GSAR Hot News - Central New York housing market remains active

Top Headlines for May 28

Central New York housing market remains active

Following a very strong start to 2021, Central New York home sales moderated slightly during April, falling below year-ago levels for the first time this year as low-inventory conditions slowed buyers, according to the housing market report released today by the Greater Syracuse Association of REALTORS^®. The median home selling price rose by 18-percent compared to April 2020, while closed sales finished the month down nearly 3 percent. Read more.

GSAR 'Welcome Back Member Mixer' set for next Thursday

GSAR's Welcome Back Member Mixer in-person event will be held on Thursday, June 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Borio's! The beautiful Oneida Lake will be the backdrop for our first time together in more than a year. The registration fee is $40 for members/$50 for non-members. Members register here. Non-members may call 315-457-5979 x 227 to register. Thank you to our sponsors Prime Lending and Weaver, Mancuso, Brightman, PLLC.

Cold calling prohibited through June 24

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has extended the State of Emergency through June 24. Licensees remain prohibited from making any cold calls through that date and are required to follow all current guidance, directives and reopening rules. 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 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.

GSAR and CNYIS publish 2021 member directory

GSAR and CNYIS have published their popular member directory, which is a handy tool for quickly finding contact information for REALTORS® and affiliates. It also provides information about the leadership of both organizations, benefits, key contact phone numbers and more. The digital version of the directory is available here. The print version will be arriving in members' mailboxes in June.

Registration is now open for all of GSAR's 22.5-hour continuing education packages being offered at a discounted member rate of $90, down from $240. The packages are being offered in June, July, September, October and November. 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.

Classes will be delivered virtually via Zoom, but a limited number of members will have the option to take the virtual classes in the GSAR office. These spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating will be spaced to meet current guidelines. Please note that the office is not fully open. There will also be a few classes with an in-person instructor. The non-member rate is $270, down from $405.

Learn more and register at cnyrealtor.com/CEpackages.

GSAR member featured in NYSAR magazine

for her RPAC support

Connie Ryan, GSAR member and past president of the former Oswego County Board of REALTORS®, was recently featured in the "I invest in RPAC" section of New York State REALTOR® magazine. In the profile of her RPAC support, she shares how important it is for RPAC contributions of all sizes. "Real People Actually Contribute" is a campaign she says she wants to start because $25 contributions are as important as the large contributions as RPAC works to support legislative proposals such as a first-time homebuyer savings account. Currently, GSAR has reached its member participation goal and is closing in on its fund-raising goal.

NAR Legislative Meeting sessions available on-demand

All education sessions from the recently concluded NAR 2021 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings are available to conference registrants on-demand through June 14. Log in via this link, click on the agenda in the navigation bar and go to the Session Library.

Thanks to our sponsors

MLS Tips

MLS Tip: Get the most out of the CoreLogic Listing Data Checker by safelisting email address

As CoreLogic moves its Listing Data Checker to Google's Cloud Platform to improve the service, a new notification email has been established - listingdatachecker@corelogic.com. All MLS users are encouraged to add this email address to their email safelist to ensure they receive notifications from the Listing Data Checker. You can review your Listing Data Checker staging account via this link. The system migration is slated for the weekend of June 4.

Education

June classes offer a variety of learning opportunties

Plan now to advance your industry knowledge and earn continuing education credits during June and July. GSAR is offering a full schedule of learning opportunities.

Referral Relationships

Instructor: Randy Templeman

June 1 from 2 to 4 p.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. 2 hours CE. Register here.

Crash Course in Contracts: Avoid the Pitfalls

Instructor: Rob Carter

June 2 from 2 to 4 p.m.

In this course on purchase offer contracts, you'll learn about important items to review with your buyers and sellers, along with some hot topics such as seller concessions and current trends/changes in the Central NY area. Learn what impact contract details will have on the closing and beyond. In addition to the GSAR/CNYIS contract, your instructor will briefly review issues with contracts specific to new construction and REO/bank-owned properties.2 hours CE. Register here.

Fair Housing: It’s Everyone’s Right

Instructor: Don Radke

June 5 from 9 a.m. to noon

Did you know that if you are charged with a fair housing violation, you are guilty until proven innocent? Or, that you could be fined in excess of $10,000? As a REALTOR®, you are charged with advocating for and protecting fair housing rights. Learn how to stay compliant with the fair housing laws, from record-keeping to advertising. 3 hours CE. Register here.

Killer House You Have There!

Instructor: Mike Smith

June 8 from 9 a.m. to noon

This course is an overview of common environmental issues that one might find in residential properties and can affect the real estate transaction. Upon completion of the course, you will be able to distinguish challenges for sellers and/or buyers that may affect financing, marketability, and usefulness of the affected property due to unresolved issues. You will learn which appropriate inspections can be recommended prior to taking remedial action and the risk-reducing best practices that will shorten marketing time for sellers, provide smoother transactions for buyers, and reduce liability for all parties. 3 hours CE. Register here.

Agency Disclosure Update

Instructor: Mike Smith

June 8 from 1 to 4 p.m.

This class is a review of basic agency concepts with discussions on common agency pitfalls, confusion and misunderstandings. You will gain an understanding of compliant behavior and the know-how to generate the documentation essential for broker risk reduction. 3 hours CE. Register here.

Legal Update

Instructor: Vaughn Lang

June 10 from noon to 1 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. 1 hour CE. Register here.

Ethics for REALTORS®

Instructor: Don Radke

June 10 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Are you living by the Code? The REALTOR® Code of Ethics is your pathway to professionalism. Adhering to the Code is what separates you as a REALTOR® from other real estate professionals. In this class, you will be reminded of your duties to clients, customers, the public, and your fellow REALTORS®. The professional standards process and Pathways to Professionalism will also be discussed. Satisfies NAR ethics training requirement. 3 hours CE. Register here.

Upcoming virtual continuing education

• Referral Relationships

Instructor: Randy Templeman

June 1 from 2 to 4 p.m.

• Crash Course in Contracts: Avoid the PitfallsInstructor: Rob Carter

June 2 from 2 to 4 p.m.

• Fair Housing: It’s Everyone’s Right

Instructor: Don Radke

June 5 from 9 a.m. to noon

• Killer House You Have There!

Instructor: Mike Smith

June 8 from 9 a.m. to noon

• Agency Disclosure Update

Instructor: Mike Smith

June 8 from 1 to 4 p.m.

• Legal Update

Instructor: Vaughn Lang

June 10 from noon to 1 p.m.

• Ethics for REALTORS®

Instructor: Don Radke

June 10 from 1 to 4 p.m.

• Instanet: The Fundamentals

Instructor: Shelley Hoffman

June 15 from 9 a.m. to noon

• Standards-based RE Photography: Level 1

Instructor: Bill Storm

June 17 from 9 a.m. to noon

• Standards-based RE Photography: Level 2

Instructor: Bill Storm

June 24 from 9 a.m. to noon

• 5 Steps of The Loyalty Ladder

Instructor: Randy Templeman

July 8 from 1 to 4 p.m.

• Tales of Sales

Instructor: Randy Templeman

July 13 from 9 a.m to 1 p.m.

• Deeds, Surveys and Land Use

Instructor: Brittany Mattot

July 27 from 9 a.m. to noon

Upcoming virtual Matrix classes

May 26:

Introduction to Matrix 1 at 9 a.m.

Introduction to Matrix 2 at 11 a.m.

Matrix 2: Customization and Auto Emails at 1:30 p.m.

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 21, 2021. Please remember to email your Ethics Certificates to education@cnyrealtor.com if you’ve taken the class already.

Member Benefits and Events

Save the Date for RTB#5 and the General Membership meeting

Raising the Bar #5 and the annual general membership meeting are scheduled for Tuesday, June 22, at 10 a.m. NAR General Counsel and Chief Member Experience Officer Katie Johnson will be the guest speaker.

The membership will be voting on Bylaw changes, so a quorum will be required. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. Watch Hot News for additional details.

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 June 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 June 15. Sorry, no exceptions

Registration open for NAR Conference

in San Diego

Registration for the NAR REALTORS® Conference and Expo is open to all members. The conference will take place Nov. 12-15 in San Diego. NAR will offer in-person and virtual options for attendees.