District 99 Hall – Mar 25

Wildfire Prevention Efforts Start With Us

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Wildfire risk remains top-of-mind for most Californians following the devastating fires in January. Since then, the State Fire Marshall has identified five of our own local areas (El Cerrito, San Pablo, Orinda, Moraga and Clayton) at the highest risk for wildfire, along with large portions of high-vegetation green space throughout the County. See Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) map. As REALTORS®, we can use this information as a valuable tool to help our clients take immediate action to prevent this horror from occurring in our own neighborhoods.

We cannot bury our heads in the sand, but must take active measures to protect our communities and help our clients and neighbors access all the information they need to protect their homes and families. In this message, I’ve included a few important resources where you can start that process.

CCAR will continue to provide updates and fire prevention resources as they become available.

Best Regards,

Zina

For those having difficulty accessing or renewing homeowner’s insurance, the California Department of Insurance (CDI) provides a number of resources to assist. If consumers believe their denial of coverage/non-renewals are unfair, they may also file complaints with the CDI.

Those homeowners who receive non-renewal notices should contact their insurers directly and find out if there are specific actions they can take to mitigate risk to retain coverage.

“Zone 0” Regulations

California government agencies and citizens have been put on notice to take active steps to improve community hardening and wildfire mitigation. Governor Newsom’s recent executive order specifies the following:

Directs the State Board of Forestry to accelerate its work to adopt regulations known as “Zone 0,” which will require an ember-resistant zone within 5 feet of structures located in the highest fire severity zones in the state.
Tasks the Office of the State Fire Marshal with releasing updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps which will update building and local planning requirements for these communities statewide.
Requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to work on improvements to wildfire response. | MORE >

UPCOMING COURSES

MAR 18

MAR 19

CA Real Estate Disclosures Required by Law | VIRTUAL | Mar 19 | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm | $20 | Instructor: Joel Carlson | Make sure you know which C.A.R. forms will be most helpful when you’re trying to disclose. Attendees will review crucial disclosure requirements commonly seen for the sale of 1 to 4-unit, owner-occupied residential property. | REGISTER >

MAR 26

The Road to Recovery: Rebuilding Communities After Wildfires | VIRTUAL | Mar 26 | 10:00 – 11:15 am | Free | Panel discussion moderated by Professor William Fulton of UCSD’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning, features three panelists including Paradise Mayor Steve Crowder who will share his experience and firsthand advice. | REGISTER >

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

Stayin’ Alive in 2025 Live Stream Workshop – Mar. 18

Discover how to position yourself as the go-to agent for one of the fastest-growing segments of home sales —
older homeowners.

Join us for Stayin’ Alive in 2025, a live stream Zoom workshop on Tuesday, March 18, from 10:00 – 11:00am.

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 51% of homes sold last year were from homeowners 59+ years old. But why are they selling, and more importantly, how can YOU be the agent securing these listings? In this session, we’ll dive into the key financial, tax, and estate concerns that drive these homeowners’ decisions and explore advanced financing strategies like reverse mortgage refinances and purchases. You’ll also gain valuable insights into heirs, trusts, and title issues, understanding how to work with families to set them up for success—and position yourself as the trusted real estate expert.

Beyond the knowledge, we’ll provide actionable tools and strategies to help you apply these insights and grow your business without adding more to your workload. Learn how the current loan market is impacting older homeowners, how reverse mortgages really work, and how all of this translates into more listings for you.

Don’t miss this opportunity—register now and future-proof your business!

District 99 Fondnazio – Test

Consumers sidestepping BRBC agreements

Recently, I have experienced problems with “clients” signing multiple Buyer Representation agreements (BRBCs). If you have also noticed an upswing in this unfortunate trend I encourage you to spend some extra time with each potential client to explain the seriousness and binding nature of the contract to ensure that they are thoroughly informed, and confirm they have not signed a BRBC with any other agent. Because aside from your broker taking legal action, it is your best hope of protecting yourself and your fellow colleagues. I hope you take a few minutes to look over the articles I’ve highlighted in this message so you understand all the ins-and-outs of the BRBC form.

Feel free to contact me directly to discuss any of these issues and remember to check out the CCAR calendar for upcoming events and education opportunities.

Best Regards,

John

When in doubt, always call the C.A.R. Legal Hotline for answers to your toughest business questions.

How to talk to potential clients about the BRBC

To streamline the introductory process and ensure that potential clients have all the relevant information they need to enter into the BRBC agreement, it’s helpful to review your basic Code of Ethics principles: Duties to Clients and the Public, and Duties to REALTORS®. Additionally, remember the importance of full disclosure–providing a thorough description of the form and its legal implications. To further support this effort, and reinforce your commitment to ethical business practices, advise your potential clients that you have a professional obligation to determine whether they are subject to current exclusive agreements (see NAR Code of Ethics, Article 16 SOP 16-9 and 16-13).

Exclusive, or non-exclusive? That is the BRBC question

There are two main differences between the exclusive and non-exclusive BRBC agreement.

First, under a non-exclusive agreement (which the BRBC defaults to), a prerequisite to the broker earning compensation is that there must be “broker involvement” with the property. On the other hand, under an exclusive agreement, the broker has the right to compensation even if the buyer acts alone or with a different broker in buying a property during the representation period.

Second, unilateral cancellation under a non-exclusive agreement is effective immediately upon receipt of the cancellation notice (unless otherwise agreed in the BRBC). MORE >

UPCOMING COURSES & EVENTS

MAR 11

MAR 18

MAR 19

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

Lights, Camera, Traction! Live Interactive Workshop
– Tomorrow

Lights, Camera, Traction! Live Interactive Workshop – Mar. 12

Learn how to create high-quality, engaging videos for social media using just your smartphone!

In 2025, social media video is unmatched for REALTORS® wanting to stand out in their sphere of influence, offering a more engaging and effective way to connect with audiences than traditional photo and text.

In this FREE workshop, you’ll learn how to produce visually appealing content that resonates with your audience, helping you attract new homebuyers and grow their businesses. We will teach you camera tricks for high-quality video, lighting tricks to boost your confidence on camera, and time-saving techniques for rapid editing. By the end of the session, you’ll walk away with a video you made all by yourself using free and easy tools.

Space is limited—reserve your spot today!

Presented by:
Karen Lum, founder of SolarHour and an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker

With 21 years of experience, Karen Specializes in coaching realtors, she helps them create engaging social media videos that boost their business. Karen has led popular workshops across the San Francisco Bay Area and internationally, partnering with real estate brokerages and associations. Learn more at www.solarhourfilms.com.

Are You Considering Selling Your Home?

Thinking about selling your home?

Once you decide to sell your home, you might have questions about how to prepare it for listing on the MLS and viewing by potential buyers. A Contra Costa REALTOR® can guide you through this process. Here are some common things to consider when preparing your home for sale:

How do I find the right agent to sell my home?

FIND A REALTOR®

You should feel empowered to find and work with the agent who is the best fit for your needs. When you work with an agent who is a REALTOR®, you are working with a professional guided by ethical duties under the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, including the pledge to protect and promote the interests of their clients.

Do I need to have my home inspected before putting it up for sale?

No, a pre-sale inspection is not required. However, an inspection can be used to identify potential issues in your home that you can consider repairing before showing your home and use as a differentiator for your property. Sometimes buyers may also conduct their own inspection as a contingency in their purchase agreement. If you uncover possible issues that may appear during a buyer’s inspection, you will have time to make any necessary changes that could impact your home’s asking price. You should also talk to your REALTOR® about disclosure requirements.

What should I do if something in my home needs to be fixed or replaced soon?

If something in your home requires a significant repair—such as a roof, a system such as HVAC, or an appliance like a dishwasher or washer / dryer—you should determine how much the repair will cost, even if you do not plan to fix it before selling the home. These estimates will help sellers determine the costs that buyers might take into consideration when negotiating a purchase agreement.

Am I required to make any cosmetic updates to my home before putting it up for sale?

No, but you may want to clean the windows, carpets, lighting fixtures, and walls, and store away clutter before showing your home to potential buyers. Sellers may also look for ways to improve “curb appeal”—how the home looks to a potential buyer when viewed from the street—by updating aspects such as landscaping, the front entrance, and paint jobs. These steps may help improve the home’s appearance in photos, which can play an important role in attracting potential buyers.

Do I need to provide information about appliances that will stay in the home after it’s sold?

You should locate warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer / dryer, dishwasher, and any other appliances or systems that will stay in the house with a new buyer. It is recommended that you find these items now to avoid any lost paperwork causing an issue with a potential buyer when you reach the time of finalizing, or “closing,” the transaction.

What does it mean to stage my home?

Staging is the process of cleaning a home and temporarily filling it with furniture and decorations that may help buyers better see themselves living in the home. While it is not required, some sellers may work with a stager to focus on certain key areas of their home that are important to buyers. Some agents may also include staging in the services they provide you.

Get more real estate facts: www.nar.realtor/the-facts