The California Labor Secretary released a letter called the "Open Letter to Californians Regarding Unemployment Insurance (UI) Payments and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Timeline" on April 14th.  CAR will be releasing and FAQ on this within the next day or two.

Here is a summary of the facts:

• The Employment Development Department (EDD) computer systems are not crashing.
• Californians eligible for certification on April 12 began to see the $600/week additional payments provided for under the federal CARES Act today.
• The CARES Act also created a special program for this crisis called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA.
• PUA provides federally funded benefits distinct from the UI program for certain individuals out of work or partially unemployed due to the COVID-19 crisis, including the self-employed, individuals who lack sufficient work history, and independent contractors. Federal guidelines on how to administer PUA came out on April 5 and include gig workers as an example of those eligible for PUA.
• Since April 5th, the EDD has been helping Californians get what they are entitled to under PUA.
• There will be a one-stop shop for applying for UI and PUA. Individuals will be able to go to UI Online to self-certify that they meet the COVID-19-related criteria for PUA. The EDD will make clear in the self-certification that certification of eligibility for PUA does not affect determinations of employee status under state law for other protections and benefits.
• Under PUA, individuals can receive weekly unemployment assistance that may be equivalent to what individuals would get under UI (depending on their earnings and whether earnings can be verified).
• Those who get PUA also get the $600/per week additional payment added to UI for weeks they are unemployed from March 29 until the end of July.
• PUA benefits can cover people unemployed or partially unemployed due to COVID-19 from January 27, 2020 through December 31, 2020 depending on date of actual impact. (In other words, it is retroactive to the time before the federal stimulus bill was passed and before funding was made available.)
• When you apply and your application is approved, you will get PUA benefits going back to the first full week of February as long as you can show that your inability to work was COVID-19 related.
• A new system will be able to pay individuals within 24 to 48 hours of their application. The EDD needs two weeks to create this new system.
• 

 

By Order of the San Diego County Public Health Officer

No later than 12:00 a.m. on April 7, 2020:

All businesses that remain in operation in accordance with the Order and that allow members of the public to enter a facility must prepare and post a “Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol” for each of their facilities open to the public. The Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol must be posted at or near the entrance of the relevant facility, and shall be easily viewable by the public and employees.

A fillable Social Distancing Protocol template can be found here and utilized to fulfill this requirement.

A copy of the Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol must also be provided to each employee performing work at the facility.

All businesses shall implement the Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol and provide evidence of its implementation to any authority enforcing this Order upon demand.

The Social Distancing and Sanitation Protocol must ensure all required measures are implemented and must identify and require measures necessary to implement social distancing and sanitation at that facility.

If the measures identified and implemented are not effective in maintaining proper social distancing and sanitation, additional measures shall be identified and implemented or the facility shall be closed.

Effective Saturday, April 4, 2020:  All employees who may have contact with the public in any grocery store, pharmacy/drug store, convenience store, gas station, restaurant or other business establishment that serves food shall wear a cloth face covering as described in the California Department of Public Health Face Covering Guidance. 

Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19

From the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Click Here - 

Step-by-Step Instructions to Make a Fabric Face Mask

For those interested in making masks to wear in nonclinical settings or for personal use, Kaiser Permanente offers step-by-step instructions and an accompanying how-to video. Even homemade masks need to meet certain specifications in order to be effective. Please, if you are sharing the community masks you are making with others, masks should be washed before wear. - Mask Instructions  - 

 

On Friday, April 3rd, Doug McCauley, was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom as Commissioner of the California Department of Real Estate.

Doug has served as chief deputy director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development since 2018, and has served as acting director of the Department since 2019. He was executive officer at the California Architects Board from 2001 to 2018. Doug earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Golden Gate University.

According to the DRE, this transition is expected to occur in early May.

Thank you San Diego Congress Members Juan Vargas, Scott Peters, Susan Davis and Mike Levin for your vote today as the House passed H.R. 5377, a bill that temporarily eliminates the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions for 2020 and 2021. The Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act would also increase the cap to $20,000 for married couples for 2019.

C.A.R. President President Jeanne Radsick stated "We are pleased that the House has passed a bill to temporarily eliminate the cap on the amount of state and local tax that taxpayers can deduct on their federal tax returns. The combined hit of a reduction in the mortgage interest deduction and current $10,000 SALT cap in the tax law has disproportionately hurt taxpayers and real estate in California," 

"Ensuring the tax code incentivizes housing and real estate will continue to be a top priority for REALTORS^®, and C.A.R. thanks the many California Congressional members who support easing the double taxation penalty that harms California homeowners."

The bill moves on to the senate where it will face stiff opposition.

 

Sometimes one property can be two residential styles or can be two different property types.  If properties can serve different purposes depending on the buyer, why not serve the seller and market the property in multiple ways?

At CRMLS PSAR members don't need a variance request to use multiple property types.  Multiple entries of the same property listed as more than one Residential Style or Property Type are now permitted.

There are two small details that you may not be aware of. 

1. A reference must be made to the MLS number to the duplicate listing in the Confidential Remarks.

2. Upon closing, only the Listing in the actual Property Type that was sold shall be identified as Closed. Any duplicative listing must be Cancelled, with a reference to the Sold MLS ID number being made in the Agent Remarks.

No other duplicative listings are permitted in the MLS.

San Diego County REALTORS®, did you know that a misuse of Public Remarks violation occurs when certain information is placed in any public remarks field in the MLS?

Pro tip: The remarks in the Property Description field are limited to the physical and aesthetic characteristics of the property. Stick to describing the listing.  

The Property Description and other public facing fields may not include:

1.  Access codes ​
2.  Showing Instructions​
3.  Compensation Information​
4.  Lockbox information ​
5.  Occupancy status of the property such as “vacant” ​
6.  Email addresses ​
7.  Website addresses ​
8.  Phone numbers ​
9.  Agent or brokerage information ​
10.  Open house information
11.  Language that violates applicable fair housing laws and guidelines

Keep your clients safe, avoid fines and list property like a professional.  MLS Rules are created by brokers and agents active in the business.  This rule 12.5 in the CRMLS Rules and Regulations.  Read about it here.  Want to know which fines can be levied without a warning?  See this list.

The new SentriKeyTM Real Estate app offers you a simple design and action-based layout so you can get potential buyers in the home and get it sold. Simply download the app at Google Play or the App Store and get those showings scheduled.

You can learn more about the app and its versatile features by accessing our collection of educational tools that are sure to meet the needs of all types of users.

Educational Tools (click the links below)

• Webinar video
• iOS User Guide or Android User Guide
• Mobile Access Made Easy flyer
• How to Open the Key Compartment video
• Secure Temporary Access with SentriConnect flyer

 

These are just a few of the tools available to help you learn more about the SentriKey Real Estate app. Find how-to videos and frequently asked questions on the support page.

Clean listing data is an important CRMLS benefit; with a regulated, level playing field, agents can all do better business. 

San Diego Paragon: Violations That Do Not Require a Warning
This list of violations, if committed, may lead to a fine without a warning. These violations cannot be corrected, may give a violator an unfair marketing advantage, or egregiously violate San Diego Paragon rules and/or state or federal law.

CRMLS Matrix: Violations That Do Not Require a Warning
For those of you who use Matrix, please also familiarize yourself with this list of Matrix-specific violations that may lead to a fine without a prior warning.

Citation Notices, Fines, and the Citation Review Process
This is the Citation Review Process. (Pro Tip: make sure to correct the violation as soon as possible to prevent issuance of additional citations.)

California Regional MLS Compliance Center
CRMLS has developed a comprehensive Compliance Center to guide agents to all the Compliance resources available. Here you will find FAQs, exclude a listing from the MLS, chat with a CRMLS Compliance Analyst, or learn more about CRMLS Rules and Regulations.

Bookmark the links above and visit crmls.org/compliance for compliance questions.

The following candidates were elected by 498 PSAR members who voted for the Board of Directors this past week.  They will serve as volunteer leaders and represent membership as part of the team that will set the policy  and the strategic direction for PSAR for the next two years. 

Ditas Yamane 2020 President-Elect

Sam Calvano 2020 Treasurer

Laurie MacDonald  2020 Director
Yvonne Cromer 2020 Director 
Peter Mendiola 2020 Director
Mike White 2020 Director
Jason Lopez 2020 Director

The President-Elect will automatically ascend to President in 2021.  The Treasurer serves for one year and each of the Directors have two year terms.

Thank you everyone who ran.  The candidate were all committed and involved members of the association.  The volunteer their time to the industry to improve it and to the community to build homeownership opportunities, defend private property rights and support those in need.  

 

PSAR is governed by volunteer officers and directors.  These individuals give selflessly to the industry to make it better for all of our members.  PSAR is a membership organization that exists to empower Realtors.  Please vote for leaders who will move PSAR in the right direction.

PSAR members received an email with a direct link to vote.  Find it in your email, or....

If you are a PSAR member and you know your user ID and Association password (not MLS password) you can vote by following this link and logging it.  If you do not know your ID and password, you can find it here.

Voting ends at 5PM on June 28th