Monthly Archives: July 2014

Before you judge Dodd-Frank… | Bedford Corners Real Estate

 

After four years of execution and practice, it is difficult to assess just where the housing market would be if Dodd-Frank never went into effect. Would the market be better off or is that even quantifiable?

The mortgage market, en masse, seems to think two things. The first is that the impact of Dodd-Frank is, indeed, very quantifiable. And second, given the sum of its parts, everyone should hate Dodd-Frank.

As mentioned in an article from the American Banker, “In a rare public exchange in June 2011, Jamie Dimon asked then Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke what the total economic costs of the year-old Dodd-Frank Act would be.

“Has anyone looked at the cumulative effect of all these regulations, and could they be the reason it’s taking so long for credit and jobs to come back?” the head of JPMorgan Chase said.

“Jamie Dimon was so criticized for asking that question directly to Chairman Ben Bernanke,” said H. Rodgin Cohen, a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell and a leading banking lawyer. “That was not a loaded question. He wasn’t saying, ‘It was horrible.’ He was saying, ‘Has anybody looked at it?’ — which is a very legitimate question. I don’t think anybody can say they have answered that question.”

 

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Before you judge Dodd-Frank…

 

Home prices tick up 0.9% in May | Chappaqua NY Real Estate

 

Home prices continue to slowly trend higher, rising .9% in May, up 5.9% from a year ago, according to the latest home price index report from Black Knight Financial Services.

This is now just 11% off the 2006 peak of $268,000, with the HPI coming in at $239,000.

Meanwhile, Colorado and Texas both hit new peaks in May, reaching $269,000 and $195,000, respectively.

In addition, 20 of the largest 40 metros all experienced month-over-month growth.

Las Vegas still leads the largest metros in distance from its local market peak (-42.6%). For the 20 largest states, Florida holds that position, where prices are 32.4% lower than their April 2006 peak.

 

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Black Knight: Home prices tick up 0.9% in May

Bank of America Merrill Lynch concludes Dodd-Frank killed housing | North Salem Homes

 

Two analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch are celebrating the 4-year anniversary of Dodd-Frank, the financial reform law, by calling it “persistent financial repression.”

Analysts Chris Flanagan and Adam Katz joined a chorus of voices using the birthday opportunity to express displeasure of the legislation and disdain in the inability to effect more meaningful reform — that is one that promotes more responsible mortgage lending.

“In testimony to Congress on QRM this week, Mr. Frank noted changing the US residential mortgage market was foremost among the very purpose of the statute,” said Flanagan and Katz.

And change that market it did — by sucking the life out of it.

“We think persistently low mortgage application volumes and this week’s extremely weak new home sales report for June and May are natural outcomes of the legislation,” the analysts write, adding they don’t expect the next four years to be very different.

 

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Bank of America Merrill Lynch concludes Dodd-Frank killed housing

Down to Earth Farmers Market | Waccabuc Real Estate

 

Today at 1:47 PM

JAN2014-DTE-E-Mail-Masthead_(722x226pxl)FRESH-2-(1

Baby Fennel Frond Pesto Recipe & Cooking Demo in Larchmont;
Simple Eats with Chef T Debuts in Piermont;
Summer Melon Harvest Begins + MORE

July 24th-30th, 2014

DowntoEarthMarkets.com
Peaches_CHL_VLPhoto_July2014
What’s New, In Season, and On Sale This Week

Aged Cheddar Cheese Varieties

Young, sharp, & extra sharp
Amazing Real Live Food Co.

Apricots
Mead Orchards

Cherries
Alex’s Tomato Farm


Cinnamon Raisin Roll – FREE!
For kids up to 12 years old
Orwasher’s Bakery

Corn
Alex’s Tomato Farm
Mead Orchards


Dozen Eggs for $3.00!
W/purchase of Yellow Bell Farm
fresh chicken, whole or parts

Yellow Bell Farm

Haricot Verts
Taliaferro Farm

New Potatoes
Taliaferro Farm

Plums
Alex’s Tomato Farm
Mead Orchards
Migliorelli Farm

Red Potatoes
Dagele Brothers Produce


Rote Gruetze

(Red Summer Berry Pudding)
Fruit dessert made w/currants, strawberries, raspberries,
blueberries, blackberries, & cherries

Christiane’s Backstube

Tomatoes
John D. Madura Farm
Migliorelli Farm
Wright Family Farm

Watermelon
Alex’s Tomato Farm

Yukon Gold Potatoes
Dagele Brothers Produce

Zucchini Muffins
Bread Alone


Click on a Market to see all vendor and event details…

Westchester
County


Rockland
County


Ossining

Saturdays
8:30 am-1:00 pm


Larchmont


Saturdays
8:30 am-1:00 pm

Piermont

Sundays
9:30 am-3:00 pm

L
Croton-on-Hudson

Sundays
9:00 am-2:00 pm


Rye

Sundays
8:30 am-2:00 pm

Spring Valley

Wednesdays
8:30 am-3:00 pm

Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow

Saturdays
8:30 am-1:00 pm

New Rochelle

Fridays
8:30 am-2:30 pm

Headed to the city soon?

Visit a Down to Earth
Farmers Market in NYC!

Announcements
New Rochelle

We’ve got another word for summer: CORN. This Friday, July 25th, The Rockstars of The Beth El Day Camp, girls ages 7 and 8, will be at New Rochelle’s Down to Earth Farmers Market to sample their Summery Corn Salad recipe. Stop by the market between 11 am and 1 pm to meet the group and learn about their recipe. They’ll even have free recipe cards for you to take and create the dish at home.

Teatown Lake Reservation News | Cross River Real Estate

 

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

July 23, 2014
PROGRAMS THIS WEEK:
Advanced Registration is required for all programs. Unless noted, all programs meet in the Nature Center and are $7 per person or FREE for members. Please register by calling (914) 762-2912 ext. 110.
What a Hummer!
Saturday, July 26
2 – 3:30 pm

Hummingbirds are winged jewels of the bird world. Learn more about these birds and make a hummingbird feeder to attract them to your yard. All Welcome. $5/material fee/feeder

Visit Teatown

1600 Spring Valley Road
Ossining, NY 10562
Teatown Lake Reservation’s
mission is to inspire our community to lifelong environmental stewardship.
Nature Center hours:
9 am – 5 pm daily
Trails are open 365 days a year from dawn to dusk.
Click here for Teatown membership benefits, details,
and to purchase or renew
your membership online.

Your donation can make

an immediate impact and help

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

Upcoming Events and Workshops:
Luna moth

Black-lighting for Moths
Thursday, July 31
8 pm

Join Charlie Roberto as we light up the night to attract night flying insects. All Welcome. Free.

PBock
Great Hudson Estuary
Fish Count
at Kathryn W. Davis RiverWalk Center
Kingsland Point Park, Sleepy Hollow, NY
Saturday, August 2

10 am

If you could lift the lid off the Hudson River in Tappan Zee Bay, what would you see? Catch the incoming tide with Teatown and Strawtown Art and Garden Studio at the Kathryn W. Davis RiverWalk Center in Sleepy Hollow, as we seine for fish and other creatures in the warm waters of the Hudson. We will focus on identification and record and share the results with other sites taking part along the river. Afterward mix paint and match the color of the River, and add sand from both shores of the wide bays to make a symbolic driftwood sculpture.

All Welcome. Free; Parking fee collected at park

In the Nature Center Gallery:

Nature Center Gallery Richard Pileggi

Quiet Landscapes

Photography

By Richard Pileggi

On exhibit

July 5 – August 30

Click here for more info

Announcing the publication of:

Teatown’s Wildflower Island

by Lisa Fleck Dondiego

A privately printed, 80-page photo book with an Index identifying the flowers.

Foreword by Leah Waybright Kennell, Curator of Wildflower Island.

This wonderful book is available for

purchase in Teatown’s nature store for $45 plus tax.

Teatown in the News:
Teatown Is A Top Westchester Staycation
Teatown Lake Reservation is proud to be one of Westchester County Office of Tourism’s Top 10 Places to Go When You Want to Spend Your Family Vacation Right Here In Westchester.
“Summer is a great time to visit this nature preserve and education center.”
Click here for the full article.

U.S. News & World Report Ranks Northern Westchester Hospital Among Best | Mt Kisco Real Estate

 

Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) announced that it has been ranked as one of the best hospitals in New York for 2014 – 2015 by U.S. News & World Report.

The annual U.S. News best hospitals rankings, now in their 25th year, recognize hospitals that excel in treating the most challenging patients. In addition to being recognized as a best hospital, Northern Westchester Hospital was recognized regionally for expertise in gynecology, urology, geriatrics, orthopedics and neurosurgery.

For 2014-2015, U.S. News evaluated hospitals in 16 adult specialties and ranked the top 50 in most of the specialties. Just 12 percent of the nearly 5,000 hospitals that were analyzed for best hospitals in 2014-2015 earned a regional ranking in even one specialty. NWH was ranked within five different specialties.

“Providing the highest level of quality, patient-centered care is our priority at Northern Westchester Hospital,” said Joel Seligman, president and CEO of Northern Westchester Hospital. “We have designed and implemented numerous processes that help to ensure that high quality care is consistently delivered to our patients.

 

 

read more…

 

 

http://bedford.dailyvoice.com/news/us-news-world-report-ranks-northern-westchester-hospital-among-best

Homebuilders to weigh in on mixed 2Q14 earnings | South Salem Real Estate

 

As more top banks report muted mortgage results in their second-quarter earnings, homebuilders are about to weigh in on the discussion, recording potentially strong, steady or weak growth.

First up was Homebuilder Lennar (LEN), which reported its second-quarter earnings on June 26, posting a revenue of $1.82 billion, up from $1.43 billion a year earlier, beating analyst expectations of $1.68 billion.

However, due to a drought in first-time homebuyers, Lennar is considering expanding into building single-family homes for rent.

Lennar CEO Stuart Miller said on the homebuilder’s quarterly conference call that he does not anticipate mortgage-qualification standards to ease soon enough to bring first-time homebuyers off the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Barclays commented on Pulte Group’s (PHM) upcoming second-quarter earnings and said, “The gross margin outlook in FY14 remains positive due to the increase in use of its commonly managed plans, as well as a reduction of capitalized interest. Barclays maintained its $0.29 estimate for 2Q14, compared to the street consensus of $0.25.

Up next, D.R. Horton (DHI) is scheduled to post its earnings Wednesday morning, followed by PulteGroup Thursday morning before market open.

 

 

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Homebuilders to weigh in on mixed 2Q14 earnings

Refinance share of mortgages reaches four-month high | Katonah Real Estate

 

Mortgage applications increased 2.4% from one week earlier, after a series of drops and a few peaks over the last few weeks, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 18, 2014.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 2.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.

The Refinance Index increased 4% from the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 0.3% from one week earlier.

“Consumers took action on the lowest mortgage rates we’ve seen since the beginning of 2013,” said Quicken Loans vice president Bill Banfield. “The jump in application volume is a welcome change after a few sluggish weeks of mortgage activity.”

 

 

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http://www.housingwire.com/articles/30750-mortgage-applications-rise-24-as-roller-coaster-continues

Existing home sales in June down 2.3% YOY | Bedford Hills Homes

 

Existing home sales declined 2.3% in June 2014 from June 2013, reaching an annual pace of 5 million sales for the first time since October 2013, while rising inventory continues to push overall supply towards a more balanced market, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Sales are at the highest pace since October 2013, but remain 2.3% below the 5.16 million-unit level a year ago.

The downward pressure on existing home sales comes from the West, where sales remain 7.3% below June 2013.

Total existing home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, climbed 2.6% from May 2014 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.04 million.

Single-family home sales rose 2.5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.43 million in June from 4.32 million in May, but remain 2.9% below the 4.56 million pace a year ago.

The median existing single-family home price was $224,300 in June, up 4.5% from June 2013.

 

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http://www.housingwire.com/articles/30734-existing-home-sales-in-june-down-23-yoy

Purchase Mortgage Applications Plunge | Bedford NY Real Estate

It might be hot outside but its freezing in the inboxes of hundreds of the nation’s mortgage lenders. Last week applications fell to their lowest level since February.

Maybe it’s just a sign that the selling season is winding down. More likely it’s something a lot more serious—yet another signal that the housing recovery is seriously sick and keeps getting sicker.

Mortgage applications decreased last week from the previous week, led by a drop in purchase loan requests. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s index revealed that loan application volume fell 3.6% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the period ending July 11 after increasing the previous week, which included an adjustment for the July 4 holiday.

The dip in mortgage activity was mainly attributed to an 8% decline in purchase applications. These applications, where the average loan size sought was $268,500, plunged to their lowest level since February, the Washington-based trade group said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, refinance activity was only down 0.1% from the prior week.

Yet this time no one is attributing the decline to interest rates. Bankrate reports that mortgage rates dropped to record lows again last week after a sluggish employment report disappointed investors. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell 8 basis points to 3.79 percent. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage fell 8 basis points to 3.05 percent. The average rate for 30-year jumbo mortgages, or generally for those of more than $417,000, fell 3 basis points to 4.44 percent.

 

 

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http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2014/07/purchase-mortgage-applications-plunge/