Dear CAR Member,
Since we’re in the height of the home-buying season and many of you are regularly holding open houses, I want to remind you of the importance of being vigilant and staying safe. Last week, an unfortunate incident occurred with a Citrus Valley AOR real estate professional, who was attacked while she was holding an open house alone. Luckily, she managed to escape with minor injuries when the attacker was stopped by approaching home shoppers who chased him away. While REALTOR® Safety Month is still a few months away, it’s always a good time to be reminded about the importance of REALTOR® safety. Many prospective buyers are complete strangers, making you extremely vulnerable. Our job involves attracting and meeting strangers, which puts us at tremendous risk. While it’s the nature of our job, there are some common-sense strategies that we can implement to keep peace of mind. The cover story of a previous California Real Estate magazine provides some practical tips to stay safe. Additionally, NAR has many resource,including the “Putting REALTOR® Safety First: Safety Strategies for the Modern REALTOR® course where you can turn for tips to stay safe.
I’d like to address the tragic school shooting that happened in Uvalde, Tex., last month. We all know that REALTORS® are seen as leaders in their community, and as leaders, you need to be advocates and voices for the young children in the communities you serve. I urge you all to get involved in school board meetings and school districts to advocate for better safety measures on school campuses so that children can go to school without fear that something terrible might happen. You should also encourage your legislators to quickly find solutions to these senseless shootings. REALTORS® are loud, and you can be the voices for our innocent children.
If you missed last week’s Marketing Xperience Virtual Summit, which covered the latest insights and forward-thinking marketing trends in social media, digital, email, content and more, it’s now available to view on-demand. The entire event — including all six digital marketing expert presentations, slides and sponsor highlight sessions — is available on demand through July 30. Head to the event site to gain access to the on-demand content for $15.
First-time buyers face numerous hurdles to achieve homeownership. That’s why C.A.R.’s Transaction Rescue team is holding a free, 2 ½-hour STEPS Toward Homeownership program on June 21 to share the latest in lending and down payment assistance resources. This is an opportunity for agents to provide their clients with all the tools and resources they need to make the best decision for their situation. Confirm your free virtual spot here!
Lastly, C.A.R. is hosting a new, half-day virtual conference to highlight the benefits of having a property management business. The June 29, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Property Management Conference is a chance to hear from leading names in property management on how they built their business, key guidance from professionals in the property management industry, and how to find the resources to support your property management business. Sign up for free here.
Sincerely,
Otto Catrina
C.A.R. President