, Author at CCARToday - Contra Costa Association of REALTORS

Weekly Jolt – 022426

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | FEBRUARY 24, 2026

Crab, Champagne & a Great Cause – Help Support CCAR Scholarships & Helping Hands – Mar. 6

Enjoy a delicious dinner featuring fresh crab, tri-tip, and pasta, plus a complimentary glass of champagne to kick off the evening. The night also includes music from DJ Stallion, raffle and auction prizes, and the always-popular cake auction.

This crab-tastic feast supports two amazing causes: CCAR Helping Hands and the CCAR Scholarship Foundation, so every bite (and every bid) makes a difference!

All tickets must be purchased in advance—no tickets will be sold at the door.

PURCHASE TICKETS >>

CCAR x Tony Robbins:
Discover Your Next Level with Stu Massengill! – Mar. 11

Achieve Extraordinary Results with Tony Robbins’ Top National Trainer, Stu Massengill! Join us live on Zoom Wed., Mar. 11, from 10 – 11:30am, for an exclusive FREE session designed to help you create lasting change and reach new heights in your personal and professional life.

As a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies and an expert in Peak Performance, leadership, and the psychology of achievement, Stu will guide you through a transformative three-step process to overcome obstacles and bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn powerful strategies, develop an unshakable mindset, and define clear goals for a more fulfilling life!

REGISTER NOW >>

WCR: Monthly Coffee Social – Mar. 4

Register Here >>

REALTOR® Optimized Laptops For Sale

All laptops purchased from CCAR come with a 2-year warranty, data transfer, and RE setup included.
• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 – $850.36 >>
• LG Gram 17 – Ai Ready – $1,845.36 >>

Cybercriminals Are Targeting Real Estate –
Here’s How to Stay Safe

Real estate is a lifelong dream for clients and a career for you—but for hackers, it’s a prime chance to intercept transactions and steal sensitive data. As AI makes scams more convincing and more targeted, security awareness should be part of every buying and selling conversation, especially when fraudsters use urgent calls and texts to push last-minute changes. Today’s threats can include deepfakes, identity fraud, and sophisticated malware designed to impersonate trusted partners in the deal, raising the stakes for everyone involved.

The best protection is simple habits: slow down when money or personal information is involved, verify requests using known contact information (not what’s in the message), and strengthen your logins with long, complex passwords plus multi-factor authentication—small steps that can make a major difference in protecting your business, your clients, and your community.

Watch the videos below for quick, practical tips to stay protected.

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

Weekly Jolt – 021726

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | FEBRUARY 17, 2026

Crab, Champagne & a Great Cause – Help Support CCAR Scholarships & Helping Hands – Mar. 6

Text Code of Ethics typed on retro typewriter

Code of Ethics Violators

In an effort to make ethics violations and the disciplinary process more transparent, C.A.R. is publishing the names of members who are found in violation of the Code of Ethics as well as summaries of the members’ unethical behavior.

Member publication is triggered only if the discipline imposed is a reprimand, fine, suspension or expulsion – anything other than a letter of warning or stand-alone education. The information will be published on the members-only section of car.org.

Past decisions of ethics hearing panels, including the decisions published on C.A.R.’s website, cannot be used as authority by complainants or respondents and cannot…

WCR: 2026 Vision Board Experience – Feb 20

Register Here >>

REALTOR® Optimized Laptops For Sale

All laptops purchased from CCAR come with a 2-year warranty, data transfer, and RE setup included.
• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 – $850.36 >>
• LG Gram 17 – Ai Ready – $1,845.36 >>

Take Control of Your Listing Photos with the
“Mark Private” Feature

We encourage you to retain photos on your listings until they are marked Sold in the MLS. Photos are an important part of a listing’s history and serve several key purposes.

Did you know that CCAR MLS Participants and Subscribers have the ability to mark listing photos as “Private” – giving you more control over how your listing images are shared. When photos are marked as Private, they remain visible within the MLS but are not distributed to public-facing websites.

This feature is especially valuable for members who rely on listing photos for comparables, appraisal, and research purposes, allowing you to preserve MLS access while protecting seller privacy and marketing strategy.

How to Mark Photos as Private:

Go to your listing under LISTINGS → Maintain Listing
Click on Add/Edit Pictures
Select the photos you want to mark as Private
Click ‘Mark Private’ in the top menu bar
Click Save and exit your listing

For questions or assistance, please contact CCAR Member Services at 925.295.1270.

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

Test Layers

Weekly Jolt – 021026

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | FEBRUARY 10, 2026

CCAR Offices Closed: Mon, FEB. 16
in observance of Presidents Day

CCAR Helping Hands Bingo Night: Play, Dine, and Give Back – Feb 25

Get ready for a night of bingo, pizza, and community fun! CCAR Helping Hands is hosting Bingo Night at St. Stephen Church in Walnut Creek on Wed, Feb. 25, from 4–7 PM, and you won’t want to miss it!

For $35, you’ll enjoy a slice of pizza, salad, a drink ticket (beer, wine, or soft drink), and five bingo sheets.

This night isn’t just about bingo and raffle prizes — it’s about coming together, having fun, and supporting the community. So grab your bingo buddies, bring your lucky charm, and join us for a great cause!

PURCHASE TICKETS >>

Unlock the Full Power of Your CCAR Membership!

Whether you’re just getting started in real estate or already a seasoned pro, your CCAR membership gives you the tools, resources, and support to take your business to the next level. From MLS innovations and legal guidance to education, advocacy, and everyday business perks, CCAR is here to help you save time, reduce risk, and strengthen your success.

Your membership also connects you to a powerful network of professionals and ensures your voice is heard at the local, state, and national levels—protecting both your business and the clients you serve.

To help you make the most of your membership, check out our Member Benefits Directory—your go-to guide for exclusive tools, services, and money-saving opportunities from CCAR, C.A.R., and NAR. Explore it today to discover even more ways to grow your business, boost your productivity, and thrive in every market!

CCAR Member Benefit: InfoSparks

More Information >>

REALTOR® Optimized Laptops For Sale

All laptops purchased from CCAR come with a 2-year warranty, data transfer, and RE setup included.
Reminder: Support for Windows 10 ended on Oct. 14, 2025.
• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 – $850.36 >>
• LG Gram 17 – Ai Ready – $1,845.36 >>

Take Control of Your Listing Photos with the
“Mark Private” Feature

How to Mark Photos as Private:

Go to your listing under LISTINGS → Maintain Listing
Click on Add/Edit Pictures
Select the photos you want to mark as Private
Click ‘Mark Private’ in the top menu bar
Click Save and exit your listing

For questions or assistance, please contact CCAR Member Services at 925.295.1270.

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

New Law AB 723 – Disclosure Required for Digitally Altered Property Images & FAQ

Effective January 1, 2026, California Assembly Bill 723 requires real estate professionals to clearly disclose when images used in advertising or listings have been digitally altered and to provide access to the original, unaltered images when those altered images are made public.

Two new sections will be added to the CCAR MLS Rules and Regulations Effective Jan. 1. 2026

11.5.1 Definition of Digitally Altered Images – Defines digitally altered images as provided under California law.
11.5.2 Digitally Altered Images – Explains how digitally altered images must be treated when inputted in the MLS.

How Does this Affect Photograph Requirements in the MLS?
To support compliance with California’s new law regarding digitally altered property images (AB 723), CCAR will be implementing a standardized approach within the MLS.

Going forward, when a digitally altered image is used in a listing:

The digitally altered image must be displayed first,
The original, unaltered image must immediately follow, and
The altered image must include a photo label clearly disclosing that the image has been digitally altered.

To add a photo label within the MLS, please follow the instructions below:

Go to ‘Maintain Listing’;
Go to the ‘Add/Edit Pictures’ module;
Add listing photos and select ‘Add Label’ for the digitally altered images;
Type into the ‘Label’ field that the photo is digitally altered (i.e. “altered,” “digitally altered,” “AI altered,” or some accurate substantially similar term).

This approach allows the MLS to clearly present both versions of the image while maintaining transparency for consumers and consistency for Participants and Subscribers.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What is a digitally altered image?
A: As a threshold matter, it is important to understand what is considered a digitally altered image under the new law. AB 723 defines “digitally altered image” as:

an image, created by or at the direction of the real estate broker or salesperson, or person acting on their behalf
that has been altered through the use of photo editing software or artificial intelligence
to add, remove, or change elements in the image, including, but not limited to, fixtures, furniture, appliances, flooring, walls, paint color, hardscape, landscape, façade, floor plans, and elements outside of, or visible from, the property, including, but not limited to, streetlights, utility poles, views through windows, and neighboring properties.

While AB 723’s definition of “digitally altered image” seems to mostly target items that are part of the property (e.g., fixtures) or features of the property (e.g., views through windows), real estate licensees should take note that the definition also includes furniture. This means that if a real estate licensee uses virtual staging to add, remove, or change furniture in the property, they will need to disclose that the images have been digitally altered.

Q: How do I disclose digitally altered images in the MLS?
A:

Go to ‘Maintain Listing’;
Go to the ‘Add/Edit Pictures’ module;
Add listing photos and select ‘Add Label’ for the digitally altered images;
Type into the ‘Label’ field that the photo is digitally altered (i.e. “altered,” “digitally altered,” “AI altered,” or some accurate substantially similar term).

Q: Do I need to upload both edited and unedited versions of a photo?
A: Yes. Ensure that the original, unaltered version is displayed immediately after the digitally altered image.

Q: Does this apply to listings entered before January 1, 2026?
A: Participants and Subscribers are encouraged to review current listings in the Active, Pending, and Hold statuses and make add necessary photo labels to disclose digitally altered images.

Q: What is NOT a digitally altered image?
A: Specifically excluded from the definition of “digitally altered images” are images “where only lighting, sharpening, white balance, color correction, angle, straightening, cropping, exposure, or other common photo editing adjustments are made that the not change the representation of the real property.”

Q: Does AB 723 apply to leases?
A: Yes, but only if the lease exceeds one year’s duration.

Q: Is virtual staging allowed?
A: Yes. Virtual staging is allowed, but virtually staged photos must be clearly labeled, and the unedited version must immediately follow each virtually staged photo.

Q: Who is responsible for compliance, the agent or the photographer?
A: The listing agent and broker are responsible for ensuring all listing content complies with MLS rules, regardless of who created or edited the photos.

Weekly Jolt – 022426

Crab, Champagne & a Great Cause – Help Support CCAR Scholarships & Helping Hands – Mar. 6

CCAR x Tony Robbins:
Discover Your Next Level with Stu Massengill! – Mar. 11

Weekly Jolt – 021726

Crab, Champagne & a Great Cause – Help Support CCAR Scholarships & Helping Hands – Mar. 6

Code of Ethics Violators

Test Layers

Weekly Jolt – 021026

CCAR Helping Hands Bingo Night: Play, Dine, and Give Back – Feb 25

Unlock the Full Power of Your CCAR Membership!

New Law AB 723 – Disclosure Required for Digitally Altered Property Images & FAQ

SERVING YOU AT:

Search