Dear CAR Member,

C.A.R. promotes and advocates for fair housing every month, but each April, it celebrates the passage of the 1968 landmark Fair Housing Act, which was signed into law only seven days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  

C.A.R. kicked off Fair Housing Month with event announcements, social media posts, a home buying assistance program and legislative action to enable its 200,000+ members to expand homeownership and advance equity in housing and securing equal access to housing opportunities for all.

The first of several events that C.A.R. is hosting for its members to commemorate Fair Housing Month is a Fair Housing and Diversity Forum on April 21, 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Experts will address land development for equity and housing inventory issues in communities of color. Speakers include Nikki Beasley, executive director of Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services; Ricardo Flores, executive director of Local Initiatives Support Corp San Diego; Neily Soto, Century 21; and Matt Gelfand, in-house counsel for C.A.R.’s Californians for Homeownership. Register for the virtual Forum here.

C.A.R. is also hosting Fair Housing Day on May 17, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., for all C.A.R. members to discuss current challenges as well as how REALTORS® can help address racial and other homeownership disparities. This day-long virtual event features exciting keynote speakers, industry leaders and practitioners with deep experience working to expand homeownership and housing opportunities. Speakers include representatives from the National Fair Housing Alliance, National Association of REALTORS®, Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California, California Department of Fair Employment and Housing and other nationally recognized fair housing experts and advocates. Register for Fair Housing Day here and visit our Fair Housing website to obtain more information about Fair Housing, C.A.R.’s advocacy on behalf of underserved communities and tools to help California REALTORS® support the homeownership needs of all communities. 

You already know how important it is to engage with legislators to make sure they understand how the bills they vote on may impact homeownership and real estate. Now’s your time to have that conversation. On April 27, more than 2,000 REALTORS® will convene in Sacramento LIVE at the newly renovated SAFE Credit Union Convention Center for Legislative Day, C.A.R.’s preeminent advocacy event.

The need for REALTORS® to engage with state legislators is greater than ever. Every day, proposals are introduced that would impact homeownership, private property rights and your business. It’s important that your elected officials hear from you about how these proposals would work in the REAL world. Attendance at Legislative Day is free for all California REALTORS®; just sign up with your local association of REALTORS®. Visit here for more information.

Wildfires and heat waves are becoming commonplace concerns for Californians. It’s clear that the state needs a comprehensive action plan to reduce wildfire risk, improve environmental conditions, adapt insurance needs, and accelerate action to combat climate change. We know it’s important to consider how we can empower property owners, homeowners, local governments, and pertinent stakeholders to proactively reduce wildfire hazards to minimize the loss of property and life and be active participants in advancing effective solutions. That’s why on May 12, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., C.A.R.’s Center for California Real Estate will present “Climate Change and Housing: Strategies to Cope with the Impacts of Wildfires.” I will moderate a panel of speakers for a virtual discussion about climate change trends, efforts to build resiliency to protect communities, and the future of housing development in a wildfire-prone state. Register for this conversation here.

I hope you can join us for this important dialog and for Legislative Day in Sacramento.

Sincerely,

Otto Catrina
C.A.R. President