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This year’s budget agreement between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state lawmakers included a change to the STAR program for certain new homeowners. The change will ONLY apply to homeowners that purchased a home in New York on or after March 1, 2015. These new homeowners will now receive a STAR rebate check in September rather than a STAR credit against their school tax bill. On or about May 1, property owners subject to this new program will receive a letter from their local assessor outlining this new process and how to apply to receive their rebate check. There is no change to the amount of the STAR benefit that homeowners will receive.

Vacation home sales cooled off in 2015, but remained at the second highest amount in nearly a decade, according to the National Association of REALTORS’ 2016 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey. Investment purchases increased for the first time in five years. Mirroring the strong price growth seen throughout the U.S., the median sales price of both vacation and investment homes surged last year. Click here to learn more.

According to the latest poll by the Siena Research Institute (SRI), New York State consumer home buying plans were down 6.3 percent in March from the last measurement in January. Overall, New York State consumer confidence stands at 87.1, up 1.9 points. New York’s overall consumer confidence is 3.9 points below the nation’s index of 91.

Buying plans were also down for cars/trucks, consumer electronics and furniture. Buying plans were up for major home improvements.To read the entire SRI press release, click here.

Beginning April 1, 2016, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) began implementing additional flood insurance program changes resulting from reform legislation sought by the National Association of REALTORS and other interested parties. These changes may significantly affect what your clients pay for their flood insurance. While some property owners may see minimal policy cost increases, others will experience larger premium increases, such as clients with buildings in high-risk areas built before that community’s first Flood Insurance Rate Map (pre-FIRM). An online toolkit can be found here. You can also find more details in the recent Program Changes NFIP Bulletin.

NYSAR’s annual Lobby Day is Tuesday, May 24, 2016 in Albany. This year, we will be advocating for a statewide first-time homebuyer savings account program, among other legislative priorities. For those traveling to Albany the day prior, a block of rooms at the new Renaissance Albany Hotel, located across the street from the New York State Capitol Building, has been set aside until April 23. The rate is $179. To reserve a room, call 518-992-2500 and use our room block code SAR, or enter the online group code: SARSARA. NYSAR will reimburse up to $75 per person for travel expenses to Albany for Lobby Day. NYSAR also reimburses local boards half the cost to lease mass transportation to Lobby Day. NYSAR will provide breakfast, lunch, lobbying orientation and lobbying materials. 

Stay up-to-date on NYSAR Government Affairs news and events by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

On April 4, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a document setting forth guidance for landlords (and agents representing landlords) prohibiting policies or practices that restrict access to housing on the basis of a tenant’s criminal history. It should be noted that this does not make individuals with criminal records a protected class, rather it prohibits the policy of refusing housing to anyone with a criminal record. Furthermore, it requires landlords to look at criminal convictions on a case-by-case basis taking a number of factors under consideration. Landlords are also not required to accept every individual that has a criminal record. NYSAR and NAR have each published educational pieces to help assist members in understanding the new HUD policy. Learn more here.

The Tuesday, April 19, NYSAR Radio show will cover the topic of Fair Housing in honor of April being Fair Housing Month. Tune in at 10 a.m. on April 19 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. Find more information as well as a list of links to play NYSAR Radio from any of your mobile devices here.

Need a doctor now? Learn the power of telehealth with NYSAR and one of our newest Member Perks partners, Healthiest You, during a free webinar this Thursday, April 14, at 2:30 p.m. The webinar will cover: what telemedicine is; Healthiest You’s winning platform; and how you’ll benefit from enrolling. As a NYSAR Member Perk, members can enroll an entire family for just $9 per month. There will also be a brief Q&A session at the end of the webinar. Click here to register.

Green Day 1: Resource Efficient Home and Green Day 2: Why All Clients are Green will be offered April 19 and 20, respectively, at the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS in Rochester, NY. Explore why consumer demand for these homes are increasing and learn how to guide your clients through the process of buying and selling green properties. 

Register online today or call 800-239-4432 x219. Click here for more information.

The GRI-7 Property course will be offered on April 25 at the High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid, NY. Learn about all the factors impacting value and close more deals. Discover the myriad elements that affect property value including: types of housing; appraisals and inspections; neighborhoods and amenities; energy efficiency and environmental issues; lender requirements; and more.

Register online today or call 800-239-4432 x219. Click here for more information.

The GRI-6 Sellers course will be offered on April 26 at the High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid, NY. Represent seller clients in a way that keeps them coming back. Get a competitive advantage with strategies to: gain more listings; get clients to price to sell; enhance your marketing; and avoid Fair Housing violations and safety concerns.

Register online today or call 800-239-4432 x219. Click here for more information.

NYSAR Member Perks partner Taradel is an approved affiliate of the U.S. Postal Service’s Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM®) program. Through this partnership, NYSAR members receive a five-percent discount to design, target, print and mail marketing pieces to every address in a specific zip code or carrier route. Forget buying mailing lists and printing labels, get started with Every Door Direct Mail® today. Click here to access the exclusive NYSAR EDDM® member portal.

NYSAR’s newest Member Perks partner, UBS Financial Services, helps you reduce your taxable income and save for retirement with Independent 401(k) plans. Designed with the flexibility to decide whether to contribute and how much on an annual basis, you have the ability to borrow against your own retirement savings both tax-free and penalty-fee. Through NYSAR’s partnership, you’ll pay a minimal annual fee of only $25 for your account. Visit the Retirement page of NYSAR.com or contact Christopher Michelsen, financial advisor at UBS Financial Services, at 212-626-8515 for more details and to enroll now.

The April RPAC auction item is a pair of New York Mets tickets for Saturday, May 21, at 4:10 p.m. against the Brewers. Seats are located in the Excelsior Level, Section 311. The auction closes Monday, April 25. Visit the RPAC Facebook group to place a bid or contact Derick King at dking@nysar.com or 518-463-0300 x238.

Local boards are busy planning spring RPAC events including LIBOR’s Day at the Races and Jefferson-Lewis/WCR’s Paint & Sip. A calendar of local board RPAC events is displayed on the RPAC page of NYSAR.com. Click here to view the calendar.