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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!

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.

On Tuesday, January 2 at the first 2018 SAMCAR Combined Tour Meeting, SAMCAR President Eric W. Berggren presented the recipients of the C.A.R. Honorary Member-for-Life and N.A.R. REALTOR® Emeritus status with certificates acknowledging their achievement of these prestigious membership statuses.

The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed the congressional "tax reform" bill—The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. While NAR remains concerned that the overall structure of the final bill diminishes the tax benefits of homeownership and will cause adverse impacts in some markets, the advocacy of NAR members, as well as consumers, helped NAR to gain some important improvements throughout the legislative process.

The C.A.R. Education Foundation works in conjunction with the C.A.R. Scholarship Foundation, which provides scholarships to students pursuing real estate-related degrees at California colleges and universities. Are you a Realtor furthering your education through a C.A.R. or N.A.R. approved designation? You may be eligible to apply for a C.A.R. Education Foundation grant!

On Tuesday, January 3 at the first 2017 SAMCAR Combined Tour Meeting, SAMCAR President Diane Debono Viviani was pleased to present the recipients of the C.A.R. Honorary Member-for-Life and N.A.R. REALTOR® Emeritus status with certificates acknowledging their achievement of these prestigious membership statuses.

C.A.R.'s Housing Affordability Fund's Homeowners Association Grant Program will provide qualified first-time California homebuyers up to six months of HOA dues, not to exceed $2,500. Due to limited availability, funds will be distributed on a first come/first served basis. Program start date: December 2016. For additional program details and requirements please visit: http://on.car.org/CARHAFHOAGRANT

Real estate professionals must materially participate in their rental activities in order to deduct rental losses according to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals which interpreted Internal Revenue Code § 469 in Gragg v. United States of America; Internal Revenue Service, No.14-16053, August 4, 2016. (Copyright (C)2016 CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, republished with permission from the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.)

SAMCAR is pleased to inform our members that you can now access SFAR forms on ZipForms at no extra cost. Read more for instructions.

The introduction of the Loan Estimate and the Closing Disclosure forms is right around the corner. The new forms are designed to aid the consumer in comparison shopping, improve consumer understanding and prevent surprises at the closing table, but it's possible that the new forms may initially create delays in closing.

C.A.R. has revised its Independent Contractor Agreement (ICA) to include an arbitration agreement to address both the requirements of a 2011 California appellate court case as well as other cases regarding class action waivers. Learn more in this recent Business Alert.

When housing inventory is low and listings are high-end, the issue of pocket listings comes up.While an agent and broker may legally choose to not publish a listing on the MLS IF they obtain a waiver from the seller, without the waiver, they are subject to a rule violations and complaints filed against them with the MLS. C.A.R. has determined that stronger and more aggressive enforcement of current rules are a better solution than a legislative "fix" that could possible lead to a slippery slope of having the Legislature determine how the sales of properties are listed.