C.A.R.'s Member Legal Services has published a new legal article, "Private Transfer Fees," which deals with the issue of developer-imposed fees on new subdivisions and the impact of AB 980 on developers, sellers, and REALTORS®.  *Note* You will be prompted for your C.A.R. login info.

C.A.R.'S Member Legal Services team has published a new legal article summarizing several new laws for 2008, as well as important real estate cases of 2007. Click here to check it out.  *Note* You will be prompted for your C.A.R. login info.

The February 2008 election is right around the corner!  As a courtesy to our members, we have made available a specially prepared California Ballot Proposition Guide.  Click here to download! This booklet consists of a brief summary for each proposition, as well as a list of proponents, opponents and further website information. So let your voice be heard and vote on Tuesday, February 5th!

The NorBAR offices will be closed on Friday, January 18th for our 2008 Installation.  We will also be closed on Monday, January 21st for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

We have finished moving the NorBAR Santa Rosa Office!  Click here to see a map of the new office.  We are still in the Stony Point Business Park, just one building down (to the west) from our former location.  We are excited to have our own classroom again!  The new address is 131B Stony Circle, Ste. 1700, Santa Rosa, 95401.

Bill Cole was presented with the Sonoma County Spirit Award on November 29th, 2007!  The Spirit Award is an honor bestowed upon business leaders who contribute to the economic development and enhancement of the communities in which they live and work through donations of their time and experience.  Click here to see a picture of the presentation (Bill Cole is on your left in the picture).

Bill is a long-standing REALTOR® in Sonoma County.  He is currently on the NorBAR Board of Directors.  His community contributions are literally too numerous to list, but here are some highlights:

*     Bill frequently cooks for special events and fundraisers for St. Sebastian's Catholic Church, as well as Y.M.I. (Brotherhood of Catholic Men)

*     Public Service Award for 2005 for site acquisition and raising funds for public park.

*     President St. Vincent de Paul Society 7 years

*     Y.M.I Man of the Year award for 2007

*     Assisted City of Sebastopol in acquiring site for Affordable Housing

*     On the Board of Directors of Adopt-a-Nursing Home

*     Sonoma County Parks Volunteer for twelve years.

*     Sebastopol Chapter REALTOR® of the Year for 2004

*     Treasurer for Sebastopol Chapter of REALTORS® for thirteen years.

*     Active involvement in fund raising for local non-profits

We are all very proud of you Bill !!!

You are all invited to the 2008 Installation Lunch and Annual NorBAR meeting on January 18th, 2008!  This event will take place at the Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa in Kelseyville, CA, from Noon until 3pm.  Click here to download the flyer/registration form.  You will receive your invitation in the mail soon!

Click here to see a list. To achieve honorary status with C.A.R., you must have 25 years of C.A.R. membership, and be at least 75 years of age. To achieve honorary status with N.A.R., you must have 40 years of continuous REALTOR® status.

• Common Interest Development Disclosure – This bill will make several improvements in the rules governing sales and management of common interest development properties.
• Condominium Conversion: Homeownership Opportunities for Tenants – CAR is co-sponsoring this bill with the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles which will provide statewide standards for condominium conversions in rent control jurisdictions.
• Housing Element Reform – This bill would provide incentives for local governments who are contributing more housing than the surrounding cities and counties.
• Making the Density Bonus Law Work – This bill will increase the flexibility and usefulness of the density bonus law by reducing by half the number of units that must be built in order for housing developers to receive a density bonus.
• Ministerial Approval of Second Units – This bill will be the 2nd phase of AB 1866 (Wright) that passed in 2002. AB 1866 required local governments to make the 2nd unit process ministerial. Since the passage, some communities throughout the State of California have set up unreasonable guidelines as part of the ministerial process. This bill would prevent arbitrary restrictions that make it impossible to build a 2nd unit.