New York REALTORS sold 72,058 existing single-family homes in 2011, a decrease of 3.9 percent from the 74,970 sold in 2010.The 2011 statewide annual median sales price was $212,500, down 0.7 percent from $214,000 median in 2010. Click here to learn more.

In the latest poll released last week by Marist College, for the first time since October 2002, more than half of New York residents believe the state is moving in the right direction.. In October 2010, when the same poll was conducted right before Gov. Andrew Cuomo took office, 72 percent of New Yorkers thought the state was headed in the wrong direction. Click here to learn more.

Last week during his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama called on Congress to pass a plan to help millions of underwater homeowners refinance into loan with historically low interest rates. Banks would be charged a few to expedite these transactions. Click here to learn more.

The Legislative Taskforce on Redistricting (LATFOR) released its proposed Senate and Assembly lines last Thursday. Meanwhile, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has promised to veto any lines not drawn by an independent commission and stated the districts as proposed by LATFOR are "unacceptable." Click here to learn more.

Click here to read the entire Government Affairs Weekly Report.

On Wednesday, January 25, the REALTORS Political Involvement Committee (RPIC) voted unanimously to keep the NAR Call for Action (CFA) response rate goal at 15percentfor this year. Click here to learn more.

The Tuesday, February 7, NYSAR Radio show will provide listeners with a preview of topics to be discussed during the Legal Action Committee meeting to be held Wednesday, February 15, during the Mid-Winter Business Meetings. The February 21 show will cover the results of the meeting. Tune in at 10 a.m. on both dates, by clicking here. Click here for more information.

The NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings will be held February 13-16, 2012 at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Albany, NY. The meetings will include: committee meetings; the inaugural dinner; the Association Update, featuring New York State Secretary of State Cesar Perales; and more. Click here for more information or to register.

REALTOR Institute 401 – Get it Listed...Get it Sold – will be offered February 7-8 at the Ithaca Board of REALTORS in Ithaca, NY and February 9-10 at the Westchester Putnam Association of REALTORS in White Plains, NY. In this course, you'll learn: techniques to get quality listings; tools to find and turn unrepresented sellers into exclusive listings; and how to help motivated buyers buy now. Click here for more information or to register.

"Global Real Estate: Transaction Tools (CIPS)" will be offered February 7 at the Manhattan Board of REALTORS in New York City, NY. This course explains the concepts and tools required to serve clients in a global market including: how to research markets; convert metric measures; monitor currency trends; and alert clients to tax and visa matters affecting their transactions. Click here for more information or to register.

NYSAR's partnership with MongoFAX gives you free access to their fax-to-email service, which allows you to fax any paper-based document directly to any email address. To start using the service, simply download NYSAR's designated MongoFAX cover sheet, fill in the appropriate email addresses and fax your document to the fax number listed at the bottom of the cover page. Within moments, you'll receive a confirmation email with the contents of your fax as an attachment. Click here to learn more.

With a $250 pledge or investment in RPAC, you'll gain access to the RPAC Lounge on Tuesday, February 14, during NYSAR's Mid-Winter Business Meetings at the Desmond. The lounge features food, beverages, computers, printers, cell phone chargers, cable TV, a professional massage and more! Click here to learn more.

The January RPAC silent auction item is a Magellan Roadmate GPS. Bids must be placed by January 31 at 11:59 p.m. Click here to learn more.

On behalf of New York's 48,000 REALTORS, RPAC of New York thanks those members who recently invested at least $250 in RPAC. Click here to learn more.