A new survey from the National Association of REALTORS found that 96 percent of REALTORS have never been the victim of crime, but 40 percent have found themselves in situations where they have feared for their safety or the safety of their personal information. Some of the most common circumstances that resulted in fearful situations were open houses, showing vacant and model homes, working with properties that were unlocked or unsecured, and showing homes in remote areas. 

Click here to learn more.

Videos from NYSAR's 2015 Mid-Winter Business Meetings are now available in the Media Center of NYSAR.com. Videos include: President Mike Smith’s State of the Association address; the Legal Update with NYSAR Director of Legal Services Anthony Gatto, Esq.; the Realty Safety and Security course; the 2014 RPAC Awards; and more. 

Visit the Video section of the Media Center or click here for more. 

On February 19, NAR hosted a webinar on marketing and services agreements (MSAs) and other agreements under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). There have been a number of enforcement actions targeting disclosures and practices under the anti-kickback provisions of RESPA. No one may give or accept anything of value for the referral of settlement services in residential transactions involving a mortgage. MSAs are under particular scrutiny.

Visit www.realtor.org/respa to see the latest updates on new RESPA changes and join the next RESPA webinar on Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 2 p.m. on the changes to the closing process set for August 1. Click here for a recording of the February 19 webinar. Click here for dos and don'ts for MSAs.

NYSAR-supported A.5484(Galef)/S.618(Little), which will allow municipal corporations to value newly constructed and converted cooperative and condominium units as they would other residential real property, is on the Assembly Real Property Taxation Committee agenda for today. As currently written, the Real Property Tax Law and the Real Property Law do not allow the sum of the assessments of individual cooperative or condominium units to exceed the value of the entire complex if it was valued as a single entity. 

Click here to learn more.

New York State regulators have delayed a vote on a measure that would require the installation of fire sprinklers in all new one- and two-family homes and townhomes built in New York. NYSAR supports fire sprinklers and consumer education about the benefits of a sprinkler system, but is opposed to mandating their installation. NYSAR has launched an all-member Call for Action opposing the proposed mandate. Take action in opposition to this proposal by clicking here.

NYSAR also launched a media campaign including a radio commercial, newspaper ads and a website in opposition to this mandate. A link to the radio commercial and more information including fire sprinkler facts and poll results can be found at www.stopalbanymandates.com.

Today's NYSAR Radio show will cover the topic of lead paint disclosure. 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.

Did you miss last week’s Legal Update webinar? It is now available on the Webinar page of the Media Center at NYSAR.com. Topics discussed include: broker rebates; unauthorized practice of law; lead paint; arms-length transactions; and recent court and DOS decisions pertaining to commissions, fair housing and escrow. Click here to listen today.

Learn how to pay the lowest amount of taxes possible next year by doing a few simple things today. Join former IRS trainer and best-selling author Sandy Botkin for a free webinar on Thursday, March 12, at 2:30 p.m. and learn how you can give yourself that raise by keeping more of what you earn. This webinar will cover: advantages of home-based business (HBB); mileage deduction; SUV deduction; meals and entertainment; home office; and hiring kids. The webinar will conclude with an overview of the Taxbot mobile app, which NYSAR members receive a 50-percent discount on through NYSAR’s Member Perks program. 

Click here to register today.

The GRI-3 Agency course will be offered on March 9 at the Gran-View on the River in Ogdensburg, NY. This course offers in depth coverage of all forms of agency representation, associated issues and proper disclosure. You will also learn how to avoid the risk of misrepresentation, vicarious liability and breach of fiduciary duties.

Register online today or call NYSAR at 800-239-4432 x219. Click here for more information.

The GRI-4 Legal course will be offered on March 10 at the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS in Rochester, NY. This course will give you a complete understanding of: advertising that is legal and ethical; contracts, forms, deposits, disclosures and record retention; risk management strategies; and title insurance and settlement procedures.

Register online today or call NYSAR at 800-239-4432 x219. Click here for more information.

GRI-6 Sellers will be offered on March 10 at the Columbia-Greene Board of REALTORS in Hudson, NY. This course will help you gain a competitive advantage with strategies to: gain more listings; get clients to price to sell; enhance your marketing; avoid Fair Housing violations and safety concerns.

Register online today or call NYSAR at 800-239-4432 x219. Click here for more information.

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.

NYSAR’s exclusive partner for errors and omissions insurance, Pearl Insurance offers you comprehensive and affordable coverage customized to fit your needs. Their program, underwritten by XL Insurance, includes innovative features such as: deductible reduction; open house coverage; environmental failure to advise; innocent partner protection; and public relations advisory services. For more details or a customized quote, call (800) 289-8170 or visit www.pearlinsurance.com/nysar.

Congratulations to the February RPAC auction winner NYSAR RVP Jennifer Vucetic! Thank you Jennifer for submitting the high bid of $400 on the Grand Ol' Gang painting and for your support of RPAC at the Major Investor level ($1,000). The March RPAC auction item, a Michael Kors handbag, has been posted on the RPAC page of NYSAR.com.

Congratulations to the Greater Syracuse Association on kicking-off the successful "Cooking for RPAC" fundraising series this past week. Thank you Nancy Quigg for leading this charge. To those who attended to benefit RPAC, thank you for your support. The cooking series continues in March and April. Contact Nancy for details!

Once again, Greater Rochester REALTORS participated in a wildly successful night of cards including their famous Euchre Tournament in the name of RPAC. Thank you to those who worked so hard to plan and execute this successful event and to those who attended and invested in RPAC.

NYSAR is now posting a calendar of local board RPAC events on the RPAC page of NYSAR.com. Click here to view the events scheduled for March and April.