Viewpoints

Anthony Domathoti

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: A Changing Market

July 20, 2022

July is here and we are well into the summer market. Change is constant and as we evolve, we join forces, and share resources through this post pandemic times. Inflation is hurting every household budget and it is likely to hurt the nation’s budget, too. The Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes, meant to counteract inflation,…

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Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: Exploring Global Opportunities

July 13, 2022

When Alejandro Escudero, Director of Global Strategy and Engagement for the National Association of Realtors, confirmed in 2018 that HGAR had been designated as the Ambassador Association to Portugal I was very excited, but I also had no idea what it truly meant to be an Ambassador Association. In 2017 NAR President Elizabeth Mendenhall had…

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Anthony Domathoti

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: Homeownership is a Cornerstone Of A Strong Community

June 22, 2022

Recently, President Biden and the White House marked National Homeownership Month with a new proclamation affirming the importance of expanding access to safe, affordable housing. June celebrates Pride and now with federal recognition, Juneteenth is a remarkable reminder of an exercise toward the American Dream of homeownership. Real estate is the root of economic growth,…

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Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: The Power of Stories

June 17, 2022

It’s my sincere hope that by discussing these inequities through the lens of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and focusing on the power of stories and personal experiences, we will create more meaningful and lasting change. On June 14th HGAR, in collaboration with the National Association of Realtors, the New York State Association of Realtors, the…

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Michael Neppl

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS: Legislative Session Winds Down, Campaign Season Heats Up

June 16, 2022

The New York State Legislature gaveled out in the early hours of June 4th, marking the end of Kathy Hochul’s first session as governor and the beginning of what promises to be a chaotic election season courtesy of court-imposed electoral maps that will upend the political landscape in New York and beyond. Obfuscated by the…

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Ed Day

GUEST VIEWPOINT: Going Toe-to-Toe with Irresponsible Landlords

June 8, 2022

My administration’s brand-new Office of Buildings and Codes (OBC) has been working tirelessly following the official takeover of the Building Department in the Village of Spring Valley on Feb. 14, 2022, a directive from the New York State Department of State following years of code enforcement issues. Since assuming control, the Rockland County Office of…

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Anthony Domathoti

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: Your Voice has Power

May 18, 2022

The American political process not only provides the opportunity for citizen involvement, but good government demands it. It is wise to follow Plato’s analysis: “The punishment of wise men who refuse to take part in the affairs of government is to live under the government of unwise men.” From the very beginning, Realtors have supported…

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Jennifer Maher

PUTNAM POSTING: Putnam County Shares Taxes

May 18, 2022

Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell recently advocated for the adoption of a new sales-tax sharing model. For years, villages and towns have asked Putnam County to share their revenue from taxes on goods sold within our borders. The county will only share tax revenue for years in which Putnam County’s sales-tax revenue increases over the…

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Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: Advocacy is the Foundation of HGAR

May 16, 2022

For those of you who regularly read my monthly columns in Real Estate In-Depth (and I know it’s a massive number—I say tongue-in-cheek), you will note that I often return to common themes. This is one of those times when I revisit a topic that I have written about often—advocacy. The reason is simple: Advocacy…

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Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: Practicing Fair Housing Every Day of the Year

April 20, 2022

This April marks the 54th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, the landmark civil rights law signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on April 11, 1968, that made discrimination in housing transactions unlawful. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability and…

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Brian Levine

What You Need to Know About the New Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

April 11, 2022

There are a lot of questions and concerns from our members relating to the newly instituted Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This month’s article can serve as a “cheat sheet” on the basics and, hopefully, will answer many of your questions. NYSAR’s SOPs template can be found here. • The new SOPs requirement is effective April…

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Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: Renewed Focus on Commercial and Global Opportunities

March 21, 2022

Residential real estate is the primary focus of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors. That is the focus of most of the members of HGAR, and residential real estate makes up the large majority of inventory in OneKey MLS. Having said that, HGAR must always actively support and engage with the commercial real estate brokerage…

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Anthony Domathoti

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: Celebrating Women in Business and Life

March 21, 2022

I challenge you to learn about women in various fields who you may not have heard of before. My goal in offering this challenge is to inspire and/or infuriate, and I’m including men in this. Most of us know March is National Women’s History Month, but sometimes it is not well recognized. National Women’s History…

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Ed Day

GUEST VIEWPOINT: County Executive’s Corner: ‘Office of Buildings and Codes’

February 23, 2022

My administration and Rockland County government achieved the impossible; in only three months, Rockland launched a brand-new County Office of Buildings and Codes. I want everyone to know that this has been an incredibly difficult, detailed, and time-consuming process to create an entirely new office within county government. It was only 90 days ago that…

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Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: Embracing Diversity

February 23, 2022

When HGAR conducted our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion survey last year we had close to a 9% response rate. While we would have liked a higher response rate, 9% was a terrific start. Overall, the feedback to the survey was very positive, though we did receive some comments questioning why we were conducting the survey.…

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Freddimir Garcia

GUEST VIEWPOINT: Celebrating Black History Month

February 1, 2022

After New Year celebrations wind down, organizations begin their annual discussions on what and how to celebrate Black History Month. Many begin by recognizing the lives and contributions of Black Americans throughout history, while others post messages of recognition on social media. I believe it all has a role to play but it is also…

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