Legal Blog

 
2015-03-04-legislative-trip-realtors-meet-with-image-house-chamber
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.
  • Aug 23, 2016

    Failing to Disclose

  • Aug 19, 2016

    A Landlord's Guide to Diplomatic Immunity

    The best practice is for landlords, leasing agents and property managers to consider what policy they believe is best for them, and make sure to apply it consistently in order to avoid any potential allegations of discrimination.
  • Aug 19, 2016

    Rentals and Bedbugs

    Paragraph 19 in both the VRLTA and the Common Law Lease clearly places the obligation of keeping the unit or the property free of vermin, including bedbugs, on the tenant.
  • Aug 19, 2016

    What is Value Range Pricing?

    A Buyer Agent called me with a question about the remarks that were entered in a specific listing in the MRIS system. The remarks made a referenced to "Value Range Pricing." The Agent wants to know what that means.
  • Aug 19, 2016

    What happens if the disclosure packet is not delivered within 14 days or if I received a disclosure packet that is dated more than 12 months ago?

    You can accept the packet or certificate as is, or you may cancel the contract
  • Aug 19, 2016

    What is a dual agent?

    Dual Agent” or “Dual Representative” means a licensee who has a “brokerage relationship” with both seller and buyer in the same real estate transaction.
  • Aug 19, 2016

    Can An Appraiser Show Listings?

    The state licensing regulations say that anyone who receives compensation or other valuable consideration for working with a buyer to assist them in buying or offering to buy a property must have a real estate salespersons or brokers license unless they fall under one of the exemptions to the licensing regulations.
  • Aug 16, 2016

    My client wants to order an updated packet. Can They?

    You may accept the packet or certificate as is, or you may cancel the contract. If you agree to accept it as is, the purchaser may be liable for any non-compliance with the association rules.
  • Aug 16, 2016

    What About Listing Mobile Homes?

    A listing agent wants to "list" a mobile home for sale in the Metropolitan Regional Information System (MRIS). The broker is not sure if the mobile home qualifies as real estate and called me to find out if this is something that a licensed real estate agent can "sell"...
  • Aug 16, 2016

    As a dual agent what services can you provide?

    The code of Virginia sets forth what services a dual agent cannot provide.
  • Aug 16, 2016

    Unlicensed Personal Assistants- Dos and Donts

    The following is intended to serve as a guideline of Dos and Don'ts for Unlicensed Personal Assistants (UPA).
  • Aug 12, 2016

    To Tell or Not to Tell?

    The listing agent, Sarah, receives an offer from Ann-Lewise, the buyer's agent. Ann-Lewise's offer is a full price offer, all cash deal. Leslie, another buyer's agent, submits a second offer. She asks Sarah if there are other offers on the property. Sarah answers that she just received another offer. Leslie then asks for the terms of the other offer...
  • Aug 12, 2016

    Top 10 Claims Against Realtors

    This is the second article in a series entitled, "Top 10 Claims Against Realtors®". The #2 cause of claims against a Realtor®? Failure to Disclose.
  • Aug 12, 2016

    Security Deposit Interest

    As with all landlord tenant questions, you must first ascertain whether your lease is subject to common law or whether it is subject to the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act (VRLTA).
  • Aug 12, 2016

    Does a limited service agent have an agency relationship with the client?

    The agency relationship is limited in scope to the services the client has selected. However, a limited service agent still owes all the same duties to the client as a regular agent.
  • Aug 9, 2016

    Suicide - Is It a Required Disclosable?

    The buyer's agent has notified her that the buyers learned from the neighbors that the seller's son committed suicide in the property a few years before. The listing agent wants to know if she was obligated to disclose this information and if she is going to get into any trouble because she did not know about the suicide?
  • Aug 9, 2016

    A Case of Ethics - Risk Management

    Article 3 requires a REALTOR® to cooperate with other brokers "whenever it is in the interest of the client."
  • Aug 9, 2016

    What can we do if an association or management company isn’t following the law?

    The CIC Board was established to regulate management companies and their supervisory and managerial employees.
  • Aug 9, 2016

    Limited Service Limbo - What Rules Apply?

    I represent a buyer who wishes to make an offer on a property listed by a limited service broker. The seller is reviewing our offer and asking me many questions. May I answer his questions?
  • Aug 9, 2016

    What is a limited service agent?

    A limited service agent is an agent who performs limited services selected by the client.