According to the latest poll by the Siena Research Institute (SRI), New York State consumer home buying plans were up 0.7 points to 5.2 percent in April. Overall, New York State consumer confidence fell 0.6 points.

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In its U.S. Foreclosures Market Report for April 2013, RealtyTrac Inc. reported New York State had 3,941 total foreclosures, a 26.65-percent decrease from March and an 80.12-percent increase from April 2012.

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Online registration is now open for the 12^th Annual New York State Commercial Real Estate Conference being held June 3-5 at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY. The event is the largest commercial investment real estate conference in the Northeast and features a full-day, pre-conference CCIM negotiations session on June 3, a full-day marketing session on June 4, and a full day of education on June 5.

Online registration is available through May 31 by clicking here. For more information and to download a registration form, click here.

Last week, the New York City Council passed Int. 97-A requiring employers to provide paid sick leave to their employees. The bill is expected to be vetoed by the mayor and overridden by the council next month.

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On Thursday, May 23, from 1-3 p.m., the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) will be hosting a webinar in conjunction with the National Association of Homebuilders to focus on the significant revisions made to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). These revisions - a product of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 - include changes in rate structures and price increases due to new or updated flood maps.

A representative from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will make a presentation and answer any questions you may have. If you would like to participate, click here to register.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced a program bill last week that reforms the Election Law to increase voter participation and encourage new leaders to run for elected office. The legislation aims to: simplify the ballot process; allow sixteen and seventeen-year-olds to pre-register to vote; expand access to the ballot for new candidates; expand the time period for voter registration; and allow greater flexibility for affidavit ballots to be counted.

NYSAR's annual Lobby Day will be held Tuesday, June 11, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Albany. NYSAR will once again reimburse anyone wishing to participate in Lobby Day 50 percent of your total individual travel costs including gas, tolls, and/or a hotel room up to $75!

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The Tuesday, May 21, NYSAR Radio show will discuss environmental issues. Tune in at 10 a.m. on May 21 on your PC or Mac byusing 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 Real Estate Board gave final approval to the revised advertising regulations at a meeting on April 24, 2013. A culmination of five years of work by NYSAR and other interested parties, the new regulations still need to go through the regulatory public notice process, including publication in the New York Register. Following publication, the new regulations are set to become effective on January 2, 2014.

REALTOR Institute 404 - "Serving Real Estate Investors" - will be offered May 16 at the Long Island REALTOR Service Center in Jackson Heights, NY. This course will teach you how to complete financial calculations, explain concepts used in evaluating real estate as an investment, and help clients negotiate, purchase, finance, manage and sell commercial and/or investment property.

Click here for more information or to register.

REALTOR Institute 408 - "e-PRO Day One" - will be offered May 21 at the LIBOR REALTOR Service Center in Woodbury, NY and May 22 at the LIBOR REALTOR Service Center in Riverhead, NY. This new addition to the GRI program covers day one of the two-day e-PRO certification (day two is completed online - additional fee applies). In this program, you'll focus on the changing market, creating an online presence and managing your online reputation.

Click here for more information or to register.

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.

NYSAR's health insurance plans, administered by USI Affinity and underwritten by MVP Health Care, offer members four cost-effective, comprehensive plan options all with prescription drug coverage, a nationwide provider network, flexible care with no referrals and much more. Don't wait, review plan options and get your customized quote today.Visit www.myrealtorinsurance.com/nysar or call 888.834.3713 x18626 to speak with Ned Cox, NYSAR's dedicated benefits counselor.

In order to ensure delivery of the May RPAC auction item in time for Mother's Day, the May RPAC auction was conducted via Facebook and NYSAR.com. Congratulations to Susie Madden from the Sullivan County Board for submitting the high bid of $375 for the exclusive Coach bag! Thank you Susie for investing in RPAC at the President's Club level for many years and for your service as RPAC Chair for the Sullivan County Board. We look forward to seeing Susie and her new Coach bag at Lobby Day in Albany next month.

Congratulations to the Long Island Board of REALTORS on their most successful "Day at the Races" event ever! All told the event raised more than $24,000 for RPAC through record-breaking ticket sales, auction proceeds and, of course, the hat contest! Thank you to the 210-plus LIBOR members for attending and investing in their future through RPAC.