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 on 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.
EMPOWERED TOGETHER: NAVIGATING CHANGE, LEADING WITH PURPOSE
As we step into the heart of the year, I want to take a moment to recognize the collective strength, adaptability, and dedication of our Realtor® community across New York State. Whether you’re navigating shifting market trends, advocating for property rights, mentoring a new agent, or guiding clients through one of the most important decisions of their lives, your work matters—and it doesn’t go unnoticed.
This year, our Association remains laser-focused on empowering you through **education, advocacy, and connection**. From updated continuing education offerings to robust lobbying efforts at the state and national levels, every initiative is designed to support your growth and protect the future of our profession. We are also proud of the strides being made in fair housing, diversity, equity, and inclusion—work that reflects the integrity and professionalism that define the Realtor® brand.
We know the market continues to evolve, and so must we. Now more than ever, it’s essential that we lean on each other, share knowledge, and elevate the standards that keep our industry strong. I encourage each of you to stay informed, get involved, and use the tools our Association provides—from MLS enhancements and legal resources to local networking events and leadership opportunities.
Thank you for being an integral part of this vibrant community. Together, we are not just adapting to change—we are helping shape the future of real estate in New York.
With appreciation and respect,
Melissa Woodcock 2025 GCAR President
DATES TO REMEMBER
May 26
Memorial Day
GCAR Office Closed
June 19
Juneteenth
GCAR Office Closed
June 25
General Membership Meeting
Shaker Ridge Country Club
July 4
Independence Day
GCAR Office Closed
July 24
Cornhole for RPAC Lionheart on the Green
September 14 - 17
NYSAR Fall Business Meetings
Turning Stone Casino
October 30
GCAR Trade Show
Saratoga City Center
November 20
GCAR Annual Meeting
For additional information, visit GCAR.com/events
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
June 25, 2025
Breakfast 9:00 am
Meeting 9:30 am
Shaker Ridge Country Club
802 Albany Shaker Road
Albany, NY 12211
Announcing the Appointment of Kimberly Hawley to Education Manager
Kimberly has been dedicated to education since 2006, with experience at Sage College, Albany Law School, and Excelsior University. Her professional roles have included Admissions Coordinator, Senior Counselor, Academic Advisor, Director of Clinical Performance for the Nursing Exam (CPNE), and Director of Admissions. Additionally, she has taught courses at Schenectady County Community College and Excelsior University. Kimberly holds four degrees, including two associate degrees, a bachelor’s degree, and a master’s degree in cybersecurity.
Kimberly possesses strong project management, communication, and leadership skills, complemented by a passion for fostering student success. As Director of CPNE at Excelsior, she managed a team of 176 clinical faculty and an onsite scheduling team, and oversaw 17 clinical locations across 14 states. She successfully led initiatives to enhance the scheduling process, reducing wait times from 18 months to three months, enabling over 1,000 students to progress toward degree completion in less than a year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she also transitioned the exam to a virtual format.
Kimberly lives in Rotterdam with her husband and two teenage children. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends and participating in outdoor activities.
NAR Consumer Guides
Each one-page resource gives clients a handy overview of key aspects of the real estate transaction, like negotiating written buyer agreements and understanding offers of compensation. They’re an invaluable way to start conversations with and educate consumers.
>> Find them here: facts.realtor
GCAR Donates to Capital City Rescue Mission and Franklin Community Center
Volunteers Ready Double H Ranch for Summer Campers
GCAR members joined forces with members of SAR to help ready the Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne, NY for the arrival of campers. Volunteers power-washed vehicles and chairs, cleaned windows, and made up beds—ensuring a warm and welcoming environment for the children. Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who gave their time to truly make a difference.
The Double H Ranch, co-founded by Charles R. Wood and Paul Newman, offers specialized programs and year-round support for children and families facing life-threatening illnesses. All programs are completely free of charge and bring the magic of the Adirondacks to life.
GCAR Members Advocate for Homeownership at State Capitol
On Tuesday, April 29, GCAR members joined more than 300 REALTORS® from across New York State for NYSAR’s annual Lobby Day. Held at the State Capitol in Albany, this event gives REALTORS® a critical opportunity to meet directly with lawmakers and advocate for policies that support homeownership, housing development, and the overall consumer real estate experience.
The GCAR delegation met with staff from several Capital Region legislators including Senators James Tedisco, Patricia Fahy, and Jake Ashby, as well as Assemblymembers Mary Beth Walsh, Angelo Santabarbara, Scott Bendett, Gabriella Romero, and Phil Steck. Though many legislators were tied up with ongoing budget negotiations, GCAR members held meaningful conversations with their legislative teams.
“Lobby Day with GCAR was once again a huge success. Our impact is strong because our detailed explanations of why we are advocating—or not advocating—for a bill are heard. They were shocked, and sometimes moved, by the reasons we addressed. Attending Lobby Day definitely makes a difference.”
— Haleh Struzinsky, HS Capital Realty
Legislative Momentum Follows REALTOR® Advocacy
In the days immediately following Lobby Day, several legislative efforts GCAR members discussed gained traction. A NYSAR-supported bill (A.787/S.7285) that expands tax incentives for turning vacant properties into housing passed both houses and now awaits Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature.
Two other bills were introduced in the Assembly, building on existing Senate versions:
• A.8092/S.5780 – Would require sexual harassment prevention training for all real estate licensees
• A.8120/S.7499 – Would prohibit long-term residential listing agreements
These developments underscore the influence of collective REALTOR® advocacy.
GCAR members met with legislative staff to advocate for key housing-related bills.
A Day That Makes a Difference
For many GCAR participants, Lobby Day wasn’t just a professional responsibility—it was an inspiring and energizing experience.
“Lobby Day was such a meaningful experience. It was empowering to connect with fellow professionals, speak up for our industry, and feel the impact of our voices being heard. I left feeling energized and proud to be part of this community.”
— Ana Gaby Montemayor, Renovo Real Estate
Attending the 2025 NYSAR Lobby Day as an agent with a background in legislation was an incredibly rewarding experience. It was inspiring to connect with fellow professionals who share a deep passion for real estate and a commitment to elevating our industry. Advocating for consumerfocused policies and greater professionalism reminded me how powerful our collective voice can be.”
— Natisha Alexander, Bethea Realty
Whether advocating for more accessible homeownership, consumer protections, or stronger professional standards, GCAR members once again proved that informed, local voices have a powerful impact at the state level.
Photo courtesy of NYSAR
Photo courtesy of NYSAR
KEY POLICY UPDATES
By Connor Gillis Government Affairs Rep, NYSAR
REALTORS® File Legal Challenge Against NY’s Revised Freshwater Wetland Regulations
NYSAR joined a coalition of business organizations in filing a legal challenge in the State Supreme Court against the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) updated freshwater wetlands regulation (6 NYCRR Part 664), which went into effect in January 2025. The petition challenges the process utilized by DEC to adopt the revised rules, as well as for its imposition of unconstitutionally vague and “arbitrary and capricious” regulatory provisions. It also highlights the argument that the new DEC regulations are overly restrictive and undermine the state’s goals to create more housing.
Bill To Lift Telemarketing Restrictions Introduced in the State Senate
NYSAR-supported legislation (S.6853) was introduced in the State Senate to amend current state law prohibiting telemarketing during a declared state of emergency. NYSAR continues to advocate for the passage of this bill, which would lift telemarketing restrictions when it is found that such services would not impair or mitigate a declared state of emergency. Similar legislation was passed unanimously in the Assembly in 2023 and 2024 following REALTOR® advocacy efforts. To date, multiple states of emergency remain in effect under Executive Orders.
New Housing Development Projects Underway as State Receives $270M In Federal Funding
Governor Kathy Hochul announced recently that New York will receive $270 million through the federal LowIncome Housing Tax Credit and subsidies to build and
preserve over 1,800 homes and mixed-use developments across the state, totaling 28 projects. Additionally, the Governor announced the awarding of about $20 million in state funding to 3 Western New York villages under the Pro-Housing Communities Program for downtown revitalization projects.
Legislation Combatting Discrimination in Home Appraisals Passes Both Houses
The Senate and Assembly passed legislation (S.7320/A.6869) prohibiting discrimination based on protected classes when conducting real estate appraisals or making real estate appraisal services available. The bill also allows for fines up to $2,000 for violations with a portion of those funds being directed to the state anti-discrimination in housing fund. NYSAR supports this legislation, which now awaits Gov. Kathy Hochul’s consideration.
Bowling For RPAC
This year’s annual Bowling for RPAC fundraiser, held on May 15th, raised $6,000 for RPAC. We extend special thanks to our generous sponsors: Clean Isles Home Inspections, Arnoff Moving & Storage, Ira Bethea, Jay Christiana, Alicia Everett, Suzanne Prezio, Victoria Romeo, and Melissa Woodcock.
By Nicole Slaughter Graham Consulting Editor, REALTOR® Magazine
Use this comprehensive plan to evaluate and take action on your commitment to creating a brokerage where everyone feels like they belong.
If you ask Natalie Davis, founder of The Evolution Group in Denver, with a little work, creating an office environment where everyone feels like they belong can happen quite quickly. All it takes is a commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion and a few tangible action steps to get started.
Focus on the Feeling of Belonging
Inclusion and belonging are two different things, Davis said. Inclusion is that action brokers take to create a space where everyone feels like they belong. Inclusion is in the brokerage’s mission statement, marketing, core values and training offered to agents. Belonging is the feeling created by the action of inclusion. In order to create an inclusive space, focus on how belonging feels. Figure out what makes people of all backgrounds feel like they have a place in your office.
How do you do this? Through company culture.
Make DEI a Clear Part of Your Brokerage’s Culture
A company culture in which everyone feels like they belong isn’t “a thing that’s nice to have or a box to check,” Davis said. It’s a must. Attracting and retaining agents of all backgrounds starts with the culture the broker creates.
Start with your brokerage’s mission and vision statement, and figure out how DEI fits into those two pillars. To do so, you might have to turn inward and
reflect, Davis said. “Why is DEI important to you? Once you’ve identified it, you want to bring that [reason] back to your mission and vision.”
Bringing your commitment to DEI back to your mission and vision means making sure it’s clearly articulated in both, Davis explained.
Perform an Internal Audit
Stating a commitment to an environment of belonging is a starting point. Taking action toward inclusion is making sure that both processes and practices within the brokerage align with DEI values.
Davis recommends creating a plan to ensure all facets of the business further your commitment to DEI. In order to create a plan for forward motion, though, it’s important to recognize where you’re starting from. To figure out what that starting place is, ask yourself questions in each of these areas:
Recruiting and Hiring
• What’s your commitment to DEI in this space?
• What’s the current makeup of your office and does it represent your commitment to DEI?
• Have you committed to working on uncovering unconscious bias?
• What statements are being made during the interview process?
Onboarding, Training and Support
• What’s in your new-hire packet? Does it support your commitment to DEI?
• Do you encourage or require DEI training initially? Ongoing?
• Are new agents held accountable to upholding the brokerage’s commitment to DEI? What about your longtime agents?
Outreach
• Is there a segment of your community’s population that you’re not serving or that is not represented in your brokerage?
• Where do you conduct outreach on the client side and on the recruiting side?
Marketing and Branding
• What do your buyers and sellers packets look like?
• Are your marketing practices inclusive? Do your marketing photos and language promote inclusion?
• Do you have a social media policy or guidelines that outline your brokerage’s commitment to DEI?
• What does the last six months of your social media content look like, and does that period reflect your brokerage’s commitment to DEI? How about your newsletters?
Make Your Commitment Known Publicly and Privately
Once you’ve completed your internal audit and created a plan, it’s important to let your community and your brokerage know that you’re committed to creating an
inclusive environment that promotes belonging. One of the easiest ways to do so is to make your commitment clear in your internal and external statements.
If you’re not sure how to word these statements, Davis recommends using phrasing that’s already been created. “You can add a statement to your website that speaks to the fact that you align with the NAR DEI Commitment Statement. You could also use the One America Principles.”
Improve DEI in Your Brokerage
You have a plan. You’ve made your stance clear internally and externally. Now, it’s time to take action.
“You can start by hiring and developing people of color into positions of power, but this isn’t enough,” Davis said. “Can you form a committee or task force? An affinity group or a club?”
It’s also important to make sure you have buy-in from your team—and, if you don’t, adjust accordingly. Elevating people of color to positions of power and creating groups work only if you’ve truly created a culture of belonging where everyone feels safe and supported.
“Sit down and have a conversation with your team member with the caveat that everyone enter into the conversation with respect and curiosity. Highlight where the needs are and then come up with a way to fill those needs.”
Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine by permission of the National
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Multiple Listing Options for Sellers
After many months of analysis and deliberation across the industry—including MLS leadership; Association Executives; brokerages of all sizes; agents; multi-cultural partners; and fair housing, policy, technology, and legal experts—NAR has adopted a new MLS policy, Multiple Listing Options for Sellers, which exists in conjunction with the Clear Cooperation Policy and other MLS policies to provide sellers and their agents more options and choice when marketing a property, while also supporting fair housing by providing buyers and their agents with equal access to important MLS property information.
New MLS Policy Statement: Multiple Listing Options for Sellers
Office Exclusive
Is an exempt listing where the seller has directed that their property not be disseminated through the MLS and not be publicly marketed. The office exclusive listing shall be filed with the MLS but not disseminated to other MLS Participants and Subscribers.
Delayed Marketing
Is an exempt listing where the seller has directed the listing broker to delay the public marketing of that listing through IDX and syndication for any period as allowed by the local MLS in its unfettered discretion. A delayed marketing listing shall be filed with the MLS and does not preclude the listing firm from marketing the listing in a manner consistent with their seller’s choice.
Exempt Listing Disclosure
The filing of an exempt listing (office exclusive or delayed marketing) with the MLS must be pursuant to a certification obtained by the listing broker from the seller which includes:
• disclosure about the professional relationship between the Participant and the seller;
• acknowledgement that the seller understands the MLS benefits they are waiving or delaying with the exempt listing, such as broad and immediate exposure of their listing through the MLS; and
• confirmation of the seller’s decision that their listing not be publicly marketed and disseminated by the MLS as an office exclusive listing or that their listing will not have immediate public marketing through IDX and Syndication as a delayed marketing listing.
Multiple Listing Options for Sellers requirements only apply to listing types that are subject to mandatory submission pursuant to the MLS local rules.
With this new policy:
A consumer will have the option to market their home as a “delayed marketing exempt listing.” This means a seller can instruct their listing agent to delay the marketing of their listing by other agents outside the listing firm through IDX and syndication for a period of time.
During the delayed marketing period, the home seller and the listing agent can market the listing in a manner consistent with the seller’s needs and interests. At the same time, the delayed marketing exempt listing will still be available to other MLS Participants through the MLS platform so they can inform their consumers about the property.
Each MLS will have discretion to determine a delayed marketing period that is most suitable for their local marketplace.
Listing agents representing sellers who choose to delay the public marketing of their listing must secure from their seller a signed disclosure documenting the seller’s informed consent to waive the benefits of immediate public marketing through IDX and syndication. Seller disclosure is required for both delayed marketing exempt listings and office exclusive exempt listings.
NAR is also clarifying its policy interpretation that one-to-one, broker-to-broker communications about listings do not trigger CCP requirements. However, multi-brokerage communications about a listing will constitute public marketing under CCP. The Multiple Listing Options for Sellers policy is effective March 25, 2025, and must be implemented by September 30, 2025, allowing for technical changes associated with this new seller option of delayed marketing exempt listings. Prior to local implementation, MLSs are encouraged to engage with their brokers and stakeholders to gather input on the flexibility and accommodations consumers need in their local market. Please note that the new policy does not change an MLS’s local mandatory submission deadlines or CCP and its requirement to file a listing with the MLS within one (1) business day from public marketing.
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.
