Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz Recchia

On 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...

El 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 Mirage El Mirage City Council El Mirage Facebook El Mirage Twitter El Mirage LinkedIn WeSERV Association of REALTORS® WeSERV GAD WeSERV Store WeSERV...

Goodyear 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 az Goodyear economic development Song Credits: WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacL...

On 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...

On 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 question...

On 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...

WeSERV 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 Know EIDL loans and grants - PNC Bank Compa...

New 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...

Glendale 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 Surpr...

Governor 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...

Election 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.gov Seila Law v. CFPB - The question before the court is Whether the vesting of substantial executive authority in the Consumer Financial Prote...

At 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....

SB 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...

REALTOR® 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...

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 Avondale Advance Avondale Aaron White and Cheryl Covert Contact Info Song Credits: WEPA Song Credits:...

Join 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 Avondale Advance Avondale Aaron White and Cheryl Covert Contact Info Song Credits:...

Here 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...

At 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...

The 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...

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...

WeMAR/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 merge...

As 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 Prope...

On 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...

MAG’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 A...

Senate 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 house...