ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT Two Thirds of 2020 Homebuyers Made Offer Sight Unseen Santa Clarita Council Sworn In The 2021 Santa Clarita Council, a Division of the Southland Regional Association of Real- tors, recently took the oath of office via a virtual on-line ceremony. Southiand Regionai Association of Reators By Dane Sydel, President, and Dand Waker Nearly two thirds-63 percent-of people who bought a home last year made an offer on a property that they had not seen in person, the highest share since at least 2015, according to a Redfin- commissioned survey. Realtor Nicole Stinson will serve as the 2021 chair of the Council with Louisa Henry selected as the 2021 Chair-Elect. Stinson said among her goals for the new year was to help SRAR members grow SOUTHLAND REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS", INC. professionally and to increase col- 3D walkthroughs or photographs-it's like they are actually there with me." Much of this virtual homebuying activity is being fueled by a surge in mi- gration as remote work becomes mach more common. In 2020 27.8 percent and attended the inspection in person. One buyer said thecy likely would have made their cross-country purchase virtually even if the nation was not in the midst of a pandemic. They said the rapid adoption of remote technologies laboration with the Association's vast membership. "We need to think outside the The survey was conducted in November and December of more than 1,900 homebuyers across 32 major markets and re- ported by Redfin analyst Tim Ellis. The 63 per- cent was up from 32 percent a year earlier, and 45 percent in July, which box," she said, "imagine what can be, rather than accept what is." 2021 Coun- cil members include, first column, top to bottom: Anthony Bed- Record Share of Homebuyers Made Offers Sight Unseen "Did you, et any point in your home search process, make an ofter on a home you hadn't seen in person?- Share of respondents who sald yes Dec 2020, 6 Realtor Diane Sydell, 2021 SRAR President son Aan 2020, 45N Nicole Stinson, 2021 good, Phyllis Chair, Santa Clarita was the prior high point. 40% Grekin, Bob Kellar, Mi- chael Regilio, Fred Tazartes, Steve Corn. Second column: Diana Arias, Sarah Darabi, Rich- ard Hall, Bob Khalsa, Nancy Starczyk, M. Louisa Henry. 2021 Dean Vincent, and Imelda Leano. "The virtual home tour is here to stay," said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather in her housing market predictions for 2021. "Homebuyers who are searching for a home out of town and don't have the time or ability to view the home in person will use virtual tours as their primary means of viewing 30 Nov 2019, 32% 20% 10% a home. "The increased use of this technol- ogy, coupled with more people rekocat- ing, mean the sight-unseen trend will continue," she said, "and the majority of homebuyers will make offers sight unseen during their search for a home 2015 206 2017 2018 2019 2020 were looking to relocate, an all-time high and up 2.3 percentage points from 25.5 percent in 2019. Citically, buyers did not purchase the home entirely sight unseen they still included an inspection contingency, made the whole process much easier than it would have been even a year ago The Southland Regional Association of Real tors is a local trade association with more than 10,300 members serving the San For nando and Santa Clarita Valleys. SRAR is one of the largest local associations in the nation. Chair-Elect, Santa Clarita Division in 2021." Video tours have surged this year, from less than 1 percent of tour requests at the beginning of 2020 to about one in 10 today. Similarly, monthly views of 3D walkthroughs on Redfin.com have increased 563 percent since February. "Live-video home tours have gone from futuristic fantasy to an everyday part of the homebuying process,"said agent Mary Ellen Wisneski. "Over vid- eo, I'm able to show my buyers close ups of anything in the home and describe peculiar details they can't experience in DRE to Reopen Exam Centers Statewide After a seven-week shutdown, the California Department of Real Estate is reopening its exam centers. The DRE reopened four of the exam centers-Sacramento, Fresno, La Palma, and San Diego-on January 27 and the Oakland exam center was scheduled to reopen shortly. The move came after Gov. Gavin Newsom on Jan. 25 lifted the remaining parts of a stay-at-home order, DRE staff started contacting examinees to reschedule 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. Resched- uling fees for them will be waived. Because of physical distancing requirements put in place in spring 2020, DRE exam centers are limited to 50 percent capacity. Those requirements are still in-place. To make up for lost exam seats, DRE will continue the addi- tional exam session on weekdays put in-place after a shutdown in spring 2020. Saturday testing will also take place in DRES two largest exam centers, Sacramento and La Palma. DRE also plans evening exams and is in the process of adding a second exam center at its Sacramento headquarters. Other testing opportunities around the state are being explored and could be added later. DRE will refund exam fees to any applicant who requests it. Requests can be made by email to Ask.DRELicens- ingedre.ca.gov. Please put "Exam Fee Refund Request" in the subject line and include an Examinee ID number. Examinees with questions or concerns regarding canceled exams can contact DRE'S Licensing program at 877- 373-4542 or by email at Ask. DRELicensing@dre.ca.gov. Interest Rate Update National Average as reported by Freddie Mac on: January 21 30-Yr FRM 2.77% 15-Yr FRM - 2.21% January 14 30-Yr FRM 2.79% 15-Yr FRM 2.23% THE VOICE OF REAL ESTATE IN THE SAN FERNANDO AND SANTA CLARITA VALLEYS www.SRAR.com | Real Estate Questions? E-mail Diane Sydell, SRAR 2021 President, c/o DavidW@SRAR.com REALTORS is a federally registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a Member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT Two Thirds of 2020 Homebuyers Made Offer Sight Unseen Santa Clarita Council Sworn In The 2021 Santa Clarita Council, a Division of the Southland Regional Association of Real- tors, recently took the oath of office via a virtual on-line ceremony. Southiand Regionai Association of Reators By Dane Sydel, President, and Dand Waker Nearly two thirds-63 percent-of people who bought a home last year made an offer on a property that they had not seen in person, the highest share since at least 2015, according to a Redfin- commissioned survey. Realtor Nicole Stinson will serve as the 2021 chair of the Council with Louisa Henry selected as the 2021 Chair-Elect. Stinson said among her goals for the new year was to help SRAR members grow SOUTHLAND REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS", INC. professionally and to increase col- 3D walkthroughs or photographs-it's like they are actually there with me." Much of this virtual homebuying activity is being fueled by a surge in mi- gration as remote work becomes mach more common. In 2020 27.8 percent and attended the inspection in person. One buyer said thecy likely would have made their cross-country purchase virtually even if the nation was not in the midst of a pandemic. They said the rapid adoption of remote technologies laboration with the Association's vast membership. "We need to think outside the The survey was conducted in November and December of more than 1,900 homebuyers across 32 major markets and re- ported by Redfin analyst Tim Ellis. The 63 per- cent was up from 32 percent a year earlier, and 45 percent in July, which box," she said, "imagine what can be, rather than accept what is." 2021 Coun- cil members include, first column, top to bottom: Anthony Bed- Record Share of Homebuyers Made Offers Sight Unseen "Did you, et any point in your home search process, make an ofter on a home you hadn't seen in person?- Share of respondents who sald yes Dec 2020, 6 Realtor Diane Sydell, 2021 SRAR President son Aan 2020, 45N Nicole Stinson, 2021 good, Phyllis Chair, Santa Clarita was the prior high point. 40% Grekin, Bob Kellar, Mi- chael Regilio, Fred Tazartes, Steve Corn. Second column: Diana Arias, Sarah Darabi, Rich- ard Hall, Bob Khalsa, Nancy Starczyk, M. Louisa Henry. 2021 Dean Vincent, and Imelda Leano. "The virtual home tour is here to stay," said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather in her housing market predictions for 2021. "Homebuyers who are searching for a home out of town and don't have the time or ability to view the home in person will use virtual tours as their primary means of viewing 30 Nov 2019, 32% 20% 10% a home. "The increased use of this technol- ogy, coupled with more people rekocat- ing, mean the sight-unseen trend will continue," she said, "and the majority of homebuyers will make offers sight unseen during their search for a home 2015 206 2017 2018 2019 2020 were looking to relocate, an all-time high and up 2.3 percentage points from 25.5 percent in 2019. Citically, buyers did not purchase the home entirely sight unseen they still included an inspection contingency, made the whole process much easier than it would have been even a year ago The Southland Regional Association of Real tors is a local trade association with more than 10,300 members serving the San For nando and Santa Clarita Valleys. SRAR is one of the largest local associations in the nation. Chair-Elect, Santa Clarita Division in 2021." Video tours have surged this year, from less than 1 percent of tour requests at the beginning of 2020 to about one in 10 today. Similarly, monthly views of 3D walkthroughs on Redfin.com have increased 563 percent since February. "Live-video home tours have gone from futuristic fantasy to an everyday part of the homebuying process,"said agent Mary Ellen Wisneski. "Over vid- eo, I'm able to show my buyers close ups of anything in the home and describe peculiar details they can't experience in DRE to Reopen Exam Centers Statewide After a seven-week shutdown, the California Department of Real Estate is reopening its exam centers. The DRE reopened four of the exam centers-Sacramento, Fresno, La Palma, and San Diego-on January 27 and the Oakland exam center was scheduled to reopen shortly. The move came after Gov. Gavin Newsom on Jan. 25 lifted the remaining parts of a stay-at-home order, DRE staff started contacting examinees to reschedule 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. Resched- uling fees for them will be waived. Because of physical distancing requirements put in place in spring 2020, DRE exam centers are limited to 50 percent capacity. Those requirements are still in-place. To make up for lost exam seats, DRE will continue the addi- tional exam session on weekdays put in-place after a shutdown in spring 2020. Saturday testing will also take place in DRES two largest exam centers, Sacramento and La Palma. DRE also plans evening exams and is in the process of adding a second exam center at its Sacramento headquarters. Other testing opportunities around the state are being explored and could be added later. DRE will refund exam fees to any applicant who requests it. Requests can be made by email to Ask.DRELicens- ingedre.ca.gov. Please put "Exam Fee Refund Request" in the subject line and include an Examinee ID number. Examinees with questions or concerns regarding canceled exams can contact DRE'S Licensing program at 877- 373-4542 or by email at Ask. DRELicensing@dre.ca.gov. Interest Rate Update National Average as reported by Freddie Mac on: January 21 30-Yr FRM 2.77% 15-Yr FRM - 2.21% January 14 30-Yr FRM 2.79% 15-Yr FRM 2.23% THE VOICE OF REAL ESTATE IN THE SAN FERNANDO AND SANTA CLARITA VALLEYS www.SRAR.com | Real Estate Questions? E-mail Diane Sydell, SRAR 2021 President, c/o DavidW@SRAR.com REALTORS is a federally registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a Member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.