2008’s Victories

What a year this has been. While the market has dominated 2008, it cannot overshadow REALTOR® accomplishments and victories, the scope of which will reshape our industry for years.

First, the accomplishments: This year saw the creation of C.A.R.’s Green Task Force, a group whose mission is to raise awareness and educate members and consumers about environmentally sound practices. Second, a statewide MLS is no longer a goal. Your C.A.R. Board of Directors has established a state-wide structure that is being implemented at this writing. In addition, industry veteran and real estate technology entrepreneur Scott Kucirek has been selected to lead the CALMLS initiative, and 66 associations and three regional MLSs representing more than 120,000 California REALTORS® have confirmed their interest by signing non-binding letters of intent to participate in CALMLS.

A big accomplishment and a victory.

Our REALTOR® victories illustrate the importance of contributing to the REALTOR® Action Fund. These victories include the Government Affairs Team’s successful modification of AB 2678, a bill advanced by Assembly Speaker Emeritus Fabian Nuñez that would have required energy audits and retrofits at the point-of-sale on all homes. The bill, while advanced with good intentions, did not address approximately 70 percent of California’s existing housing stock that was constructed prior to 1978, when home energy-efficiency standards were adopted. Instead, this bill would have imposed an unfair burden on buyers and sellers.

At the national level, President Bush signed the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 in February and the sweeping Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 in July. These tandem pieces of legislation add much-needed liquidity to our market and will prime the pump for buyers. You can aid the market’s recovery by using an FHA loan, so consider this option when the limits are applicable.

As my term as C.A.R. President comes to a close, I want to thank the C.A.R. Board of Directors for being engaged and involved unlike never before at both the committee level and the board of director meetings. The decisions we’ve made this year will shape our industry for years to come.

Finally, congratulations to the incoming 2009 Team Leadership, a great team, whose first priority will be the membership’s best interests.

Thank you for letting me be your president in 2008. It was a truly fantastic experience.

William E. Brown