Category Archives: Bedford

Solar energy gets boost with New York state funding | Bedford Real Estate

Leave a reply

New York’s solar energy capacity is getting an upgrade with $54 million announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo for 79 solar projects across the state to help reduce stress on the electric grid.

The competitive funding is part of the governor’s NY-Sun initiative working to make the state a leader in solar energy by addressing climate change and boosting clean energy technologies.

“The investments we are making in solar power will help businesses around the state control and reduce their utility expenses, while increasing the amount of electricity the state gets from renewable energy and reducing demand on the electric grid,” saidFrancis Murray, CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

The Capital Region is expected to have 10 sites that will house solar energy projects including Raymour & Flanigan stores in Clifton Park and Niskayuna. The other eight sites are to be determined.

The awards were administered by NYSERDA to 20 recipients to finance the solar energy projects that will be located in 26 counties. The sites themselves would use the solar power to drop electricity usage.

The projects are expected to add up to 64 megawatts to the state’s solar capacity. One megawatt is equal to one million watts of power. Most of the projects should be finished by the first half of next year, Cuomo said.

“Not only will these projects benefit our environment by reducing dependence on fossil fuels and using renewable energy, but they are also creating well-paying jobs for New Yorkers,” Cuomo said in a statement.

 

Solar energy gets boost with New York state funding – The Business Review.

Healthier Swimming in Gorgeous Natural Pools | Bedford Real Estate

Leave a reply

The Natural Way to Cool Off

Swimming can be great exercise and a lot of fun, not to mention an exciting sport at the Olympics. But the chlorine used in most pools can have some negative side effects, not the least of which is reliance on toxic (and finicky) chemicals.

Chlorine’s damaging effects on hair are well known, but few people realize that a number of studies have linked inhalation of the chemical by swimmers to increased asthma rates (in fact a new Irish study published this April reported a significant link between the number of years a boy had been swimming and the likelihood of the child being wheezy in the past year.) A Norwegian study also documented an increased risk of wheezing among children who swim in pools before 6 months of age. Further, in an unpleasant reaction, pee and sweat in water can react with chlorine to form toxic breakdown products known as chloramines.

For health, environmental and aesthetic reasons, a lot of people have expressed interest in alternatives to chlorine pools, and luckily there are more and more options to get wet without smelling like cleaning products. A company called TechnoPure offers alternative pool systems that treat water by pumping it through a chamber containing coated titanium plates and copper and zinc ions. The units cost a relatively affordable $5,500. DEL Ozone makes ozone injectors that can reduce the need for chlorine up to 90% — there’s been one installed at the White House for years! Some systems rely on a combination of ozone and copper and silver ions, while others are saline, though saltwater pools result in the formation of chlorine in the water.

One elegant, eco-friendly solution that has had enthusiastic supporters in Europe for decades is the so-called natural swimming pool, which is slowly beginning to gain buzz in the U.S. Natural swimming pools, often called swimming ponds across the Atlantic, can be beautiful oases of greenery and sustainability, as well as safe, fun places to take a dip.

 

Healthier Swimming in Gorgeous Natural Pools – MSN Living.

Enjoy Fresh Family Fun This Weekend At Hilltop Hanover Farm | Bedford Homes

Leave a reply

Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center in Yorktown Heights has several ways to help you keep busy – and healthy – this weekend.

Here’s what’s going on at the center, which is located at 1271 Hanover St.

Farm Stand – Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The farm stand is open throughout the summer and fall. All produce is grown on the farm without the use of pesticides, synthesized fertilizers or herbicides. Check the website weekly for available produce.

U-Pick – Saturdays from 10 a.m. to  4 p.m. (weather permitting) Enjoy harvesting your own vegetables, herbs and flowers throughout the summer and fall. Pay for your
produce at farm stand.

Couples Cooking – Friday, July 19 at 7 p.m. in Barn F. Join author Carol Lake for an evening of cooking and fun with your partner or friend and learn how to make delicious cheese and healthy new recipes.  Bring a bottle of wine and enjoy the dinner together. The fee is $75 per couple and registration is online only.

 

Enjoy Fresh Family Fun This Weekend At Hilltop Hanover Farm | The Bedford Daily Voice.

Bedford sales up 17% – Prices down 2.5% | RobReportBlog | Bedford Real Estate

Leave a reply
Bedford Village NY Real Estate ReportRobReportBlog
20136 months ending 7/52012
40Sales34
$887,500.00median sold price$910,250.00
$370,000.00low sold price$450,000.00
$8,200,000.00high sold price$4,750,000.00
3419average size4133
$388.00ave. price per foot$313.00
189ave days on market217
$1,326,444.00average sold price$1,355,990.00
93.37%ave sold to ask93.26%

 

 

Bedford sales up 17% – Prices down 2.5% | RobReportBlog | Bedford Real Estate.

Area vacation rental market fueled by renovations | Bedford NY Real Estate

Leave a reply

As anyone travelling the roads or eating in the restaurants of Beaufort County knows, the summer tourism season in the Lowcountry is off to a great start. According to the Hilton Head Island/Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, occupancy for vacation rental homes and villas is up strongly year to date on the island, outperforming national averages. The some 7,000 properties that rent short-term on Hilton Head are seeing the benefits of an improving national economy, rising consumer confidence and manageable gasoline and travel prices. You can learn about houses for sale in beaufort sc on this site.

Homeowners are getting on board and choosing to ride the wave of renovation momentum sweeping Hilton Head. They are improving their rental properties to keep pace with area hotels and resorts that are investing tens of millions of dollars of capital on upgrades. By doing so, these hotels, resorts and property owners are showing their bullishness about the future of Hilton Head travel and tourism (source: https://www.junglevistainn.com/).

Now is the perfect time to get in the game and purchase a vacation rental property and renovate it. Buyers that have recently purchased outdated properties are seeing almost immediate appreciation with renovations to the kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms. This also helps owners gain a competitive advantage on rental revenues as today’s visitors are looking to rent these upgraded properties.

Your personal goals and objectives for purchasing a vacation rental property are the first things to consider. Make a list of your priorities, including your desired location, the ideal size, budget for purchase and for renovations, rental income expectations, how often you intend to use the property and whether you will retire there or eventually sell it. Be sure to choose a local Realtor who is experienced with vacation rental properties.

Next, be sure to consult your accountant and lawyer so that you fully understand the tax and insurance requirements, tax benefits, how to structure your mortgage loan, whether or not to set up an LLC and even if it might make sense for you to purchase a property out of your IRA. Getting these details worked out at the beginning of the vacation rental purchase process will make things much easier as you look for the perfect property.

Consult with a vacation rental expert early in the process. The expert can help with rental projections and great ideas for upgrades and renovations that will pay for themselves over time. Choose a professional rental management company that offers 24 hour reservation service and that can market your property effectively on the internet using social, local and mobile platforms. Your rental manager should employ housekeepers and maintenance technicians that are consistently assigned to your property for the best quality service.

Your management company should be partnered with local merchants and activities in order to give special discounts and deals exclusive to its’ owners and guests. Working with a local Realtor experienced with vacation rentals and employing a good rental manager can make vacation home ownership easy, allowing you and your family to enjoy the benefits for years to come.

Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/2013/07/07/2311903/reset-rental-marketing-strategy.html#storylink=cpy

Area vacation rental market fueled by renovations | Real Estate | The Island Packet.

Shadow of student loans could hurt housing market as graduates swim in debt | Bedford NY Real Estate

Leave a reply

Amanda Tappan, 21, tries her best to save money. She shares an apartment with four roommates, pays off her credit card each month, and drives between odd jobs in her used Chevy Cavalier.

But when she graduates next month from the University of South Florida, she won’t be spending that money, or her early career wages, on buying a home. Instead, that money will go straight toward her $16,000 in student loans.

“It was so easy to get a student loan. … But then two years later, it was like, ‘Why did I do that?’ ” Tappan said. “I want to have most of my debt gone before I even think about buying a house.”

The young marketing and management student is one of 38 million Americans who face a staggering $1 trillion in student loans, more than people nationwide owe on car loans or credit cards.

So instead of buying their first home after graduation, those educated debtors are running the other way, stoking worries that the massive debt could block many from the housing market just as it begins to rebuild.

For decades, young hopefuls like Tappan were one of the housing market’s most dependable fuels. Young families and new buyers bought starter homes en masse, allowing sellers to move up into better homes.

But over the past decade, as the recession zapped jobs and student debt quadrupled, young buyers have started to stay away. First-time buyers have traditionally bought 40 percent of the homes on the market, National Association of Realtors data show. In May, their market share plunged to 28 percent.

Americans paying off student loans are, depending on income, 25 to 36 percent less likely to own a home than those who are free of student debt, a One Wisconsin Now survey of 61,000 people found last month. Indebted graduates faced an average of 21 years of debt before their student loans were paid off.

In Florida, more than half of the state’s Class of 2011 graduated with an average of $23,000 in debt, Institute for College Access & Success data show. That’s a little less than the average indebted American graduate who owes $27,000. Students at some local schools face an even weightier anchor. At the private University of Tampa, 58 percent of graduates flipped their tassels with an average debt of $31,000.

Student debt eats up first-time buyers’ savings accounts, typically their first choice for making down payments. It stops them from qualifying for mortgages under banks’ tight debt-to-income demands.

And it can discourage them from taking on new expenses. Students said they’ll be forging into the chaotic working world already making hundreds of dollars a month in loan payments. Who has the confidence to add another bill, especially a big one like a mortgage?

Christa Hegedus, a USF St. Petersburg junior, said she expects to graduate into an unforgiving job market with nearly $10,000 in debt, despite her two scholarships.

“I have friends who graduated with thousands and thousands of dollars in debt, and they’re working at a restaurant,” said Hegedus, who wants to be a state senator. “I don’t know how anyone could do it and expect to buy a house.”

Shadow of student loans could hurt housing market as graduates swim in debt | Tampa Bay Times.

Pharrell Williams Drops Price on Miami Penthouse | Bedford Real Estate

Leave a reply

Pharrell Williams is a producer, fashion designer, rapper and collaborator, but don’t add real estate guru to his resume quite yet. His 40th-floor penthouse just received another price cut, dropping the listing down to $10.9 million. Williams first listed the glassy pad in November 2012 and seems keen to dump the place as soon as possible; he already slashed the price from $16.8 million to $13.999 million in January.

Williams bought the 9,000-square-foot duplex at 2127 Brickell Ave, Apt 4000, Miami, FL 33129 for $12.525 million in 2007 and set about making it his own, filling the loft-like space with his extensive modern art and furniture collection.

He described the modern home as living in a “reverse fishbowl,” a home that had uninterrupted views of Miami and Biscayne Bay, but no one could see him.

The 5-bedroom, 6.5-bath home has terraces, its own swimming pool and a second-level “summer kitchen.”

While his penthouse has been on the market, Williams has kept busy, producing and collaborating with Daft Punk for their hit “Get Lucky,” as well as producing the “Despicable Me 2″ soundtrack.

The listing is held by Jill Hertzberg of Coldwell Banker.

 

Pharrell Williams Drops Price on Miami Penthouse | Zillow Blog.

How the Weather Can Save You Money | Bedford Real Estate

Leave a reply

Some summertime savings could be headed your way as new energy projections show a decrease in electric bills this summer, The Wall Street Journal reports.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average household will pay $395 for electricity in June, July and August, a solid 2.5-percent decrease from last summer. Assuming these projections hold true, this will be the third summer in a row with lower electrical spending.

But unlike the last two summers, this drop in bills has nothing to do with lower electricity rates. Lower temperatures are the reason Americans use less air conditioning and pocket some extra cash. After three blistering summers, government forecasters are saying that this summer’s temperatures will align more with the average levels.

Since air conditioning is the main culprit for larger electricity bills in the summer, households can turn off their AC units and find other ways to cool off homes, causing the average usage to fall by a projected 4.6 percent.

Take advantage of the lower temperatures and bills! Enjoy the outdoors by gardening or grilling, or just relaxing with a good book.

 

How the Weather Can Save You Money | Zillow Blog.

Whither real estate market as interest rates rise? | Bedford Real Estate

Leave a reply

Wouldn’t you know it? There are still buyers wondering if now is the time to buy a home. Now, when inventory is extremely low, mortgage interest rates are starting to rise and home prices have seen huge price jumps in many markets.

And yet there are some who believe there may be a price advantage to waiting a few more months, until we get into the fall and even winter season. But more on that in a moment.

There’s no question that the real estate market is healthier than it has been in years, but the headlines aren’t quite giving consumers the whole story. While existing home sales, new construction sales and home prices are trending up, they are still below their prerecession peaks, noted Amy Crews Cutts, senior vice president and chief economist for Equifax.

Single family housing starts are still down around 60 percent from the prerecession peak, while existing home sales are still down about 38 percent and prices are down roughly 20 percent.

“Even with large percentage gains in housing measures, all major indices of housing market vitality point to a long recovery yet to come,” she said in a live webinar on the housing market hosted by Ilyce. (Full disclosure: Ilyce also serves as the managing editor for the Equifax Finance Blog.)

What’s keeping the housing market depressed isn’t a lack of buyers but a lack of inventory. There simply aren’t enough houses to buy. Home builders can’t build homes fast enough: There aren’t enough building materials in some communities, and others are experiencing a shortage of construction workers.

This lack of inventory is starting to push up prices and is making the market move much more quickly, noted Steve Cook, editor of Real Estate Economy Watch, and the former head of public affairs for the National Association of Realtors.

 

Whither real estate market as interest rates rise? – chicagotribune.com.

Staggering Luxury in the Wilds of the Desert Starts at $7M | Bedford NY Real Estate

Leave a reply

Screen%20Shot%202013-06-26%20at%206.52.13%20PM.png

Location: Canyon Point, Utah
Price: Starting at $7,000,000
The Skinny: The Aman family of hotels is known for extreme luxury and breathtaking natural beauty, and its second property in the United States, theAmangiri, is no different. Located on 600 private acres in the deserts of southern Utah, not far from Lake Powell, the Amangiri is all about isolation. Well, isolation and pampering, with a 25,000-square-foot spa, a swimming pool integrated into the surrounding rock, a salon, yoga studio, guided hiking excursions, and even hot air balloon flights. The resort opened in 2009 with plans for 36 privately-owned villas designed by starchitect Annabelle Selldorf, with pricing starting at $7M. That amount buys a 5,100-square-foot spread on 1.3 acres. Not much, considering the price tag, but given that many buyers will probably be arriving to this remote location by private jet, price probably isn’t much of an issue.

 

Staggering Luxury in the Wilds of the Desert Starts at $7M – House of the Day – Curbed National.