Pending home sales slightly improved in November and are above year-over-year levels for the third straight month, according to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR). The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings in November, increased 0.8 percent to 104.8 from a slightly downwardly-revised 104.0 in October.

In the Northeast, the index rose 1.4 percent to 89.1, 7 percent above a year ago. To read the entire NAR press release, click here.

Former three-term New York State Gov. Mario Cuomo died on New Year’s Day at age 82. Governor Cuomo was the first Italian-American elected New York governor and was known as a forceful defender of liberalism. His family confirmed the death, which occurred only hours after Cuomo’s son Andrew M. Cuomo was inaugurated in Manhattan for a second term as governor. The cause was heart failure.

Mario Cuomo led New York from 1983 through 1994. Click here for a New York Times article on the life and legacy of Gov. Mario Cuomo.

In its November 2014 U.S. Residential & Foreclosure Sales Report, RealtyTrac Inc. reported that median sales price for New York State was $340,000, 5 percent above the previous month and up 10 percent annually. The median price of a distressed sale – in foreclosure or bank-owned property – was $233,110. This is down 1 percent from October but up 9 percent since November 2013.

Nationally, the median sales price was $199,000, remaining level with the previous month but up 14 percent from the same time last year.To read the entire RealtyTrac press release, click here.To find the latest sales data from NYSAR, click here.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo was sworn in on January 1, 2015 for his second term in office as New York State’s 56th governor. He and Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul delivered inaugural speeches outlining a broad agenda for the governor’s second term including education reform, raising the minimum wage, and decreasing poverty around the state. The governor also stressed the need to enact the full 10-point Women’s Equality Agenda, expand economic development opportunities in upstate regions, and undertake sweeping reforms to New York’s criminal justice system.

The governor is expected to expand upon his policy agenda during his 5th State of the State address on January 21, 2015. Click here for the full transcript of the governor’s New York City inaugural address.

The Fiscal Year 2015 Omnibus Appropriations Bill contained a provision that prohibits HUD, FHA, or Ginnie Mae's involvement in the eminent domain scheme developed by Mortgage Resolution Partners and considered by more than a dozen municipalities across the country. This scheme relies upon the refinancing of seized loans through the FHA’s short refinance program and resecuritization through Ginnie Mae. Section 236 of the bill prohibits the FHA and HUD from using federal monies to facilitate the seizure of mortgage loans by a state or local municipality.

Click here to learn more.

A Call for Action has been launched to oppose an increase to the Oswego County mortgage recording tax. The Oswego County Legislature is considering a resolution that will raise the Oswego County mortgage recording tax by an additional $0.25 per $100, totaling $1.25 per $100, to record a mortgage. If approved, Oswego County will have the highest mortgage recording tax in the region.

If you live or conduct business in Oswego County, please click here to send a letter to the Oswego County Legislature telling them to vote NO on any resolution to increase the mortgage recording tax in Oswego County.

Today’s NYSAR Radio show will take a look at common real estate-related myths. 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.

Give the gift that can help save a life by participating in the NYSAR Young Professionals Network’s American Red Cross Blood Drive being held in conjunction with the NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings on Wednesday, February 11, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointments are scheduled in 15 minute increments and are encouraged to avoid long wait times. To make your appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code "NYSARAlbany." Or, email NYSAR Director of Marketing Kristen Pooler at kpooler@nysar.com with your availability.

Capitalize on what sets REALTORS apart from real estate licensees with the GRI-1 Ethics course. This course satisfies NAR’s mandatory quadrennial ethics training requirement and is a must for Professional Standards Committee members and local board leaders. You’ll discover how to put the Code of Ethics to work for you, maximize your REALTOR benefits, and enhance your professionalism and your career through community involvement.

Upcoming GRI-1 classes include: January 16 in Binghamton; January 21 in East Syracuse; January 23 in Albany; January 29 in Batavia; February 27 in Lake Placid; March 23 in Woodbury; and April 16 in West Nyack. Register online today or call NYSAR at 800-239-4432 x219. Click here for more information.

The Instructor Training Institute (ITI) will be offered January 27-29 at the Greater Capital Association of REALTORS office in Albany, NY. This three-day intensive program will help you develop or enhance your skills as an instructor. You’ll learn how to deliver information in the most meaningful ways to meet the needs of a diverse audience. 

Click here for more information or to register.

NYSAR’s newest Member Perks partner, Taradel, is an approved affiliate of the U.S. Postal Service’s Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM®) program. Through this partnership, NYSAR members receive a 5-percent discount to design, target, print and mail marketing pieces to every address in a specific zip code or carrier route. Forget buying mailing lists and printing labels, get started with Every Door Direct Mail® today. Click here to access the exclusive NYSAR EDDM® member portal.

Enrollment for health insurance in 2015 is now open. It will close on February 15, 2015. Look to NYSAR Member Perks partner USI Affinity to help you navigate the plan options and find the coverage that best suits your needs. Remember, you will face tax penalties if you do not obtain coverage. Also, if you miss open enrollment, you will not be able to obtain health insurance until the next open enrollment period unless you qualify for a special enrollment. For more information, visit www.myrealtorinsurance.com/nysar.

Back by popular demand, the RPAC VIP Lounge will be open at the Desmond during the NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings on Tuesday, February 10! Five-star amenities include gourmet meals, refreshments, manicures, massages and, new this year, psychic readings! Register online while registering for the business meetings by clicking here. Click here for a flyer with more information.

New RPAC Fundraising Goal Policies were approved by National Association of REALTORS Board of Directors on November 10, 2014. As a result, RPAC of New York’s fundraising goal for 2015 has been set in the amount of $778,677. The goal for 2016 will be identical since the goals are now being determined on a 2-year cycle. NYSAR has determined the local board goals by a simple formula of $16.10 per member based on the membership count on October 31, 2014. To learn more about the new policies and the 2015 local board fundraising and participation goals, click here.