Daily Archives: April 23, 2014

Inside Gentrification Pundit Spike Lee’s UES Home, Now $28.5M | Armonk Real Estate

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19 images

Hot on the heels of reports that he might be moving out, director/self-appointed gentrification analyzer Spike Lee has switched brokers and chopped the price on his ridiculously fancy Upper East Side townhouse. Once asking $32 million with Sotheby’s, 153 East 63rd Street just re-entered the market with Brown Harris Stevens’ townhouse expert Paula Del Nunzio for a mere $28.5 million. The 7,000-square-foot house has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a glorious central courtyard. But perhaps more impressive is its celeb-studded provenance: he bought it from Jasper Johns in 1998 for $16.6 million, and the history extends back to the heiress for whom it was built.

 

 

read more…

http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/04/22/inside_gentrification_pundit_spike_lees_ues_home_now_285m.php

50 Photos to Celebrate the Start of the 1964 World’s Fair | North Salem Real Estate

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50 images

Fifty years ago today, all eyes turned to Queens for the gala kick-off to the  1964 World’s Fair. It was an event whose size and scope were unparalleled, leaving New Yorkers and others today with countless indelible memories. Fast-forward half a century, and one of the last structures specially built for the fair that is still standing, the New York State Pavilion, was just named a “national treasure” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The pavilion opened to the public today for the first time in decades. While Curbed will soon have photos of the architectural relic in its current decrepit state, let’s fete the fair’s 50th anniversary with a collection of 50 historic photos shot when all the attractions were in their prime. Culled from the archives of the New York Public Library, the Queens Museum, and personal collections shared online, the images show the construction of iconic Unisphere, the international pavilions, the elaborate “Futurama” show from General Motors, and much more.

 

 

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http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/04/22/50_photos_to_celebrate_the_start_of_the_1964_worlds_fair.php

Home values in 20 percent of US housing markets headed for record highs within a year | Mount Kisco Real Estate

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Home values in almost 20 percent of all U.S. metros will surpass their housing boom peaks over the next year, and affordability problems that have begun to affect a fraction of markets may spread to others over the next few years, Zillow reported.

“The lows of the housing recession are becoming an increasingly distant memory as home values reach new highs and homes become more expensive than ever in many areas,” said Zillow Chief Economist Stan Humphries in a statement. “This is a remarkable milestone coming only two and a half years after the end of the worst housing recession since the Great Depression.”

Home values nationwide were up 0.5 percent from the fourth quarter of 2013 to the first quarter of 2014, and were up 5.7 percent from the same time a year ago, according to the latest Zillow Real Estate Market Report.

Over the next year, Zillow forecasts that national home prices will appreciate by an additional 3.3 percent.

Price gains have already pushed values close to or above their housing boom peak in about 12 percent of the 8,700 markets tracked by Zillow.

Among the more than 300 metros tracked by Zillow, home values in nearly 20 percent of them have already passed or are expected to pass their prerecession peaks over the next year. Those fully or almost fully recovered metros include Dallas, Houston, Denver, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, Texas, San Jose, Calif., and Austin, Texas.

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/2014/04/22/home-values-in-20-percent-of-u-s-housing-markets-will-be-more-expensive-than-ever-within-a-year/?utm_source=20140422&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailyheadlinespm#sthash.lzVRtVwk.dpuf

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau taking mortgage complaints seriously | South Salem Real Estate

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A Realtor friend of mine recently asked me about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: “Do they really do anything when somebody submits a complaint about their mortgage company? Can I tell clients that it’s not a waste of time to complain to the CFPB?”

Here’s what I said: The CFPB puts out numbers and reports on its complaint resolution activities — the latest annual report came out March 31 — detailing complaint volume, the names of the companies that are the subjects of complaints and the current status of each case.

I have only one direct, personal experience with a complaint to the CFPB, so my frame of reference is limited.

But the result was stunning. A little over a year ago, the son of a 91-year-old widow living in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., contacted me in a panic. His mom was about to be foreclosed upon — the date for the auction was set just weeks away, her entire life was tied up emotionally in that house and she was deathly afraid of being evicted. Her son wasn’t sure “how long she’ll last” if the foreclosure took away her home, he told me.“The whole thing is so unjust,” he said in a phone conversation.

“There’s no reason why this should be happening.”Years earlier, his father and mother had taken out an FHA-insured reverse mortgage. When they refinanced the original loan in 2007, the loan broker handling their application persuaded them that only the husband needed to sign the documents

 

 

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/2014/04/22/consumer-financial-protection-bureau-taking-mortgage-complaints-seriously/?utm_source=20140422&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailyheadlinespm#sthash.8BhxsVy6.dpuf

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.

 

 

New-Home Sales in U.S. Unexpectedly Slump to Eight-Month Low | Waccabuc Real Estate

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Sales of new U.S. homes unexpectedly plunged in March to the lowest level in eight months, reflecting a broad-based retreat that signals the industry is facing bigger challenges than just bad weather.

Sales dropped 14.5 percent to a 384,000 annualized pace, lower than any forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg and the weakest since July, Commerce Department data showed today in Washington. The median forecast of 74 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News called for the pace to accelerate to 450,000.

The housing recovery has slowed as higher borrowing costs and rising prices make properties less affordable. Shortages of buildable lots and skilled labor also have hindered construction as the market heads into its busiest time of year.

“The housing market is in a rut that’s so far not showing signs of getting better,” Guy Berger, a U.S. economist at RBS Securities Inc. in Stamford, Connecticut, said before the report. “They don’t have enough lots, they don’t have enough workers. That’s playing a big role.”

Stock extended earlier losses after the report. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index dropped 0.3 percent to 1,874.04 at 10:05 a.m. in New York.

Economists’ estimates ranged from 428,000 to 476,000. The Commerce Department revised the February reading up to a 449,000 pace from a previously estimated 440,000.

 

 

read more…

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-04-23/new-home-sales-in-u-dot-s-dot-unexpectedly-slump-to-eight-month-low

March new home sales plunge 14.5% | Cross River NY Homes

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Sales of new homes dropped sharply last month, falling 14.5% to their weakest level since mid-2013, the Census Bureau said Wednesday.

The annual sales rate was 384,000, down from February’s revised rate of 449,000.

Economists had predicted an annual rate of 450,000, according to the median forecast in Action Economics survey.

That would be a little higher than last year’s average monthly rate of 431,000, but less than half the 1-million-plus average the industry saw from 2000 through 2006.

Although the housing market typically improves this time of year, the spring buying season has shown little strength so far this year.

The National Association of Realtors reported Tuesday that March existing home sales fell 0.2% to an annual rate of 4.59 million.

 

 

read more…

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/04/23/march-new-home-sales/8043789/

What you can buy in the top 10 cities | Katonah Real Estate

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If you’re looking to buy a home, Michigan might be a good place to start — and California might be a place to avoid.

The Midwestern state boasts three metropolitan areas in the top 10 for highest homeownership rates in the nation, according to a recent report by the National Association of Home Builders. The metro areas of Holland-Grand Haven, Bay City and Monroe all reported more than 77 percent homeownership, compared to the national average of 64.7 percent.

California, meanwhile, has six metro areas in the NAHB list of 10 places with the lowest homeownership rates.

“As one might expect, the homeownership rate is linked to affordability,” the NAHB report says. “In general, homeownership rates are higher when homes are more affordable. Eight of the top 10 metropolitan areas have median home values below the national median home value of $171,900.”

The NAHB calculated the homeownership rate by taking the total number of owner-occupied units divided by the total number of occupied units for a chosen geography. Occupied units can either be rented or owned, so a high homeownership rate implies a low renter rate.

Here’s a look at the 10 markets with the highest homeownership rates and what’s for sale there.

 

read more…

http://realestate.msn.com/what-you-can-buy-in-the-top-10-cities-for-homeownership