Monthly Archives: November 2014

10 Advantages of the Humble Ranch House | Armonk Homes

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Since falling from favor in the 1970s, the ranch house has languished on the bottom rung of the architectural food chain. Critics deride its small size, dated finishes and prosaic design. But if you’re able to see past such shortcomings, the ranch (or rambler, as it’s sometimes known) has a lot to offer potential home buyers — particularly those on a budget.

Popularized in the 1950s by architectural designer and developer Cliff May, the ranch celebrated the postwar profusion of cheap land and sprawling suburbs, with a horizontal footprint that turned its back on the streetscape to focus on backyard living.

While May’s original designs showed great finesse, the ranch was copied so often — and so poorly — that eventually the style became associated with cheap tract-house living. Which is a shame, because ranch houses can be an affordable, efficient option that’s compatible with today’s lifestyles and needs.Below you’ll find some of their advantages, along with ideas for working with ranch homes.

Traditional Landscape by mark pinkerton - vi360 photography
mark pinkerton – vi360 photography
Advantages of the Ranch

1. Boomer friendly. The ranch’s single-story design is kind to baby boomers (and their knees), allowing them to age in place.
Contemporary Living Room by Feldman Architecture, Inc.
Feldman Architecture, Inc.
2. Not so big. Ranch houses align with current interests in living more lightly on the earth. They tend to be smaller than newer homes, although their original single-pane windows can place a greater demand on heating and cooling in certain climates.
Contemporary Exterior by Think. Design Office
Think. Design Office
3. Indoor-outdoor flow. Ranches are usually built on slabs, so they’re level with the yard, and are often laid out in U or L shapes, making them especially conducive to indoor-outdoor living. Take advantage of that by adding French doors, folding doors or retractable sliders.

Find the right glass door for your patio

Midcentury Kitchen by Design Platform
Design Platform
4. Open plan. Original ranch houses embraced a less-formal lifestyle than previous housing types, so the floor plans tend to be more open and free flowing — although sometimes you have to do a bit of excavating to reveal them. (Dividers, peninsulas, pass-throughs and the like have a way of cluttering up the flow. Happily, they’re rarely structural and are easily removed.)
Traditional Landscape by Texas Construction Company
Texas Construction Company
5. Simple addition. Because of their horizontal layout, ranch houses are relatively easy to add on to. No need to worry about accommodating a stairwell or supporting another floor — just extend out.

And if you want to add another story, the ranch’s simple design makes it less challenging than, say, adding on to a Tudor or Craftsman, where you have to worry about blending with the style of the original.

Traditional Kitchen by Design Discoveries
Design Discoveries
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6. Open up and say, ‘Ahhh …’ While the shallow slope of the ranch house’s gable roof condemns it to a particular style and period, you can use this to your advantage. It’s comparatively easy to open up interior ceilings to the roofline or to add skylights.
read more….
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/16733969/list/10-advantages-of-the-humble-ranch-house

College Towns Get an A for Appreciation | Bedford Hills Real Estate

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Colleges and universities are having an effect on housing across the country. Metros with noteworthy university influence are at the top of their class, with home price trends far outperforming national rates of growth since 2004, according to data provider Clear Capital.

A sample of ten metros, each having a university presence, shows an average growth of 32 percent since 2004.

Sustained gains at the MSA-level are a direct benefit of metros with heavy college influences. The Ithaca MSA, home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, has seen home prices rise 51 percent since 2004, putting the metro at the head of the class nationally. And it’s not just metros in the Eastern Region seeing college pay off. In Boulder, home to the University of Colorado, home prices are up 26 percent since 2004. These markets each maintain a foundation of sustained demand from students hungry for an education and in need of a roof over their heads.

Even larger MSAs with a heavy academic focus, like Boston, are seeing strong micro market growth. Cambridge housing demand from students attending Harvard University has helped fuel price growth of 39 percent over the last decade. The University’s ZIP code 02183 has outperformed the Boston MSA by 36 percent since 2004, highlighting the noteworthy influence of academia on local home prices. There’s no question that the many universities within this area, including MIT, contribute to the unique demand in the Cambridge, MA ZIP code and surrounding areas.

Metros majoring in university life are at the head of their class, but student debt could create a drag on the overall housing recovery. Now a full year into a cooling recovery, stronger demand from first-time homebuyers is a prerequisite to a sustainable recovery as investor demand dwindles. College graduates who feel confident enough in their employment prospects and the housing market to attempt to qualify for a mortgage will have to grapple with an average of more than $30,000 in existing student debt. With student debt now in excess of $1 trillion and growing, the housing market faces demand headwinds at a crucial transitional point in the recovery.

“College towns are just another example of how real estate trends are impacted by local market conditions” said Dr. Alex Villacorta, vice president of research and analytics at Clear Capital. “It’s clear a significant portion of loan dollars are going towards student housing costs, thereby creating a critical demand surge. Healthy student populations activate a positive feedback loop where housing fuels local economies and jobs which increase the overall confidence and demand in these towns. Concerns over rising student debt and recent college graduates’ ability and desire to qualify for a home loan could certainly create a drag on the recovery overall as the next phase depends on re-engagement by traditional homebuyers. Generally, investment opportunity in college markets yield benefits that ripple beyond localized home price strength since higher education typically begets higher income which has allowed more folks to invest in the American Dream. While this is still true today, the struggle between rising student debt and a first-time homebuyer’s desire and ability to qualify for a mortgage will pose an interesting challenge for the future of the recovery.

 

read more….

 

http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2014/11/college-towns-get-an-a-for-appreciation/

 

 

New Mortgages Sank This Year | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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Mortgage originations are down by 39 percent so far in 2014, with one in 79 households securing a new mortgage (compared with one in 48 in 2013), according to the Experian credit reporting service.

However, credit scores and card lending both experienced more positive signs of growth since 2013. While these categories are showing upward growth, fewer people have opened a new mortgage in the past year.

Other findings from Experian’s Fifth Annual State of Credit Study:

•The national VantageScore® credit score1 is up by two points, from 664 to 666
•Bankcard lending is on the rise, with new bankcards up 21.1 percent, with one in 17 consumers opening at least one bankcard (compared with one in 21 consumers in 2013)
•The average number of bankcards per person is up 4.2 percent to 2.18 cards
•Retail card lending also is on the upswing with a 3.5 percent increase
•The average number of retail cards is up 6.7 percent to 1.54 cards per consumer
•Average debt2 is up 2.3 percent to $28,496 per person

“This has been a notable year for borrowing, with more new credit being extended and consumers feeling more comfortable and confident about accepting those credit offers,” said Michele Raneri, vice president of analytics, Experian. “Even with some categories like mortgage taking longer to bounce back, an early glimpse at our third-quarter data indicates that an upward trend may be on the horizon.”

The study not only examined the national credit picture, but also looked at more than 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) across the country and compared their credit scores with one another to see how they are faring. Topping the list with an average credit score of 706 are the residents of Mankato, Minn., followed by three other Minneapolis cities securing top spots. The city in need of the most improvement is Greenwood, Miss., with the lowest credit score of 609. The full list of the top 10 and bottom 10 cities are featured below. Scores are rounded to the nearest whole number.

 

read more….

 

 

http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2014/11/new-mortgages-sank-this-year/

 

Flippers Flop Back Five Years | Bedford Real Estate

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Flipping has flopped to its lowest level since the second quarter of 2009, accounting for only 4 percent of all sales in the third quarter.

Only 26,947 single family homes were flipped nationwide in the third quarter of 2014 representing 4 percent of all U.S. single family home sales, down from 4.6 percent in the second quarter of 2014 and down from 5.6 percent in the third quarter of 2013.  Flipping, defined as purchasing a home is purchased and subsequently selling it again within 12 months –has reached its lowest level in four years.

However, investors’ profit margins soared this year.  Investors averaged a gross profit of $75,990 per flip on homes flipped in the third quarter of 2014, a 36 percent gross return on the initial investment — not including rehab costs and other expenses. The average gross return was up from 35 percent in the second quarter but down from 37 percent a year ago, according to RealtyTrac.

“Flipping returned to its historic norm of 4 percent in the third quarter as home price appreciation cooled in many of the hot flipping markets across the country,” said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. “Meanwhile, the record-high average profits per flip in the quarter demonstrate that flippers are still filling an important niche in an aging housing market with historically low levels of new homes being built. The most successful flippers are buying older, outdated homes in established neighborhoods and rehabbing them extensively to appeal to modern tastes.

“The markets with an increase in flipping tend to be those with older, distressed, inventory still available that flippers can often buy at a discount and add value to,” Blomquist continued. “Those discounted distressed properties have become harder to find, but a recent jump in scheduled foreclosure auctions could provide more fodder for flippers in the next three to six months.”

Other high-level findings in the report:

Metro areas with the most flips in the third quarter were Miami (1,190 flips), Los Angeles (1,170 flips), Phoenix (1,147 flips), New York (1,070 flips) and Tampa (789 flips). Among these top five, Tampa was the only to post an increase in the share of home flips compared to a year ago.

 

read more….

 

http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2014/11/flippers-flop-back-five-years/

 

 

Purchase Mortgage Approvals Break Record! | Bedford Corners Real Estate

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The approval rate for purchase mortgages hit new heights in October as more than two thirds (66.1 percent) of all applications for loans to buy a home were approved.

The approval rate for October was the highest recorded by the four-year old  Ellie Mae Originations Insight report; the previous high was 65.1 percent in August.  Last year the average approval rate for purchase loans was only 60 percent.

The high approval rate suggests borrowers and lenders are finding ways to overcome tight lending standards that are more difficult for lenders to circumvent following implementation of the QM Rule in January.  Tight credit has crippled access to financing for buyers, especially first time buyers, and slowed home sales this year

The October approval rate for conventional loans also hit a new peak at 67.9 percent; its previous top rate was 67.2 percent in January of this year.  The approval rate for all loan types in October was 59.4 percent.  Only 59.4 percent of refis were given the green light.

The average time to close for purchase loans in 0ctober was 40 days.  Purchase loans accounted for 60 percent of all loans closed in

The October 2014 report also found that the average 30-year interest rate for all loans fell for the sixth consecutive month to 4.371 percent purchase loans, reported in Ellie Mae’s October report.

 

read more….

 

http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2014/11/purchase-mortgage-approvals-break-record/

 

U.S. existing home sales hit one-year high in October | Armonk Real Estate

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U.S. home resales jumped to their highest level in more than a year in October and outpaced the sales level a year ago for the first time in 2014, further evidence the housing market is on a recovery path.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) on Thursday said existing home sales rose 1.5 percent to an annual rate of 5.26 million units, the highest rate since September of last year. Sales rose 2.5 percent compared to a year ago, the first time since October 2013 that nesales have risen above the prior-year levels.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast sales falling to a 5.16 million-unit pace, from an upwardly revised rate of 5.18 million units in September.

“This is the first time in the year where we have seen a year over year annual gain, which means that existing home sales have made that successful U-turn,” Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, told reporters.

Housing is slowly regaining its footing after activity stalled in the second half of 2013 following a run-up in mortgage rates. While the sector continues to be hobbled by sluggish wage growth, a recent decline in mortgage rates should help support sales.

A separate report this week from the Mortgage Bankers Association showed applications for loans to purchase homes surged last week as low rates lured potential buyers.

 

read more….

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/20/us-usa-economy-housing-idUSKCN0J41P620141120

 

 

Kitchen DIY Projects to Tackle This Weekend | Mt Kisco Real Estate

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The kitchen is the most popular room to remodel, but sadly, it is not the cheapest. One way to offset those costs is by completing the work yourself. Despite its high traffic, there are plenty of kitchen remodeling projects homeowners can accomplish without the help of a professional. If you want to shed some costs and transform your kitchen, read on to learn more about seven easy DIY projects perfect for any kitchen remodel.

The Benefits of Kitchen Remodels

Before you begin your kitchen remodel, you have to know why you are remodeling. Homeowners redo their kitchens for a variety of reasons; some just want a new look, some are planning to move, some can’t deal with their tile floors, and others just want more functionality. However, when we talked to homeowners across the country, three dominant reasons became evident.

Homeowners remodel their kitchens to:

  • Increase the value of their home
  • Add different designs
  • Install more storage or make it more convenient

1. DIY Kitchen Countertops

Kitchens almost always start and end with the countertops. Homeowners tend to shy away from working with expensive features—like their countertops—but as you will see, installing your own kitchen countertops is a job anyone can handle.

After you decide on your material, know the dimensions and have your counters cut (by the manufacturer), all homeowners can follow the steps below.

  1. Double-check that the counter size and cuts are perfect
  2. Add the sink before you install the counters (sink hole should be cut)
  3. Place countertop on workstation with plenty of space
  4. Drill a hole for the faucet and the brackets
  5. Add silicone around sink hole (ask countertop manufacturer what silicone or adhesive they recommend)
  6. Add the sink to the countertop
  7. Place countertop in desired location
  8. Seal all spaces with colored adhesive (match the countertop)
  9. Connect water lines

Thailand 2008 - House 1

2. How to Install a Sink

There are those homeowners who grow tired of looking at the same kitchen sinks for years and years. Much like the kitchen counters, all it takes is careful precision and a steady hand.

If you are installing a new sink, you will need to cut a hole in the countertop, just as we did above. The sink manufacturer should provide a cutting template. Just like the counters, install the faucet and waste line to the sink before the sink is secured in the hole—much easier.

Use the following steps to install the sink:

  1. Turn your sink over on your countertop in the desired location
  2. Trace around the sink
  3. Drill four holes at the corners of the sink placement
  4. Use a jigsaw to cut from corner to corner
  5. Check that the sink fits inside the hole
  6. Seal the cut edges of the countertop with a preservative primer
  7. Put the faucet in the sink and install the hoses as well
  8. Install the waste line as the instructions show
  9. Add a layer of adhesive on the counter where the sink will sit
  10. Some homeowners add retaining clips around the edges of the sink at this time
  11. Once you put the sink into place, tighten the clips if needed
  12. Connect the faucets and waste lines

For a more detailed description, please see our friends over at the DIY Network.

3. DIY Kitchen Cabinets

Much like the counters, homeowners tend to shy away from installing their own kitchen cabinets. Fortunately, installing kitchen cabinets is just as easy as hanging a TV or large painting. As long as you have a plan and know where the studs are, you can install your kitchen cabinets without a professional.

  1. Measure and find studs in the wall (mark them)
  2. Hang a support board (so you don’t have to hold the cabinet as you install)
  3. Remove cabinet doors
  4. Attach adjacent cabinets together
  5. Attach kitchen cabinets to the wall with the drill
  6. Install base kitchen cabinets using the same steps

4. Paint Kitchen Appliances

One of the cheapest and quickest ways to transform your kitchen is by giving it a fresh coat of paint. While the average price to paint an interior room is $1,655, you can drastically reduce the overall cost by completing the job yourself.

If you choose to go bold, we highly recommend consulting a professional first. Interior design pros know what colors work in what rooms. If you’re looking for a smaller job, painting kitchen appliances could have the same design effect and yet, take half the time. Most major appliance manufacturers offer paint, panel kits, and other fix-ups on their websites. With these kits, you could redo your refrigerator, oven, or dishwasher.

Whether you want a fresh look for your home or are planning to sell it in the near future, a coat of paint inside the home will make the space look newer, brighter, and even a little more spacious.

7 Easy Kitchen DIY Projects-6

5. DIY Tile Backsplash

The backsplash has become the new necessity in kitchen remodels across the country. Backsplashes can give dull or small kitchens that “wow” factor we all seek. They come in a wide array of designs, matching your traditional, rustic, or modern kitchen. As long as you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty, you can install the backsplash yourself.

Follow the steps below to install your own tiled kitchen backsplash:

  1. Measure the distance between your top cabinet and your countertop
  2. Grab your tiled backsplash and cut it to match the distance you just measured
  3. Remove the outlet covers on the wall
  4. Clean the walls to remove all oils, grease, and marks
  5. Place your tile on the wall in the desired location
  6. Carefully add the bottom row of the backsplash, starting with the left-hand side
  7. Make sure it is straight and even before moving forward or applying pressure
  8. To add the grout, cut the edge of the grout bag and evenly distribute it with an evening tool or a floater
  9. Apply grout to the backsplash in a diagonal pattern
  10. Then, push the grout into the joints going the opposite direction
  11. Make sure there is grout in all joints
  12. Use a damp sponge and clean all the grout and joints

6. Clean Grout on Tile Floor

Speaking of tile and grout, a terrific way to update your kitchen with little to no cost at all is by cleaning the grout on your tile floor.The visible grout lines made from water, sand, and cement absorb grease and dirt faster than tiles. As a result, it may discolor quickly, resulting in an ugly design for your kitchen floor.

The savvier DIYer would create his or her own grout cleaner from any combination of baking soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide or (oxygen) bleach. As an extra precaution, only use bleach if you have light-colored grout. However, the safer bet would be to buy a special pH-balanced product from a flooring company to protect against discoloration.

Depending on the chosen cleaner, it’s always best to let it sit within the grout for a few minutes before scrubbing it in. If you’re using a combination of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, let the peroxide settle before hitting the scrubber.

After pouring a healthy amount of cleaner and letting it sit, gently add your baking soda (if you’re using it). Then, use your toothbrush or specialty brush and rub away the dirt. Don’t be afraid to use some muscle. Most homeowners ignore their grout for months, if not years, so a good amount of grease and dirt could be hiding.

7. DIY Fixes for the Refrigerator

Food is the main reason we enter and leave the kitchen, but if your fridge is on the fritz, the kitchen loses all purpose. Luckily, homeowners can fix some of the most common refrigerator issues.

The most common problem fridges face is leakage. A range of issues could cause a refrigerator to leak, but the most common culprit is a loose gasket. A refrigerator gasket is the flexible elastic strip attached to the outer edge of a refrigerator or freezer.

Read more: http://www.improvenet.com/a/7-easy-kitchen-diy-projects#ixzz3JiQSpfGp

Bedford Happenings | Bedford Real Estate

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Town of Bedford Recreation News
Upcoming December Events & Programs

BREAKFAST WITH FROSTY 
Saturday December 13
8:30 – Breakfast and visit with Frosty 
9:00 – Entertainment – Mario the Magician

For Ages 1 – 8 with Adult 
$6.00 per person preregistered 
$10.00 at the door if space is available 
 
Click here for the registration form

 THUNDER RIDGE SKI/SNOWBOARD PROGRAM
Got snow? Have you always wanted to learn how to ski or snowboard? Here’s your chance to get off the bunny slopes and traverse down those hills! Bedford Recreation in cooperation with Thunder Ridge Ski area is offering ski lessons (gr. 1 and up) and snowboard lessons (gr. 3 and up)
Click here for more information and registration form.

GLOW IN THE DARK YOGA PARTY 
Calling all 7 – 11 year olds! Join the party & fun at this amazing glowing event! Create colorful art, move to music, do some yoga, all while glowing in the dark!

Friday,  December 5

6:00- 8:00 pm
Bedford Hills Community House 
$50.00 per participant 
Please wear white or neon colors for the best glow experience!
Pre-registration is required
Click here for registration form

BUILD A GINGERBREAD HOUSE 
Construct your own Gingerbread House and decorate it too!
This is a fun creative program for grades 2 – 6
 
Sat. December 13
12:30 – 2:30
Bedford Hills Community House
$25.00 (includes lunch)
 Click here for registration form

DEFENSIVE DRIVING 
Learn to drive defensively; earn an insurance reduction; take points off your license. This program is offered in cooperation with the Bedford Police Dept. For ages 16+

Saturday,  December 6

9:00am- 3:30 pm
Bedford Hills Community House
$19.00 to “Town of Bedford”
$11.00 to “National Safety Council
Pre-registration required and a bag lunch recommended.
Click here for registration form

SENIOR HOLIDAY LUNCHEON 

 

WEDNESDAY – DECEMBER 10

   11:00 am – 2:00pm

$5.00 per person

Reservations are required & currently being accepted.

Call 666-7203 today!

For more information on senior adult programs call 666-7203

   

 

IT”S HERE
The 2015 Winter Brochure is now available on-line!
Click here to view the Winter Brochure

ICE SKATING 
@ HARVEY SCHOOL 
Bring your skates and take a few laps around the rink!
Friday November 28 
and 
Friday December 26 
12:45 – 2:45 PM
$5.00 per person 

OUTDOOR ICE SKATING 
Ice skating will be available at the Bedford Hills Memorial Park, Lake Marie and Cherry Ridge Lake on Lakeside Drive in Katonah. Weather and conditions permitting. Appropriate signage will be posted at each site indicating whether the lakes are safe for skating.
 

Basketball Basics 
Great introductory basketball program for boys & girls in grades 2-4
Program starts Saturday, December 6 and is held at Katonah Elementary School
2nd grade: 9:00am
3rd grade: 10:00am
4th grade: 11:00am
Click here for registration form or stop by our office to register today!

SANTA’A MAILBOX 
“SANTA’S REINDEER EXPRESS”

will be arriving at the Recreation Department after Thanksgiving to accept letters to Santa.
Please make sure all letters include child’s name, age and return address.
For grades K- 3
Letters must be in to the office by Dec. 12.
Contact Us
Town of Bedford
Recreation and Parks Department
914-666-7004 (office)
914-864-3777 (hotline)
We respect your right to privacy. The Town of Bedford will not contact any person who submits an email address for any purpose other than the original intended communication. E-mail addresses will not be disclosed to a third party, unless required by law.