Monthly Archives: June 2014

Kensico Burger And Beer Festival To Feature 30 Local Restaurants | Armonk Real Estate

Leave a reply

 

Let out your inner child, foodie, shopaholic and nature lover out at these exciting upcoming events in Westchester County.

1. Westchester’s Burger and Beer Blast at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla on Friday, June 6 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Described as “the ultimate block party,” this part of Westchester Magazine’s Food and Wine week may be the tastiest. Thirty lauded burger restaurants from across the county will strut their stuff, serving signature dishes along with beer pairings. When you’re done noshing, vote on the best burger and catch a live performance by Mary C and the Stellars. $65. 21 and older. Rain or shine.

2. Pelham’s Annual Street Fair on Saturday, June 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, the free fair has attracted thousands of people from around the area in previous years. The event sports several fun activities for children and adults alike to benefit a variety of local businesses and philanthropies. Free. Rain or shine. Fifth Avenue between First and Lincoln Avenues.

3. Family Bird Walk in Mamaroneck’s Harbor Island Park on Saturday, June 7 at 10:15 a.m.

Led by Phil Horner, longtime resident and member of the Mamaroneck village committee for the environment, enjoy a walk through scenic harbor island park and learn about some of your local feathered friends. Free, but make sure to bring your own binoculars. Meet at the Marine Education Center.

4. Yonkers’ LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester Brick Factor on Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8, at 10 a.m.

“Brick Factor” is a two day search in which contestants will compete in creative LEGO building challenges for a chance to win their dream job as a Master Model Builder. 39 Fitzgerald Street.

 

 

read more….

 

 

http://bedford.dailyvoice.com/events/kensico-burger-and-beer-festival-feature-30-local-restaurants

3 make-or-break things single-family housing investors get wrong | Mt Kisco Real Estate

Leave a reply

 

More than four in 10 residential property sales in the first quarter this year were all-cash sales, the highest level since 2011, and increasingly these are smaller, mom-and-pop real estate investors rather than big companies.

The problem – some of these newer rental home investors may not know about common pitfalls that institutional investors already know about.

According to RealtyTrac, institutional investors — entities that have purchased at least 10 properties in a calendar year — accounted for just 5.6% of all U.S. residential sales in the first quarter, down from 6.8% in the fourth quarter of 2013 and down from 7% in the first quarter of 2013 to the lowest level since the first quarter of 2012.

But cash buyers still represented nearly four in 10 home sales this year.

“Strict lending standards combined with low inventory continue to give the advantage to investors and other cash buyers in this housing market,” said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac, referring to the company’s April report. “The good news is that as institutional investors pull back their purchasing in many markets across the country, there is still strong demand from other cash buyers — including individual investors, second-home buyers and even owner-occupant buyers — to fill the vacuum of demand left by institutional investors.”

In a note to clients, the latest Bryan Ellis Investing Letter warns smaller housing investors about three common mistakes and misconceptions that newer and smaller operators often face.

1) You Can Only Buy through Realtors and Brokers

“This is simply untrue. The best deals in your local market will never make it onto MLS, but you can connect with motivated sellers ready to sell right now and dirt cheap by using a few simple, savvy strategies that will enable you to buy quickly and at rock-bottom prices that will set you up in ideal investing scenarios.”

 

 

read more…

 

http://www.housingwire.com/articles/30206-make-or-break-things-single-family-housing-investors-get-wrong

 

Two charts show where Americans stand on housing | Waccbuc Homes

Leave a reply

 

More than two in five adults believe that the housing market continues to be a serious problem, according to a recent survey from the MacArthur Foundation on people’s attitude toward the housing crisis.

chart 1

(source: MacArthur Foundation: click image for larger view)

The survey polled a sample of 1,355 people in April 2014.

“While economists and housing experts say that the housing crisis is behind us, large proportions of the American people are not feeling the relief. Very high proportions of the public continue to believe that we are still in the midst of the housing crisis or that the worst is yet to come,” the report stated.

And this is not the only negative news for the market.

Two-thirds of the public believes that it is less likely today than it was 20 or 30 years ago for a family to build equity and wealth through homeownership.

But it is not all bad. Some indicators suggest that the American public’s views about the housing crisis are shifting slightly toward the positive.

“We see an uptick in the proportion of the public who believe that the housing crisis is behind us and a decrease in the proportion who characterize the housing market as a serious problem,” the report said.

“However, even with these shifts, concerns about housing continue to outweigh optimism, and the public has a real sense that affordable housing is a challenge for many Americans,” it added.

 

 

read more…

 

 

Two charts show where Americans stand on housing

Fixed Mortgage Rates Largely Flat | South Salem Real Estate

Leave a reply

 

 

Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates largely flat compared to the previous week amid light economic reports.

News Facts

  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.14 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending June 5, 2014, up from last week when it averaged 4.12 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.91 percent.
  • 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.23 percent with an average 0.5 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.21 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.03 percent.
  • 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.93 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.96 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 2.74 percent.
  • 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.40 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.41 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.58 percent.

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following links for the Regional and National Mortgage Rate Details and Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.

Quotes
Attributed to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac.

“Mortgage rates were little changed amid a week of light economic reports. Of the few releases, real GDP was revised down to -1.0 percent growth in the first quarter of 2014. ADP Research Institute estimated the private sector added 179,000 jobs in May, which followed a slight downward revision of 5,000 jobs in April. Meanwhile, the Institute for Supply Management reported the manufacturing industry saw a slight acceleration in monthly growth for May.”

Latin Music Star’s Miami Beach Mansion Wants $18M | Cross River Real Estate

Leave a reply

 

26 images


Click here to view the full photogallery.

Location: Miami Beach, Fla.
Price: $18,000,000
The Skinny: Spanish-born Latin music star Alejandro Sanz has hung a “For Sale” sign and an $18M asking price on his waterfront Miami Beach manse. The 1933 mansion has been beautifully restored, and features interiors by the late, legendary designer Wallace Tutt, who counted among his many clients such celebs as Gianni Versace (whose South Beach home he famously designed), Thomas Kramer, and Cher. The nine-bedroom, 7,500-square-foot Mediterranean Revival home sits directly on Sunset Lake along the Intracoastal Waterway and, as befits the abode of a 15-time Latin Grammy award winner, features a fully equipped recording studio designed by Grammy-winning engineer Rafael Sardina. There’s also a gym, tennis court, heated pool, and 160 feet of water frontage. And guitars. Lots of guitars.

 

read more…

 

http://curbed.com/archives/2014/06/04/alejandro-sanz-miami-beach-mansion-for-sale.php

 

Teatown Lake Reservation News | Katonah Real Estate

Leave a reply

 

View our videos on YouTube Like us on FacebookFind us on PinterestFollow us on Twitter

June 4, 2014
PROGRAMS THIS WEEK:
fishing-pole-handles.jpg

Fishing Saturdays on Teatown Lake – MEMBERS-ONLY

May 3rd thru June 27th
7 am – 11 am
Movie on the Lawn, Members-Only

Friday, June 6
7:15 pm -Bring and enjoy a pre-movie picnic dinner
8:15 pm – Movie start time

Click here for more information about Members-Only – Movie on the Lawn

It’s Raining Turtles!
Saturday, June 7th
1 – 3 pm
As the weather warms and the rain falls, turtles begin crossing roads and appearing in backyards as they move to their nesting grounds. Learn about the hazards of being a turtle on the move with Erin Baker as she returns one of Teatown’s wildlife rescues to a local pond. Turtles are also encountered as they bask on sun lit logs. Be inspired to create an artful sit-upon to make sitting a delightful, nature-loving event in your life. Guided by Strawtown Studio Artists/Educators. All Welcome!

National Trails Day
Saturday, June 7th
9 am – 3 pm

Celebrate National Trails Day at Teatown on Saturday, June 7. Stop by the table behind the Nature Center and meet trail volunteers to learn about becoming a trail crew member. Trail tours leave from the Nature Center at 10:00, 11:00 & 12:00. You will visit our Back 40 Trail repair project and learn about trail maintenance.

Teatown Trails Green Stewardship Program is made possible through a generous grant from Con Edison.

Teatown Camp:
Gearing Up for Summer Fun!

Teatown’s Natural
Science Camp

Four sessions this summer
Visit Teatown
1600 Spring Valley Road
Ossining, NY 10562
914-762-2912
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 inspire our community to lifelong environmental stewardship.

Your donation can make

an immediate impact and help

support our environmental education programs and the stewardship of our 1,000 acre preserve.

Why We Do What We Do
Support Teatown this Spring:
There are very real threats to the biodiversity of Teatown’s preserve. What are we doing? How is Teatown leading as part of the solution? Read on and become part of the solution!

Upcoming Events and Workshops:
Nature Matters Series
Thursday, June 12th
7 pm
Where Have All the (Wild)Flowers Gone?
Speaker: Carol Gracie
Volunteer Recognition Picnic
Friday, June 13th
6 – 8 pm
Active volunteers are invited for a cook-out and socializing with volunteers and staff. RSVP to ldraper@teatown.org
or 762-2912 x 115.

In the Nature Center Gallery:

Nature, Wildlife & Landscapes

By Charley Goldsmith

On exhibit June 1 – 30, 2014

Please join us for an opening reception on June 14 from
3-5 pm.

Like us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFind us on PinterestView our videos on YouTube

Drop $11K For July at Jonathan Adler’s Famed Beach Pad | Bedford Hills Real Estate

Leave a reply

 

18 images


Click here to view the full photogallery.

Retro, stylish, and owned by the prolific, “happy chic” Jonathan Adler, this Shelter Island beach retreat is newly on the rental market for $11K for the month of July. While the three-bedroom, 1,299-square-foot property has pretty much been featured by every single design publication on the planet, the latest batch of listing photos offer a peek at what the A-frame “modernist fantasy” looks like without the glossy, shelter mag treatment. Luckily for potential renters, though, it’s still impeccably decorated and loaded with such summer fête must-haves as a massive pool, a “ping pong deck,” and perfectly manicured grounds. Take a look:

 

 

read more…

 

http://curbed.com/archives/2014/06/02/rentjonathan-adlers-shelter-island-beach-house-.php

‘Prima Luce’ and its Two-Story Playhouse Want $23.5M | Bedford NY Real Estate

Leave a reply

 

25 images


Click here to view the full photogallery.

Location: Montecito, Calif.
Price: $23,500,000
The Skinny: Built from hand-chiseled sandstone quarried from the two-acre estate on which it stands, Prima Luce is a beautiful example of a modern luxury home that successfully (and tastefully) echoes golden age Mediterranean-style California architecture. Built in 2001 from a design by Robert Webb, this 11,440-square-foot Tuscan villa is wonderfully laid out, from the pleasing symmetry of the manse to the expansive grounds that feature a mix of formal gardens, ponds, and even a “Kid’s World” with a two-story, 310-square-foot playhouse built in the same style as the main house. The inside of the home is also top-drawer, with travertine marble, distressed wood floors, and tremendous ocean and valley views, complemented by interiors by Los Angeles designer Mark Weaver, and decorative paintings by Elisa Stancil Studios of San Francisco. Rounding out Prima Luce’s literal embarrassment of riches is a swimming pool and cabana, a guest house, and a seven-hole putting green. It’s asking $23.5M.

 

 

read more…

 

 

http://curbed.com/archives/2014/06/02/montecitos-prima-luce-and-its-two-story-playhouse-want-235m.php

Good News for Sellers: Listings Sell Faster Despite Weak Sales | Pound Ridge Real Estate

Leave a reply

 

Despite weak demand and an infusion of new listings over the past two months, listings are selling nearly as fast as a year ago and prices are still rising.

Realtor.com reported this week that in April the total U.S. for-sale inventory of single family homes, condos, townhomes and co-ops rose by 8.56% over March, from 1,841,844 units in March to 1,999,548 units in April. As a result, the median age of the inventory dropped by 15.69% over the month, although it remains 6.17% higher than it was a year ago. Yet the median list price rose significantly over the month, from $199,900 to $207,500 despite soft demand. On a year-over-year basis, the median list price and the size of the for-sale inventory were up by 6.46% and 14.21%, respectively.

NAR reported that, with little inventory relative to demand, in April properties sold faster for the fifth straight month. Listings typically sold in 48 days compared to 55 days in March, falling to nearly the same level as 43 days a year ago. NAR’s monthly survey of Realtors found that short sales were on the market for the longest, at 96 days (112 in March), and foreclosed properties were on market at 56 days (55 days in March). Non-distressed properties were on the market at 45 days (53 days in March). Conditions varied across areas. Approximately 41 percent of respondents reported that properties were on the market for less than a month when sold, and about 6 percent were on the market for more than six months

 

read more….

 

 

http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2014/05/good-news-for-sellers-listings-sell-faster-despite-weak-sales/

Freddie Mac: Housing Markets Lay an Egg | Bedford Corners Real Estate

Leave a reply

 

Housing markets overall are largely flat compared to a month ago and especially since last year at this time. Of those markets that are improving or experiencing a stable range of housing activity, most are benefiting from the energy boom taking place along the country’s mid-section.

Freddie Mac’s Multi-Indicator Market Index (MiMi) reports that:

  • The national MiMi value stands at -3.06 points indicating a weak housing market overall with only a slight improvement (+0.03 points) from February to March and a 3-month flat trend (+0.05 points). However, on a year-over-year basis, the U.S. housing market has improved by 0.66 points. The nation’s all-time MiMi low of -4.49 was in November 2010 when the housing market was at its weakest.
  • Ten of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia are in their stable range with North Dakota, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, Alaska, and Louisiana ranking in the top five and unchanged from last month.
  • Four of the 50 metro areas are in their stable range, San Antonio, New Orleans, Austin and Houston.
  • The five most improving states month-over-month are Ohio (+0.12), Rhode Island (+0.11), Illinois (+0.10), Texas (+0.10) and South Carolina (+0.09). From one year ago the most improving states remained unchanged: Florida (+1.83), Nevada (+1.60), South Carolina (+0.99), California (+0.97) and Texas (+0.96).
  • The five most improving metro areas month-over-month are Cincinnati (+0.11), Columbus (+0.11), Houston (+0.10), Riverside (+0.10), and San Antonio (+0.10). From one year ago the most improving metros remained unchanged: Miami (+2.37), Orlando (+1.91), Las Vegas (+1.71), Tampa (+1.57), and Riverside (+1.44).
  • Overall, in March, 13 of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia are improving based on their three month trend, and 20 of the 50 metros show an improving trend.

 

read more….

 

http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2014/05/freddie-mac-housing-markets-lay-an-egg/