Blog - CCARToday - Contra Costa Association of REALTORS

C.A.R. Defeats Permanent Statewide Rent Control Bill

C.A.R. scored a major victory last week, stopping AB 1157 (Kalra) in the Assembly Judiciary Committee. The bill failed decisively, receiving only four votes.

AB 1157 would have imposed permanent statewide rent control on nearly all types of rental housing including all single-family homes, most of which are currently exempt from the state rent cap law. The bill also would have significantly reduced existing rent cap limits.

C.A.R. strongly opposed AB 1157 because it would have reduced investment in housing, reduced the supply of rental housing, and forced small housing providers out of the market. As demonstrated repeatedly in numerous empirical studies, strict rent control policies reduce housing supply and worsens affordability over time.

This is an important win for the REALTOR® Party and for all Californians who understand that the solution to our housing crisis is more housing, not less.

More Information >>

Weekly Jolt – 012026

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 20, 2026

C.A.R. Defeats Permanent Statewide Rent Control Bill

C.A.R. scored a major victory last week, stopping AB 1157 (Kalra) in the Assembly Judiciary Committee. The bill failed decisively, receiving only four votes.

AB 1157 would have imposed permanent statewide rent control on nearly all types of rental housing including all single-family homes, most of which are currently exempt from the state rent cap law. The bill also would have significantly reduced existing rent cap limits.

C.A.R. strongly opposed AB 1157 because it would have reduced investment in housing, reduced the supply of rental housing, and forced small housing providers out of the market. As demonstrated repeatedly in numerous empirical studies, strict rent control policies reduce housing supply and worsens affordability over time.

Celebrate 25 Years! Save $25 on CCAR’s Annual Crab Feed – March 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.

All tickets must be purchased in advance—no tickets will be sold at the door—so be sure to secure yours early. Purchase your tickets now and save $25 with Early Bird pricing!

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 >>

How Your Board Represents You

CCAR represents a diverse membership across six geographical “districts.” To ensure strong, balanced representation and clear communication, the Board of Directors rotates district liaison assignments each year.

Each Board member is assigned to a different district annually, allowing them to better understand the unique needs and perspectives across our entire region. This rotation strengthens member representation, improves communication, and supports more informed decision-making at the leadership level.

Your district’s Board representative is your direct connection to CCAR leadership. They are here to listen, share updates, and bring your feedback forward throughout the year.

Coming soon: This week, you will receive your first district newsletter of the year, featuring updates from your Board representative, along with important association and industry news.

When your newsletter arrives, take a moment to review it, get to know your Board representative, and reach out with questions, ideas, or feedback—they want to hear from you!

2026 Board of Directors

John Fondnazio, President
Zina F. Hall, Past-President
Donna Souza, President-Elect
Judy Myers, Treasurer

District 99:

Represents members conducting business outside Contra Costa County

Valerie Crowell
Brendan Moran

District 1:

Represents members conducting business in Walnut Creek + Rossmoor

Stephen Wondolowski

District 2:

Represents members conducting business in LAMORINDA Area

Diane Ramirez
Cherry Wade

District 3:

Represents members conducting business in (Central County) Clayton + Clyde, Concord + Martinez + Pacheco + Pleasant Hill

Joe Stokley
Rolanda Wilson

District 4:

Represents members conducting business in (San Ramon Valley) Alamo + Blackhawk + Danville + Diablo + San Ramon

Victor Reyes

District 5:

Represents members conducting business in (West County) Crocket/Port Costa + El Cerrito + El Sobrante + Hercules + Richmond + Rodeo + San Pablo

Donna Davis

All

Represents all affiliate members

Weekly Jolt – 011326

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 13, 2026

CCAR Offices Closed: Mon., Jan. 19 in observance of MLK, Jr. Day

An Evening of Recognition: CCAR’s Inaugural Dinner & Awards – January 31

Join us for a very special evening at our annual Inaugural Dinner and Award Celebration on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo.

We’ll recognize this year’s distinguished award recipients, install 2026 President John Fondnazio and our Board of Directors, and enjoy a night that brings our community together over great food and good company.

Come dressed to impress as we look back on a year of accomplishments and get ready for the exciting possibilities to come. Together, we’ll honor the people and partnerships that continue to strengthen our real estate community.

PURCHASE TICKETS >>

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Celebrate 25 Years! Save $25 on CCAR’s Annual Crab Feed – March 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.

All tickets must be purchased in advance—no tickets will be sold at the door—so be sure to secure yours early. Purchase your tickets now and save $25 with Early Bird pricing!

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 >>

Read More >>

Upcoming MLS Updates – Feb 10

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

C.A.R. Housing Marketing Update

As 2025 drew to a close, the U.S. economy showed signs of both resilience and caution. Holiday spending increased moderately, driven by robust ecommerce growth, yet concerns loom over rising consumer debt and a potential spending pullback in early 2026. Meanwhile, job creation remained soft, capping a year of weak hiring, even as wages edged higher and unemployment dipped slightly. On the policy front, new proposals targeting housing affordability and mortgage rates sparked debate, while consumer sentiment reflected growing pessimism about the labor market. Buckle up, 2026 could be another interesting ride.
Read More >>

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 >>

MLS Rule Changes Effective January 1, 2026
New Law: AB 723 – Disclosure Required for
Digitally Altered Property Images

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.
CCAR MLS Rules & Regulations >>

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

District 99 Fondnazio – Jan 26

Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Welcome to your first District update of the year. I am John Fondnazio, your CCAR President and Board Liaison, representing those of you who conduct business outside of Contra Costa County. I serve as your direct connection to CCAR leadership, and will share key updates with you, as well as bring your feedback to the Board.
In this first email of the year, you’ll find timely insights on insurance considerations, new California real estate laws taking effect in 2026, and practical information to support your business.
I look forward to staying connected with you throughout the year. I am here to listen, share updates, and bring your feedback forward. Feel free to reach out to me any time—we always want to hear from you. | MEET YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS >
Warm regards,

John

Top Tips to Get Insurance in Fire-Prone Areas

In this challenging insurance market, it is important for homebuyers to be proactive, diligent, and patient. Below are the five top tips for homebuyers in finding insurance:
Plan ahead and seek the assistance of insurance agents – Start shopping for insurance early! It takes time to complete applications and obtain quotes. When contacting agents, check to see if they work exclusively with one insurance company or has access to multiple carriers. Keep track of which insurance companies are being contacted to make sure there is a thorough search of all options. Use this tool from the California Department of Insurance for finding an agent or broker near you.
Check for policies written by admitted insurance companies. It is only admitted insurance companies that are backed by the California Insurance Guarantee Association (CIGA). They must file their rates and policy forms with the California Department of Insurance (DOI) and, most importantly, they are part of CIGA, which provides protections if the carrier becomes insolvent. The DOI has a list of admitted insurance companies >.
Compare types and limits of coverage, and feel free to ask questions. You can compare the types of coverage and limits using the DOI coverage comparison tool. Also remember to check whether the insurance company will lower the quote for fire hardening (e.g., clearing trees or brush around the perimeter, or having fire-resistant roof materials).
If coverage isn’t available through an admitted carrier, consider surplus lines (non-admitted) insurance. These carriers don’t file rates or forms with the DOI and aren’t part of CIGA, meaning no CIGA protection if the carrier becomes insolvent. However, they often offer more flexible options. Be sure to evaluate the carrier’s financial strength using a service such such as A.M. Best to determine whether it offers the best solution.
The Fair Plan is available as a last resort. If there are no other options, you or your insurance agent should contact California FAIR Plan at 1 (800) 339-4099. The FAIR Plan policy can be expensive, and it only covers certain losses caused by fire and smoke. For other perils such as theft and liability, consumers will need to buy Differences in Conditions (DIC) insurance to fill the gaps. List of DIC carriers >.

New CA Real Estate Laws Effective Jan 2026

A collection of new laws have been passed by the California Legislature that may affect REALTORS® in 2026. Following are the summaries of the most noteworthy among them. For the full text of a law, click on the C.A.R. link below.

HOA Balcony Inspection Disclosures (SB 410) Condo associations must include the most recent balcony inspection report in the standard HOA disclosure package, improving transparency and helping buyers meet lender requirements.

Digitally Altered Images in Advertising (AB 723) New rules apply when using digitally altered images in real estate advertising, including listings, mobile homes, and leases over one year.

Buyer Representation Agreement Regulations Buyer representation agreements and renewals are now limited to 90 days. Agreements exceeding 90 days are void and unenforceable, though the start date may be deferred.

Thirdhand Smoke Disclosure (AB 455)
Sellers must disclose actual knowledge of tobacco or nicotine residue and any history of smoking on the property.

Rental Habitability: Refrigerators & Stoves (AB 628) Landlords must provide working refrigerators + stoves with limited exceptions (for leases entered into, amended, or extended on or after Jan-1-26).

| REVIEW LAWS >

New Referral Fee Disclosure Form, Tools & Resources

To support clear and consistent disclosure, C.A.R. released new and updated forms, including the revised REALTOR® Acknowledgement and Disclosure Form (RAD). The updated form provides a standardized way to disclose referral-related compensation and other required disclosures.
To help members navigate these changes, C.A.R. also launched new support resources, including:
A Legal FAQ
Quick Guides
Legal Live Webinar videos
These tools explain when the RAD should be used, what must be disclosed, and how the updates align with current legal requirements. | LEARN MORE >

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS