Silicon Valley Realtors

At yesterday's Cupertino-Sunnyvale District Virtual Tour Meeting, Jeff Bell, SILVAR treasurer and California Association of REALTORS (C.A.R.) Region 9 Director, reported on important issues discussed at the IMPAC, MLS Policy, Transaction & Regulatory, and REALTOR Risk Management committee meetings held during the recent C.A.R. Fall Business Meetings. Bell also announced that four SILVAR members were recognized as C.A.R. Honorary Members-for-Life. Congratulations to Nancy Ba...yard Carlson (Compass, Saratoga), Leannah Hunt (Sereno Group, Palo Alto), Gloria Walker (Gloria Walker Broker, Sunnyvale), and Jeanne A. Wangsness (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Menlo Park)! Honorary Members-for-Life have accumulated 25 years of C.A.R membership and have attained the age of 75. Their state association dues are paid in full for life commencing the year following approval. Bell was appointed to another two-year term to serve as an IMPAC (Issues Mobilization Political Action Committee) Trustee.

Here is an update on winners of the Los Gatos-Saratoga District's Pumpkin Carving Contest. Prizes for pumpkin displays went to Amy Hoefer, whose pumpkin featured "Sereno Group Rock Stars," Nicolette Rodman Kelly's detailed carved pumpkin, and Mirella Kaell's "Boo!" pumpkin. District Chair Elizabeth Doyle, dressed as Lady Liberty, also received a prize for her pumpkin, which she decorated with photos of her admired teachers/mentors. Hoefer and Rodman Kelly each received a $50... gift card to She She Shoes, courtesy of SILVAR affiliate Laura Peterson with State Farm Insurance. Kaell received a $50 gift card to Zona Rosa restaurant, courtesy of SILVAR affiliate Reinita Osborne, with Fidelity Home Warranty, and Doyle, received a gift card to Lowe's Home Improvement. Doyle and other members dressed in costume for the occasion, including SILVAR President Mary Kay Groth.

In a letter released on October 9, the Enforcement Division of the Department of Real Estate (DRE) reiterated that the health and safety of consumers is a prior...ity, and that complaints regarding non-compliance with the showing protocols have been and will continue to be investigated. Full guidance can be found at https://www.car.org/aboutus/mediacenter/news/drecovidaction See more

Come to tomorrow's Cupertino-Sunnyvale District Virtual Tour Meeting. SILVAR C.A.R. Region 9 Directors will deliver reports on the C.A.R. Fall Business Meetings.

We're going to have fun tomorrow at the Los Gatos-Saratoga District Virtual Tour Meeting, 9 -10 a.m. on Zoom. You still have time to carve a pumpkin tonight so you can enter it in the District's Pumpkin Carving Contest! Three prizes will be awarded, one for each category: Most Creative, Scariest, and Silliest Pumpkins will be entered "live" on Zoom. No need to submit photos or pre-register your pumpkin. Each pumpkin can will be entered in one category of your choice.... Viewers and contest participants are encouraged to dress in costume! Look for the invitation to register emailed to you from [email protected]. See more

SILVAR members are invited to "A Virtual Halloween Pumpkin Carving Contest Covid Style!" which will be held at next week's Los Gatos-Saratoga District Virtual Tour Meeting. You can participate by entering your own decorated pumpkin for a chance to win a prize, or just enjoy viewing! Three prizes will be awarded, one for each category: Most Creative, Scariest, and Silliest Pumpkins will be entered "live" on Zoom, no photographs or pre-registrations will be accepted. Each pumpk...in can only be entered in one category of your choice. Costumes encouraged for viewers and contest participants. This event is for SILVAR members only. Look for the invitation to register emailed to you from [email protected].

At yesterday's Cupertino-Sunnyvale District Virtual Meeting, Carol Burnett, Vice President and Managing Broker of Compass Saratoga, and agents Berta Bower, George Tan and Mary Tan agree the pandemic is not going away and the housing market is functioning well despite it. They shared what agents can do in this Covid housing market and how reactions of buyers and sellers have changed.

Join the Los Gatos-Saratoga District's "Virtual Halloween Pumpkin Carving Contest Covid Style!"

Tomorrow's virtual tour meeting will feature Carol Burnett, Vice President and Managing Broker of Compass Saratoga with an agent panel on "The Cupertino Marketplace ... Plus More"

At the Los Altos-Mountain View District Virtual Tour Meeting, SILVAR members were able to gain more understanding on C.A.R.'s position on propositions that will be on the November ballot, from Sean Bellach, California Association of REALTORS Field Representative. C.A.R. OPPOSES Proposition 15, which seeks to amend Proposition 13 by creating a "split roll" to reassess commercial and industrial properties based on their market value. Residential property is exempt, but implem...entation of this measure would be problematic and costly, and it will likely lead to costs being passed on to consumers. C.A.R. SUPPORTS and is co-sponsoring Proposition 19, a portability ballot initiative that limits property tax increases on primary residences for homeowners over 55 years old, people with severe disabilities, and victims of natural disasters or wildfires by removing unfair location restrictions for people who may need to move closer to family or medical care, downsize, or find a home that better fits their needs. It will provide needed revenue for fire protection, provide tax relief for family farms, and generate hundreds of millions of dollars for school districts.

Last night, NAR Global Services organized a fun virtual networking session for members of SILVAR's Global Business Council and the Filipino American Real Estate Professional Association Silicon Valley and members of the Chamber of Real Estate & Builders Association (CREBA) in the Philippines. SILVAR is NAR's Global Ambassador to the Philippines and CREBA is its Cooperating Association there. Here are candid shots of participants, who enjoyed getting to know each other in the casual, virtual setting.