The New York State housing market posted healthy gains in nearly all categories including sales, median selling price and pending sales during the first half of 2015, according to the housing market report released by the New York State Association of REALTORS. Closed sales were up 3.4 percent in the first six months of 2015 compared to the same period last year, while the median sales price increased 3 percent and the number of pending sales jumped more than 12 percent. Learn more here.

Please join the REALTOR Party and tell your U.S. Representative to support H.R. 9, the Innovation Act, to stop patent trolls and protect the real estate industry from frivolous lawsuits. REALTORS across the country receive threatening demand letters and lawsuits alleging patent infringement based on the use of common business tools such as drop-down menus or search alert functions on websites, and the scanner function on a copier. H.R. 9 will help combat this problem and is necessary to protect REALTORS. For more information and to sign the petition, click here and tell Congress to pass this common-sense comprehensive patent litigation reform.

Existing-home sales increased in June to their highest pace in more than eight years, while the cumulative effect of rising demand and limited supply helped push the national median sales prices to an all-time high, according to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR). In the Northeast, June existing-home sales climbed 4.3 percent to an annual rate of 720,000, and are 12.5 percent above a year ago. Learn more here.

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli reported that property tax growth for local governments will be capped under one percent (0.73) for 2016. The state property tax cap, which was recently extended in June, limits tax levy increases to two percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is lesser.

In June, Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito reached a balanced budget deal totaling $78.5 billion for Fiscal Year 2016. The budget does not include any tax increases for homeowners or small business owners. Meanwhile, New York State legislators did not approve de Blasio’s proposed "mansion tax" as a part of the new 421-a housing agreement. To read the full "In the City Update" including updates on affordable housing, Hurricane Sandy actions and the New York City rent freeze, click here.

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

The Tuesday, August 4, NYSAR Radio show will cover the topic of antitrust. Tune in at 10 a.m. on August 4 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.

The GRI-4 Legal course will be offered August 11 at the LIBOR REALTOR Service Center in West Babylon NY. Operate your business without the risk of claims, fines and lawsuits. Gain a complete understanding of: advertising that is legal and ethical; contracts, forms, deposits, disclosures and record retention; risk management strategies; title insurance and settlement procedures. 

Register online today or call NYSAR at 800-239-4432 x219. Find more information here.

Earn New York State real estate CE credit from the comfort of your home or office! NYSAR is partnering with The CE Shop to bring members engaging, interactive and entertaining online learning opportunities at affordable prices. You can save 20 percent on your real estate education today with promo code "JUL20" throughout the month of July. Learn more here.

The enrollment period for NYSAR’s dental plan is still open, and there’s never been a better time to re-evaluate your dental and vision coverage. Administered by USI Affinity and now underwritten by MetLife, the NYSAR dental plan offers: options for a range in coverage and cost; third straight year of no rate increases; coverage for individuals and families; freedom to visit any dentist, in or out-of-network; and coverage for orthodontia.

Through this new partnership with MetLife, vision coverage is now being offered as a standalone option in addition to being an optional rider on the dental policy. Visit www.MyREALTORInsurance.com/nysar or call USI Affinity’s dedicated sales representative Ned Cox at 888.834.3713 for more information.

NYSAR’s professional insurance broker, USI Affinity, has partnered with Long Term Care Resources to offer you the choice of three long-term care insurance carriers: Mutual of Omaha, John Hancock and Prudential. Not only do you have the choice of carriers, you also have the flexibility to choose from a variety of plan options to find the plan and pricing best suited to your needs. For more information or a customized quote, call Ned Cox, NYSAR’s dedicated sales representative, at 888.834.3713 or visit www.MyREALTORInsurance.com/nysar.

Congratulations to the St. Lawrence, Clinton County and Northern Adirondack boards on raising more than $4,700 for RPAC during the second annual ADK Regional RPAC Theater Night at SUNY Potsdam. The event featured a reception prior to a production of Chicago. Thank you to the 50-plus attendees and those who worked so hard to plan this successful event to support RPAC. 

Congratulations also to the Long Island board on raising more than $2,600 for RPAC during the annual Bowing for RPAC event. The event featured two hours of bowling, pizza, soft drinks and even a golf putt-putt competition to benefit RPAC. Thank you to the 50-plus attendees and those who worked hard to plan this event.

Local boards across the state remain busy hosting RPAC events this spring and early summer. Already, boards have raised $85,000 for RPAC through local events alone. From Greater Rochester’s March Madness to Greater Syracuse’s Cooking for RPAC, Columbia Greene’s wine tasting and BBQ, LIBOR’s Day at the Races, Greater Capital’s Bowling and Cruising for RPAC, and Hudson Gateway’s Mr. Legs Pageant, New York Yankees game and casual mixers, REALTORS have come out to support RPAC in their communities. View the calendar of local board events to be held over the next few weeks.