With 11,736 closed home sales across the Empire state in July, the housing market remained strong despite lagging behind the July 2015 total, according to the housing market report released by the New York State Association of REALTORS. The statewide median sales price increased by 8.1 percent compared July 2015. Learn more here.

Sales of new single-family homes in the Northeast in July rose 40 percent to 35,000, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. June’s revised annual rate was 25,000. Nationally, new home sales were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 654,000, up 12.4 percent from June. This is 31.3 percent above they July 2015 total of 498,000. Learn more here.

Slowed by frustratingly low inventory levels in many parts of the country, existing-home sales lost momentum in July and decreased year-over-year for the first time since November 2015, according to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR).Total existing-home sales fell 3.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.39 million in July from 5.57 million in June. July existing-home sales in the Northeast descended 13.2 percent to an annual rate of 660,000, and are now 5.7 percent below a year ago. To read the entire NAR press release, click here.

In Senate District 55, Republican Sen. Rich Funke of Rochester will be running unopposed this fall. Funke’s Democratic opponent, Steven Glickman, was removed from the ballot by a ruling from the state Court of Appeals deeming that Glickman failed to meet the state’s five year residency requirement. Read the full story here. In the Senate District 7 race to replace outgoing Republican Sen. Jack Martins from Long Island, the New York State AFL-CIO endorsed Democratic candidate Adam Haber, while Republican candidate Elaine Phillips secured the endorsement from CSEA Local 1000. More on this story here. Don’t forget to vote on Primary Day on Tuesday, Sept. 13!

On Wednesday, Aug. 24, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an ethics bill into law that included a measure requiring political consultants with clients before state government to register their activities with the New York State Department of State. The new law also increases penalties and seeks to increase independent expenditure spending disclosure. The article and press release can be found here.

New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released a report on Friday that found that since the economic downturn, some upstate communities have fared well, while many have struggled to recover. According to the report, employment rose in all regions except the Southern Tier, which saw a loss of 1,500 jobs. Overall, employment in upstate rose by 0.3 percent. Read the full report here.

The Tuesday, Sept. 20, NYSAR Radio show will cover common commission issues. Tune in at 10 a.m. on Sept. 20 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.

Don’t wait, today is the final day to receive the discounted room rate for the NYSAR Fall Business Meetings being held Sept. 25-28 at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, NY. Call Turning Stone at 800-771-7711 and identify yourself as an attendee of the "New York State Association of REALTORS Business Meeting" to receive the discounted rates.

NYSAR encourages all members to participate as many of the sessions do not require official committee service. Watch a video about what you can expect from the Fall Business Meetings here. For more information or to register for the meetings, click here.

The Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) course will be offered Sept. 7-8 at the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS in Rochester, NY. Specialize in the 50-plus real estate market by expanding your knowledge of: current lifestyle and housing trends; how life stages impact real estate choices; and how to develop a network of resources.

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

The GRI-5 Buyers course will be offered Sept. 8 at the Elmira-Corning Regional Board of REALTORS in Corning, NY. Demonstrate your value to buyers from listing to closing and learn strategies to: secure more buyer clients; guide buyers through the process from pre-qualifying to closing; assure Fair Housing compliance; and keep you, your clients and customers safe. 

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

With this money- and potentially life-saving benefit, you have the opportunity to evaluate your risk for several of today's most critical - and often undiagnosed - health conditions. Held in convenient neighborhood or corporate settings across New York State, Life Line Screening offers painless, non-invasive screenings for strokes, aneurysms and other vascular diseases.

The four-screening stroke, vascular disease and heart rhythm package ($240 value) is available at special NYSAR pricing of $135. Keep in mind, these same tests would likely cost more than $1,000 at a hospital. Call 800-636-0248 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com/nysar for more information or to find a screening near you.

Our August RPAC auction item winner was Katheryn DeClerck from the Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS. Katheryn submitted the high bid of $800 on the Amazon Tap portable Bluetooth speaker. Thank you Katheryn for your leadership with RPAC including service as past chair of the RPAC Trustees and current Crystal R ($2,500) investor. RPAC of New York’s successful RPAC flask promotional item was also Katheryn's brainchild. Stay tuned for the September RPAC auction item to be announced later this week.

Congratulations to the Jefferson Lewis Board on hosting its 3rd Annual RPAC BBQ and Wine Tasting, which raised more than $4,000 for RPAC! Thank you to those who attended and supported RPAC on a beautiful evening in the Thousand Islands featuring a delicious BBQ, wine tastings and auctions!

Congratulations to the Hudson Gateway Association on raising $1,165 for RPAC during a cocktail hour mixer on the beautiful Hudson River. Thank you HGAR for hosting event after event to support RPAC!