You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘Silicon Valley’ category.
Brokers share a light moment during their discussion. Left to right are Tom Tognoli, Intero Real Estate Services; Ryan Iwanaga, Sereno Group; Carol Burnett, Alain Pinel Realtors; and Don Tornincasa, Coldwell Banker.
Brokers/managers from SILVAR’s Los Gatos/Saratoga District educated members on the do’s and don’ts of the business at Wednesday’s tour meeting. The panel included Don Tornincasa, Coldwell Banker; Carol Burnett, Alain Pinel Realtors; Tom Tognoli, Intero Real Estate Services; and Ryan Iwanaga, Sereno Group. District Chair Karen Trolan served as moderator.
The brokers said all top agents are educated about the marketplace, they go on tour, keep in constant touch with their database, work long hours, and make it a point to meet potential clients every day, even during the holidays. They encouraged agents to pick up the phone, touch base with clients, send holiday cards.
“We’re in a relationship business. Take advantage of the holidays. It’s an opportunity to connect with people and thank your clients,” said Burnett.
The panel said
Iwanaga observed that the most successful agents are those who work hard in the first quarter of the year, which can define the whole year. He encouraged agents to start contacting potential clients and cultivate relationships now.
“Don’t wait for January 1 to do it,” said Iwanaga.
More than in the past, the real estate business is changing, and changing fast. There are now micro-markets that are also changing. Agents need to be open-minded, flexible, and embrace new things. Read, dedicate yourselves to improving your skills and look forward, said Tornincasa.
“Keep your eyes out in front of you,” added Tognoli.
Passing the exam is not enough. Agents need to invest in themselves, take seminars and learn.
“Preparation means opportunity,” said Tornincasa.
On technology, the brokers recommended embracing social media, but while engaging in social media is good, most important is building a good website because that is where people eventually come to find out more about the agent.
“You need to make sure your website says something to the world,” said Burnett.
The brokers set standards in their offices, discuss the Code of Ethics at office meetings, and some provide training, but in the end, it is up to the agent.
“You can’t teach ethics and honesty,” said Tognoli. Agents needs to care about their image, their behavior and their reputation.
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) received the platinum award from the National Association of REALTORS® for its global council program at the 2013 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in San Francisco. Pictured here are (left to right) SILVAR president Carolyn Miller and executive officer Paul Cardus, who received the award from Nancy Suvarnamani and Furhad Waquad, 2014 and 2013 chair, respectively, of the NAR Global Business and Alliances Committee.
At the 2013 National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Conference & Expo last week, NAR recognized SILVAR with a platinum award for its 2013 Global Business Council Achievement Program. SILVAR was one of a number of groups to be honored as Silver, Gold, and Platinum Councils. Of the over 100 existing global business councils, only five were awarded Platinum Council status, the program’s highest distinction, for having demonstrated exceptional commitment to building members’ awareness of the global and multicultural business opportunities in their local markets.
To help members reach out to a growing number of foreign buyers interested in purchasing property in the region, SILVAR formed a global business council at the beginning of last year. The council chaired by Jennifer Tasto took a lead in planning global programs, hosting global education courses, and building awareness among members of international business opportunities.
In the past year, SILVAR offered two Certified International Property Specialist Institutes attended by REALTORS® across the country. Upon completion of the week-long courses and other requirements, 43 attendees earned their CIPS designation – 32 were SILVAR members. They were recognized at a breakfast ceremony hosted by NAR on Saturday.
California Association of REALTORS® President Kevin Brown announced this morning the successful outcome of C.A.R.’s work with U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to protect distressed homeowners from debt relief income tax associated with a short sale in California. As part of this effort, Senator Boxer requested the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide guidance on whether mortgage debt forgiveness in a lender-approved short sale would be taxable income under federal law, given California’s recent non-recourse laws for short sales, which were hard fought victories by C.A.R.
The IRS has clarified in a letter that California’s troubled homeowners who sell their homes in a short sale are not subject to federal income tax liability on “phantom income” they never received. The IRS recognizes that the debt written off in a short sale does not constitute recourse debt under California law, and thus does not create so-called “cancellation of debt” income to the underwater home seller for federal income tax purposes. This clarification rescues tens of thousands of distressed home sellers from personal liability upon expiration of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 on December 31, 2013.
C.A.R. is seeking a similar ruling from the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB), which has been awaiting the IRS action. C.A.R. anticipates the FTB will act promptly. Short sales may raise other tax issues and, as always, homeowners should speak with their tax professional regarding the tax consequences of a short sale.
Event raised over $15,000 for Charity
Team 650, 2013 Day On the Diamond Champions
Over 150 SILVAR members and guests watched Team 650 breeze through the field with hits and runs and ultimately retain their winner’s title at Wednesday’s “Day on the Diamond,” SILVAR’s co-ed REALTOR® softball game.
The winners, REALTORS® from area code 650 – members from the Menlo Park/Atherton, Palo Alto and Los Altos/Mountain View districts, were jubilant. It was a great day for a ball game and everyone – spectators, cheerleaders and players had fun. More important, the event raised over $15,000 for the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation.
Team 650 and Team 408, SILVAR REALTOR® members from the Cupertino/Sunnyvale and Los Gatos/Saratoga districts, have been engaged in friendly softball competition. Team 408 took the title in 2011 in Portola Valley, and last year Team 650 became the winner at the game held in Los Gatos. This year, REALTORS® from SILVAR’s districts to the north were bent on keeping the title and held regular practices weeks before game day. Their practices paid off. Team 650 led throughout the game, amid cheers from their districts’ affiliates.
There were good moments for Team 408, thanks to the quick reflexes and running by outfielder Marc Gallardo, who caught the ball and struck out a few Team 650 players. But it wasn’t enough. Despite Team 408’s efforts, the 650 members succeeded in keeping their trophy, with a score of 23-2.
REALTOR® members of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® are receiving two member benefits updates for tablets. These benefits will enable them to serve their clients faster and more efficiently.
Authentisign2Go, the iPad-ready version of Authentisign, is now available to SILVAR REALTORS®. Members will see a screen message alerting them to the upgrade when they log in. This is not an app, so there is nothing to download. Authentisign2Go will automatically be displayed to members when you access Authentisign on your iPad.
An update to the Instanet Solutions HTML5 forms editor, now referred to as InstanetForms2Go or IF2go, which is another member benefit is coming soon. IF2Go is the PRDS forms editor that can run on tablets, PC or Mac computers. This new version will be released on October 1. Anyone using a PC with the Chrome browser, a MAC computer, a tablet or a smartphone will automatically be directed to IF2Go when they edit a form. There is no app, download or set-up required. IF2Go has many new updates, including a new look and feel, faster, crisper screen display as well as many new features. The added features now enable IF2go editor to provide virtually the same functionality users love in the “Classic” Adobe Reader based version of Instanet Forms.
Nearly 100 members and guests participated in Monday’s 14th Annual Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation Golf Tournament. The annual charity event held at the Los Altos Golf and Country Club, included the golf tournament, a cocktail reception and awards ceremony. The event is one of two fundraisers this year for the Foundation.
Special guests included California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) President Don Faught and C.A.R. President-elect Kevin Brown, who golfed in the tournament. A highlight of the event was a hole-in-one on Hole #6 by Alain Pinel REALTORS® Vice President and Regional Manager Jeff Barnett.
This year’s golf tournament top winner is Sereno Group’s team, with Justin DeSantis, Ed Graziani, Timothy Proschold, and Chris Ray. The Sereno Group team won first place for the third year in a row.
Suzanne Barnett (left), host of “The Better Part” gets ready to interview RSVP co-founder David Barca and RSVP Chair Eileen Giorgi. Watch the feature on RSVP on cablecast and on the Internet next week.
The program about Silicon Valley REALTORS® helping seniors and the homebound with household tasks will telecast September 1 – 7 throughout Silicon Valley on “The Better Part,” a public access television program produced by seniors from the Cupertino Senior Center. In the show, both Barca and Giorgi are interviewed by host Suzanne Barnett.
Each year during a designated week in May, teams of REALTOR® and affiliate volunteers provide senior citizens who are physically or financially challenged free assistance with household tasks they can no longer perform on their own. Such tasks include replacing light bulbs, changing furnace filters, cleaning windows, flipping mattresses, or installing new smoke detector batteries.
“For homeowners or renters who are advanced in years and are physically and financially challenged, some household tasks can pose a major challenge,” said Barca.
Barca, together with members of SILVAR’s Palo Alto and Menlo Park/Atherton districts, started the program in 2001. RSVP was adopted as an official association community outreach project the following year, with REALTORS® and affiliates helping seniors living in SILVAR’s five districts. RSVP has since spread throughout the Peninsula and South Bay, involving members of SILVAR, the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS®, Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS®, and Santa Cruz County Association of REALTORS®. Since its inception, RSVP has served over 4,000 seniors. This year 447 RSVP volunteers from these associations helped 297 senior households in their communities; 241 volunteers from SILVAR assisted 118 seniors.
“As REALTORS®, we sell the benefits and aspirations of our communities,” said Giorgi. “We are also neighbors and know about local needs. We share the desire for our communities to be great places to live and are committed to give back to those who have built our communities. This program enables us to help seniors and the homebound enjoy their homes in the community for a longer time.”
Producing the show was an eye-opening experience for Diane Sparks, executive producer of “The Better Part.” “When I learned of the program, I thought it was worthwhile to show our communities that REALTORS® don’t just sell houses; they also do a lot of good work for our communities,” said Sparks. “Filming the volunteers helping the seniors and witnessing the appreciation among the seniors, showed me what a difference the program has made in their lives.”
See the schedule for days, times, cities and channels where the REALTOR® Service Volunteer Program will be televised. The program can also be accessed on YouTube under the topic “Cupertino City Productions” or go to REALTOR® Service Volunteer Program.
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) has been appointed the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Ambassador Association to the Philippines. NAR’s Ambassador Association program gives members of the Ambassador Association the opportunity to expand their global business networks and get involved in international real estate activities at the local or state level.
“We are pleased to learn that the National Association of REALTORS® has approved SILVAR’s request to be the Ambassador Association to the Philippines. The program will give our members the opportunity to learn more about real estate in that country and develop ties and business opportunities with real estate professionals in this part of the world,” said SILVAR Executive Officer Paul Cardus.
The Ambassador Association program is part of NAR’s International Ambassador Program, which was developed to accommodate international visitors and to expose them to the range of opportunities available to them throughout NAR. Each year NAR hosts more than 2,000 real estate professionals from around the world. Majority of these international real estate professionals attend the REALTORS® Annual Conference and Expo. There are also a number of delegations and individuals that request meetings with REALTORS® throughout the year for guidance on the industry, to network, and to exchange information about the U.S. and global real estate markets. The Ambassador Association program also presents opportunities for REALTORS® interested in developing international business ties, as a result of the growing CIPS Network and globalization within local real estate markets.
As the Ambassador Association to the Philippines, SILVAR will help facilitate contact between the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association in the Philippines and any state or local REALTOR® association in the United States that requests assistance. The Ambassador Association works closely with the President’s Liaison assigned to that country and NAR’s Regional Coordinator for that part of the world.
A formal introduction with the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association will take place at the NAR REALTORS® Conference & Expo, which will be held November 8-11 in San Francisco.
In line with its goal to enhance members’ professional development, the Education & Technology Committee of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) will present an Online Transaction Management Training Series FREE for members beginning in September. The courses will focus on how to create and manage transactions online, including how to use, e-sign, and store forms. Members are invited to sign up for these classes online at ims.silvar.org.
The courses are:
OTM 101: Beginner’s Guide to Creating Stress Free Digital Transactions
September 5 and October 3, 1:30-3:00 PM both days
Instructor: Bryan Robertson
An overview of the online transaction process from beginning to end, including the software and online forms you’ll need, preparing digital forms, getting digital signatures, and sharing and storing your documents. You’ll learn about PRDS/C.A.R. forms, ZipForms, Docusign, Authentisign, CutePDF, PDFEscape, CamScanner, DropBox, and GoogleDrive.
OTM 102: PRDS Forms Online: Using Instanet and Authentisign
September 10, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM; October 8, 2013, 1:30-3:30 PM
Instructor: Robert Johnson, SILVAR IT Administrator
Learn about the new PRDS Forms on the Instanet Solutions platform and be able to access your forms anywhere and anytime, from virtually any Internet-connected computer. The class will demonstrate the procedures to log in, create transactions, fill out the forms online, and then either print or email those forms to a client. Students will get a better understanding of the Instanet Solutions platform, including how to use Authentisign.
OTM 104: A Workshop on Creating an Online Transaction on DocuSign
September 23 and October 22, 1:30-3:00 PM both days
Instructor: Chris Alston
In this hands-on workshop, you will create an online transaction from beginning to end on your laptop. You will prepare one PRDS form (e.g. purchase contract) and one C.A.R. form (e.g. AVID) for e-signature by buyer (fellow student) and yourself. Then you’ll email the signed documents in PDF form to listing agent (fellow student) and store the PDF in the cloud. The class will touch on the basics for doing this on an iPad, but the class is geared toward laptops.
Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® says ... 