E-News Weekly
March 29, 2025
NAR LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT UPDATES
NYSAR Guide to complying with the NAR Antitrust Settlement
As of August 17, 2024, all MLSs that have opted-in to the NAR settlement agreement for the Sitzer/Burnett lawsuit will need to implement new policies that are applicable to all participants of the MLS. NYSAR has a dedicated webpage to assist our members on how to fully comply with the NAR settlement agreement terms, including specific questions pertaining to New York State REALTORS®. For more information, click here.
Model statewide forms and tutorial videos available
View NYSAR’s updated model statewide forms and instructional videos by clicking here.
NEW NAR Consumer Guide: Navigating Multiple Offers
The latest NAR consumer guide focuses on navigating multiple offers. This guide covers the basics of what sellers need to know, including how offers can vary, how to evaluate them, making counteroffers, and negotiation strategies.
REALTOR® NEWS
NYSAR offering FREE Mediation/Ombudsman Training in April
NYSAR is hosting FREE mediation and Ombudsman training in April for members who would like to become locally and state certified. Training will be held at the Crowne Plaza Albany – Desmond Hotel. Training is April 24 & 25 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. both days.
NAR Introduces New Flexibility for Sellers While Retaining Clear Cooperation Policy
New policy statement gives MLSs discretion to set a delay period in which sellers and their agents can keep their properties from being marketed publicly through IDX or syndication.
New NAR MLS policy, “Multiple Listing Options for Sellers”
After many months of analysis and deliberation across the industry, including MLS leadership; Association Executives; brokerages of all sizes; agents; multi-cultural partners; and fair housing, policy, technology, and legal experts—NAR has adopted a new MLS policy, “Multiple Listing Options for Sellers.”
“Multiple Listing Options for Sellers” will exist in conjunction with CCP and other MLS policies to provide sellers and their agents more options and choice when marketing a property, while also supporting fair housing by providing buyers and their agents with equal access to important MLS property information.
NYSAR Professional Standards Video Series
NYSAR’s Professional Standard Videos Series puts 11 of the most common articles of the Code of Ethics at the forefront.
Visit nysar.com/news/digital-media/videos and click on the “Professional Standards Video” folder to access them all.
Click the button below to watch, “Filing A Complaint: What You Need to Know.”
Education
SRS: Seller Representative Specialist Designation
April 1-4 | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
CE Hours: 15; 2 in Agency
Member Price: $295**
Instructor: Randy Templeman
GRI – 1: Ethics (Graduate, REALTOR® Institute Designation Class*)
April 1-2 | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
CE Hours: 7.5; 2.5 in Ethics – Fulfills NYS and NAR Ethics Requirements
Member Price: $125
Instructor: Linda Lugo
GRI-6: Sellers (Graduate, REALTOR® Institute Designation Class*)
April 7-8, 2025 | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
CE Hours: 7.5; 2 in Agency
Member Price: $125
Instructor: Jeffrey Decatur
PSA: Pricing Strategy Advisor
April 9-10, 2025 | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
CE Hours: 6
Member Price: $150
Instructor: Nancy Mosca
Is There Bias in Appraisals? What to Do About It
April 28, 2025 | 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
CE Hours: 3 for RE and 3 for Appraisers
Member Price: $40
Instructor: Rebecca Jones
*NYSAR continues to offer new professionals, licensed in New York State one year or less, the opportunity to take GRI Zoom courses for free! Take two classes and get the third one on us! Classes must be taken over a one-year period. Contact the Education Department via email, [email protected] or call 518.463.0300 x219 for information.
Remember: Active REALTORS® who have earned and maintained their NAR-family designations/certifications and are looking for a refresher, may retake a previously completed designation/certification course for only $50 and earn CE credit for doing so provided your dues are current!
Government Affairs
Bill to lift telemarketing restrictions introduced in State Senate
This week, NYSAR-supported legislation (S.6853) was introduced in the State Senate that would amend current state law prohibiting telemarketing during a declared state of emergency. NYSAR continues to advocate for passage of this bill which would lift telemarketing restrictions when it is founded that such services would not impair or mitigate a declared state of emergency. Similar legislation passed unanimously in the Assembly in 2023 and 2024 following REALTOR® advocacy efforts. To date, multiple states of emergency remain in effect under Executive Orders. Learn more here.
DEC extends public comment period for draft regulations on general permits on freshwater wetlands
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has extended its public comment period through March 31, 2025, on draft regulations regarding new and modified statewide general permits for various activities, including housing development, in state-regulated freshwater wetlands and wetland adjacent areas, protected waterbodies, and navigable waters. This public comment period is separate from the previous comment period implementing amendments to the Freshwater Wetlands Act and wetlands of unusual importance that went into effect January 1, 2025. NYSAR submitted written testimony in September 2024 in opposition to the regulations citing concerns that the expansion of regulated wetlands would greatly curtail much needed housing development across the state. You may submit public comment on DEC’s draft regulations on general permits on or near freshwater wetlands here.
New housing development projects underway as state receives $270M in federal funding
Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Tuesday that New York will receive $270 million through the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and subsidies to build and preserve over 1,800 homes and mixed-use developments across the state totaling 28 projects. Additionally, the Governor announced the awarding of about $20 million in state funding to 3 Western New York villages under the Pro-Housing Communities Program to be used toward downtown revitalization projects. Read more here.
FinCEN Removes BOI Reporting Requirements for U.S. Companies and U.S. Persons
On March 21, 2025, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an interim final rule making significant changes to the Beneficial Ownership Information reporting rule (BOI Rule) under the Corporate Transparency Act. Under the new interim rule, U.S. companies and persons are not required to report to FinCEN under the Corporate Transparency Act, effective immediately. This means that all legal entities created in the United States and their respective owners who are U.S. persons are not required to file any beneficial ownership information with FinCEN. Such individuals and entities are exempt from reporting under the interim rule. Read more here.
Member Perk
Photofy is a mobile content creation platform able to help NYSAR members with “on-the-go” marketing. The Photofy platform allows you to easily personalize and share marketing assets right from your phone!
RPAC
2025 RPAC Fundraising & Participation Update
As of March 15, RPAC of New York has raised $318,347 reflecting 24% toward our 2025 fundraising goal of $1.3 million. In terms of participation, 5,591 members have invested in RPAC, representing 34% percent toward our 2025 Participation Goal of 17,844. These figures represent 9% of NYSAR’s total membership as invested in RPAC to date.
Congratulations to the following boards for reaching their 2025 RPAC Fundraising Goal:
Cortland County Board of REALTORS®
Ithaca Board of REALTORS®
NYS Commercial Association of REALTORS®
Southern Adirondack REALTORS®
St. Lawrence County Board of REALTORS®
Congratulations to the following boards for reaching their 2025 RPAC Participation Goal:
Cortland County Board of REALTORS®
Ithaca Board of REALTORS®
Jefferson Lewis Board of REALTORS®
NYS Commercial Association of REALTORS®
Southern Adirondack REALTORS®
St. Lawrence County Board of REALTORS®
Local Board RPAC Events on the Calendar
Local boards are hitting the ground running by hosting local board events in support of RPAC 2025. Cortland’s Trivia Night and LIBOR Spring into RPAC Happy Hour are scheduled for March. In addition, Buffalo Niagara and Dutchess County are planning Bowling Nights with details on those events to be announced soon. To view the local board event calendar, visit:
https://www.nysar.com/advocacy/rpac/rpac-events/
NAR Advocacy Scoop Podcast Series
The Advocacy Scoop is the only podcast that takes you into the advocacy work of the National Association of REALTORS®.
Stay up to date by listening to NAR’s monthly podcast on what’s happening in Washington, D.C. and around the country relating to REALTOR® advocacy. https://www.nar.realtor/advocacy/advocacy-scoop-podcast
NYSAR members to be inducted into NAR RPAC Hall of Fame
There will be eight NYSAR members inducted into the prestigious NAR RPAC Hall of Fame this year. The induction ceremony will be held on Monday, June 2 at 5 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center as part of NAR’s Legislative Meetings in Washington, DC. Congrats to our New York inductees and thank you all for leading by example. Let’s send a roaring New York crowd to the RPAC Hall of Fame Induction ceremony to cheer-on our distinguished inductees.
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| 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. |
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Get all of the latest news at www.nysar.com. You are receiving this information as a member of the New York State Association of REALTORS®. NYSAR occasionally sends information regarding association programs and services as well as industry news to its membership. Manage your NYSAR email subscriptions. Unsubscribe from ALL NYSAR emails.
New York State Association of REALTORS®, 130 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210 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. 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.