Remain calm and carry on! Do not panic! Yes, the rumor is true. So, what am I talking about? Well, if you haven’t come out of your home, picked up a newspaper, or read a trade publication since the beginning of the pandemic, then please allow me to be the first one to inform you…
Read MoreWith the new year upon us, we must keep in mind all the changes that took place in 2020 (although I’m sure many of us wish to forget about last year). So, in keeping with helping all members stay in compliance with various rules, regulations, and requirements, I am going to dedicate this month’s article…
Read MoreOn Dec. 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 [see https://bit.ly/3qb3WOP] which passed overwhelmingly by both the House and Senate. The Appropriations Act is the largest bill (over 5,000 pages) ever passed by Congress. It includes $900 billion in pandemic relief funds to assist businesses and provide important funding and…
Read MoreOn April 3, 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Gov. Andrew Cuomo “enacted the strongest Paid Sick Leave program in the nation” by passing Section 196-b of the New York State Labor Law (“Section 196-b”) [see https://bit.ly/39Xk9T6]. Proposed regulations have also been issued [see https://on.ny.gov/37TW4d2] (“Regulations”). Section 196-b, and its accompanying regulations, will…
Read MoreBefore we begin, it is important to understand that only NAR is authorized to interpret the Code of Ethics, its applications, and its proper enforcement to Member Boards and Board Members. Professional Standard hearing panels rely on these interpretations, as well as NAR’s case interpretations in forming their decisions. No other body, state association, local…
Read MoreThe old proverb states, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” This becomes the challenge to all buyer agents acting in their client’s best interests; do the right thing, but don’t do it to such an extent to cause harm. In past years, Realtors encouraged drafting a “love letter” to the homeowner, where…
Read MoreIt is not uncommon for real estate brokers and agents to make requests, and many times demands, at the closing table for certain documents, such as the lender’s Closing Disclosure, the Contract of Sale, and other documents. Brokers and agents claim that the law requires that these documents be provided because they are mandated under…
Read More2020 has been a roller coaster of a year. It started out with a booming economy, a robust real estate market and an optimistic outlook for the year. That all quickly changed two months later when the economy virtually came to a halt due to the pandemic. Election Day is now here. As I write,…
Read MoreSo much is happening today. We’re all riding a big surge in real estate activity and we’re all surprisingly busy this fall. There are all sorts of new COVID-19 protocols, Executive Orders and recent rollbacks of permissible real estate activity in various regions and new fair housing requirements. As a result, it’s easy for some…
Read MoreOn Sept. 30, U.S. District Court Judge Eric R. Komitee for the Eastern District of New York, issued a decision that deals a temporary blow to two cases filed more than a year ago by the Community Housing Improvement Program and the Rent Stabilization Association of N.Y.C., in one case, and several landlords, in another…
Read MoreThe Small Business Administration will begin processing PPP loan forgiveness applications. Businesses’ are eligible for the forgiveness program if they spent 60% or more of the loan on payroll, and for other uses such as rent, electric or mortgage payments. The PPP program saved many businesses from going under. Businesses should submit their applications to…
Read MoreThe House and the Senate have passed and President Trump has signed a stopgap funding resolution through Dec. 11. This is a big step in keeping certainty going for the country and the economy at large. Included in this resolution is an extension of the National Flood Insurance Program through next September, which will keep…
Read MoreIn December of 2018 the Westchester County Executive George Latimer signed legislation into law to guarantee a measure of protection to prospective co-op purchasers. Thus far, more than 300 rejections of prospective buyers have occurred since the co-op law went into effect. This is an inordinate number of rejections. and there are many questions that…
Read MoreNo one could have ever imagined all that has transpired over the past several months. The COVID-19 virus began to spread throughout the world earlier this year and within weeks and months it overtook the world and has taken, and continues to take, countless lives. Our hearts go out to all of those who have…
Read MoreOn Aug. 11, 2020, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed Executive Law (Human Rights Law) §296(2-a) (d)(2) requiring landlords to provide tenants “the use of an animal as a reasonable accommodation to alleviate symptoms or effects of a disability.” It was effective immediately. This protection adds to those already required under federal law. Under this state law,…
Read MoreThe cases of COVID-19 continue to rise and fall from month to month. The economic crisis also continues as the unemployment rate remains above 10%. The MTA is in dire straits and considering eliminating train service west of the Hudson. A total of 20% cuts will be made by state agencies if an aid package…
Read MoreOn July 27, 2020, the Senate introduced eight bills, referred to as the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools Act (HEALS Act), that would offer additional relief for individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. On July 31, 2020, an important element of the previously enacted COVID-19 relief packages, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance…
Read MoreAs the HGAR Professional Standards Administrator, I often get calls and e-mails from members of the public and/or Realtors looking to file a complaint against a Realtor who is acting unethically. Usually, after a lengthy discussion, it’s revealed that the Realtor being complained about isn’t acting unethically, they’re simply acting unprofessionally. Topping the list of…
Read MoreLegislative activity remains high on the national level. As the incidences of Covid-19 escalate in many areas of the country, Congress is in talks to pass another aid package which, at this point, is far from what either party can agree upon. One of the components of the bill that is being discussed is extending…
Read MoreOn April 2, in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the New York State Court of Appeals issued a decision in Regina Metropolitan Co., LLC v. New York State Division of Housing and Community Preservation (“Regina Metropolitan”) [see https://bit.ly/38I4y79] barring the retroactive application of certain provisions of the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of…
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