MLS subscribers must sign annual agreement

The New York State Alliance of MLSs (NYSAMLS), a regional joint venture of the Multiple Listing Services in Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, requires each MLS subscriber to sign the MLS Subscriber Agreement annually. This will take place as you log into Matrix beginning on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.

Please note that there are no changes to the existing subscriber agreement. If you would like to read the content ahead of time, you may do so here.

On January 16, you will need to accept the Subscriber Agreement by typing in your name exactly as shown on the screen presented as you log into the portal, to continue using MLS services. In this example, you would type in Steve Mapes exactly as shown and then click on I Agree.

Sign up for Raising the Bar #1 to learn about personal branding

Join us for the first 2024 Raising the Bar session on Jan. 25 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. to learn about the highly requested topics of personal branding and value proposition. Personal branding is the art of promoting people as a brand and can lead to better positioning in the marketplace, stronger relationships with your audience, and more business. Whether you’re new to personal branding or want to take yours to the next level, this Zoom webinar with help you. Register today.

Attend all four Raising the Bar webinars or three Raising the Bars and Community Day and you will receive a 20% discount on your local 2025 GSAR Dues.

Realtor.com names Mattydale as a top 2024 market for first-time buyers

First-time homebuyers are optimistic when it comes to buying a home in 2024 with 61% indicating that now is a good time to buy, per a recent Realtor.com® survey. And, when it comes to investing in their first home, they may find the best luck in some unexpected places. In its most recent report, Realtor.com® unveiled the Best Markets for First-Time Homebuyers in 2024. This year's ranking includes Mattydale, N.Y. 

"Buying a first home can be a daunting task. Couple high interest rates with historically low inventory of homes available for sale in 2023 and hopeful buyers have faced a particularly challenging market," said Danielle Hale, Chief Economist, Realtor.com. "While affordability will remain an issue in 2024, a recent Realtor.com® survey showed that 95% of prospective first-time homebuyers overwhelmingly feel that they'll be able to afford a home within their lifetime, with 40% saying they'll be able to afford it within the next year." Read more.

See you at the GSAR and CNYIS Installation! This event is sold out!

GSAR and CNYIS will celebrate the 2024 leaders of both organizations on Friday at the Timber Banks Golf Club in Baldwinsville. Don Radke and Mark Re will also be honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards. The Cocktail Hour, sponsored by Coldwell Banker Prime Properties., will begin at 5 p.m. with a cash bar and appetizers.

Thank you to all our sponsors! Our major sponsors are Countryside CU, CrossCountry Mortgage and Lang Law. The dinner sponsors are Community Bank  and Genesee Regional Bank. Additional sponsors are Hunt Real Estate(dessert) Howard Hanna (wine glass giveaway), Akl & Assoc. (decor) and MyTown Realty, LLC (entertainment).

Please note the GSAR office building will be closed on the 19th with staff working from home until 2 p.m. After that time, the office will be closed to allow time to prepare for the installation.

Pay 2024 dues by Jan. 31 to avoid loss of MLS service

The 2024 dues payment deadline was Dec. 31. A late charge of $15 has been applied today (Jan. 2) for any member account that was not paid by the deadline. GSAR members can find their bill for GSAR, NYSAR and NAR annual dues in the member portal. If payment, including the late fee, is not made on or before Jan. 31, MLS service will be interrupted on Feb. 1. A $75 reactivation fee will also be charged on Feb. 1. Companies will be shut off on Feb. 12. No fees will be waived. If you did not receive your dues notice, please contact the GSAR office.

GSAR office closed for MLK Day

The GSAR office will be closed today, Jan. 15, in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

New Realist dashboard to debut tomorrow

The new Realist Insights Dashboard will debut tomorrow (Jan. 16). You will be able to work smarter and faster with this new at-a-glance view of your market. You’ll find insights, trends, and quick access to your last-viewed properties. Try it today and see how much easier it is to access the information you need. Learn more about the changes and watch the video.

New field choices available; Updated data input forms to be available in the first quarter

Be on the lookout for new Data Input Forms in early 2024. In the meantime, we have added some new field choices and one new field which may be used for any listings you add. We will keep you posted on when the new forms will be available. These fields are now available in Matrix when adding or editing a listing:

MLS training opportunities

Click here for Supra training resources.

Fair Housing

3 hours CE • Zoom • Instructor: Don Radke • Jan. 18 from 1 - 4 p.m.

Did you know that if charged with a fair housing violation, you are guilty until proven innocent? Or, that you could be fined in excess of $10,000? As a REALTOR, you are charged with advocating for and protecting fair housing rights. Come and learn how to stay compliant with the fair housing laws, from record keeping to advertising. This course Satisfies 3.0 Hours of NYSDOS Required Fair Housing. Register here.

Law of Agency

3 hours CE • Zoom • Instructor: Don Radke • Jan. 30 from 9 a.m. - noon

This course will teach you the importance of Agency Relationships, as they serve as the foundation for most real estate transactions. In an agency relationship, clients place trust in a licensee to fulfill certain duties and fiduciary responsibilities towards the client. This course satisfies 2.0 hours of NYSDOS Required Law of Agency. Register here.

A Review of Recent Legal Matters

1 hour CE • Zoom • Instructor: Vaugn Lang • Jan. 30 from 2 - 3 p.m.

This course will cover recent legal matters pertaining to Real Estate License Law, Fair Housing Laws, and other notable legal updates. This course satisfies the DOS 1-hour Legal Update Requirement. Register here.

Thank you to our January education sponsor, Geddes Federal Savings.

NAR Code of Ethics Cycle 7 ends on December 31, 2024

Code of Ethics Cycle 7 will end on Dec. 31, but now is the time to start thinking about your COE training. You can get a head start to beat the end-of-the-year rush. If you take your Code of Ethics course from another school, please be aware that GSAR only accepts certificates from:

• GSAR Real Estate School – (These certificates are already on file. No need to turn in)
• The National Association of REALTORS® (The free version does NOT have CE Credit for NYS).
• The New York State Association of REALTORS®
• Other NYS Local REALTOR® Associations (IE: Rochester or Buffalo)
• The CE Shop
• Colibri
• McKissock Learning
• Empire Learning
• WebCE 

GSAR is offering COE Classes as part of our FREE Virtual Education Program until Sept. 30. From Oct.1 through Dec. 31 ALL Code of Ethics courses including virtual through the GSAR Real Estate School will cost $50. Certificates from other schools such as Keep Me Certified, ICE, etc. will not be accepted. Should you fail to turn in your ethics certificate to GSAR by Dec. 31, you risk the suspension of your membership and MLS services. Please send all certificates to education@cnyrealtor.com.

**If you have already turned in a certificate after January 1, 2022, or taken a course through GSAR Real Estate school, there is no need to turn in your certificates. Only outside school certificates are to be turned in to GSAR. 

• Martin Luther King Day Office Closed - Jan. 15
• GSAR/CNYIS Installation, Timber Banks Golf Club - Jan. 19
• RTB #1 - Jan. 24
• NYSAR Mid-winter Meetings - Feb. 4-8,
• HBR of CNY Home and Garden Show - March 15-17

The Greater Syracuse Association of REALTORS^® welcomes its newest members, thanks them for joining, and wishes them great success.