New York RealEstateRama

On the Monday of Earth Week, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer released a report detailing new market research and growing investor consensus that now is the time to implement a Green Bond program in New York City.

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

Mayor Bill de Blasio, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, and Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen today announced the launch of the Jamaica Now Action Plan, which outlines 21 strategic actions for the revitalization and growth of Jamaica, Queens into a thriving residential and commercial neighborhood.

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Vicki Been, and New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Deputy Commissioner Kerri Jew were joined by the New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH), the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, Holland & Knight, and the Minority Business Development Institute (MBDI) to celebrate the completion of the inaugural series of capacity building workshops designed specifically for Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs).

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Vicki Been today met tenants at a Bronx building in the midst of major upgrades and renovations through City affordable housing preservation initiatives. Protecting and improving existing affordable housing is a major component of the Mayor’s Housing New York Plan. Last year, the City initiated preservation work at 11,185 apartments. This year, the City is expanding its toolkit to reach more New Yorkers whose homes are becoming unaffordable or distressed

Congressman Eliot Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is pleased to announce the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded over $5 million in funds to Westchester County to repair areas in Rye Playland damaged during Superstorm Sandy. The allocation includes $1,683,346.50 for repairs to the North Boardwalk, and an additional $3,404,703.65 in funding for permanent work on other areas of the park that were damaged during the storm.

Yonkers Property Owners to Receive Tax Rebates from New York State as City Stays Within 2% Tax Cap for Fourth Consecutive Year YONKERS, NY -...

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, April 21, at 6:30 p.m. regarding planned construction projects in 2015 for the Village of Owego and Town of Owego, Tioga County. The meeting will be held at Tioga Opportunities, Inc, 9 Sheldon Guile Boulevard, Owego. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. with a presentation to be given at 6:30 p.m.

Hanley Investment Group, a nationally-recognized boutique real estate brokerage and advisory firm specializing in retail property sales, announced today that Senior Vice President Jeremy McChesney negotiated the sale of four single-tenant absolute NNN 7-Eleven stores in Erie County, New York, totaling nearly $3 million. McChesney currently has two other East Coast 7-Eleven stores in escrow and two additional ones available for sale.

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.