Daily Archives: August 15, 2013

Katonah NY Weekly Real Estate Report | Katonah Homes for Sale

Katonah   NY Weekly Real Estate Report8/15/13
Homes for sale53
Median Ask Price$899,000.00
Low Price$359,000.00
High Price$18,995,000.00
Average Size3754
Average Price/foot$415.00
Average DOM131
Average Ask Price$2,081,011.00

Latest News from Teatown | Chappaqua Real Estate

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August 15, 2013
Click here for more of Teatown’s upcoming programs
All programs require pre-registration. To register, call 914-762-2912 x110.
A Night in the Woods
Join in the celebration
on
  September 22, 2013
Sleepy Hollow Country Club
Cocktails 5:00pm
Dinner 6:30pm
For more information and ticket purchases click here
Visit Teatown

1600 Spring Valley Road
Ossining, NY 10562
914-762-2912
Nature Center hours:
9:00am-5:00pm everyday
Trails are open 365 days a year from dawn to dusk.
  Teatown Lake Reservation’s mission is to conserve open space and to educate and involve the regional community in order to sustain the diversity of wildlife, plants and habitats for future generations.
Rabbit Abandoned at Teatown
On August 1, an adorable black and white rabbit was left abandoned in a cage by the basement door of Teatown. Sadly, after examination, it was determined that the bunny suffered a traumatic leg break sometime in the past that did not receive any care and healed improperly. This sobering case reminds all of us to think carefully about the responsibility of caring for a pet.

Read the full story.

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Scavenger Hunt! 

Saturday, August 17, 11:00am-12:00pm

ScavBlack vultureengers are an important part of nature’s clean-up crew. Come meet a couple of Teatown’s animal scavengers.
Free for members; $5pp for nonmembers.
Wildflower Island Tours
Saturday, August 17, 11:00am &1:00pm
Sunday, August 18, 1:00pm
Enjoy a guided tour of Wildflower Island, Teatown’s unique two-acre sanctuary that is home to over 230 species of wildflowers and shrubs native to our area.
View the current bloom list.
Please note that access to the Island is by guided tour only. Tours are intended for guests ages 12 and over.

TOUR TIMES:

Saturday, August 17: 11:00am & 1:00pm Sunday, August 18: 1:00pm

$4pp for members; $6pp for nonmembers.
Children’s Discovery Series
Weekly Classes begin September 10th

Little Tree Huggers 2-3 year olds with caregiver

Tuesdays: 10:00am-11:15am

or Wednesdays: 1:00pm-2:15pm

Sow the seeds of nature knowledge with your child. Children and parents are encouraged to use all of their senses to explore autumn.

Knee Hi Nature, 4 Year olds

Tuesdays: 1:00pm-2:30pm

or Wednesdays: 10:00am-11:30am

Boundaries disappear as children explore the natural world of bugs, rocks, habitats and more. Each session features a short hike, story or craft and visits with animals.

Classes begin September 10th and run for 8 weeks.

Class fee: Members $150; Nonmembers: $175

Teatown Camp Wraps Up

Another year of Teatown camp has drawn to a close. It’s been a wonderful summer and our campers learned a great deal about the world around them. From setting camera traps to making art from weeds and thorns to exploring new trails and getting an up-close view at native animals, it’s been an adventure and discovery-filled summer.

  Summer Camp 2014 registration will begin in January 2014. We look forward to another great year!

 

Nature Center Gallery
Oil paintings by Robin Arzt
On exhibit June 2-August 24
“Lemon Tree”

“My pieces range in style from representational to abstract, all inspired by nature. I find that common plants and familiar flowers are intriguing, especially when considered at close range. These paintings reflect my interest in the dynamic natural world.”

To see more of Robin’s work, visit www.RobinArzt.com
On Time and Place: Celebrating Scenic Hudson’s 50 Years
On exhibit in the Nature Center Gallery
September 4-30, 2013

Since 1963, Scenic Hudson has worked to preserve the Hudson Valley’s beauty. To help celebrate its 50th anniversary year in 2013, Scenic Hudson will present a curated exhibition of photographs that pay tribute to the organization’s inspiring story and the Hudson Valley’s people and communities. The diverse group of artwork includes traditional landscapes but also views of waterfronts in transformation and places bearing scars of pollution and other challenges to be addressed.
Learn more about this amazing exhibit.

Gallery hours: Daily, 9:00am-5:00pm

 

Farmers Market in the Area | Chappaqua Real Estate

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Fresh Food from Local Sources – August 15th-21st, 2013 Down to Earth Markets
What’s New, in Season, and On Sale this week
ApricotsMigliorelli Farm Basil Dagele Brothers Produce
Beef Cuts The Pastures Cherries Alex’s Tomato Farm Cucumbers Rockland Farm Alliance
Eggplant Varieties: Heirloom, Italian, Oriental, Sicilian, & ZebraNewgate Farms Rexcroft Farms FennelDagele Brothers Produce
Fresh Blueberry Scones: Regular & Gluten-Free Meredith’s Bread
Grape Tomatoes *$3/pint or 2 pints for $5!*Newgate Farms Heirloom TomatoesAlex’s Tomato Farm Rockland Farm Alliance Hot Pepper Varieties: Long hots, Banana, Cherry, & Poblano Newgate Farms
Mini Pies & Mini Tarts Baked By Susan Onion Jewish Rye Bread Orwashers Bakery Plums Migliorelli Farm Purple Peppers Rockland Farm Alliance Raspberry Apple Pie Bread Alone
Red Beard CheeseThe Amazing Real Live Food Company Russian Raisin Walnut Bread *Regularly $5.50, Special $5.00* Orwasher’s Bakery SanFrancisco Sourdough *Regularly $5.50, Special $5.00* Orwasher’s Bakery Strawberries Alex’s Tomato Farm Sweet Pepper Varieties: Bell, Cubanelle, Anaheim, Purple, White, Red, Yellow, & Orange Newgate Farms
WatermelonMigliorelli Farm
Yellow PlumsAlex’s Tomato Farm
Click on a Market to see all vendor and event details…

Westchester County Ossining Saturdays, 8:30 am-1:00 pmRockland
County
Croton
Sundays, 9:00 am-2:00 pm
Rye Sundays, 8:30 am-2:00 pmPiermont Sundays, 9:30 am-3:00 pm
LLarchmont Saturdays, 8:30 am-1:00 pm Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow Patriot’s Park Farmers Market Saturdays, 8:30 am-1:00 pm Spring Valley Wednesdays, 8:30 am-3:00 pm
New Rochelle Now at Huguenot Park! Fridays, 8:30 am-2:30 pmYonkers/Ridge Hill Ridge Hill’s Farmers Market Fridays, 11 am-7:00 pmHeaded to the city soon? Visit a Down to Earth Farmers Market in NYC!
Announcements
Ossining & Rye Join us for our Annual Corn Roast where we celebrate you, our shoppers. Receive a free ear of corn and a refreshing glass of lemonade. Tarrytown & Piermont Nothing celebrates the summer better than a fresh, local…TOMATO. This Sunday, join us for the Annual Tomato Tasting. Stop by the Market Manager’s tent and sample the range of flavor-bursting tomatoes available at your market. Yonkers/Ridge Hill Fresh Food = Free Parking! Now when you purchase $15 or more from the vendors at Ridge Hill’s Down to Earth Farmers Market the market manager will validate your parking ticket for free parking. Be sure to have your parking ticket with you and get a validation slip from the vendors for each of your purchases.
Stay tuned to all market happenings via our Down to Earth Markets Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @DowntoEarthMkts.
Let Consumers Decide: Status Update on GMO Labeling in NY
GMO Testimony
L to R: Stacie Orell (GMO Free NY), Patty Lovera (Food & Water Watch), & Andrew Kimbrell (Center for Food Safety) testify at recent NY State public hearing on labeling GMO foods. Image courtesy of GMO Free NY.
There’s a crack in the billion dollar armor of the biotech industry: Calls to label GMO foods are gaining ground on a state-by-state basis. Here in New York, a public hearing on July 30th gathered a standing room only audience to debate bill A3525A, introduced earlier this year by state assembly members Rosenthal and People-Stokes. According to the article, New York Steps into Fray of GMO Labeling by Ivan Pentchoukov in The Epoch Times, “If passed, the bill would require all foods in New York state that contain genetically modified ingredients to carry the words “Produced with Genetic Engineering” on the front or back packaging panels.”
That sounds good to us. The discussion about GMO labeling is about the right to know, and thus, the right to make an informed decision. As developers of local farmers markets for over 22 years, we believe that many people choose our markets because every time we set up a Down to Earth market manager’s tent, we might as well be setting up a sign that reads, “Verified: No GMO”. We tour all of our vendors farms and visit all of their kitchens. We recruit vendors who feel as passionately as we do about keeping our food as close to its natural state as possible. Our farmers grow with great care for the environment. Our food entrepreneurs work hard to find clean, transparent sources for their ingredients, often paying a little more for better quality. And by offering E.B.T. for SNAP Benefits at several of our markets, we work to ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to nourish ourselves with non GMO foods.
So, if shopping at a Down to Earth Farmers Market is essentially a “No GMO” label, how do we pass legislation to get GMO foods labeled? Well, it’s in the works in New York State, but the effort needs all voices behind it the coming months. Jeffrey Dinowitz, Chairman of the Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee in the NY State Assembly, has vowed to bring Bill A3525A to a vote when the legislative body reconvenes in early 2014. Between now and then, we’re sure to expect a very expensive marketing campaign. As Andrew Kimbrell of the Center for Food Safety says in this interview, “The biotech industry says consumers will be confused [with GMO labels]. No they won’t – they’ll be informed.”
One important note about GMO labeling: Connecticut recently passed a law requiring labels on GMO foods. Now they are encouraging their neighboring states to do the same. According to The Epoch Times article, “Connecticut’s labeling law, enacted earlier this year, can not take effect until four other states, including a border state such as New York, with a combined population of 20 million, pass a similar legislation. This provision was added because the state wants to be able to share the costs of what some see as an inevitable lawsuit by biotechnology corporations.”
Wow, really? When we first heard of the five-state requirement, we thought it was due to the shifting winds that carry seeds to nearby states. Then we heard that it was due to rules about interstate commerce. But could it truly be that the states anticipate a lawsuit and need their combined fighting power to take on this issue? Which begs the question, “If GMO foods are harmless, why are the companies who patent and produce them so fiercely opposed to labeling?”
We’d love to hear what you think on this issue. Zip us a reply to this email or post your response on our Facebook page. In the meantime, thank you for supporting non GMO foods at your Down to Earth Farmers Market this weekend.
Day Vendors This Week Larchmont Flourish Baking Company Kontoulis Family Olive Oil Pie Lady & Son Trotta Pasta PiermontBombay Emerald Chutney Co. RyeKontoulis Family Olive Oil Pie Lady & Son
Down to Earth Markets 173 Main Street Ossining, NY 10562 Phone: 914-923-4837

Softer U.S. Mortgage Rule Said to Be Proposed at End of August | Mt Kisco RealEstate

A new version of a rule requiring lenders to keep a stake in risky mortgages that they securitize will be proposed by U.S. regulators in the last week of August, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The 500-page draft regulation written by a panel of six agencies will replace a more stringent proposal for the Qualified Residential Mortgage rule, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plan isn’t public. The first version drew protests from housing industry participants and consumer groups when it was released in 2011.

The plan will require banks to retain a slice of mortgages when borrowers are spending more than 43 percent of their monthly income on all of their debt. The earlier version would have required banks to keep a stake in loans when borrowers were spending more than 36 percent of their income on all loan payments and in loans with a down payment of less than 20 percent. The rule will carve out mortgages backed by Fannie Maeand Freddie Mac, one of the people said.

The agencies will seek public comment before each holds a vote on the final rule. The agencies involved in the rulemaking are the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

read more…

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-13/softer-u-s-mortgage-rule-said-to-be-proposed-at-end-of-august.html

 

 

 

How Do Digital Marketers Engage On Twitter? | South Salem Real Estate

Social media has made it possible for us all to be digital marketers.How do digital marketers engage on Twitter

The reality is that if you are on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ you “are” a digital marketer whether you like it or not. You are publishing  and promoting a brand. It might be brand “you” or it maybe be a  business or organisation you represent.

If you publish you are a digital marketer.

Publishing is now marketing and the mind share that content marketing has  garnered reveals the power of social content and crowd sourced sharing.

Marketing also involves two key activities.

Publishing and promotion

Social media provides the means, the technology and the platforms to do  both.

Don’t underestimate Twitter’s brevity

Twitter’s role in the digital marketing pantheon was often seen as about  breaking news. Used correctly it can accelerate your brand message and content  to a global waiting audience that will pass it on. Don’t underestimate Twitter’s  marketing horsepower because of its 140 character brevity.

It can be a focused marketing platform that drives brand awareness and  content discovery. It is a low friction network that moves multi-media content  in real time….fast.

Some questions

So if you see yourself as a digital marketer then you may be asking some  questions. This will provide you with some ideas on the sources you may need to  be reading to keep up to date. It will also enable some insights into the  sources, apps and people that you may need to follow or check out.

  1. Which social networks are they on?
  2. What apps and platforms do they use to share on Twitter?
  3. What mobile apps do they use for sharing ?
  4. What types of content do they share?
  5. What are the mainstream media sources?
  6. What industry sources are they sharing?
  7. What are the social media media sources are they reading, viewing and  sharing?
  8. Who are the people most retweeted by digital marketers?
  9. Who are the people that are most mentioned?
  10. What are the brands most retweeted?

A recent report on  Leadtail looked at 143,856 tweets and 69,657 shared links to provide a  snapshot of how digital marketers engage on Twitter. It also provided  answers to those 10 questions.

How do digital marketers engage on Twitter?

Here are some insights into Twitter engagement as performed by digital  marketers. It reveals resources, tools and people that you may not have heard of  that you may want to add to your reading, viewing and watch list.

 

Read more at…

 

http://www.jeffbullas.com/2013/08/13/how-do-digital-marketers-engage-on-twitter/#lDMbWKAz2bVfL841.99

The Hottest U.S. Housing Markets | Waccabuc Real Estate

Housing prices were up in May, and they are only expected to soar in the coming year. The housing market is hot, and that is a good thing for everyone. You can buy, sell, or invest to reap the benefits of the recovering market easily.

But this is not true everywhere. You only have to look at Detroit to see an example. Knowing where to get your foot into the housing market is important because some cities are doing better than others are.

san franciscoThe Best Cities for Housing Market Investing

1. San Francisco

San Francisco is the hottest housing market. The supply of homes in the city is plummeting, down as much as 80% since 2008. When supplies are down, people scurry to find a house, and they are willing to pay more for when they find one that meets their needs and wants.

People aren’t having trouble with paying more either because the state has a low unemployment rate of 6.5%, as of June. Home prices have gone up 24.5%, according to S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index, and they should continue to rise as much as 12.7% over the next year, projected by Veros Real Estate Solutions.

2. Los Angeles & San Jose

The boom in San Francisco has spread over to Los Angeles and San Jose too, and housing prices are expected to experience an 11.6% value increase and 11.1% increase, respectively, according to Veros.

3. Philadelphia

On the other side of country, Philadelphia’s housing market is heating up as well. Houses are bought within 30 days of listing date – an incredible selling rate.

4. Texas

Texas is known for its low house prices, but that’s about to rise too. This state expects to see a home valuation increase of 11.1%.

5. Phoenix

Analysts expect home price increases of 10.9% in the next year, and that may be quite accurate because, according to Zillow, Phoenix’s housing market rose 24 percent from year to year.

 

 

read more…

 

http://www.wealthdaily.com/articles/the-hottest-us-housing-markets/4570

How Much Does it Cost to Install Countertops? | Cross River Real Estate

Whether in the kitchen or bathroom, the countertop can be the star of the room. A countertop should fit both your aesthetic style and your lifestyle. How much you pay for your countertops will depend on the sizes needed, the materials used and the labor involved.
Countertops usually get a lot of use. You don’t want to spend money on something that loses its beauty quickly or chips easily. The more you plan to use your counters, the more durability must be a major concern.  Continue Reading
Laminate Countertops

Laminate provides the best selection of colors and patterns at the lowest prices. Laminate can be used to form a seamless cove backsplash to keep spills from seeping behind the cabinets. They’re also cheap and easy to install. The down sides? Laminate scratches or chips easily. It can be tough to clean, and its colors can fade over time.

Ceramic Tile Countertops

No surface offers more choices than tile. The price you pay for tile will largely depend on where you get them. Go for a big box store and you can go as cheap as $10 per square foot. Contact an artist in Florence, and you could pay $5,000 per tile. Tile can adapt as easily to Mexican fiesta as it can to Tokyo contemporary. There are two downsides of tile. One is that it can expensive to install, depending on the square footage of your counters. The other is grout lines, which attract crumbs and stains and require periodic sealing to repel moisture.

Stone Slab Countertops (Granite, Marble, Quartz, etc)

Not much can add dazzle to your kitchen or bathroom like a stone slab countertop. The sheer beauty, amazing selection and durability of stone makes it an excellent choice for your home. The depth and character of natural stone cannot be matched by any man-made surface (though some made-made alternatives have taken great strides.) Natural stone does not depreciate with time and this stone will consistently add value to your home. The costs of the stone depend on how rare its elements, the size and particularly the length of the necessary cuts, which must be finished, buffed and polished. You can sometimes save big money on stone slabs by shopping through remnants.

Acrylic Countertops

The most popular of the acrylics is Corian by DuPont. Corian provides the color versatility of laminates with a rich look (and price) that rivals stone slabs. It’s easy to maintain. Scratches and nicks can easily be buffed out. If you want to create a seamless look, Corian can even be formed into sinks, so there’s no gap between the counter and the sink. Price is determined largely by square footage.

Other Expenses

You may want to also add a new sink or new faucets to your installation. This can be an additional cost, not only in purchasing the hardware, but the installation as well. If you’re going with a stone slab, you have the additional cost of cutting the hole. You also may need to hire a plumber, especially if you want to install something new like an instant hot water dispenser or side spray.

If you are upgrading and replacing your existing counters, you may have to pay for their removal from not only their current location, but from your home as well. Debris removal is normally not a huge expense, but it’s one you should talk with your contractor about nonetheless.
read more..

Katonah-Lewisboro Math/ELA Scores Above State Average | Katonah Real Estate

The percentage of students considered proficient in math and English language arts for grades three to eight was significantly lower in 2013 throughout New York state, including the Katonah-Lewisboro School District, which came in well above state average.

“The District is analyzing the results, and initial review suggests that we performed in a manner consistent with our comparable schools,” district officials said in an emailed statement. “We can assure the community that our students are being educated based on the new standards.”

According to the state’s assessment tests, given to students in third- to eighth-grade, 41 percent of Westchester students were at grade level in ELA and 40 percent of county students were at grade level in math. The state results were released last week with most schools’ averages coming in below previous years on the exams.

The state results for Katonah-Lewisboro and Westchester schools showed the following percentages:

 

readr more…

http://bedford.dailyvoice.com/schools/katonah-lewisboro-mathela-scores-above-state-average

Are we in a bubble yet? Not even close: Trulia | Pound Ridge Real Estate

The housing market is not even close to forming a bubble, and recent developments have further diminished the likelihood that it will overheat anytime in the near future, Trulia said in releasing the results of its latest Bubble Watch report.

“Even though prices are less undervalued than one quarter ago, our chances of avoiding a bubble have gotten better. Price gains are slowing down, and asking prices dropped in July,” said Trulia Chief Economist Jed Kolko in an email. “Unlike in last decade’s bubble, prices today have started to cool before reaching dangerous heights.

National home prices in the third quarter of 2013 are 5 percent undervalued, compared with 7 percent undervalued in the second quarter of 2013 and 14 percent undervalued a year ago, Trulia reported.

How does that stack up against home values at the peak of the housing boom?

Prices then were 39 percent overvalued, according to Trulia.

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/wire/are-we-in-a-bubble-yet-not-even-close-trulia/#sthash.RY1QXM09.dpuf

Optimize your real estate brand with Instagram video | Bedford Corners Real Estate

As a real estate agent, what could you do with 15 seconds? With the latest update, Instagram 4.1 is opening some creative doors for its users by allowing video uploads directly from your library. Here are some great examples:

Coldwell Banker I love this from Coldwell Banker. A combination of a live video introduction and still shots from a home featured in Payson, Ariz., make this 15 seconds enjoyable and definitely recognizable as the CB brand.

Anne Jones I admire what Anne is able to capture with Instagram and now that video keeps getting better, I can’t wait to see more from the Tacoma area!

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/next/optimize-your-real-estate-brand-with-instagram-video/#sthash.wiMd5fxN.dpuf