Shows
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaWater in Arizona – The WeSERV Water Issues Task Force Worksheet - Coming SoonWater: It is an ongoing and sometimes emotional topic. While others discuss and debate various water issues, in our industry it is central to everything we do. History tells us the rivers have dry seasons, people repeatedly think the worst, and wet weather, technology and better water management provide us with a future.What can buyers and sellers of real estate do today to confirm for themselves water sources and water rights so they can properly disclose important water issues to buyers and buyers can perform appropriate due diligence?The WeSERV Water Issues T...
2023-03-1513 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCity Teams, AZ Legislature, Government Affairs Meetings & Orientations, George Washington’s Rules, New DRE CommissionerIn November 2022, WeSERV members in the West Valley and in the Southeast Valley met with several cities and towns to discuss the real estate market, its trends and to have casual conversation between WeSERV and local government elected officials and staff. That went so well, we are planning our Spring 2023 visits to cities, towns and counties.If you would like to be on a city team and participate in our conversations about the real estate industry, market trends and local issues impacting real estate, email or call me to volunteer for the city, town or county you a...
2023-03-0210 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaWeSERV Government Affairs Highlights, 2023 Government Affairs MeetingsAs 2022 ends, I thought you might to take a look at some of the highlights at WeSERV Government Affairs. You can read about all 21 of the highlights at www.weservgad.org. Click on Director’s Notes. Here are few:1 – The Az Dept of Revenue has made several changes suggested by WeSERV and its property manager members. Property managers now have a PMC specific webpage on the ADOR website and a PMC specific email address.2 – City Meetings: WeSERV hosted small group roundtable discussions with various city officials and members.3 – SR30: In January WeSERV distributed its study...
2022-12-2706 min
Real Estate RumbleEp. 13 - The One with Liz RecchiaLiz is the Director of Governmental Affairs at WeServ and joins me to chat about the many faces of WeServ. Liz shares how she and her husband found their way into the real estate business many years ago by flipping houses basically with their own bare hands. She is a wealth of knowledge and part of the White Paper Sub Committee writing on topics like Sign Ordinance and Eminent Domain & Private Property Rights. We learn that WeServ hosted an impactful series of city meetings that were so well received and will help ensure that our cities develop strategically and according to w...
2022-12-2051 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaDOR and Property Management Resources, SR-30, Independent Contractors Status, Remembering Pearl HarborThe Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) has made several updates to their systems and is providing new resources to help PMCs and their clients submit TPT and fees due for residential rental activity. I will be highlighting these helpful resources and changes made on a regular basis at www.weservgad.org, in the monthly WeSERV flipbook “The Word at WeSERV” and in the WeSERV broker newsletters. Here are a couple of recent highlights: The ADOR has a special webpage for PMCs, The DOR staff has created a helpful video tutorial series starting with the first video “Welcome Property Management Compan...
2022-12-0608 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaADEQ, Maricopa Sign Ordinance, City Meetings and Federal IssuesThe promised video of ADEQ’s Visit to WeSERV in October is now up. Wendy and Terza provided us a tutorial to navigating the new ADEQ website to find super fund sites, septic tank and UST (underground storage tank) info. Watch the video to learn more about the resources ADEQ provides you and your clients and how to access those. Go to www.weservgad.org, click on Videos.The City of Maricopa’s updated sign ordinance has confused WeSERV members and other businesses in the community. In October WeSERV sent a letter to the City describing our conc...
2022-11-2808 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaThe Upcoming Election: WeSERV Candidate Interviews and Judging the Judges, ADEQ – CFPB – and TPT UpdatesThe election is upon us and WeSERV Candidate Interview Workgroups have completed their interviews and candidate forums. If you would like to see the candidates WeSERV endorsed running for office, you can see the complete list at www.weservgad.org. click on Candidates and Elections.As you look over your ballot for the Tuesday election, you will see judges are on the ballot. Those of you in Maricopa County are looking at 55 judges. So how do you make a decision on which judges to re-elect? I posted a blog last week with resources and tools to help yo...
2022-11-0611 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCoffee with MAG - Part 2 - How MAG works with the Census Bureau, EPA and City Planners. As we heard in part 1 of this three part series, Coffee with MAG (the Maricopa Association of Governments), MAG has data and social services data you and your clients may find helpful and informative. There is a lot of information you, the taxpayer, pays MAG to gather.As a regional planner for Maricopa and Pinal counties, MAG information informs our local social services policies, transportation planning and infrastructure planning.Listen as Scott Wilken and Kelly Taft tell us more about working with the Census Bureau and city planners in Part 2 of this 3 part series; Coffee...
2022-09-2836 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCandidate Interviews in Sierra Vista and Peoria, the Arizona REALTORS® Caucus, and upcoming GAD EventsWeSERV is still interviewing candidates running for local office. Last week our Cochise Chapter interviewed candidates running for city council and mayor of Sierra Vista. This week our West Valley Chapter will be interviewing candidates running for Peoria city council in the Mesquite district.Look for the WeSERV REALTORS candidate endorsement list on our websites: weserv.realtor and www.weservgad.org. On August 31st, the Arizona REALTORS hosted our annual Legislative Caucus. WeSERV Government Affairs prepared for this important opportunity to impact and influence the Arizona REALTORS 2023 legislative agenda by...
2022-09-2014 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCoffee with MAG - the Maricopa Association of Governments - Data, Maps, Transportation Planning and Social Services - Part 1A couple of years ago we hosted Coffee with MAG (Maricopa Association of Governments) to learn more about this regional planner and data gathering entity for the Maricopa County and Pinal County area.Listen as Kelly Taft and Scott Wilken join us for a discussion of the data analytics, maps, transportation planning, economic development and other resources MAG offers.This is part 1 of 3.Song Credits:WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/WERQ Song Credits:
2022-09-1948 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaDevelopment in West Valley and Learn More About Land Acquisition and Entitlement – a WeSERV Government Affairs EventHomestead Act videoBuckeye:
Buckeye water
Buckeye water master plan
Buckeye library master plan
I-10 widening
Buckeye Economic Development
Goodyear Economic DevelopmentSurprise:
Surprise Economic Development
Surprise Performance Dashboard
El Mirage Economic DevelopmentPeoria Economic DevelopmentTolleson Economic DevelopmentAvondale EDGE Economic DevelopmentTSMC - Taiwan Semi-ConductorSong Credits;WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/...
2022-08-2218 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaGovernment Affairs Update, Candidates & Elections, Government Affairs MeetingsWeSERV Government Affairs has been busy the past few months.Mark Apel joined our April meeting to demonstrate the WHIP tool interactive water map for the Upper San Pedro River basin.WeSERV Government Affairs Candidate Interview workgroups spent May interviewing candidates running for city council and mayor in the southeast valley and west valley. You can review the list of endorsed candidates at www.weservgad.org.WeSERV evaluates candidates through a narrow lens mostly reflecting a candidate's views on private property rights through government policy. You can read more about the WeSERV candidate...
2022-07-1209 min
Successful(ish)Let's Talk About Family & Politics & Taking Initiative With Liz RecchiaWhat do family and politics have in common? The family unit is the first place we learn to coexist as a society. Government Affairs Director, Realtor, Author, Wife, Mom, Grandma, and oldest child of six, Liz Recchia shares her expertise about getting things done at the local level, and how family prepared her for the world.
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2022-05-231h 25
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaThe Hermosa Mine in Santa Cruz County – An Update from South32I was able to attend, and invited to present, at the WeSERV Santa Cruz Chapter member meeting on February 17th. In addition to my remarks, their guest presenter was Pat Risner, President of the Hermosa project mine for South32.Pat described the environmental remediation of past mining, some of which goes back to the late 1800’s. He also provided slides and a description of the future.Listen as Pat describes the future of mining. The Hermosa project will entail some truly “first time in history” forward thinking mining practices. What is clear is this is...
2022-02-2222 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaWeSERV Government Affairs – An IntroductionLet’s start with the general geography. WeSERV is under the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) umbrella. Under the NAR model there is one national association, several state and territorial associations (one for each state/territory), and local associations.There is the National Association of REATORS®, the Arizona Association of REALTORS® (AR – also known as Arizona REALTORS®), and WeSERV Association of REALTORS® (West and Southeast REALTORS® of the Valley). WeSERV’s, jurisdiction includes West Maricopa County, Southeast Maricopa County, Pinal, Cochise and Santa Cruz.At the local level, we don’t lobby. We provide information, education, and...
2022-02-1412 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaWater in Arizona, Waters of the U.S., and GAD EventsAs many of you might remember, Waters of the U.S. were the words contained in the Clean Water Act referring to navigable waters the EPA could regulate. Over time the meaning of “navigable waters” has changed from being waters that were actually navigable (1871) to broadening in the 1972 passage of the Clean Water Act with the Army Corp of Engineers adoption of a broader definition. The Corp’s broadened definition (1975) included mudflats, Intrastate lakes, rivers, wetlands, and streams, ponds, prairie potholes and as many of us remember from the 1980’s and 1990’s - tire ruts.Rapanos v Army Corps...
2022-01-2711 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaWeSERV GAD: An Update from Fall 2021 to Today. Meetings, Events, Info You Should Know!WeSERV provided a rental survey with market context to Luke AFB as they requested increased BAH rates for 2022.Find a complete list of WeSERV GAD meetings events at www.weservgad.org. Click on Upcoming Events.The Arizona Redistricting Commission released the final redistricting maps in December. You can find the maps links at www.weservgad.org.The WeSERV study conducted by Rounds Consulting is available at www.weservgad.org. Read more about the proposed SR-30 and the various outcomes, including lost opportunities, in our study Economic and Fiscal Impacts of the State Route-30...
2022-01-1813 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCommercial Real Estate, Fair Housing/ADA & Disparate Impact, GAD City Economic Development Bus Tourswww.weservgad.org has interactive economic development maps from several of our cities and towns. Click on "Maps" to find a map.GAD Events:October 27th from 9am to 1130am - City of Avondale Economic Development Bus Tour with the Mayor and Economic Development Director. This is a free event, but you must register to attend.Nov. 2nd is the Casa Grande Economic Development Bus Tour from 1030am to 1pm. The Mayor will conduct the tour and we will have lunch with the Mayor and Economic Development Director.Nov. 18th is...
2021-10-2510 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaArizona Redistricting, Broadband Action Teams in Az and GAD EventsArizona’s redistricting for Legislative and Congressional voting districts began earlier this year with the appointment of a 5 person independent commission, the IRC. The Commission was tasked with starting from scratch to draw all new districts, not re-draw existing districts.Now, that commission has released the first grid maps for consideration and comment by the public. The next public meeting will be in Surprise on Oct. 7th at 4pm at the Vista Center of the Arts on Parkview Place. You can watch past IRC meetings at the Arizona Redistricting Commission website and access more information so...
2021-10-0610 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaThe CDC Rental Eviction Moratorium - Alabama REALTORS® Prevail at Supreme Court“Our system does not permit agencies to act unlawfully even in pursuit of desirable outcomes” United State Supreme Court – August 26, 2021Alabama Association of REALTORS® v Department of Health and Human ServicesThe CDC Rental Eviction Moratorium has undergone changes and from the beginning there was concern from many that an agency, with unelected bureaucrats, could suddenly for their own reasons essentially seize private property, disrupt private contract and impose nationwide mandates far exceeding laws passed by Congress and signed by a President.In my August 30th blogpost entitled “Alabama Association of REALTORS wins at Sup...
2021-09-0813 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaEviction Moratoria Update, Emergency Rental Assistance, Task Forces and GAD EventsEviction Moratoria: Emergency Rental Assistance - Arizona ProgramsEmergency Rental Assistance - Treasury DepartmentERA FAQ May 2021ERA FAQ June 2021AZ Dept. of HousingBiden Administration Encourages Extension of Rental Eviction MoratoriaSong Credits:WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/WERQ Song Credits:"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
2021-08-0409 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaI-11, New Laws in Arizona, REALTOR® Caucus and GAD EventsAccess the updated I-11 proposed route map and the Tier 1 study at www.weservgad.org.Read the blogposts on new laws in Az from March 2021 and July 2021.GAD Events:Arizona REALTORS® Caucus RegistrationApache Junction, Queen Creek and Mesa - Imagine the Future RegistrationSong Credits:WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ WERQ Song Credits:"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.or...
2021-07-2920 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaNew Income Tax Rates, State Shared Revenue, Local News and GAD EventsThe Az Legislature adjourned Sine Die on June 30,2021. One of the last pieces of legislation discussed was SB 1828.You can read the March update of New Laws in Arizona and the July 2021 update at weservgad.org.The three Declaration of Independence blog posts can be found at www.weservgad.org.Cochise County updated ALQ ordinanceTempe Parks & Recreation Master PlanApache Junction LDOMesa Historic PreservationThe Multiple Prongs of Affordable HousingWeSERV GAD Event: Apache Junction, Queen Creek and Mesa - Imagine...
2021-07-1412 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaWater in Arizona, CFPB Updates on Forbearance and the CDC Eviction MoratoriumOn May 6, 2021, the Arizona Department of Water Resources published the April 29th Joint Colorado River Shortage Preparedness Briefing. The briefing outlined the water shortage issues along with what declaring a Tier 1 shortage will mean for Arizona.CAP and ADWR authored a Colorado River Shortage Fact Sheet you can read for more information.You can read the DCP on how Arizona will share resources between stakeholders and mitigate future risks at www.weservgad.org.You can also read more about the basics of Arizona Water in the WeSERV Water Issues Task force flyer Water...
2021-05-1718 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaLocal funding from the American Rescue Plan, Local city updates, SB 1377, and GAD eventsHow much money is your City or Town getting from the recently passed American Rescue Plan, and how will they spend it? You can read the bill at www.weservgad.org. Now we are seeing estimates of how much money cities and towns will receive as direct funding. There are other funds in various portions of the bill, but the direct funding to cities and towns has Arizona’s total estimated at over $1billion, 233 million dollars. I have a list of cities and towns in the WeSERV jurisdiction with estimates of funds to be received. City of Goody...
2021-04-3008 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaArizona’s New Laws – Mid Way Through the SessionThe Arizona State Legislature is a bit more than 70 days into the legislative session and currently there are 89 new laws passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.New laws take effect 90 days after the legislative session, unless the bill stipulates a different effective date. I highlight a few of the new laws I think you should be interested in knowing.You can read the full descriptions and the bills as they were transmitted from the Legislature to the Governor for his signature at www.weservgad.org.HB 2321 – Qualified FacilitiesHB...
2021-03-3010 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaImpacting, Influencing and Changing the Conversation: City Plans and Housing DevelopmentThe City Plan and the Code of Ordinances are two sources and they can always ask the Economic Development Department since frequently the City Plan and Code of Ordinances are amended in order to accommodate current economic needs of the City.City General Plans and their impact on ordinances and developmentThe modes of transportation available to those businesses and residents are being decided today. U.S. Census Bureau - Phoenix Metro area RealPage Inc Phoenix Metro WeSERV GAD: Advocating for private property rights, the right to private contract and...
2021-03-2611 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCorona Virus Regulatory & Legislative Updates, Transportation, and the newest Covid relief billVaccines – If you are trying to locate a Covid vaccine site in your County, go to www.weservgad.org. Click on the Corona Virus category and scroll down to the February 3rd blogpost “COVID-19 Vaccines in Arizona”. There you will find links to the County and State of Arizona vaccine information as well as an interactive map showing vaccine locations and reservation information.Opportunity Zones – The IRS announced postponement dates affecting opportunity zone investments. You can read the full IRS announcement at www.weservgad.org, click on the Corona Virus category. Mortgage foreclosure and forbearance moratoria ...
2021-03-1707 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaWater in Arizona, City plans, the Sunsetting of Families First Act and Small Business FMLAThe WeSERV Water Issues Task Force subgroup has released its first information flyer named Water in Arizona – Is My Property in an AMA or INA? Here you will find links to primary sources of information and a short description of key water terms. Most important this document is full of links to primary sources so you can be the “source of the source” to your clients. This is the first in a series of Water in Arizona flyers.WeSERV has attended stakeholder meetings in the City of Surprise that have lasted over a year regarding their Land Use Or...
2020-12-1609 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaForbearance, Distressed Real Estate and the NAR/DOJ Settlement AgreementForbearance and distressed property owners: While the Governor’s residential eviction moratorium order expired on Oct. 31st and his commercial order expired May 31st, the CDC order is still in effect for residential property owners to Dec. 31st. You can listen to my interview with Judge Wismer on this topic at www.weservgad.org. Click on GAD Podcasts. Some of that investor class soaking up potential distressed real estate are not purchasing the real estate, but the distressed or non-performing notes. Some purchase individual notes, but the larger investors invest in the note pools, also known as NPLs...
2020-12-0114 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaEviction Moratorium Update, PUA and EIDL Loan Fraud, City Code updates and MoreElection Day is over, but as counting continues you may wish to check the results for Arizona for yourself. Go to www.weservgad.org, click on the “Election Results” blog under Candidates and Elections where you can find links to the Arizona Secretary of State website and the results for Arizona’s statewide races.In the same blogpost you will find links to the election results website for Maricopa County, Pinal county and Cochise county.City of Surprise: You can go to www.weservgad.org to read the currently proposed updated language for narrow and small lo...
2020-11-1210 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaWhy Did WeSERV Endorse That Candidate?Last week WeSERV announced its endorsements for local elections on the November 3rd ballot. Arizona REALTORS® released its endorsements earlier this month, and NAR has made its recommendations.WeSERV, AR, and NAR all have similar processes for candidate endorsement decisions. I can speak to WeSERV’s process since that is the process I am involved with. If you would like more information on the AR process or NAR process, I will be happy to make an email introduction or provide you the phone number for Matthew Contorelli (Government Affairs Director AR) or Jack Greacen, WeSERV’s Government Affai...
2020-10-2214 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz Recchia: Voting Resources and Timeline, Glendale Bond Issue, the LIBOR is going away and Luke AFB at WeSERV West ValleyThe WeSERV Government Affairs Department has produced an easy to read infographic with key dates for the November 3rd General Election. You can download a copy of the infographic and access links to the Cochise County, Maricopa County, and Pinal County Elections websites. Check the Arizona Secretary of State’s election website to find the most current information.Judges and Other Candidates are on the November Ballot – Who Will You Vote For?Also, of interest, WeSERV has released its recommendations for candidates running in Maricopa County, Pinal County and Cochise County, along with City of Gilb...
2020-10-1308 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCOVID-19: What is the Association Doing? Luke AFB, City Ordinance Updates, Candidates and Elections 2020, Judging the Judges“What is the Association Doing About This?” blog postI wrote a blog post linking you to the podcast interview with Judge Wismer so property owners and property managers can learn more about how the court system is adjudicating tenant evictions under the current COVID-19 eviction moratoriums from both the Governor and the CDC.You can find a list of WeSERV and AR endorsements at www.weservgad.org. Arizona REALTORS will be releasing their updated voter guide the week of October 5-9, 2020.NAR endorsed candidates can be found at realtorparty.realtor.Judge...
2020-10-0608 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCovid-19 Eviction Orders - What You Need to Know about Adjudicating Your Claim with Judge WismerProperty Managers and property owners are under a lot of stress, both financial and emotional. Trying to derive an income while renting property to others has become very complicated under COVID-19 with an increasing number of rules emanating from a number of sources, all designed to protect the tenant’s ability to stay in a rental house while deferring the rent.While the rules that allow deferral favor the tenant, they place property owners in a difficult position, particularly if the tenant in question has violated other parts of the rental agreement having nothing to do with non...
2020-09-0750 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaSmall Business help from Cities, Counties and Non-Profit OrganizationsNow there are grant programs at the local level to help small business owners survive. Here is a list of programs with links in the show notes. This is not an exhaustive list of all programs and resources, but I hope it is a starting point for those who need help. You can access the list at www.weservgad.org.Local First Arizona program update: August 17th Governor Ducey announced Local First Arizona will be managing the new small business grant program of $10 million. Small businesses can apply for up to $25,000. ...
2020-08-2609 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaThe AAR REALTOR® Caucus, Arizona’s Rental Property Owner Preservation Fund and GAD EventsArizona Association of REALTORS 2020 Caucus – AAR has opened registration for the 2020 REALTOR Caucus on September 3rd. This year the event will be virtual, so register soon.Rental Property Owner Preservation Fund – On August 4th Governor Ducey established the Rental Property Owner Preservation Fund (RPOPF), the $5 million fund promised in his July 16th Executive Order extending the tenant eviction moratorium to Oct. 31, 2020. You can find links to the program and an AAR overview at www.weservgad.org.Elections 2020 – On August 4th Arizona’s primary elections were held. In addition to the statewide and federal offices, some cities h...
2020-08-1107 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaIs the CFPB Constituional? Corona Virus Modeling and WeSERV AdvocacyThe CFPB – For several years the question of whether the CFPB, also known as the consumer financial protection bureau, was constitutional as created by the Dodd/Frank Act. At question was the structure of the agency and its status as an Independent Agency, unanswerable to the President or any elected official, thus making it its own branch of government.On June 29th, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in Seila Law v CFPB. Last year NAR submitted an Amicus Brief arguing the director construct of CFPB is unconstitutional, but requesting the Court apply the sev...
2020-07-2410 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaUnemployment Insurance Update, Candidates Running for Office and Federal Regulatory Updates.PUA - Independent Contractors and Self Employed may apply for unemployment insurance benefits under this temporary program. The program is available to those who are unemployed during the period of Feb. 2nd to Dec. 26th, 2020. The additional weekly $600 payment is for the period of March 29th to July 25th 2020. DES handbook and infographic.City of Buckeye is holding a public meeting on Building a Smart City in Buckeye. NAR has announced the 2020 REALTORS Conference will be virtual. Bookmark the conference page.Conference of Bank Supervisors and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a joint stat...
2020-06-3008 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaThe PPP Flexibility Act – What You Should Know, City Updates and GAD EventsOn June 5th, 2020 President Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020, also known as the PPPFA or PPP Flexibility Act.Why was this needed? Because with delayed guidance, imperfect roll-outs, delays in funds being received and an increasingly burdened small business community, Congress recognized the very program designed to aid small business was about to endanger small business.Keep in mind there will be no PPP loan applications accepted after June 30, 2020. In the meantime, here is a quick list of what’s new and suggestions for consideration before you apply for a PPP lo...
2020-06-1611 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCity of El Mirage – City Update from Mayor Alexis HermosilloEl Mirage Mayor Alexis Hermosillo was able to join me by phone a couple of weeks ago to discuss her city now and in the future. I want to thank Mayor Hermosillo for taking time out of her busy day to provide us with an update on El Mirage. Links:El MirageEl Mirage City CouncilEl Mirage FacebookEl Mirage TwitterEl Mirage LinkedInWeSERV Association of REALTORS®WeSERV GADWeSERV StoreWeSERV Office Hours...
2020-05-2515 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaGoodyear City - An Update from Mayor LordGoodyear Mayor Georgia Lord gives us a quick update on Goodyear services, the budget future of Goodyear and the ongoing Economic Development going forward.Good News! The City is financially healthy, providing services and working with business to keep big projects on track and new jobs coming to the City.Goodyear azGoodyear economic developmentSong Credits:WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/WERQ Song Credits: "Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech...
2020-05-1307 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCity of Maricopa - An Update from Mayor Christian PriceOn April 16th I was able to have a short conversation with Mayor Christian Price of Maricopa. Mayor Price updated me on city services, city resources, economic development and the overall financial health of his city.The good news is, the City of Maricopa is still the vibrant city the Mayor described to us last year at our Coffee with Mayor Price event.You can listen to the part 1 and part 2 of that event as a podcast or watch the video at www.weservgad.org.WeSERV GAD: Advocating for private property rights, the...
2020-04-2522 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCity of Avondale – an Update from Mayor Kenn WeiseOn April 10th 2020, I was able to have a short conversation over Zoom with Mayor Kenn Weise of Avondale. He gave us a short update on the city, economic development, city services and resources. You will notice my audio changes part way through the podcast. Unfortunately, my initial Zoom audio was choppy making it difficult to understand my questions to Mayor Weise, so I re-recorded those questions.I hope you enjoy this short, informative conversation with Mayor Weise.Links:City of Avondale, AzAvondale Economic Development - Avondale Edge
2020-04-2510 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaUpdate Government Corona Virus Programs for Business, GAD Events, Our AssociationOn April 10th, Matt Ortega and I held an online update on the then new government programs contained in the phase 2 and phase 3 Corona Virus federal legislation. April 10th was the first day Independent Contractors and Self-employed could apply for the PPP or Paycheck Protection Program loans.On that same day, WeSERV sent a letter to Representative Lesko outlining member experiences with the PPP loan, EIDL loan and $10,000 advance, and the Unemployment Program.PPP/Paycheck Protection Program – Originally envisioned as a tool for small business, self-employed and Independent Contractors to preserve payroll and pay themselves, thi...
2020-04-2124 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaUpdate on Small Business and Independent Contractor Programs and Resources – Corona VirusWeSERV Education announced live Zoom CE classes. You can find those at the WeSERV.REALTOR website under education.Families First Corona Virus Response Act - Became effective April 1st and pushed the FMLA rules to all business.The Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act - Effective April 1 - December 31, 2020.NAR Families First synoposis - What Business Needs to KnowEIDL loans and grants - PNC Bank Comparison Chart - Senate Banking CommitteePaycheck Protection Program - PPP lender list - NAR Synopsis - Chamber decision maker toolUnemployment I...
2020-04-0915 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaNew Laws in Arizona, New Resources and Economic Relief for REALTORS®, Independent Contractors and Small BusinessNew Laws in Arizona:SB 1145: Temporary irrigation efficiency projects fund -This new law pertains to the Phoenix AMA only. It adds a requirement that only CAP surface water was delivered in 2017. This bill was signed by the Governor on Feb. 18th and is effective immediately.HB 2686: Building permits; Utilities; restrictions; prohibitions - Prohibits municipalities and counties from establishing restrictions on issuing building permits based on developer’s choice of utility provider. This bill was signed into law Feb. 21st and becomes effective 90 days after the legislative session ends.HB 2749/SB 1666: Endangered species conservation; co...
2020-03-3112 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCity rezoning, Douglas Election Results, NAR & AR Advocacy, Distressed Loan Info, GAD Events – Task Forces and WorkgroupsGlendale and Surprise are updating their city plans. Casa Grande and other cities are in the beginning stages of this process as well. Keep your eyes on your local cities and towns. Let me know if you are concerned about proposed changes and why. It is best if we engage in conversation during this process rather than try to amend an ordinance once it is passed. If you would like to be on the Surprise or Glendale re-zoning task force, please email me at weservgad@weserv.realtor or call me at 623-931-9294.Dougals Election Results from t...
2020-03-2310 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCorona Virus (COVID-19) – Government Updates West Valley, Pinal and DouglasGovernor Ducey’s Emergency Declaration and Executive Order here in Arizona following CDC recommendations. County Case Counts can be found at the Arizona Department of Health Services website. Maricopa County website.Cochise County has a dedicated Covid Corona Virus health hub. Surprise has cancelled or postponed several events. You can find a more detailed list of cancelled or postponed events at the City of Surprise Website. City of Glendale list of services, events and gatherings affected by the Corona Virus at the City of Glendale Website. City of Peoria: Peoria announced it is postponing city events, programs and...
2020-03-2309 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaElections in Douglas and Tempe, Lucid Motors, Luke Air Force Base and GAD EventsElection March 10, 2020 – If you are a voter in Tempe or Douglas, your day at the polls is March 10th. Check your City Clerk’s website on voting locations and requirements. Tempe.gov, Tempe City Clerk, Douglas Ward Map, Cochise County Elections, Douglasaz.govSeila Law v. CFPB - The question before the court is Whether the vesting of substantial executive authority in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an independent agency led by a single director, violates the separation of powers.Transcript Oral Argument, Seila Law Petition, United States Supreme CourtLucid Motor...
2020-03-0907 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaJudge Wismer, Firewise Training Interview, City Plans, Campaign Training and other GAD EventsAt our January Government Affairs Advisory Council Meeting in West Valley, our Lunch & Learn guest was Judge Craig Wismer of Arrowhead Justice Court. Judge Wismer discussed the role of Justice Courts and the Justice of the Peace in Arizona courts, contract adjudication, court protocol and what you need to know if you appear before a Justice of the Peace. That video is now up on www.weservgad.org.In January the Pinal Chapter of WeSERV sponsored Firewise Training.Rich Jones of the Florence Fire Department spoke to us about making our homes and property Firewise. If you...
2020-02-1811 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaUpdate on REALTOR® Legislation, City Plans and WeSERV GAD EventsSB 1021 is the bill Arizona REALTORS supports that allows the Arizona Department of Revenue to accept electronic signatures. It has been amended by Senator Ugenti-Rita. You can read the amendment, the Senate Summary and the Senate Engrossed bill at www.weservgad.org. The bill was transmitted to the House on Feb. 3rd.SB 1129 is the bill Arizona REALTORS supports that allows a non-licensed employee of real estate brokerage to accept rent checks as part of their clerical functions. It was heard in the Senate Commerce Committee on Feb. 6th and will be heard in the Senate Rules C...
2020-02-1106 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaREALTOR® Day at the Capitol 2020: What to Look for this Legislative Session: Interviews with Legislators and our AR Lobbyist at the CapitolREALTOR® Day at Capitol was on January 14th. I was able to catch up with Tom Farley of Willetta Partners to discuss the two bills AR is in support of that help property managers; SB 1021 and SB 1129.Other interviews were new AR Government Affairs Director Matthew Contorelli, Senate Majority Leader Rick Gray and Representative Sierra.WeSERV GAD Events:Jan. 23, 2020 - Government Affairs Advisory Council Meeting - DRE approved for 3 CE Contract Law.Firewise Training - Become a Certified Firewise Assessor - Jan. 31 all day and Feb 1 AM only.March 10, 2020...
2020-01-2219 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz Recchiahttps://www.avondaleaz.gov/Join us for Part 2 of our interview with Aaron White and Cheryl Covert from the City of Avondale Economic Development Department.Avondale has many opportunities for business, property, owners and residents. Learn more about jobs, amenities, recreation and entertainment in Avondale.Links:City of AvondaleAdvance AvondaleAaron White and Cheryl Covert Contact InfoSong Credits:WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
2020-01-1440 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCity of Avondale Economic Development: What's New, What's Coming? Part 1Join me for part one of an interview with Aaron White and Cheryl Covert from Avondale's Economic Development Department.Avondale and the Southwest Valley are exploding with opportunity for business of all sizes and for residents. Join me as we learn more about Avondale, its opportunities and housing.Links:City of AvondaleAdvance AvondaleAaron White and Cheryl Covert Contact InfoSong Credits:WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License...
2020-01-0731 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaElections 2020 and Upcoming WeSERV GAD EventsHere are the election dates for 2020 in Arizona:March 10, 2020 – you must register to vote no later than Feb 10th 2020. ouglas will have its primary election on March 10th. Offices on the ballot are Mayor (4 candidates), Ward 1 (2 candidates), Ward 3 (2 candidates) and Ward 5 (2 candidates). You can read more about the candidates and races and check the Ward Location Map at www.weservgad.org. You can also follow links to the Douglas City Clerk’s website and register to vote.March 17, 2020 – The Presidential Preference election. You must be registered to vote by February 18, 2020. The only political party participating in the M...
2020-01-0208 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaNo More Carrying Luke AFB Map in Surprise, CFPB/FTC, and GSE ReformAt the December 3rd Surprise City Council meeting the Surprise City Attorney recommended, and the Council unanimously passed, an amendment to the City code removing “REALTOR” from Section 26-66 and removing Section 26-67(b) from Article III of the Surprise Municipal Code.The CFPB and the FTC are holding a workshop on December 10th, 2019 to discuss the issues affecting the accuracy of traditional credit reports, employment background screenings and tenant screening reports. The public comment period closes January 10, 2020. You must submit your comments online at www.regulations.gov. or mail them to the FTC.Multi State...
2019-12-1012 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaREALTOR® Day at the Capitol 2020, ADOT Project Updates, Firewse Training and MoreThe Arizona Association of REALTORS has opened registration for REALTOR Day at the Capitol 2020. REALTORS from across the state will come together on January 14th, 2020 at the State Capitol to listen to updates on real estate in Arizona and the upcoming legislative session as well as meet and eat lunch with their state legislators. You can register online at aaronline.com.To find your Legislative District go to www.wemargad.org.Transportation Update - ADOT:SR-24, North/South Corridor, I-10 35th Ave to Dysart, I-11, I-17 North Phoenix, Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, Douglas P...
2019-12-0309 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaYour Private Data - Is Paternalism the Answer?WeMAR is now WeSERV Association of REALTORS® with members in West Maricopa County, Southeast Maricopa County, Pinal County and Douglas, Arizona.I attended the National Association of REALTORS® Conference and Expo in San Francisco last week. One of the sessions I attended was in regards to federal policy and data security. Alex Stamos, professor at Stanford, Fellow at the Hoover Institution and ex-head of cybersecurity for Facebook spoke on Information Warfare, Election Hacking and, and the 2020 Election. You may access the audio at playbacknar.com.When discussing government policy and platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and...
2019-11-1908 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaThe WeMAR/SEVRAR Merger Update and the New Property Management Specific POA at the Arizona Department of RevenueWeMAR/WeSERV and the future of our Association – On October 22nd WeMAR hosted the last Government Affairs Advisory Council Meeting for 2019, and the last WeMAR association Government Affairs Advisory Council. The final vote for the merger between WeMAR and SEVRAR was taken on October 23rd, and our two associations will be merging to be known as WeSERV.Roger Nelson, our CEO, update us on the merger process and our future association at the October 22nd Government Affairs Advisory Council Meeting. The merger is confirmed by NAR, and we are officially known as WeSERV. Our membership area includes Wes...
2019-11-0610 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaThe New Arizona LLC Law and YOUAs of September 1, 2019, Arizona’s LLC and PLLC law has changed. For LLCs created on or after September 1st, they must comply with the new law at the time they are created. For existing LLCs there is a grace period of 1 year. The biggest change to LLC law is the fiduciary requirement placed on managers, members and managing members.In June 2019, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled in Sky Harbor Properties, LLC v. Patel Properties, LLC and found a similar fiduciary requirement under agency law should be applied to LLCs. So, essentially, existing LLCs should be actively complying wit...
2019-10-2006 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaWater in Arizona – State Senator PrattOn September 10th 2019, Senator Pratt, Representative Roberts and Representative Cook joined the Western Pinal Chapter of WeMAR to discuss several issues, among them: water in Arizona. During that event, Senator Pratt gave us an overview of water in Arizona since the 1980’s and some of the issues currently being discussed, so that water will continue to flow. Senator Pratt is the State Senator for District 8 in Pinal County. In the Senate he is the Chair of the Natural Resources and Energy Committee and the Vice-Chair of the Water and Agriculture Committee. Senator Pratt has a long history in Pinal Co...
2019-10-1014 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaLuke AFB Targeted Growth Plan, Surprise Luke AFB Map, and GAD EventsMAG’s Luke Air Force Base Targeted Growth Plan – On Tuesday, September 17th, WeMAR members John Kodlick and Jay Otlewski, and I joined cities, educators, economic development experts and Luke Air Force Base representatives to review the information already gathered for the Luke Air Force Base Targeted Growth Plan. The purpose of this study is to provide information to F-35 pilots and other Luke Air Force Base personnel on opportunities for housing, education, child care, recreation, jobs, business and amenities here in the West Valley. One category lacking in information though, private post-secondary education in the West Valle...
2019-09-2410 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaSenate Bill 1703 - The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2019Senate Bill 1703, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2019, was discussed at the August Arizona Department of Housing Forum. it will dramatically impact state and local affordable housing.This bill expands the 1986 IRS code to reform low income housing tax credits. It will increase local housing authority credit by 50% over 5 years.According to the U.S. census, the 2017 median household income for Maricopa County was $58,580. 80% of this is an income of $46,864 and 60% is an income of $35,148. In June 2019, the Arizona Department of Housing released updated income limits for housing affordability programs for both renters and...
2019-09-0918 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaHUD Releases New Condo Rules, Update on NAR Lawsuits, WeMAR GAD Event: Visit with Legislators 2019HUD releases newly approved condo rules: On August 14, 2019 HUD finally released the long-awaited condo rules. The new rules include a new condo approval process. The new policies become effective Oct. 15, 2019. You may read the new condo regulations and the updated FHA Single Family Handbook at www.wemargad.org. Update on the two Lawsuits Against NAR -Moehrl v.NARand Sitzer v. NAREarlier this month NAR moved to have both lawsuits dismissed based on the fact the lawsuits misrepresent the NAR MLS Policy and Code of Ethics. You can read both lawsuits at...
2019-08-2811 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaEminent Domain - Knick v. Township of Scott, PAOn June 21, 2019 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in an eminent domain case that is sure to have long lasting ramifications, Knick v. Township of Scott, Pennsylvania.The Town of Scott originated an ordinance requiring property with a cemetery must be open to the public during daylight hours. Rose Marie Knick owns 90 acres with an old family cemetery on it. She was sighted for violation of the ordinance.Rose Marie Knick filed a takings claim in Federal Court referencing the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution.In the end, the majority...
2019-08-2008 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaVA Loan Denials Due to HOA Rental Restrictions, Maricopa County Election ChangesVA Loan Denials due to HOA rental restrictions;According to section 36.4363c6, there can be no prohibition or restriction on an owner’s right to lease his or her unit. There are some acceptable restrictions: a requirement that leases have a minimum 1-year term and community age restrictions are two of those restrictions.If your client is selling or considering purchasing in a HOA and has VA benefits, make sure to check the association governing documents before offering VA terms or submitting an offer with VA financing.You can read a more detailed ar...
2019-08-1306 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaVA Loans and FHA Down Payment Assistance Rule Changes and LawsuitsIn June 2019, Congress passed, and the President signed, a bill eliminating the VA loan cap. The elimination of the cap was part of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act (HR 299).At one point last summer, it was proposed to raise the VA loan fees to 0.5% for non-disabled vets in order to pay for some the provisions in the bill. NAR sent a letter to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee basically stating the value of the program to veteran homeownership and the need for VA loan fees to be based on the specific loan risk, not increased...
2019-07-3013 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaBlockchain Technology in Real Estate with Leslie Pico from Propy.comOn June 10th 2019 NAR announced they had invested in Propy.com, a blockchain technology real estate platform. What is blockchain technology and how is it impacting real estate?Listen as Leslie Pico, the first real estate agent in Arizona to close a blockchain transaction in real estate, describes this technology and our business. Leslie was our guest at the WeMAR Economic Development Forum - 2018.You may read more about NAR's investment, Propy.com and blockchain in real estate at www.wemargad.org.WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed u...
2019-07-0730 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaNAR's Investment in Propy.com and other Technology Companies, Arizona Department of Housing, and City Boards & CommissionsIn September 2018, Leslie Pico from Propy.com was one of our guests for the 2018 WeMAR Economic Development Forum. Leslie was the first real estate licensee in Arizona to close a transaction using Blockchain technology. We will be posting that conversation later this week.This is perfect timing given NAR's announcement June 10th that they have invested in Propy.com. In this podcast we discuss NAR's investment arm, Second Century Ventures and the REACH® Accelerator program. NAR has a portfolio network of tech companies and offers companies who participate in the REACH® Accelerator program access to these companies, MLS...
2019-07-0208 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaTour of Opportunity Zones, Surprise Luke AFB Map, National Flood Insurance, Blockchain Technology and moreJoin us for a free bus tour of Opportunity Zones June 26, 2019. Read about the tour and register at www.wemargad.org. In April Aaron White presented Opportunity Zones in the West Valley. You can see that video at www.wemargad.org. June 25th is our Government Affairs Advisory Council Meeting. WeMAR members may attend for free. We start with a Big Project update, then discuss issues and new laws affecting you and your clients. Finally, our lunch & learn guest will be Alan Langston from AZREIA. This is a free event, but we ask you to...
2019-06-1807 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaTour of Opportunity Zones, WeMAR Comments to HUD, Sun City West Update and the LIBORWeMAR is hosting a Tour of Opportunity Zones on June 26, 2019, 9am to 2pm. We will take a bus tour and meet with each participating city's economic development team as we tour and learn more about Opportunity Zones. This is a free event, but seating is limited and you must register to reserve your seat. WeMAR will provide beverages and lunch.HUD is seeking public comment asking how to maximize the impact of Opportunity Zones. The public comment period closed June 17th. WeMAR has submitted comments. You can read more about the WeMAR public comments and other comments s...
2019-06-1109 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaLegislative Update - Bills Signed by Governor Ducey as of June 1, 2019The Arizona Legislature adjourned Sine Die (without a day (Latin)) on May 28, 2019 at 12:58am. The General Effective Date of legislation passed this session will be August 27, 2019, but some laws may have specific effective dates. Check the specific legislation to determine the effective date. Today, I’ll give you a quick update on bills signed into law by the Governor as of June 1st. This is not a complete list of all new laws, just the ones I thought would be of interest to most members. The Governor still has several days to sign legislation transmitted to...
2019-06-0421 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCoffee with Maricopa Mayor Price - Part 2In part 2 of our conversation with Mayor Price we discuss various organizations the Mayor is a part of and how Maricopa interact with them to bring assets and economic development to Maricopa, as well as influencing state legislation to promote local issues.The Mayor discusses changing the culture of city government, online services and streamlining the process so business can expand and open faster and easier.The Mayor also discusses trade with Mexico, working with the Ak-Chin Indians and the Union Pacific Railroad.WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) L...
2019-06-0237 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaNAR Mid Year Legislative Conference - 2019Earlier this month WeMAR Leadership, AAR leadership and NAR leadership and staff spent a week in Washington, D.C. for the 2019 Mid Year Legislative Meetings and Conference.As always, NAR provides GAD's and members with information for the Hill Visits. Hill Visits take place mid-week and are opportunities for members to speak with the legislators. This year NAR provided information for members on topics including Flood Insurance, Infrastructure, Opportunity Zones, Mortgage Debt Forgiveness and GSE reform among other topics. Members were encouraged to educate their legislator on who REALTORS® are and what they do....
2019-05-3106 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCoffee with Maricopa Mayor Price - Part 1In January 2019 the Pinal Chapter of WeMAR hosted Coffee with the Mayor. Our guest was Maricopa Mayor Price. Learn how Mayor Price went from a financial adviser to Mayor of the booming city of Maricopa.We get updated on big projects and the Mayor's view of economic development, inter-agency and MAP (Maricopa Advocate Program). Join us next week for part 2 of this interview, or watch the video at www.wemargad.org.WeMAR GAD: Advocating for private property rights, the right to private contract and YOUR business!Song Credits:...
2019-05-1038 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaRegional Planning Agencies Like MAG: What Are They? RPAC is 50 Years Old, and Rick Mack's Videos - Risk Management in 60 SecondsMAG (Maricopa Association of Governments, SEAGO (SouthEastern Arizona Governments Organization, and CAG (Central Arizona Governments) are three of the five Regional Planning Agencies in Arizona.Learn what they are and what they do as they plan for infrastructure, economic development, air and water quality, and gather information and data critical to local planners.RPAC is 50 years old. Learn why REALTORS® decided to start a PAC. You can see a short, interesting video at www.wemargad.org.Rick Mack has been recording quick 60 second risk management videos, available at www.aaronline.com.
2019-05-0707 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaBills Signed by Governor Ducey as of April 27, 2019As we pass the 100th day of the legislative session, I thought a quick update on bills the Governor has signed would be in order. I have only highlighted bills concerning private property rights, private contract and the real estate industry. Here is a list as of 4/27/19:HB 2485 - Changes to Affidavit of DisclosureHB 2451 - Real Estate License ExemptionHB 2027 - Online Lodging Marketplace Local TPTHB 2704 - Underground Storage Tank ProcessHB 2443 - Property Disclosure Affidavit. Water DisclosureHB 2114 - County Real Estate Property, Appraisal
2019-04-3008 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaHUD Santa Ana Visits WeMAR and an Update on Opportunity ZonesHUD Santa Ana visited WeMAR last week. Nancy West and Tom Rose met with WeMAR Task Force members, Board of Directors and GADs from Maricopa and Pinal counties. They gave us updates on policy and guidance processes.Condo Rules - Coming out later this summerHousing Counseling - Updated program will come out later this summerHECM (Reverse Mortgages) are causing a strain because of the lossesApril 19th HUD released new rules for DPA (Down Payement Assistance) programsMortgagee Letter 19-06FHA Single Family Housing Policy...
2019-04-2310 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaLegislative Update April 2019 & Association Health PlansRefresh your memory on How a Bill Becomes a Law in Arizona by watching the video AAR and I did a few years ago.The Arizona Legislature is working to complete their task of deciding which bills will make it to the Governor's desk.You can read the bills mentioned in today's podcast as well as read the DC Circuit Court decision on Association Health Plans and the Department of Labor's response. in my article Legislative Update April 11, 2019 at www.wemargad.org.Song Credits:WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.c...
2019-04-1611 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaInterest Rates and an Update on ADA Website AccessibilityInterest Rates and the Fed. Truthfully, interest rates are the least of a buyer's issues these days when looking to purchase a home. Help your clients gain perspective.The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is a private organization who has been working on internet accessibility since the late 1990's. HUD, DOJ and the courts weigh in on website and mobile app accessibility using the W3C metrics. Learn how cases like Robles v Domino's Pizza affect you and your business and how your website and mobile app are subject to ADA laws.WeMAR hosted...
2019-04-1012 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaQuick Update: HUD and CFPB Updates: New Rules, Rule Changes and Enforcement Actions. Upcoming WeMAR GAD Events.There have been a lot of changes in the lending space lately. Some from the courts, some from HUD, some from the CFPB and other regulators.HUD released two Mortgagee Letters in March 2019. Mortgagee Letter 2019-04 eliminates the FHA Inspector Roster. Mortgagee Letter 2019-05 removes the 10-year home protection plan requirement from some FHA loans.The CFPB released its Winter 2019 Report in March 2019. Deceptive bill pay, mortgage servicers charging late fees greater than the amount permitted, servicers misrepresenting PMI cancellation reasons to customers, FHA Reverse Mortgage foreclosures without correct information being given to...
2019-04-0211 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaWashington, D.C. - Day Two with the City of Glendale and the Glendale Chamber of CommerceMarch 14th I and the other members of the City of Glendale/Glendale Chamber of Commerce contingent continued our visits in Washington,D.C. We toured the ASU building. Next we met with Senator McSally and I was able to describe Opportunity Zones as we experience them along with the challenges of no guidance from Treasury for the entrepreneur part and the late release of rules for the real estate investment part. We visited Rep. Paul Gosar, an interesting man with lots of good ideas worth discussion. Representative Lesko met with us and as always asked...
2019-03-2705 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaA Visit with the Air Force & Legislators as Part of the Glendale Chamber and City of Glendale Visit to Washington, D.C. - March 2019Last week (March 11-15, 2019) I was in Washington, D.C. as part of the City of Glendale and Glendale Chamber of Commerce contingent representing business and the city to our elected officials. It was quite an honor and I am thankful to have had the opportunity. The City and Chamber were interested in firming up relationships with our federal officials and letting them know we support Luke Air Force Base and its mission. In addition, the City spoke to elected officials about Community Block Grant Funding and the needs it serves, infrastructure needs and other concerns of t...
2019-03-1905 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaQuick Update - Big Projects in West Maricopa County, the New Middle Class and the Rental Products to Serve ThemThere are a lot of big projects popping up in the West Valley. You see them everyday as you drive about, but there are a lot more on their way. This quick update looks at several projects that have closed escrow or broken ground since October 2018. You can read more about these and other projects at www.wemargad.org.Middle Class isn't what it used to be. People see Middle Class differently than their parents, but similar to past generations. Learn more about the New Middle Class and the rental products being built to serve their wants a...
2019-02-2712 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaWhat Does WeMAR Government Affairs Do?WeMAR Government Affairs: We change the conversation. Listen as we describe what it is we do. It's more than showing up at City Council meetings. In fact, we begin our conversation with City Councils, Legislators and State Agencies way before public comment is necessary.Sign Ordinance are one of our most successful. We changed the conversation from inches and fee to Adequate, Visible and Legible.We host events with elected officials, government staff, policy and decision makers. Our hope is you will meet these people, gain understanding into what they do, shake hands and have...
2019-02-1906 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaArizona's Drought Contingency Plan, Tax Conformity, NAR Advocacy and GAD EventsAs most of you know, the Arizona Legislature passed and the Governor signed Arizona's Drought Contingency Plan on January 31st ahead of the Department of Interior's deadline. Within 12 hours, the Department of Interior decided the plan was not adequate but declined to give details. Arizona has until March 4th to solve the delinquencies as perceived by the Department of Interior and is hoping for clarification soon.In the meantime, there are several bills regarding implementation and rule changes now making their way through the Legislature.Part 1 of a 2 part interview with CNN wholesale lender Nick...
2019-02-0507 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaCatching Up with Lending in 2019, an Interview with Nick Monardo - CNN Mortgage, Part 1Earlier this month I was able to meet Nick Monardo of CNN Mortgage at his office in Scottsdale. Nick is a wholesale lender for CNN Mortgage and was guest of WeMAR's a year ago. Nick gives an update on lending, the CFPB and the issues he sees on the horizon.This is part 1 of a 2 part interview with Nick.WeMAR GAD: Advocating for private property rights, the right to private contract and YOUR business.See GAD event videos, listen to more podcasts and read about real estate and business in Arizona at www...
2019-01-3121 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaQuick Update - Tax Reform, Proposed Bills at the Arizona State Legislature, TPT: DOR MisinformationJanuary is a very busy month, the Arizona State Legislature comes back into session and everyone is gathering information they need in order to file their taxes by the April 15, 2019 due date.In the quick update we discuss the Arizona State Drought Contingency Planning discussions, Tax Conformity, recent bills introduced at the Legislature and some of the tax reform changes affecting you, your clients and your business.You can read a more in depth review of recent bills introduces at the Arizona State Legislature at www.wemargad.org. You can also hear Representative D...
2019-01-2910 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaArizona State Representative Tim Dunn - REALTOR Day at the Capitol 2019Every year Arizona REALTORS® host REALTOR® Day at the Capitol. REALTORS® from all over Arizona meet to speak with their legislators and catch up with each other.This year I was able to catch up with Representative Tim Dunn (Yuma) at lunch. Representative Dunn is on the water and agriculture committees. He gave us a preview of those important topics this legislative session.You can read more about Arizona real estate, business and the legislature at www.wemargad.org.Song Credits:WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Lice...
2019-01-2210 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaQuick Update - Arizona Open Range Law Explained, TPT Update and GAD EventsThe WeMAR Open Range Task Force released the education flyer Are You on Open Range Land or in a No Fence District? Dec. 31, 2018. You can read more about it, download the flyer for you and your clients and access resource links at www.wemargad.org.The WeMAR TPT Task Force has been in conversation with the Arizona Department of Revenue discussing DOR process and procedures. We have made suggestion on how DOR processes may be improved so that property managers, property owners and all TPT taxpayers may pay TPT in an efficient and timely manner....
2019-01-0807 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaQuick Update - Az Senate Seat, Open Range, Homelessness & Public Property, and GAD Events 2019Senator Ducey appointed Martha McSally as the Junior Senator from Arizona. Watch the announcement and read the comments at www.wemargad.org. The Open Range Task Force has completed its education flyer. Use this with your clients purchasing or selling residential or commercial property on Open Range to help educate them on Arizona's Open Range laws, livestock right of ways and their responsibilities. www.wemargad.org.GAD Events are back in 2019. Check the events at www.wemargad.org. This year we will have live streaming events as well as live events in Pinal and Douglas.
2019-01-0108 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaHUD, Sun City & FHA Loans, the City of SurpriseWeMAR wrote a letter to HUD asking for clarification of their PIF ruling and how it affects Free Assumability. You can read WeMAR's letter and HUD's response at www.wemargad.org.Also in this episode, REALTOR Day at the Capitol 2019 and the City of Surprise. Surprise has a new Mayor, Mayor Skip Hall. His seat is open and must be filled by January 2019. The Luke AFB map is a concern again. I had a conversation with the City and here is the update.Music Credits:"Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
2018-12-1809 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaQuick Update-Big Projects Coming SoonJoin us for upcoming WeMAR Government Affairs Meetings in 2019. You can read more about our meetings and register at www.wemargad.org.There have been several large projects close escrow in the past 60 days. I highlight just a few of the projects slated to start in the next 60-90 days. As much change as we have seen in 2018, 2019 promises to bring more changes. Enjoy the opportunities!Song Credits:"Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"Werq" Kevin...
2018-12-0411 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaNAR in Boston, Personal Data as Property and Opportunity ZonesWeMAR GAD quick update: The NAR winter conference in Boston 2018, Personal Data as Property and Opportunity Zones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2018-11-2707 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaSun City Grand Process, Sun City PIF vs. Free Assumability, Sun City West UpdateSun City Grand sent WeMAR a letter outlining their process during escrow and their current fees. You can read the letter at www.wemargad.org.Sun City received approval of their PIF (Preservation and Improvement Fee), but that is not the same as the Free Assumability approval. Learn more about the PIF fee and WeMAR's concerns about Free Assumability at wemargad.org. Sun City West Free Assumability update.Song Credits:"Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
2018-11-2006 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaEconomic Development, Microsoft buys 258 acres, Glendale ResourcesEconomic Development Overview. Learn more about Microsoft's purchase of 258 acres in Goodyear. To see a map of the area go to www.wemargad.org.The City of Glendale has a vast array of resource maps for you and your client. Learn more about each map. To access the links mentioned go to wemargad.org. Song Credits:"Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License...
2018-11-1309 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaQuick Update-HOA Sign Law:Your Right to Have a Sign, Free Assumability & Prop 127Can an HOA take your political sign from your yard? NO! Learn what Arizona Law says and protect your political free speech rights. To read more about this, go to www.wemargad.org. Free Assumability - There is a lot of confusion about what it is and what it is not. Learn the difference between PIF and Free Assumability. Includes an update on Sun City in Arizona. To read more, go to wemargad.org. Proposition 127: It is less about clean energy and more about policy. A "yes" vote will mean Arizona's energy policy and usable...
2018-11-0614 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaQuick Update-Election 2018 & Prop 126WeMAR GAD quick update. Today we review what you need to know in order to vote in the November 6, 2018 election and Proposition 126.To read more and find resources to check your registration status, find your polling place or see what's on your ballot go to www.wemargad.org. Podcast Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ "Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licens...
2018-11-0209 min
Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz RecchiaTrailer - Government Policy, Real Estate and You!Join us as we discuss your private property rights, your right to private contract and your ability to conduct your business. This is a preview of upcoming shows.Read more about WeMAR Government Affairs and issues of interest to you and your clients at www.wemargad.org.Podcast song credits:"Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3...
2018-10-3003 min