CCARToday - Contra Costa Association of REALTORS

Moves You Forward.

Real Estate Exams & COVID-19

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Standardized test exams
The Department of Real Estate (DRE) is cancelling real estate salesperson and broker license exams at the Oakland Exam Center through July 31, 2020.

This action is being taken to comply with state and local public health agencies ordering residents to shelter in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Examinees affected by these cancellations will be allowed to reschedule their canceled exam dates using DRE’s eLicensing system. Exam rescheduling fees will be waived for canceled exams.

Examinees with questions or concerns regarding canceled exams can contact DRE’s Licensing program at 877.373.4542 or [email protected].

Government Advocacy: Your Lifeline to Prosperity

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realtor action fund logo

Now more than ever, Association membership is vital to your business; your dues and RAF contributions are yielding concrete benefits in real time enabling you to conduct business during a national public health crisis that has immobilized millions.

Throughout the past several months, CCAR, C.A.R. and NAR have been hard at work helping to keep your businesses alive and viable during the COVID-19 crisis. Among the outstanding achievements accomplished on your behalf during this shelter-in-place-era include the landmark coup at the county, state and national levels to establish residential real estate as an “Essential Service”.

Without the powerful influence and daily work of your Association government advocacy teams—the core service at the heart of your trade association benefits package—your business might still be shut down due to COVID-19. As a result of the dedicated campaign forged on your behalf to raise awareness and educate government officials about the critical necessity of residential real estate, CCAR, C.A.R. and NAR have opened up a lifeline between government authority and your industry.

Government Advocacy Victories

Following are some examples of your association dues at work to support your business:

CCAR Victories

  • Real Estate as Essential Business Classification
 
  • Property Viewing Authorization
 
  • Ongoing education/outreach to influence COVID-19 decision-making and legislation

Education Opportunities

The entire local, State and National REALTOR® Association network has created a dynamic program of services to meet your special needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Powered by virtual technology, CCAR continues to offer a comprehensive education curriculum and provide uninterrupted membership benefits and services.

>  CCAR Education Calendar > 
>  C.A.R. Education Offerings > 
>  NAR Education Offerings > 

C.A.R. Victories

  • AB 2406 (Wicks) Statewide Rental Registry – C.A.R. opposed this measure as it sought to establish an expansive statewide one-size-fits-all mandate. It did not advance out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and will not be moving forward this year.
  • AB 1905 (Chiu) Housing & Homeless Response Fund: Personal Income Taxation: Mortgage Interest Deduction – C.A.R. opposition efforts effectively killed this measure in the in the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee.
  • SB 939 (Wiener) Emergencies: COVID-19: Commercial Tenancies: Evictions – C.A.R. opposition efforts successfully derailed this measure in the Senate Appropriations Committee and it will not be moving forward.
  • AB 2501 (Limon) COVID-19: Homeowner, Tenant, And Consumer Relief – C.A.R. is opposed to this measure as it may create negative effects on current and prospective homeowners and places onerous requirements for rental property owners and poses disastrous effects on tenants. AB 2501 was defeated on the Assembly Floor this week.
  • ACA 11 (Mullin) The Home Protection for Seniors, Severely Disabled, Families, and Victims of Wildfire or Natural Disasters Act – C.A.R. successfully influenced the passing of this enhanced measure in both legislative houses. It will replace C.A.R.’s original initiative on the ballot, strengthening the provisions and dedicated funding for fire protection and emergency response to safeguard communities across the state.

        See all recent C.A.R. legislative victories >

NAR Victories

  • Real estate “Essential Service” business classification
  • Self-employment
    protections and assistance
  • IRS protections/deadline delays for commercial real estate
  • Mortgage and rental forbearance and relief packages
  • Loans for independent contractors/ small businesses

See more details about NAR’s advocacy work during COVID-19 >

Contribute!

You can help influence future legislative action by contributing to the RAF – Realtor Action Fund >

MLS Rule Changes – August 3, 2020

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The following MLS Rules and Regulations modifications will be effective August 3rd. All modifications are notated in red.
 
7.4.1 Time Frame Definitions. Unless otherwise expressly indicated, where compliance time frames set forth ”days,” “days” mean calendar days; “days after” means the specified number of calendar days after the occurrence of the event specified, not counting the calendar date on which the specified event occurs, and ending at 11:59 p.m. on the final day; and “days prior” means the specified number of calendar days before the occurrence of the event specified, not counting the calendar date on which the specified event is scheduled to occur. Where “business days” are expressly referenced, “days” exclude Saturdays, Sundays and all recognized federal and state holidays.
 
7.7 Service Area. The MLS’s service area shall be determined by the MLS Committee, subject to approval by the Board of Directors. If CCAR has entered into regional MLS agreements, data share agreements, cross-pollination agreements or a regional MLS corporation with other MLSs and has enlarged the service area as part of the agreement or corporation, submission of the type of listings specified in section 7.5 is mandatory for the area covered by the combined service areas of the Association’s signatory to the regional MLS agreement or part of the regional MLS corporation. Submission of the type of listings specified in section 7.5 input into another MLS is sufficient, if the MLS has entered into a cross-pollination agreement with CCAR.
 
7.7.1 Service Area Defined. The service area covers the following California Counties; Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Amador, El Dorado, Merced, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Yolo, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and San Francisco.
 
7.19.1 Extension for Protected Buyer. In the event a listing broker’s listing has been cancelled or expired but a commission extension right for a protected buyer has been timely activated in the listing agreement and listing broker represents seller in said transaction, listing broker may be considered the “listing broker” for MLS reporting of sale as long as satisfactory documentation is presented to MLS.
 
8.2 Written Documentation. Listing brokers filing listings with the service shall have a written listing agreement with all necessary signatures in their possession. All necessary signatures are those needed to create an enforceable listing, which generally means all named signatories to the listing agreement. In the event there are known additional property owners not made a signatory to the listing, listing broker shall disclose said fact on the service and state whether the listed seller will make the sale contingent on the consent of the additional property owners. Only listings that create an agency relationship between the seller and the Broker Participant are eligible for submission to the service. By inputting a listing to the service, Broker Participants and R.E. Subscribers represent that they have in their possession such written agreements establishing agency and the represented type of listing agreement. The service shall have the right to demand a copy of such written listing agreements and verify the listing’s existence and adequacy at any time. The service shall also have the right to demand a copy of seller’s written authorization required under these rules. If the Broker Participant or R.E. Subscriber fails to provide documentation requested by the service within 1 day after the service’s request, the service shall have the right to immediately withdraw any listings from the data base in addition to disciplining the Participant and Subscriber for a violation of MLS rules.
 
8.5 Buyer, Seller, Purchase and Sale Defined. Except as provided in Sections 7.5 and 7.6,Aall references to the buyer shall also include lessee. All references to the seller shall also include lessor. All references to a purchase shall also include a lease. All references to a sale shall also include a lease.
 
12.5.1 Public Remarks Restrictions and Requirements
  • Information in the public remarks shall only relate to the marketing, description and condition of the property.
  • No contact information is permitted, including names, phone or fax numbers, email addresses or website branded addresses (including branded virtual tours and branded transaction tracking URLs).
  • No showing instructions are permitted, including references to lockbox, alarm, gate or other security codes, or the vacancy of the property. However, a statement that the property shall be delivered vacant is not a violation.
  • No information directed toward real estate agents or brokers, including compensation or bonuses offered to buyer brokers may be shown in public remarks.
 
If you have any questions please contact CCAR MLS Compliance at [email protected] or 925.295.1270

MLS Rule Change 11.5 – Photo Retention

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11.5 Photographs on the MLS.
a. By submitting photographs to the MLS, the participant and/or subscriber represents and warrants that he or she either owns the right to reproduce and display such photographs or has procured such rights from the appropriate party, and has the authority to grant and hereby grants the MLS and the other Participants and Subscribers the right to reproduce and display the photographs in accordance with these rules and regulations. Use of photographs by a subsequent listing agent requires prior written authorization from the originating listing agent or other appropriate party with the legal right to reproduce and display such photographs. Except by the MLS for purposes of protecting its rights under Section 11.6, branding of photographs, virtual tours or any other photographic representation with any information or additional images, is prohibited. However, branded Media Links will be permitted in the Branded Media Link field for the sole purpose of transmittal to 3rd party vendors only. Upon notification to the Participant and/or Subscriber, MLS has the right to remove any photo found not to be in compliance with the MLS Rules.
 
b. At least one (1) photo or graphic image of the front exterior of the property accurately displaying the listed property (except where sellers expressly direct in writing that photographs of their property not appear in MLS compilations) is required to be posted on the MLS within 1 day of submission of the listing in all categories other than business opportunity and Lots and Land.
 
c. To maintain the accuracy and efficacy of the MLS data base, the MLS will no longer remove photos from Sold listings. Alternately, to meet the requests from home buyers and sellers the MLS will update the Sold listings IDX and VOW settings to stop the listing from syndicating.
 
If you have any questions please contact CCAR MLS Compliance at [email protected].

Property Watch (Paragon 5)

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binoculars

NOW AVAILABLE! Property Watch, a powerful tool within Paragon®, helps real estate agents quickly and easily stay up-to-date with updates that are made in property data to the properties they select. Armed with the most current and immediate data about a property, agents can market their services to potential customers – before the competition does.

Agents automatically receive email alerts when there are changes on their selected properties. Alerts include valuation changes, foreclosures, if a property is listed on MLS, lien changes and more. Agents can use this data a variety of ways, such as being the first to approach a potential lead for a listing when the home value increases.
 
In addition to sending alerts, Property Watch includes a list view that can be utilized as a cart for property data.
 
COMING SOON!
Ability to download lists so agents can sort, email, print or import the data into a customer relationship management (CRM) system.
 
How to “Watch a Property”: 

A Property Watch can be added from the property panel that displays when a parcel is clicked on the map located under the Map Search Tab or the Google Map View of search results.

Clicking on the WATCH PROPERTY option will automatically register the agent to receive email alerts when the aforementioned events occur on the public record. Once enabled, the link toggles to Remove Watch where the watch can easily be removed. 

After a property has been added to a watch, it can easily be accessed from a new TAX menu option called My Property Watches, which is also where agents can access any current alerts.
 
Selecting the My Property Watch option displays a list of any properties that have been set to Watch. The Property Watch grid displays the property panel of the highlighted row for quick access to the additional enhanced public record data. Watches can be removed by highlighting the row and clicking the Remove Watch option.
 
When any of the defined changes occur for a watched property, an alert is generated. Alerts are delivered in an email direct to the agent and displayed in the Alerts Grid. The Alerts grid displays the Tax ID, Address, Alert Type and Alert Date. This data will display after the first alert has been received. Until then, a message will display letting the user know that no alerts have been received on watched properties.
 
When an alert is generated, an email is sent to the watching agent. The Alert Email is a simple, no-reply textual email to notify the agent that some change has occurred. If there are multiple changes on a record, they will be rolled up into the same message.
 
If you have any questions please contact CCAR Member Services at [email protected] or 925.295.1270.