Today, Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo called GBAR Government Affairs Chair Lois Andrascik to let her know that legislation to streamline the process for agents to change brokerages was passed by the New York State Assembly, following an earlier passing in the Senate.   This legislation was one of the major items for which GBAR and other New York State REALTOR® Associations lobbied at Lobby Day earlier this week, and for which Assembly Members Lupardo. Finch and Crouch pledged their support during our face-to-face meetings on Tuesday in Albany.   Essentially, the legislation eliminates the $10 fee to be paid by brokers who transfer agents out of their agency, and shifts that burden to the acquiring broker.  The legislation now awaits the Governor's signature to become law.

 

Builder and consumer adoption of environmental sustainability is rapidly growing.  Earn your Green Designation by taking all three courses which will be offered here in our GBAR Association Offices on August 22, 23 and 29, and instructed by Randy Templeman.  

These courses have been generously sponsored by Robert Laman Jr. Construction, Southern Tier Mortgage Company, the Law Offices of Frederick R. Xlander, Jim Rollo State Farm Insurance, and Professional Home Inspection Service.   These sponsorships have allowed us to reduce our prices considerably - pay only $245 for all three courses, or $150 each if taken individually.   Non-Members pay $175 per class.

Click here for a flyer and registration instructions.  Registration MUST be done through NYSAR to secure your discount!

I am pleased to announce that Alison Donnelly, formerly of Coldwell Banker and now Realty USA, will be joining our GBAR staff as Membership and Office Administrator, replacing AnnaBelle Brewer.   Alison comes to us with 9 years of real estate industry experience at Coldwell Banker GTD, and possesses both the technical and interpersonal skills necessary  to best serve our Association and its Members.   Alison will be starting with us on Thursday, June 14.    Please join me in welcoming Alison to GBAR!

 

Barry Arnold, Executive Officer

 

Here at the Association we receive a number of calls and "police" emails regarding the concerns with how listing data is input and verified.  We thought we'd use this forum to mention the most common concerns, in with the intention of both educating our Members and improving the effectiveness of our listing content. 

 

Today's Topic:  Assessed Value

 

This issue's topic is simple.  It appears that some agents are mistakenly putting a "Full Market Value" number in the "Assessed Value" field.  Please make sure you use the correct number when entering an Assessment value.

            

Comments?   Click here to email Barry Arnold, EO.

As a reminder, your Association Dues and Fees billing for the second half of 2012 will be e-mailed to you at the end of this month (May).  These dues and fees must be paid in order for you to remain an active Member of our Association and MLS and receive the Association services.

 

Please mark your calendar that by June 30, 2012, the following amounts must be paid either on-line or to your Principal Broker:

 

GBAR Dues           July-December           $173.50

GBAR MLS Fees   July-December            $295.00

 

Please Note:  You should have received your emailed  billing notice from me on May 30.  If you have not received your billing notice, please call the Association Offices at 729-6285.

 

Finally, now is the time to take care of any outstanding invoices that you have or your dues and fees payment cannot be accepted.

 

Thank you!

 

Barry Arnold, Executive Officer

Receive the recognition you have earned by applying for NYSAR Honor Society Recognition!  If you took part in your Association during 2011 (State & National Level also), you may be eligible! 

 

In addition to committees served, attendance at Monthly Association Business Meetings, CE Courses taken, Designations earned and RPAC contributions all earn points. A total of 100 points is needed to qualify.

Click here for an Application Form, which is also available from the Association Office. If you need assistance filling out the form, call the Association Office.

Wear the NYSAR Honor Society Pin that you have earned!  Return the completed form (both pages) to the Association Office by June 19, 2012.  No late entries - NYSAR does not make exceptions to the deadline.  If the form is faxed please verify receipt with the Association Office.

If you plan to discontinue using your Supra Key or are leaving GBAR at the end of June, you must turn in your Supra Active-Key & charger to the Association Office before June 26.  

 If the equipment is not returned by then, you will still owe the $105.62 Supra System Fee for July 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012 even if you are no longer using the KeyBox System or have discontinued GBAR Membership.  If Active Keys and chargers are not returned at all, Supra may bill up to $250 per item. 

If you are discontinuing use of the Supra Active Key or are not paying July's Supra invoice, you must also turn in all leased Keyboxes immediately.  You will be billed for as much as $95 per box for unreturned Boxes.

FYI

Supra sent invoices for Active-Keys on May 29th.  Payments are due on July 2nd and must be made directly to Supra Products.  If you did not receive an invoice please contact Supra directly. 

 

 

Click here for the May, 2012 edition of our Monthly Statistics from 10K Marketing. 

 

If you're looking for CE Credit, there's no better place than The CE Shop!  All New York CE courses are now offered with a 20% discount by using promotional code JUNE20, and Pennsylvania courses are offered at a 25% discount using promotional code GBARINPA. 

 Click here to visit The CE Shop and sign-up now! 

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. 

 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 3 more classroom Ethics courses in the coming months, to be instructed by Anne Schoonover.  The dates are 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.

 

• 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 at the Relief Pitcher.

 

 

• Click here for information and to register for GRI 405 - Construction & Environmental Issues - October 23, conducted by Russ Romano.

For a full list of classroom offerings and registration instructions, click here.