’s First-Time
Homebuyers Program, we’ll finance the
full purchase price of your first home
without mortgage insurance.* And, we’ve
eliminated all the extra “junk” fees that
other lenders charge. Our fixed-rate
options eliminate many of the common
obstacles for first-time homebuyers.
 Offers 100% financing
 No mortgage insurance required
 Seller paid closing costs allowed
 Previous home ownership allowed
 Low fees and closing costs
 Simple application process
 Superior service
 Membership is easy!
HURRY! ApplY todAY.
(757) 552-1000 Extension HOMES
chartwaymortgage.com
This credit union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. Membership eligibility subject to verification.
*Open to new membership. Must be a homebuyer of a single family dwelling or townhouse with no home ownership within the previous 3 years. No down payment
required. Rate is equivalent to 1.00% above 30-year market rate with 0% down or 0.50% above 30-year market rate with 3% down. Maximum income of $85,000. Minimum
loan amount of $80,000; maximum loan amount of $300,000. Available at all Chartway Federal, HeritageWest, and SouthWest Community Credit Union locations.
Minimum credit score of 680 required. Debt to housing ratio no greater than 40%. Total debt to income ratio no greater than 43%. Terms and conditions subject to change
without notice. Normal underwriting guidelines apply. Some restrictions may apply. For complete details and full disclosures, please see a member specialist.
HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 2014 p. 9
calendar of events & meetings
june
Resale CouncilJune 3
1 pm
Virginia Beach Room
®
Women's Council of REALTORS June 4Noon
Virginia Beach Room
Government AffairsJune 5Noon
Virginia Beach Room
TMBA/HRRA Charity Golf ChallengeJune 5
1pmHeron Ridge Golf Club, VB
Orientation for New REALTORS®June 10
9 am
Virginia Beach Room
®
REALTOR /LawyerJune 12
1 pm
Virginia Beach Room
Affiliates Council
June 13
9:30 am Portsmouth Room
Property Management & Leasing CouncilJune 17
12:30 pm
Virginia Beach Room
The Network - Education EventJune 18
9 am
Virginia Beach Room
Global Real Estate Advisory GroupJune 19Noon
Chesapeake Room
july
Resale CouncilJuly 1
1 pm
Virginia Beach Room
®
Women's Council of REALTORS July 2Noon
Virginia Beach Room
HRRA will be closed in observance of Independence Day.
July 4
®
REALTOR /LawyerJuly 10
1 pm
Virginia Beach Room
Affiliates Council
July 11
9:30 am Portsmouth Room
Property Management & Leasing CouncilJuly 15
12:30 pm
Virginia Beach Room
®
Orientation for New REALTORS July 17
9 am
Virginia Beach Room
Owners/Managers Council July 18
11:45 am
Virginia Beach Room
The Network - Tides Game OutingJuly 22
7:05 pmHarbor Park, Norfolk
REALTOR®
Tuesday, July 22, 7:05pm
Day on the Field
at Harbor Park
in Norfolk
Join us for a fun night of
baseball and networking!
Enjoy hot dogs, soft drinks,
and boxes of popcorn for the
throwback price of 50¢ each
courtesy of Smithfield Foods.
Tickets are just $9. Register
today at HRRA.com!
p. 10 HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 2014 The
NETWORK
YPN
HRRA’s Young Professionals Network
calendar of education
june
Principles of Real EstateJune 2 - 23
Principles of Real EstateJune 2 - 23
Broker Licensing: Real Estate FinanceJune 2 - 9
QUICKSTART© 30 Hour Post LicensingJune 9 - 13
Principles of Real EstateJune 10
Principles of Real EstateJune 10
Continuing Education Required TopicsJune 12
Continuing Education Required TopicsJune 19
Residential Standard Agency Course
June 20
Broker Management CEJune 24 Continuing Education Related Topics
June 24
Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource (SFR)June 25
Residential Standard Agency Course
June 27
*
Chesapeake Campus
* Newport News Campus
6 pm
Chesapeake Campus
*Newport News Campus
*
Virginia Beach Campus
* Newport News Campus
8:30 am
Chesapeake Campus
8:30 amNewport News Campus
9 am Chesapeake Campus
8:30 am
Newport News Campus
*
Chesapeake Campus
*
Chesapeake Campus
9 am Newport News Campus
july
Seller Representative Specialist (SRS)July 7 - 8
Broker Licensing: Real Estate BrokerageJuly 7 - 14
Principles of Real EstateJuly 7 - 28
Principles of Real EstateJuly 7 - 28
Continuing Education Required TopicsJuly 10
Certified Staging Professional (CSP)
July 14 - 16
Broker Management CEJuly 17 Continuing Education Related Topics
July 17
QUICKSTART© 30 Hour Post LicensingJuly 21 - 25
Continuing Education Related Topics
July 22
Continuing Education Required TopicsJuly 24
Continuing Education Required TopicsJuly 29
9 am
Chesapeake Campus
6 pm
Chesapeake Campus
*
Chesapeake Campus
* Newport News Campus
8:30 am
Chesapeake Campus
*
Chesapeake Campus
8:30 am
Chesapeake Campus
*
Newport News Campus
*
Chesapeake Campus
*
Chesapeake Campus
8:30 am
Chesapeake Campus
8:30 amNewport News Campus
* Check website for times.
SRS® Designation Course
SELLER REPRESENTATIVE SPECIALIST
July 7 & 8, from 9 am to 5:30 pm
$199 before June 30; $275 after
• Increase listings and grow business
• Demonstrate and communicate value
package to sellers
• Understand and apply ethics and
standards
Alpha Campus
Locations:
•
•
•
•
• Understand and comply with state
licensing laws
• Understand and apply methods, tools,
and techniques to provide the support
and services that sellers want and need
638 Independence Parkway, Suite 100, Chesapeake, VA 23320 - [757] 427-1740
(Classroom only) 11861 Canon Boulevard, Suite A, Newport News, VA 23606 - [757] 873-8884
(Classroom only) 184 Business Park Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 - [757] 427-1740
(Classroom only) 114 Maple Grove Avenue, Colonial Heights, VA 23834
For more details, please visit www.AlphaCollegeOfRealEstate.com Course schedule may change without notice.
HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 2014 p. 11
HRRA Membership =
Big Dividends
Allen Pyle
Vice Chair,
Professional
Standards
Committee
What is the true value of your
HRRA membership? Perhaps the
best way to measure its worth is to
approach it as an investment. While
the minimum upfront fee has the
potential to startle anyone in our
present economy, a deeper analysis
reveals a potential dividend worth
its weight in gold and worthy of
your careful consideration. A shortsighted view sees only the numbers.
The $574 total fee is broken down
as follows: $299 to HRRA; $110 to
VAR; $120 to NAR; and $35 to the
NAR Consumer Advocacy Campaign. Voluntary contributions can
also be made to HRRPAC, RIM, and
the REALTOR® Foundation. The
greater value, though, can and will
be realized as you utilize the benefits
of your HRRA membership. Think
of it in terms of how our bodies
reap the rewards of consistent and
committed gym membership usage.
The mission statement of
HRRA is to enhance the ability of
REALTORS® to achieve business
success in an ethical and professional manner and to protect and preserve private property rights. Since
the REALTOR®’s most valuable
tool is knowledge, HRRA’s committees keep us on the cutting edge
of real estate trends and changes.
Participating in these committees is
greatly encouraged and valuable.
The Government Affairs Committee monitors City Councils and
the General Assembly and vigorously works to protect real estate
and consumer interests.
The
REALTOR ®/Lawyer
Committee and Property Man-
Professional Standards
agement and Leasing Council use
their knowledge and experience to
update and revise forms and contracts to keep members up-to-date
while helping limit REALTOR®
The free legal
advice you glean
from committee
meetings far
outweighs the
annual dues
amount.
and customer/client liability in our
dynamic real estate world (these
forms are available exclusively to
HRRA members; log in to “Members Only” at www.HRRA.com to
access). It is quite notable that those
who serve on these committees report that the free legal advice they
HRRA has partnered with Alpha College of Real Estate to
offer 3 hours of Ethics CE/PL to all members at NO COST.
Contact Alpha today to learn more - (757) 427-1740.
p. 12 HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 2014 glean from committee meetings far
outweighs the annual dues amount.
Arbitration, Mediation, Ethics,
and Professional Standards members volunteer their time to promote
ethical business practices above and
beyond the standards set forth in
the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
and provide a forum for complaints
and recourse for satisfaction, if justified. Consumers often state their
preeminent reason to use the services of a REALTOR® is because
of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics
to which the agent subscribes and
abides.
The above-mentioned committees are familiar to most of us, but
it is important to note that HRRA
also offers outstanding networking
opportunities, education through
Alpha College of Real Estate, recognition through the Circle of Excellencesm program, and online services
and member support. Whether you
have a complicated real estate question, need help in conducting research, or want direction with your
continuing education requirements,
HRRA stands ready to help.
On the national level, NAR has
recently developed and launched
RPR®, Realtors Property Resource.
This is a service exclusively designed
to assist REALTORS® in meeting
the needs of clients. The tool gives
professional comprehensive data,
powerful analysis, and dynamic
reports. There is no doubt: joining and participating in HRRA will
open doors and result in solid dividends. ~
AR
EA
61
3308 Rivers Bend Place • $689,900
Sasser Construction
Virginia’s Finest Homes Have Always
Been Built Along The River
CUSTOM HOMES FROM THE LOW $500S
MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN NORFOLK | OPEN DAILY
3442 Village Square Place • $599,900
ABT Custom Homes
757.638.9100 |
the-riverfront.com
6101 WALKERS FERRY LANE, SUFFOLK, VA 23435
9515 North River Road • $539,900
Les Ore Construction
DIRECTIONS: Located in Harbour View in Suffolk at I-664
and Route 17, near the Monitor Merrimac Bridge Tunnel.
Search AREA 65 | New Homes from $400,000
founderspointe.com | (757) 238-9009
Stephen Alexander Homes
$591,290
Located near historic Smithfield,
9 miles from I-664 at Harbour View.
Only 25 mins. to Downtown Norfolk.
TRF_FP HRRA 5_14.indd 1
Allen Parker Builder
$629,900
Sasser Construction
$449,900
1302 Founders Pointe Trail
Carrollton, VA 23314
Information Center OPEN DAILY.
HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 5/5/14
2014 12:23
p.PM
13
Remote Trespassing:
Hold Back That Flood!
John F. Faber, Jr.,
Esq.
Attorney, Wolcott
Rivers Gates
In Virginia, a homeowner can
commit a trespass against his neighbor’s property without ever setting
foot on that property. The Virginia
Supreme Court has long held that to
recover for a trespass to land a plaintiff must prove an invasion that interfered with the right of exclusive
possession of his land that was a
direct result of some act committed
by the defendant. Any physical entry upon the surface of the land can
constitute such an invasion, whether
the entry is walking upon it, flooding
it with water, casting objects upon
it, or otherwise. Perhaps the most
frequently litigated remote trespass
case involves flooding a neighbor’s
property with water. The Virginia
Supreme Court has considered such
cases several times with the most recent being Kurpiel v. Hicks, decided
on September 14, 2012.
Andrew and Tammy Hicks
bought an undeveloped residential
lot next to the existing house owned
by Patricia and George Kurpiel
in Stafford County, Virginia. The
Hickses built a house on the lot,
beginning in the 2007. According
to the Kurpiels, prior to the Hickses’ development of the property,
the existing plantings, vegetation
and topography of the Hickses’ lot
contained stormwater runoff on
that property. After the Hickses began development of their property,
however, the discharge of stormwater from the Hickses’ lot (together
with silt and sediment) physically
entered and interfered with the Kurpiels’ exclusive possession of their
property. None of the Kurpiels’ efforts to control the flooding, including diversion of roof drains, sandbags, and plantings, were successful.
The Kurpiels sued the Hickses in the Circuit Court of Stafford
County, seeking an injunction to
prevent the further trespass of surface water on to their property and
$35,000 in monetary damages. Specifically, the Kurpiels alleged that in
p. 14 HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 2014 Legal Corner
developing their property the Hickses stripped their land of virtually all
vegetation, including the unauthorized removal of vegetation within
the Resource Protection Area under
the Chesapeake Bay Preservation
Act; failed to use proper drainage
controls, regraded and changed the
elevation of the land, including the
addition of fill; and failed to control resulting sediment loads and
Flooding a
neighbor’s property
with surface water
can constitute
a trespass under
Virginia law.
siltation running onto the Kurpiels’
property, among other things. The
circuit court dismissed the Kurpiels’
claim, stating that the Kurpiels had
failed to allege facts sufficient to
show that the Hickses acted in bad
faith or with an intention to interfere with the Kurpiels’ property or
that the Hickses’ development was
done in anything other than the
usual and customary way. The Kurpiels appealed the dismissal to the
Virginia Supreme Court.
In analyzing the dismissal, the
Supreme Court first reiterated the
notion that flooding a neighbor’s
property with surface water can
constitute a trespass under Virginia
law. The primary defense to a claim
of trespass based on surface water intrusion is the doctrine generally known as the “common enemy
rule”. Under that rule, surface water is a common enemy, and each
landowner may fight it off as best
he can, provided he does so reasonably and in good faith and not wantonly, unnecessarily or carelessly.
The court contrasted that modified
common law rule with the rule that
prevails in civil law states, which is
that lower lands must receive waters
which flow naturally from higher
lands “to which the hand of man
has not contributed.” The owner of
the lower ground cannot block the
natural flow, but the owner of the
higher ground cannot do anything
to increase the flow. Unlike the civil
law rule, the common enemy rule
that prevails in Virginia allows the
owner of lower property to take
measures to prevent inundation by
surface water, even if that involves
throwing it back upon neighboring
property, so long as he does not do
so wantonly, unnecessary, or carelessly.
In this case, the Kurpiels alleged that the Hickses did not develop their land in a reasonable manner
and acted carelessly and unnecessarily by stripping their land of all
vegetation, including unauthorized
removal of vegetation in violation
of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act; extensively regrading the
property and changing its elevation;
leaving the land unvegetated longer
than was necessary, then replacing
the stripped vegetation with insufficient and inadequate plant cover;
and failing to use proper drainage controls. The court found that
those assertions were enough to allege that the Hickses had not acted
reasonably and in good faith in the
development of their property, and
instead acted wantonly, unnecessar(continued on page 17...)
You Get What You Pay For...
or, You Could
Sherry D. Maser,
GRIsm, MIRM, SRES®
Chair, New Homes
Council
As REALTORS®, we are paying dues to HRRA, VAR, and NAR.
These organizations offer a wide
array of benefits, business tools,
networking, professional development, industry publications, educational and leadership opportunities
designed to help us succeed in today’s market. As I write this article,
I know of three opportunities just
this week to participate in HRRAsponsored activities. The value is
there; you just have to step back and
look at the bigger picture.
No matter which aspect of our
industry you specialize in (resale,
new homes, property management,
commercial, or appraisal) there is
support for you and your business.
You already pay the dues; why not
get back out what you put in? Get
involved and reap the benefits.
Are you interested in the law as
it applies to our business, government actions that affect our industry
and the consumer, the professional
standards that set REALTORS®
apart from non-member real estate
agents, or do you just want to have
a little fun networking with your
peers? There is a group or activity
for every interest. An invaluable resource you should bookmark right
now is www.HRRA.com. The website contains links and information
for all committees, councils, events,
education, services, and benefits.
Have you tried RPR®? The information, graphs, and charts available, if used properly, can prove
your worth and value to the consumer.
There is so much more to being a REALTOR® than selling hous-
es. We are professionals and experts
in our field. Get what you pay for.
Take advantage of what our association has to offer. Be proud to say,
“I am one!” ~
Hard work and dedication.
A commitment to family,
job and community.
A passion for serving others.
A talent for helping
dreams come true.
Proud to Serve:
Virginia • North Carolina • South Carolina • Pennsylvania
townebankmortgage.com • NMLS# 512138 • 757.687.5000
HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 2014 p. 15
Dispelling Myths (& Touting the Fun)
of The Network - YPN
Jennifer Curtis,
e-PRO®, MRP®
MilRES
Vice Chair,
The Network
Myth #1: You have to be
young to join.
Myth #2: It’s just for REALTOR® members.
“But I’m not young!” I stated
to my broker one afternoon while
sitting in her office. She had just
suggested that I join HRRA’s The
Network, or YPN, which stands
for Young Professionals Network.
The emphatic statement I made was
because I didn’t think I qualified as
young. Of course, age is relative,
and there are plenty of people out
there who will think me a mere babe
in the woods as a 40-something.
However, on that day, from my perspective, I didn’t think I belonged in
a group that billed itself as young.
After my broker’s chuckle at my
comment, she informed me that the
HRRA group had no age limits and
that it was a great place to find other
real-estate-minded people who valued education, wanted to stay ahead
of the business and technology
curves, serve others, and occasionally go out for some fun socializing
and networking events. Since I adore
my broker and all her wisdom, I decided to check it out. She was right!
The Network does indeed have
people from all age groups (Myth
#1 dispelled!), and they are inviting,
engaging and fun to be around.
Before I go further and share
the specifics of the group and why
joining it would be a great decision
for you, let’s take a quick look back
at how this organization began and
see the evolution HRRA’s chapter
took.
The idea for the Young Professionals Network (YPN) came about
in 2006 from a feature in REALTOR® Magazine (the official magazine of NAR) called “30 Under
30.” This feature recognized young
REALTORS® who were considered
to be the rising stars in the real estate business. As more and more
young people were coming on the
scene as REALTORS®, the magazine saw the need for a place where
p. 16 HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ~ june 2014 ®
this generation could network with
each other and feel supported and
heard. From this, the YPN was
born. It soon took off, and since
then, chapters of the group have
There have
never been age
restrictions in place
for any chapters
of YPN.
formed all over the country, including in Alaska and Hawaii.
Following is NAR’s Young Professionals Network mission statement:
YPN helps young real estate professionals excel in their careers by giving them
the tools and encouragement to become involved in four core areas:
• REALTOR® associations. Attend
REALTOR® conferences and pursue
leadership roles with their local, state,
and national associations.
• Real estate industry. Take an active
role in policy discussions and advocacy
issues; be informed about the latest industry news and trends.
• Peers. Network and learn from one another by attending events, participating
in online communication, and seeking
out mentoring opportunities.
• Community. Become exceptional members of their community by demonstrating a high level of REALTOR® professionalism and volunteering for causes
they feel passionate about.
In 2009, HRRA began orga-
nizing its own Young Professionals
Network. In fact, the group was the
first in the state of Virginia among
only six other local and state YPN
chapters at the time. While HRRA’s
group initially began as a place for
the younger REALTOR® generation, over time others saw the benefits of membership. There have
never been age restrictions in place
for any chapters of YPN, so people
of all ages could freely join. In the
case of HRRA’s YPN, that’s just
what happened, and as the group
evolved, the name changed to The
Network—so as to encourage all
REALTORS® to get involved.
Here is the current mission
statement of HRRA’s The Network:
The Network (YPN) serves a growing group of active, career-minded real
estate professionals who want to serve the
community, educate themselves on the latest technology and industry practices, and
network with fellow REALTORS®.
The above statement sums up
our group quite succinctly. One important thing to note, however, is
that The Network is not only for
REALTORS® (Myth #2 dispelled).
In fact, we encourage HRRA Affiliates (known as the Circle of Experts) to join us. Along with enjoying
the benefits of membership, Affiliates can offer to sponsor events for
The Network, which helps get their
names out and increases exposure
of their businesses.
What’s in it for you? Many of
you are probably wondering at this
point what exactly you will get if
(when!) you join The Network. I
certainly wouldn’t leave you hanging, so here you go:
Educational Sessions. Four
times a year we offer free educational sessions at HRRA’s headquarters,
usually divided into two one-hour
presentations on different topics.
The following are examples of topics from previous sessions:
• Creative Writing for Listings
(continued on next page...)
(The Network, continued from previous page)
• Selling to Different Behavior Styles
• Optimizing Your Online Presence
• Converting For Sale By Owners into Listings
• VA Financing and Eligibility Requirements
• Military Relocation Professional Designation Overview
• Financial Planning
• Renovation Loans
Networking Events. In addition to
the educational events, four times a year The
Network (YPN) holds social networking
events. During these events, we meet around
happy-hour time and enjoy drinks, free hors
d’oeuvres, and lots of great conversation.
Some of the places we have frequented are
Yard House, Big Woody’s, Waterman’s Surfside Grille, and Eagle’s Nest Rockin’ Country
Bar. These gatherings are a great opportunity
to meet and get to know fellow real estate professionals in a comfortable and friendly setting. These nights are always a hit and leave
our members looking forward to the next
ones.
Community Service Projects. A mission of The Network (YPN) is to serve the
community in a number of ways. We are always looking for opportunities to contribute
our time and efforts to helping those in need.
We have worked with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, run a clothing drive for transitional housing organizations, volunteered
our services at numerous charity events,
helped out at the Salvation Army Christmas
Headquarters, collected cell phones for Hope
Village, raised money for The Dwelling Place,
and more. Our most recent community service project occurred at Oasis Social Ministry
in Portsmouth. Members of The Network
got down and dirty by working on landscaping around the building. It was a rewarding
experience, and our members were happy to
contribute their time to help others. We look
forward to more projects in the future.
Special Events (plus more to come
in the future). Throughout the year, we like
to offer special events for our members. This
past fall we hosted a Chili Cook-Off with the
Affiliates Council that was awesome. There
was plenty of beer and chili to be had. Your
fellow REALTORS® and Affiliates can cook!
This year’s cook-off is set for September 19.
Another fun event from last year was REALTOR® Day on the Field. Members of The
Network (YPN) and their families got together to enjoy a Tides game at Harbor Park
in Norfolk. Finally, there is always the excitement of the annual REALTORS® vs. Affiliates Kickball Tournament. After some tough
competition, we follow this event with a fun
(and well-deserved) after-party.
Upcoming Events with The Network.
Our next educational session is Wednesday,
June 18 at HRRA from 9-11am (continental breakfast included). The topics are Video
Marketing & Virtual Tours and Staging for
REALTORS®. If you would like to join us
for this free educational session, please RSVP
“June” to [email protected].
REALTOR® Day on the Field. We're
attending a Tides game at Harbor Park in
Norfolk on July 22. Join us for a fun night of
baseball and networking! Enjoy hot dogs, soft
drinks, and boxes of popcorn for 50 cents
each. Tickets are $9, and the game begins at
7:05pm.
We would love to have YOU join us. As
long as you are a member of HRRA in good
standing, you are welcome to be a part of our
group. To join, go to www.HRRA.com and
click on Councils & Committees, then scroll
down to find The Network (YPN). Membership is fast, easy and free!
We have lots going on this year and hope
you will join us! ~
The
NETWORK
YPN
HRRA’s Young Professionals Network
(Legal Corner, continued from page 14)
ily, or carelessly. If proved, those allegations
would remove the protection of the modified
common law “common enemy rule” from the
Hickess. The court thus reversed the circuit
court’s dismissal and ordered the circuit court
to try the case.
No reported decision states the outcome
of the second case, but homeowners and their
agents dealing with property that floods due
to a neighbor’s activity should be aware of the
common enemy rule and its limitations. ~
HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 2014 p. 17
What I Value About
HRRA Membership
Becky Claggett
Vice Chairman of
Finance
Sitting down to write my article
about what I value most about my
HRRA membership, I was full of
enthusiasm and thinking, “Well, this
is going to be easy!”
Education would, hands down,
be my answer. I have received so
much education over the years!
Education through: councils such
as REALTOR®/Lawyer, Resale,
Owners/Managers; through constant communications and the great
resources I receive on a regular
basis from HRRA; through Alpha
College of Real Estate and all the
classes that are available to me both
classroom and online; and through
networking, that ability to meet,
greet and learn from my peers that
is so invaluable.
Education has enhanced my
career, but is that the thing I value
most?
No, I think at the core of all
that education would be the Code
of Ethics: that is what I value the
most. After all, that is the very reason for the existence of a REALTOR®. The Code makes me proud
to be a REALTOR®, knowing that
all REALTORS® have training in
ethics for both their dealings with
the public and with the real estate
community. All REALTORS® are
voluntarily holding themselves to a
high ethical standard guiding us, and
also showing the public the level
The relationships
and friendships I've
made at HRRA have
greatly added to
the success of my
career.
of commitment and dedication to
the real estate profession is simply
amazing. And yet, as much as I value the Code, I think perhaps I value
more what we do as REALTORS®:
I am so proud to be part of the local, state, and national associations.
We DO make a difference in politics
and legislation. We work on federal,
state, and local levels for real estate
issues. I have a sense of pride in that,
in some small way, I have had a part
in protecting the American Dream,
that I help as an advocate for protecting private property rights, promoting economic development, and
maintaining a pro-business environment conducive to the practice of
real estate. These things are important in protecting the future of our
industry. But even so...is that what I
value the most?
There are so many benefits of
membership to consider, but each
of them brings me back to one
thing: getting involved.
You have to get involved to
find value. When I started to serve
at HRRA, I received a most unexpected gift; I know now that is what
I value the most: the gift of friendship. The relationships and friendships I've made at HRRA have
greatly added to the success of my
career. Working with fellow REALTORS® and Affiliate members lends
itself to mutual trust and respect,
all the while learning best business
practices. An unkown author said,
“To have a friend and be a friend is
what makes life worthwhile.” I think
that sums it up beautifully. ~
HRRA, How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways...
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
You bring us vital information about our local legislative efforts
and on issues that affect private property rights.
You provide opportunities for us to meet with service providers,
who give us vital information so we may better serve our
clients.
You give us numerous educational opportunities to make sure
that we have the knowledge we need to be better real estate
agents.
You provided all members with the FREE Standard Agency
course that was required by DPOR.
You administer our Code of Ethics, which holds REALTORS® to a
higher standard.
You love to party and offer fun events like the Kickball
Tournament, Wine & Cheese, Chili Cook-Off, etc.
You recognize the outstanding production of our members
with the Circle of Excellencesm Awards.
You run the exceptional Alpha College of Real Estate for both
Virginia and North Carolina.
p. 18 HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 2014 9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
You have the most dedicated staff who go out of their way to
assist all HRRA members.
You publish the Hampton Roads REALTOR® monthly, which
provides articles that have a direct impact on our members
and their real estate business.
You give us an opportunity to meet, mingle, and network
with other members so that we can get to know each other
personally, which will help when we work on future transactions
together.
You save us money. If we had to pay a la carte for all of the
benefits HRRA gives us, we would be paying much more than
the value of each and every individual service you provide.
Because of HRRA, we are REALTORS®, a cut above nonmember real estate agents!

- Jo Cross, ABRM, CDPE, CRB, CRS, GRI, ePRO
Chair, Professional Standards Committee
welcome new members
PROSPECTIVE REALTOR ® MEMBERS
HRRA Membership as of ApR. 30, 2014
Robert Askew
Chorey & Associates Realty
Olivia AtwoodRose & Womble Realty
Barbara Barrington
Century 21 Nachman Realty
Christian Bell
Keller Williams Realty Elite
Lavette Bell
William E Wood & Associates
Sklyan Brothers
Keller Williams Realty Elite
Deborah Bunting Prudential Towne Realty
Malina CaffreyRose & Womble Realty
Joseph Camarda
Keller Williams Realty Elite
Abraham DeanyRose & Womble Realty
Suzanne DunlevyRose & Womble Realty
Kara EasonSaunders Real Estate Professionals
Kristy EdwardsRose & Womble Realty
Patricia Edwards
Keller Williams Realty Elite
Domenick Epps
Benham Real Estate Group
Sherry Fields
Keller Williams Realty
Candace Freeman
Keller Williams Realty
Gerald Gaddy
Century 21 Nachman Realty
Jaymi Goldberg
Creed Realty
Sheryl GrahamThe Real Estate Group
Rudd Hall
Keller Williams Realty
Amy HarrisRose & Womble Realty
Rebecca Harvey
Gifford Management Group
Mangreet HemnaniThe Real Estate Group
Patricia Hord
Coldwell Banker Professional
Michael HooverRose & Womble Realty
Carleton Howell
William E Wood & Associates
Derrick Johnson
Greg Garrett Realty.Com
Valencia KellyAllison James Estates & Homes
Timothy LynchPerformance Realty
James McLeanAllison James Estates & Homes
Erica Midgett
1st Class Real Estate
Evelyn Mills
Coldwell Banker Professional
Nathan Morales
Creed Realty
Elizabeth Newman
Keller Williams Realty Elite
Phillip Parker
Coldwell Banker Professional
Deana Renn
Keller Williams Realty Elite
Ronald RussellPerformance Realty
Sharon SchumacherNancy Chandler Associates
Susan Shaughnessy
William E Wood & Associates
Kym Tiongson
Keller Williams Realty Elite
Steven ValdiviesoPerformance Realty
Nora WalshRose & Womble Realty
Janine Wemhoff William E Wood & Associates
Neal Whitehead
Keller Williams Realty
Jamie WilliamsPrudential Towne Realty
Active REALTORS®:3114
Pending Members:
114
REALTOR® Life: 71
REALTOR® Emeritus:
51
630
158
175
47
NEW affiliate memberS
COMPARITY, LLCSteven Byrd
NEW member FIRMS
Inlet Properties, Inc
Charles Kirkwood
Mid-Atlantic Realty & Associates, LLCRobin Grace
You’ve Closed
The Sale …
We’ll Close
The Tank.
If your client is abandoning an underground oil tank at the time
of sale, the oil tank closure experts at E.T. Lawson can help – with
Tripolymer® Fireguard Filling.
Locally approved, this safe, economical, environmentally
sound product has been used for over 25 years nationwide as a
permanent tank abandonment medium.
• Made from 100% water based materials
Realty Partnership Program
• Can be installed year-round
• Nontoxic • Fire-resistant • Ultra-absorbent
• Installed by E.T. Lawson’s factory-trained crew
• Starting at just $995 for a 280-gallon tank
Call E.T. Lawson today about tank abandonment …
and ask about our free Realty-Partnership Program!
P.O. Box 249
Hampton, VA 23669
Bioheat • Cooling • Plumbing • Electrical • Solar
NEW secondary member
Alyssa Cokinos
Affiliate Members:
Affiliate Offices:
Principal Firms:
Branch Offices:
Visit our website at www.etlawson.com
Redfin Corporation
Peninsula (757) 722-1928 • Williamsburg (757) 229-2877
Gloucester (804) 642-2161 • Norfolk (757) 491-1928
HAMPTON ROADS REALTOR ® ~ june 2014 p. 19
HAMPTON ROADS REALTORS® ASSOCIATION
638 Independence Parkway, Suite 100, Chesapeake, VA 23320
Phone: 757-473-9700 ~ Fax: 757-473-9897
www.HRRA.com
I am one.

Simple








®