New York RealEstateRama

Near the site of a recent “swatting” attack on Park Avenue in Rochester, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced legislation to crack down on an alarming new nationwide crime trend called “swatting” that has recently emerged as a problem in Rochester. Schumer explained that “swatting” is an incident in which a fake phone call is made in an effort to have police SWAT teams respond to an unsuspecting resident’s home. Schumer said these false alerts are not only terrifying residents, but they are also costing law enforcement departments thousands of dollars and putting at risk both first responders and innocent bystanders.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today issued an open letter urging participants in the New York residential real estate market to take advantage of a recent change to the State’s Real Property Law confirming that real estate agents may rebate a portion of their commissions to clients. Attorney General Schneiderman’s letter explains that this change, which his office helped initiate, has the potential to reinvigorate price competition among real estate brokers in New York. His letter also emphasizes that his office will investigate any allegations of discrimination against brokers engaged in rebating

New York State's weeklong celebration of Earth Day will launch on Monday, April 20 with an announcement of conservation grants to land trusts statewide at an event on Monday with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Land Trust Alliance. Many representatives from land trusts around the state will be in attendance

Highway construction work is resumed on two transportation projects along Route 5 & 20 (Hamilton Street) in the city and town of Geneva, Ontario County this week. The $3.7 million project to rehabilitate the bridge carrying Hamilton Street over Norfolk Southern Railroad began in 2014. Traffic is reduced to a single lane.

USA, the International Real Estate Federation – U.S. Chapter held a luncheon in the private delegates’ dining room at the United Nations facility in New York City on Friday, March 27, 2015, to address the continuing need for cross-border cooperation in international property markets. FIABCI enjoys special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and regularly address real estate issues at UN offices around the world

Gil C. Quiniones, president and CEO of the New York Power Authority (NYPA) will join Syracuse Mayor Stephanie A. Miner and state and local officials on Wednesday, April 22, at 10 a.m. to discuss implementation of the recently unveiled Syracuse Energy Plan, which will reduce overall energy costs and carbon emissions, advance energy sustainability and support clean energy technologies and jobs

Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown will be joined by representatives of the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and state and local officials on Thursday, April 23, at 2 p.m. to formally kick off implementation of the recently unveiled Buffalo Energy Plan, which will reduce overall energy costs and carbon emissions, advance energy sustainability and support clean energy technologies and jobs.

Congressman Charles B. Rangel, who represents the 13th Congressional District of New York that includes Upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx, spoke on the House floor in opposition to H.R. 1105, which would repeal the Estate Tax. Below is the transcript of his remarks

Currently, if an individual’s assets exceed the specified federal exemption amount at his or her death, these assets are taxed at a rate of 40% before they can be passed on to surviving family members. For Central New Yorkers, these “assets” are often a small business or family farm – and a death tax bill only makes a family’s loss even more devastating.

The Department of Financial Services (DFS) Mobile Command Center will be in two sites in Queens to provide foreclosure prevention assistance to financially struggling homeowners and help answer questions related to insurance issues. DFS representatives will be available to meet homeowners at these locations:

New York Mortgage Trust, Inc. (Nasdaq:NYMT) today announced that it priced a public offering of 3,600,000 shares of its 7.875% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the "Series C Preferred Stock"), liquidation preference $25.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $90,000,000, before deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that his office has issued a cease and desist letter to LeRay 300, LLC, a Virginia-based company owned by Jeffrey S. Lewis, also of Virginia. The business operates as a rental property company near Fort Drum under the name of Woodcliff Community. The letter orders Woodcliff Community to immediately cease charging service members illegal fees in violation of the Servicemember Civil Relief Act and collecting undisclosed, non-refundable "reservation deposits" in violation of New York State law, among other allegations.

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will provide $12,359 in federal funding for the Franklin County Community Housing Council. This money will be provided through HUD’s Housing Counseling Program to help these organizations improve financial literacy, expand homeownership opportunities, improve access to affordable housing, and preserve homeownership for residents

Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos hosted the third annual “Comptroller’s Entrepreneurial High School Challenge” where over 250 business students from High Schools across the County competed for a $10,000 scholarship from NYIT and $5,000 in cash prizes from Healthplex.

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will provide $12,252 in federal funding for the Niagara Falls Neighborhood Housing Services.

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will provide $13,258 in federal funding for Better Neighborhoods, Inc., located in Schenectady.

Developer Peter Moore Disregarded Martin Act Requirements While Blatantly Marketing Investments In TriBeCa Loft Building Settlement Bars Moore From the Real Estate Securities Industry For Six Months. Schneiderman: Promoters Of Real Estate Investments Need To Follow The Rules And If They Don’t, They Will Be Held Accountable.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced communities across the state have come together to bring clean and affordable solar power to their localities at a discounted cost of up to 20 percent. With 26 campaigns launching through Reforming the Energy Vision, communities can obtain solar installations as a large group rather than an individual household—making it cheaper for everyone involved. In addition, the program is helping remove many of the obstacles that inhibit solar options, such as feasibility studies and finding the right contractor.

Results from the March 2015 Survey of Consumer Expectations suggest that expectations have rebounded compared to last month. In particular, after a marked decline in February, expectations about home prices, earnings growth and household spending returned to levels that prevailed during the second half of 2014.

Federal Funds Will Help Organizations Provide Financial Counseling Services to New Homebuyers, Homeowners, Renters Today, U.S. Senators C

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) joined Services for the UnderServed (SUS), Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. (Enterprise), Bank of America and other project partners to celebrate the housewarming of The Truxton Residence, a 48-unit supportive and affordable housing development in the Ocean Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. Residents of this development have on-site access to critical supportive services through SUS. To mark the building’s opening, officials planted a blueberry bush in the building’s landscaped backyard for the enjoyment of all residents

Today, close to our nation’s annual tax day, New York Representatives Jerrold Nadler, Nita Lowey and Steve Israel announced the re-introduction of the Tax Equity Act, a forward-thinking piece of tax legislation designed to adjust federal tax brackets to reflect the actual cost of living in major metropolitan areas.

Today, at the Johnstown Shopping Center, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to examine the outdated flood maps that have incorrectly placed the Johnstown Shopping Center, as well as up to 50 other properties in the surrounding area, in the Cayudutta Creek’s flood zone. Now that more comprehensive and accurate analyses are available, Schumer will urge FEMA to rectify the situation by correcting the maps and working with local leaders to ensure that thorough engineering analysis is completed to provide the data necessary to make these important adjustments.

Today, at the Tubman Home/Visitor’s Center, standing with Harriet Tubman relatives, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the National Park Service (NPS) to work with Auburn and Harriet Tubman Home officials to finalize details that will formally put Harriet Tubman National Historical Park on the fast track to being established and receiving critical federal funding

The lawmakers represent districts which, respectively, span the counties of Westchester and Rockland, New York City, and Long Island, and are home to constituents who both pay higher taxes and contend with higher basic living costs than most Americans.