We are seven months through 2020, and most would probably agree it’s been a challenging year so far. I know I personally started the year with optimism and excitement for everything I hoped our leadership team would accomplish for HGAR and our members in 2020. Considering the unforeseen pandemic and other obstacles, the fact that…
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The beat goes on both at the federal and state level; issues that affect everyone in our industry and everyone in the country as well. It is imperative that Congress pass new legislation that provides aid to local and state governments, aid to small businesses to keep them afloat, and aid to landlords so they…
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I came across an article recently that noted a concerning statistic. According to the Morning Consult Economic Intelligence: Global Consumer Confidence study, as of June 1, 2020, New York’s consumer confidence index was at 82.5. A significant drop from its first quarter numbers, which were in the 112 range. While many agree that there is…
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“New York, like states all across the country, confronts the immediate effects of a paralyzing national recession, the longer-term challenge of improving our competitive position in the global economy, and the specter of a dangerous, ugly divisiveness among our people.” Those words, but with the single substitution of “pandemic” for “recession,” are as true today…
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As I write this article, back at my desk at the HGAR offices in White Plains which we reopened July 6th, I can’t help but think back on the last four months when we were all working remotely from home. So much has happened in that short period of time, a world-wide pandemic, real estate…
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Every year in July, HGAR sends out a request for applications for open seats on our Board of Directors, including Director and Officer positions. Officer positions include President-Elect, Treasurer and Secretary. The other two officer positions that comprise the Executive Committee are Immediate Past President (that will be me next year!), and President which will…
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According to U.S. Census data, at 77%, the population of Putnam County, is predominantly white. In fact, aside from Ulster County, Putnam is the least diverse county in the Mid-Hudson region. This is neither judgment nor praise, just a simple demographic fact. Adding to a lack of diversity, our county seat is 60 miles north…
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Election upsets were on the menu on June 23, the day of the Congressional and State Primary races. State Assembly and State Senate primaries were also held. The first big upset came in Congressional District 16 currently held by Congressman Eliot Engel, who is the Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The district covers…
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Over the years of my involvement at HGAR, I’ve seen the organization grow both organically and through mergers with neighboring associations. The first came when the Westchester County Board of Realtors merged with the Putnam County Association of Realtors. After that came the merger with the Orange County Association of Realtors and the Rockland County…
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Although the month of June has seen a leveling off of new COVID-19 cases, much is still happening on the legislative front. Three bills have passed the State Legislature and new fair housing regulations go into effect this month. One of those regulations provides for a New York State Housing and Anti-Discrimination Disclosure Form that…
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On June 3rd in HGAR’s daily e-mail update I addressed the pain, suffering and turmoil since the senseless killing of George Floyd. Since then, there have been more protests and tragically more deaths. There is justifiable anger, and that anger is rooted in the fact that this country seems to repeat this scenario of outrage…
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We were all shocked and appalled by the recent senseless killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. No person should die as he did, regardless of race. Unfortunately, this is a pattern we’ve seen repeated too many times where the victim is a person of color. People around the country are coming out en masse for…
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Additional stimulus plans are being debated in Congress. Both the House and Senate are staking out where they will be on the next set of issues. Some states want more aid and others do not want to approve any aid if it goes to state and local governments. Governor Cuomo states that New York will…
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I would like to share my thoughts on the pain, suffering and turmoil that has gripped our region, our state and our nation since the tragic and senseless killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis during the last week. Two and a half months ago COVID-19 began its onslaught in New York, creating what can best…
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What divides us? Many things: politics, opinion, race, religion, culture, education, wealth, status and even beauty. Nineteen years ago, after the devastating 9/11 attacks on our country and our state, citizens and communities rose above difference. We embraced our neighbors, once strangers, and, for a time, humanity, love of country, and fear of what we…
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Everyone knows the old proverb that patience is a virtue. However, it’s not a virtue I’ve been able to embrace very easily. At the end of February, the real estate market was chugging along at a brisk pace. We were getting ready to launch OneKey MLS. I was repeating my mantra that change is good…
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I heard this term “the next normal” recently and it immediately resonated with me. Normal is what we get accustomed to, but it is not stagnant. Normal is always evolving and so we move from one version of normal to another…next! As we continue to work towards defending against and defeating COVID-19, we must be…
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On Friday, May 8th, the Putnam County Business Council launched a “Reopen Putnam County Safely” Task Force, which gathered a cohort of town, village, and business stakeholders for an initial meeting to discuss the reopening of Putnam County. Representatives from Carmel, Southeast/Brewster, Kent, Patterson, Philipstown/Cold Spring and Putnam Valley were joined by retail and service…
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By Maureen Halahan and Marc Baez During these uncertain times, the people of New York State have benefitted from Gov. Cuomo’s leadership and that of our federal, state and local officials while, once again, showing remarkable resilience. So, much has happened so quickly, and we applaud our elected representatives for taking decisive action to ensure…
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The will hold joint hearings on the federal response to the COVID-19 crisis. The first hearing was scheduled virtually for May 13th and was to look at whether the federal response was sufficient in view of the disproportionate impact on New York State the virus has had. The second hearing, which has not been scheduled…
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