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PSAR is proud to recognize 36 members who have been honored as Honorary Members for Life by both the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® and the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.).

These distinguished members have each demonstrated over 25 years of dedication, integrity, and professionalism in real estate and have reached the age of 75 or older.

The 36 members include:

Violeta Barcas	Greg Hall	Hector Padilla
Rodger Barwick	Young Hall	Kathie Pelletier
Elba Beas	Rick Hoffman	Alfredo Perez
Rita Blackwood	Jose King	Sang Pham
Bob Carlseen	Bonnie Kipperman	Andrew Pheasant
Kenneth Colwell	Christopher Lewis	Pat Russiano
Mitchell Compton	Randy Lipsey, Sr.	Marilyn Schweer
Joseph Garzanelli	Carlos Lopez	Robert Smith
Lorenza Gastelum	Manuel Lopez	Carol Snyder
Alberto Gonzalez	Mark Mendillo	Gary Stous
Barbara Hahn	Dale Nicholas	Martin Weinstein
Paul Hahn	Josefina Ortiz	Gail Wilson

Congratulations to our honored members for their long-term commitment to excellence and their outstanding service to clients and the community.

As part of this recognition, the 2025 group of new honorary members will receive a waiver of PSAR and C.A.R. dues beginning in 2026. This waiver will continue for as long as they remain eligible REALTOR® members or until retirement from the profession.

Members who believe they may qualify for this honor are encouraged to contact PSAR. Please ensure your correct birthdate is entered in your membership record. An accurate birthdate is the trigger used to identify future receipients.

Applications are available on the C.A.R.website and using THIS FORM

For additional information, send an email to hmfl@car.org.

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The real estate industry thrives on communication, and reaching potential clients is crucial. But the digital age has brought with it a wave of unwanted calls and texts, leading to frustration and distrust. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has stepped in with new regulations to protect consumers, and these rules have significant implications for how real estate professionals connect with leads.  For detailed information from the FCC follow this link.

Understanding the Key Changes

• One-to-One Consent is Paramount: Forget blanket opt-ins! The new rules demand that consumers provide individual, specific consent to each business that intends to contact them via robocalls or "robotexts." This consent must be "logically and topically associated" with the website where they provided it. For example, someone signing up for home valuation on your website can't be assumed to consent to calls about mortgage offers from your affiliated lender.

• Lead Generation Under Scrutiny: Lead generation companies can no longer rely on broad consent obtained through third-party websites. They must ensure consumers explicitly consent to each business receiving their information.

• Existing Leads Need a Check-Up: Don't assume your current contact list is good to go! Leads obtained before January 27, 2025, may not meet the new consent standards. Review your database and re-obtain consent where necessary.

• Manual Outreach Remains Viable: While the new rules focus on automated communication, you can still make manual calls and send texts without prior consent. However, you must adhere to the Do-Not-Call Registry and avoid using pre-recorded or artificial voices.

• Legal Challenges on the Horizon: The one-to-one consent rule is facing legal challenges, and its future may be influenced by court decisions. Stay informed about any updates or changes to the rule.

Actionable Steps for Real Estate Professionals

1. Review and Revise Consent Forms: Ensure your website and other lead capture forms clearly state that the consumer is consenting to receive calls/texts specifically from your brokerage or agency.
2. Obtain Express Written Consent: Always get written consent (electronic is acceptable) before initiating robocalls or "robotexts."
3. Scrutinize Lead Generation Practices: Work only with lead generation companies that comply with the new FCC rules.
4. Stay Updated on Do-Not-Call Regulations: Regularly check the Do-Not-Call Registry and promptly remove any listed numbers.
5. Educate Your Team: Ensure all agents and staff understand the new rules and their implications.

Important Disclaimer:

This blog post is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The FCC regulations are complex and subject to change. While we strive for accuracy, it is crucial to consult with an attorney for professional guidance on how to ensure your business practices are fully compliant. Final decisions regarding your business practices should be made after seeking legal counsel.

Link to:  Location and Direction | Pitch Details | Property Coverage | Agenda | How To Pitch

 

To enter a property for a PSAR pitch session, use this link: "Request Pitch".

Join REALTORS® Trish Nuñez & Karina Souza as they moderate the Central Pitch!

Showcase listings, receive live feedback, network with fellow local agents. Coverage includes Bay Ho, Clairemont,   La Jolla, Linda Vista, Mission Beach, Mission Hills, Morena, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, & Point Loma  There's nothing like person-to-person interaction!

PSAR's Central Pitch will deliver these benefits: 

• Live listing Pitch: Promote your listings to a room full of engaged and motivated local agents
• Improve Your Marketing: Gain valuable insights through the interactive Q&A session that will help you market your listings more effectively.
• Network: Meet, mingle, and build important relationships with fellow top-producing agents who can bring qualified buyers to your listings.

Tuesday| March 12th, 2024
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
...and every Tuesday thereafter at 9:30 AM
There will be coffee and some breakfast nosh items available as well!

 

PSAR Central Office in Clairemont
4340 Genesee Ave, San Diego, Suite 203*

*Located on the second floor. Please enter through the rear entrance of the building. Signage will direct you to the correct room once you reach the office.

Pitch Details

Great listing exposure! The property will be listed in the "pitch email" sent to agents in corresponding areas of the county the evening prior. This email has a consistently high open rate. 

At this time, pitched properties are not required to be held open after the pitch session, but it is encouraged due to the momentum generated at the session.

Here are the pitch guidelines:

• Properties "Coming Soon" and "Active" properties can be pitched. Coming soon properties may not be shown  Here are the rules.

• Only "Active" properties may be part of the broker's open.

• If the listing agent cannot come in and pitch, no need to worry as you can assign another MLS subscriber to make the pitch for you. Make sure to indicate it in the pitch form!

• Cancellations must be received by 12:00 pm the night before via email (pitch@psar.org), or you will be considered a "No Show." No Shows without an email cancellation will be suspended from the Pitch Session for 90 days.

• All MLS subscribers are welcome regardless of association affiliation. Those marketing properties must be licensed subscribers or participants in an MLS.

• PSAR affiliate members are welcome to participate and network. More information is available on sponsoring a pitch session and addressing attendees.

Registration & Questions:

• Call 619-421-7811 or email pitch@psar.org with any questions.

• To enter a property for a PSAR pitch session, use the "Request Pitch" form.

• Pitches MUST be submitted by 3:00 pm the day before the meeting (Monday) to be included.

Coverage Area

Properties in the following zip codes may be included: Bay Ho, Clairemont,   La Jolla, Linda Vista, Mission Beach, Mission Hills, Morena, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, Point Loma   (92037, 92103, 92107, 92108, 92110, 92111, 92121, 92122, 92123,92037.)  (Out-of-area pitches are allowed as time permits)

Caravan Tour Number To Come

 

Pitch Agenda

• Host introductions

• We request the attendees to keep mobile phones silent as a courtesy to the pitch speaker

• Introduce this week's sponsor: Pitch session begins: each agent pitches their property (2 minutes each)

• Coming soon properties: agents highlight listings coming soon

• Price changes: agents announce recent price changes

• Additional announcements: relevant industry news/updates

• Upcoming PSAR events and classes

• Reminder of open houses: agents state if they are holding opens after the pitch

Meeting announcements / Market Update

Pitch sessions provide a valuable platform to gain insights from industry experts on current real estate trends, vital updates and announcements for REALTORS® in the county, that could impact their business.

• Meeting announcements: cover any PSAR updates/news

• Market update: provide an overview of the latest market trends and statistic

How to Pitch Your Property

When it's your turn to pitch:

• Walk to the front of the room

• State your name, company, and phone number clearly and slowly

• We will display photos while you provide key property details:

  • Address

  • Property type (e.g. single-family home, condo, etc.)

  • Asking price

  • Brief description

  • Key features and details

  • Why agents should see this property

  • Will you be holding an open house after the pitch session?

• Wrap up the pitch by repeating:

  • Your name

  • Company

  • Phone number (slowly and clearly)

• Allow agents to ask questions after your pitch

• Limit pitch to 2 minutes maximum

The National Association of REALTORS® released its 2023 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers this morning, garnering coverage in a wide range of national media outlets, including CNN , Bloomberg and The Washington Post.

For most home buyers, the purchase of real estate is one of the largest financial transactions they will make. Buyers purchase a home not only for the desire to own a home of their own, but also because of changes in jobs, family situations, and the need for a smaller or larger living area. This annual survey was conducted by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® of recent home buyers. Download Highlights (PDF 7 MB) | Get the Full Report(link is external) | News Release

Read additional highlights of the report in REALTOR® Magazine’s “12 Trends That Explain Your Clients’ Real Estate Journey.”

The annual report, which NAR has been conducting since 1981, covers demographics, preferences, and experiences of recent buyers and sellers across the United States. Data was collected from a nationally representative sample of home buyers who purchased a primary residence in the 12-month period between July 2022 and June 2023.

This year’s report shows that reliance on real estate professionals remains strong. Although 100% of respondents said they used the Internet in the home search process, a vast majority—89% of both buyers and sellers—said they worked with a real estate professional on their sale or purchase. Only 5% of sellers cited the “agent’s commission” as an important factor in choosing their agent: The reputation of the agent, whether the agent was “honest and trustworthy,” and knowledge of the neighborhood ranked as the most important factors.

Household annual income among buyers was 22% higher than last year, an indication that high sales prices and rising interest rates have eroded lower-income households’ ability to purchase a home. Among buyers who financed their purchase, the median down payment amount was also up. In this year’s report, it was 8% for first-time buyers, 19% for repeat buyers, and 15% for all buyers.

After several years of losing share in the homebuying market, first-time buyers are making headway. They made up 32% of the market, according to this year’s report—still below the historical rate of 38% but notably higher than last year’s rate of 26%.

As in past years, buyers and sellers report satisfaction with the service provided by their real estate professionals. Ninety percent of buyers said they would definitely (75%) or probably (15%) use their agent again or recommend their agent to others. Eighty-seven percent of sellers said they would definitely (73%) or probably (14%) recommend their agent for future services.

Highlights From the Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

There is a critical shortage of housing inventory. An excessive amount of red tape helped cause that shortage. Now, the City of Chula Vista is considering additional regulations on Housing Providers.

The proposed "Residential Landlord and Tenant Provisions" will impose the following:

• Regulations that make substantial remodels, owner move-ins, and withdrawal from the rental market more difficult by adding stricter noticing requirements and relocation assistance requirements.
• The creation of laws that allows for civil action and damages of $1,000-5,000 per violation per day.
• The criminalization of any violation of the ordinance and the creation of fines in the thousands of dollars.

Mayor Mary Salas requested the creation of this ordinance in response to calls from tenant and rent control advocates. Unfortunately, the unintended consequences of this ordinance would end up harming tenants as well.

The unintended consequences of this ordinance will include the following:

• The added difficulties of being a housing provider in Chula Vista will discourage the creation of much needed additional housing. This will hurt all of us, including those who would have a much harder time finding a place to rent. 
• The added difficulties of undertaking substantial renovations would deter owners from upgrading unsightly buildings. This hurts the tenants who would live there and the livability of the surrounding communities. 
• Provisions in the ordinance meant to prevent harassment of tenants would actually deter property owners from dealing with tenants who cause nuisances. This would hurt the tenants and all neighbors who live nearby and would have to deal with the nuisances.

It is well established that when you add regulation to something, you get less of it. We need more housing, not less. The State of California has recently enacted protections for tenants by enacting AB 1482. If there are problems for tenants, the City could focus on finding better ways to enforce existing laws, rather than adding more regulations that will negatively impact our already scarce housing supply.

Please send an eComment to the City stating your opposition to this misguided ordinance by clicking on the button below, and then clicking on the "Leave Comment" button:

 

 

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Not sure which Councilmember represents your neighborhood?  See below.

 

Questions remain about the City of San Diego’s pending ‘No-Fault Eviction' Moratorium.

On April 4th, after almost six hours of public testimony which included comments from PSAR volunteers and members, the city council passed the ‘No-Fault Eviction' Moratorium ordinance. The ordinance must come back for a second reading a month after the first reading and will go into effect 30 days after final approval.

Thanks to the efforts of PSAR and our colleagues, the original ordinance was amended to include an end date or sunset on September 30, 2022 (or 60 days after the end of the local emergency) whichever is sooner.  Realtors are wondering about how this ordinance will impact property owners who want to sell.

• No termination of tenancy is allowed for a substantial remodel unless mandated by the government or court order.
• Owners who wish to move into their homes or move in family members will have to serve a 90-day notice to terminate the tenancy. An immediate family member is limited to a parent, child, grandparent, and grandchild.

Property owners who wish to terminate a tenancy in order to withdraw units from the rental market, this includes selling a home, must provide a 6-month notice.

The ordinance is likely to receive final approval next month and it will cause unintended consequences. Additionally, some of the language is vague and confusing. Once the ordinance is finalized, PSAR will schedule legal counsel to brief our members on its impact. PSAR will continue to review the ordinance and is prepared to challenge it again at the second reading.

Before working with a client to terminate a tenancy, it is important to speak with your broker and legal counsel. This ordinance will put many owners in difficult positions.

A copy of the proposed ordinance may be found here.

This web page item #200 has links to the PowerPoint and backup information for a deeper dive.

 

The Board of Supervisors will meet on Wednesday, February 9th at 9 am to discuss the implementation of a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Policy which could end hopes that San Diego will meet the housing needs of its residents.  

Please urge the Board of Supervisors to keep housing a top priority in San Diego County.  

You can submit written comments by clicking here: submit comments.

This proposal is item 7 on the Agenda, if you would be willing to testify on this, you can sign up here:  Sign up to speak

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Recently, PSAR sent a three-page letter to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors expressing our opposition to the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) proposal.  See a copy of the letter by following this link.

VMT is a proposal that would slap new fees on housing development in car-centric communities. The fees would be calculated based on the additional “vehicle miles traveled.” Housing developments in rural or suburban areas would face fees that would disincentivize their construction.  Any homes that do get built would need to factor in those additional fees, pushing the dream of homeownership further beyond the reach of most aspiring buyers.  

Under the proposed VMT, to get approval for a project, a housing developer would have to show that their project would generate fewer vehicle miles traveled than the area’s average. 

PSAR’s letter to the Board of Supervisors states: “Homeownership is the bedrock of building strong communities and intergenerational wealth. REALTORS® know firsthand that buyers are moving to Riverside, Imperial Valley, and Mexico to own a property and build a future. They subsequently commute for hours on San Diego freeways, defeating the intent of the VMT policies.

“There are numerous economic and regulatory barriers that discourage developers from building both attached and detached “for-purchase” housing for all levels of income. If the County is forced to adopt a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) planning tool that is being considered with a regional planning focus, the cost of new housing in the unincorporated portions of our region will be increased significantly, adding to the current housing shortfall.

“This policy will severely restrict future generations from realizing the dream of homeownership and a better quality of life for themselves and generations to come.”

The letter also states that PSAR is supporting six recommendations from the Building Industry Association (BIA) of San Diego County. BIA’s recommendations include an Infill Area Option, VMT Mitigation Program Options, and a programmatic Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to analyze VMT impacts.

PSAR is opposing VMT implementation because of the potential impacts on historically disadvantaged communities who would find it harder to realize the dream of homeownership.

PSAR’s letter states: “Homeownership is an essential steppingstone for families to build wealth. By adding requirements that will make homeownership opportunities more expensive for working families to purchase, we will be removing a crucial steppingstone for those who have not already had an opportunity to purchase a home. We would essentially be closing the door behind those who have already been fortunate enough to purchase a home.

“Society has been making a lot of strides towards providing historically disadvantaged communities with opportunities that had previously been denied to them. We should not be halting that progress by limiting access to homeownership opportunities. The book `The Color of Law’ by Richard Rothstein provides a very detailed analysis of how unequal access to homeownership due to government policies directly resulted in economic harm that continues to hold back communities of color to this day. Considering the fact that communities of color in San Diego are still suffering from the multigenerational impacts of redlining and segregation, we should not be implementing policies that cement these impacts by stopping the creation of new opportunities for homeownership or confining new housing opportunities for lower-income residents to certain areas.”

At their Jan. 26 meeting, the Board of Supervisors received a report from county planners that laid out ways to implement VMT. The board directed the planners to return on Feb. 9 with additional details on VMT options.

Please urge the Board of Supervisors to keep housing a top priority in San Diego County.  

You can submit written comments by clicking here: submit comments.

This proposal is item 7 on the Agenda, if you would be willing to testify on this, you can sign up here:  Sign up to speak

 

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PSAR is proud to announce that 15 PSAR members have been approved by the PSAR board of directors for recognition by the California Association of REALTORS^® (C.A.R.) as honorary members for life.

The 15 members include:

Congratulations to each esteemed member for your long-term commitment to professionalism and excellence in the real estate industry.

This latest 2021 group of new C.A.R. life members will receive a waiver of C.A.R. dues beginning in 2022. They will continue to receive a dues waiver for as long as they remain eligible for REALTOR^® membership or until retirement from the field.

Requirements to be honored as a C.A.R. life member include remaining as a C.A.R. member in good standing for a minimum of 25 years and attaining the age of 75.

Acceptance as honorary members for life also requires approval of the C.A.R. Membership Committee and the C.A.R. Board of Directors at one of its three annual membership meetings. Applications for the honorary member-for-life designation must be received in advance of the meetings in order for the dues waiver to be effective the following year. Applications will not be processed without the signature of the member’s local association executive.

Applications are available on the C.A.R.website and using THIS FORM

For additional information, send an email to hmfl@car.org.

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C.A.R Released the following information last night to REALTORS®. CAR attorneys are looking into what it means when it comes to hosting open houses. The links in this email raise questions including how these changes apply to San Diego County, the use of the PEAD, registrations, maintaining physical distance, and much more. Give your broker some time to look into this. The information was released, now the attorneys and brokers need to figure out what it means. The California Dept. of Public Health has just updated its guidance on open houses, and further updates are pending. The following is now on live on the COVID-19.ca.gov website. C.A.R. will be providing more details regarding this guidance so that REALTORS® are in full compliance, but the following is the information currently on the California State official website: Shown properties, like open houses – effective immediately In-person showings of properties, like open houses, are permitted and must follow the indoor gatherings capacity limits in the CDPH gatherings guidance. Check the Attendance section of the gatherings guidance for the capacity limits for each tier.  People who feel sick or have COVID-19 symptoms are not permitted to attend. The physical distancing between different households must be maintained, and hand sanitizer should be made available. Face coverings are required. See the CDPH guidance for the use of face coverings for complete details and exceptions. All other restrictions in the real estate guidance remain in place.

More than 100 PSAR members learned more about property tax benefits available to clients of REALTORS^® from Proposition 19 during a Zoom meeting earlier this week with Taxpayer Advocate Jordan Marks of the San Diego County Accessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC) Office.

Recorded Video of the Presentation

 

Attachments from the presentation:

• Jordan Marks Presentation Slides
• Assessor Homeowners Exemption Form
• Assessor Senior Exclusion Form
• Prop 58 Parent to Child Exclusion Form

Prop. 19, approved by California voters in the recent November general election, offers significant benefits to homeowners and sellers. The ballot measure was endorsed by the California Association of REALTORS^® (C.A.R.) and other business and community organizations because it will spur housing economic recovery.

Simply put, Prop. 19 expands the affordable housing tools by allowing senior homeowners over 55 years old, people with severe disabilities and victims of natural disasters or wildfires to keep their low tax base and move or rebuild anywhere statewide.

In addition, Prop. 19 addressed a tax loophole allowing families to pass their homes and affordable tax bases to their children, but no longer allowing them to be used for a commercial purpose.

However, Marks told PSAR members that it’s important to remember that some rules relating to Prop. 19 will change on Feb. 15 and April 1.

Before Feb. 15, in the case of transferring home ownership from parent to child or grandparent to grandchild, the law allows for unlimited transfer of assessed value on a primary resident with no requirement to live in the property and up to $1 million of assessed value on all non-primary residential properties.

After Feb. 15, the law changes with a limit of $1 million transfer of assessed value on a primary resident, plus a requirement to live in the property and no transfer of assessed value on any property not a primary resident.

Before April 1, for relocating homeowners over 55 years old, the current rules limit the senior exclusion from property tax reassessment to one time plus a requirement to live in the property.

After April 1, the senior exclusion from property tax assessment can be claimed for three times for any property in the state (but unlimited times for those whose homes were destroyed or substantially damaged by a wildfire or natural disaster). Filing for the exclusion must occur within two years from the date of the sale or purchase.