Lobby Day at the Capitol in Albany! REALTORS spent the day tirelessly meeting with state lawmakers to urge the passage of NYSAR-supported legislation including: the ability for real estate brokers to give rebates to their clients; transparency to the process of buying and selling cooperative apartments; a bill that would require home builders to provide information about fire sprinkler systems to clients looking to build; and more. NYSAR members also expressed opposition to multiple pieces of legislation that extend and impose new county mortgage recording taxes and transfer taxes. 

Click here for more information.

In its U.S. Foreclosures Market Report for May 2014, RealtyTrac Inc. reported that New York State had 4,741 total foreclosures, a 25.29-percent increase from April 2014 and a 17.73-percent increase from the same time last year.New York State ranks 22 out of all 50 states for monthly total foreclosure filings. One in every 1,709 housing units in New York State received a foreclosure filing in May. 

Click here to learn more.

Last week, NYSAR launched a Call for Action in support of S.5693-B(Zeldin)/A.7979-B(Lavine), which amends Section 442 of the Real Property Law titled "Splitting Commissions" to explicitly state that nothing shall prohibit a broker from offering any part of a fee, commission, or other compensation received by the broker to the seller, buyer, landlord or tenant as an incentive for using the services of that broker.

Your action and support are needed immediately. The bill has yet to be voted on by the Assembly or Senate, and this is the final week in the 2014 legislative session! Please click here to take action and tell your member of the Assembly and your state senator to vote "yes" on S.5693-B(Zeldin)/A.7979-B(Lavine).

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

Ensuring Availability of FHA Loans in New York State (A.9539 – Morelle; S.7224 - Farley). NYSAR supports legislation that provides for technical amendments to New York State banking laws adjusting the subprime threshold for loans insured by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA). Click here to read NYSAR’s Memorandum in Support. 

Fire Sprinkler Lease Disclosure (A.7641A – DenDekker/S.5212A - Flanagan). NYSAR opposes this legislative that requires all residential leases to contain conspicuous notice as to the existence or non-existence of a maintained and operative sprinkler system in leased premises. Click here to read NYSAR’s Memorandum in Opposition.

Click here to learn more.

Today’s NYSAR Radio show will cover agency issues, specifically relating to buyer’s agents. 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.

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 2015 Mid-Winter Business Meetings called the "It’s New to You" Couture Store and is 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 is prominently displayed on NYSARHousingFoundation.com, and will be featured 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.

REALTOR Institute 408 – "e-PRO Day One" – will be offered June 24 at the Dutchess County Association of REALTORS in Poughkeepsie, NY. This course covers day one of the two-day e-PRO certification (day two is completed online – additional fee applies). In this program, you’ll focus on the changing market, creating an online presence and managing your online reputation.

Click here for more information or to register.

REALTOR Institute 402 – "Real Estate Legal Issues" – will be offered July 1-2 at the Mahopac Library in Mahopac, NY. This course will teach you how to limit your liability by developing a clear understanding of agency practice and policy issues, and how to avoid misrepresentation, antitrust and fair housing violations.

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.

Take advantage of one of NYSAR’s newest Member Perks partners, Taxbot, to keep more of your commissions through tax deductions! The Taxbot mobile app offers you the ability to track business mileage and expenses with your iPhone or Android smartphone or tablet, and turn those expenses into IRS compliant tax deductions. Click here to learn more.

The Ithaca Board of REALTORS held its annual RPAC luncheon and auction last Friday at La Tourelle Resort. The event featured lunch, auctions and plenty of fun to benefit RPAC. Congratulations to the board on exceeding its 2014 RPAC fundraising goal once again through the proceeds raised via the auction! Thank you to those who attended the event and invested more than $2,179 in RPAC.

It’s time to enjoy the great outdoors by gathering around this cozy fire pit! Made of durable steel with a rubbed bronze finish, it includes a log grate, fire poker, mesh screen and cover to protect against the elements. Bidding closes on Wednesday, June 25.

Click here to learn more.