On March 4, the House voted 306-91 to approve the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act (H.R. 3370) with amendments. The House amendments further rein in and hold the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) accountable for the Biggert-Waters implementation issues. The Senate must now pass the amended version before the bill can become law. 

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According to the latest poll by the Siena Research Institute (SRI), New York State consumer home buying plans fell 1.4 points to 3.9 percent in February. Overall, New York State consumer confidence decreased 1.2 points, while the nation’s confidence increased 0.4 points. At 76.3, New York’s overall consumer confidence is 5.3 points below the nation’s confidence level of 81.6. 

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NYSAR’s leadership team of President JP Endres, President-elect Mike Smith, Secretary-Treasurer Linda Lugo and Legislative Steering Chair Linda Page were in our nation’s capital last week lobbying New York’s Congressional delegation on the REALTORS' current federal legislative priorities. Over a two-day span, the team met with 12 members of the U.S. House and both Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

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Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino formally announced his candidacy for governor last week in a six-minute video released on his website. Saying he is "tired of listening to the fairy tale that everything is just great when it is just the opposite," Astornio cited the flight of jobs and people to other states as well as the political scandals that have plagued the Legislature as main problems facing New York. 

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On Wednesday, February 26, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) released his long-awaited discussion draft for comprehensive reform of the tax code. The draft includes dozens of provisions that would affect real estate, and they are overwhelmingly negative.

The National Association of REALTORS’ Government Affairs Division has summarized the real estate-related provisions of the plan. This is a preliminary summary and brief analysis. To read the summary, click here.

The Tuesday, March 18, NYSAR Radio show will take a look at the most common real estate-related myths. Tune in at 10 a.m. on March 18 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.

REALTOR Institute 406 – "Price it Right – Understanding the Appraisal Process" – will be offered March 13 at the Columbia Greene Board of REALTORS in Hudson, NY. This course teaches you the role and responsibilities of the appraiser in order to foster a smooth real estate transaction and offer your clients a higher level of professionalism. 

Click here for more information or to register.

REALTOR Institute 404 – "Serving Real Estate Investors" – will be offered March 14 at the Greater Capital Association of REALTORS in Albany, NY. In this course, you'll learn how to complete financial calculations, explain conceptsused in evaluating real estate as an investment, and help clients negotiate, purchase, finance, manage and sell commercial and/or investment property. 

Click here for more information or to register.

REALTOR Institute 401 – "Get it Listed...Get it Sold"– will be offered on March 25-26 at the Bronx-Manhattan Association of REALTORS in Bronx, NY. This course teaches you new methods of marketing and how to integrate technology into your business to increase your listings, sales and profits. 

Click here for more information or to register.

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.

Time Warner Cable recognizes the vital connection you provide to their potential customers and wants to reward you for your referrals. To get started, you first need permission from your broker to present clients with this opportunity. Then, register yourself and gain access to the online referral portal. Your clients will appreciate the time-saving concierge services and a free standard installation, while you earn award points that can be redeemed for thousands of exciting awards, such as electronics, travel awards and luxury gifts, or even donated to charity. You can even choose to use your points to make donations to either the NYSAR Housing Opportunities Foundation or New York State Real Estate Education Foundation (NYSREEF).

For more information or register as a referrer, visit www.twcablerealty.com/nysar.Click here to watch a brief video about the program.

The March RPAC auction item is the Brookstone mobile charger. Brookstone’s powerful mobile charger lets you travel light while making quick work of charging. Made for iPod, iPhone and iPad devices, it easily charges two tablets or devices at once. Plus it works with most other smartphones and small devices including Android, Blackberry and Samsung Galaxy. Bidding closes Thursday, March 20. 

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Once again RPAC of NY will return to Citi Field to lend our support to the New York Mets. The event will be on Friday, April 25, and features a ticket to the game in the exclusive Party City Deck, located feet from the action in left field, field level. The Party City Deck offers bar stools and regular seats. Every ticket also includes complimentary food and beer service throughout the game! Contact Derick King, NYSAR political affairs coordinator, for complete details at dking@nysar.com or 518-463-0300 x238. Click here or a flyer with more information.