The new Red Alert about Bill AB 2678 that the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION of REALTORS is opposing, I find to be of good intent but at the wrong time. AB 2678 is trying to help the environmental aspect of real estate that could end up damaging are weak housing market even further.

The background of this issue will require a state agency to set up a process to require point-of-sale energy efficiency audits that will cost up to $400 and ultimately will require point-of-sale efficiency retrofits that may cost thousands of dollars. While C.A.R. has no objection to increasing energy efficiency, AB 2678 will be both dangerous to the real estate market and grossly ineffective.

This will cause all residential and commercial real estate in California to have an energy audit at point-of-sale and that mandatory energy efficiency investments be made. AB 2678 was to have been voted on potential cost. The bill is expected to have a hearing some time this month before the 23rd.

 Here is C.A.R's list of why they oppose:

• AB 2678 will hurt your business. Heaping costly requirements on all sales will slow every residential and commercial transaction, further weakening the real estate market and the economy.
• Point-of -sale approaches take too long. Research shows that only 22% of the properties most in need of energy retrofits will actually be sold by 2020. AB 2678 will be grossly ineffective in achieving it's goals.
• AB 2678 will hurt housing affordability. The mandatory audit and retrofit requirements ultimately created could add thousands of dollars to every transaction.  Every $1,000 increase in the price of a home disqualifies 26,600 families from owning.
• Politician's want to make an end-run around you! They know REALTORS will fiercely oppose point-of-sale mandates. By passing the buck to a state agency, they hope to make this proposal more acceptable to other legislators. But be forewarned: once legislation is passed and the bureaucrats take charge, you will have no say.

I am a strong supporter of environmentalist and I do believe we need to take action to help our environment as much as we can.  I also want are economy to be on the right track to recovery and it is not the time to have point-of-sale mandates.

I think that buyer's should have an option to have an energy audit on a home they want to buy. If they have the money not only to pay for the audit, but for whatever retrofits that may be needed. I don't think it should be forced upon someone that cannot afford it.

If you would like to take action to fight against AB 2678 call your Assembly Member as soon as possible at 1-800-961-3302 and tell them that REALTORS would like a no vote on AB 2678 unless point-of-sale mandate is removed.