Tag Archives: Westchester Homes for Sale

Westchester Homes for Sale

Saving the Diamonds in the Rough – historic preservation | Armonk Real Estate

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Yesterday, the Pearlroth House, also known as the Double Diamond House, designed by Andrew Geller and built in Westhampton in 1963, was moved. As we noted in March, the Pearlroth house has unfortunately deteriorated over the years. The owner, Jonathan Pearlroth, the son of the original owners, wants a larger house for his family, so the house is now about 40 feet away from its original site.

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Reinhardt / O’Brien Contracting, best known for the Houses at Sagaponac, moved the house, with Jake Gorst, Andrew Geller’s grandson, and Jonathan Pearlroth present. Reinhardt / O’Brien are building Jonathan a new 3500sf modern house designed by New York-based Cook + Fox Architects. The builders will now restore the Double Diamond house, after which it is planned to be opened as a museum.
· Pearlroth House [Official Site]
· Previous coverage of Pearlroth House [Curbed Hamptons]

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Saving the Diamonds in the Rough – historic preservation – Curbed Hamptons.

Cuba Gooding Jr.’s Northridge Home for Sale | Cross River Real Estate

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Something you don’t see often: a celebrity-owned home with the phrase “TLC needed” in the listing description. Something you do see in Los Angeles: a home snagging a buyer just a few weeks after it is listed.

Cuba Gooding Jr.’s home at 19356 Vista Grande Way, Northridge CA 91326 is currently listed for $729,000, and the listing already shows a pending sale. While prices over $500,000 seem high in many parts of the country, it’s not far off the median home value for the area, which currently rings in at $615,400. Despite the property needing work, the price and timing were right, as it took just a few weeks for Gooding’s home to attract a buyer.

According to property records, Gooding bought the property through a trust under his business manager’s name for $439,000 in 1999. He and his wife, Sara, used the home as their primary residence until they bought a bigger and more “celebrity-worthy” home in Pacific Palisades in 2000 for $3.5 million.

Although cheaper than the Pacific Palisades home, Gooding’s Northridge home doesn’t slouch in the space department. The 5-bedroom, 3-bath home measures 3,538 square feet and includes a bonus room and pool. The cul-de-sac property was built in 1976 and also has a 3-car garage.

Gooding had a few minor roles before landing a part in “Jerry Maguire” in 1996, winning the Oscar for best supporting actor. Since then, he’s had a variety of roles and currently is on Broadway in the play “The Trip to Bountiful.” A few reports have surfaced that the actor is looking for a place for his wife and three kids to live while he’s working in the Big Apple.

 

Cuba Gooding Jr.’s Northridge Home for Sale | Zillow Blog.

Luxury Summer Rentals: Is $1 Million the New Normal? | Waccabuc Real Estate

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In the world of short-term rentals, it’s all about Memorial Day to Labor Day. Homes in popular vacation spots from Malibu to The Hamptons are emerging with rental prices from $100,000 to more than $1 million total for the summer.

While many associate these numbers with buying a home — not renting one for three months — these listings typically attract renters soon after they hit the market. For those who can afford it, they offer the chance to live in the lap of luxury — without having to think about a mortgage or resale value.

Here’s a look at a few high-end summer rentals currently on the market. Some are offered for a flat fee; others have a monthly rate for the 3-month peak vacation season. (You might have some negotiating power with Memorial Day behind us, but don’t expect to rent one of these pricey pads for less than six figures.)

Beverly Hills: $1.8 million ($600,000/mo.)

Beverly Hills, CA
Perched above the Beverly Hills Hotel at 1011 N Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, the Beverly House was a for-sale listing asking $115 million before becoming a rental. Whether you’re in the market for a summer home or a year-long lease, the price remains $600,000 per month.

While its ornate architecture and furnishings are notable, the home is most-known for its celebrity history — from publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, who was given the home by actress Marion Davies in 1946, to John and Jacqueline Kennedy, who spent time there during their honeymoon. The 3.7-acre compound has also served as a set for “The Godfather” and “The Bodyguard.”

Water Mill: $550,000 (flat fee)

Water Mill, NY
Located on Mecox Bay between Bridgehampton and Southampton, Water Mill, NY is an exclusive destination for the rich and famous (Jennifer Lopez just dropped $10 million on a 3-acre estate in the area).

Similar to the Beverly Hills listing above, this Water Mill home first hit the market as a for-sale listing in 2011. After several price changes, the home is now being marketed as a summer rental for a flat fee of $550,000 for Memorial Day through Labor Day. The house includes a master suite with a private terrace, 3 additional bedrooms, an oversized granite pool and spa.

Bridgehampton: $475,000 (flat fee)

Bridgehampton, NY
Bridgehampton is another coveted Hamptons locale, with Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein recently buying a house listed for $32.5 million. Last summer, Beyonce and Jay-Z escaped Manhattan with a Bridgehampton summer rental coined “The Sandcastle.”

Measuring 10,000 square feet, this Bridgehampton home has 7 bedrooms, 9.5 baths, a pool, movie theater, gym, 4 fireplaces and a wine cellar. Close to local shops, restaurants and the beach, it’s an ideal getaway during the summer months, and the price reflects this with a $475,000 flat fee from Memorial Day to Labor Day versus $150,000 for the winter.

Southampton: $395,000 (flat fee)

Southampton, NY
Live like Kate Spade with this Southampton summer home located on your own private pond. The property features 5,800 square feet of living space on 2 landscaped acres with a heated pool and tennis court. Located a block from the Hamptons waterfront, the estate also comes with deeded beach access.

If you’re looking for a longer-term rental, listing agent Nancy Hardy of Halstead Property says additional prices are available.

Malibu: $300,000 ($100,000/mo.)
Malibu, CA

Located behind Malibu Colony’s prestigious gated entrance at 23716 Malibu Colony Rd #28, this home is available only for the summer months, as the homeowners live there the rest of the year. For $100,000 a month, the Cape Cod-style beach house comes with a private deck right on the beach, 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths and an attached gym.

Malibu is a popular second-home destination for the celebrity set flocking from nearby L.A. While some like to buy their own place, others including Usher and P. Diddy have gone the rental route.

 

Luxury Summer Rentals: Is $1 Million the New Normal? | Zillow Blog.

Survey: 60 Percent of Homeowners Will Make a Home Improvement This Summer | Katonah Real Estate

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Home improvement big-box stores, get ready. If you think homeowners are sitting idly by this summer trying to beat the heat with their feet up, think again. According to the Zillow Digs Summer Home Improvement Trend and Spending Survey, 60 percent of homeowners plan to make a home improvement or addition this summer.

Zillow Digs Summer 2013 Survey graphic

The survey also provides some insight into the demographic and household makeup of the homeowners and what kinds of projects they have in mind: 

  • Younger homeowners and homes with children are significantly more likely to be planning a home improvement this summer and perhaps as many as three or more home improvements.
  • Homeowners plan to spend a median of $1,200 on summer home improvement projects.
  • Homes with children as well as homeowners 54 and younger plan to spend one-third more ($1,500) compared with homes without children and those 55 and older ($1,000).
  • Some of the most popular summer home improvement projects are outdoor spaces (40 percent) and bathrooms (17 percent).

Ideas for outdoor spaces

Summer Trends 2013 - outdoor space courtesy of Zillow Digs

Zillow Digs photo

Since 40 percent of the home improvement goals will be outdoors projects, we found a few ideas onZillow Digs, where users have shared photos of their favorite outdoor spaces. Instead of infinity pools and sleek modern decks with well-appointed outdoor kitchens, these summer home remodelers prefer camp-like settings that use a lot of stone, particularly stone fireplaces.

Summer Trends 2013 - outdoor space by Boyenga Team

Photo courtesy of Boyenga Team via Zillow Digs

Ideas for bathrooms

Summer Trends 2013 - bathroom courtesy of Jamie Herzlinger

Photo courtesy of Jamie Herzlinger via Zillow Digs

Of the survey respondents, 17 percent said they plan on redoing their bathrooms. But before you start, get out the squeegee and glass cleaner because frosted glass is out. From glass shower enclosures to glass tiles, Zillow Digs users want open and light bathrooms. Without shower curtains, many homeowners and designers take advantage of the free wall space to showcase beautiful glass tiles.

 

Survey: 60 Percent of Homeowners Will Make a Home Improvement This Summer | Zillow Blog.

Bedford Inn Co-Owner, Actor Richard Gere Tops News This Week | Bedford NY Homes

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Here are some of this week’s top stories in Bedford.

  • Hollywood actor Richard Gere, owner of the Bedford Post Inn, and Jeremy McMillan, chef of the inn’s Farmhouse, joined a battle between East and West coast chefs to raise funds for Citymeals-on-Wheels, a group that provides meals for homebound elderly New Yorkers.
  • On Wednesday, the Fox Lane High School graduated as the Class of 2013.
  • The Bedford Police Department is trying to find outwho threw a balloon filled with an unknown object out of a moving car and into the windshield of a school bus last week.

 

Bedford Inn Co-Owner, Actor Richard Gere Tops News This Week | The Bedford Daily Voice.

Despite recovering market, Maryland foreclosure activity remains elevated | Cross River Real Estate

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Maryland’s housing market is improving, but many homeowners still face trouble.

Foreclosure activity in Maryland last month reached a 33-month high, according to RealtyTrac, which gathers real estate data nationwide. Among the states, Maryland had the largest year-over-year increase — 229 percent — in foreclosure starts in May.

“Every day, we just get a lot of struggling, hurting, scared homeowners,” said Owen Jarvis, an attorney with the St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center in Baltimore. Although many homes going into foreclosure now are investments gone wrong, not owner-occupied properties, scores of homeowners are falling behind on payments, he said.

Lenders began the foreclosure process on just over 2,000 Maryland properties last month, according to RealtyTrac’s figures. And last month’s high foreclosure figure is not an anomaly. Maryland’s foreclosure numbers have been among the highest in the country for about a year, ranking fourth last month.

Several factors are behind the state’s elevated foreclosure rate.

Some lenders have dragged out the process, possibly biding their time until the market improves. The chief reason, though, is that Maryland changed its foreclosure laws after the housing bubble burst, requiring more oversight and a more drawn-out process for banks to claim property.

Maryland’s extended foreclosure timeline has given many homeowners time to pursue relief, such as mortgage modifications, from lenders. At the beginning of the financial crisis, foreclosures in Maryland could be completed in a matter of days, leaving homeowners little time to react to bank actions.

The post-bubble spike in mortgage delinquencies prompted the General Assembly to rethink the state’s foreclosure process. Legislators extended the amount of time required before a foreclosure auction, increased access to housing counseling services and instituted a mediation program.

“The governor early on decided that we, Maryland, did not want to be the state with the fastest foreclosure process,” said Raymond Skinner, secretary of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. “Our approach from the beginning has been to focus on our homeowners and keep as many people as we can in their homes.”

The minimum number of days a foreclosure in Maryland could be completed went from 15 to 135, Skinner said. On average, it now takes 575 days to complete a foreclosure in Maryland, said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac.

But the high foreclosure activity, which is expected to continue for months, also might have a chilling effect on the state’s budding housing recovery.

 

 

 

Despite recovering market, Maryland foreclosure activity remains elevated – baltimoresun.com.

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.

Don’t Call It Home Staging. Call It Superstaging! | Bedford Hills Real Estate

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It’s not news that San Francisco home sales have been rocketing above expectations since the beginning of the year. Bay area buyers have seen themselves outbid by the cost of a mansion in their home towns; sellers have found that even an unstaged home, or even raw fixer-upper, will sell above asking within a week.

 

You might think this’d encourage laziness among sellers, but at least one boutique agency is thinking just the opposite: a little extra effort might result in record sales within record times. They call it simple marketing, but I call it “uberstaging.”

 

Climb Real Estate has been creating a niche for itself with its rolling Airstream satellite office. Now they’re talking their sellers into spending as much as $50K on pre-sale improvements, betting that the payoff will more than cover the cost.

 

The first step is to identify the potential buyer. In the case of this property, on Page Street in Hayes Valley, they  pitched their concept toward a single, professional woman in her 30s buying her first home – a powerful buying force in today’s market, by the way. Then they hired a interior designer Ian Stalling, art consultants from Art Haus, color consultant Wendy Trotter, and even landscape designer Dat Pham to create a space designed specifically for this fictitious buyer.

 

“This isn’t about the four walls,” says Chris Lim, Climb’s marketing director. “It’s about what happens in those four walls. How is your life going to be better if you buy this property? Is it that Blue Bottle coffee is just down the street? Is it the restaurants and the easy commute to downtown? How do you create a storyline that will convince someone that this is meant to be her home?” The stack of takeout menus and bottles of coffee in the kitchen are only the beginning of that story.

 

Don’t Call It Home Staging. Call It Superstaging! | Houses | HGTV FrontDoor.

Real Estate Number One Selling Tip | Bedford Real Estate

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You are not hiring a Realtor to put a sign on the lawn, an ad in the paper, and hold an open house. You can do this yourself. You are hiring a Realtor to provide you with maximum exposure to the greatest number of qualified buyers for your home.

 

Supply and Demand

You’ve heard of supply and demand? The more potential buyers at your supply, the higher a priceyou can demand.

 

The absolute number one tip I can give you to help you get the most money possible for your home is this: make sure you get full Multiple Listing Service (MLS) coverage.

 

Don’t look at any offers until you are sure your home is on the MLS computer.

 

I will say this again…

 

Don’t look at any offers until you are sure your home is on the MLS computer. An army of Realtors at your disposal can’t be beat.

 

Dump any Realtor that tries to tell you to put your house on exclusive (only his/her company) or wants you to negotiate offers before it gets on MLS.

Dump any Realtor that wants to list your house on a Friday and have a public open house the following Sunday. There is not enough time to get your home on the system.

I do not care how good a Realtors marketing plan is, it is worthless compared to the value of having your home on the MLS system. Think of it this way. Realtor = home on MLS = most Realtors = most buyers = most money.

 

Is the first offer the best offer?

There is a saying in real estate. The first offer is usually the best one. This is only true, if everyone knows it’s for sale.

 

Real estate surveys in my area showed the owner lost an average of $2000. when their house was sold by the same office or Realtor that listed their home. The reason…the offer was written before any one else knew it was for sale.

 

MLS Comes First

Ask any realtor you are contemplating dealing with, what the order of their marketing plan is. If submitting to the Multiple Listing Service is not the first thing they are going to do, look for another realtor.

 

If you took away every selling tool I had, and said I could only have one of them back, I would choose the MLS service. This is not a commercial for MLS. It is just the best weapon Realtors and the public have for getting maximum exposure on property.

 

MLS is a strong selling tool,…use it… It will make a difference on your bottom line.

Real Estate Number One Selling Tip.

Top 10 Tips for Home Sellers | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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Top 10 tips for Home Sellers

1) Know what comparable homes in your area have sold for.

Knowing what other homes in your area have sold for will help you get top dollar for your home at sale time.

Keep an eye out for homes that are similar to yours. Watch the sales prices of homes that are similar models, have the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms, finished basements, garages, decks or patios, additions, and other similar features to your home.

Home sales prices are public information, you can consult your county or state to find out this information.

2) Learn the lingo.

The process of selling a home brings with it a host of terms that you may have never heard before. Click here for the definitions to some important words you’re likely to encounter.

3) Landscaping can add as much as 10 to 15 percent to the value of your home.

Add a few trees and shrubs to your landscape and you’ll not only improve the view, attract birds and wildlife, but also make your home more energy efficient. And that’s attractive to potential buyers.

Properly positioned deciduous trees (trees that shed their leaves in the fall) can save you up to 25 percent of your typical energy bill for heating and cooling. These trees provide cooling shade in the warm summer months; and in the cold winter months block chilling winds, yet let through precious sunlight that warms your home.

Computer models from the Department of Energy have predicted that just three trees, carefully placed around the house, can save an average household between $100 and $250 in heating and cooling energy costs annually.

Well-planned landscaping can reduce your energy costs by as much as 50 percent. And you don’t have to just use trees. Fences, walls and rows of shrubs can block winter winds and shade during the summer, and vines grown on trellises can shade windows or the entire side of a house. To deflect winter winds, plant evergreen trees and shrubs on the north and west sides of your house. To deflect summer winds, plant on the south and west sides of your house.

Make sure when you select your trees, shrubs and other plants, that you choose plants that are suitable for your environment. For example, in warm climates that lack significant rainfall, choose specimens that are drought-tolerant. If you choose the wrong plants, you’ll end up spending in plant maintenance and water what you saved on the energy costs.

Not sure what trees to plant? The Arbor Day Foundation (www.arborday.org) has a “Tree Wizard” that you can consult to determine the best trees and shrubs for your region of the country.

4) A shiny coat of paint and a little straightening up go a long way

Spend a day of your time and a few dollars for a new can of paint, and not only can you give an old room a new look, but you’ll add some value to your home come sale time.

Not sure what color to paint? Flip through some magazines or watch the many home improvement programs in television. There are excellent redecorating ideas out there that can make a drastic improvement in your home for little money.

Also, try to look at your home the way a stranger might see it, and make some small improvements that could go a long way.

  • If there are kids’ toys on the floor, put them away.
  • Stains on the carpet? Hit them with some spot remover.
  • Have a cat or dog that sheds all over everything? Take a sticky lint remover to your chairs and drapes.
  • Remove light fixtures and clean them out, the brighter light will make your house look cleaner.
  • Burn scented candles to let off a pleasant aroma – but do not forget to blow them out if you leave and don’t leave them burning around small children.
  • Dust blinds, banisters and windowsills – these areas don’t always get caught by the duster.

5) Thinking of doing a remodeling project to add to your home’s value come sale time? Here are some important features homebuyers are looking for in the homes they buy today.

General features

  • Floor plans that reflect an open, casual lifestyle
  • Upstairs laundry rooms
  • Linen closets
  • Decorative moldings
  • Recessed lighting

Entertainment spaces

  • Big family rooms
  • Sunrooms and other areas that encompass the kitchen
  • Small living rooms

Kitchens

  • Natural wood cabinets
  • Hardwood floors
  • Solid-surface and granite countertops
  • Stainless steel appliances

Bathrooms

  • Large showers
  • Separate, compartmented toilets
  • Soaking tubs

Community

  • Tot lots and playgrounds
  • Parks and trails
  • Community swimming pools

*Compiled from multiple industry sources

6) Help your home sell faster by including features that will appeal to an older buyer.

These features can make your home more marketable to a wider variety of home buyers, which makes these features a better “bang” for your remodeling “buck”. Many of these features can be put in for little or no additional cost during your remodeling project.

General features:

  • Path lighting to front or rear doors
  • At least one entrance with no steps
  • A shelf by the front door
  • Handrails on any steps or porches
  • One-story layouts, should you be designing a new home
  • Improved lighting with recessed fixtures in common areas and hallways
  • Lever handles on doors and windows
  • Lower light switches and thermostats; raised outlets
  • Wider doorways

Kitchen/laundry room features:

  • Lever-handle faucets with pull-out spray
  • Rolling island that can be placed back under the counter
  • Revolving corner shelves and pull-out shelves
  • Lower, side-opening oven
  • Side-by side refrigerator with slide-out shelves and a water/ice dispenser
  • Cooking range with controls on front
  • Larger cabinet and drawer pulls
  • Front-loading washer and dryer

Bathroom features:

  • Two to three attractive looking grab bars in shower
  • Lever handles on faucets
  • Slide-bar-type hand-held shower, for sitting or standing
  • Inset shampoo nooks
  • Curbless showers – nothing to step over
  • Tub and Shower controls moved closer to entry point

*Source: National Association of Home Builders

 

Top 10 Tips for Home Sellers – AHAA – Association for Homeowners Across America.