GSAR Hot News - Take Action! It's your REALTOR® responsibility to help end cold calling restrictions

Top Headlines for Aug. 13

Take Action! It's your REALTOR® responsibility to help end cold calling restrictions

The GSAR leadership team is encouraging all members to respond promptly whenever a national, state or local Call for Action is issued. Only a small percentage of our membership has responded to this current Call for Action. We must do better on behalf of our industry and livelihood.

REALTORS® are still being shut out of conducting cold calls due to Gov. Andrew Cuomo declaring gun violence a disaster emergency in New York. This is directly impeding real estate business operations, which are completely unrelated to the emergency declaration. Real estate licensees may not make any unsolicited phone calls to a member of the public during a state of emergency. Take Action Now to urge lawmakers to remove cold call restrictions on licensed real estate professionals during a State of Emergency.

GSAR schedules election for September

All eligible voting members should have received the official election notice from the Greater Syracuse Associaton of REALTORS® on Wednesday, Aug. 11. The notice set the 2021 election dates as Monday, Sept. 13, at 8:30 a.m. through Sunday, Sept. 19, at 4 p.m. The notice also outlines the process for write-in candidates. Voting will be conducted through the member portal once it opens. If you did not receive the election notice, contact GSAR at 315-457-5979 x 227.

There's still time to visit Fairhaven and have GSAR/CNYIS pay for your At Home with Diversity course

As part of the ongoing effort to promote fair housing and fair housing education, GSAR and CNYIS will cover the $135 cost of the At Home with Diversity (AHWD) course for the first 100 members who complete the interactive Fairhaven: A Fair Housing Simulation training before Sept. 1.

There are still free slots available in the Oct. 14 At Home with Diversity class for those who have completed or will complete the Fair Haven training before the deadline. Once you've completed the Fair Haven course, email the GSAR Education Department to be registered for At Home With Diversity. Your registration confirmation can be found in the GSAR Member Portal.

At Home with Diversity is a NAR certification course designed to enable REALTORS® to work successfully with and within a rapidly changing multicultural market. It will help you to learn diversity sensitivity, how it applies to U.S. fair housing laws in your business, and ways to develop professional guidelines for working with people in the increasingly multicultural real estate market.

REALTORS® who take the At Home with Diversity will be able to apply for the AHWD Certification, earn 6 hours of CE, one hour of Fair Housing credit, and use it as an elective towards the ABR, GRI and CIPS designations. It also counts as a module in the C2EX program. Members, who qualify to take the course for free by completing Fairhaven, would only be responsible for the $75 certification fee.

GSAR bids farewell to long-time staff member

The GSAR staff and membership wish Operations Manager Katie DeAnthony all the best as she leaves the REALTOR® family to spend more time with her family and pursue other opportunities. Katie joined GSAR 15 years ago and has spent the past several years serving in her current role. We thank Katie for her tireless work on behalf of the membership and for a job well done.

Salesperson Qualifying Course registration deadline extended to Monday

Tell your friends and family about GSAR's Live Virtual 75-hour Salespersons Course that starts on Aug. 18 and runs through Sept. 28, 2021. The registration deadline has been extended through Monday, Aug.16, 2021. This is a night-and-weekend course, so it won't interfere with a day job, but it's still interactive and hands on! Learn more.

Thanks to our Hot News sponsors

MLS Tips

Matrix releases new 360 CMA tool

The 360 CMA makes it easy to search for comps across all sources and record types at the same time including active listings, recently sold/off-market listings, and tax records that don’t have a corresponding MLS listing (e.g., FSBOs). You can create a new 360 CMA Report from scratch using the "Start a new CMA" option on the My CMAs screen. A new feature is the "One-Click Comps Finder," which you can use by clicking on the "View Comparable Properties" link on the full property display of any listing or public record. Watch the video.

Education

Don't miss these learning opportunities

(Virtual) Flushed with Success: Rural Water and Septic Systems

3 hours CE - Zoom

Instructor: Mike Smith

Aug. 19 from 9 a.m. to noon

Wells and septic systems can be lawsuit-magnets for Realtors. The course will cover the basics of commonly used wells and septic systems. The information you gain in this course will allow you to recommend appropriate testing and inspections of such systems by qualified professionals, will give you the knowledge needed to discuss alternative solutions with your clients in a credible manner, and avoid delays in the transaction by anticipating issues before they become problems. 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" virtually 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.

Registration opening soon for GSAR's Broker Qualifying Course in September

Registration will be opening soon for the Broker Qualifying Course being offered by GSAR starting on Sept.28 and running through Oct. 26. This course will be delivered in person in the classroom. Visit www.cnyrealtor.com/education/broker-course/ for details and registration information.

Please Note: The Broker Qualifying Course is currently scheduled to be in person. However, if CDC guidelines and state mandates change, then this course will be moved to a live, virtual platform (a Zoom) in order to keep the students, staff and instructors safe.

Upcoming virtual continuing education

• (Virtual) Flushed with Success: Rural Water and Septic Systems

3 hours CE - Zoom

Instructor: Mike Smith

Aug. 19 from 9 a.m. to noon

Education links

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

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 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.

Learn more and register at cnyrealtor.com/CEpackages.

Member Benefits and Events

NYSAR opens 2021 Fall Business Meetings registration

Registration for the NYSAR 2021 Fall Business Meetings is open! The meetings will be a hybrid event. Select committee meetings will be held virtually via Zoom the week of September 20-24 and in-person meetings will be held Monday, October 4, through Wednesday, October 6, at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, NY. Register here.

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.

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.

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 Sept. 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 Sept. 15. Sorry, no exceptions.

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.