All homeowners receiving a Basic STAR exemption must register with the New York State Tax Department by December 31 in order to receive the exemption in 2014 and subsequent years. Homeowners will not have to register in order to receive their 2013 STAR exemptions and will not have to re-register every year. Based on the information provided in the registration process, the Tax Department will monitor homeowners’ eligibility in future years.

Registration will only continue through December 31, 2013. Click here to register.

The Empire State’s November housing market posted a 4.8-percent increase in closed sales compared to a year ago, according to the housing market report released by the New York State Association of REALTORS. The strong buyer activity also drove a 9-percent growth in the median sales price compared to November 2012.

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Arguments in a lawsuit filed by the New York State United Teachers union (NYSUT) against the state’s two-percent property tax cap began last week in the state Supreme Court in Albany County. NYSUT is arguing that the tax cap is unconstitutional because it removes a measure of local control from education. Additionally, the union claims that the 60-percent supermajority needed by school districts to override the cap runs afoul of the concept of one-person, one-vote. 

Click here to learn more.

At an end of the year cabinet meeting, representatives from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office outlined a $2 billion tax reduction package for the state beginning in the 2014 state fiscal year. The proposal includes a two-year "freeze" on homeowners’ property tax burden in localities that keep budget increases within the two-percent tax cap and proposes a "circuit breaker" tax mechanism, which caps the proportion of household income that a homeowner would have to pay as property taxes. 

Click here to learn more.

The Tuesday, January 7, NYSAR Radio show will cover advertising. Tune in at 10 a.m. on January 7 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.  

Click here for more information as well as a list of links to play NYSAR Radio from any of your mobile devices.

The NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings will be held February 10-13, 2014, 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.

Gain a full understanding of ethics and arbitration hearings, enforcement procedures and disciplinary guidelines during the 2014 Code of Ethics and Professional Standards Procedures Training. The Code of Ethics and recent changes adopted by NAR’s Board of Directors and Delegate Body will also be covered. In addition to 6 hours of CE credit, this course also satisfies NAR’s mandatory ethics training requirement. 

Click here for the schedule and registration form. 

NYSAR wants to remind you to stay safe no matter where the job takes you. Members receive an exclusive discount that saves you 10 percent on the Guardly Mobile Safety App, which allows you to instantly connect with managers, colleagues, family and 9-1-1 when faced with safety concerns. 

Click here to learn more.

NYSAR’s exclusive partner for errors and omissions insurance, Pearl Insurance offers you comprehensive and affordable coverage customized to fit your needs. Their program, underwritten by XL Insurance, includes innovative features such as: deductible reduction; open house coverage; environmental failure to advise; innocent partner protection; and public relations advisory services.

For more details or a customized quote, call 800.289.8170 or visit www.pearlinsurance.com/nysar.

The NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings are right around the corner! If you haven’t planned to do so already, plan to take a break from the hectic meeting schedule by attending the RPAC VIP Lounge on Tuesday, February 11. Back by popular demand, the lounge will again be open from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. and will feature breakfast, gourmet hot lunch, manicures, professional photographer, massages, cable TV, computers, printer, phone chargers and more. Admission is a $250 RPAC investment.

For complete details and to register, click here.