Capital Area REALTOR® Sept/Oct2020 by GCAAR

CAPITAL AREA

THE MEMBER BENEFITS ISSUE

REALTOR

REALTOR® Advancing tools & your career resources

Protecting your interests

Networking & events

Your GCAAR membership

Official publication of the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®

September/October 2020

Your <xx<clients will be ready when their dream home is

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R E ALTOR

CAPITAL AREA

GCAAR member benefits – p. 8

Emergency Relief Program – p. 10

History & Power of Real Estate – p.14

From the GCAAR Classroom – p.16

FEATURES

in every issue

Your GCAAR membership: What’s in it for you?

A Letter from the President

GCAAR Cares Emergency Relief Program

Association News

Meet GCAAR’s 2020 Annual Award Winners

GCAAR Happenings

New series: The History & Power of Real Estate

From the GCAAR Classroom

2020 GCAAR Recognition Award winners

Policy Outlook

Legal Hotline

Welcome, new affiliate members!

NAR Director’s Report

State Association Updates

From Bright MLS

REALTOR® Toolbox

Economic Outlook

Welcome, new REALTOR® members!

RPAC investors

<xx<of directors board

A Letter from the president

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.“ — Henry Ford

President Danai Mattison Sky

President-Elect Jan Brito

Secretary Harrison Beacher

Treasurer Frank Snodgrass

Immediate Past President Koki Adasi

Chief Executive Officer Edward Krauze

Directors Avi Adler Thom Brockett Samantha Damato Carlos Evans Jody Goren Gwen Henderson

Marcus Jaffe Daniel Schuler Andres Serafini Sandra Stewart Christopher Suranna Kirsten Williams

R E A LTOR

CAPITAL AREA

Managing Editor Rachel Cromidas

Advertising Representative Arlene Braithwaite

Design & Layout Sharon Thorpe 4 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

2020 has really been the year of pivoting, and this year, we’ve come together in ways we didn’t expect. Despite the challenges of the year, GCAAR leadership and staff have made the necessary adjustments to offer our members the utmost in value and service—our primary goal. From drive-by store pickups to our first (and very successful) virtual REALTOR® Fest, we’ve focused on providing for everyone’s needs and offering educational, professional and even social opportunities. We’ve also launched a few meaningful initiatives that are dear to me and that I know will survive the current year and show just how much GCAAR cares. GCAAR’s anti-racism initiatives, which launched in August, feature education about racism in real estate (and beyond), how to support fair housing and how to understand our real estate history and its impact on the communities we serve. We also launched the GCAAR Cares Emergency Relief Program this summer. Our members do so much to show their clients and communities their support, and as an association we want to serve and support our members not just professionally, but personally as well—especially now, when it may be needed the most. I am most proud of the way GCAAR has continued to serve our membership, ensuring that no matter what comes our way, our REALTOR® family always comes first! Wishing you and your families continued health,

Danai Mattison Sky Danai Mattison Sky

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CAPITAL AREA

Capital Area REALTOR® Volume 7, Issue 4, September/October 2020 (USPS 017-467) is published five times a year by the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (GCAAR), 15201 Diamondback Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850-3779. Corrections can be sent to communications@gcaar.com. Periodicals postage paid at Gaithersburg, MD and additional mailing offices. Member subscriptions account for $10 of each member’s annual dues. Annual subscriptions are available to non-members for $25. Subscription inquiries may be sent to Capital Area REALTOR® at the above address. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Capital Area REALTOR®, ATTN: GCAAR, 15201 Diamondback Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850-3779. The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® makes no warranties and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the officers, directors, or staff of the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®. The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® accepts submissions of articles and photographs and the items become the property of the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®. The publisher reserves the right of full editorial authority and to decline publication of any article not deemed proper. Reprint with permission only. Reprints may be obtained by contacting the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® at 301-590-2000, or send an email to communications@gcaar.com. REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies and may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to its Code of Ethics. Copyright© 2020 by the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®.

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<xx< GCAAR’s 2021 Board of Directors election is coming in November Get ready to vote! The election for GCAAR’s 2021 Board of Directors is coming your way on Nov. 2. Be on the lookout for emails from GCAAR with all the details and a link to vote.

2021 GCAAR annual dues deadline is Monday, Nov. 30, 2020 Your 2021 GCAAR annual dues invoices were posted online at gcaar.com on Oct. 1. We’ve also sent your invoice by email. Be sure to confirm we have your billing email address on file so you receive it! To check your contact information, log in to “My Account“ at gcaar.com. Your dues invoice will also be accessible here, where you can pay online. Be sure to renew no later than Monday, Nov. 30 to avoid late fees. Payment options include: • Paying with a credit/debit card online at gcaar.com, using our secure online payment system. You will receive an instant email receipt if your payment attempt is successful. • Mailing your payment to our Rockville office location: GCAAR Attn: Annual Dues 15201 Diamondback Dr, Ste 100 Rockville, MD 20850 • Dropping off payment at our Rockville or District of Columbia offices through our curbside pickup services, by appointment only. Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. GCAAR accepts all major credit cards (American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa), personal/corporate checks and money orders. We do not accept cash payments for dues. GCAAR does not take dues payments over the phone. Payment must be received at GCAAR offices or paid online at gcaar.com by close of business, Monday, Nov. 30, 2020. As of Dec. 1, 2020, all outstanding accounts will incur a $25 late fee. If payment is not received by close of business on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, a $150 reinstatement fee will be placed on outstanding accounts. At that time, membership privileges, including SentriLock services and zipForm® access, will be suspended until full payment is received. For billing inquiries, please contact our Member & Billing Services Team at 301-590-8769 or membershiprecords@gcaar.com.

6 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

Generous sponsors

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Thank you for helping us make REALTOR® Fest 2020 a success!

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Everything you need to know about your member benefits GCAAR’s greatest asset is you—our members. And we’re always looking for ways to give back, support your professional goals and connect with you. From awards and recognition to continuing education courses, as well as our volunteer opportunities and Emergency Relief Program, we are here to celebrate your achievements and help you reach further as REALTORS®, community members and individuals. Because of how much we value our members, we wanted to remind you about the perks and benefits your GCAAR membership has to offer you.

8 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

Advancing your career

Protecting your interests

As a member, you receive discounted rates for various continuing education and professional designation courses that can help further your real estate career. Due to the pandemic, GCAAR is live-streaming its continuing education courses on many topics. You can look forward to upcoming classes that meet your required and elective credit needs, including the ins and outs of using Zoom and the Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification program on Nov. 6. The MRP certification is one of several certification and designation courses GCAAR offers members, in addition to other online continuing education opportunities to help you advance your career in specific areas.

GCAAR’s political advocacy staff works on your behalf to make sure the interests of REALTORS® are represented in the region’s policy decision-making.

Education

Professional development

We know many members are at home more than usual, so we're offering a series of professional development webinars, virtual events and classes known as Profession Sessions, in addition to a new webinar series on the history of racism in real estate, part of our anti-racism educational initiative.

REALTOR® tools & resources Contract form services

Not only does GCAAR house our Montgomery County and District of Columbia contracts on gcaar.com, but GCAAR’s contract form services for members include access through zipForm®, Dotloop and Docusign.

SentriLock

SentriLock’s services include the SentriKey app and Bluetooth lockboxes that can help REALTORS® access listings and showings.

Bright MLS

GCAAR members get a discounted rate on Bright MLS, which averages to $216 a year in savings.

REALTOR® Store

GCAAR’s store sells REALTOR® branded promotional items, brochures and clothing. Currently the store provides no-contact curbside pickup by appointment, as well as UPS shipping on products.

Industry-related materials

GCAAR produces several regular publications that inform and support members, including Capital Area REALTOR® magazine, our weekly newsletter, Newsline, our broker/office manager newsletter, Broker Beat and Real Advocacy, our monthly legislative update. We also offer members a free subscription to the real estate journal Inman Select, and monthly housing statistics reports.

Political advocacy

Professional standards support

We offer support around the National Association of REALTORS®’ Code of Ethics and Professional Standards, by offering help with filing ethics complaints and help with mediating and arbitrating disputes.

Legal Hotline

We also have our direct, toll-free Legal Hotline, which gives members access to qualified attorneys who can answer legal questions on real estate law, contracts and forms specific to Montgomery County and the District of Columbia. The hotline is intended to provide legal risk management (although it is not authoritative legal advice), and GCAAR REALTORS®, brokers and office managers may call the hotline an unlimited number of times.

Networking & events Events

GCAAR hosts a number of annual, members-only events— virtually, for the time being—including our annual board installation this December. And over the summer, we held our largest yearly event, REALTOR® Fest, via Zoom. This year’s event attracted almost 1,000 of your colleagues, offering 48 CE classes and 12 professional development webinars—so you definitely won’t want to miss it next year.

Involvement opportunities

Members have many opportunities to get more deeply involved in GCAAR and support other professionals in their community, primarily through volunteering on committees and participating in town halls and Broker/Manager Forums. GCAAR has committees on grievances, professional standards, property management, Montgomery County public policy and political campaigns and affairs, as well as a Young Professionals Network that sponsors a variety of events.

Marketing opportunities

Marketing your real estate business can feel like a full-time job in and of itself, so GCAAR offers marketing opportunities to help ease some of that work. Members have an opportunity to advertise in this magazine, Capital Area REALTOR®, and in our email publication Newsline. We also offer member-discounted rates for event sponsorship opportunities that can help you get the word out about your work.

Behind each of these benefits and services is GCAAR’s mission to help every member thrive in the field. Through this changing world that we are all navigating together, GCAAR delivers the advocacy, education, resources and services you need to build your career, enhance your network and excel in the local, state and national real estate industries.

CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020 9

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HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT ... GCAAR Cares Emergency Relief Program is aiding members through the pandemic No family has completely evaded the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted every aspect of life in large and small ways and could continue to do so for longer than we know. At times like this, it can be hard to ask for the help you need, even if a family member or you yourself have gotten sick. That was the case for one GCAAR member, a mother and wife whose family struggled this year after a family member was diagnosed with the coronavirus. The member told herself that other people were more affected by the pandemic than her, even as she and her family found themselves in need of financial help.

The GCAAR Cares Emergency Relief Program is open to GCAAR primary and affiliate members and staff who: 1) Have contracted COVID-19 or have a family member who has contracted it; or 2) Have a pre-existing condition (e.g., asthma, cancer, auto-immune disorder, etc.) identified by a medical professional that could be exacerbated by contracting COVID-19; or 3) Have other significant, disruptive and unusual familial obligations due to a COVID-19 diagnosis or fatality, such as funeral expenses, unexpected obligations to care for family members, etc. This excludes work challenges related to caring for children due to school closures.

That’s where the GCAAR Cares Emergency Relief Program came in. Launched June 30, the program allows primary GCAAR and affiliate members and GCAAR employees who have been adversely affected by the pandemic to apply for between $500 and $3,000 in relief aid this year. The aid can be used to help pay for housing, food, prescriptions and other vital necessities. “I know a lot of people may be hurting worse than us, so it was hard to ask for help for medical and household expenses,“ she says. “We appreciate the financial assistance that the GCAAR Cares Emergency Relief Program has provided us, and we are really thankful for their generosity during these unprecedented times.“ The message behind the relief program, according to GCAAR President Danai Mattison Sky, is to tell members and employees that “you’re not alone.“ “Our strength at GCAAR is in our REALTORS®, our affiliates and our staff,“ she says. “This year we’re coming together in ways we didn’t expect, but we’re here, we’re family, and we’re in this together.“ 10 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

To be eligible, you must be a primary or affiliate member in good standing for a minimum of three of the last five years, or a current GCAAR employee with a tenure of at least three years with the association, and experiencing financial hardship related to the coronavirus. (See inset

for specific eligibility criteria.) To ensure confidentiality for those who apply for relief, GCAAR has enlisted the help of a third-party organization, Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB), to review applications and distribute funds. To apply for the program, email emergencyrelief@gcaar.com indicating your interest. The email address is confidential, meaning it is only being used by GCAAR to confirm eligibility and connect applicants with CAAB to start the application process. Through all of this, GCAAR remains steadfast in its desire to help members succeed, even in the face of new adversities. “It seems with each passing day we are having to make a new adjustment to living and working in our new normal and ensuring the safety of those we love and we serve,“ Sky says. “As we navigate these sometimes-trying times, I know one thing that remains the same: GCAAR’s commitment to our REALTOR® family.“

GCAAR donates thousands of items to individuals experiencing homelessness

he COVID-19 pandemic has forced the whole world to adapt, and that was also true of the GCAAR Community Service Committee’s donation drive for the homeless.

Though the arrival of the pandemic put a hold on the committee’s plan to collect shoeboxes to turn into supply kits for individuals experiencing homelessness in Montgomery County last March, volunteers were able to adapt this summer and ultimately donate thousands of useful items to two local nonprofits helping these individuals. The initial plan was to collect shoeboxes to turn into supply kits, which would be filled with basic hygiene necessities such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and more. But when the committee resumed the drive in June, they saw an evolving need for other types of donations, and scrapped the shoebox element in favor of bulk items. In mid-July, two volunteers from the committee sorted through the more than 6,000 items that were donated by GCAAR members, organized them by category, then split them between two local nonprofit organizations: Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless and Interfaith Works. The two organizations will distribute the items as needed to the nearly 700 individuals experiencing homelessness in Montgomery County.

GCAAR members volunteer at community nonprofit Martha's Table

CAAR volunteers spent the morning of July 30 at Martha’s Table in the District of Columbia sorting food for individuals in need. Members of GCAAR organized various food items, such as fruits, vegetables and pantry items from the warehouse, then bagged them for distribution. Martha’s Table is a community-focused nonprofit working through the COVID-19 pandemic to provide assistance to Washingtonians in need. Volunteers were careful to sanitize working areas and exercise best practices throughout the day.

CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020 11

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Education

Professi al advancement

As a member, you receive discounted rates for various continuing education and professio pandemic, GCAAR is live-streaming its continuing education courses this fall on many topics.You c including the ins and outs of using Zoom and the Military Relocation Professional certification program.The other online continuing education opportunities to help you advance your career in specific areas.

Congratulations to GCAAR’s 2020 Annual Award winners!

And, as we know many members are at home more than usual, we are also offering a series of professional development w history of racism in real estate, part of our anti-racism educational initiative.

GCAAR is proud toEvents announce the winners of three of our annual individual awards. GCAAR hosts a number of annual events and members-only events—virtually, for the time being, including our annual board installation this Dec Congratulations, and thank you for everything youdevelopment do for GCAAR for our real estate community! your colleagues, offering 48 CE classes and 12 professional webinars —and so you definitely won’t want to miss next year’s event! Involvement opportunities

REALTOR® of the Year: Koki Adasi

Members have many opportunities to get more deeply involved in GCAAR and support other professionals in their commun service, grievances, professional standards, property management, Montgomery County public policy and political campaign

Koki Adasi is a senior vice president, team leader and listing specialist at Compass Real Estate, and a licensed REALTOR® in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Since beginning his real estate career in 2006, Koki has been committed to building his business by prioritizing service over sales. As the third of five children born to Nigerian immigrants, Koki began cultivating his commitment to service at an early age. “My family and I used to volunteer for the ‘Christmas in April’ program, where we would help rehab the houses of low-income homeowners,“ he says. “Those experiences showed me the power of community service, the power of homeownership and the necessity of helping those in need.“ To Koki, his team’s success comes down to its comprehensive approach to client care. “Our goal is to make sure we take care of everything you need throughout the entire process,“ he says. “You need your utilities switched over to your new home? Check. You need a recommendation for a great moving company? Check.“ Koki served as the 2019 president of the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®. He is currently an active member of the National Association of REALTORS®, serving as the co-chair of the Meetings and Conference Committee as well as serving as a member of the Risk Management Committee, Commitment to Excellent Committee, YPN Advisory Committee and the Diversity Committee. Koki is also a past recipient of Realtor Magazine’s “30 under 30.“ Koki remains committed to volunteerism and philanthropy today, through his ongoing relationships with local organizations such as Horton’s Kids, Student-Athletes Organized to Understand Leadership (SOUL), Kindred and Cornerstone Montgomery. Koki also had the honor of being named the Greater Capital Area YMCA “Philanthropist of the Year” in 2011. As a former Division I basketball player, Koki still enjoys playing basketball, traveling and spending time with his wife Jess and their children. The GCAAR REALTOR® of the Year honor is awarded to one GCAAR primary member who provides continuous, dedicated service to enhance the quality of their profession and their REALTOR® associations.

Rookie of the Year: Cassidy Burns Cassidy Burns, a REALTOR® with Trent & Co. at Compass Real Estate, believes real estate is a tool for long-term planning. When working with clients, whether they are a first-time homebuyer, developer, or a long-term buy and hold investor, his mission is to help them prepare for the future. Cassidy has been working as a REALTOR® since 2016, when he joined Compass. Prior to that, he studied exercise science and nutrition at Bridgewater College and worked as a personal trainer after moving to the district “on a whim“ to experience life in a big city for the first time. One of Cassidy’s own personal training clients, Trent & Co. lead Trent Heminger, inspired him to pursue his real estate license. Cassidy really caught “the real estate bug“ after deciding to broker his own deal to buy his first house in Bethesda, Maryland in 2016. 12 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

ion-

onal designation courses that can help further your real estate career. Due to the can look forward to upcoming classes that meet your required and elective credit needs, e MRP certification is one of several certification courses GCAAR offers members, in addition to

webinars and virtual events and classes known as Profession Sessions, in addition to a new webinar series on the

“Once I purchased this house and realized the benefits of owning real estate, I started educating myself on real-estate investing,“ he says. “This helped my sales career tremendously, as I am now cember. And over the summer, we held our largest yearly event, REALTOR® Fest, via Zoom. This year’s event attracted almost 1,000 of able to help educate my clients on the benefits of investing.“ For most individuals, Cassidy says, their home is the biggest and best asset in their portfolio,

nity, primarily through volunteering on committees andare participating townbest halls and broker/manager forums. GCAAR has committees and he wants to make sure they makinginthe decision possible. With his knowledge ofon community ns and affairs, as DMV well as amarket, Young Professionals Network that sponsors quarterly events. the Cassidy uses these same strategies to grow his own portfolio and help others

build wealth through real estate. Today, he owns and operates 45 housing units, and has 17 more under contract as rentals. Cassidy also serves as a GCAAR Young Professionals Network committee member, volunteers with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and practices Stand Up Muay Thai. His rottweiler Nox is his favorite exercise buddy, and you can find them running and hiking together through Rock Creek Park. The GCAAR Rookie of the Year honor is awarded to one GCAAR primary member who provides continuous, dedicated service to enhance the quality of their profession and their REALTOR® associations. To qualify as a "rookie," applicants must have been licensed for the first time between Jan. 1, 2016 and Dec. 31, 2019.

Good Neighbor Award winner: Sheena Saydam Sheena Saydam is the recipient of GCAAR’s first-ever Good Neighbor Award, due to her remarkable contributions to local charities and organizations that benefit her community and beyond. Sheena and her husband, Han, have been practicing real estate in the District of Columbia metro region for just over a decade and have sold over 700 homes. Their team has made significant investments in a non-profit called Generosity Global—through which they helped build Maryland’s first shower truck for the homeless and helped drill clean water wells in sub-Saharan Africa. Sheena is the organization’s current board chair, supporting their mission to find legacy partners who can help the organization replicate Generosity Shower’s success in other cities and bring clean water to one million people in sub-Saharan Africa. As for her team’s efforts in Cameroon and Kenya, they’ve funded and fundraised over $100K to bring clean drinking water to more than 20,000 people during the last 4 years. They recently helped raise over $20K to bring water and food to one of Kenya’s poorest communities as part of a COVID-relief effort. The team’s additional COVID-relief contributions have included helping Generosity Global purchase and deliver meals to over 200 local families, donating $1K to help educate Kenyan children on pregnancy prevention, and creating a $5K emergency fund for past clients now facing financial hardship. Apart from her work with Generosity Global, Sheena serves on the board of directors for The Tree House of Montgomery County, which helps abused and neglected children. Sheena has also served as board chair for the IT education nonprofit Urban Ed in Southeast DC. Sheena was named the DC Metropolitan Area’s “99 Agents You Want on Your Side“ by Washingtonian Magazine in 2015 and 2016, and a Keller Williams Capital Properties “Top Producer“ six years in a row from 2015 to 2020. In 2015, she was recognized as the number-one highest producer at Keller Williams for the DC Metro Region. The GCAAR Good Neighbor Award is awarded to one GCAAR primary, emeritus or affiliate member who has made a significant difference as a volunteer for a charity/ charities benefiting Montgomery County and/or the District of Columbia community. CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020 13

<xx< THE HISTORY & POWER OF REAL ESTATE

GCAAR-DCAR webinar series focuses on the history of race in real estate

he history of American real estate includes many instances of racism, from race-based legislative barriers around homeownership to housing discrimination. GCAAR aims to help members understand that history and stay vigilant against repeating it. As part of that effort, GCAAR has partnered with the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® to host a webinar series, “The History & Power of Real Estate,“ that’s full of information and resources.

The series kicked off on Aug. 20 with a webinar on Race & Real Estate, Context & History. GCAAR Secretary Harrison Beacher and fellow REALTOR® Nicole Canole discussed the book, “The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America“ by Richard Rothstein. Upcoming webinars will focus on other aspects of racism in real estate, including racial covenants in neighborhoods within the District of Columbia and Montgomery County, Maryland. GCAAR is committed to sharing information about the history of race in the real estate industry. We are inspired to see the national conversations around racism and racial inequity that have taken center-stage and led to widespread activism this year. In response to nationwide days of action around Juneteenth, 2020 GCAAR President Danai Mattison Sky said she hopes they continue to inspire transformation and racial justice in American society. “I truly hope that what we see playing out around us continues to open our eyes to the problems, to the solutions and to how we can promote and make change together,“ she says. “May we all make leading with compassion and empathy a priority.“ On GCAAR’s website, gcaar.com/hpre, visitors can review the Aug. 20 webinar, as well as future webinars, and learn more about preventing racial discrimination and furthering anti-racism in society.

14 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

“I truly hope that what we see playing out around us continues to open our eyes to the problems, to the solutions and to how we can promote and make change together. May we all make leading with compassion and empathy a priority.” –2020 GCAAR President Danai Mattison Sky

CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

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GCAAR offers Military Relocation Professional certification course on Nov. 6

f you’re interested in working with current and former military service members looking for housing, then you’ll want to take the Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification course, which GCAAR is hosting virtually on Nov. 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The course is one of the requirements needed to earn the MRP certification. The MRP certification program educates REALTORS® about working with U.S. service members and their families and veterans to find housing solutions that best suit their needs, and to help them take full advantage of available benefits and support. The certification course teaches real estate professionals how to support former and current service members in the following ways: • Helps you understand the processes and procedures involved in a military relocation and how they impact service members’ housing choices. • Provides information that helps service members decide whether to rent vs. buy, or sell vs. rent. • Helps you identify and provide services that help service members sell or find and purchase suitable homes. • Informs real estate professionals about the military relocation process, so that you can be informed as you guide service members through real estate transactions. • Explains the basics of VA financing. • Provides access to members-only marketing tools and resources. Visit GCAAR’s Class & Events calendar at gcaar.com/calendar to register for this course. For additional details on how to earn your MRP, visit nar.realtor/education/ designations-and-certifications/mrp.

16 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

How do I check my GCAAR class history? You can check the classes you’ve completed through GCAAR by going to gcaar.com and selecting My Account, then My Education History, then Classes You Have Taken. Our website does not show credit, but attendance is marked in the gray field with the following codes: • V: Virtually attended

• NC: No continuing education credit provided • NS: No-show

• Blank: GCAAR only tracked attendance prior to July 20, 2020 If the field shows a "V," your continuing education credits will be reported to the applicable real estate commission. Please verify your credits by logging on to each state where you hold a license, or contacting them: • Maryland Real Estate Commission website dllr.state.md.us/license/mrec/ or 888-218-5925, or email mrec@dllr.state.md.us • District of Columbia Real Estate Commission website dcra.dc.gov/real-estate or 866-270-9817, or email licensing@dcopla.com • Virginia Real Estate Commission website dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Real-Estate/ or 804-367-8500, or email REBoard@dpor.virginia.gov You can review the licensing renewal requirements on the GCAAR website at gcaar.com/licensing.

When does my license renew? • District of Columbia: All broker licenses renew on Feb. 28 of odd years and all salesperson licenses renew on Aug. 31 of odd years. • MD (rolling renewal dates): Check your license or check the Maryland Real Estate Commission website. dllr.state.md.us/license/mrec/ • VA (rolling renewal dates): Check your license or check the Virginia Real Estate Commission website. dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Real-Estate/

Maryland

The State of Maryland has placed an extension on any license renewals until 30 days after the end of the declaration of state of emergency by Gov. Larry Hogan. You can find more information on the state government’s website: governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Licenses-Permits-Registration.pdf. For further information on the state of emergency and specifics on the orders, refer to Maryland REALTORS®' website at mdrealtor.org/Association/Covid-19. And for information on Maryland real estate licensure, visit dllr.state.md.us/license/mrec/. This information will be updated when the state of emergency is lifted.

District of Columbia

License renewal in the district is at the end of February for brokers and property managers, and at the end of August for sales agents. Renewals happen on a two-year cycle in every odd-numbered year, meaning district brokers, property managers and sales agents are not up for renewal this year. Further information for district licensees can be found on the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs website: dcra.dc.gov/real-estate, where you can also find comprehensive information about COVID-19 from Mayor Muriel Bowser. This information will be updated when the state of emergency is lifted.

Virginia

The State of Virginia has placed an extension on any license renewals until 30 days after the end of the declaration of state of emergency by Gov. Ralph Northam. Visit to dpor.virginia.gov for details. This information will be updated when the state of emergency is lifted. CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

GCAAR happenings <xx< Montgomery County Council looks at recordation tax increases The Montgomery County Council is reviewing legislation that would raise recordation tax rates for transactions above $100,000. This proposal was part of the Montgomery County Planning Board’s review of the 2020-2024 Subdivision Staging Policy (or Growth Policy). The council legislation, Bill 39-20E, would yield an increase in recordation tax revenue that would be earmarked for school construction and affordable housing production and preservation. GCAAR stands firmly opposed to increases in the recordation tax rates. GCAAR Public Policy Committee Vice Chair Barbara Nalls and GCAAR President Danai Mattison Sky testified against it, continuing to express our concerns on the negative impact on housing affordability to the board throughout its deliberations. The table below lists Montgomery County’s current recordation tax rates versus the proposed rates in Bill 39-20.

Montgomery County (Current)

$8.90 per $1,000 up to $500,000

$13.50 per $1,000 over $500,000

Montgomery County (Proposed) $9.90 per $1,000 up to $500,000

$15.50 per $1,000 over $500,000 $17.50 per $1,000 over $1,000,000 For homes above $500,000, the only jurisdiction in our region with higher recordation taxes than Montgomery County is the District of Columbia at $14.50, and the proposed rate would eclipse that. Prince George’s County’s rate is $5.50; Northern Virginia counties are just $3.33. To oppose this legislation:

➡ Visit votervoice.net/NAR/1/Campaigns/77332/Respond. ➡ Enter your contact information into the form on the webpage that comes up. ➡ Click “Send message” in order to submit the pre-prepared message.

Thank you for helping us oppose the increase in the recordation tax rate!

GCAAR to close offices on Election Day, Nov. 3 As your professional association, GCAAR is built upon a foundation of advocacy and education. We have a strong commitment to advocating for the issues that matter most to you–and to providing information and educational resources about those issues so you can make informed decisions when it’s time to take action or vote. Election Day is almost here. Because we believe so strongly in the power of your voice in our local, state and national elections, GCAAR will close its offices (in both Rockville and the District of Columbia) on Tuesday, Nov. 3 to encourage each one of you to take the time to exercise your right to vote–as well as to volunteer your time to the candidates and causes most important to you.

18 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

V TE

GCAAR’s guide to voting in the 2020 election Do you know what you need to do in order to cast your ballot? The pandemic has shifted the voting process for both Montgomery County and the District of Columbia, but not to worry: GCAAR is here to help. Refer to the links below that apply to your jurisdiction to make sure your vote is counted! Interested in volunteering as an election worker or judge? There are links for that, too.

Montgomery County ➡ Volunteer as an election worker:

elections.maryland.gov/get_involved/election_judges.html

➡ Request a mail-in ballot (deadline: Request must be received by Oct. 20): elections.maryland.gov/elections/2020/index.html#mail_in_ballot

➡ Early voting is Oct. 26 through Nov. 2 (including Saturday and Sunday), from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Visit montgomerycountymd.gov/elections to find early voting locations.

➡ Day-of voting: Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Visit montgomerycountymd.gov/elections/index2.html to:

➡ Find your polling place ➡ Find the closest voting stations ➡ Find ballot drop-boxes

District of Columbia • Volunteer as an election worker: dcboe.org/Poll-Workers/Apply-to-be-an Election-Day-Worker • The DC Election Board has mailed every registered voter a ballot. • Early voting is Oct. 27 through Nov. 2. Visit earlyvoting.dcboe.org/ to find early voting locations. • Day-of voting: Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit dcboe.org to:

➡ Find your polling place ➡ Find the closest voting stations ➡ Find ballot drop-boxes: Drop your completed mail-in-ballot into  ANY ballot drop-box at ANY time, before 8 p.m. on Election Day.

We encourage you to take a few moments on Election Day to cast your vote!

Æ Æ Æ

CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020 19

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GCAAR hopes you’re staying safe and well. Remember, we’re here if you need us. Please reach out to Member Services at 301-590-8769 or MemberServices@GCAAR.com; we look forward to serving you!

20 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

Celebrating

REALTORS who went big in 2019 ®

ach year, the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® recognizes our members who had particularly outstanding years. And this year was no different; though our March awards ceremony was canceled due to the pandemic, GCAAR is still recognizing the hard work its members put into having successful real estate transactions in 2019. The awards were open to current members holding a broker or salesperson’s license who were GCAAR primary members in good standing in 2019. The awards are based on tallies of sales and listings settled. Awards are made based on two categories: Individual Residential General Brokerage, for entrants recognized for their individual Bright MLS transaction volume, and Team Production Residential General Brokerage, for GCAAR members entering the awards as a team. The Individual Residential General Brokerage awards were awarded based on the following criteria:

✪ Bronze Award - At least $5,000,000 in volume or 12 transactions. ✪ Silver Award - At least $10,000,000 in volume or 40 transactions. ✪ Gold Award - At least $20,000,000 in volume or 60 transactions.

✪ Platinum Award - At least $50,000,000 in volume or 100 transactions. And, for the Team Production Residential General Brokerage awards:

✪ Bronze Award - At least $10,000,000 in volume or 40 transactions. ✪ Silver Award - At least $20,000,000 in volume or 80 transactions.

✪ Gold Award - At least $30,000,000 in volume or 120 transactions.

✪ Platinum Award - At least $50,000,000 in volume or 180 transactions. Each winner had the opportunity to purchase an award crystal signifying their achievements, and is entitled to use an exclusive “GCAAR Recognition Award Winner“ digital marketing badge.

Turn the page to see our impressive list of winners!

➲ CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

<xx<

Congratulations to our 2020 GCAAR Recognition Award winners! Team Award Winners Platinum (At least $50,000,000 in volume or 180 transactions)

Banner Team

Bediz Group, LLC Capital Estate Group Coalition Properties Group Czuba Group Erich Cabe Team Ferris Levin Collaborative Fulcrum Properties Group Hagen Bergstrom Heller Coley Reed Jeanne Phil Meg Team at Compass Jenn Smira Team MG Residential Nurit & Alex Team Premier Partners Sabelhaus Team Team Koki The Friedson Group The Lahey Group at RE/MAX FINE LIVING The Margie Halem Group The Mollaan Group of The ONE Street Company The Samer Kuraishi Group of The ONE Street Company The Sheila and Ty Group The Sky Group

Gold

(At least $30,000,000 in volume or 120 transactions)

Arrow Group Atlas Group

Barbara Ciment Team

Best Address Group, LLC Carolyn Homes Domo Elaine Koch Group Finnell Lee Homes Jennifer Chow Group Mynor & Associates ROSS|RESIDENTIAL Scott Team International The Bowers Group The Meg & Alison Team The Myers Team at RE/MAX Realty Services The Rockwell Group Umanzor & Associates

Silver

(At least $50,000,000 in volume or 100 transactions)

Avi Galanti

Antonia Ketabchi Anne Killeen Alex Martinez Michael Rankin Andrés Serafini Ron Sitrin

Gold (At least $20,000,000 in volume or 60 transactions)

Mehrnaz Bazargan Jan Brito Nick Chaconas David DeSantis

(At least $20,000,000 in volume or 80 transactions)

Johnny Diaz

Dana Global Advantage

Toni Ghazi

Ferguson Group Mary Lynn White Team Metro DC Houses Team Richard Martinez Realtor Rudden | Bobruska Team Susan Berger Ellen Sandler

The THRIVE Team The Washingtonian Group

The Susan Romm Team

Vassar Broermann Group

Platinum

James Brown

The Balow Band Olinger Group of Greystone Realty

The Tom Buerger Team

Individual Award Winners

The Denny & Leyla Team The Thomas Group of Go Brent

Marjorie Dick Stuart Andrew Goodman Vincent Hurteau Robert Jenets Bryan Kerrigan James T. Kim Cheryl Kurss Yvonne Lee Jaclyn Mason Dan Metcalf Lee Murphy Barbara Nalls Thomas (Kris) Paolini

Bronze (At least $10,000,000 in volume or 40 transactions)

Charbonneau Group Clark and Carle Group at Compass DC House Smarts 22 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR — September/October 2020 ®

Andrew Pariser Rheetuparna Pal Mahajan John Pruski Jill Schwartz Robert Spicer Laura Steuart

Rima Tannous Rex Thomas

Silver

Traudel Lange

Elena Arevalo

Rachel Levey

Karen Berlin

Daniel Llerena

Diana Carrasco

Nader Bagheri

John Mammano

Ellen Cohen

Ericka S. Black

Samuel Medvene

Luis Cordero

Avery Boyce

Nadia Nejaime

Hope Cullen

Joe Buffington

Jack Nix

Tom Daley

(At least $10,000,000 in volume or 40 transactions)

Brianna Leone

Jonathan Bartlett

Katrina Abjornson

Linda Lizzio

Stacy Berman

Marlene Aisenberg

Michael Makris

Rabih Chamas

Sunita Bali

Marlena McWilliams

Elizabeth Coleridge-Taylor

Dustin Borzet

Christina Miller

Garrett Cottrell

Evelyn Branic

Christine Nieva

Lymar Curry

Don Bunuan

Jesse Oakley

Samantha Damato

Yiqun Cen

Shaunte Parker

Theodore Adamstein

Mario Padilla

Fruzsina Di Ruggiero

Joaquin Cerritos

Donna Pfeiffer

Page Eisinger

Pierre Chauvet

Missy Raffa

Edward Carp

Tammy Durbin

Adam Chasen

Pamela Potolicchio

Amy Embrey

Eunice Chu

Jami Rankin

Christopher Flores

Judy Colwell

Kyle Richards

Brian Cusick

Jonathan (Corey) Savelson

Lorin Culver

Pam Ryan-Brye

Phil Di Ruggiero

Manikath Sebastian

Erik Evans

David Shotwell

Joseph Freeman

Kate Slawta

Kelly Garrett

Trish Stovall

Albert Elliott

Joseph Seriki

Alfonso Flores Greg Ford Elizabeth Foster Brooke Fox Karen Friedman Deb Gartner Lorraine Gottlieb

Lyndsi Sitcov

Marta Granados

Marco Stilli

Angie Hashempour

Jody Goren

Stacey Styslinger

Dalys Keith

Lisa Greaves

Helen Trybus

Dennis King

Lily Vallario

Todd Litchfield

Jerri D'Ann Faught Jeffrey Ganz

Bradley Griffin Olga Hernandez Goher Khan

Bob Graves

Leslie Suarez

Sherri Anne Green

Lynne Tucker

Carly Guirola

Janice Valois

Lance Macon

Marci Wasserman

Danielle Mannix

Terry Gribbin Susan Hand

David Wagner

Steven Henry

Phyllis Wiesenfelder

Cornelius Henderson

Richard Lee

Wayne Mann

Giannina Marin-Malaver

Ellie Hitt

Ann Young

Kisha Martin-Burney

Sharif Ibrahim

Bronze

Patricia McKenna

Lynn Holland Dare Johnson Carolyn (Cari) Jordan Gitika Kaul Robert Kerxton Kurtis King Jack Kort Lisa LaCourse

(At least $5,000,000 in volume or 12 transactions)

Avi Adler Jill Aharon Lorielle Akintunde Christine Allocca

Laurinda Massey Nancy Lee Meyerdirk Joyce Meyerdirk-McKenzie Sharlene Monroe Alethea Morris John Murray Nicole Neale

Rose Ogbonna Patricia Okolo

German Paraud Arelis Perez Josue Pinto

Natalie Ramirez James Resnick Bruce Robinson Merlin Rodriguez Kathleen Ryan Adam S. Bashein Daniel Sadoun Sunno Sahani-Jhangiani Lavina Samtani Israel Santander Pamela Schaeffer Patty Sieber Branka Sipcic Holly Smith Sabrina Solis Thomas Spier LeiYana Stevenson Amy Tang Cheng Pou-Hwei (Betty) Tang Nicola Taylor Eboneese Thompson Daniel Ungar

Simone Velvel Denise Verburg Susan Verner Nick Vo Moreen Wallace Terring Wang Andrea Washington Bruce Werber Thomas Wheatley Rebecca Williams John Williams Jay Yu Shulin Zheng

Carol Nerenberg CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ÂŽ â&#x20AC;&#x201D; September/October 2020 23

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Legal Hotline

By Chris Darby, Tom Muldoon and John Nalls of Counselors Title, LLC, and Pardo & Drazin, LLC, General Counsel

QUESTION: I am about to list a home that is in the

QUESTION: For the Maryland HOA Act, when do the

process of foreclosure, but the owner has declared bankruptcy to interfere with the bank’s involvement. There is a court involved for third-party approval. One of my clients wants to make an offer. How do I handle representation, as I am a one-person brokerage?

number of days start after sending the HOA packet?

ANSWER: Both Maryland and District of Columbia law allow a single brokerage to represent both sides of a transaction, provided that all parties consent in writing and the broker appoints a separate “intra company agent“ [MD] or “designated representative“ [DC] to represent each side. This is known as dual agency in Maryland, and designated representation in the district. As a one-person brokerage, this is not an option for you because there are not separate individuals available to represent each side. Dual agency is the only accepted form of joint representation in Maryland. District of Columbia law, however, also recognizes (again with the written consent of all parties) dual representation wherein the same broker or agent may represent both sides. Therefore, if the property is in the district and both parties consent to true dual representation after proper disclosure, you could potentially represent both parties. Otherwise, you must terminate your representation with one of the parties and disclose to them that you are representing the other. If one or both parties have shared confidential information with you, you could be disqualified from representing either of them.

ANSWER: Under the Maryland HOA Act, you have five calendar days to void the contract once all the HOA information has been received. The first of the five days is the day following receipt of the HOA packet. So, if it was received on a Monday, you would have until Saturday to void.

QUESTION: What are the current TOPA laws for a one-bedroom condo that isn’t registered as a rental unit, but is occupied by a tenant?

ANSWER: As of July 3, 2018, the TOPA Single-Family Home Exemption Amendment Act of 2017, which was signed by the District of Columbia mayor on May 7, 2018 as The TOPA Single-Family Home Exemption Amendment Act of 2018, became law. With limited exceptions for elderly or disabled tenants, the amendment exempts single-family rental units, single-family rental units with an accessory dwelling unit and single condominium units from the old law. Having said that, a notice of sale is still required, and you will have to consult with your settlement company for its underwriting requirements. For additional information and updated forms, please consult the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development at dhcd.dc.gov/service/ conversion-and-sales.

DISCLAIMER: The answers provided here are the opinion of the authors, are for informational purposes and are only for GCAAR members. Neither Counselors Title, LLC, nor Pardo & Drazin, LLC, is providing legal advice, but rather providing a general statement of law. No lawyer/client relationship is–or will be–established as a result of this material. Readers are encouraged to retain their own counsel for their specific questions. Answers may have been edited for formatting purposes. 26 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

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CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ÂŽ â&#x20AC;&#x201D; September/October 2020 27

<xx< News from the National Association of REALTORS® From Deborah Baisden, NAR Director and Region 3 Vice President

he National Association of REALTORS® is committed to leading the way on policies that address racial equality, and knows that building a better future begins with equal access to housing and opportunity for everyone in America.

As the nation grapples with the economic fallout of this pandemic, alongside a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address racial inequity, NAR wants to help REALTORS® be part of the solution as communities move forward. Here are some of the ways NAR is working toward these goals.

Vacancy webinar series In August, NAR kicked off a new, four-part webinar series: Stabilizing and Revitalizing Neighborhoods in the COVID-19 Era, which illustrates NAR’s commitment to ensuring REALTORS® lead the conversations that address our communities’ most challenging problems. This series explores the partnership between REALTORS® and local government officials in preventing property vacancy and abandonment. It’s also part of NAR’s Transforming Neighborhoods program, which offers REALTORS® and their community partners the opportunity to explore underlying factors keeping vacant, abandoned and deteriorated properties “stuck“ in decline. Go to AMR.swoogo.com/nar/611527 for information about the series.

Fair Housing Simulation Training Later this year, NAR will release a three-hour classroom training, which will provide more practical tools to help REALTORS® interrupt and override biases in common situations where they may arise during real estate transactions. They are also developing a video featuring REALTOR® fair housing leaders, who show how implementing inclusive business practices benefits their communities and their bottom line. The video offers strategies to override bias in order to convey respect, ensure fairness and improve business relationships.

RPAC in the era of COVID-19: Vote on Nov. 3! RPAC—the REALTORS® Political Action Committee—has always supported candidates who defend private property rights and homeownership. But this year our work is also about survival—of businesses and people—as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. And, at a time when we needed it most, years of investments and relationship-building paid dividends for REALTORS® on Capitol Hill. On the campaign trail, NAR’s number of Targeted Opportunity Races has nearly doubled from the previous election cycle. Targeted Opportunity Races are political communications specifically intended for REALTORS® in support of individual candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. More than 90 such campaigns across the country this year will allow NAR to help drive Get-Out-The-REALTOR®-Vote efforts through direct mail initiatives and email messages. NAR will also host online “town hall“ meetings between candidates and REALTORS® for the dozens of “Opportunity Race“ campaigns in which they’re involved.

28 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

Are you registered to vote? Is your voter registration information up to date? On Nov. 3, make sure #RealtorsVote and support candidates who understand the issues important to our industry. Visit realtorparty.realtor/vote2020 to learn more.

Right Tools, Right Now When the COVID-19 pandemic began, NAR sought first to reaffirm its commitment to members’ safety and well-being. One of the first and best illustrations of this commitment came when we relaunched the “Right Tools, Right Now“ (RTRN) program. This program was last activated in 2009, and is funded this year through cost savings NAR has accumulated because of the pandemic. Through RTRN, NAR is making new and existing products and services available to all members for free or at reduced costs. Among the ever-growing list of 275 resources are: financial webinars with tips for surviving a crisis, research reports, courses to build or hone skills and management toolkits for brokers. The list of available resources is updated regularly and organized by category at NAR.realtor/RightToolsRightNow. Through RTRN, NAR is also funding free and reduced-cost access to Members TeleHealth—a telemedicine provider. To date, over 32,000 members and their families have taken advantage of Members TeleHealth, providing REALTORS® access to safe and effective virtual healthcare services. To learn more or to enroll, visit NAR.realtor/telehealth.

State Association Updates News from the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® (DCAR) Check your voter registration status! For 2020 elections in the district, you do not have to request an absentee ballot. All active voters will receive a ballot by mail at their registered address. Make sure you’re registered, and that your information is up to date! (You may check your voter status online, here: dcboe.org/. Voters/Register-To-Vote/Check-Voter-Registration-Status). The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2020.

Maryland REALTORS® webinar series Save the date for these webinars, coming soon from Maryland REALTORS®:

Thursday, Oct. 22, 1 p.m.: Freddie Mac and Maryland DHCD. Join representatives from Freddie Mac and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to hear updates on homeownership programs and incentives for first-time buyers. To register, visit bit.ly/33abOHN.

Thursday, Nov. 12, 1 p.m.: Consumer Behaviors and Demographics during COVID-19. Join NAR’s vice president for demographics and behavioral insights, Dr. Jessica Lautz, as she explains the latest in consumer behaviors and trends amid the COVID-19 pandemic. To register, visit bit.ly/2S3yvqK. Webinars are free and open to Maryland REALTORS® members. We welcome questions in advance! Please send your questions to communications@mdrealtor.org to have your question answered during one of the webinars.

CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020 29

<xx< Four reports to help you show your expertise to clients Statistics help you set yourself apart from the rest and provide insights on your local market. But where should you start? Bright MLS offers a variety of reports and information you can use to showcase your knowledge. Here are four reports that are available to you through Bright as part of your MLS subscription. You can easily access all of these reports under the Market Research menu when you log in to BrightMLS.com.

1 2 3 4

Industry Watch: The Industry Watch provides a quarterly report by county. It provides easy-to-view key metrics, such as median sale price, closed sales and months' supply. The report compares the metrics year-over-year and by county. This report is great to bring to a listing appointment or just to use when pulling quick statistics for a Facebook or blog post.

Market Statistics: The Market Statistics Report lets you get a little more granular. You can choose stats by MLS area, school district or county. You can even exclude or add multiple areas into one report. The report provides an at-a-glance view of inventory, closed sales, pending sales and more. This report is great for buyers who may be in a specific price range and need to understand the current state of inventory and the importance of moving quickly when they find a home they like.

Performance Reports: How are local buyers interacting with your listing or with listings in your area? The Performance Report offers granular details about Client Portal activity, email activity and showing activity on competitive listings in your region. Competitive listings are listings that similar buyers may be viewing and considering. This report is valuable for conversations with both buyers and sellers, as it includes information they can’t access anywhere else, and describes market activity over the last 28 days. Armed with this knowledge, subscribers can aid buyers in making timely, realistic and competitive offers, as well as counsel sellers on pricing and marketing strategies based on objective market data about similarly suited properties.

SmartCharts: As a Bright subscriber, you have access to regional and county-level statistics and reports in SmartCharts. You can access shareable charts and reports showcasing closed sales, days on market and market inventory.

In addition to these reporting tools, you can also keep track of how the market is faring during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bright’s COVID-19 weekly housing market data reporting focuses on market trends, sales activity and status changes, providing you with information and timely insights to support your clients’ goals. You can access all of the latest information on this report at BrightMLS.com/MarketUpdates.

Want to learn more about Bright reports and other statistical tools? Our special Bright statistical tools class, “Statistically Speaking,“ dives into all of these reports and more. Register at BrightMLS.com/Training. You can also have your broker schedule a virtual office visit with Bright Customer Success Coach Steve Hoover (Steve.Hoover@brightmls.com) or Meagan Longerbeam (Meagan.Longerbeam@brightmls.com) to review all the ways you can pull market statistics. 30 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

Agent Agent Grow Growand andbrand brandyour yourbusiness businesswith withthis this innovative, benefit innovative,all-important all-importantREALTOR REALTOR® ®benefit

Exclusive Exclusiveaccess accessfor for ®® REALTORS REALTORS ® ® ® ® Realtors Property Resource (RPR ) ) Realtors Property Resource (RPR provides exclusive access to to anan provides exclusive access unparalleled platform of of property and unparalleled platform property and market information, and client-friendly market information, and client-friendly reports. AllAll included in in your NAR reports. included your NAR membership and offered at at nono membership and offered additional cost. additional cost.

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CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020 31

<xx< How have home appraisals changed since the pandemic began?

he coronavirus pandemic has changed so much about how we live and work, and that now includes how real estate appraisers do their jobs.

When much of the country was shut down due to shelter-in-place and self-quarantine orders earlier this year, appraisers had to adjust to a new reality in which they couldn’t enter individuals’ homes. And even now that daily public life has begun to resume, the appraisal industry has adapted, bringing some changes that are here to stay. Brett Bessell, a GCAAR member who has been doing appraisals for the past 28 years in the region, says he was unsure in March if he would even be able to keep doing his job. “We weren’t even sure we were going to be able to do appraisals, until the government deemed us an essential business,“ he says. “Since then, we haven’t missed a day.“

“We weren’t even sure we were going to be able to do appraisals, until the government deemed us an essential business,” he says. “Since then, we haven’t missed a day.”

The most obvious change to his routine has come in the form of masks and gloves, now a commonplace, if not mandatory, part of going out in public. Additionally, Bessell will typically call ahead before entering a home, and ask the homeowners or occupants to “turn on all your lights and open all your interior doors.“ That way, “we won’t have to touch anything while we’re in the entire house,“ he says. In some minor ways, he adds, the work has gotten easier since the pandemic hit the U.S. That’s because there are fewer people on the roads during rush hour, making it easier to get to each house. And people are more likely to be at home, working from home, Bessell notes, meaning scheduling an appraisal is a lot easier in the first place.

On the financial side, the appraisal process has also had to adapt to the pandemic. Fannie Mae, among other lenders, began allowing appraisers more leeway to do what is called a “Fannie Mae exterior alternative,“ in which appraisers can drive by a home, take photos and exterior measurements, and then fill out their appraisal forms with disclaimers indicating that they were not able to go inside the home. This newfound flexibility for appraisals is atypical, but became essential to keeping business moving during the earliest stages of the pandemic. John Hansen, an appraiser who has worked in the district for the past 35 years, says he has been conducting many more exterior-only appraisals than usual due to the pandemic. “Most of my clients have requested that occupied homes be appraised as exterior-only (to protect the occupants and the appraiser),“ he says. These are not the “drive-by“ appraisals of the past, he notes; Hansen will visually examine and photograph all four sides of a prop-

32 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

erty, measure the exterior of the house, download photos the agent has uploaded to the MLS and interview the agent for details about the property’s interior features and updates. Appraisers are also able to perform a “desktop alternative,” in some cases, meaning they appraise a home without visiting it in person at all, based on information from comparison homes that were recently sold and photos provided by the borrowers. This has been most common, Bessell says, when it comes to home refinancing, as opposed to sales. Hansen says he handles mostly sales and has not had any clients request a desktop alternative this year. Refinancing is big right now, according to Bessell, thanks in large part to low interest rates and low inventory. He estimates that over 75% of his appraisals are refinances at the moment. He pointed out one other consequence of the pandemic that has affected the appraisal business: Low housing inventory means it’s harder for appraisers to find enough active listings to put in appraisal documents, so fewer lenders are requiring appraisers to provide information on at least two active listings. Overall, Bessell says his day-to-day work life hasn’t changed as dramatically as things initially seemed. He’s taking extra precautions and trying not to touch surfaces inside the homes he appraises, and of course, he needs lots and lots of hand sanitizer. “I haven’t had a handshake in quite a while.“ Hansen is optimistic that any changes to the appraisal business will be temporary, as people continue to adjust to the new normal. “I expect things to return to the way they were soon,“ he says. “Probably this autumn or winter.“

CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

<xx< Nadia Evangelou, NAR Research

Mortgage payment status during the pandemic in the U.S. and the District of Columbia The coronavirus pandemic has people struggling to pay bills: Thirteen percent of American homeowners did not pay their mortgage on time in June, according to the U.S. Census. New Census data shows that: • 35% of those who didn’t pay their mortgage on time deferred their payment. • Among the owners who made last month’s payment on time, 46% of them experienced a loss of employment income. • 29% of those who did not pay on time used the stimulus package, but it was not enough to cover the cost. • 59% of the owners have high confidence in their ability to make next month’s payment, while 23% have moderate confidence. The level of confidence is lower among Hispanics and African Americans. The Census releases the results of the 2020 Household Pulse Survey (HPS) every week (starting April 23, 2020). The survey, an experimental data product, is conducted by the Census Bureau in partnership with five other agencies from the Federal Statistical System. Specifically, the HPS asks individuals about their experiences regarding employment status, spending patterns, food security, housing, physical and mental health, access to health care and educational disruption. The survey is designed to be longitudinal, which means that this data provides insights with regard to how household experiences changed during the pandemic. The survey’s goal is to understand how individuals are experiencing this period and responding to the business curtailment and closures, stay-at-home and safer-at-home orders, school closures, changes in consumer patterns and the availability of consumer goods, and other abrupt and significant changes to American life. Taking a closer look at the demographics, most of the owners who were not able to make last month’s payment on time fit into the following groups:

40-54 years old divorced/separated children under 18 in the house African American less than $50K in annual income

After comparing by state, the District of Columbia was one of the top five states with the fewest owners impacted by the COVID shutdowns. More than 92% of the mortgage holders paid last month’s mortgage payment. In contrast, less than 80% of the mortgage holders paid last month’s payment in New Mexico, Arkansas and Louisiana.

34 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

Now, let’s examine and compare the mortgage payment status in the district by the following demographic categories:

Age Nationwide, young owners were most impacted by the pandemic. Particularly, 84% of the owners in the age group 18 to 40 were able to pay their mortgage compared to 91% of the mortgage holders 55 and older. In contrast, D.C. was one of the states with the most millennial mortgage holders who made their ends meet. Specifically, 94% of the young mortgage holders (18-40) paid their mortgage last month.

Mortgage Payment Status by Age Age 18-39

Category Paid

Area D.C.

94.3% 83.7%

U.S. Didn't Pay

2.5%

D.C.

9.4%

U.S. Deferred

1.2%

D.C.

5.6%

U.S. 40-54

Paid

91.9%

D.C. 84.0%

U.S. Didn't Pay

3.2%

D.C.

10.5%

U.S. Deferred 55-64

Paid

D.C.

4.8%

U.S.

4.8% 79.6%

D.C.

89.2%

U.S. Didn't Pay

15.0%

D.C. 7.0%

U.S. Deferred

D.C.

Paid

D.C.

5.4% 3.5%

U.S.

See the mortgage payment status for each age group in the district compared to nationwide:

65 and above

97.7% 92.8%

U.S. Didn't Pay

0.0%

D.C.

3.6%

U.S. Deferred

D.C.

2.3%

U.S.

3.1%

Source: NAR Calculations of the Household Pulse Survey (week July 16-July 21), U.S. Census Bureau

Income Across the country, 22% of owners with income less than $50K did not make their payment on time. In the district, their share was 11%. It is noteworthy that the district was one of the states with the most mortgage holders in the low-income range who paid their mortgage last month.

D.C.

U.S.

Mortgage Payment Status by Income Income Category Less than $50K Paid

Area D.C.

88.8% 78.4%

U.S. Didn't Pay

7.3%

D.C.

14.9%

U.S. Deferred

D.C.

Paid

D.C.

3.9% 6.2%

U.S. $50K-$100K

83.8% 86.4%

U.S. Didn't Pay

13.8%

D.C. 9.0%

U.S. Deferred

D.C. U.S.

See the mortgage payment status by income level in the district compared to nationwide:

$100K-$200K

Paid

2.5% 4.5% 89.5%

D.C.

93.1%

U.S. Didn't Pay

D.C. U.S.

Deferred Paid

3.3% 6.4%

D.C. U.S.

$200K and above

4.1%

3.5% 99.3%

D.C.

96.9%

U.S. Didn't Pay Deferred

D.C.

0.0%

U.S.

1.0%

D.C.

0.0%

U.S.

2.1%

Source: NAR Calculations of the Household Pulse Survey (week July 16-July 21), U.S. Census Bureau

D.C.

U.S.

Owners’ confidence during COVID

Fifty-nine percent of owners with a mortgage across the U.S. have a high degree of confidence that they will make their next mortgage payment on time. In addition, 23% of owners have a moderate level of confidence. The level of confidence is lower, however, for both African Americans and Hispanics; the share of owners with a high degree of confidence drops to 40% for African Americans and 36% for Hispanics. Respectively, 24% of African American and 33% of Hispanic mortgage holders say they have slight or no confidence that their household can pay next month’s rent or mortgage on time. In the district, owners are more confident about their ability to make their mortgage payment next month overall. Seventy-two percent reported they have a high confidence to make next month’s payment. The level of confidence is still lower for African Americans (41%) and Hispanics (39%) in the district. CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020 35

<xx<

MaY

Welcome, new REALTOR® members! We are pleased that you have chosen to join our association. GCAAR is your voice for real estate issues in Montgomery County, Maryland and the District of Columbia. We offer venues for networking to enable you to connect with your peers and exchange best practices. We invite you to take full advantage of your benefits as a member.

Jiman Khosravan

Keller Williams Fairfax Gateway

Maureen B. Aubinoe

S. Henderson Realty Services LLC

Alicia W. Baquero

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Leslee Behar

Select Property Management LLC

Mumtaz A. Bhatti

Courtney A. Krawczyk

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Shania U. Levert

Carlton Bottenbley

Century 21 New Millennium

Elnathan G. Brooks

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Jhonathan Candia Ponce

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Therese A. Cayard

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Jennifer C. Cernik

Smart Realty LLC Iron Valley Real Estate of Northern Virginia

Shenetta Malkia-Sapp Eluvial Realty

Theresa S. Manion H. A. Gill & Son Inc.

Delores A. Matthews HomeSmart LLC

Reginald J. McClendon

Peter C. Nwaigwe

Megan R. DeFrancesco

Coldwell Banker Residential

Ellie L. Dominguez

Century 21 New Millennium

Ashley K. Doran

Taylor Properties

Elber I. Ramirez Olivo Impact Real Estate LLC

Alma L. Reyes Villagran

Fairfax Realty of Tysons Inc.

RLAH Real Estate

Steven J. Ruiz

Denise A. Dyke

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Megan A. Evans

Coldwell Banker Residential

Morgan M. Russell Go Brent

Compass

Leah R. Singleton

Cameron Gilbert

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Redfin Corporation

Sheena D. Stewart

Rashi D. Givens

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Weichert REALTORS®

Nyanda G. Tamu

Solomon Goldberg

Weichert REALTORS®

Taylor Properties

Steven B. Thornton

Katherine F. Hall

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Charlene D. Harry

eXp Realty LLC

Brian A. Tucci

Taylor Properties

Fairfax Realty Elite

Alaina S. Winter

Alicia N. Hurtt

TTR Sotheby’s International Realty

Frontier Realty Group LLC

Erika J. Woodworth

Keller Williams Capital Properties 36 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR — September/October 2020 ®

Edward W. Felton

Olivia Koukoui

Lorraine C. Fisher

Grace E. Lederer

Thomas M. Flowers

Aekyung Lee

Candace M. Ford

Shari Longo

Christopher P. Ganoe

Elizabeth Lorenzo Garcia

Meghan N. Geier

Edward Lucas

Vanina G. Goldsztein

Deniece Merrique

Elijah J. Gore

Kelly R. Mistretta

Pamela P. Hall

Jessica H. Mitchell

Dan Hendricks

Sarah K. Moore

Janet M. Howard

Babak Najafi

Joe S. Hye

Darlena T. Nguyen

Nyamekye R. Jackson

Catherine F. Noel

Mahima Jain

Iremia R. Ocsa Mamani

Tong Jia

Jorge A. Perez

Kendall L. Johnson

June C. Piper-Brandon

Malcom Johnson

Lakesia Pitts

Damon Z. Jones

Daniel E. Pollitt

Emmanuel T. Kabiritsi

Eileen Reading

Letisha M. Kellam

Luis A. Rey

Veronica L. Kelly

Aryan Saleh

Bennett Realty Solutions

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

RLAH Real Estate

Bradley S. Kiger

Fathom Realty

Ajmani Harsh

Hooman Movassagh

Raiko Dai Muhammad

Dereje Feleke

Weichert REALTORS®

Kevin Link

Keller Williams Realty Reston

Compass

Olive Zion

JUNE

Meagan M. McPheeters

Jack Conway

Yonatan Kifle

Samson Properties

Felton Home Group

Smart Realty LLC

Next Step Realty

Naada A. Favitsou-Boulandi

Move 4 Free Realty LLC

Keller Williams Realty Centre

Joel C. Mack

Partners Real Estate

Jose L. Yaselli

eXp Realty LLC

Oluwatosin Alao

Weichert REALTORS®

Eric D. Archer

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Gail Bleach

Weichert REALTORS®

Baltazar Bonilla

Coldwell Banker Residential

Garcia Bouie

Keller Williams Legacy

Mark J. Burch

Rosselle Realty Service

David A. Caceres KW Metro Center

Karynne R. Campbell

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Aliya Y. Canton

Fairfax Realty Elite

Francisco R. Carrizales

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Eunho Choe

Fairfax Realty Premier

Chang J. Chung

Keller Williams Realty Falls

Kyle A. Cissel

Forum Properties Inc.

Joseph Conteh

Home Resource Realty HRR

Charles B. Cornwell Jr. RE/MAX Regency

Jennifer L. Dameika

Coldwell Banker Residential

Moises J. Delrosario

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Patrick Emad Compass

Johanna Estevez Faria RLAH Real Estate

Coldwell Banker Residential Home Buyers Marketing II Inc. Keller Williams Capital Properties Compass

RLAH Real Estate RLAH Real Estate G&G Group LLC

Keller Williams Capital Properties Keller Williams Preferred Properties Keller Williams Capital Properties Samson Properties

Coldwell Banker Residential Hometown Elite Realty 4J Real Estate LLC eXp Realty LLC

Samson Properties Brownwoods Realtors LLC Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. Home Resource Realty HRR

KW Metro Center Capital Metro Properties LLC Johnson Needham Realty LLC Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. Lee Group Real Estate LLC Keller Williams Capital Properties Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. Taylor Properties Bennett Realty Solutions McEnearney Associates Inc. Coldwell Banker Residential Compass

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. RE/MAX Fine Living Smart Realty LLC

Weichert REALTORS® Fairfax Realty Inc. Houwzer LLC

Deausen Realty Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. ColBra Realty LLC Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Meredith L. Salita

Weichert REALTORS®

Rona Sebastian

Samson Properties

Nicholas F. Skelly

Foster Spahr Real Estate LLC

Stacy M. Smith

Nathaniel J. Brooks

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Patrick R. Browning PRB Realty LLC

Tamala L. Burress Real Broker LLC

Karen Fentress-Martin Blue Crab Real Estate LLC

Karen M. Fifield KW Metro Center

Debra L. Frank

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

JaSun Frone

Angelo-Montay Industrious Keller Williams Capital Properties

David Ivey

Northrop Realty

Jalal Jaber

Alison W. McDowell Compass

Elisha E. McLean

Keller Williams Realty Centre

Jaya Mehra

McWilliams Ballard Inc.

Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva

Keller Williams Realty Chantilly Ventures LLC

Jamie H. Burton

C. H. Kay Realty Inc.

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Patricia .L Jacob

Lorin Mones

Taj Sohal

Nichole Carlyle

Shayla Frye

Lisa M. Jalufka

Devin P. Moore

Tatiana Carrillo Suarez

Samuel A Garay

Lauren E. Johnson

Enoch K. Neblett

Kent D Carter

Orlando J. Gholson

William B. Jones

Jacoby J. Newman

LaBrandon T. Carter

Brenden Giroux

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Andrew K. Spangler Keller Williams Capital Properties

Shefun G. Thompson Weichert REALTORS®

Kadiatou E. Traore First Decision Realty

Monique A. Van Blaricom RLAH Real Estate

Elmer H. Vasquez

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Joachim Walker eXp Realty LLC

Raphael Woodruff Raphael Woodruff

Christine Youssef

Keller Williams Capital Properties

JUly Nofisat O. Adeaga

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Wossenie M. Ahmed Fairfax Realty Select

Mesbahulhaq Aini

Redfin Corporation Realty Concepts Group LLC KW Metro Center Century 21 New Millennium

Xiaolan Chen

Best Home Realty

Edward K. Chon

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Mohammad U Chowhan Sentry Residential LLC

Ashley Contee

Exit Landmark Realty

Elaine B. Conway

Royal Dominion Realty

Christopher Craddock

Keller Williams Realty Reston

Michelle Daniel

Keller Williams Realty Chantilly Ventures LLC

Massimo De Biasi

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Damian L. Dickerson Irvin Realty LLC

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty

Brian M. Doninger

Omar Aizaz

Jacob D. Drannan

RE/MAX Executives Real Estate

KW Metro Center HomeSmart LLC

Samson Properties

Coldwell Banker Residential

Alvid L. Golphin

Bennett Realty Solutions

Carlos Gomez

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Jordan Graye Compass

Jasmine Guansing

Ten Thousand Realty

Paighton N. Guglielmini Keller Williams Realty

Kimberly A. Haag

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Brenda Harley

Douglas Realty LLC

Eric V. Harris

Deausen Realty

Chanel P. Harrison HomeSmart LLC

Kari E. Hatcher

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Jabari L. Hawkins

Century 21 New Millennium

Old Line Properties LLC

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Mayowa Akinyele

Kimberly A Drapeau

Justin Hay

M Squared Real Estate LLC

Exit Realty Center

Jack R. Applegarth

Conlan Dufresne

Century 21 The Real Estate Centre

Goldberg Group Real Estate

Franklin E. Arias

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Ajuzie Erondu

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Carole T. Evans

Sawdiatou O. Ba

Corine Farhat

KW Metro Center

Jonathan K. Bailey eXp Realty LLC

Kenneth L. Brooks

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. RE/MAX Gateway

Laurette G. Farmer HomeSmart LLC

Luis A. Febles RE/MAX PROS

RLAH Co

Clifford V. Henderson

The Buyers Edge Co. Inc.

Stevie C. Hines

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Earnest Hobley III

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Amanda Houghton KW Metro Center

Pamela Hubbard

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Weichert REALTORS® Century 21 New Millennium Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. Keller Williams Capital Properties

Austin Jones

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Bruce C. Jones Compass

Sanjay Kalasa Fathom Realty

Rabail Kazi

Samson Properties

Melea King

Exit Landmark Realty

Nabil Koudjeti

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Andrew Larsen

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Yvonne Lee

Keller Williams Preferred Properties

RLAH Co.

Pearson Smith Realty Redfin Corporation Home Buyers Marketing II Inc.

George A. Ochoa

Wright Real Estate LLC

Anthony F. Okoye

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Kayode O. Oladapo

Homeland Realty Services LLC

Erika E. Pedrick

Coldwell Banker Residential

Brianna V. Permenter-Crook Own Real Estate LLC

Saurabh Prakash

Coldwell Banker Residential

Santana Price

Murrell Inc. REALTORS®

James F. Reinhardt Taylor Properties

Carola A. Ron

SSG Real Estate LLC

Walter D. Taraila

Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva

Eldora J. Taylor

Exit Deluxe Realty

Dawn C. Taylor

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Mikita S. Thompson HomeSmart LLC

Brenan G. Tjelmeland Compass

Claudia M. Tsas Taylor Properties

Jessica H. Uehara

Craig Fauver Real Estate

Jessie Valverde

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Matthew W. Villegas

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Matthew A. Wahlstrom Pearson Smith Realty

Kerrion Walters Edwards Century 21 Redwood Realty

Cassandra Walton Samson Properties

Rudy A. Washington

Keller Williams Realty Chantilly Ventures LLC

Lorenzo E. Waters III Samson Properties

Charles O. Williams

Century 21 New Millennium

Antoinette Williams Quick

Matthew Levine

Neil K. Roy

RLAH Real Estate

Independent Realty Inc.

Keller Williams Capital Properties

Calvin K. Liang

Stuart M. Saltzman

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Realty Advantage

Jacob H. Willis

Lawrence J. Lockhart

Jewell Samuel

Smart Realty LLC

Samson Properties

Maria D. Lopes

Laura Sciannella

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Blue Crab Real Estate LLC

Veronique Manga

Patricia E. Scipio

Keller Williams Capital Properties

eXp Realty LLC

Brian J Martin

HomeSmart LLC

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Cindy L Mathys

Exit Realty Associates

Bryan L Matthews Sr. Own Real Estate LLC

Denise A. Maurice-Greene

Keyur Shah

Richard B. Solomon

Central Properties

Tianni Wilson

TTR Sotheby’s International Realty

Robert Wittman NextHome Reach

Stas Wronka

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Larissa A. Young Larissa AK Young

Redfin Corporation

Stephan Strothe

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Ebanezare Tadele

Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.

Century 21 New Millennium

Mary L. McDonald

Coldwell Banker Residential CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020 37

<xx<

Realtor Party ®

Thank you to our 2020 Major and Large RPAC investors

Golden “R“

Ed Krauze Carole Maclure Bonnie Roberts-Burke Dale Ross Chris Suranna Holly Worthington Crystal “R“

Jamie Coley Fred Kendrick Mike Moran Sterling “R“

Koki Adasi Avi Adler Wendy Banner Stacey Barton Fred Bates Elizabeth Blakeslee Lisa Bosse Jan Brito Charles Burger

Catherine Czuba David DeSantis Melinda Estridge Greg Ford Scott Goldberg Katherine Gordon Brandon Green Harold Huggins Franklin Jamison Colin Johnson Angela Jones Justin Levitch Kymber Lovett-Menkiti Peg Mancuso Danai Mattison Sky Samuel Medvene Bo Menkiti Katalin Peter Jean Poitevien Philip Raskin Leigh Reed Marj Rosner Bradley Rothstein

Rob Rothstein Daniel Schuler Andres Serafini Dianah Shaw Ellie Shorb Brenda Small Frank Snodgrass Marty Stanton Kirsten Williams Capital Club ($250-$999)

Abeer Abou Elmakarem Christine Barnhart M. Jacqueline Bennett Russell Brazil Kevin Brunell Carolyn Burns Lori Connor Samantha Damato Lauren Davis Joe Detrick Tony DeVol

Lauren Donnelly Carlos Evans Michael Fowler Jennifer Frewer Jeffrey Ganz Carlos Garcia Lee Goldstein Gwen Henderson Robert Jenets Michael Joseph Linda Kibunja Peter Locker KT Maclure Tony Mancuso Hank May Thomas Muldoon Barbara Nalls Betty Pair Tony Shore JD Teitelman Stephen Withrow

•

RPAC INVESTOR TESTIMONIAL: “I’ve been selling for about 20 years in the District of Columbia. I got involved with the DC Association of REALTORS® in 2013, and that’s when I started to understand the importance of RPAC. What it does is represent REALTOR® interests above all else. And because the district is considered a state, we see the majority of our RPAC donations come right back to the city, and that has made us probably the most influential advocacy group in the city. The biggest accomplishment that most district REALTORS® would know is the changes we made to the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA).” — FRED BATES, EXP REALTY D.C. MANAGING BROKER AND PRESIDENT-ELECT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

38 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — September/October 2020

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<xx<

Join the Join the Join the LARGEST LARGEST LARGEST Independent Independent Independent Brokerage in Brokerage in Brokerage in Maryland Maryland Maryland

00% 1 % 0 ION 0% S 1 S I N 0 M O 10COM SOIN S I M I S COM MIS COM

100% commission for $49/mon 100% commission $49/month 85% commission for $0/mon 100% commission forfor $49/month 85% commission for $0/month 85% commission for $0/month

100% Commission on 2 Sales – (3% of $300,000) x 2 100% Commissionon on22Sales Sales– –(3% (3%ofof$300,000) $300,000) 100% Commission x 2x 2 Monthly Broker Fee (No Agent Transaction Fees) MonthlyBroker BrokerFee Fee(No (NoAgent AgentTransaction Transaction Fees) Monthly Fees)

$18,000 $18,000 $18,000 - $49 $49 - $49

Your Monthly Income Your MonthlyIncome Income Your Monthly

• Commission paid same day as settlement Commission paidsame sameday dayasassettlement settlement • Full broker service ••Commission paid Fullbroker broker service • Seminars by industry leaders ••Full service Seminars byindustry industry leaders • Open your own branch at no extra cost ••Seminars by leaders Openyour yourown ownbranch branchatatno noextra extracost cost ••Open

$17,951 $17,951 $17,951

• Set your own commission rates • Set your own commission rates • In-House lender and title company • Set your own commission rates • In-House lender and title company • Training/mentoring program • In-House lender and title company • Training/mentoring program • In-House Continuing Education • Training/mentoring program • In-House Continuing Education • In-House Continuing Education

Office Locations Office Locations Office Locations Annapolis, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Columbia and Bowie (NEW OFFICES) Annapolis, and Bowie (NEW OFFICES) Annapolis,Bethesda, Bethesda,Silver SilverSpring, Spring,Columbia Columbia and Bowie (NEW OFFICES)

LicensedMD, in MD, DC VA, DC and now PENNSYLVANIA Licensed Licensedin in MD,VA, VA, DCand andnow nowPENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA Call Today (800) 590-0925 www.TaylorProperties.co/careers Call www.TaylorProperties.co/careers CallToday Today(800) (800)590-0925 590-0925 www.TaylorProperties.co/careers CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — May/June 2020

Capital Area REALTOR® Sept/Oct2020

Articles inside

REALTOR Toolbox

Welcome, new REALTOR members

From Bright MLS

Legal Hotline

Policy Outlook

From the GCAAR Classroom

NAR Director’s Report

Meet GCAAR’s 2020 Annual Award Winners

Your GCAAR membership: What’s in it for you?

Association News

A Letter from the President