A record-setting November market pushed the New York State home sales total to 118,730, surpassing the 2015 annual mark of 116,671, according to the housing market report released by the New York State Association of REALTORS. Closed home sales set a new record for November reaching 10,547 for the month, an increase of nearly 9 percent from November 2015. The November 2016 statewide median sales price of $240,000 represents an increase of 6.7 percent from a year ago. Learn more here.

Mandatory Code of Ethics training (formerly known as the Quadrennial Code of Ethics training) must be completed by Dec. 31 of this year. Failure to complete the training by Dec. 31 will result in your local board/association suspending your membership on Jan. 1, 2017 until the requirement is met. Any member who has not met the requirement by March 1, 2017 will be automatically terminated. Learn more here.

For the first time in a decade, New York State experienced a net population loss according to the Empire Center, which examined Census data. Immigration into New York City has offset upstate population loss for several years, which has kept the total state population fairly stable until this most recent Census update. The most recent figures show New York State losing a net 1,894 people from last year. Click here for more.

According to an analysis of Census data by real estate tracker Trulia, almost 40 percent of young Americans were living with their parents, siblings or other relatives in 2015 - the largest percentage since 1940. Despite a rebounding economy and recent job growth, the share of those between the ages of 18 and 34 living with parents or other family members has been rising since 2005. Click here for more.

The Tuesday, Jan. 17, NYSAR Radio show will cover advertising. Tune in at 10 a.m. on Jan. 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.

NYSAR is looking for your help recruiting new faces to take part in NYSAR’s committees. Enroll as a recruiter between now and Dec. 31 to be entered into a drawing to win two tickets to NYSAR’s 2017 Inaugural Dinner and Installation of Officers. For every member you submit, you’ll receive one additional entry. Plus, for each recruit you invite who attends the 2017 Mid-Winter Business Meetings, you’ll receive an entry into a drawing to win a $500 credit towards your stay at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino for the 2017 Fall Business Meetings. Visit stepup.nysar.com to sign up as a recruiter, submit your recruits and find a helpful recruiter toolkit.

The NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings will be held Feb. 5-9, 2017, at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Albany, NY. The meetings will feature committee meetings, inaugural dinner, the General Session and more. Click here for more information or to register.

NYSAR 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 by Dec. 31. Click here to watch a recent webinar on tax and retirement planning for REALTORS.

Take advantage of NYSAR Member Perks partner Taxbot to keep more of your commissions through tax deductions! The Taxbot mobile app offers you the ability to track business mileage and expenses with your iPhone or Android smartphone or tablet, and turn those expenses into IRS compliant tax deductions. Watch a video showing how easy the app is to use. Learn more here.

The first auction item of the 2017 RPAC fundraising year is an iPad Air 2, 128 GB, in Space Gray. Email bids to dking@nysar.com, call Derick King at 518-463-0300 x238 or join the RPAC of New York Facebook group to submit a bid. Bidding remains open until COB today, Tuesday, Dec. 27.

Back by popular demand, the RPAC Lounge will be open on Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. as part of the NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings at the Desmond. For a $250 RPAC investment, you’ll gain access to five star amenities including: manicures, massages, psychic readings, character sketch artist, business facilities, phone chargers, cable TV, deluxe breakfast, gourmet lunch buffet, snacks, drinks and a relaxing space to mingle with colleagues from across New York. Click here for more information on the business meetings. Click here to view the RPAC Lounge flyer.