THE REAL ESTATE BOARD OF NEW YORK INC

REBNY WAS CREATED IN 1896 AS THE STATES FIRST REAL ESTATE TRADE ASSOCIATION. IT WORKS ON BEHALF OF THE MUTUAL INTERESTS OF ITS MEMBERS BY PROMOTING PUBLIC AND INDUSTRY POLICIES. THE ORGANIZATION FREQUENTLY SPEAKS BEFORE GOVERNMENT BODIES WITH THE PRIMARY GOALS OF EXPANDING NEW YORKS ECONOMY, ENCOURAGING THE DEVELOPMENT AND RENOVATION OF COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, ENHANCING THE CITYS APPEAL TO INVESTORS AND RESIDENTS AND FACILITATING PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO THE BOARDS VARIOUS REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING STATE-CERTIFIED REQUIRED COURSES FOR LICENSING, CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES AND SEMINARS TO HONE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, AND COURSES TO MAINTAIN THE ETHICAL STANDARDS OF RELATIONS BETWEEN PROFESSIONALS AND WITH THE PUBLIC. THE POLICY & PLANNING DEPARTMENT, ALSO AT MEMBERS DISPOSAL, UNDERTAKES PROJECTS TO INVESTIGATE CURRENT RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO THE INDUSTRY; TOPICS HAVE INCLUDED RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION TRENDS AND ENERGY CONSERVATION TECHNIQUES IN HIGH-RISE OFFICE BUILDINGS. A ZONING EXPERT IS ALSO ON HAND TO FIELD A WIDE RANGE OF INQUIRIES. THIS DEPARTMENT PUBLISHES A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT PERIODICALS. REBNYS DURST CHAIRS' STUDY, LOCATED AT THE MIDTOWN OFFICE, MAINTAINS THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF REAL ESTATE-RELATED INFORMATION OF ANY NEW YORK CITY TRADE ASSOCIATION. ASIDE FROM SCORES OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS, PERIODICALS AND REPORTS ON INDUSTRY TOPICS, IT CONTAINS UP-TO-DATE COMPUTERIZED OWNERSHIP AND MORTGAGE INFORMATION FILES ON PROPERTIES IN ALL FIVE BOROUGHS, AS WELL AS ASSESSED VALUATION LISTINGS AND CURRENT PROPERTY MAPS. THE BOARD PROVIDES ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION SERVICES WHEN NECESSARY TO SETTLE DISPUTES WHETHER BETWEEN MEMBERS, BETWEEN MEMBERS AND THEIR FIRMS OR BETWEEN MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS. A QUALIFIED ARBITRATOR OR MEDIATOR THAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH PARTIES WILL HANDLE A PARTICULAR MATTER. ONCE THE PARTIES REACH AN AGREEMENT, IT IS PUT IN WRITING. SHOULD AN AGREEMENT NOT OCCUR, THE PARTIES MAY SUBMIT TO BINDING ARBITRATION. THE REBNY LISTING SERVICE (RLS) IS A SHARING OF LISTINGS AVAILABLE TO ALL REBNY FIRMS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE DIVISION AND NON-MEMBER FIRMS THAT RECEIVE REVENUE FROM THE SALE OR RENTAL OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE JURISDICTIONS AUTHORIZED BY THE RESIDENTIAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THIS SYSTEM MANDATES THAT WITHIN 24 HOURS OF BEING ENGAGED AS AN EXCLUSIVE AGENT, EVERY RLS MEMBER MUST INITIATE AN OFFER OF CO-BROKERAGE OF ALL EXCLUSIVE SALE OR RENTAL LISTINGS LOCATED IN THE SAID JURISDICTIONS TO EVERY OTHER MEMBER OF THE RLS SYSTEM WHO HAS EXPRESSED IN WRITING AN INTEREST IN RECEIVING SUCH LISTINGS, UNLESS DIRECTED NOT TO DO SO BY THE SELLER.