The NAR-mandated Clear Cooperation Policy was implemented in May.  CRMLS provided a period of limited enforcement and generous warnings to give subscribers the opportunity to learn the new rules.

Per a vote from the CRMLS Board of Directors which is made up of volunteer brokers, effective November 1st, 2020, CRMLS will eliminate the warning notice that is given to users who show a listing in the Coming Soon status.

Starting 11/1/20, if a CRMLS user shows a Coming Soon listing, that user will be subject to a fine of 1% of the list price, not less than $500 and not to exceed $2,500. This is the current fine structure for any Clear Cooperation Policy violation.

As a reminder, showing a listing in Coming Soon status is a violation of Rule 9.3 of the CRMLS Rules and Regulations. Rule 9.3 states:

9.3: Availability to Show or Inspect. Listing Brokers shall not misrepresent the availability of access to show or inspect a listed property. For any property in which Listing Broker selected a status of Coming Soon or Hold, Listing Broker represents that the property shall have no showings or tours, whether conducted by Listing Broker or otherwise, until such time as the Property is placed in the Active or Active Under Contract status.

Here are some additional resources that may be helpful:

• CRMLS Coming Soon Form
• Report Off-MLS Marketing (click on Report Off-MLS Marketing button)
• Differences Between the Registered and Coming Soon Statuses
• CRMLS Citation Policy
• CRMLS Matrix Compliance FAQ
• CRMLS Paragon Compliance FAQ
• CRMLS Flex Compliance FAQ

 

 

 

C.A.R. RED ALERT

 

Licenses for drivers younger than 70 that expire between March and May 2020 are now valid through May 31, 2020.

All commercial driver licenses, endorsements and certificates expiring between March and June 2020 are now valid through June 30, 2020, aligning with a recent emergency declaration from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The extension does not include medical certificates for commercial drivers, which requires additional administrative actions scheduled in the near future.

The DMV has alerted California law enforcement of the extensions. Californians with a suspended license are not eligible.

The DMV continues to review and process online renewals, and encourages drivers who are eligible to renew their license online to do so.

The extensions require no individual action on the part of drivers. These drivers will not receive a new card or an extension in the mail. As an option, these drivers can  request a free temporary paper extension online through DMV’s Virtual Field Office to document their extension.

The Virtual Field Office, virtual.dmv.ca.gov, builds on the other  online services already available to DMV customers at  dmv.ca.gov, including driver license renewals.
The temporary extensions are in addition to other steps the DMV announced earlier this month to  help Californians with expiring licenses, including:

• A 120-day extension for drivers age 70 and older. Drivers age 70 and older with expiring noncommercial licenses are receiving an extension in the mail automatically. 
• Temporarily waiving required in-person renewals for eligible driver license and identification cardholders with expirations in March, April, and May 2020. Individuals who meet the criteria are able to renew online or by mail.
  
  

The DMV continues to provide essential services via mail, online, kiosks, its call center, available business partners and now virtually to process critical transactions, including eligible driver license and vehicle registration renewals, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers can use the Services Advisor on the DMV website to learn their options to complete DMV tasks.
The measures to help Californians with expiring driver licenses are the latest DMV actions during the coronavirus pandemic, including:

• Temporarily closing field offices. Following deep cleaning, expansion of virtual services and development of new protocols, the DMV soon will offer in-person services in each region. Information on office openings will be announced by DMV in the near future.
• Canceling all behind-the-wheel drive tests to honor social distancing guidelines. 
• Suspending extended office hours and Saturday service.

 

 

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.