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.

I am honored to share with you the reasons why I’m involved as an active volunteer with PSAR, and why you should not wait another day to join me in showing a greater level of support for our Association.

It’s fair to say that our industry is under attack. Our profession is being threatened in a number of ways, including questions about the value that seasoned, experienced and knowledgeable agents can offer to clients. It seems the only constant in real estate is change.

When discussing how the changes the real estate industry is facing certain changes, you may have heard the word “disruptors,” which could refer to a variety of factors: ranging from new franchisers; tech-centric start-up brokerages;the iBuyer model; MLS data aggregators; reduced commission structures and the intersection between technology and real estate.

As a result of the changes in our industry, the role our Association plays becomes even more critical in empowering our REALTOR® members and protecting personal property rights.  Actually these industry changes provide an outstanding opportunity for REALTOR® Associations like PSAR to stay ahead of the curve and to step forward in support of its members. So, I want to be part of this. I want to be involved in something that is part of the bigger picture and better for all of us.

My own career in real estate has encompassed a variety of business models, ranging from traditional to start-up to hybrid. I believe there’s enough room for everyone to stay connected and to succeed.

There’s another reason why I’m eager to volunteer with PSAR.

I have found that my involvement benefits the bottom line of my own business because of the opportunities to become acquainted with my fellow REALTORS® and brokers. At the end of the day, real estate is a relationship business. Yes, we may all be competitors, but we can also work together on deals. And I would prefer to undertake transactions with colleagues whom I know and trust. We all know the hard sell no longer works. People do not respond to a guy yelling at them about an amazing deal that they can’t live without. Instead, we choose to do business with someone we like and can communicate with. Good relationships don’t happen by accident. They take cultivation, time and effort. 

In fact, being involved in PSAR helps me discover ways to bring people together. It’s true that there’s a lot of conflict in our world. It’s a world filled with wars, division, arguments, prejudice and partisanship. But, PSAR provides a platform that allows our members to become bridge builders, not wall builders. PSAR is here to encourage members. You will need others in rough times, and we can encourage each other in the process.

Consider the universal principle of “use it or lose it.” For example, if you don’t exercise, your muscles get smaller. If you don’t use your mind, it will become duller as you grow older.  It’s the same with PSAR. If you have a talent and refuse to share it, then you’ll lose that talent. The opposite is, of course, true. If you use your muscles, they get bigger. And if you use your talent to help others at PSAR, then you’ll develop even more skills and abilities that will help you throughout your life.

Let me recommend that you decide today to become more involved with PSAR. PSAR is your hometown REALTOR® Association. As you know, home field advantage can mean everything in sports. Teams who play at “home” win more often than when playing on the road. And, when a team has their hometown fans cheering them on, they can often exceed their ability. All of us at PSAR are here to cheer for you. It all starts with you giving back by joining a committee, volunteering at an event and looking for opportunities to serve at a higher level. Thanks in advance for your greater involvement and membership participation.

* * *

Jason Lopez, who has worked in real estate for the past 25 years, became involved in PSAR leadership in 2016 while serving on a District Council. In 2018, he was elected to a two-year term on the PSAR board of directors. He was recently elected for a second term through 2021. He also will be serving as a C.A.R. Director in 2020. Currently, he is also serving as a facilitator of the weekly City Pitch Marketing Session at the PSAR Central San Diego Service Center in Clairemont.

The recent election results for the 2020 PSAR board of directors is destined to provide the Association with forward-thinking leadership and a strong future of growth and benefits for members.

In the recent election, Ditas Yamane was elected to serve as the 2020 President-Elect. Sam Calvano will continue his role as Secretary-Treasurer in 2020.

Also recently elected to serve as Directors in 2020 on the PSAR board: Jason Lopez, Laurie MacDonald, Yvonne Cromer, Peter Mendiola and Mike White.

Continuing to serve in 2020 on the PSAR Board include Robert Cromer as president, Robert Calloway as immediate past president and directors Mike Anderson, Carey Guthrie, Sean Hillier, Robert Kilbourne and Norma Scantlin, and with Tony Santiago as affiliate director.

We’re grateful for the following board members whose terms will end Dec. 31, 2019: Shonee Henry and Dennis Ryan, along with Jan Farley as immediate past president.

Ditas has been involved with PSAR since 2002. She joined the Government Affairs Committee and became chairperson three years ago. Born and raised in the Philippines and immigrated into the U.S. in 1988. She worked for a leading commercial airline as an International Flight Attendant flying international routes for 22 years. In 2002, she earned her real estate sales license. Two years later, she became a broker. Her family has operated a business in the South Bay since 1991.

Ditas has been involved in the community serving as President of the National City Chamber of Commerce and President of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of San Diego County. She currently serves as a Planning Commissioner for the City of National City, overseeing land use, permitting and zoning changes. She is also President and CEO of the Mabuhay Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes a better quality of life. 

“I would like to thank the PSAR Membership for their trust and confidence in voting me in as their 2020 President-Elect,” said Ditas. “As the PSAR President- Elect, I will work side by side with our incoming President Robert Cromer in continuing to grow PSAR and continue to serve our members to thrive in our industry. I will again encourage our members to participate and support our mission to empower all of us. We are PSAR!”

Sam has served as a PSAR Board Director for the three years and as secretary-treasurer for the past six years. Sam began his real estate career as a sales agent in 1976 and then switched to real estate lending in 1983. As Treasurer Sam has been led the Board’s efforts to shore up the association's reserve fund while keeping dues low.  PSAR’s annual dues are fifty dollars less than they were ten years ago. Sam led efforts to build solar, renovate our buildings and parking lots and ensure the long term sustainability of PSAR. Sam represented PSAR as a CAR Director in 2019.

Jason has worked in real estate for the past 25 years. He became involved with PSAR leadership while serving on a District Council. He loves to ride skateboards and has an extensive collection of vinyl records of “British Invasion” music bands from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Jason is currently a facilitator of the City Pitch Marketing session in Clairmont.  He will also be serving as a CAR Director in 2020.

Laurie became involved with PSAR leadership as a member of the East County Government Affairs Committee. She served as PSAR YPN chair in 2017 and 2018. She also currently serves as chair of the PSAR 2019 Charity Committee. She has traveled to Sacramento in the past for C.A.R.’s “Legislative Day” events. She also traveled to 28 countries before turning 30 years of age. She is a fourth generation San Diegan. Her great-great-grandparents arrived in San Diego from Halifax, Nova Scotia sometime in the 1890s and her great-grandmother was born here in 1909.

Yvonne has previously served on the PSAR Charity Committee, organizers of the PSAR REALTOR® Games. She joined the PSAR board of directors in 2018. The Chula Vista native was a synchronized swimmer and a member of the Chula Vista's Dolphinettes, a competitive swim club that no longer operates. After graduating from Hilltop High School in Chula Vista (class of 1991), Yvonne attended the University of Utah. During Christmas break, she met her future husband Robert at a Christmas party.

Peter, a past PSAR president (2012), and Served as a CAR Director in 2011 and 2012. Peter was a driving force behind the efforts to merge the East San Diego County Association of REALTORS and the PSAR.  Peter grew up in National City, attending Las Palmas Elementary School, Granger Middle School and Sweetwater High School (class of 1996). He started his company in February 2007 as a Realty World office. It became a Coldwell Banker operation on Dec. 11, 2011.

Mike became involved in PSAR leadership in 2011 as the founding member of the PSAR Tech Committee. He has been selling real estate since 1980 and is currently serving as an assistant manager at his brokerage. He also has served on the Sandicor Technical Users Group and the C.A.R. ZipForm Committee. He got his first computer at age 18, a Commodore 16 with only 16 kilobytes of RAM. He graduated from Patrick Henry High School (class of 1979), and then attended the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) where he played trumpet in the marching band. At UCLA, Mike was among the final group of students required to learn the Fortran computer language using punch cards. And, he was also one among the first students at UCLA at the time to type homework assignments and term papers on a computer.

The PSAR Board wishes to thank everyone who ran for a Board position. All the candidates were committed and involved members of the Association. They volunteer their time to the industry to improve it and to the community to build home ownership opportunities, defend private property rights and support those in need.  

PSAR’s success at helping San Diegans with the American dream of home ownership is becoming known statewide.

The California Board of Equalization (BOE), a state agency, has recognized PSAR for its leadership role in a housing affordability program that is continuing to assist disabled military veterans in San Diego achieve homeownership, stay in their homes and save money on their property taxes.

The BOE recently presented a resolution to PSAR President Robert Calloway in recognition of the association's success with the Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption Program. The resolution recognized PSAR and the program’s leaders, including the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP), for exemplary leadership and their innovative approach to reaching and serving California’s disabled veteran population.

Presenting the official state resolution to PSAR was Mike Schaefer, BOE board member for District 4, which encompasses all of San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and Orange counties and a small portion of San Bernardino County. BOE is a state agency that oversees county property tax assessors. Schaefer also presented resolutions to Ernie Dronenburg, San Diego County Assessor, and Ricardo Pacheco, state director, VAREP. The San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk’s (ARCC) Office manages the Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption Program.

The program, promoted by both PSAR and VAREP, connects disabled veterans and their spouses with the Assessor’s Office so they can qualify for a reduction of their property taxes. In 2018, the program, initiated by Jordan Marks, Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate with the Assessor’s Office, resulted in assisting more than 8,000 local disabled veterans with the little-used property tax exemption provided for in the California Constitution. The number of local disabled veterans helped was more than 1,400 vets served the previous year, a 28 percent increase for 2018. As a result of the program, enacted without any additional government funding, 100 percent veteran homeowners benefitted from a collective $1.9 million in property tax savings.

The little-known property tax exemption, found in the California Constitution and Revenue and Taxation Code Section 205.5, provides a property tax exemption on the home of some disabled veterans or an unmarried spouse of a deceased disabled veteran. The exemption is available to a 100 percent disabled veteran who, because of an injury incurred in military service, is blind in both eyes, or has lost the use of two or more limbs, or is totally disabled as determined by the VA or by the military service from which the veteran was discharged.

The Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption Program in San Diego County provides veterans with a reduction in property taxes in two ways:

-- A “Basic Exemption” is available for all veterans with a 100 percent disability rating or their unmarried surviving spouse. The Basic Exemption provides a savings of more than $1,000 per year.

-- A “Low-income Exemption” is available for veterans in households earning less than $60,000 annually. The amounts and income limits are adjusted annually for inflation.

Here’s how PSAR members can share with veterans the information on how to apply: Applicants should have their DD214 discharge with any rating other than dishonorable and their letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs detailing their disability rating. New homebuyers should file by the end of the year of purchase. The exemption will renew automatically after that.

Online applications are available at www.sdarcc.com. In-person assistance is available at the County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Coast Highway, Room #103, San Diego. For assistance or appointments, call (619) 531-5773, or send an e-mail at ARCCdvets@sdcounty.ca.gov. Jordan Marks also is available for questions at Jordan.Marks@sdcounty.ca.gov.

“At PSAR, we use all tools available to us to achieve homeownership for everyone,” said Calloway. “Through member education, veterans and homebuyers know when they have a PSAR agent they are getting the best customer service, along with education and experience. That is how we have helped over 1,400 veterans save $1.9 million and find a home in San Diego.”

At the resolution ceremony, BOE Board Member Schaefer remarked, “Our Assessor Ernie Dronenburg, the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors and the Veteran Association of Real Estate Professionals have gone above and beyond the call of duty by taking the initiative to reach out to disabled veterans. They exemplify the command, `lead, don’t follow.’ I applaud their outstanding efforts to bring the disabled veterans property tax exemption to an additional 1,400 disabled veterans in San Diego County. I have utmost respect for our veterans, especially those who are disabled as a consequence of their service to our country. I have a long-standing commitment to helping these courageous men and women who have sacrificed so much.”

Assessor Dronenburg added, “My San Diego County Assessor’s office is proud of our innovative partnership with the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors and the Veteran Realtors. Together we were able to show that without spending any additional taxpayer dollars, we could better serve our disabled veterans and their spouses. Our efforts helped 1,400 more disabled veterans save over $1.9 million in property taxes annually. We are honored to receive this recognition from Board of Equalization member Schafer and the State of California for being an exceptional model for serving our veterans, which can be implemented statewide.”

Dronenburg’s Assessor’s office affects nearly every San Diego county resident who owns property or rents. His office oversees assessing the value of real estate and personal property, as well as qualifying taxpayers for property tax savings which include disabled veterans, homeowners, affordable housing units, and organizations operating for the welfare of the community. The office has a $71 million budget with 415 employees and five offices throughout San Diego County.

The BOE, which is comprised of five constitutional officers, including California’s Comptroller, oversees county property tax assessors and sets other taxes, including the alcoholic beverage tax, railroad car tax and taxes for public utilities and insurers.

PSAR keeps growing and expanding. One shining example of PSAR’s ongoing expansion has been the success of the recently opened PSAR Central San Diego Service Center at 4340 Genesee Ave., Suite #203, San Diego.

If you haven’t yet visited PSAR’s newest Service Center in San Diego’s Clairemont Mesa community, then please feel free to drop by. You’ll be impressed.

The new, 1,500-square-foot PSAR Central San Diego Service Center, beautifully decorated in an ultra-modern, open workstation stylish motif, features a 65-seat educational classroom for training, plus resources for REALTORS®, including Sentrilock and Supra lock boxes, CRMLS and signage.

Many outstanding workshops and seminars have been held recently at the new Service Center, including classes on Homesnap Pro App training, InfoSparks Market Statistics training and Paragon.

Another upcoming class cover the topic, “Social Media Boot Camp for REALTORS®,” will be held at the new Service Center on Wednesday, March 20. Two sessions will be offered from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served and admission is free. Topics to be discussed will include understanding how social media works, how to generate leads from a website and how to attract more followers, as well as the benefits of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and blogging. For agents who want to become a Realtor, the training, friendly staff and access to the best tools in the industry make PSAR is a great place to start. 

In addition, every Tuesday morning starting at 9 a.m., PSAR’s “City Pitch” event is held for brokers and sales agents at the new Service Center. The marketing pitch session focuses on properties located within San Diego city limits, including the following zip codes: 92102, 92104, 92105, 92108, 92111, 92115, 92116, 92123, 92124 and 92120. 

All San Diego REALTORS® are invited to attend City Pitch to pitch their properties, network and put deals together. Agents have two minutes to promote their listing.  New agents and brokers are welcome to stop in.

Please bring 50 property flyers to be pitched and PSAR staff will insert the flyers into the Pitch Portfolio that each attendee will receive.

At the recent grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony, more than 120 PSAR members, friends and guest people were there. Here is a video about the grand opening celebration: https://vimeo.com/315812958/6f7ed1844c.

Also attending the grand opening event were elected officials, community leaders and industry dignitaries. Among the attendees was Ernie Dronenburg, recently reelection as San Diego County assessor-recorder-clerk. Every county resident who owns property or rents is affected by what happens at Dronenburg’s office. He oversees assessing the value of real estate and personal property, which in San Diego includes planes and boats. Property taxes constitute the largest share of revenue for the county. His work also involves registering business names and issuing marriage licenses, birth and death certificates. The office has a $71 million budget with 405 employees and five offices in San Diego County.

Dronenburg, known for wearing bow ties, has worked closely with PSAR President Robert Calloway on a number of housing initiatives that have assisted military veterans with homeownership. Calloway serves as an advisor to the Assessor’s Office on issues dealing with disabled veterans. Last year, the Assessor’s Office assisted more than 8,000 local disabled veterans, which was a 30 percent increase from the previous year.

Other attendees at the grand opening event included: Jason Bercovitch, field representative with Congressman Scott Peters, 52nd District; Daniel Manley, Clairemont community representative, representing San Diego City Councilman Chris Cate, 6th District; Ryan Trabuco, Field Representative, representing Toni G. Atkins, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins, 39th District; Michaela Valk, representing Todd Gloria, California Assembly, 78th District.

Manley announced that San Diego City Councilman Chris Cate had declared the day as “PSAR Day” in the city of San Diego. The City of San Diego proclamation said the following:

-- WHEREAS, the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® (PSAR), founded in 1928, has played a significant role in shaping the history, growth and development of greater San Diego County;

-- WHEREAS, PSAR’s recent membership in a statewide real estate Multiple Listing Service has enhanced PSAR’s steady trajectory of growth since 2010;

-- WHEREAS, PSAR’s Mission to Empower REALTORS®  has enabled its members to remain steadfast in protecting private property rights and encouraging participation in the American Dream of home ownership, while adhering to the highest standards of integrity and Code of Ethics;

-- WHEREAS, PSAR, a 2,800-member real estate trade group for San Diego-area REALTORS®, offers educational training, advocacy and other services and resources to its REALTOR® and affiliate members;

-- WHEREAS, PSAR maintains a leadership role in the industry, empowering its members to flourish by leveraging our collective strength in service to homebuyers and sellers throughout the greater San Diego County community; 

-- WHEREAS, PSAR, with Service Centers in Chula Vista and El Cajon, is growing again with the opening a new Central Service Center at 4340 Genesee Ave., #203, in San Diego’s Clairemont Mesa community;

-- WHEREAS, the new PSAR Central Service Center will provide the local personal service experience and superior statewide CRMLS service that PSAR is known for, along with Sentrilock, Supra, retail store, MLS training and REALTOR® education, networking and much more;

-- NOW, THEREFORE, I, Chris Cate, San Diego City Council member representing the District 6, do hereby proclaim Wednesday, January 23, 2019, as PACIFIC SOUTHWEST ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® DAY throughout the City of San Diego.

 

We just received word from the National Association of REALTORS. Without Congressional action, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will expire at midnight on Friday, December 21, 2018. NAR is making every effort to secure a long-term reauthorization of NFIP.

An NFIP extension is attached to the Continuing Resolution to fund the part of the federal government at risk of closing. The White House and Congress are continuing to negotiate over funding for border security. Congressional leaders are aware that flood insurance is caught up in this debate and considering all options, including passing an NFIP extension on a standalone basis.

The situation is fluid, to read more about the current situation see the update here.

San Diego County Department of public works provides information about NFIP and links to other county information here.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides up to $350,000 of flood insurance coverage where required for a federally backed mortgage in 22,000 communities nationwide. It also provides an alternative to taxpayer-funded disaster assistance, which averages $5,500 per household but more often means an SBA loan that must repaid with any underlying mortgage. While there is a growing market for private flood insurance, for many, the NFIP continues to be the primary source of asset protection against flooding, the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States.

Here is a primer from the Brookings Institute about flood insurance, why it is important, and why the government is in the business of backing it.

PSAR’s Government Affairs Committee endorsed a number of local candidates who were winners in this week’s November 6th general election. Also, PSAR was victorious in positions regarding a local proposition and statewide propositions.

 PSAR endorsed Brian W. Jones who won the seat to represent the State Senate 38th District. With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Jones drew 56 percent of the vote. Jones, a three-term Republican Assemblyman and current Santee city councilman, succeeded Joel Anderson (R-Alpine), who was termed-out. The massive 38th District, with nearly 1 million residents and covering about 30 percent of San Diego County, stretches from Lemon Grove to Fallbrook, from Borrego Springs to Alpine and includes most of eastern and northern San Diego County. It encompasses eight municipal cities, including Lemon Grove, Santee, La Mesa, El Cajon, Poway, Escondido, San Marcos and San Diego’s Scripps Ranch community, as well as the communities of Lakeside, Ramona and Julian. As an assemblyman, Jones has always been a reliable vote for policies that protect homeownership and private property rights.

PSAR also supported the successful reelection of three city mayors, including Mary Casillas Salas in Chula Vista, Bill Wells in El Cajon and Mark Arapostathis in La Mesa.

Salas won with 70.1 percent of the vote. She has been an elected official since 1996, beginning with the Chula Vista City Council followed by the State Assembly. She became mayor in 2014.

Wells, also an incumbent, won handily with 66 percent of the vote. Elected to the City Council in 2008, Wells has been the city’s mayor since 2013. 

Arapostathis ran unopposed for his mayor’s seat in La Mesa. He was elected as mayor in 2014.

Other PSAR candidates who were successful in their city council races included: John McCann, Chula Vista; Ron Morrison, National City; Gary Kendrick, El Cajon; Bill Baber, La Mesa; Ronn Hall, Laura Koval, Rob McNelis, Santee; Jerry Jones, Lemon Grove.

In a special district race that drew a PSAR endorsement, Dan McMillan was reelected to the Helix Water District board of directors.

PSAR organized a massive campaign to defeat of Measure “W,” a rent control initiative in National City that drew 54 percent of “no” votes. In the city of more than 60,000 residents, about 70 percent of residents are renters. 

National City voters said they did not favor the city government creating new costly bureaucracy  which would limit how property owners manage their rental units . Most econommists agree that the measure would have eliminated incentives for property owners to fix up their units and discourage new housing construction.

PSAR believes rent control reduces the quality and quantity of housing. Typically, rent control leads to reducing available rentals and landlords skimping on repairs. Rent control eliminates incentives for landlords and property owners to fix up, or invest in, their units, as well as discourages new housing construction and decreases the number of available rental units.

In statewide propositions, PSAR agreed with the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) in its positions on Propositions 1, 5 and 10.

Prop. 1, the Housing Programs and Veterans’ Loans Bond that was supported by C.A.R., passed by a 54.2 percent margin. As a result, the state will borrow up to $4 billion in general obligation bonds for housing-related programs benefiting veterans. The vast majority of the bonds, about $3 billion, will be set aside for various types of housing programs. The biggest share, or $1.5 billion, will go toward the construction and rehabilitation of permanent and transitional rental housing and apartments for California households who earn of up to 60 percent of the area median income. The second biggest portion of the $3 billion, about $150 million, will be earmarked for cities, counties, transit agencies, and developers to build higher density housing near transit stations.

Prop. 5, the Property Tax Transfer Fairness Initiative that was supported by C.A.R., was defeated (42 percent voted “yes,” 58 percent voted “no”). Voters said no to expanding property tax savings for older homeowners. If approved, Prop. 5 would have allowed homeowners over ages 55 to transfer their lower property tax rates with them when moving to a newly bought home anywhere in the state. Prop. 5 was initiated by C.A.R. The measure qualified for the ballot after C.A.R. submitted nearly 1 million voter signatures to the Secretary of State’s office.

Prop. 10, the Local Rent Control Initiative that was opposed by C.A.R., was defeated resoundingly (62 percent voted “no,” 38 percent voted “yes”). C.A.R. opposed Prop. 10 because it would have allowed for the expansion of rent control across California. The initiative would have repealed a 1995 law, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, that limits county and city governments’ ability to slow rent hikes. It would have overturned an existing state law blocking cities from imposing rent control on rental units built after 1995 and on all single-family homes and condominiums. Repealing the longstanding Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act would have exacerbated the housing crisis, eventually allowing local governments to impose draconian rent control measures. If approved, unelected bureaucrats would have overseen rent control ordinances and determine how much landlords could charge tenants for renting apartments and houses. The election result means those prohibitions remain in place.

The PSAR Government Affairs Committee recommended the endorsements to the PSAR board of directors, which then ratified the recommendation. The Government Affairs Committee is involved in political advocacy and public policy and its impact on homeownership and private property rights.

The Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® (PSAR) has announced its endorsement of candidates for the Nov. 6th general election. Endorsed candidates include:

Brian Jones for California State Senate 38th District

Mary Casillas Salas, Chula Vista Mayor

John McCann, Chula Vista City Council, District 1

Ditas Yamane, National City Mayor

Ron Morrison, National City City Council

Bill Wells, El Cajon Mayor

Gary Kendrick, El Cajon City Council

Mark Arapostathis, La Mesa Mayor

Guy McWhirter and Bill Baber, La Mesa City Council

Ronn Hall, Laura Rose Koval, Rob McNelis, Santee City Council

Jerry Jones, Lemon Grove City Council

Dan McMillan, Helix Water District, District 1

John Olsen, Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Board of Trustees, Area 1

 

PSAR’s Government Affairs Committee recommended the endorsements to the board of directors, which then ratified the recommendation. The Government Affairs Committee is involved in political advocacy and public policy and its impact on homeownership and private property rights.

In addition, PSAR is recommending the following:

• “No” on Measure “W,” Rent Control in National City. If approved, Measure W would put a 5 percent limit on annual rent increases and ban certain types of evictions, making it tougher to evict problematic renters.

PSAR believes rent control reduces the quality and quantity of housing. Typically, rent control leads to reducing available rentals and landlords skimping on repairs. Rent control eliminates incentives for landlords and property owners to fix up, or invest in, their units, as well as discourages new housing construction and decreases the number of available rental units. Vote “No” on “W.”

• “Yes” on California Proposition 5, Property Tax Transfer Fairness Initiative. If approved, Prop. 5 would allow homeowners over ages 55 to transfer their lower property tax rates to a newly bought home anywhere in the state. A couple, for example, could sell a home assessed at $250,000 for $750,000 then buy another property for $750,000 and continue to pay property taxes at the $250,000 valuation. If the new home cost more or less, property tax would be adjusted based on simple formulas that continued the property tax breaks that residents enjoyed with their previous homes.

PSAR believes this measure would create new homeownership opportunities by generating more sales of single-family homes in existing neighborhoods. This will benefit young families at a time when California faces a severe shortage of homes for sale. Prop. 5 is actually a smart idea that will both give older people more flexibility with their lives and introduce liquidity to a housing market that could badly use it. The revenue it would cost local government is relatively small. Also, Prop. 5 is a common sense way to expand the benefits of Proposition 13 protections while providing more affordable housing.

Prop. 5 was initiated by the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.). C.A.R. qualified the measure for the ballot after it submitted nearly 1 million voter signatures to the Secretary of State’s office, indicating strong voter support. Vote “Yes” on Prop. 5.

• “No” on California Proposition 10, Local Rent Control Initiative. If approved, Prop. 10 would overturn an existing state law blocking cities from imposing rent control on rental units built after 1995 and on all single-family homes and condominiums. Repealing the longstanding Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act would exacerbate the housing crisis, eventually allowing local governments to impose draconian rent control measures. If approved, unelected bureaucrats would oversee rent control ordinances and determine how much landlords could charge tenants for renting apartments and houses.

PSAR believes Prop. 10 is a flawed rent control initiative that would make housing more expensive, not less, and worsen the housing crisis. Vote “No” on Prop. 10.

In addition to positions on Prop. 5 and Prop. 10, C.A.R. is supporting Proposition 1, the Housing Programs and Veterans' Loans Bond. A “yes” vote on this measure would authorize the state to borrow up to $4 billion in general obligation bonds for housing-related programs benefiting veterans. If approved, additional affordable housing would be provided for veterans. The vast majority of the bonds, about $3 billion, would be set aside for various types of housing programs. The biggest share, or $1.5 billion, would go toward the construction and rehabilitation of permanent and transitional rental housing and apartments for California households who earn of up to 60 percent of the area median income. The second biggest portion of the $3 billion, about $150 million, would be earmarked for cities, counties, transit agencies, and developers to build higher density housing near transit stations. The remaining $1 billion would be earmarked for veterans participating in a home loan program. In addition to C.A.R., Prop. 1 has support from major California newspapers, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, and Sacramento Bee, as well as the League of Women Voters and Democratic state lawmakers.

The Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® (PSAR), a 2,600-member trade group for San Diego-area REALTORS®, offers educational training, advocacy and other services and 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. For more information, visit www.PSAR.org.

PSAR’s Board Endorses candidates and initiatives that we believe will have a positive impact on home-ownership and private property rights.

RSVP HERE