During the last three weeks of September MRMLS will begin a phased distribution of the SAFEMLS™ token product.  Distribution events and location details have been posted to Matrix News.  At the event you will receive a brief presentation, the SAFEMLS® token, and instructions on how to register and use your SAFEMLS® device.

Throughout the past few weeks we have collected questions from our membership regarding SAFEMLS® tokens.  Here are the top questions we have received.

Top Questions and Answers:

Q. Who is required to use SAFEMLS™ tokens?
A. All users including office and personal assistants are required to have their own SAFEMLS® token.  If your office or personal assistant does not have their own MLS login credentials; you will need to contact your Association or Board of Realtors.  Please contact them prior to November 1st to avoid additional charges.

Q. If I am an existing member of Sandicor or SoCal MLS and have an existing token, do I need to attend a distribution Event?
A. No, you do not need to attend a distribution event.  You can register your existing Sandicor or So Cal MLS token on the Matrix login page starting September 15, 2008. If you have issues with your Sandicor or SoCal SAFEMLS® token, please contact them directly.  If you have Rapattoni token or a token from iTech; you will be required to attend your distribution event.

Q. What if I cannot make it to my distribution event?
A. We understand that there may be some difficulties in getting to the event in your time slot.
Therefore, we will be having make-up events in October.  The schedule will be posted in the early October timeframe.

Q. How does the SAFEMLS® tokens work?
A. You will need your SAFEMLS® token each time you log into the Matrix system or Matrix Mobile. At the Matrix login page you will be required to input your User ID, a 4-digit pin, and the SAFEMLS password.  Your 4-digit pin is what you have assigned at the time of registering your token.   The SAFEMLS password is the unique number that is generated by pressing the grey button located on your SAFEMLS™ token device.

Q. Can I have the SAFEMLS Password generated on my Active Key or Mobile Phone?
A. Yes, you can have either device setup for a nominal fee. Please contact your Association or Board of Realtors for their setup fee.  Please note you can have multiple device activated to generate your SAFEMLS password.

At the SRCAR Annual Meeting on July 29th, 2008, the three new Directors were announced. We’d like to thank all of our candidates for volunteering their time and willingness to be part of the SRCAR Directors. And we’d like to congratulate Joe McGowan, Walter Wilson, and Marjo Wood for winning the election.

Walter Wilson, Marjo Wood, Joe McGowan

TAKE ACTION NOW! Oppose A Multi-Billion Dollar Paid Sick Leave Mandate

AB 2716 is a proposed new law that would unreasonably expand employer’s and local government agencies’ costs and liability by mandating paid sick leave for all employees, including, interns, seasonal, part-time, temporary, and full-time employees.

All employers in California would be mandated to provide paid sick leave to an employee after only seven days of work in a calendar year. The proposed new law impacts all employers, large and small, regardless of the current level of sick leave already provided.

This proposal, estimated to cost employers billions of dollars in increased costs, places a massive burden on our local businesses at a time when our economy is underperforming and job cuts are continual.

Click here to take action!

Come Join Us at the 2008 SRCAR Annual Meeting!!

• Network with Friends and Associates
• Election for the Board of Directors Results
• Annual SRCAR Update
• Legislative Update from Alex Creel, Senior VP & Chief Lobbyist with CAR

Tuesday, July 29, 2008
8:30 a.m.
Pechanga Resort & Casino
Ballroom Area

(Doors open at 8:00 a.m. with meeting scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. - tickets must be presented at the door for entry; Breakfast Buffet will be provided)

Tickets On Sale NOW!
Cost: $ 5.00 per person

Special Thank You to Our Sponsors

• Bank of America Mortgage
• Chicago Title
• Heritage Escrow
• Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
• WIN Home Inspection

SRCAR Annual Meeting is open to all SRCAR REALTORS & Affiliates in Good Standing.

If you have any questions, please call the Association Office at 951-894-2571.

Imagine having access to listings across the Southland in one place and in one data feed. It was announced today that the CARETS IDX data feed for brokers is on schedule to be delivered on June 2, 2008. This historic event will mark the first time the full listing data from participating MLSs throughout most of the Southland will be available in one data feed.

After delivery of the IDX data feed, work will begin to aggregate listing data from each MLS into the CARETS “super” data set. In the September/October timeframe all listings will be available within MRMLS Matrix. The CARETS data set will cover all property types, all statuses, and all history. Come see the proof-of-concept at the CARETS booth at the CAR Expo, June 4th– June 5th in Sacramento.

Questions and Answers:

Q. What is IDX?
A. IDX stands for “Internet Data Exchange” and is a downloadable raw data feed that allows you to customize the way listings are displayed on your website.

Q. When will CARETS IDX be available for Agents?
A. The CARETS IDX feed for agents will follow Mid-Summer.

Q. Which MLSs are participating in CARETS?
A. The following MLSs are participating and more are in discussions:

• CRISNet (San Fernando Valley)
• CLAW (Combined Los Angeles/Westside)
• I-Tech (Glendale and Pasadena)
• MRMLS (Multi-Regional Multiple Listing Service)
• SoCal MLS (Orange County and parts of Los Angeles County)

Q. How can I get more information on CARETS?
A. Go to the CARETS website at www.ca-rets.com.

Q. Will I be able to get Northern California Listings?
A. Yes. The participants in the MLS Alliance are also working with CARETS, including the listings from Quatro (San Jose/San Francisco) and MLS Listings, Inc. (Santa Clara).

Supra Key Exchange Coming Soon!

Please read carefully. This affects your business.

Its coming! The new ActiveKEY from GE Supra will be replacing the retiring DisplayKEY (D-Key).  We are holding the exchange event at Pechanga June 23-25. You will receive an email from us with the details of your exchange.

Some of the features:

• Wireless updates continuously and automatically
• No more cradles
• Seamlessly connects across all cellular towers
• Read KeyBoxes at listing
• Opens KeyBoxes in areas without cell coverage
• Flashlight illumination for dark doorways

Please watch for future communications regarding your Supra ActiveKEY exchange dates and times.

For additional information on the NEW Supra ActiveKEY, download the ActiveKEY Brochure below or you may always call us at 951-894-2571.

Thank you,

Southwest Riverside County
Association of REALTORS®

More ActiveKey Information:

• Supra ActiveKEY Brochure
• Supra ActiveKEY Facts

The minutes from April ‘08 have been posted for both the SRCMLS and SRCAR Corporations.

SRCAR: http://www.srcar.org/srcar_minutes.asp

04-07-2008

SRCMLS: http://www.srcar.org/srcmls_minutes.asp

04-07-2008

The Bylaws for the Southwest Riverside County Association of REALTORS® were
approved by the membership and effective as of March 1, 2007. With the upcoming
Nomination process just around the corner and the elections for the Board of Directors
scheduled for July, please be advised of the following section of the Bylaws regarding
Qualifications for Service as a Director of SRCAR.

Section 5. Qualification for Service as Director. To be nominated for elective office and serve as a Director, a person must meet the following qualifications:

• Must be a REALTOR® member in good standing whose monetary obligations are paid.
• Must have served on at least one (1) committee of the A.O.R. or a predecessor association of the A.O.R., or on at least two (2) task forces or Special Committees of the A.O.R. within the previous five (5) years.
• Must not be concurrently or simultaneously nominated, elected or serving on a board of directors of another REALTOR® Association.
• Must not be a member of a current Director’s immediate family, unless the current Director’s term will expire prior to the commencement of the term of office being sought.
• Shall not be eligible to serve if at the time of the election his or her license (broker or salesperson) is with the same Designated REALTOR® Broker as four (4) other Directors, including the Designated REALTOR® Broker(s).
• Shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive three-year terms.
• Shall have electronic mail capability in order to receive notices and information from the A.O.R. and the Chief Executive Officer.
• Shall be available and willing to serve on committees and task forces.
• Shall attend a Directors Orientation and a Professional Standards Seminar.
• Shall sign the A.O.R.‘s Confidentially Agreement and Conflict of Interest Code prior to taking office.
• Directors are strongly encouraged to, at a minimum, make an annual voluntary donation and participate in the C.A.R. political action fund(s).

Should you have any questions or need additional information regarding the Qualifications for Service as Director, please feel free to contact me. Thank you.

Download the PDF

The Southwest Riverside County Association of REALTORS® is seeking REALTOR® members in good standing who wish to serve on the 2008 Nominating Committee of SRCAR. The purpose of this committee is to review the 2008 Candidate Forms and select a slate of qualified candidates to be presented to the membership for their consideration.

Voting for the 2008 Board of Director candidates will take place online from 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 27, 2008 through 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 27, 2008. The results of the 2008 Elections will be announced at the SRCAR Annual Meeting on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at Pechanga Resort and Casino.

Interested SRCAR REALTOR® members wishing to serve on this Committee should be aware that you must meet with the committee two to three times between May 26, 2008 and May 29, 2007. The report of the Nominating Committee shall then be mailed to each member eligible to vote at least four (4) preceding the election (June 1, 2008). In accordance with the Bylaws of SRCAR, no member of the Nominating Committee may not be a candidate for the Board of Directors.

If you are interested in serving on this committee or have questions regarding the Nominating Committee or election process, please contact 2008 Nominating Committee Chair, Karen Nelson at 951-303-3000 or via email at karen.nelson@camoves.comor Nancy Donahue Jones, CEO at 951-894-2571 or via email at nancy@srcar.org by Friday, May 23, 2008.

Interested members, please download the information here.

Call your Assembly member Today!

C.A.R. is OPPOSING AB 2678 (Núñez) which will require a state agency to set up a process to require point-of-sale energy efficiency audits   on ALL homes and commercial properties in California.  These audits will cost up to $400 for homes and ultimately require point of sale energy efficiency retrofits that may cost THOUSANDS of dollars.   While C.A.R. appreciates the goal of AB 2678 C.A.R. strongly opposes the point-of-sale requirements in AB 2678 because they fail to achieve the bill’s objectives and, such mandates will further weaken the housing market.  AB 2678 has just been approved by the Assembly Utilities and Commerce committee and may be considered for a vote by the entire Assembly as soon as next week.

In 2006, legislation was passed which set extremely ambitious goals for greenhouse gas emissions; the first of which is to reduce green house gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. To meet this goal, all market sectors in California are being targeted for energy and emissions reducing rules and regulations. AB 2678 is an attempt to reach this goal, albeit a misguided one.

C.A.R. has historically opposed point of sale retrofits:  while they may be well intentioned, they are ineffective because they only apply to a small portion of the housing stock that changes hands every year, and they hurt housing affordability.

Here’s why AB 2678 is a bad idea:

Point-of-sale takes too long. All homes will be subject to the requirements of AB 2678, but the California Energy Commission reports that approximately 70% of California’s existing housing stock was constructed prior to energy efficiency standards, which were adopted in 1978. These homes, which use up to 50% more energy for heating and cooling than new homes are the homes where retrofits and upgrades can create the “biggest bang for the buck”. Waiting for point-of-sale, however, to audit and retrofit these homes simply takes too long. C.A.R.’s research data concludes that only 22% of the homes built before 1980 (the homes most in need of retrofit) will change hands between now and 2020. By the time a point-of-sale program is devised and adopted, this number would be even lower. The pont-of sale approach falls critically short of reaching what is needed to achieve the state’s goals.

Point-of-sale mandates hurt housing affordability.  Every $1,000 increase in the price of a home disqualifies 26,600 California households from achieving home ownership. Even in the current market, housing affordability in California is still abysmal. Home energy audits can cost up to $400+ per home to perform. In addition, mandatory point of sale energy efficiency investments can add thousands of dollars to the price of a home. Every dollar counts when buying a home; California families are finding it difficult to achieve and sustain home ownership. The point-of-sale mandates in AB 2678 will only make matters worse.

There’s a better alternative. To really achieve the goals of California’s statewide and national energy and environmental policies and commitments, the C.A.R. suggests that AB 2678 be amended to reach all California homes through a comprehensive, phased in, statewide approach that does not burden homeownership at its most vulnerable point - when it sells!

Here’s how you can help. Contact your Assembly member today by calling 800-961-3302 and entering your NRDS ID. When you are connected to his or her office, ask that they OPPOSE AB 2678 unless the point-of-sale requirement is removed.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please contact DeAnn Kerr at deannk@car.org or at 1-800-337-9285.