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Bedford Corners NY

Miami’s Old Trolleys Used To Go Everywhere, Like The Beach | Bedford Corners Homes

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Yesterday, WLRN interviewed historian Dr. Paul George about Miami’s surprisingly extensive trolley system of the 1920s and 30s, which at its peak stretched from Coral Gables to Miami Beach and Buena Vista. (today’s Midtown/Design District) But in the late 30s and 40s it was already considered outmoded, and in the way of the private car, which was the real “wave of the future”. So, City leaders ripped all the tracks out and replaced the trolleys with buses that went faster and weren’t ‘fixed’ to a track. One of the old trolley cars is on display at HistoryMiami. Now, 80 or or so years later, we’re trying to put it back, or at least rebuild the portion that went over the MacArthur Causeway, with Baylink. Ironic, isn’t it? Listen to the whole radio segment over on WLRN.

The Ten Most Insanely Expensive Houses in the Hamptons | Bedford Corners NY Homes

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squabble%20lane.jpg [Squabble Lane can be yours for a mere $45.5M]

Ah, the Hamptons, where a crummy teardown shack can cost you $8 million. None of the houses on our list are crummy teardown shacks, but some of them are definitely overpriced. $75 million for non-oceanfront property? Good luck with that. $65 million for six acres in North Haven? Sorry, not even if the seller (a Mr. Richard Gere) personally massages our feet every night for a year. Cody House, the most expensive property on the list, is also available at a money-saving $50 million with fewer acres. We left the $48 million Wooldon Manor off the list as it is currently in contract, proof that if you don’t ridiculously overprice your property, you can sell it quickly.

 

 

 

One of New York City’s Greatest Townhouses Asks $46M | Bedford Corners Real Estate

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Location: New York, N.Y. Price: $46,000,000 The Skinny: This 40-foot-wide Neoclassic French townhouse on Manhattan’s Upper East Side possesses a level of grace, charm, and sophistication that only a residence custom-built for a woman who redesigned the White House Rose Garden for her friend Jacqueline Kennedy could achieve. Bunny Mellon (famed horticulturist, member of the International Best Dressed List, granddaughter of the inventor of Listerine) and her husband Paul (heir to the Mellon banking fortune, one of five national designated “Exemplars of Racing”) had the 11,000-square-foot, 14-room mansion built in 1965, to—and this is something of an understatement—exacting standards. The house, which features three exposures, and a garden with a reflecting pool, last sold in 2006 for $22.5M and now finds itself back on the market for $46M, because sure, why not. Thankfully, not much seems to have changed, save, perhaps, an updated kitchen, since the Mellons’ heyday.

‘Quintessential,’ Yet Curious, Palm Beach Manse Asks $30M | Bedford Corners Real Estate

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Location: Palm Beach, Fla. Price: $30,000,000 The Skinny: The details surrounding this “quintessential Palm Beach” mansion are sparse. It was built in 1926 by Marion Syms Wyeth, a favored architect of Palm Springs’ gilded age. After that, there’s a pretty big gap in its history until 2004, when it was purchased for $8.8M by an LLC-shielded buyer. The new owner restored the 17,000-square-foot palace and just yesterday put it back on the market for $30M. And that’s about it. There are only five listing photos, which surely don’t tell the whole story, but the story that they do tell is ridiculous: the house looks like the kind of place that a fictional drug lord would have lived in in the ’80s (especially with the enormous privacy hedges). C’mon, there are at least four winged lion statues.

What’s LEED All About, Anyway? | Bedford Corners Real Estate

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How can you tell the difference between houses that look environmentally friendly and ones that actually are? Home certifications can help. Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is just one certification that helps all sectors of the home-building industry use some of the best methods of sustainable design and construction.
Your first two questions about certification are likely going to be, “What’s in it for me? and “How much is this going to cost?” Let’s look at some of the basics.

modern by Butler Armsden Architects

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Benefits of LEED Certification
The benefits touch everyone involved. For the homeowner a voluntary certification like LEED for homes increases accountability for quality checks on the construction site, therefore decreasing the frequency of costly mistakes. Plus, according to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED-certified homes use on average 20 to 30 percent less energy and water, with some homes reporting up to 60 percent less energy use than a home built to meet code minimums.
In addition to the decrease in monthly utility bills, many states and cities have tax breaks and incentives for environmentally friendly construction. While the LEED rating itself doesn’t address individual incentives, the requirements often overlap. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy has a searchable Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency. You and your project team can look up federal and state incentives to give your budget a little boost.
Finally, if you ever need to sell your home, you can ask for a higher price for a LEED home than similar houses on the market. One study in California, for example, showed an 8 to 9 percent increase in the market value of green-certified homes.
Meanwhile, any builders wanting to set themselves apart should consider learning how to build according to LEED requirements. Most agree that there is a steep learning curve, but with more than 100,000 home units certified in the U.S. (and many more in the pipeline), it could set an experienced business even further apart from the crowd or help a new business leap ahead. The same goes for designers who want to show clients that they can be creative even within environmental parameters.
Costs of LEED Certification It’s difficult to pinpoint an exact percentage increase in construction costs that you are likely to see with a LEED home. It depends on what you are comparing it to. In an apples-to-apples comparison with a high-quality, uncertified construction that follows best-practice guidelines, the cost difference is hardly noticeable: maybe 2 to 5 percent higher).
In a comparison with the average home on the market that just meets the minimum building codes (apples to oranges in this little fruit metaphor), the percentage would be much higher: maybe 20 percent.
contemporary exterior by Shades Of Green Landscape Architecture

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By earning points in eight categories, the finished house can achieve one of these ratings:

  • Platinum (90 to 136 points)
  • Gold (75 to 89 points)
  • Silver (60 to 74 points)
  • Certified (45 to 59 points)

Whether you are in the market for a LEED home or looking to build one yourself, understanding what goes into these scoring categories can help you formulate your questions for your real estate agent or home builder.
1. Innovation and Design Process (ID)
Points available: 11
Points earned for: Making sure that the home is sustainable, durable and cost efficient, with a well-rounded approach to the design.
Things to keep in mind: This category of credits is meant to see if you really mean it — if you really want to build a sustainable home or if you’re just looking for a quick certification. The lesson: Plan early and plan often. You need to get your project team on the same page as soon as possible and make sure that every professional involved is willing to use the best methods, rather than the easiest methods.
The design of your home should be integrated with the selection of your team. It should take into consideration the path of the sun and the use of solar heat to reduce consumption. The home should also be durable and high quality, not only to last you through the years, but also to provide a good base for whatever the future of building technology may hold.
2. Location and Linkages (LL)
Points available: 10
Points earned for: Selecting a sustainable location for your home. To be truly green, you must try to use an existing infrastructure.

Homeowners motivated by rising prices | Bedford Corners Real Estate

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Analysts toss around the word bubble like it’s free money. But what does the term actually mean? While there is no clear answer, the classic 2004 housing bubble paper composed by Karl Case and Robert Schiller describes their version of a bubble:

Per CNBC:

We believe that in its widespread use the term refers to a situation in which excessive public expectations of future price increases cause prices to be temporarily elevated. First-time homebuyers may also worry during a housing bubble that if they do not buy now, they will not be able to afford a home later.

Following this definition, the article suggests we are not far from a bubble.

People buying homes are citing future price increases as one of the “key factors” motivating them to buy. The most recent survey by the real-estate company Redfin found that almost one third of buyers are motivated by rising prices.

 

 

http://www.housingwire.com/articles/print/26800-homeowners-motivated-by-rising-prices

Westchester Opens Commuter Parking Lots For New Haven Line Riders | Bedford Corners Real Estate

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Four temporary parking areas will be set up to provide people who normally ride Metro-North’s New Haven Line access to trains on the Harlem Line and to the subway, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino announced Sunday.

Service on the New Haven Line in Fairfield County has been substantially reduced due to a power outage that arose Wednesday. Repairs are currently underway by Con Edison.

Connecticut riders looking for an alternate route to New York City can try out the four park-and-ride lots. The lots are free and offer a total of 8,600 additional parking spaces along with access to trains and the subway. Here are the locations:

  • The garage at 8 E. 153rd St. near Yankee Stadium will have 1,500 parking space and allow walking access to Yankees-East 153rd Street Station on the Hudson Line Service.
  • Orchard Beach at Pelham Bridge Road/Shore Road and Orchard Beach Road will offer 5,000 parking spaces and a free shuttle to Pelham Bay Park’s #6 Subway.
  • Rye Playland will offer 1,500 parking spots and a bus to the White Plains Station on the Harlem Line. The free bus trip is about 10 miles.
  • Kensico Dam at Park Drive West in Valhalla  will offer 600 parking places and a bus to the North White Plains Station for Harlem Line Service. The bus trip is about a mile.

The parking areas will be open at 4:30 a.m. daily and shuttle buses will start running at 5 a.m. Shuttle bus service will continue throughout the day, the county said. The focus will be on the morning and evening commute, and the schedule will be assessed daily, Astorino said.

“The disruption of service on the New Haven line has caused tremendous inconvenience to thousands of commuters,” Astorino said. “Westchester County government immediately reached out to Metro-North to offer our assistance in making additional parking, buses and other resources available to help get New Haven line commuters to work as quickly and easily as possible.”

The parking lot at Playland, where the amusement park has closed for the season, has spaces for 1,500 cars.  At Kensico Dam Park, parking can be established for up to 600 cars by using the grass field.

The county will be reimbursed by Metro-North for its costs, Astorino said.

Play Tricks With Color in Your All-White Room | Bedford Corners Real Estate

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ith so many colorful options for materials and paint these days, all-white spaces can feel stark and sterile for some of us. But there’s an easy compromise for color lovers who still appreciate the crisp feeling of white: Add a splash of color. Sticking to one consistent, bold color in white rooms creates a statement that can’t be missed. From master bedrooms to kitchens, all-white rooms make the perfect canvases for a pop of originality.

eclectic living room by Tara Seawright

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Accent with your favorite color. You’ve taken a bold leap into all-white decor, painting the walls, floor and furniture white. But don’t stop there. Add a few splashes of your favorite color around the room, and watch your space come alive. Try to spread out your accents: The more spots of color you use, the more the eye will wander around the room.
modern bedroom by Neslihan Pekcan/Pebbledesign

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Focus on wall art. Stark white walls, sheer white fabrics and sleek white furniture make this space feel like a luxury hotel room, but it’s the picture on the wall that immediately catches your attention.
Take a risk and hang a favorite, colorful piece of art on a single wall in your all-white room. Hunt for something big and bold at your local galleries and studio tours, online art vendors, antique shops and even thrift stores.
rustic bedroom by Jill Sorensen

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Paint your furniture. Painting furniture is an easy and affordable way to instantly update a room. This room glows in all white, but the punchy turquoise dresser adds cheer to the serene space.
Experiment with something affordable, like a funky piece you found at a local garage sale. A gallon of colorful paint and some new hardware is all you need to create an instant conversation piece.
Diary of a dresser makeover
eclectic dining room by Jeanette Lunde

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Embrace natural finishes. The painted furniture look doesn’t suit all of us — especially if you want to preserve your antique or inherited furniture. Simply let your furniture’s natural wood finish stand out on its own; the warm hue works just like a splash of bold color. Here, this beautiful corner cabinet steals the show, anchoring the room with its natural cherry finish.
traditional kitchen by Cheryl Scrymgeour Designs

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Play with fabric. I love the look of white kitchens, but sometimes they can feel too plain and devoid of personality. It’s easy to add style without switching out any major materials. This kitchen does a great job of playing with blues in the soft window treatment, upholstered barstools and counter accents for a cohesive look.
modern kitchen by Tara Seawright

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Paint your ceiling. Can’t figure out where to put a splash of color in your all-white room? Look up! Paint your ceiling for a fresh, new look.
This vibrant canary yellow ceiling makes the entire room come alive. This paint application would work with just about any hue, but be careful when you choose your sheen. A glossy finish may reflect light around the room too much; a matte or eggshell finish may work better.
modern dining room by Polly

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Highlight staple furniture pieces. Matching white chairs would’ve made this all-white room look too washed out. I love how this homeowner took a different approach and selected bold chairs that instantly set this design apart. If you’re ready to embrace this style, using a bright red hue like this will turn your white space into an instant showstopper.

Borrowers face difficulties qualifying for a mortgage | Bedford Corners Real Estate

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Three out of 10 Americans are unlikely to qualify for a mortgage, despite historically low interest rates and levels of affordability not seen in years, data from Zillow (Z) revealed.

Zillow looked at 13 million loan quotes and more than 225,000 purchase loan requests on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace in September, comparing them to a similar study conducted in September 2010.

What Zillow found was discouraging for borrowers looking to buy a home — especially those affected by the recent financial crisis.

Borrowers who have FICO credit scores under 620 who requested purchase loan quotes for 30-year fixed, conventional loans were unlikely to receive even one loan quote in September. This was unchanged from three years ago, even if they offered a relatively high downpayment of 15%-25%.

According to data provided by myFICO.com, nearly 28.4% of Americans have a credit score of 620 or lower.

At the same time, the bar has been set higher for those looking to get the lowest available mortgage rates. Typically, the best mortgage rates are reserved for borrowers with credit scores of 740 or higher, compared to 720 in 2010. Data revealed that 40.3% of Americans currently fall into this category.

 

 

http://www.housingwire.com/articles/27081-borrowers-face-difficulties-qualifying-for-a-mortgage

 

 

 

6 Ways to Use Embedded Tweets to Help Your Business | Bedford Corners Realtor

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Are you looking for creative ways to embed tweets on your website?

Do you want to show off your customer’s kind words about your business?

Since Twitter allows the ability to embed tweets on websites, people have discovered lots of creative ways to use them.

In this post, I’ll show you six ways to use embedded tweets to enhance your content, drive engagement and establish social proof.

How to Embed a Tweet

From sharing spontaneous customer testimonials to increasing traffic and promoting events, embedded tweets can capitalize on or support engagement with your brand in a number of ways.

Before we get started, let’s quickly review how to embed a tweet on your website.

When you find a tweet you want to embed on your website, hover over that tweet and click on the More link. Then you should see an Embed Tweet option.

embed tweet option

Finding the Embed Tweet option on Twitter.

 

When you click on Embed Tweet, you are prompted to copy the sharing code for the tweet.

Copying the embed code for a tweet.

Then you paste the embed code in your website. If your site is on WordPress, use the HTML/Text editor. When you save or publish, you have a live, interactive tweet on your website.

Yes, it’s that simple! Now, let’s look at some ways to use embedded tweets.

Here are some creative applications of embedded tweets.

 

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/embedded-twitter-posts/