In its April 2014 U.S. Residential & Foreclosure Sales Report, RealtyTrac Inc, reported that New York State residential properties sold at an estimated annualized pace of 155,316 in April, up 0.35 percent from March and up 4.38 percent from one year ago.The median sales price for New York was $350,000 in April, remaining level with the previous month, but up 29 percent from April 2013. 

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In honor of June being NYSAR Housing Opportunities Month and in an effort to raise awareness for housing opportunities in New York State, the NYSAR Housing Opportunities Foundation has made a goal of raising $5,000, which goes directly to its First-time Homebuyer Grant Program. The foundation will have a fundraiser at the NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings called the "It’s New to You" Couture Store and are collecting gently-used items to be sold in the store. In recognition of this effort, any donation you make will raise the level in their virtual shopping bag.

The bag with donor recognition will be prominently displayed on NYSARHousingFoundation.com, in an upcoming issue of New York State REALTOR magazine, on the foundation’s Facebook page and at the NYSAR Fall Business Meetings. Click here to learn more and to donate.

NYSAR members will travel to the Amalfi Coast, Rome and Tuscany October 3 – 12, 2014 to meet with members of the Italian Federation of Real Estate Professionals. The goals are to: learn how real estate transactions are conducted in Italy; get to know about real estate opportunities in the areas visited; and build relationships with members of our cooperating association for future referral purposes.

Click here for the preliminary itinerary (subject to minor modifications). The cost is $3395 per person, based on double occupancy, with deposits due June 15, and the balance due August 1. Click here for the registration form.

If you’re interested in participating, please email Priscilla Toth at ptoth@nysar.com as soon as possible to express your interest. Only 24 seats are available and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, upon receipt of registration form and deposit. Tax deductibility - It is likely this mission will qualify as a deductible expense for your business but you should check with your tax advisor for complete details.

Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law a bill to provide nearly $4 million in tax relief for Hurricane Sandy victims who made repairs to their home. The legislation establishes a partial tax abatement for real property that was repaired and rebuilt following Sandy. The bill authorizes New York City to enact a local law granting a partial abatement of real property taxes so that the owners of these properties will not incur such a large increase in their real property taxes for fiscal year 2015. The bill was unanimously passed by both the Senate and Assembly last month.

Today’s NYSAR Radio show will be a preview of Lobby Day, happening on June 10, and will feature NYSAR Government Affairs staff. 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.

NYSAR recently released its third infographic, which highlights home improvement projects that add value to a home, and what homebuyers can expect as a return on investment. NYSAR’s infographics are available to download in both jpeg and PDF formats on the Infographics page of NYSAR.com.

The Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) course will be offered June 10-11 at the Greater Syracuse Association of REALTORS in Syracuse, NY. This course helps you develop the business-building skills and resources for specialization in the senior real estate market by: expanding your knowledge of how life stages impact real estate choices; connecting you to a network of resources; and fostering empathy.

Click here for more information or to register.

REALTOR Institute 404 – "Serving Real Estate Investors" – will be offered June 12 at the Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS in White Plains, NY. In this course, you'll learn how to complete financial calculations, explain conceptsused in evaluating real estate as an investment, and help clients negotiate, purchase, finance, manage and sell commercial and/or investment property. 

Click here for more information or to register.

"Short Sales and Foreclosures: What Real Estate Professionals Need to Know" will be offered June 12 at the Greater Capital Association of REALTORS in Albany, NY. This course will provide you with the framework for understanding how to: qualify sellers for short sales; develop a short sale package; negotiate with lenders; tap into buyer demand; safeguard commissions; limit risk; and protect buyers. 

Click here for more information or to register.

Open enrollment has begun for a July 1 effective date, so now is the time to consider NYSAR’s dental plan and optional vision rider for your insurance needs. Key benefits of United Concordia dental plan include: options to offer you a range in coverage and cost; lower rates with a two-year guarantee; orthodontia coverage; and more. New in 2014, the optional vision rider, administered by Davis Vision, includes: an annual vision exam; annual allowance for glasses or contacts; discounts on disposable contact lenses and laser vision correction; and more.

For more information about the plans and rates, please call 888-834-3713 or visit www.myrealtorinsurance.com/nysar.

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 - healthcare 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 4-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.

The spring and summer fundraising season is in full swing! Find out which boards across the state are busy holding RPAC fundraising events in the coming weeks and months by clicking here.

Stay connected to all things REALTOR Party by downloading the REALTOR Action Center mobile app today. Invest in RPAC, respond to Calls for Action and so much more. Click here for more information.