On April 15, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a bulletin implementing the first provisions of the Flood Insurance Affordability Act and providing immediate rate relief to homebuyers. In the bulletin, FEMA directs insurance companies to stop charging full-risk premium rates when older properties are sold after May 1. Instead, buyers will be allowed to assume the seller’s current rate until FEMA issues new rate tables and refunds under the new law.

To read FEMA’s bulletin to the flood insurance companies, click here. If there is an implementation issue, you can fill out NAR’s questionnaire by clicking here.

According to the results of the first quarter 2014 New York State Consumer Real Estate Sentiment Scores released by the Siena Research Institute (SRI), New Yorker’s attitudes towards the real estate market remains strong.Consumers see now as an improved time to sell and simultaneously as a good time to buy.

Click here to learn more.

Privately-owned housing starts in March were at a seasonally adjusted rate of 115,000 for the Northeast, up 30.7 percent from February, according to data released by the U.S. Commerce Department.Building permits for the Northeast in March rose 33.3 percent to 136,000. 

Click here to learn more.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has released a report outlining changes to various government programs to streamline and improve the process of providing financial relief to homeowners and communities still struggling to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy. The mayor said he is committed to starting construction on at least 500 homes damaged by Sandy and plans to issue 500 reimbursement checks by the end of the summer through the city’s "Build it Back" program. 

Click here to learn more.

NYSAR's annual Lobby Day will be held Tuesday, June 10, 2014, 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! NYSAR will also continue to reimburse 50 percent of the local board cost to lease mass transportation for Lobby Day. Mass transportation includes the lease of a charter bus, van rental, etc. Stay tuned to receive the NYSAR special discounted hotel rate information.

NYSAR will provide breakfast, a lobbying orientation, lobbying materials and lunch. So come and let your REALTOR voices be heard at the Capitol on June 10! For more information, visit NYSAR.com or contact Government Affairs Coordinator Blaise DiBernardo at (518) 463-0300 ext. 216 or by email at bdibernardo@nysar.com.

Today’s NYSAR Radio show will take a look at the Legal Hotline’s most frequently asked questions. Tune in at 10 a.m. this morning 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.

Click here for more information as well as a list of links to play NYSAR Radio from any of your mobile devices.

Spend the week in picturesque Alexandria Bay in the Thousand Islands of Upstate New York while you learn to expand your business, reduce your risk and develop new streams of income. Available courses include: RI405 – "Construction & Environmental Issues" – offered on April 28; RI406 – "Price it Right – Understanding the Appraisal Process" – offered on April 29; RI409 – "Equal & Ethical Service" –offered April 30-May 1; and RI407 – "Building Your Real Estate Practice" – offered on May 2.

Take one, two, three or all of these timely GRI courses and take your career to a whole new level. Please note: RI409 is absolutely free for NYSAR members who register for any other GRI course.

To take advantage of this offer, contact NYSAR directly at 800-239-4432. Click here to view a flyer with more information.

CRS 206 - "Technologies to Advance Your Business" – will be offered on May 8-9 at the LIBOR REALTOR Service Center in Woodbury, NY. This course will teach you to analyze your technology to meet the expectations of today’s consumers. Click here to watch a video about CRS 206.  

Click here for more information or to register.

Your NYSAR membership gives you an extra 10-percent discount at NAR's REALTOR.org store. Shop the store and take advantage of exclusive savings on NAR's entire line of products and publications including books, brochures, DVDs, research reports and more. To redeem your 10-percent discount, visit http://www.realtor.org/store and simply enter member code "NYSAR2" at checkout.

Annually, more than 8 million children are relocated by their families. Ease fears and meet the special needs of this sizeable market with "The Great Moving Adventure" DVD, a part of World Class Coaches Moving Families Initiative. Plus, after purchasing you’ll, receive free training on practices to increase your client acquisition, satisfaction and retention rates. Visit www.worldclasscoaches.com/greatmoving-NYSAR.php for more details or to purchase the DVD for use with your clients. Please use coupon code "NYSAR2010" at checkout to apply your NYSAR discount.

Congratulations to Steve Vaisey from the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS on winning the April RPAC auction of Brookstone's bluetooth wireless speaker with the high bid of $375! Thank you Steve for investing in RPAC at the Major Investor level for several years and serving as RPAC Trustee. The next monthly auction item will be announced in early May!

The spring fundraising season is well under way and local boards across the state are busy hosting RPAC fundraising events. To find out if your board is hosting an event this spring, click here to view a calendar of events.