Los Gatos Realtor Ron Gates, president of Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, led a delegation of 50 local association members for a day focused on legislative issues of importance to both Realtors and homeowners. The annual event gives Realtors an opportunity to meet with their elected officials to discuss issues that affect homeowners' rights and the residential real estate industry.

According to Silicon Valley Association of Realtors Government Affairs Director Natalie Cardenas, the event also gives Realtors a chance to interact with fellow members from across the state.

"In addition to lobbying for bills of particular importance, the event gives Realtors an opportunity to gather with other Realtors to discuss important legislation. As an organized real estate trade association, Realtors are advocates for issues that promote homeownership and consumer protection," Cardenas said.

Calling the Realtor association the "voice of homeowners," Cardenas said, "We are a nonpartisan organization and that makes us very effective, because we can work with both sides of the aisle and have credibility with both sides. It's a benefit for homeowners and consumer protection. Sometimes you can't get things accomplished if you are aligned with one side or another."

The Legislative Day's agenda included an early morning briefing by California Association of Realtors chief lobbyist Alex Creel, who discussed the hot legislative issues affecting real estate. Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing Sunne Wright McPeak also addressed the audience. Silicon Valley Association of Realtor members attended a joint luncheon with Realtors from San Mateo and Santa Clara Association of Realtors, where Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Leland Yee was the guest speaker.

In meetings at the Capitol, Realtors focused on issues of land use, property rights and business regulations. State Assembly members were applauded for their support of AB 578 (Leno), which allows electronic recording and transfer of real estate documents. The legislation would permit the implementation of e-recording to facilitate the transfer of real property. Proponents believe the method is cost effective and efficient in terms of cost savings to consumers and local government.

AB 578 would allow county recorders, at their option, to electronically receive real estate documents for recording and would create a recording system that is more secure than existing paper-based systems. The current system requires that transfer of ownership of almost all California property be recorded by having someone from the title or escrow company physically deliver the transfer of title documents to the county recorder's office.

Realtors are lobbying Sacramento to support AB 578 so county recorders can use modern technology to realize time and cost savings for both local government and homebuyers. In a pilot program in Orange County, the California Association of Realtors reports that the existing program has proven both cost effective and secure with the recording of more than 1 million documents. The electronic recording with digital signatures, electronic tracing and encryption is viewed as being more secure than existing paper-based systems.

"This bill has been trying to go forward for some time, and many other states, including Utah, allow e-recording of sales. It's ironic that in Silicon Valley, in the heart of innovation, we still have runners going down to the county recorder's office to transfer documents. E-recording would be a major consumer benefit that would save money for counties desperately looking to save money in tight times. Ultimately it should save money for everybody," Cardenas said.

Protecting private property rights and increasing the supply of homes in the state were also high on the agenda at this year's Legislative Day. With more than 135,000 members, the California Association of Realtors, headquartered in Los Angeles, carries a certain degree of political clout as one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States.

As part of the effort, the 3,000 members and affiliates of Silicon Valley Association of Realtors have pledged to continue to work on identified issues to ensure that state laws protect consumers, promote property rights and continue to increase homeownership in Silicon Valley.

The association's government affairs department is responsible for developing legislative and community affairs agendas. Government Affairs Director Natalie Cardenas serves as the lobbyist for organized real estate at the local level and interacts with California and national association staff on the state and federal levels.

Local jurisdictions covered by Silicon Valley Association of Realtors include Atherton, Cupertino, East Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Menlo Park, Monte Sereno, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Saratoga, Sunnyvale and Woodside. The association also monitors real estate-related issues in the unincorporated areas of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.