GSAR Hot News - Cold calling prohibition remains in effect as governor extends state of emergency

Top Headlines for November 6

Cold calling prohibition remains in effect as governor extends state of emergency

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has extended the state of emergency declaration to December 3. Licensees should be aware that this extends the cold calling prohibition, and that they are required to follow all state guidance and directives for conducting real estate activities. According to guidance issued by NYSAR: "Licensees are still prohibited from making any cold calls. . . . You may call a FSBO if you have an identifiable purchaser interested in the property. You are prohibited from calling the FSBO to solicit the listing. You may still perform business to business calls so long as you are calling the number provided as the business number."

State travel advisory rules change

REALTORS® should be aware of the changes to the state's rules for individuals traveling to New York from non-contiguous states. These travelers will now have the ability take a COVID-19 test and avoid the mandatory 14-day quarantine by testing negative. Visitors from contiguous states remain exempt form the rule. Licensees should practice recommended health and travel screening of all current or potential clients/customers.NYSAR has amended its health screening questionnaire to assist members. Learn more about the travel advisory here.

NAR's Yun predicts market will stay 'hot'

National Association of REALTORS® Chief Economist Lawrence Yun is predicting this winter will be "one of the best winter sales years ever." Low inventory, high demand and record-low mortgage rates are keeping buyers in the market. Many home buyers are looking to upsize their homes as they work from home and their children attend school at home. Also, as remote work remains an option for many and some employers make it a permanent situation for office workers, some house hunters are looking farther away from city limits in search of bigger homes and greater affordability. Learn more here.

Don't miss NAR President Malta and John Legend discussing 'The Future of Fair Housing'

Join NAR President Vince Malta for a frank discussion with 11-time Grammy winner John Legend – an outspoken voice against discrimination in real estate – on the future of fair housing during the REALTORS® Conference & Expo General Session on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 10 a.m. The activist and award-winning artist will share his thoughts on how real estate professionals can use their voices to promote meaningful change and help end systemic housing discrimination, while Malta will explain how NAR is advancing policies that allow more people to fully participate in the American dream. Learn more about this session here and more about the virtual conference, which runs from Nov. 2 through 18, here.

MLS Tips

Supra eKey guide covers how to use common features

This week's MLS tip focuses on the Supra eKey guide, which provides instructions for how to install and use common features of the Supra eKEY® 5.0 app for Android and Apple products.

Learn more about Supra's showing notifications by watching the video on the right.

GSAR Virtual Showing sessions held every Tuesday

GSAR's Virtual Showing sessions will take place on Zoom every Tuesday at 10 a.m. They are open to all members and we encourage you to participate in the weekly sessions to keep up to date on the latest listings. If you have a listing to share or you want to see what is out there for your buyer, plan to attend these informative sessions. You can walk through the property live, or share your photos in the MLS listing and walk attendees through the property that way.

Listing agents should enter this open in the MLS as an Open House: virtual MLS wide with this Zoom link in the URL box: (You can always find this link posted in the MLS News and Alerts section.)

https://zoom.us/j/97752243408?pwd=a2ZzSlUyRm5LMFdqTDFialc2NTFhQT09

Meeting ID: 977 5224 3408

Passcode: 285505

Education

Earn CE credits by attending GSAR's November Zoom classes

Registration is open for all November continuing education classes. Make your plans now to earn your continuing education credit during November

Instanet: The Fundamentals

Nov. 10, 9 a.m. - Noon

Instructor: Shelley Hoffman

This course is designed to help beginner 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. (Zoom class; 3.0 CEU). Register here.

Multiple Offers: Handle with Care!

Nov. 17 9 a.m. - Noon

Instructor: Mike Smith

Learn to navigate the ethical, legal and strategic pathways that arise in multiple offer situations. Class discussion will focus on: concerns of the participants; Articles of the Code of Ethics that pertain to multiple offers; red flags; and indisputable facts about handling multiple offers. Satisfies 2.0 hours of DOS required agency training. (Zoom class; 3.0 CEU). Register here.

GSAR professional development director retires

The GSAR Board of Directors and staff thank Susan Proch for her 12 years of dedication to the association as its director of member professional development. We wish her all the best in her next chapter.

Danielle Mizon has been promoted to serve as the new director director of member professional development. Danielle has been with the association for two years.

Upcoming virtual continuing education and Matrix classes

Instanet: The Fundamentals Nov. 10, 9 a.m. - noon (3.0CEU)

Multiple Offers: Handle with Care! Nov. 17, 9 a.m. - Noon (3.0CEU)

Deeds, Surveys and Land Use Nov. 19, 1-4 p.m. (3.0CEU)

Stay Inside Fair Housing Laws to Stay Outside of Jail Nov. 24, 9 a.m. - noon (3.0CEU)

Education links

View the complete monthly schedule

Weekly webinars and classes weekly calendar on members side of cnyrealtor.com

Changing the way we learn: Zoom proficiency will be the key to earning CE credit into 2021

When it comes to education, the events of 2020 have made it clear that REALTORS will need to master Zoom for remote learning to ensure they are able to earn their required continuing education credits. This will be especially important for licensees who will no longer be "grandfathered in" as of June 21, 2021. Every licensee must meet the CE requirements to keep their license. As with in-person CE classes, Zoom classes have specific requirements including being visible on camera for the entire session and signing 10 minutes before the session starts. To learn more about using Zoom for CE classes, please watch the video.

Thanks to our sponsors

Member Benefits and Events

Save the dates!

The GSAR staff is hard at work planning the 2021 Installation and Raising the Bar educational events. Watch future editions of Hot News for additional details and registration information.

The 2021 Installation will take place virtually on Jan. 22.

The 2021 virtual RTB dates are:

Jan. 22, as part of the Installation event. NAR President Charlie Oppler has been invited.

Feb. 17, fair housing with a speaker to be determined

March 24, featuring Beth Z, Your Nerdy BFF

June 22, Annual Meeting and RTB to be determined

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 Dec. 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 teneyck@cnyrealtor.com by Dec. 15. Sorry, no exceptions.