E-News
New York State Association of REALTORS
September 9, 2014
REALTOR NEWS
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has
updated the manual that insurance companies use to write flood insurance
policies. The comprehensive manual provides answers to just about any question
a REALTOR may have regarding flood insurance, ranging from how condos are
treated to rate tables as revised by the Homeowner Flood Insurance
Affordability Act enacted earlier this year.
Prior to releasing the new manual, FEMA issued a
series of a NFIP iService Bulletins, which are supplemental to the October 1
manual. Presented in one place, these are the key insurance bulletins that
implement the rate relief and refund procedures under the new law. Click here to
view the updated manual.
As a REALTOR you are a vital and integral part of the
community. REALTORS must maintain their commitment to support political
candidates that impact public policy for the benefit of the real estate
industry and the protection of private property rights. One of the important
ways that REALTORS demonstrate this support is by getting out to the polls and
vote!
To view the full list of primaries in your area, click
here.
The
NYSAR Housing Opportunities Foundation will be raffling off a prize worth more
than $1,200! The winner will enjoy a two-night stay at The Lodge at Turning
Stone as well as a complimentary round of golf for two or spa treatments at
Skana worth $210. And to top it off, the winner will receive a $200 American
Express gift card to use during their stay. The winner will be announced during the Board
of Directors meeting at the Fall Business Meetings. A special thanks to our
generous sponsor, The Turning Stone Resort and Casino. Some restrictions apply. Enter between now and September 30. Click here for a flyer with full details.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
The New York City Council is expected to vote this week
on an amended version of Int. 48-A(Cabrera), also known as, the Tenants’ Bill
of Rights Law. NYSAR strongly opposed this legislation because it would
have required the dissemination and posting of a lengthy Tenants' Bill of Rights
upon lease execution. NYSAR successfully advocated for this legislation to be
streamlined and amended. The association is pleased with the final version, which removes
the landlord’s responsibility to provide the lengthy bill of rights to each
tenant.
Click here to learn more.
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) issued its final
rule to eliminate post-payment interest charges on FHA-insured single family
mortgages. Conventional loans, as well as loans from the Veterans
Administration’s Loan Guaranty Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
Rural Housing Service loan program, do not have post-payment interest charges.
The policy change will prohibit mortgagees from charging borrowers interest on
their home mortgages after a principal balance pay-off. The final rule
will go into effect on January 21, 2015.
Click
here to read the final rule.
Mayor
Bill de Blasio and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) announced there will be
$108 million in federal funding to repair and protect the Coney Island Houses
public housing development that was damaged by Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
The joint announcement included a tentative agreement between the New
York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) to apply this model to fund repairs and mitigation measures to at least
15 other public housing developments impacted by Sandy. Find more about this
funding and the agreement by clicking
here.
LEGAL
Today’s
NYSAR Radio show will debunk popular real estate-related myths. Tune in at 10 a.m. this morning 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.
Dig
your old cell phones out of your desk drawers and bring them with you to
Turning Stone! The Young Professionals Network will be collecting cell phones
to be donated to domestic violence centers across the state during the NYSAR
Fall Business Meetings, September 28-October 1.
This year, the collection has a twist - each region will be competing to see
who can collect the most. The collection from each region will be taken back by
a representative to be donated locally. The region that collects the most
phones will be spotlighted in a future issue of New York State REALTOR magazine.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The
Military Relocation Professional (MRP) core course will be offered September 16
at the Jefferson Lewis Board of REALTORS in Watertown, NY. Learn how to provide
the real estate services – at any stage in the service member’s career
– that meet the needs of this niche market and win future referrals.
Click here for more information or to register.
REALTOR
Institute 405 – "Construction and Environmental Issues" – will be offered
September 17 at the Greater Binghamton Association of REALTORS in Johnson City,
NY. This course provides an in-depth understanding of the physical structure
and systems in a home, in addition to energy efficiency and energy rating
systems.
Click here for more information or to register.
REALTOR Institute 404 –
"Serving Real Estate Investors" – will be offered September 17 at the Ithaca
Board of REALTORS in Ithaca, NY. This course will teach you how to complete
financial calculations and explain concepts used in evaluating real estate as an
investment. You will learn how to help clients negotiate, purchase, finance, manage and sell
commercial investment property.
Click here for more
information or to register.
The New York State Association of REALTORSwill hold
its annual Fall Business Meetings from September 28 to October 1 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.
MEMBER PERKS
Learn
how to pay the least amount of taxes possible next year by doing a few simple
things today. Register for the NYSAR and Taxbot webinar on September 18, at
2:30 p.m. for tax tips on travel, medical and auto deductions. You can
participate in the webinar using your computer or the GoToWebinar app on your
mobile device. Click here for more information and to register.
The Taxbot mobile app offers you the ability to track business mileage and
expenses with your iPhone or Android smartphone or tablet, and turn those
expenses into IRS compliant tax deductions. Click here to learn more.
It’s
simple, we partner with premier vendors to save you money. With access to
exclusive price discounts and special offers, along with a host of additional
programs and services, your NYSAR membership can help you do your business
better. Take advantage of our partnerships to access: comprehensive insurance
options from USI Affinity; E&O coverage from Pearl Insurance; electrical
and natural gas supply from Energy Plus; a discount on the Taxbot mobile app;
tenant screening discounts from TransUnion SmartMove; shipping discounts from
UPS; and much more! Visit the Member Perks section at NYSAR.com for a complete list of NYSAR programs and full details about each
program.
RPAC
Celebrate autumn in style with a new Coach bag! Crafted by
hand in elegant artisanal leather, this pared-down silhouette is great for work
or weekend, with a secure zip-top and an exterior flap pocket. Bidding
closes on Monday, September 22.
Click here to learn more.
RPAC
of New York is hosting the "LOL Stand-Up Comedy Night" fundraising event on
Monday, September 29, from 7:30-11 p.m. during the NYSAR Fall Business Meetings
at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, NY. Enjoy a night of
comedy, a ventriloquist, and live and silent auctions - all in the name of
RPAC! Tickets cost $50 each and will be sold on a first-come, first-served
basis. Click here to view a flyer about the event.
Register online to attend NYSAR’s Fall Business Meetings and the RPAC fundraising event today.
Or, simply download, complete and return the registration form to NYSAR via fax
or mail.
We are seeking auction item donations to be featured
in RPAC’s LOL Stand-Up Comedy Night fundraising event. If local boards or
individual members would like to donate auction items, please contact Derick
King at dking@nysar.com or 518-463-0300 x238 with a description of the
item and the value by Monday, September 22. Local boards & individual
members will receive RPAC credit for auction item donations!
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