Viewpoints

Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: Ensuring the American Dream

August 7, 2020

In recent columns for Real Estate In-Depth I’ve raised the issue of access to safe and affordable housing as one of the keys to addressing the racial inequalities that exist in this country. During this extended period of low housing inventory, we need to prioritize our support for the creation of new affordable housing units,…

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Gail Fattizzi

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: The Power of Partnerships

August 6, 2020

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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Jennifer Maher

PUTNAM POSTING: Is Your Welcome Mat Out?

July 31, 2020

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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Ross J. Pepe

GUEST VIEWPOINT: Paving New York State’s Path to Economic Recovery

July 24, 2020

“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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Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: Finding the New Normal

July 14, 2020

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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Gail Fattizzi

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: We Want YOU!!!

July 10, 2020

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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Gail Fattizzi

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: HGAR to Grow with Next Merger Deal

June 18, 2020

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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Philip Weiden

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS: June Legislative and Regulatory Update

June 18, 2020

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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Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: Realtors Must be Part of the Solution

June 16, 2020

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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Gail Fattizzi

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: Realtors Must Take Active Part in Fostering Diversity

June 10, 2020

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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Philip Weiden

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS: Another Stimulus is on the Agenda for Congress

June 8, 2020

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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Jennifer Maher

PUTNAM POSTING: Revelations on Division Over Face Masks

June 3, 2020

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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Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: Patience is a Virtue—Who Ever Said That?

May 19, 2020

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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Gail Fattizzi

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: Getting Ready for the ‘Next Normal’

May 15, 2020

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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Jennifer Maher

PUTNAM POSTING: Reopen Putnam Safely Task Force Gets to Work With County, Towns, Villages, Businesses, Elected Officials

May 14, 2020

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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Real Estate In-Depth

Working Together to Rebuild Our Workforce, Our Region

May 14, 2020

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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