Dear CAR Member,
August 31st marked the end of the 2021-2022 legislative session. I’m pleased to inform you that C.A.R. continued its record of success this year by defeating SB 1105 (Hueso), SB 1026 (Wieckowski) and AB 2383 (Jones-Sawyer), none of which will be moving forward this year.
SB 1105 sought to grant vast taxing and bonding authority to an unelected Housing Agency Board in San Diego. C.A.R. does not oppose housing agencies per se, but this agency would have paid for its housing initiatives with taxes that would have affected and increased the cost of buying and holding property. The Board could have imposed or put on the ballot, if required by law, several special taxes on real property. Taxing housing to pay for other housing makes no sense and would increase the already high costs of housing, making it more expensive for homeowners to keep their property in a challenging economic environment and make the properties less affordable to purchase. As the state emerged from the pandemic with a $97 billion state surplus, the Legislature agreed that solving California’s housing problems should not be placed on working Californians struggling to stay afloat and keep their homes in a tough economic environment.
SB 1026 would have created a burdensome energy-efficiency audit process that would have been required to be performed for each rental unit every time a unit is rented. Specifically, the bill’s author sought to require housing providers determine the energy efficiency of appliances and heating systems, as well as door, wall, ceiling and floor insulation. Housing providers are not energy-efficiency experts and, as a result, they would have been forced to seek costly professional assistance every time they rented a unit to accurately report the energy efficiency of each aspect of the unit.
AB 2383 would have, among other things, imposed onerous requirements on housing providers by requiring they provide an extensive written statement to an applicant if the applicant’s criminal history information is used as the basis for possible denial. The written statement would have been required to include copious amounts of information, including the applicable law providing the basis for each conviction. Most housing providers are not lawyers so they would have no practical way of providing all of this detailed information.
C.A.R., over the course of several months, provided feedback regarding practical implementation concerns with both SB 1026 and AB 2383. However, that feedback was rejected. Consequently, C.A.R. was forced to oppose both bills, which would have increased costs and liability on small housing providers during a pandemic, as well as made it more difficult for prospective tenants to secure housing.
We’re just a few weeks away for a live return to REimagine! Conference & Expo, taking place Oct. 11-13 at the Long Beach Convention Center. While onsite, hear from real estate coach Tom Ferry, tech strategist Mike DelPrete and many more industry leading speakers across 50+ free sessions. Make plans to walk the energized exhibit hall to find new business solutions partners Oct. 12-13 and don’t miss these key events:
• Oct. 11 – Pre-Conference Day (Paid Day) – Get in-depth training and priceless networking with like-minded attendees. Tracks to choose from: Broker Conference: Industry Leaders LIVE!, Social Media Marketing, Business Planning Success Strategies, RPA Training, YPN Ignite, STEPS or Disclosure Training.
• Oct. 12 – 2023 Housing Market Forecast Keynote Lunch (12 noon) – C.A.R. Chief Economist Jordan Levine will share valuable data and insights on pressing housing issues at this can’t-miss keynote lunch.
• Oct. 12 – All Voices Soirée (5 p.m.-8 p.m.) – Join all C.A.R. voices at the party of the year where we’re bringing everyone together to celebrate our diversity and being together in-person! Enjoy delicious food trucks, cocktails, music, networking and much more.
Visit reimagineexpo.org for registration information and to add a Pre-Conference track and Keynote Lunch ticket to your event experience.
Lastly, while REALTOR® safety should be top of mind every day of the year, today marks the start of REALTOR® Safety Month, which the National Assn. of REALTORS® (NAR) dedicates each September to. Whether you’re showing a property, meeting a new client, or communicating online, it’s important to ensure you have a personal safety protocol. Being aware of potential dangers and taking precautions will help you avoid risky situations.
This year, NAR has prepared a 30-day plan with ready-to-use materials as a part of their REALTOR® Safety Program. To accomplish this goal together with you, we must improve the Safety Culture in the industry by raising awareness, following safety protocols, and encouraging all REALTORS® to stay vigilant on the job. To get started, here are five Safety Action Items for REALTORS®:
1. Plan Your Safety Strategy
2. Tips and Best Practices
3. Training Videos
4. Personal Protection Resources
5. Take the REALTOR® Safety Pledge
Additionally, NAR has many resources, including the “Putting REALTOR® Safety First: Safety Strategies for the Modern REALTOR®” course where you can turn for tips to stay safe. Also, keep an eye on your inbox and our social feeds as we provide you with safety tips and best practices information all month long. Take care of your clients by taking care of yourself.
Sincerely,
Otto Catrina
C.A.R. President