“No doubt business men are greedy; no doubt trade unionists are grasping; and everyone knows that housewives are spendthrifts; but neither the greedy business men nor the grasping trade unionists nor the spendthrift housewives produce inflation.... Inflation is made by government and no one else.” Milton Friedman It is hard to explain to clients why…
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Do you know your WHY? Can you, off the top of your head explain why a person looking to buy a home needs you—a professional Realtor? If not, my advice is to continue to read this article and then prepare your personal statement articulating your value. Using a Realtor when buying a home offers several…
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“You have to be in it to win it.” “You have to spend money to make money.” I’m sure you’ve heard these phrases and similar sayings over the years. As a real estate consultant, agent, or salesperson, you are an independent contractor. And that means that you, my friend, work for yourself (under the guidance…
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Like many Realtor associations across the country, HGAR’s finances are being impacted by inflationary pressures that are driving up operating costs. A sluggish housing market is also causing Realtor membership at the local, state and national level to drop. That means associations now have to pay more money to provide the same services, while generating…
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The dust has settled and we find ourselves standing on the brink of success? As you know, the 2023 legislative session was exciting, but unproductive. Passing about half the number of bills as they did the year before, the 2023 session will be remembered for having a budget that was a month late, a housing…
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Since my administration successfully dug residents in Rockland County out of a $138-million deficit, we’ve been able to focus more resources on tackling unsafe housing despite Building and Fire Codes only being enforceable at the local level, not the county level. As the County of Rockland does not have the authority to do inspections, except…
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Do you know your WHY? Can you, off the top of your head, explain why a person looking to sell their home needs you, a professional Realtor? If not, my advice is to continue to read this article and then prepare your personal statement articulating your value. We are still working in a market where…
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When I first started in real estate many moons ago, I was so eager to get a deal going that I would take buyers to see homes without pre-approvals and continued to work with people that I knew deep down weren’t really going to make an offer on a house. I was so hungry that…
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Recently at a meeting that I attended, I had the opportunity to take an active role as an “upstander.” Before I tell you what happened at the meeting, I want to briefly explain what an upstander is. When someone witnesses or ignores a prejudiced attack, they can appear to be condoning or reinforcing the behavior…
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This is a difficult time for the housing industry, and those challenges extend to all corners—not only mortgage lenders but also the warehouse lenders, vendors, title companies, and real estate agents that support the housing and mortgage finance ecosystem. Over the past 24 months, there has been a sharp pivot from historically high origination volume—spurred…
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HGAR has long been in the vanguard, leading the way in taking on tough issues and exploring new developments and trends that impact the livelihoods of our members and affect our industry. Since I believe we must always lead, HGAR has just launched its Committee on Sustainability, joining a very small group of Realtor associations…
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I’d like to address all the amazing real estate professionals out there who play a vital role in helping people achieve their dreams. This Homeownership Month, I applaud your dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to assisting individuals and families in finding their perfect home. As we reflect on the significance of homeownership, it’s important to…
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As a broker and coach, I often share that the best lessons in real estate come from an agent’s own transactions. No, not the ones in which you are representing your buyer or seller clients. I’m talking about the ones in which you, yourself are the buyer and/or seller, or even the landlord or tenant.…
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As I have repeated many, many times, HGAR is a trade association and, as a trade association, it is our primary duty to advocate for our real estate industry on behalf of our members. As Realtors, we advocate for federal, state, and local policy initiatives that not only strengthen the public’s ability to own, buy,…
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Have you ever heard someone pose these comments or questions? Or maybe you have made similar comments yourself. If so, did it make you feel a bit uneasy or did you experience some pushback? Asking someone with an accent, where they are from, assuming they are not American. Saying, “When I look at you, I…
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In the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 2nd, two busloads of Realtors left the Hudson Valley and headed north. These buses, along with carloads of other individuals, met up with the rest of the HGAR lobby day contingent at the New York State Capital. It became very clear to those who had attended Lobby…
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It’s that time of year at HGAR when we reach out to our exceptional member base that is 14,000 strong and ask who would like to invest their time and energy to focus on their leadership development. The association is looking for candidates to apply for the 2023-2024 Leadership Accelerator Program (LAP). HGAR’s Leadership Accelerator…
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When commercial mortgage rates reset on your property, it can have a significant impact on that property’s ongoing performance. It’s never too early to prepare for the adjustment and plan proactive countermeasures. Commercial mortgage rates are often fixed for a period, typically five to 10 years, after which they reset to a new rate based…
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“In case of cabin pressure emergency, you must first secure your mask before assisting others,” the flight attendant instructs the passengers as they get ready for take-off. At some point you may have heard this metaphor used as a life lesson, but how many of us are actually taking heed? This isn’t about “work hard,…
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As of the writing of this column, the New York State budget is late and still has not passed. Often referred to as the “Big Ugly,” the state budget has historically been negotiated on time, meaning by April 1st, for most of the 2010s under Governor Andrew Cuomo. Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration has made increasing…
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