Mark your calendar for great networking opportunities!

By John Lavelle I hope you are all enjoying a prosperous summer. We often get questions from commercial practitioners about Code of Ethics training and the Fair Housing requirement for real estate licensees. Code of Ethics Training The Code of Ethics training is a requirement of the National Association of Realtors and must be met in order to maintain your realtor membership. Realtors are required to complete ethics training of not less than 2 hours, 30 minutes of instructional time within four-year cycles. The training must meet specific learning objectives and criteria established by the National Association of Realtors. The current four-year cycle will end Dec. 31, 2016. Thereafter, the requirement will change to two-year cycles, rather than four-year cycles. Fair Housing License Requirement The Fair Housing requirement pertains to your real estate license. When renewing your real estate license, you must have successfully completed at least 22.5 hours of continuing education classes approved by the Secretary of State, including at least three hours of instruction pertaining to fair housing and/or discrimination in the sale or rental of real property or an interest in real property. You must complete the 22.5 hours of approved classes within the two year period immediately preceding your renewal. NYSCAR will be sponsoring the ethics class at the annual conference in 2016, along with other classes for commercial practitioners. NYSCAR will also be reaching out to the local chapters this month to schedule courses around the state. Please be sure to keep track of your continuing education credits so you are prepared when renewing your real estate license. Realtors triple play Realtors Triple Play sponsored by the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Associations of Realtors will be held December 7 - 10 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. There will be a commercial investment marketing session, as well as commercial courses available for the attendees. Be sure to mark your calendar for this event. National Association of Realtors Conference and Expo Also, the National Association of Realtors Conference and Expo will be held November 13-16 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. This is another great opportunity to network and attend some exciting sessions. Go to www.realtor.org for full information. Enjoy the summer! John Lavelle is the president of NYSCAR and is an associate broker, commercial at RJ Smith Realty, Pine Bush, N.Y.