Members of Silicon Valley's real estate community congratulated the 2017-2018 co-presidents, officers and board directors of the Filipino American Real Estate Professional Association (FAREPA) Silicon Valley chapter at a recent ceremony in Santa Clara last week.
Members of the 2017-2018 FAREPA leadership team include Silicon Valley Association of Realtors Global Business Council chair Tess Crescini (Heritage Homes & Investments) and Wilma Baltar (Keller Williams Silicon City), co-presidents; Cheryl (CJ) Javier (CBC Realty), vice president; Mark Taylan (Direct Mortgage Funding), treasurer; Gelda Lopez (Wells Fargo Home Mortgage), secretary. The co-presidents and other officers were installed by Silicon Valley Association of Realtors president Denise Welsh.
The 2017-2018 FAREPA Board of Directors, installed by Rick Smith, president of the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, included Dexter Lat (Realty World One Alliance), Tessie Figueroa (Akimax Realty), Dan Ramas (Keller Williams Silicon City), Robert Balina (Synergize Realty), Anna Truong Lopez (Bank of America Home Mortgage), Divina Parreno (WFG National Title Insurance Co.) and Edelith Obas (WEST).
Ben Menor, executive director of the Federation of Philippine American Chamber of Commerce, delivered the Heritage Message. Keynote speakers were California Bureau of Real Estate Commissioner Wayne Bell and California State Senator Jim Beall.
Bell thanked Realtors for raising the standard of the real estate profession, noting, "It's a team that makes real estate work in California."
The CalBRE commissioner said one of his "Do's" for licensees is to follow the Realtor Code of Ethics. He urged Realtors to continue building their practice by creating high expectations, adding value, and "telling clients the value of what you do."
Beall thanked the real estate community for its support and advocacy for housing. Beall proudly announced that Gov. Brown had signed SB 3, a bill he authored that would place a $4 billion bond on the November 2018 ballot. If approved by voters, $1 billion would be used to help military veterans purchase homes with low or no down payment at below-market interest rates. The other $3 billion would pay for housing development programs.
"I'm proud to be part of the legislation that makes a significant contribution to housing in the state of California," said Beall.
It doesn't stop there, said Beall. He urged Realtors to stand with him and continue to move forward on housing.
The theme of the installation was "bayanihan," a term in the Filipino language that means building communal unity and togetherness. Co-presidents Baltar and Crescini thanked everyone for their support for the organization, which has changed its chapter name from FAREPA Northern California to FAREPA Silicon Valley.
"We are excited to serve our community and ready to play a big role in our real estate industry," said Baltar. "With our dedicated and strong leaders we can accomplish many goals."
Crescini was bestowed the Founder's award to honor her and her late husband, Paul Stewart, for co-founding the real estate association in 2002. "It is wonderful to behold that since the original FAREPA's inception in 2002, we are still thriving and evolving," said Crescini. "With new and younger leadership from our board of directors, my greatest hope is that we will keep going forward with renewed enthusiasm using new tools and creativity."
Crescini announced FAREPA is partnering with National Association of Realtors (NAR) President Liaison to the Philippines Jennifer Tasto and the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors to plan a trade mission to the Philippines in 2018. The local trade association is NAR's Ambassador to the Philippines and partners with the Chamber of Real Estate & Builders Association Inc. there.
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
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