New York has one of the highest pension burdens in the nation and the state's required payment will soon skyrocket. The current pension system is unsustainable and its burden is crushing taxpayers and businesses. Take action and tell the legislature that we need a Tier VI pension reform plan. Click here to take action now.

Click here to learn more.

Videos of the Association Update, presented by NYSAR President Susan Goldy, can be found on NYSAR.com by clicking here. The Association Update also includes Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy's update on Gov. Andrew Cuomo's legislative initiatives, and the 2011 RPAC awards presented by 2011 RPAC Trustees Chair Audrey Livingstone. Click here for the videos.

REALTOR University launched its first Master of Real Estate course, Real Estate Law (RE520). The first 40 students in the Master of Real Estate program this year will receive a $2,500 grant for being part of the charter class. Click here to learn more.

NYSAR's leadership team spent two days in our nation's capital last week to lobby Congress on several key REALTOR legislative initiatives including preserving the mortgage interest deduction. Click here to learn more.

In a national press conference at the White House on March 8, President Barack Obama announced the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is lowering its mortgage insurance premiums to help borrowers refinance into lower interest rates. Click here to learn more.

Click here to read the entire Government Affairs Weekly Report. 

The first quarter edition of Legal Lines is now available on NYSAR.com. This issue features a New York State specific case involving the ability of municipalities to ban hydrofracking. It also covers the Federal Trade Commission's new Business Opportunity Rule. Department of State fourth quarter administrative law judge decisions are also included. Click here to read the first quarter edition of Legal Lines.

The Tuesday, March 20, NYSAR Radio show will cover all things agency in relation to seller's agents. Tune in at 10 a.m. next Tuesday by clicking here. Click here for more information.

The deadline for applications to NYSREEF's Next Generation Scholarship is this Thursday, March 15 at 5 p.m. Please encourage your college-aged relatives interested in pursuing a degree in real estate or a related field to apply today. For more information about the Next Gen scholarship and an application, click here.

REALTOR Institute 401 – "Get It Listed...Get it Sold" – will be offered March 19-20 at the Long Island REALTOR Service Center in West Babylon, NY. This course will teach you new methods of marketing and ways to integrate technology into your business to increase your listings, sales and profits.  Click here for more information or to register.

Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) Required Course– will be offered March 21-22 at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Plattsburgh, NY. This course will teach you how to become an efficient and profitable buyer's representative, providing the quality of service and degree of fidelity today's buyers expect.
Click here for more information or to register.

NYSAR will be hosting a free webinar, "Buyer's Agency: An in-depth webinar," on Thursday, March 22, 2012. This webinar is part two of a comprehensive three part series focusing on different agency relationships. Click here to learn more or to register.

Your NYSAR membership gives you an extra 10-percent discount at NAR's REALTOR.org store. Shop the store and take advantage of exclusive savings on NAR's entire line of products and publications including books, brochures, DVDs, research reports and more. To redeem your 10-percent discount, visit http://www.realtor.org/store and simply enter member code "NYSAR2" at checkout.

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of RPAC of NY by investing $40 in a limited edition anniversary pin. Click here to learn more.

The March RPAC silent auction item is a Microsystem for iPod & iPhone. Bids must be placed by March 30, at 11:59 p.m. Click here to learn more.