GAR Associates

09/01/2026

In response to a report released this week by the New York State Comptroller’s Office, the New York Association of Towns (NYAOT) has issued a response that delves further into the fiscal complexities around the property tax cap and its impact on town budgets.

In this analysis, NYAOT spotlights some of the additional fiscal challenges that the organization believes has a greater impact on towns, like unfunded and underfunded mandates, the precipitous rise in health insurance costs, and stagnant state aid.

“The harsh reality is that towns unfortunately do not have the assortment of revenue sources available to cities and other forms of local government,” NYAOT Executive Director Chris Koetzle said. “We view this report as a way for town and state leaders to work together to come up with solutions to avoid the prospect of municipalities going down a road that jeopardizes their fiscal health or forces them into having to override the tax cap.”

Earlier this week, the Office of the State Comptroller released a report examining what can be inferred from planned tax cap overrides.
Towns face their own set of circumstances, and we wanted to take this opportunity to provide some context when it comes to the fiscal bind towns face.
🔗Link to our analysis is in the comments

08/18/2026

With supply still limited relative to demand in some housing markets, 19% of homes sold above list price, this is a slight decline from last month and last year when it was 21%.

The REALTORS® Confidence Index shows buyer and seller traffic expectations eased from the previous month. First-time buyers made up 29% of purchases, flat from one year ago. Homes continued to receive multiple offers, with 19% selling above list price. Contract closings remained steady at 30 days, ...

08/13/2026

Albany Business Review A mixed-use building in downtown Glens Falls that was transformed in recent years with a cocktail lounge, Mexican restaurant and four apartments sold for $1.125M at the end of June. 58 South LLC sold the property at 58 South St. on June 30 to Buena Fe LLC.

08/10/2026

The Buffalo News Buffalo Niagara's housing ranks among the most affordable metro areas for families under 40

The study by the Pew Research Center found that Buffalo Niagara ranks among the top 18 U.S. markets for affordability for younger families. The median sale price of homes here, at $250,000, is 2.8 times the median income that those young households earn.

08/06/2026

Albany Business Review The Lake View Inn, a 22-room motel on Canada Street in Lake George, sold in June to LGLV Real Estate Inc., for $1.2 million. The Lake View Inn was built in 1962 and sits on a 0.73-acre lot. It is advertised as a budget motel that is pet-friendly. A previous listing for the property said it was 9,750 square feet with two stories and 22 rooms accessed from the outside.

08/03/2026

Albany Business Review reports the owners of Beer Universe, a regional chain of craft beer and cider stores, have acquired BEVS Beverage Centers, purchasing three retail plazas in Malta, Wilton and Queensbury and taking over a lease at a fourth location in Saratoga Springs.

Raman Assets Inc., the real estate holding company for Beer Universe, purchased the three strip malls associated with BEVS, formerly Minogue's Beverage Centers, for a combined $6.13 million.

07/27/2026

Times Union Newburgh housing project opens for women rebuilding their lives. The 11-unit Fresh Start Apartments offers permanent housing, counseling and recovery services for women affected by homelessness and substance use disorders.

07/24/2026

The Business Journals report affordability issues continue to shape the housing market, but those pricing concerns aren't keeping prospective homeowners from seeking deals.

More than six in 10 respondents (58%) to a Bank of America Corp. survey for the latest Bank of America Insitute Homebuyer Insights Report said home affordability is the biggest barrier they face in the housing market this year. That's up from 46% who said the same last year. Forty-seven percent identified high interest rates as a barrier to a home purchase.

07/13/2026

Buffalo Business First reports million-dollar Amherst home sees 94% sale price increase over five years.

902 Lebrun Road sold for $1.6M to buyers from Amherst, according to June 23, 2026 filings with the Erie County clerk’s office. The property last sold in July 2021 for $680,000. Even factoring in inflation, which means $835,000 of buying power in May 2026, that’s a 94% increase in sale price.

07/10/2026

The Buffalo News Jemal said his Douglas Development Corp. had sold the two elite establishments to Cornin Visions Hotels for $6.5 million.

Four years after buying the first of two high-end boutique hotels, developer Douglas Jemal has sold the tony Mansion on Delaware in Buffalo and the Roycroft Inn in East Aurora.