Westchester Real Estate Talk

Your Real Estate Agent

Today the internet is the first  where place 85% of home buyers begin their search.  And with all the helpful sites and agents it can be a little confusing.  Here are some tips to help select an agent that will represent you in your real estate transactions.

• References from family, friends and business acquaintances are a helpful resource
• An agent's experience over time helps develop their skills
• A meeting where asking questions of their work ethic and business philosophy is important
• Discussing the number of listings and sales an agent has handled will give you a glimpse into their knowledge
• Their designations, certifications and real estate memberships are important tools
• Do they have a marketing plan
• All homes need to put their best foot forward on the internet so professional pictures are essential
• If you sign-up for a listing with your potential broker what is the term and how long after the expiration are you committed to them
• Do they use a home stager and can they help you with making sure your home is camera plus visit ready
• How are appointments made with you to view your home
• How often do they keep in communication with you about the comments that prospective buyers had about your home.  Also, will they inform you of statistics about the price of homes similar to yours that continue to close after you sign a listing contract.
• It's confidence, confidence, confidence!

NATIONAL ASSOCIATON OF REALTORS WORKING FOR YOU

The National Association Of Realtors, "Call for action," asking all their members to send an e-mail to Congress as they are thinking about new real estate taxes.  Their new tax proposals would place new taxes on a fragile industry.  This will surely further burden a weak recovery of housing and commercial real estate. 

Please read the NAR article as they work to protect the real estate industry for all!

The Buying vs Renting Debate

This morning I received an inquiry from a prospective client asking about rentals in the area.  During the conversation he told me that eventually they wanted to buy. First, they want to get to know that area.  I believe this to be sound reasoning.  But in the long run the forecast is for higher interest rates so just what is good for you!

The New York Times recently published ,"Is It Better to Buy or Rent," with an interactive calculator that helps you to decided the perplexing issue of the age old debate.

There are advantages to renting for those  who plan to relocate within a short period of time.  And yes, there is no substitute for getting to know a community as living there before you purchase a home.  But sometimes the financial scale swings the other way.  Home prices have returned to 2003/2004 levels in Westchester County so, the buyers market and low interest rates may just make a purchase a really good investment.

Lowering Your Property Taxes In Westchester County

Monday, May 03, 2010

Lowering Your Property Taxes

Living In Westchester

Now is the time for homeowner to begin the process of trying to lower their real estate taxes as the deadlines are approaching. Your home

just might be over assessed with the recent decline in home values.

And a visit to your tax assessor to ask your home's tax assessment

might be fruitful.

Grievance Deadline Days

Bedford 3rd Tuesday in June

Lewisboro 3rd Tuesday in June

Mount Kisco 3rd Tuesday in June

North Castle 3rd Tuesday in June

North Salem 3rd Tuesday in June

Pound Ridge 3rd Tuesday in June

Somers 3rd Tuesday in June

Yorktown 3rd Tuesday in June

Your home's assessment is based on fair market value. It is calculated
by the property's assessment and the tax rate of the municipalities
where the property is located. Your town assessor might use sold properties that are similar to your home in determining an assessment
or a formula for replace cost. And the amount similar homes pay
in your surrounding area.

Your first step is to visit assessor of your town. If you do not like the determination you can hire an attorney to represent you. The name of proceeding is called a Right Of Certiorari.

If you pay taxes or if you thinking of selling your home lowering your taxes might be the carrot for your buyers!

Posted by Renee Stengel at 9:45 AM 0 comments

BEDFORD THE BEST OF THE HORSE TRAILS

Living In A Horsey Bedford, Westchester County

A tree on my property has a small yellow sign that says BRLA. And here in Bedford it is a prestigious sign to have. The Private Lanes Association, (PLA) preceeded the organization now named, BedfordBRLA). The association maintains the 150 linear miles of trails to make this beautiful countryside, heaven for riders and nature lovers. They trails include the hamlets and towns of Bedford, Bedford Hills, Katonah and Pound Ridge.

Riding Lanes Association, (And everyone who travels these trails enjoys the change of scenery from wide open fields, dirt roads, wooded areas and streams.

My horse, Zippy, now retired and I loved riding in the spring. Enjoying my horse, the trails and the outdoors was a peaceful time. And to quote, President Ronald Regan, "There is nothing so good for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse."

The BRLA is a 501-C3 organization so that your contribution is tax deductible. In order to use the trails you need to become a member. The BRLA maintains the trails and in addition holds hunter pace events, spring land clean-up. So, if you are a horse lover or a nature lover Westchester County's horsey Towns have it all for you.

lst Quarter Home Sale Comparison 2007 - 2010

WESTCHESTER AND PUTNAM COUNTIES
HOME SALES BY THE NUMBERS FOR THE
1ST QUARTERS OF 2007 - 2010




Westchester-Putmam Multiple Listing Service reported there were

1,313 closing transactions in Westchester for the first quarter of 2010.

Representing a 54% increase in closings covering the same period last year.

I noticed a large increase in the number of first time home-buyers wanting to take advantage of the homebuyers credit. And this was the second consecutive quarterly increase in closings since 2008.

Putnam County also experienced strong gain. Condos, coops and multi-family homes showed increase in their sales as well.

Can't wait till the next sales report to see if the real estate market can sustain these numbers.

Labels: 1st Quarter Statistics For Home Sales In Westchester County, Homes For Sale In Westchester County

Walking Trails In Westchester

LIVING IN WESTCHESTER

Spring is here and along with warmth comes the desire to get up off the couch and, "Just do it," as the Nike ad states. The trails, endless preserves and parks in Westchester bring a spirit of spring renewal to all. Best of all they are everywhere!

And now courtesy of The New York Journal News an article about a book written by Jane and Walt Daniels, "Walkable Westchester." It is a guide to the parks and green spaces of our county.

Residents or future residents want to know about our outdoor life. Explore all Westchester has to offer by clicking on the link above I have provided the from the Westchester.gov., site.

Credits and Applause

The sites listed below;

http://www.lohud.com/article/20100411/NEWS02/4110336/1287/EXPRESSRS
http://parks.westchestergov.com/

Labels: Best of Westchester County Parks, recreation in westchester county, Westchester County living

THE GOLF COURSES OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Westchester County Living

Today is the day our eyes are glued to our television sets as we watch, The Masters being played on the manicured greens of The Augusta National Golf Course. And for those of us who play golf or want to learn the game our residents are fortunate to have six public courses.


Dunwoodie Golf Course located in the heart of Yonkers. A challenging 18 hole course even for the most experienced golfer. It is a par 70 course.


Hudson Hills Golf Course in the Town of New Castle. It is housed in an historic setting with it's distant views of over one-third of the 18 hole course and rolling terrain. It is a par 71.



Maple Moor Golf Course, named for the many Maple trees that reside on the course. This 18 hole course was originally part of the Griffen family farm that was settled in 1879. It is a par 70.


Mohansic Golf Course is the most challenging of all the Westchester County golf courses. Marked by gently rolling hills and steep slopes. The most experienced golfers respect the difficulty of this 18 hole course with it's uphill, downhill and side hill terrain. It is a par 70.


Saxon Woods Golf Course 18 hole course was designed by Tom Winton. The course is enhanced by the difference in it's topography as it goes from slopes to woods. It was recently renovated and is a par 71.


Sprain Lake Golf Course. and as it's name states, challenges the best golfers that play the game. This 18 hole course is a part 70. Water holes add to the degree of difficulty and it is a par 70.


The above public courses add to the outdoor quality of life in Westchester County. And for additional information about golf clubs in Westchester County you can visit the highlighted site.

Going Green In Bedford Hills

Bedford Hills is one of three hamlets in the Town of Bedford. It travels east along Harris, Bedford Center and Babbitt Roads and south on the well-traveled route of 172. You can find everything from family neighborhoods, estates and horse farms. There is much to offer here for the first time homebuyers or those moving up.

There is a new home almost obscured by the brush but marked by an American Flag that flies from a tall post in Bedford Hills on Rt. 117. And some the occupants of the cars that pass by do not know that it is home to a member of the Kennedy family. After watching years of this home's transformation on my way to Mt. Kisco, it is now beautiful and green. Today's article in The Journal News details the home's trip from black mold to a new green living. Read about Robert Kennedy Jr., a environmentalist road to the best in green home.

Say Cheese

ARE YOU READY TO SELL YOUR HOUSE?

The spring market has arrived and along with the forsythia come the buyers ready to look for their new home.
Every home must sell twice, first the viewing on the internet and then the decision to visit the listings that are camera ready! And this means, " Less is more." I work with Sheila Black of Home Highlighting LTD. We walk through every room to de-clutter. She always reminds me that staged homes seller faster and for more money. A buyer needs to picture their family living in your space. Just putting on makeup or slimming clothes for a picture is not enough. You need to smile pretty and you need to do the same for your home. We have all viewed pictures on the internet that do nothing to enhance the qualities of a home but rather detract from it's beauty. Every home is unique. Before your home says cheese to the camera for pictures that will be posted to the internet it is critically important for your home to be sparkling and neat as pin. It will be captured for all to see. Highlighting you home's features will get you more showings and a good real estate ending, a sale!