Tag Archives: Armonk Realtor

Armonk Realtor

Obama Scorecard: Despite improvements, housing remains fragile | Armonk NY Homes

Despite strong improvements in home prices, purchases of new homes and sales of existing homes, officials caution that the overall recovery remains fragile, the Obama administration said in its latest October housing scorecard.

“As indicated in the October housing scorecard, the Administration continues to work to stabilize the housing market and help responsible homeowners get back on their feet,” said the Department of Housing Urban Development Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs Kurt Usowski.

“With homeowners’ equity at its highest level since 2007 and home prices increasing steadily, it is clear that we are moving in the right direction.  As our housing market regains stability, it seems the time is ripe for private capital to begin taking a larger role in the housing finance system,” Usowski added.

Home prices maintained their steady growth, with S&P Case-Shiller home price index rising to 164.5 in October from 162.4 last September. Year-over-year the index is up from 145.8 the same period a year ago.

Existing homes sales took a dive down, as sales dropped to 440,800 in October to from 449,200 in September, according to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors. However, this is significantly up from 398,300 in October 2012.

Homebuilders are heading into their peak season, with more than 75% of annual homebuilder returns historically generated in the November-to-January timeframe. Following past trends, new home sales rose to 35,100 in October, up from 32,500 in September and 31,200 October 2012, data from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD reported.

The supply of existing-homes for sale remained fairly unchanged, as inventory inched up from a 4.9-month supply in September to a 5-month supply in October, NAR posted. Meanwhile, the supply of new homes for sale slightly dipped to a 5-month supply in October, compared to a 5.2-month supply in September, the Census Bureau and HUD said.

In addition, the industry took a slight step back in progress, with foreclosure starts increasing to 58,000 in October, from 55,800 last month, the most recent RealtyTrac found.

Furthermore, mortgage delinquency rates for prime borrowers remained frozen at 3.3% in October, according to Lender Processing Services.

 

 

 

Armonk Supervisor’s Update | Armonk Real Estate

Dear Neighbors

Road Repaving Update

 

We are nearing the end of our Town-wide road repaving program for this year. We have followed our Pavement Management Study findings completing approximately 10 miles of work this season. Pothole and patch jobs are handled separately by our Town Highway Department.

This week we should be finishing Banksville Road, Round Hill Road and Shippen Road. That will only leave Palmer Avenue and Castle Heights in North White Plains to be finished.  Our 2014 repaving program will be again based on the findings of our Pavement Management Study

 

Halloween Parade on Main Street

 

Last year due to Hurricane Sandy we saved Halloween by hosting an impromptu event on Main Street. It was such a success that many people asked if we could do it again this year. With the cooperation of our wonderful Town Police, the Byram Hills Pre-school Association and our enthusiastic store owners, I am happy to announce that we will be holding a Halloween Parade on Main Street, Thursday, October 31, 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Come and show off your costumes. Some stores will be welcoming our little ghosts and goblins with treats.  The participating store owners will have flyers in their establishments and several are planning special events for the parents.   Cider and donuts will also be available at the Hergenhan Recreation Center between 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm.   At 4:00 pm our police will transition over to School Street to handle traffic control for our traditional neighborhood Halloween event.

Sincerely,

Supervisor Howard Arden

Interest in Miami real estate spikes | Armonk NY Homes

Visits to the Miami Association of Realtors’ property search portal rose 47 percent on an annual basis in September, to 114,338.

Among foreign countries, house hunters from Venezuela topped the list last month, likely spurred at least partially by political instability, the Realtor association said. Rounding out the top 10 were Canada, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Lithuania, France, Italy, Spain and the Philippines.

 

Source: MIAMI –

 

 

See more at: http://www.inman.com/wire/interest-in-miami-real-estate-spikes/#sthash.wFBphAws.dpuf

North Castle Supervisor Arden on Brynwood | Armonk Homes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TO:          All North Castle Neighbors

 

FROM:     Supervisor Howard Arden

 

RE:          The Brynwood Matter

 

Please be advised that I will be asking the Town Board tomorrow night to join me in referring Brynwood’s formation of a political action committee and its contributions during the recent primary election to the North Castle Board of Ethics for an advisory opinion.

During the period of time that the Board of Ethics has this matter before it, no further action will be taken by this Town Board on the Brynwood application.

The Brynwood item has been removed from the agenda as a

consequence.  If there are any public comments regarding this at tomorrow’s Town Board meeting they can be made at the end of the meeting during the public comment period.

Latest Update on Brynwood Development | Armonk Real Estate

Dear Neighbors,

We write to announce another significant step in our effort to transform Brynwood Golf & Country Club into a world-class club and residential community.

As you know, over the last year Brynwood has undergone a comprehensive environmental impact study as required by the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQR”). Brynwood’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (“DEIS”) has been reviewed and commented on by the Town of North Castle and its independent experts, citizen groups, and residents. In the coming days, we will submit a Final Environmental Impact Statement (“FEIS”) to the Town Board for consideration of acceptance.

We are reaching a critical juncture in the SEQRA review process. The Town Board is required to ensure that the FEIS adequately and accurately reflects the Town’s positions regarding the proposed project, and its potential impacts. The acceptance of the FEIS will be followed by the adoption by the Town Board of its written findings and determinations under SEQRA.  This will conclude the SEQRA process.

With this in mind, we have once again taken a very hard and critical look at our proposal to see how we can best address the concerns most recently expressed in the oral and written comments on the DEIS. We have listened carefully, and as a direct result of these comments, we have offered the following additional mitigation measures to the Town:

  • Any building permit for condominium units beyond 49 will be conditioned upon Brynwood substantially completing the renovations to the golf course and clubhouse – this further ensures the projected property taxes generated by these components are realized.
  • Brynwood will guarantee the Town $500,000 per year in property taxes on the golf course and clubhouse for ten years after they are renovated.
  • Brynwood will contribute $1 million to Water District No. 2 (which serves Windmill Farm) toward the district’s project to rebuild the community’s pipe system. Brynwood will also buy in to Water District No. 2, and its annual use fees from the residences and clubhouse will be added to the district’s revenue, which will save Windmill homeowners approximately $3 million over 25 years.
  • Brynwood will permanently, via a conservation easement, limit the future use of the property to either golf course or open space.
  • Brynwood will maintain all private roads, sewage, snow plowing, ground maintenance and garbage removal at no cost to the Town.
  • Brynwood will withdraw a pending tax certiorari in the amount of approximately $1 million.
  • Brynwood will contribute $150,000 to the Town for a right turn lane on Tripp Lane for cars exiting Byram Hills High School; contribute $250,000 to the Town for the construction of a new bike path; and contribute $25,000 to help fund the relocation of the historic Miller House (Washington’s Headquarters in North White Plains).
  • As stated in the DEIS, Brynwood will implement “green” best practices for the golf course and overall club environment.
  • Brynwood will set back all new structures on the property at least 100 feet in a landscaped buffer from the perimeter property line to reduce visual impact to neighbors.

Over the last several years, we have worked diligently and in good faith to develop a plan for Brynwood that balances the club’s objectives with those of the community. We believe this is a conscientious and responsive proposal for a project that will undoubtedly have a long lasting positive effect to the Town, surrounding homeowners, and our members. Together we are creating something of high quality that we can all be proud of being part of for many years to come.

As noted above, we expect to submit the FEIS to the Town shortly, and it will reflect our new proposal.

Your continued support is greatly needed and much appreciated as we work together in realizing Brynwood’s amazing potential.

Sincerely,

Brynwood Partners

Mold Problem Dogs Jersey Shore | Armonk NY Homes

Mold is a familiar problem in homes, traceable to ordinary water sources such as a damp basement, plumbing problems, or roof or window leaks. But Hurricane Sandy’s storm surge inundation was a whole different scale of water intrusion — and, according to the Asbury Park Press, it left behind a whole different scale of mold problem (“Sandy left Shore properties with a massive mold problem,” by Todd B. Bates and Jean Mikle).

“Superstorm Sandy flooded tens of thousands of New Jersey homes, businesses and schools,” the paper reports, “and longtime home inspectors say the state’s mold problem is the biggest they’ve ever seen.”

With whole stretches of the barrier islands closed to residents and contractors alike after the storm, homes sat wet for weeks or even months, giving mold an uncontested hold (see “Sandy Aftermath: Jersey Shore Struggles with Shattered Infrastructure,” Coastal Connection 11/14/2012).

“Many people tried to get rid of mold on their own or hired professionals or other contractors to clean up. But many people did not have the knowledge, tools, or equipment to properly remove mold, which frequently returned,” reports the Asbury Park Press. “Mold also resurfaced after some contractors completed their work. And some contractors vastly overcharged homeowners. Moreover, many people still don’t know they have a mold contamination problem, according to experts.”

 

 

 

http://www.jlconline.com/mold/

Don’t Be Shy. Questions To Ask Your Contractor | Armonk Real Estate

Questions to ask your Contractor

When it comes to hiring a contractor, most folks think they do the right amount of due diligence. They search for reviews, they check with the Better Business Bureau, and they likely ask the prospective pro whether or not they’re licensed and insured. Doing your research is a good thing. It helps you avoid the mistake of hiring the wrong pro. However, many homeowners still feel intimidated when dealing with their contractor. So much so, that nearly 84 percent of homeowners we surveyed spent time researching their project before talking to their contractor in hopes of sounding like they knew what they were talking about!
Getting taken advantage of is a legitimate fear when hiring a pro to tackle a major home improvement project. One of the ways to prevent that from happening is by knowing how much others in your area are paying for similar projects. Our Cost Guide helps you get the pricing info you’re looking for so you can go into the budgeting process with the right information.
However, you’ll need more than pricing info to get the peace of mind you’re looking for. Thankfully, all it takes is the confidence to ask any and all questions you might have. Here are five must ask questions every homeowner should ask, as well as five questions you might not have thought to ask.

 

What you want to hear is that they’ve been in business long enough to establish a credible track record of successful work experience.

2. Are you licensed, insured, and/or bonded?

At the very least you want to know that they’re licensed (and it’s current) and carry worker’s comp and liability insurance to cover any accidents. Being bonded is not a universal requirement, so not all contractors are. Think of bonding as an insurance policy for the homeowner that protects you if the job heads south.

3. Do you guarantee your work in writing?

While a verbal guarantee is nice, it offers no guarantees that the contractor will actually stand behind their work. You want a written guarantee that states exactly what is and isn’t covered.

 

 

read more…

 

http://welcome.homeadvisor.com/questions_to_ask_your_contractor?m=homesense&entry_point_id=26786319

 

Realtor.com(R) National Housing Trend Report Shows Dramatic National Year-Over-Year Inventory Declines are Easing | Armonk Homes

Realtor.com(R), the leader in online real estate operated by Move, Inc. (NASDAQ: MOVE), today released the realtor.com(R) National Housing Trend Report for the month of July 2013. July’s real estate market data shows the nation experienced a 5.24 percent decline in housing inventory, which is the second month in a row with year-over-year inventory declines in the single digits. National median list prices increased 5.27 percent year-over-year while median age of inventory is down 16.67 percent.

While California markets have dominated the list of markets with the largest housing inventory declines in the first part of 2013, they have been replaced by a new set of market leaders including: Detroit, Mich.; Boston; Denver; Honolulu and Naples, Fla. The large decreases in the for-sale inventory in these markets suggests the beginning of a housing market recovery process similar to what was observed in Florida in 2011, and in California in 2012 and 2013.

“The recovery is entering a new phase where inventory shortfalls are no longer the driving force behind changes in housing prices in many markets. Larger inventories, especially in the hotter markets that experienced rapid price increases in the spring, are expanding buyers’ choices and helping to moderate price increases,” said Steve Berkowitz, CEO of Move, Inc. “This month’s report also underscores the uneven nature of the housing recovery and its dependence on the strength of the local economy.”

 
      Realtor.com(R)'s Key National Market Indicators for July 2013 

                                     Year-over-Year %  Month-over-Month % 
                          July 2013       Change             Change 
                          ---------  ----------------  ------------------ 
Number of Listings        1,959,030       -5.24%             1.41% 
------------------------  ---------  ----------------  ------------------ 
Median Age of Inventory    85 days       -16.67%             6.25% 
------------------------  ---------  ----------------  ------------------ 
Median List Price         $199,900        5.27%              0.00% 
------------------------  ---------  ----------------  ------------------

National Highlights:

   -- Dramatic national year-over-year inventory declines have evaporated. 
      Nationally inventories in July are only 5.24 percent below the level of a 
      year ago compared to being down 16.47 percent year-over-year in January. 

   -- Inventory declines decrease in local markets.  In July 2013, the number 
      of markets with decreases in year-over-year inventory declined from 125 
      markets in June to 118 markets in July.  This suggests that this fall 
      inventories in some markets may return to levels of a year ago and may 
      continue to slow price increases in some markets. 

   -- Markets are still moving fast. All but five markets are continuing to 
      experience year-over-year declines in age of inventory and on a 
      month-over-month basis. On a national level, housing inventory is 
      approximately 17 percent below last year, but the national age of 
      inventory increased 6.25 percent month-over-month. 

   -- Price declines decrease in local markets.  Median listing prices are now 
      negative year-over-year in only 31 markets, which is down from 36 in 
      June

read more...

http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130813-907459.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

‘Sixth consecutive monthly rise’ for house prices | Armonk Real Estate

House prices rose by 0.9% in July, a sixth successive monthly rise which brought the annual rate of growth to its highest level in three years, according to figures from lender Halifax.

The bank said demand for homes was being boosted by signs of improvement in the economy and government schemes to kick-start the market. Its report is in line with those from other players in the propertymarket, which have shown prices gathering momentum in the first half of 2013 and led several commentators to adjust their forecasts for the year upwards.

Halifax’s latest monthly snapshot of the housing market showed the average price of a UK home reached £169,624 during the month, and that prices were up by 4.6% year-on-year – the highest rate of increase since August 2010.

To work out the annual rate of house price inflation Halifax does not do a straight comparison of monthly figures, but compares the quarterly average of each year. When the monthly figures are compared the annual rate of growth is 5.7%

Three-month growth figures, which offer a better picture of the market than single monthly figures, showed a 2.1% rise – the same as recorded in June.

Figures from HM Revenue & Customs show that in the first six months of 2013 the number of home sales was up by 6% on 2012 at 495,000. Figures for the number of mortgages approved suggest that momentum has continued, with the number rising by 6% between the first and second quarter of the year.

Halifax’s housing economist, Martin Ellis, said: “Greater confidence is likely to have underpinned the increase in housing demand. Official schemes, such as Funding for Lending and Help to Buy, may also be raising demand.”

However, he added: “House prices are expected to continue to rise gradually through this year with only modest economic growth and still falling real earnings constraining housing demand and activity.”

The Funding for Lending scheme, launched in August 2012 to encourage banks and building societies to offer more loans to businesses and households, has been credited with making mortgages more readily available and affordable to homebuyers and remortgagors, and seems to be offering support to the housing market.

Recently, the Council of Mortgage Lenders reported that the number of first-time buyers reached a six-year high in May, and on Monday there were even signs of a return to sub-prime lending.

Mark Harris, chief executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, said: “The outlook for the housing market continues to improve as increased mortgage availability, better rates and more choice at higher loan-to-values combine to make buyers more confident about their ability to get funding.

 

 

‘Sixth consecutive monthly rise’ for house prices | Money | theguardian.com.

Tribute To Armonk Volunteer Fire Co. Tops News This Week | Armonk Real Estate

ARMONK, N.Y. — Here are some of the top stories in Armonk this week:

  • The Modern Barne in Armonk will host a tribute to the Armonk Volunteer Fire Company at the third annual “Beer and Barnacles” event on July 31 at 6:30 p.m.
  • The Library Board of Trustees named Scott Jarzombek as the new director of the North Castle Public Library in an announcement on Monday.
  • Armonk’s fall celebration will return with thesecond annual Cider & Donut Festival Sept. 21, according to the All About Armonk website

 

 

Tribute To Armonk Volunteer Fire Co. Tops News This Week | The Armonk Daily Voice.