Arcadia REALTOR Magazine - February 2012

Arcadia

REALTOR速

The Official Publication of the Arcadia Association of REALTORS速

Eight Secrets to Career Success in This Market See page 9

Energy Efficiency: Pick Upgrades That (Actually) Drive Down Costs See page 13

Leading You Strong Through 2012 See page 8

FEBRUARY 2012

WWW.THEAAR.COM

VOL. 16, NO. 2

Arcadia

REALTOR®

REGULAR FEATURES 4 Events Calendar

4 From the EVP’s Desk Andrew Cooper, Executive Vice President

5 Attorney Comments Dave Freeman, AAR Legal Counsel

6 Market Matters

10 Tech Talk

“Are You a Walking Technology Catastrophe?”

Stephanie Maertens, AAR Publications Coordinator Inspired By Sylvia Ramos, Membership Committee Chairman, AAR Board of Director

11 Affiliate Corner

“Does My Home Insurance Cover My

Dwelling For Damage As A Result of Fallen Trees?”

Mark Wu, Allstate Insurance

02.12

{ Arcadia REALTOR® | February | Two Thousand and Twelve | Volume Sixteen | Number Two}

2

February 2012

Arcadia Association of REALTORS® 601 South First Avenue Arcadia, California 91006 626.446.2115 626.446.4072 FAX www.TheAAR.com

2012 ASSOCIATION OFFICERS

Ryan Asao {President} Andy Bencosme {President-Elect} Mike Vachani {Vice-President} Jill Nelson {Secretary/Treasurer}

2012 ASSOCIATION DIRECTORS Margaret Garemore Jeanne Keating John Lee Paulina Lee George Monte Joseph Pacilio Sylvia Ramos Irene Yamagata Nick Zigic

2012 C.A.R. DIRECTORS

Ryan Asao Andy Bencosme Jeanne Keating Paulina Lee George Monte Richard Stone Randall Traw Mike Vachani Kelvin Wong Nick Zigic

ARCADIA ASSOCIATION STAFF

We are here to help you with your needs!

Office Phone 626.446.2115 Robin Allen Ext. 307 Director of Finance / Office Manager Robin@TheAAR.com Michael Beltran Ext. 302 IT Director / Webmaster Michael@TheAAR.com Jane DeGraaf-Wade Director of Association Services Jane@TheAAR.com

Ext. 301

Stephanie Maertens Ext. 303 Director of Publications, MLS Caravan & Supra Stephanie@TheAAR.com Brenda Reed Director of MLS Data Integrity / Social Media Brenda@TheAAR.com

Ext. 304

Maria Roberts Ext. 305 Director of Membership / Professional Standards Maria@TheAAR.com Andrew Cooper Ext. 308 Executive Vice President Andrew@TheAAR.com

ON THE COVER 8

Leading You Strong Through 2012 Hear from 2012 AAR President, Ryan Asao about the strong team leading you this year and what their goals for the Association are.

9

Eight Secrets to Career Success in This Market Learn eight secrets that can make the difference in your success for this year and the next.

13

Energy Efficiency: Pick Upgrades That (Actually) Drive Down Costs Some tips to ensure that you are choosing upgrades to your home that are really going to reflect savings.

Annual Membership Dues Contest The AAR recently held a membership contest as an incentive for members to pay their annual Association dues before December 31st. Over 1,100 AAR members qualified for this contest. The prizes for the winners were: $100, $75 and $50 Visa gift cards. The drawing took place on January 11th at the MLS Caravan meeting at the Masonic Center. Congratulations to the winners!

On the cover (L to R): Mike Vachani, 2012 Vice-President; Ryan Asao, 2012 President; Andy Bencosme, 2012 President-Elect and Jill Nelson, 2012 Secretary/Treasurer.

ADDITIONAL CONTENTS 3

Annual Membership Dues Contest Announcing the winners of the 2012 “Pay Your Dues Early” Contest.

$100 Visa gift card goes to Minoy Lee, Coldwell Banker Arcadia.

5 New Year, New Laws

Learn about all the new laws affecting you this year.

7

Grievance Committee “Welcome to the 2012 Grievance Committee” Committee Chairman, Margaret Garemore welcomes the newest Committee members and explains the goals and purpose of the Committee.

11 Past AAR Staff, Patricia Vercelli, Passes Away

The AAR remembers past AAR Staff member, Pat Vercelli.

12

Commercial Committee “Holiday Luncheon” A look at the recent Commercial Committee Holiday Thank You Luncheon for all of their 2011 speakers, sponsors and Committee members.

12

Commercial Committee “The New SV110 & SRA” A recap of the recent mixer offered by the Commercial Committee.

13

Government Affairs Director Report “REALTORS® Take the Stage in Upcoming Elections” A look at upcoming elections that are relevant for Arcadia residents.

14

Save the Date!

St. Patrick’s Day at the Races

$75 Visa gift card goes to Chun Mei Chang, IRN Realty.

$50 Visa gift card goes to Rosemary Skillman, Century 21 Earll, LTD. Arcadia REALTOR® Magazine

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February Events Calendar 1

8:30 a.m. - MLS Caravan 9:30 a.m. - Events 4 Charity Committee Mtg.

2

9:30 a.m. - Commercial Committee Mtg. 11:00 a.m. - Commercial Marketing Mixer

3

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Grievance Committee Mtg.

6

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - CRMLS Training

7

10:00 a.m. - Public Relations Committee Mtg.

8

8:30 a.m. - MLS Caravan 9:00 a.m. - Affiliate Committee Mtg. 9:30 a.m. - MLS Committee Mtg. 3:30 p.m. - Equal Opportunity / Housing Affordability Committee Mtg.

9

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - “iPad” Education Class 12:00 p.m. - Young Professionals Network Mtg.

10

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Professional Standards Training

13

10:00 a.m. - CRMLS Association Executive’s Mtg.

14

11:00 a.m. - Tech Committee Mtg. 1:30 p.m. - CRMLS Operations Mtg.

15

8:30 a.m. - MLS Caravan 1:30 p.m. - Local Government Relations Committee Mtg. 3:00 p.m. - Global Business Alliance Committee Mtg. 4:00 p.m. - Global Business Networking Mixer

16

1:30 p.m. - CRMLS Finance Mtg.

20

AAR Closed for President’s Day

21

10:00 a.m. - Zipforms Training 1:00 p.m. - Budget and Finance Committee Mtg. 2:30 p.m. - Education Committee Mtg.

22

24

8:30 a.m. - MLS Caravan

29

8:30 a.m. - MLS Caravan

8:30 a.m. - AAR Board of Directors Mtg.

FROM THE EVP’S DESK 2012 is well under way and I’d like to thank all the AAR REALTOR® Members and our Affiliates who have wisely chosen to renew their membership with the Arcadia Association of REALTORS®. We’re on track for a record number of renewals and new REALTOR® and Affiliate memberships as of this writing in late

January.

2012 will be a great year in your Association for many reasons.

Here are just a few things coming your way: • A bigger, better and more robust AAR website • Dozens more educational offerings throughout the year • Weekend and evening educational classes • A new “redesigned with you in mind” Business and Tech Expo now called BizN.E.T. 2012 (mark your calendars for April 24th) • AAR store “specials” and promotions • The introduction of an online video library • Office and agent outreach program • Toastmasters • Many more exciting items and programs On behalf of your 2012 Board of Directors, your dedicated AAR staff and the entire AAR leadership team of Committee Chairs, we all thank you once again for your renewed loyalty to the AAR.

Andrew Cooper

Executive Vice-President

411 E. Huntington Dr. Suite 101 B, Arcadia CA 91006 Phone: 626-446-2401 Fax: 626-446-2362

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February 2012

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Attorney Comments January 2012

By Dave Freeman, Association Counsel 1. DUAL AGENCY – DISCLOSURE STATEMENT – A REMINDER: When you first discover that you are a dual agent in a transaction, you must give a new Agency Disclosure Statement to the clients, and have them execute and date the document at that time. Of course, dual agency includes another agent in your same office representing the other side, and also includes another agent in your brokerage, even if in a different office, who represents the other side in the transaction.

This step is frequently overlooked when the listing agent has secured the executed Agency Disclosure Statement at the time of taking the listing. Then, at a later date, the offer comes in through the listing agent’s contacts, clients, or from a different agent in the same or different office but under the same brokerage. The Courts have held you may not be entitled to a commission if the Dual Agency Disclosure Statement was not newly executed at the time of discovering the dual agency.

2. INSPECT AND DISCLOSE: Recent high Court cases have expended on the duties of a real estate agent/broker beyond those previously required. The Easton case, later codified in California Civil Code Section 2079 made it clear that a broker must conduct a reasonably competent and diligent visual inspection sufficient to disclose to a prospective purchaser all material facts affecting the value or desirability of the property. Thus, a broker would be liable for failure to disclose that which should have been discovered during a reasonably competent inspection of the property and would be responsible or liable for the actual damages.

Recent cases have made it clear that the Courts will go beyond the abovementioned statute and hold brokers and agents liable additionally under the

fiduciary duty standard. The case leading to the decision of the Court is Michel. In this case, an agent (“First Agent”), who was not involved in the transaction had previously attempted to obtain the listing on the property. During his inspection of the property and questioning of the owners, the agent discovered serious defects in the property. He did not get the listing.

However, he later joined the brokerage where another agent (“Listing Agent”) later obtained the listing on the property. The Listing Agent did not discover the serious defects known to First Agent.

Eventually, the buyers had serious and expensive problems with the property, including tilting foundation and numerous, unrelenting cracks in the walls. At the Appellate Court level, the Court held that the brokerage was responsible for failing in their fiduciary duty, and failing to disclose these serious defects to the buyer.

In essence, the Court held that the Listing Agent must inquire of other agents in the brokerage, as to their knowledge of the property. Lastly, the measure of damages can be greater in a breach of fiduciary duty situation than it is in a simply violation of the Code and failure to disclose. Under the breach of fiduciary duty standard, the buyer can potentially recover benefit of the bargain damages, as opposed to the previous limit of “out-of-pocket” loss.

Solution: Perform a competent inspection of the property, inquire of the sellers as to defects and deficiencies in the property, and inquire of other agents and brokers in the office as to their knowledge regarding the property.

3. GRAND THEFT RESIDENCE: Properties and the equity in them are being stolen! The simplest way this is happening is: The thief forges a Deed, complete with notary, to himself, which property has no

loan on it. The thief then takes out a loan on the property for somewhere between $100,000.00 - $150,000.00 dollars. Then the thief walks away, leaving the property to be foreclosed upon.

Secondly, the thief may attack a property with a loan on it. The thief executes a reconveyance, complete with forged documents, and walks away with the money, once again having transferred the property to himself.

Do not underestimate or laugh at the above scenarios, it is happening with too much frequency lately, mostly in eastern counties and in Whittier. The best solution is, at the time of purchase, to be sure that your purchaser gets good title insurance, reviews the Preliminary Title Report and uses a legitimate escrow company. Current property owners may wish to periodically review the title on their property, being sure that no games are being played with the title or loans. Also, remember that title will only pay for problems with the title that existed at the time of transfer to your buyer and will only pay a maximum of the amount of the insurance policy. They will not pay the current value of the property at the time of the discovered theft.

1. Divorce, where the husband or wife who retains the right to live in the house fails to make payments on the loan, and the out of possession party is unable to solve the situation or their credit.

2. Parent’s co-signing for their children to buy property: Children are frequently less responsible than we, as their parents, think they are or will be. An unproven track record is a dangerous place to risk your hard earned credit rated, which will not be easily restored in the near future.

New Year, New Laws

C.A.R.’s Legal Department has created a new chart summarizing new laws passed by the California Legislature and the U.S. Congress that may affect REALTORS® in 2012. For the full text of a law, go to www.leginfo.ca.gov for California laws or http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/ for federal laws.

A legislative bill may be referenced in more than one section. View the chart at http://www.car.org/legal/2012-new-laws/.

Arcadia REALTOR® Magazine

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Market

Matters

Market Statistics for the San Gabriel Valley December 2011 Single Family Homes

City Alhambra

6

Zip Code 91801

Condominiums

Price % Sales of Chg from Sales Single Family Price Median November Count Homes SFR ($1,000) 2010 Condos 8

$474

-7.1%

SFR Only

Price Price & Median Chg from Median Condo November Home Price/ ($1,000) 2010 Sq. Ft. 8

$305

-15.4%

$319

Alhambra

91803

6

$445

-2.2%

1

$340

-31.3%

$339

Altadena

91001

25

$500

2.0%

n/a

n/a

n/a

$310

Arcadia

91006

21

$925

21.7%

3

$500

-10.7%

$407

Arcadia

91007

15

$980

14.6%

15

$405

-7.7%

$410

Azusa

91702

23

$250

-1.6%

12

$164

-31.2%

$217

Duarte

91010

13

$312

6.8%

5

$260

19.8%

$283

El Monte

91731

3

$172

-36.3%

1

$440

49.2%

$225

El Monte

91732

16

$250

-8.3%

6

$249

-3.9%

$236

El Monte - South

91733

6

$270

-16.0%

2

$271

-22.8%

$238

Glendora

91740

8

$305

-9.6%

3

$185

-40.2%

$232

Glendora

91741

23

$505

19.3%

1

$325

-46.5%

$271

La Ca単ada Flintridge

91011

14

$925

-6.5%

n/a

n/a

n/a

$413

La Verne

91750

24

$386

-8.8%

5

$141

-48.2%

$219

Monrovia

91016

23

$488

-2.5%

5

$405

2.5%

$303

Pasadena

91101

n/a

n/a

n/a

9

$385

10.8%

n/a

Pasadena

91103

19

$373

16.4%

1

$426

-28.0%

$258

Pasadena

91104

18

$471

5.3%

2

$238

-15.9%

$356

Pasadena

91105

11

$1,075

27.2%

5

$525

-16.0%

$499

Pasadena

91106

5

$800

-10.4%

13

$365

32.7%

$434

Pasadena

91107

24

$590

-9.1%

3

$460

21.9%

$373

Rosemead

91770

13

$390

-1.8%

n/a

n/a

n/a

$226

San Gabriel

91775

13

$599

2.4%

3

$450

n/a

$350

San Gabriel

91776

10

$405

-11.0%

n/a

n/a

n/a

$312

San Marino

91108

11

$1,750

11.8%

n/a

n/a

n/a

$588

Sierra Madre

91024

5

$585

-16.4%

2

$446

1.4%

$454

Temple City

91780

20

$570

11.9%

2

$393

36.5%

$338

Source: DQNews.com

February 2012

“Welcome to the 2012 Grievance Committee”

By Margaret Garemore, Grievance Committee Chairman

MEET THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS It is my pleasure to introduce the 2012 Grievance Committee: Vice-Chairmen Larry Kallis and Irene Yamagata, and members Norm Haley, Ernie Boehr, Claudia Storey, Mark Burris, Jenny Hsieh, Andy Bencosme, John Lee, Pam Del Rey, George Monte, Sonia Santos, Louis Wang, Mark Ramos and our five new members, Jason Nagy, Tim Cragoe, Nancy Kong, James Pai and Julie Muttavangkul.

WHO ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE DO? The Grievance Committee is comprised of REALTOR® and Broker members of the Arcadia Association of REALTORS®. As a group, we review the confidential Ethics complaints that come in to our Association from other REALTORS® and members of the public for alleged ethics violations against REALTOR® members. It is our job to review a complaint and determine if it should be sent forward to the Professional Standards Committee for a full ethics hearing where the parties come before an ethics hearing panel.

HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE WE HAD? The good news is we did not receive any Grievance Complaints in 2009 and we only had two in 2010 and three in 2011.

WHAT ARE THE RULES? As REALTORS®, we agree to abide by our professional rules of conduct known as the Code of Ethics. Do you know all of the 17 Articles of the Code of Ethics? The Code is divided into three sections: 1. Duties to Clients and Customers, 2. Duties to the Public and 3. Duties to REALTORS®. In our daily business practices we must govern our conduct in accordance with the Code of Ethics.

CONTACT US IF YOU NEED HELP To become more familiar with the Code of Ethics, go to the National Association of REALTORS® website. If you have questions or concerns about a possible violation, please do not hesitate to contact me at mgserv@aol.com, or you may contact our ombudsman Larry Kallis at larry@ c21earll.com.

As always, my best to all and let’s make it a great year in real estate.



(626) 831-8862 www.morrisoninspects.com Arcadia REALTOR® Magazine

7

Leading You Strong Through 2012 I T ’ S

A L L

A B O U T

T E A M W O R K !

By Ryan Asao, AAR 2012 President In 2012 it’s all about teamwork! I feel very strongly that the real estate market is recovering and through the support of our amazing Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and AAR Staff, our REALTORS® will make more money in 2012. Through education, our members will be able to work smarter and make more sales! We recently had an exciting meeting that all 2012 leaders of the Arcadia Association of REALTORS® attended to discuss the strategic objectives for our Association.

At this meeting, we welcomed “Mr. Parliamentarian”, Jim Stewart. Jim discussed the Parliamentary procedures in regards to Committee meetings and how to effectively run a Committee. Also, we were honored to hear from AAR Legal Counsel, Dave Freeman about the importance of confidentiality and other important issues. Another large part of the meeting was a review of the recent Strategic Planning Sessions and how we, as your leadership team, can implement these strategies to make our Association the best possible. Here are some of the main points covered in the meeting below: • Broker outreach to find out how we can help agents and build meaningful relationships • Get our REALTORS® educated! (REALTOR® Road Map) • Get our REALTORS® legislated! (Advocacy) • Community Outreach Campaign (Become a “True

Members of the AAR 2012 Leadership Team

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February 2012

Community Partner” to the cities we serve) • Grow the AAR Membership (Our goal is to grow to 1,900 members through broker outreach, targeted nonREALTOR® designee campaigns and education) • Grow our Affiliate Membership (create and support meaningful, long term relationships) • Help the underserved agents! (Part-time agents, culturally diverse offices, Broker buy-in) • Improve the professionalism of REALTORS® • AAR Toastmasters Club (something that we are really excited to bring to our members) • Support public policies that advance the real estate industry, protect private property rights and promote sustainable real property ownership, housing opportunities and homeownership.

Together we can make a difference for ourselves, our clients, and our industry. Your AAR leadership staff is here for you and we strive to keep you up-to-date on the latest technology and real estate news. If you have any ideas or suggestions on how we can help your business, please contact anyone on the AAR staff. Share this magazine with your office to keep everyone involved and informed. The real estate market is our business and we should all be experts at what we do. Our expertise makes us invaluable to our clients. Become involved and stay educated. Ensure REALTORS® remain the heart of the deal for today and well into the future!!

AAR Past President, Paulina Lee (L) and 2012 AAR President, Ryan Asao (R) with “Mr. Parliamentarian”, Jim Stewart (C).

Eight Secrets to Career Success in This Market Source: C.A.R. Newsline

Follow these tips and make sure you live up to your career potential: 1. Motivation is everything. The talent you possess in your career can be irrelevant if you’re not motivated to use it. Getting satisfaction from a job well done will result in consistent performance and career logevity.

2. Think it through. Impulsiveness can get in the way of your optimal performance. The first solution you come up with might not always be the best, so bring your full intellectual resources to bear on a problem and translate your thought into action. Avoid becoming hopelessly enmeshed in details and make sure you stay focused on the big picture.

3. Don’t give up. Perseverance can be the equivalent of preservation. Spend less time focusing on the problem and direct your energy toward overcoming the issues.

4. Translate thought into action. You come up with great ideas so do something about them! Initiate that project and don’t depend on others to accomplish what you should be tackling yourself. Avoiding the challenge won’t help you reach your peak performance.

5. You can’t take it all on. Spreading yourself too this by undertaking more than your fair share can result in fewer tasks being completed on time.

6. Maintain your perspective. Let’s face it, life is going to happen. You’re going to experience ups and downs, joys and sorrows. It’s often difficult, but learning to put your personal difficulties aside will help you focus on the work at hand and maintain a better balance.

7. Procrastination = missed opportunities. If you find yourself unable to act without a certain amount of pressure or in search of minor tasks in order to avoid the big ones, you need to regain your focus. Distractions inevitably lead to reduced levels of accomplishment.

8. Get to know yourself. A lack of self-confidence can gnaw away at your ability to get things done and can ultimately become a self-fulfilling prophecy. On the other side of that coin, know where your strengths lies and be willing to admit when you might be wrong or in need of selfimprovement.

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Arcadia REALTOR® Magazine

9

Tech.Talk

Are You a Walking Technology Catastrophe?

By Stephanie Maertens, AAR Publications Coordinator Inspired By Sylvia Ramos, Membership Committee Chairman, AAR Board of Director Look around you. It is likely that you will see people glued to their iPads, smartphones and/or some other form of technology. This is not an uncommon sight. When out and about at the mall or simply just walking down the street, it is also not uncommon to see people using these smart technology devices while walking.

Some are so entranced that they nearly Photo By Ben Licera miss walking right into you. The standard way of walking seems to now be with your head bent over your smart device and completely oblivious to the rest of the world.

The National Transportation Safety Board recently made headlines when they suggested a nationwide federal ban on texting while driving. Should the next public safety concern be texting while walking? A recent YouTube video that went viral showed security camera footage at a mall in Pennsylvania of a woman who was so oblivious while walking and texting that she fell right into a water fountain! Although this video is comical, the woman was lucky that she was not seriously injured. Others are not so lucky. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration shows a 4% rise in pedestrian fatalities and a 19% rise in injuries that are texting related. What do you think, fellow AAR REALTORS®? If texting while walking was a ticketable or warn-able offense, would it cause you to be more aware of your texting behavior?

10

Here are some tips to help with injury prevention offered by www.emergencycareforyou.org: • Don’t text or use a cell phone while engaged in any physical activities that require sustained attention; such activities include walking, biking, boating, rollerblading or even intermittent-contact sports such as baseball,

February 2012

• •

•

•

football or soccer.

Never text or use a hand-held cell phone while driving or motorcycling, and use caution even with headsets.

Avoid becoming distracted by rummaging through purses, backpacks or clothing by keeping cell phones and blackberries in easy-to-find locations, such as phone pockets or pouches.

Ignore the call or message if it might interfere with concentration during critical activities that require attention. Better yet, turn off the device beforehand during times when incoming calls or messages might prove to be a dangerous or even simply embarrassing or annoying interference.

Be mindful of the distraction and corresponding reflexresponse delay that texting can cause, and don’t text in any environments in which excessive inattention can cause safety concerns, such as while sitting alone at night, waiting for a bus, or in a crowded area, where one could easily become a victim of a personal theft.

On a more personal note, there are two instances that texting while walking could have turned out very badly for AAR REALTOR®, Sylvia Ramos and her client. Recently, while showing a client a home, Sylvia’s buyer was texting as she was leaving down the front porch steps. She missed the first step which resulted in her twisting her ankle. Secondly, Sylvia was walking down the street last month while using her iPad. A man passed by her and tried to steal her purse because she was distracted. Luckily, she was able to hold onto both her purse and her iPad, but the situation definitely could have turned out badly resulting in being robbed or much worse.

In closing, please simply be mindful of your surroundings and not text while walking, driving or while doing anything else that you need your full attention for. Now go out there and be safe!

Affiliate Corner

“Does My Home Insurance Cover My Dwelling For Damage As A Result Of Fallen Trees?”

By Mark Wu, Allstate Insurance

One of the biggest local news stories of 2011 happened a couple months ago.

On November 30th, a fierce windstorm blew over tress, electric poles and debris that caused damage to cars and homes. The hardest hit areas were the cities of Arcadia, Pasadena, San Marino, South Pasadena, Temple City and Sierra Madre. Federal aid is highly unlikely because the cost will probably not exceed the $50.3 million needed for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster declaration. The storm hit Pasadena the hardest, causing $30 million in damage, with Arcadia and Temple City experiencing damage in the millions. Below are some general questions and answers regarding how damage as a result of fallen trees are handled by Insurance Companies.

My neighbor’s tree fell on my house. Whose insurance pays?

Generally, who owns the fallen tree is not the determining factor of whose insurance will respond. The person who submits the claim is actually the person who owns the home that was damaged by the fallen tree. So if your home or other covered property is damaged by anyone else’s tree, your home insurance policy will respond. Likewise, if your tree falls on anyone else’s home or other covered property, their home insurance will respond. The only time a home insurance policy should be involved with damage to someone else’s property is if the tree owner was liable. This includes a homeowner neglecting a rotten or leaning tree that should have been removed or trimmed prior to the damage occurring.

Will my home insurance replace my damaged landscaping and trees? Trees, shrubs and other plants (including lawns) are

covered on a standard home insurance policy but only for losses due to fire, lightning, explosion, riot, non owned vehicles, vandalism and theft. On the surface, this sounds pretty good, but did you notice that wind or ice are not included. So if your 100 year oak tree fell over due to wind storm, the insurance company will not pay to replace it.

Will insurance pay to remove my tree? The cost to remove a tree is only covered if the tree damaged a covered structure on the insurance policy, if it blocks a driveway or if it prohibits access to the home. However, most home insurance policies have $500 or $1000 limitation to remove trees if a loss is caused by wind, hail, weight of ice, snow or sleet. If a tree falls into your yard and does not cause any damage or restrict access, there is generally no coverage to remove the tree. Tree removal coverage varies based on the insurance company and it is best to ask your agent what your specific coverage limits are for tree removal before submitting a claim.

Will FEMA pay for any damage to my property? FEMA cannot give you money for items that your insurance covers, (this would be considered a duplication of benefits) but FEMA may be able to help with uncompensated losses or unmet needs not covered by your insurance company. Note, the disaster must reach the federal threshold of $50.3 million in your city in order for FEMA to provide disaster assistance.

For any Insurance questions relating to this subject or other insurance topics, please feel free to contact Mark Wu at (626) 2816854 or email him at markewu@allstate.com .

In Memoriam

Past AAR Staff, Patricia Vercelli, Passes Away

The Arcadia Association of REALTORS® is extremely saddened by the passing of past and long-time AAR employee Pat Vercelli. Pat passed away on December 27th.

Pat was a valued staff member of the AAR for 23 wonderful years. She served in many capacities and filled many roles during her long tenure at the Arcadia Association of REALTORS®. Pat retired in 2007 from the AAR and enjoyed her well-deserved retirement with her loving family and friends. She will be dearly missed.

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COMMERCIAL COMMITTEE - Holiday Luncheon The AAR’s Commercial/Investment Committee recently held its last meeting of 2011 and celebrated their extremely successful year. Members of the Commercial/Investment Committee, Board of Directors and those individuals who contributed as sponsors and speakers this year were invited to attend. The Committee has accomplished much this year including hosting a new innovative “Commercial Education Summit & Expo” and both quarterly classes and monthly mixers that were geared toward helping commercial agents to become more involved and more knowledgeable about the commercial side of the industry.

Congratulations to the Commercial/Investment Committee under the Chairmanship of George Monte. Job well done!

Posing at the luncheon are members of the Commercial Committee, Board of Directors, speakers and sponsors (Standing L to R): Fred Madjar, Michael Holmes, Junk-King; Ted Wiersema, ACI Capital; David Padilla, The CoStar Group; Mark Wu, Allstate Insurance; Andrew Cooper, AAR Executive VicePresident; Philip Hsu, Nick Zigic, David Hyun, Joe Pacilio, Roy Blume, Willie Kuo, Tim Johnson, Jim Thomas, Hubert King and George Monte, 2011 Commercial Committee Chairman. (Seated L to R): Maria Howard, First American Natural Hazard Disclosure; Mary Kay, Advanced Group Property Inspection Co.; Careayre Rambeau, Paulina Lee, 2011 AAR President; Ryan Asao, 2011 AAR President-Elect and Dino Champagne, Asset Preservation Incorporated.

Design Escrow, Inc. 20 Years of Doing Business and Providing Great Service!

Standing (left to right): Yolanda Vidales, Julie Nguyen, Kai Wu, Jackie Ramos, Liem Ho, standing (left to right): Yolanda Vidales, Julie Nguyen, Kai Wu, Jackie Ramos, Liem Ho, Janet Cerswell, Janet Cerswell, Suzie Archuleta, Luly Goodmand and Jojo Ong Suzie Archuleta, Luly Goodman, Jojo Ong Sitting Fabbri,Alexis Alexis Ostensen, KayShelley GassMalicek and Shelly Malicek sitting(left (leftto to right): right): Terri Terri Fabbri, Ostensen, Kay Gass,

We are members of the:

COMMERCIAL COMMITTEE “The New SB110 & SRA” The AAR Commercial/Investment Committee recently held its monthly Commercial Marketing Mixer at the AAR building. This month featured an informative session on “The New SB110 & SRA” withFive Horacio Freijo,&Regional Sales Manager, First American We offer Languages Natural Disclosure.

Full timeHazard In House MessengerIn addition to offering tons of great important information, a fantastic luncheon was also provided by Maria Howard with First American NHD for those who attended. If you are Specialize interestedin: in Commercial real estate and would like to attend Bulks, marketing mixers, they are held at the AAR office our free monthly Short Sales of every month at 11:00 a.m. on the first Thursday Commercial Shortpays REO’s Exchanges Residential and Loans

Escrow is beginning our 20th year of doing business! of Members Our of thestaff Commercial/Investment Committee with the speakers D6 esign and sponsors are (L to R): Julie Arballo, Fred Madjar, Roy Blume, escrow officers, a full time messenger and a supporting staff of 6, are

• Arcadia Association of REALTORS® • California Escrow Association • Escrow Associates of San Gabriel Valley

• Amercan Escrow Association • National Notary Association • Pasadena - Foothill Association of REALTORS®

committed to the successful 128 East Huntington Drive timely Arcadia, CA 91006

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Committee Co-Chairman; Mike Vachani, Committee Chairman;

completion of your transaction.

George Monte, Committee Vice-Chairman; Horacio Freijo, First

American Natural Hazard Disclosure, Speaker; Maria Howard, First

“It’s our people that make the difference.”

American Natural Hazard Disclosure, Sponsor; Suzie Koo, Nick Zigic, 626.445.6137 Philip Hsu, Chau Lam and Tim Johnson.

February 2012Our team is expert in all aspects of conveyance including: Residential and Commercial Real Estate Sales, Exchanges, Loans & Refinances,

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR REPORT “REALTORS® Take the Stage in Upcoming Elections”

By Chip Ahlswede, G.A.D.

Arcadia will have two elections this Spring: On March 13th those who live in the Arcadia Unified School District will be voting on a parcel tax of $228 per parcel for 5 years. Measure A will go to fund classroom activities and retain and attract quality teachers to Arcadia Schools. Measure A’s ballot statement is as follows: ARCADIA TEACHER AND ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION PROTECTION MEASURE. To help offset severe state budget cuts to neighborhood schools and keep Arcadia schools among the best in California by providing funds which cannot be taken away by Sacramento; to retain and attract quality teachers; keep schools safe and clean; and protect quality math, science, reading, art and music programs, shall Arcadia Unified School District levy $ 228 per parcel annually for 5 years, with senior exemptions, mandatory audits, and independent oversight?

On April 10th the citizens of Arcadia will have an opportunity to vote for the next city council. The REALTORS® will be interviewing candidates about the issues of real estate, and supporting those candidates who best represent the issues affecting property rights, home ownership, and a high quality community. If you are interested in this process, please let the Arcadia Association know.

Regardless of your party, position on issues, or support for certain candidates, it is important that ALL REALTORS® are registered to vote, and do so.

Make sure your voter registration is up to date ! Go to the California Secretary of State’s website, and be sure to register your current information. It is OUR responsibility to vote for our leaders, because after all “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors” Plato. To update your voter registration, visit http:// www.ss.ca.gov/elections/votereg1.html.

Energy Efficiency: Pick Upgrades That (Actually) Drive Down Costs

By Lisa Kaplan Gordon, N.A.R. Content Resource

A new study says home owners won’t see their utility bills drop until they’ve conducted four or more energy upgrades. Here are projects that will give you the greatest bang for your energy buck.

I’ve long suspected that saving energy is like saving calories: Small measures add up, until a Thanksgiving pecan pie – or a dazzling holiday light display – wrecks a year’s worth of small though consistent efforts.

Evidently I’m right, according to a new study claiming that doing a couple of small, energy-saving measures actually increase utility bills. And that a home owner must perform at least four energy upgrades before their utility bill drops.

The 450-page study, conducted by the eco-curious Shelton Group, found that energy-efficient home owners think they should replace water heaters and install a higher-efficiency HVAC system, though they actually replace windows and add insulation.

We think they’re half right: Adding insulation, especially in the attic, is a low-cost way to reduce utility bills. But replacing windows requires a huge upfront cost, which you probably won’t live long enough to earn back.

To see net savings (in your lifetime) select upgrades that reduce energy consumption by 5% and require modest initial investments. We suggest: • Seal and insulate ductwork through unfinished and unheated areas, such as the attic, garage and crawl spaces.

• Install a programmable thermostat so you don’t overheat your house when you are away or asleep.

• Seal air leaks around windows, doors, attic access, and recessed lights.

How many energy-efficient improvements did you make last year? Did you see a drop or increase in your utility bills?

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Arcadia Association of REALTORS® 601 South First Avenue Arcadia, California 91006

St. Patrick’s Day at the Races Friday, March 16, 2011 FrontRunner Restaurant Charity Event FrontRunner open 11:30 a.m.

$35 per ticket (includes Clubhouse Admission, Parking Pass, Lunch & Fountain Beverage) All proceeds go to local charities.Contact Micah Adams at (626) 415-8332 or the AAR at (626) 446-2115 for more information.

Dedicated to Providing High Quality Legal Services ®

• Estate Planning • Trust Administration • Probate • Business Law • Commercial Transactions • Corporation, LLC & Partnership Formations • Business Contracts

Call today for a free consultation

Romy S. Rahmanian, Attorney

(626) 869-8787 37 E. Huntington Drive, Suite A • Arcadia, CA 91006 romy@rahmanianlaw.com • www.RahmanianLaw.com

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