Posts - page 11

Recently, a SAMCAR broker shared the story of a REALTOR® being attacked by a prospective "client" at a showing appointment in San Bruno, which was generated by an internet lead and set up through e-mail. We are told that the agent is ok and the authorities are now involved. With the number of potential risks in the course of conducting day-to-day real estate business, REALTOR® Safety is always a top priority of your associations. Read more for showing appointment safety tips and REALTOR® Safety resources from NAR.

MLSListings Inc. and The MLS™ recently announced that data sharing for their more than 32,000 combined subscribers and members is in full swing. This data share provides real estate professionals in California's most populated areas - including Silicon Valley, coastal regions, Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Venice, Beverly Hills, Los Feliz, Malibu, Pasadena, California Desert, High Desert, and Southwest Los Angeles - real-time access to property listings, market statistics, and products that benefit brokers, agents, buyers, and sellers.

On Wednesday, April 17, SAMCAR initiated our new quarterly "Speaker Series" with a legal update from C.A.R. Associate Counsel, Jana Gardner, covering details of the recent California "Real Estate Clean Up Law" package, landlord/tenant law changes, new forms and reminders about a REALTOR® member benefit: C.A.R.'s legal hotline. Read more for helpful resources and to download the "Legal Update" presentation deck.

In March, the MLSListings Board of Directors adopted new NAR / C.A.R. mandatory MLS rule changes which affect brokers and agents.

We are excited to announce that effective April 16, 2019, all 49 PRDS® forms for residential sales transactions are available on zipForm for REALTOR® members of the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® (SAMCAR) and Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) in their zipFormPlus account. The forms also remain available on the Instanet/Lone Wolf platform at www.prdsforms.com and the SAMCAR and SILVAR Web sites.

In response to subscriber feedback, MLSListings changed the timeouts (i.e., the period of time in a session after which a user is automatically logged out) on their system from 60 minutes to 8 hours for Pro and Matrix and 2 hours for Paragon.

In response to higher housing costs, HEART, the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust of San Mateo County, and Meriwest Mortgage, a wholly owned subsidiary of Meriwest Credit Union, will now allow new homebuyers in San Mateo County to purchase homes for up to $908,156. This represents a 14% increase from the previous maximum home price of $795,187. To accompany the increase in the maximum home price, the HEART loan program will offer up to $136,223 as a down payment second loan.

Just in time for tax season, MLSListings launched a new Payment History feature which makes it quick and easy for active members to access and create reports on their payment history for any year. MLSListings has shared instructions for how to access your MLS payment history at pro.mlslistings.com. (You can also access your SAMCAR payment history when you log in to the SAMCAR website, under "My Account" select "Payment History.")

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) recently implemented a requirement that all REALTOR® members specify their primary field of business in their member record in order to better serve members based on their area of practice. Click "Read More" for instructions to add your "Primary Field of Business" to your membership record.

In its 2018 Winter Real Estate Bulletin, the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) discusses the risks of "Coming Soon" marketing in an article titled "Be Sure to Maintain Fiduciary Responsibility for Your Client or Face Civil and Regulatory Liability," which includes the DRE's view of "best practices" for listing agents.

Starting on January 25, 2019 SAMCAR asked members to respond to a survey measuring attitudes about member services, association communications, business challenges, and the types of most needed training and educational resources. The survey closed on Monday, February 18 with over 10% of active SAMCAR members having responded. Responses provide the Board of Directors with a broad picture of the concerns and needs of SAMCAR members, and help shape strategic planning and association operations.

Director for Life is one of the most prestigious awards that C.A.R. can bestow on a member. To be considered, a member must have years of outstanding performance and dedicated service to the Association, including a minimum of ten years of active service to C.A.R. and at least five years as a C.A.R. Director. We are pleased to announce that Sue Walsh received this honor at the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) Winter Business Meetings on February 1, 2019. Congratulations, Sue!

In 2018, the SAMCAR Foundation awarded $49,574 to numerous housing-related charities in San Mateo County. The primary funding sources for SAMCAR Foundation grants are voluntary contributions made by SAMCAR members with their dues payments and fundraising from annual events. In addition to funding from member contributions and events, the SAMCAR Foundation was awarded a $50,000 grant from the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) Housing Affordability Fund (HAF) in 2018.

On Tuesday, February 5 at the first 2019 SAMCAR Combined Tour Meeting, SAMCAR President Jesse D. Gutierrez presented the recipients of the C.A.R. Honorary Member-for-Life and NAR REALTOR® Emeritus status with certificates acknowledging their achievement of these prestigious membership distinctions. Representing the group of honorees, Honorary Member Ralph Ely addressed the audience about the changes in the real estate industry that many of the members receiving Honorary and Emeritus status have experienced in their careers, and the honor of being recognized with these special REALTOR® member statuses.

With the Supra EKEY, your smart phone is the key. The EKEY app uses Bluetooth signal to open lockboxes so it works even in areas with poor or no cell signal. You just need to update your EKEY by opening the app using wifi or cell signal before going out to view listings. Learn how to set-up the Supra EKey on your iPhone or Android phone.

2019 SAMCAR President Jesse D. Gutierrez and the Board of Directors were officially sworn in to their term by special guest Installation Officer, Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor of California, at SAMCAR's 2019 Installation dinner and ceremony on Friday, January 11, 2019 at the Pullman Hotel in Redwood City. Also honored were SAMCAR's Past Presidents, Outgoing Directors and Committee Chairs, and award winners for 2018 REALTOR® of the Year, 2018 Affiliate of the Year, 2018 Community Service Award, Homeowner Hero Awards, Government Affairs Champion, and Lifetime Achievement Award.

San Mateo County home sales reports and infographics (with data from MLSListings, Inc.) for all of 2018 are available for you to share on your social media, e-mail and other marketing (remember to use the hashtag #SAMCARStats when sharing on social media).

Last week, the U.S. Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced the issuance of revised Geographic Targeting Orders (GTOs) that require U.S. title insurance companies to identify the natural persons behind shell companies used in all-cash purchases of residential real estate. Upon release of the new Order (effective Saturday, November 17, 2018), the PRDS AFGT has been updated to reflect the requirements of the new Order and is live online on PRDS on Instanet.

The SAMCAR Board of Directors adopted a policy regarding Limited Function Referral Office (LFRO) agent(s) on June 27, 2018, requiring Designated REALTORS® who falsely certify a LFRO agent to pay a fine. Read more for the full policy.

On Tuesday, August 7, Ken Cole, Director of the San Mateo County Department of Housing, shared information about building second units or accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in San Mateo County, emphasizing these additional housing units as one approach toward alleviating the increasing cost and limited supply of housing in San Mateo County, as well as reducing traffic congestion, while benefiting property owners. Click "read more" for presentation slides, and visit secondunitcentersmc.org for cost calculator, design guidelines, and more resources for second units in San Mateo County.

The SAMCAR Foundation is truly honored to be recognized by Second Harvest Food Bank for the "Make Hunger History" Gold award. SAMCAR members raised over $3,600 at the Harvest Auction, which was matched by an anonymous donor, helping Second Harvest provide over 14,000 meals! Thank you all for your generous support of amazing organizations like Second Harvest Food Bank through participating in SAMCAR Foundation charitable activities!

HEART of San Mateo County and the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS®—through a $50,000 grant from the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Housing Affordability Fund—are expanding HEART's First Time Homebuyer Program to include closing costs assistance, offering up to $5,000 in closing costs assistance for first time homebuyers in San Mateo County.

Attention Supra Keyholders: Supra implemented a small change to SupraWEB that affects the process for changing your credit card number for processing key payments. Click "Read More" for details. If you have any questions, please contact Supra Support at 1-877-699-6787

The California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA) Urges Home Buyers, Sellers and REALTORS® to ASK FOR THE BADGE! The State of California does NOT license home inspectors. CREIA takes the lead in requiring adherence to CREIA's Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice, which are recognized in California law.