The Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® (PSAR) and the North San Diego County Association of REALTORS® (NSDCAR), two real estate trade associations for San Diego-area REALTORS®, are proud to jointly announce the availability of a new Local Area Disclosures (LAD) publication covering San Diego County.

This new LAD publication will help REALTOR® members give consumers a deeper understanding of the properties in San Diego County communities where they are purchasing. It contains vital information relating to all local communities in the San Diego region. The new LAD is the latest member benefit and is demonstrating a dedication and commitment to address the local needs of REALTOR® members.

NSDCAR and PSAR leading brokers and legal counsel worked together to create this new version that will provide REALTORS® with a disclosure document that focuses on items that may concern their clients and that are especially, and in many cases, unique to San Diego County.

For consumers, this new LAD will provide important information on all pertinent issues relating to a property they are interested in. It also will help buyers not rely solely on information received from sellers and agents.

“It was a very rewarding, collaborative experience working with our REALTORS® on this LAD project,” said Rich D’Ascoli, CEO, PSAR. “Our team members developed close bonds with a sense of expertise and camaraderie on this project, all with the goal of empowering our members to succeed.”

“Brokers want to provide their clients with accurate and current information,” said Tommy Thompson, CEO, NSDCAR. “Real estate dealings come with potential legal risk. So, disclosure of information is key to our jobs of informing buyers about the exact condition of a property before they agree to purchase it. Keeping tabs on legal concerns in day-to-day dealings help our members safeguard their reputations, businesses and careers.”

Disclosures are one of the most important areas in today’s real estate industry. Full disclosure provides parties with the information needed to properly negotiate price and assess the property’s suitability for their needs.

All sellers are required to disclose certain information and material facts, including information on the property including known hazards and defects that could have an effect on a buyer’s decision to enter into the deal.

In addition, all REALTORS® are required to have a thorough knowledge of California real estate disclosure laws. A real estate professional has a fiduciary duty to disclosure any information that might impact the value of a sale. It is always in your best interest to disclosure all known and suspected hazards. If information is withheld, the buyer or seller may be entitled to damages.

The new LAD publication is presented in easy-to-read format with chapter sections with such titles as “General Disclosures,” “Environmental Disclosures,” “Traffic, Roads and Transportation Disclosures” and “Air Traffic and Airport Disclosures.” Another section called “Specific Area Disclosures” includes specific information on particular communities in San Diego County, including coastal and desert areas, as well as North County, East County, South County, City of San Diego areas.

Topics for the sections include the following:

-- General Disclosures: County of San Diego General Plan Update, Homeowner Associations, High Wind and Flooding areas, Prison and Jails, Attractions and Amusement Parks, Casinos, Historic Districts, Short-term Rental Restrictions, Parking Restrictions, Soil Conditions, Gas Pipelines, Proposition 65.

-- Environmental Disclosures: Hazardous Materials, Coastal Cliffs, Electrical and Magnetic Fields, Flooding Valleys, Landfills, Lead-based Paint, Nuclear Materials, Agricultural Lands, Toxic Mold Advisory.

-- Traffic, Roads and Transportation: Major Freeways, Mass Transit, Buses.

-- Air Traffic and Airport Disclosures: Aircraft Noise, Airport Sites and Runway Expansion, Military Airfield Restrictions.

A variety of topics are mentioned on the pages about specific San Diego County communities, including information about off-road vehicles activity, nearby farms and agricultural odors, equestrian areas, sewage plants, groundwater seepage, landslide incidents, military ordinances in canyons, quarry noise and facilities for homeless and transients.

The new LAD publication will be available to members on the PSAR and NSDCAR websites.

About PSAR
The Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® (PSAR), a 3,100-member trade group for San Diego-area REALTORS®, offers CRMLS multiple listing services, educational training, advocacy and other resources to its REALTOR® members. Founded in 1928, PSAR has played a significant role in shaping the history, growth and development of greater San Diego County. The Association maintains a leadership role in the industry, empowering REALTORS® by leveraging our collective strength so they may serve homebuyers and sellers and the greater community. PSAR offices are located in Clairemont, Chula Vista, and El Cajon. PSAR Service Centers provide Sentrilock, Supra, retail store, MLS training and REALTOR® education, networking and much more. For more information, visit www.PSAR.org.  

About NSDCAR
The North San Diego County Association of REALTORS® (NSDCAR), a 7,000-member trade group for San Diego-area REALTORS®, offers San Diego County REALTORS® access to the California Regional MLS (CRMLS) service, along with educational training, advocacy and other services and resources. NSDCAR is the largest trade association in San Diego’s North County Region. Service centers are located in Vista, Carmel Valley, Carlsbad, Escondido, Fallbrook and Kearny Mesa. NSDCAR was founded in 1994 when several small boards of REALTORS® joined forces to better serve REALTORS® and real estate consumers in the rapidly growing areas of North San Diego County. For more information on NSDCAR, visit www.NSDCAR.com.

• Class room instruction with a 'live' certified instructor.
• Test-Prep Hand Book with 138 sample questions.
• Take the Exam the same day.
• Plenty of parking and easy to find.
• Become a new California Notary Public or renew your Notary Commission. 

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2019
8:15 AM - 5:00 PM
PSAR South Service Center
880 Canarios Ct., Chula Vista, 91910

Cost:
PSAR and NSDCAR Members - $105.00
Non-Members - $130.00

Items to bring with you:
• Photo ID
• $40 check made out to "Secretary of State"
• Two #2 pencils
• One 2" x 2" color photo of yourself  

Schedule:
8:15 AM: Check In
8:30 AM - 3:45 PM: Class 
3:45 PM - 4:35 PM: Test

Grow your Transaction coordination business Or Be a better agent

Thursday | October 31st | 9:00am - 1:00pm

PSAR Central | 4340 Genesee #203, San Diego, CA 92117

Great class for Realtors, licensed and unlicensed administrators.

Send your assistants and trainees!

• Learn and practice the latest tools and techniques necessary for transaction coordination success. 
• Lecture, discussions and exercises will cover the details, workflow and compliance requirements needed to manage every type of transaction.
• Focus on the complexities of the job, the attributes of a successful Transaction Coordinator and everything in-between.

Learn from an experienced Transaction Coordinator with over 17 years in the real estate business.

Download Flyer

PSAR Installation Dinner and Awards

Casino Night at Viejas

Saturday, November 2nd

Happy Hour 5:30 pm-7:00 pm | Dinner to start at 7:00 pm sharp.

Viejas Casino - Oak Ballroom | 5000 Willows Road, Alpine, CA, 91901

~ SOLD OUT ~

• Maximize zipForm Plus and  complete contracts and manage transactions more efficiently.
• Practice on the new and updated interface along with new tools designed to save time and protect you from mistakes.
• Discover features such as templates, MLS Connect, photos and adding non-C.A.R. documents to your transaction, clause manager and more...

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17th | 10 AM TO 12 PM
~ Bring your Laptop or Tablet ~
PSAR South Service Center
880 Canarios Ct. Chula Vista, CA 91910

Instructor: Jan Farley  2018 PSAR President Certified zipForm Trainer

Cost: FREE for PSAR and NSDCAR Members, $20 for Non-Members

Or call (619)421-7811 to register. 

FLYER

I admit it. I was somewhat disappointed with the recent approval by Sacramento lawmakers of statewide rent control legislation. AB 1482 will limit yearly rent increases to 5 percent, plus inflation, beginning Jan. 1, 2020. The new law will effectively limit rent increases to around 7 to 8 percent a year in San Diego County, based on our local inflation rate. The new law is not only rent control, but it’s also anti-rent gouging.

Fortunately, single-family homes and condominiums will be exempted from the new law, but our state's housing affordability and availability crisis deserves a comprehensive approach that prioritizes building more homes for rent and ownership. This new law offers nothing in support of production or protection.

Throughout the debate, the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) advocated for a balanced solution that protected renters and respected the rights of property owners. While several of C.A.R.’s recommendations were included in AB 1482, the final bill did not do enough to support the increase of supply of affordable rental housing. Even legislators who voted yes did so acknowledging its shortcomings.

With its restrictive rent cap, AB 1482 will not incentivize production of rental housing or help more people find an affordable place to live. It will actually discourage new rental housing and make it more difficult for hard-working Californians to find an affordable place to live.

In a statement after the bill passed earlier this month, a C.A.R. representative said, “It was disappointing that the California Apartment Association and the California Business Roundtable did not stand with us. In fact, the Apartment Association opposed an earlier version of the bill with a higher rent cap and a shorter sunset date and then withdrew their opposition when the bill was amended to lower the rent cap and extend the sunset date, contrary to the interest of their members. Only C.A.R. advocated for small mom-and-pop investors by successfully obtaining an exemption for single-family homes and condominiums.”

Just last year, when more Californians than ever voted in a midterm election, their message was clear. They wanted a balanced solution to our affordability crisis. Voters in 56 of California's 58 counties rejected a statewide ballot measure that would have dramatically expanded rent control without respecting property rights. Clearly, AB 1482 is an end-run after the failure of last year’s statewide proposition for rent control.  

Still today, headline after headline remind us of the immediate need for more housing. In recent weeks, we learned the state has issued just 111,000 permits for new homes in 2019, 12 percent less than a year before. Even worse, apartment development is down 42 percent from last year. Today’s real estate market is complex and interconnected. Home ownership is on the decline and rents are ever increasing.

Californians are being forced to make tough decisions because of the housing crisis. In a recent survey, 53 percent said they were considering leaving the state due to high housing costs and an even greater share of young people said the same. That number bears repeating: more than half of Californians think leaving the state may be the best option for them if they want to find more affordable housing.

Rent should be only about 25 to 30 percent of a person's income, but for more than 30 percent of Californians it is approaching 40 to 50 percent of their income. California needs to remove barriers to additional housing, not create them. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what AB 1482 has done.

Now, with AB 1482 becoming law, our PSAR members are facing a new reality. Perhaps REALTORS® should consider focusing on identifying more investor-owned properties. In some cases, rent-controlled properties can still be a valuable addition to an investor’s portfolio.

For example, rent-controlled units can offer lower acquisition costs. After capital improvements, there can be potential for substantial upside. Rent-controlled properties can provide a consistent stream of revenue and be a great investment for those with a long-term, buy and hold strategy.

I don’t blame you for being skittish about rent-controlled properties. But, perhaps investors who want to sell might have a broker manage their properties for them. It’s an idea that might help both tenants and landlords, including the economically disadvantaged and most vulnerable who generally get hit the hardest by rent control.

Although we did not prevail, PSAR remains steadfast in its commitment to overcome California’s historic housing supply and affordability crisis.

The right response is a dramatic increase in the number of homes, especially apartments, across California. That’s the only way to close California’s chronic jobs-to-homes imbalance and keep the state economically viable. If we don’t build the homes that working families need, employers will pack up and take their jobs to states that will.

Imperial Beach Code Enforcement is reminding San Diego County Realtors who are placing signs in the public right of way is against state law in all municipalities that don't have an exception.  California PENAL CODE SECTION 556-556.4 states: 

It is a misdemeanor for any person to place or maintain, or cause to be placed or maintained without lawful permission upon any property of the State, or of a city or of a county, any sign, picture, transparency, advertisement, or mechanical device which is used for the purpose of advertising or which advertises or brings to notice any person, article of merchandise, business or profession, or anything that is to be or has been sold, bartered, or given away.

The public right of way is "Real property or an interest in real property offered to and accepted by the City for public use."  Sidewalks are part of the public right-of-way.  While a couple of cities have limited specific exceptions to this rule, these exceptions usually involve city permits and payment.  Agents who place signs on sidewalks are likely violating state and local laws.

Imperial Beach will be fining agents $100 per sign when they place these signs on sidewalks.  

Here is a link to a letter from the IB Assistant Fire Marshal who is in charge of this.

SMALL HOMES, BIG IMPACT - ADU WOrkshop

Wednesday | October 9th | 6:00pm - 8:00pm

City of La Mesa Community Center | 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa, California 91942

There will be free on-site parking. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.

This free two-hour ADU Forum will create awareness of the new ADU
law in California and help homeowners learn everything there is to
know about building an ADU or JADU.

The ADU workshop will cover the following topics:
Accessory Dwelling Units Overview
     » ADU Legislative Updates
     » Current ADU Trends/Types of Units/Financing
     » Difference between ADU & Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADU’s)
     » City of La Mesa’s approved ordinance
     » Avoid Fraud: Hiring Contractors Do’s & Don’t’s

The ADU Forum is an opportunity to address your questions with the panelists well versed in ADU resources and compliance.

Sponsored by

Update and Q&A with Department of Real Estate District Manager Veronica Kilpatrick

Plus

Risk Management recap from recent C.A.R. Meetings will cover new and recurring legal claims to be aware of and the hottest C.A.R. Legal Hotline questions.

This meeting is open to REALTOR BROKERS ONLY AND THEIR OFFICE MANAGERS

Date: Thursday, October 3, 2019

Time: 1 PM to 2:30 PM

Location:  4330 Genesee Ave, #203, San Diego, CA 92117. 

Access to the Clairemont Facility is on the 2nd Floor in the rear of the building. The best parking is also in the rear of the building. As you go up the stairs the office is on the right.

Open to all Realtor Brokers from any association. Working together to reduce liability is important to Brokers Across the County.  

Save the Dates for 2020 Broker Meetings on:

• Thursday, February 13th, 2020, 1 PM to 2:30 PM, El Cajon Office
• Thursday, May 28, 2020, 1 PM to 2:30 PM, Chula Vista Office
• Thursday, October 22, 2020, 1 PM to 2:30 PM, Clairemont Office