Please take action today and call Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to urge them to support the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act.

The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act takes the crucial first step of delaying further implementation of some rate increases contained in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) reauthorization known as the Biggert-Waters Law (BW12).

REALTORS must speak loudly and clearly with one voice to ensure this bill moves forward. Please call now and urge your senators to pass the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act.

New mortgage rules took effect on Friday that set out to protect borrowers against risky lending practices. One of the biggest changes is that borrowers will likely need to show more proof that they can actually afford the mortgage they are applying for thanks to the "ability-to-repay" rule.

Another term REALTORS need to learn is "qualified mortgage" or QM. A QM meets new guidelines, and borrowers who get them are presumed to meet the ability-to-repay requirements. If lenders make QM loans, they have more protections against future lawsuits should the loans later go sour. 

Click here to learn more.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivered his fourth State of the State address on Wednesday, January 8, 2014.Included in his speech were several proposals important to New York State’s REALTORS including: a proposal to freeze property taxes; creation of a property tax "Circuit Breaker;" a renter’s tax credit; and creating 3,000 units of affordable housing.

New York State Association of REALTORS Chief Executive Officer Duncan R. MacKenzie issued the following statement in response to Governor Cuomo’s property tax relief proposals:

"New York State’s obscenely high property taxes are shameful and can create an insurmountable barrier to homeownership for hardworking families. Governor Cuomo’s plan strikes at the heart of this issue – this is ultimately a spending problem more than a taxing problem. New York’s REALTORS believe consolidations and shared services are key components of a long-term solution to the property tax crisis."

For more information on the governor’s proposals, click here.

The Tuesday, January 21, NYSAR Radio show will cover agency issues, specifically seller’s agents. Tune in at 10 a.m. on January 21 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 deadline to reserve your hotel room at the Desmond at NYSAR’s discounted rate has been extended until this Friday, January 17. However, rooms at the hotel are very limited and subject to availability. If you plan to attend the meetings and wish to stay at the Desmond, please make your reservation today by clicking here. Or, call the Desmond directly at 800.448.3500 and reference attendee code "11T5PI." 

Click here for more information on the Mid-Winter Business Meetings 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.

REALTOR Institute 409 – "Equal and Ethical Service" – will be offered February 5-6 at the Ithaca Board of REALTORS in Ithaca, NY. This course fulfills the Code of Ethics training requirement for REALTOR membership and the fair housing training requirement for NYS license renewal.

Click here for more information or to register.

With the changes resulting from the Affordable Care Act, NYSAR knows that understanding your health insurance options is more confusing than ever before. Fortunately, NYSAR Member Perks partner and insurance administrator USI Affinity is here to help guide and support all NYSAR members towards making the best health care decisions. Get your questions answered today by calling USI Affinity at 888.834.3713.

Looking for that distinctive Valentine’s Day gift for the lady in your life? This remarkable Coach handbag is guaranteed to make an amazing gift. The Signature Coach khaki bag with mahogany straps is excellent for all occasions.Bidding closes Tuesday, January 21. Click here to learn more.

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.