As I often say, the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors is a real estate trade association. We are not a book club, and we are not fighting to save the whales—there are other worthwhile organizations that do that. As a trade association, our primary mission and goal is to serve our membership by advocating on…
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In my capacity as an instructor, I have taught a class called “Is that Pony a Pet? Understanding Assistance Animals” for various boards around the State of New York, including the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors. This has been a very popular and confusing topic for many agents, and I have noticed a strange phenomenon…
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LEARNING never stops—and nor should it. As the world around us continues to evolve, so must we. As we are currently navigating a slower market than in the recent past, it is the perfect time to look towards professional development. Would you be happy using a lawyer who had not stayed abreast of legal changes…
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It is an absolute pleasure to be writing this column. Not only is this the first time a Government Affairs Director has provided a column in many months, but also, this is my first opportunity to introduce myself to the HGAR membership. On top of that, we are weeks away from Lobby Day! My name…
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No matter how hard you try to stay positive, there are going to be times when things upset you, disappoint you, or even make you angry. You didn’t get the listing that your dear friend promised you. Your buyer client decided to pull out of the deal that you worked so hard to put together.…
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American philanthropist, humanitarian and civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune once stated: “If we accept and acquiesce in the face of discrimination, we accept the responsibility ourselves and allow those responsible to salve their conscience by believing that they have our acceptance and concurrence. We should, therefore, protest openly everything... that smacks of discrimination or…
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I’m going to pick up where I left off with my January article in Real Estate In-Depth. My message in January was for our members to use their time constructively during this period as we experience a slower market than a year ago. One way you can do this is to take advantage of all…
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There is a lot of discussion about DEI … lots of opinions and thoughts. So, why is DEI important, especially in our industry? The term DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) was coined in the early 2000s, though the concept has been around for much longer. DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) is important because it creates…
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I don’t know what it is about the beginning of the year that makes agents so anxious… Ok, maybe I do, but they shouldn’t be. The beginning of every new year I hear, “I don’t have anything going on. I’m starting to freak out,” as if the changing of the year killed all of their…
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We are now in the first few weeks of the new year and if you are like most, you’re probably pumped up about starting your new year resolutions or taking the opportunity to reinstitute some good old habits that may have fallen by the wayside over time. Or… even still, you may be dreading coming…
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I begin my year as the President of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors by looking back and being grateful for our achievements and for the obstacles that we’ve overcome over the past several years. But in doing so, I often wonder whether our members know about our successes, realize how they benefited, or even…
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I am honored to have been selected recently by the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors Board of Directors as the Interim CEO for HGAR as the Board undertakes a national search for a replacement for Richard Haggerty, who has taken on the role of CEO of OneKey MLS after serving the association’s membership for nearly…
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If you had asked me at the beginning of 2022 where my career would end up, I would have unequivocally and emphatically said the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors. It’s been my home for 38 years and I relished the opportunity to stay at one job my whole career. I’ve loved this job and this…
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It’s hard to believe the end of the year is already upon us. This will be my last news article before I pass the hat to your next President Tony D’Anzica. It has been a great year and a whole lot of fun being President. I enjoyed all the meetings and encountering new people at…
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Co-operative housing corporations (co-ops) have long held that the success and financial viability of their community are dependent on the shared goals and attitudes of the residents (shareholders). On its appearance, that makes sense. But what is essential for “success?” A simple Googling of the “definition of community” returned the following results: “A common definition…
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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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