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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.

March is Women's History Month, a time to honor women's resilience, achievements, and contributions throughout history. We take this opportunity to remember SAMCAR's first woman president, Marianne Zanone Rush, and her enduring impact on the association through her leadership, mentorship, dedication and generosity.

SAMCAR Supra® EKEYS and iBox BT LE lockboxes may access and work automatically in the area known as the KIM Users Group (Bay East, Bridge, Contra Costa County, Delta, Monterey County, San Benito County, San Francisco, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, Silicon Valley, Tuolumne) as well as associations that are members of CRMLS provided they are using Supra® (see chart), and may obtain cooperating key service with BAREIS and MetroList (additional action and fees may apply). Read more to view a map of Supra® EKEY coverage for SAMCAR members.

GUEST PERSPECTIVE: SAMCAR Diversity Equity Inclusion / Fair Housing Committee Chair, Michelle Velez, shares a guest perspective about why DEI matters in real estate and the work the committee focuses on in order to foster inclusivity and belonging in the association and real estate industry.

During Black History Month, SAMCAR joins the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) in commemorating African American achievements and contributions to U.S. history. We celebrate leaders and all those who worked to dismantle barriers to homeownership so everyone can achieve the American Dream. At SAMCAR, we take this opportunity to remember a remarkable Realtor member, Les Williams, a Tuskegee Airman and Congressional Gold Medal recipient. Read more to learn about Williams' impressive history and join us in taking action to support a more equitable industry and homeownership opportunities for all!

The 2025 President of the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® (SAMCAR), Frank Vella, and Board of Directors were officially sworn into their term by Installation Officer, San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller, at SAMCAR's 2025 Installation ceremony on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at the Oceano Hotel in Half Moon Bay. Also honored were SAMCAR's Past Presidents, Outgoing Directors and Committee Chairs, and award winners for 2024 REALTOR® of the Year, Affiliate of the Year, Community Service, Rising Star, Homeowner Hero and Lifetime Achievement Awards.

San Mateo County home sales reports and infographics (with data from MLSListings, Inc.) for all of 2024 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).

Since last year, REALTORS® have been required to follow the NAR settlement rules requiring the use of buyer representation agreements. However, effective January 1, 2025, REALTORS® are also subject to a new law, Assembly Bill 2992, which in many ways goes further than the NAR settlement in mandating the use of buyer representation agreements.

Starting this year, members of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) are required to complete fair housing training with the Code of Ethics cycle. Fairhaven 2.0, NAR's updated online simulation where you tackle real-world fair housing challenges, makes it easy to meet this requirement—at no cost.

OnlineEd offers SAMCAR members a vast course catalog of all-online professional development training, from pre-license courses to license renewal, designations and education packages for upgrading from a salesperson to a broker license. Learn on your time with 24/7 access from your mobile or desktop!

Supra® offers broker and agent training on products including the eKEY app, iBox BT LE and SupraWEB. Read more for the Supra Agent/Broker Training Calendar

Real Estate Video Educational Institute, Inc. (Revei) is a provider of California real estate licensing education. We have been in business for over 40 years specializing in creating a great licensing experience. We can help you get a real estate license, renew your real estate, and pass the state exam. Read more for a schedule of upcoming seminars.

If you're asking yourself, "How do I get started and what do I need to know?" The answer is to take advantage of the professional development opportunities NAR offers for state and local volunteer leaders including REALTORS® Excelling in Association Leadership (REAL) — no-cost, self-guided online course that's available 24/7 through REALTOR® University.

It's almost a new year and with it an opportunity for you to support your association's vital advocacy work by contributing to the REALTOR® Action Fund (RAF) with your membership dues. Take it from SAMCAR Past President and RAF Fundraising Captain, Michael G. Verdone, "Our business — YOUR Business — depends on it!"

In 2024, the SAMCAR Foundation awarded $27,000 in grants and donations to numerous charities in San Mateo County thanks in large part to the generous support of SAMCAR members and sponsors. Read more for a detailed report of 2024 charitable giving.

The ADU Resource Center of San Mateo County launched at www.smcadu.org to help homeowners and jurisdictions build more Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and accelerate housing development in the county. The center provides tools, educational materials and expert staff to streamline ADU development.

The Department of Real Estate (DRE) is alerting consumers that the rules around buyer representation and agent compensation in real estate purchase transactions is changing.

To help empower members to act consistently with the settlement, NAR has developed two new resources that provide clarity on what is—and is not—permissible under the proposed settlement. These resources help to define the responsibilities and limitations for real estate agents by outlining the "dos" and "don'ts" of supporting homebuyers and home sellers during the transaction process.

The SAMCAR Best of Tour award draws attention to the outstanding homes for sale in San Mateo County with a special yard sign and announcement on the following week's Marketing Meeting. To be considered, please submit a sign-in sheet to SAMCAR Staff from your Tuesday property tour listing before 4:30 PM (PT) on the tour date.