The Empire State’s housing market has posted an 11-percent jump in home sales though the first nine months of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, according to the housing market report released Monday by the New York State Association of REALTORS. The year-to-date statewide median sales price grew 3 percent compared to last year. Get the complete report and  view The Skinny Housing Market Report here.

Realtor.com's Active Home Shopper Report predicts that the number first-time homebuyers will surge in 2017, possibly as high as 52 percent. The report is based on survey data from buyers who plan to purchase homes in the spring or summer of 2017. A greater demand for suburban homes is also predicted by realtor.com. Read more here.

Builder confidence in the market for newly-constructed single-family homes remained on firm ground in October, down two points to a level of 63 on the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). The Northeast posted a one-point gain in October to 43.Click here to learn more.

On Friday, Oct. 21, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law that will fine residents who rent out their apartments for illegal short-term stays on websites such as Airbnb.  The fines for those who advertise apartments for rent in a multi-unit building for 30 days or less could be as high as $7,500.  Shortly after the bill was signed into law, Airbnb responded with a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court, arguing that the law violates the company’s free-speech rights to promote its business and that it conflicts with U.S. laws intended to help Internet-based businesses proliferate.  The full story can be found here and the text of the new law can be found here.  

HUD officials are developing new rules that will make it easier for buyers to get loans to buy condominium units, and improve the process condo projects must go through to get certified by the FHA.  On Friday, October 28 at 2:00 PM, NAR will be hosting a live webcast to help REALTORS understand the coming changes to the condo financing and recertification process.  Click here for a link to the webcast. 

During last Thursday's New York City Council hearing, city officials acknowledged that they had mishandled the Superstorm Sandy recovery effort. The hearing found that the program is $500 million over budget, and has helped less than a third of the homes in the program.  Mayor Bill de Blasio had promised to finish rebuilding homes affected by Sandy by the end of 2016, but in a report released the day before the council meeting, he said they won’t meet the December deadline.  The mayor has ordered the reallocation of $500 million in city funds to be put towards the rebuilding effort. Read more here.  

The Tuesday, Nov. 15, NYSAR Radio show will cover agency issues, specifically related to buyer’s agency and dual and designated agents. Tune in at 10 a.m. this morning 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 here.

Join NYSAR and Member Perks partner UBS Financial Services for a must-attend webinar this Thursday, Oct. 27, at 2:30 p.m., covering tax and retirement planning, and the benefits of starting an Independent 401 (k) plan. Click here  to register now.

The New Home Construction and Buyer Representation course will be offered Nov. 2 at the Buffalo Niagara Association of REALTORS in Amherst, NY. This course is designed to help real estate professionals gain the product and transaction knowledge they need in order to guide buyer-clients through the steps and processes for purchase, construction and customization of a new home. Participants will learn how to interact with new home builders and sales representatives to protect their client's interests while developing productive business relationships.

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

The Short Sales and Foreclosures (SFR) course will be offered Nov. 3 at the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS in Rochester, NY. The course will provide you with the framework for understanding how to: qualify sellers for short sales; develop a short sale package; negotiate with lenders; tap into buyer demand; safeguard commissions; limit risk; and protect buyers.

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

Learn how to pay the least amount of taxes possible next year by doing a few simple things today during the November Tax Tips webinar on Nov. 17 at 2:30 p.m. Former IRS trainer and best-selling author Sandy Botkin will teach you how to give yourself a raise by keeping more of what you earn! The webinar will conclude with an overview of the Taxbot mobile app. As a NYSAR Member Perk, members receive a 50-percent discount. Register today!

NYSAR Member Perks partner Taradel is an approved affiliate of the U.S. Postal Service’s Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM®) program. Through this partnership, NYSAR members receive a five-percent discount to design, target, print and mail marketing pieces to every address in a specific zip code or carrier route. Forget buying mailing lists and printing labels, get started with Every Door Direct Mail® today. Plus, now when you order EDDM, you can reach 20 percent (or more) of the exact same prospects with promotional email too. Click here to access the exclusive NYSAR EDDM® member portal.

Congratulations to the Hudson Gateway Association on raising $9,750 for RPAC during a Legislative luncheon held as part of the associations' 100th anniversary celebration! Thank you to the 150 attendees who invested in RPAC while learning about state and federal politics/policy from NYSAR's Mike Kelly and NAR's Karl Eckhart.  

Greater Rochester REALTORS raised more than $1,100 during their annual RPAC Euchre tournament last week! Thank you to the more than 30 attendees for participating in the exciting event and those who worked so hard to plan and execute the festivities. It was a terrific night in support of RPAC.

The October RPAC auction item winner was Joe Sinnona from the Long Island board. Joe submitted the high bid of $325 on the Lionel Charlie Brown Peanuts train set. Thank you Joe for your RPAC Sterling R support of RPAC for many years. Thank you also to Kris Buchan from the Ithaca Board for donating the train set. Stay tuned for the November RPAC auction item to be unveiled next week.

Local Board RPAC events have raised more than $140,000 for RPAC so far this year. Thank you to those boards that have already stepped up and hosted an RPAC event. Boards continue to host events into the fall. Click here for a complete list of the RPAC events still on the calendar.