HUMBOLDT ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
BROKERS MEETING
Thursday, October 13, 2016
2:00 p.m.
ATTENDANCE:Tom Bronchetti, Joyce West, Keyera Mullins, Lucky Syphanthong, Phil Lazzar, Sally Conley, Brenda Lockhart, Tom Whitely, Michelle Rowland, Tina Christensen, Jeremy Stanfield
Staff present:Ida Heinen, Executive Officer;Kristen Kelley, Administrative Assistant
NOTES: Notes from February 18, 2016Meeting. Notes from the FebruaryBroker’s meeting were reviewed.
HAR:
New Agent Training:Tina addressed the brokers on behalf of the Human Resources Committee regarding new agent training. Many of the new agents are not receiving adequate broker training and it is affecting other agents and transactions. Some points discussed:
- TDS – No water heaters not carbon monoxide detectors forms
- Time limits on the Buyers Notice to Perform. First day as zero day and if the final day falls on a weekend day – the final day is the following Monday.
- Need to be careful on calendar days versus business days
- Need guidance regarding the 17-day inspection period
- AVID is not required by law. Purchase agreement says provide an AVID unless countered out.
- Buyer Receipt – signers do not have to sign all the individual forms
- Brokers or designated representative needs to be monitoring all transactions and forms.
- Agents are not following the instruction in the MLS for showing instructions and are not waiting for confirmation replies from other agents.
- Not pre-qualing buyers -Need to make sure buyers have pre-qual letters.
- Part-time agents need to have agent back-ups in place to assist with transaction in their stead.
- Brokers need to adopt teaching programs for their new agents
- Train newer agents on what forms/disclosures are needed in a transaction
- Initiate a mentor program or agent team
Brokers suggested putting together a broker advisory board or taskforce to suggest agent trainings and to watch CAR and write articles for important changes.
Sally reported she contacted CAR regarding disclosures and they advised each office to maintain a list of disclosures and have a form that includes agent name and date if they refuse requested and office required disclosure forms. Brenda noted Southern California is having difficulties with the Buyer & Seller Request for Repairs. CAR is still working on this issue. Go to CAR for a list of California Mandatory Disclosure and forms.
Member Participation: Brokers were encouraged to promote committee and HAR events participation to their agents. The 2016 Committee Volunteer Sign-up form was distributed. Brokers discussed possible reasons for low MLS tour meeting attendance. The MLS Committee is researching alternative locations for the Eureka tour meeting. There were comments to make sure pitches are short and not disruptive. The Fortuna tour is sometimes difficult to list a property for the tour since they go to Ferndale and Loleta one week, Rio Dell and Hydesville another week.
Reflection on 2016 and Association Direction for 2017: There were comments to update the HAR Website to make it more agents friendly for finding upcoming event and class information. They suggested trying to add a new module that can be clicked to receive updates since the previous time they visited the website. There was discussion regarding the Weekly Newsletter and the frequency of receiving the newsletter. Some broker would like to see an announcement on an upcoming event featured once and removed and others requested the newsletter not be changed, they need the reminders. There was a suggestion to research an app program that we invite our members to sign-up for to remind them of upcoming events instead of emailing the information.
2016 Realtor, Rookie & Affiliate of the Year Nomination Form: Staff distributed the form and asked for agents to return by November 18th for consideration.
Affiliate Products & Services Directory: The September edition of the Affiliates Products & Services Directory was distributed.
MLS Rules & Regulations: Staff will post the latest edition of the MLS Rules & Regulations to the HAR website for review. Brokers asked when they have completed to email a copy to the brokers and list the changes.
2017 Mixer Sponsors: Staff asked that if any office was interested in hosting one of the HAR mixer to contact HAR. Thank you to MikkiMoves Real Estate for volunteering to host the February 2017 Sweetheart Mixer again.
2016 Calendar of Events: Reviewed. The next Broker’s Meeting will be on Thursday, March 2, 2017.
CAR: State Directors:Ida distributed the state director’s reports. Brenda reported on the Risk Management meeting she attended with CAR Legal Counsel Gov Hutcheson. She reported Gov advised agents to send the RPA’s to the escrow officers. Fidelity National Title already requires a copy but not Humboldt Land Title. Wire Fraud is very prevalent in California. Insurance companies are coming out with wire fraud insurance. Southern California is dealing with this and we have a couple known cases in Humboldt County. The rules for Airbnb are getting tighter. They went over all the issues regarding the PACE loans and how seniors are taken advantage of. Appraisals are being back-logged to at least a month in some areas. They went over problems with “pocket listings” and moratorium on building in southern California. Los Angeles has the first drive-through medical marijuana dispensary. There is a rise in HOA fees. Agents do not have to disclose if a listing is near a senior care facility. Sellers do not have to disclose paranormal activity if they have not seen it. California has a new low flow toilet regulation and disclosure starting January 1, 2017. Beginning January 2018, BRE # must be on all advertising, including signs, flyers, etc. Agents can request disciplinary action be removed from the BRE record after 10 years. Landlords must now disclose bed bugs. A copy of all pest reports must be giving to tenants.
Realtor Action Fund: Ida reported HAR reached the required association level participation.
County Market Update: Reviewed. The median price in Humboldt County per CAR is $290.000 for August 2016.
CAR License Renewal 45 Free Hours of On-line CE Courses: Brenda reported CAR will start offering members 45-hours of continuing education in one year for FREE in 2017.
Legal Live Webinar: Kristen reported the next CAR Legal Live Webinar is on November 1st at 1:30 p.m. with Robert Bloom on New Laws for 2017.
Down Payment Resource: CAR is offering a down payment resource page on the CAR website.
Realegal: Reviewed.
CAR 2017 Laws: Staff added in the entire 2017 New Laws Affecting Realtors in the packet for broker review.
CalBRE:
Broker Retention and Responsibility to Product Records: Reviewed.
NAR:
Code of Ethics Quadrennial Training- Period Ends December 31, 2016: Staff reported approximately two-thirds of our Realtors have fulfilled the Code of Ethics requirement. Kristen is ready to send the second notice email to the individual agents who are still outstanding. She will also send a list to brokers of their agents who are still out of compliance. Beginning January 1, 2017, agents will have to complete and submit Code of Ethics to meet the NAR requirement every two years.
HAR EVENTS:
Upcoming:
1031 Exchange Seminar – October 18th at 2:00 p.m. at HAR
General Membership Meeting – October 20th at 10:00 a.m. at Baywood Golf & Country Club
Fall Mixer – October 27th at 5:00 p.m. at RE/MAX Humboldt Realty
H.C. GIS Class- November 3rd at 2:00 p.m. at HAR
Importance of Staging Lunch & Learn Class @ 12:30 p.m. at Humboldt Land Title
Thanksgiving – November 24th & 25th – Association office closed
Toys for Kids Mixer- December 8th at 5:00p.m.
Toys for Kids Distribution – December 10th at 9:00 a.m.
Christmas – December 25th – Association office closed
New Year’s Day – January 2nd – Association office closed
Installation Dinner – January 14th at the Sequoia Conference Center
OPEN FORUM: HAR took no stance on the local rent control issue. It is a double-edged sword, both sides have need of protection of property rights.
There has been a big complaint from buyers on stated condition of houses listed in the MLS.
ADJOURNED:3:45 p.m.