, Author at CCARToday - Contra Costa Association of REALTORS

Help California Wildfire Victims – Donate Now!

You can make a difference by supporting the REALTORS® Relief Foundation. Now through January 31, 2025, 100% of donations designated for California wildfire relief will go directly to helping victims and recovery efforts.

Give now:
Scan the above QR code

Text RRFCAStrong to 71777

Visit rrf.realtor

Every donation brings hope and relief. Please share and support today!

Weekly Jolt – 012125

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 21, 2025

Top News

• CCAR Annual Crab Feed – Next Friday
• Help CA Wildfire Victims – Donate Now
• Tony Robbins: Kick Off 2025 Strong! – Feb. 12
• Fix it For Free at Walnut Creek’s Fix it Café
• REALTORS Donate 600,000 To Disaster Relief Funds
• The Bay Area’s Pacific Palisades

MLS Updates

• C.A.R. to Hold Wildfire Resources Member Townhalls
• New Fact Sheets Help Your Clients Stay Informed
About Insurance
• MLS Rules & Regulations Update Coming Jan. 27
• RE Optimized Laptops for Sale

Upcoming Education

Top Questions and Answers About Open Houses
ONLINE ANYTIME

NAR’s Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) Designation (50% OFF)
Wed., Jan. 22 | 9:00am – 4:00pm

The 2025 Real Estate Roadmap: Trends, Tools, and Tactics for Success
Wed., Jan. 22 | 9:00am – 10:00am

Cloud CMA: How to Create a CMA
Wed., Jan. 22 | 11:00am – 12:00pm

Tech: State of Smart Homes in 2025
Wed., Jan. 22 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

RPR: Intro to RPR – Searches, Stats, Reports & More!
Wed., Jan. 22 | 2:00pm – 4:00pm

1031 Exchange: Problems & Pitfalls
Thu., Jan. 23 | 10:00am – 11:00am

Mobile MLS: My Content, Property Watches & Listing Carts
Thu., Jan. 23 | 11:00am – 11:30am

Webcast: Social Media for Agents – Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & YouTube
Fri. Jan. 24 | ON DEMAND

Webcast: Top Questions & Answers About Open Houses
Fri. Jan. 24 | ON DEMAND

Realtor.com: Agent Profile Basics
Mon., Jan. 27 | 9:00am – 9:30am

Mobile MLS: EasyCMA
Mon., Jan. 27 | 11:00am – 11:30am

CRM: Wise Agent Overview & Demo (CCAR Discount)
Tue., Jan. 28 | 9:00am – 10:00am

Mobile MLS: Collab Center for New Users (Auto-Email Drip System)
Tue., Jan. 28 | 11:00am – 11:30am

RPR Commercial – Advanced Class
Wed., Jan. 29 | 9:00am – 10:00am

Combatting & Preventing Real Estate Fraud
Wed., Jan. 29 | 11:00am – 12:00pm

WomanUP!® Live Show
Wed., Jan. 29 | 11:00am – 12:00pm

New Year, New Goals: Smart Real Estate Goals for 2025
Wed., Jan. 29 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Mobile MLS: Setting Up Buyers In Collab Center (Auto-Email Drip System)
Thu., Jan. 30 | 11:00am – 11:30am

MLS: How to Add & Maintain Your Listings
Thu., Jan. 30 | 2:00pm – 4:00pm

License Renewal Crash Course
Fri., Jan. 31 | 9:30am – 12:00pm

C.A.R. Townhall for Brokers/Managers
Fri., Jan. 31 | 11:00am – 12:30pm

February 2025 Tax Summit: 4-part Series
Wed., Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

OnlineEd Offers CA Salespersons
A Fast Track to Becoming Brokers

California Salespersons now have a new path to becoming Brokers with OnlineEd’s fully interactive, online courses. These textbook-free courses are designed to be mobile-friendly and comprehensive, offering a convenient way to advance to a Broker Licensee.
REGISTER NOW >>

Visit the CCAR Calendar to view/register for additional online training opportunities.

YPN Spotlight

Stay tuned for CCAR YPN’s first event of 2025,
coming this March!

How to Take Ownership of Your Time
By Nicole Slaughter Graham

Do you tell your clients that you’re available 24/7? Do you answer the phone no matter what time it is or who you’re with? Do you struggle to take time off?

In a business that doesn’t have standardized hours, it’s hard to set boundaries around your time, but not doing so can lead to unintended consequences. Time management is the latest topic of conversation on the latest episode of the Drive with NAR podcast’s REALTOR® to REALTOR® series. Host Marki Lemons Rhyal speaks with real estate professionals Vanessa Franz Barnes, CIPS, SRES and Natalie Davis, ABR, CRS, to learn more about their best tips for time management.

Lemons Rhyal starts the conversation acknowledging the fact that many real estate professionals tell they’re clients that they are available round the clock. She asks Franz Barnes and Davis their take on the subject.

Franz Barnes, who is an associate-broker with Keller Williams Realty in Celebration, Fla., noted that she sees many agents in the business struggling with the “always on” mindset and that she’s struggled with it herself. Over time, however, she’s learned that excellent customer service does not equate to being available all the time.

“It’s really two separate things. We can still provide exceptional customer service and an experience for them and have boundaries and time with our families,” she says…

Read More >>

REALTOR^® ACTION FUND (RAF)

The RAF supports political activities at the local, state, and national levels. It gives REALTORS^® the financial resources needed to advocate for policies which protect property rights and REALTORS^® ability to effectively conduct their business.

Contribute Today >>

+ WILDFIRE DISASTER RESOURCES

+ CCAR CALENDAR

Fix It for Free at Walnut Creek’s Repair Café!

Reduce waste and give your household items a second life! Join experienced volunteers at Walnut Creek’s upcoming Repair Café on January 25 at the Civic Park Community Center Assembly Hall, from 10:00am to 1:00pm. Get your items fixed for free and help promote sustainability!

REALTORS® donate $600,000 to two wildfire disaster relief funds

REALTORS^® in California and across the nation have launched a massive, industrywide fundraising effort to support those impacted by the Southern California wildfires. C.A.R. is contributing a combined $600,000 toward two REALTOR^®-sponsored charitable funds to help those who have incurred losses due to the wildfires and other disasters. C.A.R. is donating $300,000 to its Disaster Relief Fund, which provides grants to members of the REALTOR^® family — which includes more than 190,000 REALTORS^®, their staff and association staff. C.A.R. is currently providing grants of up to $10,000 to those who have suffered losses in the Southern California wildfires. Since the fund’s inception, C.A.R. has raised more than $2.7 million, thanks to the tremendous generosity of its REALTOR^® family and community members, and it has distributed $1.9 million in grants…
Read More >>

The Bay Area’s Pacific Palisades: Cities at High Risk of Urban Firestorms

When California lawmakers sought an estimate of how much a worst-case-scenario fire might cost, experts identified three communities where impacts would be devastating. One was Pacific Palisades. The others were in the Bay Area…
Read More at the SF Chronicle >>

Crab, Champagne, and Charity:
CCAR’s Annual Crab Feed Fundraiser is Next Friday!

Get ready for a night of fun and flavor next Friday, January 31st!
Join us at the Pleasant Hill Community Center from 6:00 to 10:00pm for CCAR’s
24th Annual Crab Feed Fundraiser
– A Crustacean Celebration You Won’t Want to Miss!

We’re serving up delicious crab, tri-tip, and pasta with a complimentary glass of bubbly champagne, and an evening packed with fun! Get ready to dance the night away with our DJ, try your luck at the raffle and auction, and top it all off by bidding on one of the irresistible cakes during the exciting 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!

Don’t wait—tickets must be purchased in advance!
No tickets will be sold at the door, so grab yours now to secure your spot.

Purchase Tickets Here >>
Sponsorship Opportunities >>

Help California Wildfire Victims – Donate Now!

More than 100,000 Los Angeles residents have been displaced by one of the most devastating wildfires in California’s history. The need for immediate assistance is critical to help families recover and rebuild.

You can make a difference by supporting the REALTORS® Relief Foundation. Now through January 31, 2025, 100% of donations designated for California wildfire relief will go directly to helping victims and recovery efforts.

Give now:
  • “Read more” and scan the QR code
  • Text RRFCAStrong to 71777
  • Visit rrf.realtor

Every donation brings hope and relief. Please share and support today!

CCAR x Tony Robbins:
Kickoff 2025 STRONG with
Stu Massengill! – Feb. 12

Achieve Extraordinary Results with Tony Robbins’ Top National Trainer, Stu Massengill! Join us live on Zoom next Wed., Feb. 12, 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 >>

New Fact Sheets Help Your Clients Stay Informed About Insurance

With nearly 500,000 California homes worth a combined $268 billion under serious risk from wildfires, and the issue growing more acute with each passing year, insurance companies are ramping up prices or outright refusing to renew policies in fire-prone areas. Use these materials to help your customers stay informed about protecting their homes, maintaining insurance coverage, and finding new policies when needed.

Important Updates to MLS Rules and Regulations – Effective January 27

To maintain the highest standards of efficiency, fairness, and usability within our MLS platform, new changes to the MLS Rules and Regulations will take effect on January 27. The updates are designed to streamline processes, enhance accuracy, and better support the needs of our members.

The rules affected are:
10.1.1 Coming Soon Listings
11.5 Photographs on MLS

Click Here to Read Complete Changes >>

REALTOR® Optimize Laptops For Sale

All Laptops purchased from CCAR receive a 2-year warranty, data transfer, and RE setup.
• HP 15.6″ Touchscreen – $833.40 >>
• Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga L13 – $718.41 >>
• LE Gram 16 Intel Evo Platform Touchscreen – $978.40 >>

C.A.R. to Hold Wildfire Resources Member Townhalls

C.A.R. President Heather Ozur, along with other C.A.R. leaders, will host a townhall to discuss how C.A.R. is supporting members during the Southern California wildfire crisis. This is also a great opportunity to ask questions and share valuable information with fellow members.
• Wednesday, January 22
• Tuesday, January 28

Additionally, C.A.R. understands that many members have pressing questions about transactions, insurance, price gouging, and other wildfire-related legal issues. To address these concerns, C.A.R.’s legal team will host two dedicated legal townhalls:
• Friday, January 24
• Thursday, January 30

Read More & Register >>

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

Weekly Jolt – 011425

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 14, 2025

CCAR Offices Closed: Mon., Jan. 20 in observance of MLK Jr. Day

Crack into Fun at CCAR’s 24th Annual Crab Feed – Jan. 31st!

Mark your calendars for Friday, January 31st and join us at the Pleasant Hill Community Center from 6:00 to 10:00pm for CCAR’s 24th Annual Crab Feed Fundraiser

We’re serving up delicious crab, tri-tip, and pasta with a complimentary glass of bubbly champagne, and an evening packed with fun! Get ready to dance the night away with our DJ, try your luck at the raffle and auction, and top it all off by bidding on one of the irresistible cakes during the exciting 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!

PURCHASE TICKETS >>

CCAR x Tony Robbins:
Kickoff 2025 STRONG with
Stu Massengill! – Feb. 12

Important Updates to MLS Rules and Regulations – Effective January 27

The rules affected are:
10.1.1 Coming Soon Listings
11.5 Photographs on MLS

Click Here to Read Complete Changes >>

REALTOR® Optimize Laptops For Sale

C.A.R. issues a warning about price gouging

The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) has been made aware of some rental listings, both on and off the MLS, where lease prices have increased by 25 percent or more since the onset of the wildfires in Southern California. REALTORS® should be aware and advise their clients that raising the price of essential goods and services, including housing, by more than 10 percent during a state of emergency violates California’s anti-price gouging statute and is prohibited by law.

Many evacuees and homeowners who have lost their properties are in urgent need of housing. In these circumstances, real estate professionals have a responsibility to ensure rental prices remain fair and compliant with California’s Penal Code 396(e), which prohibits increasing the rental price advertised, offered or charged for housing by more than 10 percent after a declaration of emergency.

C.A.R. has created the following resources to help address price gouging:
Landlord Tenant: Price Gouging and Eviction During a Declared Emergency >>
Quick Guide: Rent Increases >>

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

2025-inaugural-program

Weekly Jolt – 010725

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 7, 2025

New Directors, Treasurer Appointed to CCAR Board

Three positions on the 2025 CCAR Board of Directors have been vacated, including the Treasurer. In accordance with CCAR Bylaws (Jun 2024) Section 10, Vacancies, the following members have been approved by the Board to fill the vacancies:

• Judy Myers (term ends 12/26)
replaces Treasurer Peter MacLennan
• Leslie Manzone (term ends 12/25)
replaces Aeysha Corio, Director-at-Large
• Rolanda Wilson (term ends (12/26)
replaces Murrey Kehrlein,
Director-at-Large

Directors will be sworn in at the Association inaugural ceremony on Saturday.

CCAR BYLAWS >>

CCAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS >>

CCAR x Tony Robbins:
Kickoff 2025 STRONG with
Stu Massengill! – Feb. 12

Important Updates to MLS Rules and Regulations – Effective January 27

The rules affected are:
10.1.1 Coming Soon Listings
11.5 Photographs on MLS

Click Here to Read Complete Changes >>

C.A.R. Transaction Coordinator – New zipForm Member Benefit

Invite your Assistant or Transaction Coordinator into your zipForm account where they can manage transactions seamlessly on your behalf based on the permissions assigned to them. This C.A.R. Member Benefit provides customized access, empowering your TC to keep real estate transactions on track.
Read More >>

REALTOR® Optimize Laptops For Sale

Mortgage Rates Reach Highest Point Since July

Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) reports that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) has risen to 6.91% as of January 2, 2025, its highest level in nearly six months. This marks an increase from last week’s 6.85% and significantly higher than the 6.62% rate a year ago.

The 15-year FRM also rose to 6.13%, up from 6.0% last week and 5.89% a year ago. Despite elevated rates and affordability challenges, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist, Sam Khater, noted increased buyer activity, as reflected in rising pending home sales.

Freddie Mac’s PMMS® focuses on conventional loans for creditworthy borrowers and highlights its ongoing mission to support affordability, stability, and equity in the housing market since 1970.

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

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