One of Dorothy Botsoe’s lead initiatives as HGAR President has been to reach out to the membership and have a direct dialogue with our members with the “Tea with the President” events this spring and “Pizza Parties” this summer and fall throughout Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange, Manhattan and the Bronx. Dorothy has also reached out…
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The debt ceiling is a little hard to comprehend. It is the amount of money the federal government is allowed to borrow. When the federal debt ceiling is raised it is done to pay bills that have already been incurred by the federal government. This is an important point that people fail to realize. Unfortunately,…
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Knowledge Is Power: The New York State Attorney General and the three credit reporting agencies initiated changes by a settlement agreement that resulted in the birth of an entity known as the “National Consumer Assistance Plan.” This new rule changes the way public records related to civil judgments and tax liens are reported on consumer…
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After a few years of living in Putnam County, I learned that to have a say in local elections you had to vote in the primary, and historically the Republican candidate would win. After a few years, I became a Republican to have a choice of who would wind up in whatever office was being…
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Repairs on the MTA rail system have not been made because of a supposed lack of a revenue stream. This is simply false according to Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow of the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor to the Manhattan Institute’s City Journal. Gelinas, who is also a columnist with the New York Post,…
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The foundation of all successful real-estate deals is the finance package. This is where everything you have worked so hard for to help close your deal can get derailed. I thought this was a good time to take a look at mortgages with one of Westchester’s most knowledgeable mortgage specialists, David Valcich of Associated Mortgage…
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I recently returned from a state conference of Realtor Association executives that featured a broad spectrum of speakers who addressed a myriad of topics that currently confront our industry. One of the speakers was Aleks Velkoski, data scientist and a member of the Data Analytics Group of the National Association of Realtors. Aleks, as his…
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Jobs, local jobs, local jobs with minimal college debt. Some of us keep repeating the mantra over and over, but it often seems to fall on deaf ears. With all the talk of burdensome student debt, free college, minimum wages and even a proposed (ugh!) Universal Basic Income, the fact is that right here in…
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It is well known that Article 3 of the Realtor Code of Ethics deals with cooperation, surely an underpinning of an ethical real estate practice and a fluid marketplace. However, not all may be familiar with the nuances that are part and parcel of this rule of ethics. Article 3 closely resembles fiduciary law in…
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Under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), attorneys may collect fees related to pursuing claims of non-compliance of the law but plaintiffs are not permitted to collect damages. Lawsuits often target easily correctible infractions such as signage, soap dispenser heights and transition lifts on ramps. Owners of these properties often have a…
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We are taught at an early age by our parents and teachers to always say please and thank you. Alas, sometimes as we grow older we forget the common courtesies in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but we should not forget to show our appreciation to the HGAR members who give up so…
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“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.” Napoleon Hill There’s a biblical phrase my mother used to often say to me “To whom much is given much is expected,” and after my first six months as HGAR President I totally believe she continues to be right! We have come a long way…
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Recently, we discussed Putnam County’s not-for-profits and how the business community could best support and enhance their efforts. To extend that topic further, perhaps we should consider promoting Putnam County as a hub for religious organizations. People may not realize it, but Putnam County is home to some rather large religious organizations. One of my…
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Big changes are needed at the local government level in order to make home ownership attractive to the millennial generation. Big changes are needed at the state level to our transportation system in order to get people from Point A to Point B. To begin to foster change on the local level, Realtors should attend…
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“Go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is.” – Jimmy Carter It's May and our real estate season is off to a good start! But to keep bearing "good fruit," we must keep the pressure on our state legislators to promote our agenda and I urge all Realtors to come together for our…
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I know. We often sound like a broken record. “Please contribute to the Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC)--It’s your safety net and insurance policy concerning Realtor issues and homeownership interests.” “Please respond to NAR’s most recent call to action—you need to let your legislative leaders know how important maintaining the mortgage interest deduction is, or…
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“CFA” has been a buzzword in state politics for awhile, yet few seem to understand it or what it means. With the process now in its seventh year, the New York State website states, “The CFA (or Consolidated Funding Application) process marks a fundamental shift in the way state resources are allocated, ensuring less bureaucracy…
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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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