Closed sales of residential properties in New York State grew by 8 percent in 2015 to reach 116,671, marking three consecutive years of sales exceeding the 100,000 mark, according to the annual housing market report released by the New York State Association of REALTORS. The 2015 annual median sales price of $230,000 represents a 2.2-percent increase from 2014. Learn more here.

Freddie Mac has launched the online Real Estate Professionals Resource Center, offering information on the latest affordable mortgage products to share with your clients as well as training and networking opportunities and customizable promotional tools. The new site is geared towards real estate agents, brokers and housing counselors. Click here to learn more.

Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes held steady at 60 in January from a downwardly-revised December reading of 60, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). The Northeast posted a one-point decline to 49 in January. To read the entire NAHB press release, click here.

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced that property tax levy growth for school districts will be capped at 0.12 percent for the 2016-17 fiscal year. School districts can override the tax cap with 60 percent voter approval of their budget. More on this report can be found here.

The New York State Court of Appeals recently upheld a decision by a Manhattan Housing Court judge to evict a New York City tenant who was renting out his rent-stabilized apartment unit on the home-sharing website Airbnb. More on this story can be found here.

NYSAR is pleased to announce Jimmy Vielkind, Albany bureauchief of POLITICO New York, as a guest speaker at the Legislative Policy Forum during the upcoming Mid-Winter Business Meetings at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center. Vielkind will be discussing topics on state and national politics and government. The Legislative Policy Forum will be held Tuesday, Feb. 9, from 9-10:30 a.m.

The Tuesday, Feb. 16, NYSAR Radio show will cover common agency issues, specifically related to buyers and sellers. Tune in at 10 a.m. on Feb. 16 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.

Gently-used items will be sold to business meeting attendees shopping in the NYSAR Housing Opportunities Foundation's "It's New to You" couture store on Feb. 8-9 at the Desmond Hotel in Albany, NY. Shop for men's and women's formal wear, business wear, smart casual clothing, outerwear, shoes and accessories. You still have time to donate as well - just bring items with you to the meetings!Click here for more information.

The SONYMA 2016 & Beyond: Benefits to New York Homebuyers course will be offered on Monday, Feb. 8, at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Albany, NY. The session is designed to acquaint real estate licensees with an overview of the State of New York Mortgage Agency, their role in lending, and the new mortgage loan products they have available to assist various types of borrowers.

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

Join NYSAR’s Director of Legal Services Anthony Gatto, Esq. on Thursday, Feb. 18, at 2:30 p.m. for the latest NYSAR Legal Leftovers webinar. This webinar is a follow-up to the Legal Update being presented at the NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings. Topics may include such matters as commissions, agency, and other recent legal developments. Click here to register today.

It’s the final week to enroll for 2016 medical coverage – don’t delay! You have until Jan. 31 to shop the NYSAR exchange for access to affordable, comprehensive health coverage. 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. Shop the NYSAR exchange at http://www.myrealtorinsurance.com/nysar, call USI Affinity’s dedicated sales representative Ned Cox at 888.834.3713 or email benefits@usiaffinity.com for more information.

NYSAR Member Perks partner HealthiestYou, a health and wellness delivery innovator, puts you in control of your healthcare by giving you 24/7 access to U.S. Board-certified physicians via phone, email or video who can diagnose, treat and prescribe medications. For as little as $9/month for individuals and families, you’ll have unlimited doctor consultations, prescription discounts and access to their interactive wellness platform. No consultation fees, no waiting rooms, no co-pays - and do it all from an app! Click here for more details or to enroll today.

Click here to watch a recent webinar explaining what telemedicine is and how you’ll benefit in enrolling with HealthiestYou.

Back by popular demand, the RPAC VIP Lounge will be held at the Desmond on Tuesday, Feb. 9, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.! Take refuge from NYSAR’s hectic business meetings by visiting the RPAC Lounge, where you’ll gain access to a continental breakfast, deluxe 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 by clicking here. For complete details on the RPAC Lounge, click here.
Cost: $250 RPAC Pledge or Investment.
Questions? Email Derick King at dking@nysar.com or call 518-463-0300 x238.

The 2016 RPAC fundraising goals will be identical to the 2015 RPAC fundraising goals for the local boards. Our statewide fundraising goal will again be $778,677. In terms of participation goals, NYSAR eliminated the previous participation goal structure, replacing it with the NAR participation goal set for the state, which is a flat participation rate of 35 percent. In addition, beginning in 2016, for an RPAC investor to be counted toward participation totals for the local, state and national level, the minimum RPAC investment will be $15. To view 2016 fundraising and participation goals by board, click here.