Monthly Archives: May 2013

Connecticut mansion becomes most expensive home on market | Waccabuc Real Estate

This 50½-acre property includes a 12-bedroom Victorian, French-renaissance mansion, 4,000 feet of water frontage on Long Island Sound and two offshore islands, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The listing marks the latest test of the ultra-high-end property market, which has seen several record-setting sales in recent years. Pricing in this stratosphere is an imprecise science, however, and it can be difficult for sellers to predict whether a nine-figure listing will lead to a nine-figure sale.

 

Connecticut mansion becomes most expensive home on market | HousingWire.

American Banker: Wells, Citigroup halt foreclosure sales in several states | Katonah Realtor

American Banker is reporting that Wells Fargo ($39.88 0.62%) andCitigroup ($51.45 0.84%) ‘halted’ most of their foreclosure sales in several states after evaluating the process against the backdrop of new guidance from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Reporters Jeff Horwitz and Kate Berry wrote that within two weeks of the OCC’s release of new guidance on minimum standards for foreclosure sales, Wells, Citi and JPMorgan ‘all but stopped’ foreclosure sales.

Since then, JPMorgan has picked them back up again.

 

 

American Banker: Wells, Citigroup halt foreclosure sales in several states | HousingWire.

Here’s Why These 6 Videos Went Viral | Bedford Corners Realtor

A video is never guaranteed to go viral, but a few factors make it significantly more likely.

In the first few months of 2013, viral videos covered all kinds of topics: a serious look at female self-esteem, a silly competition between two Star Trek actors, and more. But according to Brian Shin, CEO of video analytics service Visible Measures, these and most other viral videos share at least two things in common: “discussability” and “relatability.”

For a video to be “discussable,” it usually features something shocking or surprising, which compels viewers to share it with others. Likewise, if a video contains something deeply human to which we can relate — even if it’s cuddling cats — we’re more likely to share it out. The two factors often go together.

We chatted with a couple viral video experts to learn what made these clips the biggest hits of the year, so far.

Dove Experiment

 

Dove’s “Real Beauty Sketches” video is by far the most popular video of 2013 to date, with nearly 54 million views on YouTube and about 68 million views across the web, according to data from Visible Measures. That’s more impressive considering the video was released only a month ago.

Shin believes a few factors played into this video’s success. It’s deeply human, it sparked multiple spin-offs and it shares an incredibly powerful and positive message about the way women see their bodies, which people felt compelled to share.

“The message is something you really can’t be against,” he says. “That’s something everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon and feel good about. It’s a message that can’t be not shared.”

Jeff Gordon Prank

 

Pepsi and others have pulled pranks in their ads, but this video was in a league of its own. Jeff Gordon dresses in disguise to take a car salesman for a wild ride.

“‘Prankverts,’ in which brands create their own stunts involving supposedly innocent members of the public, have been a really hot trend this year,” says David Waterhouse, global head of content and PR at Unruly Media, a video marketing company. “And the most successful of these new wave of commercials is Pepsi ‘Test Drive.'”

The secret sauce behind the video’s success, according to Waterhouse, is that it elicited so many different emotional reactions for viewers. “For most ‘prankverts’, the most common emotional responses are ‘hilarity’ and ‘surprise,'” he says. “However, when we tested ‘Test Drive,’ we found that it went one step further by adding ‘exhilaration’ into the mix. That meant, even if you didn’t find it funny or particularly surprising, you could still be exhilarated by the intense action and the awesome driving skills.”

As if that wasn’t enough, Waterhouse notes there was also a debate about whether the car salesman in the video was aware of the prank or not. That increased the number of people talking about and watching the video.

Harlem Shake

 

For a few weeks, the “Harlem Shake” was almost inescapable. Waterhouse says 40,000 “Harlem Shake” videos released in the first 11 days after the meme exploded; people viewed them 175 million times, collectively.

The reason for this success, according to Waterhouse, is because it was “so easy to replicate. It’s short, has a very easy structure to follow and a catchy song intro that makes it instantly recognizable,” he says. “Its simplicity is the cornerstone of its success.”

The Maker version of the “Harlem Shake,” seen above, was the most popular take on the meme early on, according to data from YouTube. Shin suggests this was a combination of good timing — it was one of the earlier videos in the meme — and the fact that it served as an inspiration for many of the videos that came after.

 

 

Here’s Why These 6 Videos Went Viral.

15 Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed | Chappaqua Real Estate

It has been another busy week as summer approaches, and everyone gets restless for the warm weather. If you’ve been too preoccupied soaking up some rays to check out the news, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered.

We at Mashable have rounded up the most important updates in tech and social media to keep you informed. So read below for tons of digital media resources, including everything you need to know about the Google I/O keynote and a great roundup of apps to help you get around your city.

 

 

15 Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed.

Hedge Funds Drive up Atlanta Prices | Armonk NY Homes

A new analysis of institutional investor purchases in Atlanta over the past year found that hedge funds are driving up prices and depleting inventories, yet they are still able to buy properties for less than the market rate.

An analysis of hedge funds’ impact by Radar Logic, a real estate data and analytics company that tracks housing values for major U.S. metropolitan areas and publishes the Residential Property IndexTM (RPXTM) to enable real estate to be traded as a liquid asset, via property derivatives marketed by major financial institutions, found that hedge funds’ impact on the Atlanta market over the past year has increased substantially.

Some key findings from the study:

  • Institutional investors are paying less for homes than non-investors. While 90 percent of all Atlanta home buyers paid between $45K and $499.4K in February, 90 percent of institutional investors paid between $39.3K and $232.1K.
  • Institutional investors are also paying less on a price per square foot basis. While 90% of all Atlanta home buyers paid between $28.19/SF and $196.92/SF, 90 percent of institutional investors paid between $24.18/SF and $108.24/SF.
  • Institutional investors are purchasing smaller homes than non-investors. While 90 percent of all homes purchased in Atlanta in February were between 1,029 SF and 4,233 SF, 90% of homes purchased by institutional investors were between 1,054 SF and 2,901 SF.

Also, institutional investors are paying up and moving up in size relative to a year ago. In the past year, monthly hedge fund purchases have increased 148 percent in the Atlanta market.  Even more interesting is the finding that average investor price per transaction has increased by 65 percent over the past year compared to 15 percent for the market as a whole.

 

 

Hedge Funds Drive up Atlanta Prices | RealEstateEconomyWatch.com.

Mobile Marketing, How to Get Started | Mt Kisco Realtor

Do you use mobile marketing for business?

Are you wondering how to get started?

To learn how mobile marketing and social connect, I interview Jamie Turner for this episode of the Social Media Marketing podcast.

More About This Show

Social Media Marketing Podcast w/ Michael Stelzner

The Social Media Marketing podcast is a show from Social Media Examiner.

It’s designed to help busy marketers and business owners discover what works with social media marketing.

The show format is on-demand talk radio (also known as podcasting).

In this episode, I interview Jamie Turner, co-author of the book Go Mobile. His blog, the 60 Second Marketer is ranked as one of the top 10 marketing blogs by Social Media Examiner. He also runs a social media and mobile marketing agency called 60 Second Communications.

Jamie shares how to start with mobile marketing and why you should pay more attention to mobile customers.

You’ll learn what tools to use and the difference between mobile websites and mobile apps.

Share your feedback, read the show notes and get the links mentioned in this episode below!

Listen Now

You can also subscribe via iTunesRSSStitcher or Blackberry.

Here are some of the things you’ll discover in this show:

Mobile Marketing

Why marketers should pay more attention to mobile customers

Jamie states that 15-50% of the people who visit your website come in from a mobile device and this number will continue to grow.

When consumers visit your website from a mobile device, you need to be there to meet them, understand mobile marketing and know how to connect with customers on mobile.

You’ll have to learn how to use mobile, as it’s a way to build a bridge between you and your customer.

standard mobile

Make sure you’re mobile-ready.

You’ll discover how more people check prices on their mobile devices while shopping and what you need to provide them to make sure they buy from you.

And you’ll hear that when people buy a product on mobile devices, particularly tablet computers, their total ticket price is typically higher than it is via a desktop computer.

It’s important to be mobile-ready—not only for B2C but for B2B too.

Listen to the show to find out how many people bought a virtual ticket on a smartphone while attending Social Media Marketing World.

Is there a social media connection when it comes to mobile marketing?

Jamie sees email as a social media tool. Sixty-seven percent of all “C-level” executives check their emails from their mobile devices. The better-known tools being LinkedIn,FacebookTwitter and YouTube.

We all need mobile websites. Remember when consumers visit your site, one of the prominent things you want to do is give them the ability to connect with you on social media platforms from their mobile device.

You’ll hear Jamie give a great example of how you can use LinkedIn on a mobile device in a business environment.

 

Mobile Marketing, How to Get Started | Social Media Examiner.

Use One of These 4 Simple Garden Designs to Grow the 12 Best Kitchen Herbs | North Salem NY Real Estate

.The stunning flavors of culinary herbs make them star players in a healthy diet, and the best way to make the most of big-flavor herbs is to grow them yourself. This article includes plans for four herb gardens, each designed to fit into a 12-square-foot area, to help you make the best use of space near your kitchen door. See Top 12 Kitchen Herbs for more on the featured herbs: basil, chives, cilantro, dill, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon and thyme.

You could grow kitchen herbs in a geometrical design dating from the days of medieval monasteries if you like, but there are easier ways to include culinary herbs in your landscape design. By following a few basic guidelines and choosing to grow the herbs you’re most likely to use, you can grow a generous supply of kitchen herbs in a surprisingly small space. Add some container herbs that are marginally hardy or prone to crowding out other plants, and you’re well on your way to a gourmet herb garden.

The first and most important step is to grow your herbs as close as possible to your kitchen door. “Accessing your kitchen herbs should be as easy as going to your pantry for the dried version,” says V.J. Billings, who grows herb plants by the thousands at Mountain Valley Growers in Squaw Valley, Calif. To find great places to grow herbs, simply walk out your back door and survey every space within 20 paces that gets at least a half day of full sun. As you plan, consider the times you will dash out to grab a handful of chives, dill or basil when it’s raining or something on the stove needs your attention. Having your herbs within easy reach of a walkway or well-placed steppingstones can also make a big difference.

Herbs need average or better soil and good drainage, but they are generally not as demanding as vegetables and flowers. With kitchen herbs, it’s better to make use of a convenient location than to move away from the house in search of better soil.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/use-one-of-these-4-simple-garden-designs-to-grow-the-12-best-kitchen-herbs.aspx?newsletter=1&utm_content=05.17.13+GFSS&utm_campaign=2013+GFSS&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email#ixzz2TYpjyzJQ

Organic Pest Control Series: Beneficial Insects | Cross River NY Homes

.Day and night, pesticide-free organic gardens are abuzz with activity, much of it a life-and-death struggle between predators and prey, Pest Control in Mesa is the best ally you can have when we talk about insects. We seldom see much of this natural pest control, in which tiny assassins patrol their surroundings in pursuit of their next meal. Assassin bugs aren’t picky: They will stab, poison and devour a wide range of garden pests, including caterpillars, leafhoppers and bean beetles. Check out True Pest Control, they offer the best pest control in Adelaide. Soldier and ground beetles work the night shift, emerging after dark from beneath rocks, mulch and other daytime hiding places to feast upon soft-bodied insects and the eggs of Colorado potato beetles.

Aphid lions (the larvae of the lacewing) have a hooked jaw that helps them dispatch huge numbers of aphids, caterpillars, mites and other pests. The main reason why pest control is indispensable is the threat to human, plant and animal health posed by the pests. Almost all pests are carriers of some disease or the other and have even been known to cause severe epidemics and massive agricultural destruction. Apart from destroying valuable food supply, causing death and serious health problems such as allergic reaction, the pests also lead to serious property damage. Pests like termites can eat away huge wooden structures and render them hollow and useless. Almost everyone is revolted by these pests. In fact, the mere sight of a pest scurry around on a property is enough to turn you off and question the hygiene maintained at the place. Needless to say, pest control services is something you cannot do without.

However, it is a specialized service that you cannot manage on your own. The professional services of a pest control services company have to be hired if you want to rid your residential or commercial property of pests. For more information about the power pest control services, visit powerpestcontrol.ca. Locating the pests and eradicating them involves the use of special products and equipment that these companies have. Their technicians are trained in the use of these solutions and equipment in a safe manner. With their extensive knowledge of the different types of pests, they are able to identify the places of pest infestation and decide up on the best extermination plan to use for solving the problem, for example using a Flying Termite Removal Program. Their services are focused not only on one-time pest removal, but on minimizing the chances of future infestations as well. If you are interested in periodic pest treatment of your property as a preventive measure, the pest control companies can handle it too. According to Box Elder Bug, pest invasions can cause you great discomfort, physical harm and financial loss. It makes sense to engage a knowledgeable, experienced and reliable professional to deal with the issue. If you are interested in knowing about the pest control companies servicing your area, you can log on to a local business directory and get all the required information. Before we can get into trying to understand whether biological pest control is the answer to the pest-control related environmental concerns, it would be proper to give ourselves a little background information on this whole pest control business; for the benefit of those who may be encountering it for the very first time. Now, pests are organisms (typically insects) that are injurious to the interests of the people who refer to them as such. Thus to farmers, the insects that invade and eat up their crops (whether in the fields or during storage), would be termed as pests.

On the other hand, the ‘domestic insects’ that tend to mess up with things in domestic settings (like moths, that can mess up with cloths in storage), are seen as pests by housekeepers. Worth keeping in mind is that although most pests are insects, there are also quite are number that are non-insects: with the likes of rodents (that can mess up with crops in farms of things stored in domestic settings) being seen as pests too, the fact that they are not insects notwithstanding. Having seen that pests are injurious, it would be natural that the people who happen to ‘fall victim’ to them would want to get rid of them. In the meantime, people who haven’t yet fallen victim to pests would be keen to avoid such a ‘fate.’ Hosting pests, by the way, can be a serious fate: thousands of hectares of farmland have been known to be wasted by pests in a single day, leading to losses that often run into millions of dollars. It is the steps taken to avoid pest invasion then, or to resolve pest invasion if it has already taken place, that are referred to as constituting pest control expert services, like Pro Care. Now pest control takes various forms, depending on the pests one is trying to get rid of (or to prevent the invasion of). And while bigger pests like rodents may be controlled through mechanical means like trapping, for a long period of time, it is chemical control that has worked for the vast majority of pests, which tend to be insects as previous mentioned.

The chemicals used in this endeavor are what are termed as pesticides. And while pesticides are usually very effective in pest-control, the downside to them tends to come up when we consider the fact that they tend to be extremely environmentally unfriendly. Check out pestzone to see the best way to eliminate pests on your house. Worth keeping in mind, at this point, is the fact that the chemicals referred to as pesticides tend to be very potent ones. So it often happens that traces of them remain where they were used, even after the pests are gone. Those traces are eventually washed down to the water bodies where they wreck great havoc to the (non pest) plants and animals resident in the water bodies.

Learning about the beneficial insects in your garden will make it a more fascinating place, and help you tweak it in ways that intensify the work done by wild garden allies. This is often a simple matter of avoiding the use of pesticides (including organic ones), the service of bee removal Phoenix AZ, and growing plenty of flowers to provide beneficial insects with pollen and nectar. In greenhouses or other special situations, you may even decide to purchase and release certain lab-raised beneficial insects. This will not be necessary with the beneficial insects described here, because all will naturally gravitate toward a diversified organic garden.

Although, squirrels in an attic can be a real problem, professional Baltimore squirrel removal services are usually needed as a sound resolution. Don Brody from On The Fly Pest Solutions says squirrels may be cute but in a home a wild animal can cause nightmares, such as electrical fires from rodents gnawing live wires.

Below we feature the best beneficial insects for your garden, each one beautifully illustrated. Get to know these garden helpers individually and make a plan for how you can incorporate them into your garden as part of your natural pest control strategy.Do you have termites? The first step to avoiding a termite problem is having your home regularly inspected for termites. Termite inspections Brisbane provide customers with professional wood destroying organism inspections for real estate purchases and refinancing.

Check out the other sections of our our Organic Pest Control Series: Using Organic Pesticides and Common Garden Pests.

Braconid Wasp

Braconid wasps play an important role in controlling insect pests. Braconids are beneficial insects that lay their eggs inside or on host insects, and then the maggot-like wasp larvae weaken the host pest.

Read more.   

Ground Beetle

The busy ground beetles’ diet can help control slugs, asparagus beetles, caterpillars, Colorado potato beetles, corn earworms, cutworms, squash vine borers and tobacco budworms.

Read more

Honeybee

Have you ever wondered, “What do honeybees eat?” If so, and if you’d like to attract these beneficial insects to your garden, this piece crammed full of honeybee information is a good place to start.

Read more

Hover Fly

Hoverfly larvae eat mealybugs and small caterpillars, and are especially helpful with organic aphid control. Adult hoverflies feed on nectar and pollen, and you can attract them to your garden with flowering plants.

Read more.

Lacewing

Beneficial lacewing larvae prey on aphids, cabbage worms, caterpillar eggs and more. Learn how to attract these garden helpers.

Read more.

 

Lady Beetle

Lady beetles feed on all sorts of garden pests, including aphids, small caterpillars and insect eggs. They even feed on powdery mildew. Learn how to attract them to your organic garden for natural pest control.

Read more.

Mason Bee

The mason bee is a great pollinator and can work blossoms at a lower temperature than honeybees. Mason bees are so named because they pack mud into their nests, like brick masons.

Read more.

Praying Mantis

The praying mantis is a beneficial predatory insect that provides grasshopper control and more. Learn to create an inviting praying mantis habitat.

Read more.

Predatory Bugs

If your goal is to squash garden pests naturally by attracting beneficial insects, then welcome assassin bugs with open, dirt-covered arms.

Read more.

Soldier Beetle

Brush up on your soldier beetle facts, including what soldier beetles eat, where they live, and how to attract this beneficial insect to your organic garden.

Read more.

Spider

Pest outbreaks could be rare if you have lots of beneficial insects and spiders in the garden. Learn how to attract various types of garden spiders.

Read more.

Tachinid Fly

The Tachinid or “Diptera” species is well worth inviting to your organic garden because of its ferocious appetite for garden pests such as Japanese beetles and grasshoppers.

Read more.

Trichogramma Wasp

Itty-bitty trichogramma wasp larvae develop inside of and eat insect eggs, especially those of cabbage worms, codling moths and European corn borers.

Read more.

Yellow Jacket

Yellow jacket wasps feed their young liquefied insects, with caterpillars, flies and spiders comprising the largest food groups during most of the summer. The effect: Adios, garden pests!

Read more.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/beneficial-insects-zl0z0413zkin.aspx?newsletter=1&utm_content=05.17.13+GFSS&utm_campaign=2013+GFSS&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email#ixzz2TYoKNBGr

Weekend Planner: St. Pat’s Carnival, Bedford Hills Parade, Carriage Barn Party | Katonah Homes

Whether you’re in search of something fun to do with the kids or you have a babysitter and are planning a night out, look no further because Patch editors have picked a variety of events taking place to help you make the most of your weekend. Click on the headline for more information of each event that’s listed alphabetically by town.

 

Bedford: St. Patrick’s School Carnival

When: Through Sunday May 19

Where: 
St. Patrick’s School, Bedford

Cost: Admission and parking are free. Wrist bands and tickets may be purchased for rides. 

Description: The St. Patrick’s Carnival is a spring time tradition in Bedford and has rides, games, food and a raffle for a Mercedes Benz.

Bedford Hills: Fire Department Parade


Where: 
The parade starts on Babbitt Road and North Street in Bedford Hills and ends in the train station commuter lots.

When: Saturday, May 18 at 4 p.m.

Cost: Free

Description: The Bedford Hills Fire Department hosts its 110th anniversary parade and invites the community and neighboring towns to watch and celebrate.

Katonah: Carriage Barn Opening Party


When: Saturday, May 18 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Where: John Jay Homestead, Katonah

Cost: $125 and up.

Description: The Friends of John Jay Homestead will host an Opening Night Party to preview the Carriage Barn Education and Visitor Center. Proceeds from the event will go towards completing the Center’s interactive exhibits.

ELSEWHERE IN WESTCHESTER:

White Plains: Family Arts Bash

Where31 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains

When: Saturday, May 18, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Cost: Free

Description: A day of fun for the whole family featuring children’s workshops, activities, prizes and food. For details, click here.

Hastings-on-Hudson: SunPlugged-on-Hudson


Where: MacEachron Waterfront Park – River Street, Hastings-on-Hudson

When: Saturday, May 18, noon to 7 p.m.

Cost: Free

Description: An environmentally friendly festival featuring live solar powered music, as well as exhibits on local solutions for environmental sustainability. 

Tarrytown: EF Culture Fair


Where: EF Education First, 100 Marymount Avenue (Marian Hall), Tarrytown 

When: Friday, May 17, 12 to 3 p.m.

Cost: Free 

Description: Breaking down barriers, EF Culture Fair is a day when students from over 40 countries around the world show off their cultures to friends, local host families, school children and community members.  Each country has its own room, which will be decorated with exhibits from the students’ home countries – some nationalities will also put on performances and others will prepare samples of their favorite food from home.

Somers: Annual Plant Sale and Veteran’s Memorial Re-Dedication


Where: Lasdon Park, Arboretum and Veterans Memorial

When: Saturday, May 18 at 9 a.m.

Description: A bronze eagle monument set amid a new granite courtyard will beckon visitors to the re-dedication of the Westchester County Veterans Museum at Lasdon Park in Somers. While at the park, visitors are invited to shop the annual Friends of Lasdon Plant Sale, which will also be held at the park that day, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All proceeds from the plant sale and shop benefit programs at the arboretum.

Yorktown: ‘Paws for the Cause’

Where: 99 Moseman Rd, Yorktown Heights

When:
 Sunday, May 19 at 10 a.m.

Cost: Free

Description: “Paws for the Cause” is taking place on the Grange Fair Grounds in Yorktown with vendors – both pet related and non pet related, animal rescue groups, dog demonstrations, children’s entertainment, food, contests and more. All proceeds will go to benefit pups in high kill shelters that would be euthanized if it were not for rescue groups pulling them and transporting them up to NY. 

Briarcliff Manor: Seussical Auditions

Where: Briarcliff Manor Recreation Building (48 Macy Rd).

When: Sunday, May 19 at 1 p.m. (and May 22 at 6 p.m.)

Cost: Tuition is $450

Description: The Summercliff Players, a youth theatre group not limited to Briarcliff Manor and Ossining residents, is gearing up for its summer production of Seussical. Rehearsals begin on June 24. Email summercliffplayers@gmail.com to set up an audition time.

 

Weekend Planner: St. Pat’s Carnival, Bedford Hills Parade, Carriage Barn Party – Entertainment – Bedford-Katonah, NY Patch.