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.

By Ditas Yamane

Being in the real estate industry, the business commands a lot of time that makes life busy. Because of our irregular schedules as real estate professionals, it’s hard to find the time to volunteer and it’s easy to make the excuse of not being able to volunteer.

However, I’m here to tell you that sharing a little bit of your time can go a long way. Robert Calloway, as PSAR President, declared this year’s PSAR theme as “Salute to Service.” And I believe that this theme involves all of us at PSAR.

Volunteering is part of my existence in life. For me, it provides a sense of purpose and a sense of fulfillment that makes me happy. Being kind and helping people in need, improves your health and gives you happiness. 

Growing up very poor in a small town in the Philippines, often times, there was no help available for us. So, I made a promise that when I grow up, I would help others in my own little way. I studied hard, worked hard then along the way, I started to volunteer in my community. I also have encouraged my siblings and now my children to volunteer by giving back and helping people in need. As a result, they have built relationships with other volunteers and are happy to be a part of improving the quality of life.

My volunteerism has helped me grow in so many ways as a person. I have more confidence and have built great relationships, both personal and business aspects of my life. So, however, busy my life becomes, I set-aside time to volunteer and help. As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and committed citizens can change the world.”

So, I encourage you to volunteer at PSAR. Start by choosing a committee that you have interest in and put a little time, effort and commitment. It’s a good way to use your extra time to share your skills and talents and I guarantee you that the return of your little investment will be priceless.

By volunteering at PSAR, you will learn new skills, meet new friends, develop friendships and build network.

Volunteer at PSAR and you’ll learn new things and you’ll get information and know about available resources to use in your business and share to others.

Volunteer at PSAR and your voice will be heard in helping to grow the PSAR community. It will give you the opportunity to advocate for issues and concerns that you believe is right and are in line with PSAR’s mission to change for the better.

Volunteering means you will have a seat at the table; otherwise you’re on the menu!

Believe me when I say that the rewards of volunteering at PSAR are endless. The best time to volunteer is now.

Come-on fellow Real Estate Professionals. Come and volunteer and help us grow.

Together we can do it.

We are PSAR!

Ditas Yamane has been in the real estate business since 2002.

Salute to Service: By Shonee Henry

Life is short and it is here to be lived. Which is a main reason why I believe that passion is so important. Passion is what energizes life. It turns the impossible into the possible. I’m passionate about volunteering and staying involved with PSAR. And, here’s why you should join me.

I don’t think twice about volunteering. It’s natural for me to do it. God made me to be a helper and volunteer. People might think I’m crazy, but I don’t feel wholesome if I don’t help.

I didn’t realize how effective I could be at volunteering until I actually started volunteering. Does that make sense?

Let me explain: I have been fortunate to volunteer at the national level with the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Starting in 2009, I began serving as NAR’s President’s Liaison to the Philippines. Four years later, I was appointed regional coordinator to Asia Pacific, and United Arab Emirates from 2013-2016 representing the NAR President.  In my collaborative role, I helped establish partnerships in other countries to promote NAR educational programs and professional designations, including the International Realtor Membership (IRM) and Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS).

Serving with NAR forced me to make public speeches. Before then, I had never been a public speaker. But, I was passionate about helping to lay a global foundation for our real estate industry. I believe success in business is possible only with passion, vibrancy, energy and enthusiasm. Passion is the instinct that drives all great souls. Passion is the fuel which generates pride, ambition and dreams. Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion of conviction. Your passion for success must be greater than any fear of failure.

So, as a result, my public speeches were filled with passion. Then, after the speech, people said to me, “You’re really good at this. Your speech was inspiring. You really made a difference.” All of that was news to me. Then, I realized my purpose and what I was created to do in life. Passion and purpose go together. The more purpose driven you are, the more you know your purpose for both living and leading as a volunteer. So, only after I started serving did I realize how effective that someone could be and the impact you could make as a volunteer.

Also, volunteering can make you a better REALTOR®. That’s because when people see the passion you have for volunteering, then they will choose to do business with you and your business will grow organically. I have never volunteered for the purpose of increasing my business. However, I have seen that volunteering and sharing the lessons you’ve learned in life has led to new friends and trustworthy contacts and, eventually, to new clients. By sharing your talent, you’re creating a better atmosphere for our industry. So, let me encourage you to share your experience and your talent. Help from the heart.

Because the more focused you are, the more effective you will be. And volunteering helps you to focus. There’s awesome power in a focused life. For example, diffused light doesn’t have much of an effect on what it touches. But, when you focus light, like the rays of the sun through a magnifying glass, you can ignite a piece of paper or grass. If you can focus it even more, it becomes a laser. And, lasers can cut through steel and destroy cancer. The same is true with your life. If you’re directionless, you’ll just drift through without much impact. But, if you focus on a few key goals, such as volunteering, then you can make more of a powerful impact in the world.

Time is your most precious gift you have because we have only a set amount of it. You can make more money, but you can’t make more time. When you give someone your time in volunteer service, then you are giving them a portion of your life that you’ll never get back. Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your volunteer time.

Let me encourage you to allocate part of your time to PSAR, increase your passion, expand your participation and volunteer with our Association. Yes, as a PSAR, you can make a difference and be a change-maker for the betterment of our Association.

Sometimes you might think you have the knack for something, but you’re not sure quite where to start. I would say to just face your fears, think outside the box and jump-in with both feet and try it anyway. There are so many opportunities to serve to help others and many ideas that need to be cultivated. Small can turn out to be a big deal. Little can turn out to be much. 

Start with the needs of others. If you want to connect with people, start with their needs, their hurts, what they want. Seek to understand before seeking to be understood. Life is all about relationships. Remember, the world does not revolve around you.

You’re braver than you know. You might not think of yourself as courageous, adventuresome, fearless and unafraid. But, I think you should give yourself credit for bravery when you volunteer. Don’t listen to the voices that say, “Who do you think you are?” or, “It can’t be done,” or “Forget about it.”

Maybe you’ve tried to volunteer in the past and it didn’t work-out well. Let me encourage you to try again. We must not permit the failures of the past to defeat victorious living today. Failures of the past do not nullify purposes in the future. Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you. Do not allow the fears of the future to rob us of passion today. Instead, explore and discover your hidden talents. When you volunteer, you will discover the better part of yourself.

You were created for more than just selling real estate. I started in real estate to help me achieve my dream of sharing wealth and wisdom with those less fortunate. Life is not about things. You’ve got to maintain the right perspective about possession, or you’ll be possessed by your possessions. The greatest things in life aren’t things. But, passion as a volunteer helps you get out of bed in the morning. It’s because you know there’s something bigger than you are and you can hardly wait to get at it again. So, get involved and take action today about volunteering with PSAR.

Shonee Henry began her real estate career in 2002. 

PSAR is proud to welcome as new members Sellstate Next Gen Realty of San Diego and broker Nicole Turner’s entire office of 25 agents.

“With our previous Association, we were not receiving adequate service and support,” said Nicole, who has 13 years of experience in real estate sales. “My agents had concerns, and so did I. For over a year, I had been researching PSAR and asking them lots of questions, and I was receiving good answers that matched what I was looking for with our team. Eventually, it came to a point that it was time to make the switch.”

When Nicole asked her agents to make the move to PSAR in March, they approved it enthusiastically, she said.

“I see a lot of similarities between PSAR and our office, including professionalism, teamwork, family atmosphere, genuineness and culture,” Nicole said. “The PSAR leadership and staff are first class. When you walk into a PSAR office, you are not greeted with a grumpy face or corporate stuffiness. Instead, you are treated with respect as a business owner and friendliness. With PSAR, I see opportunities for our agents to connect and gain knowledge and benefit from state-of-the-art technology, like additional property exposure with the CRMLS (California Regional Multiple Listing Service).

“So far, it’s been an eye-opening experience with PSAR. No one likes change, but my agents were willing to move with me. Today, my agents are extremely happy that we made the move. We love the support and teamwork at PSAR, with teamwork you can never go wrong. Plus, we love to support and be side-by-side with our agents as they continue to reach their dreams. I’m looking forward to a mutually beneficial relationship and greater involvement in the future.”

Nicole and her San Diego regional business partners, John Werkmeister and Kathie Young, acquired Sellstate’s first San Diego franchise in 2009. Last June, they moved to their new home in Mission Valley, 438 Camino del Rio South, San Diego.

“Our leadership team has more than 76 years of experience,” said Nicole. “Our agents are not only our business partners, but also family members. We have a lot of fun in our office and love doing business together.”

Sellstate was recently presented with the Tech Titan Award from RIS Media. The award is presented to brokerage leaders who have demonstrated an exceptional ability to adapt and integrate new and innovative tools and services within their organization to improve and enhance the overall consumer experience.

“It’s always great to welcome a new brokerage to PSAR,” said Robert Calloway, 2019 PSAR President. “We congratulate Sellstate for looking out for the best interests of their clients with cutting-edge technology, which is an identical commitment to PSAR and the same reason why we joined CRMLS in 2018.”

Nicole’s office is also involved in giving back to the community. Last year, the office hosted a charity fundraising golf tournament, called “Swingin’ with Sellstate.” The tournament benefitted the Warrior Foundation Freedom Station, a San Diego nonprofit that assists injured military personnel with support and transitional housing designed to assist during recovery from injuries and transition from military service to civilian life. This year’s tournament will be held Oct. 19, 2019, at Riverwalk Golf Club.

Sellstate Next Gen Realty also supports 1st Saturday, a program that collects clothes, backpacks, blankets, food items and toiletry items that are combined in “Care Packs” and distributed to homeless people on the first Saturday of the month.

For more information on Sellstate Next Gen Realty in San Diego, visit www.sellstatenextgenrealty.com.

ShowingTime is now available to all CRMLS Paragon users in San Diego through PSAR.

Why should a dream listing slip through the cracks just because you couldn’t get the other agent on the phone? It’s 2018 – your real estate transactions shouldn’t be limited by the size of your voicemail inbox.

ShowingTime allows interested potential buyers’ agents to book showings through the MLS any time. The system is online 24/7, and appointments are confirmed via text, automated call, or mobile app.

How do I get ShowingTIme?

There are four ShowingTime integrations in Paragon:

1. Via Preferences > ShowingTime Setup:

2. Under Listing Input and Maintenance:

3. Via the Action Icon on Spreadsheet and Report Views:

4. Via the Action Icon from the Actions Menu on Results:

Want to learn how to get started? Visit https://go.crmls.org/showingtime/ for more information.