The home sales growth trend continued in New York State during January with the 8,472 closed sales setting a new high-water mark for the month, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS. The January statewide median sales price of $250,000 represents an increase of 8.7 percent from a year ago.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York today issued its Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, which reported that total household debt increased substantially by $226 billion (a 1.8% increase) to $12.58 trillion during the fourth quarter of 2016. This marked the largest quarterly increase in total household debt since the fourth quarter of 2013, and debt today is now just 0.8% below its peak of $12.68 trillion reached in the third quarter of 2008. Every type of debt increased since the previous quarter, with a 1.6% increase in mortgage debt, 1.9% increase in auto loan balances, a 4.3% increase in credit card balances, and a 2.4% percent increase in student loan balances.

Dawn M. Carpenter, CPM of Staten Island, NY took the oath of office Monday, February 6, as the 2017 president of the New York State Association of REALTORS (NYSAR). The association’s inauguration ceremony was held in conjunction with its business meetings at The Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Albany, NY. She will serve a one-year term in the post.

Christine “CJ” DelVecchio, CBR, GRI of Ithaca took the oath of office Monday, February 6, as the 2017 president-elect of the New York State Association of REALTORS (NYSAR). The association’s inauguration ceremony was held in conjunction with its business meetings at The Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Albany, NY

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that CARL IMMICH, formerly the property manager of Harriet Tubman Terrace Apartments, a Section 8 Housing Complex in Poughkeepsie, New York, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. United States District Judge Cathy Seibel imposed today’s sentence

According to results from a Homeownership Poll conducted by the Siena Research Institute (SRI), 84 percent of New York voters supported the NY First Home proposal that would create a tax-free savings account to help New Yorkers save for a first home. Support for the program was bi-partisan and spread across the entire state

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), in partnership with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), today issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the development of a 58,000 square foot site in Long Island City, Queens. Activation of this underutilized site represents a unique opportunity to deck over a below-grade rail yard and create vibrant mixed-use, mixed-income housing development above with open space, community facilities and neighborhood retail.

New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Vicki Been and New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) President Eric Enderlin today announced the release of Housing New York: Three Years of Progress, describing the inroads made towards the goals of the Mayor’s housing plan. The new report comes on the heels of the Mayor’s announcement last week that his Administration financed more affordable housing in 2016 than in any time in the past 25 years.

32BJ announced today that its members have endorsed State Senator Bill Perkins in the special election for City Council District 9 based on his record of fighting for good jobs, affordable housing and immigrant rights

The following is a statement by New York State Association of REALTORS CEO Duncan R. MacKenzie: “The New York State Association of REALTORS (NYSAR) and its 52,000 REALTORS encourage Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to consider a more broad-based, robust approach to assisting all our state’s residents in overcoming the barriers to homeownership. We need to invest in as many bright young minds as we can if we are to fully reinvigorate our state’s economy

Nearly 32,000 households were denied access to permanent housing assistance between FY 2005 and FY 2014. Report Outlines Steps State, City Must Take Immediately to Match the Scale of Crisis

A record-setting November market pushed the New York State home sales total to 118,730, surpassing the 2015 annual mark of 116,671, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS. Closed home sales set a new record for November reaching 10,547 for the month, an increase of nearly 9 percent from November 2015. The November 2016 statewide median sales price of $240,000 represents an increase of 6.7 percent from a year ago

Solar One, GRID Alternatives Tri-State and Co-op Power today announced the launch of Affordable Solar New York. The nonprofit initiative will bring lowcost solar power to affordable housing providers in New York, which provide critical housing and services to low-income residents. Solar can significantly reduce energy costs for both operators and tenants, yet up-front costs, credit scores and complex financing remain significant barriers for this sector to access the technology.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the grand opening of a $2.62 million supportive housing project in the Finger Lakes. The project will provide permanent and transitional housing for homeless veterans and individuals suffering from a substance abuse disorder in Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and Yates counties. Residents will be able to access the necessary services to help achieve stability in their lives and be active participants in their community. This project is part of Governor Cuomo's unprecedented $20 billion Homelessness and Affordable Housing Action Plan

New York’s Department of Public Services staff delivered recommendations to state regulators as part of the state’s Value of Distributed Energy Resources initiative. The report marks the first major milestone in Reforming the Energy Vision process, and depicts a promising opportunity for solar to deliver job growth, healthy communities and grid resiliency to the Empire State.

The Empire State’s housing market has posted an 11-percent jump in home sales though the first nine months of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS. The year-to-date statewide median sales price grew 3 percent compared to last year.

A recent fire at a State University of New York (SUNY) at Purchase College student housing building has spotlighted the importance of requiring all college dormitories to have automatic fire sprinklers, according to leaders of the New York Fire Sprinkler Council, a division of the Mechanical Contractors Association of New York

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner and Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Chair Vicki Been announced today a series of new affordable housing lottery rules designed to ensure that City-assisted affordable housing reaches the New Yorkers who need it most

Homes sold at a record-setting pace across New York State during August with 13,912 closed sales, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS®. The previous record was 12,938 closed sales in August 2007. The statewide median sales price increased 3.8 percent compared to August 2015.

Governor Cuomo directed the New York State Division of the Budget to execute a memorandum of understanding to release approximately $2 billion in funding for the creation of more than 100,000 units of affordable and supportive housing over the next five years, including 6,000 units of supportive housing. Here is his announcement

Frederick C. Braun III, chairman of the Town of Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency (IDA), announced that the agency has closed on an economic assistance package that will allow two Ronkonkoma businesses to relocate to a 25,000 square foot building in Yaphank

As part of its ongoing efforts to foster homeownership opportunities and community involvement throughout the state, the New York State Association of REALTORS® is partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk County to build a home for a deserving family. Bahamas Real Estate