Top Headlines for Jan. 29
Strong buyer demand drives CNY housing market pandemic comeback
Driven by strong buyer demand, the Greater Syracuse housing market weathered the pandemic shutdown to finish 2020 with only a 4.1-percent decline in home sales, while the median home sales price jumped nearly 11 percent, according to the housing market report released this week by the Greater Syracuse Association of REALTORS®. Learn more here.
CenterState CEO releases economic forecast
CenterState CEO 2021 Economic Forecast Report for Central New York offers strategic insight on regional, state and national economic trends. The report, based on CEO survey responses and in-depth interviews, looks at business leaders' assessments of 2020 and their outlook in areas such as business expectations, the impact of environmental factors and hiring. Read the report here.
Biden signs executive orders to evaluate fair housing policies
President Joe Biden signed several executive orders on Tuesday aimed at addressing racial equity, including one that directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to reassess the effects of regulatory actions on fair housing policies and laws. It orders HUD to ensure the Fair Housing Act’s requirements have been followed.
The memorandum states the “Fair Housing Act requires the federal government to advance fair housing and combat housing discrimination, including disparate impact discrimination that appears neutral but has an unjustified discriminatory effect in practice.” Read more here.
Missed the installation of officers, awards presentation and Raising the Bar? Watch the replay!
If you missed the GSAR/CNYIS Installation Ceremony and Raising the Bar #1 last Friday or just want to see it again, you can watch it now. In addition to the inauguration of officers, you can also watch NAR President Charlie Oppler's speech and the awards presentations including the recognition of CEO Lynnore Fetyko's 25 years of service to GSAR. GSAR President Andrew Azzarello and CNYIS President Mark Re also offer their thoughts on the year ahead.
MLS Tips
CNYIS wants to know what you think about its products and services
All CNYIS participants and subscribers will receive an email with a link to the MLS Products and Services Survey starting on Feb. 1. Your feedback will help shape the future of the MLS including the products and services it offers. Complete the survey before Feb. 12 and you will be entered into a drawing for one of two $500 Amazon gift cards.
Security matters: All MLS members must update their password
The NYS Alliance of MLSs has planned a mandatory Matrix password change for security purposes. Users will be prompted to change their password every six months beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. If you have joined and or changed your password after early August, you will not be required to change your password again until you hit the six-month mark. All others may change your password at your convenience prior to Feb. 2, or you may change it on the spot that day!  Simply click on "Forgo/Change Password" on the Portal Login screen to start the process to change your password. 
Education
February classes cover fair housing, Instanet and more
Register today for GSAR's February education opportunities covering Fair Housing Law, Instanet fundamentals and building referrals.

Stay Inside Fair Housing Laws to Stay Out of Jail
Instructor: Randy Templeman
Feb. 2 from 9 a.m to noon

Federal, state and local laws have been enacted to protect individuals from discriminatory practices in their pursuit of housing and licensees should understand these laws to ensure that no one is denied their real property rights. This course will help you to avoid discriminatory activities and the resulting consequences for noncompliance with fair housing laws.

Instanet: The Fundamentals
Instructor: Shelley Hoffman
Feb. 8 from 9 a.m to noon

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. You will learn how to print, e-mail and/or send the documents for an electronic signature using Authentisign.

Referral Relationships
Instructor: Randy Templeman
Feb. 9 from 9 to 11 a.m.

The real estate industry has shifted from properties and transactions to consumers and relationships. Relationships emphasize the value of long-term associations by focusing on trust, service and satisfaction. Licensees that provide loyalty, a key fiduciary duty, will benefit from client referrals and recommendations.   
Salesperson qualifying course set for Feb. 17
If you know anyone looking for an exciting career in real estate, please let them know the Salespersons Qualifying Course will be offered live via Zoom beginning on Feb. 17. Prospective students should visit https://www.cnyrealtor.com/education/licensing-information/ for more information.
Upcoming virtual continuing education and Matrix classes

• Stay Inside Fair Housing Laws to Stay Out of Jail
Instructor: Randy Templeman
Feb. 2 from 9 a.m to noon

• Instanet: The Fundamentals
Instructor: Shelley Hoffman
Feb. 8 from 9 a.m to noon

• Referral Relationships
Instructor: Randy Templeman
Feb. 9 from 9 to 11 a.m.

• Standards-Based Real Estate Photography: Level 1
Instructor: William Storm
Feb. 16 from 9 a.m to noon

• Standards-Based Real Estate Photography: Level 2
Instructor: William Storm
Feb. 23 from 9 a.m to noon

Education links
Thanks to our sponsors
Member Benefits and Events
Register today for RTB#2 featuring a 'Newsday' fair housing investigative reporter
The next Raising the Bar on Feb. 17 will focus on the importance of fair housing issues by featuring Bill Dedman, who was one of Newsday's lead reporters on its undercover investigation of racial steering by real estate agents on Long Island. The "Long Island Divided" reporter will deliver his presentation at 10 a.m. via Zoom.

The session will also feature Alexia Smokler, NAR senior policy representative, Fair Housing Policy, who will present "Explore Fairhaven," a demonstration of NAR's interactive fair housing training simulation program designed to identify and combat discrimination in homebuying.

Register here by Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. to receive the Zoom link. GSAR encourages all members to attend and join their association in a commitment to fostering diverse and inclusive communities.

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!
NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings under way
The 2021 NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings opened on Jan. 15 and will continue through Feb. 12. Most sessions are free and open to all members. Register and learn more here
GSAR Featured Member Benefit
Hill & Fischer, P.C. offers GSAR members $200 off standard fees for a Basic Planning Package, including: Simple Mirror Will(s) with minority trust provisions, health care proxy(ies), living will(s), and power(s) of attorney. Call Seth Fischer, Esq. at 315-475-0000 or seth@hillandfischer.com.
Welcome new GSAR members!
The Greater Syracuse Association of REALTORS® welcomes its newest members and wishes them great success.
Stephen Ballard
Skinner & Associates Realty, LLC
315-385-7104

Ashley Irabor
Keller Williams Realty Syracuse
315-701-6900
Christian Owens
Century 21 Leah’s Signature
315-652-1165

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