Tag Archives: Mount Kisco Real Estate

December Home Checklist | Mount Kisco Real Estate

From prepping for winter storms to gift-wrapping (or cookie-baking) marathons, December is a busy, holiday-focused month. Make the most of it by planning ahead, setting intentions and focusing on meaningful events rather than trying to do it all. The weather outside may be getting frightful, but that just means it’s the perfect time to get cozy indoors with a mug of hot cocoa. Check off these 12 tasks for an easier, safer and cozier month.

Fixed Mortgage Rates Hovering Near 2014 Lows | Mt Kisco Real Estate

 

today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates little changed from the previous week with the 30-year mortgage still hovering around 4 percent.

News Facts

  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.01 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending November 13, 2014, down from last week when it averaged 4.02 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.35 percent.
  • 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.20 percent with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.21 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.35 percent.
  • 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.02 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.97 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.01 percent.
  • 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.43 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.45 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.61 percent.

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following links for theRegional and National Mortgage Rate Details and Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.

Quotes
Attributed to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac.

“Fixed mortgage rates were slightly down on mixed results from October’s employment report. While the unemployment rate declined to 5.8 percent, nonfarm employment rose by 214,000 jobs, which was below consensus expectations. Net revisions for payroll employment in August and September added 31,000 more jobs to the initial readings.”

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous East 80th Street Art Nouveau Pad Wants $22.5M | #MtKisco Real Estate

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A three-apartment Upper East Side combo in a Beaux Arts limestone building off of Fifth Avenue has come to market for $22.5 million. The home was renovated by its most recent owners to include Art Nouveau flourishes—that bowing asymmetrical doorframe, the individualized banister—as well as more modern entertaining spaces like the double-height dining room with overhead glass barricades and a kitchen with a built-in espresso machine. The home last came to market in 2011 for $22.75 million but appears not to have sold. Not pictured, the 5,000-plus-square-foot apartment also has a soundproof library with French walnut cabinetry and a 350-bottle wine room.

 

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http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/09/08/gorgeous_east_80th_street_art_nouveau_pad_wants_225m.php

 

Do you have a bat in your house? | Mt Kisco Real Estate

 

Do you have a bat in your house? What to do if you are bitten? visit http://health.westchestergov.com/rabies to learn what you should do.

The Westchester County Department of Health (WCDOH) recently distributed notice that the month of August is the peak month for bat activity. Thus the likelihood of human or pet exposures to bats increases.

If you have a bat in your home the DOH recommends capturing the bat and making notification to the DOH for a decision regarding testing. WCDOH can be contacted 24 x 7 at 914 813 5000.

DOH advises a bat killed by trauma will rapidly decompose in warm weather, making it untestable so immediate refrigeration or preferably
freezing is required. Place bat in freezer in a sealed plastic bag or small plastic container.

What to do if you are bitten?

If you are bitten, scratched or have some other exposure immediately wash the area with warm soapy water and call your doctor or hospital. Call the Westchester County Health Department at (914) 813-5000 24 hours a day seven days a week for assistance.

Source –

1) WCDOH memorandum dated August 8, 2014 – Titled Rabies Update – Bats

2) WCDOH website – http://health.westchestergov.com/rabies

For full details, view this message on the web.

U.S. News & World Report Ranks Northern Westchester Hospital Among Best | Mt Kisco Real Estate

 

Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) announced that it has been ranked as one of the best hospitals in New York for 2014 – 2015 by U.S. News & World Report.

The annual U.S. News best hospitals rankings, now in their 25th year, recognize hospitals that excel in treating the most challenging patients. In addition to being recognized as a best hospital, Northern Westchester Hospital was recognized regionally for expertise in gynecology, urology, geriatrics, orthopedics and neurosurgery.

For 2014-2015, U.S. News evaluated hospitals in 16 adult specialties and ranked the top 50 in most of the specialties. Just 12 percent of the nearly 5,000 hospitals that were analyzed for best hospitals in 2014-2015 earned a regional ranking in even one specialty. NWH was ranked within five different specialties.

“Providing the highest level of quality, patient-centered care is our priority at Northern Westchester Hospital,” said Joel Seligman, president and CEO of Northern Westchester Hospital. “We have designed and implemented numerous processes that help to ensure that high quality care is consistently delivered to our patients.

 

 

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http://bedford.dailyvoice.com/news/us-news-world-report-ranks-northern-westchester-hospital-among-best

Mt Kisco Mortgage Rates | Mt Kisco Real Estate

 

Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing mortgage rates little changed after initially easing slightly higher from the previous week which was largely fueled by a better than expected jobs report showing labor markets improving.

News Facts

  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.15 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending July 10, 2014, up from last week when it averaged 4.12 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.51 percent.
  • 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.24 percent with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.22 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.53 percent.
  • 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.99 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.98 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.26 percent.
  • 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.40 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.38 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.66 percent.

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following links for the Regional and National Mortgage Rate Details and Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.

Quotes
Attributed to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac.

“Mortgage rates increased for the week as the labor market appears to be improving. Based on the employment report, released last week, the U.S. economy added 288,000 jobs in June, gained 224,000 in May and increased by 304,000 in April. Also, the unemployment rate in June fell to 6.1 percent from 6.3 percent in May.”

Public Reacts To Proposed Mount Kisco-County Police Merger | Mt Kisco Real Estate

 

Public reactions from multiple viewpoints came at Monday’s meeting for the proposed police consolidation for Mount Kisco and Westchester County.

The merger agreement has some village police support.

Mount Kisco Sgt. Joseph Spinelli, who is president of the local PBA, endorsed the proposal on behalf of the union and its membership. He noted benefits for police that include better pay and benefits, along with greater opportunities for career advancement. Spinelli also supports the increase in staffing that the merger would entail, along with increased supervision of officers.

Mel Berger, a resident who is involved with the local drug and alcohol council, said he was “extremely happy” for the contract but had concerns including keeping relationships between people and officers, and about police involvement with the council.

County police officials cited examples from the Town of Ossining and the Town of Cortlandt, which also have county policing contracts.

George Longworth, who is commissioner for the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, noted that programs in Ossining remained in place and explained that any program working in Mount Kisco would be maintained. Another county police official noted involvement in a Cortlandt group. That organization is called the Cortlandt Community Coalition, which deals with underage drug and alcohol usage, according to the town’s website.

The merger plan also involves having officers in regular assignments, and county police officials denied that there would be frequent personnel turnover.

Addressing the issue of turnover, Longworth brought up how it can already happen with local police, citing retirement and injury examples.

 

 

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http://mtkisco.dailyvoice.com/police-fire/public-reacts-proposed-mount-kisco-county-police-merger

Mount Kisco Residents Get County Police Merger Overview | Mt Kisco Real Estate

 

The proposed consolidation of Mount Kisco’s police force with Westchester County’s was discussed in detail for the public at a Monday meeting.

The presentation, given by county police Sgt. Jeffrey Weiss, included data and the reasons for a merger.

The consolidation would come due to a contract between the village and the county, which would require a level of policing services dedicated to Mount Kisco. Current village police would join the county police and keep their current titles and civil statuses. The Mount Kisco Police Department has 28 members but lacks a permanent chief.

Mount Kisco’s police station would continue to be used by county police, including as a base for officers on patrol and for detectives. Members of the public would also be able to visit county police at the village station and the local non-emergency police number may be kept by the county.

In the presentation, several problems with small police departments were cited. They include manpower shortages, injuries leading to prolonged absences and vacancies leading to backfill overtime and undesired patrol staffing. The manpower gap is also blamed for burn out of police. Also cited as issues were under utilization of supervisory resources, personnel cost and the fact that only one person is responsible for dispatching officers and taking calls.

 

 

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http://mtkisco.dailyvoice.com/police-fire/mount-kisco-residents-get-county-police-merger-overview

 

Why renters are ending up in the suburbs | Mt Kisco Real Estate

 

At the Atlantic, they’ve taken note of something we’ve been tracking for a while at HousingWire: namely the growth of single-family rentals, and the reversal of migration to urban centers and back towards the suburbs.

The magazine reports on how the bulk of residential construction in the first half now of 2014 has been in multifamily, and the rise of REO-to-rental.

The magazine makes the standard urbanist complaint about the “dreaded” suburbs, but it at least recognizes and quotes someone saying the obvious – eventually, all the hip urban dwellers (most anyway) will get tired of ironic mustaches, get married, and have children – and they will want something more than high-density living with mediocre public schools.

As Census Bureau data show, growth in cities is tilting ever so slightly back toward the suburbs. Yet multifamily housing, mostly situated in urban centers, is still driving the American housing market. Are developers out of step with demand?

In McKinney (Texas) and other fast-growing suburbs and exurbs, rentals are the major force driving growth—just not multifamily rentals. Abundant stock left over from the single-family housing boom whose bust fueled the Great Recession are being opened to a new generation of suburban renters by major private-equity firms such as the Blackstone Group.

This transformation of the suburbs is a new and not-altogether-welcome development. The single-family homes being bought up, rehabilitated, and then rented out again by investment units such as the Blackstone Group’s Invitation Homes—in the suburbs and exurbs outside Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and other cities—are leftovers from a housing boom characterized by cheap construction and easy credit. The conversion of unsold or foreclosed single-family homes creates fewer jobs than new construction. From an urbanist perspective, single-family home rentals come with all the drawbacks of large-plot suburban development and none of the benefits.

 

 

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http://www.housingwire.com/articles/30290-why-renters-are-ending-up-in-the-suburbs

 

Mount Kisco Seeks $400,000 Grant For County Police Merger Plans | Mt Kisco Real Estate

 

Mount Kisco’s government is seeking $400,000 in state grant funding to pay for transitional costs in connection with a potential local police consolidation with Westchester County law enforcement.

At its June 2 meeting, the Village Board of Trustees voted unanimously to give authorization to apply for the grant under the state’s Local Government Efficiency Program. Westchester County is intended to be a co-applicant.

Under the proposed consolidation, Mount Kisco would enter into a contract with the county government so that the Westchester County Department of Public Safety would provide a specific number of police officers dedicated to the village.

Local police would resign and become county officers, according to Mayor Michael Cindrich. The village’s police station would also be converted into county police office space and would be used for report writing and the Detective Division. Cindrich also does not feel that response time would be slower.

The contract would result in an estimated savings of around $2.4 million over a five-year period, although Cindrich said the agreement would be “cost neutral.”

The mayor, who calls the estimated savings “significant,” noted that more police would be on patrol.

If county police assume law enforcement duties, Mount Kisco would join Cortlandt and the Town of Ossining as among those who receive such support. The Village of Ossining has its own police force.

 

 

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http://mtkisco.dailyvoice.com/police-fire/mount-kisco-seeks-400000-grant-county-police-merger-plans