Three consecutive months of sales growth fueled the best start to the New York State housing market since 2007. According to the housing market report released by the New York State Association of REALTORS, the 23,932 closed sales in the first quarter represents a jump of nearly 17 percent from the 2015 first quarter. Additionally, the statewide median sales price grew by nearly 1 percent compared to a year ago. Learn more here.

Privately-owned housing starts in March rose 61.3 percent for the Northeast to 121,000, according to data released by the U.S. Commerce Department. February’s total was 75,000. Building permits for the Northeast fell 17.9 percent in March, dropping to 101,000 from 123,000 in February. Learn more here.

Democratic candidate Todd Kaminsky declared victory over Republican Chris McGrath for the Long Island Senate seat to replace Dean Skelos by a margin of 780 votes, with 2,700 absentee ballots still to be counted. Democratic candidate Alice Cancel won the special election in Manhattan to replace Sheldon Silver. Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump won their respective primaries. More on the election results can be found here.

Get your photos, videos, selfies and tweets up on social media and share your REALTOR Party story! Use the hashtags #REALTORParty and #NY to show the success and commitment of New York REALTORS. Learn more here.

The New York City Council recently agreed to rezone a section of Brooklyn in East New York by a vote of 45-1, paving the way for taller and larger buildings in exchange for more below-market-rate apartments. The city is anticipating nearly 6,500 new apartments in East New York and has promised at least half of them would be affordable to those who currently live in the neighborhood. The city is also looking to rezone Flushing, South Bronx, East Harlem, a portion of the North Shore of Staten Island, Long Island City and Inwood. More on this can be found here.

Stay up-to-date on NYSAR Government Affairs news and events by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

The Tuesday, May 17, NYSAR Radio show will cover recent court and New York State Department of State decisions. Tune in at 10 a.m. on May 17 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. Find more information as well as a list of links to play NYSAR Radio from any of your mobile devices here.

Polish your leadership skills, raise your profile and gain valuable experience by being a part of the 2017 NYSAR Leadership Academy! The objective of NYSAR’s Leadership Academy is to discover, educate and empower future leaders. Graduates come away with life-long friendships, a strong referral network and a real sense of accomplishment. Any full-time NYSAR REALTOR member in good standing, who has been in the business for at least three years as of Jan. 1, 2016,should consider applying. Click here for a flyer with more information. Click here to download an application. Applications must be submitted by Monday, Aug. 1, 2016 at 5 p.m.

The CIPS Global Real Estate: Local Markets course will be offered May 2 at the Long Island REALTOR Service Center in West Babylon, NY. Uncover global opportunities in your local market and connect with foreign and immigrant buyers who continue to invest in the U.S. market.

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

The CIPS Global Real Estate: Transaction Tools course will be offered on May 3 at the Long Island REALTOR Service Center in West Babylon, NY. This course explains the concepts and tools 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.

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

The GRI-4 Legal course will be offered May 4 at the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS in Rochester, NY. Reduce your risk of claims, fines and lawsuits. Gain 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 800-239-4432 x219. Click here for more information.

NYSAR’s newest Member Perks partner, UBS Financial Services, helps you reduce your taxable income and save for retirement with Independent 401(k) plans. Designed with the flexibility to decide whether to contribute and how much on an annual basis, you have the ability to borrow against your own retirement savings both tax-free and penalty-fee. Through NYSAR’s partnership, you’ll pay a minimal annual fee of only $25 for your account. Visit the Retirement page of NYSAR.com or contact Christopher Michelsen, financial advisor at UBS Financial Services, at 212-626-8515 for more details and to enroll now. Click here to view a recent webinar on tax and retirement planning for REALTORS.

NYSAR's compliance partner, PossibleNOW, makes Do-Not-Call compliance easy. With DNCQuickcheck you can instantly verify phone numbers, access compliance training, generate reports for safe harbor defense assistance and much more. Individual accounts pay just $10/month (a 50-percent savings) or cover unlimited agents in one office for $100/month. To subscribe, visit www1.dncquickcheck.com or call 800.585.4888 and use member code SC1477NY.

RPAC of New York recently launched the Phone-a-Friend Program with the Jefferson-Lewis board. Thank you to all our volunteer callers including Vickie Staie, Walt Christensen, Patrick Henry and Executive Officer Lance Evans. RPAC spoke to dozens of non-investors and brought several into the fold by raising nearly $100 in direct contributions and pledges. Thank you also to RPAC Central Region Trustee Lin Fields for lending moral support and vast encouragement to this effort. Congratulations on a job well done!

Congratulations to the Tri-County Chapter Women's Council of REALTORS and the Jefferson-Lewis board on raising $1,300 for RPAC during a Cocktails and Canvases party in Watertown! It was a great time had by all.