It’s been nine months since the New York State Department of State (NYSDOS) tasked Rockland County with the unprecedented takeover of the Village of Spring Valley’s Building Department. From day one, I told the people of Rockland that our new Office of Buildings and Codes (OBC) will ensure strict compliance with all New York State…
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I am blessed to have attended our National Association of Realtors NAR NXT meetings on Nov. 11-13 where I was afforded the opportunity to represent the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, the Hudson Valley and New York City at this well-attended event staged in Orlando, FL. The NAR Board of Directors voted to replace the…
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Fair Housing teaches us to market to everyone and not seek out a particular someone or some group. We can talk about property features and amenities, but we stay away from implying who “should” be that person or persons to purchase. Our job is to welcome all people and help them achieve their home ownership…
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By now you have heard of or come face to face with the slowing real estate environment. The culprit is inflation, born of a post-pandemic fiscal stimulus intended to help the American economy recover. The unintended consequence was a 40% increase in the money supply of the U.S. economy. It also provided “seed money” for…
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As my days as CEO of HGAR wind down, I can’t help but look back over my career and focus on those factors that truly made a difference to me and to the organization. One of the factors at the top of the list is the power and rewards that stem from forming meaningful relationships…
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In the past few years, DEI has become a commonly used acronym. Some people are unfamiliar with the term and are unsure how DEI relates to them. As Realtors, we wear many hats. We are business owners, advocates, and champions of homeownership. As such, DEI is an essential concept for us and we should be…
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In the past two weeks we have finally been feeling that fall is in the air, and I keep taking deep gulps, filling my lungs. While I love every season, I think that Autumn is my favorite. The temperature becomes brisk, but not too cold. The leaves become shades of red and orange and gold.…
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In the fall and winter, we saw low interest rates, multiple offers, and a surge in home prices due to low inventory and pent-up demand. Then, just as quickly, we were hit with an increase in interest rates as well as inflation, which has definitely impacted the market, bringing us back to pre-pandemic pacing—and the…
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I recently returned from a RISMedia Leadership conference that I attended with HGAR President Anthony Domathoti. It was not a surprise that the primary focus of many of the sessions was how to deal with a shifting market, and if there was a primary theme, it was to get back to basics. Specifically, some of…
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Time marches on, and there is just no stopping it! I hope that you have had an enjoyable summer. Do you feel the energy in our association as we move forward and plan for the future? Hispanic Heritage Month is held every year starting on September 15th and running through October 15th to celebrate and…
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Between screaming news headlines about out-of-control inflation and the negative drumbeat about a slowing economy leading to big drops in home sales, I can’t help but think about the folk tale with Chicken Little warning everyone that the sky is falling. Too often the media focus is on speculation and opinion as opposed to facts.…
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Welcome to August!! With the rapidly shifting housing market over the last two years, you may be hesitant about purchasing a home today. You have valid concerns and I understand why you feel that way. According to NAR, first-time homebuyers made up 30% of June 2022 sales, compared to 31% in June 2021. Investors and…
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July is here and we are well into the summer market. Change is constant and as we evolve, we join forces, and share resources through this post pandemic times. Inflation is hurting every household budget and it is likely to hurt the nation’s budget, too. The Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes, meant to counteract inflation,…
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When Alejandro Escudero, Director of Global Strategy and Engagement for the National Association of Realtors, confirmed in 2018 that HGAR had been designated as the Ambassador Association to Portugal I was very excited, but I also had no idea what it truly meant to be an Ambassador Association. In 2017 NAR President Elizabeth Mendenhall had…
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Recently, President Biden and the White House marked National Homeownership Month with a new proclamation affirming the importance of expanding access to safe, affordable housing. June celebrates Pride and now with federal recognition, Juneteenth is a remarkable reminder of an exercise toward the American Dream of homeownership. Real estate is the root of economic growth,…
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It’s my sincere hope that by discussing these inequities through the lens of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and focusing on the power of stories and personal experiences, we will create more meaningful and lasting change. On June 14th HGAR, in collaboration with the National Association of Realtors, the New York State Association of Realtors, the…
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The New York State Legislature gaveled out in the early hours of June 4th, marking the end of Kathy Hochul’s first session as governor and the beginning of what promises to be a chaotic election season courtesy of court-imposed electoral maps that will upend the political landscape in New York and beyond. Obfuscated by the…
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My administration’s brand-new Office of Buildings and Codes (OBC) has been working tirelessly following the official takeover of the Building Department in the Village of Spring Valley on Feb. 14, 2022, a directive from the New York State Department of State following years of code enforcement issues. Since assuming control, the Rockland County Office of…
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The American political process not only provides the opportunity for citizen involvement, but good government demands it. It is wise to follow Plato’s analysis: “The punishment of wise men who refuse to take part in the affairs of government is to live under the government of unwise men.” From the very beginning, Realtors have supported…
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Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell recently advocated for the adoption of a new sales-tax sharing model. For years, villages and towns have asked Putnam County to share their revenue from taxes on goods sold within our borders. The county will only share tax revenue for years in which Putnam County’s sales-tax revenue increases over the…
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