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District 99 Fondnazio – Aug 26

by

John Fondnazio head shotA Message From
John Fondnazio
CCAR President
(925) 817-9053

Dear Friends & Colleagues,

One of the greatest strengths of CCAR membership is having access to resources that help you adapt, grow, and better serve your clients.

This month, we’re excited to introduce a new member benefit designed to support your business with a professional property search website and tools that can help strengthen your online presence. Whether you’re building your business, expanding your marketing, or simply looking for another way to connect with clients, we hope you’ll take advantage of everything this new resource has to offer.

As always, thank you for being part of our REALTOR® community. We’re proud to support your success.

Warm Regards,

John

Enhanced Experience For You and Your Clients

Whether you’re working with first-time buyers, seasoned sellers, or long-term prospects, your website becomes another place to build relationships while providing clients with a reliable, MLS-powered home search experience. Your new member benefit includes:

  • A branded property search website you can personalize with your business and contact information.
  • Access to listings throughout the NorCal MLS Alliance, giving clients a comprehensive regional search experience.
  • Direct consumer inquiries through your branded website, helping reinforce your relationship with prospective clients.
  • Integrated CRM and marketing tools to help organize contacts, stay in touch, and nurture opportunities over time.
  • Optional premium features for members who want to expand their marketing capabilities as their business grows.
LEARN MORE >

Customizable Marketing and Client Management Tool 

Every agent runs their business differently. Some are focused on growing their sphere of influence. Others want a professional online presence without building a website from scratch. Many simply want another way to stay connected with clients after the first conversation. This member benefit is designed to support all of those goals while giving you another trusted resource you can confidently share with buyers and sellers. | LEARN MORE >

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

A NEW MEMBER BENEFIT
To Support Your Business

MLS-Powered Search Portal Will Help Generate Leads, Manage Clients, Keep Your Brand Front and Center

Today’s consumers begin almost every home search online. As REALTORS®, one of the biggest challenges isn’t finding listings—it’s ensuring clients continue working with you throughout that search.

Beginning this month, CCAR is introducing a new member benefit designed to help strengthen your online presence and make it easier for consumers to connect directly with you.

Every CCAR member can activate a complimentary branded IDX website featuring listings from across the NorCal MLS Alliance, giving you another professional resource to support your business.

We’re Here to Help

CCAR will offer a live (virtual) training session on August 19 to help you activate your website, customize your branding, understand the CRM and marketing tools, and learn practical ways to incorporate the platform into your daily business.

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CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

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Reminder: Open House Sign Requirements

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There has been an increase in complaints regarding the placement of open house signs and directional post signs.

When placing an open house A-frame sign, REALTORS® must leave sufficient space for pedestrians to safely use the sidewalk. This includes individuals using wheelchairs, strollers, bicycles, and other mobility devices. Signs may not be placed in the roadway or on street medians, as these locations create a safety hazard.

Agents should also review local requirements (below) before placing directional post signs. In some communities, including Alamo, post signs are permitted only on the property being listed and are prohibited in all other locations.

Signs that appear to be out of compliance may be reported by completing the Sign Ordinance Violation Reporting Form and including photos of the signs.

Antioch

Three A-frame “Open House” signs per unit, not over 4 sq. ft. per sign face, on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 9:00 a.m. to dusk. Off-site signs no further from the property than the closest major thoroughfare intersection. Off-site signs shall be located only on private property with the owner’s written permission, and not attached to any utility pole, fence, tree, other vegetation, or on any public right of way

Brentwood

One for sale, lease, or rent sign not over 8 square feet in residential zones and 16 square feet in other zones. Maximum height 4 feet in residential zones and 8 feet in all other zones. Signs must be removed within 15 days after sale, rental or lease of property. No signs may be placed in public right of way or on public property.

Blackhawk

All permitted signs should be placed within the individual private properties at least 5 feet from the curb. One “For Sale” or “For Rent” sign shall be allowed in the front portion of each legally subdivided lot within the property line and not encroach on the Association property. No signs are allowed in the back or side yards facing the streets or the golf course. Homes situated without frontage on a standard curbed roadway shall be allowed to place one A-Frame sign pursuant to the above restrictions to the point at which the private driveway connects with the roadway. A-Frames are not allowed within the right-of-way of public roads adjacent to Blackhawk. This policy is in compliance with the sign ordinance of Contra Costa County. No separate, directional signs are permitted.

  • Entry Into Blackhawk Letter
  • Blackhawk Tag Lease Application

Clayton

One for sale sign allowed on front or side of the premises and one at the rear. One on-site and up to six off-site open house signs at intersections for any open house. Only one off-site sign per open house allowed at any intersection. Not over 3 ft. high and 2 ft. wide. No signs in public right-of-way except by permit and payment of a fee. No sign may interfere with traffic site visibility or obstruct a sidewalk. No balloons, flags, pennants allowed.

Concord

Sale, rental, or lease signs for property on which they are located: 4 sq. ft. maximum in single-family districts. Signs must be removed 30 days after sale, rental or lease. One portable directional ground sign per intersection advertising “Open House” for the sale of real property may be placed on private property only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Danville

One “For Sale” sign not over 6 sq. ft. and 5 ft. high on premises. If placed on corner of corner lot, must be 10 ft. back of right of way or edge of pavement. Must be removed 10 days after close of escrow. Off-site open house signs permitted on agent tour day, Saturday, Sunday and holidays between 10 a.m. and sunset. Not more than 8 signs per intersection are allowed on major arterial/collector intersections, and not more than 4 signs per intersection on neighborhood streets. Each real estate company may place only one sign per direction at any one intersection. No riders on open house signs. No signs on fences, utility poles, sidewalks, street median strips, traffic islands, or streets.

Diablo

One “Open House” directional sign will be permitted at each of the entrances on the property where needed. Consent of the owner must be obtained for the placement of any sign on Diablo. All signs should be wood painted hunter green with white reflective lettering and edges. Posts should be white, similar to that of the Blackhawk signs. “Open House” signs must be placed no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and removed by 6:00 p.m. on each day the home is publicly being viewed. “For Sale” signs should be placed far enough to the side of the street so that the travel of cars, bicycles and pedestrians are not impeded. “For Sale” signs must be removed from the property within 72 hours following the close of escrow.

El Cerrito

No more than one real estate sign per public street frontage, per lot is displayed at any one time; signs do not exceed 6 sq. ft.; signs are not permitted in the public right of way and are to be removed within seven days after the sale, lease or rental of property has been completed.

Hercules

One “For Sale” sign not over 6 sq. ft. and 4 ft. high on premises. These signs are not permitted in right of way, on city landscaped medians or parkways. Must be removed within 10 days after close of escrow. A maximum of 5 temporary double-sided Open House signs per property is permitted, but not more than 4 signs per single intersection. Open House signs are only permitted in public right-of-way when immediately adjacent to property, but must not interfere with ADA accessibility or affect flow. No Open House signs on fences, utility poles, sidewalks, street median strips, traffic islands, or streets.

Lafayette

One for sale sign on the property and on property owned by others, with their consent. The sign may not exceed 4 sq. ft. in area. Off-site “Open House” signs may be placed during the hours that a property is available for public showing. Only one sign per intersection for each parcel and no sign may be further from the property than the closest main thoroughfare intersection.

Martinez

Only one (1) sign, 6 sq. ft. or less in size and nonilluminated. A second real estate sign is allowed only if the site:
1.) has 150 or more feet of street frontage,
2.) is 2 acres or larger in size, or
3.) has frontage along 2 or more streets (e.g., a corner lot).
Offsite real estate signs are not permitted.

Moraga

One “For Sale” and one “Open House” sign on premises and additional open house signs at intersections only, and no further from the property than the nearest major thoroughfare intersection. Open house signs permitted only during time property is being held open. Prohibits signs on fence, utility pole, sidewalk, street, median strip, traffic island or public landscaped area.

Oakley

One on-site for sale sign is permitted for single family or duplex residence not exceeding six square feet, plus a maximum of three rider signs. Sign shall not exceed 6 feet in height. Sign must be removed within 7 days after the property is no longer for sale or lease.

A temporary on-site real estate sign for a commercial, industrial, mixed use, or multifamily property (with 3 or more units) shall not exceed 32 square feet.

Open house directional signs shall not exceed 4 square feet in area or 3 feet in height. Signs permitted in public right-of-way only when adjacent to property lines in such a manner that does not interfere with ADA accessibility or interrupt flow of vehicle or pedestrian traffic. No signs may be placed in center divider, traffic islands of public streets, or landscaped areas adjacent to the sidewalk. Open house signs may be displayed only during the period when property is available for public showing. Mylar or helium-filled balloons are prohibited.

Orinda

For sale sign must be removed within 15 days of close of escrow. One on-site open house post sign. Not more than 4 off-site directional signs per parcel being sold, at intersections only, and no further from the property than the nearest major thoroughfare intersection, and only where a directional change is necessary; only on days of open house. No signs on fence, utility pole, sidewalk, street, median strip, traffic island or public landscaped area.

Pinole

Sign permits required for prior to posting, please contact Planning Division at 510.724.9014.
Directional signs allowed 1 per complex at 4 sq. ft. Freestanding signs shall not be larger than 5ft set 10 ft. back. Signs are prohibited from being placed on the public right of way or affixed to an element of structure on the public right of way, or located on a publicly owned tree, fence, or utility pole or otherwise posted on public property. Signs on property for sale, lease of rental are not to exceed 12 sq. ft. or 12 sq. ft. per acre of land, whichever is greater, not to exceed 40 sq. ft. for all signs. Additionally a maximum of 3 attached rider signs are permitted. All signs shall be removed 15 days from sale, lease or rental of the property. Such signs may not be illuminated. A-frames are prohibited.

Pittsburg

One “For Sale” sign per street frontage; must be removed within seven days after sale or lease. Open house signs not over 4 sq. ft. And located no further from property than nearest thoroughfare intersection; not on street median, sidewalks, etc.; noon Friday through noon Monday, holidays and special showings approved by community development director. May not be placed on private property without owner’s consent.

Pleasant Hill

One “For Sale” sign is permitted not exceeding 6 sq. ft; must be removed within 7 working days after sale of the property. One temporary open house sign and up to four off-site open house signs may be placed at street intersections leading to the open house. Open house signs allowed weekends between 10:00 a.m. and sunset, and Tuesdays 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. No signs on wall or fence in public right of way, on utility pole, public street, median strip, traffic island, public landscaped area, or sidewalk.

Richmond

Portable signs are allowed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays between the hours of 10am to 7pm, provided the signs do not interfere with, obstruct or misdirect traffic or pedestrian movement; and no person may erect more than 6 portable signs at any one time. For Sale signs shall not exceed 6 ft. in height.

Rossmoor

Real Estate signs are prohibited. However, signs may be posted of individually owned manors, e.g. on the inside of the window. Each of the 18 Mutuals have rules regarding sign size, please check the Mutual before posting.

San Pablo

One on-site real estate sign installed by the owner or agent of the owner of any site, provided such sign is located entirely within the property, is unlighted, does not exceed 4 sq. ft. in area and 5 ft. in height, and is removed within 15 days after the sale, rental, or lease have been accomplished. One open house sign for the purpose of directing prospective buyers to a single house or condominium that is for sale, provided such sign does not exceed 4 sq. ft. in area and 5 ft. in height, and is displayed only on the day of the open house.

San Ramon

One “For Sale” sign on premises; must be removed 7 days after property is sold. No signs on public right-of-way (medians, sidewalks, bicycle paths) or attached to fence, utility pole or wall. Signs are permitted on the back of the sidewalk on the side away from the street. A-Frame open house signs on weekends until Sunday sunset and Thursday and Friday 9:30 am until 2:00 pm. A real estate company is allowed to place only one sign per direction at any intersection regardless of the number of listings located in that direction. Not more than a total of 8 off-site open house and subdivision signs are permitted at major arterial/collector street intersections, and a maximum of 4 signs on secondary or residential street intersections.

Walnut Creek

One “For Sale” sign not over 4 sq. ft. Signs must be removed within 15 days after property is no longer for sale or lease. Not more than 4 off-site open house signs permitted. Open House signs allowed on private property with permission of the owner. Signs permitted in public right of way only when adjacent to property lines if they do not interrupt normal flow of vehicle or pedestrian traffic. No signs allowed in center divider or traffic islands. Open house signs allowed only on weekends, holidays, and broker tour days 10am to 5pm.

Contra Costa County Unincorporated Areas

For Sale signs permitted only on property for sale and are not permitted in the public right of way or on any premises not being offered for sale. Signs must be removed 10 days after the sale. To discuss a sign location problem on a particular property, call Code Enforcement tool free at 1.877.646.8314 and request a meeting with a field supervisor.

Sign Ordinance Violation Reporting Form
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disclaimer & disclosure advisories
realtor action fund (raf)

Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act

Contact

Heather Schiffman
Chief Industry Advocacy Officer
925.295.9232

[email protected]

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Equal Housing Opportunity

Make August Your Back-to-School Month

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REAL ESTATE TRIVIA NIGHT
- SEP 3
OKTOBERFEST AFFILIATE FAIRE
- OCT 7
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WATCH MORE PARAGON
ON-DEMAND TRAINING VIDEOS

AI / DATA / SOCIAL MEDIA

Mon - Aug 24 | AI Essentials for Realtors: Practical Tools to Streamline Your Business

Virtual | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | $30/$60 | Learn practical AI workflows designed by an active real estate professional to help you work faster and smarter. This webinar covers using AI to create authentic listing copy, market reports, client communications, and compelling listing presentations, while also showing you how to evaluate which AI tools are truly worth your time. You’ll leave with real-world, immediately applicable strategies—not just theory. | MORE + REGISTER >

Wed- Aug 26 | Meet AEO & GEO, The New SEO

Virtual | 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | FREE | Learn how to optimize your online presence for AI-powered search tools through Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). This webinar explores how buyers and sellers are using AI instead of traditional search engines and teaches practical strategies to help AI platforms recognize and recommend you as the local real estate expert, increasing your visibility and attracting more clients. | MORE + REGISTER >

BROKERS & OFFICE MANAGERS

Fri - Aug 21 | C.A.R. Industry Townhall for Brokers & Managers

Virtual | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm | FREE | The California Association of REALTORS® hosts Industry Leader Town Halls twice a month to provide brokers and key brokerage staff to meet virtually with C.A.R. Leadership, C.A.R. staff and brokers throughout the state to discuss the latest information impacting real estate brokerages and transactions. Rotating list of guest speakers provides updates on the latest issues including transactional, legal, market and legislative issues. | MORE + REGISTER >

Wed - Aug 26 | NAR Broker Power Hour

Virtual | 10:00 – 11:00 am | FREE | Learn how to protect clients and transactions from increasingly sophisticated real estate fraud. This session covers emerging fraud threats, best practices for reducing risk, tools to help agents prevent scams, and ways your brokerage can support disaster recovery through the REALTORS® Relief Foundation. | MORE + REGISTER >

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Wed - Aug 26 | CBA's Negotiating Commercial Leases

Virtual | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm | $5 | Strengthen your commercial leasing skills by learning how to negotiate lease terms that satisfy both landlords and tenants. This course reviews more than 35 key lease provisions, explores each party’s perspective, and provides practical strategies for successful negotiations, including how to avoid common lease renewal mistakes. | MORE + REGISTER >

CMAs

Thu - Aug 27 | Core Skills Training - Intro to Cloud CMA

Virtual | 2:00 – 4:00 pm | FREE | Learn how to create professional CMA reports, property flyers, and buyer tour packets with Cloud CMA. This class also covers lead generation tools, virtual listing presentations, and strategies to help you demonstrate your value and win more listings. | MORE + REGISTER >

FORMS / REPORTS

Thu - Aug 27 | RPR's Dynamic Client Reports: Fast, Smart, Customizable

Virtual | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | FREE | Learn how to create professional, customized RPR Reports that showcase your expertise and deliver valuable insights to clients. This class covers using prebuilt and custom report templates, personalizing reports with custom pages, sharing them across multiple channels, and leveraging dynamic links to keep information current while enhancing your prospecting and client presentations. | MORE + REGISTER >

MLS

Tue - Aug 25 | Set It & Forget It! Automation Using Paragon Collaboration Center

Virtual | 200 – 4:00 pm | FREE |  Learn how to use Paragon’s Collaboration Center to enhance client communication and automate listing alerts. This course covers setting up client portals, managing buyer searches, tracking client feedback, receiving real-time notifications, and collaborating with buyers online from any device to deliver a more responsive, personalized experience. | MORE + REGISTER >

Education AT Your Fingertips

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  • Request 1:1 Training >
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  • CCAR RPR Headquarters >
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Post and Present like a Pro: Video calls. Phone calls. Or no calls at all. No matter how you stay connected with your clients, these tools make it simple and fun to communicate when you’re not in-person. Visit Share University >
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CONTACT

Chris Dickson
Education Coordinator
(925) 295-9210
[email protected]

weekly MARKETING MEETINGS

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Why Should Your Listing Generate Someone Else’s Lead?

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included with your ccar membership

The Official Local
Home Search Experience
for Contra Costa County

Give clients a better way to search for homes while keeping your business front and center. The Contra Costa Property Search Portal includes a complimentary branded IDX website, a professional agent profile, and access to current listings across 27 Northern California counties.

SEARCH PORTAL FAQs
Your Listings.
Your Leads.
Inquiries go directly to you. 
27 Counties.
One Powerful Search.
NorCal MLS Alliance coverage.
Your Brand.
Your Website.
Professionally branded. Built for you.

What's Included

Everything You Need to Grow Your Business
The core service is included with your CCAR membership at no additional monthly cost. No upgrade is required
to access your branded website, professional profile, listing inquiry delivery, and included member tools.
Direct Listing Inquiries
Inquiries submitted through your listings go directly to you.
Your Branded IDX Websites
Share a professional property-search website connected to your name, contact information, and business
27 County Property Search
Search current listings across 27 Northern California counties.

Included with Your CCAR Membership

The Contra Costa Property Search Portal is a new home-search website designed to connect buyers and sellers with local CCAR REALTORS®. It gives consumers access to current property listings while helping members promote their listings, strengthen their online presence, and receive inquiries directly.

Every CCAR member receives:
  • A complimentary branded IDX website
  • A searchable professional profile
  • Exposure through the Contra Costa Property Search Portal
  • Direct delivery of inquiries submitted through their listings
  • A SaleCore account for managing profile information and inquiries
  • Consumer tools including saved properties, saved searches, and listing alerts
The core service is included with membership at no additional monthly cost, and no upgrade is required. Optional upgrades are available for members who want additional website, CRM, or marketing features.

Keep Listing Inquiries Connected to You
When a consumer submits an inquiry through one of your listings on the CCAR portal, the inquiry is routed directly to you as the listing agent and delivered through your designated email and SaleCore account.

Unlike some national property websites, the portal does not redirect your listing inquiry to an advertising agent, and CCAR does not resell those inquiries.

Important to Know
Participation is optional, and the service does not guarantee a specific number of inquiries, clients, or transactions. Results will depend on consumer traffic, listing activity, response time, profile quality, and how consistently you promote your website.

Members should review the included website and account features before replacing or canceling an existing website, CRM, domain, or marketing service.

Build a Stronger Online Presence

Your professional profile can include your:

  • Photo and biography
  • Contact and brokerage information
  • Service areas and specialties
  • Languages spoken
  • Designations and certifications
  • Website and social media links
  • Active listings
A complete profile helps consumers understand who you are, the communities you serve, and how you can help them.

Getting Started

  1. Access your SaleCore account.

  2. Review your contact information.

  3. Complete your professional profile.

  4. Open and review your branded website.

  5. Confirm where your listing inquiries will be delivered.
For the best results, keep your profile current, share your website regularly, encourage buyers to create alerts, and respond promptly to inquiries.

Launch and Training

Coming Tuesday, August 11, 2026
The Contra Costa Property Search Portal and complimentary member websites will be available beginning August 11

Live Member Training: Wednesday, August 19
Learn how to access your account, complete your profile, review your website, manage inquiries, and share your new property-search tools with clients.

REGISTER AUG 19 TRAINING

Headlines

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Breaking News with picture of glass breaking monitor

Three Skills to Coach This Month

Information is everywhere. Expertise isn’t. Help agents turn market headlines into local insight, ask better questions, and explain the “why” behind their advice. That’s how brokerages earn trust and stand apart.

Information Is Everywhere. Judgment Is Not.

Consumers have unlimited access to market reports, mortgage calculators, AI chatbots, and housing headlines. Before they ever contact an agent, they’ve already formed opinions about pricing, interest rates, and whether now is the “right” time to buy or sell. That’s changing the role of today’s REALTOR®.

Don’t ask agents to memorize scripts. Teach them how to interpret information and apply it to a client’s unique situation.

NAR research shows today’s buyers continue to prioritize lifestyle factors such as walkable neighborhoods, proximity to amenities, and housing options—not just price. At the same time, younger buyers are entering the market in growing numbers, often arriving well-researched but needing help turning information into decisions.

That’s where professional guidance becomes indispensable.

Replace Opinions with Questions

Ask agents to bring one national housing headline to your meeting. Then have them answer:

  • Does this apply in Contra Costa County?
  • Which cities does it affect?
  • Which price ranges behave differently?
  • What local data would you use to explain the difference?

The goal isn’t to criticize the headline—it’s to teach agents to provide context.

Practice Explaining the Why

Sensational news articles do not create confidence. Explanations do. Challenge each agent to explain, in under 60 seconds:

  • Why a home received multiple offers.
  • Why another sat on the market.
  • Why two similar homes sold for different prices.
  • Why buyers continue choosing Contra Costa over neighboring markets.

If they can explain why, they’re demonstrating expertise—not simply repeating data.

CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS

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