In addition to returning to a single tour day, you can see that we have simplified the time blocks to reduce the complexity of organizing your tours both from the hosting side and the touring side. 

Here is the total set of changes we’re launching the night of December 13 (which affects the tours on December 20):

• District 9 (D, FGH & T) tours in the first time block from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. 
• District 9 (ABC, E & J) tours in the last time block from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• All time blocks are 2 hours now, we have removed the half-hour offset for New vs Repeat.
• The INDICATORS are unchanged and will still show you new tours (with no indicator) sorted first and repeat tours (with an asterisk indicator) sorted after those. Price reduction listings will still carry the familiar minus indicator.

We are closely collaborating with our MLS partners and tour data vendors (THEO) on the release of these changes to avoid disruptions. If you have any questions or concerns about our return to single day Broker Tour, please email us.

The dust has settled following the November election. Here is a look at how we fared: 

• SFAR and our coalition of homeownership advocates successfully defeated Proposition O, which would have created another $150+ parcel tax on all property owners. An overwhelming number of San Franciscans (63%) voted No on Proposition O.

• Unfortunately, we were not able to defeat Proposition M, the residential vacancy tax. Despite a strong & focused opposition campaign by SFAR and our allies, Prop M passed with a narrow 53% victory. See a summary of the proposition below.

• Our endorsed candidate, Supervisor Matt Dorsey, won a decisive victory in District 6 (South of Market). He won 53% of the vote after ranked-choice voting. Supervisor Matt Dorsey ran on the platform of restoring public safety, ending open-air drug dealing, and a determined approach to helping people suffering from substance abuse get off the street and into treatment.

• Our second endorsed candidate, Joel Engardio was victorious in his race, narrowly defeating his competitor. Engardio is the first person in recent history to defeat a sitting Supervisor incumbent.

• District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and School Board members Lisa Weissman-Ward and Lainie Motamedi also won resounding victories. All three campaigned on a platform of competency and pragmatism in their respective offices.

Residential Vacancy Taxes - Proposition M Passes

2022 Proposition M: Shall the City tax owners of vacant residential units in buildings with three or more units, if those owners have kept those units vacant for more than 182 days in a calendar year, at a rate between $2,500–5,000 per vacant unit in 2024 and up to $20,000 in later years with adjustments for inflation, to generate estimated annual revenue of $20–37 million, with the tax continuing until December 31, 2053, and use those funds for rent subsidies and affordable housing?

Summary: The residential vacancy tax initiative fast-tracked and endorsed by several San Francisco Supervisors has passed with 52% of the vote. The new law imposes a tax on residential units in a multi-unit building (three or more units)  that is unused or vacant for six months or more (182 days) in any given calendar year - even if not consecutively. The new law and vacancy tax goes into effect starting January 1, 2024.

THE SIX MONTH RULE:

Exceptions to the six-month rule include:

• during any period in which the unit is the principal place of residence of the owner and a homeowners exemption is claimed; 
• during a period, not to exceed one year, in which a building permit application is pending for the unit;
• during a period, not to exceed one year, following the issuance of the building permit;
• the year after a certificate of occupancy is issued for new construction;
• the two-year period after which the unit was made uninhabitable due to fire, disaster or catastrophe;
• during a period following the death of an owner who was the sole occupant, not to exceed one year or the period during which the unit remains subject to probate;
• during any period in which all residents who used the unit as their principal residence are in the hospital, long-term or supportive care, a medical or other similar facility;
• during any period in which the owner did not own the unit; or
• during any period where the unit is leased to someone other than (1) an owner or former co-owner, (2) an affiliated person (i.e., one over which the owner shares common ownership or control), (3) a spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, or sibling, or (4) travelers, vacationers, or other transient occupants.

GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO RENT THE PROPERTY DO NOT RELIEVE THE OWNER OF TAX LIABILITY:

Unless an enumerated exception applies, the homeowner is liable for the tax even if, for example, the property is being actively marketed “for rent” or “for sale” and as a result is unoccupied / unrented for six months or longer. 

VARIABLE AND PROGRESSIVE TAX RATES BETWEEN $2,500 and $20,000 PER UNIT ANNUALLY based on: (1) the size of the unit in square feet; (2) annual increases between 2024 and 2026; and (3) if the unit remains vacant for multiple years in a row. 

The lowest tax is $2,500/unit in 2024 for the smallest vacant unit (< 1,000 square feet) and caps out at $20,000/unit for any unit over 2,000 square feet that is taxed in 2026 or later and that was vacant the year before as well.

TAXES COLLECTED ARE EARMARKED FOR HOUSING SUBSIDIES:

The proceeds, after administrative costs,  are to be split between (1) providing rental subsidies for persons over 60 and households with an income under 50% of AMI

The 2023 annual REALTOR® dues have been sent out from the ar@sfrealtors.com email address. To view your latest statement and pay your bill please log-on to your SFARMLS dashboard.

Each year CAR mandates that we include the Realtor Action Fund and the CAR Housing Affordability Fund voluntary contribution of $59. Paying the voluntary contribution of $59 is optional. Please click the below link to view a video on how to modify the amount of your contribution when paying online: 

How to adjust the Voluntary Charges on Your Invoice

Payment is Due on or Before December 31, 2022 

Monday, December 5, 2022

9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Zoom event

The Head of the San Francisco Police Department - Chief William Scott will be joining SFAR in conversation Friday October 28 at 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. The conversation will cover a wide range of topics including the current State of Crime in the City, Realtor Safety, Realtor Collaboration with SFPD, community response initiatives, navigating social challenges like drug use and homelessness as well as a lively question and answer period. Tune in and join our conversation about building a better San Francisco for our future.

Join SFAR's YPN for two special events in December!

Monday, December 12, 2022

2:00 p.m.

Zoom event

SFAR’s Standard Forms Committee has made the first significant revision of the local Purchase Agreement in 10 years. Join Dan Hershkowitz and David Parry, Co-Chairs of the Standard Forms Committee for a page-by-page walk through of the changes you need to know about the new and improved Purchase Agreement.