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FAAR Endorses Candidates for Public Office

The Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® (FAAR) announces endorsements for local Board of Supervisors and City Council races on the ballot for the November 7th general election.  The endorsed candidates represent areas throughout FAAR’s service territory including the counties of King George, Orange, Stafford and Spotsylvania, and the City of Fredericksburg.

“As active members of our local communities, REALTOR® and affiliate members of FAAR have a strong interest in this year’s elections.  I am pleased with the impressive slate of candidates that FAAR has endorsed.  If elected, these individuals will contribute much to our local communities by working to address issues like lack of available housing supply, traffic congestion, and infrastructure improvements,” stated FAAR’s 2023 Public Policy Committee Chair Matthew Young.  “FAAR strongly supports each of the candidates endorsed for public office and looks forward to working with these individuals at the local level.  The real estate industry is an integral part of our local economy, and it is vital that REALTORS® help elect candidates who understand those connections and are willing to work with our industry on issues of importance.”

FAAR has endorsed the following candidates:

City of Fredericksburg
Will Mackintosh (At-Large)
Kerry Devine (Mayor)

King George County
Carrie Gonzalez (Board of Supervisors, At-Large)

Orange County
Bryan Nicol (Board of Supervisors, District 5)

Spotsylvania County
Dr. Deborah Frazier (Board of Supervisors, Salem District)
Gerald Childress (Board of Supervisors, Chancellor District)

Stafford County
Howard Rudat (Board of Supervisors, Rock Hill District)
Tom Coen (Board of Supervisors, George Washington District)
Scott Mayausky (Commissioner of the Revenue

2024 Board of Directors Election Results Announced

2024 FAAR Board of Directors announced

Election Results

2024 Leadership

Electronic balloting began August 11 and ended September 13 at noon

Results were announced at a general membership meeting at 3 PM at the FAAR Expo.

Executive Committee

President
Randy Walther

President-Elect
Lauren Tate

Vice President
Matthew Rathbun

Secretary
Gary Gardiner Jr.

Treasurer
Tamar Myers-Moffatt

Immediate Past President
Carol Sondrini


Directors

LeAnn Black

Dawn Curry

Abby Fitzsimmons

Dawn Josemans

Meghan Kala

Denise Smith


Affiliate Director

Nick Bohn

Regional Housing Market Shows No Signs of Price Cooling

The regional median home price was up again in August, with every locality seeing increases.  The median sold price settled at $450,000 in August of 2023 compared to $427,000 in August of 2022, representing a nearly 6% year-over-year increase.  Units sold were down 25%, coming in at 516 compared to 691 units sold last August.  Total sold dollar volume was down over 18%, posting approximately $256.2 million in sales for August of 2023 compared to $313 million in sales last year. 

“In the thriving real estate landscape of the Fredericksburg region, a fascinating interplay between factors is shaping the current market conditions,” states FAAR Board of Director Matthew Rathbun.  “The realm of rising home prices harmonizing with gradually increasing interest rates has unquestionably left its mark on the real estate landscape. We are observing a small, but notable rise in the months supply of available housing, along with sales prices commanding an average of 103% of the initial asking prices.”

The City of Fredericksburg posted its highest median sales price on record, coming in at $535,000 in August, up 31% from last year.  The City is a smaller market so more subject to fluctuations in the housing stock sold, but that number is still notable.  The City’s lowest median price in the last ten years came in May of 2015 with a median sold price of just $210,575. 

Days on market, the time it takes from when a listing enters the market until it receives a ratified contract and is removed from active status on the multiple listing service, remained static from last year.  Houses were on the market for an average of 23 days this August compared to 22 days last year. 

Inventory was also down again in August, finishing out the month with 848 active listings compared to 979 last year, a 13% decline.  After trending up into the 1,000+ homes on the market for the second half of 2022, the market seems to have settled into a consistent 700-900 homes on the market.  This new normal is about 1,000 homes short of pre-2020 levels.  New listings were down 16% from last year with 603 homes coming on the market in August of 2023 compared to 722 last year.  New pending sales were down 12% in August, with 521 pending contracts compared to 591 last year. 

Rathbun continues, “Home sellers are exhibiting a degree of caution in the idea of selling their residences due to the desire to retain historically low interest rates they’ve secured over the past decade. This inclination is, in turn, contributing to the limited inventory of available homes.  Prospective homebuyers are navigating a landscape that elicits a sense of exhaustion because of the scarcity of options. While the trend of multiple offers persists for freshly-listed homes, the fervor and urgency seen in buyers over the last three years are undergoing a gradual reduction. As the year unfolds, it’s foreseeable that sales prices will maintain their slight upward trajectory due to the scarcity-driven competition, even as buyer activity tapers off as the year draws to a close. The convergence of an early start to the school season, a constrained housing inventory, and the upward movement of interest rates collectively suggest a notable slowing of the market’s momentum as we transition from the vibrant autumn season into the winter months.”

2023 Fall FAARside Newsletter now available

2023 Fall FAARside Newsletter now available

Your copy of the August Newsletter, the FAARside is here! Crack open a copy for updates on local real estate and so much more!

Inside you will find

  • Message from the 2023 FAAR President, Carol Sondrini
  • Message from the CEO, Page Browning
  • 2024 Leadership candidate bios
  • Thank you to RPAC investors
  • Information on rollback taxes
  • How Real Estate Compensation Works
  • RPR how-tos

and more!

Right click here or the image and click “Save as” to download

The 2023 Affiliate Directory is available for viewing

The 2023 Affiliate Directory is available for viewing

Flip through the directory to see all of FAAR’s affiliate members organized A to Z by company and also by service in the annual directory.

Not only will this guide you to some of the best companies in the local area, but the directory also contains committee contacts, member benefits, upcoming event calendar, how to make additions to your FAAR profile, and more!

Download your copy here or pick up a print copy of the directory at FAAR today!

Looking to search within all FAAR members? Use the member search function at faarmembers.com/member-search to sort by member type, languages spoken, and more

See anything missing or incorrect? Let FAAR know via email at lzuza@faarmembers.com

REALTOR® Cereal Drive returns this October

REALTOR® Cereal Drive returns this October

The REALTOR® Cereal Drive is back!

2022 was an amazing year for the annual REALTOR® cereal drive. Help us beat our 2022 numbers and reach the 2023 goal of 20,000 boxes, all of which go to local area food banks! Use the cereal drive as a way to reconnect with your sphere and look for REALTOR®-branded marketing pieces (post-card and flyer) to enhance efforts of collecting cereal from clients and customers.

Let us know if your office plans to participate by emailing Barbara Castillo McGrath with your office and contact information by October 3rd.

Collected cereal can be dropped off at the October 26th Halloween Mixer at Wilderness Run Winery from 5-7 PM or for large pick-ups, the Fredericksburg food van can be scheduled to pick up from your location!

Download this square image to help with your marketing

Download this square image to help with your marketing

Download this 8.5"x11" flyer to help with your marketing

Download the customizable 8.5″x11″ flyer to help with your marketing

or open the customizable 8.5″x11″ as a canva template 

FAQ

*Not attending the mixer?  Just drop directly at the food bank and inform Barbara Castillo McGrath of your box count by October 26 at bcastillo@faarmembers.com.

* Want your cereal to go to a different food bank/pantry?  No problem, take it wherever you like and send cereal counts by October 26 to bcastillo@faarmembers.com.

* Have too much cereal to bring to the Halloween Mixer Barbara Castillo McGrath will arrange a pick up for you, please email bcastillo@faarmembers.com by October 23.

*Collecting cash instead?  That’s great! Bring the donation to the Halloween Mixer or FAAR by October 26th and it will be counted as $1 = 1 Box!

Cereal Drive Office Contest Sign Up 2023

Yes.. I want my office to participate in the annual FAAR Cereal Drive.

FAAR to interview candidates for November election

On Thursday, September 7, FAAR will host candidate interviews where members of FAAR’s Public Policy Committee will meet with individuals seeking election throughout the region to discuss issues and talk about their priorities should they be elected.

The goal of FAAR’s public policy program is to create lasting, positive relationships with elected officials through early outreach and support of those candidates who understand the value of real estate to the local economy and are willing to work with Realtors® on issues of vital importance to the industry and to property owners.  The Association accomplishes this goal through making RPAC contributions to endorsed candidates with the goal of helping those candidates win in their elections.  Running for office is very expensive, even at the local level, so any financial support is a big deal for candidates.

FAAR bases those endorsements on candidates’ responses to a detailed survey about real estate issues that can be reviewed here.  The Public Policy Committee then follows up on those surveys with an interview that aims to dig deeper into their written responses by sharing information about the market and our Legislative Positions, which can be accessed here.   This process is a long one but gives the Committee members a great introduction to potential new elected officials.

The Public Policy Committee decides which candidates to interview and often declines to interview challengers in seats of those incumbent elected officials who have been long-time supporters.  Those decisions are made each election cycle and on a case-by-case basis.  In the event of an open seat where the previous incumbent is retiring, FAAR makes every effort to touch base with all candidates running and give them the opportunity to interview.  The Committee also decides endorsements on a case-by-case basis and does not always endorse in every race.

Members are invited to observe these interviews.  They are taking place in the FAAR Board Room located in the Annex on the 1st floor of the building.  Only members of FAAR’s Public Policy Committee are permitted to ask questions of the candidates.  If you would like to attend any of the interviews listed below, please contact FAAR Public Policy Director Kim McClellan.

September 7 Candidate Interview Schedule

9:00am  J. Bryan Nicol, Orange County District 5
9:30am  Gerald Childress, Spotsylvania County Chancellor District
10:00am  Howard Rudat, Stafford County Rock Hill District
10:30am  Kerry Devine, City of Fredericksburg Mayor
11:00am  Matt Kelly, City of Fredericksburg At-Large
11:30am  David Sullins, King George County At-Large
12:30pm  Michael Bush, Spotsylvania County Courtland District
1:00pm  Deborah Frazier, Spotsylvania County Salem District
1:30pm  Jannan Holmes, City of Fredericksburg At-Large
2:00pm Anne LeHuray, King George County At-Large
2:30pm  Deuntay Diggs, Stafford County George Washington District
3:00pm  Carrie Gonzalez, King George County At-Large
3:30pm  Tom Coen, Stafford County George Washington District
4:00pm  Will Mackintosh, City of Fredericksburg At-Large

FAAR sends letter to Stafford County about probate delays

The FAAR Board of Directors recently sent a letter to the Stafford County Clerk of the Court expressing concerns about the significant delays many are experiencing getting an estate through the probate process.  Families detail waits of 6 months or more with bills and late fees piling up and issues getting needed information from creditors since probate is not complete.  Agents fear that some impacted families may face foreclosure if they are not able to pay the mortgage, losing all of the potential equity in that sale.

FAAR copied the letter to the Board of Supervisors and two immediately responded saying that additional funding for the Probate Division had been approved as part of the budget and that our agents should start to see some relief soon.  Click the button below to read FAAR’s letter to the County.

Regional Sales Price Keeps Increasing

The regional median home price was up again in July, with all but one locality seeing increases.  The median sold price settled at $462,450 this month compared to $438,200 in July of 2022, representing a nearly 6% year-over-year increase.  Units sold were down 20%, coming in at 502 compared to 631 units sold last July.  Total sold dollar volume was down nearly 21%, posting approximately $243.6 million in sales for July of 2023 compared to $308 million in sales last year. 

Caroline County posted its highest price on record, coming in at $385,000, an 18% increase from last year.  King George County posted a second-month straight loss in median price, which came in 16% lower than last year.  All other jurisdictions in the FAAR footprint saw strong price growth ranging anywhere from 4% in Stafford County up to 46% in the City of Fredericksburg. 

FAAR Board of Director and property manager Dawn Josemans comments, “The rental market has slowed down since the first quarter of this year.  We are no longer experiencing multiple applications when first listing a property for rent.  The supply is fairly high as properties are sitting on the market longer.  I am seeing an increase of days on market as each month passes.  However, rents remain higher than this time last year.  Home sales are still strong despite the time it is now taking to get under contract in an average situation.  Contracts are asking for higher amounts in seller concessions to the buyer than last year as well. The market is just more complex now due to the changing interest rates that are scaring off inexperienced buyers and sellers worried about the time it is taking to go under contract.” 

Days on market, the time it takes from when a listing enters the market until it receives a ratified contract and is removed from active status on the multiple listing service, increased 17% up to 21 days this July compared to 18 days last year. 

Inventory was also down again in July, finishing out the month with 822 active listings compared to 1,016 last year, a 19% decline.  New listings were down 32% from last year with 587 homes coming on the market in July of 2023 compared to 859 last year.  New pending sales were down 21% in July, with 539 pending contracts compared to 679 last year. 

 

Sample Ballot for the 2024 FAAR Board of Directors Slate of Candidates

Sample Ballot for the 2024 FAAR Board of Directors Slate of Candidates

Slate of Candidates- 2024 Leadership

Electronic Voting begins August 11 and ends September 13 at noon

Results will be announced on September 13, 3:00 PM, at the General Membership Meeting on the floor of the FAAR Expo (https://bit.ly/23faarexpo). The results will be communicated to the entire membership September 15.

Here are the candidates for your 2024 Board of Directors:

Officers

President Randy Walther
President-Elect Lauren Tate
Vice President Matthew Rathbun
Secretary Gary Gardiner Jr.
Treasurer Tamar Myers-Moffatt (year 1 of 2-year term)
Immediate Past President Carol Sondrini

 

 

REALTOR® Director Candidates: Two (2) positions open. You may select up to two (2) on this ballot.

Deanna Beltran

Dawn Curry

Denise Smith

 

Affiliate Director Candidate: One (1) position open. You may select one (1) on this ballot.

Nick Bohn

 

Returning Directors

LeAnn Black, term ends December 31, 2024

Abby Fitzsimmons, term ends December 31, 2024

Dawn Josemans, term ends December 31, 2024

Meghan Kala, term ends December 31, 2025

 

From Section 8a. of the Bylaws

“Additional candidates for the offices to be filled may be placed in nomination by signed petition of at least twenty percent* of the REALTOR® members. The petition shall be filed with the Secretary (via Chief Executive Officer pbrowning@faarmembers.com) by August 30, 2023. The Secretary shall send notice of such additional nominations to all REALTOR® members before the election.”

(As of 7/31/2023 there are 1876 REALTOR® members. 375 names are needed to complete the petition requirement and be sent to FAAR by August 30, 2023.)

 

 

REALTOR® Members can log in to vote from 8/11 to 9/13 at https://vote.electionrunner.com/election/ZRTkn

Your Voter ID is your NRDS/M1 Number

Your Voter Key is your NRDS/M1 Number

Candidate Videos

Press Releases

FAAR Endorses Candidates for Public Office

The Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® (FAAR) announces endorsements for local Board of Supervisors and City Council races on the ballot for the November 7th general election.  The endorsed candidates represent areas throughout FAAR’s service territory...

Regional Housing Market Shows No Signs of Price Cooling

The regional median home price was up again in August, with every locality seeing increases.  The median sold price settled at $450,000 in August of 2023 compared to $427,000 in August of 2022, representing a nearly 6% year-over-year increase.  Units sold were down...

Regional Sales Price Keeps Increasing

The regional median home price was up again in July, with all but one locality seeing increases.  The median sold price settled at $462,450 this month compared to $438,200 in July of 2022, representing a nearly 6% year-over-year increase.  Units sold were down 20%,...

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