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At its August 25, 2015 meeting, the Stanhope Borough Council adopted an ordinance exempting real estate licensees from being required to register vacant properties they have listed with the municipality. This ordinance was adopted in response to a request from the Sussex County Association of Realtors® and New Jersey Realtors® over concerns that Realtors® would be subject to requirements of a newly adopted vacant property registration ordinance.   In response, the borough council adopted this ordinance exempting real estate…

New Jersey Realtors® won a significant victory for tenants and the rental industry when the court held that municipalities are limited in the licensing fees they can charge for apartments. In the case, Timber Glen Phase III, LLC v. Township of Hamilton, the Appellate Division held that municipalities can only impose a licensing fee with regard to residential rental units if they are rented for a term of less than 175 consecutive days by a person having a permanent residence somewhere else. As a result, a licensing fee that was…

Investing in the Realtors® Political Action Committee is more important than ever. As one of the main methods of ensuring that Realtor® issues maintain relevancy, RPAC’s nonpartisan efforts at all levels of government help achieve legislative outcomes that protect private property rights, as well as the livelihoods of Realtors® in New Jersey and across the United States. NJ Realtors® would like to recognize those members who have already invested in the future of the industry by supporting RPAC.   The list featured in the PDF…

On June 17, 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced that it would propose to delay the RESPA/TILA Integration or TRID until October 1.   In a statement issued by CFPB Director Richard Cordray, he said the decision was made “to correct an administrative error that we just discovered in meeting the requirements under federal law, which would have delayed the effective date of the rule by two weeks. We further believe that the additional time included in the proposed effective date would better accommodate the…

On June 11, New Jersey Realtors® held a ceremonial groundbreaking at the site of the future headquarters on Hamilton Avenue in Trenton. Key legislators, including Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson, Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, Senate Republican leader Tom Kean, Jr., and Assembly Republican leader Jon Bramnick attended the historic event as well as 150 members of the association.   “This was a momentous day for our association,” said New Jersey Realtors® CEO Jarrod C. Grasso. “We are proud we will finally be able to call our…

NJ REALTORS® — along with members from the state’s local boards and associations — attended the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings and Trade Expo during the week of May 11 in Washington, D.C. Held annually, the midyear meetings serve as an advantageous opportunity for REALTORS® to attend meetings with their state legislators to discuss topics, legislation, and initiatives important to REALTORS® and property owners. Additionally, the conference connects leaders and experts within the REALTOR® organization from across the country who…

The Federal Aviation Administration recently said it would be working closely with industry partners on three key areas of drone use. The announcement came after the FAA received feedback to the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) rule it published in February, which applied limitations to how drones could be operated in certain areas.   Specifically, the FAA will be focusing on: Visual line-of-sight operations in urban areas. CNN will look at how UAS might be safely used for newsgathering in populated areas. Extended visual…

National Association of Realtors® President Chris Polychron released an official statement in support of the Protecting American Talent and Entrepreneurship (PATENT) Act of 2015.   “Realtors® lead the real estate industry by embracing new technology and innovation that provide consumers with services that are fast, convenient and comprehensive. Unfortunately, avid technology users are unknowingly putting themselves at risk for litigation brought on by so-called patent trolls who buy questionable and overly vague patents, often…

New Jersey REALTORS®' annual REALTORS® Day in Trenton will be held on Thursday, June 11 beginning at 9 a.m. The networking breakfast will take place at the Historic Trenton Masonic Temple and is scheduled to feature guest speakers Senator Steven Oroho, Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, and Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Gary Schaer.   To purchase tickets for REALTORS® Day in Trenton, login to your account and select the shopping icon from the "My Account" page. Individual tickets are $10, or…

This year’s REALTOR® Day in Trenton has been confirmed for Thursday, June 11. The annual event features hundreds of REALTORS® visiting Trenton to meet with and hear from their elected officials from around New Jersey as well as top ranking members of the State Legislature and the Governor’s office.   The event will be held at the historic Masonic Temple located at 100 Barrack Street in Trenton on the morning of June 11. Additional details will be announced in the coming weeks, including on how to purchase tickets and a complete…