Dear CAR Member,
Happy New Year!
A new year, and with it, brings new beginnings and new opportunities. This year’s leadership team and I look forward to meeting the challenges that invariably present themselves as the new year gets underway.
2021 was a successful year for us on the legislative front. Three C.A.R.-sponsored Fair Housing and Equity bills to address ongoing fair housing and equity issues that persist in our state were signed into law, as were another two that C.A.R. actively supported. Those new laws include:
- AB 491 – a C.A.R.-sponsored bill, which prohibits discrimination against residents in affordable housing and requires occupants of affordable housing units to have the same access to common entrances, common areas, and amenities that are available to the occupants of market-rate units. Also prohibits the isolation of affordable housing units to a specific floor or area.
- AB 633 – a C.A.R.-sponsored bill, which adds California to the list of states that utilize the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act (UPHPA).
- SB 263 – a C.A.R.-sponsored bill, which requires implicit bias training for real estate professionals renewing their license on or after January 1, 2023.
- AB 1466 – Streamlines the existing procedures which allow owners of real property to redact the unlawful language of racially discriminatory covenants. Requires all county recorders throughout the state to establish a program to identity and redact such covenants.
- AB 948 – effective July 1, 2022, requires a purchase agreement in a real estate transaction to inform a seller and buyer of the opportunity to report any suspicion of a discriminatory appraisal by the holder of a real estate appraiser license.
Other new laws affecting REALTORS® to be aware of include:
- AB 44 – a C.A.R.-sponsored bill, which allows sales agents to use their previous surnames in advertising and business and ensures that REALTORS® can continue to benefit from their name brand, recognition and community status despite a legal name change.
- SB 9 – allows for the development in an urban area of up to four homes on lots on a plot of land where currently only one exists and requires that a city or county ministerially approve without discretionary review or a hearing either or both of the following in a single-family zone, subject to a number of exceptions and conditions.
Political advocacy is one priority of C.A.R.’s leadership team this year. Getting involved at every level of local and state government is crucial. To that end, join us for the first of TWO Legislative Days C.A.R. will be hosting this year. The first event, which is fully virtual, will be held on Wednesday, March 2. Legislative Day is an opportunity for REALTORS® from across California to participate in meetings with their state legislators to discuss the issues that affect the real estate industry the most. Attending Legislative Day is not only a great investment in your business, but it will also provide you with an opportunity to hear from the state’s most dynamic political leaders and the leadership of your state association and even enjoy a fabulous, yet fully virtual, reception. We look forward to seeing you at this year’s event on Wednesday, March 2. Register here and get more information about Legislative Day here. And stay tuned for more information on our LIVE Legislative Day held on Wednesday, April 27, in Sacramento.
One of C.A.R.’s missions is to connect our members with the people and issues shaping the future of real estate. Our institute, Center for California Real Estate (CCRE), was created for this purpose — extending C.A.R.’s impact and influence with different audiences, diverse stakeholders and external partners.
CCRE’s new website, centerforcaliforniarealestate.org, is your new resource for immediate access to intel, experiences and plans of action from these diverse partners on the ground, in the middle of each issue. The site serves as your go-to resource for live (and on-demand) panel events, reports, whitepapers and sponsored research about key real estate issues, consumer trends and the economy. Learn more about CCRE and access the available resources and spotlight articles now at centerforcaliforniarealestate.org.
As I’m sure you’ve experienced, these days, keeping up on the latest tech trends is an essential part of your business. Tech has made a major transition in the last few months — from NFTs and the metaverse to virtual staging and new digital marketing trends. So, make sure you sign up for the can’t-miss Tech Xperience: A Virtual Summit on March 9 when tech strategists and industry experts will walk you through what’s new in tech and share their powerful strategies on driving business growth through tech. This action-packed virtual event includes on-demand session replays post-event, live Q&A with speakers, solution-filled sponsor spotlights from tech companies and more. Register now for only $15 at virtualxperience.org.
Sincerely,
Otto Catrina
C.A.R. President