2021: The Year in Review... and a Look Ahead

BY HANNAH BAUMER

Highlights from a productive year:

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

None of this would be possible without the REALTOR® members who volunteer their time, energy, and ideas through the Legislative Committee and the RPAC Trustees.

BACKED

the historic allocation to the Virginia Housing Trust Fund

$70 million

SUPPORTED

the creation of the Virginia Housing Opportunity Tax Credit Program UPDATED

the Henrico County zoning code for the first time since 1960. RAR staff participated in the multi-year development process and supported its final adoption SERVED

on Chesterfield’s Housing Diversity Workgroup SECURED

a dedicated funding stream for Richmond's Affordable Housing Trust Fund and a one time allocation of $20 million in ARPA dollars to the Trust Fund

ALL MARKETING CONTENT FOR REALTORS’ USE IS HOSTED AT RARealtors.com/ MarketingContent

The 2021 Consumer Campaign focused on expanding the stock photography and video library available to members. The library was expanded this year to include several useful marketing “how to” videos, including topics like:

MAKING A GRAPHIC WITH ADOBE SPARK!

MAKING A VIDEO WITH ADOBE SPARK!

CVR MLS USER BENEFITS

Tech Time with CVR MLS

Every other Thursday | 4PM - 5PM

Tech Time is a bi-weekly webinar from CVR MLS staff that focuses on various topics relating to Matrix and other core products. Tech Time is scheduled every other Thursday from 4PM to 5PM. Questions and case examples are encouraged. Tech Time can be found on the calendar in your Member Hub.

CVR MLS Monthly Monitor

The CVR MLS Monthly Monitor provides Central Virginia Regional Multiple Listing Service users with updates, product highlights, training opportunities, market data, compliance tips, and other noteworthy news affecting real estate professionals in our MLS. This newsletter is emailed to users on the third Thursday of each month.

EDUCATION

RAR offered 192 onsite, virtual and on-demand classes in 2021, 9 designation and certification classes, and 180 hours of pre-broker education.

Members also took advantage of free NAR Triennial Ethics training classes, a New Broker “Open Mic” Series with Attorney Michael Lafayette, and a special digital marketing webinar series with Matthew Rathbun.

192

CLASSES

180

HOURS

of pre-broker education

9

CLASSES

designation/ certification

New Broker Open Mic Series with Attorney Michael Lafayette

TRENDS welcomed nationally acclaimed real estate economists, market analysts, and technology experts to discuss current and upcoming trends. Dr. Lawrence Yun, NAR Chief Economist and Dr. Lisa Sturtevant, VR Chief Economist joined us at TRENDS and discussed emerging economic trends in real estate.

RAR GOLF TOURNAMENT AND SPRING FLING AT MAGNOLIA GREEN | MAY 19, 2021

RAR’s Golf Tournament and Spring Fling Cocktail Reception at the beautiful Magnolia Green Golf Course were great successes. Tournament players competed for prizes and all members were invited back for our Spring Fling reception for beer and wine, appetizers and great music.

VOLUNTEER SERVICE WEEK: REALTORS® GIVE BACK OCTOBER 18-22, 2021

During the week of October 18th, RAR Board members challenged their fellow RAR members and sponsors to get out and volunteer their time for a nonprofit that is near and dear to their hearts. The RAR and CVR MLS Board members spent a day volunteering at Sankofa Community Orchard where they installed border landscaping materials and planted perennials and garlic around the one acre site. The Sankofa Community Orchard is an urban demonstration project that is being completed in phases in the southside of Richmond. When finished, it will feature 80 fruit trees that will contribute to the area’s urban tree canopy.

INSTALLATION RECEPTION AT THE JEFFERSON HOTEL DECEMBER 15, 2021

RAR’s leadership for the following year is installed during this reception. In 2021, we celebrate the installation of Dare Tulloch as RAR and CVR MLS President for 2022. LOCKTOBERFEST OCTOBER 4 – 29, 2021

CVR MLS hosted the inaugural year of Locktoberfest, a great opportunity for agents to return idle lockboxes to win prizes, including the chance to win free 2022 CVR MLS fees.

This annual reception and dinner is held in recognition of RAR’s RPAC Investors and their commitment to the Association’s advocacy work. Every year, RPAC’s Fair Share ($99+) and Major ($250+) Investors are invited to share a cocktail and break bread with their City Councilors, Boards of Supervisors, Delegates, and Senators from across the region. It is a great opportunity for members to get know who represents them in local and state government on a personal level. After a year off in 2020 due to the pandemic, we are excited for the return of this event.

THE PARTNERSHIP FOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

1. PHA was selected to participate in the ChangeLab Housing Solutions Collaborative with Chesterfield County, one of only eight jurisdictions in the country chosen to receive technical assistance and peer support to advance housing policy efforts.

2. PHA, through a partnership with PlanRVA, was designated as the administrator of a new $3 million grant program to create affordable housing units over the next three years.

3. PHA released an annual report in January of 2021 on the progress and accomplishments of the Richmond Regional Housing Framework.