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Legal Blog
The Legal Blog brought to you by NVAR's Professional Standards department helps you stay on top of the latest rules and regulations in the industry.
Check back often to keep up with latest information.
Jun 12, 2025
Roll-Back Taxes: What Are They and Why Do I Care?
Roll back taxes are designed to encourage the preservation of agricultural, forest, horticultural, and open space land — a benefit to both landowners and the public.
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Jun 12, 2025
Wood-Destroying Insect Inspections: What are a seller's repair and treatment obligations for WDI inspections?
The NVAR Legal Hotline has received many questions regarding Wood-Destroying Insect Inspections. Refresh your memory!
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Apr 21, 2025
Ethical and Professional Considerations of the Escalation Addendum in Today’s Real Estate Market
The escalation addendum is a valuable real estate tool that lets buyers automatically increase their offer in response to competing bids, up to a set maximum. Based on net offer value, it can be used with appraisal contingencies — either retained or waived. While the calculation was once straightforward, recent changes have added complexity.
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Apr 21, 2025
Ethics Blog: Top Four Ethics Complaints seen at the NVAR
NVAR uniquely has its own Professional Standards Department, with volunteer committees reviewing 70 – 100 annual cases to uphold Realtor® ethics, integrity, and professionalism in the region. Curious what these cases are most commonly about? Read to learn more.
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Apr 21, 2025
Legal Hotline Question of the Month: Are Sellers Required to Fix HOA or Condo Violations Prior to Settlement?
The NVAR Legal Hotline has received many questions regarding HOA and Condo violations. Refresh your memory!
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Apr 21, 2025
Legal Reminder: NVAR Forms are Limited to Realtor® Use
As the spring market heats up, remember NVAR forms are copyrighted for Realtor® use only. Don’t share blank forms with non-Realtors®, including unrepresented buyers, landlords, settlement companies, or friends and family.
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Feb 14, 2025
How to Enter Broker Compensation into the Exclusive Right to Lease Listing Agreement
Form K1281, the Exclusive Right to Lease Listing Agreement (ERRL), NVAR's agreement for brokers and landlords in rental listings, was updated at the beginning of this year. Learn more about how to properly fill out this form.
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Feb 14, 2025
Legal Hotline Questions of the Month: Landlord-Tenant Rights
The NVAR Legal Hotline has received many questions regarding landlord-tenant rights this month. Refresh your memory!
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Feb 14, 2025
Legal Reminder: New FCC One-to-One Consent Rules
The deadline for compliance with the new FCC One-to-One consent rule for telemarketing calls was recently extended in response to ongoing litigation.
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Nov 18, 2024
November: Legal Hotline Questions of the Month
The NVAR Legal Hotline has received many questions regarding voiding and releasing sales contracts this fall. Refresh your skills with this guide!
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Sep 27, 2024
How to Use the NVAR Escalation Addendum
Not sure how to calculate competing offers using an escalation addendum? What if a buyer is asking for concessions or compensation? Read on for a refresher!
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Aug 8, 2024
Guide to Requesting Compensation for Tenant Agents
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Jun 26, 2024
NVAR Releases Translated Summaries of Four Forms in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese (PRC) and Chinese (Taiwan)
NVAR has recently translated summaries of four of our forms into the five languages most spoken in our area: Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese (PRC), and Chinese (Taiwan).
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Jun 24, 2024
Practice Tips and FAQs for July 1, 2024 Standard Forms Implementation
When do I amend my brokerage agreements? What happens if the compensation advertised is different from the sales contract? Read on for some FAQs on how to use the July 1, 2024 NVAR Standard Forms!
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Apr 23, 2024
NAR Litigation Update: Preliminary Approval of Settlement Agreement Granted
As of April 23, 2024, the NAR settlement agreement is preliminarily approved. The settlement is still subject to final court approval, and plaintiffs have requested a hearing on final approval of the settlement to be held on November 26, 2024. Please see the FAQs below for more information and contact Mike Rohde at mrohde@nar.realtor with any questions about completing an opt-in agreement.
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Mar 22, 2024
Top 10 Highlights from the NAR Proposed Settlement – Practice Changes
Realtors® should expect to see practice changes go into effect by August 17, 2024 and will be required to abide by them. However, the settlement agreement is still subject to final court approval, so it is possible the deadlines and practices outlined may be modified in coming months. Visit nvar.com/competition and facts.realtor for updates.
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Feb 15, 2024
What can I do to prevent or avoid fraud in my transactions?
What can I do to prevent or avoid fraud in my transactions?
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Feb 15, 2024
Legal Reminder - New SCRA Court Ruling
A new ruling by the DOJ has resolved a discrepancy between the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA).
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Feb 15, 2024
Legal Hotline Question of the Month: Rental Applications with Housing Vouchers – What does this mean for my Landlord?
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Feb 12, 2024
Depositing the EMD – What is a Realtor’s® Obligation?
Since agents are typically not parties to the sales contract, what is the Realtor®’s role in encouraging the Buyer to timely deposit the EMD? What about the Realtor® representing the Seller? The fact is, Realtors® may have more responsibility than you’d think!
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