April 15, 2021
Dear CAR Member,
April is Fair Housing Month, a time every year when we celebrate the 1968 Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing. Today, more than any other time in the recent past, it’s vitally important that REALTORS® understand our organization’s past history in advancing discriminatory policies, how we as a nation need to constantly improve our commitment to fair housing, and the role that REALTORS® must play in leading efforts to advance fair housing at home in our local communities.
While the Fair Housing Act is now more than 50 years old, there’s still work to be done. REALTORS® play a key role in ensuring that all communities have access to homeownership opportunity. Being informed on the history of inequities is one thing REALTORS® can do to help build thriving, inclusive communities. One way to do that is to join C.A.R.’s Fair Housing and Diversity Forum next Wednesday, April 21, at 10 a.m., for a conversation with experts discussing the best solutions and creative ideas on how to build affordable housing developments in underserved communities without displacement and how REALTORS® can support and advocate for more housing supply. Visit here for more details and to register.
To help you deepen your knowledge of fair housing issues and commemorate Fair Housing Month, C.A.R. and NAR have created numerous invaluable tools and resources, including Legal Q&As, research reports and videos.
Registration is now open for C.A.R.’s first-ever, fully virtual Legislative Day on Tuesday, April 27! This virtual format provides us with an excellent opportunity to get lots of members involved who have never attended Legislative Day. As always, we will hear from key legislators and have an update on our hot issues. This year, you’ll hear from Toni Atkins, president pro tempore of the California State Senate, Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, and C.A.R. Chief Economist Jordan Levine. You also don’t want to miss C.A.R. CEO Joel Singer’s fireside chat with Dan Walters, California’s preeminent political columnist on the Golden State’s evolving political landscape. Best of all, it’s completely free; you just need to register here for Legislative Day. Please email legislativeday@car.org if you have any questions.
April also marks the start of the homebuying season, a time when C.A.R. launches its new 2021 consumer advertising campaign. The new campaign highlights the mission of California REALTORS® to make homeownership possible for all Californians — the uniquely diverse group of doers and dreamers who deserve to call a piece of this place their own.
The new commercial, “California Proud,” will begin airing Monday, April 19, on ABC TV stations, HGTV, and other cable networks. We’ve also partnered with Realtor.com for custom articles geared toward first-time home buyers and we’ll have ads running during some of NPR’s most-popular podcasts. Of course, you’ll also find the ads on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Lastly, I’m excited to announce the return of the Rising Star Awards! C.A.R. is looking to highlight elite new talent entering the industry who represent the next generation of leading agents. To honor the dedicated up-and-coming agents who served their clients through the pandemic, C.A.R. is recognizing agents for production years 2019 and 2020. If you know a deserving candidate, click here for nomination rules, production requirements and application submission details. Applications are due by May 31.
Sincerely,
Dave Walsh
C.A.R. President