New York City is home to over eight million people throughout more than 250 neighborhoods, and every year, our real estate market continues to attract buyers, sellers, renters and investors from all over the world.
The Real Estate Board of New York consists of more than 17,000 members who play a critical role in each of those markets, and it is through their efforts that the real estate industry is able to fulfill its role fueling the economic engine of New York City.
In return, REBNY provides its members with a wide variety of services, benefits, and resources, all designed to help them make the most out of memberships, and to help them practice real estate to the best of their abilities.
From seminars, classes, and certification courses to quarterly reports, advocacy, and lobbying, REBNY not only supports New York City’s continued growth, but the growth of its members as well.
Through the REBNY Listing Service (RLS), REBNY provides a structure that delivers over 10,000 listings daily to its members, coupled with the assurance that the terms of REBNY’s co-brokerage agreement will be followed. When potential buyers and sellers work through REBNY, they do so knowing that the transaction will be conducted with the utmost in professionalism, respect, and courtesy.
Not only does REBNY provide its members with these services, but it is also very philanthropically active as well. One such example is REBNY’s Annual Summer Donation Drive, which this year helped The Coalition for the Homeless provide essential items such as diapers, bottles, and educational toys to homeless infants and toddlers in New York City.
“The Coalition for the Homeless would like to thank everyone who generously participated in the REBNY drive by donating diapers, baby clothing and other items so badly needed by our homeless neighbors,” said Sarah Murphy, director of development at The Coalition for the Homeless.
“With 59,000 New Yorkers in shelter tonight – including 24,000 kids — we rely on the compassion of groups like REBNY to help us ameliorate the suffering of the 3,500 homeless men, women and children we serve each day at the Coalition. We look forward to continuing to work with the wonderful people of REBNY in the future.”
REBNY is also a trusted source of information and research capabilities. Its membership regularly receives newsletters such as the Residential Sales Report, a quarterly report that provides average and median price information on coops, condos, and 1-3 family homes by borough and by neighborhood.
Our bi-weekly “Numbers You Need To Know” e-newsletter provides our residential brokerage community with facts about the city and the housing industry, the “Legal Line” is a way for members to get answers to their legal queries, and our Retail Report tracks overall rents and ground floor asking rents in key retail corridors in Manhattan and, most recently, Brooklyn.
REBNY works to ensure that the public policy interests of our members are heard. From City Hall to the halls of Congress, REBNY can be found advocating for more jobs, fairer wages, and rallying to restate, amend, or eliminate laws based on what’s best for New York City. By working with elected officials, REBNY was able to secure federal legislation to end the Interstate Land Sales Act and increase the funding of the Department of Buildings that resulted in 320 new positions and technological improvements to support NYC development.
REBNY also negotiated reforms to the 421-a program that would result in the creation of more affordable housing targeted at a broad band of income levels in exchange for a 35 year abatement on new property taxes.
REBNY also offers its members the opportunity to achieve the New York Residential Specialist (NYRS) designation, which is renowned as a symbol of excellence in New York’s residential real estate scene. It is awarded to experienced associate brokers who have achieved the rigorous production requirements and who complete an advanced “Masters” course of studies.
Our property database is also readily available for our members, which contains information for property in all five boroughs and is accessible through our Members’ website. The database features property ownership, assessed value, and sales information for each parcel as well as a map search feature to easily find property.
On the networking and recreational side, REBNY hosts several luncheons, awards ceremonies, cocktail hours, dinners, breakfasts, sporting events, and charity events throughout the year. These events have been both valuable networking experiences and enjoyable events for our members, who regularly bring their co-workers and colleagues to experience all that REBNY has to offer.
Under the leadership of my predecessor Steven Spinola, REBNY has seen tremendous growth. Similarly, New York City’s real estate market is booming, as the appeal to investors and residents continues to expand across the five boroughs.
Please visit rebny.com to learn more about the benefits of being part of New York’s leading real estate trade association.
In other REBNY news:
The next Residential Rental Clinic is on November 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Mendik Education Center. These free REBNY member-only seminar is offered to our residential members, where the Residential Rental Committee presents a monthly series of morning rental seminars for the professional development of REBNY members. For more information, contact Yesenia Dhanraj at YDhanraj@rebny.com.
REBNY’s Annual Commercial Brooklyn Cocktail Party will be on December 2nd from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Brooklyn Navy Yard – Green Manufacturing Center. Hosted by the REBNY Commercial Brooklyn Committee, the evening will include an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, and networking. To register for this REBNY commercial member-only event, contact Desiree Jones at DJones@rebny.com.
REBNY’s Residential Upper Manhattan Committee will be hosting its next panel discussion at MIST Harlem from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information on this upcoming event, visit www.rebny.com.
Request for Housing for Veterans in Need: New York City is seeking housing for homeless veterans, with the greatest need being for studios and one-bedroom apartments.
The City has committed to ending veteran homelessness by the end of 2015 and has worked to ensure that all veterans have a rental subsidy.
There are also landlord and broker incentives available for those who place veterans in housing.
Learn more about the program, or if you have an apartment you’d like to make available, please visit http://www1.nyc.gov/site/dhs/outreach/veterans.page.
