Monthly Archives: July 2013

Renting? Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck in These Cities | Katonah Real Estate

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Kansas City isn’t just topping charts for its barbecue this summer — it’s also where renters can get the most for their money. According to Zillow’s latest analysis, Kansas City is one of 10 big cities offering the best combination of:

  • Current rental prices
  • Price per square foot
  • Low year-over-year changes in cost of rent
  • Low cost of rent compared with the cost of buying a home

If you’re looking to rent, this could mean the difference between a 2-bedroom with a private patio and a 500-square-foot studio. And for prospective buyers facing the current rise in home values and low for-sale inventory, renting in one of these cities may present an attractive alternative. Here’s a look at homes for rent in the top 10 places where you can get the biggest bang for your buck.

No. 10: Mikwaukee, WI

Milwaukee[1]
1922 N 52nd St, Milwaukee, WI
For rent: $1,500 per month

  • Specs: 1,145 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 1.25 baths
  • Extras: Professional landscaping, outdoor living space, laundry, 2-car detached garage

No. 9: New Orleans, LA

New_Orleans[1]
3109 General Taylor St, New Orleans, LA
For rent: $1,100 per month

  • Specs: 1,094 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 1 bath
  • Extras: Front porch, off-street parking, pets on case-by-case basis, tenant-maintained yard

No. 8: Columbus, OH

Columbus[1]
136 Columbian Ave, Columbus, OH
For rent: $800 per month

  • Specs: 1,232 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 1 bath
  • Extras: 2-car detached garage, proximity to parks and schools

No. 7: Fresno, CA

Fresno
4265 W Princeton Ave, Fresno, CA 
For rent: $945 per month

  • Specs: 972 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
  • Extras: Covered patio, 2-car garage, cats allowed

 

Renting? Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck in These Cities | Zillow Blog.

U.S. housing outlook still promising despite rise in rates: Citigroup economist | Bedford Real Estate

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U.S. housing sector fundamentals remain favorable despite the recent rise in interest rates and the sharp drop in housing starts in June, says Citigroup economist Peter D’Antonio.

Housing starts fell 9.9 percent to a ten-month low of 836,000 units in June.

But the decline was almost all in the volatile multi-family sector, D’Antonio notes. Single-family starts remained in a range just below 600,000, while multi-family fell 26 percent to 245,000.

Multi-family starts have been an important growth sector in housing in the past year, but month-to-month changes in multi-family starts – noted for their volatility – are meaningless. Multi-family housing starts rose 21 percent in March, fell 32 percent in April, rose 28 percent in May, then fell 26 percent in June.

Even with the rate increase, houses remain extremely affordable.

The typical household still can afford about 70 percent more than the median house. The (NAHB) housing market index for July reported another big rise in buyer traffic and sales, indicating builder optimism and continued solid demand for new homes.

 

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, in what was likely his last monetary policy testimony to Congress this week, largely agreed:

Housing has contributed significantly to recent gains in economic activity. Home sales, house prices, and residential construction have moved up over the past year, supported by low mortgage rates and improved confidence in both the housing market and the economy. Rising housing construction and home sales are adding to job growth, and substantial increases in home prices are bolstering household finances and consumer spending while reducing the number of homeowners with underwater mortgages.

Housing activity and prices seem likely to continue to recover, notwithstanding the recent increases in mortgage rates, but it will be important to monitor developments in this sector carefully.

 

 

U.S. housing outlook still promising despite rise in rates: Citigroup economist | MacroScope.

Why This May Not Be the Best Time to Buy a Home … For You | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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We’re at the beginning of a housing recovery. Everyone is sprinting out of the gates to get into the real estate market. Mortgage loan rates are low. Credit is becoming easier to get. The economy, despite dips here and there, continues on a gradual, upward incline. People are feeling more secure in their jobs. Home sales are up in some areas, but prices are still down from where they were before the 2008 market bust.

All these trends tell the same story: It’s a good time to buy a home. But is it a good time for you to buy a home? The timing may seem right, but everything else needs to be right, too.

Here are some things to consider before jumping into the market.

The perfect home might not be out there right now

Buying a home isn’t like buying a high-definition TV. It’s not an impulse purchase, either. It’s likely the biggest purchase you’ll ever make. Your home is your solace. It’s the place you’ll return to after a long day, where you can escape from the stress of the outside world, where you’ll make memories with your family. It’s important to make the right choice.

Meanwhile, in many markets the housing inventory is tight. With fewer homes to choose from right now, you might not find the right place that will feel like home to you. If that’s the case, wait! More inventory will eventually come. If you settle for a smaller house now because you want to “time” the market, you will be stuck selling and then buying a larger house in just a few years.

Wait for the home you’ll be happy living in for at least five years, if not 10-20 years. And if you don’t feel like you’re going to live in your home for at least five years, you may be better off renting anyway.

Buying a home is a journey

The home buying process is an evolution. It can take twists and turns, and you may end up in a type of home or a location that you least expected. Most buyers spend up to one year on the home search from the time they engage their real estate agent until they close on the home. Learning and getting comfortable with your local market takes time and experience. Buyers spend months looking at listings and doing online research before they even contact an agent. Feeling competitive with your co-worker or friend who just bought? Don’t. For all you know, they were looking for many months before you even thought about buying.

 

 

Why This May Not Be the Best Time to Buy a Home … For You | Zillow Blog.

Weeklong Heat wave Tops Chappaqua News | Chappaqua Real Estate

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CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. — Here are some of the top stories from this past week in Chappaqua:

 

Weeklong Heat wave Tops Chappaqua News | The Chappaqua Daily Voice.

Track Your Top Videos With New YouTube Analytics Feature | Armonk Realtor

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As a video creator or marketer, the analytics package bundled up with YouTube is invaluable for giving you the tools and data to understand what’s working for you and what isn’t. Like the rest of the site, YouTube Analytics is constantly being refined to give you the easiest access to the metrics you need.

The latest tune up is the ability to see how your top 200 videos are performing and two new charts that visualize your channel’s activity. Previously, you could only see the metrics for one video at a time. Networks now also have access to the same data regarding their top 200 channels.

SEE ALSO: How To Track Unclicked Video Ad Impressions With Google Analytics

There are two new charts in the View Reports > Audience Retention section of the Analytics reports. The Multi-Line graph shows the site performance of up to 25 videos or channels by the geographic location of the viewer or date by estimated time watched and average % viewed. Each video is colour co-ordinated for easy reference.

Track Your Top Videos With New YouTube Analytics Feature

The Stacked Area graph shows you the data of selected videos, channels or geographic location related to their total metrics.



Source: Track Your Top Videos With New YouTube Analytics Feature http://www.reelseo.com/track-top-videos-youtube-analytics-feature/#ixzz2ZlyhBKA7 
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Track Your Top Videos With New YouTube Analytics Feature.

Con Ed Warns Armonk Residents To Conserve Electricity Usage | Armonk NY Homes

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Con Edison is asking its Westchester and New York City customers to conserve their electricity usage as sweltering heat and humidity continue to bake the area.

Electricity usage was near an all-time peak, reaching 13,161 megawatts Thursday evening, Con Edison reported of its coverage area.  The all-time electric peak record was set in July 2011 at 13,189 megawatts.

Con Ed said its crews continue to work to restore customers affected by scattered power outages due to this week’s heat wave. When it comes to superior HVAC services in the Jacksonville, FL, area, we’re at the top of our class. From heating and cooling to indoor air quality and maintenance plans, you’ll always receive grade-A service when Buehler Air Conditioning arrives at your front doorstep. If you are looking for the top air conditioning repair companies in jacksonville fl then visit us today.

The power company would like to remind customers to use these energy and money-saving tips:

  • Install a timer or clock thermostat on your air conditioner with the help of United PLumbing Heating Air & Electric, so you can program it to operate and shut-off at a pre-determined time. Air conditioning is among the systems that keeps each and every New York home as comfortable as possible. Especially on hot summer months, air conditioners are among the cores from where the quality of indoor living greatly depends on. So whether you are in Long Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, or Queens; it pays to learn more about these types of appliances to maximize indoor comforts, save more money and even help in the reduction of environmental pollution. By definition, air conditioners may refer to single appliances or a whole system that keeps an area cool through extraction of heat and blowing them back as cooler air. When you need a high quality system installed, look no further than Landmark Air. Providing annual services, repairs, replacements, supply and installation for Canberrans ducted and split systems. For landmark air services, you can check out LandmarkAir.com.au site.
  • This cycle is known as refrigeration. The process that these appliances do makes up the complete HVAC system that results to a more livable home. Preparing your home for the scorching summer months or brutal winter months is crucial. Taking the time to inspect your appliances, schedule maintenance checks, and invest in HVAC repair will prevent a crisis. Checking the air filters on an HVAC will help keep the appliance running well. Along with regularly changing the air filter, it’s important to check fuses and capacitors. A HVAC repair professional can fix any of these small problems, as well as any larger issues if you don’t feel comfortable fixing it yourself. While it’s important to keep your appliance running in great shape, so is making improvements around the house to prevent drafts and lower energy cost.
  • If you have a room air-conditioning unit, close off the rooms not being used; if you have central air, block off the vents for un-used rooms. The room air conditioning appliances is Also known as window air conditioner units, these appliances ideally provide cooling for small spaces only. Though their efficiency may be considered lower than other types, the operating costs are not as expensive. These types are commonly used by hotels, inns and other hospitality businesses and for rooms in the house that are seldom used due to its plug in and out feature-providing cooling only when needed.
  • Plan cooking, baking or other household activities that produce heat and humidity for the cooler times of the day and night.
  • Use a portable or ceiling fan to circulate the pre-cooled air in your air-conditioned home. A fan uses about 90 percent less energy than an air conditioner.
  • In very humid weather, adjust your air conditioner’s fan to a low setting. It’ll take longer for the air conditioner to cool your home, but your unit will bring in steamy air at a slower rate and make you feel more comfortable. Appliance repair is inevitable, especially when your appliances get old or are excessively overused. Of all the appliances AC, HVAC, and Refrigerator are the most heavily used equipment that often breakdown. Although there could be many service providers that offer AC repair, HVAC repair, and Refrigerator repair not all of them can be trusted with these expensive pieces of machinery.
  • Pull your curtains and shades on windows to block out the heat.

Con Ed Warns Armonk Residents To Conserve Electricity Usage | The Armonk Daily Voice.

Turn your historic building’s facade into a tax break | Mt Kisco Real Estate

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If you happen to own a historic building, you could be sitting on a tax deduction gold mine. If you meet various strict IRS requirements, you may be able to donate a facade easement to a charity and reap a substantial charitable tax deduction.

However, you need to be careful. Due to past abuses by some property owners, the IRS tends to be very suspicious of facade easement deductions.

A facade easement is a legally binding agreement that the owner of a historic structure enters into with a charity whose mission includes historic preservation. The owner gives up the right to demolish or make other destructive alternations to the exterior of the building.

The easement, which must run with the title to the property forever, gives the nonprofit the right to review and preapprove any changes to the building exterior.

All other rights and obligations of ownership, such as the right to sell or lease the property, and the duty to maintain it, remain with the owner. The owner may also make any changes he or she desires to the building interior.

Why would a homeowner want to grant a facade easement? Two reasons: (1) it ensures that the historic character of the exterior of their structure will be preserved; and (2) it may result in a tax deduction — a deduction that could be substantial.

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/07/19/turn-your-historic-buildings-facade-into-a-tax-break/#sthash.5jyTvXoj.dpuf

 

 

Turn your historic building’s facade into a tax break | Inman News.

Will 2015 be the year ‘normal’ returns? | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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As the housing industry makes a slow climb back to pre-boom character, household formation trends, rising home values and low interest rates make 2015 a candidate for the year “normal” will happen, according to Patrick Stone, president and CEO of the title and real estate services firm Williston Financial Group.

In the boom period from 2001 to 2006, Stone said, housing vacancy in the U.S. rocketed up to 2.9 percent from a historical equilibrium of 1.7 percent as builders put up 2.3 million more homes (single-family homes and multifamily units) than households were created.

That oversupply led to falling home prices, a great slowdown in new-home construction and a bunch of underwater homeowners, he said.

Patrick Stone

Patrick Stone

In the last five years, household formation outpaced housing construction by 1.1 million, Stone said, but housing, now at 2.1 percent vacancy in the U.S., won’t reach a supply-and-demand “equilibrium,” given current trends, for two or three more years.

“I don’t think new-home construction will catch up to household formation before then,” Stone said.

In the last 12 months, Stone said, equity in U.S. homes rose $2 trillion, to $9.1 trillion, which still falls short of 2007′s equity level of $10 trillion. Rising home values will continue to bring more homes on the market, he said.

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/07/19/will-2015-be-the-year-normal-returns/#sthash.vkbvAc81.dpuf

 

Will 2015 be the year ‘normal’ returns? | Inman News.

Realtors lose bid to throw out rival application for ‘.MLS’ domain | Waccabuc Real Estate

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An arbitration panel has rejected a plea from the Canadian Real Estate Association to throw out a competing application for a .MLS top-level domain on the grounds that “MLS” is a generic term in English-speaking countries.

Last year, CREA — the National Association of Realtors’ counterpart in Canada — applied to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to create and manage a new .MLS top-level domain. CREA’s application has the backing of the MLS Domains Association, a nonprofit group of 55 U.S. multiple listings services representing more than 600,000 agents and brokers.

In early 2011, ICANN, which manages the Internet’s domain name system, launched a process to allow the creation of potentially hundreds of new top-level domains. Examples of top-level domains common today include “.com” and “.org.”

If ICANN approves a “.MLS” top-level domain, CREA and the MLS Domains Association want CREA to be in charge of managing it. Consumers, the groups say, should have a way of distinguishing between websites operated by industry professionals from those maintained by third parties.

Although the MLS Domains Association had originally planned to file an application with ICANN to create and manage the .MLS top-level domain, CREA is taking the lead because CREA’s ownership of the trademarks for “Multiple Listing Service” and “MLS” in Canada were thought to make the trade group a stronger applicant. NAR has applied to ICANN to create and manage several new top-level domains including “.Realtor,” a term it has trademarked.

If granted authority to manage the “.MLS” top-level domain, “only members of CREA and its foreign affiliates will be permitted to register .MLS websites,” CREA said in its ICANN application.

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/07/19/realtors-lose-bid-to-throw-out-rival-application-for-mls-domain/#sthash.5JwkCYdd.dpuf

 

 

Realtors lose bid to throw out rival application for ‘.MLS’ domain | Inman News.

Power Outages Hitting White Plains, More Possible | Chappaqua Real Estate

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Scarsdale Village officials notified residents Friday that Con Edison reported a power outage Thursday night and more blackouts are possible.

“The Con Ed sub-station located off Tompkins Road near the Public Safety Building, is not functioning as designed and is causing periodic outages in the north end of Fox Meadow and the Greenacres neighborhoods as well as a portion of White Plains (800-900 customers),” John D. Goodwin of the village manager’s office said in an email to residents. “The sub-station is designed to operate so that if a main feeder line is lost the sub-station trips to an alternate line or back-up line.  The problem is that when the feeder line is lost due to the current excessive heat issues, the sub-station is “over-tripping” breaking the whole system down resulting in power loss to the resident.”

Goodwin said the system has been fixing itself over a two to four hour time period, though the problem is re-occurring.

“Con Edison engineers are working on a permanent solution. In the meantime, Con Ed has made some temporary changes to the sub-station to prevent over-tripping and, as a back-up, has a generator in the area in case the sub-station fails again prior to a permanent solution,” he said.

 

 

Power Outages Hitting White Plains, More Possible | The White Plains Daily Voice.