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Conveyance Tax Increase Goes Into Effect October 1st
At the end of this year's legislative session, the state budget passed with increases to the conveyance tax on sales of real estate and the interest in an acquired real estate company that close on or after October 1, 2025. Even if a purchase and sales agreement is signed before October 1st, the closing date is what triggers the tax. Sellers are responsible for paying the tax unless otherwise agreed by the seller and buyer.
Be prepared - share the details about this tax change with your clients. See the details, computations, and find flyers for download about these and other taxes on RIRealtors.org.
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Landlords, Renew Your Annual Lead Registry by October 1st
Rhode Island law requires property owners to register their rental properties with the Rhode Island Rental Registry by October 1st every year and confirm or update the registration. For more information, review these FAQS and/or contact the RI Department of Health at RentalRegistry@health.ri.gov.
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New Changes to RIAR Forms
The RI Association of REALTORS® has approved revisions to existing forms including:
- Escalation Addendum
- New Construction Single Family/Multi-Unit Purchase and Sales Agreement
- New Construction Condominium Purchase and Sales Agreement.
- Condominium Resale P & S
- Condominium Documents Addendum
- RI Real Estate Sales Disclosure
See the details on RIRealtors.org.
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More Homes Needed Despite Steady Growth in Supply
Rhode Island’s housing supply continued to grow in August, a promising trend seen in sales statistics recently released by the Rhode Island Association of REALTORS®. According to Realtor data, all single-family homes on the market would be sold in 2.8 months if no new properties were listed. While that period is just half the time that typically indicates a market balanced between buyers and sellers, 2025 could be the first year that shows consistent growth in housing supply with no monthly year over year declines since at least 2015, the year the Association added supply indicators to its monthly recordkeeping. More...
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In order to move operations to its new location, the RI State Health Laboratories (RISHL) will temporarily stop accepting drinking water samples from private well owners for a period beginning September 11, 2025. If any clients require private well testing while services are not available at the RISHL, they can submit samples to another certified drinking water testing lab.
See more information on RIRealtors.org.
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New Alerts re: Recent Scams and Buyer with Suspicious Behavior
Scammers have been sending fake emails pretending to be from staff and/or members of RI REALTORS®. Just a couple of the most recent scams include an offer of a free piano and a "secure" message including an RI REALTORS® Annual Report from our President. Both are fake emails.
Also, the Norwich, CT Police Dept. warns REALTORS® of a buyer with suspicious behavior and a criminal background. Read more on RIRealtors.org.
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Do you have questions about the new short-term rental taxes?
Are you booking short-term rentals for 2026 now? Keep in mind that a new tax on short-term rentals of entire homes, cottages and condominium units will take effect, and the local hotel tax will increase.
If you rent part of a home, apartment, etc., the state hotel tax of 5% will remain the same.
Don't be caught off guard! Visit RIRealtors.org for information and tips about the new taxes.
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Q: Does the new whole home tax on short-term rentals apply when the rental is booked, paid in full, or when it’s occupied?
A: All state and local taxes are based on date of occupancy. The tax rates in effect at the time of occupancy apply to all short-term rentals. When full payment is made in 2025 for a 2026 rental, the taxes collected should be at the 2025 rate, and the difference in the tax rate for 2026 should be charged at the time of checkout from the rental.
| | | Do you have a question for the Legal Hotline? Reach out to ask or see if others have asked your same question on www.rirealtors.org/legalhotline. - you must be logged into the Member Gateway for access - a click here to see the latest report. | |
RAMP Offers Housing/Workplace Resources for Disabled Community
At a joint meeting of the RI REALTORS® DEI, Risk Management, and Government Affairs Committees, guest speaker Tina Guenette, discussed issues of accessibility in housing for the disabled community.
Tina is CEO and founder of RAMP (Real Access Motivates Progress), a non-profit that educates and advocates for accessibility and inclusion. She was appointed by President Biden to the U.S. Access Board in 2023 and serves as Vice Chair of the Rhode Island Governor’s Commission on Disability and Chair of the Awareness Committee. She presented volumes of information about working with disabled buyers, sellers, and renters, which you can learn about on RAMP's website, rampisinclusion.org.
The site has information about state and federal tax breaks, home modification and workplace accessibility grants, and other resources for the disabled community. Sign up on the site for their monthly newsletter for the latest updates.
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WEBINAR
Safety isn't optional, it's essential
September 24, 2 pm
Your safety comes first. In honor of REALTOR® Safety Month, this webinar shows you how to use domiiDetect™ to protect yourself during client meetings, showings, and open houses. We’ll cover background lookups, GPS tracking, and one-touch 911 integration. Learn how to activate these free tools and gain peace of mind on the job.
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Questions about this webinar?
Contact John@rirealtors.org.
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WEBINAR
Introducing Next Gen Reports from RPR
September 30, 12 - 1 pm
RPR’s Next Gen Reports are out of beta—the first step in a major upgrade to how REALTORS® create and deliver reports to their clients. With customizable templates, an easy drag-and-drop interface, and dynamic updates every 48 hours, your reports will impress like never before. Learn about Next Gen Reports in this dynamic one-hour webinar. (Multiple dates available.)
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Questions about this webinar?
Contact info@rirealtors.org.
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WEBINAR
Going Global: The Rhode Island, Mexico, Texas Connection
October 1 | 11am - 12 pm
Join RI REALTORS® Global Council Chair Agueda Del Borgo and guests from Mexico, Texas, and Rhode Island to learn about conducting international transactions with Mexico. This webinar will provide you with an understanding about the opportunities, trends, and insights you need to know to expand your global business!
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Please direct questions about this webinar to info@rirealtors.org. | |
WEBINAR
Update listings from the palm of your hand!
October 2 | 10 - 11 am
Run your business from your phone. Join Cotality trainer Brent Adams to explore MLS Touch, including fast property searches, seamless client messaging, lead generation on the go, and more. No laptop needed!
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Questions about this webinar?
Contact John@rirealtors.org.
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WEBINAR
Using InfoSparks to Understand Your Housing Market
October 7, 2025 1 pm
Join us for an exclusive member webinar where we delve into the intricacies of the local housing market using InfoSparks, your essential market stats tool. This session will empower you with the knowledge and skills to leverage market data effectively for your business.
Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and stay ahead of the competition.
Secure your spot today and transform the way you understand the housing market!
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This webinar will be recorded.
Questions? Contact John@rirealtors.org.
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EVENT
Sell Smarter, Not Harder: AI, ChatGPT & the Influencer Edge
October 8, 2025 | 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Potowomut Golf Course - Warwick
Discover how to harness cutting-edge tools like AI, ChatGPT, and social media platforms to streamline your workflow. Whether you're looking to boost your lead generation, enhance your content creation, or build a powerful personal brand, this session will offer actionable insights and tech-driven tactics to help you stand out in today’s competitive market. This short panel discussion will be followed by networking and complimentary apps. Seats are limited.
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Registration is required. | | |
VIRTUAL EVENT
RI Association of REALTORS® Annual Meeting
October 14 | 10 am | Via Zoom
The Rhode Island Association of REALTORS® (RIAR) invites you to join us virtually for our 77th Annual Membership Meeting.
Prior to the meeting, we ask that RIAR members review the report from the RIAR Nominating Committee. You will be asked to vote for the proposed 2026 RIAR slate of officers and new directors.
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| Click on the image above to submit your survey. | | |
VIRTUAL
Developing the Power of You with AI #407 | 3 CE
10/1 | 9am - 12pm
In today’s competitive real estate market, standing out requires more than a strong online presence—it demands an exceptional customer experience. This session will show you how to craft a value proposition that captivates modern consumers using cutting-edge AI tools.
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IN PERSON
#480 Pricing Strategy Advisor
#480 | 6 CE | 2 Days
October 2 and 3 | 10 am - 1 pm
The key to competitive home pricing is becoming proficient at comparative market analyses (CMAs).
In the Pricing Strategies: Mastering the CMA course, you will learn how to evaluate the existing real estate market to take the guesswork out of pricing homes.
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IN PERSON
#536 History of American Architecture
October 27 | 12 - 4 pm | 4 CE
The Providence Preservation Society will be presenting a 4 CE course to Real Estate Practitioners on the history of American Architecture. This one-of-a-kind class will survey Rhode Island's rich and diverse historic architecture from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, highlighting examples from across the state, so you can better advise your buyers and sellers.
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