Monthly Archives: January 2015

South Beach Nightclub King Lists House With Astroturf Yard | Bedford Hills Real Estate

Leave a reply

Opium Group Managing Partner Roman Jones, don of Mokai, SET, Cameo, and, and Mansion, has listed his own historic mansion (ha ha ha) at 6222 Alton Roadfor $3.895 Million. Although the mediterranean manse was built in 1934, and looks like it was originally a very classy, classic edifice, it’s seen some serious updating and nightclub-ifying, including luxe features like ipe wood, vaulted ceilings, and vertical wood thingies in the staircase.

The listing says “this house is meant to be lived in”, and boy do they mean it. The bed room, err the ‘boom boom room’, has a big bed, durable floors, and plenty of (reinforced?) ceiling space for all those hanging contraptions that are so much fun. A dance floor-sized tiki hut flanks an astroturf backyard (no mowing needed here). Just hose the place down and let the party rage on.

 

read more…

 

http://miami.curbed.com/archives/2015/01/20/opium-group-manager-lists-house-with-astroturf-yard.php

Gasoline Prices Down 21% for the Year | Bedford Real Estate

Leave a reply

The consumer price index fell for the second consecutive month due to a large decrease in the price of gasoline. On a seasonally adjusted month-over-month basis the consumer price index fell 0.4%. Over the past twelve months, prices on expenditures made by urban consumers increased just 0.8% before seasonal adjustments. The falling price of gasoline is positive for consumers in the short-term as this frees up income to spend on other goods and services.

Falling gasoline prices also pushed down the energy price index which fell for the sixth consecutive month. The gasoline index, a component of the energy price index, fell on a seasonally adjusted month-over-month basis 9.4% and over the past twelve months is down 21%. However, not all components of the energy index fell. The electricity index increased 0.8% for the month and the natural gas index increased 1.5% for the month.

The price of food increased for the month and has shown steady growth over the year. The food index increased 0.3% for the month and over the past twelve months increased 3.4% before seasonal adjustments. After declining in November, the index for dairy saw an increase of 0.6% on a seasonally adjusted month-over-month basis. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 0.3% for the month.

Core CPI, which excludes the more volatile food and energy prices, was unchanged for the month. Over the past twelve months core CPI increased 1.6% before seasonal adjustments.

Chart_1

The shelter index rose 0.2% month-over-month in December after increasing 0.3% month-over-month in November. Over the past twelve months, the shelter index increased 2.9% before seasonal adjustments.

Because shelter costs represent a large share of the average consumer’s expenditures, a 0.2% month-over-month increase is worth exploring further. Although the increase in the shelter index partly reflects increases in rental prices, the BLS measure does not isolate the change in rental prices from the changes in the overall price index. NAHB constructs a real rent price index to isolate the change in rental prices. The NAHB constructed measure indicates whether inflation in rents is faster or slower than general inflation and provides some insight into the supply and demand conditions for rental housing, after controlling for overall inflation.

The NAHB constructed real rent index increased 0.2% in December month-over-month. Over the past year, growth in real rental prices outpaced growth in the CPI. Real rental prices rose by 1.7% from December 2013.

Chart_2

 

read more…

 

http://eyeonhousing.org/2015/01/gasoline-prices-down-21-for-the-year/

Live in a Marcel Breuer Home Inspired By a MoMA Showhouse | Pound Ridge Real Estate

Leave a reply

880_south facade night.jpg

Location: Princeton, New Jersey
Price: $2,000,000
In 1949, Philip Johnson commissioned a series of exhibition houses for MoMA’s sculpture garden, to offer up an “economical solution for an individually built, architect-designed country home,” as an alternative to the prefabs and Cape Cod-style dwellingsfilling America’s new suburbs. The “House in the Museum Garden” series may not have had the transformative effect he hoped for, but for Marcel Breuer, who designed the first home in the series,the exposure yielded a handful of commissions built in the same style. These included the Lauck House, on four acres in Princeton, New Jersey, which was recently put on the market for$2M.

A 2011 Dwell article on Breuer’s original MoMA home—which the Rockefellers purchased and had rebuilt on their estate, in Pocantico Hills, New York, where it now hosts the resident artists of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund—shows a very close resemblance. Both were built with butterfly roofs, and a “bi-nuclear” layout so that they could adapt as families grew, essentially creating ‘apartments’ at each end; the master bedroom and master bath in one, and bedrooms, a bathroom, and a playroom at the other, with a kitchen in between.

This idea has since been expanded upon with the Lauck House, by way of a double-height extension built in the ’80s, adding a glassed-in communal area to what would have been the childrens’ side. The 3,800-square-foot home has vertical wood siding both outside and in, flagstone floors, and like the home upon which it was based, a kind of funky rope railing in the living room. It’s currently owned by an architect couple, who purchased it in 2008 an undertook “complete restoration and preservation work.”

 

read more…

 

http://curbed.com/archives/2015/01/15/breuer-lauck-house-princeton-for-sale.php

Down to Earth Farmers Markets | Bedford Corners Real Estate

Leave a reply

DTE-E-Mail-Masthead_(722x126pxl)_(1-14-15)07

Pickle Licious Inspires Winter Cooking with Hearty Recipe;
4 Rotating Vendors Join Saturday’s Delicious Mamaroneck Market;
Ossining Market Hosts Children’s Storytime & Violin by Rachel Alexander
+ MORE

January 15-21, 2015
DowntoEarthMarkets.com
Winter2015Produce
What’s New, In Season, and On Sale This Week
Beet & Goat Cheese Ravioli
Sourced from local farmers
Trotta Foods
Full Line of Both Gluten-Free &
Regular Breads & Baked Goods
Meredith’s Bread
Announcements
Mamaroneck Winter Farmers Market

Please note there is no market scheduled on Saturday, January 24th due to an event at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. We will beOPEN this Saturday, January 17th, so let’s stock up on the delicious foods!

Ossining Winter Farmers Market

Thank you to everyone who visited the new indoor winter farmers market on Opening Day. We had a ball! Here are some of our favorite highlights from the day.
This Saturday, we welcome violin music by Rachel Alexander from 10 am to noon. Also, kids of all ages are invited to gather around for Storytime with Michael Baker and Eimer Mole from 9:30 am to 11:00 am.

Headed to the city? We have markets there, too.

For future events, visit our Down to Earth Markets Event Calendar.

Stay tuned to all market happenings via our Down to Earth Markets Facebook page
and follow us on Instagram and on Twitter @DowntoEarthMkts.

Fresh Sauerkraut, Turkey Sausage, & Potato Dinner Dish by Pickle Licious

Sauerkraut with turkey and potatoes

Fresh Sauerkraut, Turkey Sausage and Potato Dinner Dish

This comforting, one-pot meal takes a shortcut with Pickle Licious’ homemade Sauerkraut. Find them this Saturday at the indoor Ossining Winter Farmers Market. YUM.

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil split
  • 6 ounces ( 2 links) sweet Italian turkey sausage links sliced
  • 3/4 cup 1/2-inch diced red potatoes
  • 1 pint (2 cups) of Pickle Licious fresh sauerkraut
  • 1 small bulb fennel, quartered, cored and thinly sliced
  • 1 small onion, sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seed
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons brown or whole-grain mustard

Preparation

  1. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, turning often, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer the sausage to a cutting board and slice into 1/2-inch pieces. (The sausage will not be thoroughly cooked, but it will continue cooking later.)
  2. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil to the pan and heat over medium heat. Add potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Add sauerkraut (drained without liquid), sliced fennel, onion, garlic powder, fennel seed and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the sauerkraut has wilted slightly, about 3 minutes more.
  3. Add broth, vinegar and mustard. Stir to incorporate the mustard; bring to a simmer. Place the sausage on top of the sauerkraut; cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the sausage is cooked through and the vegetables are tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in chopped fennel fronds and serve.​
Rotating* Vendors This Week
*Vendors who rotate through various markets during the season.
They enjoy getting to know many communities, and here’s where to find them this week:

Mamaroneck – Saturday, January 17th

Calcutta Kitchens
French Press Café (freshly-prepared crepes served warm)
Hudson River Apiaries
OM Champagne Tea (Small batch kombucha made with seasonal ingredients)

Ossining – Saturday, January 17th

OM Champagne Tea
Sisters Wicked Good Soap
Taiim Falafel Shack
Wave Hill Breads

Remodelers See Market Improving | #Chappaqua Real Estate

Leave a reply

NAHB’s Remodeling Market Index (RMI) was 60 in the final quarter of 2014, indicating widespread confidence among remodelers that the market was improving compared to the previous quarter. The RMI and each of its components lies on a scale of 0 to 100, where a number above 50 indicates that more remodelers report market activity has improved (compared to the prior quarter) than report it has deteriorated.

RMI graph 14Q4

The overall RMI averages ratings of current remodeling activity with indicators of future remodeling activity. The current market conditions component of the RMI increased to 60 from 57 in the previous quarter. The readings for all subcomponents, including large additions and small remodels as well as maintenance and repair, also saw increases.

The RMI’s future market conditions index also increased, to 60 from 58 in the previous quarter. All four of its subcomponents—calls for bids, amount of work committed for the next three months, backlog of jobs and appointments for proposals—increased from the previous quarter’s reading.

RMI table 14Q4

The RMI shows that, even with some weakness in existing homes sales and house prices earlier in the year, remodelers remain optimistic that markets are improving as 2014 closes. This is consistent with NAHB’s view that the remodeling market will show gradual improvement going forward.

 

read more…

 

http://eyeonhousing.org/2015/01/remodelers-see-market-improving/

Mortgage Rates drop again | Armonk Real Estate

Leave a reply

Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates falling for the third consecutive week as bond yields continued to drop despite a strong employment report. Averaging 3.66 percent, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is at its lowest level since the week ending May 23, 2013 when it averaged 3.59 percent. This also marks the first time the 15-year fixed rate mortgage has fallen below 3 percent since the week ending May 30, 2013.

News Facts

  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.66 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending January 15, 2014, down from last week when it averaged 3.73 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.41 percent.
  • 15-year FRM this week averaged 2.98 percent with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.05 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.45 percent.
  • 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.90 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.98 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.10 percent.
  • 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.37 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.39 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.56 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 theRegional 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 fell for the third consecutive week as oil prices plummeted and long term treasury yields continued to drop despite a strong employment report. The economy exceeded expectations by adding 252,000 jobs in December which followed an upward revision of 50,000 jobs to the prior two months. The unemployment rate fell to 5.6 percent which was the lowest since June 2008.”

Designing beautiful welcome spots | North Salem #Realtor

Leave a reply

First impressions are lasting impressions. That’s why creating a stylish, yet organized entryway benefits both you and your guests. Such an entryway is more than a simple doorway — it’s a transitional space from the outside world to the comfort of your home.

The entryway also offers visitors the first view of your home, so its significance is greater than its size. Your entryway should reflect your home’s style and create a single point from which all the other rooms flow. Doing a garage door repair is one of the most difficult things to face especially if you are not familiar with technical DIY home repairs. Because garage doors are a combination of complicated electronics, hard-to-understand mechanical workings and hard-to-handle materials, most people shy away from doing these repairs and just leave it to a door technician to fix the job. The problem is, repairing of the doors in your garage might cost you a lot of money. A simple garage door installation already costs close to a thousand dollars, Hiring technicians to repair your door’s simple problems will only add up to your expenses. If you have a door in your garage that does not fully go down when it is closed and it springs right back up before even reaching the ground, the main culprit is usually a misplaced door sensor. A door sensor that is not placed properly will most certainly cause your garage door to do unwarranted acts such as not closing down 100%. To fix this, just place your door sensors a little lower than your current placement. You might also want to check if there are objects and hindrances blocking the sensor because it can also contribute to the said problem. Here at Metro Garage Door Repair, we are committed to providing you with the best affordable service in the Dallas- Fort Worth metro area. You can learn more here about the Dallas garage door repair. Those searching for the best garage door repair in San Diego are in luck because with help from the ADSAutomaticDoorSpecialists, you can ensure that the garage door you use often is able to be used again, or that it is running and working how it should be. Your garage door is used for a multitude of things, and when it is not working then you need to call in someone able to provide help. This help is essential in making sure that the door gets back on track to providing the best way to get in and out of the space you are trying to access. Of course, insulation is one of the biggest issues that homeowners have with their garage doors, and in their homes. Making sure this is taken care of is going to solve a lot of issues that you may currently be dealing with. It is not recommended that you insulate the garage door, as this needs to be lifted to let people and cars come in and out from the garage. When there is insulation or other issues that are stuck to the door of the garage, this is going to cause the door to be weighted down, it can be something to cause distress to the doors. Additionally, it is important that you hire a professional to come in and do the insulating and deal with other factors for your door and the garage. The kits might not recommend the best course of action for you to take. If you use the kits and find that this actually does more harm than good, then it might be best to speak with someone that understands and knows how these garage doors work and how they can provide the help needed.

The function

Realistically, entryways are drop zones. Car keys, purses, grocery bags and backpacks — not to mention mail, cell phones, and shoes, coats and scarves — all end up being set down in this space.

Source: Zillow Digs

Is there a closet for coats, umbrellas and hats? If not, a row of hooks can make a good stand-in, as can an old-fashioned hall tree. Baskets mounted on the wall or set on the floor can hold scarves, gloves and hats. A tall canister will keep umbrellas in one spot.

The storage

A console piece with drawers can work wonders as a charging station, and hold mail, keys, garage door remotes and dog leashes for regular walks.

Source: Zillow Digs

If you ask people to take off their shoes at the door, a chair or bench offers a good landing spot. One with storage space underneath is a good option. In tight spaces, you might look for a stool or an ottoman that can slide away under a console table.

For shoe storage, consider cubbies, under-bench storage or even a set of shelves. A simple metal tray will keep rain- and snow-soaked shoes from ruining the floors beneath.

The flow

Keep adjacent rooms in mind when designing your entryway. This space should set the stage for rooms that are immediately visible and establish the flow for the overall home. Color, furniture styling, lighting and artwork need not be identical, but they should be related.

Source: Zillow Digs

The extras

Once you’ve taken care of the necessities, add the extras that will make your entryway truly yours.

A rug will define the space, especially if the entry is part of a larger space such as a living room. A mirror can make the space seem larger, as well as allow a last-minute visual check before heading out the door.

An entryway is also a great spot for a signature piece of furniture or art, or a series of decorative pieces.

with art

Lamps will give the space a warm touch and add needed lighting. An overhead fixture can make a statement upon entry, or even serve as a different type of artwork. Plants and fresh flowers are always welcome.

read more…

http://www.zillow.com/blog/designing-tidy-stylish-entryway-167811/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ZillowBlog+%28Zillow+Blog%29

Snap Up a Well Done North Haven Flip | #Waccabuc Real Estate

Leave a reply

The brokerbabble for this really lovely flip begins, “Just finished ground up renovation of Captains Manse.” And by “captains manse” we mean “1950s cape,” and by “Just finished ground up renovation” we mean “we shoved assloads of stacked stone everywhere!” All kidding aside, we’re pretty impressed with how stylish the house looks now. It’s been turned from a dowdy three-bed, two-bath to a handsome five bedroom, 4.5 bath house, with 3500sf. The natural materials and copious use of glass keeps the look cohesive, yet modern and airy. We particularly like the interesting lighting. The plot is 0.65 acres, and the original studio has been kept to adjoin the new pool, which is fenced with glass and stacked stone. The place previously sold for $945K; given the quality of the improvements, we don’t think $1.995M is ridiculous.

 

read more…

 

http://hamptons.curbed.com/archives/2015/01/13/snap_up_a_well_done_north_haven_flip_asking_1995m.php

Foreclosure Inventory Fell 36% in November: CoreLogic | South Salem Real Estate

Leave a reply

The number of homes in some stage of foreclosure dropped 36% in November compared to the previous year, according to a report Wednesday from CoreLogic.

The Irvine, Calif.-based data firm said in a press release that roughly 567,000 homes were in foreclosure, compared to 880,000 homes in November 2013.

The number of completed foreclosures fell 10%, to 41,000. Compared to a peak in September 2010, completed foreclosures were down 64%.

“While the national level of foreclosures may normalize in the next two years, there will always be the potential for some pockets of distress in the mortgage market,” said Molly Boesel, a senior economist at CoreLogic, in a press release.

Florida reported the highest number of foreclosures for the 12-month period ending in November, with 118,000 homes completing the process.

 

read more…

 

http://www.nationalmortgagenews.com/news/distressed/foreclosure-inventory-fell-36-in-november-corelogic-1043605-1.html

Billionaire Bachelor Pad with ‘Sex and the City’ Cred Asks $37M | Katonah Real Estate

Leave a reply

 

Location: New York, New York
Price: $37,000,000
Billionaire investor and Pittsburgh Penguins’ co-owner Ron Burkle has put his triplex penthouse in NoHo on the market for$37M, and apart from being pretty jaw-dropping, the place has a very colorful history, as Curbed NY noted. When it was still the event space Sky Studios, it hosted Jerry Seinfeld’s wedding, a birthday party for Chelsea Clinton, and the shoot for that Sex and the City scene where Richard tries to convince Samantha he actually cares about her.

After purchasing the place in 2007 for $17M, Burkle ebarked on the kind of renovation you’d expect from a billionaire with a taste for historic architecture. Curbed NY has arun-down of the specifics, which include things like a “17th Century Dutch Tudor working fireplace” and a “hand carved backlit onyx bar,” as well as a great room with “cast-iron columns, custom wood-coffered and copper-leafed barrel vaulted ceilings.”

On the second floor, there’s a “glass-encased great room with soaring 17’+ ceilings,” which opens out onto a garden with a “sunken fire pit and custom water sculpture.” Up one more level, a bathroom with predictably great views connects to a heated outdoor swimming pool and a “yacht-inspired upper sundeck.” Together, monthly real estate taxes and maintenance fees are over $11K.

 

read more…

 

http://curbed.com/archives/2015/01/14/sky-studios-ron-burkle-penthouse-for-sale.php