PSAR is proud to announce the availability of a new video that is part of the #OurRealtor campaign. REALTORS® and associations are encouraged to share the 2:26 video with clients and post the video on their social media and websites. The video has not been branded.

Viewers can also watch the video here on YouTube, , and also on Facebook.  Anyone is also free to download a copy and share it so consumers can hear from others who have had great experiences working with their REALTOR®. PSAR will be releasing a new video each month to share. The videos will each be a testimonial from a client who understood the value of their REALTOR®.

At the recent PSAR Installation Dinner, PSAR 2020 President Robert Cromer stated that one of his goals for next year is to encourage more REALTORS® to highlight their experience, expertise and resources. “We need to make sure the general public understands what we bring to the table during one of the largest financial decisions of their life,” Cromer said.

“No one can replace the knowledge, skill set, local marketing, price familiarity, negotiating skill and relationship building of a local REALTOR®. We want everyone to share the #OurRealtor campaign and the new video. With PSAR you have a bright future and a place for belonging. We are stronger together!”
The video has been posted on the PSAR Facebook page. The Facebook posting includes these words: “An algorithm or computer system can’t replace the knowledge, marketing ability, price familiarity, negotiating skill and counsel of a local REALTOR®. It’s not about how much you might save, it is about what you will NET, and the security and knowledge REALTORS® bring to the transaction. #OurRealtor. #WeArePSAR.”

The video opens with a question “Can you trust an agent you’ve never met,” and ends with a door-knocking sound and the words “That’s Who We R.” The “That’s Who We R” initiative, launched earlier this year by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), turns into the classic “R” logo to help the public further distinguish its member REALTORS® from generic real estate agents.
The video from NAR features testimonials from real satisfied clients who received outstanding service from their REALTOR®.

The people in the video tell their story about the passion and dedication of their REALTOR®, plus they express their distrust over iBuying, a phenomenon referring to the buying and selling of real estate online without the assistance of an experienced REALTOR®. The video is a terrific tool for all REALTORS® and associations to use in demonstrating the benefits and value of using a REALTOR®.

The statements in the video include:

• “I think if I used a service like that, I would get a lot of emails, I would get a lot of requests for data. I would be asked to review a lot of things that I don’t have a lot of knowledge about. I look for professionals in the field who are experts, and we found it.”
• “Some of them may charge me less, but I don’t know how honest they are. I will just stick with my realtor. He’s honest. I believe in him.”
• “He really cared about us having a good experience. We valued his time and his expertise. But I could tell that he really valued our time as well.
• “He was a source of information.”
• “It’s not easy to go online and just look for someone who you just might be emailing or texting or just calling on the phone. It always very important to have someone that you can meet with, that you can talk to.
• “I believe that the real value that my realtor has is that she is looking out for me. She’s representing me. If I went on my own, I wouldn’t know what to do. I might sign something that I didn’t look at the fine print. So, she does that for me.
• “Our realtor bent over backwards, went above and gave us options. Where else would you get that?”
• “It’s well worth whatever money you’re paying to them because after explaining what we wanted and what our needs were, we weren’t taken to places that they wanted to sell. We were taken to places that we wanted to see. I think that’s really important. You can get that only with someone who knows you and takes the time to get to know you.

According to NAR, “That’s Who We R” reinforces the concept that partnering with a REALTOR® delivers the peace of mind that can only come from working with a real person who is committed to his or her clients’ futures and neighborhoods. It clearly seeks to highlight the value of REALTORS® in an age of technological disruption and companies that employ mobile applications, programs and teams of human experts to accomplish some of the traditional agent tasks.

NAR also said that the “That’s Who We R” campaign was designed not only to educate consumers about the benefits of working with a member of NAR but also to highlight all the ways REALTORS® go above and beyond to help and improve the lives of their clients, neighbors and communities. The campaign is designed to serve as a rallying cry for REALTORS® and inspire pride in the work they do every day to benefit their clients.

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

The following candidates were elected by 498 PSAR members who voted for the Board of Directors this past week.  They will serve as volunteer leaders and represent membership as part of the team that will set the policy  and the strategic direction for PSAR for the next two years. 

Ditas Yamane 2020 President-Elect

Sam Calvano 2020 Treasurer

Laurie MacDonald  2020 Director
Yvonne Cromer 2020 Director 
Peter Mendiola 2020 Director
Mike White 2020 Director
Jason Lopez 2020 Director

The President-Elect will automatically ascend to President in 2021.  The Treasurer serves for one year and each of the Directors have two year terms.

Thank you everyone who ran.  The candidate were all committed and involved members of the association.  The volunteer their time to the industry to improve it and to the community to build homeownership opportunities, defend private property rights and support those in need.  

PSAR is governed by volunteer officers and directors.  These individuals give selflessly to the industry to make it better for all of our members.  PSAR is a membership organization that exists to empower Realtors.  Please vote for leaders who will move PSAR in the right direction.

PSAR members received an email with a direct link to vote.  Find it in your email, or....

If you are a PSAR member and you know your user ID and Association password (not MLS password) you can vote by following this link and logging it.  If you do not know your ID and password, you can find it here.

Voting ends at 5PM on June 28th

Congratulations to PSAR. Your Association has been honored for its leadership role in a housing initiative that is continuing to assist disabled military veterans achieve the American dream of homeownership.

The San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA) Award, a watchdog organization that promotes accountable, cost-effective and efficient government, recently presented a Golden Watchdog Award jointly to PSAR, the San Diego chapter of the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP) and the San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk’s Office.

The SDCTA award, called “Better Serving 100% Disabled Veterans,” recognized the efforts by PSAR officials to assist more than 8,000 local disabled veterans in 2018, an increase of 28 percent from the previous year. The award, top honors in the “Public-Private Partnership” category, was presented May 16 at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel. SDCTA’s 24th annual Golden Watchdog and Fleece Awards recognized the best and worst in local government spending, decision-making and efficiency in San Diego County.

PSAR 2019 President Robert Calloway played a key role in assisting Ernie Dronenburg, San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, on the program that is helping disabled military veterans achieve homeownership. Initiating the program was Jordan Marks, Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate with the Assessor’s Office. 

The SDCTA award said the Assessor’s Office partnered with representatives from the disabled veterans community and PSAR to educate the community about a little-used California property tax exemption for disabled veterans and their spouses. Under an initiative that promoted homeownership, housing affordability and property tax refunds, the County served more than 1,400 more disabled veterans than the previous year. As a result of the program, disabled veteran homeowners benefited from $1.9 million annually in annual property tax savings.

The little-known California property tax exemption, 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 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 SDCTA entry for the Golden Watchdog award said: “To increase program participation, the Assessor’s Office partnered with Robert Calloway, a Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption (DVET) recipient, and his two organizations, including PSAR and VAREP, to educate REALTORS®, veterans organizations and the community about this benefit for qualified disabled veterans and their spouses. This program, started in March 2018, was conducted without using any additional taxpayer dollars. This program leveraged private partnerships, speakers from the Assessor’s Office, media outreach, cross-county department education and resources from already budgeted campaigns.

SDCTA said through Calloway’s leadership and partnership with the Assessor’s Taxpayers’ Rights Office, a campaign demonstrating collaboration among the public and private sector and promoting the DVET exemption resulted in a savings for qualified veterans or spouses of up to $2,002 annually off their property taxes. This program helps veterans achieve homeownership, allows them to stay in their homes and, in some cases, receive refunds of close to $10,000 for property taxes.

Calloway, who serves as an advisor to the Assessor’s Office on disabled veterans issues, said, “This award from the Taxpayers Association is a great honor for PSAR, VAREP and the overall real estate community. We are ready to help local government officials anytime with advice and assistance that will help all homeowners, including disabled military veterans who have given so much and risked so much in service of the nation.”

“It was an honor and a pleasure working with Robert and PSAR,” said Dronenburg, who has served as County Assessor since 2010. “It was especially gratifying to help disabled veterans, these modern-day heroes who have selflessly shared so much and have sacrificed some of the best years of their lives, putting themselves in harm’s way to fight for liberty and keep everyone safe.”

As the County Assessor, Dronenburg oversees assessing the value of real estate and personal property, which in San Diego includes planes and boats. 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 was re-elected in June 2014, when he received 59 percent of the vote, and in June 2018, when he received 63 percent of the vote, resulting in no runoff elections either year. 

For the past 73 years, the SDCTA has been providing information to help educate the public and safe the region’s taxpayers millions. Public opinion polls consistently rate the SDCTA as the most “influential” and “trusted” public policy institution in San Diego.

Photo captions:

-- PSAR 2019 President Robert Calloway poses with Ernie Dronenburg, San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (wearing bow tie) and William Jimenez, Division Chief, County Assessor’s Office.

-- PSAR 2019 President Robert Calloway poses with San Diego County Assessor’s Office staff who worked with San Diego disabled military veterans on the Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption.

Sign up, and be a part of PSAR’s Leadership by becoming an Officer or Director.

PSAR's Nominating Committee is seeking Nominees for:

• President-Elect
• Secretary/Treasurer
• Director (There are 5 Director positions available)
• Deadline for Submission:  April 30, 2019 (5 PM)

Are you interested in becoming a Director of the California Association of REALTORS® representing PSAR for 2020?

• Are you active in the Real Estate industry?
• Are you an agent, manager, or Broker/Owner.
• Are you active in residential resale, commercial or property management?
• Take this opportunity to share your knowledge and make a difference.
• Deadline for Submission: April 30, 2019 (5 PM)

By Sean Hillier

There are several reasons why I volunteer with PSAR, and why you should, too, since this year’s 2019 theme for PSAR is “Salute to Service.” First, you may have heard the phrase that goes something like this: “You’re the sum of the people you hang around with,” or “You become who you surround yourself with.” I really believe it’s true.

Other people’s thoughts and behaviors can certainly influence you. The people with whom you surround yourself can affect your bottom-line potential. We’re all affected by our environment, perhaps more than we think.

When we surround ourselves with strong, high-achievers who have good character, then we are more likely to become just like them. On the other hand, a bunch of low-achievers can have a negative influence. If your best friends have a poor outlook on life and are satisfied with sub-par performance, then there’s a good chance some of that negativity will rub off on you.

But, when you surround yourself with people who stand by high standards and strive to do better, then their motivation, dedication and energy are contagious and they will positively influence you. The people you spend time with will shape who you are. 

At PSAR, I have found a group of high-quality people who have outstanding leadership skills, bold expectations and high ethical and moral standards who strive for excellence. Their examples encourage me and motivate me. I want to be what they are.

Being around PSAR members helps me “up my game” and raises my skill level as a REALTOR® so that I’m inspired to achieve more than what I previously thought I could. You may have heard the cliché, “When you run alone, you run fast. But when you run together, you run far.”

We all need friends who will help us succeed. This is especially true in real estate. Real friends can bring out the best in each other. They will encourage and motivate each other to reach goals. Also, friends who will cheer you on to success are a critical part of staying healthy.

That’s what I find with my friends at PSAR. Even though we’re friendly competitors, PSAR members realize that we really need to be in this real estate sales business together and support each other. We all need to band together professionally. We’re better together.

We all can experience greater benefits when we work together with a sense of community. There’s always something new to learn, which makes our industry existing. Plus, a high level of membership involvement helps to make our Association even better.

That’s one of the main reasons why I serve on the PSAR board of directors. As a board member, I can have a role in going to bat for all of our members. Also, at the same time, serving on the board helps me grow professionally so I can become a better agent and better serve my clients.

I am proud to say that PSAR fights for its members. In real estate, we need our Association to be on our side. PSAR is definitely on the side of agents and affiliates. Also, PSAR is on our side with legislative advocacy in support of bills that will help us in our practice and in opposition of job-killing and economy-killing potential legislation that will hurt us. Many agents may not be aware of PSAR’s advocacy efforts, but these efforts are very important to the survival of our industry, which is always under constant attack.

Let me encourage you to become more involved and volunteer at PSAR so we can remain as one of the best Associations in the nation. Several years ago, I began with serving on a District Council. If you want your voice to be heard and want to contribute to PSAR’s decision-making process, then serve on a committee. Experience on committees is beneficial for those interested in seeking future leadership roles.

Remember, that when you volunteer to participate with PSAR, you are contributing to our real estate industry. You also will be building valuable contacts and adding skills for your business success. Plus, you’ll become better informed, better networked and better prepared to act on trends impacting our industry. So, help set the course of your Association and make the decision to share you time, talent and expertise as a volunteer. You’ll be glad you did.

*  *  *
Sean Hillier has worked in real estate since 2010 began serving on the PSAR board of directors in 2019. He has served as emcee of the East County “Rally & Ride” marketing session on Thursday mornings since January 2015.

By Robert Calloway
2019 PSAR President

I’m proud to report that legislative advocacy continues to be an important activity at PSAR. Advocacy plays a critical role in supporting property ownership throughout our communities. A powerful alliance can be formed with other REALTORS® and affiliates when we speak in solidarity with one voice and work together with elected officials to protect and promote homeownership and property investment.

The result can be public policies that uphold private property rights and build strong communities with a vibrant business environment and free enterprise system.

Indeed, whether or not your clients know it, or the average homeowner realizes it, government relations can influence the price of real estate and affect the state of the economy, level of interest rates and nature of demographics, along with a host of other variables that can ultimately determine a property’s value. 

Currently, a number of PSAR members are preparing to travel to Sacramento on May 1 for the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) Legislative Day 2019. The event, the 47th annual, will include opportunities to meet and discuss real estate issues directly with state legislators and their staff members, as well as hear from California’s political leaders and the leadership of the state association.

As a follow-up to C.A.R.’s Legislative Day, several Association members also are planning to attend the upcoming National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 2019 Legislative Meetings and Trade Expo, May 15 in Washington, D.C. NAR is widely considered one of the most effective advocacy organizations in the country.

I am very proud to say that the majority of attendees to Sacramento and the nation’s capital will be committed and dedicated members of PSAR’s Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC). The GAC focuses on all things governmental and how public policy can affect real estate issues. In it is role as an advisory committee to the PSAR board, the GAC provides a forum for political advocacy and policy discussion.

GAC members are diligent in keeping track of proposed city and county ordinances that could have a potential impact on the local real estate industry. Their savvy political advocacy efforts have prevented the passage of detrimental laws that could have hurt PSAR members’ business activities. GAC members communicate with their local government officials to help stop government agencies from finding ways to tax and regulate real estate transactions.

Statewide, it’s an incredibly busy year because our real estate industry has emerged as a major player in the current legislative agenda.

The California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) recently announced its recommendations for the 2019 legislative session, including bills that address California’s housing shortage through increasing supply and removing barriers to development. C.A.R. said it stands ready to work with Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Legislature and key stakeholders during the 2109 legislative session to advance innovative solutions to ensure all Californians can realize the American dream of homeownership.

“California is at a tipping point, and the housing crisis threatens to permanently impede the state’s economic growth,” said C.A.R. President Jared Martin. “It’s time for California’s leaders to take the necessary bold action and support legislative solutions to address the housing shortage and answer the governor’s call earlier this year to ‘build housing for all.’”

C.A.R. is proud to champion the following measures aimed at addressing the housing crisis:

-- SB 50 (Sen. Scott Wiener) Housing Development Around Transit: Boosts housing and apartment development in and around major transit hubs and employers, and provides developers with a “density bonus,” or authority to build additional units in exchange for building below-market units, and other incentives or concessions.

-- AB 1568 (Asm. Kevin McCarty) Housing Accountability: Holds local governments accountable by withholding gas tax revenue if counties do not meet home building benchmarks verified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

-- AB 1074 (Asm. Tyler Diep) Accessory Dwelling Units: Increases housing supply by selling bonds to provide loans to homeowners to construct accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

-- AB 1020 (Asm. Jacqui Irwin) State Housing Agency: Establishes a state Housing Agency with a cabinet-level Secretary of Housing to oversee all housing-related initiatives and activities throughout the State of California.

-- SB 509 (Sen. Anthony Portantino) Affordable Housing License Plate Program: Establishes a housing crisis awareness program through the issuance of aspecialty license plate by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The license plate would generate revenues for affordable housing programs throughout the state.

These measures, along with other bills that C.A.R. is supporting this year, are intended to increase housing construction as the solution to California’s housing shortage.

“We are encouraged by Gov. Newsom and the Legislature’s leadership to focus on solving the state’s housing deficit,” said Martin. “Californians deserve policies that make housing more available, affordable and accessible, and we believe that will be accomplished by these bills. To do anything less would put our state’s economic future in peril as more and more Californians are priced out of the housing market.”

You can be assured that PSAR remains committed to reaching out to elected officials, motivating and mobilizing the real estate community and keeping our members involved and informed about legislative issues in an effort to protect private property rights and homeownership.

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.