Event Coverage

SILVAR Members in Sacramento for Legislative Day

SILVAR members joined 2,100 California REALTORS® in Sacramento on Wednesday for Legislative Day, where they discuss critical issues that impact home ownership and private property rights with Silicon Valley's legislators.

At the morning briefing, California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) President Kevin Brown and the C.A.R. leadership welcomed California REALTORS® and thanked them to making the trip to Sacramento. He said, Legislative Day is an opportunity for REALTORS® "to demonstrate the size and power of organized real estate and represent our clients who are not here."

California Governor Jerry Brown, a special guest at the morning briefing, also thanked REALTORS® for coming to Sacramento. He said it's been a good year, the budget is balanced and stabilized, but the state still faces issues. Brown said diversity, which is one of California's great assets, is also its biggest challenge and complicates issues.

"We are working out issues that the whole world has to deal with, but with enough openness, with enough skill, and enough harmony our state is going in the right direction … Wherever we look, California is leading the way," said Gov. Brown.

"You're in the right business," Gov. Brown told REALTORS®. "You sell the California dream and it's very much alive. Let's keep it that way. So far, so good. Keep coming back every year."

Senator Bob Huff, another special speaker at the C.A.R. briefing, said "REALTORS® are the best natural lobbyists in the planet because you are integrated within the communities, you are out and about the community, and you have a finger on the pulse of your community."

California REALTORS® make up one of the largest groups that meet with their legislators in Sacramento every year. Political consultant Kevin Reikes who spoke to members at a joint SILVAR, SAMCAR and SCCAOR luncheon, emphasized this, too.

"There are thousands of you in the communities and you know your communities. REALTORS® are influential. You message is we need responsible, reliable stable government. You're not just selling houses," said Reikes.

SILVAR members met with Assemblymembers Rich Gordon and Paul Fong, and Senator Jerry Hill. They told legislators they oppose the following bills:
SB 1439 (Leno)/AB 2405 (Ammiano) – Ellis Act Restrictions, which forces landlords to own a property at least five years. While SB 1439 only applies to the city and county of San Francisco, its companion bill AB 2405 applies statewide. This bill(s) would discourage investment in property. Owners cannot see five years into the future. It's not fair to limit a property owner's right to do what they want with their property. This bill could lead to owners proactively evicting tenants. Existing law already protects tenants' rights in terms of advance notice, relocation assistance, and extended notice protections for seniors and the disabled.

SB (392) (DeSaulnier) Recording Tax, which imposes a $75 tax on the recording of all non-sale documents to fund affordable housing programs. This bill unfairly targets property owners who need to record real estate documents. Some "recording events" require multiple documents, which would raise costs on documents for refinancing from $102 to as much as $552; mechanic's lien from $26 to $176; and death of a spouse from $65 to $440. The bill provides no guidelines on how the funds should be awarded and doesn't ensure the neediest Californians would benefit from the program.

AB 2416 (Stone) – Wage Liens on Property, which allows employees with a wage dispute to record liens against their employer's properties even if the dispute has no connection to the property. This creates a super-lien on wage disputes and clouds title. There are already existing legal remedies for wage disputes.

Members pressed legislators to support the following C.A.R.-sponsored bills:
AB 2169 (Cooley) – Independent Contract Status, which clarifies existing law allowing brokers and real estate agents to decide for themselves whether an agent is an independent contractor or an employee. While legislation already exists on this issue, a recent lawsuit raised the question whether language in that legislation is sufficient to support the independent contractor relationship. This bill reinforces that language.

AB 2039 (Muratsuchi) – Auction Company Liability, which seeks to prevent real estate auction companies from shifting liability for their mistakes to sellers and listing agents when the lender sends short sale properties to auction to validate their value.

The legislators were very responsive to the REALTORS® and thanked them for coming to Sacramento each year to explain important issues. Fong said he is proud to be a REALTOR®, while Hill said he considers REALTORS® "family."

Gordon mentioned he is especially troubled by the lack of housing supply in the region, noting for every one tech job 4-5 service jobs are created.

"We are in an area where the economy is strong, but at some point we have to find a way to provide housing for all. It's a particular challenge in our region that I am willing to work on," said Gordon.

Again thanking members, Gordon said, "It has been meaningful to me that we have had these relationships all these years and push each other when needed. Thank you for your friendship all these years."

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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.

For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.

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