Thank you for being part of the California Association of REALTORS® Government Affairs Team. 2010 is a crucial year for REALTORS® as we seek to continue fighting for California's real estate recovery.

C.A.R.'s Government Affairs Team helps make sure REALTORS® can serve clients and sell real estate. Combining REALTOR® volunteers, professional advocates and the REALTOR® Action Fund, the Team fights to protect your business and our industry. Every year, C.A.R. monitors thousands of bills and proposed laws, acting aggressively and decisively to protect your livelihood. We've won major battles to prevent costly point-of-sale mandates, preserve insurance affordability, protect private property rights and limit REALTOR® exposure to frivolous lawsuits.

With your support and involvement, C.A.R.'s Government Affairs Team has won significant victories. Extension of the federal Home buyer Tax Credit; passage and expansion of the state Home buyer Tax Credit, which now supports purchase of existing homes; and the defeat of the 2009 three percent independent contractor withholding.

But even as the State struggles to rebound, there are many legislative and regulatory threats to organized real estate. We expect that the three percent independent contractor withholding will be proposed again. It is critical that C.A.R. defeats it once again. Point-of-Sale mandates and fees at the state and local level are always putting REALTORS® at risk. The availability of insurance and legitimate real estate financing and eradication of shakedown lawsuits are all issues monitored by C.A.R.'s Government Affairs Team. With your help, we can continue to lead the way during these unprecedented times.

Here's what you can do to strengthen your business and our future...

Register to be part of C.A.R.'s and NAR's Broker Involvement Program; mentor your agents to be involved.

Learn about and make a contribution to the REALTOR® Action Fund

Sign up to be a C.A.R. Legislative Liaison. Receive and respond to Red Alerts.

Attend C.A.R.'s 2010 Legislative Day in Sacramento on June 9, 2010

Register to vote and cast a ballot at each election.

I know you're working harder than ever to sustain your business, but if you could invest just 10 minutes a month and be involved with C.A.R.'s Government Affairs Team, we can make a difference.

Sincerely,

Steve Goddard
C.A.R. President
C.A.R.'s Government Affairs Team
You fight for your clients. We fight for you!