NYSCAR February 2026 president’s message - by Mercedes Brien

As I write this message, we are preparing for the first meeting of the Board of Governors of the New York State Commercial Association of REALTORS which will take place on February 10, 2026 at the Crowne Plaza/Desmond Hotel in Albany, New York. I look forward to a productive meeting to kick off 2026!

As we start the new year, it is a good time to remind practitioners of the continuing education requirements required to renew your NYS real estate license. Please be sure to take the appropriate classes to keep your license current and to avoid the possibility of a significant fine should you be audited and it is found that you don’t have the required approved subjects and/or hours.

New York State Dept. of State C.E. Requirements for License Renewal

“Any real estate licensee submitting an application for renewal for a license expiring on or after September 21, 2022 must successfully complete 22.5 hours of approved continuing education. The education must include at least two hours on the subject of cultural competency, at least two hours on the subject of implicit bias, at least two and a half hours on the subject of ethical business practices, at least one hour of recent legal matters, 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 and at least one hour of instruction pertaining to the law of agency except in the case of the initial two-year licensing term for real estate salespersons, two hours of agency related instruction must be completed within the two-year period immediately preceding a renewal.”

 

 

Professional Development Schedule

How to Invest in Real Estate Wisely

Date: Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 via Zoom 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

CE: 3 hours pending approval Instructor: Russell Gullo, CCIM

Attendees will learn about the four benefits of a real estate investment - cash flow, equity build-up, appreciation and tax shelter and how with the use of leverage these benefits can be maximized. They will also be shown how these benefits can increase over a holding period. 

Registration fee: NYSCAR Members: free, Non-members $50.00

NY “Commercial and Investment Real Estate Certification Program”

Authored & Instructed by:

Edward Smith, Jr., CREI, ITI, CIC, GREEN, MICP, CNS, e-PRO

March 11-27, 2026 (Each Wednesday and Friday for three weeks)

A basics course - six half-day sessions (22.5 hours) FREE for NYSCAR Members: $345.00 for non-members

Mar. 11, 13 - Working with Office, Retail and Industrial Buildings, Leases and Green Concepts - 7.5 hours

Mar. 18, 20 - Working with Investment Properties: Financial Analysis, Taxes and Exchanges; Discrimination issues in Commercial Real Estate - 7.5 hours (includes 3 hours fair housing for license renewal)

Mar. 25, 27 - Ethics and Agency, Land and Site Development, Comparing Investments, Brokerage issues and Building your Commercial Business - 7.5 hours (includes 1 hour of Agency and 2.5 hours ethics for license renewal)

Save the Date! June 8-10, 2026

24^th Annual Northeast Regional Marketing Session & NYS Commercial Association of REALTORS Conference – Rivers Casino, Schenectady, New York

The New York State Commercial Association of REALTORS (NYSCAR) invites you to the 24^th Annual Conference, held June 8–10, 2026, at Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, NY. This premier event offers continuing education and the Northeast Regional Marketing Session. Network with industry leaders, earn CE credits, and explore sponsorship opportunities. 

Go to nyscar.org/news and events/annual conference

Mercedes Brien, CEA, is a licensed real estate broker with Yaman Commercial, Cortland, NY and is the 2026 president of the NYS Commercial Assn. of Realtors (NYSCAR), Albany, NY.