Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® says ...

September is REALTOR® Safety Month: Practice Safety Tips When Holding an Open House

September 5, 2014 in California Housing Market, Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, Silicon Valley Housing Market | Tags: National Association of REALTORS, open house safety, REALTOR® Safety Month | Leave a comment

Each year in September, both the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and SILVAR remind members to keep REALTOR® safety foremost in their mind, especially when hosting an open house and during showings. Open houses can be a great sales tool, but hosting one also exposes you to numerous unfamiliar people for the first time.

There have been cases reported across the nation of REALTORS® who have been harmed or killed when alone during an open house. Take the necessary steps to ensure that your open house will be successful. If possible, always try to have at least one other person working with you at the open house.
1. Check your cell phone’s strength and signal prior to the open house. Have emergency numbers programmed on speed dial.

2. Upon entering a house for the first time, check all rooms and determine several “escape” routes. Make sure all deadbolt locks are unlocked to facilitate a faster escape.

3. Make sure that if you were to escape by the back door, you could escape from the backyard. Frequently, high fences surround yards that contain swimming pools or hot tubs.

4. Have all open house visitors sign in. Ask for full name, address, phone number and email.

5. When showing the house, always walk behind the prospect. Direct them; don’t lead them. Say, for example, “The kitchen is on your left,” and gesture for them to go ahead of you.

6. Avoid attics, basements, and getting trapped in small rooms.

7. Notify someone in your office, your answering service, a friend or a relative that you will be calling in every hour on the hour. And if you don’t call, they are to call you.

8. Inform a neighbor that you will be showing the house and ask if he or she would keep an eye and ear open for anything out of the ordinary.

9. Don’t assume that everyone has left the premises at the end of an open house. Check all of the rooms and the backyard prior to locking the doors. Be prepared to defend yourself, if necessary.

(Sources: Washington Real Estate Safety Council; City of Mesa, Arizona; Nevada County Board of REALTORS®; Georgia Real Estate Commission)

Visit NAR’s REALTOR® Safety website at http://www.REALTOR.org/Safety

REALTORS® advise homeowners to follow earthquake safety measures

August 29, 2014 in Silicon Valley | Tags: California Department of Conservation, earthquake safety, FEMA, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Ready Campaign, U.S. Geological Survey | Leave a comment

In light of the 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the Napa Valley region last Sunday, the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is reminding homeowners to follow earthquake safety measures so they will be prepared when another earthquake strikes again.

“Majority of Californians live within 20 miles of a major earthquake fault, yet most of us tend to be lackadaisical about earthquake safety. Being prepared could save your life,” stressed SILVAR President David Tonna.

According to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, major earthquakes registering magnitudes between 6.3 and 8.3 have occurred in California every 5.4 years, on average, for the past 200 years. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates there is a 90 percent chance that a major earthquake will strike an urban area in California within the next 30 years.

Additionally, a 2010 California Earthquake Preparedness Survey conducted by the UCLA School of Public Health found fewer than 20 percent of households have structurally reinforced their homes or had their homes inspected for earthquake resistance; only 40 percent keep the recommended minimum of three gallons of water stored per person; and only 40 percent of Californians have made family disaster plans.

SILVAR shares the following important earthquake safety measures from FEMA’s Ready Campaign site, California’s Department of Conservation and the U.S. Geological Survey:
Identify Potential Hazards in Your Home and Fix Them
• START NOW by moving furniture away from beds, sofas, or other places where people sit, sleep, or spend a lot of time. Move heavy objects to lower shelves. Move flammable or hazardous materials stored in garages and utility rooms to low, more secure areas.

• Retrofitting before an earthquake is relatively cheap, and could reduce damage and save you money.

Create a Disaster Supply Kit and keep it in an easily accessible location.
• First aid supplies, with medications not requiring refrigeration, including spare eyeglasses and essential hygiene items
• Drinking water (minimum one gallon per person per day)
• Whistle (to alert rescuers to your location)
• Emergency cash in small bills (ATMs may not work)
• Snack foods high in calories, canned and packaged foods and cooking utensils, including a manual can opener. Include food and a leash or carrier for your pet.
• A working flashlight with extra batteries.
• Baby formula, disposable diapers, baby wipes, bottles, pacifiers, powdered milk for infants and comfort items for your children, like stuffed animals and other toys
• A battery-operated radio (and spare batteries).
• Warm clothing, gloves, sturdy shoes, extra socks, blankets/sleeping bags
• Heavy-duty plastic bags for waste and other uses
• A-B-C type fire extinguisher
• Copies of vital documents, such as insurance policies, personal identification, medical consent forms for dependents.
Replace perishable items on a yearly basis.

Create a Disaster Preparedness Plan
Decide how and where your family will reunite if separated during a quake. Select an out-of-state friend or relative to call and alert other relatives and friends that you are all right.

During an Earthquake, Drop! Cover! and Hold On!
You cannot tell from the initial shaking of an earthquake if it will suddenly become intense, so drop to the ground, take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to your shelter until the shaking stops.

New .REALTOR® top-level domain available October 23 to REALTORS®

August 22, 2014 in California Housing Market, Real Estate, Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, Silicon Valley Housing Market | Tags: .REALTOR® top-level domain, Code of Ethics, National Association of REALTORS, REALTOR® | Leave a comment

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has announced that the new .REALTOR® top-level domain will be available October 23, 2014 to members of NAR and the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).

With the Internet undergoing vast changes, the creation of over 1,900 new top-level domains, and with nine out of 10 recent buyers beginning their home search online, it has become even more critical for REALTORS® to create a branded space online. The .REALTOR® domain will help REALTORS® stand apart from other real estate professionals, creating a more positive online experience for consumers who are searching for information on buying or selling property. Having a .REALTOR® domain will inform consumers that they are working with a REALTOR®, a trusted real estate professional who subscribes to NAR’s strict Code of Ethics.

The top-level domain will be made available only to real estate professionals who are REALTORS®, members of NAR or CREA. The domain will also be made available to state and local REALTOR® associations, association multiple listing services, affiliated institutes, societies and councils and NAR strategic business partners.

Starting October 23, members will be able to go to http://www.claim.REALTOR to claim their .REALTOR® domain. NAR will provide the first 500,000 members NAR and 10,000 CREA who register for a .REALTOR® domain with a free one-year license. For more information, visit http://www.about.REALTOR.

C.A.R. opposes bill that creates liens and clouds title

August 15, 2014 in Real Estate, Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® | Tags: AB 2416 (Stone), California Association of REALTORS | Leave a comment

Call Your Senator TODAY!

The California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) is OPPOSING AB 2416 (Stone), a bill that creates a new kind of lien for wage claim disputes. C.A.R. opposes AB 2416 because it denies due process to the owner of the property, and unnecessarily clouds title. The bill was just passed by the Senate Appropriation Committee and could make it to the Senate floor by Monday, August 18. Ask your Senator to vote NO on AB 2416.

Under existing law, trades people and others who have conducted work to improve a property have the right to record a mechanics lien against the property for payment for that work. This bill is not like a mechanics’ lien. If an employee has a wage dispute with their employer there are multiple legal remedies available to them to seek fair compensation. This is a new and different remedy.

AB 2416 seeks to create a new wage lien, without the procedural protections of the mechanics lien so that an employee may record a lien against any property owned by the employer, even property that has NO connection to the dispute. The new rule purports to exempt principal residences, but the bill invites “shotgun” recordings that will hit all properties.

There are already existing legal remedies for wage disputes. Between arbitration, grievance processes, and lawsuits, employees already have sufficient legal options at their disposal to address wage disputes without chilling the availability of mortgage finance and unnecessarily clouding title.

SILVAR offers paperless option for November 17-21 CIPS Institute

August 8, 2014 in California Housing Market, Real Estate, Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, Silicon Valley Housing Market | Tags: Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) Institute, CIPS Institute, David Wyant | Leave a comment

SILVAR is offering a paperless option for individuals who would like to enroll in the November 17-21 Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) Institute. The paperless option will cost $550 for the entire Institute instead of $600, the regular cost with hard copy of the course manuals.

Students who select the paperless option will need to come to class with their electronic device (laptop or tablet). They will be asked to download the required materials prior to their arrival. A link to the materials will be provided to each student.

The CIPS Institute provides training in international business issues, including currency conversion, cultural awareness, legal and tax requirements, ownership and transaction principles of international real estate, and specifics about the real estate markets in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Members using Proxio, which is a SILVAR benefit, may find the CIPS courses very useful in advancing their global real estate business.

The week-long CIPS Institute includes the two required core courses and three elective courses, which fulfill the classroom requirements for the CIPS designation. Students must pass a multiple-choice exam at the end of each course.

Spend the week learning how you can profit being an international real estate specialist from 2012 NAR International Instructor of the Year David Wyant. Wyant has taught two previous CIPS Institutes at SILVAR and received excellent reviews.

Regular cost of the five-day program is $600, which includes hard copy of the course material. Members may enroll online at ims.silvar.org. Non-members may register by calling SILVAR at (408) 200-0100.

Those interested in registering for the paperless version, may contact SILVAR at (408) 200-0100 or SILVAR Public Affairs & Communications Director Rose Meily at rmeily@silvar.org or call (408) 200-0109. Cost for an individual course for either option is $150.

Sponsorships for the CIPS Institute are available for each class day. Thank you in advance to Wednesday and Friday sponsors Kenneth Chan of HSBC and Richard Miller of ExecutiveLoanOfficer.com.

Brokers do not have to retain texts and tweets

August 1, 2014 in Real Estate | Tags: Assembly Bill 2136, Business and Professions Code Section 10148, California Association of REALTORS, Civil Code Section 1624, record retention | Leave a comment

The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® has learned that Assembly Bill 2136, signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown in July and effective January 1, 2015, helps clarify a REALTOR®’s record retention obligations when it comes to electronic communications.

The California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) sponsored legislation to provide guidance in this new and rapidly changing area of interpersonal communications. AB 2136 amends both Business and Professions Code Section 10148 (broker record retention requirements) and Civil Code Section 1624 (the Statute of Frauds – controlling which contracts must be in writing to be enforceable). Added to Section 1624 is a provision that “an electronic message of an ephemeral nature that is not designed to be retained or create a permanent record, including, but not limited to a text or instant message . . . is insufficient to constitute a contract to convey real property. . .” If the principals do send texts or tweets that they intend to be part of a real estate contract, there are additional steps that need to be taken under Section 1624. See C.A.R. Q&A at http://www.car.org/legal/broker-practice-folder/calbRRRR/

Added to Section 10148 is a provision that “[t]his subdivision shall not be construed to require a licensed real estate broker to retain electronic messages of an ephemeral nature, as described in subdivision (d) of Section 1624 of the Civil Code.”

AB 2136 will give some welcome relief from the possibility of having to save all “ephemeral” electronic communications, such as tweets and texts. Emails, however, are not mentioned in Section 1624. C.A.R. advises REALTORS® who are not already saving emails with clients that are material to a transaction and relate to licensed activity to create a system to store them.

CalBRE Commissioner Wayne Bell has informed C.A.R. that in light of the new law, CalBRE will not be requiring retention of “ephemeral” records referred to in the bill, effective now, even though the law does not technically come into effect until January 1, 2015.

More buyers look to social media, but REALTORS® still bring value to home buying process

July 18, 2014 in California Housing Market, Real Estate, Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, Silicon Valley Housing Market | Tags: California Association of REALTORS, David Tonna, mobile technology, National Association of REALTORS, REALTOR®, social media | Leave a comment

Mobile technology, the Internet, and social media tools have transformed the home buying process and the way REALTORS® and their clients do business, but these tools still can’t discount the value REALTORS® bring to a transaction.

Findings from the California Association of REALTORS®’ “2014 Survey of California Home Buyers” show 91 percent of those surveyed said they used a mobile device to access the Internet during the course of their home purchase. Buyers used their mobile devices to look for comparable home prices (78 percent), search for homes (45 percent), and take photos of neighborhoods, homes, and amenities (43 percent).

David Tonna, president of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, says due to advances in mobile technology, most buyers and sellers expect instant response from their agent, preferring to communicate by email and even text messaging. “No other form of communication puts us in constant contact with each other,” says Tonna.

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 94 percent of REALTORS® nationwide now use mobile devices to communicate with clients. REALTORS® spend a median 44 percent of their time corresponding with, or doing work for their clients via their mobile devices.

Additionally, more than three-fourths of home buyers used social media in their home search, up from 52 percent who used it in 2011. Buyers said they primarily used social media to obtain buying tips and suggestions from friends (44 percent), neighborhood information (44 percent), and to view their agents’ Facebook pages (42 percent). The survey indicates with the increased use of social media, fewer buyers “Googled” their agent (50 percent in 2014, down from 68 percent in 2013), turning to agents’ Facebook pages instead.

REALTORS® see the importance of maintaining an Internet presence and using the new technologies to meet their clients’ needs, but also place focus on forging a personal relationship with their clients. “While using mobile technology to respond to clients, it should never take the place of being personally accessible to your client. A strong, personal relationship is still at the heart of every business,” says Tonna.

Tonna adds, “REALTORS® know their market and are experienced in handling the particular needs of home buyers. A REALTOR® can provide you with invaluable help in identifying homes and neighborhoods, negotiating for the best deal, coordinating the multitude of steps between contract acceptance and close of the transaction.”

Buyers, too, need to be aware that all real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the National Association of REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate than other real estate licensees.

PRDS users now have Instanet Solutions 24/7/365 toll free phone support

July 11, 2014 in California Housing Market, PRDS Forms, Residential Real Estate Forms, Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, Silicon Valley Housing Market | Tags: Instanet Solutions, PRDS, PRDS Forms on Instanet | Leave a comment

Instanet Solutions has begun providing 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year live TOLL FREE phone and chat support to all PRDS users. This new industry leading support level is being provided at no charge.

PRDS users can expect reliable and professional toll free service 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the Instanet Solutions support number you already use on your PRDS page, (800) 668-8768. All calls will be answered within one minute. Calls will be recorded to ensure call quality.

The new support specialists have been trained on virtually every aspect of the system, its features and common tech support inquiries. Of course, transitioning to a new service system may have some challenges. In order to ensure the highest first call resolution, a larger than usual team of experienced Instanet Solutions staff will be working to assist the support specialists off site, as needed.

In the meantime, email support will be answered from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Email support will transition to 24/7 in the next few weeks.

Instanet Solutions provides PRDS with a solid platform for technology growth. Users can load the complete library of PRDS forms, as well as their individual company forms. Editing can be done online and sent out electronically.

PRDS Forms are an extensive line of REALTOR®-created paper and online forms for residential purchase and sales transactions. These forms are available online free of charge as a member benefit to all REALTOR® members of SILVAR and the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® (SAMCAR). The PRDS Forms library is simple and easy to use, up-to-date, and prints on plain paper.

Silicon Valley REALTORS® will soon access real estate developments worldwide

July 3, 2014 in California Housing Market, Real Estate, Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, Silicon Valley Housing Market | Tags: global networking, Janet Case, MLSListings Inc., Paul Cardus, Proxio, Proxio Developer Showcase | Leave a comment

Members of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® will soon have access to real estate developments worldwide in addition to their ability to connect and share listings with other agents domestically and around the world through a global networking site, which is a membership benefit of the local trade association.

SILVAR REALTORS® currently have access to Proxio, a global networking platform, as a member benefit. The global network is much like LinkedIn for real estate agents, providing them with networking opportunities and an agent and property search.

Agents can connect with over 600,000 real estate professionals in the U.S. and in 140 countries. Their listings and marketing materials are automatically translated into 19 languages, 55 currencies and metric measurements. Members also get the entire MLS in different languages with a widget for their website that includes a full MLS search and translations of all properties in MLSListings Inc. and the Proxio SocialSearch™ Facebook app for their business page with full IDX in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese.

In mid-July, SILVAR REALTORS® will have access to Proxio Developer Showcase, a new product that goes a step further by helping property developers and real estate agents connect and work together to generate more sales and commissions. Agents can get to choose the developments they want to promote and the listings will be customized with their name and contact information. The website stands alone or can be linked to an agent’s website.

“As a REALTOR® association, we constantly strive to give our members the best tools so they can serve their clients fully and more efficiently. We live in a global community. Providing members access to a global network allows our members grow their business and provide international, as well as domestic clients the highest quality service,” said Paul Cardus, executive officer of SILVAR.

Janet Case, CEO of Proxio, said Proxio helps agents promote themselves as a professional agent who has a network of domestic and international agents. She noted consumers highly benefit from the new product.

“Proxio Developer Showcase can generate web pages, brochures and postcards for each project with the agent’s contact information, so every agent can increase their inventory by promoting new developments and providing interested clients with information on the latest real estate developments here and abroad,” said Case.

Early bird special for Nov. 17-21 CIPS Institute through Aug. 1, 2014 for all REALTORS®

June 27, 2014 in California Housing Market, Real Estate, Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, Silicon Valley Housing Market | Tags: Certified International Property Specialist Institute, CIPS Institute, David Wyant, National Association of REALTORS | Leave a comment

REALTORS® who are interested in taking their real estate business to the global level are invited to enroll in the Certified International Property Specialist Institute (CIPS) at the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) on November 17-21. The early bird special price for the full-week of courses is $550 and ends on August 1. This special price is open to all members of SILVAR and REALTOR® members of other associations.

The CIPS Institute provides the classroom requirements needed to earn the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) CIPS Designation. Members using Proxio, the newest SILVAR member benefit, may find the CIPS courses very useful in advancing their global real estate business. The CIPS Institute in November will provide training in international business issues, including currency conversion, cultural awareness, legal and tax requirements, ownership and transaction principles of international real estate, and specifics about the real estate markets in Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

The week-long CIPS Institute includes the two required core courses and three elective courses. Students must pass a multiple choice exam at the end of each course. David Wyant, CIPS, ABR, AHWD, ePRO, GRI, TRC, SFR, will be returning to SILVAR to teach the November CIPS Institute. Wyant was named 2012 and 2009 NAR International Instructor of the Year.

Regular cost for the entire CIPS Institute (five courses) is $600. Cost for an individual course is $150. For this limited time through August 1, SILVAR is offering an early bird special of $550 for the entire institute for any AOR member. SILVAR members may enroll online at ims.silvar.org. Non-members may register by calling SILVAR at (408) 200-0100.

Limited sponsorships for the CIPS Institute are available. Each sponsor is given the opportunity to speak about their product or service on an assigned day. For more information about enrolling in the CIPS Institute, or becoming a CIPS Sponsor of the Day, contact SILVAR Public Affairs & Communications Director Rose Meily at rmeily@silvar.org, or call (408) 200-0109.

Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® says …