2010 Election Results
Thank you to all the candidates for stepping up to the plate and offering your time and talents, and congratulations to the winners who will be guiding CCAR’s future successes.
The results are as follows:
Treasurer: Robin Dickson
District 2 Director: Lisa Hoctor
District 4 Director: Ron Mintz
Director-at-Large: Sue DiMaggio Adams, Laurie Donovan, and Stuart McAfee
Our Bylaws dictate that a simple majority is required to elect Officers. This year we had 3 candidates vying for the position of 2011 President-Elect. No one candidate achieved the 50% +1 requirement; therefore, a run-off election will take place. For the benefit of the Association, in order to more easily accomplish a majority vote, candidate Scott Griffith has voluntarily withdrawn from the election. This leaves Barbara Safran and Marilyn Cunningham as the two remaining candidates who will be placed on the run-off ballot. The online run-off ballot will be posted to ccartoday.com on August 2. All members who are qualified to vote as of the election record date of June 4 will be provided access to the ballot until August 16 at 9am at which time the ballot will be closed and the winner announced.
Thanks to those of you who previously voted. We count on your votes again to help us achieve our quorum and, more importantly, to support your favorite candidate.
Sheiren Diaz
Chief Executive Officer
From The Boardroom
From the Board Room
At the April 26 Board meeting, the CCAR Board of Directors adopted the following motions.
• Approved adding a $10.00 voluntary C.A.R. Housing Affordability Fund contribution option to the CCAR dues billing document.
• Approved the BOD eVote of March 10, 2010, which approves a motion to approve, as IMPAC Trustees, $600 of IMPAC funds to co-sponsor the League of California Cities Bocce Ball event to b held on March 18, 2010.
• Approved the BOD eVote of March 24, 2010, which contains motions to approve the Defining Fair Practices event held on April 23, 2010.
• Approved the Executive Committee minutes of March 29, 2010 which includes two motions:
a. To approve the proposed roster for the Nominating/Election Committee for the election of 2011 Officers and Directors: Cary Amo, Dic Pratt, Barry Zwahlen, Mike Handlin, Rob Baldwin, Mike Clancy, Robin Dickson and Rich Moreno.
b. To approve that the 2010 Executive Committee will select the 2011 C.A.R. Directors.
• Approved the Budget and Finance Committee Minutes of March 15, 2010 which includes a motion to reinstate the recommendation to the BOD that a maximum of $50,000 be allocated to finish building renovations, except for exterior signage.
• Approved the Budget & Finance Committee minutes of April 19, 2010 after removing Motion C, including the following motions:
a. Approved our tenant lease renewals as proposed.
b. Approved setting MLS and Supra Keys fees for 2010-11 at the same levels as 2009-2010, i.e. MLS Administrative Fee $499; Secretary/Assistant MLS Fee $120; MLS/Key Late Fee $50; Secretary/Assistant Late Fee $10; D-Key Access Fee $100; D-Key Basic Access Fee $175; E-Key Professional Access Fee $300; MLS Reinstatement Fee $100, and to abolish the $25 MLS/Key Expediting Fee.
c. Changed BOD policy to permit sales of store products and forms to non-members at prices higher than those established for members.
• Approved the NAR Director Selection Committee roster as presented: Barry Zwahlen, Clark Anderson, Mike Clancy. Ed Herold, Frieda King, Steve Reiser and Fred Weston.
• Approved dispersing budgeted 401K dollars to staff.
• Acting as IMPAC Trustees, approved $5,000 of IMPAC funds to support Mt. Diablo Unified School District Measure C on the June ballot.
• Approved the MLS eVote of March 22, 2010 which contains a motion to allow the release of sold data for issue in IDX sites.
• Approved the MLS eVote of March 22, 2010 which contains a motion to approved the augmentation of the MLS Technology budget by $4,200 to cover the reengineering of the MLS compliance tracking system.
• Approved the Business Technology Development meeting minutes of April 21, 2010 after removing Motion B and amending Motion C as follows: To approve $1,400 to retool HOT™ to allow for brokers tour functionality.
CCARlive March Edition!
Click here for the March edition of CCARlive, featuring information about:
· MORE – the Multiple Organization Reciprocal Exchange
· current, expanded housing statistics for Contra Costa County
· eliminating spam from your universe
· new classes and training opportunities
· CCAR Diversity Committee· the CCAR Scholarship Foundation
· Women’s Council of REALTORS®
and much more…
CCARlive uniquely reaches its loyal target market, including some 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliates, in Contra Costa County, in a way that no other publication can or does. Advertise in CCARlive for as little as $25 per month! Your ad includes a link to your website, and ad design is FREE. Click for ad rates, or contact Michelle Manos, Director of Marketing and Communication, at 925 295 9216 or michelle@ccartoday.com.
CCAR Special Notice
Dear Valued Member –
As we start the New Year, we are committed to bringing our members outstanding products and services that will help you succeed and prosper in 2010. Toward this end, we are developing new, free real estate applications; we have instituted cost savings measures throughout the organization; and we are currently engaged in looking for further cost savings and efficiencies that will bring our members further benefits. As part of these efforts, we are studying the feasibility of merging with our neighboring association, the Bay East Association of REALTORS®, with whom we have had many successful business partnerships.
We are excited about the opportunities which a merger may present. Cost savings, greater efficiencies, and new innovative services, in conjunction with the programs we offer today, would enable us to provide a higher level of service to our members.
During the next few months, we will be doing the necessary due diligence and analysis to determine if there are sufficient benefits to our members in consolidating the two associations. At the conclusion of this phase, your Board of Directors will be able to determine if there are compelling reasons to move forward with a membership vote on merging.
Look for more details on this project in the upcoming months.
Sheiren R. Diaz, Chief Executive Officer
Contra Costa Association of REALTORS®
CEO Outlook: October 2009
by Sheiren Diaz, CEO
Big Event • Don’t miss our “Big Event” on October 14 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. Check in and refreshments at 9 am, program 9:30-12:30. Leslie Appleton Young, C.A.R. Vice President & Chief Economist, will deliver the much-anticipated 2010 Economic Forecast. C.A.R. Assistant General Counsel, Gov Hutchinson, will provide an update on recent legal cases and issues affecting the way you do business today. A Q&A will follow. The event is free for CCAR members, but you must register in advance to attend. Click to register, or call Cherie Lilly at 295 -9207.
Follow us on Facebook • Did you know CCAR is active on Facebook? Become a fan and keep up with the very latest news and information about your Association.
Economy • There are many government reports and data to tell us how the economy is faring. But Google’s chief economist is pretty confident the national economy is recovering, based on Americans’ search habits: Google searches for information about unemployment benefits has dropped, and there has been an increase in searches for homes and real estate agents. We’ll take good news anywhere we can find it!
C.A.R. Expo in San Jose • Attend C.A.R.’s annual Expo at the San Jose Convention Center October 6 – 8. Entrance to the show is free for C.A.R. members. There will be more than 150 exhibitor booths, seminars, and special luncheon events. Tech Tuesday on October 6 provides a full day of comprehensive technology training. Click to register or call 800-242-2732.
Get SMART • I hope you are taking advantage of C.A.R.’s Market Response Center, a one-stop shop for SMART (Strategic Market Assistance & Response Tools) materials designed to help you navigate today’s market. A recent addition is the “C.A.R. Financing Guide for California Home Buyers” to help keep your clients informed on the variety of financing options available.
REALTORS® Credit Union • Have you checked out the REALTORS® Federal Credit Union yet? Created especially for REALTORS®, the REALTORS® FCU offers members real value in the form of fewer fees, competitive loan rates, and great dividends on savings and investments.
eChecking from REALTORS® FCU offers:
• No monthly service fee and no minimum balance requirement
• Free ATM transactions at thousands of ATMs nationwide
• Free check deposits using a scanner
• Easy money transfers between REALTORS® FCU and other financial institutions
• Free myBills Online Bill Pay to help you spend less time paying bills and more time on what matters most.
• Free myBranch Services include banking online or by phone s4 hours a day, electronic statements, and more
• MasterCard debit card and checks with the REALTOR® logo
• Overdraft Protection
Click for more info.
CEO Report
New Ethics Citation and Ethics Advocate Programs
In an ongoing effort to increase professionalism in the marketplace for our Membership, streamline the ethics hearing process and protect the interests of the general public, CCAR has adopted the C.A.R. Citation System for Code of Ethics violations. The new Citation System will take effect on October 1. Business conduct violating the selected articles of the Code of Ethics could be subject to a citation and/or fine. The Association’s Grievance Committee or a subcommittee of the Grievance Committee will decide whether the conduct in any ethics complaint received by the Association is subject to a citation/fine. Click here to see a list of citable violations and fines.
The Board of Directors has also recently approved implementing the new C.A.R. Ethics Advocate Program gives the parties of a disciplinary action a choice to have a member of a subcommittee of the Professional Standards Committee assist during a disciplinary process. Both sides to a dispute will be able to utilize an Ethics Advocate, who will help complete the required forms. The Ethics Advocate may, in addition, assist through any hearings that may be held in connection with the case. This program is now available and more information can be obtained by contacting Pam Moitoza, Professional Standards Coordinator, at 925-295-9220.
Share your input: HVCC and your real estate business online survey
C.A.R. is working to mitigate as quickly as possible the unintended consequences of the HVCC (Home Valuation Code of Conduct). In an effort to gather input from REALTORS®, C.A.R. needs specific information on your experience with the HVCC and encourages you to participate in this short survey. Please click on the link below to share how the HVCC has affected your real estate business. Thank you for your cooperation.
http://takeaction.realtoractioncenter.com/ct/xdL0IvE1A4Zm/
C.A.R. offers REALTOR® iPhone application
C.A.R. is the first state association to offer a REALTOR® iPhone
Application. The “My C.A.R.” mobile application is available at no charge for C.A.R. members.
Designed for the iPhone/iTouch, with a companion version available for BlackBerry and other Web-enabled mobile devices, My C.A.R. features: market data for 21 regions in California, current loan information, highlights from C.A.R’s “Market Matters” newsletter, association resources, the ability to search for license renewal and continuing education courses, hot item news alerts, and links to information that may be of interest to C.A.R. Directors.
My C.A.R. can be downloaded directly from the Apple iTunes store for free. Simply search for the keywords “My C.A.R.” in the Applications section. C.A.R. members can acquire a members-only
access code by visiting http://takeaction.realtoractioncenter.com/ct/h1L0IvE1V4D0/. Users of BlackBerry and other browser-based phones can locate installation instructions at http://takeaction.realtoractioncenter.com/ct/h1L0IvE1V4D0/.
The My C.A.R. interface is a scalable, data-driven application that can be licensed and branded by other local and state associations. An extension of the popular WINForms/ZipForm software for the iPhone also is in development.
From the CEO: Survey of California Homebuyers
SURVEY OF CALIFORNIA HOME BUYERS
by Sheiren Diaz
One of the most popular reports C.A.R. issues each year is the survey of California Home Buyers. The latest issue, “2009 Survey of California Home Buyers,” is now available free to members. The report is full of valuable information and insight into the opportunities and challenges facing you right now. Get your free copy of the report by visiting www.car.org/tools/smart/free. The report finds that:
• The share of first-time buyers rose 38 percent in 2009, compared with 19 percent in 2008.
• 49 percent of all buyers purchased a home through a traditional market sale, while 38 percent purchased a REO/bank-owned property.
• 88 percent of traditional market sales were financed through fixed-rate mortgages.
Favorable home prices, record-low interest rates, and the belief that rates will rise in the near future were the primary motivators leading home buyers to purchase in 2009 compared with last year, according to the report.
Reflecting the difficulty in closing short sales—properties selling for less than the loan amount—only 13 percent of buyers purchased a short-sale property.
Home buyers who purchased an REO or bank-owned property experienced the highest level of difficulty in obtaining financing, compared with a more traditional transaction. They rated the level of difficulty as 8.9 (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 representing the greatest level of difficulty in obtaining financing) compared with a 7.7 for home buyers with a traditional market sale and 7.6 for short-sale home buyers.
The report shows that because of the high inventory of homes available on the market at more affordable prices in the past year, home buyers have been devoting more time to considering and carefully selecting their home during the researching and buying process.
On average, home buyers spent 8.4 weeks considering buying a home in 2009, compared with 7.2 weeks in 2008.
Of those who reported using the Internet as a tool in the home-buying process, REALTOR®.com continued to be the most popular real estate Web site at 89 percent, followed by individual real estate company Web sites at 81 percent; individual real estate agents, 66 percent; Zillow, 55 percent; Yahoo! Real Estate, 53 percent, and Craigslist, 49 percent.
23 percent of all home buyers selected their REALTOR® because he or she understood how to purchase foreclosures, short sales, or distressed properties. No home buyers reported this as a factor in previous years. The share of home buyers who had their escrow close on time has steadily dropped from 55 percent in 2006 to 37 percent in 2009.
