With the presidential election over we can now, hopefully, move on to the business of governing. The election brings a new administration and new priorities. For the housing industry it is important that we pass several pieces of legislation and be watchful of others. It is particularly imperative that we extend two critical housing tax…
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The foundation of my installation speech when I accepted the position as your President for 2016 was, in part, to address the widespread resistance to change among our members. I acknowledged the fundamental desire of all individuals, no matter what profession, to avoid what is unfamiliar and continue with what is most comfortable. I truly…
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Many moons ago, when a then young James Carville was an aide working on Bill Clinton’s campaign for president, he uttered the famous line “It’s the economy, stupid” and made a sign with that slogan that he pinned to the campaign headquarters wall to keep everyone on message. The line still resonates today. Elections can…
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Through this intense election season, there has been much discussion about how Donald Trump’s policies would affect the business community. In his victory speech he boasted, “We have a great economic plan—we will double our growth and have the strongest economy anywhere in the world.” This is certainly a lofty goal, but how do we…
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There are many headwinds facing the overall housing market in New York State. Some of them are high property taxes, strict land use regulation, and difficulty saving for a down payment. Student debt has also been a big factor in preventing a boom in the housing market. What can be done to address some of…
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Homeownership and property rights are the pillars of our industry and by showing support for those two ideals, through contributions to RPAC, we have protected and empowered our members so they can be the best at what they do. Undoubtedly, our primary goal as an association is to ensure that our members continue to grow…
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On Monday, October 17th, the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, Inc. conducted its Annual Member Day and celebrated its 100th Anniversary at the DoubleTree Hotel in Tarrytown. The day included informative sessions which focused on topics like Google products and memory retention, as well as an ethics class taught by HGAR’s Director of Legal Affairs,…
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We have only a handful of hotel rooms. Our commerce districts are relatively small and often overlooked. However, Putnam County has a vast ecological, historical and cultural resource within commutation distance of New York City, potentially making us an ideal ecotourism destination for the millions of people to our south. Given the undeveloped nature of…
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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Sept. 15, 2016 issued "Limited English Proficiency" (LEP) guidance that addresses how the Fair Housing Act would apply to claims of housing discrimination brought by LEP persons who do not happen to speak, read, or write English proficiently. Housing providers are therefore prohibited from using…
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With the deadline for submitting this article looming ahead of me, I did what most members of my generation do when faced with limited time and significant work ahead of them, I went on-line. I checked out Instagram, read some stories on Snapchat and browsed Facebook. During my hour of “socialization” I learned that a…
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In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended in 2008 by the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, (collectively, the “ADA”) was enacted to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. The ADA’s general rule provides, “No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and…
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As we all know, land use regulations in New York State make it one of the most expensive states to build and do business in. We rank high in property taxes, high in utility costs, and in several other areas, as well. Rental costs have been increasing, in part, due to Millennials choosing to rent…
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What began as the Westchester County Board of Realtors in 1916 has, over time, transformed itself into what we now know as the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors. Apart from the natural growth of the industry that has been the main driver of our membership, we have also had multiple opportunities to join forces with…
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In mid-August President Elect Dorothy Botsoe and I made the trek to Chicago to the National Association of Realtors 2016 Leadership Summit. NAR conducts the Leadership Summit every year for the association’s incoming President and the CEO. In addition to numerous updates on NAR initiatives, the program provides the incoming President of NAR the opportunity…
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We are currently looking for two people to embark on the 2,000-mile epic journey to commemorate the Fireball Run's 10th Anniversary. The eight- day adventure begins in Western New York, winds through Pennsylvania, Maryland, and back into New York before concluding in Amesbury, MA. Putnam County will be featured near the end of the trek,…
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In speaking with many of our members over the years, I have always been perturbed by the fact that many of us forget or are unaware that HGAR offers more tools to its members than simply our Multiple Listing Service. Don’t misunderstand me, our MLS is vital and often central to our ability as real…
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The Business Council of Westchester’s Third Quarter 2016 edition of 914INC. magazine has an editorial entitled “Big Ideas From Small Businesses” and a special feature saluting small business in Westchester County. 914INC. Executive Editor Amy Partridge spelled out the reasons for featuring these businesses, and stressed the importance of small businesses in our daily lives,…
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First, a disclaimer, I am blatantly biased as I write this month’s article. I have been a huge fan of HGAR’s Legal Counsel Edward I. Sumber for more than three decades. In my opinion Ed has been one of the most effective and knowledgeable association legal counsels in the country, and he has earned the…
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I want to share the perspective of someone who has practiced professional economic development in Rockland for over 30 years, including in my current role at Rockland Economic Development Corp. We all understand that Rockland can be an expensive place to live. While not a panacea for all financial concerns, there is a means available…
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On May 31st, more than 100 of our Managers and Broker/Owners gathered at the Doubletree Hotel in Tarrytown for their first 2016 meeting. Each year, the incoming president of HGAR invites two members to chair a committee that is responsible for organizing a minimum of two educational events throughout the year for the Managers and…
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