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 LeFrancis Arnold  Tuesday, December 20th, 2011  Dear Member,
I’m excited to begin my term as your 2012 President, but I first want to thank our outgoing C.A.R. President Beth L. Peerce for serving this organization so well over the past year. She helped keep you, the REALTOR®, at the center of the real estate transaction during this challenging time. Thank you Beth for your service to organized real estate!
Like Beth, I also am a second-generation REALTOR®. I followed my mother into the real estate business in 1976 and became a broker a year later. I have served as a C.A.R. director since 1994. I’m going to continue serving the organization this year by helping you get through the tough economic times and be successful in your business.
But I won’t be doing it alone. I’ll be joined by a very capable 2012 Leadership Team comprised of President-Elect Don Faught, Treasurer Chris Kutzkey, and C.A.R. Executive Vice President Joel Singer. I’m excited to serve with this incredible team.
As one of my first duties, I’m pleased to share with you the good news that the FHA loan limit was reinstated last month so that middle-class home buyers have access to affordable home financing. The higher loan limit expired on Oct. 1, 2011, when it was reduced to $625,500, but now has been restored to $729,750 for an additional two years, through Dec. 31, 2013. However, the higher loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans were not reinstated. C.A.R. and NAR both have long advocated for making higher loan limits permanent.
Continue reading: C.A.R. Monthly Message from President LeFrancis Arnold
Beth L. Peerce Tuesday, November 8th, 2011
 Dear Member,
Last month I informed you that Congress failed to extend the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA conforming loan limits and allowed them to expire Sept. 30. Since then, the Senate passed an amendment to an appropriation bill that would restore the $729,750 loan limits through December 2013. The Senate and House are now working out the differences between the Senate bill and the House bill, which the House passed earlier this year, but it did not reinstate the higher loan limits. If the House and Senate agree on a final bill, we will have a two-year extension to the conforming loan limits. C.A.R. is also working with the California Congressional Delegation to ensure this provision is included in the final bill.
C.A.R. and NAR are now working to get support for the extension in the House, but we need your help also. Please look for a Call for Action email from NAR asking you to call Sen. Dianne Feinstein and possibly other members of Congress. Please act now and urge your representative to extend the higher loan limits for GSEs and FHA. Well-qualified buyers don’t need another hurdle to access affordable mortgage financing.
Big changes on the way to help millions of distressed borrowers. Late October, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced important changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) to help millions of underwater borrowers whose mortgages are backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The changes will allow borrowers who are current on their mortgage payments to save an average of $2,500 a year by refinancing their mortgages, regardless of what their homes are worth. The revamped HARP Program will also streamline the refinancing process, eliminating certain types of appraisals and underwriting requirements, and reducing or eliminating fees that prevented homeowners from refinancing in the past.
The FHFA is working on details of the new rules, which should be finalized by Nov. 15. Banks may be able to start issuing refinanced loans by Dec. 1. We’ll continue to keep you updated on this issue.
Continue reading: C.A.R. Monthly Message from President Beth L. Peerce – November 2011
Daniel Allen Friday, November 12th, 2010
 LOS ANGELES, CA–(Marketwire – November 12, 2010) – The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) Leadership Team for 2011 is now in place. REALTOR® Beth L. Peerce is the Association’s 2011 president; REALTOR® LeFrancis Arnold is president-elect; REALTOR® Don Faught is treasurer; and Joel Singer is state secretary. The officers for 2011 began their official term earlier this week at the close of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR) Conference and Expo in New Orleans, La.
Beth L Peerce REALTOR® Beth L. Peerce is the broker-owner of Prime Time Properties in Studio City, Calif. A REALTOR® since 1976, Peerce has been an active C.A.R. Director since 1982 and has served as chair or vice chair of numerous C.A.R. committees. Most recently, she served as Treasurer in 2008 and 2009 and President-Elect in 2010. She was elected Honorary Director for Life in 2006 in recognition of her commitment to the industry. She was selected REALTOR® of the Year by the Southland Regional Association of REALTORS® in 2005. Peerce also has played an active role on the NAR board of directors since 2001, and has been a member of the Executive Committee since 2009.
 LeFrancis Arnold New to C.A.R.’s leadership team is LeFrancis Arnold. He has been a licensed real estate broker for 34 years and has been involved with organized real estate for 35 years. Arnold was president of the Los Angeles County Board of REALTORS® (LACBOR) in 2008, and was the first appointed large Board NAR representative for Rancho Southeast Association of REALTORS® in 2006. He was first appointed C.A.R director in 1994 and was named REALTOR® of the Year by his local association in 1979 and 2008. Arnold has served on numerous C.A.R. committees at the leadership level including the Executive Committee, Strategic Planning and Finance, Housing Opportunity, Housing Affordability Fund, Real Estate Finance, Equal Opportunity and Cultural Diversity, and CREPAC. Active in his community, Arnold has served as chairman of the Lynwood Economic Development Committee and currently is Executive Director of Southeast Los Angeles County Community Development Corp. (SELAC).
Continue reading: Southern California REALTOR® Beth L. Peerce to Head CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® 2011 Leadership Team
Steve Goddard Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
Manhattan Beach REALTOR® Steve Goddard to head 2010 C.A.R. Leadership Team
LOS ANGELES (Nov. 17) – REALTOR® Steve Goddard will head the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®’ (C.A.R.) 2010 Leadership Team, C.A.R. announced today. REALTOR® Beth L. Peerce will serve as the Association’s president-elect, REALTOR® Don Faught as treasurer, and Joel Singer as state secretary. C.A.R.’s 2010 Leadership Team began their official term this week at the close of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR) Conference and Expo in San Diego, Calif.
REALTOR® Steve Goddard is a broker and manager at RE/MAX Marquee Partners in Manhattan Beach, Calif. He began selling real estate 35 years ago, specializing in selling and leasing residential real estate, residential income properties, and commercial buildings. Goddard also is a developer and a licensed general contractor. During the past 28 years, he has consistently ranked among the top 10 agents in his company’s group of more than 400 agents. Over the past 17 years, he has chaired or served on myriad committees and forums at the local, state, and national association level. As president of C.A.R., one of Goddard’s goals is to shed light on housing-related issues, including the rights of private-property owners, and housing affordability at the local, state, and national levels.
Continue reading: C.A.R.’s 2010 Leadership Team
James Liptak Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
Dear C.A.R. Member:
The past few weeks have been very favorable for home buyers, our profession, and the real estate industry. President Obama on Friday signed a bill extending and expanding the federal tax credit for home buyers through April 30, 2010, and on Oct. 30 signed a resolution extending the current limits for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA loans through the end of next year.
These successes were a teaching moment for us all on the impact we can make in Washington when we unite behind a common cause. We called for action, and you delivered. California REALTORS® placed nearly 25,000 calls or e-mails to their congressional representatives, urging them to extend and expand the home buyer tax credit. Passage of legislation critical to our profession also underscored the importance of being politically involved, at the local, state, and national levels. It’s why I’ve been personally involved in our Association’s advocacy efforts for many years, and why I back up my commitment with an annual contribution to the REALTOR® Action Fund.
Continue reading: November 2009 Message from C.A.R. President James Liptak
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