OC REALTOR®- November/December 2022

Debunking Some Myths that May Hamper Real Estate

A myth is a popular belief or tradition that has grown up around someone or something. Although this belief may be based on actual experience or fact, through repetition, it takes on a life of its own and is no longer subject to challenge or question. The danger in myth-making lies in this failure to question and in the tendency to allow unproven myths to govern practice. One purpose of this issue is to debunk, or dispel, three common myths that may hamper the effective practice of real estate.

CONTENTS VETERANS,

Freedom is never free. In this month of Veterans Day, Orange County REALTORS® joins a grateful nation in pausing to honor all who have served and to reflect on the selflessness of those whose courage, devotion, and sacrifice have purchased the freedom we enjoy.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

8

Counting Our Blessings and Giving Thanks

President Adam Rodell reminds readers that November and December are months in which families gather to count their blessings and relatives come home for the holidays. The emphasis is on being together, enjoying one another’s company, and giving thanks.

26

Myth No. 2: The Holiday Season Is Bad for Real Estate

Sabrina Blair points out that the holidays are a time for serious buyers and sellers—and often provide a welcome change of pace.

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Myth No. 3: Now Is Not the Time to Buy

JJ Mazzo says that fewer buyers and less competition for available homes make now a good time to buy without having to overpay or deal with multiple crazy offers.

FEATURES

COVER STORY: DEBUNKING MYTHS 24

Myth No. 1: TikTok Is Just for Fun

Michelle McCann says that TikTok influencers offer useful real estate marketing advice and genuine inspiration.

WORDS OF GRATITUDE 16 What REALTORS® Can Be Thankful for This Holiday Season

Sydney Smythe cautions REALTORS ® not to be so overwhelmed by the holiday hustle and bustle that they forget to show appreciation for their loved ones, their clients, and their business.

17 The Orange County Housing Update: Staying Home

Steven Thomas reports that today’s substantially higher mortgage rates are causing an increasing number of homeowners to hunker down rather than selling and moving.

20

Speaking of Books: The Psychology of Improving from A to Z

Sherri Butterfield reviews Paul Scheper’s book about self-improvement in which the author uses the twenty-six letters of the alphabet as mnemonics to help readers remember the personal qualities— from Attitude to Zeal—that they must think about if they wish to change.

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Orange County REALTORS® Annual Veterans Tribute

In words and pictures, we pay tribute to REALTOR® and Affiliate members who have served in uniform, at home or abroad, either to win a war or to keep the peace.

Reminder: It’s Time to Pay Your Property Taxes

OC Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari Freidenrich describes the ways in which her office has made this annual chore a bit easier.

EVENTS

SoCal REXPOSM 2022

This in-person all-day educational experience boasted a wide variety of speakers whose topics included women in real estate, recent changes in real estate forms and law, fair housing practices, global investment opportunities, and ways to make successful use of social media.

DEPARTMENTS

ON THE COVER: DEBUNKING MYTHS

Print and Marketing Specialist Ivan Salmeron has created a cover that eerily evokes the idea of myths and underscores the importance of dispelling some of the common myths that haunt the practice of real estate.

REALTORS®

REALTOR®

Notice to All Members

policy of this Association, California Association of REALTORS®, and

National Association of REALTORS® to adhere to both the letter and spirit of the federal and state antitrust laws. For their own protection, members should be aware of the antitrust laws

they affect their specific business activities. Any illegal activity under the state and federal antitrust laws is not in compliance with Association policy, nor is it in the interests of the Association or its members. Participation in Association activities must occur only in harmony with these very important laws. Federal law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, or national origin in connection with the sale or rental of residential real estate, in advertising the sale or rental of housing, in the financing of housing, and in the provision of real estate brokerage services. The OC REALTOR® editor reserves the right to review and edit all submissions. Orange County REALTORS® makes no warranties and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein. The opinions expressed in articles are not necessarily the opinions of Orange County REALTORS®. Orange County REALTORS® does not necessarily endorse the companies, products, or services advertised in this magazine unless specifically stated.

OC REALTOR® (USPS 025-445, ISSN 1945-2179) Volume 13, Issue 6, is published by Orange County REALTORS®, 25552 La Paz Road, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. Periodicals postage paid at Laguna Beach, CA, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Orange County REALTORS®, 25552 La Paz Road, Laguna Hills, CA 92653-5127. Annual membership dues include $6.09 for a one-year (6 issues) subscription to OC REALTOR® magazine. OC REALTOR® cannot be responsible for unsolicited materials.

Publisher: Orange County REALTORS® Printer: The Monaco Group

2022 OCAR Cares Golf Tournament Photo coverage of this annual event with a special thank you to its sponsors.

Names in the News 22 Education Central: Upcoming Classes by Track

November and December are months in which families gather to give thanks, celebrate holidays, and look forward to the coming year.

Photos: www.istockphot.com/ CatLane

By Adam Rodell

2022 PRESIDENT, ORANGE COUNTY REALTORS®

November and December are primarily months in which individuals decorate their homes for the season, families gather to count their blessings, and relatives come home for the holidays. The collective emphasis is on returning home, being together, enjoying one another’s company, and giving thanks.

November 8 is Election Day. The event and date are important because state and federal laws directly affect you, your community, your property rights, and your ability to do the business of real estate. Elected officials at the city, state, and national level make decisions about real estate that range from the mundane to the monumental and include open house sign size and placement, land use and zoning, property tax assessments, mortgage interest rates, and the amount of the mortgage interest deduction. Study the official Voter Information Guide you received recently in the mail, mark your ballot carefully, and either deposit it in an official drop box or take it to a vote center by November 8.

November 11 is Veterans Day, and I encourage you to remember the sacrifices of the men and women who have served our country in uniform and to thank them for their service. This issue of OC REALTOR ® features a photo tribute to our REALTOR® and Affiliate members who are veterans of military service, and all members of Orange County REALTORS® are invited to attend a Veterans Commemorative Flag-Raising Ceremony on November 3 at 9:00 a .m. at the flagpole in front of the Laguna Hills office.

November 17 is the anniversary of the founding of Orange County REALTORS®. Our Association traces its beginnings to the chartering of the San Clemente Board of REALTORS® by the National Association of REALTORS® on November 17, 1948, and will celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of its founding next year.

November 24 is Thanksgiving, and we have much to be thankful for —home and family, blessings and accomplishments, meaningful work to do and opportunities to enjoy the fruits of our labors. No matter what the year has brought your way, count your blessings, celebrate what you have, and be grateful. And if today is difficult, look forward to the promise of a better and brighter tomorrow.

December is the month of Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. No matter which dates are important to you or which holidays you celebrate, be reminded of the importance of bringing people home and the ways in which your efforts make that happen. Know that, on the good days and on the not-so-good days, there is meaning in the work that you do.

As the year 2022 draws to a close, I would be remiss if I did not mention how much I have appreciated the opportunity to serve as a President of Orange County REALTORS® and thank our Directors, our Committee Chairs, our Committee Members, our REALTOR® and Affiliate members, our Executive Committee, and OCR’s amazing staff for their enthusiasm, their creative ideas, their hard work, and all that we have accomplished together.

Our Association now has 14,934 Primary REALTOR® members and 523 Affiliate members. It serves a total of 17,280 members, including MLS-only, Secondary REALTORS®, Appraisers, Assistants, and Students. In size, Orange County REALTORS® ranks first in the state and fifteenth in the nation.

Finally, I want to thank my wife Christine, my three children, Joshua, Alexa, and Jordan, and my two grandchildren, Ryder and Phoenix Each one of them has stepped up to support me in his or her own way to make this year a success for me. In closing, I congratulate President Scott White and the incoming Board of Directors and wish them an enjoyable, productive, and rewarding year in 2023.

Photos: www.istockphot.com/ aqabiz

“No matter what the year has brought your way, count your blessings, celebrate what you have, and be grateful. And if today is difficult, look forward to the promise of a better and brighter tomorrow.”

NAMES IN THE

Guests at a “Meet Young Kim” event on August 30 showed strong support for Congresswoman Young Kim in her bid to represent District 40. In a brief speech, Congresswoman Kim expressed concern about the border crisis and about inflation, which is the highest that it has been in more than forty years. Congresswoman Kim said, “I am a mother of four. I am a grandmother of two. I have enough money to retire, but I’m not going to. I believe in the American Dream because I am living it. I want to keep that dream alive for future generations. Allow me to fight for you.”

Congratulations to Allen Chiang and Eileen Oldroyd!

Orange County REALTORS® AE Dave Stefanides (on the right) congratulates C.A.R. Distinguished Leadership Award recipient Allen Chiang.

Congratulations to Allen Chiang and to OCR Director Eileen Oldroyd, both of whom were recognized during the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) REimagine Conference and Expo held in Long Beach in Mid-October. Allen received a C.A.R. Distinguished Leadership Award, and Eileen received a C.A.R. Leadership Award.

Pictured with Congresswoman Young Kim (center) are (from left to right) Quyen Doan, Steve Tilk, Kelley Lee, Tammy Tran, Adriana Galdamez, and OCR Director Ed Molina. Guests Show Strong Support at “Meet Young Kim” Event

Photo by Marion Butterfield

Fountain Valley Rotary Club Honors Susan Saurastri as Volunteer of the Year

During the Sixth Annual Fountain Valley Rotary Ed Arnold Volunteer of the Year Service Awards Dinner, held on Saturday, September 17, at The Center at Founders Village, Susan Saurastri was honored as Fountain Valley Rotary’s Volunteer of the Year. Susan had asked last year’s recipient, Connie Leslie, to introduce her. In doing so, Connie said that “Susan is the embodiment of the perfect volunteer,” that her support of the organization “is massive and broad based,” and that she is “a strong advocate for all things Fountain Valley.” Then Connie turned to Susan and said, “You make us want to do better, to be better.”

Coastal Commission Approves Doheny Desalination Plant

In what appeared to be an abrupt reversal from the May unanimous rejection of the desalination plant Poseidon had proposed to build in Huntington Beach, in midOctober the California Coastal Commission unanimously approved construction of the South Coast Water District’s Doheny Ocean Desalination project. This $140 million project will help serve the district’s roughly 35,000 residents in Dana Point, South Laguna Beach, and parts of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.

When completed in 2027, the desalination plant will produce up to 5 million gallons of potable water per day, enough to cut the district's reliance on imported water from 90 percent to 40 percent.

Photo by Marion Butterfield

On hand to congratulate Susan Saurastri (second from left) were (from left to right) Maggie Etheridge, Seven Gables Real Estate CEO Mike Hickman, Pam Huitt, Susan’s husband Pankaj Saurastri, Robert van der Goes, Diane van der Goes, Jerry Del Mauro, OCR 2011 President Jean Tietgen, Suzanne Gignoux, and Mercedes French

Carolyn Cevecche Honored at Twelfth Annual Roses and Radishes Event

On September 15, the Orange County Taxpayers Association (OCTax) presented the Twelfth Annual Roses and Radishes featuring the Royalty Award. Serving as master of ceremonies for the evening’s festivities was OCTax Chairman Trevor O’Neil

On this occasion, radishes went to the California Coastal Commission for “putting a nail in the coffin of desal by denying the permit for the proposed Poseidon Desalination Plant in Huntington Beach during a severe drought after nearly twenty years of hearings” and to Caltrans for “the so-called high-speed rail system that was supposed to be constructed for $33 billion, to be completed by 2020, and to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco but has already cost $105 billion and, so far, only connects Bakersfield with Merced.”

Roses went to the City of San Juan Capistrano for partnering with the Santa Margarita Water District to provide water to its residents; to the Voice of OC Website (and its Development Director Meg Waters), Orange County’s nonprofit newspaper, for asking the tough questions about how taxpayer monies are being spent; and to the Authors and Sponsors of AB 498, including Assembly Members Sharon Quirk-Silva, Steven Choi, Tom Daly, Laurie Davies, Janet Nguyen, and Cottie Petrie-Norris, and Senators Bob Archuleta, Dave Min, Josh Newman, and Tom Umberg.

And the 2022 Royalty Award went to Carolyn Cavecche, the former directly elected mayor of Orange who took the helm of OCTax in 2012, in recognition of her “lifetime of service to taxpayers and to Orange County.” Previous recipients of this award include Reed Royalty, C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, the Orange County Automobile Dealers Association, the Irvine Company, the Disneyland Resort, the California Association of REALTORS®, Eric Woolery, and Lucy Dunn.

Also during this event, OCTax officially welcomed Sara Catalán as its new executive director.

Orange County REALTORS® AE Dave Stefanides congratulates Voice of OC Development Director Meg Waters, whose forthright reporting earned a Rose Award.

OCTax Chairman Trevor O’Neil presents the Royalty Award to outgoing OCTax Executive Director Carolyn Cavecche in recognition of her “lifetime of service to taxpayers and to Orange County.”

Former OCTax Executive Director Carolyn Cavecche welcomes the new Executive Director, Sara Catalán.

Orange County REALTORS® AE Dave Stefanides chats with OCR Government Affairs Director Dirissy Doan, former OCTax Executive Director Carolyn Cavecche, and San Juan Chamber of Commerce CEO George Peppas at the Roses and Radishes event.

Photos by Marion Butterfield

Friends and Neighbors Walk in Support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation

In late September, friends and neighbors joined Ginger Modiri to walk in support of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The Komen Foundation raises funds for cancer research and for medical treatment for those in need. Ginger, a local REALTOR® with REMAX, Select One, celebrated ten years as a breast cancer survivor in September. Pictured with Ginger (in the center, wearing the pink hat) are, from left to right, her daughter Tasha Hayes, Ginger’s husband Sirous Modiri, her daughter Leila Adams, and her granddaughter Alexis Jessee. Sirous hosted a full breakfast for the walkers at the Marabella Country Club in San Juan Capistrano.

Orange County REALTORS® and Pacific West REALTORS® Support Birthday Fundraiser for Congresswoman Young Kim

On October 18, Orange County REALTORS® and Pacific West REALTORS® supported Congresswoman Young Kim at her birthday fundraiser. Wishing Congresswoman Young Kim (fourth from right) both a happy birthday and a successful election outcome are (from left to right) Newport Beach Planning Commissioner Erik Weigand, Laurie Johnson, Jim Thor, Laguna Hills Mayor Pro Tem Janine Heft, Scott White, Rick Cosenza, Paula Cosenza, Rick Violett, Joyce Leonard, and Rob White.

Bryan Ahn was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame Society of the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP). VAREP is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to increasing homeownership, financial literacy education, VA loan awareness, and economic opportunity for the active military and veteran community. Bryan’s plaque credits him with “going above and beyond to further VAREP’s Mission: to educate, advocate, and empower military and veteran homeownership.”

Bryan Ahn Inducted into VAREP Hall of Fame Society

Bryan Ahn

Providence Announces Plans to Expand Mission Hospital and Add Satellite Facilities

Providence is planning to invest $712 million in expanding its healthcare offerings in south Orange County by adding a new tower at its Mission Viejo hospital and constructing two satellite medical facilities, one in Rancho Mission Viejo and the other in San Clemente.

Providence Mission Hospital Chief Executive Seth Teigen explained that the changes would enable the fifty-year-old hospital to better meet current needs and to allow for future growth in the southern part of the county.

The Mission Viejo hospital addition, which will be known as Tower 3, will replace what is now the Pavilion building. It will have ten new operating rooms and about one hundred new private rooms for patients. With this addition, the hospital will have more than three hundred beds for patients who are admitted. Teigen pointed out that about 40 percent of the hospital’s rooms now are shared and added that the pandemic had underscored the importance of being able to isolate patients.

USPS Form 3526-R

Reporting Requirement for Periodical Postage Permit

The information below is being published as a requirement to maintain our Periodical Postage Privileges.

Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation:

Publication Title: OC REALTOR®; Publication Number: 1945-2179; Filing date: 09/29/2022; Issue Frequency: Bimonthly; Number of Issues Published Annually: 6; Annual subscription Price: $6.47; Complete Mailing Address of Office of Publication, Office of Publisher, Publisher, Editor and Managing Editor, Owner: Orange County REALTORS®, 25552 La Paz Road, Laguna Hills, Orange County, CA 926535127; Tax Status: Has not changed during the preceding 12 months; Issue Date for Circulation Data: September 2022; The period includes 12 months.

Average Number of Copies Each Issue During Preceding Twelve Months:

Total Number of Copies: 15,809; Paid Subscriptions,OutsideCounty: 2,622, In-County: 12,737; Total Paid Circulation 15,358; Nonrequested Distribution: 225, Total Nonrequested Distribution: 225; Total Distribution: 15,583; Copies not Distributed: 226; Total 15,809; Percent Paid: 98.56%

Number of Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date:

Total Number of Copies: 16,500; Paid Subscriptions, Outside-County: 2,721, In-County: 13,242; Total Paid Circulation 15,963; Nonrequested Distribution: 200, Total Nonrequested Distribution: 200; Total Distribution: 16,163; Copies not Distributed: 337; Total 16,500; Percent Paid: 98.76%

Names in the News is intended to be primarily a place where REALTOR® and Affiliate members of Orange County REALTORS® can share both personal and professional news—about births (of children or grandchildren), graduations, weddings, anniversaries, accomplishments, awards, and other milestones— with one another. If you have news to share, email it to Orange County REALTORS® Writer and Editor Sherri Butterfield at Sherri@ocrealtors.org.

What REALTORS® Can Be Thankful for This Holiday Season

Relatives, feasts, shopping, oh-my! While the holidays can be overwhelming at times, there are always reasons REALTORS® can be thankful during this season and ways to show gratitude for each and every one.

By Sydney Smythe MARKETING ASSISTANT

It’s that time of year again! The smell of roasting turkey and baked apple pie is slowly filling the house, a boisterous cheer—loud enough to overpower the traditional football game on the TV—erupts as a loved one arrives through the front door. No matter what your Thanksgiving Day traditions may look like, there is always something that you can be thankful for. Below is a brief list of reasons REALTORS® can be thankful this holiday season with some suggestions of how to show your gratitude in return.

Your Loved Ones

The kids are out of school, and your loved ones may have some time off from work. There is no better time than now to create precious memories with your family and friends! The people closest to you are the ones you go to when you have a bad day and the ones with whom you share the good news when you succeed in the ways you had hoped. Don’t forget to show your gratitude by spending quality time with them and telling them how much you care. Have a movie night with buttered popcorn and cozy blankets! Movies aren’t your thing? Toss the football on the beach after a picnic lunch! Whatever the activity may be, all that matters is that it’s quality time with the people you love most.

Your Clients

While most of the holidays are spent with family and friends, set aside some time to thank your clients for being a crucial part of your business. After all, as a REALTOR®, you need buyers and sellers to keep your business alive! Reach out to both new and old clients. This gives you the opportunity not only to share your gratitude for them but also to ensure that a strong business relationship is in place for the future. Consider sending out holiday cards or a heartfelt message with a treat. It needn’t be extravagant! A little goes a long way when it comes to showing your gratitude.

Your Business

Thinking about what to be thankful for is good not only for your soul but also for your business! Take some time to reflect on the pros and cons of your real estate career. It’s easy to be thankful for the wins, but be thankful for the challenges too because they can show you how to improve. Which tactics worked and which didn’t? If you sold more homes this year than you have during any year in the past, what did you change and how can you continue that change into 2023? Even speaking with others in your field while at a holiday party could give you the spark that sets the right tone for the new year.

Let this article remind you of the many things you have to be thankful for and encourage you to keep that attitude of gratitude all year long!

Member's Responses

We asked Orange County REALTORS® members to tell us what they are grateful for, and their answers are below:

Katarzyna Andrzejuk: “OCR's Awesome Events!”

Ruben Alcala: “Simply living life with all the blessings and opportunities earned.”

Photo by www.istockphoto.com/ lemono Photo by www.istockphoto.com/ lemono

Staying Home

By Steven Thomas REPORTSONHOUSING.COM

On March 19, 2020, the Governor of California issued a stay-at-home order. Offices, small businesses, and schools all closed their doors; workers, teachers, and shop owners headed home. Only workers in the essential areas of health care, emergency services, and food services were allowed to leave their homes and go to work. Oncecongested freeways were empty. Outings were limited to a once-a-week trip to the local grocery store. As a result of the pandemic and the need to hunker down, in Orange County there were 49 percent fewer new For Sale signs in April 2020 compared with the three-year average before COVID (2017 through 2019), an astonishing 1,974 missing signs.

Eventually, more homeowners placed their homes on the market. In fact, there were more homeowners who came on the market from July to December 2020 than the three-year average. Although seven of the twelve months were positive, in 2020, 6 percent fewer homeowners came on the market, or 1,795 less.

Even after learning to live life and go back to work amid a pandemic, homeowners hunkered down and refused to move. In 2021, there were 6 percent fewer For Sale signs than the three-year average, 2,311 less. Eleven of the twelve months were negative compared to the average.

Steven Thomas has a degree in quantitative economics and decision sciences from the University of California, San Diego, and more than twenty years of experience in real estate. His bimonthly Orange County Housing Report is available by subscription and provides housing market analysis that is easy to understand and useful in setting the expectations of both buyers and sellers. His website is www.ReportsOnHousing.com.

Substantially higher mortgage rates are preventing an increasing number of homeowners from selling their homes.

Photo by www.istockphoto.com/ Tera Vector

A lack of sellers in 2020 and 2021, during the pandemic, is understandable. But today, with vaccines and boosters, 90 percent of Americans see COVID as a manageable problem (Axios-Ipsos, September 2022). Yet, far fewer homeowners are placing their homes on the market in 2022, and the trend has become even more severe over the past couple months. Through August, there are 5,473 missing sellers in Orange County compared with the three-year average before COVID, 19 percent fewer.

In July, there were 2,931 new sellers compared with the 3,707 average, 776 or 21 percent fewer. Then in August, there were only 2,484 new sellers compared with the 3,537 average, 1,053 fewer, or 30 percent less. The number of homes coming on the market has been muted all year. Only the first few months of the pandemic fared worse (see Figure 1).

What is precluding homeowners from selling their homes this year? The only major factor that has changed is the swift rise in mortgage rates. According to Mortgage News Daily, mortgage rates, which started the year at 3.25 percent, were more than 4 percent by the end of February. They climbed to 4.75 percent at the end of March, were more than 5 percent in April, and reached 5.5 percent at the start of May. With a high inflation reading in mid-June, rates soared to 6.25 percent. They bounced between 5 percent and 6 percent in July and August. In September, with another high inflation reading and the Federal Reserve declaring that it was going to do everything in its power to slow the economy and curb inflation, mortgage rates shot up, surpassing 7 percent at the end of September. On October 1, they were at 6.79 percent.

Figure 1. As a result of the pandemic and the need to hunker down, in Orange County there were 49 percent fewer new For Sale signs in April 2020 compared with the three-year average before COVID (2017 through 2019), an astonishing 1,974 missing signs. A lack of sellers in 2020 and 2021, during the pandemic, was understandable. Yet, far fewer homeowners are placing their homes on the market in 2022. This persistent trend has become more severe over the past couple months.

Many homeowners are not moving because they simply do not want to sell. They are locked into an incredibly low fixed mortgage rate and do not want to exchange it for a higher one. According to Black Knight, 72 percent of all homeowners with a mortgage have a 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 4 percent or lower, 55 percent have a rate at 3.5 percent or lower, and 34 percent have a rate at 3 percent or lower. Comparing the monthly payment at today’s 6.42 percent rate to the rate paid by homeowners with substantially lower locked-in monthly payments is very revealing. An $800,000 mortgage at 6.79 percent (as of September 1) would be a principal-and-interest payment of $5,210 per month, compared with $3,819 at 4 percent, $3,592 at 3.5 percent, or $3,373 at 3 percent.

If homeowners sell and opt to purchase a replacement property, they are going to be paying a much higher rate and, most likely, much higher property taxes. Thus, they are staying put. There are homeowners who would like to move for a variety of reasons but are hunkering down because they are enjoying a low fixed monthly payment. There are homeowners who would like to downsize, have a private pool and spa, prefer a larger yard, or need more bedrooms because of a growing family, but are holding off, for now. Quite simply, these homeowners love their loan. And they love their low house payment.

The trend of fewer sellers coming to market has prevented the active inventory from growing and reaching pre-pandemic levels. The inventory had grown from a record low of 954 homes to start the year to 4,069 homes after reaching a peak at the start of August, a 327 percent rise, but is still far from inventory levels prior to COVID (see Figure 2). The three-year average before COVID was 6,400 homes, 76 percent higher, or an additional 2,754 compared with the 3,646 level to start September. If the typical number of homeowners had come on the market this year, more sellers would have accumulated on the market, and the increased competition would have led to a larger erosion of home values.

“Hunkering down,” an unexpected trend that emerged this year, appears to be here to stay until there is forced selling down the road or mortgage rates fall back to earth.

Figure 2. The trend of fewer sellers coming to market has prevented the active listing inventory from growing and reaching pre-pandemic levels. The inventory had grown from a record low of 954 homes at the start of the year to 4,069 homes at the beginning of August, a 327 percent rise, but was still far from inventory levels prior to COVID.

“If the typical number of homeowners had come on the market this year, more sellers would have accumulated on the market, and the increased competition would have led to a larger erosion of home values.”

The ABC’s of Self-Improvement

By Paul E. Scheper

Reviewed by Sherri Butterfield WRITER AND EDITOR

W hen I was about ten years old, the Camp Fire Girls group of which I was a member held a Christmas party that featured a gift exchange. Before the event, my mother took me shopping at a local TG&Y store to purchase a suitable gift. While I do not recall what I chose, I do remember considering paper dolls, coloring books, and board games. Mother helped me wrap my purchase; and on the day of the party, I delivered it to the hostess, who attached a number to it and placed it under a beautifully decorated Christmas tree with about a dozen other gifts.

After all the party guests had arrived, one mother explained that we were going to draw numbers for the gifts. Then, she went around the room and asked each girl to take a number from a bowl she was carrying. After I had done so, I walked over to the tree to see which gift would soon be mine. Much to my dismay, my gift was by far the smallest one under the tree. While many of the wrapped packages were as large as a board game or a boxed puzzle, the one that matched my number was the size of a small jewelry box, the kind that might hold a locket or a lapel pin.

To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. One of the mothers must have sensed my dismay because she walked over to me, put her arm around my shoulders, and whispered reassuringly in my ear, “Good things come in small packages.” When I opened the package, I discovered that my gift was a small plastic dog whose front and back legs moved forward and back as if he were running, whose ears flopped, and who was equipped with a pin so that he could be readily attached to a sweater or coat. My gift was easily the most novel at the party, and soon other guests were offering to trade.

I tell this story because the lesson this experience taught me many years ago is applicable to a book that I recently had the pleasure of reading. The book is The Psychology of Improving from A to Z: The ABC’s of Self-Improvement by Paul E. Scheper. Slightly more than one hundred pages long, this book is easily one of the smallest in my library, yet it contains more practical wisdom than many much weightier tomes. Its size makes it extremely portable, and most of the chapters are fewer than four pages long. It is ideal either for carrying and reading when you have a few minutes to fill or for placing next to your easy chair or on your bedside table to enjoy at the close of the day.

Scheper asserts at the outset that “the biggest room in the world is room for improvement,” and his purpose in writing the book is to help his readers improve. Although he earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Harvard University and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Southern California, his book does not take the textbook approach its title might suggest. Instead, Scheper divides his book into twenty-six short chapters, letters the chapters from A to Z, and then uses the letters as mnemonics to help readers learn and remember what they must think about if they wish to change and improve.

For example, A is for Attitude, B is for Buoyancy, C is for Commitment, D is for Discipline, E is for Execution, and so on to Z, which is for Zeal

The Psychology of Improving from A to Z:

Throughout the book, Scheper generously sprinkles wit and wisdom from more than one hundred different sources ranging from William Shakespeare to Shel Silverstein. During the discussion of Discipline, readers are reminded (in the words of Zig Ziglar), “It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through.” And in the discussion of Mistakes, Scheper appropriately includes the words of Albert Einstein: “The person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” To make the book even more useful, the sources of these various quotes are listed on five pages at the back of the book in alphabetical order by author’s last name with the numbers of the pages on which they appear.

SPEAKING OF BOOKS

In summary, this little volume is an extremely useful handbook for all who are seeking to improve. Although its title is disarmingly heavy, its message is delightfully light and is delivered in a form that makes it easy to read, retain, and recall.

Photo by www.istockphoto.com/ wildpixel

Photo by www.istockphoto.com/ mikimad

Myth No. 1:

By Michelle McCann MARKETING AND PROGRAMS MANAGER

You may think that TikTok is where kids go to learn silly dances; and although that may be true, TikTok has also become a useful tool for business marketing! TikTok is the most downloaded app worldwide in 2022. This social media video app has surpassed more than 3.5 billion total downloads. TikTok is taking the world by storm and revolutionizing marketing strategies for REALTORS®! Don’t overlook the marketing possibilities of short-form content—you, too, can become a TikToker! Below is a brief look at five TikTok accounts you may want to follow.

2.

Glennda Baker @glenndabaker

With more than 800,000 followers on TikTok, Atlanta’s Glennda Baker has become a TikTok superstar since her video debut in October 2020. She is killing it with her tell-it-like-it-is style, entertaining content about past and present real estate deals, and real estate advice and marketing strategies for fellow REALTORS®. Her audience connects with her authentic, straight-shooter approach to both business and storytelling. Follow her on TikTok to learn her secrets to getting more notice and selling more homes!

Tatiana Londono, who is based in Montreal, is one of the largest real estate influencers on TikTok with 2.7 million followers. Her edgy and funny content focuses on saving money and investing in real estate, and offers tips and tricks for buyers, sellers, and other agents. She has a very upbeat, high-energy personality and appeals to viewers who are looking for quick, simple “how to” content.

Fact: Several of the top TikTok influencers offer useful real estate marketing advice and provide genuine inspiration.

Tatiana Londono @tatlondono

Daniel Heider @heider_realestate

Daniel Heider’s TikTok posts are short, attention-grabbing, fast-paced videos paired with music and his luxury listings. Although TikTok is not an obvious place to target followers with luxury home videos, Daniel’s 3.4 million followers are obviously engaged. He has figured out how gain a captive audience with his simple, less-produced content. He uses a behind-the-scenes style to give viewers an inside look at luxury homes and the world of real estate in the Washington, D.C., area.

Bethany King @bethanyxking

Bethany King is a Canadian agent who creates videos explaining to her 100,000 followers how she makes her real estate deals and how much money she makes from those deals. She uses personal connection to appeal to her audience by posting about being a single mom, life experiences, wedding planning, and the like, sometimes in her bathrobe or from her bed. Her real personality and relatable life experiences give her a unique appeal and are the reasons she has built such a large following on TikTok.

Steevie Soucie’s TikTok posts mix content about her life as a young, female agent with coaching advice for real estate professionals. She provides informational content about what you need to know to get into real estate, how to make an impression, and what it’s like to be a female in the industry. She appeals to a newer real estate audience and provides helpful coaching and mentoring advice. Steevie has more than 100,000 followers, and that number is growing!

Steevie Soucie @steeviesoucie

TikTok is not just for kids. It’s also for adults who are looking for a novel approach to real estate marketing. Embrace TikTok and find a way to make it your own. Use these accounts for ideas and inspiration, but figure out what you do best and lead with that. Happy TikTok-ing!

Photo by www.istockphoto.com/ Tanyasun

MYTHS

Myth No. 2:

Fact: Rather than being a lean period for real estate, the holiday season is a time for serious buyers and sellers—and often provides a welcome change of pace.

By Sabrina Blair DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PROGRAMS

You may have heard that the holiday season is the worst time of year for real estate, but I’m here to argue that it’s not. Although the market might be slowing, that does not mean that your business must suffer. Below are some tips about how to make the most of the holiday season.

1. 2.

Although some buyers may take a step back from their home search during the holiday season to focus on family gatherings and parties, serious buyers will remain focused on the hunt. These buyers know what they want and are willing to forego holiday shopping to find it. They might have a year-end deadline to find a place because of a job change or simply might want to start the new year in a new home. Either way, they will make your job easier because they are dedicated to their search. Another perk of the serious-buyer season is the absence of looky-loos. The nosey neighbors and the casually interested buyers are probably too preoccupied with their own holiday to-do lists to wander around your open house and take up your time. Instead, you will likely have a smaller turnout at open houses, but those who do come will be serious buyers.

Along with the serious-buyer crowd come the motivated sellers. These folks are serious too, about selling. They want to get their house sold before the year is over so they may be willing to take an under-asking-price offer or to extend some repair credits just to get the deal done. Perhaps their property has been sitting on the market for a bit or maybe they are moving out of the area for a new job. Whatever the circumstances may be, these sellers are motivated to sell and sell quickly. Use this fact to your advantage to obtain the best terms for your buyers and close the deal.

2. Welcome those motivated sellers.

1. Focus your energy on serious buyers.

Photo by www.istockphoto.com/ PavelVinnik

Photo by www.istockphoto.com/ BRO Vector

3. Set the mood with holiday décor.

Is there any better staging than warm and cozy holiday décor? The answer is no. What better way to paint a picture of what a prospective buyer’s life could look like in a new house than to dress it up with pumpkins and warm autumn décor or a Christmas tree and lights? Even if the décor spurs a conversation about where the prospective buyers would place the tree or how they would decorate differently, it’s still provoking them to imagine themselves in that home. And that is exactly why staged homes sell for more than vacant homes. You need to give the buyer’s imagination a little nudge, and holiday décor is a great way to do that!

4. Take time to relax.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your business is not to work. That’s right, don’t work! It’s important to take some “me time.” You cannot function at a high level in business without occasional rest and relaxation, and the holiday season is a great time to sneak away from the office for a few days. Whether you go out of town on vacation or opt for a staycation at home, make sure that you give yourself time to rest, relax, and recuperate. Real estate can be a very demanding profession, so don’t forget to take care of yourself!

Photo by www.istockphoto.com/ invincible_bulldog

Photo by www.istockphoto.com/ lemono

Myth No. 3:

By JJ Mazzo SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, MAZZO GROUP

Everyone has questions about the current housing market. The other day, we talked with some of our REALTOR® partners about what we see as mortgage lenders. People who must buy and people who really want to buy are sitting on the sidelines waiting for the housing market to crash. I would like to address a few of the “myths” that people hear on the news, tell you what we are seeing as lenders, and describe some of what is happening in the Orange County real estate market. As an experienced lender who focuses on closing quickly and guiding our clients to grow their wealth in real estate, I believe that today’s housing market offers a tremendous buying opportunity.

Today, we are in a market shift. No, the sky is not falling. There is no real estate crash just waiting to happen. But, yes, mortgage interest rates have gone up. However, high rates do not make buying a home a bad idea. For example, if you currently rent, you pay 100 percent interest on your payment to the landlord. Think about that. You are shocked by interest rates of 6 percent; but if you rent, you are paying 100 percent with no tax deductions and without building any equity.

When your friends bought homes in 2008, before the housing crisis, you thought, “Uh-oh, big mistake.” Well, thirteen years later, they have increased their equity growth by 50 to 75 percent or more! Saying “recession” over and over does not make the housing market crash!

Let’s dispel some other myths about our current housing market.

Right now, renting is better than buying. I will wait to buy until housing prices drop. Currently, many mortgage programs offer seller concessions to allow purchasers to acquire a reduced rate of up to 3 percent on their mortgage. This means that, instead of reducing the home price, they still sell at the current market value without making a “price reduction.”

Waiting to buy is a good idea. The most important characteristics of today’s housing situation are supply and demand. There are not enough homes on the market to meet the demand created by people who want to purchase. And there are fewer buyers in the market looking for homes. Instead of the mass hysteria of multiple offers and people paying more than the asking price, many homes are reasonably priced for their condition and offer the buyer a sensible choice. Now is a great time to find the home you want and buy it without having to overpay or deal with multiple crazy offers.

Fact: Fewer buyers and less competition for available homes make now a good time to buy without having to overpay or deal with multiple crazy offers.

The housing market is going to crash. The simple fact is that 70 percent of the people in Orange County currently have a mortgage rate around 3 percent. These folks are “hunkered down.” They have good jobs, love their homes, and do not need to change their circumstances. The remaining 30 percent of the market will not create a crash like the one we experienced in 2008. Market times are going to lengthen, and there are going to be fewer buyers. Supply is going to increase, so many buyers will have the opportunity to purchase.

The year 2023 will be one of prospecting. Fewer homes are available, and fewer buyers are ready to purchase. As REALTORS®, you must get back to sales and learn tactics that can help you work your database of past clients. Work with other business professionals, find a mentor or real estate coach, roll up your sleeves and do the hard work to get through this market shift. Remember, on the other side is the upswing. In this market, we all must remind each other to marry the house and date the rate.

Joseph “JJ” Mazzo is a National CORE™ Coach, a Forbes Coaches Council Member, a Scotsman Guide and Mortgage Executive Magazine nationally ranked Top 100 Senior Vice President at CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC. A Five Star Mortgage Professional customer service award winner for several consecutive years, he offers educational workshops and training to help real estate agents and loan officers achieve a higher level of success in their businesses. To learn more, visit TheMazzoGroup.com, call 877-237-9694, or go to support@mazzogroup.com

believe that today’s housing market offers

tremendous buying opportunity.”

“Now is a great time to find the home you want and buy it without having to overpay or deal with multiple crazy offers.”

REALTORS®

VeteRans tRIBUte

By Sherri Butterfield

World War I, which began in 1914, eventually involved all the world’s economic powers in what was called simply the “Great War.” On one side were France, Italy, Japan, the Russian Empire, the United Kingdom, and the United States. On the other side were Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany, and the Ottoman Empire. Ultimately, more than 70 million military personnel were mobilized for—and more than 9 million combatants were killed in— what became the fifth-deadliest war in history.

This global conflict officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919; however, major hostilities had ceased seven months earlier, when an armistice went into effect at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For this reason, November 11, 1918, is generally recognized as the date on which the “war to end all wars” came to an end. In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, and it was set aside to honor veterans of World War I with parades and public gatherings and with a brief suspension of all business activities at the “eleventh hour.”

In 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen in U.S. history and after American forces had repelled communist aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress passed H.R. 7786, which President Dwight Eisenhower signed into law, changing the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. Coming as it does in the month of Thanksgiving, Veterans Day is an ideal time not only to take pride in heroism but also to give thanks for freedom, for victory, and for all who have served the United States of America in uniform, whether to win a war or to preserve the peace.

RON ABIERA U.S. Army 9 Years of Service

MIKE AMEEL U.S. Army 1969–1972

TAYLOR-ANN BERGERON U.S. Navy 2001-2005

DAVE BERMAN U.S. Navy 1967–1973

STEVE BOWERS U.S. Air Force 1967–1971

BRAD COLEMAN U.S. Marine Corps 1992–1999

DON COOK U.S. Marine Corps 1980–1986

RAYMOND DENTON U.S. Navy 1976

BOB DICKIE U.S. Air Force 1967–1998

HERB DITTRICK U.S. Army 1963–1969

TIM FAHL U.S. Marine Corps 1976–1979

DAVIN EMMONS U.S. Army Military Police Corps 1985–1988

EDWIN FAHLEN U.S. Navy 1970–1973

TONY FAULKNER U.S. Marine Corps 1979–1994

ROY FUSSELL Captain, USMC (Ret.) U.S. Marine Corps 1961–1983

DUANE GOMER

Navy

MICHELE

Marine Corps

ROBERT G. “JERRY” HAY U.S. Navy 1971

FRANK HILL U.S. Army 1955–1975

TOM HRIBAR U.S. Marine Corps 1966–1970

CHRISTOPHER

Navy

DAVE LEWIS U.S. Marine Corps 1969–1971

LEN MALENA U.S. Marine Corps 1976–1980

FELIX HUNG

Army

Years of Service

PETER MCCORMICK U.S. Marine Corps 1991–Present

VETERANS

Austin C. Chiles, Jr. U.S. Air Force, 1965–1968

Jim Chiuminatta U.S. Army, 1967–1968

Mike DeLeon U.S. Army, ARNG, 1971–1994

Robert DiGruccio U.S. Army, 1966–1969

Jim Dwyer U.S. Air Force, 22 Years of Service Dan Hoppy U.S. Army, 1969–1972

Melissa Lino U.S. Navy Cas Pinkowski U.S. Air Force, 1960–1964

Don Readinger U.S. Navy, 1965–1974 Bill Sundin U.S. Air Force, 1969–1971

AJA MCGOWN U.S. Marine Corps 2000–2004

RON MILLER U.S. Navy 1966–1969

JAY MILLS U.S. Air Force 1984–1991

ED MIXON U.S. Navy Airborne 1956–1959

MARK PETRICK U.S. Army 1988–1993

MARK RAIDY U.S. Army 1971–1973

TERRY REAY U.S. Army 1965–1969

MELVYN D. RICHARDSON U.S. Army 1964–1966

LARRY WEBB U.S. Navy 1985–1996

KEVIN WHITNEY U.S. Navy 2009–2013

STEVE WIDNER U.S. Marine Corps 1968

WILL WOODS U.S. Navy 1968–1974

JAMES J. ZAKHAR, JR. U.S. Army 1970–1972

Not Pictured

CHUCK PILLSBURY U.S. Coast Guard 1968–1972

VETERANS

You Can Pay in Person, by Mail, or Online.

The first installment of the FY 2022–23 property tax bill is due on November 1, 2022, and is delinquent if not postmarked by December 12, 2022. The second installment is due by February 1, 2023, and delinquent if not postmarked by April 10, 2023.

BY SHARI L. FREIDENRICH ORANGE COUNTY TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR

Shari Freidenrich was first elected Orange County Treasurer in 2010 and was reelected in 2014 and 2018. She has more than fifteen years of experience as a certified public accountant in private industry, specializing in real estate and banking, and more than twenty-four years of experience serving as an elected official in local government. Shari’s email address is ShariforOCTreas@aol.com. You can sign up for her property tax tips eNewsletter at www.ShariFreidenrich.com.

We have made one of the necessary chores associated with owning property—that is, ensuring that annual property tax payments are made on time—easier by continuing to improve the “touchless” ways in which Orange County residents can interact with the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s office.

In Fiscal Year 2021–22, taxpayers paid over 69 percent of property tax payments electronically. More than 36 percent of the taxpayers used our online no-cost eCheck payment option. Our online option allows for secure online payment by eCheck using your bank account (no service fee) or credit/debit card (2.29 percent service fee) at octreasurer.com/octaxbill and eliminates the need either to mail a paper check or to make the payment in person and receive sameday credit and a payment receipt. Just scan the QR code that is on the property tax bill to get to the online site.

The Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector has moved.

The new physical address is 601 N. Ross Street, Santa Ana, California 92701

For your convenience, you can place your payment in the 24/7 drop box at that location. Questions can be emailed to Treasurer@ttc.ocgov.com

Payment online allows for timely payment until midnight on the last timely payment date, and a payment receipt is immediately emailed to the email address provided. Taxpayers can go online to view an online statement that shows any delinquent property taxes or overpayments. All taxpayers can email ttcinfo@ttc.ocgov.com or call 714-834-3411 (8:00 a.m.to 5:00 p.m.) for information. Because local post offices may no longer postmark mail, be sure to have the envelope containing your payment hand cancelled if you are mailing close to the last timely payment date. To avoid a 10 percent penalty, you must pay your property tax bill on or before the last timely payment dates of December 12 and April 10. Partial payments are not allowed. Payment of the second installment will apply first to any outstanding balances on the first installment.

Photo by www.istockphoto.com/ baona

All secured property tax bills for FY 2022–23 are available online and were mailed in mid-September. If you have not received your bill, go online to

and input your assessor parcel number (APN) or property address to view or print your tax

If you own a

or

your income is below 150 percent of the Average Median Income (AMI) for your

and you have delinquent property

as the result of a COVID impact, view the requirements to see if you qualify for up to a $20,000 grant from the State of California to pay these delinquent property

Go to camortgagerelief.org for more

This program may also be able to help you if you are behind on mortgage payments as the result of a COVID

up to $80,000.

Supplemental secured property tax bills are issued when there is a change in ownership or new additions to your home and usually are not paid by your mortgage company. Check out details in our property tax guide for new homeowners at octreasurer.com/ propertytaxguides. View the limited penalty cancellation options at octreasurer.com/ penaltycancellationrequest .

If you wish to appeal your FY 2022–23 property value assessments, the deadline for filing an appeal is November 30. If the assessment is adjusted, you will receive an overpayment refund that may include interest. If you do not pay the taxes and the assessment is not adjusted, the 10

Photo by

Photo by www.istockphoto.com/ serggn

This in-person experience for real estate professionals featured a variety of speakers whose topics included women in real estate, recent changes in real estate forms and law, landlord-tenant issues, fair housing practices, global investment opportunities, incorporating video into your business strategy, and making successful use of social media.

By Sherri Butterfield WRITER AND EDITOR

The unqualified success of the first-ever REXPOSM staged by Orange County REALTORS® in September 2019 strongly suggested the need for a sequel; however, the pandemic forced what previously had been an in-person event to go virtual in 2020 and 2021. But in 2022, the event was once again in-person when Orange County REALTORS® partnered with Greater Los Angeles REALTORS® to host the 2022 So Cal REXPOSM on September 8 at the UCI Student Center from 9:00 a m to 2:00 p m As before, this event featured a series of presentations by distinguished and entertaining speakers.

Orange County REALTORS® President Adam Rodell welcomed those attending 2022 So Cal REXPOSM and introduced Ziggy Zicarelli Zicarelli, an Alabama native who is CEO and broker of Style Realty in Tarzana and was president of the California Association of REALTORS® in 2016, served as master of ceremonies and opened the program by welcoming members of a WomanUP Panel and then introduced a series of speakers that included Jana Gardner, California Association of REALTORS® Senior Counsel; Jerry Nickelsburg, adjunct professor of economics at the University of California, Los Angeles; Spencer Hoo, a global real estate consultant; Glennda Baker, a REALTOR® who has had phenomenal success incorporating TikTok into her business strategy; and Marki Lemons Ryhal, whose topic was “Social Media and the Future of Business.” Their remarks are summarized below.

Photo by: www.istockphoto.com/ TraceRouda

Adam Rodell Ziggy Zicarelli

Photos by Marion Butterfield

WomanUP Panel: The Doors of Possibility that Authenticity Opens

This panel featured Rita Tayenaka, Rhonda Keliipio, Lisa Dunn, Erin Barry, and Lori Namazi. To begin the discussion, Lori talked briefly about ‘‘imposter syndrome” and about the spoken or implied message sometimes given to women to “stay in your place” or “get out of our way.” Then she asked, “What types of limiting beliefs have you encountered in your life?” Rhonda responded, “I think we all struggle with selfdoubt.” She confessed to having once opened a coffee franchise that failed and added, “I never looked at it as a failure because I learned so much.” Rita added, “I opened a brokerage that is all women, and no one tells us that we can’t do it.”

New Forms

Jana discussed the June 2022 New Forms Release. For example, she mentioned the Fair Appraisal Act Addendum. She explained that, as the result of a law passed recently in California, appraisers must take implicit bias training, and appraisals cannot be discriminating. She said that the Commercial Seller Property Questionnaire (SPQ) is a way to protect sellers and enable them to disclose facts of which they may be aware. And she added that the new version of the Fire Hardening and Defensible Space Disclosure (FHDS) omits the “advisory” portion of the FHDS regarding the severity of the fire zone.

Landlord-Tenant Issues

Jana advised REALTORS® to be aware of the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482) and of local COVID tenant protections and reminded them to watch out for variations in local rules and to consult a local eviction attorney.

Fair Housing Practices

Jana said that fair housing is a huge issue and that the three things to watch out for are

(1) Source of Income—You cannot deny housing because a potential tenant’s source of income is Section 8.

(2) Support Animals—You can ask for a note from the therapist.

(3) Criminal History—You cannot have a blanket ban against potential tenants based on criminal history. Instead, you must look at things in context. It’s all about interaction, conversations, and allowing a prospective tenant to explain the circumstances.

Legal Update: Jana Gardner

WomanUP Panel: from left to right, Rita Tayenaka, Rhonda Keliipio, Lisa Dunn, Erin Barry, and Lori Namazi

Jana Gardner

“ I opened a brokerage that is all women, and no one tells us that we can’t do it.”

—Rita Tayenaka

Senior Counsel, California Association of REALTORS®

Graphics by Ivan Salmeron

Photos by Marion Butterfield

Global Investment Opportunities: Spencer Hoo

Jerry said we are in an economy that does not have a lot of slack in it. The Fed needed to reduce demand and cool the economy, but they are hitting a tack with a sledgehammer. They succeeded in reducing demand, but maybe a little too much, so we got a recession. This is the Fed flying blind.

The good news is that household consumption of goods and services is increasing. Purchase of defense products is a big boost to the local area. As we move through the year, inflation is going to ease. The states growing most rapidly right now are the “technology states,” Washington and California. If we adjust for migration, California is the fastestgrowing economy in the nation. Job growth and income growth in California are still robust.

The primary reasons for overseas purchase are for a vacation home, for a second home, or for a place to retire where the location is nicer, and the cost of living is lower. At the moment, the world’s best places to retire are Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama.

In a transaction of this kind, the sources of income may include capital gains, the exchange rate, return on investment, and tax advantages. The top locations for global real estate purchases and investments are Mexico, Panama, Columbia, Portugal, and Spain. Properties in several of these countries feature higher-density apartments with country-club-style living, swimming pools on the roof deck, and/or nearby beaches where the water is crystal clear.

Foreigners can purchase, but there are some restrictions based on location. In these instances, sometimes the bank holds the title so the buyer can own.

Economic Forecast: Jerry Nickelsburg

Jerry Nickelsburg Spencer Hoo

Adjunct Professor of Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles, and Faculty Director of the UCLA Anderson Forecast

“If we adjust for migration, California is the fastest-growing economy in the nation. Job growth and income growth in California are still robust.”

—Jerry Nickelsburg

REALTOR® and Global Real Estate Consultant

Photos by Marion Butterfield

Twenty months ago, I started a video. On May 14, I had 200,000 followers. I average 344,000 views a day across my TikTok, or 2,408,000 views a week. All I talk about is real estate. It’s not about going viral; it’s about consistency. It’s about helping people realize the dream of home ownership. You want to be like a postage stamp: stick to one thing until you get there. Pick a platform, frame out your attack, shape the content, and post consistently. I want my clients to know that I am a champion for them. The road is paved with dead squirrels that failed to make a decision quickly. We are here to help the consumer. I want to take our industry back. You owe it to your consumers. You owe it to your community. You are the experts.

Has sixty-four certifications, designations, and licenses in social media and real estate, is the author of The Modern Real Estate Professionals Guide to Success: Building a Sustainable and Successful Real Estate Business in Today’s World, and travels the world providing social media programs for the National Association of REALTORS® POST

Social media and technology are going to give you a return on your marketing dollar. Technology will never replace an agent, but an agent with technology will replace an agent without technology. We are all here 1,440 minutes on any given day. I want to spend my time where members of my target audience are spending their time. My preferred audiences are on Facebook and Instagram. Discover what people in your target audience are asking about and what they are interested in. Celebrate dates that will resonate with them. Define terms and explain processes. Provide one minute of content. Video isn’t just a visual; it’s the audio. We want to be viewed as thought leaders in our marketplace.

How to Successfully Implement Video into Your Business Strategy: Glennda Baker

KEYNOTE: Social Media and the Future of Business Marki Lemons Ryhal

Glennda Baker Marki Lemons Ryhal

“Pick a platform, frame out your attack, shape the content, and post consistently.”

—Glennda Baker

“We want to be viewed as thought leaders in our marketplace. ”

—Marki Lemons Ryhal

Broker, REALTOR®, and TikTok Sensation from Atlanta, Georgia

Photos by Marion Butterfield

Graphics by Ivan Salmeron

Monday, August 29 Tustin Ranch Golf Club

2022 Tournament Winners

Closest to the Pin - Men: Grant Marple

Longest Drive - Men: Dave Lucey

Longest Drive - Women: Erica Dose

1st Place Mixed Team: Mark Bridge, Heidi Bell, Dave Lucey, and Xavier Hendricks

1st Place Men's Team: Bill Senteno, Jackson Hahn, Justin Hales, and Rod Brewster

About OCAR Cares

Orange County REALTORS® 2005 President Barbara Delgleize was instrumental in establishing an internal relief fund called OCAR Cares to help REALTOR® and Affiliate members who are temporarily in need of assistance because of mounting medical bills or other overwhelming financial burdens. Proceeds from this annual golf tournament benefit OCAR Cares.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Photos by: Jerry Mancuso & Marissa Hughes

MENTIONS

I wanted to write a quick note thanking you not only for your hard work with yet another activity that both REALTORS® and Affiliates could learn from and enjoy, but also for hitting the nail on the head with a gathering that was well thought-out and relevant.

All the speakers did a great job—the ladies in the WomanUP Panel allowed themselves to be vulnerable and authentic with the stories they shared with us, the Legal Update with Jana Gardner was filled with useful and necessary information, the Economic Forecast was enlightening, and Spencer Hoo came with a lot of credibility regarding Global Investment and International Real Estate Markets. The final two speakers, Glennda Baker (absolutely hilarious—please invite her back!) and Marki Lemons Ryhal, shared information that any of us could incorporate into our businesses.

But, most of all, REXPOSM provided a wonderful opportunity to connect and reconnect with friends and acquaintances. It was so good to see people in person and to give and receive hugs— something that has been absent in our lives for the past two years. Thank you for a great event!

Danielle Corliss 2020 President, Orange County REALTORS® Broker/Owner/REALTOR®, Corliss Realty

CALL FOR MENTIONS

Just wanted to say thank you for the gift (rolling cooler bag) for my fiftieth anniversary as an Association member. I do appreciate the recognition, and the gift is a nice Association gesture.

Sincerely, Rosemarie McKowen-Miller

Media postings and emails intended for possible publication in this magazine should be sent either to Director of Programs and Communications Sabrina Blair at Sabrina@ocrealtors.org or to Writer and Editor Sherri Butterfield at Sherri@ocrealtors.org. All written material may be edited for content, length, or style and may appear either online or in print. Emails become the property of Orange County REALTORS®. Although some may be answered, none will be returned.

“REXPO SM Provided a Wonderful Opportunity to Connect and Reconnect with Friends and Acquaintances”

“Thank You for the Gift”