Blog - CCARToday - Contra Costa Association of REALTORS

District 99 Hall – July 25

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Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Best Regards,

Navigating California’s Insurance Shakeup: What REALTORS® Need to Know Now

California’s homeowners insurance market has undergone sweeping changes since the spring, with skyrocketing FAIR Plan premiums, increased wildfire risk, and aggressive new state reforms reshaping how—and where—insurance is available. For REALTORS®, these shifts are more than headlines: they’re deal-changers that can stall escrows, disrupt renewals, and impact clients’ confidence in buying or selling property.

From record-high policy costs to a major court ruling on smoke damage coverage, and a bold regulatory push requiring insurers to return to wildfire-prone areas, understanding the current landscape is essential to advising clients and closing transactions.

REALTOR® Action Checklist:

Zina

Your Voice Matters: Help Shape CA’s Insurance Solutions

You’re on the frontlines of California’s housing market—and when insurance becomes a barrier to closing deals, renewing policies, or protecting your clients’ investments, you feel it first. That’s why C.A.R. has created the Homeowners Insurance Helpline—a free member benefit designed to support you and amplify your experiences by giving you a direct line to inform statewide solutions.

Share the biggest insurance-related pain points you and your clients are facing. Whether it’s trouble finding coverage, last-minute escrow delays, premium spikes, or renewal hurdles, your feedback helps influence policy and shape future services.

Note: While the helpline does not provide direct insurance quotes or case-by-case solutions.

Start the Insurance Conversation Early. Advise clients to begin exploring insurance options as soon as a property is listed or goes under contract—especially in high-risk areas.

Use the FAIR Plan Strategically, Not Automatically. Stay informed about the FAIR Plan’s premium increases, expanded coverage options, and claims process changes. Know when it’s a useful fallback and when a traditional policy may be possible.

Know Your Client’s Rights. Educate clients about nonrenewal moratoriums, 75-day cancellation notices, and available resources through the C.A.R. Homeowners Insurance Helpline.

FAIR Plan Reforms

CA Insurance Commissioner Lara is pushing reforms backed by Governor Newsom, implementing more transparency and requiring insurers to write policies in high risk zones if they wish to model future risk. | AB 226 (FAIR Plan Stabilization Act >

Document Property Risk Mitigation. Encourage sellers and buyers to document defensible space, Class A roofing, fire hardening, and other risk-reduction upgrades to strengthen insurance eligibility.

Track Ongoing Legislative Changes. Monitor reforms like AB 226 and new Department of Insurance regulations requiring insurers to return to wildfire-prone areas. These may open up more options for your clients in the near future.

Report Issues to C.A.R. Submit challenges through the C.A.R. Insurance Helpline—your feedback helps shape advocacy efforts and future tools.

CCRE Expert Insights on Insurance

The Center for California Real Estate’s (CCRE) July 2025 report proposes solutions to stabilize the homeowners insurance market while empowering REALTORS® to guide clients on risk reduction.

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

Weekly Jolt – 070825

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | JULY 08, 2025

CCAR Offices Closed: Wed, July 9 For A Staff Training Day

Call for Applications: CCAR Affiliate Liaison to BOD

The non-voting Affiliate Liaison plays a vital role in strengthening the connection between CCAR’s Affiliate members and the leadership team. This position offers a unique opportunity to represent the voice of our diverse Affiliate community, sharing their perspectives, needs, and ideas directly with the Board. It’s a great opportunity to grow as a leader, build lasting relationships, and contribute in a meaningful way to the success and unity of our Association.

The non-voting Affiliate Liaison must have been a CCAR Affiliate Member for two years immediately preceding appointment and in good standing.

Title Fraud on the Rise: What You Need to Know

A new survey from the National Association of REALTORS® reveals growing concern over title fraud and deed theft, especially in urban and suburban markets.

63% of REALTOR® association advocates reported awareness of scams in the past year—most involving vacant land, not owner-occupied homes.

Efforts to combat fraud are active in 76% of areas, with strong support (83%) for electronic alerts to notify property owners of title changes.

Stay vigilant—learn how prevention efforts are evolving across the country…

ETHICS CORNER:

REALTOR® CODE OF ETHICS: ARTICLE 1
When representing a buyer, seller, landlord, tenant, or other client as an agent, REALTORS® pledge themselves to protect and promote the interests of their client. This obligation to the client is primary, but it does not relieve REALTORS® of their obligation to treat all parties honestly. When serving a buyer, seller, landlord, tenant or other party in a non-agency capacity, REALTORS® remain obligated to treat all parties honestly.
Watch the Video >>

REALTOR® Optimize 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 ends on Oct. 14, 2025.
• Lenovo Slim 5i 16″ – $935.51 >>
• Lenovo IdeaPad 14″ 2 in 1 – $935.51 >>

Have You Tried Your New Member Benefit- CubiCasa?

What is CubiCasa?
CubiCasa is a powerful, easy-to-use mobile app that creates beautiful, detailed floor plans in minutes – all from a quick smartphone scan. No special equipment. No learning curve. Just fast, impressive results.

Why it matters:
According to NAR’s annual Homebuyers and Sellers Survey, floor plans are one of the most in-demand features for listings, right after photos and property data. They help buyers instantly understand layout and flow – making your listings stand out.

Your Member Perks:

Free floor plans (up to 5,000 sq ft)
25% off all Plus packages and optional add-ons (GLA floor plans, 3D products, rush orders & more)
Access to a network of CubiCasa-certified photographers – or bring your own!

Whether you’re an agent, appraiser, or photographer, CubiCasa is the listing tool you didn’t know you needed.

Read More >>

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

House Passes Tax Bill with Major Wins for Real Estate

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a comprehensive tax reform package that includes several significant provisions benefiting the real estate sector.

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) successfully advocated for key measures that support real estate professionals, homeowners, and investors.

key highlights:

Qualified Business Income Deduction (QBI): The bill permanently increases the QBI deduction from 20% to 23%, providing substantial tax relief to over 90% of NAR members who are independent contractors or small business owners.
State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction: The SALT deduction cap is raised from $10,000 to $40,000 for households earning under $500,000, with both the income cap and deduction amount increasing by 1% annually over a decade.
Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID): The legislation preserves and makes permanent the MID at its current level, maintaining a crucial benefit for homeowners.
Section 1031 Like-Kind Exchanges: The bill protects Section 1031 exchanges, allowing investors to defer capital gains taxes when reinvesting in similar properties, a vital tool for property investment and economic development.
Individual Tax Rates: Current individual tax rates are made permanent and indexed for inflation, aiding taxpayers and improving affordability for prospective homebuyers.
Additional Provisions: The bill includes enhancements to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, estate tax certainty with a permanent exemption threshold set at $15 million (adjusted for inflation), renewed Opportunity Zone incentives, and the creation of tax-advantaged child investment accounts for expenses like first-time home purchases.

These measures aim to strengthen housing affordability, investment, and generational wealth. For a detailed overview of the bill’s provisions and their implications for the real estate industry, read the full article on REALTOR® Magazine.

Read More >>

In the latest episode of the Advocacy Scoop podcast, NAR advocacy leaders Shannon McGahn and Patrick Newton discuss the Senate’s approach to the new tax reform bill. They highlight key provisions impacting REALTORS® and homeowners, including:

Making the mortgage interest deduction permanent
Increasing the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap
Enhancing the qualified business income deduction for independent contractors

The episode also covers NAR’s ongoing advocacy efforts and insights from a recent member tax survey.

Listen Now >>

Weekly Jolt – 070125

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | July 01, 2025

CCAR Offices Closed: Fri, July 4 For independence Day

Call for Applications: CCAR Affiliate Liaison to BOD

House Passes Tax Bill with Major Wins for Real Estate

The House has passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a sweeping tax reform package that delivers key wins for the real estate industry.

Highlights include a permanent increase in the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction to 23%, a raised SALT cap for middle-income households, and the preservation of the mortgage interest deduction and 1031 like-kind exchanges. The bill also boosts housing affordability through Low-Income Housing Tax Credit enhancements and new incentives like Opportunity Zones and first-time homebuyer savings accounts.

ETHICS CORNER:

The REALTOR® Code of Ethics is a trusted set of guidelines developed by the National Association of REALTORS® to ensure honesty, integrity, and fairness in real estate. Every REALTOR® agrees to follow this code, which sets them apart from non-member licensees and reinforces their commitment to ethical, professional service.
Watch the Video >>

REALTOR® Optimize Laptops For Sale

Have You Tried Your New Member Benefit- CubiCasa?

Your Member Perks:

Free floor plans (up to 5,000 sq ft)
25% off all Plus packages and optional add-ons (GLA floor plans, 3D products, rush orders & more)
Access to a network of CubiCasa-certified photographers – or bring your own!

Whether you’re an agent, appraiser, or photographer, CubiCasa is the listing tool you didn’t know you needed

Read More >>

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

CCAR Product Testimonials

Smarter Tools, Stronger Agents: AI Trends Reshaping Real Estate

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

As our industry continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, I want to personally invite you to explore the transformative role artificial intelligence is playing in real estate today. In this newsletter, you’ll learn how AI-powered tools are already enhancing property valuations, streamlining marketing strategies, and improving client engagement through virtual assistants and predictive analytics.

2025 AI Forecast for Agents and Brokers

CCAR AI Tools Available Now, Plus More Coming Soon

Embracing innovations in AI can give you a competitive edge, improve client experience, and help you work more efficiently.

These are no longer tools of the future—they are shaping our profession now. I encourage you to read this newsletter and see how your business can benefit from adopting these technologies. To learn more you can also participate in CCAR’s upcoming AI education courses including a free virtual session on June 25, “Become Irreplaceable – Make AI Work For You.” You’ll gain real-world insights from industry leaders on using AI while strengthening the most important asset in real estate: your relationships.

Let’s lead the way together.

Best Regards,

Rolanda

Unlock Your Potential with AI

Take your real estate career to the next level with Marki Lemons’ ultimate guide to mastering the skills that drive success. Learn powerful techniques for prospecting, lead generation, and client acquisition, and gain the confidence to negotiate and close deals with ease. Discover how to craft compelling marketing materials that captivate buyers and set you apart from the competition.

This book also dives deep into digital marketing, social media engagement, and AI-driven tools that will streamline your workflow and maximize your reach. | LEARN MORE >

As AI continues to evolve, its integration into real estate is expected to deepen, further transforming how properties are bought, sold, and managed. Following are just a few of the most exciting innovations being used today:

Personalized Property Search: AI-powered platforms are now delivering hyper-personalized property suggestions by analyzing user preferences, behaviors, and historical data to match buyers with properties that align closely with their desires, streamlining the search process.

Customer Engagement: The integration of AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants has revolutionized client interactions in real estate. These tools provide 24/7 support, managing inquiries, filtering leads, and scheduling appointments, thereby enhancing customer service and allowing agents to focus on more complex tasks.

Virtual Staging & Tours: AI technologies are being employed to create realistic virtual staging and immersive property tours. These tools generate professional-quality photos and 3D walkthroughs, allowing potential buyers to visualize properties remotely, which is especially beneficial in today’s digital-first market.

Auto Document Management: AI is streamlining the management of real estate documents by automating the review and analysis of lease agreements, loan documents, and service contracts. This automation reduces errors, ensures compliance, and accelerates transaction processes.

Marketing: AI is transforming real estate marketing by analyzing customer data to run targeted advertising campaigns. These AI-powered tools evaluate website visitor behavior, social media engagement, and email responses to identify promising leads, optimize marketing strategies, and attract serious buyers while minimizing unnecessary advertising costs. | LEARN MORE >

RPR Residential Market Trends Script Writer enables agents to create digestible market summaries based on hyper-local market data. Users can:

Choose from different tones, including professional, engaging, conversational or friendly/casual.

Target messages to buyers, sellers, both, first-time buyers, move-up buyers, investors, luxury sellers and more.

Receive video scripts and social media posts, based on local market trends stats, that can be quickly shared on social channels, emails, websites or presentations.

RPR Residential Market Trends Script Writer is a game-changer for market updates and neighborhood expertise.| TRY IT NOW >

AI Property Insights in RPR Mobile App: The AI button in any Property Details page brings professional polish and insight directly to your clients in seconds, right from your phone and allows you to instantly generate a property summary based on property data; pull from RPR’s Market Trends stats to give a basic understanding of market type, pricing comparisons and monthly inventory levels; choose from several tones and client types’ and share quick insights while on tours, at open houses or in initial conversations. | GET APP >

RealReports is an AI-driven platform that delivers instant, in-depth property reports by pulling data from over 60 trusted sources. Think permits, climate risk, zoning, liens, valuations, and more—all consolidated in one clean, comprehensive report. | MORE >

UPCOMING AI COURSES & EVENTS

JUN 12

AI-Powered Real Estate: Unleashing Practical Strategies for Success | VIRTUAL | Jun 12 | 10:00 – 11:00 am | Free | This session will guide you through a simplified and easy-to-understand overview of AI technologies and their applications in the real estate sector. We will specifically dive into how AI can revolutionize your marketing strategies, empowering you to reach wider audiences, attract qualified leads, and achieve unparalleled success. | REGISTER >

YPN Lunch & Learn: Master the Market – Strategic Pricing, Persuasive Presentation & the Power of AI | LIVE | Jun 12 | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm | $25 Online/$35 @ Door | Don Tatzin Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette | CCAR YPN is bringing together two of the industry’s most dynamic voices — Keith Robinson, Co-CEO of NextHome, and Anthony Young, Certified RE Appraiser and educator — for a deep dive into what’s really happening in today’s market. Get fresh insight on navigating pricing and commission conversations, and discover practical ways to use AI that actually help you close more deals. It’s real talk from real pros. | REGISTER >

JUN 25

Become Irreplaceable – Make AI Work For You | VIRTUAL | Jun 25 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Free | Instructor: Warren Dow | This session will explore practical use cases for agents to provide value to clients, generate leads, and mitigate risk. Now is the time to get ahead and embrace the new tools and technology that will permanently widen the gap between you and the competition. | REGISTER >

ANYTIME

Getting Started w/ Generative AI to Improve Your Real Estate Business | ON-DEMAND VIDEO | Anytime | $25 Member | Artificial Intelligence is here and it’s going to do everything. We can just relax and somehow, we’ll make money faster, right? RIGHT? Not quite. Robots aren’t ready to run 100% of anything yet but maybe they can help! This is an introductory course designed to explain the basics of what Generative AI is, how it can be used, and what real estate professionals need to look out for. | REGISTER >

TIME

9:30 – 10:00 am

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PRODUCT

10:00 – 10:30 am

11:00 – 11:30 am

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