PSAR was recently honored for writing excellence by the San Diego Press Club,

PSAR received an award in the “In-House or Employee Publications” category for recent “Voice of Real Estate” stories, an ongoing series covering the latest real estate industry trends. 

In addition, PSAR was honored in the “General Writing for Internal Publications” category for a series of profile stories about PSAR members.

It was the seventh consecutive year that PSAR has been recognized for writing excellence by the San Diego Press Club.  

The PSAR member profile stories have generated high readership levels and fostered closer bonds among PSAR colleagues. A frequent response to the stories among members who have worked together for years is, “I didn’t know that about you.”

It was the fourth consecutive year that PSAR has received a Press Club writing award for its “Voice of Real Estate” series.

The monthly Voice articles feature updates on local and statewide housing market conditions based on statistics from the California Association of REALTORS®, as well as other recent news about real estate and economic trends, cited from news reports.

The Voice articles also satisfy a core standard from the National Association of Realtors requiring real estate trade associations to provide realtor members with regularly scheduled information on the housing market, and real estate trends and issues.

The San Diego Press Club’s recent 48th annual Excellence in Journalism Awards drew over 1,100 entries, making it one of the largest journalism competitions in the nation. Judges were press club members in Alaska, California (San Francisco, Orange County), Florida, Louisiana(New Orleans), New York (Rochester), Ohio (Cleveland), and Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

The San Diego Press club presented over 500 awards in 130 categories and 10 divisions. Winners included reporters, writers, artists, photographers, videographers, corporate communicators, and public relations professionals. Top winners included The San Diego Union-Tribune with 42 awards in online, daily newspapers, and photography categories, Ranch and Coast Magazine with 22 awards in magazine and photography categories, and the San Diego Business Journal with 19 awards in non-daily newspaper categories.

The San Diego Press Club is one of the largest clubs of its kind in the nation with 400 members, all in the news communications field. The group offers professional growth activities and promotes integrity and high ethical standards in journalism.

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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

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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.

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!

Members of the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors elected its 2022 leadership team.  The following leaders were elected as Officers and Directors to serve in 2022.

The 2022 Officers
The Max Zaker | President

Jason Lopez | President-Elect

Sam Calvano | Secretary-Treasurer 

Ditas Yamane | Immediate Past President

These newly elected candidates will join the leadership team
as Directors in 2022

Anthony Andaya

Camille Bruno

Paula Gonzalez

Dylan Graham

Norma Scantlin

These Directors will serve a second term in 2022

Mike Anderson

Merrie Espina

Rafael Perez

Amy Ruiz

Amber Tannehill

Andrea Martino - Affiliate Director

PSAR is a 501C6 Non-Profit founded in 1928. The organization is led by volunteers who establish the policies to govern our organization.

PSAR's Missions is to empower REALTORS^®

We are thankful to all who were nominated to lead PSAR and we are looking forward to great things from both the elected candidates and those who will continue to serve in our committee leadership.

PSAR extends congratulations to PSAR member and broker Jose Payne King who is serving this year as a National Association of REALTORS^® (NAR) 2021 Global Ambassador (GA) to the countries of Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico.

Every April, REALTORS® commemorate the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 with events and education that shine a light on housing discrimination and segregation. Fair Housing Month signifies a recommitment to expanding equal access to housing. Implicit bias is often a manifestation of muscle memory. A go-with-your-gut unconscious choice, act, or opinion with immeasurable consequences that can–and have–impacted generations.

Slow down, course correct, and take action. Throughout the year we must remain steadfast in our commitment to breaking down biases, holding ourselves accountable, and upholding the letter of the law.  Refresh your memory, and open your mind. There’s always more to know, and we can all do better.

What can you do? 

1. Complete the NEW fair housing simulation training for REALTORS® which uses the power of storytelling to help members identify, prevent, and address discriminatory practices in real estate. Inspired by real stories, this innovative online experience has agents work against the clock to sell homes in the fictional town of Fairhaven, while confronting discrimination in the homebuying process. Learners will also walk in the shoes of a homebuyer facing discrimination. The training provides customized feedback that learners can apply to daily business interactions. Get started by visiting fairhaven.realtor (link is external) to explore the fictional town of Fairhaven and assess how well you are adhering to fair housing principles.

2. Join a PSAR Reading Discussion Circle.  PSAR is encouraging community leaders and Realtors to read "The Color of Law" by  Richard Rothstein.  The fact that some neighborhoods are almost exclusively African American while others are almost exclusively white—is the result of explicit government policy rather than personal choice.  Understand how residential segregation was realized.  Join community leaders and other Realtors as we discuss this book.
Interested? Sign up Here to join and receive for more information. 

Below is a 35 minute sound clip with the author of "Color of Law."

3. Join the Facebook Group Deliberately Fair Housing. Listen and engage in discussions about Fair Housing.  Read and discuss books and discover issues that face diverse communities.  

4. Be knowledgeable in your craft. Read or listen to one of these resources and books. Prefer a podcast?  How about one of these? For film and video, here are some other resources.

5. Take a Fair Housing class though PSAR. This presentation covers: Fair Housing based on issues in advertising. This training is designed for those new to the housing industry as well as experienced housing professionals wishing to learn about current issues affecting fair housing laws.  Find a fair Housing Class

6. If you don't think you have biases, think again.  We all do.  Check out this great Ted Talk with Valerie Alexander "How to Outsmart Your Own Unconscious Bias"

Congratulations to this year’s recipients of PSAR 2020's Industry Awards, including REALTOR^® of the Year, Broker/Office Manager of the Year and Affiliate of the Year.

Honoring PSAR members who empower all REALTORS^® through selfless contributions to our industry
(drum roll, please):

2020 REALTOR^® of the Year Award recipients:
Rafael Perez, Central
Anthony Andaya, East
Yvonne Cromer, South

2020 Broker/Office Manager of the Year Award recipients:
Lupe Soto, Central
Carey Guthrie, East
Nikki Coppa, South

2020 Affiliate of the Year Award recipients:
Jake Holmes, Central
Ted Przybylek, East
Martha Garcia, South

More Criteria Information and Past Recipients

These award recipients were announced at this week’s online party celebration held in honor of these selfless members and also of the the more than 300 REALTOR^® members who recently received a Real Estate Achievement and Leadership (R.E.A.L.) award. The party was hosted by PSAR’s Young Professional Network (YPN) group,

The R.E.A.L. awards program recognized PSAR’s top producing agents and brokers based on sales volume dollars or units sold, including listings or sales units entered into the MLS and closed in 2020. R.E.A.L. awards were presented to PSAR’s top 1%, 3%, 5% and 10% REALTORS^®.

The primary mission of the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS^® (PSAR) is to empower REALTORS^® to achieve their business goals. The R.E.A.L. awards are a tangible recognition of the highest level of REALTORS^® business achievement by agents, brokers and teams over the prior year.

“A hearty congratulations to everyone who received a 2020 R.E.A.L. Award plus these special annual award winners,” said Ditas Yamane, 2021 PSAR President. “PSAR's mission is to empower REALTORS^® to flourish while being accountable to each other, our clients, and our community. All these award winners embody our mission. I am so very proud of everyone.”

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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.

R.E.A.L. Awards Celebration!
Thursday, March 18th
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
This event has it all and all are welcome!

Don't miss all of the entertainment, cocktails, and opportunity drawings we have planned! You'll also have the chance to network with some of the best fellow real estate professionals in the business. Join us in congratulating and toasting the recipients of the 2020 R.E.A.L. Awards!.

Nominees and winners of the 2020
Affiliate, Broker and REALTOR^®
of the year will be announced at the event!

Tune in for some much needed Real Estate Laughs with Eric Gillman!
@EricRidesForHope

Our on-call mixologist, Adam Wild, will be showing us how to make some drinks to toast the award winners, so be ready with the following ingredients to follow along and bring your glass!                                                                   @drinksbywild

Breakfast Sour • 2oz Irish Whiskey • 3/4oz Lemon Juice • 1tbsp of your favorite Jam

French 75 • 1/2oz Lemon Juice • 1/2oz Simple Syrup • 1oz Gin • Top with Champagne

On the call there will be a people's choice award for the
most creative, unique, unusual, drink container!

and....

Opportunity Drawing!     
We will have several drawings during the event! To be automatically entered, you must register by Thursday, March 18th at 11am*    
Grand Prize $500 Cash-Money!     

To enter the drawing for the grand prize, you need to go to the @psar_ypn Instagram account or the PSAR YPN Facebook page and find the OPPORTUNITY DRAWING POST (will say in the first line of the caption) and do the following 3 things:

        What are you waiting for?

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Event Sponsor

Platinum Sponsors
                

The Board of Directors, members, and staff of PSAR extend sincere congratulations to the more than 300 PSAR REALTOR® members who are honored with a 2020 Real Estate Achievement and Leadership (R.E.A.L.) award!

The PSAR R.E.A.L. awards program recognizes San Diego county’s top 10 percent PSAR producing agents and brokers who qualified for their awards based on units and/or dollar volume production, coupled with noteworthy industry leadership, in the 2020 business year.

The REAL Awards program provides a platform upon which the high achievers in the San Diego real estate market stand and receive the well-earned recognition of their sphere, peers and the industry as a whole. These leaders are the cream of a realtor crop numbering more than 19,000 in San Diego county.

“A hearty congratulations to everyone who received a 2020 R.E.A.L. Award from PSAR,” said Ditas Yamane, 2021 PSAR President. “To all the award recipients, your award broadcasts the value that you bring to our industry. It is a testament to your achievements and leadership. All of us at PSAR are particularly impressed at the levels of sales reached by those receiving the award for 2020 production, given the very challenging landscape in which everyone had to conduct their business endeavors last year.”

The 2020 PSAR R.E.A.L. Awards Committee members included:

Robert Cromer
Yvonne Cromer
Charmaine Orcino-Gonzales
Lisa Lozoya
Tony Santiago
Amber Tannehill
Zoe Khetani
Ditas Yamane

PSAR staff members assisting the committee included Kevin McElroy and Sally Valdez.

We extend a special thanks to Reshia Guarnotta, who created all the graphics that are used for R.E.A.L. Awards marketing and promotions.

PSAR REALTOR® members received their R.E.A.L Awards based on CRMLS data extracts showing units sold and/or sales dollar volume for residential sales that closed in San Diego in year 2020.

Award recipients, both individuals and teams, who qualified for R.E.A.L. Awards fell into one of the following categories:

• Top 1%, over 30 sides or more than $27,064,246 in volume
• Top 3%, over 18 sides or $14,750,000 in volume
• Top 5%, over 14 sides or $10,834,000 in volume
• Top 10%, over 9 sides or $6,700,900 in volume.

Note that Award recipients are not eligible to receive both an individual and a team award.

Names of the Award recipients are appearing in a full-page ad to be published in The San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper Sunday, February 28 edition. The ad can be viewed by clicking this pdf.

In addition, recipients will be invited to a YPN (Your Professional Network) R.E.A.L. Awards celebration from 4:00 pm to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, March 18, over Zoom. This event is a celebration of your 2020 achievements and those of your peers at a fun-filled activity hosted by PSAR's YPN! All REALTORS, brokers, and office personnel are welcome to attend. More details are forthcoming.

The primary mission of the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR) is to empower realtors to achieve their business goals. The R.E.A.L. awards are a tangible recognition of the highest level of realtor business achievement by agents, brokers and teams over the prior year.

PSAR has created a variety of options for sharing news of your accomplishments with your clients, family and friends. They are all stakeholders in the success you have achieved.

Recipients should have received an email with various graphics: an image that can be shared on social media pages (eg, Instagram and Facebook); an email banner for use in your email signature; a Zoom background image.

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PSAR's Mission is to empower Realtors to flourish while being accountable to each other,
our clients, and our community.

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.
Workshops are open to all REALTORS® and Affiliated Members. This class is free of charge.

A group of PSAR members gathered on Friday, October 23^rd, in Downtown La Mesa to plant trees and shrubs in a parkway parcel near the site where an historic building once stood. This landmark was destroyed by rioters taking advantage of an initially peaceful demonstration supporting racial equality May of this year.

The participating PSAR members all agreed that the landscaping project experience was meaningful in many ways. They felt proud to be part of an organization that cares about helping the communities in which it does business. And they each were grateful for the opportunity to help a part of their hometown rebuild and revitalize.

Organized by Tracy Hollingworth, PSAR Government Affairs Director, the event also symbolized PSAR’s ongoing commitment to championing policies and causes that focus on safe and inclusive communities.

Notable participants in the work day effort were La Mesa City Council member Kristine Alessio and PSAR CEO Rich D’Ascoli.

The landscaped parcel is located near Palm Avenue at Allison Avenue, adjacent to an historic building that once housed Randall Lamb Associates, an engineering services firm that operated in that location for 42 years. The building, gutted and burned to the ground by fire ignited by vandalizing and looting arsonists, is now gone. A vacant lot remains in its place.

The flora planted by the landscaping team includes bunches of evergreen perennial flowers (Calylophus Drummondii) that bloom bright yellow flowers in spring and summer, plus several magenta red autumn sage shrubs (Salvia Greggi Furmans Red), an attractive and tough drought-tolerant plant that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

Also planted were two Forest Pansy trees (Cercis Canadensis) known for their striking foliage of pea-like, rosy-pink flowers and the abundant shade they create.

Hard costs, including the purchase of vegetation, shovels and work gloves, were covered by a Community Rebuilding Grant from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) as part of NAR’s Urban Initiative, which provides funding to assist urban areas in addressing challenges in their communities.

For PSAR members, the experience went beyond the mere planting of flowers and trees. In their own words, they expressed what volunteering for this activity personally meant:

-- “We were all heartbroken by what happened in La Mesa, so to participate in this landscaping project was very important to show everyone how PSAR cares about the communities our members serve,” said Robert Cromer, 2020 PSAR President. “I am so proud of our PSAR members and especially how our Association is supportive of transformational policies that promote fairness, justice and inclusiveness in our communities.” -- Robert Cromer, 2012 PSAR President.

 “I am very proud to be a part of PSAR, an organization that not only cares about the communities its Realtors serve, but whose members go above and beyond by putting a shovel to the ground to help revitalize a community that suffered damage during recent protests.” -- Jan Farley.

-- “I am proud to be a member of PSAR. I recognize the importance for our members to assist in revitalization of urban areas and, in this case, on my city’s local main street. 

My hometown had recently suffered damage during the protests earlier this year. My local bank was burned to the ground and numerous other businesses suffered damage. It was clear our peaceful village was hurting. Our gift was re-beautifying a little corner with trees and drought-tolerant plants. 

Hopefully, this will be the first of many rays of light to return to our city. This project was near and dear to my heart as I drive by weekly and see our beautiful little corner come to life. It is important for my real estate community and PSAR to support efforts to heal the damage in La Mesa.” -- Deirdre Bramberg.

-- “I was proud to join my fellow PSAR directors as we restored this little park. I was so glad to see PSAR members helping to beautify this little corner of La Mesa. I’ve lived near La Mesa Village for 20 years, and love our little town. I helped clean up after the rioting last May. I love it when Realtors pitch in to make their communities better.” -- Sean Hillier

-- “It was a great experience to be a part of this project as I grew up in La Mesa and I'm now a homeowner and Realtor in the area. It was very sad to see my hometown being destroyed during the riots, I wanted to help take action and assist in creating the change that so many of us want to see in our communities.  I'm very proud to be a part of PSAR and its efforts to not only help revitalize La Mesa and other Urban Areas but to be involved as PSAR leads the way in building safe and inclusive communities.”  -- Dylan Graham.

-- “I am very proud to be a part of PSAR. I was honored to help with the La Mesa landscape project. I want to be more involved in serving and supporting my community as well as others. I want to make a difference together with PSAR as a team to keep our communities looking beautiful and to encourage our neighbors that we care. We can get through these uncertain times together by keeping the Faith!” -- Katherine Mannin