Broker Report

January 2020

News

NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings
The NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings are a great opportunity to jump-start 2020! REALTORS from across the state will gather to network and learn about the latest industry trends as well as industry professionalism, state legislation, and more. You can also expect the popular Legal Update to be full of the information you need to know. If real estate is your profession, NYSAR is your best resource. And best of all, registration is free for NYSAR members! Learn more.

NAR REALTOR Broker Summit
Join the National Association of REALTORS in Los Angeles on March 31-April 1 for the REALTOR Broker Summit. The two-day event allows you to connect with industry experts, discover technologies and business strategies from real estate leaders that will offer you practical and actionable ways to position your brokerage for success. Learn more.

Education

Satisfy agency, ethics and fair housing training requirements for FREE
NYSAR members get free courses as well as discounted pricing on elective New York real estate continuing education courses including First Renewal NY Law of Agency, Fair Housing, Ethics Adventure and NY Law of Agency. Learn more.

Government Affairs

Department of State proposes new state regulations to enhance fair housing
On January 15, the Department of State published new regulatory proposals to enhance fair housing provisions in New York State. The proposals are subject to a 60-day public comment period. The new proposals include:

Requiring brokers to be responsible for providing a new disclosure on fair housing (to be furnished by the Department of State) to prospective home buyers, renters, sellers, and landlords;
Requiring the posting and display of fair housing laws at real estate brokers’ offices and websites;
And requiring video and audio recordings of all approved fair housing instruction, which must be kept for one year following the date of recording.

The governor announced his intent to propose these new measures in December.

Governor delivers 2020 State of the State Address
On January 8, Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivered is 10^th State of the State Address laying out the framework for legislative and budgetary proposals for the incoming legislative session year. The governor’s address sets the stage for his Executive Budget proposal, which he will release later this month. Included in the governor’s address were proposals that would address independent contractor status as it relates to “gig economy” workers for companies such as Uber and Lyft, provide guaranteed paid sick leave for employees, and borrow $3 billion to address climate change and invest in environmental preservation. The governor did not provide specific actions to address the $6 billion budget shortfall facing the state this year, however. You can read the full 2020 State of the State Book and learn more here.

Nassau County passes coop transparency bill
Following years of advocacy efforts by the Long Island Board of REALTORS, the Nassau County Legislature passed Local Law 489-19 in a 16-1 vote to provide transparency in the coop purchase process by requiring coop boards to acknowledge receipt of an application within 15 days and respond to an applicant within 45 days. Failure to respond to applicants could result in a fine of up to $2,000. The presiding officer, County Legislator Richard Nicolello, said the bill was necessary so that “coop boards can’t just defeat applications by holding onto [them] interminably.” Learn more.

Governor signs NYSAR-supported AMC bill into law
On December 16, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law NYSAR-supported legislation (A.8024/S.6249), which provides clarification on the permissibility of licensed real estate professionals to perform certain non-appraisal services and property valuation tasks, such as Broker Price Opinions, for appraisal management companies (AMCs).

RPAC

New York’s 2020 RPAC Fundraising Goal is $1,245,384
New York’s 2020 statewide RPAC fundraising goal has been set to $1,245,384 based upon a formula of $22.40 per member. To view the board by board fundraising goals, click here. Please note, NAR hasn’t set participation goals yet for the states, stay tuned for those goals to be announced as soon as they are handed down from NAR. The 2020 RPAC Fundraising year will close on Friday, November 27.

2020 RPAC Major Investor plans available
The 2020 RPAC Fundraising has begun and once again RPAC of New York will be offering the Major Investor Installment Plan and the Major Investor pay as you go plan. These plans are designed to allow Major Investors to stagger their payments over the course of the fundraising year. To enroll in the Major Investor installment Plan and to sign up for monthly payment options at your choice, click here. To sign up for the Major Investor Pay as you go Plan, simply sign this form indicating your Major Investment commitment and your pledge to pay at various RPAC events throughout the year to reach your Major Investor pledge by the end of the fundraising year. As a reminder, a Major Investor is defined as investing at least $1,000 into RPAC on an annual basis. Questions? Contact NYSAR’s Political Affairs Coordinator, Derick King at 518.463.0300 x238 or by email at dking@nysar.com.

January RPAC Auction Item – Kate Spade bag
Kick off 2020 in style with a classic, designer Kate Spade bag. The classic black and white Kate Spade bag is now live on the RPAC Facebook page. Bidding will end at the close of business on Thursday, January 31. To place a bid, visit the RPAC of New York Facebook group or contact NYSAR’s Political Affairs Coordinator Derick King at 518.463.0300 x238 or by email at dking@nysar.com.

Thank you to Gina Marie Bettenhouser from the Long Island Board of REALTORS for generously donating the Kate Spade bag!

Contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes. Contributions to RPAC are voluntary and are used for political purposes. You may contribute more or less than the suggested amount. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal and the National Association of REALTORS, the New York State Association of REALTORS or any of its local boards or associations will not favor or disfavor any member because of the amount contributed. 70% of each contribution is used by your state PAC to support state and local political candidates. Until your NYSAR PAC reaches its PAC goal, 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a; after NYSAR PAC reaches its RPAC goal, it may elect to retain your entire contribution for use in supporting state and local candidates. Contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes. Contributions to RPAC are voluntary and are used for political purposes. You may contribute more or less than the suggested amount. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal and the National Association of REALTORS, the New York State Association of REALTORS or any of its local boards or associations will not favor or disfavor any member because of the amount contributed. 70% of each contribution is used by your state PAC to support state and local political candidates. Until your NYSAR PAC reaches its PAC goal, 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a; after NYSAR PAC reaches its RPAC goal, it may elect to retain your entire contribution for use in supporting state and local candidates.