Business Briefs

County Realtor Association Opposes Tax on Home Sales

The Santa Clara County Association of Realtors is opposing what it calls an “exorbitant fee” builders can add to a real estate transaction with no government oversight, an issue that will significantly impact the affordability of housing in California.

The legislative battle to fight the so-called “private transfer tax” is shaping up as one of the biggest real estate issues this year in California, according to the association, which has taken a firm stand to protect the interests of homebuyers.

A loophole in California law allows developers to freely impose the “private transfer tax” on home buyers every time the property is sold. There’s no regulation on how much money can be collected and how the money can be spent.

SCCAOR supports the sponsorship of the California Association of Realtors of SB 670, which would put a stop to this practice. The bill was introduced in the Senate in February and has been amended twice. 

Details: SCCAOR Government Affairs Director Anil Babbar at (408) 445-5063.

County Realtors Association Forms Partnership with Asian American Realtor Group

The Santa Clara County Association of Realtors has entered into a partnership with the Asian Real Estate Association of America to improve members’ skills to serve the growing Asian housing market.

Under the partnership, SCCAOR members will automatically become members of AREAA and will be eligible to attend the Asian group’s classes and meetings that teach Realtors how to better serve Asian American homebuyers. SCCAOR and AREAA will cooperate on community homeownership initiatives. Through AREAA, SCCAOR members will also be able to get the tools to expand their business to foreign markets, such as the ones in Asia.

“We at SCCAOR consider this partnership a logical extension of our commitment of service and professionalism to our members and our commitment to the understanding of diversity in America,” SCCAOR President Warren Winsness said. “The Asian American community constitutes a growing segment of the housing market, especially in Santa Clara County, which provides both opportunity and challenge for real estate professionals. We hope through this partnership more Asian Americans fulfill their dream of homeownership.”

Bay Area Bike to Work Day is May 17

May is National Bike Month and May 17 marks the San Francisco Bay Area’s 13th annual Bike to Work Day, a celebration of bicycling as a healthy, fun and viable form of transportation.

In Morgan Hill event participants will gather at the Caltrain Station from 6-9:30 am to initiate their rides to work. The Caltrain station has been designated as an energizer station location.

On the morning of May 17, volunteers at hundreds of energizer stations will be located along bike commute routes in all nine Bay Area counties to provide free beverages, bike-related giveaways, snacks and encouragement to bicyclists. And, during the month of May, dozens of exciting local events will take place throughout the Bay Area to promote bicycle commuting.

According to Census data, approximately 36,000 Bay Area residents use a bicycle as their primary means of getting to work each day – a number that Bike to Work Day organizers expect to climb to as high as 100,000 on May 17. Cole Portocarrero, Bike to Work Day event coordinator, says, “The regular bike commuters represent only a fraction of the number of people throughout the Bay Area who could ride a bike to many places they need to go. We hope Bike to Work Day will inspire lots of them to hop on their bikes to commute, connect to transit, go shopping, run errands, or just to ride for fun. Bicycling is good for you, and for the environment.”

Due to its success last year, Bike to Work Day organizers are also bringing back the “Team Bike Challenge” to encourage existing bicycle commuters to recruit their colleagues, friends, neighbors and local “honorary” figures to bicycle to work, school and other destinations during the month of May. Participants in the Team Bike Challenge form teams of five individuals and register on the Bicycling page at 511.org. During the entire month of May, participants track their trips made by bike as they compete against other teams. More about Bike to Work Day and the Team Bike Challenge, including information on how to register, nominating a Bike Commuter of the Year, finding bike routes, and more can be found on the Bicycling page at 511.org.

Bike to Work Day 2007 is presented by Webcor Builders and promotions are being organized by the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, county congestion management agencies, local bike coalitions and hundreds of local volunteers.

Details: Visit 511.org or call 511 and say “bicycling.”