Closed home sales in New York State jumped 7.1 percent in November 2015 compared to last November, reaching the highest total for the month in six years, according the latest New York State Association of REALTORS housing report. Key housing market measures including median sales price and pending sales also grew in November. Year-to-date statewide sales were 7.8-percent ahead of the first 11 months of 2014. Get the full report here.

Effective January 1, 2016, it will be unlawful for any person to engage, advertise or hold themselves out as a mold assessor, remediation contractor or abatement worker unless they have a valid mold license issued by the New York State Department of Labor (DOL). REALTORS must be aware that any mold assessor or remediation specialist you refer to customers, clients, sellers or purchasers must be licensed with New York State. This requirement is the same as those applying to licensed home inspector referrals. The state DOL website has a wealth of information available. The New York State Senate also recently highlighted several new laws that will: prohibit discrimination against domestic violence victims in housing; ensure equal pay; reduce the business income tax rate; provide property tax relief for eligible veterans; and expand health care access through telehealth services. More information can be found here.

Research from the Empire Center shows more people leaving New York State than moving into it from other states. The survey found that more than 650,000 people moved out of New York since the 2010 Census, the most of any other state. The state's overall population grew slightly due to the continued arrival of immigrants. Learn more here.

Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan) will introduce a bill that would prohibit hosts from advertising apartments in violation of a 2010 state law that bars the renting of apartment units for less than 30 days. Those advertising illegal short-term rentals on home-sharing sites such as Airbnb could face fines. More on this story can be found here. REALTOR Magazine® also recently looked at short-term rental websites, like Airbnb, and their effects on home owners, their neighbors and communities in California. Learn more here.

The fourth quarter 2015 edition of NYSAR's Legal Lines is now available online at NYSAR.com. This edition covers the proper use of "coming soon" listings, a guide for the operation of teams and a case involving the potential for broker liability for injuries occurring during a showing. National cases including one involving open house signs are also covered. Read the latest issue here.

The 2016 training will emphasize NAR’s Code of Ethics and Professional Standards hearing procedures. Attendees will gain an understanding of ethics, arbitration and mediation as well as the new mandatory Ombudsman program and citation options. In addition to six hours of CE credit, this course also satisfies NAR’s mandatory ethics training requirement. Click here for more information on dates and to register today. 

The GRI-1 Ethics course will be offered on Friday, Jan. 22, at the LIBOR REALTOR Service Center in Woodbury, NY. This course satisfies NAR's mandatory quadrennial ethics training requirement. You'll discover how to: put the Code of Ethics to work for you, maximize your REALTOR benefits, and enhance your professionalism and career through community involvement.
Register online today or call NYSAR at 800-239-4432 x219. Click here for more information. 

You have until Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016 to shop the NYSAR exchange for health insurance options in 2016. USI Affinity’s dedicated sales representatives will 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. Shop the NYSAR exchange at http://www.myrealtorinsurance.com/nysaror call USI Affinity’s dedicated sales representative Ned Cox at 888.834.3713 for more information. Click here to watch a recent webinar about how to best navigate open enrollment season.

Office Depot and Office Max are now one company, and have partnered with NYSAR to provide you exclusive members-only discounts at all store locations and online. Benefits include: up to 80 percent off preferred products; 93,000 products discounted below retail pricing; free next-day delivery on online orders more than $50 (excludes furniture); exclusive low printing costs; and more. Visit www.officediscounts.org/nysar.html to shop online or print your free loyalty card for in-store purchases. You can also enroll your business in a business account/direct billing account by calling 855-337-6811 ext. 12897.

NYSAR will offer the RPAC of NY Major Investor Installment Plan again in 2016. The plan gives members the option to spread their RPAC investments over several months to achieve Major Investor status (more than $1,000) by the end of the fundraising year in December. Here's how the program works: Members pledge to become an RPAC Major Investor, provide NYSAR with their credit card information and select five months for the installment payments to be made. Enroll in the RPAC Major Investor Installment Plan today.

In addition to the installment plan, RPAC of NY will again offer the "Pay As You Go Major Investor Pledge" program. This program allows Major Investors to pledge their RPAC support at the Major Investor level and to pay incrementally throughout the year. This may be accomplished by attending state and/or local RPAC events or by investing in RPAC whenever it is financially convenient during the year. This program gives Major Investors flexibility in how they reach their pledged support level. Complete this form to enroll in the "Pay As You Go Major Investor Pledge " program.