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Weekly Jolt – 071823

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | JULY 18, 2023

C.A.R. Fire Insurance Townhall With CA Insurance Commissioner – Tomorrow

Learn how you can help your clients face the current fire insurance challenges tomorrow, July 26 from 1:00pm – 2:00pm. C.A.R. is holding a free one-hour, virtual townhall with Insurance Commissioner, Ricardo Lara, and Executive Director of United Policyholders, Amy Bach. Hear from experts at the Department of Insurance, United Policyholders and California Association of Realtors on the state of California’s property and casualty insurance market and how the new safer from wildfires regulation can help homeowners and businesses qualify for insurance discounts…

Paperwork document, claim form with business applicant

Call for Applications: CCAR Affiliate Liaison to BOD

CCAR is calling for applications from qualified Affiliate members who are interested in serving a two-year term as a non-voting Affiliate Liaison to the 2024 Board of Directors.

This person will act as liaison between the Board of Directors and the Affiliate membership, conveying their concerns to the Board and communicating back to the Affiliate membership. The non-voting liaison must have been a CCAR Affiliate Member for two years immediately preceding appointment.

Click here for the Affiliate Liaison Application, due by Aug. 14th at 5pm.

CCAR Scholarship Foundation’s
Wine & Chocolate Affair – July 25

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Reinputforms.com retirement

On August 23^rd, reInputForms,com will no longer be accessible. This site served as our digital and printable listing input forms solution, but due to lack of usage the service is being shut down.

If you have any questions, please contact CCAR Member Services at [email protected] or 925.295.1270.

HOMESNAP UPGRADED TO HOMES PRO

Homes Pro from homes.com has recently replaced the current Homesnap app and website. Homes Pro features enhanced options, better collaborations, and many other improvements. Users can login with their same homesnap email and password. Homes Pro is available in the Apple App store and Google Play store.
READ MORE >>

Coming Soon: 2023 MLS Survey

You will soon have the opportunity to provide feedback regarding the MLS you use every day! Watch for an email on August 14th with a link to our 2023 MLS Survey. The survey will end at 5:00pm on August 18th.

MLS Area Field Repurposing

On October 16th, the following change will be made to the Paragon MLS. The “Area” field lookups are being updated to just a single lookup of “Listing” rendering the field useless. We recommend the use of the “City” field, “Zip Code” field, or Map Search as a replacement for use of the “Area” field.

Saved Search Issue:
Updating the “Area” to a single lookup will trigger notifications on any “Saved Searches” that utilize the “Area” field. To ensure you do not bombard your clients with emails containing listings that do not match their search criteria, we recommend that you update your saved searches now.

Alternatives:
The following are options to utilize as an alternative to the “Area” field.
1. City
2. Zip Code
3. Map Search

Unique Areas (see above photo):
For those unique “Areas” such as Blackhawk, Rossmoor, Hayward Hills, etc.., you can leverage the “Zip Code” field for all but Rossmoor. For those agents who specialize in Rossmoor, we have created a “Map Layer” solution for your searching needs. To utilize the “Map Layer”, open the map and click on “Open Map Layer Panel” icon and check the box for “ROSSMOOR – WALNUT CREEK” then run search or add to criteria.

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

In Memoriam

Richard “Dick” Clancy,
CCAR Honorary Member for Life

Dick Clancy passed away on June 28 at his home in Lafayette. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 14 from 4:00-7:00 pm at Queen of Heaven Cemetery Chapel; funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 15 at 10:00 am at St. Perpetua Catholic Church, both in Lafayette.

Dick was an active REALTOR® member since joining the Association in 1971 and was highly respected and much loved in the community. Lifetime entrepreneur, he co-founded Security Pacific Real Estate, eventually running eight offices throughout the Bay Area. He and his Partner Ray DeGennaro established one of the county’s first home warranty companies (Continental Home Warranty) which was acquired by Fidelity. He also co-founded Lamorinda Bank (now US Bank). Dick was a CCAR and NAR Emeritus Member, a C.A.R. Honorary Member for Life and actively involved in the CCAR Scholarship Foundation, eventually establishing a Perpetual Scholarship in his family name.

Dick Clancy is survived by his son 2004 CCAR President Mike Clancy, daughters Cynthia Reed and Taryn Leslie, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, and an extended family.

For more information, click here.

Geoff Disch (Green Escrow),
2018 CCAR Affiliate Member of the Year

Geoff passed away on July 10. Funeral/memorial service plans have not yet been announced.

Beloved member since 2009, Geoff was a constant presence at the Thursday RMA meetings and Association events. Geoff generously sponsored countless CCAR programs throughout the years. Pilot, Vietnam Vet, accomplished trumpeter, and vocalist with the Blackhawk Chorus, he was also a leader in his local church and charitable organizations. Highly regarded in the industry, Geoff’s career spanned more than 40 years and he was an active leader in other professional trade associations.

Weekly Jolt – 071123

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | JULY 11, 2023

Call for Applications: CCAR Affiliate Liaison to BOD

In Memoriam

Richard “Dick” Clancy, CCAR Honorary Member for Life, passed away on June 28 at his home in Lafayette. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 14 from 4:00-7:00pm at Queen of Heaven Cemetery Chapel; funeral services will be held on Sat., July 15 at 10:00am at St. Perpetua Catholic Church, both in Lafayette…
CONTINUED >>

Geoff Disch (Green Escrow), 2018 CCAR Affiliate Member of the Year, passed away on July 10. Funeral/memorial service plans have not yet been announced. Beloved member since 2009, Geoff was a constant presence at the Thursday RMA meetings and Association events. Geoff generously sponsored countless CCAR programs throughout the years…
CONTINUED >>

INSURANCE BRIEFING FOR REALTORS^® – JULY 26

READ MORE & REGISTER >>

New In-Stock Laptops For Sale

MLS Area Field Repurposing

Alternatives:
The following are options to utilize as an alternative to the “Area” field.
1. City
2. Zip Code
3. Map Search

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

Weekly Jolt – 070523

CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | JULY 5, 2023

Laptop Support, Sales & Upgrades!

Is your laptop giving you fits? Is Paragon MLS dragging? Want it to run faster, quickly view photos and videos, make life easier and more efficient?

Why not upgrade to an SSD? – A new CCAR Member Service from the Laptop Doc! If your old laptop is slowing you down and a new one just isn’t in the budget yet, this may be the service for you! Some computers may benefit from a low cost upgrade to a solid state drive ”SSD” which can boost your computers performance up to 10x with boot times up to 61% faster!

Contact [email protected]
for more information.

Text Code of Ethics typed on retro typewriter

Code of Ethics Violators

In an effort to make ethics violations and the disciplinary process more transparent, C.A.R. is publishing the names of members who are found in violation of the Code of Ethics as well as summaries of the members’ unethical behavior.

Member publication is triggered only if the discipline imposed is a reprimand, fine, suspension or expulsion – anything other than a letter of warning or stand-alone education. The information will be published on the members-only section of car.org.

Past decisions of ethics…

MLS UPDATE:

The CE Shop Discounts

New In-Stock Laptops For Sale

RPR’s 6 Tools to Better Serve Your Clients – July 13

Join us next Thursday, July 13 for an exclusive members-only dive into the RPR tools you need to better serve buyers and sellers.

The webinar will cover:
1. RPR’s exclusive Realtor Valuation Model® (RVM®).
2. Using your market expertise to refine a property’s value.
3. Creating an appealing and persuasive CMA.
4. Generating one of a dozen RPR reports.
5. Learning how to create and share RPR’s new market data.
6. Creating content with the new AI writer.

REGISTER TODAY!
10:00am Session >>
1:00pm Session >>

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

New Fire Insurance Resources To Keep Your Clients Informed

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and United Policyholders, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of consumers, recently presented an insurance townhall briefing for REALTORS® to learn about California’s property and casualty insurance market and how the new Safer From Wildfires regulations can help homeowners and businesses qualify for insurance discounts.

Watch a replay of the briefing at your convenience (right).

C.A.R. and CCAR will continue to provide new information and resources as they become available. Click on the flyers below to learn more.

NEW RESOURCES

Top 10 Tips For Finding
Residential Insurance

Top 10 Tips For Finding
Residential Insurance – Spanish

Being Safer From Wildfires
Can Help with Insurance

How to Find (or Keep) Fire Insurance

How To Protect Yourself

How to Fire Harden-Your Home

There is no fire insurance contingency in the Residential Purchase Agreement
Investigating the availability and cost of fire insurance is the responsibility of a buyer. A buyer who is not satisfied with either would ordinarily have the right to cancel a contract but only during the buyer’s investigation contingency. If an offer is made without an investigation contingency, or if that contingency is removed, a buyer who backs out of a contract because of the anticipated cost or availability of fire insurance could be in breach of contract. Even if a loan contingency is still in effect, and the lender refuses to make the loan because the buyer has not acquired a fire insurance policy either because of its costs or coverage, the lender’s failure to loan would be due to the buyer’s affirmative decision and would not justify exercise of the loan contingency.

The impact of California wildfires has impacted the cost and availability of fire insurance.
Buyers are advised to investigate the cost and availability of fire insurance before making an offer, just like many buyers investigate loan rates and terms, and obtain a prequalification or preapproval from a lender or loan broker in advance of making an offer. Buyers should discuss fire insurance possibilities with an insurance agent. Factors to consider are the location of property in a state or local fire zone, fire hardening of potential property, proof of compliance with defensible space laws (See Quick Guide and Q&A on Defensible Space Laws), whether an insurer is admitted in California, and the scope of coverage available, including policies from the California Fair Plan.

A buyer who acquires fire insurance to complete a property purchase cannot let that policy lapse without exposing the buyer to financial risk.
If the buyer has obtained a loan secured by the property, the lender will typically have a forced-payment clause in the loan documents which allows the lender to acquire fire insurance on the owner’s behalf, at the owner’s expense, if the owner’s fire insurance policy is no longer effective because the owner stops making payments, or the fire insurance company terminates coverage for any other reason. Policies obtained through a forced-payment clause are usually designed to primarily protect the lender’s secured interest, and not the owner’s ability to fully recoup losses in the event of a fire. Such policies can be expensive and have limited coverage. Even if a property is not secured by a loan, the buyer is exposed to all of the losses and costs to rebuild in the event of a fire if there is no fire insurance policy in effect at the time of fire.

There are restrictions on an insurance company’s right to terminate coverage or “non-renew” an existing policy as well minimum rights applicable to temporary relocation and time to rebuild.
In an effort to assist homeowners, the California Legislature has enacted laws that require fire insurers (i) to continue and/or renew coverage for at least one year from the date of a declaration of emergency (Insurance Code § 675.1), (ii) to pay for necessary additional living expenses for up to 24 months (Insurance Code § 2060), (iii) to allow owners 36 months to rebuild because of the difficulty in finding coverage and contractors after a widespread wildfire (Insurance Code § 2051.5). If the fire insurance carrier is not admitted in California, these Department requirements may not apply. Fire insurance companies can terminate a policy for non-payment of the premium.

Richard “Dick” Clancy, CCAR Honorary Member for Life

Geoff Disch (Green Escrow), 2018 CCAR Affiliate Member of the Year

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Richard “Dick” Clancy,
CCAR Honorary Member for Life

Geoff Disch (Green Escrow),
2018 CCAR Affiliate Member of the Year