Dear Member,
 
Please read the important information and reminders below regarding foreclosure and eviction moratoriums, rent and financial relief programs and more. Also, don’t forget to register for next week's Coffee with your GAD and upcoming CAR webinars.

Please note MCAR will be closed February 15th in observance of Presidents' Day.

Thank you,

Kevin
NEWS

FHFA Extends Foreclosure and REO Eviction Moratoriums: Last week, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) will extend the moratoriums on single-family foreclosures and real estate owned (REO) evictions until February 28, 2021. The foreclosure moratorium applies to Enterprise-backed, single-family mortgages only. The REO eviction moratorium applies to properties that have been acquired by an Enterprise through foreclosure or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure transactions. The current moratoriums were set to expire on January 31, 2021. Read the FHFA Release

Legislature Introduces Rent Relief Bill SB 91: This bill will provide financial assistance to qualifying housing providers and tenants of up to 80 percent of the unpaid rent accrued since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, SB 91 extends the current statewide eviction moratorium law until June 30, 2021. The state eviction moratorium parallels the federal eviction moratorium initiated in September 2020, recently extended through March and which will likely be extended further by Congress. C.A.R. anticipates that the passage of SB 91 will prevent other, more restrictive state moratorium proposals from moving forward, including AB 15 (Chiu), which C.A.R. opposes. Read the full press release

DRE Reopens Exam Centers Statewide: On Wednesday, January 27th, the DRE reopened four exam centers (Sacramento, Fresno, La Palma, and San Diego) after Gov. Gavin Newsom lifted the remaining parts of the stay-at-home order on January 25th. DRE staff are now contacting examinees to reschedule their previously cancelled exams. Those examinees whose exams were scheduled on the earliest date when they were cancelled will be offered the chance to reschedule first. Rescheduling fees for them will be waived. For more information

REMINDERS

C.A.R. Legal Reminder – Open Houses are Still Not Permitted: the Governor’s updated Stay at Home Order, from early December (which is the authority for the Guidance) states that real estate agents are exempt from the stay at home order only for “scheduled property viewings to a potential buying party. This does not extend to open house viewings, nor viewings with more than one buying party at a time.” More information can be found by visiting carcovidupdates.org. 
 
California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program – Round 2 Opens February 2! This program provides micro grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to eligible small businesses (including independent contractors and sole proprietors) impacted by COVID-19 and the related health and safety restrictions. The grant amount will be based on the business’s annual revenue as documented in its most recent tax return. To apply or view eligibility requirements, visit careliefgrant.com.  
 
Updated Financial Relief for REALTORS®: If you or your members have any questions, please call the COVID hotline – 213-351-8450
Upcoming CAR Webinars

02/09/2021
11 a.m. to Noon
Sign Documents Electronically with Digital Signatures inside Lone Wolf Transactions (zipForm Edition)

02/10/2021
1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Glide for Disclosures

02/11/2021
1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Commercial x Property Management Features Inside Lone Wolf Transactions (zipForm Edition)

02/16/2021
11 a.m. to Noon
Fill Contracts Out on the Go with zipForm® Mobile – and go Paperless!

02/17/2021
2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Glide for Forms

02/24/2021
2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Glide for Disclosures