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February GBAR Sales Volume Continues Strong Trend.
February 2012 Residential $ Sales Volume was up 35%, and Closed Units Sold were up 58% versus February 2011 . This strong performance in the Greater Binghamton Area marketplace continues a distictively optimistic trend - February is the 8th consecutive month of positive growth which began in July, 2011.
This is great news for our market and for our REALTORSŪ.
Keep up the great work! |
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Please join us in welcoming the following new GBAR Members, as approved by the Board of Directors at their February 20 meeting:
New REALTORŪ Agent Members:
- Patricia Casella, McKinney RE Associates
- Cynthia Fluck, Keller Williams ST & FL
- Patricia Murphy, McKinney RE Associates (Rejoin)
- Andrea Robinson, Keller Williams ST & FL
New MLS Only REALTORŪ Principal Members:
- Matthew Haynes, Progressive Appraisals (Rejoin)
- Jamey Sprague, Real Estate Appraisal Service
- James Vance, Northeast Realty
New MLS Only REALTORŪ Agent Member:
- Christine Cipoletti, McKinney RE Associates
New Primary Affiliate Members:
- Gary Kline, Esq., Coughlin & Gearhart, LLP
- Gregory Frazier, Frazier & Sons
New Affiliate Representative:
- Tanya DePersiis, M&T Bank
Contact Us:
Greater Binghamton Association of REALTORS
19 Jennison Avenue
Johnson City, NY 13790
607-729-6285
607-798-8246 (Fax)
executive@gbingar.com |
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| | Unshackle Upstate Visits GBAR |
 Brian Sampson, Executive Director of Unshackle Upstate, visited our GBAR Offices on March 8 to make an exclusive presentation to local REALTORSŪ. Brian updated us on Unshackle's progress towards relieving Upstate New York citizens of the enormous state tax burden that is choking our economy, as well as their current and future plans.
Brian noted the 2% tax cap as an important victory, which must be followed up by mandate relief and the passage of a Tier VI retirement plan as proposed in Governor Cuomo's budget.
To tell your legislators you support the implementation of the Tier VI retirement plan, click here. |
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Benefit for Peggy Thomson Hosts over 200 Friends and Family
 The GBAR Community Service Committee Benefit for Peggy Thomson, held at the Texas Roadhouse on Friday, March 9 attracted over 200 friends and family in support of Peggy, who is suffering from cancer. The fundraiser, which featured great food, raffles of donated gift baskets, 50/50 tickets and lots of fun for all, was deemed an overwhelming success thanks to the tireless efforts of the GBAR Community Service team. |
Energy Assessments and Home Energy Upgrades Available Free or at Reduced Cost
For those of you who missed Wednesday's Association Business Meeting and Luncheon, the speaker was Adam Flint of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, who presented New York State programs which provide free or subsidized low cost home energy assessments and home energy-saving upgrades.
To get more information and applications for these programs, click here.
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Lowe's Program for REALTORSŪ
Lowe's, through their partnership in the National Association of
REALTORSŪ REALTORŪ Benefit Program, is hosting a special meeting in Vestal on March 21, 2012 to introduce the Lowe's FREE Marketing Program, designed exclusively for REALTORSŪ. Here are the details:
- Where: Lowe's of Vestal at 225 Sycamore Road
- When: 10:00 am to 11:00 am, March 21, 2012
- RSVP: Call 770-9800 and dial 8 for the Commercial Services Desk.
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Got Ethics? We've Got Classroom and On-Line Courses to Meet Your Requirements and Preferences!
The Quadrennial Ethics period expires at the end of 2012 - each REALTOR must have taken a 3-hour Ethics course by then. But don't worry! If you have yet to satisfy this requirement, you can meet your requirement in two ways:
- CLASSROOM: We've scheduled 4 classroom Ethics courses in the coming months, to be instructed by Anne Schoonover. The dates are May 1, August 1, October 9 and December 4, all at the Association Offices from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. For more information and to register, click here.
- ON-LINE: Click here to visit our on-line CE provider, the CE Shop, and sign up! Be sure to use Promotion Code LUCKY17 to get an instant 17% off on Ethics and other CE Courses.
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GRI Courses Galore!
Following the success of the GRI 401 "Get it Listed, Get it Sold" course held here in Binghamton March 12 - 13, we are offering two more of these excellent courses in 2012:
- Click here for information and to register for GRI 409 - April 24 - 25
- Click here for information and to register for GRI 405 - October 23
For a full list of classroom offerings and registration instructions, click here. |
| Monthly Statistics - On Steroids!
Our Monthly Statistics have been dramatically improved! Through a brand new service provided by 10K Marketing to all NYSAR Associations, our Monthly Statistics now provide GBAR-specific market commentary and easy to read graphics for all you favorite market indicators. Click here to check it out, and if you have a moment, let me know what you think at executive@gbingar.com. |
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Invoices for KeyBox Lease Fees are Due by April 1, 2012
Invoices for the Supra KeyBox Lease Fees have been sent to all GBAR Members holding that equipment. You may return any keyboxes that you are not using and they will be deducted from your invoice. Your invoice payment MUST be received at the Association Office by 5:00pm Monday April 2, 2012 or your Supra Key will be deactivated until such payment is received. This action is supported by GBAR MLS Rules & Regulation Section 9.5. Questions concerning this should be directed to the Association Office 729-6285. |
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The Conservation Group has made available their new "Energy Efficient Data Form" to GBAR Members. This new form allows you to showcase the energy efficient investments your clients may have made in their homes, and post it with other listing documents to the MLS listing. You can find the form under in Member Forms on the GBAR Website under Miscellaneous Documents. Or, click here for the form, and click here for a Power Point presentation explaining the form and its use. |
Tax Treatment for Dues and Fees
For 2011, with NAR dues at $80 per member, NAR computes 26 percent or $21 to be nondeductible for the member`s income tax purposes due to NAR lobbying efforts. Please note that the entire $35 Public Awareness Campaign special assessment qualifies as fully deductible.
For 2011, with dues at $90 per NYSAR member, NYSAR computes $12 to be non-deductible for the member`s income tax due to NYSAR`s lobbying efforts. Membership dues are not deductible as charitable contributions, but may be deductible as ordinary and necessary business expense.
For 2011, GBAR dues were $173.50 in Jan. and $173.50 in July For 2011, MLS fees were $295.00 in Jan. and $295.00 in July For 2011, Supra Key fees were $99.08 in Jan and $99.08 in July. All these Dues and Fees are tax deductible. |
| GBAR Trade Show is May 2!
The GBAR 2012 Trade Show will be held on May 2, 2012 at the Binghamton Riverwalk! In keeping with an election year, our theme will be "Vote for Home Ownership" and focus on providing our Members with the tools and resources to be successful in today's challenging marketplace.
Click Here for more information and mark your calendars today! |
| Community Service Corner
Please note these important dates for upcoming GBAR Community Service Events:
- Red Cross Blood Drive at the Oakdale Mall : June 15 - 17
- J.S. Elliott Tournament of Love: June 20 at Genegantslet.
- Team Trivia for the benefit of Lucy Singleton: October 27 (TBD) at the Relief Pitcher.
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| Lobby Day is June 12!
Lobby Day in Albany is June 12, 2012! Come join us for this FREE trip to Albany to let our legislators hear REALTOR voice! RSVP now to realtor@gbingar.com. |
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| Register Now for the CIPS Course - September 13, 2012 in Binghamton
On September 13, Roseann Farrow will be instructing the CIPS course, "Global Real Estate; Local Markets" at our Association Offices in Johnson City. Last year, foreign buyers invested more the $82 billion in U.S. residential real estate, paid $100,000 more on average than the overall U.S. median price, and over half paid all cash. Want a piece of that? Click here for more information and to register. |
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