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Karen Trolan demonstrates a move that can knock down an assailant.
At “REALTORS® Training REALTORS®,” a free safety and self-defense training class offered by SILVAR last Friday at the Pacific Coast Academy in Los Gatos, REALTORS® trained in martial arts taught 28 real estate professionals risk awareness, safety tips, and how to protect themselves in a hostile situation.
The instructors were Laura Welch (Century 21 M&M), a jujitsu 7th degree black belt and judo 3rd degree black belt and director of Jujitsu America; Carla Bunch, (Marbella Properties), a jujitsu 5th degree black belt; and SILVAR President-elect Karen Trolan (Alain Pinel Realtors) taekwondo 2nd degree black belt, kenpo jujitsu first degree black belt, jujitsu first degree brown belt, and Shinkendo. The class was sponsored by the Jujitsu Academy.
Trolan and her colleagues were inspired to put the course together because REALTORS® are at risk every day as they meet different people. “In the last decade, hundreds of real estate professionals throughout the country have been murdered, violently assaulted, raped, beaten and robbed,” said Trolan. “Agents can be in potentially dangerous situations, but usually you can avoid becoming a victim by being aware and prepared. All REALTORS® should learn at least basic safety and self-defense techniques.”
During the class, the real estate professionals learned how to get out of dangerous situations, different ways they can hit an assailant, what can be used to defend themselves against an attack from an assailant, and ways to get out of common holds or attacks. These agents were also provided numerous safety tips and ways to be aware.
“It was great to have women, for their first time, learning how to be aware and protect themselves. The group had fun and took away good practice in these basics,” said Trolan.
Studies show 80 percent of women who fought back in an attack situation have gotten away. “We all need to be prepared, follow general safety tips, like being aware of your surroundings, knowing some self-defense moves, and taking personal security precautions,” said Trolan.
REVIEW REALTOR® SAFETY TIPS AND SIGN UP FOR APRIL 21 REALTOR® SAFETY WEBINAR HERE
Real estate professionals practice some self-defense moves.
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR), a professional trade organization representing over 4,500 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay, has come out in opposition to a Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) proposal that would mandate the replacement of all uncertified wood-burning devices with gas-fueled, electric or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified heating devices that meet or exceed NSPS Subpart AAA, upon the sale or transfer of residential or commercial property.
In a letter addressed to BAAQMD, SILVAR President Chris Isaacson stated, “We cannot over-emphasize the impact this rule would have on the Silicon Valley housing market. What little it does to reduce wintertime air pollution does not warrant the substantial difficulty it would cause for people who are trying to sell their homes.”
According to SILVAR, implementation of this rule would be complicated, costly, ineffective, overreaching and intrusive to residents. Installation of gas and electrical inserts or EPA certified heating devices would require construction or placement of gas or electric lines into a fireplace, triggering structural, slab foundation and other issues that would be costly. The cost of the units alone range from several hundred to thousands of dollars.
Isaacson said the government should implement regulations that fix problems while negatively impacting the fewest number of residents. The fireplace amendment does the exact opposite and does not correct the problem of air pollution. This rule would force people to remove fireplaces with literally no evidence that the people buying the home would violate “Spare the Air” restrictions, or ever burn wood.
SILVAR contends the rule is an ineffective, senseless solution to solving the problem of air pollution, since it would only affect about 40 percent of homes in 40 years. “This Rule punishes everyone for the bad acts of a few. If implemented, this Rule will hamstring the real estate market, cost home sellers potentially thousands of dollars, and by 2050 will only impact less than half of the fireplaces in the region. This Rule is a broad brush that does not even attempt to target the actual bad actors,” said Isaacson.
SILVAR strongly recommends taking a different, more sensible approach to improving air quality. The Association recommends increasing Spare the Air days and stepping up its enforcement, and providing incentives to homeowners who install the suggested gas-fueled, electric or EPA-certified heating devices.
“Figure out the areas where people are burning excessively and target those areas with either mandatory or voluntary burn bans. If changing out the fireplace is still a goal, then incentivize homeowners to remove or retrofit. This harsh and excessive regulation is not the right way,” said Isaacson.
View SILVAR President Chris Isaacson’s letter to BAAQMD here.
Dave Walsh, vice chair of MLSListings Inc. and vice president and managing broker of Alain Pinel Realtors’ Almaden office in San Jose, gave a group of 25 Canadian home builders an overview of the Santa Clara County housing market during their visit to the San Jose area this month.
Twenty-five members of the Canadian Homebuilders Association – Alberta were on a two-day housing tour of homes in Santa Clara County March 12 and 13, and learned about the Silicon Valley housing market and challenges to urban development from local speakers.
At a breakfast presentation arranged by the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, Dave Walsh, vice chair of MLSListings Inc., shared local housing data with the builders. Walsh described Santa Clara County, which is at the heart of Silicon Valley, as “the single, most crazy market.”
Walsh said the region once filled with orchards, has become the leading hub of high-tech innovation and development in country. Recent growth has led to record-setting home prices. Home prices today have now exceeded the 2007 high, but there are far fewer homes on the market. Santa Clara County’s February median home price of $950,000 is “the best February ever,” said Walsh. The median is 20 percent above the median peak of $790,000 in February 2007. The problem is the county just had 1.4 months of inventory, with only 1,761 single-family homes for sale in February.
Walsh showed how home prices increase the closer one gets to Palo Alto, the central economic focal point of Silicon Valley, home to Stanford University and other prominent tech firms, and close to Facebook in neighboring Menlo Park and Google in Mountain View. Homes in Palo Alto are selling 110 percent of asking price, at an average of $1,491 per square foot. In Gilroy, which is about 50 miles from Palo Alto, homes are selling 99 percent of asking price at an average price of $284 per square feet. In Saratoga, which is about 18 miles from Palo Alto and has an excellent school district, homes are selling 102 percent of list price at an average of $812 per square foot.
A new survey from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) found while 96 percent of REALTORS® have never been a victim of crime, more than two-thirds (40 percent) have found themselves in situations where they have feared for their safety or the safety of their personal information. Some of the most common circumstances that resulted in fearful situations were open houses, showing vacant and model homes, working with properties that were unlocked or unsecured and showing homes in remote areas.
The survey asked members how safe they feel while on the job and nearly 3,000 Realtors from across the country answered questions about their personal experiences, and the safety procedures and materials provided by their brokerage. The survey found one-third of members surveyed carry a self-defense weapon. Female REALTORS® are more likely to carry pepper spray, while male REALTORS® more commonly carry a firearm. Thirty-eight percent have participated in self-defense classes as a proactive safety measure, and 13 percent use a smart phone safety application to track their whereabouts or alert colleagues of an emergency. Also, before showing a property, the typical Realtor meets about half of their prospective buyers whom they haven’t previously met, in a real estate office or other neutral location.
Awareness, prevention and defense tactics are key to staying safe, according to Karen Trolan, president-elect of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®. This is why this month, the local trade association is sponsoring “REALTORS® Training Realtors,” a free safety and self-defense training class that will teach agents risk awareness, safety tips, and how to protect yourself and survive in a hostile situation.
“Safety is so important for agents. Because they interface with the public all the time, both female and male agents should know how to protect themselves,” said Trolan. “REALTORS® Training REALTORS®” will be held on Friday, March 27, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Pacific Coast Academy, 14170 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos. Taught by REALTORS® Laura Welch (Century 21 M&M), Carla Bunch (Marbella Properties) and Trolan (Alain Pinel Realtors), the class is FREE, but space is limited to 45 participants. Register online at ims.silvar.org, or call (408) 200-0100.
Trolan added that awareness of potentially dangerous situations is just as important as the self-defense. “The training will focus on three important aspects of safety – awareness, prevention and self-defense,” said Trolan.
The National Association of REALTORS®, the California Association of REALTORS®, and local REALTOR® groups like the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, make safety resources and materials available to their members throughout the year. Additionally, the REALTOR® associations dedicate the entire month of September to bringing more awareness to REALTOR® safety among members.
GBC Chair Mark Wong and YPN Chair Ryan Nunnally with panelists (left to right) Carol MacCorkle, Omar Kinaan, Michael Repka and Kim Connor.
The room at the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® was filled to capacity with members attending the Lunar New Year Celebration hosted by the Silicon Valley Young Professionals Network (YPN) and the Global Business Council. The event featured nationally acclaimed feng shui master Y.C. Sun, a catered Chinese lunch, followed by a panel with REALTORS® who have been successful dealing with overseas Chinese buyers.
“Yesterday’s event was a great success!” exclaimed YPN Chair Ryan Nunnally. “No seat went empty. The room was filled with talent, both in the audience and with the established speakers.”
Nunnally and GBC Chair Mark Wong served as moderators for the event. Panelists included Michael Repka, DeLeon Realty, Palo Alto; Omar Kinaan, RE/MAX Distinctive Properties, Menlo Park; Carol MacCorkle, Pacific Union International Real Estate, Menlo Park; and Kim Connor of Intero Real Estate Services, Saratoga. These REALTORS® have had a lot of success capturing the Chinese overseas market, but they said it’s not easy, it takes patience and hard work.
Building relationships and trust is key to working with Chinese buyers. Repka said their company’s interest in China began a few years ago when he and Ken DeLeon traveled to China with their Chinese agent Kim Heng. It was there where they first developed relationships, which blossomed and expanded, leading to numerous transactions. Repka said having Heng, who speaks fluent Chinese and knows the culture, proved very valuable to them.
“You need to speak the language or have someone that does. People are always comfortable in their own language,” said Repka.
RSVP offers help with household tasks.
Seniors and the homebound residing on the Peninsula and in the South Bay may request free assistance with household tasks through the REALTOR® Service Volunteer Program (RSVP) during the week of May 4-8. RSVP is offered each year in the month of May by REALTORS® and affiliates from the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) and neighboring REALTOR® associations to qualified seniors who cannot perform certain household tasks due to physical or financial constraints. The deadline for seniors to apply for this free assistance is March 20.
“RSVP is our way of thanking our seniors for all they have done for our communities. Through RSVP, REALTORS® and affiliates can make the difference between a senior remaining independent as a homeowner or renter, or having to give up that independence to some form of caregiving and dependence on strangers,” said Eileen Giorgi, SILVAR’s RSVP Committee chair.
During RSVP Week, teams of REALTORS® and affiliates (professionals who provide industry-related services) will visit senior households and perform various cleaning and maintenance tasks free of charge. Seniors can request to have light bulbs replaced, furnace filters changed, windows cleaned, mattresses turned, new smoke detector batteries installed, and other light housekeeping tasks. Last year approximately 180 volunteers from SILVAR assisted 123 senior households.
The annual community service program was adopted by SILVAR as an official association community outreach project in 2001. The program has since expanded to include members of the San Mateo County, Santa Clara County and Santa Cruz County Associations of REALTORS®.
Seniors residing in the communities of Atherton, Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, Woodside, Portola Valley, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Saratoga, Monte Sereno and Los Gatos may apply for this free service by contacting the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® at (408) 200-0100 for information and an application. Seniors may also visit www.silvar.org to download an application and submit to SILVAR before the March 20 deadline.
The 16th annual Silicon Valley REALTORS® Scholars Program for graduating seniors from 18 public high schools in Silicon Valley is underway. The scholars program is sponsored by the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation, the charitable arm of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR), a professional trade organization representing over 4,500 REALTORS® and affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay.
The REALTORS®’ scholarship program is a partnership with local high schools in Silicon Valley. Principals and faculty at 18 participating high schools nominate three exceptional graduating seniors. The program awards a $1,000 scholarship to one nominee from each school in recognition of their exemplary record, outstanding academic performance and community spirit.
The scholars from the Class of 2015 will be selected from high schools in the communities served by members of SILVAR. Final selections will be made by a committee that includes representatives from the local business community, area high schools, area colleges and SILVAR.
“The annual Silicon Valley Scholars Program is an opportunity for our members to show our support for our communities and thank the students, teachers, administrators and school board members for their hard work and dedication in making the schools in our communities among the best in California and the nation,” said Nina Yamaguchi, chair of the Scholars Program of the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation. “We strongly believe in investing in the future of our youth.”
The participating schools include Leigh High School and Lynbrook High School in San Jose; Westmont High School in Campbell; Fremont High School in Sunnyvale; Los Altos High School in Los Altos; Los Gatos High School in Los Gatos; Gunn High School and Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto; Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton; Santa Clara High School and Wilcox High School in Santa Clara; Cupertino High School, Homestead High School and Monta Vista High School in Cupertino; Prospect High School and Saratoga High School in Saratoga; Mountain View High School in Mountain View; and Woodside High School in Woodside.
Graduating seniors from the above-mentioned high schools who wish to apply for the scholarships may obtain an application from their respective schools. The completed application must be returned to their high school principal or scholarship counselor by Monday, March 9, for submission to the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation.
For further information, please contact Nina Yamaguchi at (408) 861-8822 or nyamaguchi@cbnorcal.com.
Phyllis Carmichael, longtime member and 2015 treasurer of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, was among three California REALTORS® honored over the weekend at the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) Winter Business Meetings, having received the prestigious C.A.R. Director for Life award.
The C.A.R. Director for Life award is bestow on a member for years of outstanding performance and dedicated service to the association, including a minimum of 10 years of active service to C.A.R. and at least five years as a C.A.R. director.
Carmichael has worked in real estate for over 40 years. She is an associate broker with Coldwell Banker in Los Altos.
Carmichael was president of the Los Altos Board of REALTORS® in 1988 and is a recipient the board’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also named 1990 REALTOR® of the Year. Carmichael served as SILVAR President in 1996. She also has served as Region 9 Chair and C.A.R. Director.
California REALTORS® hailed the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s announcement this week that government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will lower down payments to as little as 3 percent for first-time home buyers and permit refinancing borrowers to reduce equity to 3 percent to cover closing costs.
The FHFA decision to lower down payments is in line with its effort to boost the real estate market and expand the pool of first-time home buyers who have been kept in the sidelines even as the housing market has been on the path to recovery. “The new lending guidelines will enable creditworthy borrowers who can afford a mortgage, but lack the resources to pay a substantial down payment plus closing costs, to get a mortgage with 3 percent down,” said FHFA Director Melvin L Watt in a statement released on Monday.
David Tonna, president of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, applauded the FHFA’s decision to expand access to credit to first-time home buyers. “Despite an improving job market and low interest rates, the share of first-time home buyers in 2014 was the lowest in nearly three decades,” said David Tonna, president of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS.
Tonna said according to the 2014 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, the share of first-time home buyers dropped from 38 percent in 2013 to just 33 percent this year. This represents the lowest share since 1987, when the first-time home buyer share was at 30 percent.
“We commend the FHFA’s commitment to expand homeownership and are confident that the underwriting guidelines put in place will mitigate risk,” said Tonna.
Borrowers still need to meet strict criteria under the new programs. Only borrowers who haven’t owned a primary residence within the last three years will be eligible for Fannie Mae’s 3 percent down payment program, which starts Dec. 13. The Freddie Mac program, which will begin in March, is only for borrowers who have never owned a home, those with moderate incomes or are in underserved areas.
Borrowers for both programs will be required to buy private mortgage insurance, provide complete documentation of their income, assets and job status. Borrowers also need a credit score of at least 620 to qualify and are required to receive homeownership counseling.
The income tax exemption on mortgage debt forgiven in a short sale or a workout for principal residences expired at the end of 2013. Without immediate action by Congress, distressed homeowners will have to pay tax on “phantom income” from forgiven debt. Many families have decided not to go through with short sales or seek workouts because of the uncertainty over the status of the waiver. This is not only unfair, but harms families, neighborhoods and communities.
On Wednesday night, the United States House of Representatives passed the bill containing the income tax exemption on forgiven mortgage debt and other expired tax provisions by a vote of 378-46, but the United States Senate has not yet voted on the measure. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) is urging all members to contact their senators in Congress and have them extend this tax relief now!
- Despite significant market recovery, more than 5 million are still “under water.”
- Nearly 1 million households are seriously delinquent on their mortgages or in foreclosure.
- Mortgage debt forgiveness tax relief is vital for these families.
Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® says ... 