Our Builders Committee will host a special post-Sandy Forum in April. We need input from you; your concerns, questions you need answered, points you need addressed, and any issues raised by your buyers and sellers. This will help us in identifying the needs of our members and those they service so that we can bring in the appropriate government officials to the Forum.   Please answer the following questions and send to fkoszta@sibor.com. Please feel free to include any other questions/topics you would like addressed in April's Forum

-Which areas of Staten Island are most in need of recovery assistance?

-What are the short term goals for recovery on Staten Island?

-What are the long term goals for recovery on Staten Island?

-Should we rebuild in all flood-stricken areas?

-Should we not build in flood prone areas on Staten Island?

-What types of resources are needed for recovery, that are not in place?

-Do you know if your area has been affected by the new FEMA maps? How will the remapping affect you?

The Emergency Economic and Community Development program provides funding to National Grid commercial, industrial or multi-family residential gas customers that were impacted by the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy. Eligible buildings must have sustained storm damage and must have lost gas service due to the storm and flooding.

Program funds can be used for energy infrastructure repair and/or replacement, and rehabilitation of commercial, industrial, multi-family residential or mixed-use buildings, and costs associated with replacement of fixed machinery and equipment necessary for the operation of the business.

Grant amounts cannot exceed $250,000 All applications for this program must be received by March 31, 2014 in order to be considered for funding.

Read more...

Information courtesy of National Grid Sandy Relief

Every culture has its own way of communicating and using technology. What's the best way to get a Kuwaiti to check out a U.S. real estate listing? Is Facebook a good way to find Chinese buyers?

 Working with international buyers requires some education, both for real estate agents and the buyers themselves, according to panelists at Real Estate Connect New York City.

 They offered a wealth of tips to land -- and keep -- global clients:

 Understand where your area's global buyers are coming from, said Stephanie Pfeffer, executive vice president of Luxury Portfolio International. In order to figure that out, LPI provides its agents with traffic reports showing the areas and languages in which their listings are viewed, she said.

 Every country has its own real estate process -- learn what it is for the country you're targeting.

 Read more...

 Article courtesy of Inman News

Twice as many homes and businesses in and near the city would be in flood zones under new maps that may force more property-owners to buy flood insurance, complicate post-Superstorm Sandy rebuilding for some and confront others with the choice of building higher or paying considerably more for insurance.

The revised maps recently released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency are preliminary, but they will likely become a basis for changes to building laws and insurance requirements in coming years.

They represent one of the first concrete signals of how officials will carry out vows to rebuild smarter after Sandy and what that will mean for property owners. While a roughly two-year review is expected before new maps become official, New York City is planning short-term steps to encourage owners of Sandy-damaged properties to rebuild in the meantime.

Read more...

Article courtesy of The Huffington Post

Flood Areas

Knowledge. Awareness. Empowerment. These are the core components of REALTOR® Safety.

NAR has developed a online REALTOR® Safety Resources Kit and has several safety related articles to help members understand the risks they face and the strategies they can put in place to keep safe.

NAR Safety Resources