Jolt Archives - CCARToday - Contra Costa Association of REALTORS

Weekly Jolt – 012726

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 27, 2026

RED ALERT: Act Today to Protect Homebuyers

C.A.R. and CCAR are opposing AB 1406 (Ward), a bill that would double the statutory cap on liquidated damages when a buyer purchases a newly constructed, owner-occupied condominium from a developer. Specifically, AB 1406 increases the cap from 3% to 6% of the purchase price.

C.A.R. and CCAR oppose this measure because it weakens long-standing consumer protections that safeguard buyers’ hard-earned savings. By raising the cap, the bill puts buyers at risk of losing life-changing sums of money to help finance condominium projects—an outcome that unfairly shifts risk away from developers and onto consumers.

CONTACT YOUR ASSEMBLYMEMBER >>

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 by Feb. 9 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 >>

REALTOR® Member Health Insurance Open Enrollment Ends Saturday

There’s still time to secure your 2026 health insurance, and RealCare is here to make the process simple and stress-free. Open Enrollment ends Jan. 31 for most coverage plans.

Don’t wait—visit RealCare online or call 800.939.8088 (Option 2) to find the perfect plan for you today!

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

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 >>

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

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

Final Weeks: REALTOR® Member Health Insurance Open Enrollment

There’s still time to secure your 2026 health insurance, and RealCare is here to make the process simple and stress-free. Navigating the health insurance marketplace can feel overwhelming, but with RealCare’s expert guidance, you’ll have the support you need every step of the way. Open Enrollment runs from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 for most coverage plans, and RealCare continues to offer access to two great options: Individual Plans and Covered CA.

Don’t wait—visit RealCare online or call 800.939.8088 (Option 2) to find the perfect plan for you today!

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

REALTOR Optimized Laptops For Sale

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

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.

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

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 >>

Read More >>

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 by Feb. 9 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

Weekly Jolt – 012726

RED ALERT: Act Today to Protect Homebuyers

Celebrate 25 Years! Save $25 on CCAR’s Annual Crab Feed – March 6

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

Weekly Jolt – 012026

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

Celebrate 25 Years! Save $25 on CCAR’s Annual Crab Feed – March 6

How Your Board Represents You

Weekly Jolt – 011326

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

Celebrate 25 Years! Save $25 on CCAR’s Annual Crab Feed – March 6

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