Event Coverage
REALTORS® Discuss Pressing Housing Issues with Their Legislators
C.A.R. Region 9 Chair Brett Caviness relays REALTOR® concerns to Assemblymember Marc Berman.
On Wednesday, Legislative Day, California REALTORS® across the state once again took hot issues to their respective legislators. They asked their Assembly members and state Senators to oppose efforts that make it easier to pass local property tax increases and to support efforts to make it easier for Californians to achieve the dream of homeownership. REALTORS® also urged their Senators to vote NO on SB 1462 (Glazer), which allows developers to keep buyer deposits for any reason.
Among the legislators that SILVAR members lobbied were state Senator Dave Cortese, Assembly members Diane Papan, Marc Berman and Gail Pellerin. Spokespersons from SILVAR who relayed the REALTOR® concerns to the legislators were Region 9 Chair Brett Caviness, NAR Director Denise Welsh, Alex Lewicki and President-elect Tamme Peters. Alan Barbic, Leannah Hunt and Suzanne Yost, key contacts for Cortese, Berman and Pellerin, introduced the legislators.
SILVAR, SAMCAR and SCCAOR selected spokespersons told the legislators that many of the taxes that are added to a homeowner's property tax bill, like taxes for transportation, graffiti abatement and recreation, pay for things that benefit all members of the community. The legislature should differentiate between things that benefit only property owners and those that benefit everyone.
More taxes put homeownership further out of reach, especially first-time generation, diverse buyers. More homeowners are struggling, and taxes make it more expensive to own and keep property.
They indicated California lacks 1.5 million units of entry level ownership housing. The legislature needs to end frivolous anti-development lawsuits and instead expand laws to streamline permitting for the construction of entry-level ownership housing; prevent corporations from using government funds to purchase existing entry level homes; and expand priority permitting for sewer and water services to all housing development.
REALTORS® also asked legislators to oppose SB 1462 (Glazier), which allows developers to keep 100% of a buyer's deposit to finance construction costs, even if the unit is never completed. The cap on damages is removed. The buyer could end up with no deposit and no home. This law would leave the buyer with few protections and invites fraud
Cortese listened and noted he valued input from REALTORS® and that legislators like himself have a sense of obligation to gain some insight from REALTORS® regarding what's needed when it comes to housing.
"The best information comes from people like you," said Cortese.
Cortese touched on housing affordability in the region. He mentioned that parents who thought their children would live close to them are instead seeing them move out of state.
"We're in a housing crisis and a homeless crisis," he said.
Both Pellerin and Papan also mentioned they were seriously concerned about housing affordability. Pellerin likewise stressed the need to get people to register and vote. "When we vote, good policies come to California and the nation. Not only is voting your right, but it is also your responsibility."
Berman said, "We're at a crisis point in California. It's much more severe in Silicon Valley. We need to create more ownership housing for all levels."
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.