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Katonah NY

3 Business Reasons to Upgrade to LinkedIn Premium | Katonah Realtor

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While there are a number of different types of paid LinkedIn accounts you can choose from (LinkedIn Premium, For Recruiters, For Job Seekers, For Sales Professionals), LinkedIn Premium is the most balanced paid account type that will generally suit most business owners and professionals.

The LinkedIn Premium account has four different levels of membership that you can choose from depending on your budget and needs:

  • Free
  • Business Plus
  • Executive
  • Pro

Here are three of the benefits that may have you wanting to switch from a free account to a LinkedIn Premium account.

#1: Narrow Your Target With Advanced Search

The left section of the Advanced Search is available to all LinkedIn members and includes several fields such as keywords, location and company. In the right-hand section of the Advanced Search are several Premium fields that are valuable because of their ability to help you greatly narrow down and target your searches.

advanced people search

Both paid and free members can use the Relationship, Groups, Location, Current Company, Industry, Past Company, School and Language fields in the Advanced Search.

While several fields (Industries, Groups, Relationship and Current Company) are available to all members, there are eight fields that are available to the different levels of paying members only (all eight fields are available only to the Executive and Pro Premium level members). Premium Members with the Business or Business Plus level membership have access to the following four fields:

  • Company Size—This can be beneficial; for example, for businesses that target small businesses and freelancers (select the 1-10 option), members looking for very large businesses (select the 10,000+ option) or any size in between.

    limit your search

    You can limit your search by company size.

  • Seniority Level—Narrow your search by seniority levels such as VP, manager, senior, owner and partner.

    search seniority level

    Only search for the seniority level or positions that are useful to you.

  • Interested In—Choose from options such as Industry Experts, Entrepreneurs, Potential Employees or Consultants/Contractors to look for specific groups of people.

    quickly search for people

    Quickly search for people like industry experts and entrepreneurs with the Interested In field.

  • Fortune 1000—Search strictly for employees at Fortune 1000 companies. There are a number of options that allow you to select the Fortune 50, Fortune 501-1000 and several choices in between.

    narrow your search

    Narrow your search to Fortune 1000 companies.

For example, you may want to search for facilitators within your local area whom you may not already be connected with but you share a group with. To do this, you would simply type “facilitator” into the Keyword field, select the country, enter your ZIP code or postal code and select within 50 mi (80 km) and finally select Group Members under Relationship.

multiple search fields

Finding the people in whom you are most interested using multiple search fields.

use advanced search

Search results are more relevant using Advanced Search.

Another example would be if you were looking to connect with the Communications VPs of Fortune 50 companies whom you share a connection or group with. For this search, you would type “communications” into the keyword field, select Location Anywhere and then check 2nd Connections and Group Members from Relationship, VP from Seniority Level and Fortune 50 under the Fortune 1000 section.

meet search requirements

Save time prospecting by searching for LinkedIn members who meet your search requirements.

best search results

Get the best search results using Advanced Search.

Finally, Advanced Search allows you to save your searches. Not only will this feature remember your search, it will also send you weekly or monthly notices of any new member profiles that become a part of your network. You can also scan these new profiles from the Saved Search Tab by clicking on the number under New.

As a free member, you can save three searches, while Premium members have the ability to save up to 7 with the additional bonus of 500 profiles showing up in the search results rather than the standard 100 that comes with free membership.

 

3 Business Reasons to Upgrade to LinkedIn Premium | Social Media Examiner.

Katonah sales up 2% – Prices up 8.5% | RobReportBlog | Katonah Real Estate

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Katonah NY Real Estate ReportRobReportBlog
20136 months ending 7/52012
48Sales47
$727,000.00median sold price$670,000.00
$275,000.00low sold price$209,000.00
$7,000,000.00high sold price$4,000,000.00
3261average size3016
$286.00ave. price per foot$278.00
175ave days on market208
$990,356.00average sold price$858,238.00
89.67%ave sold to ask94.50%

 

 

Katonah sales up 2% – Prices up 8.5% | RobReportBlog | Katonah Real Estate.

Surging interest rates could slow housing’s recovery | Katonah Real Estate

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A sharp rise in mortgage rates is threatening to slow the momentum that has driven the housing market sharply higher in the past year.

 

Rates on a 30-year fixed mortgage have spiked in the past two months as the Federal Reserve signaled the coming end of a massive bond-buying program designed to stimulate the economy by keeping rates low.

 

Someone who today takes out a $220,000 loan — the median sale price for a traditional home in the Twin Cities — will pay at least $100 per month more on the mortgage than someone who locked in an interest rate on May 1.

 

“It’s been a pretty impressive increase in rates,” said Keith Gum­binger, vice president of HSH.com, a mortgage information firm. “If that increases monthly payments by, give or take, 10 to 15 percent, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to see sales back off by perhaps that much.”

 

U.S. home prices were up 12 percent in May from a year earlier, and Twin Cities prices were up 14.8 percent, in part thanks to demand fueled by rock-bottom ­interest rates. Since home purchases often translate into sales of garden hoses, lawn mowers and washing machines, as well as construction jobs, the likelihood that rates will continue to rise should temper economic growth.

 

The irony is that what’s driving up rates is, ultimately, an improving economy. Rates are as low as they are because the Federal Reserve has been buying $85 billion in mortgage-backed securities per month, a program known as quantitative easing that’s meant to stimulate borrowing.

 

The Fed’s purchases create demand for mortgage-backed securities and so drive down interest rates for borrowers. The strategy has been effective. Rates for 30-year mortgages were as low as 3.3 percent in November, a number that inspires awe in anyone who took out a mortgage in decades past.

 

But rates started to rise in mid-May when Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke first hinted in a Congressional hearing that the economy might be strong enough for the central bank to contemplate slowing its asset purchases. After a Bernanke news conference on June 19, rates on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose from 4 percent to 4.6 percent in five days, while the stock market faltered.

 

Surging interest rates could slow housing’s recovery | StarTribune.com.

First Wave of Boomers Increasingly Likely To Age in Place | Katonah Real Estate

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A new survey of the oldest baby boomers–people born in 1946–finds this group even more likely than they were five years ago to keep living where they are rather than move as part of retirement.

The poll in late 2012 of 1,003 of the so-called “oldest boomers,” including 447 who also were surveyed in 2007, found 82% aren’t planning any future moves. That’s up from 75% in the 2007 survey, conducted at about the time the housing market collapsed. Survey results have a margin of error of plus/minus 3.2 percentage points.

“Of the oldest boomers who did move or are planning a move, more than half (53%) chose to downsize into a smaller home,” said Amy Goyer, who wrote the report on behalf of MetLife’s Mature Market Institute. “Just 16% plan to or have moved to an active adult community, significantly up from 9% in 2008. The oldest boomers have most likely raised their families, as moving (or planning) to a larger home is down to just 4% in 2012 from 12% in 2008. Almost a quarter (23%) said they had plans or had moved to an ‘other’ situation in 2012 (down from 37% in 2008)—perhaps some of these families are living in multigenerational households.”

Later in her report, Goyer said the survey results point to the need for aging in place options, “including community infrastructure, home and community-based services, transportation, technology and smart home design/modification options that not only make it possible to remain at home throughout the aging process, but to also beautify and add value to the home and community for all ages.”

About 93% of these oldest boomers own their home, with an average value of $254,000. Four out of 10 have paid off their mortgages, but 8% are upside-down, owing more on their loan than the home is worth, the survey found. As for income, 58% said they’re taking in less than before retirement, but only 20% reported a decreased standard of living and 18% said their standard went up. One possible reason why: One-third had received an inheritance, with the average value reported in 2012 reaching $110,000.

 

First Wave of Boomers Increasingly Likely To Age in Place–Survey – Remodeling Trends, Active Adult, Aging In Place, Universal Design – Remodeling Magazine.

Caramoor In Katonah Celebrates Verdi’s Bicentennial Saturday | Katonah Real Estate

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Caramoor Summer Music Festival and Bel Canto at Caramoor will present a celebration of Giuseppe Verdi’s bicentennial on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

“Verdi in Paris” highlights the influence the composer’s  time in Paris had on his music. The composer’s long association with the city yielded some of his most significant contributions to opera.

Will Crutchfield, Caramoor’s director of opera, will lead the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in two of the composer’s grand operas composed explicitly for the Paris Opera – “Les vêpres siciliennes” and “Don Carlos” – in their original language.

This semi-staged concert performance will be preceded by lectures and recitals in the Spanish Courtyard.

To order tickets, call the box office at 914-232-1252 or visit www.caramoor.org. 

 

Caramoor In Katonah Celebrates Verdi’s Bicentennial Saturday | The Armonk Daily Voice.

Rosie O’Donnell Tries To Flip Village Penthouse, Asks $11M | Katonah Real Estate

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Another year, another apartment. Last summer, Rosie O’Donnell dropped $8 million—well, $8,095,087.50, to be precise—on a duplex penthouse at 130 West 12th Street, part of St. Vincent’s Hospital that was converted into condos. Less than a year later, O’Donnell has redecorated the 4BR/3BA (which comes with a 429-square-foot private terrace) all classy-like, with lots of art, colorful carpets, and inventive light fixtures. A tipster reports that two weeks ago she threw it back on the market, now asking $10,950,000. The Nyack, N.Y. resident and her wife Michelle Rounds welcomed a baby girl in January, bringing the progeny total to five, so perhaps they’re upgrading for a pied-a-terre with more bedrooms. If a buyer bites for that price, the straight-talking comedian, LGBT rights activist, and gay cruise pioneer will have pocketed a 35 percent profit over one year. Not too shabby.

Floorplan%20-%20130%20West%2012th%20Street%20PH11A.jpg

Plus, the buyer will get to live next door to Theory CEO Andrew Rosen, whopurchased the other PH not long after O’Donnell. He has a bigger terrace, but you know, make nice and he might let you use it. Both Rosen and Rosie bought their places for above ask, which bodes well for her flip.

 

Rosie O’Donnell Tries To Flip Village Penthouse, Asks $11M – Celebrity Real Estate – Curbed NY.

Kat-Lewisboro BOE, Support Staff Association Approve Contract | Katonah Homes

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The Katonah-Lewisboro Support Staff Association (KLSSA) will soon have a new health plan. In an agreement with the Board of Education, the staff will shift from the current self-insured health plan to the New York State Health Insurance Program. (NYSHIP). The new plan will go into effect on July 1 and continue until June 30, 2015.

The school district will realize a savings of roughly $1 million per year with the change. This switch of health insurance provider is similar to the one agreed to by the Katonah-Lewisboro District Teachers’ Association about a month ago.

Included in the agreement with the Staff Association is a two-year freeze in the step schedule. This too will be an economy for the district, saving approximately 0.75 percent of total salaries. A base increase of 1.75 percent for the 2013-14 school year and 2014-15 school year is included in the agreement.

“The tone of negotiations was consistently professional and productive,” said Board of Education President Mark Lipton. “On behalf of the board and the community, I want to thank the KLSSA for their preparation and collaboration in creating an agreement that balances the needs of its members, while responding to the financial realities of our district.”

“The Executive Board of the KLSSA, as well as the membership, are pleased that we were able to come to equitable terms with the school district,” said its president, Jeani Granelli. “During these economically trying times, it can be difficult to balance the financial resources of the school district with the needs of our membership. We thank the BOE for working collaboratively with us to reach this [agreement].”

 

Kat-Lewisboro BOE, Support Staff Association Approve Contract | The Bedford Daily Voice.

How to Drive More Facebook Traffic to Your Website | Katonah NY Realtor

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Are you using Facebook ads to drive traffic to your website?

Did you know that when people share your website content on Facebook, you can turn that shared content into a Facebook ad?

You can do that with Domain Sponsored Stories.

Domain Sponsored Stories are inexpensive and easy to run, and you don’t need a Facebook Page to start a campaign.

In this blog post, you’ll learn what Domain Sponsored Stories are and how you can create your own today.

What Are Domain Sponsored Stories?

A domain is a website that you control.

A Sponsored Story is a Facebook ad that promotes the action performed by a Page or user’s friend, follower or fan.

A Domain Sponsored Story, then, is a Facebook ad that will promote a Facebook user’s interaction with a website that is under your control.

What Do Domain Sponsored Stories Look Like?

domain sponsored story

This Domain Sponsored Story came from my friend Emeric, but it could have just as easily come from a public figure I follow or from a Page that I like.

As you can see, the only difference between this Domain Sponsored Story and a typical post is the “Sponsored” tag at the end.

Why Create a Domain Sponsored Story?

Domain Sponsored Stories are low-maintenance ad units and you can run them in the background to constantly drive traffic to your website. Here are a few reasons to use them:

  • Increase the reach of your blog posts.
  • Increase traffic to product Pages and impact revenues.
  • Reach users who missed content the first time. Hopefully you understand why you should promote your Page content to reach fans who may have missed it the first time. Only half of your fans are on Facebook every day and even then, they’re active during a small window. The same holds true for users catching their friends’ content. Promote a user’s interaction with your website and more of their connections are likely to see it.

Privacy Clarification

Advertising through Domain Sponsored Stories does not override your privacy settings.

privacy settings

If you share a post from ABC.com and that share is turned into an ad, only the people who were already eligible to see the original share will see it in an ad.

The Limitations of Domain Sponsored Stories

  • Someone may share a post using an unflattering comment. You may spend money to help promote that post because you cannot choose which share to promote or not promote.
  • If you have a low-traffic website that gets very few shares, Facebook has little share activity to turn into ads. Whether you reach your daily budget or not is partially dependent upon the volume of daily share activity from your website. You need users who are already sharing your website content.
  • Domain Sponsored Story ads do not lead to increased Page likes. Depending on what’s shared, they may not lead to sales or conversions. They only lead to increased website traffic.

You’ll need to determine whether the benefits of Domain Sponsored Stories outweigh the limitations. As someone who owns a website that turns traffic into revenue, I find them extremely useful

 

How to Drive More Facebook Traffic to Your Website | Social Media Examiner.

For People Of Color, A Housing Market Partially Hidden From View | Katonah Real Estate

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We’ve written before about the wealth gap between whites and people of color — a divide that’s only grown wider over the past half decade. And since so much of Americans’ household wealth is wrapped up in homes, a significant amount of that wealth gap has been chalked up to an array of barriers to homeownership for people of color.

 

Here’s another sobering data point to that end: A new study has found that blacks, Latinos and Asians looking for homes were shown fewer housing options than whites who were equally qualified. And fewer options meant higher housing costs.

 

The study, conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Urban Institute (a nonpartisan think tank in Washington) used a method called “pair testing.” Two people — one person of color and one white person — called and then visited a real estate office to ask about an available property for rent or sale. Both of the pair testers told real estate agents that they had about the same income, assets and employment. Both testers were greeted politely and given appointments to look at properties. But whites were told about and shown more units. They were also more likely to be offered lower rent than their testing partners.

 

According to the study, the problem wasn’t regional but national. The researchers said they did this more than 8,000 times in 28 different metropolitan regions.

 

Here’s how their findings broke down:

 

Black renters learned about 11 percent fewer rental units, and black homebuyers were shown about a fifth fewer homes.

Asian renters learned about 7 percent fewer rental units, and Asian homebuyers saw about a fifth fewer homes.

Latino renters learned about 12 percent fewer units. (Interestingly, the study found that there was not a statistically significant difference in the way whites and Latino homebuyers were treated.)

“Those most serious and severe door-slamming kinds of discrimination aren’t happening so frequently,” said Margery Turner of the Urban Institute. “But it’s disappointing to conduct a study on housing discrimination in 2012 and find that it still persists.”

 

The researchers also found that “minority homeseekers whose ethnicity is more readily identifiable” were more likely to be discriminated against.

 

For People Of Color, A Housing Market Partially Hidden From View | WWNO.

Photo giant Instagram integrates video, brings exciting new element to real estate | Katonah Realtor

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Photo giant Instagram has been a steadfast favorite for budding and professional photographers from around the world. The real estate community has had a colorful presence among the photos in the Instagram community, many of whom create large followings, close deals, lead generate and connect with other local residents. From listing photos, community landmarks and hot spots, the creative filters give agents a social edge, and can even show off their creative branding with their followers, creating a visual brand.

Today the announcement came that Instagram has integrated video in its latest update, allowing users to create up to 15 seconds of video, with the availability of its filter tools, video stabilization and social sharing. It is a strategic move to keep and capture its large user base, as well as sway current Vine app users away from their six-second GIF-creation platform.

It still remains to be seen, but based on the Twitter chatter, many in the social sphere are excited about the features to Instagram, as many already have quite a following on the platform. Real estate marketers might find this easier to work into their photographic workflow, as well as have some new creative ideas on how to use video to market themselves or their communities. The brilliant connections that photography can inspire now has a 15-second bigger chance in video.

Jay Thompson, director of social media and industry outreach of Zillow, noted, “I’m sure there will be “InstaVideos” of listings flooding the Interwebs soon, but does 15 seconds really do a home justice? Now if one were to get creative, I can see some cool uses for sharing community stuff. Could be a catchy and fun way to show off certain community aspects.”

It will be interesting to see how this plays out, and if Vine will be considered a tight competitor or stand on its own. Vine hasn’t quite taken off in the real estate community as a viable real estate marketing platform, but Instagram may force users to decide.

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/next/photo-giant-instagram-integrates-video-brings-exciting-new-element-to-real-estate/#sthash.N24K8jG2.dpuf

 

Photo giant Instagram integrates video, brings exciting new element to real estate | Inman News.