Governor Cuomo today announced $29.7 million in grants to support 18 critical municipal water infrastructure projects in the North Country. These grants are part of the second round of NYS Water Grants funded through the state’s highly successful Water Infrastructure Improvement Act

Following reports of homeownership dipping to its lowest level since 1965, Representative Sean Patrick Maloney has renewed calls for passage of legislation he introduced last year to make it easier for first-time homebuyers to save for a down payment. Current law allows first time homebuyers to make penalty-free withdrawals from their IRA to go toward the purchase of a home. However, the current limit of $10,000, which was enacted nearly 20 years ago and not indexed to inflation, has not kept up with rising costs and stagnating wages. Rep. Maloney’s bipartisan First Time Homeowner Savings Plan Act would help the law catch up, by increasing the limit to $25,000 for first time homebuyers.

A webcast on the request for proposals (RFP) that has been issued by the New York State Office of General Services (OGS) for the purchase and development of 27 acres of prime real estate in the Governor W. Averell Harriman State Office Campus in Albany will be held on Wednesday, July 27 at 11:00 a.m.

Ulster County Executive Mike Hein visited Karina Dresses in uptown Kingston, a business that recently relocated from Brooklyn, to announce the launch of two advertising campaigns by the Ulster County Economic Development Alliance focused on promoting Ulster County as the ideal place to live and develop and grow business in today’s always connected economy.

Driven by a very strong second quarter, home sales were up by 15.4 percent though the first six months of 2016 compared to the first half of 2015, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS. The statewide median sales price increased by 2.2 percent compared to a year ago at the end of the June

Rochester’s Cornerstone Group, Ltd., New York State Homes and Community Renewal, PathStone Corporation, Community Preservation Corporation, and partners today announced the opening of Long Pond Senior Housing, the first phase of a 120-unit housing development in the Town of Greece that provides 54 one and two-bedroom apartments with support services to help income-eligible and frail seniors remain independent.

Ulster County Executive Mike Hein signed into law legislation that he previously proposed to enhance real property tax exemptions available to Ulster County Veterans. Based upon new exemption levels recently adopted by the New York State Legislature, this legislation ensures that Ulster County continues to grant its Veterans the most up-to-date exemptions allowable under New York State Real Property Tax Law.

Conifer is pleased to announce that, in partnership with Volunteers of America Upstate New York (VOAUPNY), a brand new, 60-unit, senior apartment community is now leasing in Webster!

Mayor Bill de Blasio; U.S. Senator Chuck E. Schumer; Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito; Council Members Daniel Garodnick, Daneek Miller and Donovan Richards; a number of not-for-profit organizations; and Goldman Sachs as financing partner, today announced the purchase of 24 distressed mortgages for one- to four-family homes – with a total of 41 residential units – in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and on Staten Island.

With a nearly 10-percent increase in home sales compared to May 2015, the New York State housing market posted its 16th consecutive month of growth compared to the same month in the prior year, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS. The statewide median sales price grew by 3.2 percent compared to a year ago.

Speaker Carl Heastie, Judiciary Committee Chair Helene Weinstein, Banks Committee Chair Annette Robinson and Assemblymember Michelle Schimel today announced the passage of legislation that is part of a three-way agreement to combat the rising problem of abandoned residential properties by creating new obligations for mortgage owners and lenders to maintain property which has been rendered vacant and abandoned

Partnership Elects New Board Members, Presents Awards to New York City Dept. of Small Business Services, Honors Security Efforts, Unveils Video Focusing on Neighborhood Transformation

Tom Reed issued the following statement in the wake of the recent unanimous Supreme Court ruling in Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co. Inc. The ruling allows private property owners to appeal how their land is classified by the Corps, and therefore the types of regulations land is subject to, in Federal court

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York today released results from its February 2016 SCE Housing Survey, which provides information on consumers' housing-related experiences and expectations. The survey shows a modest decline in home price growth expectations. However, the majority of households still view housing as a good financial investment. Mortgage rate expectations have declined since last year’s survey, and renters’ perceived access to mortgages has become easier.

As part of his continued efforts to help homeowners reduce their property tax burden, County Executive Edward Mangano will be hosting a series of Property Tax Exemptions Workshops in July at libraries and community meeting halls throughout Nassau County

The New York State Association of REALTORS (NYSAR) was joined by New York State Senator Betty Little (R-Glens Falls) and Assemblymember Phil Ramos (D-Brentwood) on REALTOR Lobby Day in support of the NY First Home legislative proposal designed to assist New Yorkers in their quest to become first-time homeowners. The program would create a new tax-free savings account to help cover costs associated with the purchase of a first home in the state

Sullivan County is accepting applications from property owners seeking to be included in New York State Agricultural Districts 1 and 4, for a 30-day window beginning April 1st and ending April 30th. New York State Agricultural Districts are geographic areas that consist predominantly of viable agricultural land. Agricultural operations within the districts are afforded benefits and protections to promote the continuation of farming and the preservation of agricultural land.

The HomeOwnership Center (HOC), headquartered in Utica, NY, is now accepting applications for the City of Utica’s Homeowner Occupied Rehabilitation Program. Rehabilitation projects funded under this grant are targeted to be completed during 2016

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the initial financing for nearly 600 new affordable apartments across the city, paid for by $10 million in settlements with property owners who violated the law. The new homes will serve formerly homeless New Yorkers, low-income families, veterans, seniors and people with mental health and substance abuse challenges.

The New York State housing market started the new year on a strong note as closed sales jumped more than 13 percent compared to January 2015 to reach 7,640, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS (NYSAR). The January 2016 statewide median sales price remained unchanged compared to a year ago

New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Vicki Been released the new list of residential buildings that have been placed into the agency’s Ninth Round of the Alternative Enforcement Program (AEP). The AEP is aimed at increasing the pressure on the owners of the City’s multifamily residential buildings that have fallen into disrepair, many of which are rent-regulated, to bring the properties up to code so that the residents are not forced to live in substandard and hazardous conditions.

Governor Cuomo announced a major initiative to return up to 50,000 illegally deregulated apartments to rent regulation, restoring rights to thousands of tenants. The owners of the targeted buildings are receiving J-51 tax benefits and claim to be exempt from rent regulation, contrary to the law. Each will be instructed via a letter to re-register their units.

The 2015 New York State housing market growth trend continued into October, reaching the highest level of closed sales for the month in more than 25 years, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS. October 2015 closed sales increased nearly 2 percent to reach 11,216.

The New York State Association of REALTORS is a not-for-profit trade organization representing more than 50,000 of New York State’s real estate professionals. The term REALTOR is a registered trademark, which identifies real estate professionals who subscribe to a strict code of ethics as members of the National Association of REALTORS.

An eleven-count indictment was unsealed today in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York charging David Gotterup, also known as “David Gott,” and Jason Green with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and bank fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud homeowners who were attempting to modify their mortgage loans, and related mail fraud counts.