CCARToday - Contra Costa Association of REALTORS

Moves You Forward.

CCAR SaleCore

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included with your ccar membership

The Official Local
Home Search Experience
 for Contra Costa County

Give clients a better way to search for homes while keeping your business front and center. The Contra Costa Property Search Portal includes a complimentary branded IDX website, a professional agent profile, and access to current listings across 27 Northern California counties.

Your Listings.
Your Leads.
Inquiries go directly to you. 
27 Counties.
One Powerful Search.
NorCal MLS Alliance coverage.
Your Brand.
Your Website.
Professionally branded. Built for you.

What's Included

Everything You Need to Grow Your Business
The core service is included with your CCAR membership at no additional monthly cost. No upgrade is required
to access your branded website, professional profile, listing inquiry delivery, and included member tools.
Direct Listing Inquiries
Inquiries submitted through your listings go directly to you.
Your Branded IDX Websites
Share a professional property-search website connected to your name, contact information, and business
27 County Property Search
Search current listings across 27 Northern California counties.

Included with Your CCAR Membership

The Contra Costa Property Search Portal is a new home-search website designed to connect buyers and sellers with local CCAR REALTORS®. It gives consumers access to current property listings while helping members promote their listings, strengthen their online presence, and receive inquiries directly.

Every CCAR member receives:
  • A complimentary branded IDX website
  • A searchable professional profile
  • Exposure through the Contra Costa Property Search Portal
  • Direct delivery of inquiries submitted through their listings
  • A SaleCore account for managing profile information and inquiries
  • Consumer tools including saved properties, saved searches, and listing alerts
The core service is included with membership at no additional monthly cost, and no upgrade is required. Optional upgrades are available for members who want additional website, CRM, or marketing features.

Keep Listing Inquiries Connected to You
When a consumer submits an inquiry through one of your listings on the CCAR portal, the inquiry is routed directly to you as the listing agent and delivered through your designated email and SaleCore account.

Unlike some national property websites, the portal does not redirect your listing inquiry to an advertising agent, and CCAR does not resell those inquiries.

Important to Know
Participation is optional, and the service does not guarantee a specific number of inquiries, clients, or transactions. Results will depend on consumer traffic, listing activity, response time, profile quality, and how consistently you promote your website.

Members should review the included website and account features before replacing or canceling an existing website, CRM, domain, or marketing service.

Build a Stronger Online Presence

Your professional profile can include your:

  • Photo and biography
  • Contact and brokerage information
  • Service areas and specialties
  • Languages spoken
  • Designations and certifications
  • Website and social media links
  • Active listings
A complete profile helps consumers understand who you are, the communities you serve, and how you can help them.

Getting Started

  1. Access your SaleCore account.

  2. Review your contact information.

  3. Complete your professional profile.

  4. Open and review your branded website.

  5. Confirm where your listing inquiries will be delivered.
For the best results, keep your profile current, share your website regularly, encourage buyers to create alerts, and respond promptly to inquiries.

Launch and Training

Coming August 11, 2026
The Contra Costa Property Search Portal and complimentary member websites will be available beginning August 11

Live Member Training: Wednesday, August 19
Learn how to access your account, complete your profile, review your website, manage inquiries, and share your new property-search tools with clients.

Weekly Jolt – 072126

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CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER    |    JULY 21, 2026
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•  Details Matter: Risk Management, Disclosures, and
   Deadlines
•  Finish July Strong with CCAR Education
•  How CCAR Keeps the Pro Stds Process Fair and Impartial
•  WomanUP! Live Rescheduled – July 27
•  Learn the CA Residential Purchase Agreement – July 29
•  AI’s Role in Real Estate Live Panel + Breakfast – Aug 4
•  WCR: Coffee & Networking – Aug 5 

•  Your Paragon Workflow is Getting an Upgrade – July 28
•  REALTOR® Optimized Laptops For Sale


All laptops purchased through CCAR include a 2-year warranty, data transfer, and Real Estate setup.

    Online Continuing Education

+ Upcoming Education
+ REALTOR® ACTION FUND (RAF)
+ CCAR CALENDAR

WomanUP! Live Rescheduled – July 27

Register >>

RPA: Learn the CA Residential Purchase Agreement – July 29

Build your confidence with the California Residential Purchase Agreement. This step-by-step training covers the RPA’s key concepts, important details, and proper completion, helping REALTORS® better protect themselves and their clients throughout the transaction.
Register >>

AI’s Role in Real Estate Live Panel + Breakfast – Aug 4

Join the Center for California Real Estate at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco for a forward-looking discussion on how artificial intelligence may transform residential real estate. Industry leaders will explore AI’s growing influence on home valuation, marketing, transactions, consumer expectations, and the systems that support the housing market.
Register >>

Details Matter: Risk Management, Disclosures,
and Deadlines

The SPQ: Your Best Defense Against Disclosure Disputes
The most expensive disclosure mistake is often the one no one thought to mention. The Seller Property Questionnaire isn’t just another form to complete—it’s one of the most effective risk-management tools available to sellers and their agents. Here’s why it deserves more attention in every transaction.
READ MORE ON CAR.ORG >>

7 RPA Deadline Mistakes That Can Derail a Transaction
Most RPA deadline mistakes don’t become a problem—until they do. When a transaction is on the line, even experienced agents can miscalculate timelines, misunderstand notice periods, or assume a repair request automatically extends contingencies. Learn the seven mistakes C.A.R.’s Legal Hotline sees most often—and how to avoid making them yourself.
READ MORE ON CAR.ORG >>

Finish July Strong with CCAR Education

July may be winding down, but there is still time to sharpen your skills, refresh your knowledge, and prepare for a strong second half of the year.

The July Education & Events Newsletter features several upcoming classes and programs designed to help CCAR members stay informed and work more effectively. Opportunities include training on Paragon tools, Cloud CMA, license renewal, the CA RPA, renter-to-homebuyer strategies, time and financial management, and more.

Whether you are looking to strengthen your technical skills, stay current on industry practices, or discover new ways to better serve your clients, these upcoming courses offer valuable opportunities to keep learning and growing.

Read More >>

How CCAR Keeps the Professional Standards Process Fair and Impartial

Fairness and impartiality are essential when a disciplinary complaint is filed. CCAR’s Professional Standards process includes multiple safeguards designed to ensure every matter is handled by a neutral, balanced, and qualified panel. These protections include strict confidentiality, careful panelist selection, conflict-of-interest rules, opportunities for both parties to challenge potential panelists, and clear restrictions on outside communication.

Learn more about the steps CCAR takes to prevent bias, protect everyone involved, and maintain confidence in the Professional Standards process.

Read More >>

WCR: Coffee and Networking – Aug 5

Join Women’s Council of REALTORS® for coffee, conversation, and networking. Whether you are new to the network, curious about what Women’s Council has to offer, or looking to make new connections, this monthly gathering is a great opportunity to meet fellow professionals, exchange ideas, and learn what sets the network apart.
Register >>

All laptops purchased through CCAR include a 2-year warranty, data transfer, and Real Estate setup.
More Information >>

Your Paragon Workflow is Getting an Upgrade

Scheduled for July 28, the latest Paragon Connect release will introduce several improvements designed to make everyday tasks faster and easier. Updates include a redesigned Roster Page with improved search, streamlined agent notification emails linked to Listing Match Tracker, a new “My Team” Hotsheet filter, and automatically updated agent and office information in EasyCMA reports.

Members will also find enhanced spreadsheet tools—including customizable columns, multi-column sorting, copying and pasting data, and larger result sets—along with easier Property Watch setup and more control over contact-created saved searches.

Explore the full Paragon 26.14 Release Notes for screenshots, instructions and a closer look at all the new features.

READ MORE >>

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

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Headlines

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Breaking News with picture of glass breaking monitor

Three Skills to Coach This Month

Information is everywhere. Expertise isn’t. Help agents turn market headlines into local insight, ask better questions, and explain the “why” behind their advice. That’s how brokerages earn trust and stand apart.

Information Is Everywhere. Judgment Is Not.

Consumers have unlimited access to market reports, mortgage calculators, AI chatbots, and housing headlines. Before they ever contact an agent, they’ve already formed opinions about pricing, interest rates, and whether now is the “right” time to buy or sell. That’s changing the role of today’s REALTOR®.

Don’t ask agents to memorize scripts. Teach them how to interpret information and apply it to a client’s unique situation.

NAR research shows today’s buyers continue to prioritize lifestyle factors such as walkable neighborhoods, proximity to amenities, and housing options—not just price. At the same time, younger buyers are entering the market in growing numbers, often arriving well-researched but needing help turning information into decisions.

That’s where professional guidance becomes indispensable.

Replace Opinions with Questions

Ask agents to bring one national housing headline to your meeting. Then have them answer:

  • Does this apply in Contra Costa County?
  • Which cities does it affect?
  • Which price ranges behave differently?
  • What local data would you use to explain the difference?

The goal isn’t to criticize the headline—it’s to teach agents to provide context.

Practice Explaining the Why

Sensational news articles do not create confidence. Explanations do. Challenge each agent to explain, in under 60 seconds:

  • Why a home received multiple offers.
  • Why another sat on the market.
  • Why two similar homes sold for different prices.
  • Why buyers continue choosing Contra Costa over neighboring markets.

If they can explain why, they’re demonstrating expertise—not simply repeating data.

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

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Beyond the Numbers

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spreadsheets and charts

Beyond the Numbers: Teach Agents to Turn Market Data Into Client Confidence

Data tells clients what happened. Your agents’ expertise explains why it happened and what to do next. That’s the difference between providing information and delivering professional value.

Always Think Hyper-Local

Citywide numbers are only the starting point. Every market is made up of dozens of micro-markets that behave differently. Challenge agents to answer questions such as:
  • What’s happening in this neighborhood—not just this city?
  • Are homes in this price range receiving multiple offers?
  • How do school boundaries, commute patterns, or nearby amenities affect demand?
  • Which competing listings are attracting buyers—and why?
The goal is to replace generic market commentary with neighborhood-specific insights clients can’t find online.

Make the CMA an Analysis, Not a Printout

A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) isn’t simply a collection of comparable sales. It’s a pricing recommendation supported by professional judgment. Encourage agents to evaluate:
  • Recent sold properties
  • Current competition
  • Pending sales
  • Price reductions
  • Property condition and upgrades
  • Market momentum
Then ask the most important question: “Based on all of this, what would you recommend—and why?” That’s where expertise begins.

Teach Strategic Pricing, Not Maximum Pricing

One of the biggest misconceptions among new agents is that pricing higher always benefits the seller. Instead, explain that strategic pricing considers:
  • Current buyer demand
  • Available inventory
  • Competing listings
  • Seller priorities
  • Buyer psychology
Sometimes pricing at market value generates multiple offers that drive the final sales price above list. Other times, pricing at the upper end of the market may be appropriate for a unique property. The objective isn’t simply to list high—it’s to create the best opportunity to achieve the seller’s goals.

Help Agents Tell the Story Behind the Numbers

Clients don’t need a spreadsheet—they need context. Instead of saying: “Inventory is 2.5 months,” Teach agents to explain: “Inventory is still relatively low, so well-priced homes continue to attract strong interest. Buyers have a few more choices than they did earlier this year, but sellers still have an advantage.”

Instead of: “Homes sold for 102.2% of asking price,” Teach: “Many buyers are still competing for desirable homes, so pricing accurately from day one is more important than ever.”

This is the difference between reporting data and providing expertise.

Encourage Ongoing Market Analysis

Market conditions evolve every week. Successful agents continually monitor:
  • New listings
  • Price reductions
  • Pending sales
  • Showing activity
  • Buyer feedback
  • Competing inventory
Encourage agents to discuss what they’re seeing at weekly office meetings. Those conversations sharpen market awareness and prepare agents to advise clients with confidence.

Build Confidence Through Conversation

The best way to develop market expertise is to practice explaining it. During office meetings, role-play common client questions:
  • “Why isn’t my home selling?”
  • “Should we lower the price?”
  • “Is now a good time to buy?”
  • “How did you determine my home’s value?”
The more often agents practice these conversations, the more naturally they’ll communicate confidence and credibility.

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

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MLS 2026 – Draft

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Builders Update
New Home
Source
CubiCasa
Floor Plan
Reports
dotloop
Transaction
Management
Glide
Showing
Management
HomesPro
Property
Search
InfoSparks
Market
Analysis
ListTrac
Listing
Management
RealReports
Property
Analysis
Realtor.com+
Property
Search
RentSpree
Rental
Screening
RPR
Property
Reports
Supra One
Showing
Management

CCAR MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE

Your MLS tools
and resources.
All in one place.

Access forms, market data, transaction tools,
training, product updates, and MLS support
all from your CCAR MLS subscriber hub.

Mon – Fri   9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
925.295.1270
[email protected]
MLS Support
Get help with Paragon, product support, training resources, and account access.
Get Support    ➔
Rules, Forms & Compliance
Find MLS Rules and Regulations, Clear Cooperation Information, forms, disclosures, and other compliance resources
View Rules & Forms    ➔
Market Data & Insights
Access local and state market reports, dashboards, calculators, and the latest housing statistics.
Explore Market Data    ➔
Important MLS Alerts
POLICY UPDATE

Changes to Listing Photograph Display in Paragon

Updates to how listing photos are displayed in Paragon MLS.

Effective June 10. 2026    |    Read More ➔
POLICY UPDATE

CDOM Relocation for Crawl and Coming Soon Listings

Important changes to the calculation of CDOM for certain listing statuses.

Effective June 10. 2026    |    Read More ➔
Market Data & Insights
Access local and state market reports, dashboards, calculators, and the latest housing statistics.
Explore Market Data    ➔

Before You Apply

Applications must be for a specific need that provides a direct benefit to the eligible CCAR member, family member, or community member.

  • A CCAR REALTOR® Member or Affiliate Member in good standing.

  • A family member of a qualified CCAR REALTOR® Member or Affiliate Member, including a spouse, domestic partner, or child under age 21.

  • A community member presented by a qualified CCAR REALTOR® Member or Affiliate Member.

Please note:
  • All requests are reviewed carefully, but assistance is not guaranteed.

  • Funds are not available for association dues, MLS fees, key fees, or other membership-related fees.

Questions?

Jennifer Newton
Chairperson
Keller Williams
925.366.6092
Lisa Lilley
Vice Chair
Robert Lilley Brokerage
925.787.5105

Confidential assistance. Community support.

Submit a confidential application or make a donation to support CCAR members and
community members facing hardship.

Start Application
Make a Donation