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Help your clients avoid deed fraud
Protecting your clients doesn’t stop at closing.
VA Deed Alert is a free notification service from the Virginia court system that helps homeowners monitor activity connected to their property records. If a document is recorded using their name or parcel ID, they receive an email alert. This early warning can help identify potential deed or mortgage fraud.
Recommending VA Deed Alert is a simple way to continue delivering value after the transaction. It shows clients you care about protecting their investment—not just completing the sale.
Why share it with clients:
- Free and easy to sign up
- Provides alerts when documents are recorded on their property
- Adds an extra layer of awareness against potential fraud
- Reinforces your role as a trusted advisor beyond closing
Encourage clients to enroll as part of your post-closing process and help them stay informed about activity tied to their home.
Supporting Local Housing: The 18th Annual Ride Virginia Poker Run
In the real estate world, we know that a home is the foundation of a strong community. That is why we are excited to spread the word about the upcoming 18th Ride Virginia Poker Run, an impactful event that directly supports Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity in their mission to provide affordable housing opportunities in our region.
Whether you are a rider or just looking for a way to give back, this event is a fantastic opportunity to support affordable housing in the region.
Event Logistics
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When: May 2, 2026 (Rain or Shine).
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Start Location: Habitat ReStore, 2378 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, VA.
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Finish Location: Hooters, 10400 Spotsylvania Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA.
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Schedule: Registration starts at 9:00 a.m., the group-led ride departs at 10:00 a.m., and the last bike must be in by 1:30 p.m..
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Prizes: Awards begin at 2:00 p.m., including $250 each for the Best Hand and Worst Hand.
How You Can Get Involved
There are several easy ways for our members and community partners to help make this the best event yet:
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Pre-Register to Ride: Pre-registration is available for $25 at www.ridevirginia.com. This guarantees you an event T-shirt, a goodie bag, a meal, and door prize tickets.
- Become a Sponsor: Sponsorship levels start at just $50 (Bronze level) and go up to $5,000 (Headline level). All sponsors receive recognition in the Habitat for Humanity newsletter and website. Complete the sponsor registration form here.
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Sell tickets or participate in the 50/50 Raffle: Tickets are only $5 each, and the winner does not need to be present to win.
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Donate a Door Prize: Help local businesses connect with the community by securing gift cards or merchandise for the event’s prize pool.
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Spread the Word: Share the event flyer with your sphere of influence or post about it on social media to help build momentum.
Every small effort makes a big impact on housing stability in our community. For more details or to discuss sponsorship opportunities, you can contact the Ride Virginia Team Lead, Michelle Wilson, at 540-891-4401 or mwilson@fredhab.org.
FAAR Advocates for Fair Short-Term Rental Regulations in Spotsylvania County
The Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® (FAAR) recently submitted a formal letter to leaders in Spotsylvania County regarding proposed regulations for short-term rentals. The letter outlines concerns from the local real estate community and offers constructive recommendations aimed at balancing neighborhood impacts, property rights, and housing opportunities.
Why This Matters for REALTORS®
Local policy decisions directly impact property owners, investors, and clients considering short-term rentals. As the voice for more than 1,700 REALTORS® and affiliate members in the region, FAAR works to ensure regulations are fair, practical, and grounded in how housing actually functions in our community.
The proposed ordinance currently under review by the County Planning Commission includes provisions that could affect occupancy limits, septic system requirements, and enforcement penalties for short-term rental operators.
Key Points Raised by FAAR
In the letter submitted to county leadership, FAAR highlighted several concerns and recommendations:
Occupancy Limits
The proposal to limit occupancy to two people per bedroom may be overly restrictive. FAAR suggested that a more objective standard could be based on septic system capacity and water usage rather than a fixed headcount, which may better reflect how homes are safely designed and used.
Septic System Requirements
Mandatory annual pumping could create unnecessary costs for low-volume rentals. FAAR recommended allowing a yearly inspection approach that ensures systems are functioning properly without imposing unnecessary expenses on property owners.
Enforcement and Penalties
The proposed ordinance includes automatic revocation of a license after a first violation. FAAR encouraged the County to consider a graduated enforcement system that allows warnings and corrective action before imposing severe penalties.
REALTORS® at the Table
Advocacy like this is a core benefit of your membership. FAAR works on your behalf with local leaders to ensure the perspective of real estate professionals is part of the conversation when policies affecting housing are considered.
Our goal is simple: support responsible regulations that protect neighborhoods while also preserving property rights and housing opportunity in our region.
Stay Engaged
Issues like short-term rental regulations can evolve quickly as local governments evaluate community feedback. FAAR will continue monitoring the discussion and advocating for solutions that support property owners, housing supply, and a healthy real estate market.
If you have experiences or insights related to short-term rentals in Spotsylvania County, we encourage you to share them with Kim McClellan at FAAR so we can continue representing the interests of the REALTOR® community.
FAAR Email Deliverability Notice
Missing FAAR emails? They could be caught in your email client filters and/or landing in another folder. Here are some things you can try in your email client to make sure they are delivered to the right folder.
- Adding contacts as Safe Senders: Add our specific staff email addresses to your address book and “Safe Senders” list (if applicable). Emails to add: lcooley@faarmembers.com, lhillardwehr@faarmembers.com, bmcgrath@faarmembers.com, kmcclellan@faarmembers.com, pbrowning@faarmembers.com, lalsop@faarmembers.com
- The “Drag and Drop” Method: If a notification is found in a “Promotions”, “Spam”, “Updates” or “Other” tab, dragging it to the “Primary” or “Inbox” tab tells the provider to always put it there in the future. Most modern email clients (like Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail) use machine learning to identify spam, and moving an email from the spam/junk folder to the inbox trains the filter that the sender is safe.
- Get a text alert for FAAR email delivery: Use this link https://app.noterouter.com/optinmsg/FAAR?org=b85a3 and look at the third column labeled “text” to enable the text feature to receive notifications as soon as these emails are delivered.
NOTE: The FAAR Academy newsletter is delivered on Tuesdays at 8 AM and the FAAR Friday newsletter is delivered on Fridays at 8 AM. Check the bottom of these emails or use the link above to manage your communication preferences.
Still experiencing issues after trying these? Contact Lauren at lcooley@faarmembers.com
New high-voltage transmission lines coming near you?
As real estate professionals, you know that infrastructure projects are one of the first things savvy clients ask about—and one of the biggest factors in long-term property valuation.
There is currently a significant proposal on the table: the Joshua Falls to Yeat Project. This is a 115-mile, 765-kilovolt transmission line planned to run from Campbell County through to Culpeper County, potentially impacting Spotsylvania and Orange counties. For your clients in these areas, this could mean new easements, 160-foot tall structures, and changes to the local landscape.
Why This Matters for Your Database
Being the first to provide this information positions you as a local expert and a protective advocate for your clients’ investments. Whether they are currently listing, looking to buy, or simply concerned about their land, they need to know how these proposed routes might intersect with their property lines.
The Key Opportunity: March 16 Public Meeting
The project developers, Valley Link, are actively seeking community feedback to refine the final route. This is the best time for your clients to voice concerns and ask technical questions.
Meeting Date: Monday, March 16, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Format: Virtual Open House (via Microsoft Teams)
Resources to Share with Your Clients
Direct your clients to the official Valley Link website so they can take immediate action:
Interactive Mapping: Encourage them to use the Joshua Falls – Yeat project page to see if the proposed corridors impact their specific parcels.
Easement Education: Share the guide on how easements and rights-of-way work to help demystify the process for them.
Meeting Registration: Provide the direct link to join the March 16th meeting and view previous recordings.
FAAR Releases February 2026 Housing Statistics
The Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors® (FAAR) is pleased to release the latest housing market statistics to keep our community informed on local trends in home sales, prices, and inventory.
Selina Bryant, FAAR Director, provides the following comments on the current market.
“The market this year kicked off hot. Many buyers rushed to the housing market to get ahead of a more competitive spring and summer market. The month of February seemed busier than the last couple of years due to inventory increases but also new grant availability from Virginia Housing. Buyers are beginning to accept that interest rates may not improve significantly in the near term. As a result, many are choosing to move forward now to get ahead of rising home prices and the possibility of fewer seller concessions once the market reaches its peak season and shifts back toward a more seller-friendly environment.”
FAAR Releases January 2026 Housing Statistics
The Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors® (FAAR) is pleased to release the latest housing market statistics to keep our community informed on local trends in home sales, prices, and inventory.
Matthew Rathbun, FAAR President, provides the following comments on the current market.
“We’re still leaning seller-friendly, but the tide’s shifting a bit. Buyers now have a little more breathing room to make thoughtful decisions, and we’re inching closer to a more balanced market.”
Housing Resources to Complement FAAR’s Housing Market Update
The recent Reality Check: FAAR Housing Market Update brought members together for an insightful look at what 2026 holds for our local market. This free, members-only event featured a keynote from Dr. Jessica Lautz of NAR and an expert panel of respected industry voices, providing clear, actionable insights to enhance your business and serve your clients effectively.
To continue supporting you, we’ve compiled key resources that deepen your understanding of market shifts, economic trends, and advocacy efforts that will shape the year ahead. These tools are designed to keep you informed, confident, and connected to a supportive community. If you missed the event, stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to engage and learn!
Stafford County Public Schools to Host Open House for Realtors
FAAR is happy to share an invitation from Stafford County Public Schools for a Realtor® open house coming up next month. Please RSVP directly to the school division using the link or QR code provided in the following information.
Stafford County Public Schools invites you to join us for our 3rd Annual Realtor Open House on February 10, 2026, from 9:00–10:00 a.m. at Augustine Golf Club (76 Monument Drive). This event is designed specifically for realtors as a resource to provide reliable, up-to-date information about our schools to prospective families considering Stafford County.
As trusted partners and key connectors within our community, your role in sharing accurate school information is invaluable. The presentation will begin promptly at 9:15 a.m., followed by light refreshments and an opportunity to strengthen our ongoing partnership.
RSVP today to save your seat! We hope you will join us as we celebrate you and the important role you play in helping families choose to live, work, and learn in Stafford County.
Spotsylvania County reintroduces short-term rental legislation
The Spotsylvania County Planning Commission is again considering an ordinance to regulate short-term rentals around Lake Anna. The County considered a similar ordinance back in 2024, but no substantive changes were made during that consideration. The biggest change that property owners would see is the requirement that maximum occupancy of the dwelling would be based on the “permitted per person per day occupancy rating of the sewage disposal system”. This interpretation of occupancy could impact property owners who have bedrooms with multiple beds intended for small children.
FAAR will communicate the dates of any public hearings on this ordinance so that interested parties can attend and speak their mind. Read the full ordinance by clicking the button below.
Press Releases
FAAR Releases February 2026 Housing Statistics
The Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors® (FAAR) is pleased to release the latest housing market statistics to keep our community informed on local trends in home sales, prices, and inventory.Selina Bryant, FAAR Director, provides the following comments on the...
FAAR Releases January 2026 Housing Statistics
The Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors® (FAAR) is pleased to release the latest housing market statistics to keep our community informed on local trends in home sales, prices, and inventory.Matthew Rathbun, FAAR President, provides the following comments on...
FAAR Members Demonstrate Strong Community Impact Through Service and Giving
The Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® (FAAR) continues its commitment to serving the Fredericksburg region through meaningful community service initiatives and charitable giving that directly support local families and organizations. Over the past year,...
FAAR Releases 2025 Annual and December Housing Statistics
The Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors® (FAAR) is pleased to release the latest housing market statistics from both December and full year 2025 to keep our community informed on local trends in home sales, prices, and inventory.Denise Smith, FAAR Treasurer,...