Posts - page 4

On August 25, 2025, the City Council in Foster City decided not to pursue a ballot measure in November 2026 to become a charter city, impose a residential property transfer tax, and commercial vacancy tax. Realtors, homeowners, and commercial property owners in Foster City faced the possibility that the council, by changing the city charter, would gain greater taxing authority to impose the taxes on future home sales and empty commercial properties. Your voices were heard and thanks to SAMCAR's local advocacy efforts Realtors, homeowners, and commercial property owners in Foster City and can now breathe a sigh of relief that they will not have to pay these added taxes.

On Thursday, August 7, SAMCAR members and friends, including special guest Assembylmember Diane Papan, gathered at Long Branch Farms in Half Moon Bay for the annual Member Appreciation BBQ. Attendees were invited to explore the unique Old West Town at — and enjoy Texas-style BBQ prepared by — Long Branch Farms in Half Moon Bay, owned by Affiliate member Kevin Palmer. Photography of the event was provided by Affiliate member Craig Burleigh. Many thanks to SAMCAR members and friends for joining us for the BBQ and to our 2025 Corporate Sponsors for making this event possible. (READ MORE FOR PHOTOS)

The City of San Mateo City Council unanimously passed an emergency rental assistance program at its Monday, July 28 meeting. The call for such a program came from recent community outreach and engagement meetings that the city conducted, study session testimony, and input from SAMCAR and the California Apartment Association (CAA).

The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) and Department of Real Estate (DRE) are concerned about a business practice in which a real estate broker instructs a settlement agent1 through a Commission Disbursement Authorization (CDA) to pay the real estate broker's personal or business expenses or an unlicensed entity or individual who may have engaged in activity requiring a license in a real estate transaction.

July is Disability Pride Month, a worldwide celebration of people with disabilities, their identities, culture, resilience and contributions to society. Originated in the United States, this month-long event commemorates the passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990. At SAMCAR, we take this opportunity to acknowledge a remarkable colleague from the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR), Karen Trolan. In 2009, Trolan, a SILVAR past president, real estate manager and mother of three was piloting her family's Cessna out of the Truckee airport on Labor Day Weekend when the plane crashed. Her life changed in a moment. Trolan became paraplegic. From that day forward her activities revolved around months of rehab and learning a new way of living, but her pain and injuries didn't stop her. Trolan went on to write a book about her experience, "I CAN STILL DO IT!: The Unstoppable Spirit of a Plane Crash Survivor", and goes on speaking engagements telling her story. We are honored to share Trolan's story in a republished profile "Karen Trolan on Overcoming the Impossible" written by former SILVAR Public Affairs Director Rose Meily in 2023.

WASHINGTON (July 15, 2025) – The National Association of Realtors published the NAR Market Statistics Dashboard today. The Dashboard is a member-exclusive tool that provides NAR members with unparalleled local housing data that enhances their ability to help their clients buy and sell homes.

On Friday, July 11, SAMCAR's Young Professionals Network, SAMCAR YPN, brought together a group of 25 volunteers to join the Pacific Beach Coalition to pick-up litter at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, including the nearby streets, parking lots, and switchbacks. Volunteers collected a combined total of 41 pounds of trash, 513 cigarette filters, and 2 pounds of recyclables. They also discovered interesting items like a large 12V rechargeable battery, an umbrella, fake leaves, rebar, fireworks, fishing line, and a Mickey Mouse toy. Each item collected helped make our coast and ocean safer for everyone, including wildlife. The activity was supported by a donation from SAMCAR's Community Engagement Fund.

On Thursday, June 12, 2025 the San Mateo County REALTORS® Foundation returned to Bel Mateo Bowl for its seventh annual Bowl-O-Rama fundraiser event bringing together scores of SAMCAR members, staff, and friends for an exuberant evening of bowling, prizes, and general merriment, raising more than $8,000 to benefit housing-related charities in San Mateo County.

Each Tuesday morning, SAMCAR hosts a weekly Marketing Meeting on Zoom welcoming more than 130 attendees. These meetings provide members an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge from informative presentations, network with colleagues, and share listings. Presenters enjoy an opportunity to educate and engage with a group of Realtors and affiliated professionals in the real estate industry. Learn more about presentation requirements and how to submit a request to present at a SAMCAR Marketing Meeting.

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month -- a time to honor the history, achievements, and commitment to diversity and inclusion of LGBTQ+ communities. At SAMCAR, we join the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) in proudly celebrating the efforts that these communities champion every day. Supporting Pride isn't just about visibility -- it's about fostering inclusion, community, and connection. In particular, we'd like to take this opportunity to highlight one of our valued partners, the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance...

Looking to get inspired, sharpen your skills, or dive into a great real estate read? The SAMCAR Lending Library is now open and ready for you! Featuring a growing collection of books on real estate, business development, personal growth, and more, all titles have been generously donated by Realtors and Affiliates who wanted to share the books that made a difference in their own journeys. It's an informal, no-fee lending system — just stop by, check out a book that catches your eye, and bring it back when you're done. Plan your visit to the SAMCAR office and check it out — happy reading!

Saturday, May 10, 2025 -- SAMCAR joined the ADU Resource Center and numerous vendors including ADUNOW.HOUSE at an ADU Resource Fair in Belmont this weekend! The event was attended by hundreds of community members and homeowners interested in building an Accessory Dwelling Unit. SAMCAR's presence emphasized the significant value of partnering with a local Realtor when considering the development of an ADU and highlights our dedication to supporting homeowners and exploring innovative solutions to the region's persistent housing challenges. The event was attended by hundreds of community members and earned a feature on NBC Bay Area.

On Wednesday, April 30, your voices were heard loud and clear -- and the impact was immediate. Thanks to the powerful presence of more than 2,200 REALTORS® at the State Capitol, two of the most concerning bills we opposed were pulled from consideration before the day was even over. Read more about these bills and SAMCAR's participation at Legislative Day.

The Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, passed in 1995 after a ten-year effort, remains a crucial protection for California property owners and future renters against extreme and damaging local rent control ordinances. Authored by State Senators Jim Costa and Phil Hawkins, it emerged in response to growing concern over cities imposing draconian rent control policies that stripped owners of their basic rights and discouraged investment in rental housing, ultimately threatening future housing availability for renters. Read more for a fact sheet provided by the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.).

In May, we celebrate AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Heritage Month across the country. At SAMCAR, we take this opportunity to recognize our Realtor member, Alan Louie, who was named Member of the Year at the 2024 AREAA (Asian Real Estate Association of America) National Conference. Read more about how Alan Louie earned this prestigious acknowledgement and the valuable work AREAA does to support the real estate industry, community and more.

On Monday, April 21, SAMCAR and the California Apartment Association (CAA) mobilized members to attend City Council proceedings in San Mateo and Foster City to speak on behalf of housing providers in opposition to city proposals to increase rental regulations in excess of state law. While both cities moved to advance some new rental regulations, SAMCAR presented a comprehensive case in defense of property rights and found common ground on the need for rental assistance and better education about the plentiful resources already available to support the needs of both tenants and housing providers.

It is with great pride that SAMCAR congratulates Sue Walsh on her recent induction into the National Association of REALTORS® RPAC Hall of Fame at the $50,000 level. She joins an elite group of individuals that believe strongly in organized real estate and the REALTOR® Action Fund as demonstrated by her exceptional level of investment. Congratulations to Sue Walsh on this extraordinary accomplishment and well-deserved recognition!

On Thursday, March 27 at SAMCAR's 2025 Annual Meeting, SAMCAR President Frank Vella provided an overview of association activities for the year as well as the presentation of multiple special honors. Lifetime Achievement Award winner Bobbi Decker was recognized by Elections Committee Vice Chair, Robert Pedro. Recipients of the C.A.R. Honorary Member-for-Life were recognized by Association Executive Alane Gilbrech, acknowledging their achievement of this prestigious membership distinction. Honorary member Tom Tornquist led the Pledge of Allegiance to open the program and honorary member Phil Houston delivered a keynote address. Also at the Annual Meeting was the presentation of "2024 by the Numbers" — an infographic annual report — an update about the REALTOR® Relief Foundation from Jessica Eva, a legislative update with SAMCAR Government Affairs Director Fernando Peña and introduction to C.A.R. Field Representative Andrew Hughan, and an MLSListings update with Jean Joh and Dave Wetzel.

Are you interested in building an ADU and looking to take the next step? Sign up to talk to an ADU expert about your goals and the viability of your potential ADU project. The ADU Resource Center's team will assess your property's unique characteristics and provide tailored information on the steps you can take to bring your ADU vision to life. You'll receive a follow up report with options for your property and next steps. Learn more at https://smcadu.org/contact

Want to list your property without going public yet? MLSListings' Members Only feature provides you with the privacy you seek. Members Only grants you the freedom to test interest and prepare behind the scenes while keeping control over your listing's visibility.

Many residents may not start to think about their options for disposing toxic waste—including paints, batteries and fertilizers—until the very last minute when they are moving. Sometimes they even ask their Realtor to take it in, which is actually illegal unless the realtor signs a special waiver. To help Realtors avoid this issue, San Mateo County Health has provided an informational postcards that you can share with clients, which explains their toxic waste disposal options. Clients of SAMCAR Realtors who bring the pamphlet to their HHW drop-off event appointment will receive a Home Depot gift card that may help them with the moving process.

CHICAGO (March 25, 2025) – Following its in-depth assessment of the Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP), the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) today announced a new policy, "Multiple Listing Options for Sellers," to complement its existing Multiple Listing Service (MLS) policies. "Multiple Listing Options for Sellers" will exist in conjunction with CCP and other MLS policies to provide sellers and their agents more options and choice when marketing a property, while also supporting fair housing by providing buyers and their agents with equal access to important MLS property information.

MLSListings and Omni MLS are utilizing the IntraMatrix application which means subscribers now have direct access to Omni's listings in Latin America. MLSListings subscribers can now access listings from Omni MLS using the "OTHER MARKETS" button at the top right of the Matrix navigation menu. Please email prodev@mlslistings.com if you have any questions.

At their February meeting, SAMCAR Foundation Trustees approved Q1 grants to two organizations -- $5,000 to Rebuilding Together Peninsula and $3,000 to Nuestra Casa -- for a total amount of $8,000, with funds donated by SAMCAR members. Read more about the services each of these organizations provides in San Mateo County and how their work aligns with the SAMCAR Foundation's mission.