OC REALTOR® - November/December 2023

Ending the Year with Success and New Beginnings As the year draws to a close, it's the perfect time to reflect on all that we've achieved and prepare to embrace new beginnings. In this edition of our magazine, we invite you to wrap up the year on a high note by shaking things up with your business, prioritizing self-care, exploring the power of giving back, and discovering fresh professional strategies to make the coming year even more successful. It’s time to end the year on a high note, cherishing growth and the spirit of togetherness.

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JJ Mazzo - Executive Vice President NMLS186548 Equal Housing Opportunity, CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC. NMLS3029, 31351 Rancho Viejo Rd., Suite 204, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 NMLS1790854. CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC guarantees that we will close your loan based on the escrow date reflected on the purchase contract dated or we will pay the seller/buyer at a rate of $500 per diem and ensure a deposit protection up to the amount of $100,000. Offer can only be redeemed by closing a loan with the JJ Mazzo Group of CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC. Guarantee is void where prohibited.

Guarantee terms apply to the loan set forth on the purchase contract and is good for a one-time payment only. If the loan is not closed, payment will be made to the seller within 15 days of the contract expiration date/buyer in the form of a lender credit. In order to qualify for this guarantee, all of the following conditions must be met: • All conditions listed in your purchase contract must be met. • The loan must close by the expiration date listed on the purchase contract, or the borrower must qualify for an extension and the loan must close by the extended expiration date. • This guarantee is not valid if borrower or seller chooses not to close this loan or if the delay is caused in whole or in part by reasons beyond CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC’s control. Additional Terms and Conditions: This guarantee is not an offer or an inducement

by CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC to enter into an agreement to make a loan, nor a guarantee or lock of a specific interest rate or number of discount points. An offer to make a loan is neither binding nor enforceable unless it is in writing and signed by both the borrower and CrossCountry Mortgage or unless an oral agreement is offered and accepted no greater than ten (10) days before closing. Guarantee is contingent upon: 1) the borrower(s) satisfying all underwriting guidelines and loan preapproval conditions, providing all required pre-closing and closing documentation and any applicable upfront fees within required timeframes; 2) the property appraising at or above the sales price, and 3) CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC’s mortgage have a first place lien position. Equal Housing Opportunity. All loans subject to underwriting approval.

Certain restrictions apply. Call for details. CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC. NMLS3029 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act.

CONTENTS

Year-End Reflections

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2023

As the year draws to a close, it's the perfect time to reflect on all that we've achieved and prepare to embrace new beginnings. In this edition of our magazine, we invite you to wrap up the year on a high note by shaking things up with your business, prioritizing self-care, exploring the power of giving back, and discovering fresh professional strategies to make the coming year even more successful. It’s time to end the year on a high note, cherishing growth and the spirit of togetherness.

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38 to Give Back

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

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Ending the Year on a High Note and Giving Thanks

President Scott White concludes 2023 with his final President's Message, expressing gratitude, honor, and the privilege of having served as your President throughout the year.

FEATURES

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A LOVING FAREWELL

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THE ORANGE COUNTY HOUSING UPDATE

No Distress and No Crash

Steven Thomas says not to count on a wave of distressed homes or a housing crash.

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CRMLS

Tidying Up for the New Year

EMAIL BEST PRACTICES

Are Your Emails Always Reaching Your Clients, Prospects, and Business Partners?

Liz Barndt shares tips to improve email deliverability and avoid being flagged as spam in order to maximize the chances of your emails reaching the intended recipients.

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2023

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75 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence: The Orange County REALTORS® Legacy

Orange County REALTORS® extends gratitude to Sherri Butterfield for her years of service and dedication to our Association.

The California Regional Multiple Listing Service suggests seizing the year’s end as an opportunity for reflection and offers strategies to wrap up 2023.

Orange County REALTORS® celebrates seventy-five years of valuable service to the growing Orange County community, and this is the story of its legacy and how it became the largest association in California.

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Farewell to a Literary Legend: Sherri Butterfield

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

Where are they now?

Sabrina Blair updates us on Leadership Academy Alumni and where their leadership journey has taken them since graduation.

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KEY TO SUCCESS

The Key to Being Found

REALTOR.com provides an in-depth guide on optimizing your free Realtor.com® agent profile to make yourself easy to find and generate free leads.

OC REALTOR®

Orange County REALTORS® Annual Veteran’s Tribute

In words and pictures, we pay tribute to REALTORS® and Affiliate members who have served in uniform, at home or abroad, either to win a war or to keep the peace.

THE RIGHT JUMBO LOAN. RIGHT AT YOUR DOORSTEP. We know that finding the right home loan to meet your needs is a key part of your financial plan. That’s why Golden 1 Credit Union offers a variety of down payment options with our Jumbo loan.

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Insured by NCUA NMLS #669333 Equal Housing Opportunity All loans subject to approval. Rates, terms, and conditions are subject to change and may vary based on creditworthiness, qualifications, and collateral conditions.

COVER STORY: WRAP UP THE YEAR ON A HIGH NOTE

EVENTS

Delaney Puthuff offers an insightful guide on elevating your business game for the forthcoming year, reigniting your own passion, and serving as an inspiration to others.

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On the Cover: Wrap Up the Year on a High Note

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Level Up Your Business

‘Tis the Season to Give Back

Delaney Puthuff pens a reminder that the season is perfect for us to give back to the greatness of the community we call home.

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Housing Symposium

Includes an event recap and photos of the 2023 Housing Symposium.

Costume Bowl

Includes event photos, Costume Contest winners, 1st and 2nd place team winners, and sponsors!.

The cover design by Print and Marketing Specialist Ivan Salmeron.

Wrap Yourself Up in Self-Care

Sydney Smythe emphasizes the significance of integrating self-care into your daily routine as 2023 concludes, positioning yourself for a better new year.

DEPARTMENTS

10 Names in the News 24 Education Central: Upcoming Classes by Track

Follow us on social media To celebrate our 75th anniversary, we’ve hidden a small diamond icon somewhere in the current print issue. If you locate it and enter our Find the Diamond contest, you will be entered to win (2) two tickets to our 75th Anniversary Gala.

To enter, visit www.ocrealtors.org/find-the-diamond.

Online Magazine

ORANGE COUNTY

REALTOR® MAGAZINE

Love OC REALTOR®? Did you know that you can read it online, anytime? Read past issues at www.ocrealtors.org/magazine.

25552 La Paz Road Laguna Hills, CA 92653

10540 Talbert Avenue, Ste. 225 West Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Mission Statement

949-586-6800

714-375-9313

2023 OFFICERS

Notice to All Members

Scott White President Jeff Jackson President-Elect Charleen Nagata Newhouse Treasurer Adam Rodell Immediate Past President Dave Stefanides Chief Executive Officer

2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chandy Andre Erin Barry Kevin Budde Danielle Corliss Matt Cortez Tony Faulkner Michele Harrington

Chip McAllister Steve Mino Ed Molina Eileen Oldroyd Pam Pedego Vinil Ramchandran Mary Rampone Lacy Robertson Lisa Schulz Lynne Suzanski

Len Herman Kevin Kaltenbach Paul LePage

MAGAZINE STAFF Sabrina Blair

Director of Communications sabrina@ocrealtors.org

Michelle McCann

Marketing Manager mmccann@ocrealtors.org

Ivan Salmeron

Print & Marketing Specialist ivan@ocrealtors.org

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Breanna Reed

Accounting Administrator breanna@ocrealtors.org

Delaney Puthhuff

Communications Specialist delaney@ocrealtors.org

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2023

The mission of Orange County REALTORS® is to promote the REALTOR® Code of Ethics; to provide education, services, and resources to our members; and to advocate the protection of real property rights.

It is the long-established policy of this Association, California Association of REALTORS®, and the National Association of REALTORS® to adhere to both the letter and spirit of the federal and state antitrust laws. For their own protection, members should be aware of the antitrust laws as they affect their specific business activities. Any illegal activity under the state and federal antitrust laws is not in compliance with Association policy, nor is it in the interests of the Association or its members.

Participation in Association activities must occur only in harmony with these very important laws.

Federal law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, or national origin in connection with the sale or rental of residential real estate, in advertising the sale or rental of housing, in the financing of housing, and in the provision of real estate brokerage services. The OC REALTOR® editor reserves the right to review and edit all submissions. Orange County REALTORS® makes no warranties and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein. The opinions expressed in articles are not necessarily the opinions of Orange County REALTORS®. Orange County REALTORS® does not necessarily endorse the companies, products, or services advertised in this magazine unless specifically stated.

OC REALTOR® (USPS 025-445, ISSN 1945-2179) Volume 14, Issue 6, is published by Orange County REALTORS®, 25552 La Paz Road, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. Periodicals postage paid at Laguna Beach, CA, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Orange County REALTORS®, 25552 La Paz Road, Laguna Hills, CA 92653-5127. Annual membership dues include $6.09 for a one-year (6 issues) subscription to OC REALTOR® magazine. OC REALTOR® cannot be responsible for unsolicited materials.

Publisher: Orange County REALTORS® Printer: The Monaco Group

OC REALTOR®

Photo by www.AdobeStock.com/ ant Illustrations by www.AdobeStock.com/lukbar, Luke Project, and Angelica

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Photo by Marion Butterfield

My sincere thanks to you for a wonderful year and to our veterans for all they have done to secure the many freedoms we enjoy.

By Scott White 2023 PRESIDENT, ORANGE COUNTY REALTORS®

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This issue of OC REALTOR® is appropriately titled, "Wrap Up the Year on a High Note." As the title implies, we are concluding 2023 with this issue, which also means that this President’s Message is my last.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Photo by www.AdobeStock.com/OP38Studio

Illustrations by www.AdobeStock.com/ssstocker

“Just when you feel like you are getting the hang of this (volunteer) job, you must give it to the next person. I do not want it to end.”

When I stepped up to this honor, I had no idea how important the Association Management Team, REALTOR® Members, and Affiliates would become to me. All of you have become my family, and I have an affinity for each one of you that I never knew I could have. This year has been a blessing to me. I think every President of Orange County REALTORS® has said the same thing: Just when you feel like you are getting the hang of this (volunteer) job, you must give it to the next person. I do not want it to end.

But all good things must come to an end, eventually.

Short of a one-man coup in the coming weeks, your next President’s Message will be written by our 2024 President, Jeffrey Jackson. I wish Jeff all the excitement and satisfaction from his year that I have had during mine. And I invite each of you to congratulate Jeff when you see him.

Jeff will be installed as President on November 30, at the Balboa Bay Resort, immediately before our Association’s 75th Anniversary Gala. All Association members are invited to join the Board of Directors and the rest of the leadership team for a festive night of fun on the bay, in Newport.

I am so proud of what Orange County REALTORS® has accomplished in the past seventy-five years. We are now the largest REALTOR® Association in the state and the sixteenth largest Association in the nation. That accomplishment is well worth celebrating. A link to the registration form (on the Orange County REALTORS® website) can be found in the Gala advertisement in this issue of OC REALTOR®.

Finally, I’d like to wrap up my last President’s Message with something that is very important to all of us. November 11 is Veterans Day. As a nation, we owe all that we have to the men and women who have donned the uniform and served the United States of America with honor and distinction. We enjoy more freedoms than any other nation in the world. Defending those freedoms takes dedication from the finest fighting force in the world.

Our Association has many veteran members working and serving in South Orange County. Probably because of our proximity to several military bases and so many defense contractors, our number of veterans is well above average.

In September, when I had the honor of participating in a charity golf tournament sponsored by the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP), I felt as if I was surrounded by greatness.

During November, make a special effort to thank a veteran. We owe them so much.

In closing, I thank each one of you. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve as your President for 2023. Here’s to our 75th Anniversary and to the Association’s future. From where I stand, it looks strong.

OC REALTOR®

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2023

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Photo by www.adobestock.com/vchalup. alswart, and Siam Vector

NAMES IN THE NEWS

IN THE Group Photo of Global Forum Attendees

Michele Harrington and Sara Sutachan

C.A.R. REimagine Committee

Wayne Woodyard

Orange County REALTORS® Participate in C.A.R. REimagine!

Conference & Expo When the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) held its REimagine! Conference & Expo in Anaheim on September 19–21, many Orange County REALTORS® were on hand to learn, network, and enjoy. For example, at the Broker Conference, OCR Director Michele Harrington (left) gave a keynote speech titled “What It Takes to Lead: Discipline, Agility, and Mental Toughness” and then was interviewed by Sara Sutachan, C.A.R. senior vice president and chief strategy officer.

Attending the C.A.R. REimagine! Global Forum were (standing in the back row, from left to right) OCR Global Business Alliance Chair Lisa Yi, South Bay Association of REALTORS® President David Potter, West San Gabriel Association of REALTORS® Global Chair Pauline Lam, Spencer Hoo, Tashia Hinchliffe, Bob Hartman, NAR Global Ambassador for Japan Hiroko Nishikawa Nauman, Joyce Endo, Christina Fu, Yami Martinez, Howard Katchen, and C.A.R. Global Forum Vice Chair and Women’s Council of REALTORS® Inland Valley President Sarah Oswald, and (seated in the front row, from left to right) OCR Global Business Alliance Chair Olesya Drozdova, OCR Global Business Alliance Vice Chair Lata Jobanputra, C.A.R. Deputy Chief Economist Oscar Wei, Guita Amiri, and Conference Panelists Martin Kirkwood and Piper Moretti.

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In the back row are (from left to right) C.A.R. REimagine! Committee Chair Novelett Witt and Robert Johnson. In the front row are Pauline Woelky, C.A.R. President Jennifer Branchini, Blanche Gomez, and REimagine! Committee Vice Chairs Vilma Letosky and Colleen Trujillo.

During the C.A.R. REimagine! Conference & Expo, OCR 2016 President Wayne Woodyard was named Diversity Chair of the Year.

Also during REimagine, OCR 2021 President Lori Namazi spoke about Risk Management at the Broker Conference, OCR Director Eileen Oldroyd was named Women’s Council of REALTORS® Member of the Year and received the C.A.R. Outstanding Service Award, and OCR 2015 President Rita Tayenaka was inducted into NAR’s RPAC Hall of Fame for having made a lifetime contribution exceeding $25,000.

NAMES IN THE NEWS

Orange County REALTORS® Thanks Lori Jones Orange County REALTORS® recently recognized and thanked Affiliate Lori Jones for fifteen years of service as the Huntington Beach Marketing Meeting Facilitator. Pictured with Lori (in the center) are (from left to right) OC REALTORS® Director Lynne Suzanski, OCR Director and 2020 President Danielle Corliss, OCR Director Erin Barry, OCR Events and Meetings Director Zhipi McDougald, OCR Director Kevin Kaltenbach, and OCR Director and 2022 President Adam Rodell.

Orange County REALTORS® Congratulates . . .

Lantern Bay Realty in Dana Point on celebrating fifty years of service to the Orange County community. Pictured are, from left to right, Tim Johnson, Tiffany Johnson, Lantern Bay founder Joe Louvullo, Sr., and Mike Louvullo.

Erin Barry on being elected president of Smart Coast California.

Ron Pascual on being appointed by the Huntington Beach City Council to serve on that city’s Personnel Commission.

Jamie Saltman on being named Director of Network Engagement for the Women’s Council of REALTORS®. Jamie previously served that organization as its Interim CEO.

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OC REALTOR®

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2023

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NAMES IN THE NEWS

ASSUMABLE LOANS

Photo by Marion Butterfield

AT BELOW MARKET RATES

PAUL & SARAH SCHEPER #1 Father-Daughter Team Toll Free (800) 662-6784

FREE Get A List- of Assumables Zip Code FREE- Analysis Let’s Run eBy Numbers!

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Welcoming Assemblywoman Diane Dixon (center) to a joint meeting of the Orange County REALTORS® Local Government Relations North and South Committees are LGRN Chair Suzanne Gignoux and LGRS Chair Jim Thor.

Local Government Relations North and South Host Legislative Update by Assemblywoman Diane Dixon On October 10, the OC REALTORS® Local Government Relations North and South Committees held a joint meeting at which they welcomed as their speaker Assemblywoman Diane Dixon. A former Mayor of Newport Beach, Diane now represents the 72nd Assembly District, which includes Aliso Viejo, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, and Seal Beach.

Assemblywoman Dixon reported that she was “interested in the fundamentals of operating a city” and “always looking for bills being supported

by REALTORS®.” Among her recent legislative accomplishments, she mentioned having authored a bill to help the City of Lake Forest recover $25 million in Redevelopment funds that the Orange County Treasurer was holding.

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Assemblywoman Dixon termed ACA 1 and ACA 13 “an attempt to chip away at the protections of Proposition 13” and said that she was opposed to both pieces of legislation. “When we talk about affordable housing,” she observed, “the elephant in the room is CEQA. There is an entire ecosystem whose purpose is to prevent housing from being built.” She went on to say, “We are mandating rental units, but generational wealth is created through home ownership. I’d like to look at ways to incentivize home ownership.”

Photos by Marion Butterfield

NAMES IN THE NEWS

Pictured at the Thirteenth Annual Roses and Radishes Award Dinner hosted by OCTax are, standing in the back row from left to right, Jim Corliss, Rick Cosenza, Paula Cosenza, Laurie Johnson, Lata Jobanputra, Erin Barry, Suzanne Gignoux, Mary Jane Cambria, Lynne Suzanski, Joyce Endo, Lacy Robertson, Elizabeth Otok, and Aliso Viejo Mayor Pro Tem Mike Munzing. Kneeling in the front row are OC REALTORS® 2020 President Danielle Corliss and OC REALTORS® 2023 President Scott White.

Also attending the Thirteenth Annual Roses and Radishes Award Dinner were Thomas Lotts, OC REALTORS® Government Affairs Director Dirissy Doan, Irvine Mayor Farah Kahn, and Mary Visconte.

OCTax President and CEO Sara Catalan presented the coveted Royalty Award to Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer for being “a fiscal conservative to his core.”

Todd Spitzer Honored at Thirteenth Annual Roses and Radishes Dinner On October 18, the Orange County Taxpayers Association (OCTax) presented its Thirteenth Annual Roses and Radishes Featuring the Royalty Award Dinner.

Serving as mistress of ceremonies was OCTax President and CEO Sara Catalan.

Assisting Sara at the microphone was OCTax Board Chairman Adam Wood.

On this occasion, Radish Awards went to Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara for his “continuing complacency” in the face of the insurance crisis, to ACA 1 and ACA 13, and to the Trabuco Canyon Water District for the “double whammy” of imposing a water rate increase on customers and a new tax on property owners.

Rose Awards for being economic generators and/or good stewards of public funds went to South Coast Plaza and the Segerstrom Family, to the Moulton Niguel Water District, to Aliso Viejo Mayor Pro Tem Mike Munzing for his efforts to defeat San Juan Capistrano School District Measure G, and to the City of Mission Viejo and Councilmember Wendy Bucknum for her role as co-chair of the California Sober Living and Recovery Home Task Force, a group of local leaders who worked to address the challenge of sober living homes.

And the 2023 Royalty Award went to Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer for being “a fiscal conservative to his core.” Previous recipients of this award include Reed Royalty, C.J. Segerstom & Sons, the Orange County Automobile Dealer Association, the Irvine Company, the Disneyland Resort, the California Association of REALTORS®, Eric Woolery, and Lucy Dunn.

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NAMES IN THE NEWS

Orange County REALTORS® Attend VNARP Partners Appreciation Dinner The Vietnamese National Association of Real Estate Professionals (VNARP) of Southern California invited Orange County REALTORS® to its Taste of Vietnam Partners Appreciation Dinner. Among those attending the dinner were (in the front row, from left to right) VNARP SoCal Founding President Mindy Luong, Phuong Diep, 2024 AREAA OC Chapter President Sumir Desai, VNARP SoCal Vice President Theresa Nguyen, and Tina Vo and (in the back row, from left to right) VNARP SoCal Sponsorship Chair Bryan Ahn, OC REALTORS® 2023 President Scott White, OC REALTORS® President-Elect Jeffrey Jackson, OC REALTORS® CEO Dave Stefanides, VNARP SoCal President-Elect Huy Nguyen, and VNARP SoCal Secretary Van Gordon. “Our partnership means the world to us,” remarked Dave Stefanides. “We’re absolutely thrilled with the positive impact you’ve had on our community.”

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NAMES IN THE NEWS

USPS Form 3526-R Reporting Requirement for Periodical Postage Permit The information below is being published as a requirement to maintain our Periodical Postage Privileges.

ASSUMABLE LOANS AT BELOW MARKET RATES

Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation: Publication Title: OC REALTOR®; Publication Number: 1945-2179; Filing date: 10/13/2023; Issue Frequency: Bimonthly; Number of Issues Published Annually: 6; Annual subscription Price: $6.68; Complete Mailing Address of Office of Publication, Office of Publisher, Publisher, Editor and Managing Editor, Owner: Orange County REALTORS®, 25552 La Paz Road, Laguna Hills, Orange County, CA 92653-5127; Tax Status: Has not changed during the preceding 12 months; Issue Date for Circulation Data: September 2023; The period includes 12 months.

Average Number of Copies Each Issue During Preceding Twelve Months: Total Number of Copies: 15,609; Paid Subscriptions,Outside-County: 3,352, In-County: 11,948; Total Paid Circulation 15,301; Nonrequested Distribution: 196, Total Nonrequested Distribution: 196; Total Distribution: 15,497; Copies not Distributed: 113; Total 15,609; Percent Paid: 98.74% Number of Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date:

PAUL & SARAH SCHEPER #1 Father-Daughter Team Toll Free (800) 662-6784

FREE - Get A List of Assumables By Zip Code

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Names in the News is intended to be primarily a place where REALTOR® and Affiliate members of Orange County REALTORS® can share both personal and professional news—about births (of children or grandchildren), graduations, weddings, anniversaries, accomplishments, awards, and other milestones—with one another. If you have news to share, please submit it online at www.ocrealtors.org/names.

Total Number of Copies: 15,351; Paid Subscriptions, Outside-County: 3,717, In-County: 11,334; Total Paid Circulation 15,051; Nonrequested Distribution: 200, Total Nonrequested Distribution: 200; Total Distribution: 15,251; Copies not Distributed: 100; Total 15,351; Percent Paid: 98.69%

OC REALTOR®

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2023

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A LOVING FAREWELL

Legend: Sherri Butterfield

Photo by www.adobestock.com/ aaabbc and Towfiqu Barbhuiya

Farewell to A Literary

By Sabrina Blair

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PROGRAMS

Anyone who has attended an Orange County REALTORS® event

is sure to recognize our Editor and Writer for OC REALTOR®, Sherri Butterfield, alongside her husband, Marion. They almost always come together, station themselves at one of the front tables, and quietly get to work. While Sherri listens intently to the presentation at hand, her other half, Marion will ready his camera for the next big photo opp. Sherri and Marion have devoted countless years to serving the members of Orange County REALTORS® through the pages of one of our most treasured benefits, the OC REALTOR® magazine. After years of service to the local real estate industry, they will be stepping back from their roles at the Association, and we would like to recognize their contributions.

In addition to writing her own articles for OC REALTOR®, Sherri was responsible for reading and editing every word, in every issue. That’s easily 20,000+ words to be accountable for each issue. She has also been responsible for working closely with our President each year, writing and editing their bi-monthly President’s Message for the magazine. Our current President, Scott White raved about Sherri and Marion’s help, saying "Sherri Butterfield is a local treasure. Without her editorial expertise, wisdom, and guidance, I would have been at a loss for my bi-monthly OCR magazine articles. I learned I could lean on her skill sets several years ago, when I wrote my first piece for OC REALTOR® magazine. Sherri and her husband, Marion, massaged the text into a fine article, and then photoshopped my photos for print. When I was installed as the 2023 OCR President, I knew my job would be made easier by the passion Sherri puts into her work.”

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Scott went on to say, “Thank you, Sherri, for all your years of service and dedication to Orange County REALTORS®. You are already a legend, and I will miss your monthly interactions for our magazine messages."

On top of her magazine responsibilities, Sherri also came to the rescue often for special projects for our CEO, Dave Stefanides, such as resolutions and even the OC REALTORS® story as published on pages 36–37. Dave said, "Cheers to Sherri Butterfield, the guiding force behind OC REALTOR® Magazine for so many incredible years. Your dedication, vision, and unwavering commitment have elevated this publication from a few-page, flimsy, newspaper throwaway to a full-color 40 pageplus story log of everything that happens at Orange County REALTORS®. Your meticulous attention to grammar, usage, and punctuation, as well as your gentle editing touch, have not only improved countless articles but also the overall quality of the magazine. As you retire from this prestigious role, you leave a legacy of excellence that will continue to inspire and inform our communications team and countless real estate professionals.”

Illustrations by www.adobestock.com/ Mariia and Hisa-Nishiya

A LOVING FAREWELL

On behalf of Orange "County REALTORS , we ®

want to extend our biggest gratitude to both Sherri and Marion for their years of service and dedication to our Association.

"

OC REALTOR®

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2023

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LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

Leadership Academy Alumni

WHERE ARE

They Now?

Photo by www.adobestock.com/ Jodie and khwanchai

R E A LT O R ®

By Sabrina Blair DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PROGRAMS

C O L L E E N T R U J I L LO Class of 2018–2019

A

s Orange County REALTORS’® Leadership Academy gets ready to embark on their seventh class in January 2024, we would like to check in with a few Alumni to see where their leadership journey has taken them since graduation. The OCR Leadership Academy was launched in 2016 because 2015 President Rita Tayenaka and other Directors saw a need for new blood in leadership roles at the Association level and decided to form an academy to train, grow, and nurture leaders. The Academy is currently facilitated by our 2020 President, Danielle Corliss. To give readers a better idea about what the Academy can do for members, we are featuring graduates in OC REALTOR®. To learn more about the Leadership Academy or to apply for the next class, visit www.ocrealtors.org/la.

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Have you always been a natural leader or interested in leadership roles?

Yes, I started young with student council, captain of my cheerleading squad, chairperson for various committees in college. I helped to start the baseball booster club at Tesoro High School and organized several blood drives through Little League. I’ve managed several softball teams for my daughter and volunteered with Viejo Little League. I’ve never been one to sit on the sidelines, but I definitely don’t seek the spotlight either.

What was the biggest thing you gained from participating in the Academy?

The friendships I’ve made and continue to cherish. Also, the seminars regarding personality traits were very insightful!

Where has your leadership journey taken you since graduation?

What leadership roles have you obtained?

I was a member of several committees at OCR including PAEC and have been honored to serve as a C.A.R. Director for the past 3 years.

I was the co-chair for the REimagine Committee in 2023. I am also serving as a Key Contact for Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez.

I have also stepped outside of my box and became a licensed Pilates Instructor even though I’ve never been one to enjoy public speaking.

What advice or words of encouragement would you give to someone considering applying for the Academy?

Go for it! If not you, then who? If not now, when? We need more voices, we need to replace ourselves. Trust that voice inside yourself, go for it!

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

R E A LT O R ® & A F F I L I AT E

What spurred you to apply for the Leadership Academy?

I found Leadership Academy was a necessity for me at that time when I wanted to grow my career and leadership skills.

What was the biggest thing you gained from participating in the Academy?

I learned how to understand and work with different types of people for a long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship.

VA N G O R D O N Class of 2019–2020

Where has your leadership journey taken you since graduation?

What leadership roles have you obtained?

I've been involved more with Orange County REALTORS® at different levels and different positions as Affiliate Committee Vice Chair (2020-2021) and Chair (2022) then elected to the Board of Directors for 2024-2026. I was also honored to be the first Secretary of the Vietnamese National Association of Real Estate Professional Southern California.

What advice or words of encouragement would you give to someone considering applying for the Academy?

Be open to new changes and learn. Be involved and be consistent.

Illustration by www.adobestock.com/ VASYL

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NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2023

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THE ORANGE COUNTY HOUSING UPDATE

With sky-high rates and a collapse in home affordability, many wrongly conclude that there will be a wave of foreclosures and it is just a matter of time before the housing market crashes.

By Steven Thomas REPORTSONHOUSING.COM Steven Thomas has a degree in quantitative economics and decision sciences from the University of California, San Diego, and more than twenty years of experience in real estate.

His bimonthly Orange County Housing Report is available by subscription and provides housing market analysis that is easy to understand and useful in setting the expectations of both buyers and sellers. His website is www.ReportsOnHousing.com.

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Fear. Worry. Uncertainty. These words describe how many people feel about today’s housing market. Home values have surged higher since 2022; and within the past couple of weeks, mortgage rates have climbed to heights not seen in twenty-three years. With home affordability at record lows, many argue that when the economy cools or slips into a recession, housing will collapse, and foreclosures will rise. After all, isn’t that how the Great Recession unfolded?

But just because mortgage rates have climbed toward 8 percent does not mean that values will go down and that many homeowners will lose their homes as a result of short sales or foreclosures.

The Great Recession was fueled by a credit bubble inflated by loose lending practices, including subprime mortgages, pick-a-payment plans, teaser adjustable rates, zero down, and plenty of fraud. Because these high-risk borrowers were vulnerable to adjustments in their rates or changes in the economy, a wave of foreclosures ensued.

Members of the public often jump to conclusions without looking at all the facts and trend lines. They remember the burn from 2008 through 2011. Everyone either was burned or knew someone who was hurt by the collapse in home values. The economy ground to a halt, and unemployment grew to levels not seen since the beginning of the 1980s. Thus, everyone is jumping to the conclusion that housing will suffer.

At the start of October 2024, there were only four foreclosures and two short sales available to purchase in Orange County, for a total of six distressed listings. Distress demand, the number of new pending sales over the prior month, was at one. Foreclosures and short sales represented only 0.3 percent of the active listing inventory and 0.07 percent of overall demand.

Compare that to January 2009, when there were 5,104 distressed listings, 44 percent of the inventory, and distressed demand was at 1,428 pendings, 67 percent of total demand.

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OC REALTOR®

Photo by www.adobestock.com/ eyetronic

NO DISTRESS

Figure 1. Orange County Distressed Listing At the start of October 2023, there were only four foreclosures and two short sales available to purchase in Orange County, for a total of six distressed listings. Foreclosures and short sales represented only 0.3 percent of the active listing inventory and 0.07 percent of overall demand.

Compare that to January 2009, when there were 5,104 distressed listings, 44 percent of the inventory, and distressed demand was at 1,428 pendings, 67 percent of total demand.

That is correct. In January 2009, two-thirds of demand was distressed (see Figure 1). Lenders were in control of the housing market through bank-owned listings, foreclosures, and short sales, where the lender (or lenders) needed to approve taking less than the outstanding loan balance. They were unemotional sellers willing to do whatever it took to sell. Often, that meant pricing a home below the most recent closed sale. Consequently, home values plummeted.

Some believe right now is the calm before the storm, similar to the years 2005 and 2006. Yet, this is where today’s catastrophically low inventory and the strength of the homeowner step in and quash the argument. The lead-up to the Great Recession was characterized by an Orange County inventory that grew from 4,900 homes in March 2005 to more than 16,000 homes in the summer of 2006 and reached nearly 18,000 homes by September 2007. This year, the inventory climbed to 2,475 homes and will drop to around 1,500 by year’s end, a near-record low.

Before the Great Recession, the average buyer FICO score was 681 (2006), low- or no-down-payment loans were common, and buyers tapped into subprime mortgages, pick-a-payment plans, and teaser adjustable-rate products. Adjustable-rate mortgages made up more than one-third of mortgage applications each year from 2004 to 2007. There was a flood of cash-out refinances where homeowners used their homes like ATMs. When the economy slipped into a recession and adjustable-rate mortgages reset to much higher rates, a wave of homeowners could no longer afford to make their monthly payments.

Unemployment surged from 5 percent in January 2008 to 10 percent in 2009, squeezing an already stressed housing stock.

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Illustrations by www.adobestock.com/ PCH.Vector and graengkrai

THE ORANGE COUNTY HOUSING UPDATE

THE ORANGE COUNTY HOUSING UPDATE

Figure 2. The Housing Market Before the Great Recession and Today Before the Great Recession, low- or no-down-payment loans were common. Adjustable-rate mortgages made up more than one-third of the mortgage applications from 2004 to 2007. When mortgages reset to much higher rates, many homeowners could no longer afford to make their monthly payments. But in 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act tightened lending standards. As a result, 96 percent of today’s homeowners with loans have low fixed-rate mortgages.

Today’s housing stock is entirely different (see Figure 2). Lending has been tight since the adoption of the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, a law that provided common-sense protections for consumers in obtaining a loan. Buyers have purchased homes with higher down payments, tighter qualification and lending standards, and an average FICO score of 746 (2022). Cash-out refinances are at their lowest levels since 2000. Unemployment has remained at decade lows, below 4 percent. An incredible 96 percent of homeowners with a loan enjoy low fixed-rate mortgages. Unlike before and during the Great Recession, homeowners today are not vulnerable to rising payments. Nearly 50 percent of all homeowners across the county are considered to be “equity rich,” meaning they have more than 50 percent equity in their homes.

Homeowners do not have to move. They have qualified for years with solid credit and good jobs and are now enjoying their low, fixed payments. Consequently, homeowners continue to “hunker down” in their homes, unwilling to move because of their current locked-in, low rate. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s National Mortgage Database, 85 percent of Californians with a mortgage have a rate of 5 percent or lower, 69 percent have a rate of 4 percent or lower, and 30 percent have a rate of 3 percent or lower. As a result, fewer homeowners are listing their homes for sale in the current high-rate environment. From January through September of this year, 18,653 new sellers entered the market in Orange County, 13,760 fewer than the threeyear average before COVID (2017 to 2019), 42 percent less. These missing For Sale signs exacerbate the low inventory dilemma and have led to a waterfall dive in the number of closed sales.

The Bottom Line: Do not count on a wave of distressed homes or a housing crash. The Orange County Expected Market Time (the number of days to sell all listings at the current buying pace) was at 50 days at the start of October, lower than last year’s 68-day October level and much lower than the three-year average before COVID of 86 days. Even if the market were to line up favoring buyers in the negotiating process, the inventory crisis and strong housing stock would prevent a substantial downturn. Housing will not crash.

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2024 NEW LAWS

TO REGISTER

12/29

WITH GOV HUTCHINSON, ESQ.

JANUARY 17

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Old Ranch Country Club 3901 Lampson Ave, Seal Beach

Hosted by:

RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Lun ch will be ser ved

Join the Risk Management Committee for the annual New Laws presentation with Gov Hutchinson, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of the California Association of REALTORS ® .

We will take a look at new laws and their impact on the real estate industry for this new year.

Register: www.ocrealtors.org/new-laws If you have difficulty accessing classes and programming, please contact Orange County REALTORS® at accessibility@ocrealtors.org to specify the nature of the accessibility issue and any assistive technology you use.

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for the New Year

R® REALTO

STEP 1

REALTOR®

STEP 2

BY DELANEY PUTHUFF COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Another day, another dollar, another year.

2023 coming to a close can feel like any other year coming to an end, but this year is going to be different! Take this time to shake things up! Here is how to level up your business for the upcoming year, reinvigorate yourself, and maybe inspire others along the way.

3p.m.

Meeting Open House

Step One: Represent Your Profession Don’t wait for career day to show off pride in your profession, take the opportunity to walk the walk and talk the talk, every day. This is a career that is based heavily on self-confidence, good communication skills, and networking. Never miss an opportunity to let people know what you do. Maybe think about picking up some swag from REALSTORE™ at www.shoprealstore.com. Some REALTOR®-branded sweatpants for heading to the grocery store, a REALTOR® hat for your kid’s soccer game, or even a REALTOR® tumbler for when you’re taking coffee on the go. Representing what you do, and showing pride in your profession, is all a part of getting into the mindset for the new year, and who knows, you might even get a few leads along the way. Take every opportunity you can to be proud of what you do as you spring forward into 2024 with a fresh mindset and sense of self.

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Step Two: Make A Plan Another great way to take your business to the next level is by setting realistic goals for yourself.

That can be making a New Year’s resolution to no longer work past dinner time or finally creating a business plan. Creating a holistic view of your life and business is a great way to set yourself up for success in the coming year. Look back at any and all data you can gather from the year behind you. What do you see? If we take an in-depth look at the progress we've made, and some areas where improvements can be had, we can set up a realistic plan to achieve more in 2024. Lean into the areas of strength and recognize where you might be able to learn a little bit more. Get the year started on the right foot and attend our free business planning class in January! Sign up online at www.ocrealtors.org/calendar.

Illustrations by www.adobestock.com/ Visual Generation, Bro Vector, nadia_snopek, VZ_Art, Elena Pimukova, anatolir, and StarGraphic

COVER STORY

COVER STORY

Step Three: Upgrade Your Digital Presence Reachability is everything. If you have a dated or inaccurate online presence, how is anyone supposed to find how much you can truly offer them?

Taking a quick moment to refresh your digital presence is a really good idea when stepping into the new year.

Updating deadlines, creating new links, updating phone numbers and business hours, are all good ideas for stepping up your game online.

Want to go the extra mile? consider upgrading your property flyers and websites with Rela. Discounts are available to OC REALTORS® members at www.ocrealtors.org/rela.

STEP 3

Step Four: Know The Business Inside and Out Every good REALTOR® knows the hallmarks of this business, but what about the constantly changing local and state legislation impacting the real estate industry, and ultimately your clients? Keeping up on the latest and greatest in this amazing field is an important part of being a good REALTOR®, and an advocate for others in the profession as well as your clients.

There are many ways to stay informed, including attending News Laws with Gov Hutchinson on January 17 at the Old Ranch Country Club. Staying up to date is an important part of being on top of your game, and leveling up your business. To learn more and sign up, visit www.ocrealtors.org/new-laws.

STEP 4

Don’t let another year pass you by without continuing to improve yourself personally, and professionally.

Here’s to another great year of being some of the best and brightest in the industry!

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to Give Back

BY DELANEY PUTHUFF COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

A

s we come to a close on another great year of offering services to this lovely community, it is a good time to take a step back and take stock of where it is that we work. No, not just the office, but the whole of Orange County. As Orange County REALTORS®, we are so privileged to work in one of the best, most sought after places in the world, and this is the time of year to give back just a little bit of the greatness we get, to the community we work in. The investments made to our home base can and should have a lasting impact on our everyday outcomes.

‘Tis the season to give back, and what better way to ring in the new year with a full heart and some positive morale, than by giving back to the people and things that make Orange County such an amazing place to be. A win/win situation for all involved, volunteering your time or donating your money, helps those who receive the contributions as well as boosting how the community and potential clients receive you.

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Illustrations by www.adobestock.com/ vectorstory, SurfupVector, and artyway

COVER STORY

Illustrations by www.adobestock.com/ vectorstores.com, Fand, Ivan Feoktistov, and Dmytro Minasian

COVER STORY

Donate Your Time

Donate Money

Time, during the last few months of the year, is scarce. Not everyone will have the free calendar space to set up an entire fundraising event for charity, but that does not matter.

A day, a few hours, even 15 minutes of your time can be spent giving back and still have an impact. This can be spending time at a community kitchen or food drive to help those in need, taking yourself and a few other agents to donate blood or plasma, signing up for a spot to help in community nonprofits such as Laura’s House, Orangewood Children’s Home. or Shea Center. Time is something anyone regardless of background, can give, and these moments will have a lasting impact. Volunteering can also attract potential clients as you are sure to meet people along the way.. Snap a quick pic, or tweet a small anecdote, encouraging those around you to do a similar small act of service, and let clients, family, and friends know that you care.

Money, a quick fix if you can’t squeeze in the time, is no small feat. This time of year gets busy and before you know it, you are all booked up! For those who can afford it, giving a monetary donation can really have an impact on the community. With a charity of your choosing, you can donate some spare change to make a difference. Open houses coming up? Try leaving out a donation box to collect canned food or toys for children.!

You have helped the commonwealth, uplifted your professional perception, and inspired others to do-good as well.

Not sure where to give back? Visit our website at www.ocrealtors.org/charity to find a cause that speaks to you!

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COVER STORY

Yourself Up in Self-Care

By Sydney Smythe MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT

L

et’s be honest… the job of a REALTOR® never ends! Whether you’re showing a listing, filling out forms, or speaking with prospective clients, there is always something on your to-do list. With the 2023 year coming to an end, now is a good time to incorporate selfcare practices throughout your day so you can go into 2024 feeling your best!

Create a Morning Routine Did you know that the way you start your morning is what sets the tone for your day to come? Creating a morning routine that you complete every day not only kickstarts your energy levels but also allows your mind to adjust and alleviate any anxiety you may have according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Consider adding time in the morning to journal, make your bed, or even get on track with your skincare routine.

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Illustrations by www.adobestock.com/ Rudzhan

Photo by www.adobestock.com/ okrasiuk

Illustrations by www.adobestock.com/ Creative Juice and Ava

COVER STORY

Fuel Your Body and Stay Hydrated According to an article by the NIMH, focusing on a balanced diet while drinking water throughout the day can lead to more focus and energy. They also suggest limiting caffeinated drinks such as soda and coffee. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind!

Celebrate Your Successes

Find Your “You” Time After a long day of work, your body and mind need a break. Try taking at least 30 minutes out of your day to do something that you enjoy. This could be reading a book, completing a craft, or going for a walk. The goal is to reset and clear your mind. Pro Tip: Turn your phone notifications off to avoid any interruptions.

For some of us, it can be very easy to focus on the negatives.

Switching this mindset and instead, finding the reasons to celebrate can help you end your night on a positive note. Think back and give yourself a pat on the back for any successes during your day. A “success” could be something as big as closing on your biggest listing yet or as small as getting up after the first alarm when you normally hit snooze. No matter the success, you can take it into tomorrow to remind you of all the good that can happen!

In the end, creating a routine for yourself can be difficult.

However, slowly implementing these self-care practices one at a time can help you ease into a healthy change and set yourself for a better new year.

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CRMLS

Illustration by www.adobestock.com/ YummyBuum

T idying Up

for the

By CRMLS

The way you start 2024 will be different from how you started 2023.

A

s we're now in the thick of autumn, it's commonplace for some real estate professionals to see a general slowing in business, so it's a great time to consider the actions you can take to end a year’s worth of work on a positive note. It’s a bit like an early New Year’s resolution, but one that you’re vowing to accomplish before the calendar flips.

Let's use the opportunity to take stock, reflect, and plan for our impending future. Here are some ways to clean up after 2023 and look towards 2024 with a refreshed mindset.

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Real estate is a dynamic industry; change is the only constant; and this year has featured some real doozies, from market shifts to inventory issues, to legal challenges, and more. So much more! As your MLS, we recommend going back through the year’s news and changes, to not only recap it for yourself, but to reflect on how your business may have changed since last January (a great way to start is to go over your collection of OC REALTOR® magazine, wink wink). The way you start 2024 will be different from how you started 2023.

CRMLS

Getting a picture of the year’s market changes will help you understand not just what has happened, but what could be coming. Market trends, like all trends, work in cycles, and knowing the past can better prepare us for the future. Most importantly, it will keep us from repeating the same mistakes. It's the same thing your high school history teacher was always going on about.

Take some time to review the year's markets and the associated data. We offer a product solution called InfoSparks that is a great way to succinctly gather all the data you need. It'll also help to have it on hand for when clients start coming in at the top of 2024. You'll be prepared to show them just what things look like in your area.

On a more personal level, you can also take stock of your own dealings and review what your transactions and sales looked like. Be self-critical, take a measurement of yourself, and figure out how you can build from here.

Our MLS system will allow you to easily search through your listings and see how your business looked this past year. Plus, the Knowledgebase on go.crmls.org stores more details on getting the most out of your MLS system's functionalities.

Lastly, it’s important to take a second and think about not just the numbers, but the people you’ve worked with, for, and near this past year. Real estate is a business all about managing connections and relationships, and there's great opportunity in the fall and winter seasons (or at least as wintry as Orange County gets) to reconnect. Maybe consider sending holiday greetings to stay in touch with your clients and expand your network. It doesn’t need to be anything major, but a little bit of communication can go a long way.

Illustration by www.adobestock.com/ Flash concept

If you’ve had a particularly busy year (like so many of us have), take a moment to pause and show some gratitude to whoever has helped you along.

Maybe it’s an officemate, maybe it’s a client who referred you, but whoever it may be, tying up your year with a little bit of heart will help you greet the next year with a smile.

Overall, the end of the year is a great time to remind yourself how far you’ve actually come. Nothing in this business is a given and it's easy to get bogged down in it, but you made it through one more year as a proud REALTOR®. That deserves a pat on the back, even if it's from your own hand. Take a breath from all the craziness, enjoy something flavored with cinnamon, and look back on all the things you've accomplished.

Who knows what the next year will bring? We're sure you've already got some big plans and ambitions.

CRMLS is hard at work to bring more new products and services to all our users, and we look forward to debuting them to you. Before we get cracking on all our future plans, we are taking that moment to be thankful for all that’s happened in 2023.

Be well, have a safe holiday season, and we’ll see you at work in 2024!

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Illustrations by www.adobestock.com/atScene and NuTz

KEY TO SUCCESS

YOUR FREE REALTOR.COM PROFILE:

THE KEY TO BEING FOUND

BY REALTOR.COM

“Hide-and-go-seek” is a great game to play with children, but it’s the last game you want to play when it comes to potential clients trying to find you online. By claiming and filling out your free Realtor.com® agent profile, not only will you make yourself easy to find, but you will create the opportunity to generate free leads.

The overwhelming majority of Realtor.com profile views come from internet searches. A fully-completed Realtor.com profile is indexed several times a day by search engines, potentially sending more buyers and sellers to your page. Of course, potential clients can also use our “Find A REALTOR®” search tool to find you once you’ve created your profile.

Benefits of fully-complete profile: When you have a fully-complete profile, you get to tell potential clients your story. They get to see your years of experience, certifications and designations, along with your local knowledge, front and center. All of this goes to building your personal brand.

A complete profile is giving buyers and sellers more ways to identify and connect with you when filtering by city/town, neighborhood, ZIP code, agent name, and map areas. You can even use an interactive map so your important data can speak for itself, such as: • Past transactional data • Current listing activity • Recently sold (if your MLS provides this to Realtor.com) • For rent listings; and • Open houses

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How to get started:

The simplest way to get started is to visit Realtor.com/ profile,click the “Get started” button, and follow the prompts, or you can go to the upper right corner of the home page and log in if you’ve already claimed your profile. If you have any questions along the way, there are videos embedded on the sign up page to help you with the process, and you can also contact the Realtor.com Customer Care team from the contact us form or via phone at (888) 481-0763.

Once you are logged in to your dashboard, click on “Profile” in the toolbar on the left and select “Manage Profile.” From there it’s as simple as adding a background and profile picture and filling in the blanks. You can even add a short video about yourself to help consumers learn even more about you. The key is to start filling it out and remember Realtor.com is here to help get you started.

EMAIL BEST PRACTICES

By Liz Barndt

A

few years ago, you set up your own website and started sending emails using your domain address (joe@myownwebsite.com).

It’s a valuable image marketing tool but like everything involving technology, it needs to keep up.

Here are some considerations to improve email deliverability and avoid being flagged as spam:

1.

Set up SPF (Sender Policy Framework): SPF is an email authentication method that verifies that the sender of an email is authorized to send emails on behalf of a domain. Contact your domain administrator or hosting provider to add an SPF record to your DNS settings. This helps prevent your emails from being blocked or marked as spam.

4.

Implement DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): DKIM is another email authentication process. It helps verify the integrity and authenticity of your emails by adding a digital signature to your outgoing emails.

Similar to SPF, you need to work with your domain administrator or hosting provider to set up DKIM for your domain.

2.

Monitor your email reputation: It's important to keep an eye on your email sending practices and reputation.

Regularly check feedback loops and bounce reports provided by your email service provider. This helps identify and resolve any issues promptly, such as high bounce rates or spam complaints.

3.

Use a reputable email service or provider: Instead of sending mass emails directly from your email provider, consider using a dedicated email marketing or bulk email service. These services typically have specialized infrastructure and tools to improve email deliverability and provide additional features for managing email campaigns.

Configure DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance): DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM to provide additional email authentication and reporting capabilities. It allows you to specify how email servers should handle emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks. Implementing DMARC can help protect your domain from email spoofing and phishing attempts.

5.

Remember that email deliverability can be influenced by various factors beyond your control, such as the recipient's email server configuration and spam filters. By implementing proper email authentication measures and following best practices, you can maximize the chances of your emails reaching the intended recipients.

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Illustrations by www.adobestock.com/mast3r, and David Santos Mendoza

CFO, OC REALTORS®

75 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

The

Orange County REALTORS®

Legacy

By Michelle McCann and Sherri M. Butterfield

P

eople often inquire about the origins of Orange County REALTORS®–a question that leads us through an intricate history involving several associations, mergers, and the evolution of names. Before we embark on this journey through seven and a half decades of legacy, we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated members, past and present leaders, and all those who have been instrumental in making Orange County REALTORS® what it is today!

Our story begins in San Clemente, the southernmost city in Orange County. Located on the California Coast, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, San Clemente was founded in 1925 by former Seattle Mayor Ole Hanson. He envisioned a Mediterraneanstyle coastal resort town whose hill, mountain, and ocean views would make it a haven for Californians weary of urban living. San Clemente was incorporated as a city on February 27, 1928. Twenty years later, on November 17, 1948, the San Clemente Board of REALTORS® was chartered by the National Association of REALTORS®, and it is to this event that Orange County REALTORS® traces its beginnings.

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1948

1966

San Clemente Board of REALTORS®

San Clemente– Capistrano Valley Board of REALTORS®

In that same year, Warner Brothers showed the first color newsreel, which was of the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rose Bowl; Democrat incumbent Harry Truman defeated Republican Thomas Dewey, “Dixiecrat” Strom Thurmond, and Progressive Party candidate Henry Wallace to become President of the United States; the United Nations established the World Health Organization (WHO); the Berlin Airlift began, and the Soviet Union started jamming Voice of America broadcasts.

On May 10, 1966, the National Association of REALTORS® approved a name change from San Clemente Board of REALTORS® to San Clemente– Capistrano Valley Board of REALTORS®; and five years later, on May 11, 1971, approved another name change for this group to South Orange County Board of REALTORS®.

75 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE EVENTS

+

+

+

Four additional REALTOR® Associations were created between 1960 and 1979

South Orange County Association of REALTORS® and the Irvine Association of REALTORS® merged with the Saddleback Valley Board of REALTORS®, and the Saddleback Valley Board of REALTORS® became the surviving corporation

1971

1977

1995

South Orange County Board of REALTORS®

Orange County Association of REALTORS®

2018

Orange County REALTORS®

Illustrations by www.adobestock.com/ vvalentine, Saiful, tatianasun, and debruderstudio

South Orange County began to grow in the 1960s, as rolling ranchland became home to master-planned communities such as Irvine, Laguna Niguel, and Mission Viejo. To meet the steadily increasing demand for assistance with real estate transactions, four additional REALTOR® Associations were created between 1960 and 1979: the Huntington Beach–Fountain Valley Association of REALTORS® in 1960, the Saddleback Valley Board of REALTORS® in 1974, the Saddleback Valley Board of REALTORS® Multiple Listing in 1974, and the Irvine Association of REALTORS® in 1979.

In 1995, the South Orange County Association of REALTORS® and the Irvine Association of REALTORS® merged with the Saddleback Valley Board of REALTORS®, and the Saddleback Valley Board of REALTORS® became the surviving corporation. At about this same time, the Saddleback Valley Board of REALTORS® changed its name to the South Orange County Association of REALTORS®.

Then, in 1997, the Huntington Beach–Fountain Valley Association of REALTORS® merged into the South Orange County Association of REALTORS®, which dropped the term “South” from its name and began doing business as the Orange County Association of REALTORS®. The National Association of REALTORS® approved this merger on November 10, 1997.

On February 6, 2015, the Orange County Association of REALTORS® filed a request to do business as Orange County REALTORS®, and that name became official when it was approved by the National Association of REALTORS® on July 27, 2018.

Today, Orange County REALTORS® has 14,934 Primary REALTOR® members and 523 Affiliate members. It serves a total of 17,280 members (including MLS-only, Secondary REALTORS®, Appraisers, Assistants, and Students). In size, Orange County REALTORS® ranks first in the state and fifteenth in the nation. On November 17, 2023, Orange County REALTORS® will celebrate seventy-five years of valuable service to the growing Orange County community.

Join us in celebrating this remarkable milestone on November 30 at our 75th Anniversary Gala event happening at the Balboa Bay Resort. Tickets are now on sale for you and your guests, and we can't wait to share this special evening with you! www.ocrealtors.org/gala OC REALTOR®

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VETERANS

ORANGE COUNTY REALTORS® ANNUAL

By Sherri Butterfield World War I, which began in 1914, eventually involved all the world’s economic powers in what was called simply the “Great War.” On one side were France, Italy, Japan, the Russian Empire, the United Kingdom, and the United States. On the other side were Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany, and the Ottoman Empire.

Ultimately, more than 70 million military personnel were mobilized for—and more than 9 million combatants were killed in—what became the fifth-deadliest war in history.

This global conflict officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919; however, major hostilities had ceased seven months earlier, when an armistice went into effect at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For this reason, November 11, 1918, is generally recognized as the date on which the “war to end all wars” came to an end. In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, and it was set aside to honor veterans of World War I with parades and public gatherings and with a brief suspension of all business activities at the “eleventh hour.”

In 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen in U.S. history and after American forces had repelled communist aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress passed H.R. 7786, which President Dwight Eisenhower signed into law, changing the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. Coming as it does in the month of Thanksgiving, Veterans Day is an ideal time not only to take pride in heroism but also to give thanks for freedom, for victory, and for all who have served the United States of America in uniform, whether to win a war or to preserve the peace.

RON ABIERA U.S. Army 9 Years of Service

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MIKE AMEEL U.S. Army 1969–1972

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TAYLOR-ANN BERGERON U.S. Navy 2001–2005

DAVE BERMAN U.S. Navy 1967–1973

Illustrations by www.adobestock.com/Farosofa, yustika, and Sunshower Shots

Featuring OC REALTORS® and Affiliates

VETERANS

BRAD COLEMAN U.S. Marine Corps 1992–1999

DON COOK U.S. Marine Corps 1980–1986

HERB DITTRICK U.S. Army 1963–1969

GRANT DOELP U.S. Navy 1985–1993

TONY FAULKNER U.S. Marine Corps 1979–1994

ROY FUSSELL Captain, USMC (Ret.) U.S. Marine Corps 1961–1983

TOM HRIBAR U.S Marine Corps 1966–1970

DAVIN EMMONS U.S. Army Military Police Corps 1985–1988

DUANE GOMER U.S. Navy 1955–1958

FELIX HUNG U.S Army 4 Years of Service

RAYMOND DENTON U.S. Navy 1976

BOB DICKIE U.S. Air Force 1967–1998

TIM FAHL U.S. Marine Corps 1976–1979

EDWIN FAHLEN U.S. Navy 1970–1973

MICHELE HARRINGTON U.S. Marine Corps 1993–1997

CHRISTOPHER LARDIE U.S. Navy 1988–2013

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FRANK HILL U.S Army 1955–1975

PETER MCCORMICK U.S. Marine Corps 1991–Present

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VETERANS

AJA MCGOWN U.S. Marine Corps 2000–2004

RON MILLER U.S. Navy 1966–1969

JAY MILLS U.S. Air Force 1984–1991

MARK PETRICK U.S. Army 1988–1993

CHUCK PILLSBURY U.S. Coast Guard 1968–1972

MARK RAIDY U.S. Army 1971–1973

TERRY REAY U.S. Army 1965–1969

MELVYN D. RICHARDSON U.S. Army 1964–1966

JIM STOTZ U.S. Marine Corps 1967–1972

GREGG TRAUM U.S. Marine Corps 1976–1983

LARRY WEBB U.S. Navy 1985–1996

KEVIN WHITNEY U.S. Navy 2009–2013

STEVE WIDNER U.S. Marine Corps 1968

Not Pictured Austin C. Chiles, Jr., U.S. Air Force, 1965–1968 Jim Chiuminatta, U.S. Army, 1967–1968 Mike DeLeon, U.S. Army, ARNG, 1971–1994 Robert DiGruccio, U.S. Army, 1966–1969 Jim Dwyer, U.S. Air Force, 22 Years of Service WILL WOODS U.S. Navy 1968–1974

JAMES J. ZAKHAR, JR. U.S. Army 1970–1972

Dan Hoppy, U.S. Army, 1969–1972 Melissa Lino, U.S. Navy Cas Pinkowski, U.S. Air Force, 1960–1964 Bill Sundin, U.S. Air Force, 1969–1971

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JOHN L. WILLIAMS U.S. Air Force 1967–1979

EVENTS

BY DELANEY PUTHUFF COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Orange County REALTORS® hosted a public event on October 16 at the Lido House on all things housing which was sponsored by a grant from the National Association of REALTORS®.

“I think this was such a great presentation, of course housing is so important to us but also to our future generations and how we develop as we and the county ages,” said Suzanne Gignoux, Branch Manager for HomeSmart Evergreen. With an array of highly regarded speakers, dedicated members, and a wonderful message put forth, the 2023 Housing Symposium was a wonderful event full of passion for all in attendance. One truly could not have asked for better weather, better attendees, or better speakers. Although we were incredibly sad to announce the absence of our originally scheduled Emcee, Lucy Dunn, as we wish her all the best in her recovery after a minor health scare, Jeff Ball, President and CEO of the Orange County Business Council, stepped up to the plate and did an absolutely incredible job.

Beginning with an address from our 2023 President, Scott White, was a sentiment that reminded a buzzing room of passionate people, “it is important that we focus on the future of homeownership, and our expert speakers are here to show us how.”

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Jeff Ball took the stage again to introduce Jeff Montejano, CEO of the Building Industry Association of Southern California, who had a presentation along with Eric Nelson, Vice President of Community Development for Trumark Homes, about the current impact of environmental bills on California housing projects, slowing to a crawl. “Our industry is changing by the day, changing by the hour.

We saw legislature that ended the recession with a lot of housing bills, and that is what we are going to get into today,” said Montejano. This expert duo came armed with excellent visuals that truly got down to what it was that they were here to convey. Jeff and Eric discussed that our state has been through a lot during and since the 2008 recession, and this has greatly impacted how the industry functions. Many government initiatives promised California new builds, with no follow through. Builders have been fighting for projects to get homebuyers into new homes, with little avail, due to many regulations on where and what to build that kept changing. “We have these State blanket policies, that are making it more and more cumbersome… to solve the crisis,” explained Nelson.

The presentation outlined how builders try to find areas for development but continue crashing into problems. Jeff Montejano elaborated, “I have talked to elected officials from all over. I would sit down to discuss and they would say, ‘I can’t have you building on open land, I am an environmentalist.’ Well that’s okay, how about we build downtown? ‘Oh no, no. I don’t like density.’ Then we will put it in existing neighborhoods. ‘No, my neighbors won’t like that.’ Well, where do you want me to put the house?”

All of the concerns Jeff Montejano outlined are real and valid, but the argument still stands, the building difficulties still stand and something’s got to give.

EVENTS

With much applause for the last pair of speakers, Jeff Ball welcomed in Josh Stephens, a Contributing Editor for the California Planning and Development Report, for a housing update, elaborating on the legislation that creates barriers that limit our critical supply of housing in such a populated state. The arm-chairlike talk was very refreshing as both Jeff Ball and Josh Stephens made that audience feel included in the sharing of ideas. “It was fun to speak to, largely a room of REALTORS®, because they are an important part of the state's land use apparatus, but they are not typically represented at planning conferences, so it was great to present the planning perspective. Hopefully this gave everyone food for thought, especially for what municipal planners are considering when they think about housing,” stated Stephens.

Dave Owen, a Professor of Law at the UC College of Law, San Francisco, pulled focus after a quick break, to discuss something all Californian’s think about: Water.

California water, as we all know, is a precious commodity, but Owen wasted no time grabbing the attention of everyone in the room with a brief depiction of where we all are getting our water from. With visuals and a clear tone, Dave Owen took his material into an in depth and well connected talk on all facts of our water resources. “The big, big looming challenge under all of this is climate change. The most certain impact/impacts will be increasing fluctuation of water availability, and also more of our water falling as rain rather than snow, which means that one of the most important water reservoirs in the state, that’s our snowpack, is going to get noticeably smaller. This makes everything else we do with water harder.” Climate change making our water availability lessen, not only affects our personal lives, but our professional lives, and Dave was there to offer solutions. Outlining where water is used in the lives of those in real estate, Owen illuminated that landscaping is the biggest water gulper, more than toilets and showers, and could be a great place to start. Getting on board with water friendly landscape architecture, those who support water friendly landscape architecture, is a wonderful place to start. Swap out your lawn for astroturf or eco friendly ground cover, plant flowers and trees native to the area and our weather. There is no reason to be using up so much water in a state where drought looms large.

Last but not least, (a cliche that has never been truer for this speaker) was Jason Roberts, Founder of the Better Block Project,with a message of great inspiration and a call to action. Jason Roberts is a man who had an idea for the betterment of communities all around, and made that idea a reality. A well spoken and charming individual, Roberts recounted his experiences going through communities that were “dying“ and reviving them to be like the wellpopulated, walkable, bikeable, habitable cities like he had seen throughout his time in Europe. Roberts began to reconstruct entire streets and sidewalks making room for gathering areas, bike lanes, trees, and other hallmarks of lively, eventful cities. Through pictures and stories, the audience began to see the true power behind changing our infrastructure to create a more welcoming and social area. “We brought a bunch of artists together (to refurbish and repurpose an old building), because I don’t have millions of dollars to fix this, we will bring a bunch of friends out, give them all canvas, and we will turn this into an instant art gallery in the neighborhood.

We are about to open the doors, thinking no one was going to show up, it's the bad side of town in the middle of winter, and when we opened the doors we had 750 people show up. We all collectively recognize that we have these broken spaces and we know we need to fix them.” This astounding recount shook up audience members to think about how they themselves could fix up and redo things in their town to beautify the community.

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EVENTS

WINNERS Best Men's Costume: Aaron Rosen Best Women's Costume: Ivy Lee Best Team Costume: Goldsworthy–Steve Goldsworthy, Gaelyn Goldsworthy, Josh Bell, and Samantha Falcone 44

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Highest Game Score–Women: Chelsea Brown

Highest Game Score–Women Series: Ashlyn Moore

1st Place Team Score: The Striking Pirates–Ashlyn Moore, Debra Kovacs, Alan Neilson, and Anthony Jimenez

Highest Game Score–Men: Jim Holder

Highest Game Score–Men Series: Jim Holder

2nd Place Team Score: The Holder Group–Jim Holder, Monique Mangum, Hailey Fairless, Kurosh Abascal

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EVENTS

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TO OUR SPONSORS 46

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