Supra Maintenance
Tuesday, August 10th starting at 5:00pm PDT and ending at 8:00pm PDT, Supra will be conducting routine maintenance at their data center.
What Will Not Be Available?
- At 5pm PDT, only update codes will be available on SupraWEB and KIMvoice.
- At 5:30pm PDT SupraNET will not be available, but until then will function as normal.
What Will Be Available?
- SupraWEB and KIMvoice will both be available for update codes only.
- Keyholders will be able to eSYNC during the maintenance period.
- Supra Keyholder Support, 877-699-6787, will be available to provide assistance for any keyholder who needs to update their key.
Supra eSYNC Downtime
Keyholders will not be able to eSYNC tomorrow, August 4, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. for maintenance on the Supra Data Center. However, SupraWEB and KIMvoice will be available for codes. Contact Supra Keyholder Support at (877) 699-6787 with questions or for assistance in updating your key.
CCAR RUN-OFF ELECTION HAS BEGUN!
RUN-OFF ELECTION BEGAN MONDAY AUGUST 2 at 9am. Click here to visit the election center.
We encourage you to change your membership password prior to the start of our election run-off.
CCAR Bylaws dictate that a simple majority vote is required to elect Officers. In this election we had three candidates vying for the position of 2011 President-Elect. No one candidate achieved the 50% plus 1 requirement; therefore, we are conducting a run-off election. For the benefit of the Association, in order to more easily accomplish the majority vote, candidate Scott Griffith has voluntarily withdrawn from the election.
In accordance with Article XI of the Corporation Bylaws, Marilyn Cunningham and Barbara Safran are the nominees hereby submitted for election to the position of 2011 President-Elect. The voting deadline is 9:00 AM, Monday, August 16, 2010.
In order for this election to be valid, the number of votes cast must equal or exceed the quorum requirement of 15% of the total CCAR REALTOR® membership. As of the record date for this election (June 4, 2010), the total CCAR REALTOR® membership is 3089, therefore, the minimum number of responses needed to meet quorum requirement is 463.
If you experience any problems during voting, please call 925-451-0622 or email michael@ccartoday.com. This applies regardless of CCAR business hours.
CCAR Open Thursday
UPDATE: CCAR will be open all day Thursday, June 24th to provide you with exceptional service.
Paragon Maintenance
On Wednesday, May 19th, we will be performing maintenance to the Paragon MLS system and this WILL involve downtime for you. This process will begin at 11:59pm (Central) and conclude no later than 8:00am (Central) on Thursday, May 20th. During this time, the Paragon MLS system will be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
CCAR Elections on the horizon – nominations now open
CCAR elections are just around the corner – nominations now open
Quick Links | Nomination Form | SiteBuilder | Member Photo Day | Cooliris Galleries | StreetURLS | CCAR Scholarship
CCAR’s Board of Directors needs you!
We need your participation!
It is time again to help define the future of the Contra Costa Association of REALTORS® through our annual elections for Officers and Directors. Read this full communication in pdf format here.
Members who feel that they have the requisite time, experience and talents to serve on the 2011 Board of Directors have until May 17th to complete the nomination form.
Please click here to access the nomination form. Nomination submissions are due by 9am on May 17, 2010.
The headquarters for the 2011 of CCAR Officers and Directors will be located at www.ccartoday.com/election.
MAY 12, 2010 • 10am – 2pm
1870 Olympic Boulevard • Ste. 200
VAUGHN’S PHOTOGRAPHY
• $35 FOR ONE PERSON • $10 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL PERSON
STUDIO SESSION INCLUDES
• INSTANT VIEWING OF PHOTOS
• THREE PHOTOS ON CD
• RETOUCHING
• FULL RIGHTS TO REPRODUCE IMAGES
REGISTER ONLINE BY MAY 7 AT CCARTODAY.COM/1618,
OR CONTACT JASON CATALANO AT 925 295 9202 |
jason@ccartoday.com
barcamp is coming to the east bay!
The Contra Costa Association of REALTORS® is pleased to play host to a real estate Bar Camp.
May 19th at 555YVR. You are invited to a FREE day of Social Media Training.
- Get more leads online
- Learn how to USE facebook for business
- Learn to USE ccar tools to your advantage
- Start a blog, make your existing blog better, and/or learn advanced blogging techniques
- Whether you are just learning how to navigate online, or a power user, there WILL be content for you
- Classes from basics to razors edge
CCAR Sitebuilder member websites now available!
When it comes to the web, everyone knows that you need to have an online presence. Research in the last few years has shown a consistent trend of consumers finding their prospective purchase and their REALTOR® online. The percentage of consumers who start their search online is now over 90%.
Obviously you need to be online. But we know how hard it can be to get the functionality that you need at a price you can afford.
CCAR wants to help you solve that problem, by leveraging collective purchasing power and the support resources that you already trust. SiteBuilder will allow you to create a website in just 5 minutes, and start receiving results immediately, all at a fraction of market rates!
Want to get started today? Visit www.ccartoday.com/sites to learn more. When you are ready to get setup, call us at 925-295-1270Send us an email to alerts@ccartoday.com and we will move you to the front of the list.
CCAR presents cooliris!
Cooliris is an engaging new way to browse and search content. You have probably seen the cooliris scrollable content wall on Facebook and other popular websites.
Since cooliris galleries are such a fun, and functional way to browse content, CCAR decided to use the format as one of the first content delivery mechanisms for the MLS Mirror.
We are currently autogenerating cooliris content galleries for your agent and office inventory. In addition, we are creating a HOT cooliris gallery as shown on this page at ccartoday.com.
Have you seen streeturls.com yet?
Take advantage of your free single property url subdomain, through our new StreetURLS. We are still working on this resource to help bring consumers to your listings, but you can take advantage of your single property websites right now! Just login to ccartoday.com to access single property websites for all of your listings, or click to learn more about StreetURLS.
StreetURLS is a great benefit and will really help impress your seller… just look for your automated ELF – Event Logic Framework emails, or login to the brokertoday section of our all new member website to take advantage! ELF emails come from the address noreply.ccar.elf@ccartoday.com. Now that our new ccartoday website has been launched, you can also access this functionality for all of your residential listings conveniently by logging in and viewing your ‘today’ dashboard.
See StreetURLS.com – or read more about the StreetURLS service
ccar scholarship contributions deadline extended!
CCAR Scholarship Foundation Application Deadline has been extended to May 15th, 2010.
The Contra Costa Association of REALTORS® Scholarship Foundation awards thousands of dollars every year to deserving college students from central Contra Costa County. In 2009, twenty students received nearly $50,000 in college grants.
All acceptance criteria and application procedures can be found at www.ccarscholarship.com. Questions can be directed to Tom Hart, Scholarship Foundation president, at tom@tomhart.com.
The CCAR Scholarship Foundation was formed in 1967. it has grown to be a preeminent organization for local disbursement of college scholarships in the state of California. In the last five years, the CCAR Scholarship Foundation has awarded nearly $250,000 in grants to central Contra Costa County college students.
Click to go to CCARScholarship website
MLS Annual Renewal statement
CCAR MLS Annual Renewal Statement coming to a mailbox near your in Mid-May. Deadline for payment is July 1st.
If you have any questions, please contact CCAR Membership Services staff at 925-295-9200.
NEW Mobile portal | Find a REALTOR® | Expiration alerts | New statistical reports | Online Ed | Updates to HOT | Updated calendar with registration | ccarlive | IDXEZ | Enhanced reciprocal access | CCAR LinkedIn | Advertise with us!
Paragon System is Down
CCAR is aware that the Paragon MLS went down. We have notified LPS and they were able to get Paragon back up and running without the links for MORE. Currently you can access the Paragon MLS but you will not be able to SSO into BAREIS, MetroList, SFAR MLS or MLSListings until the situation is resolved. We will give an update as soon as the system is allowing access into the other MLSs.
BayEast and CCAR are studying the feasibility of merging.
For IMMEDIATE Release
BAY EAST AND CCAR EXPLORE MERGER FEASIBILITY
Pleasanton / Walnut Creek, CA • January 11, 2010 • The Bay East Association of REALTORS® and the Contra Costa Association of REALTORS® are studying the feasibility of merging.
The two associations have collaborated for many years on a shared Multiple Listing Service and other technology platforms. Both CCAR and Bay East have a reputation within the real estate industry for innovating new real estate technology applications; offering vital professional development, training, and licensing education; actively promoting professional standards; and having a strong presence within the Contra Costa and Alameda County communities they cover.
“With a combined membership of 8,000 REALTORS® and Affiliates, a merged association would enable us to offer even more services to our members so they can better serve the region’s home buyers and sellers,” said Pam Winterbauer, President of the Bay East Association. Barry Zwahlen, President of the Contra Costa Association, added, “While both associations have already instituted cost savings measures, we believe the additional efficiencies of a merger would enable us to innovate new services while controlling costs.”
During the next few months, Bay East and CCAR will be conducting a due diligence analysis to determine the feasibility and scope of a merger. At the conclusion of that analysis, the associations’ Boards of Directors will determine if there are compelling reasons to move forward. The members of both associations will make the final decision on whether to merge.
For more information contact:
Bay East Association of REALTORS®
Tricia Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, at 925 730 4073 / 925 580 2720 or triciat@bayeast.org
Contra Costa Association of REALTORS®
Steve Russo, CCAR Interim Chief Operating Officer, at 925 295 9219 or srusso@ccartoday.com
The Bay East Association of REALTORS® (founded in 1947) and Contra Costa Association of REALTORS® (founded in 1921) are professional trade associations serving some 8,000 real estate professionals throughout the East Bay Area and Central Contra Costa County. Bay East covers the following jurisdictions: San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Castro Valley, Hayward, Union City, Fremont, Sunol, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Livermore. CCAR covers Alamo, Blackhawk, Canyon, Clayton, Clyde, Concord, Danville, Diablo, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pacheco, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek.
Both Bay East and CCAR provide programs and services to enhance their members’ ability to conduct business with integrity and competence. The Associations and their MLS are dedicated to providing the most innovative and highest quality services, programs, and products to positively impact the success of their members and MLS subscribers who provide real estate brokerage services to clients throughout the East Bay Area, and beyond.
New MLS login procedure
As previously communicated, when you access the Paragon MLS you will now see a very different looking login screen. THis is required to provide for the enhanced security which will eventually open the door for broad reciprocal access in Northern California. Please see an image of what the new login screen looks like below. In addition to this new login process, each MLS user will eventually be required to provide the answers to several security enhancing questions to augment their MLS profile. If you have questions or issues, please contact support at 925-295-1270 or by email at support@ccartoday.com.
Beginning December 17, CCAR MLS Particpant/subscribers will see a new login screen to MLS .
Beginning December 17, CCAR MLS Participants/Subscribers will see a different login screen when they access Paragon. CCAR is initiating a soft launch of additional security technology on the Paragon MLS as the next step in the creation of a Bay Area reciprocal access network.
What you can expect:
During this implementation period, you will at some point be required to answer a series of questions to augment your existing MLS profile. As an added security measure, you may also be required to create a new MLS password that is at least eight alphanumeric characters in length.
These new security measures should be familiar to most users, as they have become a standard in the online banking and payment transaction industries. Our ultimate goal is to provide greatly enhanced security for the MLS compilation, which will eventually allow us to bring you the benefits of broad reciprocal access throughout Northern California.
If you experience any difficulties during this implementation, contact CCAR Technical Support at (925) 295-1270 or email us at support@ccartoday.com.
Thank you for your support and patience during this transition.
CCAR Voicemail system back online – updated December 14 5pm.
Please Note – CCAR’s offices experienced a protracted power outage over the weekend of Dec 12-13th. Despite our battery backup systems, this outage caused our voicemail system to ‘crash.’ Our efforts to rebuild the system throughout the morning of December 14 have proved unsuccessful. We implemented a new, fully functional system prior to close of business on Monday the 14th. All systems are now fully functional.
Please be aware that CCAR’s staff remain unable to retrieve voicemails left over the 
weekend or during the course of business today, Monday the 14th.
This does NOT apply to messages left on the CCAR technical support system (925-295-1270). It DOES apply to all staff phone extensions and departmental voicemail.
CCAR Server Maintenance
Valued CCAR Members please be advised that beginning late this Saturday evening (the 5th) and continuing until late Sunday evening, we will be performing minor maintenance on the server that houses ccartoday.com (as well as ccarhelp.com, ccarlive.com, etc). During this time period all web services may be offline, or partially available. When complete, it will appear as though nothing has happened and you will be able to access the full functionality of our sites.
CRAIGSLIST SCAMS
Beware of Craigslist Scams
We have become aware of scams regarding rental property listed on Craigslist. The scam may take the following forms:
· Renting with the intent of renting to others. A scam artist rents a property so they can show it to other prospective renters. They’ll collect first and last month’s rent, security deposits and any fees or charges they can get. There have been reports of a single property being leased or rented to dozens of people before the crook vanished with their money.
· Renting on behalf of the owner. The scam artist claims to be helping someone else rent the property. They might be sick, or overseas, or just too busy to do it themselves for whatever reason. Once the scammer collects first, last, deposits and fees disappear. The renter then discovers the home wasn’t for rent. The owners or renters may have been away, or it’s a vacation home, or it could be a foreclosed property.
· Overseas Rental Scams. This scam takes place on the internet and the scammer doesn’t need to be present and may never have been to the property. This scam is especially dangerous because it targets both property owners and renters. A crook may find a photo of a property and its address, then post them on Craigslist or other online rental websites hoping someone will be willing to wire them the first and last month’s rent, security deposits, and assorted fees. In a variation of this scam, someone will answer an online posting for a property and ask to pay by Western Union or an equivalent money-wiring service. If the landlord takes the bait, the renter will “accidentally” pay too much, then ask for the extra funds to be sent back to them. If the landlord doesn’t wait for the payment to clear the bank and sends the money, they’re out whatever they send.
Tips for Property Owners/Agents
· Fake cashier checks and money orders are common, and banks will cash them and then hold you responsible when the fake is discovered weeks later.
· Keep a watchful eye on the property. If it is vacant and you do not live nearby, consider hiring a home watch service to periodically check the home for odd activity.
· Change the locks frequently if you rent the property often.
· Ask potential tenants for references and follow up by checking them.
· Verify your tenant’s employment.
· Run a credit check on potential tenants before renting to them.
· Don’t let a tenant pay more than you asked for then demand a refund.
· Use Google or another search engine to look up the name, phone number, and prior address.
CCAR MLS Rules Update – Exterior photo or rendering requirement
Hello, Michael Seguin, Director of Technology for the Contra Costa Association of REALTORS®. We wanted to take a moment to ensure that you are aware of the recent addition to our MLS rules and regulations. We recently modified our rules to require at least one photo or rendering of the exterior of a property be posted to the MLS within 5 days of the property being input to the MLS. Our goal here is of course to improve the value of the MLS compilation to our REALTOR members and to the consumer. The specific text of the rule is below. Please note, we will begin addressing violations of this rule soon. It is our hope that through education and outreach we can solve the issue of properties without photos, rather than through citations and fines.
MLS Rules Language:
Residential, Mobile Home, Residential Income, Lease rental, Commercial Residential Multi units 5+, Commercial for Sale, and Commercial for lease must have a minimum of one main photo/image of the exterior of the property attached to the listing unless directed otherwise in writing by the seller. The main photo/image must be added within five (5) days of the listing being entered into the MLS.
CAR Web Announcement
ADVANCE FEES FOR LOAN MODIFICATIONS NOW PROHIBITTED
On October 11, 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 94 (Calderon), and the legislation took effect immediately upon his signature. Thus, California law now prohibits any person, including real estate licenses and attorneys, from demanding or collecting an advance fee from a consumer for loan modification or mortgage loan forbearance services affecting 1 – 4 unit residential dwellings.
IF YOU ARE A REAL ESTATE BROKER, OR THE DESIGNATED OFFICER OF A LICENSED CORPORATION, WHO HAS BEEN ISSUED A “NO OBJECTION” LETTER BY THE DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE FOR LOAN MODIFICATION OR OTHER MORTGAGE LOAN FORBEARANCE SERVICES, YOU CAN NO LONGER ENTER INTO THESE AGREEMENTS EFFECTIVE AS OF OCTOBER 11, 2009, NOR CAN YOU COLLECT ANY ADVANCE FEES FOR SUCH SERVCES.
Agreements entered into and advance fees collected prior to October 11, 2009 are not affected. Advance fees inadvertently collected after October 11, 2009 must be fully refunded.
All real estate licenses should become familiar with the provisions of SB94 as there are substantial administrative and criminal penalties for violations. For further details on Senate Bill 94, Click Here
Members with any legal concerns regarding this new law may contact the C.A.R. legal hotline at 213-739-8282.”
The Big Event 2009
CCAR General Membership Meeting
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009
FREE to CCAR Members!
9AM CHECK IN & REFRESHMENTS
9:30AM – 12:30PM PROGRAM
LESHER CENTER FOR THE ARTS
1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
Parking at the Locust Street Garage
Sign up today!
Members register by clicking here: www.ccartoday.com/504
Non-members $30 advance payment.
Your name must be on the guest list to attend.
For event information: Download Flyer
Technology Center Closed 10/6
The CCAR technology staff will be in an all day training session today, October 6, 2009. We have made arrangements to provide support should you need it during this day, and we will be available in the event of an emergency by contacting membership services at 925-295-9200. For routine technical support, please do continue to dial 925-295-1270 and your calls will be routed appropriately.
09 Legislative Reception
The 2009 Legislative Reception scheduled for Monday, October 19th at Scott’s Seafood has been changed to Monday, November 2nd; same time (5 – 8PM), same place. This is the event where our elected officials and RAF contributors get together to mingle and meet each other.
Your Listing: Meth Lab?
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey
The New York Times ran an article recently (”Illnesses Afflict Homes With a Criminal Past” by Shaila Dewan and Robbie Brown) that details a story about a family who moved into a spacious home in Winchester, Tenn., only to soon start battling years of illness — from breathing problems to seizures and migraines to kidney problems. Their home was making them sick.
Five years after moving into the home, the family discovered the home had once been used as a meth lab. And apparently these contaminated residences are not all that uncommon. What’s more, some may even be hitting your local market.
“Federal statistics show that the number of clandestine meth labs discovered in the United States rose by 14 percent last year, to 6,783, and has continued to increase,” the New York Times reports.
View a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration map of meth lab incidents by state to see how prevalent it is in your area: http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/map_lab_seizures.html
Chemist Lynn Riemer Of The North Metro Drug Task Force provides the following list of signs a meth lab may have been present in a home:
1. Yellow discoloration on walls, drains, sinks and showers.
2. Blue discoloration on valves of propane tanks and fire extinguishers.
3. Fire detectors that are removed–or taped off.
4. Burning in your eyes, itchy throat, a metallic taste in your mouth, or breathing problems when in the home.
5. Strong odors that smell similar to materials often found in a garage, such as solvent and paint thinner, or odors of cat urine or ammonia.
About 20 states have passed laws that require meth contamination cleanup. Cleanup can be costly, though. The family described in The New York Times article would need $30,000 or more to get the necessary cleanup, and that amount doesn’t even take into account their medical bills from living in a contaminated house for so long.
Realtors® Fight West Nile Virus
Realtors And Mosquito Control Unite: Fighting West Nile Virus One Swimming Pool At A Time
– Partnership aims to fight disease by locating and treating mosquitoes in neglected swimming pools –
Realtors® find them, and mosquito control treats the mosquitoes in them. In a unique partnership, two Contra Costa County entities, Mosquito & Vector Control and the Contra Costa Association of Realtors®, have partnered to wage a war on neglected swimming pools that readily produce mosquitoes that can carry West Nile virus, a potentially debilitating and deadly disease spread by mosquitoes.
“Realtors® are the first line of defense, since they are usually the first to find neglected swimming pools that are virtually hidden in neighborhoods,” said Deborah Bass, spokeswoman for the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District. “Once we control the mosquitoes, residents are at decreased risk from contracting West Nile virus.”
Contra Costa County is one of the top California counties for home foreclosures, many of which have swimming pools. Neglected swimming pools account for most of the mosquito production in residential yards. One neglected swimming pool can produce more than 1 million mosquitoes and affect people as far away as five miles. Often, the swimming pools are hidden from public access and can be difficult to find.
“Reporting neglected swimming pools to Mosquito & Vector Control is the best solution for everyone,” said Steve Reiser, President of Contra Costa Association of Realtors®. “We want the properties under our care to be mosquito free, and they are the agency to ensure that. And it helps potential buyers to know that the swimming pool is free of mosquitoes as well.”
In addition to working together on neglected swimming pools, Mosquito and Vector Control provides the Realtors® with tailored presentations that educate them about the virus and the mosquitoes that carry the disease.
To understand possible mosquito water sources in yards, visit the District’s Web site http://intranet.ccmvcd.net:8089/pdf/mosquito_proof_yard.pdf
To learn more about Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District, visit www.ccmvcd.dst.ca.us
Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District, a public health agency, is located at 155 Mason Circle in Concord. Call the District to report mosquito problems at (925) 771-6195 or visit their office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to get FREE mosquitofish for ornamental ponds or horse troughs.
Thanks to U.S. Representative Jerry McNerney Mortgage Reform Has The Green Light
REALTORS® across California are strong advocates for homeowners and buyers. REALTORS® have a strong stake in preventing abusive lending because it erodes confidence in the nation’s housing system, strips equity from homeowners and harms communities. That’s why the U.S. House of Representatives passage of the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2009 brings us closer to a recovery by striking the proper balance between safeguarding the consumer and making sure they have access to mortgages at a reasonable cost.
The Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2009, along with other important initiatives like the homebuyer tax credit, will stabilize housing markets, protect consumers and help our local economies recover.
Remember, an $8,000 tax credit is available to First-time homebuyers
• First-time homebuyers or purchasers who have not owned in 3 years qualify
• Home must be bought between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 1, 2009
• The $8,000 credit will either offset taxes you owe or trigger a refund on your tax return
Log on and learn more at www.realtor.org
CCAR Helping Hands Fundraiser in Honor of Paul White
As you may be aware, Paul White is still recovering from health issues. This recovery has been more difficult for Paul and resulted in more time away from real estate than anyone expected. His REALTOR® communities (Keller Williams Realty, Contra Costa Association of Realtors and Contra Costa Realtors in Motion) want to offer our support for his recovery efforts by holding a fund raiser to provide assistance with some of the many costs for his care. In keeping with Paul’s love for the SF Giants, we’ve scheduled an evening at McCovey’s in Walnut Creek on August 12, 2009. Tickets are $50 a piece and proceeds will go directly to Paul through the Helping Hand non-profit organization. This will be a fun event with food provided and silent auction and other fun activities. Please come support Paul and enjoy an evening of fun and have a tax write-off.
Paul is not aware of this event as this will be a surprise for him. So please let’s not spill the bean J However, PLEASE spread the word about this event as we want to raise as much money as possible. There will be a limited of 300 tickets sold and if you can’t attend, we are welcoming any donations. Please call Jason at CCAR, 295-9202 for tickets.
CCAR Helping Hands Fundraiser
in honor of
Paul White, Realtor®
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 • 5-9PM
McCovey’s Restaurant
1444 North California Boulevard • Walnut Creek
$50 • Click to Register Online
SEATING IS LIMITED!
Contact CCAR at 925-295-9200 to make your payment.
Make your check out to CCAR Helping Hands Fund.
Heavy hors d’oeuvres provided by McCovey’s Restaurant.
No Host Bar
: Tips donated to CCAR Helping Hands Fund
MYTHS AND FACTS: HOME ENERGY LABELING
Charles McMillan
CIPS, GRI
President
Dale A. Stinton
CAE, CPA, CMA, RCE
EVP/CEO
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIVISION
Jerry Giovaniello, Senior Vice President
Gary Weaver, Vice President
Joe Ventrone, Vice President
500 New Jersey Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001-2020
202.383.1194 Fax 202.383.7580
www.realtors.org/governmentaffairs
MYTHS AND FACTS: HOME ENERGY LABELING
On June 26, the House of Representative approved H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy
and Security Act. Since then, there have been many reports about the bill and NAR’s
position that are based on incomplete information. Here are the facts:
Claim: “The bill mandates energy audits and labeling before any home in America is sold.”
Fact: The bill does not create a federal energy audit or labeling requirement. As
introduced, the original bill would have required energy audits and labeling at the time of
sale. However, Realtors succeeded in making many positive changes before the bill passed.
Many published reports are not based on the version of the bill that was considered by the
House. As approved, the bill:
• Does not create energy audit requirement for real property at time of sale.
• Exempts existing homes, multifamily and commercial buildings from any federal
energy labeling guidelines such as the existing federal Energy Star label program
(section 204(m)), and
• Leaves the decision entirely to state governments whether to pass a law to require
labels, but expressly prohibits labeling during a transaction (Section 204(h)).
Claim: “The bill federalizes building codes.”
Fact: The bill would create a national building code standard that improves upon building
energy efficiency. States would be given 1 year to bring their state codes into compliance
with the new national standards. If a state fails to do so, the federal government would set
and enforce the state’s energy codes.
Throughout the bill’s development, NAR has worked as part of a broad real estate coalition
to address concerns with the House bill’s building-code provisions. While we supported
committee amendments to limit these provisions, the amendment to strike the section was
unfortunately voted down along party lines.
NAR will redouble its efforts in the Senate where the energy committee has reported
bipartisan alternative to the House’s that sets more realistic energy reduction targets while
preserving state and local authority. If and when the Senate takes up its bill and it reaches
a House-Senate conference to resolve the bill differences, we will undertake the necessary
efforts and activities to ensure onerous provisions are not imposed on real estate markets.
Claim: “NAR supports a “Cap and Tax” bill” Fact: NAR supported moving legislation to the Senate that provides home owners with the resources and tools they need to improve property and save money on their energy bills. As passed, the bill:
• Does not create a federal energy audit requirement for real property;
• Exempts existing homes and buildings from any federal guidelines for new construction energy labeling.
• Leaves the decision to state government whether to pass a law and label, but specifically prohibits any labeling during a sales transaction.
• Prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating carbon emissions from residential and commercial buildings under the Clean Air Act;
• No longer includes provisions to bolster a private right of action under the Clean Air Act that would have allowed citizens to halt construction over minor risks – whether real or imagined;
• Offers property owners with matching grants and diagnostic tools to make property improvements that saves energy; and
• Provides green building financial incentives for HUD housing, including a loans, block grants and credit in underwriting for energy improvements.
At the direction of the NAR Board of Directors and Land Use, Property Rights and Environment Committee, NAR concentrated on the real estate provisions in the bill. While there were many NAR-supported changes to the House bill, NAR will continue working to address the remaining issues as the bill winds its way through the legislative process. Claim: “NAR should have read the bill.”
Fact: NAR reviewed the entire amendment and bill before taking a position. NAR was directly involved in the development of the 308-page amendment. The energy labeling exemption for existing real property was included on page 45. The House bill is available to the public at the Library of Congress’ website: http://thomas.loc.gov/ . The real estate provisions are in Title 2 beginning on page 320.
