Top Headlines for July 23
Cold calling prohibited due to NYS gun violence State of Emergency
Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently issued a State of Emergency in New York State due to gun violence. This executive order is effective until Aug. 5, 2021. As a result,, licensees are again prohibited from making any cold calls. Real estate licensees may not make any unsolicited phone calls to a member of the public during a State of Emergency. General Business Law §399-z(5)(a) states “It shall be unlawful for any telemarketer doing business in this state to knowingly make an unsolicited telemarketing sales call to any person in a county, city, town or village under a declared state of emergency or disaster emergency as described in sections twenty-four or twenty-eight of the executive law.” All other types of marketing such as mailers, billboards, social media, Internet etc., are permitted. 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.
Central New York housing market posts solid sales in 2021 first half; selling price continues to rise
Central New York home sales reached pre-pandemic levels through the first half of 2021, according to the housing market report released today by the Greater Syracuse Association of REALTORS® (GSAR). There were 4,099 closed sales during the first six months of 2021 and the median selling price reached $164,950. Learn more.
Annual Golf Outing a great success
The annual GSAR Golf Outing on Monday, July 19, at The Links at Erie Village was a great success on the course and for OCC REALTORS® Care Hub and On Point for College. The event raised $857 to be divided between the two charities.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Major sponsors:
Hunt Real Estate, ERA
Lang Law Office
Greater Syracuse Association of REALTORS®
Central New York Information Service, Inc.
Snack sponsor: Tompkins Trust Co.
Beverage cart sponsors: 
Paragon Home Loans
Syracuse Inspections & Property Services, Inc.
Golf Cart sponsor: Howard Hanna Real Estate
Banner sponsors:
Acropolis Realty Group, LLC
AmeriCU
Berkshire Hathaway CNY Realty
Fulton Savings Bank
Genesee Regional Bank
GSAR's Cayuga County Chapter
GSAR's Oswego County Chapter
Solvay Bank
Hole sponsors:
CNY Mortgage Bankers Association
Chapin Real Estate
Empower Federal Credit Union
Genesee Regional Bank
Illuminate Real Estate Service
Oak Tree Real Estate
New York State Commercial Association of REALTORS®
Pathfinder Bank
Priest & Silky LLP
Prime Lending
Sweet Homes Chittenango
Weaver, Mancuso, Brightman, PLLC
Congratulations to our winners!
Men’s Division:
1st place:   
Robert Allen
Chuck Guarino
Kevin Delaney
Justin Earl
2nd place:    
Steven Hunsberger
David Baritell
Bennett Baritell
E. Hyde Clarke
3rd place:      
Jason Miller
Luke Ferrin
Todd Post
Eric Shaeffer
Mixed Division:
1st place:      
Ted Kelly
Tami Hoffman
 Shawn Pease
George Sagar
2nd place:     
Amber Hotaling
Sara Cervino
Mark DeAngelis
Nicholas Barletta
Longest Drive:
Men’s:          Bennett Baritell
Women’s:    Michele Lissner

Closest to the pin: 
Men’s:          Nicholas Barletta
Woman’s:    Cheryl Wells

Biden focuses on tackling inventory crisis
Home sales and affordability are falling due to severely constrained inventory. As such, more government leaders are putting greater focus on the inventory crisis.
President Joe Biden recently reiterated his administration’s focus on housing as part of its broader infrastructure push. He’s called for a “historic investment” in housing that could generate 2 million additional homes in the U.S. through new construction and rehabilitating existing units.Read more.
REALTORS®: Sign up new affiliate members for chance to win free 2022 dues
Every REALTOR® member that refers an Affiliate member that joins GSAR will be entered into a drawing to win free GSAR, NYSAR, NYSAR and MLS dues for 2022! That's a value of more than $1,200! Earn one drawing "ticket" for every Affiliate member who signs up based on your referral by Oct. 8, 2021. The more you sign up, the more chances you have to win free dues. Download this flyer and start recruiting new Affiliate members today! You can also send them here to join online. Make sure they put your name in the referral box so you get credit.
Homebuilders and Remodelers of CNY plan golf outing
The Homebuilders and Remodelers of Central New York will have a golf outing on Aug. 19 at Vesper Hills Golf Club. The event will get underway with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. Click here for additional information and registration.
Thanks to our Hot News sponsors
MLS Tips
Learn how to give clients 'street-level' insight with InfoSparks on Aug. 11
ShowingTime will be offering a webinar on Wednesday, August 11, from 11 a.m. to noon to help agents use MarketStats tools to analyze the local market. The session will show agents how to use InfoSparks and FastStats to better understand local trends, provide market expertise for your clients and as a marketing tool for generating leads. There will also be a question-and-answer session for current users. Register here.
Education
July classes offer a variety of learning opportunities
Plan now to advance your industry knowledge and earn continuing education credits during July. GSAR is offering a full schedule of learning opportunities.
Deeds, Surveys and Land Use
3 hours CE - Zoom
Instructor: Brittany Mattot
July 27 from 9 a.m. to noon

This course includes a comprehensive overview of the various types of deeds, how to interpret them within the scope of a real estate license, and how they affect clients and customers. Other topics to be discussed are: the purpose of title insurance; understanding residential real property surveys; and various types of land use, including commercial, residential, wetlands and agricultural districts. Register here.

Legal Update
Meets 1-hour Legal Update requirement - zoom
Instructor: Vaughn Lang
July 31 from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

This course will cover recent legal matters pertaining to Real Estate License Law, Fair Housing Laws, and other notable legal updates. This course Satisfies the DOS 1 hour Legal Update Requirement.Register here.
Plan now to attend GSAR's safety class
in September
GSAR will be presenting "Prospect or Predator? Reduce the Risk of Being Targeted" on Sept. 22 at 10 a.m. via Zoom. The class will be taught by Dave Legaz, a REALTOR® and retired NYPD sergeant. He will share known predatory behaviors and proven strategies for real estate professionals to reduce the risk of being targeted on and off the job. The cost is $12 and registration is open. Attendees will earn one hour of CE credit.
Upcoming virtual continuing education

• Deeds, Surveys and Land Use
Instructor: Brittany Mattot
July 27 from 9 a.m. to noon

• Legal Update
Instructor: Vaughn Lang
July 31 from 12:30-1:30 p.m.


Education links
GSAR will offer Broker Qualifying Course
in September
Keep your eyes on www.cnyrealtor.com/education/broker-course/ for details about the Broker Qualifying Course being offered by GSAR. The course dates are Sept. 28 through Oct. 26. Watch for more details in Hot News.


Attention REALTOR members! Your NAR Code of Ethics training cycle is coming to an end on December 31, 2021. Please remember to email your Ethics Certificates to education@cnyrealtor.com if you’ve taken the class already.
Reminder: License 'grandfathering'
ended on July 1
No licensee will be exempt (grandfathered) from being required to complete 22.5 hours of approved real estate continuing education as of July 1, 2021. Additional core coursework is also required.

If your license expiration date is July 1, 2021 or later, your education requirements are:
  • Agency - 1.0 hour (the requirement for first renewal is 2.0 hours)
  • Fair housing and diversity – 3.0 hours
  • Ethical business practices - 2.5 hours
  • Legal matters - 1.0 hour
  • Electives - 15.0 hours
  • Total hours of approved CE: 22.5 hours
Register for GSAR's discounted 22.5-hour CE packages in September, October and November
Register for GSAR's 22.5-hour continuing education packages available at a discounted member rate of $90, down from $240. You can select from the September, October and November packages.

GSAR designed this program to help all members meet their CE requirements including those who may have been previously exempt from CE requirements. Designed with every schedule in mind, some of the packages will be offered on nights and weekends, while others will be offered during business hours.

September, October* and November package classes will be delivered virtually via Zoom.

* A limited number of members will have the option to take the virtual classes in the GSAR office in October. These spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. There will also be a few classes with an in-person instructor.

The non-member package rate is $270, down from $405.
Member Benefits and Events
Sign up for a NYSAR Committee by July 31
The New York State Association of REALTORS® is now seeking volunteers to serve on its committees, forums, working groups and foundations. Committee service is open to all members and you may choose up to four open committees and request up to three closed committees. Learn more.

Don't miss this year's Parade of Homes
Plan now to participate in this year's Parade of Homes from Sept. 11 to 26 at Treybrook in Baldwinsville. The REALTOR® morning, sponsored by Solvay Bank, will be on Sept. 17 from 9:30 a.m to noon. There will be a breakfast and a prize giveaway for those who have filled up their "passport" by visiting all the participating builders. Watch Hot News for additional details.

Get global insights from international experts during the NAR Real Estate Forcast Summit
In an ongoing effort to keep REALTORS® informed of the forces shaping the real estate market, NAR's next Real Estate Forecast Summit: Global Update will air on July 26 at 2 p.m. ET. With a focus on the changing international real estate market, the free, one-hour webinar will feature experts from Australia, Canada and China. Register here.
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Welcome new GSAR members!
The Greater Syracuse Association of REALTORS® welcomes its newest members and wishes them great success.
David Dutton
NextHome CNY Realty
315-567-4663
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