The PIN Magazine April 2020

APRIL 2020 Vol. 07 | Issue 4

Find a VIP Agent in your area

Celebrating Fair Housing Month

On the cover

Monica Hill

2020 CAREB President

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Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA President and CEO Office: (800) 401-8994 Ext. 703 Direct: (714) 361-2105 eric.frazier@thepowerisnow.com www.thepowerisnow.com www.blogtalkradio.com/thepowerisnow EDITORIAL TEAM Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA Editor in Chief (800) 401-8994 Ext. 703 Daniels George Managing Editor (800) 401-8994 ext. 712 daniels.george@thepowerisnow.com Goldy Ponce Arratia Graphic Artist and Design Manager (800) 401-8994 ext. 711 goldy.ponce@thepowerisnow.com

CONTRIBUTORS The Power Is Now Research Team

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FROMtHEEDITOR

A

pril is here, and you know what? Despite the wave of Coronavirus, there is something worth a smile. At last, the National Fair Housing Month is here. But hold on, do you get the feeling that every day feels like fool’s day, like all that is happening is a big joke. You’ll wake up tomorrow to a bright new day, everything back to the way it was when you could just take a walk down the street without getting the feeling that whoever you meet, shake hands with is infected with a killer virus? Well, I wish that too, I wish I could bid fare thee well to Summer in a good mood, but it is what it is. Anyway, welcome April and welcome to April folks. It’s always a pleasure that you are still here with us. Let me just take this moment to brief you on what is going on around the world. So far, things seem so out of control, at least 885,291 people have been confirmed to have the COVID-19 virus, and saddening at least 44, 212 deaths have been confirmed. This virus seems to defy all odds. Honestly, I expected this thing to be over by March, but who am I kidding? But thank God, there’s hope, at least 185,208 people have recovered. That is something to smile about, don’t you agree? Last month the Coronavirus almost infected my editor’s note, but this month, not a chance! Nonetheless, the virus seems to be spreading like wildfire in the Golden State. At the time of writing this note, at least 5,763 had been affected, and 135 deaths reported, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), which makes California 3rd state with the most cases. Is it affecting real estate? Yes, just like all other industries? The Bay area officially extended the area’s shelter-in-place order for the residents. The order was set to expire on April 7th. So far, I think the state has done well to contain the virus but is it doing enough to stop the spread? Be the judge. For instance, the order from the Bay Area officials now specified that the use of playgrounds, dog parks, and public picnic areas is prohibited, both residential and commercial constructions are also banned. I said I

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wouldn’t let the virus affect my note, but… Anyway, the point is, the real estate industry has been affected so much. Well, did I say that this is the National Fair Housing Month? Yes, and we’ve decided to name our edition the “Corona Edition!” Just kidding! April edition is all about “Fairness and Justice in Housing.” One way to reach people is through holding conventions, and so far, all conferences I had planned on attending have been postponed, and others canceled altogether. Remember, this is the time real estate activity is usually heightened, but this year, sales might be reduced, hot markets will slowly cool down due to inactivity, which makes me so worried. Last month, the California Association of Realtors stopped all open houses in a move to comply with the Governor’s stay at home order. While, it was expected that this spring would be very unusual for realtors, no one anticipated that it could get this worse calling for a “near lock-down.” Still, I don’t think the Novel Coronavirus will have a significant impact on realtor engagement with their clients, thanks to technology. The realtors who are not tech-savvy will be most affected. Today, it’s easy doing a virtual tour of the property without even getting out of the house, how convenient! In other news, aren’t you tired of hearing

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Facebook’s misdealing every now and then? It seems Mark likes getting attention and now that Corona has hit, he is not getting enough. Or did he not learn a lesson from the previous election? Well this time, it got to Kamala Harris, who raised her concerns about Facebook advertising policies, and you know what, this goes all the way to the Whitehouse. “There is simpl y no excuse for @Facebook approving thousands of Trump campaign ads that misled users and spread misinformation related to the Census…” Find out why Kamala is pissed with Facebook. We’ve also made sure to add a few perks for real estate agents to make sure that you don’t lose while at home. If you are a parent, this is important. Please pay attention. Our kids need us. Right now, they are not in school they need us. The kid’s social circles have been disrupted, and there is limited access to mental health facilities. This pandemic did not bring anything new. Whatever our kids were suffering from, they still do, and right now, if we do not reach out, it will just get worse. So, while we are at home with our families, let us try to talk to these teens, find out what is going on with them. Otherwise, we might have to pandemics at hand. I would like to encourage you to take the government’s directive seriously. Think about it, the only way to control the spread of the virus is just staying at home. There is no way you’ll catch the virus at home, so stay put, stay at home, and while you’re at it, grab the Fairness and Justice edition of The Power Is Now Media Magazine. Let us educate and inspire you because the Power Is Now! Have a prosperous month ahead.

ERIC L. FRAZIER MBA President and CEO The Power Is Now Media, Inc.

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS

the power is now

magazine

10. California reverses its course on solar policy 16. Fears of getting sucked for low-wage Californians rise as Coronavirus spreads 22. Corona scare creates the perfect storm for mortgage lenders 26. About Monica Hill, CAREB 2020 President 32. A look at how technology is evolving in the real estate industry and streamlining the way business is done 38. Kamala demands answers trump ads. Trump ads containing census misinformation 42. The Bank of America will allow borrowers to pause their mortgage payment 48. Schools may close but do not limit access to mental health care 52. From grass to glory. The story of Cynthia “Cynt� Marshall, CEO Dallas Mavericks 60. The National Fairhousing Month should 8

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be about fairiness and justice in housing 68. Fairfield CA, housing market, appreciation rate trends and housing market data 72. Corona CA, housing market trends, housing prices, and future prospects 80. Realtors told to stop home showing and open houses amid Coronavirus scare 84. Upscale N.J. town OKs plan to build affordable housing THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | APRIL 2020

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[POWER GREEN]

California Reverses its Course on

Solar Policy F

or years, California has been leading the united states in progressing environmental policies. More than two decades before the united states could pass the Clean Air Act, California was the first state in the country to pass an air pollution legislation in 1947. Spurred by the country’s strongest and most innovative building code, new buildings in that state now use 75 percent 10

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less energy, than the buildings before the code. Further, California is the only state with its own greenhouse gas emission cap and trade program, which has earned it about $2.5 billion in revenue. This is from the emission permits. Led by the state’s Silicon Valley, the state has been on the forefront leading the nation in generating inventions for electric and self-driving cars and also a smart electricity grid which is helping in the creation of

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | APRIL 2020

January, that state became the first in building new homes with solar panels on the roofs. This shows that the state is committed to the goal of environmental sustainability, setting bold clean energy goals and marching towards them. That is why it is disappointing that in February this year, the California Energy Commission (CEC) reversed on a statewide policy that all new houses be built without solar panels. The California regulators approved the proposal allowing builders to construct homes without solar panels. A decision ma jority of the critics says undercuts California’s 7 weeks old law (at the time of the proposal) that allowed new houses to have their own solar power.

renewable-based economy.

Some cities in the state have adopted the solar home’s policy because it would make a significant impact on combating climate change. According to a 2018 report published Environment California, Research & Policy Center found that the policy could increase the state’s existing solar capacity 22 percent by 2045, while also cutting carbon emissions equivalent to taking 115,000 cars off the road. What’s disturbing is the fact that

In the fall of 2018, California became the 2nd state after Hawaii to commit to the transition of 100 percent clean electricity by the year 2045. Shortly after, the University of California set a goal of achieving 100 percent clean energy by the year 2025. In December 2019, California achieved another milestone, a ma jor one; one million solar roofs, and in WWW.THEPINMAGAZINE.COM

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CEC estimated that homeowners would save up to $19,000 in energy and maintenance costs, double what solar panels would add to the cost of a new home over the course of a 30-year mortgage. But instead of considering the deal brought about by the policy, CEC approves the proposal from Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) to build a utility-scale solar farm rather than build new homes with solar panels. That decision undercuts the entire point of the law.

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In the midst of ravaging environmental crises – from air pollution to wildfires, we cannot miss the opportunities to transition to renewable energy sources. The best course of action is to move forward into a future powered entirely by clean energy and taking advantage of the plentiful energy given freely by the sun plays a key role in the transition. Solar panels on the roof won’t transition the state to clean and renewable energy, but it is an important part of that transition. Rather than rolling back on the building code leaders should be exploring new solar home rules by supporting policies such as “adding solar panels and batteries to every school across the state, building community solar projects for the apartment-dwellers and others without their own rooftop space, and developing offshore wind power and large-scale energy storage.”

Sources and works cited https://environmentamerica.org/blogs/environmentamerica-blog/ame/california-reverses-course-commonsense-solar-policy https://e360.yale.edu/features/in-the-face-of-trumpenvironmental-rollback-california-stands-in-defiance

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[POWER ECONOMICS]

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housands of Californians abruptly lost their jobs when the Bay Area counties enacted mandatory shelter-in-place orders last month requiring all the non-essential businesses to close. The governor also followed with an order encompassing the entire state. This puts the low-wage workers at risk, as the orders were swift and a devastating blow. Experts say that the damage from COVID-19 may linger long even after it dies off. Despite the precautions by the local, state and national government, some low-income workers, particularly from the bay area may get pushed down even further down the economic ladder. Furthermore, it’s a likely situation most low-income workers missing their rent payment and end up on the streets which only worsens the homelessness crisis in the state. It is likely that many jobs might never return after the virus dies and many small businesses closed by the virus may remain closed.

Fears of Gett Low-wage Ca

As Corona V

During the week ending March 14, California reported that there was a 34% rise in unemployment cases, with over 58,000 people filing claims, this is according to a report by the Department of Labor. It is worth noting that this data was collected before the mandatory shelter-in-place orders. The governor has also reported that so far, California has received over 80,000 applications. And even if the state, local and federal officials are jumping in to help ease the situation, the ma jority are the people falling through the gaps. Many of the low-wage income earners in the bay area are now looking for government assistance but ma jority so far are without luck. For small business owners, the situation is even worse. Apart from worrying about their 16

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ting Sucked for alifornians Rise

Virus Spreads pockets, they have to worry about paying their employees and keeping their businesses afloat. These people have to pay rents, loan payments and a $6,000 state tax bill at the end of the month. The corona Virus Disease has also impacted the Bay Area arts Community quite hard. The San Jose City Lights Theater Company had to cancel its world premiere of the play “Coded” even before its first show and now Executive Artistic Director Lisa Mallette says the theater’s situation is “dire.” The proceeds from the sale of tickets and the concession sales typically make up about 40% of the theater’s revenue. The rest comes from donations according to Mallette. Lisa estimates that the theater needs to make about $10,000 before April 1 just to make a payroll and about $150,000 to cover its bills for the next two or three months.

disadvantage. Cities in the state are considering temporary eviction bans. Fresno Mayer Lee Brand said that people would not have to worry about being evicted over a missed rent, however, no action has been taken on evictions. “We understand that the state legislature and governor have approved a temporary ban on evictions for people impacted by the coronavirus. The important thing for the people of Fresno to know is that no one is going to be forced to move from their home during this crisis,” Brand said. Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose are already moving forward on temporary eviction bans which is an incentive to help renters who can’t afford rent because of the crisis. Sacramento approved a $1 million economic relief package Friday for small local businesses including restaurants, retail and daycare providers. Sources and Works Cited https://blackvoicenews.com/2020/03/20/lowwage-californians-worry-they-will-be-laid-offas-coronavirus-transforms-economy/ https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/03/22/ out-of-work-coronavirus-pandemic-turns-intoa-bay-areajobscrisis/

The state and federal officials are advising people to work from home if possible, which is easy if you are in the tech, engineering, and financial sector, but the lowwage workers have been at a WWW.THEPINMAGAZINE.COM

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[POWER LENDING]

CORONA SCARE CREATES THE PERFECT STORM FOR MORTGAGE LENDERS

S

hould you go house hunting during this pandemic? Probably not. But whatever is happening to the world right now hasn’t hit the housing market yet. So far, the stock markets have fallen and industries are putting themselves on a pause while all other small businesses are taking blows. So far, we cannot speculate about the fate of the next few months. But what we can tell is that the economic impact of the coronavirus will have far-reaching effects, affecting everything from the employment rates to buyers and agent’s willingness to attend open houses, whether on selling the business or just pulling listings. Last month, Quicken Loans- one of the largest loan lenders in the country- said that it had no

Now, homeowners see this as an opportunity to lower their mortgage payments as businesses. Some banks have moved employees to help process a backlog of loan applications. These employees will have no option but to reverify the income and employment during a time when many borrowers are not working. “The resource constraints are phenomenal — it’s going to be a lot more difficult than just moving bodies around,” said Ted Tozer, a senior fellow at

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current plans to change the underwriting which leaves a huge possibility that it and others might in the future. Long before the onset of the outbreak, lenders were having trouble with their staffing but now, it’s even worse creating a perfect storm; record refinancing demand, long credit checks and a lot of questions about the workouts for the existing loans that could be jeopardized. But, troubles in the lending market began long, in fact, soon after the mortgage rates began dropping. Low-interest rates pulled a lot of borrowers into the market leading to a stampede of borrowers seeking the refinancing option. The emergency action by the Federal Reserve has dropped the rates to nearly zero.

the Milken Institute and former president of Ginnie Mae. “It’s not only crazy as far as staffing, but what makes this very difficult is that lenders have to go back and revalidate every loan they have in their pipeline. The question also is how much of this they can do remotely and whether there is any slack to move to servicing.” Currently, refinancing makes up about 75% of all the mortgage applications and they have been resilient since Q2 of 2019. The same crisis that fed the refinance, could

be the one killing it, Tozer warned. “If one in five people have income disruption, then they can’t refinance,” he said. Lenders are now forced to ask for waivers from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as it has been difficult verifying the borrower incomes. Also, lenders are now going to the FHFA to allow verbal verifications of employment. The non-bank lenders are also seeking appraisal waivers. Many of the independent mortgage bankers are having a hard time selling nonagency loans that normally would be purchased

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | APRIL 2020

by the big-bank aggregators. “Lending is in a bottleneck,” said Larry Goldstone, president, and CEO of Aventur Partners, a Santa Fe, N.M., nonbank lender specializing in jumbo loans. “Most of our correspondent buyers and wholesale buyers are discouraging new loans. They are bloated with loans in process and cannot take on any more.” Large regions of the country could be shut down, with the residents being asked to shelter in place. It is already happening in San Francisco and six other neighboring counties. Lenders have asked the counties to give exemptions to continue processing the loans even as the nonbank lenders grow increasingly concerned about the liquidity and the potential for severe disruptions in the financial markets. For the big banks, it is even worse. Operations are now much more difficult, thanks to the social distancing. The Bank of America, for instance, is tapping into the existing workforce to handle the uptick in the purchase applications and demand for home equity loans. While there’s no slowdown in applications, yet, the closing time for all the loans will be delayed.

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Wells Fargo, on the other hand, is continuing to hire more loan officers, underwriters, processors, and closers. Currently, all banks are dealing with a massive inflow of calls from the current borrowers asking for forbearance on April mortgage payment due to job losses. Martin Griffith, president of Bank on Buffalo said that the bank is lowering rates for the existing customers rather than having them refinance which most of the banks are currently doing. “If a customer is in good standing with us, we provide them with a [interest] rate modification versus taking them through the entire application and processing and underwriting process,” Griffith said. “It relieves us in large part from handling the increased [refinance] volume.”

Sources & Works Cited https://www.nationalmortgagenews.com/news/virus-scarecreates-perfect-storm-for-mortgage-lenders https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/business/buying-ahome-coronavirus.html

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YOU DESERVE TO LIVE SAFE FROM SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

Sexual harassment by a landlord or anyone related to your housing violates the Fair Housing Act. If you receive unwelcome sexual advances or are threatened with eviction because you refuse to provide sexual favors, you may file a fair housing complaint. To file a complaint, go to

hud.gov/fairhousing or call 1-800-669-9777 If you fear for your safety, call 911.

FAIR HOUSING IS YOUR RIGHT. USE IT. A public service message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in cooperation with the National Fair Housing Alliance. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability. For more information, visit www.hud.gov/fairhousing.

About

Monica Hill

B

lack women are surely making significant moves in entrepreneurship. Many of their interests in the field are geared towards giving back to the community and individuals from disenfranchised groups. The last several years have generated interest and public curiosity in real estate, and surely, as expected, women are taking their chances. Breaking the stereotypes and making an impact with the small that we have is a remarkable feat in life, and today, we bring you a woman who has been instrumental in changing lives through property ownership. Even in an industry still very much characterized by inequity and a severe shortage of diversity, she continually proves that women are the future and a force to be reckoned with.

Monica Hill Although Women have been in real estate ever since its early days as a legitimate business back in the 1840s. The National Association of Realtors, one of the most significant associations in the country has also come a long way since its inception in 1908 when the membership was entirely male, but now, we see women climbing up the ladder and setting up their own pace. Some like Monica Hill have gone a mile further to set up their real estate firms. With that, Monica Hill is not your typical woman. Monica is the broker and owner of MVP Real estate and Investment LLC. With a vision of being the recognized performance leader of HUD/REO management and liquidation company, MVP Real Estate and Investment LLC has grown to be one of the topmost real estate company, not just in California, but nationally. The company has delivered operational excellence in every aspect to exceed its commitment. It takes a strong leader to achieve the initiatives, the vision, long-term and short-term strategies such as the ones set by the company. Honesty, integrity, and determination, along with dedication, are the gears that Monica strives to achieve in all aspects of her life. The critical initiatives required in making MVP’s vision are molded by a set of core values that are shared by every MVP Real Estate and Investment employee. The company offers services that are tailored and customized to exceed the specific and ever-changing financial risk exposures facing its clients. MVP Real Estate and Investment LLC builds its value for its investors through the strength of its client satisfaction and by consistently producing superior operating results. The company knows that Client satisfaction, constant communication, and “Going The Extra Mile” are the Most Vital Parts of its success.

Licensed Realtor Monica has been licensed in California for more than 20 years. She runs a highly successful team of Certified, Licensed Commercial and Residential full-service Real Estate Professionals known as “The Dream Team.” Monica WWW.THEPINMAGAZINE.COM

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has been one of Southern California’s Top Residential and Commercial Investment Real Estate Brokers, with her company completing over 1 Billion in Residential and Commercial sales. Regardless of the situation that life has put Monica through, she has always known that it is not possible doing all things by herself, and the Dream Team was her prodigy way of achieving and performing as expected of her by her clients. Clients choose to work with Monica for her fullservice firm, ethics, experience, and expertise. Her more than 30 years of community service and outreach, a strong base of loyal repeat customers, the ability to satisfy clients, and her extensive knowledge of the Southern California Real Estate Market are the reasons for her longstanding success.

Leadership Roles Apart from leading her team at MVP Real Estate and Investment LLC, Monica served four years as the President of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers Inland Empire Chapter and one year as the 3rd VicePresident The California Association of Real Estate Brokers over Education where she was instrumental in composing and conducting numerous Educational Training Seminars to enhance the knowledge of the ever-changing Real Estate Market to Real Estate and Financial Professionals Nationwide. And she is currently the 2nd Vice-President of The California Association of Real Estate Brokers over Membership. She has assisted hundreds of individuals within the community with Home-ownership, Home Retention, and Real-World Financial Education and assistance programs through Mission Excel and her H.E.L.P Counseling.

Achievements Some of her accomplishments were being named as “A Top Producer” for marketing and disposing of more than 400 Non-performing 28

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Assets. As well as being awarded as a #1 BPO Brokerage by a National Asset Management company for completing more than 3000 of their BPO’s with 98.99 percent accuracy. She has been instrumental in composing and conducting numerous Educational Training Seminars to enhance the knowledge of the ever-changing Real Estate Market, to Real Estate and Financial Professionals Nationwide. She has assisted hundreds of individuals within the community with Homeownership, Home Retention, and Real-World Financial Education and assistance programs through Mission Excel and her H.E.L.P Counseling.

Organizations and Affiliations • National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) • President Inland Empire Association of Realtist (IEAOR) • California Association of Real Estate Brokers (CAREB) • 3rd Vice President over Education (CAREB) • 2nd Vice President over Membership (CAREB) • Mission Excel Non-profit 501(c)(3) CEO • National Association of Realtors • California Association of Realtors • WCR • H.E.L.P Certified Counselor • Education and Training • California Real Estate Broker • BRE Number 01201175

Sources https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-hill-01ab0616/ https://www.realtor.com/realestateagents/monicahill_menifee_ca_2026329_103694608

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | APRIL 2020

YOU DESERVE TO LIVE SAFE FROM SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

Sexual harassment by a landlord or anyone related to your housing violates the Fair Housing Act. If you receive unwelcome sexual advances or are threatened with eviction because you refuse to provide sexual favors, you may file a fair housing complaint. To file a complaint, go to

hud.gov/fairhousing or call 1-800-669-9777 If you fear for your safety, call 911.

FAIR HOUSING IS YOUR RIGHT. USE IT. A public service message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in cooperation with the National Fair Housing Alliance. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability. For more information, visit www.hud.gov/fairhousing.

[POWER TECHNOLOGY]

A LOOK AT HOW TECHNOLOGY IS EVOLVING

IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY AND STREAMLINING THE WAY BUSINESS IS DONE

“Software is eating the world,” remember that famous quote by Marc Andreessen? Well, I think we are the crossroads already, the 21st century is a software century. Marc had envisioned a world and a future where those who control technology will control the future and he was right. Today’s new developments are pushed forward by technology. Simply put, technology is a catalyst for change in all the sectors and businesses, real estate is no exception. Today, we are seeing workers more connected than ever before which means, businesses are no longer limited geographically.

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rom the onset of artificial intelligence AI platforms, digital open houses and the blockchain technology and integrations, new technologies in the industry are reshaping how things are done. It is a storm that we cannot stop, only adapt. With millennials being the biggest home purchasers, it calls the need to keep abreast with the changing technology and learn all the ways to take advantage of these opportunities.

How will technology change the industry in the future? While the real estate industry is slow in the adoption of new technologies, the pace in the last decade shows otherwise. Faxing back in the day was one of the most common ways that agents submitted their offers, but what has really changed the industry in the last 3 decades is access to information. The internet has revolutionized the industry creating more opportunities for industry players. Virtual reality will be one ma jor trend to watch out for. While it can be fun for the investors, the average joes will want to be connected with their homes in person. However, the real impact of technology in the industry will be how we utilize big data, online tools, and social media to fine-tune marketing plans for the properties. Also, improving the method that the buyers and sellers consummate a transaction. Currently and for a fact, the systems in place handling the creation, dissemination, receiving, reviewing and negotiating offers is too archaic and prone to errors. Technology has to provide a system that’s more transparent, efficient and effective for the buyers and sellers to come to terms in an exponentially shorter period of time.

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | APRIL 2020

The rise in pent-up demand The problem is, sellers, do not realize how much more equity they have and sooner, they will start realizing it which means, they are walking down a road to higher rates on the buy-side unless they act quickly. This will cause a rise in the pent-up demand by the move-up buyers which will eventually ease the severe inventory shortage plaguing the starter home segment of the housing market and create demand for more expensive housing. Supposing that regulation does decrease, possibly, there will be a bump in new construction which further reduces shortages in inventory over time. Since this is the first time in history, we’ve seen sales being surprised because there aren’t enough homes, agents should start a homebuyer education trail educating people on home buying, and what a better way than social media. Technology is creating a platform where buyers and sellers can be able to connect and share their ideas freely. The ma jor mandate of real estate professionals is to now educate sellers of the current window of opportunity.

Rise of real estate agent 2.0 With so many platforms and websites where there are properties and listings posted like

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each and every day, it has become easy for buyers and sellers to connect without the need for the middlemen-the real estate agent. Many sellers are opting to go down this road because it is cost-effective. However, that is not to say that the technology has completely wiped out the real estate agent. Remember, no matter how technology is making things easier, it is impersonal. People need to feel that connection with their agents, something technology has been so unsuccessful giving. In fact, if you look at the opportunities presented by technology, you will realize that the real estate agent is going nowhere, not until they take advantage of the numerous new marketing channels and leverage them to increase their market outreach and understand buyer behavior. What are your thoughts on the future of technology in the real estate industry? Let us know.

Sources & Works Cited https://industrytoday.com/technology-in-the-real-estateindustry/ https://www.futureofeverything.io/will-technology-changereal-estate-industry-next-20-years/

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[POWER LEGAL]

KAMALA DEMANDS ANSWERS TRUMP ADS

CONTAINING CENSUS MISINFORMATION “There is simply no excuse for @Facebook approving thousands of Trump campaign ads that misled users and spread misinformation related to the Census. I’ve sent a letter to Facebook demanding answers and accountability.” 36

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his was the message Kamala Harris said in a tweet on March 6 and surely, she did send a letter to the Facebook chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg demanding answers and accountability after Facebook approved thousands of Trump campaign ads that directed users to a misleading “Official 2020 Congressional District Census” despite there being a policy prohibiting misinformation with regards to the census. “Facebook’s failure to enforce your policies banning misinformation is shocking and casts doubts about your company’s commitment to a complete and accurate Census,” wrote Harris. “These advertisements should never have been approved. I am concerned that after receiving credit for combatting misinformation about the 2020 Census, you and your company are now backing away from full enforcement of those policies.” She further expressed her belief that Facebook’s ability to effectively combat misinformation during the 2020 census will presage its ability to combat similar misinformation during the THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | APRIL 2020

upcoming elections. She adds, “I understand that you are working with civil rights groups, including The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, to prepare for the upcoming elections, and I encourage you to continue this work and to heed the advice you receive from the civil rights community.” Harris further notes that despite Facebook’s robust content and policies regarding advertising policies and even after receiving public recognition and credit for the steps it has taken to guard against census misinformation, the company went ahead to approve and run thousands of adverts from Trump campaign that solicited users to “take the Official 2020 Congressional District Census today.” It gets interesting, users who actually clicked on the adverts were not taken to a government website, but rather to a campaign webpage, deceptively designed to resemble an official government website featuring the text that read, “Certified Website of President Donald J. Trump” and “For Official Use Only.” Kamala cautions that the advertisements themselves are a violation of Facebook’s policy prohibiting misleading information about the when and how to participate in the WWW.THEPINMAGAZINE.COM

census including misrepresentation of the dates, locations, time and methods of census participation. Nevertheless, she admonished “these advertisements were approved and remained on your platform for hours after Facebook was made aware of them.” “Facebook’s failure to enforce your policies banning misinformation is shocking and casts doubts about your company’s commitment to a complete and accurate Census,” concluded Harris condemning the social media conglomerate for its actions. “These advertisements should never have been approved,” she continued. “I am concerned that after receiving credit for combatting misinformation about the 2020 Census, you and your company are now backing away from full enforcement of those policies.” She demanded Facebook to answer some questions related to the issue. Read the full letter here. Sources & Works Cited https://www.harris.senate.gov/news/press-releases/harrisdemands-accountability-after-facebook-approves-trumpads-containing-census-misinformation https://twitter.com/SenKamalaHarris/ status/1236042664702873600

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[POWER MORTGAGE]

THE BANK OF AMERICA WILL ALLOW BORROWERS TO

PAUSE THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENT

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hile the corona scare has created an impossible situation for the lenders, mortgage relief is coming in fast and furious. Mid last month, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced that they will be suspending foreclosures and evictions for at least 60 days. Following this announcement, the state of New York declared that certain borrowers in the state could forgo their mortgage payments up to 90 days. Joining the move was one of the nation’s biggest banks, the Bank of America, announcing that borrowers who are experiencing financial hardships due to the virus can pause their mortgage payments. “We’re going to continue to provide convenient access to the important services they count on, and the additional assistance and support they need during this difficult period,” Dean Athanasia,

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president of the consumer and small business at Bank of America, said in a statement. Included among the support option is the ability for the customers to defer mortgage payments. The bank says that the mortgage and home equity customers can make requests to defer their payments while the crisis rages. These payments will then be added to the end of their loan. Simply put, right now, borrowers can put a break on their payments but eventually, they will have to make those payments. According to the bank, payment deferral will be on a case-to-case basis and can be extended on a month-to-month term. These policies only apply to the loans held by the Bank of America, not the loans that are backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac or the Federal Housing Administration. The mortgage holders will have to request for the relief directly from through the bank. Up until now, there is no formal word on how many payments can be waived or for how

long. According to the bank, there will be no negative credit bureau reporting for up-todate clients. It should also be noted that pausing on mortgage payments Is not the only step that the bank has taken for its 66 million consumer and small business clients, the bank has also paused on the foreclosure sales, eviction and repossessions. “This is a real-life benefit,” Andrew Cuomo, New York Governor said in a press conference. “People are under tremendous economic pressure. Making a mortgage payment can be one of the No. 1 stressors. Eliminating that stressor for 90 days—I think—will go a long way.” The bank, apart from pausing

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mortgage payments, has also taken other several measures, completely out of the mortgage docket in a bid to safeguard its huge clientele. Such measures included; • Consumers will be able to ask for refunds including overdraft fees, non-sufficient funds, and monthly maintenance fees. • On credit cards, consumers will be able to request to defer payments, and refunds on late fees. • On small business loans, clients can request to defer payments, refund on late fees. • On auto loans, clients can request to defer payments, with the payments added to the end of the loan.

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Nevertheless, the bank noted that all these options are available to the consumer on a case-by-case basis. This obviously raises the question of whether the employees will be able to analyze each customer based on their needs and urgency. But the bank has come out to state clearly that its employees, especially those dealing with the clients have been “trained to identify and assist impacted clients and provide the right support to address their unique needs.” “Our clients rely on us every day and for every aspect of their financial lives,” said Dean Athanasia, president of the consumer and small business at Bank of America. “We’re going to continue to provide convenient access to

the important services they count on, and the additional assistance and support they need during this difficult period,” Athanasia added. “Our priorities are taking care of our team and each other, and continuing to fulfill our fundamental role serving our clients.”

Sources & Works Cited https://www.housingwire.com/articles/ bank-of-america-will-allow-borrowersto-pause-their-mortgage-payments/ https://edition.cnn.com/ world/live-news/coronavirusoutbreak-03-19-20-intl-hnk/h_ eee0559e63fc3a1579d39056801bb1bd https://www.forbes.com/ sites/alyyale/2020/03/19/ bank-of-america-mortgagecoronavirus/#2d0d7ee815ad

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Do you know

Peppermint Ridge? We provide a community of loving homes and empowering support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

We

support and encourage our residents to live their

lives and fulfill their dreams by fully embracing their indvidual abilities and interests. With 24-hour specialized care and staffing, we provide comfortable, secure homes and recognize that everyone feels a sense of belonging when they have familiar places in which to spend time with family and friends.

There

is a true sense of family at Peppermint Ridge. Of the 94 adults who

live at The Ridge, 38 have lived here for more than 20 years, with 10 of those calling The Ridge home for 40 years or more. Residents have the opportunity to flex their muscles of independence while developing rich lives of their own away from their loved ones. About 30% of our residents have no family, so other Ridgers and our staff have become their family.

Many

caring companies, organizations and individuals in

the community enjoy getting to know The Ridge by helping on small projects, hosting fundraisers, lending a hand at events, volunteering in our office, and assisting residents in activities such as arts and crafts, pool days, horseback riding, music and piano lessons, and exercise classes.

825 Magnolia Ave • Corona CA 92879 • 951.273.7320 www.PeppermintRidge.org • Tax ID: 95-2409851

[POWER LENDING]

SCHOOLS MAY CLOSE BUT

DO NOT LIMIT ACCESS

TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE

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ven as the novel coronavirus cases continue to spread like wildfire, the mitigation should be focused on its spread, but more so on its impact on mental health. Health policies and practice call for a health and mental health parity and for a greater focus on the universal interventions to promote, prevent, and intervene as early as the onset of the problem as is feasible. And right now, this is the opportune moment to intervene before the problem grows out of scale. The people in public health docket are uniquely positioned to help promote the mental health of young people and vulnerable populations. In a bid to protect these vulnerable populations, including older adults and the people with underlying health conditions, one of the many actions that the California government has taken is closing down the schools all across the state. This comes in an effort to flatten the virus contagion curve and to slow down it’s spreading. Given the magnitude of the virus, this sure seems like a reasonable move. As of the time of writing this article, all schools in California had closed, all but one – Outside Creek Elementary in Tulare County, with about 100 students. This means that the pandemic has affected about 100 percent of the 6 million children in public schools. Schools are very key in helping to mitigate the causes of mental health problems in young adults. Statistics show that for diagnosable mental disorders suggests that between 12% and 22% of all youngsters under the

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age of 18 are in need of services for mental, emotional, or behavioral problems. While closing schools is a good move in light of the pandemic, we have to be very cautious and carefully manage the impact it will leave on our vulnerable children and the mental health clinicians who take care of them. Covid-19 brings a lot of issues we need to be worried about, but given the impact, it has on our children, the state, counties and the parents should take some necessary steps to mitigate the collateral damage of school closures. What’s more important than protecting our children’s emotional health? Before the corona pandemic, California was already struggling with a low-key

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pandemic. Between 2006 and 2016, twice as many children were admitted in the Emergency rooms for serious self-injury, a 104-percentage increase. The number of days that a child spent in hospital simply because of mental health issues went up 50 percent. And between 2007 and 2017, the suicide rate among youths rose 87 percent. This is an alarming trend that was already occurring before the school closure. What I am worried about is the fact that this pandemic has disrupted our children from their social circles and treatment services they are federally entitled to under the Medicaid and Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. It is projected that amid the pandemic, mental health systems that serve the children will see a decline in outpatient capacity with the closure of schools reaching up to 50 percent. Most of all, disruption of social circles and fear will exacerbate mental health conditions and challenges. Counties run local safety nets, and if there are delays in acting on them, children will suffer. While the state and federal guidance on the pandemic is important and welcome, they only work if the counties act on them. The fragile and overburdened safety nets that many jurisdictions have been able to put together will serve as collateral damage to the pandemic. To make sure this is far from reality, we need to allow our children in need of mental health support to access services with in-person meetings. Also, we need to guarantee the

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learn about our vip agent program here!

join our team! full cost reimbursement to the providers who rely on patient visits and interactions so that we do not lose the capacity in this worrying time when most clinicians are facing self or imposed quarantines. It important that the state also plays its part diligently by ensuring that it increases the resources to support the underfunded children’s mental health docket. This will ensure that the system protecting our children’s mental health doesn’t get eroded further during this pandemic. In California, at least 6 out of 10 children are covered by Medicaid, before this emergency struck, the state was in the process of renegotiating two federal waivers relevant to the children’s mental health. I encourage the state should use this opportunity to expand the scope of these negotiations. Finally, families should tap the increasingly available and virtual network. Reach out, not just to your children, but there are so many resources online. Even if the schools are closed, try to reach out to your children, make them feel at home and at peace.

Sources & Works Cited http://www.calhealthreport.org/2020/03/17/opinion-asschools-close-california-must-protect-access-to-mentalhealth-care/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1525289/ https://www.mhanational.org/issues/mental-health-rights

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From Grass to Glory The Story of Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall, CEO Dallas Mavericks 52

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rom being the first African American Cheerleader at Berkeley, Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall made it to the CEO’s seat making history as Maverick’s CEO.

Cynthia, known as Cynt was the first black cheerleader at the University of California, Berkeley in the late 1970s. She would later spend almost 40 years climbing the corporate ladder at AT&T and now, she is proud to be the first black female CEO in the NBA has taken the helm at the Dallas Mavericks in 2018 to clean up the league’s toxic work culture. But how did it all begin?

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Education and Faith Were Her Building Blocks While residing in the Easter Hill Village publichousing project in Richmond, her mother encouraged her to study, not just the formal education, but also the walks of faith. These two principles would later become her building blocks and the most important focal points of her life and career in telecommunications. They also lifted her from a life of crime and desperation. Now she is at the top position in the NBA and she is still discovering how these two principles still play an integral role in the task she has acquired. Marshall is an effective problem solver and she has a strong Christian faith. However, she says that she didn’t truly come into her own until more than 20 years into her career. “I just did my job and did what [my bosses] told me to do,” Marshall tells CNBC Make It. But remembering the painful childhood and life experiences-from suffering domestic violence to losing a child and surviving a cancer ordeal, Marshall had to change. This was her turning point, putting her on a journey towards career discovery. Speaking of distractions, Marshall grew up in what you’d call survival mode, and to top it up, she had to tolerate an abusive father. At the age of 15, her father broke her nose as she tried to protect her mother from his physical abuse. After which her mother and her three siblings left. She says that what she had to go through from an early age taught her the art of weeding out distractions and helped her stay focused on the things that she wanted to accomplish. Cynthia would find comfort

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in books and sports, and credits her mother, Carolyn Gardener, a high school executive administrator and resource librarian for making her education the top priority in their home. “My mother put a math book in one hand and the Bible in the other,…She put those two books in my hands at an early age and said, ‘If you keep your head in these books they will get you out of poverty,’” Marshall said of the advice given by her mother. “That’s what I did. When people ask me, what is the secret to your success, I tell them it’s those two books. I kept my head and eyes in both of them because that is what I was told to do.” In school, she used to over-prepare for everything, which earned her a full scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley to study business administration and human resource management. Marshall retired from AT&T as its Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer. It was at Berkeley that Marshall started tearing her barriers apart.

Venturing into Corporate America Marshall graduated at the age of 21 and landed her first job as a local supervisor at AT&T in California in July 1981, working in the afternoon and evening shifts. She would then marry her college sweetheart. They struggled to have children, Marshall decided to adopt four children from the foster care system. During this time, Marshall was still in the making, climbing the corporate ladder at AT&T, regularly being promoted to the director then to vice president and senior vice president. “I tried to look the conservative way my colleagues looked,” says Marshall, who adopted a uniform of a blue suit, a scarf and black shoes. “Nothing ethnic,” she says, which for her meant no red shoes or braids at work. She was named the senior vice president of Human Resources in 2012 and then was appointed Chief Diversity Officer as a dual role in 2015. The Black Enterprise listed Marshall as one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in corporate America in 2015. She retired from AT&T in 2017 to start her own consulting firm. Marshall

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was honored on the California Senate and Assembly floors at the State Capitol on April 19, 2018, in Sacramento, where she spent time advocating “good public policy” for AT&T. Loretta Walker, who worked closely with Marshall says that Maverick’s decision to hire Marshall “Makes Sense.” “From the standpoint of looking at an established institution in AT&T that has gotten a lot of recognition for diversity, they (the Mavericks) have gained a lot by allowing her to bring in her expertise,” Walker said. “I know I’ve been blessed. I know I’ve never experienced anything like (sexual harassment) in my life working for a company like At&T.”

Unexpected Turn of Events Now Marshall retires from AT&T and decides to start her own consulting firm specializing in leadership and Diversity. But soon after, she gets a text message from billionaire Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks. “I honestly didn’t know who Mark Cuban was,” Marshall told the Dallas Observer in 2018. “But my husband and kids were like, ‘Ma, you have to call him back now!’” By 2018, following an investigation that revealed 20 years of sexual harassment and workplace misconduct issues, Mark was in a crisis mode. Which forced him to be on the hunt for a “strong Leader” according to Marshall to help him turn around the company. According to Marshall, Mark wasn’t interested in a “woman” or a “person of color” propaganda. “He didn’t care. I often say, ‘Mark was not trying to make history. He was trying to make a difference for his employees,’” Marshall says. Cuban says he hired Marshall “because she is amazing, forceful, dynamic, nurturing.”

As you’d expect, Marshall drove to meet Cuban at Mavericks’ Dallas headquarters and said that as she was leaving, two female employees approached her and told her that they needed her help. “For me, that was it. I was going home to pray about it, but that was my sign right there,” Marshall told the Observer. She started her role at Mavericks in February 2018. And ever since taking the helm, Marshall has been focused on hiring a diverse executive team. There were no women or people of color on the leadership team when Marshall started, today, there the leadership team is 50% women and 47% of people of color according to the Mavericks spokesperson. Marshall brought her authentic leadership game on Maverick. The first thing she did was to hold one-on-one meetings with the employees. She was interested to learn more about her employee’s lives, from their childhood to adulthood and not just their career aspirations. “I [just] had a one-on-one with one of the vice presidents last night for two hours and probably an hour and a half of that was just personal talk,” Marshall tells Make It was on Jan. 30. As for the naysayers, who still exist, “I usually take the haters head-on. Sometimes, I ignore them,” Marshall says.

Sources & Works Cited https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/21/mavericks-cyntmarshall-first-black-woman-ceo-in-the-nba-on-success. html https://blackvoicenews.com/2018/05/12/first-blackfemale-ceo-of-the-nba-honored-at-state-capitol/

THIS VETERAN HAS EXPERIENCED ENOUGH.

HE SHOULDN’T HAVE TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF HIS DISABILITY. Sergio lost his leg and his hearing while serving our country overseas. Now back home, he was ready to start a new chapter in his life. But when he found the perfect apartment, the landlord refused to make a reasonable accommodation to allow his service dog in a “no pets” building. Then Sergio learned that the Fair Housing Act protects people with disabilities. He contacted HUD and filed a complaint. Today, Sergio is feeling right at home. If you believe you’ve experienced housing discrimination, please contact

hud.gov/fairhousing 1-800-669-9777 50 YEARS OF OPENING DOORS. A public service message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in cooperation with the National Fair Housing Alliance. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability. For more information, visit www.hud.gov/fairhousing.

THE NATIONAL FAIR HOUSING

MONTH SHOULD BE ABOUT FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE IN HOUSING 60

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regarded as the opportune time to remember what the FHA brought to the table, and it is also an excellent time to reflect on the rights it gives the citizens. But why April? Apart from being the month, FHA was passed, does it have any other characteristics making it a special month for the National Fair Housing Month? Well, the primary reason why April is known as the National Fair Housing month is because FHA was passed during the month as Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, a landmark piece of legislation. However, Dr Martin Luther King has also some strong ties to the month. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the FHA into Law one week after the assassination of Dr Luther, who fought hard for equity in housing.

T

he National Fair Housing Month intends to celebrate the passage of the Fair Housing Act in April 1968. The Fair Housing Act is a law that prohibits discrimination in the real estate industry, sales, rental and financing of housing based on colour, race, national origin, religion and gender. The

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Act was further amended to include protections for people with disabilities and families with children. In California, there were additional protections for marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, the primary sources of income and for arbitrary characteristics such as age or occupation. Since 1968, April has been

People in the housing industry, activists, politicians, realtors, buyers and sellers come together during this month to commemorate the anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act and to recommit to the goal which united together and inspired us after the aftermath of Rev. Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination in 1968: To create equal opportunity in every community and eliminate discrimination. This means that each one of us, regardless of race, colour, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability, has access to neighbourhoods of opportunity, where our children can attend quality schools, our environment allows us to be

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healthy, and economic opportunities and self-sufficiency can grow.

Do we understand the importance of National Fair Housing Month? By all means, since the 60s, African Americans and other minority groups have been losing the fight. Now more than ever, the wealth gap has been widening, and the situation is dire for the African Americans. This brings to light the question; do we understand what the fair housing month is all about? Or even the concept of fair housing? Sadly, despite the efforts our leaders have made now and, in the past, housing discrimination still exists, subtly. Fair housing is the right to choose one’s residence in a manner that is free from unlawful discriminatory practices. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), housing instability is; • The inability, or having trouble paying your monthly rent.

we are far much behind in achieving the real goal of the FHA law. Minority groups in the states experience higher homelessness rates than the non-Hispanic whites, and therefore, they make a disproportionate share of the homeless population. In this context, I would like to put it clear that the term “minority” refers to African Americans, American Indians/ Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. The Hispanics in the country make up about the same share of homeless

• Overcrowding living conditions. • Frequently changing residence. • Residing with relatives. • Spending a lot of cash of one’s income on housing expenses. HUD, on the other hand, defines housing insecurity as several dimensions our housing problems people face including; • Affordability. • Safety. • Quality. • Insecurity. Looking at these definitions, we can say that

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people as the general population and Asians are underrepresented in homelessness. Resource: Racial Inequalities in Homelessness, by the Numbers

Housing Is Important Step to Wealth Creation Housing is a significant milestone when it comes to the journey in wealth creation. With this in mind, American lawmakers have long sought for means to secure land for, reduce the barriers to, and expand the wealth-building capacity of property ownership and affordable rental housing. However, by every means, these efforts big and small seem to favour the whitesonly, and far too often, it is the same efforts that have displaced the people of colour from their homes, denied them access to wealth-building opportunities, and relocated them to isolated communities. Across the country, historic and ongoing displacement, social exclusions and segregation continue to bar people of colour from obtaining and retaining their own homes and access safe and affordable housing. For years, starting as early as the days of the first black man on the white land, structural racism especially in the united states housing system has contributed to the stark and persistent racial disparities in wealth and financial well-being. These differences are so

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entrenched that if the current trends continue, it could take about 200 years for the average African American to accumulate the same amount of wealth as the whites. While it is arguably understandable that housing as an entity is not a panacea for eliminating the deep-rooted racial inequality, lawmakers must and should make amends for the past and probably the future harms by enacting new policies and laws designed to expand access to prosperity for all Americans. The best place to start should be housing.

everyone is included in the circle.

Resource: Systemic Inequality: Displacement, Exclusion, and Segregation

These grants were awarded through the Department’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) and the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) in a bid to help people who believe they have been victimized in one way or another in housing. The grants are also aimed at educating the public and the housing providers on the nation’s fair housing laws.

This Is A Time for Justice Even as we celebrate the fair housing month let us remember that it should be a month of justice, or at least, let us make it a month where we seek justice for all minority groups, not just the African American. Remember 1845, the term “Manifest Destiny” was commonly used and was used to describe the widely held belief that the white settlements and expansions across North America were inevitable and divinely ordained. What most people don’t understand is that even long before that, the same ideology was used to justify the ethnic cleansing and systematic displacement. To this date, it has been used to influence policymaking in the United States.

Good news from our good guys at HUD Last month HUD awarded $40 million to the Fair Housing organizations all across the nation working to confront the issue of the violations of the nation’s FHA and to help end the widening gap of housing discrimination. Resource: Complete Summary of the Grants Being Awarded by FHA

In addition, pay attention to the Dawes Act which forcibly converted communally held tribal lands into small, individually owned lots and the Indian Removal Act which authorized the federal government to forcibly relocate native Americans in the southeast to make room for the white settlement. You see, there has been a pattern of social injustices which percolate to today’s society. So, to me, this month is about serving every person with the justice they deserve. It is not about the African Americans, or the Native Americans or the evils of the white man, it is about making American great, and the only way to do that is making sure that

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“HUD is committed to supporting efforts to rid discrimination from our society,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “The grants we are awarding today will enable our fair housing partner organizations to combat unlawful policies and behaviour and foster practices that ensure everyone has access to safe, affordable housing, free from discrimination.” More than $1 million of the funding is being awarded to the grantees located in the Opportunity Zones. These were zones created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to stimulate long-term investment in low-income communities. The FHIP grants will go to support a wide range of fair housing enforcement, and education and outreach activities. These grants will allow the groups to provide fair housing enforcement through testing in the rental and sales markets, file fair housing complaints with HUD, and conduct investigations.

Resource: HUD AWARDS $40 MILLION TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION I am happy with these steps that various institutions are taking to safeguard the minority’s housing future. No matter how small, this just that the government is ready to make amends for the years of neglect and social injustices. Let us all take a moment during this month and reflect where we are coming from as a community and where we are headed. As far as African Americans are concerned, I recommend the plan from NAREB encouraging African Americans to first focus on a home before anything else. Opportunities are there, but we are reluctant in taking them. According to a statement from the NAREB president Donnell in January this year, there has been an uptick of the Black homeownership rate, which is what we want to maintain. So, let us go out during this month, knowing that this is a month of fairness and justice. What are you doing in your community to make this month a memorable one? Let us know. Resource: Statement by President Donnell Williams on Upward Trend of Black Homeownership Rate

Sources & Works Cited http://www.fairhousingnorcal.org/april-fair-housing-month. html https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_ advisories/HUD_No_20_045 https://www.dca.ga.gov/node/4960 https://www.richmondnhs.org/april-is-fair-housing-month/ https://depts.washington.edu/uwmedptn/national-fairhousing-month-april-2019/ https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/ reports/2019/08/07/472617/systemic-inequalitydisplacement-exclusion-segregation/

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FAIRFIELD MARKET FAIRFIELDCA, CA, HOUSING HOUSING MARKET

APPRECIATION ANDHOUSING HOUSINGMARKET MARKET DATA APPRECIATIONRATE RATETRENDS TRENDS AND DATA

ROBERT LANGSTON Market Area

T

he Vallejo-Fairfield, California Housing market is located between San Francisco and Sacramento metropolitan areas and consists of Solano County. This Housing Market Area (HMA) has two submarkets, the city of Vallejo and the cities of Fairfield and Vacaville. The remainder of this HMA consists mainly of unincorporated areas of Solano County and some other several smaller cities, including Rio Vista, Dixon, Suisun City, and Benicia.

About Vallejo-Fairfield Housing

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One thing you should note about this area is that it has a diverse economic base, and proximity to the San Francisco and Sacramento metros has contributed to the relatively steady development and employment and population growth in the region. In the recent past, significant nonfarm employment growth has been in the retail trade, educational and health services, leisure and hospitality and construction sectors. More so, there has been a steady job growth in industries of biotechnology, which has increased the economic diversity of the HMA. New residents have been drawn to this area mainly because of the employment growth and the relatively

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | APRIL 2020

affordable housing compared to the San Francisco and Sacramento areas. Since the 2000s, population growth in the area has increased at an average annual rate of 1.5 percent, 40 percent, which has been linked to the net in-migration of commuters working in the San Francisco and Sacramento metropolitan areas.

Fairfield Housing Market Information As data from the United States Census Bureau, Fairfield has a population of 116,266 people and 35,772 housing units (homes and apartments) and median house value of $372,908. The real estate costs in Fairfield are among some of the highest in the nation; however, the house prices in the area cannot be compared to the real estate prices in some of the most expensive cities in California. Among the most common types of homes in Fairfield are the single-family detached homes, which account for about 67.34% of the cities housing units. Other types of homes in the area are; large apartments, complexes or high-rise apartments accounting for about 17.7%, row houses and other attached homes accounting for about 6.47% and a few duplexes, homes converted to apartments or other small apartment buildings accounting for 6.19%. The most common building size and type in Fairfield Ca, are the three- and four-bedroom homes, mainly found in single-family detached homes. The city has a mixture of owners and renters, accounting for 55.02% and 44.98%, respectively.

Appreciation rates In the last ten years, Fairfield has experienced some of the highest home appreciation rates in the nation. The real estate market in the VallejoFairfield HMA appreciated 110.30% over the last ten years, which is an average annual home appreciation rate of 7.72%. This puts Fairfield among the top 10% nationally for real estate appreciation.

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If you are looking to invest in Fairfield or Vallejo, you can be sure to reap good gains. Going by the percentages or real investment appreciation, you can see that this HMA has a proven track record of being one of the best long-term real estate investments in America. It is, however, important to note that the appreciation rates that are given here apply to the city alone. Individual neighborhoods within Fairfield differ in their investment potential.

My Take Fairfield housing market is relatively warm during this time of the year. We don’t expect much real estate activity to go on during this season, given the coronavirus pandemic. Usually, the market is very competitive due to the competitive nature of markets surrounding the Vallejo-Fairfield HMA. Homes in the region typically receive one offer and sell for about 1% below the list price and go pending for around 44 days. Overall, if you are an investor, this is the place to go to. The average sales price of a home in Fairfield was $489K, up 10.7% since the same period last year. While this may not favor the buyers, real estate in Fairfield has appreciated steadily. If you are looking to enter the Fairfield real estate market, get in touch with me today at bobbyreinc@gmail.com. With a strong desire to help buyers and sellers in all types of situations, I will help you as a real estate broker in and around the surrounding areas of Fairfield and Sacramento. I welcome opportunities to work with anyone ready to make their next move in real estate. For more information, click here. Sources & Works Cited https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/fairfield/realestate https://www.zillow.com/fairfield-ca/home-values/ https://www.redfin.com/city/5980/CA/Fairfield/housingmarket https://www.movoto.com/fairfield-ca/market-trends/ https://www.trulia.com/CA/Fairfield/

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Mortgage Program for Medical, CPA and Legal Professionals

With only eight hours in a day, every second counts. Let’s save you time. What makes our mortgage program so unique? We know you’re a busy professional. Because of your respected occupation, we’re able to offer you this exclusive benefit. With First Bank’s Professionals Mortgage Program, we’re able to offer you this convenient, no-hassle mortgage loan product.

Why did we choose to start this program? First Bank has recognized the need for a program that allows CPAs, PhDs and professionals in the legal and medical fields the opportunity to close loans based on current and/ or contracted guaranteed employment and income levels. We realize your desire to secure a home for you and your family prior to a career change, move or re-location. What would be better than having your home established prior to starting new employment? Talk about taking the stress out of your move!

Why Choose First Bank? Peace-of-Mind! With First Bank’s Professionals Program, you’re able to secure a home for you and your family – without the worry of providing past earnings history*.

* Program Guidelines: • Bank Portfolio, ARM and fixed loans • Attached/Detached SFR’s and PUD’s. • Low down payments available. No Private Mortgage Insurance. • 700 minimum FICO score. No derogatory credit in the prior 12 months. • Available in footprint states only. • Owner-occupied residence only. No second homes are eligible. • Borrowers must establish First Bank Checking account as well as set up automatic payment withdrawal prior to closing. • Borrower must start employment within 30 days of closing. • Employment must be verified with fully executed, accepted, non-revocable contract. • Two-year history in line of work must be verified and documented. Education in field of employment for prior two years acceptable provided it was in the field of employment.

Personal Touch! One point of contact. You’ll never wonder who you should call with questions. Great Rates! It’s not too late to get a great rate on your mortgage. Contact a local First Bank Mortgage Loan Consultant today for our current low rates. Let the highly-trained professionals at First Bank walk you through the process, so you can focus on what you do best.

Business Banking Mortgage Wealth Management Mobile Solutions

Eric Lawrence Frazier Vice President & Mortgage Advisor (714) 475-8629 eric.frazier@fbol.com 104 E Ontario Ave Corona, CA 92879 NMLSID: 461807

CORONA, CA HOUSING MARKET TRENDS CORONA, CA HOUSING MARKET TRENDS HOUSING PRICES, AND FUTURE PROSPECTS HOUSING PRICES, AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

KAMESHA KEESEE

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mid the coronavirus crisis in the country, the Corona housing market remains to be somewhat competitive, according to Redfin’s compete for score data, which calculates the market trends over the last three months. The data also reveals that homes in the region typically receive one offer; also, homes sell for about 1% below the list price and go pending in around 56 days. Hot homes can sell for around the list price and go pending in approximately 29 days. Currently, Redfin has listed about 427 homes.

Total inventory for Corona The total inventory tracks how many homes are currently listed for sale in Corona. It purposes to address the issue of supply and demand. A low inventory, coupled with a low average day on the market, indicates that the supply is not keeping up with the demand. An increased inventory with an increased day on the market means that the market has insufficient demand for the number of homes currently under sales. 72

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The average Market Days The average days on the market for property tracks how long the property takes for a home to sell. Shorter days on the market indicates a decrease in inventory and more demand for the property. Redfin data shows that, on average, a property stays for 56 days on the market. Data through January 31, 2020, on Zillow, showed THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | APRIL 2020

the average days for properties in Corona was 82 days.

Market Action Index The market action index will answer the question of how the market is performing, a general overview of how the market is, by measuring the current rates of sales versus the amount of inventory. The index above 30 shows Seller’s Market Conditions, while a market with an index below 30 indicates a buyers’ market. Looking to sell in Corona? This may be your opportune moment. Get in touch with me today at keeseekamesha@aol.com; for more information, click here.

Sources & Works Cited https://www.redfin.com/city/4249/CA/ Corona/housing-market https://www.zillow.com/corona-ca/homevalues/ http://grahamandthehometeam.com/coronareal-estate-market/

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REALTORS TOLD TO STOP HOME SHOWING REALTORS TOLD TO STOP HOME SHOWING

AND OPEN HOUSES AMID CORONA VIRUS SCARE AND OPEN HOUSES AMID CORONA VIRUS SCARE

LEWIS SANDERS other business in person.”

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his spring will be an unusual spring for the realtors, buyers and sellers all over the country. Buyers and sellers are changing their plans as the traditional home-buying season gets underway. The California Association of Realtors has come out to warn its members to stop all the face-to-face activities including showings, listing appointments, open-houses and property inspections amid the coronavirus fears. Last month, the governor issued a “stay at home” order, and it did not exempt home selling. The ordinance aims to keep more people away from each other-social distancing- and also help limit the spread of the coronavirus. Right now, only the essential industries can continue their operations, and according to CAR, that includes the home construction. In recent weeks, the industry had been trying to sell existing homes taking necessary measures like selling with a lot of hand sanitizers and encouraging social distancing, before the restrictions from the governor. “This supersedes all existing local city and county orders that are less restrictive,” the association states in its advisory. “Clients and other consumers are also subject to these orders and should not be visiting properties or conducting

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According to a flash survey from the National Association of Realtors, almost 1 in 6 real estate agents nationwide said that their buyer interest had declined because of the fears brought about by the corona scare. 1 in 10 said that the numbers of the sellers putting their homes on the market decreased significantly. NAR estimates that the decline in real estate activity all over the country will cut home sales by 10%. Specifying the details to Yahoo Money, reductions will come in March and April when the housing activity heats typically up. “Given that a home transaction is a major commitment, the uncertainties on how the economy will play out and the spread of the virus itself are barriers to home-buying and selling,” Yun said in a statement. “The stock market crash is no doubt raising economic anxieties, while the coronavirus brings fear of contact with strangers.” Nonetheless, the sales reduction won’t be enough to counterbalance the price hikes as there was already an inventory shortage.

Localized Corona Effect According to the most recent data from Redfin, the ripple effect from the coronavirus is affecting more markets than others. For

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | APRIL 2020

instance, in Seattle, where the first case of death was reported, open houses dipped at the end of February. The survey from NAR showed that 1 in 5 agents that buyer interest waned in Washington, more than the national figures, also, 1 in 7 agents said that the numbers of homes on the market declined. “It’s definitely been an interesting quick change up here. It was the busiest in January and February that we’ve seen in a long time,” Shoshana Godwin, a Redfin agent in Seattle, said. “But we have seen some hesitation from buyers in the past week. And that can come from the virus itself or what it’s doing to the stock market.”

A spike in Virtual Homes Technology is the only solution in this trying time. Enterprising agents and real estate companies are already publishing online, virtual home tour videos. This comes in a bid to persuade some “wanna-be” buyers to pull the buying trigger even if they do not physically enter the home they want to purchase. The county officials are still recording some real estate transactions. Title companies, mortgage brokers and lending institutions can still be able to work online and remotely process sales. The governor and the county officials seem to be quite okay with home repairs. In this time, realtors mustn’t get desperate.

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You should try to keep in touch with your clients. The CAR advisory added that “property management and repair work, which generally invol ves maintaining sanitary and safety conditions is permissible. Additionally, many other aspects of the real estate industry can continue to occur without in-person contact, including documentation and signing, and in many circumstances, closings. Other activities may also be managed remotely, though there may be some difficulties.” Are you looking to purchase your home during this time? I know, you had made plans, but with the coronavirus, in a way, you have been restricted, no worries. I am a licensed expert real estate agent for many years. I service the Bay Area to the Central Valley. In this business, I have learned my clients are number one in priority, and I love everything about this business. I specialize in selling homes for top value. I am your number one negotiator and your first-time homebuyers’ specialist. When it comes to real estate, I am, your goto Agent! Get in touch with me at lewis@ homesbyls3.com, and let’s get you into your home. Sources & Works Cited https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2020/03/21/coronaviruscutback-california-realtors-told-to-stop-home-showingsopen-houses/ https://finance.yahoo.com/news/housing-expertcoronavirus-will-hurt-home-sales-150158643.html

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UPSCALE N.J. TOWN OKS UPSCALE N.J. TOWN OKS PLAN TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING JEREL WASHINGTON

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ndeed, New Jersey is one of the hottest markets in the country. That is about to change, to achieve an all-inclusive state, after Princeton- one of the nation’s hottest real estate market approved an affordable housing plan with the option for low-income renters. The decision was upheld unanimously at a special meeting in December last year. The town council agreed to the program that will pave the way for hundreds of new affordable housing units and the end of a yearslong battle in court over the housing obligations. “It was a long process to reach a settlement, in large part because the governing body was determined to develop a plan that not only met our affordable housing obligation number but did it in a way that strengthened our overall community by contributing to other important goals,” Mayor Liz Lempert said. The plan voted into action calls for the redevelopment of the Princeton Shopping Center, and it will allocate at least 44 affordable family rental units to be developed on the site. The town council is also looking at a potential collaboration with the local non-profit Princeton community Housing to redevelop Franklin Avenue and the Maple Terrace with a new 100% affordable development made up of about 80 rental units, including 11 homes set aside for the very low-income residents. The plan is also looking to develop 24 new affordable units at the nonprofit’s existing Princeton Community Village development located off the Bunn Drive. For the Princeton Township, this is such a huge move with an upscale town of about 30,000 that has a median home value of about $804,000 and where the families take in an average of $125,000 annually. This will effectively put an end to a real long court battle between the town and the fair housing advocates over the Princeton housing advocates over the measures Princeton is taking to meet its affordable

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housing obligations under the state’s Mount Laurel Doctrine. The agreement also included credits to the town’s overall affordable housing obligation. “We are pleased that Princeton has come to the table and reached an agreement with housing and civil rights advocates that will provide new opportunities for working families and people with disabilities in Central Jersey to live close to good schools and jobs,” said Kevin Walsh, executive director of Fair Share Housing Center. This advocacy group announced the deal Thursday. “This agreement represents an important step forward in tackling racial segregation, which divides our communities and locks families of color out of safe neighborhoods, good schools, and job opportunities.” For the final approval, the agreement will go to judge Mary Jacobson.

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Ready to get the best deals out of Princeton, well, I am here to help you do exactly that. I am the founder of The Fine Homes & Estate Team, The Washington Group, and The Good Life Team-New Jersey, which are full-service real estate sales teams in association with Prudential New Jersey Properties-Princeton NJ, Keller Williams Realty-Princeton NJ, and currently Keller Williams Realty-West Monmouth NJ. I will help you get the best homes in Princeton and New Jersey. Get in touch with me today at; Jerel@kw.com. For more information, go to https://thepowerisnow.com/vipagentsservices/.

Sources & Works Cited https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/upscale-njtown-oks-plan-to-build-affordable-housing/ar-BBYcrgE

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Home Ownership By Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA

Home ownership brings stability to individuals and families who have never had a dwelling place that they could call their own. There is something special about owning real estate that is unlike anything else on earth you can own. Real Estate you own is not like cars that decay over time and you have to replace them. Real Estate you own is not like clothes that go out of style and you have to buy new ones. Real Estate you own is not like expensive vacations or experiences that only last a moment in time. Real Estate you own is not like an apartment where the landlord may increase the rent until it’s no longer affordable. Real Estate you own is not like staying at your parents house where you know can’t stay forever. Home ownership is the beginning of wealth that increases over time and becomes your estate & legacy Home ownership is the pride of a mother nurturer and the kitchen her domain Home ownership is the pride of a father provider and protector of his territory and family. Home ownership is the foundation of permanence and the place where life happens, birthdays celebrated, deaths mourned. Home ownership is the place you build memories that can never be taken from you. Memories etched in walls and concrete, experienced in rooms and floors, Memories living in trees and shrubs planted by your hand. Howe ownership is the manifestation of you - your style, your colors, your smell, your stuff, your junk, your memories, your yard and your spaces, your life. It’s the height markers on your first child’s bedroom wall. It’s the hearts drawn in the concrete slabs when you pour your patio floor It’s the birthday parties, and anniversaries in the living room and kitchen. It’s the back yard barbecue with friends, neighbors and family contentions it’s the high school and college graduation, and wedding receptions Its’ the family nights and block parties and the fellowship of family connections Home ownership It’s more than real estate. Land, brick and mortar, wood frame construction and chicken wire. It’s more than money saved, gifts recieved and grants obtained It’s more than the debt you incur to buy it. It’s more than the payments you make to own it. It’s more than the appreciation that comes with keeping it over time. It’s memories, it’s family, and it’s life that can happen in one place Until you say it’s time to move.