WASHINGTON—With six months remaining in the 2018 federal fiscal year the National Association of Realtors supported the passage of the $1.3-billion omnibus appropriations bill that was approved by the U.S. House and Senate on March 22, and signed by President Donald Trump, despite some misgivings, the next day. The measure funds the federal government through…
Read MoreALBANY—A record number of members of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors traveled to the state capital on March 20 and joined Realtors from across the state to press the industry’s legislative agenda that includes advancing the implementation of a first-time home buyer’s savings account and transparency and disclosure in cooperative housing sales transactions statewide.…
Read MoreWASHINGTON—Chief officials with the National Association of Realtors and the New York State Association of Realtors continue to point to low inventory levels as a continuing headwind for the residential sales market. The National Association of Realtors released home sales statistics for the month of February that showed a 3% sales volume increase nationally, however,…
Read MoreNEW YORK—New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced today (March 21) a $230-million settlement with UBS in connection with its packaging, marketing and issuance of residential mortgage-backed securities to investors prior to the housing crisis in 2006. The settlement includes $189 million worth of consumer relief for New York homeowners and communities and…
Read MorePLEASANTVILLE—Founders and co-owners of ERA Insite Realty Services—Lou and Debra Budetti—announced recently the grand opening of their firm’s new Pleasantville office at 370 Manville Road here. ERA Insite has been headquartered in White Plains since 1985, with additional offices in Bronxville and Thornwood. With the recent merger of the former Century 21 Haviland with ERA…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS - HGAR was one of the co-sponsors of the annual Westchester County Fair & Affordable Housing Expo held on March 10 at the Westchester County Center. From left, John Baker, Nneka Reed, Marlene Zarfes and Cecilia Alcantara of Westchester Residential Opportunities. A very well attended program at the expo focused on "Resources for…
Read MoreALBANY—A contingent of more than 40 members of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors are expected to travel to the state capital later this month to meet with state lawmakers and advocate for consumer and real estate industry reform legislation. The contingent will be led by Leah Caro and John Olivero, co-chairs of the HGAR…
Read MoreNEW CITY—Rockland County Executive Ed Day is allowing the recently passed co-op purchase reform bill to become law, but has requested the County Legislature go further and enact a provision that would require cooperative boards provide a reason for an applicant’s denial. County Executive Day announced that he would leave the bill, sponsored by County…
Read MoreWASHINGTON—The National Association of Realtors reported on Feb. 21 that existing-home sales slumped for the second consecutive month in January and experienced their largest decline on an annual basis in more than three years. All major regions saw monthly and annual sales declines last month, NAR stated. Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that…
Read MoreSCARSDALE—Compass, a real estate technology company, announced today it has agreed to acquire Platinum Drive Realty, a growing real estate brokerage headquartered in Scarsdale. The acquisition comes on the heels of a recent $450-million investment in Compass by the Softbank Vision Fund and an expansion initiative to the Chicago, Dallas and San Diego markets. With…
Read MoreWASHINGTON—Despite weakening optimism from non-homeowners at the end of last year that now is a good time to buy, an overwhelming majority said they do want to own a home in the future and believe homeownership is part of their American Dream. That is according to new consumer survey data released recently by the National…
Read MoreGREENWICH, CT—A recent $14.5-million waterfront estate sale has brokers in Greenwich saying reports of a weak luxury real estate market in this exclusive Fairfield County community belie recent activity and concrete sales data. Houlihan Lawrence agent Ellen Mosher exclusively represented the buyer for 51 Glen Avon Drive in the highly sought-after Greenwich waterfront neighborhood of…
Read MoreNYACK—Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty, which recently raised more than $6,000 to build a hurricane-resistant house for a family in Labodrie, Haiti, has announced that construction is complete and the family has moved into its new home. Construction was completed within six months through the luxury brokerage firm’s partnership with New Story, a non-profit that works…
Read MoreMONROE—John Chewens, manager of Weichert, Realtors’ Monroe office, announced recently that his office once again partnered with the Monroe Police Department to collect toys to assist families and children in need this holiday season. The effort was part of the 39th Annual Weichert Toy Drive. “This was our way of giving back to the community…
Read MoreYONKERS—Loft-style apartment living along the Hudson River waterfront is coming to South Yonkers with the debut of SOYO Lofts, it was announced recently by Houlihan Lawrence, the exclusive marketing and leasing agent. SOYO Lofts features 25 studio and two-bedroom duplex apartments in the former Statesman and McCann buildings on Mill Street. The 22 studios range…
Read MoreSOUTH NYACK—Ellis Sotheby International Realty reported on Feb. 12th that comedian, actress and TV personality Rosie O'Donnell recently sold her Hudson riverfront residence at 1 Gesner Ave. in South Nyack, NY for $5.1 million. The listing agent was Hamid Moghadam of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty. The main house at 1 Gesner Ave., which originally listed…
Read MoreThe newest inductees to the RPAC of New York Hall of Fame are third from left, Katheryn DeClerck of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, and Mike Smith of the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors, who were pictured alongside RPAC Trustees Chair Nancy Quigg (second from left) and NYSAR President, CJ DelVecchio (far right). The…
Read MoreWASHINGTON—The National Association of Realtors reported on Feb. 9, shortly after President Donald Trump signed the federal budget deal, that the agreement includes a number of benefits for the real estate industry, including a temporary extension of federal flood insurance and the extension of NAR-backed tax provisions that range from debt forgiveness relief, mortgage insurance…
Read MoreRYE BROOK—The real estate industry is well represented in this year’s Business Hall of Fame honorees of the Business Council of Westchester. Real estate firms Houlihan Lawrence and RXR Realty were among the six overall Hall of Fame selections. The winners will be honored at the 2018 Business Hall of Fame Awards Dinner on Tuesday,…
Read MoreNEW CITY—Realtors who have pressed state and local lawmakers for years for cooperative purchase transaction reform scored a major victory on Tuesday night when the Rockland County Legislature passed unanimously a bill that requires co-op boards to make a timely decision on applications by prospective buyers. The bill, sponsored by Legislator Alden H. Wolfe, requires…
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