Daily Archives: April 28, 2014

The conventional wisdom on why home sales have stalled is wrong | Bedford Corners Homes

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New data has pushed housing to the forefront of the recovery discussion. Can the economy recover without housing? What has gone wrong with it? If housing is de-emphasized as never since the Depression, what does it mean for inequality, the new darling of the Left, and the free-market pleasure of the Right?

Other news, quickly: Orders for durable goods sparkled in March, the 2 percent gain doubling the forecast. U.S. manufacturing is hot. Goody. Maybe 18 percent of GDP. Would you like your college grad to work for GM making stuff, or for Google, which makes nothing? Vladimir the Stupid is in a one-man Mexican standoff.

Merkel spoke for the first time in weeks, accusing Vladimir of “imposing his will with the barrel of a gun and force of a mob.” Much as Germany would like to be an overlarge and changeless Switzerland, I think Vladimir has underestimated European resistance. The threat of imminent conflict creates a steady bid for U.S. Treasurys.

As does deflation in Europe, and an ever-closer endgame in Japan, and above all U.S. housing numbers too painful for many to discuss — and those who have tried have gotten it wrong. March sales of new homes, defined as a purchase contract written on a dwelling any time after the building permit, cratered 14.5 percent.

The financial media, led by the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News, say the problem is home prices rising too fast and higher mortgage rates. Housing is too important to the nation for old grudges to distort reporting this way. Stock market types hate housing and its competition for client investment, and delight in finding fault.

 

 

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/2014/04/25/the-conventional-wisdom-on-why-home-sales-have-stalled-is-wrong/?utm_source=20140425&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailyheadlinespm#sthash.ox5gfglL.dpuf

Building and retaining a successful real estate team: Identify strengths, procedures and your ‘big why’ | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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You’ve decided to start a real estate team, determined your compensation models and hired a really terrific person. The next issue you will face will be how to integrate that person into your new or existing team and how to retain him. When agents start a team, most become frustrated when the team does not perform well right from the beginning.

A critical point to keep in mind is that building a high-performance team requires time, patience and the team leader’s attention. Psychologist Bruce Tuckman created an excellent model that describes the four steps required in creating and maintaining a successful team.

The four steps are, “forming, storming, norming and performing.”Whether you are starting your team from scratch or adding new members to an existing team, a critical point to keep in mind is that you must go through the process below every single time the team changes.

1. Forming When you add a new team member, everyone is excited and hopeful about the future. They may also be apprehensive, especially if the person is joining an existing team. The forming stage is about realigning tasks and job descriptions to fit the strengths and the weaknesses of your current team members.

This is the reason that it is so important to use a behavioral assessment such as the DISC, as well as Tom Rath’s StrengthsFinder. Each of these tools allows everyone on the team to see what each team member does well and what needs to be handled by other team members. It also helps the team leader to identify the skills needed for the next hire.

 

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/2014/04/28/building-and-retaining-a-successful-real-estate-team-identify-strengths-procedures-and-your-big-why/?utm_source=20140428&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailyheadlinesam#sthash.ssbrtzd7.dpuf

6 market insights your real estate clients can use for a quicker sale this spring | Bedford NY Real Estate

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The spring housing market is about to get into full swing. And while agents may be fully aware of the state of this year’s emerging housing market, your clients may not be. It’s your job to get your sellers up to speed with what the 2014 home-selling season will bring.

Here are six market insights to share with your current or prospective clients that will give them a head start when it comes to a successful sale this spring!

Right now = a great time to sell

The winter home-selling season was crippled by the polar vortex, especially in the East and Northeast, so there’s pent-up demand from buyers who’ve been waiting for better weather to brave the house hunt. Mortgage rates are still at historic lows, so buyers ARE poised to buy and ready to hit the streets.

The numbers say sell now

Sixty percent of all homes in 2014 will be bought and sold between May and August. Sellers who put their home on the market at the beginning of the selling season will up their chances of snagging a winning offer before buyers turn their attention back to school starting in September.

Price it right

Many metros in the country have seen double-digit price increases in the past year. But this last quarter, prices started to slow nationally — and pricing is a critical component to getting a house sold. With this fluctuating market, sellers need to look at comps of similar homes in their area and rely on the expertise of their agent. Plus, remember, recency matters: Sellers should look back no more than 60 days and depend on their agent to help them set the price appropriately. The sale price of homes that sold recently paints a much better picture of what to expect than the price of homes that sold six months ago (or of homes that have yet to sell).

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/next/6-market-insights-your-real-estate-clients-can-use-for-a-quicker-sale-this-spring/?utm_source=20140428&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailyheadlinesam#sthash.9l9YMXTd.dpuf

Boerum Hill Townhouse Asks $3.8M, and More | Katonah Real Estate

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11 images


Click here to view the full photogallery.

↑ In Boerum Hill, this brick townhouse is asking $3.795 million. In addition to numerous dead animal parts, the 1860s house features period moldings, original wood floors, pocket doors and shutters, and five original marble fireplaces. There’s also a pretty large garden.

 

 

read more…

 

 

http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/04/27/boerum_hill_townhouse_asks_38m_and_more.php

New Metro-North Schedule To Cut Commute Time To Grand Central | Bedford Hills Real Estate

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New Metro-North schedules that will take effect on Sunday, May 11 will cut commute times into Grand Central Terminal on the Hudson, New Haven and Harlem lines.

Metro-North said the new schedule will offer shorter commute times for 96 percent of weekday peak commuters in the morning compared to the schedules that have been in effect since November.

The new travel times also take into account the new safety measures and speed restrictions that have been put into place.

“Our first goal, now and always, is to provide a safe service,” Metro-North President Joseph Giulietti said in a statement. “This train schedule supports our ongoing efforts to serve our customers while providing our maintenance forces the time they need to inspect, maintain and repair the system.”

The schedule allows for ongoing, infrastructure repair and maintenance in the midday off-peak and at nights and on weekends.

 

 

read more….

http://bedford.dailyvoice.com/news/new-metro-north-schedule-cut-commute-time-grand-central