Archive: Business & Technology

On June 10, 2014 members from the Ithaca Board of Realtors® attended a Lobby Day with hundreds of other Realtors® from across New York State. Our legislators listened to the issues and responded positively on many topics of concern to the real estate industry.

When the legislative session officially closed on Friday, June 20th, several of the New York State Association of Realtors®' legislative priorities were passed by both the Senate and Assembly.  One important bill ensures the continued availability of FHA loans in New York. Another bill requires builders, prior to entering into a contract to construct a one or two family residence under three stories in height, to provide the buyer with information on the installation of fire sprinklers.

Realtors® prevented several bills from passing that would have negatively impacted the local real estate climate and buyers and sellers.  Some specific examples were to expand the current agricultural disclosure law by requiring sellers of property partially or wholly within five-hundred feet of an agricultural district to provide an agriculture disclosure. It also defeated two counties requests to impose an additional $0.25 per $100 on the mortgage recording tax.

For all that was accomplished, the Legislature left Albany with several major pieces of legislation still pending.  These issues include whether New York will allow hydraulic-fracturing in the Marcellus Shale region of the state, campaign finance reform, and mandate relief.

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