Take the hassle out of filing exclusion forms. Soon, when your sellers direct you to keep a listing out of the MLS, you will no longer need to submit exclusion or waiver forms (like the CAR SELM) to CRMLS.

Starting on 11/16, you will have a service in your Listing Toolbox that will enable you to enter and manage your excluded listings. From 11/16 onwards, these listings will fall into CRMLS's Registered status.

Join one of our upcoming webinars to see a live demo.

November 10th, 11:00am | November 16th, 10:00am

We’ll cover:
• A general overview of the "Registered" status, how it works, and when to use it
• How to access the Registered listing service from your Listing Toolbox
• How to input a new Registered listing
• What information you need to Register a listing with the MLS
• How to maintain and update your Registered listings
• How to move your listings from Registered to your MLS (Matrix only; Paragon & Flex coming soon)

We will also provide you with opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback.

Here’s where to find the Listing Toolbox tile:

From this tile, click on the Registered Listings option on the left.

Here, you can enter new Registered listings, manage information, and see all your listings in Registered status at a glance.

This is what entering a new Registered listing will look like:

Agents will be able to see and edit their own listings, while brokers and office managers will see their entire office’s listings in one streamlined, easily organized area.

Call for Nominations!!!

Do you know a fantastic PSAR REALTOR^®, Broker/Office Manager, or Affiliate? Now is the time to give them the recognition they deserve. Please take a few minutes to nominate a candidate.

You can use either of these two methods to nominate.

Nominations must be received by Friday, November 5, 2021.

PSAR will recognize three REALTORS,^® Brokers, and Affiliates each year from three distinct “Geographic Areas” of San Diego County, Central San Diego, East San Diego County, and South San Diego County. The names of individuals making nominations will remain secret. The number of nominations shall not create an advantage for nominees. Award winners may not be the sitting President of the Association and may not be a past recipient of the specific award regardless of the geographic area where the prior award was won.

Recognition Committee will consist of the past recipient of each award, the Affiliate Director, and members of the Committee Council, which consists of the PSAR Committee Chairman. Winners will be announced at PSAR's Installation. Awards will be given at our upcoming REAL Awards in 2022. At least one runner-up will be announced.

More Criteria Information and Past Recipients

___________________________

Since 1928, the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® has played a significant role in shaping the history, growth, and development of the Real Estate industry in San Diego County.

The California housing market’s home sales activity rebounded in September 2021, reversing a four-month decline. It was the state’s largest monthly increase in more than a year, according to the latest home sales and price report from the California Association of REALTORS^® (C.A.R.).

Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes statewide on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate were up 5.6 percent to 438,190 in September 2021, compared to 414,860 in August 2021 and down 10.5 percent from a year ago in September 2020, when 489,590 homes were sold on an annualized basis. The statewide annualized sales figure, collected from more than 90 local REALTOR^® associations and MLSs statewide, represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2021 if sales maintained the August pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.

The month-to-month increase from August to September 2021 was the largest since August 2020. In addition, statewide sales maintained a 16.8 percent increase on a year-to-date basis.

In San Diego, home sales in September 2021 declined 2.1 percent, compared to August 2021, and were 10.4 percent lower than September 2020.

Meanwhile, California’s median home price declined to $808,890, down 2.3 percent from $827,940 in August, when a record price was set. The September price was 13.5 percent higher than the $712,430 recorded last September. The median price in California remained above the $800,000 benchmark for the sixth consecutive month but the double-digit, year-over-year price gain was the smallest in 14 months.

September 2021 County Sales and Price Activity
(Regional and condo sales data not seasonally adjusted)

A change in the mix of sales, once again, played a role in the change in the statewide median price, as the sales share of million-dollar continued to shrink on a month-to-month basis, and prices in the high-end market increased at a slower pace than the low-end market over the past two months.

In San Diego, home prices continued to soar with the median price for a single-family detached home in September 20201 was $850,000, which was 1.8 percent higher than the August 2021 price of $835,000, and 15.6 percent higher than a year ago when the price in September 2020 was $735,000.

“As we move into the off-homebuying season, we should see market competition easing and home prices moderating, giving those who waited out the highly competitive market earlier this year an opportunity to revisit buying,” said C.A.R. President Dave Walsh. “Interest rates are expected to remain low and the availability of homes for sale should improve, which should boost homebuying interest and spur sales.”

“With the economic recovery remaining on course but progressing at a pace slower than anticipated, rates are expected to rise modestly in the next few months but will remain low,” said C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist Jordan Levine. “While statewide home sales are expected to dip slightly next year according to our latest forecast, housing demand will remain solid and post the second-highest level of sales in the past five years. The market will stay competitive in 2022 as the normalization continues, and home prices will remain elevated.”

Other key points from C.A.R.’s September 2021 resale housing report include:

-- At the regional level, sales in all five major regions dipped on a year-over-year basis in September. All but 10 of 51 counties posted a year-over-year decrease in closed sales in September.

-- Median prices in all major regions continued to grow on a year-over-year basis. The San Francisco Bay Area had the largest jump (21.7 percent) of all regions, followed by the Central Valley (15.4 percent), Southern California (15.0 percent), the Central Coast (5.8 percent), and the Far North (5.7 percent).

-- Home prices continued to exhibit strong growth from last year, with 44 out of 51 counties showing a year-over-year gain from 12 months ago, and 38 of them increased more than 10 percent from last September.

-- California’s housing supply leveled off in September as the market transitioned into the off-season. Orange County had a 46.3 decline in active listings. The dip in new active listings could be due to seasonality.

-- Market competitiveness cooled slightly in September. Six out of 10 homes (62.2 percent) sold above asking price, but it was the lowest level since February 2021. Still, September was the 12th consecutive month since September 2020 that more than half of the homes sold above asking price. In August 2021, 67 percent of homes sold above asking price. In July 2021, 70 percent of homes sold above their asking price.

September 2021 County Unsold Inventory and Days on Market
(Regional and condo sales data not seasonally adjusted)

-- Statewide, the unsold inventory of available homes for sale was unchanged at 1.9 months for September, August, and July, and slightly below the September 2020 level of 2.0 months. Inventory levels measured in months indicate the number it would take for the available supply of homes on the market to sell out given the current rate of sales.

-- In San Diego County, the inventory of available homes for sale in September 2021 was 1.6 months, compared to 1.7 months in August 2021 and July 2021, as well as September 2020.

-- The median number of days it took to sell a California single-family home in September 2021 was 10 days, which compares to nine days in August 2021 and 11 days in September 2020. The 10-day figure compares to eight days in July and June and seven days in May and April. Before setting record low numbers this year, the previous statewide record was nine days in November 2020.

-- In San Diego County, the median number of days an existing, single-family home remained unsold on the market was nine days in September 2021, which compares to eight days in August 2021 and seven days in September 2020. The nine-day figure compares to seven days in July 2021, six days in June 2021, seven days in May 2021, six days in April 2021 and March 2021, and seven days in February 2021 and January 2021. The median represents a timeframe when half the homes sell above it and half below it.

-- The 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rate averaged 2.90 percent in September, up from 2.89 percent in September 2020, according to Freddie Mac. The five-year, adjustable mortgage interest rate was an average of 2.45 percent, compared to 2.98 percent in September 2020.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $47.4 million to fair housing non-profit organizations around the country.  At least two of the organizations are based in San Diego. In September these testing organizations received  $653,000 for the Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI).  According to HUD, these organizations will conduct intake and testing.  They will investigate and litigate fair housing complaints under the Fair Housing Act. According to the Department of Justice website:

"Testing refers to the use of individuals who – without any bona fide intent to rent or purchase housing, purchase a mortgage or vehicle loan, or patronize a place of public accommodation – pose as prospective renters, borrowers, or patrons for the purpose of gathering information. This information may indicate whether a provider is complying with federal civil rights laws. The primary focus of the Section's Fair Housing Testing Program has been to identify unlawful housing discrimination based on race, national origin, disability, or familial status in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The Section also has responsibilities to enforce Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the nation's public accommodations law; the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which prohibits discrimination in credit; and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which provides protections for military members as they enter active duty. The Fair Housing Testing Program also conducts testing under these statutes, as well as under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which is enforced by the Disability Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division."

Agents must also understand that California has additional protected classes including Ancestory, CREED, Gender Identity, Medical Condition, Source of Income/Occupation, and "Other Arbitrary Discrimination."  The definition of a "Protected Class" is all-inclusive in California.  Agents need to be aware of their unconscious biases and be careful to treat everyone equally.

In March of 2021 HUD Published the 2021 civil penalty amounts for fair housing violations. Civil penalties may reach a maximum of $54,157 and respondents who had violated the Act two or more times in the previous 7 years could be fined a maximum of $108,315.

PSAR, NAR, and C.A.R. have been diligent and have provided fair housing resources for Realtors for many years. During the past two years following the Newsday Investigation called "Long Island Divided" the Associations doubled down the efforts.  PSAR has hosted or promoted at least eight opportunities this year for agents to better understand fair housing.  NAR also prepared a "gamified" training to help agents understand the law.  The game is called Fairhaven.  More information may be found here.

Testers may be reaching anonymously to agents and property managers in the field.  The best practice is to understand and obey the law.  PSAR agents are the most professional in California and the Nation. PSAR's staff and volunteer leaders are available to help our members with resources and training. This law is important and there is no room for error.

Watch this video to see how real estate agents treated undercover clients on Long Island.

Housing demand tempered for the fourth consecutive month in August, even while the statewide median home price set another record high.

The California real estate market continued its return to more normal conditions, prior to COVID-19, according to the monthly home sales and price report from the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.).

Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes statewide on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate were down 3.3 percent on a monthly basis from 414,860 in August to 428,980 in July, and down 10.9 percent from a year ago, when 465,400 homes were sold on an annualized basis. The statewide annualized sales figure, collected from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations and MLSs statewide, represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2021 if sales maintained the August pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.

August’s statewide sales level was the lowest in 14 months. Despite the monthly and annual sales drop, California home sales remained strong by pre-pandemic standards, maintaining a solid year-to-date increase of 21.3 percent statewide.

In San Diego, home sales in August 2021 declined 5.1 percent compared to July 2021, and 1.6 percent lower than August 2020.

August 2021 County Sales and Price Activity
(Regional and condo sales data not seasonally adjusted)

After taking a breather in July, California’s median home price set a new record in August 2021 at $827,940 which was the fifth record set in the past six months. The August 2021 price was 2.1 percent higher than the $811,170 recorded in July 2021 and 17.1 percent higher than the $706,900 recorded in August 2020. The median price in California remained above the $800,000 benchmark for the fifth consecutive month.

In San Diego, the median price for a single-family detached home in August 2021 was $835,000, which was 2.9 percent lower than the July 2021 price of $860,000, but 14 percent higher compared to the August 2021 price of $732,560.

“The normalizing market and modestly improving housing inventory in the past few months have created an opportunity for homebuyers who sat out the highly competitive housing market seen over much of the past year,” said C.A.R. President Dave Walsh. “With the highest level of active listings in nearly a year, interest rates expected to stay consistently low, and a dip in multiple offers, now is a good time for discouraged buyers to get back into the game.”

 “While home sales at the lower end of the market are underperforming due to a lack of supply and the economic uncertainty induced by the COVID resurgence, the higher-priced segments continue to see double-digit sales growth that’s keeping the overall market from moderating too fast,” said C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist Jordan Levine. “With interest rates expected to stay low for the rest of the year, sales in California will remain solid by pre-pandemic standards while price growth will likely ease further in the coming months.”

Other key points from C.A.R.’s August 2021 resale housing report include:

-- At the regional level, sales in three of the five major regions dipped a year ago. Southern California (-4.1 percent) and Central Valley (-2.0 percent) experienced a sales drop from last year. Riverside (-13.6 percent), San Bernardino (-15.6 percent), Madera (-32.7 percent), and Placer (-13.5 percent) are a few counties that fell by double-digits in August. 

-- Nearly three-quarters of all counties, 37 of 51, posted year-over-year decreases in closed sales in August, with 23 counties declining by more than 10 percent from last year. 

-- Median prices in all major regions continued to increase by double-digits. The Far North had the largest jump (19.1 percent) year-over-year, followed by Southern California (18.8 percent), San Francisco Bay area (18.4 percent), Central Valley (16.9 percent), and Central Coast (11.4 percent). Despite the strong price growth rates, all regions decelerated from a few months ago, when regional median prices surged by more than 20 percent year-over-year.

-- After increasing for the past six consecutive months, California’s housing supply leveled off in August as the market transitioned into the off-season. The number of for-sale properties dipped slightly by 2.6 percent between August and July of this year and a 10.9 percent decline from August 2020. The year-over-year decline was the smallest in two years.

-- New active listings in August 2021 dipped from a year ago for the second straight month after increasing for four straight months from March through June. The dip in new active listings could be due to seasonality but the surge in COVID cases also may have played a role.

-- The imbalance between supply and demand continued to heat up the market, with many buyers offering sales bids over the asking price. In August 2021, 67 percent of homes sold above their asking price, making it the 11th consecutive month since September 2020 that more than half of homes sold above their asking price. In July 2021, 70 percent of homes sold above their asking price.

-- Statewide, the unsold inventory of available homes for sale was unchanged at 1.9 months for both August and July, and slightly below the August 2020 level of 2.1 months. Inventory levels measured in months indicate the number it would take for the available supply of homes on the market to sell out given the current rate of sales.

August 2021 County Unsold Inventory and Days on Market
(Regional and condo sales data not seasonally adjusted)

-- In San Diego County, the inventory of available homes for sale in August 2021 was unchanged from July 2021 at 1.7 months for both months, but slightly below the August 2020 level of 1.9 months.

-- The median number of days it took to sell a California single-family home inched up from eight days in July to nine days in August but was lower from 13 days in August 2020. The nine-day figure compares to eight days in June and seven days in May and April. Prior to setting record low numbers this year, the previous statewide record was nine days in November 2020.

-- In San Diego County, the median number of days an existing, single-family home remained unsold on the market was eight days in August 2021, which compares to seven days in July 2021, six days in June 2021, seven days in May 2021, six days in April 2021 and March 2021 and seven days in February 2021 and January 2021, as well as eight days a year ago in August 2020. The median represents a timeframe when half the homes sell above it and half below it.

-- The 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rate averaged 2.84 percent in August, down from 2.94 percent in August 2020, according to Freddie Mac. The five-year, adjustable mortgage interest rate was an average of 2.42 percent, compared to 2.91 percent in August 2020.

CRMLS launched a new IDX transparency initiative on September 1st, 2021.

What is IDX?  “Internet Data Exchange” is a means by which each MLS Participant (AKA Broker In the MLS) subscribing to the (IDX) program permits the limited electronic display of Participant’s listings appearing in Internet Data Exchange Database on each Participant’s (Other Broker's) IDX Internet websites and on applications for mobile devices that said participating Broker Participants and R.E. Subscribers control.

The newly updated rule Rule 12.16.5 listing credit:

All Listing Brokers grant permission for any Advertising Broker to display any listings submitted to the service by the Listing Broker only if the listing display or advertisement is clear so that a reasonable real estate consumer understands:

a) Who is the Listing Agent & Broker?
b) Who is the Advertising Broker?
c) How to contact that Listing Agent or Broker.

Note: These changes only affect how agent and broker IDX websites display your MLS data in public sites, not any other form of marketing. They are unrelated to communications between you and your clients.

What are the full implications of this rule? How do agents and brokers make sure your IDX feeds are compliant? Where did this rule come from, and why, and how does it benefit you?  To answer these questions and more,

CRMLS’s Vice President and General Counsel Edward Zorn - VP & General Counsel at California Regional MLS (CRMLS), will host a Webinar Wednesday, September 15th at 2:00 PM centered on the IDX Transparency Initiative.

Edward Zorn,  will also review frequently asked questions,  display examples of this new change, and take questions live.

Art Carter, CEO of CRMLS

Provides quick insight into the rule change on this 2:35 minute video.

As a follow-up from white-hot conditions in both home sales and prices, the California housing market moderated for the third straight month in July.

Both home sales and prices have tempered from the heated market conditions seen over the past year, according to the monthly home sales and price report from the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.).

Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes statewide on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate were dipped 1.6 percent in July 2021, when 428,980 homes were sold, compared to the previous month of June 2021 when 436,020 homes were sold. July 2021 statewide home sales also were down 2 percent from July 2020, when 437,890 homes were sold on an annualized basis. The statewide annualized sales figure, collected from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations and MLSs statewide, represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2021 if sales maintained the July pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.

Despite the slight decline, July’s statewide sale total was the second highest for a July in the past six years. Also, the state’s home sales pace maintained a solid year-to-date increase of 27.3 percent.

In San Diego, home sales in July 2021 were 7.4 percent lower compared to June 2021, but 1.4 percent higher than July 2020.

Home prices also remained at moderate levels in July 2021.

After setting record highs for the past four consecutive months, California’s median home price slipped 1 percent on a month-to-month basis to $811,170 in July 2021, down from June 2021’s $819,630 and up 21.7 percent from the $666,320 recorded last July 2020. The median price in California remained above the $800,000 benchmark for the fourth consecutive month.

In San Diego, the median price for a single-family detached home in July 2021 was $860,000, which was $5,000 or 0.6 percent lower than the June 2021 price of $865,000, but 19.6 percent higher compared to the July 2020 price of $719,000.

July 2021 County Sales and Price Activity
(Regional and condo sales data not seasonally adjusted)

“The California housing market continues to normalize from the white-hot conditions we experienced at the height of the pandemic with both sales and prices moderating as we slowly transition from the peak home-buying season into the fall,” said C.A.R. President Dave Walsh. “The market remains solid, however, as sales were still the second highest level for a July in the last six years, and the statewide median price continues to perform above last year’s level by double-digits. Housing supply, while improved, remains tight and market competition is still heated with homes flying off the market in record time.”

“Despite dipping slightly from its record peak set in June, California’s median price remains elevated as supply constraints continue to provide upward pressure to support home prices,” said Jordan Levine, C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist. “However, home prices should ease as housing inventory improves in the third quarter and the market continues to normalize during the traditional off-season.”

Other key points from C.A.R.’s July 2021 resale housing report included:

-- At the regional level, all major regions posted a dip in sales from a year ago, when home sales began to surge as mortgage rates continued their downward trend. San Francisco Bay Area (-1.4 percent) and Southern California (-1.4 percent) held up relatively well, but more affordable counties within the regions such as Napa (-36.9 percent), Solano (-14.7 percent) and San Bernardino (-13.2 percent) also recorded sharp declines from a year ago.

-- Active listings in California in July 2021 reached the highest level since last October 2020, signaling continuous improvement in the state’s housing supply condition. The number of for-sale properties increased 15.4 percent in July 2021 from June 2021 as more homes were being listed on the market. Despite an increase in total active listings in July, new listings added in the month dipped slightly for the first time after gaining year-over-year for four straight months. New active listings inched up by 0.7 percent from June 2021 to July 2021 percent but dipped on a year-over-year basis from July 2020 by 0.9 percent. Housing supply typically climbs during this time of the year and remains on an upward trend until late July-to-early August.

-- The imbalance between supply and demand continued to heat up the market, with many buyers offering sales bids over the asking price. In July, more than 70 percent of homes sold above their asking price, making it the tenth consecutive month since September 2020 that more than half of homes sold above their asking price.

-- Statewide, the unsold inventory of available homes for sale improved slightly from 1.7 months in June 2021 to 1.9 months in July 2021, but remained sharply below last year’s level of 2.1 months for July 2020. Inventory levels measured in months indicate the number it would take for the available supply of homes on the market to sell-out given the current rate of sales.

July 2021 County Unsold Inventory and Days on Market
(Regional and condo sales data not seasonally adjusted)

-- In San Diego County, the inventory of available homes for sales in July 2021 also improved slightly to 1.7 months, compared to 1.5 months in June 2021, but below last year’s level of 1.9 months in July 2020.

-- The median number of days it took to sell a California single-family home was eight days in July 2021, which was the same number for June 2021, down from 17 days in July 2020. The eight-day figure compares to seven days in May 2021 and April 2021. Prior to setting record low numbers this year, the previous statewide record was nine days in November 2020.

-- In San Diego County, the median number of days an existing, single-family home remained unsold on the market was seven days in July 2021. That number compares to six days in June 2021, seven days in May 2021, six days in April 2021 and March 2021 and seven days in February 2021 and January 2021, as well as eight days in December 2020 and seven days in November, October and September 2020. The timeframe a year ago in July 2020 was 10 days. The median represents a timeframe when half the homes sell above it and half below it.

-- The statewide sales-price-to-list-price radio was 103.8 percent in July 2021 and 100 percent in July 2020. Sales-to-list-price ratio is an indicator that reflects the negotiation power of home buyers and home sellers under current market conditions. The ratio is calculated by dividing the final sales price of a property by its last list price and is expressed as a percentage. A sales-to-list ratio with 100 percent or above suggests that the property sold for more than the list price, and a ratio below 100 percent indicates that the price sold below the asking price.

-- The 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rate averaged 2.87 percent in July, down from 2.98 percent in July 2020, according to Freddie Mac. The five-year, adjustable mortgage interest rate was an average of 2.49 percent, compared to 3.02 percent in July 2020.

RentSpree is now an MLS-integrated core product, available to all CRMLS users at no extra cost!

Here's a short video explaining the benefits of RentSpree:

What is RentSpree?
RentSpree is a premier rental application and tenant screening tool. Through a simple link, tenants can apply to rental properties in minutes. The housing provider receives a complete rental application, credit report and score, criminal background check, and eviction report – all at no cost! (Applicants pay the $30 screening fee.)

What's the new integration?
CRMLS added an "Online Screening" field to residential lease input forms. It is now a required field for lease listings in all CRMLS-supported MLS systems. Just select "RentSpree" in this field if you want to collect rental applications via the MLS! (You may also select "None" if you wish to opt-out.)

This is what the new feature will look like in your MLS system:

If users select RentSpree, the listing agent will receive a notification email containing a link for prospective tenants to apply to rent the property.

How can users start accepting rental applications?
Visit the CRMLS Knowledgebase to find out exactly where to find this new field in your MLS system.

Molly Chase with the San Diego Housing Commission provided PSAR members with an update on the funds spent on the County Rental Assistance Program. The program helps pay past-due, unpaid rent, and utilities for City of San Diego households with low income that experience financial hardship due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

• If you know any housing providers or tenants living in the City of San Diego who may qualify, please feel free to share this information with them.  (link to this blog - https://blog.psar.org/rental_assistance )
• Online application for City of San Diego assistance may be found at: https://covidassistance.sdhc.org/
• Slides from the presentation with facts figures and requirements may be found here.
• Daily stats on financial distribution may be found here.

For deeper knowledge on this topic check out this video presentation and Q&A with PSAR's Government Affairs Committee.

With direction from PSAR's 2021 President Ditas Yamane, this week PSAR released a short promotional video highlighting PSAR's Mission to Empower Realtors.   

Serving San Diego County, PSAR empowers Realtors with help from the largest MLS in the Country, CRMLS.   PSAR Advocates for Private Property Rights and Homeownership. The organization adheres to the highest levels of professionalism.

It is common knowledge that PSAR's Members Services Team takes pride in providing the highest level of service in the industry. Service is so important that our three service centers in Clairemont, Chula Vista, and El Cajon remained open throughout the pandemic while adhering to local, state, and national guidelines. 

Check it out!