Mortgage and Personal Finance & COVID-19 FAQs

COVID-19 Provisions for REALTORS & Their Clients 

VAR Coronavirus Resources and Updates

Virginia REALTORS Survey - COVID-19 Impact On R.E

Coronavirus: A Guide for REALTORS®

COVID-19 Flash Report from Virginia REALTORS- How Buyers and Sellers in the Williamsburg Area are affected by the health crisis

Click here to read the full report

Highlights Include:

• Far fewer Virginia REALTORS® say their business has been unaffected by COVID-19.  Just 11.8% said that they conducted business over the prior week with no coronavirus impact. The shares had been 17.9% and 19.6% in the two earlier surveys.
• The most common issue remains buyers decided to delay a home purchase. Nearly two-thirds (64.0%) of Virginia REALTORS® said they had a buyer delaying a home search.
• This week we asked about financing, given all of the volatility in the mortgage market.  More than one quarter (25.7%) of Virginia REALTORS® members indicated that they were working with a buyer who was having trouble getting financing.
• Compared to last week’s survey, Virginia REALTORS® members indicate that they are more likely to have postponed bringing a new listing to market (50.3%). They have also seen more sellers canceling open houses (24.1%) and removing listings from the market completely (16.0%) in the week ending April 3-4

COVID-19 Guidance:  City of Williamsburg General Election May 5th

The General Election for Williamsburg City Council is scheduled for May 5, 2020.  With all City buildings closed tot he public until April 23, the City's Office of Elections is providing curbside service during regular office hours, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday to assist with registration or to request an absentee ballot.  Visitors are asked to park int he Municipal Building parking lot (401 Lafayette Street, Williamsburg, VA 23185) and call the office at (757) 220 - 6157.  A staff member will come out to assist you.

The deadline to register fort he May 5, 2020 General Election is Monday, April 13th (5:00 pm for the in-person and 11:59 pm online).  The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is 5:00 pm Tuesday, April 28th.  City residents can also register to vote, update voter registration or request an absentee ballot online.

Register To Vote Online

Request an Absentee Ballot Online

Sample Ballot For May 5th General Election

NEW: Due to COIVID-19, anyone may request an absentee ballot by mail for the May 5th General Election using "My disability or illness" under the section: "Choose an Absentee Ballot Reason".  If you do not have access to a computer, please call the office (757) 220 -6157 and the office will mail you an absentee ballot application to fill out and return.

To request an absentee ballot online from the Virginia Department of Elections:

Go to website

Enter your information

Follow through the prompt screens

Choose an Absentee Option: I have a reason or condition that prevents me from going to polls on Election Day.

Choose an Absentee Ballot Reason:  My disability or illness

You will need your Social Security number and Virginia Driver's License number or Virginia DMV identification number to attach your electronic signature to your application.  If you do not provide a Virginia DMV number, you will be required to print the application, sign and submit the form for processing.  You can then either scan and email it directly tot he Director of Elections This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.v or mail to PO BOX 3538 Williamsburg, VA 23187.

- Beginning Tuesday, March 17th, access inside the Williamsburg Area Association of REALTORS office will be limited to Staff and any necessary service providers related to building maintenance and WAAR/WMLS leadership. While members will not have access inside the building, the Staff can accommodate members (and new members) via:

Phone: 757-253-0028 OR Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. OR click here for a staff directory

Fax: 757-253-1559

Night Drop is accessible 24/7. Look for the black box on the right side of the Association office.

QUICK FAQ

Is the Williamsburg Area Association of REALTORS closed? No. Our Staff are on-site and working during our normal business hours (M-F, 8:30am-4:30pm). You will see the lights on and our cars in the parking lot, but access to the building is limited to our Staff and any necessary service providers related to building maintenance. We must be consistent in this regard to limit social interactions. Please respect this protocol and know that it is not personal, regardless of your familiarity with our Staff and/or your membership longevity.

What are my options for taking CE classes to renew my license? Our members rely on our classes to further their professional development, as well as ensure timely renewal of their real estate license. If your license renews in the not-too-distant future, you are encouraged to consider these online education partners, including The CE Shop, which is offering all our members a 40% discount when using promo code SUPPORT40 at checkout now through April 15^th.

How do I apply for membership, lease a Sentrikey and/or make changes to my existing membership and related services? Our Staff can accommodate all the usual requests via phone, Email, fax, and our night drop.

How can I purchase Lockboxes and other items from the REALTOR® Store? Contact our Staff to place your order and pay securely over the phone with a credit card. When you are ready to pick-up those items, call us at 757-253-0228, provide your name and make/model/color of your vehicle, and we will place your prepaid items outside the front door when we see your vehicle in the parking lot.

What action do I need to take if I am registered for a class between now and April 30th? Nothing. If you are currently registered for a class between now and April 30th, you will not be charged a no-show fee. Also, you will receive additional information related to any rescheduling and options for keeping the reservation on the new date.

How will any necessary governance (BOD) meetings be conducted? All governance meetings through April 30th will be coordinated by the CEO in consultation with the Presidents to determine the necessity of the meeting, and if necessary, the alternate method for conducting the meeting. Please direct any questions about WAAR/WMLS BOD meetings to the CEO or respective President.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact us by calling 757-253-0028 or sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The Williamsburg Area Association of REALTORS will continue to monitor and reevaluate and work to ensure that members’ needs are met. Information about the virus is changing rapidly. Please review the additional information and relevant links provided at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website and NAR's guidance for REALTORS®.

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