Tag Archives: Chappaqua

Chappaqua NY

Builder confidence drops in December | Chappaqua Real Estate

Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes fell four points to 56 in December on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) as concerns over housing affordability persist. Although this is the lowest HMI reading since May 2015, builder sentiment remains in positive territory.

Builders report that consumer demand exists, but customers are hesitating to make a purchase because of rising home costs. However, recent declines in mortgage interest rates should help move the market forward in early 2019.  Builder confidence dropped significantly in areas of the country with high home prices, which shows how the growing housing affordability crisis is hurting the market. This housing slowdown is an early indicator of economic softening, and it is important that builders manage supply-side costs to keep home prices competitive for buyers at different price points.

Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for 30 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales expectations for the next six months as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” The survey also asks builders to rate traffic of prospective buyers as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.” Scores for each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor.

All the HMI indices posted declines. The index measuring current sales conditions fell six points to 61, the component gauging expectations in the next six months dropped four points to 61, and the metric charting buyer traffic edged down two points to 43.

Looking at the three-month moving averages for regional HMI scores, the Midwest dropped two points to 55; the West and South both fell three points to 68 and 65, respectively; and the Northeast registered an eight-point drop to 50.

 

read more…

Builder Confidence Drops Four Points Amid Concerns Over Housing Affordability

Local Farmers Markets | #Chappaqua Real Estate

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Mamaroneck:
Seasonal Chef Maria Reina Cooks Up Meal Inspiration from 11am-1pm +
Shovel Ready String Band Entertains from 10am-Noon
Simple Eats with Chef T Debuts + More

Ossining:
Enjoy Celtic Fiddle Tunes with Brian Vegh +
Local Author, Denise Martin, Shares A Taste Back in Time
Kontoulis Family Olive Oil Joins Market for 1st time in 2015 + More!


February 19-25th, 2015

DowntoEarthMarkets.com

BrooklynWinterOffer
What’s New, In Season, and On Sale This Week
Arugula Pesto
Made with arugula from Gajeski Produceand Kontoulis Family Olive Oil
Trotta Foods
Click on a market to see all vendor and event details…

Ossining Winter

Saturdays
9:00 am-1:00 pm

Claremont Elementary School
Van Cortlandt Avenue, off of N. Highland (Rte. 9)

Mamaroneck Winter

Saturdays
9:00 am-1:00 pm

St. Thomas Episcopal Church
168 W. Boston Post Road

Headed to the city? We’ve got markets there, too. CLICK HERE for details

Announcements
Tune in Tonight 2/19: Miriam Haas & Jon Zeltsman on The Local Live: Food for Thought

Down to Earth Markets Founder, Miriam Haas, and President, Jon Zeltsman, look forward to joining a discussion tonight on the Local Live: Food for Thought, a production by Larchmont Community Television. Along with nutritionist, Elyssa Hurlbut, the group will talk about the state of local food today, including what “organic” truly means, GMO foods, and the role of big business in food production.
The program begins at 7:30 pm – find all the details HERE!

Mamaroneck: Music + Cooking Demo + Meet & Greet with The Journal News

The Shovel Ready String Band will play the market this Saturday from 10 am to noon!
Enjoy their jugband & bluegrass musical style as you shop for delicious market foods.
Speaking of deliciousness, Seasonal Chef Maria Reina, will host a cooking demo from 11 am to 1 pm.
She’s well-known for her recipes in the Small Bites column of The Journal News, and we look forward to her creative cooking at the market. Staff members from The Journal News will be on hand, too, as part of our Community Table program. Stop by and learn about the publication’s latest developments.

Ossining: Celtic Fiddle Songs & Local Author Book Signing
Celtic violinist, Brian Vegh, will share his musical talents with the Ossining market this Saturday from
10 am to noon. Also, stop by the market Community Table and meet author, Denise Martin. Denise grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson and now lives in Ossining. She’ll sell and sign copies of her book, A Taste Back in Time. It celebrates the traditions of her large Italian family and contains over 50 classic Italian recipes, as well as heart-warming stories of people and places in Westchester County.
Denise will also give out free printed copies of two beloved family recipes featured in her book.

Ossining: Please Order Tierra Farm Nut Products with Market Manager, Samantha

Down to Earth Markets is happy to partner with Claremont Elementary School to hold the Ossining Indoor Winter Farmers Market. In an effort to meet the needs of the school community, Tierra Farm will no longer be a vendor at the indoor market. For customers interested in purchasing Tierra Farm products, there will be weekly order forms available at the market. Please submit your Tierra Farm order form to the market manager, Samantha, during market hours, 9 am to 1 pm. During the week, you can pick up your Tierra Farm order at Down to Earth’s office on Main Street in Ossining.
We look forward to seeing you!

Tierra Farm will return on Saturday, April 4th, when the market moves back outside to its longtime home at the corner of Spring and Main Streets in downtown Ossining.

Next Learning Center Class: Wednesday, March 11th

Join us for the next session of the 2015 Learning Center: Tastes of Spring Bloom with Great Olive Oil.
In this class, the owners of Demi Olive Oil and Kontoulis Family Olive Oil will share their family techniques from farm to bottle. The evening will include a cooking demonstration with fresh, local produce.
Great olive oil opens up a new world of taste!
All classes take place at our office at 173 Main Street, 3rd Floor, in Ossining.
Each class is $15 or $40 for three.
Click HERE to learn more and buy tickets.

For additional events, visit our Down to Earth Markets Event Calendar.

Stay tuned to all market happenings via our Down to Earth Markets Facebook page
and follow us on Instagram and on Twitter @DowntoEarthMkts.

Rotating* Vendors This Week
*Vendors who rotate through various markets during the season.
They enjoy getting to know many communities. Here’s where to find them this week:

Mamaroneck – Saturday, February 21st

Calcutta Kitchens
Christiane’s Backstube
Hudson River Apiaries
**NEW TO MARKET!** – Simple Eats with Chef T (Healthy prepared foods to go)

Ossining – Saturday, February 21st

Kontoulis Family Olive Oil
Sisters Wicked Good Soap
Taiim Falafel Shack

Down to Earth Markets 173 Main Street Ossining, NY 10562 Phone: 914-923-4837
DowntoEarthMarkets.com

Remodelers See Market Improving | #Chappaqua Real Estate

NAHB’s Remodeling Market Index (RMI) was 60 in the final quarter of 2014, indicating widespread confidence among remodelers that the market was improving compared to the previous quarter. The RMI and each of its components lies on a scale of 0 to 100, where a number above 50 indicates that more remodelers report market activity has improved (compared to the prior quarter) than report it has deteriorated.

RMI graph 14Q4

The overall RMI averages ratings of current remodeling activity with indicators of future remodeling activity. The current market conditions component of the RMI increased to 60 from 57 in the previous quarter. The readings for all subcomponents, including large additions and small remodels as well as maintenance and repair, also saw increases.

The RMI’s future market conditions index also increased, to 60 from 58 in the previous quarter. All four of its subcomponents—calls for bids, amount of work committed for the next three months, backlog of jobs and appointments for proposals—increased from the previous quarter’s reading.

RMI table 14Q4

The RMI shows that, even with some weakness in existing homes sales and house prices earlier in the year, remodelers remain optimistic that markets are improving as 2014 closes. This is consistent with NAHB’s view that the remodeling market will show gradual improvement going forward.

 

read more…

 

http://eyeonhousing.org/2015/01/remodelers-see-market-improving/

Housing In 2015: Four Reasons For Optimism | Chappaqua Real Estate

 

Six years ago, homebuilders and Realtors were facing brutal business conditions: millions of Americans were losing their jobs and homes.

As 2015 begins, hiring is strong and economic indicators are pointing up. Could this be the year when the housing market finally breaks out of its tepid recovery and takes off?

Economists see several reasons why 2015 might be a banner year for homebuying — and not just in San Francisco and Miami.

They also see One Big Factor that potentially could block a buying binge.

Before considering that possible downer, let’s first look at the upside:

Employers are hiring again.

When companies are hiring, would-be homebuyers feel more confident about taking on mortgage debt.

During the recession, companies kept slashing positions, sending the unemployment rate soaring to 10 percent and frightening potential homebuyers. But job growth has been strong lately, with employers adding 321,000 jobs in November. The unemployment rate has tumbled to 5.8 percent.

As that good news sinks in, optimism is rising. The Conference Board’s latestConsumer Confidence Index shows confidence is running 19.5 percent higher than a year ago.

Home prices just took a breather, which helps.

From January to October, home prices rose 4.5 percent nationally, according to the latest S&P/Case Shiller Home Price Index. That gain was subdued compared with October 2013, when home prices jumped 11 percent higher than the previous year.

 

read more….

 

http://www.npr.org/2015/01/05/374232461/housing-in-2015-four-reasons-for-optimism-and-one-for-worry

Millennials better at paying their mortgages | Chappaqua Real Estate

 

The youngest group of mortgage borrowers posted the lowest mortgage delinquency rate, falling to 2.34% at the end of the second quarter, according to a new report from TransUnion.

“Mortgage delinquency rates continue to drop and we are seeing this decline across all age groups,” said Steve Chaouki, head of financial services for TransUnion.

However, it is important to note that this age group also makes up the smallest portion of mortgage accounts, only representing 4.16%.

(source TransUnion: click for larger image)

millennial

Overall, the mortgage delinquency rate declined for the 10th consecutive quarter, decreasing to 3.46% at the end of Q2 2014. This is down nearly 20% in the last year.

“Overall, the improvements in the mortgage delinquency rate can be attributed to a number of factors. These include the clearing of severely delinquent accounts through foreclosure as well as a lower rate of new delinquencies from post-recession vintages, which generally are of significantly higher credit quality and have experienced much better performance than mortgages originated before the recession,” Chaouki said.

 

 

read more…..

 

 

http://www.housingwire.com/articles/31095-millennials-better-at-paying-their-mortgages

Where Can You Really Afford to Buy a Home? | Chappaqua NY Real Estate

 

Owning a home has long been associated with success, stability, and work ethic. An investment in your future, purchasing a home is one of your more significant financial decisions. It’s a decision two out of every three Americans have made in recent years.

Interest rates, housing markets, community and school ratings, and crime statistics are only a few of the factors that may weigh into the decision to buy a home. This week, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 4.33 percent, and next week this rate will likely change.

While finding the right home that will earn you a decent return on your investment is essential, perhaps even more critical is the need to find a home you can afford. HSH recently published a report on the annual salary required to purchase a home in 27 different metropolitan areas. Based on this report and other supplemental data, let’s see where you can afford to buy at the median home price.

Read more: http://wallstcheatsheet.com/personal-finance/where-can-you-really-afford-to-buy-a-home.html/?a=viewall#ixzz32Mv4rOsv

 

Teatown Lake Reservation Updates | Chappaqua Real Estate

 

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April 23, 2014
TEATOWN PROGRAMS THIS WEEK:
New Educational Workshop:  Nature Matters at Teatown
How Healthy Are Our Forests:
An Overview of Current Issues Disrupting Nature’s Delicate Balance
Speaker: Dr. Charlie Canham
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Thursday, April 24
7 pm
Sitting on PURPOSE

Saturday, April 26
10:00 am

Every Day is Earth Day

Saturday, April 26 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm For more information about this program

Sneak Peak at Programs Next Week: Central Park Birding with Charlie Roberto

Wednesday, April 30
Teatown Camp:
Summer is Just Around the Corner!
Summer Camp

Teatown’s Natural

Science Day Camp!
Four sessions this summer
TESA
Teatown’s Environmental Science Academy
for Teens
Visit Teatown
Like us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFind us on PinterestView our videos on YouTube
1600 Spring Valley Road
Ossining, NY 10562
Nature Center hours:
9:00am-5:00pm daily
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.

Your donation can make

an immediate impact to help

conserve and protect the

diversity of wildlife, plants

and habitats…

today and into the future.

Why We Do What We Do Support Teatown this Spring:
 

Imagine for a moment, Teatown without…

 

Dogwoods blooming in the Spring on the Back 40 Trail

 

– Or maples on display in all their glorious fall colors at Vernay Lake

 

– Or walking the Lakeside Trail without the sound of bird song

 

– Or without a forest at all

 

These are very real threats to the  biodiversity of Teatown’s preserve.  So, what are we doing? How is  Teatown leading as part of the solution?

 

Read on and become part of the solution…

 

Events at Teatown:
Fishing at Teatown, Members-Only
Saturdays in May and June
(must pre-register, rules apply) More information about Members-Only Fishing

Teatown’s Annual Plant Sale

($10 First Pick on May 9, Free May 10)
Movie on the Lawn, Members-Only
Friday, June 6 at 7:15 More information about Members-Only – Movie on the Lawn

Not a member, but want to participate in the Members-Only programs? Become a member today here!
Teatown is Seeking an EMT Health Director for Summer Camp
Teatown is seeking an EMT to act as Health Director for its science day camp, June 30th-August 22nd.   Responsibilities include responding to camper illness or injury, coordinating first aid supplies and medications, and speaking with parents about camper health issues. Candidates must be at least 21 years old, physically active and comfortable navigating through a natural setting on foot or by an off-road vehicle.  Please contact Lisa Baugh at lbaugh@teatown.org or call 762-2912 ext. 137.

 

Trail Work Volunteer Opportunities
Strap on your work shoes and grab a shovel! Teatown is offering trail volunteer workshops in April.
Volunteers will clear trails, replace markers and signs, remove invasives and more! We have projects for all ages, group sizes, interests and abilities.
Trail workshop dates: April 25 & 26: Stone Step Installation  – This Weekend!!

Contact Leigh Draper, ldraper@teatown.org for more information.
Trail Workshops made possible by Con Edison’s Teatown Trails Green Stewardship Program

 

I Love My Park Day

Saturday, May 3, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm On the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail

Co-sponsored by Teatown, join friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct on “I Love My Park Day” on the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail in Cortlandt/Ossining and lop vines, remove invasive plants and bushes and learn invasive plant ID and pruning/removal techniques.

Reigster in advance here
Walk-ins also are welcome.

 

In the Nature Center:  Through the End of April
Local Artist, Jeanne Demotses

Jeanne Demotses’ work is in the Nature Center and available for purchase through April 27th.  30% of proceeds will go towards supporting Teatown’s programs.

 

 

The 10 Best Two-Bedroom Apartments $675K Can Buy in NYC | Chappaqua Real Estate

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The median price for a two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan is $1.8 million, according to StreetEasy’s active listings. In popular Brooklyn neighborhoods, the median price of luxury apartments for rent is about a million less, at $899,000, but there’s plenty available for much less. For our latest Price Points round-up we found the 10 best two-bedroom apartments for around $675,000. Most are in Brooklyn, but Manhattan has its fair share (the other three boroughs, as expected, have even cheaper offerings). First up, there’s a “penthouse” apartment in a 12-unit building on Parkville Avenue in Kensington, Brooklyn. It has an open kitchen next to the living room with French doors opening onto a private balcony. The master bedroom has an en suite bath, and the second bedroom comes with a Queen-sized Murphy bed. There’s also a full second bathroom, and a private rooftop terrace. Asking price is $675,000, and common charges are $198.

On the Upper West Side, there’s a two-bedroom in a prewar building on West 93rd Street asking $679,000. The 22-foot-long living room has four windows, and the kitchen looks roomy, with a lot of counter space and cabinets, but the second bedroom is quite small. It has a window, but only measures 7’3″ by 8’7″, so it’s best suited as a nursery or home office, though from the listing photos, it looks like the kids have the big room while the parents have the tiny one. Guess that’s why they’re selling?

Also listed $679,000, there’s a “loft-style” unit in the Kent, a full-service condo building with a terrible name, near the Clinton Hill/Bed-Stuy border. The place measures 1,062 square feet and features a washer/dryer and two full bathrooms. The building shares an outdoor space with grills, a grass lawn, and patio, plus there is a fitness center.

Not far from Hudson Yards in Midtown Westa new-to-market two-bedroom co-op is asking $674,500. It only has one full bathroom, but both bedrooms, as well as the living room, are generously sized. The kitchen has been recently renovated with new stainless steel appliances, and the elevator building has a live-in super, laundry room, storage, and parking.

garden-level co-op in a Park Slope brownstone on 9th Street is listed for $687,000. The secondary bedroom is located at the front of the house and is currently being used as a sitting room, as it connects to the living room through French doors. The kitchen and bathroom (there’s only one) have been recently renovated, and original features like fireplaces, wood-working, and wide-plank floors have been restored. In addition to the private yard, there’s a small greenhouse for the botanically-inclined.

The highlight of this 2BR condo on Conselyea Street in Williamsburg is the private 500-square-foot roof deck. But the apartment itself, renovated as it is, isn’t too shabby either (although it is pretty small). It’s asking $659,000.

In Yorkville, a renovated 2BR/2BA in a prewar co-op building is asking $650,000. It features such charming details as exposed brick walls, crown molding, and oak strip floors, and it includes two exposures. The building, on East 92nd Street, allows pets and has a laundry room.

At $700,000this for-sale-by-owner 650-square-foot unit in the East Village is the most expensive listing of the bunch. It’s just been gut renovated and features new hardwood floors, millwork, and crown moldings, as well as all new wiring for electric, cable, and internet. The open kitchen has stainless steel appliances, a tile backsplash, and an oven that vents to the outside. It’s a walk-up, but it looks pretty darn nice.

Right at the very top of the Upper West Side, this prewar 2BR/1BA co-op has exposed brick, large windows, and a spacious living room. One of the bedrooms is rather small, but at least it has a window. The place is asking $669,000.

Back in Brooklyn, there’s a large-ish “architect-renovated” Windsor Terrace co-op listed for $650,000. Some of the new architect-introduced details include “refinished ebony parquet floors, custom imported full height sliding wood doors,” and a bathroom lined with “lovely Italian bisazza tiles.” The bedrooms have built-in closets, and the building has an elevator, live-in super, and laundry room.
· Price Points archives [Curbed]

http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/04/16/the_10_best_twobedroom_apartments_675k_can_buy_in_nyc.php

Five Westchester Events You’ll Want To Attend | Chappaqua Real Estate

 

Here are five of the biggest events coming up in Westchester.

1. Aoife O’Donovan at Katonah’s Caramoor, Saturday, April 12 at 8 p.m.

Aoife O’Donovan is widely known as the lead singer of alt-bluegrass/string band Crooked Still, as a member of the folk noir trio Sometymes Why, and as the vocalist on the GRAMMY winning album The Goat Rodeo Sessions with Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile, Edgar Meyer and Stuart Duncan. She will be visiting the Caramoor for a special solo acoustic performance. $15, $35, $45, $55. 149 Girdle Ridge Road.

2. Greenburgh Nature Center’s Spring Celebration and Egg Hunt, Sunday, April 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the Greenburgh Nature Center barnyard to meet their furry and feathered friends. Families will be able to take a tour with a naturalist to discover signs of spring from the forest to the pond to the Great Lawn, make seasonal crafts, and search for eggs in an egg hunt. Egg hunts and other fun activities will run continuously throughout the day. 99 Dromore Road.

3. Les Ballets Trockadero at Harrison’s SUNY Purchase, Saturday, April 12 at 8 p.m.

This all-male corps de ballet defies convention and cliché of classical ballet and proves that men can dance en pointe without hurting themselves too badly. These men are among the finest, classically trained dancers. Enjoy the beauty of ballet, and the proof that classical ballet can be totally hilarious. $49.50 – 70. 735 Anderson Hill Road.

4. Grow Your Own Bitters at Mount Pleasant’s Stone Barns Center, Saturday, April 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Master the art of bitters-making with expert Brad Thomas Parsons, author of Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All. Parsons will be taking seasonal crops, fresh from local farms, and turning them into bitters. He’ll also be sharing cocktail ideas and sending you home with your own batch of farm-fresh bitters. Ages 21 and up. $22.50 – $25. 630 Bedford Road.

5. One Night Only: The National Comedy Theatre at the White Plains Performing Art Center, Saturday, April 12, 8 p.m.

The National Comedy Theatre, New York’s acclaimed improvisational comedy show, is coming to the WPPAC for one night. Similar in style to “Whose Line is it Anyway,” the comedians will be performing a series of games and scenes all based on audience suggestions. $25. 11 City Place.

 

 

 

http://armonk.dailyvoice.com/events/five-westchester-events-youll-want-attend-2

9 Things Your Buyers Should Ignore While House Hunting | Chappaqua Real Estate

 

For many buyers, looking for a new home can be a challenge. As agents, we see homes daily and are well-trained on how to see past the superficial problems and see a home for its potential. But when clients are looking for the home in which they plan on building their lives, it can be hard to envision how a home could truly be ‘mine.’ Many people choose to remodel and stage their homes prior to putting it on the market, but then there are the vast majority of people who choose to sell their beloved home “as-is.”

While a turn-key home is ideal for people who want to move right in and make no changes, there are those “time warp” homes that are actually incredible gems that just need a little polishing.

Love these tips? Share this information with current clients and your prospective buyers. Download the handout to include in your marketing materials and to help buyers throughout their home buying journey!

As you walk your clients through their house hunt, here are 9 things about a for-sale home that you should remind clients to ignore in order to keep them from passing on a what could be the perfect home for them.

 

http://www.trulia.com/pro/buyers/things-buyers-should-ignore/?ecampaign=anews&eurl=trulia.com%252Fpro%252Fbuyers%252Fthings-buyers-should-ignore%252F