, Author at CCARToday - Contra Costa Association of REALTORS

Cinco de Mayo Affiliate Faire – May 6

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 5:00 - 7:00pm
St. Stephen Catholic Church

CCAR REALTOR® Members:

Join us for an evening of appetizers, drinks, raffles, and fun at St. Stephen Church on May 6, from 5pm – 7pm! Discover the wide range of services offered by local industry partners while supporting two amazing causes—the CCAR Scholarship Foundation and CCAR Helping Hands.

CCAR AFFILIATE MEMBERS:

The Cinco de Mayo Affiliate Faire offers a fantastic opportunity to showcase your business to CCAR REALTORS®. Think of it as a trade show, but more fun– and it’s all for a great cause!

Here’s How:
Purchase a vender table for $35 (non-affiliate members $75) by contacting Jason Catalano at 925.295.9202 or [email protected] and…

Bring:
1. All your marketing materials
2. One raffle prize (gift basket, gift card, wine, etc.)
3. An appetizer to feed at least 20 people (veggie
tray, cheese plate, hors d’oeuvres, etc.)

SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES

Fiesta Crawl Sponsor | $250
or a prize of equal value

Door Prize Sponsor | $500
or a prize of equal value

Thank you to our sponsors!

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CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | APRIL 7, 2026

Cinco de Mayo Affiliate Faire – May 6

Spice up your night on Wed, May 6th at St. Stephen Church—it’s time for a Cinco de Mayo fiesta!

CCAR REALTOR® Members: meet Affiliate Members, explore their booths, and discover new products and services that can help support your business. Enjoy festive bites, cold beer, wine, and a lively evening with fellow industry pros all while supporting two amazing causes—the CCAR Scholarship Foundation and CCAR Helping Hands.

CCAR Affiliates: The Cinco de Mayo Affiliate Faire offers a fantastic opportunity to showcase your business to CCAR REALTORS®. Think of it as a trade show, but more fun– and it’s all for a great cause!

FREE REALTOR® TICKETS >>

April Learning Opportunities Are In Full Bloom at CCAR

April brings a fresh chance to refocus, reconnect, and grow your business. Our latest Education & Events Newsletter is packed with classes and events designed specifically for you.

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills, stay current on industry changes, or connect with fellow REALTORS®, we’ve made it easy to find what you need.

Inside, you’ll find our full lineup of April offerings with direct registration links, plus access to the CCAR education dashboard—so you can quickly see what’s coming up and plan ahead.

Take time to invest in yourself this month. We’re here to support your success every step of the way.

Featured Education:

Take your lead generation to the next level with Lead Gen Blueprint: Secrets to Master Top Platforms – from the trainers behind Conquering Social Media and AI.

Join us Wed, April 22 from 10:00–11:00am on Zoom for a high-energy session designed to help REALTORS® generate more leads from both paid and organic sources across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X, while sharpening your top-of-mind marketing, SEO, traffic and lead management strategies. You’ll also get practical tips on ChatGPT (AI) integration, video marketing, blogging, and more – delivered by rock star coaches in a fun, motivating format!

Register >>

Reminder: Coming Soon Listings Can Now Be Syndicated

Effective March 30, CCAR MLS began allowing Coming Soon listings to be syndicated, giving sellers more choice in how their property is marketed. Agents can now select syndication preferences during listing entry using the Internet Site field and related options, based on their client’s instructions and broker policies. Existing Coming Soon listings default to not syndicated, but can be updated at any time. MLS Rules will be updated to reflect this added flexibility.

Read Rules Change & FAQs Here >>

MLS Updates Coming Next Week: More Space,
More Features, More Control – April 15

We’re updating the MLS to give you more control when adding your listings. These improvements help create better search results and give your property details the attention they deserve.

Directions to Property: Character limit increased from 50 to 70 to allow for clearer, more complete directions.
Public Remarks: Character limit increased from 1,000 to 2,500 characters.
Listing Photos: Maximum number of photos increased from 60 to 99.
Water and Sewer Features: These will now appear as separate feature categories for more accurate data entry and search results.
New Selectable Features:
- “Taxiway Properties” added to X – Lot Description in the Residential class and H – Lot Description in the Lots & Land
- “Aircraft Hangar” added to N – Garage/Parking in the Residential class

New MLS Status: Sold Off MLS
This status is designed to improve data accuracy and provide a clearer picture of market activity. It allows subscribers to enter a property that was sold before being submitted to the MLS, ensuring it is captured for comparable and reporting purposes. Meaning, at the seller’s request, the property was never entered into the MLS prior to the sale.

CCAR’s Director of MLS Services, Joey Masters, will walk you through upcoming changes at the West County Marketing Meeting this Thursday, March 19 at the CCAR Hercules Office.

VIEW MORE UPDATES >>
VIEW APRIL 15 MLS RULES CHANGES >>
(Changes marked in red.)

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

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CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | MARCH 31, 2026

CCAR Offices Closed: FRI., Apr. 3
in observance of Good Friday.

Apply to Run for the 2027 CCAR Board of Directors

As part of the nation’s largest trade association, CCAR has a proud legacy built by members who step up to lead, serve, and inspire. Now, it’s your opportunity to be part of that legacy.

The election for the 2027 CCAR Board of Directors begins on June 15, 2026, and we want YOU to help shape the future of our Association.

There are 6 open positions including:
  • President-Elect (1 year term)
  • Treasurer (2 year term)
  • 4 Directors-at-Large (2 year term)

Completed applications AND a signed position description acknowledging you understand the duties and requirements must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, April 14th.

Get Quick Answers to Your Questions with C.A.R.’s Peer-to-Peer Ethics Infoline

Non-legal ethics questions answered in a snap!

C.A.R.’s Peer-to-Peer Ethics Infoline is a free service facilitated by neutral REALTOR® volunteers trained in the Code of Ethics. They can answer questions from other REALTOR® members regarding the proper interpretation of the Code.

If you have questions about whether certain actions—yours or those of another REALTOR® —might violate the Code of Ethics, the volunteers can assist with non-legal ethics matters. The Infoline is confidential, and no information will be shared with third parties. Please note that answers or opinions are provided orally and will not be given in writing.

CONTACT THE INFOLINE >>

Featured Education:

Take your lead generation to the next level with Lead Gen Blueprint: Secrets to Master Top Platforms – from the trainers behind Conquering Social Media and AI.

Reminder: Coming Soon Listings Can Now Be Syndicated

Read Rules Change & FAQs Here >>

MLS Updates: More Space, More Features, More Control – April 15

We’re updating the MLS to give you more control when adding your listings. These improvements help create better search results and give your property details the attention they deserve.

Directions to Property: Character limit increased from 50 to 70 to allow for clearer, more complete directions.
Public Remarks: Character limit increased from 1,000 to 2,500 characters.
Listing Photos: Maximum number of photos increased from 60 to 99.
Water and Sewer Features: These will now appear as separate feature categories for more accurate data entry and search results.
New Selectable Features:
- “Taxiway Properties” added to X – Lot Description in the Residential class and H – Lot Description in the Lots & Land
- “Aircraft Hangar” added to N – Garage/Parking in the Residential class

CCAR’s Director of MLS Services, Joey Masters, will walk you through upcoming changes at the West County Marketing Meeting this Thursday, March 19 at the CCAR Hercules Office.

VIEW MORE UPDATES >>
VIEW APRIL 15 MLS RULES CHANGES >>
(Changes marked in red.)

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

Coming Soon Status Update – Effective March 30, 2026

Preserving your seller’s choice in how they want to market their property is a priority for CCAR MLS. Effective March 30, the Coming Soon Status can be syndicated.

Based on your client’s preference, you will have control over whether Coming Soon listings are syndicated out of the MLS via the Internet Site (Yes/No) and related fields at the time of listing entry. Agents are reminded that the distribution of Coming Soon listings must be in alignment with their broker’s policies and/or their client’s instructions.

Existing Coming Soon Listings: Will default to Internet Site = No (not syndicated). To enable syndication, update the applicable fields to Yes and select the appropriate distribution options (e.g., “Yes-All Sites, Full address”).
New Coming Soon Listings: Select your syndication options at the time of entry, consistent with your broker’s policies and your client’s direction.

The MLS Rules will be updated accordingly to reflect this change. This update provides greater flexibility to align with your client’s preferences.

FAQs

What triggers MLS rules?
A signed exclusive listing agreement triggers MLS rules. Without a fully executed agreement, MLS requirements do not apply.
When must a listing be submitted to the MLS?
Listings must be submitted to the MLS within three (3) days of the listing agreement’s effective date. If a listing is publicly marketed before being entered into the MLS, Clear Cooperation requirements are triggered, and the listing must be submitted within one (1) business day.
What are the requirements for Office Exclusive listings?
Sellers must sign a disclosure form, and public marketing is not permitted. If public marketing occurs, the listing must be entered into the MLS within one (1) business day.
How long can a listing remain in Coming Soon status?
Coming Soon status may remain in the MLS for up to 30 days. After that, the listing will automatically change to Coming Soon Cancelled.
How are Coming Soon listings syndicated?
Coming Soon listings are shared with MLSs participating in our data-share. For public portals and websites, syndication is controlled by the agent or broker based on the client’s preference selected during listing entry.
How are MLS rules enforced?
All MLS rules are enforced locally. Suspected violations should be reported using the Correction button in the MLS or by emailing [email protected].

MLS Rules Changes Effective March 30.

10.1 Status

Coming Soon – “Coming Soon” is defined as a temporary, optional starting status that can be selected by listing agent. This applies if publicly marketed.

10.1.1 Coming Soon Listings. It shall be the responsibility of the Broker Participant (Section 4.1.1) and Real Estate Subscriber (Section 4.2.1) to follow said rules when placing a property in the Coming Soon section of the multiple listings service (MLS). Broker Participant and Real Estate Subscriber shall only place a property in the Coming Soon section of the MLS if the Participant/Subscriber has met the necessary criteria for MLS input as described in Sections 7.5, 7.6, and 8.1.

Important information surrounding Coming Soon listings:

It is optional to place your listing into the Coming Soon Status.
Listing agent must have a signed written listing agreement in place to enter a “Coming Soon” listing which explains the limitations of the “Coming Soon” status.
Coming Soon listings will be viewable to all MLS Participants.
Coming Soon listings will not be syndicated out to other websites.
Coming Soon listings will not be included in the IDX and data feeds.
Coming Soon listings are not allowed to be placed into open houses or tour modules within the MLS.
Coming Soon listings are only searchable within the Paragon MLS.
Once an agent changes a listing from Coming Soon to New/Active status, it cannot be reverted to Coming Soon status.
Days on Market (DOM) resets when status is changed to New/Active
Agent showing is allowed
Coming Soon Status must clearly state in the Confidential Remarks the seller’s instruction as to whether showings will be permitted or not.
Once Coming Soon status is entered, public marketing is allowed.
Upon request, All Paragon MLS Coming Soon data can be are included in Broker back office data feeds. However, Coming Soon listings may not be displayed or integrated into any public-facing products or websites, except for listings belonging to the listing brokerage.
Photos are optional.
The Coming Soon listing will be automatically placed in a “Cancelled – Coming Soon” status after thirty (30) days of entry.

12.16 Use of Listing Information on Internet. [Also known as Internet Data Exchange (“IDX”)] “Internet Data Exchange” (“IDX”) is a means by which listing brokers permit limited electronic display and delivery of their Active, Pending and sold listing data, in accordance with the IDX rules set forth herein, by other participating Broker Participants and R.E. Subscribers via the following authorized mediums under said Broker Participants and R.E. Subscribers control: websites, mobile apps and audio devices. As used throughout this policy, “display” includes “delivery” of such listings.

Authorization. Subject to paragraphs (b) through below, and subject to an executed IDX Access Agreement with the MLS, notwithstanding anything in these rules and regulations to the contrary, Broker Participants and R.E. Subscribers may electronically display aggregated MLS active, pending and sold listing information through either downloading or by framing such information on the MLS or association public access website (if such a site is available). The MLS’s download will include publicly accessible sold listing data starting from January 1, 2012. “Publicly accessible” sold information as used in the IDX policy and rules, means data that is available electronically or in hard copy to the public from city, county, state, and other government records. [Note: Listings in Coming Soon Status are not authorized for display by this rule.]

Section 12.19.15: A Participant’s VOW may not make available for search by, or display to, Registrants any of the following information:

Coming Soon, Expired or withdrawn listings (Hold, Cancelled).
The type of listing agreement, i.e., exclusive right to sell or seller reserve.
The seller’s and occupant’s name(s), phone number(s), or e-mail address(es).
Instructions or remarks intended for buyer brokers only, such as those regarding showings or security of listed property.

Weekly Jolt – 032426

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | MARCH 24, 2026

CCAR YPN: Timeless Systems, Modern Strategies – Apr. 2

Join CCAR YPN on Thu, Apr. 2 from noon – 3:00pm at the Don Tatzin Community Hall to hear from three highly successful agents who have built strong, sustainable businesses by combining proven systems with modern tools and strategies. Each speaker brings a different approach and perspective, offering practical insights you can actually use in today’s market.

This triple threat panel features:
• Joe Kehrig, Kehrig Real Estate Team
• Lynda Dimond, The Dimond Team
• Jorge Martinez, eXp Realty.

YPN Lunch & Learn events are all about sharing what works, sparking new ideas, and helping you take your business to the next level. Come ready to learn, connect, and leave inspired. Registration is $25 and includes lunch and refreshments.

PURCHASE TICKETS >>

Read More >>

Title Fraud is Rising in CA – What to Know

Title fraud, also known as deed theft, is an increasingly serious issue in California—especially in high-value urban and suburban areas. Although still less common than other crimes, it is growing quickly, with scammers often targeting vacant land, rental properties, and homes with significant equity. Fraudsters typically forge documents to transfer ownership, then sell the property or take out loans against it, leaving homeowners unaware for months. In fact, 62% of real estate professionals reported encountering title fraud in 2025. California’s high-equity housing market makes it a prime target, but homeowners can help protect themselves by monitoring records through their County Recorder’s office or signing up for local deed alert services.

C.A.R.: THE RISE OF TITLE PIRACY >>
NAR: UNDERSTANDING TITLE FRAUD >>
DATA SECURITY BEST PRACTICES >>
REALTOR® SAFETY NETWORK >>
REALTOR® SAFETY ARTICLES >>

Read More >>

Are You and Your Clients Registered to Vote?

Residents must be registered by May 18th to vote in June.
Register to Vote >>

Women’s Council of REALTORS Upcoming Events

March 27 | 11:00am – 2:00pm | Register >>

April 1 | 10:00am | Register >>

Coming Soon Status Update – Effective March 30, 2026

Preserving your seller’s choice in how they want to market their property is a priority for CCAR MLS. Effective March 30, the Coming Soon Status can be syndicated. Based on your client’s preference, you will have control over whether Coming Soon listings are syndicated out of the MLS via the Internet Site (Yes/No) and related fields at the time of listing entry. Agents are reminded that the distribution of Coming Soon listings must be in alignment with their broker’s policies and/or their client’s instructions.
Existing Coming Soon Listings: Will default to Internet Site = No (not syndicated). To enable syndication, update the applicable fields to Yes and select the appropriate distribution options (e.g., “Yes-All Sites, Full address”).
New Coming Soon Listings: Select your syndication options at the time of entry, consistent with your broker’s policies and your client’s direction.
The MLS Rules will be updated accordingly to reflect this change. This update provides greater flexibility to align with your client’s preferences.

Read Rules Changes Here >>
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What triggers MLS rules? A signed exclusive listing agreement triggers MLS rules. Without a fully executed agreement, MLS requirements do not apply.
2. When must a listing be submitted to the MLS? Listings must be submitted to the MLS within three (3) days of the listing agreement’s effective date. If a listing is publicly marketed before being entered into the MLS, Clear Cooperation requirements are triggered, and the listing must be submitted within one (1) business day.
Read More FAQ’s Here >>

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

Cinco de Mayo Affiliate Faire – May 6

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 5:00 - 7:00pm
St. Stephen Catholic Church

CCAR REALTOR® Members:

CCAR AFFILIATE MEMBERS:

SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES

Thank you to our sponsors!

Weekly Jolt – 040726

Cinco de Mayo Affiliate Faire – May 6

April Learning Opportunities Are In Full Bloom at CCAR

Weekly Jolt – 033126

Apply to Run for the 2027 CCAR Board of Directors

Get Quick Answers to Your Questions with C.A.R.’s Peer-to-Peer Ethics Infoline

Coming Soon Status Update – Effective March 30, 2026

Weekly Jolt – 032426

CCAR YPN: Timeless Systems, Modern Strategies – Apr. 2

Title Fraud is Rising in CA – What to Know

SERVING YOU AT:

Search

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 5:00 - 7:00pm St. Stephen Catholic Church

CCAR REALTOR® Members:

CCAR AFFILIATE MEMBERS:

SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES

Thank you to our sponsors!

SERVING YOU AT:

Search

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 5:00 - 7:00pm
St. Stephen Catholic Church