Victorian With a Modern Outlook | Pound Ridge Homes
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Tag Archives: Pound Ridge Luxury Homes
London Home Prices Post First Fall Since 2012 on Demand Drop | Pound Ridge Real Estate
10 Signs You Are Ready to Invest | #PoundRidge Real Estate
When it comes to property investment, timing is everything. Ultimately, choosing the right time to enter the market will have a significant impact on the long-term success of your investment.
But how can you, as an investor, know whether the timing is right? Here are 10 tell-tale signs that now is the time to start building your investment portfolio.
1. You are financially ready. You have saved enough for the down payment and you have also established your emergency fund. You have taken into account home maintenance expenses. Your credit history is good and you are able to meet all the financial obligations.
2. You have set your long-term goals. You have a clear picture in your mind of your investment’s purpose and you are flexible enough to adjust to changing circumstances. You are not hesitant. When the timing is right, you are able to adapt to the market needs and the development of technologies.
3. You have done your research. You know the neighborhood of your future property well enough to foresee the coming trends and the possible changes in the community. You have researched all the schools in the area as well as the best commuting means.
4. You have chosen a stable economy. The area is financially stable, economic trends are promising and equities are surging. No demographic fluctuation or no irregular variation of population have been recorded in the area.
5. You understand the country’s policies regarding real estate. The policies of the region promote and encourage a positive, innovative environment as well as drive further economic growth. The tax policy in the country is positive for homeowners. Global innovation index is rising in the area.
6. Infrastructure projects are underway and likely to lead to an increase in property values. The infrastructure of the area is being developed with a focus on: transport, energy, solid waste and water management developments.
7. The region is moving toward sustainable development. The region’s awareness of global and local environmental issues is increasing, the demand for eco-friendly homes as well as for sustainable rural and urban development is rising. As more and more people head toward sustainable living, investing in sustainable property will increase its value in the future.
read more….
http://blog.realestatebook.com/2014/09/23/10-signs-you-are-ready-to-invest-in-real-estate/
Where have the first-time buyers gone? | Pound Ridge Real Estate
Meet an Adorable Updated Cape in Springs Asking $1.295M | Pound Rdige Real Estate
We’re crazy in love with this super-cute ivy-covered cape. The plot is a good size, with 1.5 acres, so you get complete privacy, including around the saltwater pool out back; there’s also a spa and outdoor shower. Inside, the house offers four bedrooms and two baths in about 2100sf. The interiors are stylish and updated yet modest and cottagey; we love some of the decorative touches like the vintage Erica Wilson crewel picture in a bedroom. The bathrooms aren’t pictured—we wonder if they’re the original 1957 ones, which we personally would love but many others wouldn’t. Anyway, with a reasonable price, the new owners can afford to put in new bathrooms if they choose.
· Chic Vintage Cape [Halstead]
read more….
http://hamptons.curbed.com/archives/2014/09/08/meet_an_adorable_updated_cape_in_springs_asking_1295m.php
15 states aggressively going after stop-foreclosure scams | Pound Ridge Realtor
Last month, it was announced that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission were filing nine lawsuits against companies and individuals that collected more than $25 million in illegal advance fees with false promises to prevent foreclosures.
That was on a national level.
At the same time, 15 state Attorney General offices announced an additional 32 actions against foreclosure prevention scammers.
Often in these scams, the scammers offer delinquent homeowners security from mortgage servicers who are seeking to foreclose.
They promise the homeowners home retention, often take fees upfront and do little in return.
The homeowners often still face foreclosure, and receive none of the promised compensation.
Well, as HousingWire can now exclusively reveal, here are those 15 states that are aggressively going after these scammers.
The list was provided by the CFPB, and for the purpose of the list, we gathered some additional information.
read more…
A Bronx Rite of Passage: Jump 110 Feet Into The Harlem River | Pound Ridge Real Estate
C-Rock is a new documentary about a pastime that, for kids in the northwest Bronx, is “like a bar mitzvah.” Except that it entails jumping dozens of feet off of rocky cliffs into the Harlem River, where that waterway meets Spuyten Duyvil Creek. (It got its name because Columbia University athletes painted a big C on the rock face.) Fellow teens and Circle Line patrons bear witness to these daring dives, while older men—always men—reminisce about their plunges, which are virtually synonymous with adolescence. Director Jordan Roth spoke to Curbed about discovering the tradition, embedding himself with its practitioners, and what it was like to take the leap himself. Also, read on to find out how you can see the whole documentary.
Curbed NY: How did you first find out about this practice, both past and present?
Roth: The summer before we shot, I read a fantastic piece in the Times by Sam Dolnick about the tradition. I thought there must already be a doc about it because it immediately struck me as so cinematic. I researched more and was captivated by the whole thing.
CNY: Explain the “levels” of cliff-jumping, to those who don’t know—the names of the different ledges, and all the rest.
Roth: There are jumping spots of varying heights along the cliff going from 25 feet up to about 110. The spots have names that are taken pretty seriously—some of them passed down from older generations. Also, some of the names are kinda dirty. Balls is at about 35 feet. (Editor’s note: you learn from the film that at that height, jumpers have to cover their, well, you know.)
CNY: What were a few of the most bizarre things you learned as you started to follow and interview the cliff-jumpers? Basically some highlights—bad, good, wild, whatever—of the production process.
Roth: What’s probably most surprising for people first learning about all this is that it is actually a tradition and that it does go back generations. But what I discovered while interviewing and following the guys was that everyone knows each other. I tapped into a network people of different ages and they all seemed connected by this place. That was amazing to me.
[Photo via Flickr/jag9889.]
There were so many highlights while shooting and discovering C-Rock. There were philosophies and strategies to jumping. There were anecdotes from earlier in the summer or from 40 years ago. Like, one kid in the late 60s landed badly and got a bruise all along the side of his body. He told his parents he was smacked with a broomstick. I heard a lot about the quality of the river water. It’s thankfully not bad now, but it was. Kids tried to avoid the “shit line” on the surface of the water.
There were also so many funny moments for us while shooting. The kids yelled ridiculous and terrible things to get each other to jump. Just them lounging on the rock, reminiscing, could also be hilarious. The rock face is sort of a summer afternoon home for them. Some guys leave shoes there, tucked away, because they prefer to jump in shoes. They’re like the Lost Boys, but with trash talk.
read more…
http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/07/16/a_bronx_rite_of_passage_jump_110_feet_into_the_harlem_river.php
The reality behind NAR’s spin on home sales | Pound Ridge Homes
No matter what housing market conditions we are experiencing at any given time, one thing is as predictable as the sun rising and setting each day: The National Association of Realtors will say that “Now is a great time to buy or sell real estate.”
In Trey Garrison’s piece “4 charts show the phony thrill of existing home sales” appearing online in HousingWire on June 23rd he wrote that NAR recently put out a news release announcing existing home sales were up 4.9% in May over the previous month.
He then gives graphic evidence through several charts that actually show when sifting through additional data, the NAR “good news” turns out to be no more than spin. Supporting that notion is his comment that although the May 2014 increase over April is happy news indeed, it is actually 5% below the figure of May 2013.
While this constant spinning is no surprise to anyone who has been in the housing business for as long as I have (30-plus years) and who has extensive experience in public relations, it should give one pause when trying to determine the true health of the housing market and overall economic conditions.
It is one thing for the Obama administration to continually put out misleading (at best) information trying to convince the American people that we are in the middle of not just a housing recovery, but an economic one as well when nothing could be farther than the truth, it is another when the private sector follows suit.
NAR, which has long been a distinguished organization, serves an exceptionally large constituency – Realtors across America.
And, yes, it is true that they would rather disseminate positive, encouraging information about why it may be desirable to buy or sell real estate to be supportive of their membership.
read more…
http://www.housingwire.com/blogs/1-rewired/post/30426-effinger-the-reality-behind-nars-spin-on-home-sales
5 Questions Every Real Estate Agent Should Ask a New Client | Pound Ridge Real Estate
There are many articles out there suggesting questions that buyers should ask their real estate agent, but now it’s your turn!
Whether you’re an experienced realtor or not, it’s important to always be crystal clear on a new client’s background information and preferences. Know where you stand before jumping into a relationship with a lead.
Here are 5 questions you should ask a new client:
Why are you buying and why is now the right time to move?
Learning WHY they are buying a new home at this specific time is very helpful in tailoring your real estate services to fit their needs. It will also help you determine how many hours you can expect to work. For instance, some may be looking for a REALTOR® way before they sell their current home, while others may wait until the last minute. Everyone’s timing is different.
How many houses have you already seen and what are your 3 favorite neighborhoods?
You’ll gain a better understanding of their recent real estate experience and at the same time, you’ll find out if they have already been working with another agent. Also, ask them to list their 3 favorite neighborhoods – this is an easy way to begin discussing the importance they place on schools, demographics, and where they want to live.
If we found your perfect home tomorrow, what would you do?
Ask this question so you can evaluate their readiness to actually move and better grasp their preferred timeline. If you’re speaking with a first-time home buyer, use this moment to go over the closing process and any other details they need to know about buying a new home.
Are you working with a lender?
Now you’ll can make an easy transition into a financial conversation. This is a great opportunity to learn whether or not they are pre-approved. If they have not been pre-approved, suggest a lender of your choosing.
read more…
http://blog.realestatebook.com/2014/06/18/5-questions-every-real-estate-agent-should-ask-a-new-client/
Former Forbes Party Yacht Gets a High-Design Makeover | Pound Ridge Real Estate
Photo by Lisl Dennis/ Architectural Digest
Once treasured by the legendarily wealthy Forbes magazine publisher Malcolm Forbes, The Highlander has long been the decadent, floating setting for elite parties, fancy vacations, and—of course—some seriously expensive decor. Now owned by interior designer Joanne de Guardiola and her husband, Roberto, the yacht unfortunately no longer hosts as many flashy parties, but definitely looks better, trading in Wolf of Wall Street-esque eighties interiors (ok, it wasn’t actually as bad as that “sumptuous” ship) for sleek, modern style.
Done up in a colorful array of priceless artwork, designer pieces, and custom accents, de Guardiola’s take on the ship is cleaner, but still playful and slightly funky. The “sky room,” for example, pairs Brazilian blue onyx floors, angular Holly Hunt cocktail tables and couches, and rainbow-hued chairs. In the glassy dining room, there’s a mirrored dining room table and chairs upholstered in Missoni. Architectural Digest has the full tour, right this way.
read more…
http://curbed.com/archives/2014/06/16/former-forbes-party-yacht-gets-a-highdesign-makeover.php