E-News

New York State Association of REALTORS

August 27, 2013
REALTOR NEWS
New legislation now requires all homeowners receiving a Basic STAR exemption to register with the New York State Tax Department in order to receive the exemption in 2014 and subsequent years. Homeowners will not have to register in order to receive their 2013 STAR exemptions and will not have to re-register every year. Based on the information provided in the registration process, the Tax Department will monitor homeowners’ eligibility in future years.

Registration started on August 19, 2013 and will continue through December 31, 2013. Click here to register.
 
Driven by strong buyer activity, both closed and pending sales jumped by more than 19 percent across New York State in July compared to a year ago, according to the housing market report released by the New York State Association of REALTORS.

Click here to learn more.
 
Privately-owned housing starts in July were at a seasonally adjusted rate of 115,000 for the Northeast, up 40.2 percent from the revised June total of 82,000, according to data released by the U.S. Commerce Department. 

Click here to learn more.
 
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Last week, the Riverdale Press published a story on the continuing effort to pass Intro. 188, the Fair Cooperative Procedure Law, pending before the New York City Council. NYSAR past President Susan Goldy was interviewed and expressed the REALTOR community’s strong support for increased transparency in the cooperative application process.

For the full text of the article, click here.
 
Join the Broker Involvement Program and take action on critical legislative issues affecting our industry and your bottom line. Right now there are proposals pending before Congress and the New York State Legislature that will impact your ability to do business.  

For more information, visit the REALTOR Action Center at www.realtoractioncenter.com or click here.
 
LEGAL
In order to further clarify the opinion on "corporate titles" issued in April, the Department of State has issued an additional opinion letter. The additional opinion letter answers a number of questions posed by brokers about what types of "titles" a broker may confer on a licensee associated with the broker that are not corporate in nature. Essentially, the additional letter reiterates what the April opinion stated.

Only a licensed broker (not an associate broker or salesperson) can possess a corporate title. A corporate title contains any of the following terms: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Director and Manager (except for associate brokers acting as an "office manager" pursuant to Real Property Law section 440(6)). The use of other titles is permitted so long as they are not misleading to the public.

Click here for more information.
 
The Tuesday, September 3, NYSAR Radio show will take cover the topic of fair housing. Tune in at 10 a.m. on September 3 on your PC or Mac by using the player on the NYSAR Radio page. You will need to be logged in to listen. If you have not yet created your account with the website, you will need to click on "New User" on the Member Login page and follow the prompts.

Click here for more information as well as a list of links to play NYSAR Radio from any of your mobile devices.
 
The New York State Association of REALTORS will hold its annual Fall Business Meetings from September 29 to October 2 at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, NY. NYSAR encourages all members to participate as many of the sessions do not require official committee service.

For more information or to register for the meetings, click here.
 
UPCOMING EVENTS
Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) Required Course– will be offered September 9-10 at the Elmira-Corning Association of REALTORS in Corning. This course will teach you how to become an efficient and profitable buyer’s representative by providing the quality of service and degree of fidelity today’s buyers expect. 

Click here for more information or to register.
 
"Global Real Estate: Local Markets" and "Global Real Estate: Transaction Tools" – Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) courses – will be offered September 11 and 12, respectively, at the REALTOR Service Center in Woodbury, NY. The CIPS designation gives you the knowledge and expertise to conduct business with those from other countries and cultures.  

Click here for more information or to register.
 
REALTOR Institute 407 – "Building Your Real Estate Practice" – will be offered at the Bronx-Manhattan North Association of REALTORS in Bronx, NY on September 11. This course will increase your productivity, help you retain more of your income and reduce your risk with tips from the nation’s top producers.

Click here for more information or to register.
 
Short Sales and Foreclosures (SFR) – "What Real Estate Professionals Need to Know" will be offered September 12 at the Dutchess County Association of REALTORS in Poughkeepsie, NY. This course will provide you with the framework for understanding how to: qualify sellers for short sales; develop a short sale package; negotiate with lenders; tap into buyer demand; safeguard commissions; limit risk; and protect buyers.

Click here for more information or to register.
 
MEMBER PERKS
TransUnion SmartMove is an easy, comprehensive and reliable web-based tenant background check offering access to a full credit report, criminal report, customized leasing recommendations and suggested deposit amount to request at lease signing. The trusted brand’s process is all online and you pay only when you use it with no set-up, minimum or annual fees.

Click here to learn more. 
 
RPAC
Bidding will close today at 5 p.m. on a rare, second auction item – a pair of VIP New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles pre-season football tickets, including VIP parking. Seats are on the Club level with access to several VIP clubs including the Lexus Club. The game is on Thursday, August 29, at 7 p.m. at Met-Life Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ.

Visit the RPAC of New York Facebook page or contact NYSAR Political Affairs Coordinator Derick King at 518-463-0300 x238 or dking@nysar.com to submit your bid.
 
Register now for RPAC’s "Monday Night Fever – A Flashback to the 1970s" fundraising event, happening Monday, September 30, from 7-11 p.m. at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY. Tickets cost $50 each and will be applied toward your 2013 RPAC investment total. Click here for more information.
 
Join your colleagues from across the Metro region for an elite RPAC experience at Modell’s Clubhouse at Citi Field for the New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals game on Tuesday, September 10. The RPAC experience at Modell’s includes: a ticket to the game and private access to the Modell’s Clubhouse; the ballpark buffet; and private bar service with complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks. *This RPAC event is open to the members of NYSAR’s Metropolitan Region including: Bronx-Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan and Staten Island. 

For complete details and registration instructions, click here.
 
Realty Institute
Cartavi
Sprint
IDR Partnership Marketing Group/ Fireball Marketing
Naylor, LLC