Event Coverage
No Dues Increase as SILVAR Enters 20th Year as an Association of REALTORS®
SILVAR members were happy to hear that membership dues will remain the same as they have been in the last 12 years. This was good news coming from SILVAR Executive Officer Paul Cardus at Wednesday's annual Economic Seminar and General Membership Meeting. Cardus also noted SILVAR continues to be financially solid and going strong with a 4 percent year-to-year increase in membership, as the Association heads into its 20th year anniversary in 2015.
The meeting, attended by over 300 members, began with a welcome address by SILVAR President David Tonna, who said he is privileged to serve as SILVAR president for 2014. Tonna said he is only "steering the ship" and attributed this year's achievements to an excellent staff and board of directors, and a supportive membership.
Cardus announced SILVAR currently has a total of 4,591 REALTOR® members - 4,283 primary and 208 secondary REALTOR® members, and 299 Affiliated professionals. He highlighted the year's successes, including stunning statistics regarding the use of the Association's PRDS Forms. Over 2,784 SILVAR REALTORS® have used PRDS Forms on Instanet in 2014, 64 percent of members have used the online platform since September, and over 27,634 transaction packages have been created so far this year.
Thanks to the hard work of the PRDS Standard Forms Committee, nine new and revised PRDS forms were released in 2014, including the Agent Visual Inspection (RAVID), Buyer Walkthrough Inspection (RBWT), San Jose Street Tree Disclosure (RSJTD), Transfer Disclosure Statement (RTDS), and Liability Advisory Regarding Shoes Off (RADVSO). New for 2015 are Updates to the Purchase Contract (RDS) and the San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties Advisory (RSMSCA). Following this announcement, members paused for a moment of silence to honor the late Steve Bellumori, who served on the Standard Forms Committee for 25 years.
Adoption and continued usage rate of membership benefits have continued to grow, reflective of SILVAR's membership, said Cardus. In addition to PRDS Forms, members are taking advantage of the DocBox™ and DocBox2Go™ document management system. In the first nine months of 2014, SILVAR REALTORS® have uploaded over 60,000 documents exceeding 450,000 pages – surpassing usage in 2013, and a 30 percent increase compared to 2012. Authentisign™ and Authentisign2Go™ were utilized by 25 percent of the membership this year, with 1,154 SILVAR REALTORS® creating 20,572 signings since the beginning of the year.
Just out six months, Cardus encouraged members to use Proxio, the latest free membership benefit that connects agents in the U.S. and abroad and share their listings, and Proxio's new Proxio Developer Showcase™, which connects agents to new developments in the U.S. and around the world.
Cardus announced SILVAR's global initiative earned the Association the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Global Achievement platinum award in November 2013 and that he recently learned SILVAR will again receive the top award at the NAR REALTORS® Conference & Expo in New Orleans in November.
Cardus promised members that SILVAR will continue pushing for innovation and getting members what they need. "We will continue to innovate and keep up with technology and make sure you have the tools you need. We know you have a choice. We at SILVAR are proud of our membership and how you carry on with your business, and we hope we, in turn, make you proud," said Cardus.
Government Affairs Director Jessica Epstein followed Cardus with more good news. Thanks to members' continued support, SILVAR has received the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) award for having achieved the highest percentage of REALTOR® Action Fund (RAF) contributors for a large Association (3,000 to 6,000 members). Twenty-seven percent of SILVAR's membership made a voluntary contribution this year, far surpassing the C.A.R. stated goal of 16 percent participation. She thanked members who have contributed to the REALTOR® Action Fund.
The RAF funds political activity for SILVAR, C.A.R. and the National Association of REALTOR® (NAR) programs that protect homeownership and private property rights. Epstein explained these funds go toward issue advocacy and candidate support. Without RAF funds, REALTORS® would not be such a powerful force in the political arena. She also reminded members to go out and vote on November 4.
A special guest was NAR representative Vince Malta, who also served as 2006 C.A.R. president. Malta reported on REALTOR® successes at the national level, such as the purchase of realtor.com by News Corp, which will give REALTORS® an even greater presence with consumers on the Internet; NAR's securing the top-level domain, which members may now claim by going to www.claim.REALTOR®; and NAR's successful efforts to remove the down payment restrictions from QRM requirements.
Malta said like SILVAR, NAR continues to move forward with the changing world environment and realizes that data is a huge component in the success of its membership. Also, since more states appear to be mirroring the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, which distinguishes REALTORS® from other agents, NAR plans to go a step further and develop a Code of Excellence.
Malta ended his message to members by congratulating SILVAR on all of its accomplishments. "SILVAR is the model we'd like all REALTOR® Associations to be," said Malta.
Photo Gallery
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.