On August 19, 2015, the New York State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council voted against a statewide mandate requiring the installation of residential fire sprinklers in all one- and two-family homes and townhomes. The council also voted down a motion requiring the installation of residential fire sprinklers in all townhomes in New York. NYSAR opposed the fire sprinkler mandate and supports consumer choice and incentives such as a proposed tax credit to offset installation costs.

Building on the first-half growth trends, the New York State housing market has posted closed sales, median price and pending sales increases in July, according to the housing market report released by the New York State Association of REALTORS. Closed sales grew by 8.7 percent compared to last July, while pending sales were up 12.2 percent and the median sales price rose 4.1 percent. Learn more here.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has launched a new online toolkit to help REALTORS prepare for the implementation of the Truth in Lending RESPA Integrated Document (TRID) rule on October 3, 2015. Developed in collaboration with the National Association of REALTORS, the new website is designed to help real estate professionals understand the changes to the closing process and how to explain them to consumers.

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer has called for an extension of the 30-percent federal solar investment tax credit for homeowners and businesses, which is set to expire in 2016. Also, currently, the federal solar tax credit is not guaranteed until the project is finished, although Schumer is pushing for residents to receive the tax credit as soon as the project begins. New York offers its own tax credit worth 25 percent of the cost of the installation, for a maximum of $5,000, for residential projects. Learn more here.

The New York City Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency is challenging the preliminary flood map released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The new flood map, which still needs final approval, has not been updated since 1983 and would nearly double the number of city structures in the 100-year floodplain, which is the zone with at least a 1-percent chance of flooding in any given year. Homeowners in this zone could face new flood insurance requirements and higher costs depending on the outcome of the city’s appeal. 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.

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

The Tuesday, September 8, NYSAR Radio show will cover common commission issues. Tune in at 10 a.m. on September 8 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.

Every donation you make to the NYSAR Housing Opportunities Foundation between now and October 6 will enter you into a raffle for a MacBook Air. Earn one chance with a $20 donation or three chances with a $50 donation. Make your donation now at NYSARHousingFoundation.com or while you’re at Turning Stone for the Fall Business Meetings. The winner will be announced during the NYSAR Board of Directors meeting on October 7.

Join NYSAR and RPR Mobile for a webinar on September 10 at 2:30 p.m. and learn how to use your phone’s location to instantly view any property nearby, or search for properties to find listings, sales, valuations, assessments, deeds and more. Download RPR mobile today at the App Store or Google Play, and register for this comprehensive review of all the powerful features this great REALTOR-only tool has to offer.

The New York State Association of REALTORS will hold its annual Fall Business Meetings October 4-7 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. Also, be sure to reserve your hotel rooms by this Friday, September 4, to get the discounted room rates. For more information or to register for the meetings, click 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.

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. Learn more here.

Test your trivia knowledge while raising funds to support RPAC during the RPAC Trivia Night on Monday, October 5, from 7:30-11 p.m. at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, NY. In addition to the trivia tournament, there will be live and silent auctions, a selection of your favorite hot pub foods, and a cash bar. Tickets are $50 and available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Register online today to attend NYSAR’s Fall Business Meetings and the RPAC Trivia Night. Or, simply download, complete and return the registration form to NYSAR via fax at 518.462.5474. Questions? Contact Derick King at dking@nysar.com or 518.463.0300 x238.

Once again we will be featuring live and silent auction items as part of the RPAC Trivia Night fundraiser. 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 21. Local boards and individual members will receive RPAC credit for auction item donations!

Who wouldn’t want bacon delivered to their door? You will receive two packages of amazing bacon once a month for three months as part of the "Bac’N of the Month Club." Shipping and a Bac’N logo shirt are included. Bidding closes Monday, August 31. Visit the RPAC page of NYSAR.com to learn more.