The New York State median sales price grew by 5.1 percent in the 2014 first quarter compared to a year ago, continuing its upward trend, according to the housing market report released by the New York State Association of REALTORS. Sales dropped 1.8 percent compared to the start of 2013. 

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In its March 2014 U.S. Residential & Foreclosure Sales Report, RealtyTrac Inc. reported that New York State residential properties sold at an estimated annualized pace of 150,225 in March, up 1 percent from February and up 7 percent from March 2013. 

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The best way to receive and respond to NAR Calls for Action is through the REALTOR Action Center mobile app. The interactive app allows REALTORS to receive and respond to Calls for Action on the go. It’s the easiest way to stay informed about and involved in the key issues that matter most to your business and homeownership. What are you waiting for? Download the app today.

Last week, the New York City Council released its Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Response. The response includes a multitude of council spending and policy priorities including several property tax reform proposals, post-Sandy recovery efforts, and a request to increase funding to the City Human Rights Commission.

The mayor is scheduled to present his Executive Budget by May 8, 2014. The council will then hold another round of agency hearings with the final budget to be passed by June 30, 2014. Click here to view a summary of the budget provisions of interest to NYSAR.

NYSAR is actively working on the legislation below in the New York State Legislature:

Citizen Suits(A.7155 – O’Donnell/S.675 – Avella). To view NYSAR’s Memorandum in Opposition, click here.

Tenant Bill of Rights (Int. 48 – Cabrera). To view NYSAR’s Memorandum in Opposition, click here.

Click here to learn more.

The National Association of REALTORS will hold a Virtual Town Hall Meeting for REALTORS who are planning to attend the 2014 REALTOR Party Convention & Trade Expo. The meeting will take place May 8, at 2 p.m. EST, and it will be a live webcast. Registration for this live webcast is free. The first email inviting the REALTOR Party Convention & Trade Expo registrants to register for this live webcast was sent on April 10. An additional invitation email will be sent on May 6. A recording of the webcast will be posted online by May 9.

During this live webcast NAR Chief Lobbyist Jerry Giovaniello will highlight the issues REALTORS will present during meetings in Capitol Hill offices. NAR's lobbyists, policy staff and political representatives will be available to answer questions from the audience. Click here to register today.

The Tuesday, May 6, NYSAR Radio show will take a look at the ways agents could lose their license. Tune in at 10 a.m. on May 6 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.

The second in NYSAR’s series of infographics, "Ready to Buy Your First Home?" takes a look at the steps involved for a first-time homebuyer, starting with contacting a REALTOR. NYSAR’s infographics are available to download in both jpeg and PDF formats on the Infographics page of NYSAR.com.

The Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) Required Course will be offered May 5-6 at the Bronx-Manhattan Association of REALTORS in Bronx, NY. This course will teach you how to become an efficient and profitable buyer’s representative by providing the quality of service and degree of fidelity today’s buyers expect. 

Click here for more information or to register.

REALTOR Institute 401 – "Get it Listed...Get it Sold"– will be offered May 7-8 at the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS in Rochester, NY. This course teaches you new methods of marketing and how to integrate technology into your business to increase your listings, sales and profits. 

Click here for more information or to register.

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.

Time Warner Cable recognizes the vital connection you provide to their potential customers and wants to reward you for your referrals. To get started, you first need permission from your broker to present clients with this opportunity. Then, register yourself and gain access to the online referral portal. Your clients will appreciate the time-saving concierge services and a free standard installation, while you earn award points that can be redeemed for thousands of exciting awards, such as electronics, travel awards and luxury gifts, or even donated to charity. You can even choose to use your points to make donations to either the NYSAR Housing Opportunities Foundation or New York State Real Estate Education Foundation (NYSREEF).  

For more information or register as a referrer, visit www.twcablerealty.com/nysar. Click here to watch a brief video about the program.

NYSAR’s professional insurance broker, USI Affinity, is 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.

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. Click here for more information.