Across the Association - Mar/Apr 2024

Across the Association

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GREATER CAPITAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

MAR/APR 2024 Fair Housing Installation Photos Legislative Priorities

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Across the Association

VOLUME 35 | NUMBER 2 | MAR/APR 2024

FEATURES NAR Weighs in with Supreme Court

Installation of Officers & Directors

Laura Burns, CEO OFFICERS Kathleen Sullivan, President Melissa Woodcock, President-Elect Kirsten Blanchard, Secretary-Treasurer DIRECTORS Felton McLaughlin Jennifer Mentiply Lorenzo Murray Suzanne Prezio Michelle Poccia Dan Shepard Kathie Spangler Linda Yetto The Greater Capital Association of REALTORS® is a professional trade association which provides its members with programs and services which enhance the members‘ ability to successfully conduct their businesses in a competent and ethical manner, promotes cooperation among its members, and promotes the public‘s right to own, use and transfer real property.

The Greater Capital Association of REALTORS® makes no warranties and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein. The opinions expressed in articles are not necessarily the opinions of the Greater Capital Association of REALTORS®.

The Greater Capital Association of REALTORS® does not necessarily endorse the companies products or services advertised in the newsletter unless specifically stated.

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Truth & Reconciliation

Fair Housing Resources

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ACROSS THE ASSOCIATION

MEMBERSHIP

With the President............................. 4

Affiliate Members.............................20

What’s Happening.............................. 6

New GCAR Members.......................23

Upcoming Events............................... 7 Education............................................17 Global MLS..........................................18

ADVOCACY

ADVERTISERS Arnoff Moving & Storage...............22 NYSAR..................................................... 5 The Towne Law Firm, P.C.................. 2

Legislative Update............................. 8 Legislative Priorities........................... 9 RPAC Report.......................................11 On the cover: In the late 1930s, a federal government agency called the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) began a project to evaluate mortgage risk in cities across the country. Neighborhoods were graded into categories of “best, still desirable, definitely declining, and hazardous.” The areas were frequently drawn along racial lines, with areas deemed hazardous marked in red. These maps and reports are the start of redlining, a discriminatory real estate practice which made it harder for people of color to obtain mortgages and purchase homes.

ACROSS THE ASSOCIATION 3

WITH THE PRESIDENT

CHAMPIONING FAIRNESS: REALTORS® UPHOLD FAIR HOUSING PRINCIPLES As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of real estate, we must uphold the principles of fairness and equality in all our dealings.

Discrimination, in any form, has no place in our profession—it is unethical and illegal.

With April fast approaching, we are reminded of the significance of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and its enduring impact on our industry.

It is a time for us, as REALTORS®, to reflect on the past and present challenges of housing discrimination and segregation. More importantly, it is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to promoting equitable opportunities and fostering inclusive communities.

This issue of our magazine is dedicated to providing you with valuable fair housing resources. From informative articles to practical tips, we aim to equip you with the knowledge and tools to navigate the complexities of fair housing laws and regulations.

As community leaders, we hold a unique position to effect positive

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change. Together, we can champion fairness and advocate for policies that support homeownership for all individuals, regardless of background or circumstance.

In line with this commitment, I urge you to mark your calendars for NYSAR’s annual Lobby Day in Albany, scheduled for Wednesday, March 27th, at the Albany Empire State Plaza. This event provides a platform for REALTORS® from across the state to engage with lawmakers, advocate for our priorities, and amplify our collective voice. I encourage you to join us in this important endeavor—your participation matters.

As your president, I am deeply honored to serve you, our members, and our profession. I sincerely thank everyone who attended the installation dinner on March 6th. For those who couldn’t make it, you can find photos from the event on page 12 of this magazine.

Kathleen Sullivan 2024 GCAR President

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Lobby Day

Albany, New York March 27, 2024 Meeting Room 6, Empire State Plaza Concourse

Make your REALTOR® voice heard.

RSVP Today!

Join fellow REALTORS® from across the state to advocate for important NYSAR legislative priorities such as:

Contact your local board to arrange meetings with your state lawmakers.

» Addressing New York’s Housing Supply Crisis » Support for First Time Homebuyers » Addressing New York’s Flawed Telemarketing Law

If you have questions, please contact Leanne Little, Government Affairs Assistant at govt@nysar.com.

» Opposing “Good Cause” Eviction Legislation » Increasing Transparency in the Purchase of a Cooperative Apartment This will be a prime opportunity to speak to your lawmakers about these and other important issues impacting REALTORS® and the real estate industry.

Complimentary breakfast and lunch will be served.

Get Social.

Get Involved. #NYSARLobbyDay2024 #TeamNYSAR

Visit us online!

WHAT’S HAPPENING New York State Women’s Council of REALTORS® Honors GCAR Members At the NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings held in February, Rebekah O’Neil of Howard Hanna, was awarded the 2023 Women’s Council of REALTORS® New York State Member of the Year.

Photo courtesy of NYSAR

During the same event, Coty Demers of Diamond Key Realty NY and Stefanie Gouvis of Oxford Property Group were installed to the New York State Women’s Council of REALTORS® Board of Directors.

Headshot Happy Hour In February, GCAR partnered with Hone Coworks to host a headshot happy hour at their Wolf Road location.

Andrew Elder of Best Frame Forward provided free professional headshots to those in attendance.

Community Relations Committee Lends a Helping Hand Members of the Community Relations Committee will be headed to the Regional Food Bank on Friday, March 29, to help sort foods for packaging to be delivered to those in need.

Later this year, committee members will also be cooking a meal for visitors staying at Jack’s Place in Schenectady, participating in a Habitat Build, cleaning up the grounds at the Double H Ranch, and volunteering with Operation at Ease.

Sympathies are extended to...

The friends and family of Judy Kaiser of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices upon the passing of her brother, in February.

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NAR’s 2024 Fair Housing Month Toolkit is Now Available In April, lead your REALTOR® community in commemorating the transformative Fair Housing Act of 1968. Beyond remembrance, April offers a chance for active engagement—crucial for fostering equitable and inclusive communities. The Fair Housing Month toolkit features a downloadable poster, social media graphics and other strategic resources. We encourage you to use this toolkit to effectively communicate and champion fair housing initiatives within your community. nar.realtor/fair-housing/fair-housing-month/fair-housing-month-toolkit

SOLAR ECLIPSE On the afternoon of April 8, a total eclipse will be observed in the western and northern parts of New York State. The Capital Region will see 96 percent coverage.

Beginning around 3:15 pm, the moon will pass between the earth and sun, turning day into night for 1 ½ minutes to 3 ½ minutes. The roughly 100mile wide path of totality will enter the southwestern part of the state at just after 3:15 pm. It will depart northern New York just before 3:30. The entire event will last for up to 2 ½ hours, marking the time the sun is first obstructed to the last moments when the moon’s shadow is cast.

Solar Eclipse Safety Tips • Protect your eyes with specialized solar viewing glasses.

• Check traffic before heading out for this event as higher volumes of visitors are expected throughout the area.

• Prepare for the weather.

Learn more: parks.ny.gov/eclipse/

DATES TO REMEMBER March 27 Lobby Day Empire State Plaza May 4–9 NAR Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo Washington, DC May 23 Bowling for RPAC Kingpins Alley Latham May 27 Memorial Day GCAR & Global MLS offices are closed June 19 Juneteenth GCAR & Global MLS offices are closed June 20 GCAR General Membership Meeting The Gideon Putnam October 10 GCAR Trade Show Crowne Plaza Albany – Desmond Hotel For additional information, visit GCAR.com/events

Updates to the Property Condition Disclosure Statement The amended Property Condition Disclosure Statement (PCDS) goes into effect Wednesday, March 20, 2024. The amended PCDS includes language requiring the disclosure of issues related to flooding and removal of the $500 credit if sellers fail or refuse to provide the PCDS. Sellers will no longer have the option of providing the $500 credit in lieu of the PCDS. Learn more: globalmls.com/pcds-update

ACROSS THE ASSOCIATION 7

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

NYSAR FIGHTS TELEMARKETING BAN, HOCHUL BACKS ‘PRO-HOUSING’ ZONES, AND NEW SOCIAL HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPOSED

By Connor Gillis Government Affairs Rep, NYSAR

NYSAR meets with Senate on telemarketing restrictions bill NYSAR staff organized a meeting with Senator Kevin Thomas’ office and other organizations negatively impacted by the state’s ban on telemarketing business activities during declared states of emergency. Since the beginning of the pandemic, NYSAR has been focused on resolving the issue, expressing the harm the current law continues to impose on REALTORS® who cannot conduct telemarketing.

At the same time, the state remains in a constant state of emergency due to various declarations concerning gun violence, immigration crisis, etc.

NYSAR was successful in its advocacy efforts to get the bill (S.412/A.6680) passed in the Assembly last year with Assemblymember Amy Paulin (Westchester) and will continue to work with Sen. Thomas (Long Island), who carries the bill in the Senate, in efforts to advance the legislation.

Municipalities begin applying for Governor Hochul’s “pro-housing” designation program Governor Kathy Hochul held a roundtable with local municipal leaders to announce the first 20 “pro-

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housing communities” approved to receive priority access when applying for certain state grant funding from a pool of $650 million. More than 80 municipalities have sent letters of intent to participate in the program.

Currently, those communities that affirm their commitment to building more housing or prove that they hit growth benchmarks in the past will get preference in grant distribution.

The governor proposed to require the “pro-housing” designation for localities to qualify for such grant funding this year.

State lawmakers introduce “social housing” bill State Sen. Cordell Cleare and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher introduced a bill to create the Social Housing Development Authority to finance and develop housing directly instead of relying on private developers. Sponsors of the proposal say it is a progressive alternative to providing tax abatement programs such as the expired 421a program in New York City for housing developers. The program is estimated to cost an initial $5 billion, with annual spending at $75 million.

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NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

Expand Access to Homeownership Opposition to Oppressive Regulations Many New Yorkers hope to achieve their dream of NYSAR opposes various regulations that would hinder homeownership; however, they can face difficult property transactions in New York State. financial obstacles, including some of the highest-in- • Implementation of local rent control measures the-nation property taxes and closing costs. NYSAR strongly supports legislation to help New Yorkers • Enactment of statewide “good cause” eviction policies overcome these barriers to homeownership, especially • Prohibition of landlords and their agents from collecting broker fees from tenants first-time homebuyers.

Technical Amendment to State’s Telemarketing Restrictions NYSAR advocates for an amendment to allow real estate licensees to provide telemarketing services during states of emergency when it is found that such telemarketing services would not impair or mitigate a declared state of emergency.

• Mandate for real estate licensees to solicit, compile, and disclose personal demographic information of prospective home buyers.

• Establishment of a statewide residential rental registry and publicly accessible online database • Introduction of the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA)

• Requirement for property owners to conduct Strengthen New York’s Fair Housing Laws lead paint assessments and provide reports before NYSAR aims to enhance fairness and transparency property sale or lease. in housing purchases, proposing measures like clear response timelines for coop board applications and Reduce State and Local Real Estate Taxes increasing the number of consecutive years licensed NYSAR strongly opposes legislation that would before an agent can become a broker. increase state or local mortgage recording or real estate transfer taxes. New York State already has some of the Independent Contractor Status country’s highest closing costs and real estate taxes, and NYSAR seeks an exemption for real estate professionals individuals and businesses are choosing to leave the from the “Freelance isn’t Free Act,” citing fundamental state due to over-taxation. To reverse this trend, New differences in compensation models. Compensation York should advance policies that make homebuying laws exist for licensed real estate brokers and more affordable. salespersons under NYS Workers Compensation Law and Labor Law. Climate Action NYSAR expresses concerns about the feasibility and cost of implementing climate action measures, particularly regarding the prohibition of fossil fuel equipment in buildings.

ACROSS THE ASSOCIATION 9

NAR Weighs in With Supreme Court To Protect Private Property Rights By: Christie DeSanctis Director, Federal Banking, Lending, and Housing Finance Policy National Association of REALTORS® NAR’s amicus brief urged a robust reading of the Fifth Amendment’s Takings Clause to protect private property rights from unjust government regulation. NAR was joined on the amicus brief by the American Property Owners Alliance, the REALTORS® Land Institute, the California Association of REALTORS® and Californians In the first case, a homeowner paid thousands of dollars for Homeownership. for a mandatory fee to obtain a land-use permit. The homeowner paid the fee for the permit even though it In Devillier v. Texas, a Texas highway project caused would go toward a purpose unrelated to the planned widespread flooding. Still, property owners were unable development, which may artificially increase the to bring an unconstitutional takings lawsuit against cost of real estate and impose costly, burdensome the state for compensation for the damage caused. requirements on property owners. In the second case, The Constitution’s Eleventh Amendment grants states residential properties were damaged by government immunity from federal lawsuits brought by its own action, and the homeowners lacked any legal avenue citizens. Therefore, the property owners sued the state to seek compensation for that damage, impacting directly, arguing the Takings Clause is applied to the fundamental property rights and potential development states via the Fourteenth Amendment. opportunities. At a time when many buyers are struggling to afford or find properties, government action must The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held create certainty and stability in the housing market to in favor of the state. The court found that the inverse promote development, support homeownership and condemnation lawsuit should be dismissed because takings claims under the Fifth Amendment, as applied protect private property rights. to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment, can In Sheetz v. County of El Dorado, California, a property only be brought against a “person” and does not provide owner applied for a building permit to construct a private right of action against a state. The Supreme a single-family residence on his property, and the Court will determine whether a person whose property county required a land-use exaction of over $23,000 is taken without compensation may directly seek redress in exchange for the building permit to finance county under the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment. road improvements. The homeowner paid the fee and NAR filed the amicus brief with the American Property challenged the exaction as unconstitutional under the Owners Alliance and the Texas REALTORS®.

Takings Clause and the unconstitutional conditions doctrine. The two challenges applied here would Copyright NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. prohibit the government from conditioning the approval Reprinted with permission. of a land-use permit on the owner’s conveyance of real property or money unless there is an essential nexus and rough proportionality between the government’s demand and the effects of the proposed land use.

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) filed two “friend of the court” briefs in support of property owners facing unconstitutional violations of the Fifth Amendment in cases pending before the Supreme Court.

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RPAC REPORT RPAC is the only professional organization in the country organized for REALTORS®, run by REALTORS®, and exists to promote issues important to REALTORS®. RPAC provides financial support to lawmakers and candidates who understand and support private-property rights and the real estate industry.

GCAR RPAC Wins Most Improved Award

At the NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings in February, the GCAR RPAC was presented with a most improved award. Out of all the local boards in New York State, GCAR had the largest year-to-year increase in member participation in RPAC for 2023.

Thank You for Your Investment

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Suzanne Prezio, of Suzanne Prezio Properties, Inc., for her generous donation to RPAC, earning her a place in the President’s Club.

Suzanne’s commitment to supporting our RPAC ensures a brighter future for real estate professionals and homeowners alike.

Help us reach our goal! Invest at GCAR.com/invest

2024 RPAC GOALS Fundraising

Goal: $83,246 YTD: $49,942 (60%)

Participation Goal: 1,368 YTD: 926 (67%)

RPAC INVESTMENT LEVELS Investor: $15 - $98 99 Club: $99 - $249 Presidents Club: $500 - $999 Sterling R: $1,000 - $2,499 Crystal R: $2,500 - $4,999 Golden R: $5,000 - $9,999 Platinum: $10,000

ACROSS THE ASSOCIATION 11

2024 INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS & DIRECTORS On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, the Greater Capital Association of REALTORS® installed the 2024 Board of Directors at a dinner held at the Renaissance Hotel in Albany, NY. GCAR Past President, Cathy Griffin, performed the swearing-in ceremony of Kathleen Sullivan of Keller Williams Capital District, who was installed as the 2024 GCAR President. New York State Association of REALTORS® Past President, Greg Connors, performed the swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected directors.

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Event Sponsors 1st National Bank of Scotia Ballston Spa National Bank Bhumio, Inc. CIREB Homestead Funding Corp.

Hunt ERA Ianniello Anderson, P.C. In-House Media Keller Williams Capital District Sunmark Federal Credit Union The Towne Law Firm, P.C.

ACROSS THE ASSOCIATION 13

Truth and Reconciliation By: Brennon Thompson Fair Housing Policy Analyst, National Association of REALTORS® In 1948, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling on restrictive covenants in real estate.

Three-quarters of a century later, REALTORS® are reckoning with the past as they work to bring equal housing opportunity to all.

Seventy-five years after Shelley v.

Kraemer, the long shadow of racially restrictive covenants still hangs over the nation. These explicitly discriminatory clauses were written into property deeds to prevent racial, ethnic, and religious minorities from owning and occupying certain properties.

Racially restrictive covenants reenforced the conflation of race and property value that remains at the root of segregation and inequality in America.

In 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Shelley that racially restrictive covenants were unenforceable in court. However, the court preserved the legality of discrimination in private agreements. That wasn’t changed until 20 years later when, in 1968, the Fair Housing Act was passed.

To this day, however, discriminatory language lingers in property records and regularly resurfaces in real estate transactions.

Today, the National Association of REALTORS® and its members are actively advocating for laws that address the presence of restrictive 14 MARCH/APRIL 2024

Unenforced, but Still Evident There’s a movement today to pass state laws that enable governments and property owners to disavow discriminatory language without whitewashing history. In addition to supporting such laws, NAR is supporting federal and state efforts to document and address the continuing A Reckoning With the Past effects of restrictive covenants. For Documents from NAR’s archive show many members, the extent of the that the association once supported restrictions that once existed in real the covenants, and, after Shelley, some estate comes as a surprise. members even entertained pushing “Growing up you really don’t learn for a constitutional amendment. these things,” says Jessica Thompson, It’s unclear what efforts were green, c2ex, broker-owner of Cityburb subsequently made to sponsor Homes in Oklahoma City. a constitutional amendment.

REALTORS® turned their advocacy That is true—unless you’ve lived it. efforts toward protecting the right of “I became aware as a kid,” says Janel property owners to sell to buyers of Randall, GRI, C2EX, broker with their choice. This national campaign Better Homes and Gardens Real to fight “forced housing” effectively Estate Paramount in Edmond, Okla. defeated fair housing provisions Randall is founder and president of in early civil rights legislation and the United Oklahoma Association of delayed the passage of the Fair Realtists, a chapter of the National Housing Act until 1968, when the Association of Real Estate Brokers, assassination of Dr. Martin Luther “the oldest minority professional King Jr. ignited the political will of trade association in America.” She says grandparents on both sides the nation. of her family experienced racial Four years later, the association discrimination when trying to passed a policy urging, “all citizens to purchase their homes. respect the law of the land prohibiting discrimination,” marking a pivotal Although Randall was able to buy in step in the association’s adoption of her neighborhood of choice when she moved from New Orleans to equal opportunity in housing.

Oklahoma in 2005, she wasn’t able covenants in real estate documents.

At the same time, as part of its Fair Housing Action Plan: ACT! (ACT stands for accountability, culture change and training), the association is confronting the legacy of such covenants, including its own role in their use.

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to fully escape the effect of past restrictions. She was told by neighbors that hers was the only black family in the neighborhood. “I would go to the [neighborhood] pool and use my code to get in, [but] people would ask, ‘Who are you?’ and ‘Where do you live?’ My children would walk the neighborhood and the police would get called on them. I was forced to have state IDs made for my children at eight and nine years old, so that they could prove that they live in the neighborhood.”

Absent this lived experience, many real estate professionals learn this history of racial covenants on the job.

“The first time I actually encountered a racially restrictive covenant was when a title company sent the CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions) for a transaction,” says Anya Mashaney, AHWD, C2EX, a broker with Spaces Real Estate in Oklahoma City who serves on the Oklahoma Association of REALTORS® Government Affairs Committee.

“I started reading through them and I was appalled. Honestly, I couldn’t believe that it’s just commonplace for the title company to upload them and send them in an email,” Mashaney says. “As I’m skimming through, I almost don’t want to send this to my client because it is just so appalling.

That was the first time I became aware that this language was still in existence in our currently recorded covenants and restrictions.”

So, when the Oklahoma State Legislature introduced a bill in 2023 to allow property owners to renounce discriminatory language in land records, OAR made it a top advocacy priority.

Thompson joined other real estate

professionals from the state for OAR’s REALTOR® Day at the Capitol. “We all went to our legislators and talked about how we felt that this was really important,” she says. After the bill was signed into law last May, the bill’s lead author, Rep. John Pfeiffer, thanked Oklahoma REALTORS® for championing the effort.

Forging a New Legacy In recent years, a patchwork of similar legislation has been introduced in counties and states across the country, often with the support of REALTORS®.

To standardize this effort, the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) recently drafted model legislation, the Unlawful Restrictions in Land Records Act, to “allow all property owners who encounter these harmful and unlawful restrictions to address the issue inexpensively and without needing an attorney.” According to Jane Sternecky, legislative counsel at the ULC, the legislation preserves the insurability of title and historical record while taking “a conclusive step away from the painful past.” Looking ahead to 2024, ULC anticipates introductions of the legislation in Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington.

In an op-ed in the Washington News Tribune, 2023 Washington REALTORS® President Alisha Harrison, wrote, “Those who were barred from home ownership didn’t just suffer personally, their children and grandchildren continue to pay the price.” Harrison, AHWD, C2EX, continued, “As a mechanism, creating a new homeownership account for descendants of those who were denied housing opportunities is simple; as a solution, its effects will be profound.”

At the federal level, REALTORS® strongly support the Mapping Housing Discrimination Act, a bill sponsored by Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota. In an official letter of support, NAR wrote, “For many decades, restrictive covenants inserted into deeds and mortgage documents codified exclusion, divided communities and locked many Americans out of the benefits of property ownership… REALTORS® are committed to confronting the legacy of historic discrimination, closing the racial homeownership gap, and building vibrant, thriving communities where everyone can flourish.”

Seventy-five years after Shelley v.

Kraemer, REALTORS® are a driving political force in their communities to redress harm and support a more equitable future. Through the Fair Housing ACT! program and other initiatives, REALTORS®, will continue to work hand in hand with governments, allied professionals, and buyers to close the racial homeownership gap and make homeownership accessible for all.

Earlier this year, Washington State took a significant step beyond symbolic renunciation to provide a path towards material repair. Washington REALTORS® successfully advocated for state legislation to provide down payment and closing cost assistance “to people, or heirs, impacted by racially restrictive covenants.” The Covenant Homeownership Program is funded by a $100 increase to the document recording fee assessed on Copyright NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF real estate transactions. The program REALTORS®. Reprinted with permission. is estimated to raise $75 million per year for homeownership.

ACROSS THE ASSOCIATION 15

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

Residential segregation in America didn’t happen by accident. Americans of different races live apart because of deliberate actions by public and private actors. This collection of fair housing titles has been compiled to help members deepen their understanding of how we became divided, and of the ramifications of living in a segregated society.

The Color of Law

By Richard Rothstein

Know Your Price

By Andre M. Perry

A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America

Valuing Black Lives and Property in America’s Black Cities

Sundown Towns

By James W. Loewen

Race for Profit

By Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

A Hidden Dimension of American Racism

How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership

Family Properties

By Beryl Satter

The Fight for Fair Housing

By Gregory D. Squires

Race, Real Estate, and the Exploitation of Black Urban America

Causes, Consequences, and Future Implications of the 1968 Federal Fair Housing Act

Caste

By Isabel Wilkerson The Origins of Our Discontents

All of these titles and more are available on the Libby app.

The Sum of Us

By Heather McGhee What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together

Libby by Overdrive

Borrow eBooks, audiobooks, and view streaming video from the National Association of REALTORS® Library & Archives using Libby by OverDrive on your Apple or Android smartphone/tablet.

LEARN MORE AT REALTOR.OVERDRIVE.COM 16 MARCH/APRIL 2024

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EDUCATION Upcoming Fair Housing Courses APRIL 16 | 9am - 12pm Disabilities and Access to Housing for All APRIL 16 | 1pm - 4pm Lawful Source of Income: Fair Housing

Upcoming Ethics Courses December 31, 2024, is the deadline for completing cycle 7 of the National Association of REALTORS® code of ethics course requirement.

MARCH 22 | 9am – 12pm Business Ethics APRIL 30 | 1pm – 4pm Code of Ethics: Under All is the Land

TO REGISTER, VISIT GCAR.COM/CALENDAR

NAR to provide Accredited Buyer’s Representative Coursework at No Cost to REALTORS® One of the many valuable resources that NAR provides is education to help members better run their businesses and support their clients amid an ever-evolving real estate landscape—including communicating value and walking buyers through written buyer representation agreements. That’s why, in partnership with the Center for REALTOR® Development, NAR is making the popular Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) Designation Course, which is typically $295, available to REALTORS® at no cost.

Learn more at become.abr.realtor

R E A L TO R S ® COMMITMENT TO E X C E L L E N C E

Ready to rock? C2EX can help you take it to the next level.

Amp up your career at C2EX.realtor

ACROSS THE ASSOCIATION 17

INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS & DIRECTORS

On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, the Global MLS installed the 2024 Board of Directors at a dinner held at the Renaissance Hotel in Albany, NY. Greg Connors, Past President of the New York State Association of REALTORS®, presided over the swearingin ceremony for the newly elected president, Marie Bettini, as well as the rest of the board of directors.

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What is Offer Manager?

The Basics

Offer Manager is an add on feature from ShowingTime that improves communication between agents during the offer process. This brings improved efficiency and communication to a critical part of the real estate workflow. It also increases industry professionalism and help agents better serve their clients. It provides flexibility so it works for all buyer’s and listing agents, regardless of their communication style or e-form provider.

The Basics

•

Offer Manager is a feature built within the ShowingTime platform on both mobile and desktop.

•

Buyer’s agents submit offers via the MLS instead of through email.

They are automatically notified when the listing agent opens the offer.

•

Listing agents have all offers automatically organized by listing and easily accessible. They can update buyer’s agents individually or all at once.

Make sure you download the ShowingTime app and check that your profile email and mobile number are up to date.

Visit our training site for more details and examples https://showingtimemls.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/1965362

GCAR AFFILIATE MEMBERS Use this directory as a resource for products and services. Affiliates join monthly, so check each issue for updates. You can also search the online Affiliate directory by visiting GCAR.com/affiliate-members.

10 One Productions 518-487-9497 www.10oneproductions.com Aaron@10oneproductions.com

1st National Bank of Scotia 201 Mohawk Ave Scotia, NY 12302 518-370-7117 www.firstscotia.com japoulin@firstscotia.com

32 Mile Production – Filmworks 331 Round Lake Rd Ballston Lake, NY 12019 845-597-4804 filmworks109.com chuck.fernandez@32mile.com

Arnoff Moving & Storage 10 Stonebreak Rd Malta, NY 12020 518-463-5525 www.arnoff.com dfeldman@arnoff.com Assured Partners 2880 US Highway 9 Valatie, NY 12184 518-783-8801 www.assuredpartners.com/valatie ryan.page@assuredpartners.com

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Ballston Spa National Bank 990 State Route 67 Ballston Spa, NY 12020 518-363-8110 bsnb.mymortgage-online.com nancy.koval@bsnb.com

Bhumio PO Box 3872 Albany, NY 12203 518-429-7484 bhumio.com victoria@bhumio.com

Carey Home Inspection PO Box 1061 Averill Park, NY 12018 518-956-1078 www.careyhomeinspection.com don@careyhomeinspection.com

Clearpath Mortgage Solutions 43 British American Blvd Latham, NY 12110 518-389-7070 clearpathmortgages.com mike.rankin@clearpathmortgages.com Crosscountry Mortgage 105 Lake Hill Rd, Suite 4 Burnt Hills, NY 12027 518-469-1200 crosscountrymortgage.com/Robert-Tuttle robert.tuttle@myccmortgage.com Cutco Closing Gifts 21 Cliff St Hastings on Hudson, NY 10706 518-755-5701 www.cutcoclosinggifts.com asahr09@yahoo.com

Deangelus Goralczyk PLLC 3 Corporate Drive, STE 204 Clifton Park, NY 12065 518-631-6400 x101 www.dglawny.com karen@dglawny.com Debut Property Staging PO Box 547 Slingerlands, NY 12159 518-313-0975 debutpropertystaging.com eileen@debutpropertystaging.com

DogWatch by Top Dog Pet Fence 410 Troy Schenectady Rd Ste 204 Latham, NY 12110 518-783-5678 x1 www.topdogpetfence.com ed@topdogpetfence.com Dryer Vent Wizard 8 Napa Court Niskayuna, NY 12309 518-901-3694 www.saratogadryervent.com jcatino@dryerventwizard.com

Edgeco Environmental 136 Columbia St Cohoes, NY 12047 518-235-5687 www.edgecoenvironmental.com edgecoenv1@gmail.com GoRascal, Inc. 376 Broadway, Ste 17 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-791-4595 team.gorascal.com/heidi heidi@gorascal.com

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Haus Capital Corporation 10 Blacksmith Dr, Ste 3 Ballston Spa, NY 12020 518-366-8608 www.hauscapitalcorp.com bryan@hauscapitalcorp.com

Hinman, Howard & Kattell 10 Airline Dr, Ste 205 Albany, NY 12205 518-869-5552 www.hhk.com jprout@hhk.com

Homestead Funding Corp.

8 Airline Drive Albany, NY 12205 518-464-1100 x392 homesteadfunding.com mholmes@homesteadfunding.com

In-House Media 5 Autumn Court Gansevoort, NY 12832 518-350-4991 www.mhfphoto.com hello@mhfphoto.com

J Squared Home Inspections 518-669-1574 www.jsquaredhomeinspections.com Jordan@jsquaredhomeinspections.com

Key Bank 66 South Pearl St Albany, NY 518-257-8602 www.key.com harjit_m_earnest@keybank.com

La Voie Insurance 440 3rd Ave Watervliet, NY 12189 518-526-8043 lavoieinsurance.com dlavoie@lavoieinsurance.com

M&T Bank 313 Ushers Rd Ballston Lake, NY 12019 518-221-1145 www.mtb.com lmurphy2@mtb.com

Maple Tree Funding 1202 Troy Schenectady Rd, Bldg 3 Latham, NY 12110 518-782-1202 www.mapletreefunding.com slatza@mapletreefunding.com Meri Light Photography, Inc. 227 Kingsley Rd Burnt Hills, NY 12027 518-754-1077 merilightphotography.com Meri@Merilightphotography.com

Metzwood Insurance 300 Great Oaks Blvd, Suite 300 Albany, NY 12203 518-392-5161 www.metzwood.com matt@metzwood.com Movement Mortgage 120 West Ave, Ste 206 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-368-4404 www.theannasmithteam.com anna.smith@movement.com

Navy Federal Credit Union 24 Sailfish Dr Groton, CT 06340 www.navyfederal.org brienne_ramos-dupuis@navyfederal.org NBT Bank 52 Broad St Norwich, NY 13815 315-505-6572 www.nbtbank.com aleo@nbtbank.com

NEST Environmental, LLC 863 Route 212 Saugerties, NY 12477 845-853-4840 www.nestpp.com jslater@celticiaq.com

Premium Mortgage 931 New Loudon Rd Latham, NY 12110 201-638-9804 premiummortgage.com kkamber@premiummortgage.com RE Tech Academy 517-214-3333 retechacademy.com todd@retechacademy.com Salerno Law, PC 16 Round Lake Rd Ballston Lake, NY 12019 518-309-3404 salernolawny.com kim@salernolawny.com Saratoga Community Federal Credit Union 23 Division Street Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-583-2323 x123 www.saratogafcu.org lmccoy@saratogafcu.org ACROSS THE ASSOCIATION 21

GCAR AFFILIATE MEMBERS Saratoga National Bank & Trust Co. 171 Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-745-1000 x2921 www.saratgonational.com joy.rodriguez@arrowbank.com

SEFCU Mortgage Services 700 Patroon Creek Blvd. Ste 301 Albany, NY 12206 518-369-4815 www.sefcu.com mmoolick@sefcu.com Sunmark Credit Union 1187 Troy Schenectady Rd Latham, NY 12110 518-730-9070 www.sunmark.org eloisa.behnke@sunmark.org The Dust Busters PO Box 4521 Clifton Park, NY 12065 518-728-7394 paula.dustbusters@gmail.com

The Towne Law Firm, P.C. 500 New Karner Rd Albany, NY 12205 518-452-1800 www.townelaw.com shalini.natesan@townelaw.com Trustco Bank 518-374-4056 www.trustcobank.com ddepasquale@trustcobank.com

Wallace Turner Law, LLP 134 Central Ave Albany, NY 12206 518-309-3404 www.wallaceturnerlaw.com rturner@wallaceturnerlaw.com Wells Fargo Home Mortgage 43 N. Plank Rd Newburgh, NY 12550 845-440-2302 www.wellsfargo.com michael.waters@wellsfargo.com

Local Long-Distance Worldwide

MOVING PACKING STORAGE

The Mortgage Place 646 Plank Road, Suite 102 Clifton Park, NY 12065 518-982-0480 x102 www.themortgageplaceinc.com jrussell@themortgageplaceinc.com The Reis Group 8 Stanley Circle, Suite #4 Latham, NY 12110 518-266-9966 reisinsurance.com cgranger@reisinsurance.com

518-463-5525 arnoff.com 22 MARCH/APRIL 2024

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WELCOME

NEW GCAR MEMBERS REALTOR® PRINCIPAL BROKER

REALTOR® NON-PRINCIPAL

Alliance Realty Thomas Atkin

Berkshire Hathaway Blake Joseph Gioeni Natalie Pinkham Kristen Raffensperger

Brian Neary Realty Brian T. Neary Burns Management Michael Sollohub IRE Investments Steven Tomaso Karten Real Estate Services LLC Mark Karten Northern Living Properties LLC Timothy R. Shevy

BlueBird Commercial Real Estate Subhash Modasra Burns Management Christopher Henry Core Real Estate Team Andrew Casey-Wagemaker Qin Lin Karl Philip Meehan Kathryn Sutliff

Subick Exquisite Homes Realty Rishee Subick

Coldwell Banker Prime Properties Bruce Bartolotto Gregory Bern Zelfena Harripersaud James Novotny Thea Resila

Tech Valley Realty Group LLC Shawn Pepe

eXp Realty Ashley Warrington

Tibbits & Co Realty Trent Tibbitts

Field Realty Amal Thomas

Redway Realty LLC Anthony Redway

Gabler Realty LLC Krystal Hannigan Howard Hanna Karian Deno Shyanna Logan Hunt ERA Shue Chen Samantha Bond Jenn Khan Realty LLC Megan Yankannah Jandali Realty Devon Nicole-Gratton

Keller Williams Capital District Daniel John Delaney Stephan Gray Evan Guidilli Kymani Kewsi Reid-Hernandez Danielle West Krutz Properties LLC Brenda Jean Phillips Miranda Real Estate Group Lisa DeRose Laura Ivey Teagan Marshall MJJ Realty Ming Ng NAI Platform LLC Jaiwanti Loaknauth NY ICON Group LLC Erin Marzilli The People’s Real Estate Group Usama Noor Abdul Wasey Renovo Real Estate Kathryn Lohman-Pangburn Roohan Realty Laura Creazzo Rossi Real Estate Services LLC Dustin Cogswell Spinnaker Realty Sales LLC Hunter Monds Tailored Real Estate Group Tyler Beecher Venture Realty Partners Stefanie Cortese Christopher Pratt Weichert Realtors Fontaine & Assoc Munir Hoteky

ACROSS THE ASSOCIATION 23

Greater Capital Association of REALTORS® 449 New Karner Road Albany, New York 12205

If recent events have taught us anything, it’s this: we have more work to do. Racism is real, tragically so. Discrimination, in all its forms, still casts a long shadow in this country, and too many are being denied the opportunities that all Americans deserve. Our commitment to the diverse communities we serve starts with a Code of Ethics. Our code sets a higher standard for fairness in housing than any federal law, it’s backed by a culture of member accountability, and it extends to our work on Capitol Hill, where we continue to advocate for meaningful change.

At the National Association of REALTORS® we believe that fairness is worth fighting for, and we won’t stop until the fight is won. Because that’s who we are.

Housing discrimination?

Not in our house.

REALTORS® are members of the National Association of REALTORS®

If you experience or witness discrimination in real estate, we urge you to report it.

Visit hud.gov/fairhousing to file a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.