Newsletter « Sacramento Association of REALTORS® Web Log

REALTORS® Rank High in Philanthropy

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

The Sacramento Association of REALTORS®’ has become a perennial on the list of the top 25 area companies for corporate philanthropy, as compiled by the Sacramento Business Journal and published each April.

SAR’s position at #15 in 2010, in the midst of mostly for-profit businesses and in the midst of a real estate downturn, is a source of pride and an indicator of how REALTORS® are connected with the community and how they make a difference.

SAR budgets two to three per cent of its gross revenue each year for civic and charitable activities. Most of the other businesses on the Business Journal’s list donate less than one per cent of their revenues toward charitable causes.

CanTree, Masters Club and the Young Professionals Council all raise money independently of the SAR budget and make their own charitable contributions, although all the activities are a reflection of REALTORS®’ generosity. The 2009 Masters Club charities, receiving $3158.88 apiece – the proceeds from the Masters Club annual golf tournament – were Wellspring Women’s and Children’s Center, The GreenHouse and Wind Youth Services. YPC donated $6481.42 from its own fundraising activities. CanTree donated $65,000 to the Salvation Army. In its 27 years of existence, CanTree has raised more than $2 million for the Salvation Army in Sacramento.

REALTOR® participation for Rebuilding Together, Loaves and Fishes, the American River Parkway cleanup and many other activities represent a small portion of what Members give to the community. SAR Members also lead Girl Scout troops, organize neighborhood yard sales and Neighborhood Watch programs and generally endeavor on their own to support their communities.

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2011 SAR Officers and Directors Slate and Opening of the Petition Period

Chris Ly

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

The Board of Directors is pleased to present the following Officers/Directors Slate approved at their May 27, 2010 meeting:

2011 Officers – One Position per Office for 2011

President

Doug Covill

President-Elect

Kathy Fox

Patrick Lieuw

Secretary-Treasurer

Ed Anderson

Chris Little

Six (6) Director Positions for [...]

10 to Watch in 2010

Chris Ly

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Will 2010 be a year of recovery or double-dip recession? What’s on the horizon that may change the way you do business next year? Here are the developments and personalities we’ll be watching.

1. FHA Under New Command
When the FHA announced in late September that it was hiring a chief risk officer—for the first time in the agency’s 74-year history—it was taking preventive action. The agency had seen the market share of FHA-insured mortgages grow to almost 40 percent from about 4 percent four years ago, and its new chief, David Stevens, was not taking any chances with financial safety. When the agency’s capital-to-insurance ratio had dipped below 2 percent in one of its reserve accounts, Stevens—a veteran mortgage and real estate executive who has held key posts at Wells Fargo, Freddie Mac, and Long & Foster—immediately took steps to assess and manage FHA’s risk. The government insurer hasn’t had a major technology upgrade or staff increase in more than a decade, yet demand for the FHA’s stabilizing presence continues to grow. Can Stevens meet the demand without jeopardizing safety and soundness? Given the no-nonsense steps he’s taken to shore up his agency’s credit position, the answer appears to be yes.

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