Monthly Archives: April 2014

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Earth Day in the Town of Bedford | Bedford Hills Real Estate

 

Dear Neighbors and Friends,

 

Today is Earth Day which the Town of Bedford is celebrating in several ways.

Please see the Bedford 2020 website. It’s filled with useful information.  We encourage you to use it as a resource. Among the positive actions we all can take is to reduce, reuse and recycle.  You can recycle through your carter and also at the Town’s Recycling Center
We also will be marking this special day with a tree planting ceremony on Saturday, April 26th at 9:00am at the Bedford Hills  Memorial Park.  All are invited.

We wish you a Happy Earth Day.  Please plant a tree, recycle, turn off the lights and remember that Earth Day is everyday, not just today.

 

Chris Burdick

Supervisor

We do not inherit  the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our  children.– Native  American Proverb
April 22nd Earth Day

The 10 greenest places to live | North Salem Real Estate

 

Regardless of what side of the fence you are on for celebrating Earth Day (although the grass is greener on the other side), there are select cities across the country that take the extra initiative to ensure we are taking care of the planet.

NerdWallet took a closer look at the cities with the highest level of green living, measuring environmental quality and green transportation.

Environmental quality factors in the median air quality for each city, with the lower the AQI, the better. Additionally, it looked at the number of parks per 10,000 residents.

Green transportation calculates the percentage of the population that walks, bikes, carpools, takes public transportation or works from home from each city. It also assessed the excess fuel consumed per commuter, which is wasted due to congested conditions in the city.

Of the 95 largest cities in the U.S. considered in the analysis, here are the top 10 greenest cities.

10. Minneapolis, Minn.

Minneapolis is home to 92 miles of on-street bikeways and 85 miles of off-street paths, making it one of the best biking cities in the nation. The city is also home to several green groups, including Minnesota Renewable Energy Society, a nonprofit organization that has promoted the use of renewable energy since 1978.

Overall the city posted a final score of 52.62, with a median air quality of 45, 4.7 parks per 10,000 residents and 12 gallons of excess fuel consumed per commuter.

9. New Orleans, La.

New Orleans has taken new action to rebuild a green environment since Hurricane Katrina passed. The city now offers 200 parks sprawling over 2,000 acres. Overall the city posted a final score of 52.66, with a median air quality of 45, 6.7 parks per 10,000 residents and 13 gallons of excess fuel consumed per commuter.

8. St. Paul, Minn.

Now to the other half of the Twin Cities, St. Paul hosts more than 20 buildings that are certified by Leadership in Energy and Environment Design, which identifies the world’s greenest and most energy-efficient buildings. Plus, the city is overflowing with more than 170 parks and open spaces and 100 miles of trails. As a result, the city posted a final score of 52.92. a median air quality of 45, 6.5 parks per 10,000 residents and 12 gallons of excess fuel consumed per commuter.

 

 

read more….

http://www.housingwire.com/articles/29752-the-10-greenest-places-to-live

Bedford NY Clean Up Day | Bedford NY Real Estate

2014 Bedford Town-Wide Clean-up Days
Residents can join us at the Crusher Road Highway Facility off Route 22, just North of Route 172, in Bedford Village where Town residents can bring, for a fee (listed below), household debris and metal waste and, at no charge, bring brush and tree debris to the Beaver Dam Highway facility on Beaver Dam road off Harris Road. Days/Hours are:

Thursday May 1st & Friday May 2nd: 7:30am-3:00pm
and
Saturday, May 3rd: 7:30am-4:30pm
The Highway Department will not accept any of the following items: tires, batteries, computers, refrigerators, freezers, pressure treated lumber, air conditioners, propane tanks, paint, varnish, chemicals, medical waste, or other toxic materials. No E- Waste – televisions, computers (desktops, monitors, and notebooks), computer mice and keyboards, printers, scanners, fax machines, cell phones, VCRs.

Proof of Bedford residency is required, and fees are as follows: – $25 per carload – $60 per pickup truck load – $115 for small dump trucks (<6 yd) – $230 and up for large dump trucks (>6 yd)
The Bedford Village Chowder & Marching Club will hold their Tag Sale on Friday May 2nd and Saturday, May 3rd at the Crusher Road Highway Facility.
2014 Chwdr flyer

Sales of existing homes slowed in March | Waccabuc NY Homes

 

Americans bought fewer homes in March, and the rate of sales dropped to the lowest level since July 2012, according to industry data released Tuesday.

Sales of existing homes fell 0.2 percent in March from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.6 million, the National Association of Realtors reported. They fell  7.5 percent from the same time last year.

 

 

read more…

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/sales-of-existing-homes-slowed-in-march/2014/04/22/58cd8e08-ca20-11e3-a75e-463587891b57_story.html