News

November 2021 Realtors Confidence Index Report: First-Time Buyer Share Falls to 26% in November With Nearly 1 Million Renter Households Priced Out of the Market

December 28, 2021

Editor's Note: Reprinted with permission from the National Association of Realtors®. By Scholastica (Gay) Cororaton Many first-time buyers continue to struggle to move into homeownership amid sustained price growth and competition from all-cash buyers. The share of first-time buyers fell to 26% in November, according to the November REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey, a survey of…

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Existing U.S. Home Sales Rose 1.9% in November; Northeast Sales Flat Compared to October Volume

December 27, 2021

WASHINGTON—Existing U.S. home sales rose in November, denoting three consecutive months of increases, according to the National Association of Realtors. Three of the four major U.S. regions reported growth in monthly sales, while the fourth region—the Northeast—held steady in November. From a year-over-year perspective, only one region experienced a rise in sales as the three…

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Gov. Hochul Signs Bill Package to Combat Housing Discrimination in Response to Newsday’s Expose

December 22, 2021

ALBANY—New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a legislative package on Dec. 21 totaling nine bills geared at combating housing discrimination and addressing issues raised in a Newsday expose entitled “Long Island Divided.” The centerpiece of the legislation is the Anti-Discrimination in Housing Fund that will permit the state to conduct fair housing testing. Other initiatives…

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Hudson Valley Added More than 22,000 Private Sector Jobs in Last 12 Months

December 21, 2021

ALBANY—The New York State Department of Labor reported recently that private sector jobs in the Hudson Valley rose over the year by 22,100 positions, or 3.0%, to 766,400 in November 2021. Job growth was centered in leisure and hospitality (+13,400), professional and business services (+6,100), trade, transportation and utilities (+2,600), educational and health services (+1,900),…

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New Rochelle City Council Adopts Sweeping New Downtown Overlay Zone Amendments

December 21, 2021

NEW ROCHELLE—The New Rochelle City Council unanimously approved on Dec. 20 significant advancements to its historic redevelopment, enabling the continuation of the district’s transformation that began six years ago. The city’s efforts to adopt a form-based zoning code providing certainty for developers already have helped attract $2.2 billion in private investment, resulting in the development…

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New York State Awards $145M for Affordable Housing Projects

December 17, 2021

ALBANY—Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Dec. 16 more than $145 million has been awarded to create or preserve 1,178 affordable homes in 21 separate developments across New York. The funding will further pandemic recovery efforts, fight homelessness, help close the digital divide for lower income households, and expand access to safe and sustainable affordable housing…

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NAR Predicts Higher Home Sales, Prices and Rates in 2022

December 16, 2021

WASHINGTON—As part of the National Association of Realtors’ Real Estate Forecast Summit held on Dec. 15, real estate economists and experts predict a continued strong market, marginal improvement in the nation’s for-sale inventory crisis and higher interest rates. The virtual program began with an opening address by 2022 NAR President Leslie Rouda Smith, followed by…

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Five Questions With NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun

December 16, 2021

The Delta variant surge and the emergence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, as well as high inflation, have many business leaders nervous heading into 2022. The residential real estate sales market has been booming in the United States, thanks to strong demand and low borrowing rates. What’s in store for the residential and commercial markets…

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MTA Awards Contract for Nearly $3B Metro-North Penn Station Access Project

December 16, 2021

NEW YORK—The Penn Station Access Project, which has been widely supported by politicians and business interests in the Bronx and Westchester has reached a critical stage—the award of a contract to undertake the work that will provide direct Metro-North service from the Bronx, Westchester and Connecticut to Penn Station and Manhattan’s west side. Penn Station…

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Hudson United Mortgage Announces Partnership with NAMMBA

December 15, 2021

NANUET—The National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America (NAMMBA) recently announced a partnership with locally-based Hudson United Mortgage in NAMMBA’s effort to affect positive change with the housing needs of underserved communities and with the development of a more diverse mortgage workforce. “We’re extremely excited to partner with Hudson United Mortgage,” said NAMMBA Founder/CEO…

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NAHREP Holds Annual Sales Awards Gala

December 15, 2021

NEW ROCHELLE—The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) Westchester Chapter held its Annual Sales Award Gala at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle on Nov. 10. The organization handed out its major awards and also announced that Jose "Joe" Maymi, Howard Hanna | Rand Realty will be serving as NAHREP 2022…

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Fordham, OneKey, HGAR Event Explored Overcoming Barriers to Development

December 14, 2021

NEW YORK—Commercial development plays an imperative role in the success and longevity of a community. However, the road to its execution can be riddled with legal, ethical and environmental hinderances. Real estate experts joined leading development and public policy professionals to discuss commercial development complexities and their resolutions in a virtual panel Nov. 18 hosted…

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Governor Signs New Loft Protection Law

December 8, 2021

ALBANY—New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Dec. 7 the recent enactment of legislation (S.6950/A.7667) that makes it unlawful to disrupt or fail to provide essential services and habitability for interim multiple dwelling units and allows tenants to pursue a claim in New York City Housing Court. The bill, which was signed into law…

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New York State to Launch $539 Million Homeowners Assistance Fund

December 7, 2021

ALBANY—New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Dec. 6 that New York State is the first state in the nation to receive U.S. Department of the Treasury's approval to launch its Homeowner Assistance Fund, a program that will provide up to $539 million to help eligible homeowners avert mortgage delinquency, default, foreclosure, and displacement. Applications…

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Rep. Maloney Says SALT Cap Reform is on the One-Yard Line

December 6, 2021

BEDFORD HILLS—At a press conference earlier today (Dec. 6), U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-18) expressed confidence that the reform of the unpopular SALT Cap is at hand. There have been reports that Senate Democrats are at odds over the particulars of how to reform the SALT Cap, which is to be part of President…

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HGRF Donates on ‘Giving Tuesday’ To Castle Hill YMCA in the Bronx

December 3, 2021

NEW YORK—On Giving Tuesday (Nov. 23) Hudson Gateway Realtor Foundation, Inc. presented a check for more than $1,500 to the Castle Hill YMCA in the Bronx who has served the local community for more than a decade. Funds were raised during the Annual Golf and Tennis Outing held earlier this year by the Bronx Chapter…

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FHFA Raises Conforming Loan Limits for 2022

December 1, 2021

WASHINGTON—The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced the conforming loan limits for mortgages to be acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) in 2022. In most of the U.S., the 2022 CLL for one-unit properties will be $647,200, an increase of $98,950 from $548,250 in 2021. The market area of the Hudson…

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In Memoriam: James “Jim” W. Rood Jr.

December 1, 2021

The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors regrets to inform its membership of the passing of longtime Realtor and Affiliate James “Jim” W. Rood Jr. on Nov. 28, 2021. Rood passed away after a valiant battle with colon cancer at the age of 64. Rood was an Environmental Engineer and he ran his own company, Lighthouse…

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