Friday | September 20th | 8:30am-9:30am

Brew Coffee Spot | 6101 Lake Murray Blvd., La Mesa, CA 91941

YPN welcomes you to a 'Coffee and Learn' session with guest speaker, Abraham Cecena.
Abraham is a Financial Consultant for AXA Advisors.

The topic of his talk will be which Strategic Shelter is right for you
Solo(K) vs Safe Harbor.

We hope to see you there.

FLYER

Brokers, join CRMLS’s Jeff Smetana (Director of Compliance and Licensing) and Megan Barber (Compliance Manager) on October 4th for breakfast in South County or Lunch in East County to learn about the brokers place in the compliance process.

Understanding "the why" behind MLS rules and recent changes to CRMLS.

• Subjects will include:
  • Compliance process
  • Citation process
  • Compliance resources
  • top violations overview
  • Q & A

Two Sessions for you to chose from:

October 4th, 2019
South County | 10:00am - 11:30am | 880 Canarios ct, Chula Vista, CA 9191

East County     | 12:30pm - 2:00pm   | 1150 Broadway, El Cajon, CA 92021

** Breakfast / Lunch will be served according to your session **

FLYER

By Sam Calvano

I’ve worked in real estate for a long time, since 1976. I began my career as a real estate sales agent and then I switched to real estate lending in 1983. I’ve learned a lot and seen a lot of changes over the years. However, one constant, key factor in our business has been the importance of our Association. The influence and inspiration that our Association has in the local real estate market cannot be understated.

Real estate has been very good to me in my life. So, one of the reasons I serve with PSAR is because I want to give back to our industry. Giving creates community and camaraderie. I am encouraged when I see other PSAR members actively looking for ways to invest their time, treasures and talents. In a time where we are all so busy and everyone seems to be doing more with less, PSAR has some great people who are willing to contribute in various ways to improve and enhance our industry. We couldn’t possibly do all the things we do at PSAR without the spirit of giving back that so many members demonstrate. 

I believe in PSAR because PSAR is focused on its members. Decisions are made based on what will benefit REALTORS® and all other industry professionals.

I am honored to share with you the reasons why I’m involved as an active volunteer with PSAR. First, a higher level of involvement in PSAR has meant a number of personal benefits. I have found that my involvement in PSAR is good for my business. I take the opportunity at various meetings and events to meet fellow REALTORS® and industry professionals and we share ideas and information.

Also, involvement in PSAR is good for our industry. When REALTORS® speak individually and collectively, people listen, including government bodies and elected officials. When we listen to each other, it creates understanding and connection. One of the greatest gifts you can give people is an attentive ear. When you listen, you’re saying, “You matter, I value what you have to say, I value who you are.” 

In addition, being involved in PSAR helps our Association to become more inclusive. I love that we include everyone at PSAR. There is no need for special or separate interest groups in our organization. Everyone is invited and diversity of opinion is welcomed. Cultivating inclusion is not just the right thing to do, but also the smart thing. At PSAR, we actively work to make our culture more inclusive. As a result, our members are empowered and better positioned to achieve greater levels of loyalty, engagement and productivity through skill-set growth and career progression.

Finally, getting involved at PSAR at a greater level has given me the opportunity to encourage our younger and newer members. Encouragement is so difficult to find today. We live in a deeply negative culture, where put-downs seem to be the favorite form of humor. People are constantly demeaned and degraded. They’re criticized and maligned. However, in contrast, when somebody comes along and says, “Good job!” it can make a tremendous difference.

So, I’m urging you to join me and decide today to get more involved at PSAR. Do something more than you’re doing now. Join a committee or volunteer for an event. Look for ways to give back to the industry and the Association that we love.  Make a connection, make a commitment. If you want to get beyond shallow, superficial relationships, you’ve got to be willing to stick with it. Getting involved will give you the chance to gain new skills to further your goals and pursuits. You will get better at learning more about yourself and how to better achieve success.

PSAR 5^th Annual Zombie 5K run/walk

Sat, October 12, 2019 | 9:00am - 12:00pm | Check-in at 7:30am

Rohr Park | 4548 Sweetwater Rd, Bonita, CA 91902

DRESS LIKE A ZOMBIE and JOIN IN THE fun WHILE SUPPORTING a CHARITY!*

Activities include: 
Face painting, trick-or-treat, games, prizes, awards,
kids & pets costume contest, and a raffle.
Don't forget to bring money for the raffle!

Entrance fee*: $10 Adults and children over 5 | Children under 5 are FREE

*PSAR in Partnership with John and Susan Carroll,
proceeds from the event will go to benefit San Ysidro Health. 

Sign up before Sept. 30th, and receive a FREE t-shirt

Or call 619-421-7811 to register by phone

San Diego County’s housing market in July 2019 saw an 8.9 percent increase in sales from the previous month, and a 3.4 percent sales increase compared to July 2018, according to the latest housing market report from the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.).

In addition, the median price of an existing single-family home in San Diego County of $650,000 in July 2019 was 2.3 percent lower from the previous month of $665,000 in June 2019. The local median price of $650,000 in July 2019 was the same as July 2018.

The lowest interest rates in nearly three years helped jump-start California’s housing market to post the first year-over-year sales gain and the highest sales level in 15 months.

Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 411,630 units in July, according to information collected from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations and MLSs statewide. The statewide annualized sales figure represents the total number of homes sold during 2019 if sales maintained the July pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.

July’s sales figure was up 5.6 percent from the 389,730 level in June 2019 and up 1.1 percent from home sales in July 2018 of 407,030.

“Mortgage rates that dipped to the lowest level in nearly three years have helped reduce monthly mortgage payments for the past five consecutive months, giving buyers more purchasing power,” said C.A.R. President Jared Martin. “The boost in demand gave the housing market its first yearly gain since April 2018.”

After setting record prices for the past three months in a row, the statewide median price of $607,990 in July 2019 pulled back by 0.4 percent from June 2019’s $610,720 figure, but it still registered higher by 2.8 percent than the $591,230 price set for July 2018.

It was the fourth straight month that the median price remained above $600,000.

“While it's encouraging that home sales crept higher in July, the market will continue to be challenged by an overarching affordability issue, especially in high cost areas such as the Bay Area, which requires a minimum annual income well into the six figures to purchase a home,” said C.A.R. Senior VP and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young.

Other key points from the July 2019 resale housing report included:

-- At the regional level, non-seasonally adjusted sales increased from a year ago in all major regions, except San Francisco, which experienced a 0.6 percent decline. The Los Angeles Metro region posted a 4.0 percent increase, and sales in the Inland Empire improved by 2.4 percent.-- Non-seasonally adjusted sales rose in every county in Southern California, with Orange County rising the most at 6.7 percent, followed by San Bernardino (5.0 percent), Los Angeles County (4.7 percent), San Diego (3.4 percent), Ventura (2.1 percent) and Riverside (0.8 percent).

-- Median home prices at the regional level continued to inch up in Southern California and the Central Valley regions, while the Central Coast and Bay Area declined slightly from a year ago. In the Southern California region, median home prices grew in every county, while most Bay Area region counties continued to experience price softening on a year-over-year basis.

-- Active listings, which had been increasing year-over-year for the past 15 months, fell 2.1 percent from a year ago.

-- The decrease in active listings and an increase in home sales contributed to a year-over-year decline in unsold inventory for the first time in 15 months. The Unsold Inventory Index (UII), which is a ratio of inventory over sales, stood at 3.2 months in July, down from 3.4 months in June and down from 3.3 months in July 2018. The index measures the number of months it would take to sell the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate. 

Statewide, the median number of days it took to sell a single-family home increased to 21 days in July 2019, compared to 19 days in June 2019 and 18 days in July 2018.

-- In San Diego County, it took about two weeks to sell an existing single-family home in July 2019. The median number of days a home remained unsold on the market stood at 15 days in July, compared with 13 days in June, 14 days in May, 17 days in April, 19 days in March, 22 days in February and 14 days in July 2018.

-- The statewide sales-price-to-list-price ratio was 99.0 percent in July 2019 compared to 99.6 percent in July 2018. 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 3.77 percent in July, down from 4.53 percent in July 2018, according to Freddie Mac. The five-year, adjustable mortgage interest rate was an average of 3.47 percent, compared to 3.84 percent in July 2018.

In other recent real estate and economic news, according to news reports:

-- According to CoreLogic, home sales in July rose 10.1 percent from a year ago, as the median home price stayed flat. The $580,000 median home price in July, showing no gain from the year before, was down from the all-time high of $590,000 the previous month.

-- According to the most recent S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices report, the rate of home price increases is continuing to slow in San Diego and across the nation in June. The survey found that in 20 major cities it tracked across the U.S., there was a year-over-year price gain of 2.1 percent. For San Diego County, the year-over-year increase was just 1.3 percent in June, down from 6.9 percent at the same time last year. It was the fifth monthly increase in a row for San Diego.

-- According to Zillow, home value growth continued to slow in July, indicated a slowdown. The rate of U.S. home value appreciation decreased for the seventh straight month in July. The typical U.S. home was worth $229,000 in July, an increase of 5.2 percent from a year ago but the smallest annual appreciation since October 2015. The median price of a single-family home in San Diego County was $591,500 in July, Zillow said. San Diego County’s year-over-year home price climbed by just 1.1 percent in July, compared to a 6.1 percent year-over-year increase in July 2018.

-- According to Redfin, a typical family in San Diego would need to earn 156 percent of the median household income in order to afford the $650,000 median-priced, single-family home. The Redfin survey is based on the assumption that a home is only affordable if the would-be buyer pays no more than 30 percent of his/her household income on the purchase.

-- San Diego ranked as the 10th-most coveted moving destination in the second quarter, according to a report from Redfin. There were 3,013 more Redfin users looking to move here than leave, marking a year-over-year increase of 465 users, the company reported. The largest percentage of San Diego searches came from residents of Los Angeles. The top out-of-state origin for San Diego searches came from Seattle.

-- San Diego County had the nation's fifth most expensive single-family housing market in the second quarter, according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). NAR found four housing markets that were more expensive than San Diego’s. The Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area was the most expensive market at $1.33 million at mid-year, followed by the San Francisco Bay area ($1.05 million), the Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine market ($835,000) and Urban Honolulu ($785,500).

-- San Diego was the third most expensive home resale market in the nation during the first half of the year, according to an HSH.com report. The report, covering the top 50 metropolitan areas, incorporated local property tax and homeowner's insurance costs and calculated the income needed to qualify for a median-priced home in each market.

-- More than 20 percent of homes for sale in the San Diego metropolitan area had a price decrease in June. Of the 20 biggest metro areas in the nation, San Diego had the sixth most price reductions, according to Zillow. Chicago had the most reductions at 22 percent. The numbers are down from the end of last year in San Diego metro. In October 2018, 27 percent of home listings had price reductions. Still, recent numbers are a far cry from the start of 2017 when less than  9 percent of listings had a price reduction.

-- San Diego County had the biggest drop in homebuilding in Southern California in the first six months of 2019. According to the Real Estate Research Council of Southern California, 43 percent fewer homes were constructed in the six-month period compared to the same timeframe last year. The slowdown comes at a time when city and state leaders are offering several legislative measures to spur housing.

-- Mortgage problems, including defects, fraudulence and misrepresentation, are declining, according to First American Financial Corp. The top markets with a year-over-year decrease in July included Houston (minus-19.1 percent), Jacksonville, Fla. (minus 17.0 %), Orlando, Fla. (minus 16.5 %), San Diego (minus 16.5 %), and Tampa, Fla. (minus 14.0 %).

-- New, entry-level teachers will need to spend more than half of their salaries on rent in 19 of the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas this school year, according to Zillow. New educators in San Diego County will need to spend almost their entire salary in order to afford a local apartment. Zillow found that an entry-level teacher in San Diego will be required to spend 97.2 percent of their income to live in an apartment with a median monthly rent of $2,673.

-- The unemployment rate in the San Diego County was 3.6 percent in July, up from a revised 3.3 percent in June 2019, and unchanged compared with the year-ago estimate of 3.6 percent, the state Employment Development Department reported. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.4 percent for California and 4.0 percent for the nation during the same period.

-- U.S. employers hired 164,000 workers in July as the labor force hit a record high. Government data indicates that hiring in the U.S. remained at a healthy pace in July despite a cooling economy. The 164,000 non-farm payrolls last month increased the size of the labor force to its largest ever. The labor market has added jobs for a record 106 straight months. On average, the U.S. added a solid 140,000 jobs a month between May and July.

CRIME PREVENTION FOR REALTORS® - Learn the strategies and
techniques that will help keep you safe.

Tuesday | September 17
South PSAR | 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Crime Prevention Specialist Angela Gaines has two decades of working in law Enforcement, first with the Lemon Grove Sheriff station , and for the last 13 years with the Chula Vista Police Department. Training will be fun and interactive.

Free Workshop Will Cover

Parking lot & vehicle safety tips
Safety strategies
Tricks to remain aware 
Learn to trust your gut Instinct
Personal security devices

REALTORS®, please check your email for a RedAlert from C.A.R. Government Affairs. We’re OPPOSING AB1482, a bill that creates restrictive rent caps and “just cause” evictions, because it discourages the creation of rental housing. Fewer housing units will result in higher rent. #AB1482, #caleg, @CAREALTORS

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact DeAnn Kerr for more information at deannk@car.org.

The PSAR family is sad today over the recent passing of former PSAR President Armida Martin Del Campo. Armida served as the PSAR President in 2001.

Armida passed away Aug. 27 at a skilled nursing facility in National City after living with Alzheimer’s disease for the past seven years. She retired about eight years ago after a 30-year career in real estate sales and industry leadership. She maintained her brokers license even after her retirement. She operated her own brokerage, Sunshine Realty on Bonita Road, and ended her career with Coldwell Banker West. She was 76.

She was a long-time PSAR leader and served on many PSAR committees, including Professional Standards, Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Equal Opportunity and Political Action, among others. She also served as a CAR Director.

 “She was outgoing and a great people-person, a real social butterfly,” said Margarita Martin Del Campo, a daughter. “She was a wonderful wife and a great mother. She was always fun to be around and had a big heart and an open door for everyone. She loved real estate and was always on the go. Her open houses were very popular because she would prepare food for guests to enjoy. Wherever we went, people would recognize her.”

Armida served as the California Association of REALTORS' Key Contact for State Senator Juan Vargas.  She advocated for her industry and encouraged many PSAR members to get involved.  Current PSAR CEO Rich D’Ascoli recalls her support and encouragement when he first joined PSAR as the Government Affairs Director. "Armida made leadership look easy.  She led with grace and poise.  She had a way of making everyone feel accepted and comfortable. She was always the professional in the room."

Victor Ibarra was among countless people in real estate who benefited from Armida’s encouragement. “Armida was an icon in the real estate industry. She was well-loved and respected by her peers throughout the country, including escrow officers, title reps, lenders, everyone. She was always advocating for REALTORS® and homeowners. She took me under her wing when I served on the Association board. We went on trips to various cities to meet with fellow REALTORS®. She introduced me to many movers-and-shakers, all of whom loved and respected her. She knew everybody and everybody knew her.”

Armida was born on Oct. 27, 1942 in Tijuana. She is survived by Enrique, her husband of 52 years, two sons, Henry Martin of Chula Vista and Gerardo Martin Del Campo of Clayton, California, and two daughters, Armida Tinajero and Margarita Martin Del Campo, both of Chula Vista. Enrique retired after a career in dentistry. Henry works in law enforcement and Gerardo is a veterinarian. Armida works in manufacturing retail and Margarita works with the government. Armida also is survived by 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services are pending, but are expected to be held in Tijuana in early September.  PSAR will release more information when it becomes available.

Everyone at PSAR extends their sympathies and condolences to the Martin Del Campo family.

The passing of Armida marks the third loss this year of a past PSAR president. Tom Money (1984) passed away in January. Patty Davis (1991) passed away in July.

How you will benefit from taking this course:

• Build a strong foundation needed to understand the escrow process
• Learn how the contract affects the escrow process
• Understand that COMMUNICATION is key in the escrow process
• Identify the lender requirements regarding the Residential Purchase Agreements
• How to set up timelines for lender required activities regarding the loan process
• Understand the lender requirements (conditions) needed to assist your client with a timely closing

Instructors: 

• Carl Spiteri :  Ajunct Professor, Woodbury University
• Wendi Molina & Genia Englestad : Certified Transaction Coordination Instructors

Thursday. September 26 |  9:00am - 12:00pm
PSAR Central Office
4340 Genesee Ave #203, San Diego, CA 92117

$121.00 PSAR & NSDCAR Members
$136.00 Non-Members

The Transaction Talk workshop counts toward earning the Certified Transaction Coordinator (CTC) Certificate. This Unique workshop is designed to bring industry experts together from the three main entities of a real estate transaction - the Lender, Escrow Officer, and Realtor®. Together these parties ensure that all aspects of the real estate transaction are working to close your deal on time. 
During the first part of the workshop you'll hear from Lender and Escrow professionals about the best practices, followed by an open discussion for everyone to participate. Bring your case studies and questions - this is your opportunity to get answers and network with your peers.

Salute to Service

By Mike White

I have never been the kind of person who has been content just sitting on the sidelines. Instead, I prefer to get involved. That’s why I decided to participate in a leadership role at PSAR as a board member. And, since this year’s PSAR theme is “Salute to Service,” I want to encourage all of you to also decide to personally participate at a greater level at PSAR.

A higher level of involvement in PSAR has personally meant a ton of benefits for me. PSAR has given me an opportunity to continue my personal and professional growth and career maturity. In the past, I’ve been in several other leadership roles outside of real estate, including as President of Toastmasters Club, PTA and others. But, PSAR has brought me to a whole new higher level.

Involvement in PSAR has meant that I’ve had to “up my game.” I have been pushed to set higher goals for myself. I have learned to be a better listener and make the most out of every situation. I have learned to understand what it means to broaden and expand my horizons, maximize opportunities and stay ahead of the curve.

For example, forming and leading the PSAR Tech Committee as chair has been a great experience. I’ve been able to solidify my public speaking skills as a result of delivering the “Tech Moment” at Rally and Ride pitch sessions. And, it’s been personally gratifying to share what I’ve learned with our members there and at our monthly "Tech Lunch and Learn" workshops.

Also, it’s been a great experience to represent PSAR as a member of several California Association of REALTORS® committees, including Business Tech, MLS, Zipforms and Standard Forms. 

Overall, getting involved at PSAR at a greater level has given me the opportunity to "drive the industry bus", so to speak, rather than just being one of the passengers. You, too, can “drive the bus.” I’m inviting you today to get behind the wheel and buckle-up your seat belt. As a driver, you can make a difference about the speed and direction of the bus as you bring along other PSAR members and help set a destination for success.

Every morning, I need to remind myself that since I’m driving the bus I will do everything I can to make things happen. That’s because attitude, not aptitude, determines altitude. I choose to be optimistic even when it appears the deck is stacked against me. Everybody has the choice in life to be a passenger or a driver. The passengers go along for the ride, leaving decisions and responsibility to somebody else. A passenger does not take personal responsibility for the events in their life. But, to be successful and live a fulfilling life, you need to be the driver.

C’mon, get serious with me: Are you a hammer or a nail? Which one would you rather be? Some people complain about bad luck, but others make their luck.  If it is to be, then it must be up to me. To succeed, you have to try.  Don’t be afraid of failure because the most successful people have failed, but they stuck with it.  

Every successful entrepreneur has always faced challenging odds, but then they have succeeded in spite of them all. Every successful REALTOR® has usually had countless people tell them they were delusional and should give up and “get a real job.” I’ve always felt, as far as my destiny is concerned, that every set-back, when the door has been slammed in my face, has been nothing more than just another bump in the road that is bringing me closer to a “yes.” And, as long as you love what you're doing, you're half-way to your long-term goals.

So, I’m urging you to join me and decide to get more involved at PSAR. Just do something more than you’re doing now. Join a committee or volunteer for an event. Get involved and you will gain new skills that will help you further your goals and pursuits. You will get better at learning more about yourself and how to better succeed. Be that bus driver who takes more control of life and pursues new dreams and goals through the attainment of new skills. The time is now, step up and become a driver.