Tax reform has been proposed. Do not panic yet. Why do I say that? Because even though the Trump Administration has laid out the tax reform proposal, Congress has not weighed in as yet. In order for long-term tax reform to work where deductions are eliminated or modified, the Senate needs 60 votes. Right now…
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“Achievement has no color.” ― Abraham Lincoln It’s Fair Housing and Cultural Diversity Month for Realtors and in our line of business it is not acceptable to consider a client’s race, or make ethnic judgments that would adversely impact our customers. We must continue to treat all buyers and sellers as equals in every aspect…
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Last Friday (April 7th) the Realtor community lost an invaluable leader, an industry advocate, and a great friend, Henry W. “Hank” Fries. I had the true privilege to have known Hank for over 30 years, back when he headed the commercial division for Houlihan Lawrence Inc., prior to striking out on his own as a…
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The 7th annual gathering of Putnam County leadership was held on April 2 at the Spain Cornerstone Park in Carmel. Federal, state, county, town and village elected officials attended an informal roundtable conversation on items the Putnam County Chamber considers its legislative priorities. A lively exchange ensued and some action items were identified. From the…
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Important Elements of The Real Estate Transaction: Real estate closings in parts of New York State do not always go as smoothly as one would like. In many other states, real estate transactions are handled primarily by the real estate agents and not the attorneys, who negotiate the offers between sellers and buyers and primarily…
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Don’t worry! Don’t panic, the title of this article is “Fake News.” It is not true. However, a few years ago this, astonishingly, could have been true if not for the advocacy by the New York State Association of Realtors and your Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors. A New York State legislator had proposed a…
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There are many issues of concern to Realtors on the political horizon this year. Congress is currently absorbed considering the nomination of a Supreme Court Justice as well as the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) so, tax reform, while currently not yet at the forefront, has serious implications for Realtors. 1031 exchanges are being targeted in…
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WHITE PLAINS—The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors was proud to host Community Capital’s first of four entrepreneurial training and networking sessions at HGAR's state of the art offices in White Plains. The initiative, called “SCALE” (Success, Collaboration, Access and Learning for Entrepreneurs), is a program designed by Community Capital to meet the unique needs of…
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We see the glitzy advertisements on television all the time. A low-cost timeshare offer beckons you away to a tropical or otherwise desirable location. Realtors and members of the public should always investigate to see if all that glitters is truly gold. The purpose of the article is to describe exactly what are the basic…
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“When change is afoot, it's always exciting to get involved and be a part of the movement instead of going along for the ride as a mere participant. I’m psyched!”—T. Teresa Belmore, BHG/Rand Realty Teresa said it best; we are in an exciting time at HGAR as we begin to experience what it really means…
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Relationship gurus will tell you that the key to any successful relationship is communication, and the lynchpin to successful communication is listening. HGAR is actively engaged in strategic planning for the association and one of the primary areas of focus with this endeavor is communications. HGAR President Dorothy Botsoe appointed a Work Group for this…
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2016 was a record-breaking year for non-business-friendly regulations with the onerous minimum wage increase and the most generous family leave mandate in the country. Heather Briccetti, president and CEO of The Business Council of New York State, said, “These mandates, combined with the lack of any meaningful, broad-based business climate reforms, left our state’s small,…
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Reform of the Tax Code is important, but must not eliminate the tax benefits of homeownership. Since its inception over a century ago, the U.S. income tax system has recognized the positive effects of homeownership for families, communities, and society by granting certain tax benefits to homeowners. The result has been a home-owning society that…
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One of the benefits of HGAR’s move to One Maple Avenue in White Plains is the fact that we have great light in the office from oversized windows and skylights. Ironically the view from my office looks out over our former offices in the Westchester Pavilion Mall at 60 South Broadway, with the Ritz Carlton…
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I first want to thank everyone who attended the installation and made it a success. It was a terrific, fun event with a focus on inclusion, diversity, and making our organization stronger, more unified and on target for moving forward as we embrace the changing face of real estate this year. Another change worth mentioning…
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Our governor chose an unusual delivery for his 2017 “State of the State” message, visiting multiple sites as opposed to the customary presentation in front of a joint session of the State Legislature and invited guests. Some of his proposals have garnered attention from the business community. His signature proposal, to make state-run college tuition…
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Debts and deficits run by the federal government, despite experiencing declines over the past seven years, have been at record levels for several reasons. The lack of revenue to the government, coupled with high federal spending, has contributed to the problem. We also experienced a financial crisis that crippled our economy for many years. We…
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As I write this article it is Martin Luther King Day, a national holiday honoring an individual whose singular eloquence, passion, and determination did so much to bring to an end legal segregation in this country. In the nearly 49 years since Dr. King’s assassination we have certainly made progress in improving race relations and…
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We know that 2017 will be a time of change with a new President, a new Congress, and new members of the Cabinet. As Realtors, we will all need to be watchful of changes affecting homeownership, specifically: mortgage rates, closing costs, rising inflation, job and income gains, housing supply, income-tax reform that might eliminate some…
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The Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, the county’s largest business organization and primary advocate, voice, and resource for the business community, is calling for nominations to be considered for the Chamber’s seventh annual “Best in Business” Trailblazer Award. Nominations may be submitted online at pcctrailblazers.com. The nomination deadline is Feb. 7, 2017. Winners will be…
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