Tag Archives: Chappaqua NY Homes for Sale

Chappaqua NY Homes for Sale

Foreign investors pull out of U.S. market | Chappaqua Real Estate

According to Bloomberg, potential Fed changes are causing more investors to pull out of the U.S. market, with the foreign selling of U.S. long-term portfolio assets rising for the second straight month in June. Long-term portfolio assets usually include mortgages.

Bloomberg has more on what’s irking investors:

The net long-term portfolio investment outflow was $66.9 billion after a $27 billion net decline in May, the Treasury Department said in a statement today in Washington. Net selling of long-term Treasuries by private foreign investors increased to $40.1 billion from $29 billion the prior month, the department said.

                    Source: Bloomberg

It Will Be A Cloudy But Dry Weekend, Chappaqua | Chappaqua Real Estate

The weekend weather forecast for White Plains and Southern Westchester isn’t perfect, but it could be worse, according to weather.com.

Saturday’s forecast is for mostly cloudy skies with a high temperature of 79 and lows in the mid-60s. Chance of precipitation, however, is low at only 10 percent. Humidity shouldn’t be too much of a burden at 62 percent.

Sunday will be cloudy with a high of 78, but things should stay dry. Chance of rain will remain at 10 percent.

 

read more…

 

http://chappaqua.dailyvoice.com/news/it-will-be-cloudy-dry-weekend-white-plains

Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase Duke it Out | Chappaqua Real Estate

Wells Fargo and Chase traded positions as the industry leader in originations as new purchase mortgage originations edged up in the second quarter.

Wells Fargo maintained its standing as the biggest residential lender in the country. A distant second was JPMorgan Chase, while Bank of America regained its No. 3 ranking after falling behind Quicken Loans in the first quarter.

However, initial indications are that the current quarter’s production is on track for a decline according to Mortgage Daily.

Home loans funded by U.S. lenders totaled an estimated $502billion during the second quarter, according to Mortgage Daily’s Mortgage Lender Ranking. The estimate was based on earnings data, publicly disclosed statistics and a quarterly survey conducted by the trade publication.

Overall activity increased around 2% from the first quarter.  Compared to the second-quarter 2012, production has risen more than 8%.

Q2 2013 Originations

Rank

Lender

Volume

($ billions)

Total.U.S. (est.)

$502.0

1.Wells Fargo

$112.0

2.Chase

$49.5

3.BofA

$26.8

4.Quicken

$23.8

5.U.S. Bank

$19.1

Walter Mortgage soared to $4.7 billion from the first quarter’s $0.4 billion – the biggest percentage gain of all lenders tracked.

Production at Nationstar Mortgage more than doubled from the first quarter — the second-best quarter-over-quarter performance of any top lender.

The biggest quarter-over-quarter loss was suffered by Ocwen Financial.

Nationstar’s business nearly quadrupled from the second-quarter 2012, the best year-over-year improvement.

With a 250% increase, Stonegate Mortgage delivered the second-largest increase from the year-earlier period.

United Shore followed with a 156% ascension, then 154% at PennyMac.

Based on the Mortgage Market Index from LoanSifter and Mortgage Daily, third-quarter originations from all lenders are likely to decline by around 22%.

Wells Fargo held on to its top-servicer standing, and BofA relinquished its No. 2 rank to Chase.

Biggest Servicers as   of June 30

Rank

Servicer

Portfolio Size

($ trillions)

1.Wells Fargo

$1.9

2.Chase

$1.0

3.BofA

$1.0

4.Ocwen

$0.4

5.Citigroup

$0.4

 

 

read more…..

 

http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2013/08/wells-and-chase-duke-it-out/

 

New Castle Working With Con Edison On Storm Response | Chappaqua Real Estate

The Town of New Castle Administrator Penny Paderewski released a report on Tuesday on the town’s efforts of improving communication with Con Edison during storms.

Paderewski noted that she and other town officials witnessed a demonstration of new software tentatively called “Dashboard” that will allow officials and, eventually, residents to see exactly where the outages are during storms.

The program will also let officials and residents know when power is expected to come back online and what resources have been sent out to resolve the issue.

Paderewski also reminded New Castle citizens to sign up for the town’s CodeRED Emergency Alert robo-call system by visiting the town’s website.

The administrator also noted that Con Ed intends to train local municipal crews in identifying non-live wires so that local DPW crews can help with clearing so that restoration can start more quickly after storms.

“We look forward to that training and are waiting for notification as to when this will begin,” Paderewski said in the report.

Paderewski also informed the public of news that New Castle and Greenburgh will install generators, courtesy of the Department of Transportation, that will allow many, if not all, of the town’s traffic signals to function during outages.

 

 

read more…

 

http://chappaqua.dailyvoice.com/news/new-castle-working-con-edison-storm-response

Latest News from Teatown | Chappaqua Real Estate

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August 15, 2013
Click here for more of Teatown’s upcoming programs
All programs require pre-registration. To register, call 914-762-2912 x110.
A Night in the Woods
Join in the celebration
on
  September 22, 2013
Sleepy Hollow Country Club
Cocktails 5:00pm
Dinner 6:30pm
For more information and ticket purchases click here
Visit Teatown

1600 Spring Valley Road
Ossining, NY 10562
914-762-2912
Nature Center hours:
9:00am-5:00pm everyday
Trails are open 365 days a year from dawn to dusk.
  Teatown Lake Reservation’s mission is to conserve open space and to educate and involve the regional community in order to sustain the diversity of wildlife, plants and habitats for future generations.
Rabbit Abandoned at Teatown
On August 1, an adorable black and white rabbit was left abandoned in a cage by the basement door of Teatown. Sadly, after examination, it was determined that the bunny suffered a traumatic leg break sometime in the past that did not receive any care and healed improperly. This sobering case reminds all of us to think carefully about the responsibility of caring for a pet.

Read the full story.

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Scavenger Hunt! 

Saturday, August 17, 11:00am-12:00pm

ScavBlack vultureengers are an important part of nature’s clean-up crew. Come meet a couple of Teatown’s animal scavengers.
Free for members; $5pp for nonmembers.
Wildflower Island Tours
Saturday, August 17, 11:00am &1:00pm
Sunday, August 18, 1:00pm
Enjoy a guided tour of Wildflower Island, Teatown’s unique two-acre sanctuary that is home to over 230 species of wildflowers and shrubs native to our area.
View the current bloom list.
Please note that access to the Island is by guided tour only. Tours are intended for guests ages 12 and over.

TOUR TIMES:

Saturday, August 17: 11:00am & 1:00pm Sunday, August 18: 1:00pm

$4pp for members; $6pp for nonmembers.
Children’s Discovery Series
Weekly Classes begin September 10th

Little Tree Huggers 2-3 year olds with caregiver

Tuesdays: 10:00am-11:15am

or Wednesdays: 1:00pm-2:15pm

Sow the seeds of nature knowledge with your child. Children and parents are encouraged to use all of their senses to explore autumn.

Knee Hi Nature, 4 Year olds

Tuesdays: 1:00pm-2:30pm

or Wednesdays: 10:00am-11:30am

Boundaries disappear as children explore the natural world of bugs, rocks, habitats and more. Each session features a short hike, story or craft and visits with animals.

Classes begin September 10th and run for 8 weeks.

Class fee: Members $150; Nonmembers: $175

Teatown Camp Wraps Up

Another year of Teatown camp has drawn to a close. It’s been a wonderful summer and our campers learned a great deal about the world around them. From setting camera traps to making art from weeds and thorns to exploring new trails and getting an up-close view at native animals, it’s been an adventure and discovery-filled summer.

  Summer Camp 2014 registration will begin in January 2014. We look forward to another great year!

 

Nature Center Gallery
Oil paintings by Robin Arzt
On exhibit June 2-August 24
“Lemon Tree”

“My pieces range in style from representational to abstract, all inspired by nature. I find that common plants and familiar flowers are intriguing, especially when considered at close range. These paintings reflect my interest in the dynamic natural world.”

To see more of Robin’s work, visit www.RobinArzt.com
On Time and Place: Celebrating Scenic Hudson’s 50 Years
On exhibit in the Nature Center Gallery
September 4-30, 2013

Since 1963, Scenic Hudson has worked to preserve the Hudson Valley’s beauty. To help celebrate its 50th anniversary year in 2013, Scenic Hudson will present a curated exhibition of photographs that pay tribute to the organization’s inspiring story and the Hudson Valley’s people and communities. The diverse group of artwork includes traditional landscapes but also views of waterfronts in transformation and places bearing scars of pollution and other challenges to be addressed.
Learn more about this amazing exhibit.

Gallery hours: Daily, 9:00am-5:00pm

 

Farmers Market in the Area | Chappaqua Real Estate

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Fresh Food from Local Sources – August 15th-21st, 2013 Down to Earth Markets
What’s New, in Season, and On Sale this week
ApricotsMigliorelli Farm Basil Dagele Brothers Produce
Beef Cuts The Pastures Cherries Alex’s Tomato Farm Cucumbers Rockland Farm Alliance
Eggplant Varieties: Heirloom, Italian, Oriental, Sicilian, & ZebraNewgate Farms Rexcroft Farms FennelDagele Brothers Produce
Fresh Blueberry Scones: Regular & Gluten-Free Meredith’s Bread
Grape Tomatoes *$3/pint or 2 pints for $5!*Newgate Farms Heirloom TomatoesAlex’s Tomato Farm Rockland Farm Alliance Hot Pepper Varieties: Long hots, Banana, Cherry, & Poblano Newgate Farms
Mini Pies & Mini Tarts Baked By Susan Onion Jewish Rye Bread Orwashers Bakery Plums Migliorelli Farm Purple Peppers Rockland Farm Alliance Raspberry Apple Pie Bread Alone
Red Beard CheeseThe Amazing Real Live Food Company Russian Raisin Walnut Bread *Regularly $5.50, Special $5.00* Orwasher’s Bakery SanFrancisco Sourdough *Regularly $5.50, Special $5.00* Orwasher’s Bakery Strawberries Alex’s Tomato Farm Sweet Pepper Varieties: Bell, Cubanelle, Anaheim, Purple, White, Red, Yellow, & Orange Newgate Farms
WatermelonMigliorelli Farm
Yellow PlumsAlex’s Tomato Farm
Click on a Market to see all vendor and event details…

Westchester County Ossining Saturdays, 8:30 am-1:00 pmRockland
County
Croton
Sundays, 9:00 am-2:00 pm
Rye Sundays, 8:30 am-2:00 pmPiermont Sundays, 9:30 am-3:00 pm
LLarchmont Saturdays, 8:30 am-1:00 pm Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow Patriot’s Park Farmers Market Saturdays, 8:30 am-1:00 pm Spring Valley Wednesdays, 8:30 am-3:00 pm
New Rochelle Now at Huguenot Park! Fridays, 8:30 am-2:30 pmYonkers/Ridge Hill Ridge Hill’s Farmers Market Fridays, 11 am-7:00 pmHeaded to the city soon? Visit a Down to Earth Farmers Market in NYC!
Announcements
Ossining & Rye Join us for our Annual Corn Roast where we celebrate you, our shoppers. Receive a free ear of corn and a refreshing glass of lemonade. Tarrytown & Piermont Nothing celebrates the summer better than a fresh, local…TOMATO. This Sunday, join us for the Annual Tomato Tasting. Stop by the Market Manager’s tent and sample the range of flavor-bursting tomatoes available at your market. Yonkers/Ridge Hill Fresh Food = Free Parking! Now when you purchase $15 or more from the vendors at Ridge Hill’s Down to Earth Farmers Market the market manager will validate your parking ticket for free parking. Be sure to have your parking ticket with you and get a validation slip from the vendors for each of your purchases.
Stay tuned to all market happenings via our Down to Earth Markets Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @DowntoEarthMkts.
Let Consumers Decide: Status Update on GMO Labeling in NY
GMO Testimony
L to R: Stacie Orell (GMO Free NY), Patty Lovera (Food & Water Watch), & Andrew Kimbrell (Center for Food Safety) testify at recent NY State public hearing on labeling GMO foods. Image courtesy of GMO Free NY.
There’s a crack in the billion dollar armor of the biotech industry: Calls to label GMO foods are gaining ground on a state-by-state basis. Here in New York, a public hearing on July 30th gathered a standing room only audience to debate bill A3525A, introduced earlier this year by state assembly members Rosenthal and People-Stokes. According to the article, New York Steps into Fray of GMO Labeling by Ivan Pentchoukov in The Epoch Times, “If passed, the bill would require all foods in New York state that contain genetically modified ingredients to carry the words “Produced with Genetic Engineering” on the front or back packaging panels.”
That sounds good to us. The discussion about GMO labeling is about the right to know, and thus, the right to make an informed decision. As developers of local farmers markets for over 22 years, we believe that many people choose our markets because every time we set up a Down to Earth market manager’s tent, we might as well be setting up a sign that reads, “Verified: No GMO”. We tour all of our vendors farms and visit all of their kitchens. We recruit vendors who feel as passionately as we do about keeping our food as close to its natural state as possible. Our farmers grow with great care for the environment. Our food entrepreneurs work hard to find clean, transparent sources for their ingredients, often paying a little more for better quality. And by offering E.B.T. for SNAP Benefits at several of our markets, we work to ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to nourish ourselves with non GMO foods.
So, if shopping at a Down to Earth Farmers Market is essentially a “No GMO” label, how do we pass legislation to get GMO foods labeled? Well, it’s in the works in New York State, but the effort needs all voices behind it the coming months. Jeffrey Dinowitz, Chairman of the Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee in the NY State Assembly, has vowed to bring Bill A3525A to a vote when the legislative body reconvenes in early 2014. Between now and then, we’re sure to expect a very expensive marketing campaign. As Andrew Kimbrell of the Center for Food Safety says in this interview, “The biotech industry says consumers will be confused [with GMO labels]. No they won’t – they’ll be informed.”
One important note about GMO labeling: Connecticut recently passed a law requiring labels on GMO foods. Now they are encouraging their neighboring states to do the same. According to The Epoch Times article, “Connecticut’s labeling law, enacted earlier this year, can not take effect until four other states, including a border state such as New York, with a combined population of 20 million, pass a similar legislation. This provision was added because the state wants to be able to share the costs of what some see as an inevitable lawsuit by biotechnology corporations.”
Wow, really? When we first heard of the five-state requirement, we thought it was due to the shifting winds that carry seeds to nearby states. Then we heard that it was due to rules about interstate commerce. But could it truly be that the states anticipate a lawsuit and need their combined fighting power to take on this issue? Which begs the question, “If GMO foods are harmless, why are the companies who patent and produce them so fiercely opposed to labeling?”
We’d love to hear what you think on this issue. Zip us a reply to this email or post your response on our Facebook page. In the meantime, thank you for supporting non GMO foods at your Down to Earth Farmers Market this weekend.
Day Vendors This Week Larchmont Flourish Baking Company Kontoulis Family Olive Oil Pie Lady & Son Trotta Pasta PiermontBombay Emerald Chutney Co. RyeKontoulis Family Olive Oil Pie Lady & Son
Down to Earth Markets 173 Main Street Ossining, NY 10562 Phone: 914-923-4837

Bedford, Katonah, Pound Ridge fire depts host charity softball games Saturday | Chappaqua Real Estate

The Bedford-Armonk Rotary Club is hosting charity softball games between the volunteer fire departments of Bedford Hills, Bedford Village, Katonah and Pound Ridge.

The games will be played from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17,, at Bedford Memorial Park.

There will be food and beverages and children’s races will be held. Local car dealerships will be showing off their models. The proceeds go to local community charities.

Rain date is Saturday, Aug. 24.

 

read more…

 

http://northernwestchester.lohudblogs.com/2013/08/13/bedford-katonah-pound-ridge-fire-depts-host-charity-softball-games-saturday/

National Guard Holds Disaster Response Training in Westchester | Chappaqua Real Estate

Soldiers and airmen from the New York National Guard responded to a “train derailment and chemical spill” on Friday in Valhalla.

There were no reports of injuries, fatalities, or even property damage, however, as it was all part of a training evaluation Friday afternoon at the Westchester County Fire Training Center.

“This is to be prepared for chemical, biological, radiological — those worst case scenarios,” said Army Col. Richard Goldenberg. “This is a specially trained and designed team that is meant to bridge the gap between local responders and all the assets of a federal government that can take a number of hours to get to a site.”

According to Goldenberg, the unit is called the Homeland Response Force which works in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The soldiers support FEMA region II of New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The training exercise they must execute involves three elements: Search and Extraction, Decontamination and Triage.

“This allows us to look at everything holistically,” said Goldenberg. “We get to see everything start to finish, soup to nuts. Can we pull it off? Can we get it set up together? Can we have the medical team linked to the decontamination team? Does the communication work for everybody? That’s the real benefit of a collective training exercise.”

 

 

http://chappaqua.dailyvoice.com/news/national-guard-holds-disaster-response-training-westchester

17 Pinterest Metrics Every Brand Should Track | Chappaqua Realtor

Are you measuring your Pinterest marketing initiatives?

pinterest metrics every brand should track 17 Pinterest Metrics Every Brand Should TrackPinterest has established itself as the dominant  online source of visual inspiration. The social bookmarking site enables users  collect and share photos of their favorite events, interests, and hobbies. Pinterest  users spend more money, shop more frequently, and purchase items more often and  in larger quantities than users on any other social network. It has become a  huge traffic referral for businesses, but marketers often struggle with  Pinterest content strategies. Enter Pinterest metrics.

 

Why use Pinterest analytics?

It’s crucial for brands to understand whether their time spent on any social  network is generating results. The number of followers you have is important,  but it shouldn’t be the final arbiter of your Pinterest content strategy.  Consistently measuring your activity on the platform will help you identify the  types of content that resonate the most with your target audience. It will also  help you increase visits to your website, and generate leads and sales.

How to gain access to your Pinterest account’s analytics

Complete instructions — including a video walk-through — for setting up  Pinterest for Business and tapping your analytics can be found in my post, Use  Pinterest Web Analytics to Jumpstart Your Social Media Marketing.

Pinterest metrics that brand marketers should monitor

You need to determine which of the Pinterest metrics below are most important  to you given your marketing objectives. There are many tools available that  enable you to track some or all of these metrics, including Google Analytics, Pinalytics, Cyfe, ShareRoot, Curalate, PinReach, and WordPress app WP Pinner. Keep the infographic  below on hand to help you get going.

Read more: http://www.pamorama.net/2013/08/10/17-pinterest-metrics-every-brand-should-track-infographic/#ixzz2brBHaj94

Rising Rates Appear to Have Little Impact on Housing Recovery | Chappaqua Real Estate

Despite news that the 30-year fixed rate has surpassed the 4% mark, economists continue to be cautiously optimistic about the housing market.

“Increases in rates would not be occurring if there wasn’t economic growth,” Steve Blitz chief economist at ITG Investment Research told Forbes last month. “If people thought the economy was heading south, even with absence of quantitative easing, the rates wouldn’t rise.”

Over the past few months the 30-year fixed rate, which has been hovering well below 4% has been trending upward, creating concern that recovery has halted.

Before the rate increase, April home prices rose 12% over a year ago with signed contracts in May at the highest level since 2006. However, by June existing home sales dropped 1.2% as rates started to rise. As of the end of July, the 30-year fixed rate stood at 4.31%, which is a drop from 4.37%.

Market specialists expressed concern that after months of recovery, that rising rates might hamper growth and overall recovery. However Blitz says that the housing market rebound is more of a symptom of recovery and not indicative of its overall direction. “There may be pent up demand, but there’s no pent up wealth to go buy a house. Housing will not lead the economy as it did from 2004-2006,” Blitz adds. “Instead, it will grow with the economy and not lead it.”

Is Now Still A Good Time To Buy?

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), existing homes sales stand at its highest level since November 2009. In fact NAR’s chief economist, Lawrence Yun refers to growth as “overwhelmingly positive.”

Mike Corn, CEO and co-founder of CU Realty Services says that data released by the U.S. HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau show an increase in builder confidence and that CoreLogic expects home prices to continue to rise.

Although rates and prices have inched up, Corn says that he believes the market will continue to improve and that this trend may drive more consumers to consider a credit union mortgage loan. “As more sellers list their homes to take advantage of improving market values, many will become buyers in need of a mortgage,” he says in a statement. “And with loan rates slowly creeping up, many home buyers are looking to purchase sooner rather than later. For credit unions with the right marketing strategy in place, there’s a great opportunity to provide homebuyers with the mortgages they need.”

 

Rising Rates Appear to Have Little Impact on Housing Recovery.