According to the latest poll by the Siena Research Institute (SRI), New York State consumer home buying plans were up 8.1 percent in March. Overall, New York State consumer confidence stands at 86.4, up 2.4 points from the last measurement in November 2014. New York’s overall consumer confidence is 6.6 points below the nation’s index of 93.

Buying plans were also up for cars/trucks and major home improvements. Buying plans were down for consumer electronics and furniture.To read the entire SRI press release, click here.

Many renters would be better off buying a home than continuing to pay steep rental costs, according to a new study by RealtyTrac. Its Residential Rental Property Analysis found that the monthly payment on a median-priced home is more affordable than the monthly fair market rent on a three-bedroom property in 76 percent of U.S. counties.

Of the 461 counties analyzed, 351 had house payments on a median-priced home in the first quarter of this year that were lower than fair market rents on a three-bedroom home. Click here to learn more.

In its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 3, 2015, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported that the volume of mortgage loan applications rose 0.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the index increased 1 percent compared with the previous week.

The Refinance Index fell 3 percent according to the survey, while the Purchase Index rose 7 percent from one week earlier. Click here to read the entire MBA press release.

NYSAR’s most important legislative day of the year will be held on Tuesday, June 9, beginning at 9 a.m. NYSAR will once again reimburse any member wishing to participate in Lobby Day 50 percent of your total individual travel costs including gas, tolls, and/or a hotel room up to $75! NYSAR will also continue to reimburse 50 percent of the local board cost to lease mass transportation for Lobby Day. Mass transportation includes the lease of a charter bus, van rental, etc.

NYSAR will provide breakfast, a lobbying orientation, lobbying materials and lunch. Also, we have a block of 15 rooms reserved at the Albany Hilton (a block from the Capitol) for Monday, June 8, at a rate of $159 per night for a room with a king bed or two doubles.To reserve one or more of these rooms call 866-691-1183. The hold for the room block ends on Friday, May 8, or until it sells out.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has designated 12 new sites across the state as Brownfield Opportunity Areas. The program targets economically challenged regions and provides tax incentives and other benefits to clean up multiple sites within a region. The new sites, which represent thousands of acres of land, are located in Jamestown, North Tonawanda, Batavia, Rochester, the Village of Macedon, Rome, and the Village of Fort Edward. 

Click here to learn more.

New York State regulators are expected to vote on Friday, May 15, on a measure that will 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 on Monday, February 2. A link to the radio commercial and more information including fire sprinkler facts and poll results can be found at www.stopalbanymandates.com.

The Tuesday, April 21, NYSAR Radio show will cover common agency issues, specifically related to buyer’s agents. Tune in at 10 a.m. on April 21 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.

Tens of thousands of REALTORS now receive REALTOR Party mobile alerts directly to their phone, giving them exclusive opportunities to take action on important real estate issues. Don’t miss out – join the network by texting "NY REALTORS" to 30644. The National Association of REALTORS will send you short text messages when they need you to respond to a Call for Action (usually only three to five times per year). Message and data rates may apply, and you can unsubscribe at any time. For questions about the REALTOR Party mobile alerts, contact comments@realtoractioncenter.com.

The GRI-3 Agency course will be offered on April 20 at the Buffalo Niagara Association of REALTORS in Amherst, 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 Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) course will be offered April 22-23 at the Mohawk Valley Association of REALTORS in Utica, NY. Elevate your standards, enhance your performance, and demonstrate the knowledge and skills essential to professionally and ethically represent sellers.

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

The Home Sweet (Second) Home: Vacation, Investment & Luxury Properties course will be offered April 24 at the Holiday Inn in Oneonta, NY. Specialize in buying, selling or managing resort properties and second homes for recreation, investment or development. This course provides elective credit for the ABR and CIPS designations.

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

NYSAR’s newest Member Perks partner, IdentityForce, isa leader in identity protection. Recognizing that identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States and can happen at anytime, anywhere and to anyone, NYSAR has negotiated a special discounted rate to provide you with a proven solution to safeguard your personal information. Don’t wait to fall victim to identity theft, let IdentityForce start protecting you today! Visit www.identityforce.com/nysar for more information and to enroll.

Take advantage of NYSAR Member Perks partner 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 watch a video showing how easy the app is to use. 

Click here to learn more.

It’s baseball season in America! Support RPAC and win a pair of tickets to see the New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, May 9, at 1:05 p.m. Bidding closes Thursday, April 30. Click here to learn more.