GSAR Hot News - Gov. Cuomo announces the state will deploy fair housing testers

Top Headlines for March 5

Gov. Cuomo announces the state will deploy fair housing testers

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new program last week to send out fair housing testers to act as potential renters or home seekers to identify potential unlawful discriminatory acts by landlords, real estate brokers and sellers. The program will be overseen by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR). The agency has accepted bids and is finalizing contracts with six nonprofit organizations to conduct testing in western and central New York as well as New York City, Long Island and Westchester County. The governor also announced new fair housing regulations concerning real estate appraisers, which will take effect on March 17, 2021. The new regulations will require licensed and certified appraisers to receive training on fair housing and fair lending as part of their continuing education requirements.

GSAR's Raising the Bar #3 will feature 'Your Nerdy Best Friend' on March 24

On March 24, RTB#3 will feature Beth Z, "Your Nerdy Best Friend," who will share her look at "A Day in the Life of a Nerdy Professional" from 10 a.m to noon. She'll show you how you put the technology at your fingertips together to make your life easier at work and home. This fast-moving, laugh-filled session takes you hour by hour through a day in the life of a tech-savvy professional. You'll learn to:

Understand how technology fits into every part of your day.
Use technology systems that streamline projects and tasks.
See how the technology in your toolbox can work together.

Thank you to sponsor Empower FCU! Register for RTB#3 here.

Don't forget that if you attend four Raising the Bar sessions or three of them and Community Day, you will be eligible for a 20-percent discount on your local dues for 2022!

GSAR reaches RPAC participation goal; on its way to 2021 fundraising goal

GSAR members started 2021 with a strong showing of support for the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC), helping the association surpass its member participation goal by more than 28 percent. By early March 776 members had contributed to RPAC to surpass the goal of 605. This member participation has resulted in the association raising 70 percent of its fundraising goal of $38,265. Learn more here.

MLS Tips

Learn how to understand your listing views

This week's MLS Tip focuses on a Matrix tip for understanding how many times, and from where, your listing has been viewed.

CNYIS semi-annual billing due by March 15

CNYIS posted the semi-annual MLS billing to all participant and subscriber accounts. All fees are due by March 15. Payments made between March 16 and April 1 will be assessed a late fee of $30. Service will be shut off for non-payment on April 5 and office shut-offs will be done on April 14. There will be an additional $75 fee due at the time service is restored.

Education

GSAR offers agency, Instanet classes in March

GSAR's March education classes will provide the opportunity to learn more about using Instanet and working with contracts.

Instanet: The Fundamentals

Instructor: Shelley Hoffman

March 18 from 1 to 4 p.m.

This course is designed to help novice users of Transaction Desk navigate through the system to create the required paperwork for a transaction. Participants will create professional documentation for both buyer and seller, thereby providing a clean, typed version of their forms for easier reading and understanding. You will learn how to print, e-mail and/or send the documents for an electronic signature using Authentisign.Register here.

Crash Course in Contracts: Avoid the Pitfalls

Instructor: by Rob Carter

March 22 from 9 a.m. to noon

In this crash course on purchase offer contracts, you'll learn about important items to review with your buyers and sellers, along with some hot topics such as seller concessions and current trends/changes in the Central NY area. Learn what impact contract details will have on the closing and beyond. In addition to the GSAR/CNYIS contract, your instructor will briefly review issues with contracts specific to new construction and REO/bank-owned properties. Register here.

Matrix Classes will resume on Wednesdays beginning on March 10.

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Thanks to our sponsors

Member Benefits and Events

T3 to focus on cybersecurity on March 30

GSAR's first 2021 T3 webinar will focus on cybercrime and cybersecurity. Representatives from sponsor Hinman, Howard & Kattell will present the session from 1 to 3 p.m. They share the latest information about current cybercrimes, provide a legal update on the New York Shield Act and offer practical guidance for defending yourself and your business from cybercriminals. Register here.

Plan now to attend Raising the Bar#4 in April

GSAR's Raising the Bar #4 will feature Yvonne Conte on April 21 at 10 a.m. via Zoom She will present "7 Habits of Supremely Happy People" and "Successful Virtual Connections."

Conte is a motivational humorist, and stress reduction expert. She is the author of "One Word," "Serious Laughter," "Frankie Wonders" and several other books. She is the founder and director of Day of Joy, Inc., a 501c3 organization contributing thousands of dollars to local charities annually.

Don't forget that if you attend all four Raising the Bar sessions or three of them and Community Day, you will be eligible for a 20-percent discount on your local dues for 2022!

GSAR Featured Member Benefit

Many GSAR members regularly take advantage of the discounted BJ's Wholesale Club membership benefit. To take advantage of the current sign-up opportunity, click on the links below before March. 15.

New BJ's members save between $30 and $60 for an annual membership! Renewing members save between $15 and $30, and receive an extra month of membership! Click here for the flyer with more details on each program.

If you are a renewing BJ's member, use this application.

If you are a new BJ's member, use this application.

Applications must be submitted by email to [email protected] by March 15. Sorry, no exceptions

View all of GSAR's member discounts here

Cayuga County Chapter creates marketing opportunity for GSAR members

The Cayuga County Chapter has created a marketing opportunity for all GSAR members through the placement of advertising in the Auburn Citizen. The advertisement tells consumers that they can safely sell or buy homes with a REALTOR® and offers them a link to a listing of REALTORS who can assist them. All members have the opportunity to purchase a listing on that cnyrealtor.com landing page for an annual fee of $25. Simply complete and return this form.

Welcome new GSAR members!

The Greater Syracuse Association of REALTORS^®welcomes its newest members and wishes them great success.

Virginia Barella

Lake & Village Realty

315-237-4544