SAMCAR Focus, Spring 2011

spring 2011

i.1 | v. 1

semiannual report of the san mateo county association of realtors速

semiannual publication of the san mateo county association of realtors®

the san mateo county association of realtors®

learn more online at

850 Woodside Way, San Mateo, CA 94401 | www.samcar.org | (650) 696-8200 | fax. (650) 342-7509 | Copyright © 2011 |

Our mission SAMCAR is a trade association organized to ensure professionalism, protect property rights, promote the ownership of real property, and help members achieve success.

Editorial Contributions

www.samcar.org or call us at (650) 696-8200 Distribution focus is published three times per year by the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS®, 850 Woodside Way, San Mateo, CA 94401 and distributed to more than 2,700 recipients. E-mail your questions or comments to samcar@samcar.org

Steve Blanton, SAMCAR Executive Officer Michon Coleman, Director of Government Affairs Julie Ziemelis, Director of Public Affairs Alex Khalfin, Government Affairs Coordinator

Art Direction / Editorial Design Dalen Gilbrech, Publications Designer

Board of Directors

Sue Vaterlaus, 2011 President Anne Oliva, President-Elect Phillip Houston, Treasurer Robert Brisbane, Director Bobbi Decker, Director Suzan Getchell-Wallace, Director Karon Knox, Director Dennis Pantano, Director John Prouty, Director Jennifer Tasto, Director Corrin Trowbridge, Affiliate Director Michael Verdone, Director Frank Vento, Director Diane Wilson, Director David Zigal, Director

thank you to our

2011 Annual Sponsors

in this issue . . . your association

SAMCAR is 2,700 members strong New YPN Group!

SAMCAR Forms New Tech Committee SUPRA Key Exchange p. 01 samcar foundation

Foundation Grants $15,000 to Local Charities p. 02 government affairs

Legislative Updates p. 04 education

+ events

Future of the Housing Market and Real Estate Technology Conference Gave Members Crystal Ball p. 06 SAMCAR Got Social and Featured member Talent at “SAMCAR’s Got Talent!” p. 07 SAMCAR Education and Professional Development p. 09 samcar affiliates

Developing Education and Events to Benefit REALTORS® p. 10 Legislation Seeks Pipeline Hazard Transparency (contributed by Joshua Cantrell, LGS-JCP Disclosures) p. 11 samcar stats

gold

Carr, McClellan Prof. Law Corp bronze

The Examiner learn more about the benefits of sponsorship at

www.samcar.org/Sponsorship Questions about Sponsorship?

Please contact Nasreen Wills at (650) 696-8220 or nasreen@samcar.org

Publications Staff Directory Membership Statistics | Quarter 1 p. 13

your association

samcar update

samcar is

2,700 members strong

Thank you to each and every one of our members who renewed their membership in 2011. We know it’s been a tough ride these past few years, and SAMCAR has worked hard to give you the tools you need to stay in this challenging business. As of March, we have 2246 primary REALTOR® members. In comparison, we had 2,409 in March 2010. Overall membership, including affiliates and secondary members is 2,700 (see table on page 13). Assisting you towards success is our business. Let us know how we can be of help! new ypn group!

Calling young real estate professionals to join the newly formed Young Professionals Network group! 2011 President, Sue Vaterlaus has seen the energy and excitement come from the YPN groups forming all over the country and is spearheading the formation of a local group, along with Frank Vento and Shelly Gogol.

YPN are career-minded REALTORS® who want to stay abreast of the latest tools, resources, and networking opportunities.

YPN meetings and receptions are slated to be held monthly. Please check our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/samcar.fans) or www.REALTOR.org/YPN for upcoming YPN events!

samcar forms new technology committee

Technology changes are an inevitable part of the real estate industry. To stay abreast and AHEAD of the changes and the impact they will have on our REALTOR® members, a committee has been formed to tackle issues ranging from updating the SAMCAR web site, developing a SAMCAR mobile app, working with MLS to create a new technology feedback loop and advocate for mobility to ensure the REALTOR® voice is heard. The committee will work with staff to educate the membership about making changes now to web sites so they can be viewed on mobile devices and computers. Stay tuned for awesome work coming out of this new committee! supra key exchange

SAMCAR is planning a Supra lock box exchange for SAMCAR REALTORS® in early summer 2011. “It’s time to move on to new, better and more efficient technology,” Steve Blanton, SAMCAR Executive Officer, stated.

“We are working with Supra to offer a fair and affordable deal for our REALTOR® members. You will be asked to trade your old grey lock box to receive a new blue box to better help you manage and track visitors to your listing.” More information coming soon!

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your association

what’s been going on at your association in first quarter 2011

samcar foundation

SAMCAR Foundation Grants $15,000 To Local Charities The SAMCAR Foundation announced their first quarter 2011 grant recipients recently and awarded five organizations $15,000 in grant monies.

The Foundation provided $4000 grants to HEART (Housing Endowment and Regional Trust), Rebuilding Together Peninsula, and HIP Housing. The Foundation also provided at $2500 grant to CORA and $500 to Caminar.

“The SAMCAR Foundation received numerous grant requests this last funding cycle and the grants we approved were tailored to our mission of helping our community with housing and quality of life issues. On behalf of the Foundation and my fellow trustees, we congratulate these deserving non-profits for the work they do in San Mateo County. We know the funds we have granted will be put to great use in helping hundreds of people in our community”, Suzan Getchell-Wallace, SAMCAR Foundation Chairperson, stated.

HIP (Human Investment Project) One of the programs that HIP provides is housing assistance and supportive services to lowincome families transitioning to self -reliance. www.hiphousing.org

Learn more about SAMCAR’s charitable foundation online at www.samcar.org/foundation

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The SAMCAR Foundation, which provides more than $50,000 each year to charities that work with housing, and quality of life issues in San Mateo County, is currently accepting grant applications for the second quarter of 2011. Please go to www.samcar. org/foundation for grant guidelines and information about the charities that SAMCAR supports.

The grants we approved were tailored to our mission of helping our community with housing and quality of life issues. On behalf of the Foundation and my fellow trustees, we congratulate these deserving non-profits for the work they do in San Mateo County.

—Suzan Getchell-Wallace, SAMCAR Foundation Chair

grant recipient

web site

amount

HEART

www.heartofsmc.org

$4,000

Rebuilding Together

www.rebuildingtogetherpeninsula.org

$4,000

HIP Housing

www.hiphousing.org

$4,000

CORA

www.corasupport.org

$2,500

Caminar

www.caminar.org

$500

total first quarter grants

$15,000

www.samcar.org/foundation

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samcar foundation

Rebuilding Together Peninsula (RTP) builds volunteer partnerships to rehabilitate homes and community centers for our neighbors in need. www.rebuildingtogetherpeninsula.org CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse) provides free and confidential services to victims and survivors of domestic/dating violence and abuse, including child and teen witnesses, in San Mateo County. www.corasupport.org Caminar San Mateo County provides community based rehabilitation programs for people with mental illness, including residential treatment, case management, supported employment and education. www.caminar.org HEART raises funds from public and private sources to meet critical housing needs in San Mateo County. www.heartofsmc.org HEART Executive Director, Paula Stinson, said, “We REALLY appreciate the funding and support from SAMCAR. Many of our homeowners were helped by SAMCAR REALTORS® to purchase a home using grants from HEART. Thank you for the work you do in fundraising to help support housing initiatives and programs, in San Mateo County.

We love SAMCAR!”

government affairs

legislative update

local government affairs involvment in first quarter 2011 and looking forward

millbrae

south san francisco

Several months ago, while reviewing the latest update to the South San Francisco Building Code, Government Affairs (GA) staff noticed a proposed city staff amendment that if adopted, would require a carbon monoxide detector to be installed prior to transfer of property. GA staff immediately contacted city Building staff and pointed out that this requirement is not necessary since carbon monoxide detectors will be required in ALL properties starting July 1, 2011 (CA Health and Safety Code Section 13260-13263.) As a result, this item was removed from the City Council agenda for further review. It is anticipated this issue will be reviewed by the City Council in June.

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The City of Millbrae was sued by the San Francisco Baykeeper alleging violation of the Clean Water Act. In order to prevent further litigation, the City, in closed session, signed a consent decree which requires the City of Millbrae to continue to implement its municipal code concerning the maintenance and inspection of private sewer laterals, the guidelines of which are outlined in Article IV Section 8.20.450.

Article IV Section 8.20.450 was adopted in 1976 and it requires the private sewer laterals to be tested and all necessary repairs to be completed prior to transfer of ownership.

county of san mateo

The San Francisco Baykeeper also filed a lawsuit against the County of San Mateo. However, we were able to work with the Environmental Quality Committee to look at alternatives that did not rely on point of sale. Supervisor Carole Groom and Former Board President Richard Gordon directed Public Works staff to develop a solution to the sewer system overflow problem that did not rely on point of sale.

Discussion is ensuing.

The County of San Mateo has been in the process of updating its Local Coastal Program (LCP).

While this is a voluntary update, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) has to certify the document in order for it to be final. The CCC also has the authority to amend the Midcoast LCP. In fact, after the County submitted the document to the CCC, the Commission returned the document back with amendments, several of

government affairs

midcoast lcp

which are of interest to the real estate industry. These amendments include a lot retirement policy and a well prohibition. The County does not have to include these amendments in the Midcoast LCP, but the CCC is insisting these policies be included if the County wants the Commission to certify the Midcoast LCP. GA staff is closely monitoring the LCP update and will alert the membership when this issue returns to the Board of Supervisors for review.

looking forward

Point of sale requirements, property inspections, and sewer system overflows continue to threaten the real estate industry. Mortgage interest deduction, the GSE restructure, and green building ordinances are several issues that may heat up in the coming months. Your GA team continues to closely monitor these issues and keep you informed. Stay tuned and be ready to get involved!

For more information on these issues please contact SAMCAR Government Affairs at (650) 696-8200

www.samcar.org/governmentaffairs

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6 1. Virginia and Corrin Trowbridge, (Trowbridge Insurance). 2. Mouna Kayed, Education Committee Chair 3. SAMCAR Executive Officer Steve Blanton, Leslie Appleton-Young (C.A.R. Chief Economist) and Mike Simonsen (Altos Research) 4. Nicole Nicolay (Agent Evolution) and Marat Shub (Bank of the West).

5. Maryann Bologna (The Examiner). 6. WCR Members, Susan Gogol, Suzanne Gulick and a colleague 7.

Jeremy Clark (Chicago Title) and Ann Palermo (Old Republic Title). 8. Exhibit Area. 9. Better Homes and Gardens, J.F. Finnegan REALTORS速 pictured:

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Conference Gave Members Crystal Ball

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The Education Committee started 2011 with a desire to give our members information to help their clients understand the developing spring market and provide tech tools to help them get that news out to their social sphere.

SAMCAR provided the avenue to both at their first annual “Future of the Housing Market and Real Estate Technology” conference on February 17, 2011 in San Mateo. 120 attendees enjoyed three presentations and a two- hour mini-REBarCamp.

Leslie Appleton-Young, C.A.R.’s Chief Economist, gave an in-depth look into the state and regional housing market with statistics showing that the worst was behind us, but the job market was still shaky. Mike Simonsen, CEO, Altos Research, used stats to illustrate the San Mateo County market which was coming into a strong spring market with inventory rising and sales volume picking up.

Nicole Nicolay (Agent Evolution) gave a spirited presentation on top trends for real estate marketing.

For a wrap up of her presentation, visit the SAMCAR Facebook page www.facebook.com/samcar.fans and click on Notes.

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www.samcar.org/future

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education + events

SAMCAR Got Social and Featured Member Talent at

Cheering on their favorite competitor, 130 SAMCAR members attended the 2nd Annual “SAMCAR’s Got Talent” event on March 10th at the Peninsula Italian American Social Club. The top crooner? Kathy Wall (Prudential California), who performed a rousing rendition of “I am Alive”.

“What a fun evening!” said SAMCAR Special Events Chair,

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above: Much gratitude goes to the members of the SAMCAR Special Events Committee for helping make “SAMCAR’s Got Talent!” a success. right: A special thank you to Beth Ann Gambardella (Fidelity National Title) who was our Production Coordinator and MC, pictured here with talent show winner Kathy Wall (right).

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pictured: 1. Gabby Marshall, Gerry Marshall, Denise Baker,

A free member benefit to you is the Combined Tour meeting.

Here are the presenters we have hosted so far in 2011: January Marc S. Weisman, Certified Specialist Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law February Chris Canter, Shelter Network Director of Development March Terrence Gossett, President, California for Property Rights April “Meet and Greet with Gina Papan,” SAMCAR Endorsed Candidate for San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, and Vince Malta, 2006 C.A.R. President The Combined Tour meeting is held on the first Tuesday of every month at the San Mateo Elks Lodge (229 W. 20th Ave., San Mateo). The meeting includes breakfast, networking and the educational presentation. Come join us!

www.samcar.org/calendar

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events

SAMCAR Education and Professional Development

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Anne Oliva (Marshall Realty), Toni Burrows (HISCO/CRES Home Warranty). 2. Beth Ann Gambardella (Fidelity National Title) and Kathy Wall (Prudential California).

3. Frank Vento (Dolphin Real Estate) and Sue Vaterlaus (RE/Max Star Properties). 4. John Kockos (Kockos Real Estate). 5. The Fidelity Friends: Leanne Burnfield, Tami Cirigliano, Beth Ann Gambardella, Jeanie Jacques-Jackson, Maria Silvestri (Fidelity National Title). 6. SAMCAR Executive Officer Steve Blanton with Alan Hutty (Lifemark Group).

honorable mentions Although there was only one winner, there were many who deserve to be noted for their talent and enthusiasm: John Kockos, Kockos Real Estate Kenneth Conner, Prudential California Patrick Kinsella, Real Property Sales, Inc. Allan Hutty, Lifemark Group The Fidelity Friends (Beth Ann Gambardella, Leanne Burnfield, Jeanie Jackson, Tami Cirigliano, Maria Silvestri) Patty Palomini, RE/MAX Mid Peninsula, RWC Kathy Wall, Prudential California

education

Denise Baker (Marshall Realty). “Thanks to everyone who came to help cheer on the entertainment! Thanks also to the entire Special Events Committee for their volunteer effort to make this year’s event even more successful than last year.”

samcar affiliates

samcar affi liates Developing Education and Events To Benefit REALTORS® The SAMCAR Affiliate Council has been hard at work in 2011. Chair, Marat Shub (Bank of the West) works with the committee each month to develop ideas for events and education to assist REALTORS® in their businesses and help Affiliates show their value to the members.

Leveraging the success of the 10 for ‘10 Seminar series the Affiliates created last year, the new 11 for ’11 Series has brought desired education concerning short sales, foreclosures, and litigation to the REALTOR® members. Affiliate Education chair, Jeremy Clark (Chicago Title) is working with the SAMCAR Education Committee to bring ideas and suggestions he hears in the field to develop new classes. Most of the classes are free, so check the education calendar each month to see what the latest offering is!

To keep the Affiliate voice heard at SAMCAR, Corrin Trowbridge (Farmers Insurance) acts as the Board liaison. In this

capacity, Corrin communicates Board resolutions and business to the Affiliates and also provides feedback to the Board.

Jean Lu (Bank of America) is Chair of the Affiliate events, which includes the Fall Foundation fundraising auction and Affiliate networking events.

Joshua Cantrell (LGS Disclosures) is acting as the membership Chair to help get more affiliates involved with SAMCAR and John Vega (Vega Landscaping) is the Vice Chair od the Affiliate Council.

If you are an Affiliate member and want to get involved, the Affiliates meet each month right after the Combined Tour meeting at the Elks Club on the first Tuesday of each month. Come be part of the fun!

become a part of the Affiliate Council and join us for our meetings the first Tuesday of each month at the Elks Lodge (229 W. 20th Ave.) in San Mateo right after the Combined Meeting.

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Affiliate hot topic

Legislation Seeks Pipeline Hazard Transparency contributed by

Joshua Cantrell (JCP-LGS Disclosures)

samcar affiliates

“We had a major gas pipeline running under our neighborhood and we weren’t even aware of it,” says one blast victim. “All I need to know is where the pipes aren’t,” says another, at a town meeting in San Bruno held by Assemblyman Jerry Hill to address the September 2010 pipeline explosion and fire.

The San Bruno pipeline blast promises to be a legislative catalyst on par with California’s previous earthquake, flood and wildfire disasters. It has already led to proposed legislation at the state and federal levels calling for increased pipeline safety and hazard awareness.

Natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines are vulnerable to failures from natural and human causes. Pipes can weaken from corrosion, crack where they cross a slowly moving landslide or earthquake fault, or suddenly rupture in an earthquake − or, as happens most commonly, be broken accidentally during an excavation project.

The California Legislature and the U.S. Congress want to do something about it. In December, the first state bills triggered by the San Bruno disaster were introduced. Assembly Bill 56,

continued on p. 12

www.samcar.org/affiliates

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affiliate hot topic | continued from p. 11

authored by Jerry Hill seeks, among other things, to require state-regulated gas pipeline owners and operators to implement a continuing public education program and

provide detailed, customized information on pipeline locations and emergency response plans.

Two days later, Senator Ellen Corbett, now California Senate Majority Leader, introduced Senate Bill 44, which would require those owners and operators to share their geographic information system (GIS) pipeline maps with state and local fire agencies and update them regularly.

In the Congress, Representative Jackie Speier sponsored H.R. 6295, the Pipeline Safety and Community Empowerment Act of 2010. This Act seeks to enhance pipeline safety and provide communities with access

pictured above:

Representative Jackie Speier and others visited the site of the September explosion. Speier has since sponsored HR 6295 seeking to enhance pipeline safety and provide communities with access to improved information concerning the equipment and operations of pipeline facilities.

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to improved information concerning the equipment and operations of pipeline facilities, among other purposes.

Important for California real estate professionals, the federal bill includes a property disclosure element -- a “Notice to Property Owners and Residents.” It would require pipeline owners and operators to notify all owners and residents of property located within 2,000 feet of a transmission line of the pipeline’s proximity and, if the pipeline is located on private residential property, the specific location of the line on the property. As proposed, the notification “shall be provided not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this subparagraph and at least once every 3 years thereafter.”

Once disclosed to a current property owner, the pipeline proximity information would become actual knowledge, which, under California law, the owner must disclose to the prospective buyer upon resale of the property.

Since the San Bruno disaster, natural hazard disclosure (”NHD”) providers are beginning to include a pipeline proximity disclosure in their reports. A disclosure that includes high-pressure gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipelines will cover the hazard categories that include natural gas as well as gasoline, jet fuel, and other flammable liquid petroleum products.

This article was contributed by SAMCAR Affiliate member Joshua Cantrell (LGS Disclosures), for more information, contact Josh at jocantrell@firstam.com or (650) 400-5017.

Are you interested in submitting an educational article for your fellow members? Affiliate submissions are vetted through the Affiliate council, please join them to suggest educational content for future publications.

publications

staff directory

samcar web site | www.samcar.org The Association web site is a live locus of information and resources including our calendar of upcoming classes and events, member directories, publications and more.

executive officer Steve Blanton, rce cae (650) 696-8221 | sblanton@samcar.org

exchange (blog) | *coming soon* In development, the Exchange blog will be SAMCAR’s newest communications tool to keep all members apprised of Association news as well as topical information from technology to new laws. facebook | www.facebook.com/samcar.fans SAMCAR’s main social networking presence is our Facebook page where you will find reminders about Association events, classes and volunteer opportunities as well as topical updates, technology tips and news from NAR and CAR. tour sheet | www.samcar.org/tour The Tour Sheet is a list of properties on broker tour published each Tuesday and available to REALTOR® members who are MLS subscribers. sales statistics | www.samcar.org/stats Each month SAMCAR compiles data from MLS Listings into statistics reports showing sales and pricing data for properties in each city in San Mateo County.

director of Government affairs Michon Coleman (650) 696-8204 | mcoleman@samcar.org Public Affairs Director Julie Ziemelis juliez@samcar.org office manager & professional standards Alane Gilbrech (650) 696-8208 | alane@samcar.org Accounting manager Deborah Miramontes (650) 696-8210 | dmiramontes@samcar.org Meeting / event planner Nasreen Wills (650) 696-8220 | nasreen@samcar.org publications designer Dalen Gilbrech dalen@samcar.org distribution / inventory Peter Cho (650) 696-8200 | pcho@samcar.org

resource | http://issuu.com/samcar The Resource is a monthly calendar, Association update and Market Data Report published online and in print at the beginning of each month.

membership Bev Beban (650) 696-8212 | bev@samcar.org Virginia Loh (650) 696-8200 | vloh@samcar.org

focus | you’re reading it The Focus is SAMCAR’s newest publication, slated to publish three times per year and provide members with a broad overview of Association activity and programs.

member Services Judy Muller (650) 696-8200 | jmuller@samcar.org Julie Sanchez (650) 696-8200 | jsanchez@samcar.org

samcar membership statistics | Quarter 1 realtor® members

mar 2011

feb 2011

jan 2011

mar 2010

Primary REALTOR®

2246

2308

2549

2409

Secondary REALTOR®

111

132

135

151

Honorary / Emeritus

69

71

71

69

total realtors®

2426

2511

2755

2629

affiliate members

mar 2011

feb 2011

jan 2011

mar 2010

Primary Affiliate

99

100

94

112

Affiliate Representatives

167

164

155

140

samcar stats

relay | www.samcar.org/newsletter The Relay e-mail update is a weekly digest of important announcements, upcoming classes, events and meetings sent to your inbox every Friday.

850 woodside Way, San Mateo, CA 94401

san mateo county association of realtors®

Copyright © 2011 |

the san mateo county association of realtors®

| www.samcar.org