REALTOR® Party: SAMCAR Helps Half Moon Bay End Failed Rental Policies

In the November 2026 General Election, SAMCAR has endorsed candidates for local City Councils and the County Board of Supervisors, as well as taken a position on several local measures. We are pleased to share the 2026 SAMCAR Voter Guide, including a list of candidates endorsed by SAMCAR and positions on local measures in this upcoming election, as well as California Association of REALTORS (C.A.R.) positions on several statewide ballot initiatives. In addition to your vote, you can support these candidates with your contributions and by volunteering to help their campaigns including activities such as sign waving, phone banking and door knocking. Please visit the candidates' campaign websites for more information. *** Election Day is November 3, 2026 — Please remember to return your Vote-by-Mail Ballot ASAP! ***

How to Get Involved: Many of you have reached out asking how you can get involved; there are several major ways to participate — Phonebanking, Precinct Walking, and Contributing. If you would like to volunteer or have any questions about the campaign please contact No on Measure E's Campaign Manager Kia Kolderup-Lane at hello@votenomeasuree.com.

The Redwood City Fair and Affordable Housing Ordinance, which is anything but fair or affordable, has officially received its ballot designation and will appear before Redwood City voters on November 3, 2026, as Measure E. SAMCAR urges all of our members who live in Redwood City to VOTE NO on Measure E.

At the Tuesday, August 25, 2026, SAMCAR Marketing/Tour Meeting, members heard an update from San Carlos city officials regarding the city's strategic goals. Kathy Kleinbaum, San Carlos new City Manager, and Al Savoy, the Community Development Director, discussed downtown San Carlos projects, climate change and sustainability planning, traffic and transportation improvements, parks and recreation goals, and commercial and housing developments.

In a decisive 6-0 vote, the Redwood City Council has officially opposed the Redwood City Fair and Affordable Housing Ordinance, which will appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. The Council's decision follows an independent supplemental economic impact analysis that concluded the measure extends far beyond traditional rent control and could have significant unintended consequences for tenants, housing providers, affordable housing, and the City's financial stability. SAMCAR applauds the six Redwood City Councilmembers for carefully reviewing the analysis and taking a position based on the long-term interests of the entire community. We encourage Realtors, property owners, homeowners, and renters to learn more about the measure before casting their vote this November.

MLSListings has released a new podcast discussing key housing policy topics, including AB736 Property Transfer Taxes and Redwood City's proposed rent control measure appearing on the November ballot.

Support your clients in selling healthy, energy-efficient homes with confidence. Use these resources to help clients make their homes healthier, more comfortable, and more cost-effective to run. This toolkit, created by the San Mateo County Sustainability Department in collaboration with WestLight Energy (formerly Peninsula Clean Energy) and the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS (SAMCAR), provides practical resources, local data, financial incentives, and client-facing materials to support conversations with buyers and sellers. [This effort is intended to support informed, voluntary decision-making by homeowners and does not represent an endorsement of mandates or appliance bans.]

The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (C.A.R.) announced a major victory for homeownership in California after REALTORS statewide mobilized to stop AB 736, a costly tax proposal, from moving forward in the California State Legislature last week. SAMCAR joined this effort in mobilizing to stop this proposal, protecting California homeownership.

The Redwood City Council voted unanimously on June 8, 2026, to delay final action on a proposed rent control ballot initiative, requesting a supplemental economic impact report before deciding whether to place the measure before voters.

On Monday, June 1, 2026, members of the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS (SAMCAR) attended the Kevin Mullin for Congress Birthday Fundraiser. Billed as "Be the Wave," this fundraising event was an opportunity for SAMCAR members to meet with Congressmember Kevin Mullin and learn more about his efforts to improve our local economy, get input from organizations like SAMCAR, and federal funding for infrastructure projects in San Mateo County.

A proposed rent control initiative introduced by a local organizing group, not the city council, has officially qualified for the November 2026 ballot in Redwood City, setting the stage for a major local campaign over housing policy and affordability.

SAMCAR members should continue paying close attention to the Bay Area Air District's controversial mandate banning the sale and installation of natural gas water heaters beginning on January 1, 2027, followed by gas furnaces on January 1, 2029. While the regional board recently approved a nine-month delay to the water heater ban, serious concerns remain about the financial impact this policy will place on homeowners, housing providers, and renters in the Bay Area, including throughout San Mateo County.