By Summer Knight
2025 President
Santa Barbara Association of Realtors
If you’ve ever applied for a mortgage, you may have noticed the sudden wave of calls and emails from lenders you never contacted. That happens because credit bureaus have been allowed to sell your information as soon as a lender checks your credit. Those are called “trigger leads.”
For years, REALTORS® have pushed to stop this practice. It violated privacy, confused homebuyers, and opened the door to scams. Now, that’s finally changing. Congress has passed the Homebuyer Privacy Protection Act of 2025, and the President has signed it into law.
This new law ends the sale of trigger leads. It means that when you start the homebuying process, your personal information stays private. That’s a win for consumers and for REALTORS® who believe buying a home should be a secure and transparent experience.
The National Association of REALTORS® led the charge on this issue. They worked with lawmakers from both parties to protect buyers’ privacy and strengthen trust in the real estate process. It’s one example of how NAR advocates not only for our members but also for the public we serve.
Here in Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS® is proud to support that work. Every day, REALTORS® stand up for fair housing, property rights, and policies that make homeownership safer and more attainable.
Buying a home is one of life’s biggest moments. You deserve to do it with confidence, knowing your information is protected.
Jennifer Berger is a top producing, third generation California REALTOR® with Compass, bringing 28 years of experience in residential real estate, serving Santa Barbara and its surrounding communities. She currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Santa Barbara Association of Realtors. She can be reached at 805-451-5484 or jennifer.berger@compass.com.
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