A 60-day approval process is all that remains for three regional Realtors”™ trade associations to officially become the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR).
Last week, an overwhelming majority vote by the Orange County Association of Realtors Inc. sealed the deal for a merger with the Westchester Putnam Association of Realtors and the Rockland County Board of Realtors. Membership in the new group would total 9,500.
“On the local level, the incoming officers of the new HGAR will be meeting soon to work on the mechanics of the 20 or so committees, to make sure they are properly set up for regional activity and also have balanced representation from throughout the region,” said retiring WPAR CEO P. Gilbert Mercurio. “Otherwise, the existing organizations will be wrapping up their 2011 activities.”
The National Association of Realtors will tie up merger details with an expected name change effective Jan. 1.
As a whole, Realtor memberships have dropped across the country.
“Have you ever seen ”˜American Idol”™? Did you see how many people went out for tryouts and how many people can actually sing?” said Mary Stetson, owner of Stetson Real Estate in Mamaroneck and co-chairperson of the Zone 5 board of directors, Empire Access Multiple Listing Service. “It”™s the same deal with real estate. Before, the barrier to entry was small. There was a 40-hour course you had to take. Now, it”™s a 75-hour course ”¦ some people are realizing they can”™t sing and the people who can sing are making a good living at it.”
