E-News
New York State Association of REALTORS
February 3, 2015
REALTOR NEWS
New York State regulators are considering a measure that will require the installation of fire sprinklers in all new one- and two-family homes and townhomes built in New York. NYSAR supports fire sprinklers and consumer education about the benefits of a sprinkler system, but is opposed to mandating their installation. Last week, NYSAR launched an all-member Call for Action opposing the proposed mandate. Take action in opposition to this proposal by clicking here.
NYSAR also launched media campaign including a radio commercial, newspaper ads and a website in opposition to this mandate on Monday, February 2. A link to the radio commercial and more information including fire sprinkler facts and poll results can be found at www.stopalbanymandates.com.
Sales of new single-family homes in the Northeast in
December rose 53.6 percent to 43,000, according to the U.S. Commerce
Department. November’s revised annual rate was 28,000.
Nationally, new home sales were at a seasonally
adjusted annual rate of 481,000, up 11.6 percent from November. This is 8.8
percent above the December 2013 total of 442,000. To read the entire U.S.
Commerce Department press release, click here.
The
NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings will open on Sunday, February 8, and continue through Thursday, February 12, at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in
Albany, NY. The meetings will feature committee meetings, inaugural dinner, the
General Session and more.
There is still time to register! Click here for more information and to view committee meeting agendas. Also, be sure to
use #nysar in all of your tweets about the Mid-Winter Business Meetings!
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Last Friday, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver officially
submitted his resignation letter to step down as Assembly speaker. Silver’s
letter, which was filed with the Assembly clerk, said he would step down as
speaker on Monday, February 2, at 11:59 p.m., ending the second-longest
leadership tenure in the chamber’s history. A new speaker is expected to
be elected this week.
On January 26, 2015, the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) 50-basis-point
mortgage insurance premium (MIP) reduction went into effect. FHA expects
a high volume of case number assignments, so lenders may experience slower than
normal processing times. For additional information, the FHA has posted frequently
asked questions about the MIP reduction as well as case
number cancellation instructions on its website.
Click
here to read the FHA press release. Click
here for the FHA resource center.
LEGAL
Today’s
NYSAR Radio show will preview the upcoming NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings featuring
special guest NYSAR Director of Government Affairs Mike Kelly. 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.
Give
the gift that can help save a life by participating in the NYSAR Young
Professionals Network’s American Red Cross Blood Drive being held in
conjunction with the NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings on Wednesday, February
11, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointments are scheduled in 15 minute
increments and are encouraged to avoid long wait times. To make your
appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code "NYSARAlbany." Or, email NYSAR Director of Marketing
Kristen Pooler at kpooler@nysar.com with
your availability. Plus, all presenting donors will receive a $5 Dunkin Donuts
gift card as a thank you!
UPCOMING EVENTS
The
Military Relocation Professional (MRP) core course will be offered on February
11 at the Mohawk Valley Association of REALTORS in Utica, NY. Help current and
former military service members find housing solutions that best suit their
needs and make the best use of their available benefits.
Realty
Security: Agent and Client Personal Security (3 hours real estate CE) will be
offered February 11, during the Mid-Winter Business Meetings at the Desmond
Hotel in Albany, NY. Attend this FREE ($50
value) CE session to gain valuable tips and strategies for staying safe
wherever your job takes you. Pre-registration is required and available on a
first-come, first-served basis.
Click here for more information or call NYSAR at 800-239-4432 x219 to register.
MEMBER PERKS
With
this money- and potentially life-saving benefit, you have the opportunity to
evaluate your risk for several of today's most critical - and often undiagnosed
- health conditions. Held in convenient neighborhood or corporate settings
across New York State, Life Line Screening offers painless, non-invasive
screenings for strokes, aneurysms and other vascular diseases.
The four-screening stroke, vascular disease and heart rhythm package ($240
value) is available at special NYSAR pricing of $135. Keep in mind, these same
tests would likely cost more than $1,000 at a hospital.Call 800-636-0248
or visit www.lifelinescreening.com/nysar for more information or to find a screening
near you.
Enrollment
for health insurance in 2015 will close on February 15, 2015. Look to NYSAR
Member Perks partner USI Affinity to help you navigate the plan options and
find the coverage that best suits your needs. Remember, you will face tax penalties if you do not obtain coverage.Also, if you miss open enrollment, you will not be able to obtain health
insurance until the next open enrollment period unless you qualify for a
special enrollment. For more information, visit www.myrealtorinsurance.com/nysar.
RPAC
Back
by popular demand, the RPAC VIP Lounge will be offered at the Desmond! Take
refuge from NYSAR’s hectic business meetings by visiting the RPAC Lounge where
you’ll gain access to a continental breakfast, hot lunch buffet, snacks and
beverages, chair massage, manicurist, psychic readings, cable TV, computers,
printer, unlimited Internet access, cell phone chargers, newspapers and more! Register online while
registering for the business meetings. The cost is a $250 RPAC pledge or
investment. Questions? Email NYSAR Political Affairs Coordinator Derick King at dking@nysar.com or
call 518-463-0300 x238. Click here for a flyer with more information.
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