As we navigate a changing landscape in the real estate industry, it’s important to recognize and leverage opportunity. Throughout my Realtor association management career, I have witnessed the power of global business positively impact thousands of Realtors in the U.S. and worldwide. For example, in Southeast Florida, following the market downturn in 2008, foreign buyers…
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Welcome to the most wonderful time of the year! December is here, and it's not just about winter chills and snowflakes. It's a month filled with joy, laughter and the heartwarming celebration of various holidays from around the world. These festivities don't just bring us closer together; they also remind us of the true values…
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I learned a great deal from many of our current and past leaders about setting the right tone, staying open to ideas, and fostering a culture of respect, collaboration and compromise. I hope I lived up to their expectations—and yours. As my presidency winds down, let me take a few moments to reflect on this…
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It’s that time of year when you start reflecting on the past 10 months and analyze what you’ve accomplished and where you may have fallen short. Did I close as many deals as I wanted? Did I follow up with clients and customers the way I set out to do at the beginning of the…
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The Hudson Valley will confront a serious labor shortage over the next two decades as lower births, a wave of retirements, and decades of outward migration drive down our full-time population. The leading edge of this trend is hitting us now, and the symptoms are everywhere. Hospital executives cannot find enough local nurses, forcing them…
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Are you concerned about the recent sexual harassment claims at NAR? Do the pending anti-trust lawsuits leave you worried about what your business and our industry will look like in the future? Do you feel uncertain and unsure about how high mortgage rates and low inventory will affect your business? The answer to all of…
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I don’t know about you, but it seems like I have heard the phrase “once in a lifetime storm” about 18 times between Superstorm Sandy and the July storms that recently flooded the Hudson Valley. So, either time has sped up or that phrase has lost all its meaning. Regardless, we live in a time…
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While it may at times feel like the real estate industry and Realtors are under attack, we all know with every challenge there is opportunity. Challenges are oftentimes our biggest blessings. Difficulty propels us to think differently, to aim higher and to be better. As many before me have said, challenges don’t define us. Instead,…
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Although April is Fair Housing Month and June is National Home Ownership Month, we need to keep Fair Housing front of mind year-round. President Joe Biden recently proclaimed, “During National Homeownership Month, we recognize the power of owning a home when raising a family, planting roots in a community, building equity, and passing down generational…
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The beautiful thing about being in the real estate business for many years is being able to analyze your growth as a professional, as well as an individual, and understanding exactly what role you really play in the home buying and selling process. Over the years, I’ve experienced many personality types on the other side of…
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Recently the question was asked, Why the Women’s Council? There is a wealth of professional organizations for Realtors, do we need a Women’s Council? The answer lies in the history of organized real estate, with NAR going back more than 110 years and Women’s Council, over 80 years. The Women’s Council developed as a result…
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Executing sector specific economic development strategy is not an overnight process—it takes research, relationships, and an in-depth understanding of the market. When an economic development organization gets an opportunity to compete for a major project in Advanced Manufacturing, speed and accuracy are everything. That’s why we rolled out the Site Inventory Program (S.I.P.)—to give us…
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The “summer slowdown” never occurred in 2023 at the Orange County Partnership as site selector activity and tenant requirements demanded our full attention. The leads have been in diverse industry clusters, and we have been working with companies that specialize in: • Battery Manufacturing • Food/Beverage Production • Data Center • Plastic Manufacturing • Distribution…
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The “zombies” of issues left to be decided are poised to walk the halls again this coming legislative year. With the added specter of a Presidential election year, the 2024 New York State Legislative Session will play out while some State Representatives fight in primary elections, providing a backdrop for a legislative session where there…
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Many Realtors today are worried about a string of anti-trust lawsuits filed against NAR alleging anticompetitive practices. While NAR is vigorously challenging those lawsuits, one of which was recently dismissed, the average Realtor needs to focus on the value benefits that Realtors bring to each transaction. Contrary to the allegations in those lawsuits, participation in…
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As previously announced, I joined the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors as your Chief Executive Officer on Sept. 1. I am deeply honored and thrilled to be serving you along with the exceptional team of professionals and leaders at HGAR. It is with a great sense of obligation to honor the illustrious legacy and history…
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I have attended many HGAR Member Appreciation Days over the years, and it is a great time to catch up with those that you haven’t seen in a while. Many of us missed this kind of interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic and the years that have followed. With classes and other events on Zoom, I…
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I did my first doggy paddle last weekend. Yes, that’s right—a doggy paddle! I didn’t attempt to learn how to swim until a few years ago. Yep! I got to 46 not knowing how to tread water. That all changed after a trip to Africa with my girlfriend, Patricia in 2018. We chartered a boat…
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Shortly after the Supreme Court decision regarding affirmative action in higher education, a national news outlet posted an article stating that as a result some experts believe DEI programs in corporate America could crumble. It said corporate America could be held liable for DEI programs and policies. Upon reading further, it referred to companies that…
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“No doubt business men are greedy; no doubt trade unionists are grasping; and everyone knows that housewives are spendthrifts; but neither the greedy business men nor the grasping trade unionists nor the spendthrift housewives produce inflation.... Inflation is made by government and no one else.” Milton Friedman It is hard to explain to clients why…
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