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 Nelson Janes  Friday, February 3rd, 2012  The Oxford English Dictionary tells us that a profession involves the application of specialized knowledge of a subject to a fee-paying clientele. According to Wikipedia, a profession is a specialized occupation characterized by intensive training and subsequent licensure by a regulatory body.
The word is derived from Latin, meaning to swear an oath. That oath is based upon adherence to ethical standards which include client confidentiality, truthfulness and striving to be an expert. There is also a stipulation about upholding the good name of the profession.
Starting to sound familiar? Your REALTOR® Membership defines you as a professional. SAR, with the state and national REALTOR® organization, has been doing so for over 100 years.
Along with this overriding benefit, there are tangible savings, discounts and value that you receive through your Membership in the REALTOR® organization.
Excellence in educational programming is a prime and perennial benefit of SAR Membership. You can take all of the courses that you need for license renewal at a Member discount of at least $10 each course. You are also entitled to knowledgeable advice at no charge on how to renew your license.
Continue reading: Communicating Your Value as a Professional REALTOR
Nelson Janes Thursday, May 19th, 2011
Since 1895, Metro Chamber volunteers have worked to improve the economy and enhance the quality of life in the greater Sacramento region. The annual Cap-to-Cap program is one of many Metro Chamber activities that brings the region’s business, labor and government leaders together to build consensus for important regional priorities.
Cap-to-Cap is an ongoing [...]
Nelson Janes Tuesday, March 15th, 2011
The “Main” Membership Meeting happens on the first Tuesday of the month at 9:00 a.m. in the Mack Powell Auditorium. Terrific speakers bringing information that you need, Starbucks coffee, Ettore’s pasteries all free.
If you missed Carole Rodoni’s economic forecast at the February Meeting, you missed a dynamic and highly entertaining presentation. Ms. Rodoni, who has headed several major real estate firms, peppers her economics with biting humor
Rodoni prefaced her 2011 forecast with a brief overview of what brought us to this economy. Following the dot.com bust in the early 2000s the federal government wanted to stimulate the economy by having homeownership grow from 56 to 70 percent. As a result, the market grew from five to seven million homes sold annually – one half of those to investors.
Homes were appreciating 50 to 100 percent a year as compared with the normal seven percent average appreciation. The sellers’ market, which usually lasts about 18 months, lasted for five years and the deepest downturn in real estate history resulted.
Subprime loans in the marketplace moved from 7 to 25 percent and then were bundled and sold abroad. For example, New Century which was publicly traded on the NYSE had a $50 billion portfolio of subprime loans. At the same time, one in four Countrywide loans was subprime.
Rodoni reported that we are now technically out of the great recession with a 2.5% growth rate in 2010. However, an economy the size of the U.S. needs to expand by five to six percent annually to show signs of strong recovery.
Continue reading: Carole Rodoni Gives Dynamic Presentation on the Economy
Nelson Janes Thursday, February 17th, 2011
Since you sell communities when you help consumers buy and sell homes, it’s good to note that Sacramento has been ranked one of the top cities in America for its quality of life by Money magazine and Sperling’s.
The city’s rich historical heritage, commitment to quality of life and abundance of trees and parkland contributed to Newsweek magazine’s naming Sacramento one of the ten best cities in the United States.
We’re lucky to live here with the many opportunities we have to enjoy the outdoors and entertainment including myriad museums, galleries, historical attractions and theatres. Seasonal festivals can be found every weekend throughout the year. Farmers markets are sprinkled throughout the area. The wine growing regions of nearby Sierra Foothills offer wine tastings and other travel opportunities.
Newcomers continue to arrive seeking opportunity, sunshine and lower housing costs than found in coastal California.
Downtown and Midtown are seeing a resurgence of fine restaurants, entertainment venues, galleries and unique watering holes.
There are many great colleges and universities in and around Sacramento as well.
Over the years, high-tech companies have moved here, and now their output places Sacramento at 21st out of 100 other metro areas.
Continue reading: EVP Exchange-February 2011
Nelson Janes Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
The Oxford English Dictionary tells us that a profession involves the application of specialized knowledge of a subject to a fee-paying clientele. According to Wikipedia, a profession is a specialized occupation characterized by intensive training and subsequent licensure by a regulatory body.
The word is derived from Latin, meaning to swear an oath. That oath is based upon adherence to ethical standards which include client confidentiality, truthfulness and striving to be an expert. There is also a stipulation about upholding the good name of the profession.
Starting to sound familiar? Your REALTOR® Membership defines you as a professional. SAR, with the state and national REALTOR® organizations has been doing so for over 100 years.
Along with this overriding benefit, there are tangible savings, discounts and value that you receive through your Membership in the REALTOR® organization.
One Key Element of a Profession is Education
Excellence in educational programming is a prime and perennial benefit of SAR Membership. You can take all of the courses that you need for license renewal at a Member discount of at least $10 each course. You are also entitled to knowledgeable advice at no charge on how to renew your license.
SAR has an aggressive committee that continues to churn out fresh ideas about the courses you need in an ever-changing market. The Real Estate Training Institute, Broker Training Institute and other live courses taught by seasoned Members are unique to SAR.
Continue reading: What Makes You a Professional REALTOR®?
Nelson Janes Thursday, October 14th, 2010
Starting in 2011, C.A.R. will be adding a $49 assessment to dues billings. Reprinted here is the information that C.A.R. has posted on their website.
Q. What is the new REALTOR® Action Assessment and when will it become effective?
A. It’s a $49 assessment that will go into effect with the 2011 dues billing cycle.
Q. How will the assessment appear on the dues billing statement?
A. C.A.R. is working on a revised dues billing statement for 2011 for those members billed directly by C.A.R. and for those Associations who use the C.A.R.-produced billing statement.
Q. Is this assessment mandatory?
A. Yes. A member may decide to satisfy the assessment in one of two ways: (1) By either making a voluntary contribution to the State REALTOR® Action Fund, which will be put into C.A.R.’s political action committees [California Real Estate Political Action Committee (CREPAC) and/or the California Real Estate Independent Expenditures Committee (CREIEC)], or be used for other political activities, or (2) by opting to send the funds to the C.A.R. general fund for political purposes.
Q. Why was the assessment needed?
A. Whether it’s the legislature looking to tap REALTORS®, the transaction, or our industry for additional sources of funding, placing restrictions on private property rights or on our right to conduct business, organized real estate must be continually vigilant in Sacramento to ensure that our interests are fairly represented.
This is even truer in today’s fiscal environment, with politicians searching for every available means to cut the state’s ballooning deficits and produce a balanced budget. C.A.R.’s opponents — the trial lawyers, for example — spend millions of dollars every year to fund candidates and legislators who support legislation creating additional liability for our members, increasing the likelihood of litigation and making it more difficult and more costly to be in business.
C.A.R.’s California Real Estate Political Action Committee (CREPAC) used to be in the top 10 of political action committees (PACs) in California. It now ranks 37th, according to a recent study of PAC spending in California. Special interest groups, including many supported by public finances, outspend CREPAC on a regular basis. The political assessment adopted by the C.A.R. Board of directors will help rectify this growing imbalance.
Continue reading: California Association of REALTORS’® Government Relations Assessment
Nelson Janes Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010
Have you registered your customers and clients as SAR Auxiliary Members yet?
This new customer appreciation program, entitled Sacramento Home Advantage, launched in June and is well on its way to becoming a national model.
Let me tell you what it is and how it can work for you.
Just stop by the SAR Store and Membership Department to register current customers and clients – your buyers and sellers – as well as loyal clients in your book of business. For $15.00 each, you will pick up a gift basket valued at over $200 to give to your consumer. It contains gift cards and discounts gathered through affinity programs that SAR has established in Sacramento.
Delivering this gift is a good reason to call on your consumer. Present the basket and go through its contents to ensureyour client is aware of all the benefits. You will also give your new Auxiliary Member a link through either your website or email address that will take them to SacramentoHomeAdvantage.com That link places your image and contact information on the home page. This website has been created by SAR for your Auxiliary Members. It contains information about Sacramento’s amenities and marketplace with tips for buyers and sellers. It is refreshed each week with additional information for the consumer.
Continue reading: EVP Exchange-September 2010
Nelson Janes Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
Board Action
The Board of Directors adopted a political assessment of $49 per Member beginning with the 2011 dues cycle. This assessment is for the California Real Estate Political Action Committee. If the C.A.R. Member chooses, the assessment can go instead to the C.A.R. fund for non-candidate political purposes.
The Board also approved a new structure for the statewide MLS that will merge calREDD® with the Multi-Regional Multiple Listing Service Inc. (MRMLS). After the merger, the state’s system will be called CALMLS. An additional $750,000 was also approved for the CALMLS line of credit.
SAR Successes
- SAR received the award for raising more money for the REALTOR® Action Fund than any other large association in the state – nearly $127,000!
- SAR’s Housing Opportunity Committee also won a $50,000 grant from the C.A.R. Housing Affordability Fund. The Association will more than match that amount to launch a new program that will give grants to homebuyers needing to make energy upgrades. Watch for the announcement of this new program that will help more buyers qualify to improve the energy use and comfort of their home.
- Our newly formed REALTOR® Action Fund (RAF) Committee secured a grant from the NAR to host a fundraising event for RAF, which they did in conjunction with Legislative Day.
Committee Reports
The Legal Action Fund Trustees have reviewed eight cases and requests for funding since their February meeting. The Trustees authorized three amicus briefs.
A landmark decision by the California Supreme Court occurred in the case of Steiner v. Thexton, supported by the Legal Action Fund. C.A.R. was concerned about the impact on the RPA-CA because of the buyer’s ostensible right to cancel a contract due to the failure of a contingency without having to state a reason. The Supreme Court acknowledged C.A.R.’s concerns as expressed in a brief and indicated in a footnote that “bilateral contracts subject to a contingency, which are widely used in real estate transactions, are not affected by our holding.”
Continue reading: C.A.R. Legislative Week Meetings Report
Nelson Janes Friday, April 30th, 2010
 SAR’s Can Tree project was recognized at the annual Fair Housing Month celebration hosted by the Regional Human Rights/Fair Housing Commission today. The Commission presented SAR with a check for $300 in lieu of providing center pieces at the event. Over 300 community leaders and elected officials attended and were told how SAR raises [...]
Nelson Janes Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
 How would you like to give your buyer or seller an Auxiliary Membership in the REALTOR® organization?
What if that Membership included a basket from you with gift cards and discounts worth $250?
What if SAR set up informative pages on our website that your customers and clients could reach by linking through your website?
And what if SAR sent quarterly follow ups to your customers and clients with pertinent information and useful coupons as though they were coming from you?
In response to a challenge by the National Association of REALTORS® for local associations to come up with Game Changing Ideas, SAR submitted plans for an Auxiliary Membership and was one of 14 selected from over 200 applicants.
That selection gives us a grant and the services of a national consultant to develop and implement the Idea by May when NAR meets again and will expect a report on the Auxiliary Membership.
Benefits to You
By enrolling your consumer upon their signing of a listing agreement or buyer agency agreement, you will be given the $250 gift basket and an Auxiliary Membership card to present to them. Through your site, they will gain Auxiliary Member only access to sacrealtor.org where we will post relevant housing statistics, market conditions, tips for buying or selling their home, the steps they can expect to go through with you in the transaction, news of legislation affecting their private property rights and a look at Sacramento, its schools and amenities.
Continue reading: Game Changer Program
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