Category Archives: Mount Kisco

U.S. Commercial Real Estate Forecast Reveals ‘Modest Optimism’ | Mt Kisco Real Estate

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Industry executives currently have a “modestly optimistic” outlook on the U.S. commercial real estate market, as economic fundamentals show slow yet steady improvement, according to the latest Sentiment Index from The Real Estate Roundtable. However, public policy uncertainties and concerns over a potential rise in interest rates cast doubts on the market’s future.

“Commercial real estate executives are seeing increased interest in transactions outside healthy core markets, but that sliver of good news is mired in anxiety, centered on whether the development of pro-growth policies could fall victim to political gridlock,” says Jeffrey DeBoer, president and CEO of the Real Estate Roundtable.

The company’s survey for the second quarter of 2013 reveals an overall Sentiment Index of 69 – unchanged from the previous quarter and one point lower than in the second quarter of 2012. The overall index score is based on the average of two indices: the Current Conditions Index (which stands at 71, up one point from the previous quarter) and the Future Conditions Index (67, unchanged since the first quarter).

Figures above 50 indicate a positive market trajectory, the Real Estate Roundtable notes. This quarter’s index indicates that senior commercial real estate executives continue to see favorable trends in both values and capital availability in major gateway markets, but remain nervous about how a potential rise in interest rates and political uncertainty could worsen market conditions.

 

 

MortgageOrb: U.S. Commercial Real Estate Forecast Reveals ‘Modest Optimism’.

Update your marketing, or get left behind | Mt Kisco Realtor

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You update your clothing and your technology, but have you updated your marketing? If you’re still using the same old outdated tactics from five, 10 or even 20 years ago, it’s time to freshen up those old approaches with a new look for 2013.

With all the buzz about video, mobile and social media, it’s easy to get caught up in the never-ending chase for the latest shiny new object. On the other hand, it’s also just as easy to become complacent and to keep on doing what you have always done.

The challenge is that if you constantly chase what’s new, you don’t develop consistent systems. On the other hand, if you don’t adapt regularly, you’ll be left behind by the agents who do.

So how can a busy agent like you determine what needs a remake? Here are some useful tips.

1. Real estate is, and always will be, a face-to-face business

Does calling on owners of expired listings, for-sale-by-owners (FSBOs) and door knocking still work? Absolutely! These tried and true techniques that put you in direct contact with owners are as effective today as they were 50 years ago.

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/05/20/update-your-marketing-or-get-left-behind/#sthash.Nw89CfqV.dpuf

 

Update your marketing, or get left behind | Inman News.

How smart photos will change real estate | Mount Kisco Real Estate

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Everything around us is getting smarter.  Phones, cars, televisions, refrigerators, books, thermostats…and maybe even humans.  I find most of these advancements to be very interesting, and quite useful in the daily lives of most people around me.

Photographs, however, are something that I’m particularly interested in watching (and helping) become smarter.

Photos are everywhere; and are certainly at the crux of online real estate, which, in 2012, included 93% of people who sold a home, and 96% of people (under age 44) who bought a home.  Oh, and don’t forget the hundreds of millions of people who visit real estate websites each month.

Today

Recently, a company called ‘Stipple’ has been making some noise in the image monetization and social shopping arena.  They allow businesses to create content and messaging within an image (without widgets or code), and then analyze & track the interaction with the data inside that image.

As it pertains to real estate, I think Stipple provides a viable strategy to those professionals who are active in distributing (quality) visual content across the web.  You can share a link, or better yet, embed the photo into your social pages, blog or website.

Here is an example, using a real estate photo as the context.  Take a look at the picture…and then the tweet that I’ve embedded with the same photo after it was “Stippled”.  Stipple has actually implemented Twitter Cards (which I wrote about in a previous post) which allows you to view and interact with the photo, directly within the twitter feed.

In addition, check out some of the analytical tools that come with Stipple:

stippled-photo-49486160

Check out this beautiful home in Statesville, North Carolina (stipple.com/photos/49486160) — Jeff Nieto (@jeffnieto) Click Here to view the Stippled Tweet

stippled-photo-49514930

In The Future

While products like Stipple are innovative, and quite fascinating; they are admittedly built for e-commerce, photographers, and bloggers.

There’s no question that real estate professionals can leverage these type of tools today.  However, I think there is more to offer the industry when it comes to intelligent photographs.

In addition to what exists, here are some high points on how I think smart photos can provide additional value to real estate professionals AND consumers:

  • Determine and embed which room/view a photograph is displaying.
  • Identify and attach the “features” of a photograph (i.e. granite countertops, 10 foot ceilings, etc).
  • Embed contact information, bios, and videos from the appropriate listing agent.
  • Allow consumers to search & discover using the embedded data.
  • Compile the data within the photographs that are interacted with; and provide summary analytics and “intelligence” to the consumer and their agent.

If the data is embedded and used appropriately, consumers should be able to enjoy a more enhanced (and effective) search.  Furthermore, real estate agents would be able to market properties strategically, while learning specifics about their listings and customers.

 

How smart photos will change real estate | Inman News.

Renters are facing a housing squeeze | Mount Kisco Real Estate

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From 2008 to 2011, renters’ housing costs increased almost 6%, while their income fell 3.2% according to the Center for Housing Policy. More than 26% of working renters spent at least half their income on housing in 2011, up from about 23% in 2008, writes Bloomberg Businessweek.

One reason: There just aren’t enough affordable rental units to go around. In 2010, there were 5.1 million more low-income families than there were affordable units.

Renters are facing a housing squeeze | HousingWire.

Mobile Marketing, How to Get Started | Mt Kisco Realtor

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Do you use mobile marketing for business?

Are you wondering how to get started?

To learn how mobile marketing and social connect, I interview Jamie Turner for this episode of the Social Media Marketing podcast.

More About This Show

Social Media Marketing Podcast w/ Michael Stelzner

The Social Media Marketing podcast is a show from Social Media Examiner.

It’s designed to help busy marketers and business owners discover what works with social media marketing.

The show format is on-demand talk radio (also known as podcasting).

In this episode, I interview Jamie Turner, co-author of the book Go Mobile. His blog, the 60 Second Marketer is ranked as one of the top 10 marketing blogs by Social Media Examiner. He also runs a social media and mobile marketing agency called 60 Second Communications.

Jamie shares how to start with mobile marketing and why you should pay more attention to mobile customers.

You’ll learn what tools to use and the difference between mobile websites and mobile apps.

Share your feedback, read the show notes and get the links mentioned in this episode below!

Listen Now

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

You can also subscribe via iTunes, RSS, Stitcher or Blackberry.

Here are some of the things you’ll discover in this show:

Mobile Marketing

Why marketers should pay more attention to mobile customers

Jamie states that 15-50% of the people who visit your website come in from a mobile device and this number will continue to grow.

When consumers visit your website from a mobile device, you need to be there to meet them, understand mobile marketing and know how to connect with customers on mobile.

You’ll have to learn how to use mobile, as it’s a way to build a bridge between you and your customer.

standard mobile

Make sure you’re mobile-ready.

You’ll discover how more people check prices on their mobile devices while shopping and what you need to provide them to make sure they buy from you.

And you’ll hear that when people buy a product on mobile devices, particularly tablet computers, their total ticket price is typically higher than it is via a desktop computer.

It’s important to be mobile-ready—not only for B2C but for B2B too.

Listen to the show to find out how many people bought a virtual ticket on a smartphone while attending Social Media Marketing World.

Is there a social media connection when it comes to mobile marketing?

Jamie sees email as a social media tool. Sixty-seven percent of all “C-level” executives check their emails from their mobile devices. The better-known tools being LinkedIn,Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

We all need mobile websites. Remember when consumers visit your site, one of the prominent things you want to do is give them the ability to connect with you on social media platforms from their mobile device.

You’ll hear Jamie give a great example of how you can use LinkedIn on a mobile device in a business environment.

 

Mobile Marketing, How to Get Started | Social Media Examiner.

Fannie, Freddie and FHA shrinking REO inventories | Mount Kisco Real Estate

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Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA had 189,529 homes in their real estate owned (REO) inventories at the end of March — a 9 percent drop from a year ago and a decline of nearly 36 percent from the 2010 peak,  financial blogger Bill McBride reports.

Other institutions — portfolio lenders and loan servicers who collect payments on “private-label” mortgage-backed securities (MBS) — also have stockpiles of REOs, but those inventories are declining, too, McBride says. Source: calculatedriskblog.com.

 

 

 

Fannie, Freddie and FHA shrinking REO inventories | Inman News.

Mt Kisco Sales Up 8.6% | Median Price Up 50% | RobReportBlog

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Mt Kisco NY Real Estate ReportRobReportBlog
20136 months ending 5/142012
25Sales23
$630,000.00median sold price$418,000.00
$325,000.00low sold price$275,000.00
$3,950,000.00high sold price$1,475,000.00
3188average size2359
$288.00ave. price per foot$239.00
232ave days on market214
$1,055,437.00average sold price$549,706.00
94.59%ave sold to ask93.96%

 

Mt Kisco Sales Up 8.6% | Median Price Up 50% | RobReportBlog.

Forget Lowballing: Bidding Wars Return in Hot Housing Markets | Mt Kisco Real Estate

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Are buyers being manipulated into overbidding for the relatively few attractive homes on the market?
Earlier this year, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) announced that the number of homes for sale in the U.S. had reached a low not seen since 1999. More homes have hit the market since then, but Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, said in March that in many areas around the nation, the inventory of homes for sale is unlikely to keep up with the number of interested buyers.
“Buyer traffic is 40% above a year ago, so there is plenty of demand but insufficient inventory to improve sales more strongly. We’ve transitioned into a seller’s market in much of the country,” said Yun. “We expect a seasonal rise of inventory this spring, but it may be insufficient to avoid more frequent incidences of multiple bidding and faster-than-normal price growth.
Bidding wars have been commonplace in Connecticut this spring, especially for mid-range properties ($300K to $600K), reports the Hartford Courant. Buyers are reportedly frustrated by “the slow trickle of new listings,” and “they are ready to pounce,” according to a local realtor, when an attractive property in their price range comes onto the market.
Bidding wars have also been popping up in cities such as Denver, where half of new homes on the market have been selling in under 30 days. CNN Money recently noted that nine in 10 homes in hot markets in northern and southern California have attracted bidding wars, as have at least two-thirds of properties in Boston, New York City, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. “The only question is not whether a new listing will get multiple bids but how many it will get,” one agent in the Sacramento area explained.

 

Forget Lowballing: Bidding Wars Return in Hot Housing Markets | Mt Kisco Real Estate | Bedford NY Real Estate | Robert Paul Talks Life in Bedford NY.

As Home Prices Rise, Consumer ‘Wealth Effect’ May Be Smaller | Mt Kisco Real Estate

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The “wealth effect” is a term coined by economists to describe consumers’ tendency to spend more when their wealth has increased. It spurred the U.S. economy forward for decades as the market value of homes rose. It was easy for Americans to take out new mortgages and pocket the proceeds for trips to the mall or a second car. The equity extracted through these mortgages, known as cash-out refinancings, rose from $26 billion in 2000 to $321 billion in 2006. Home-equity loans, which do not require a new mortgage, also fueled the frenzy. Economists figured that every dollar increase in housing wealth produced an extra 3¢ to 5¢ in spending.
Home prices are rising again, but the wealth effect “is much smaller,” says Amir Sufi, a professor of finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Sufi reckons that each dollar gain in housing wealth today may yield as little as 1¢ in extra spending. U.S. Department of Commerce data show that consumer spending has grown at a 2.1 percent annual rate since the recession’s end, down from a 3.2 percent average for the 20 years before the slump.
Consumers now see their homes less as a piggy bank to be tapped and more as a nest egg to be secured. More homeowners are paying down the principal and shortening the maturities of mortgages. Cash-in refinancings, in which borrowers invest more of their own money in the house, outnumbered cash-outs by more than 2 to 1 in the fourth quarter, according to Freddie Mac (FMCC).

 

 

As Home Prices Rise, Consumer ‘Wealth Effect’ May Be Smaller | Mt Kisco Real Estate | Bedford NY Real Estate | Robert Paul Talks Life in Bedford NY.

Lower credit scores disappear from housing market: Fed governor | Mt Kisco Homes

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Originations for borrowers with credit scores below 620 mostly disappeared in recent years, eliminating low credit scores from the housing market, Elizabeth Duke, member of the Board of Governors for the Federal Reserve System, said while speaking at the Housing Policy Executive Council.

Previously, Duke said, “Borrowers with lower credit scores have typically represented a significant segment of first-time homebuyers.”

Between 2007 and 2012, originations for borrowers with a credit score between 620 and 680 tumbled nearly 90%, compared to a 30% drop for borrowers with a score greater than 780.

Meanwhile, the median credit score skyrocketed from 730 in 2007 to a whopping 770 in 2013.

With few lending channels, borrowers have turned to mortgages insured or guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration, the Department of Veteran Affairs and theRural Housing Service, Duke said.

As a result, the share of purchase mortgages guaranteed or insured by the FHA, the VA, or the RHS escalated from 5% in 2006 to more than 40% in 2011.

 

Lower credit scores disappear from housing market: Fed governor | HousingWire.