Tag Archives: Westchester Homes

Westchester Homes

Fifty-two Percent of Largest Markets Have Recovered Half of Lost Equity | Bedford Hills NY Homes

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A majority of the nation’s largest markets, 52 percent, have now recovered more than half of the equity they lost during the Great Recession, according to the latest Rebound Report from Homes.com.

For the fourth consecutive month, all of the 200 midsize local markets measured continued to show gains year over year for the single-family index in October.  While the number of top 100 markets achieving a full recovery remained flat from the previous month, there was noticeable improvement in the number of these markets pertaining to overall recovery.  Three markets moved out of the 0-25% rebound range, and three markets moved up in the 75-100% rebound range.

Month-over-month increases in index values were seen in 251 of the top 300 markets, down from 253 the previous month.  The slight downtrend is likely due to both seasonal trends and the state of recovery for these markets.  Of the 49 markets that saw declines last month, 18 have fully recovered their decline in home prices from the housing bubble and show signs of continuing stabilization.

Seasonal downtrends, along with market stabilization, continued to trend at the end of the third quarter increased month to month – slightly down by three from last month’s report.  However, the month-to-month declines displayed by 39 markets are relatively nominal, with the largest decrease being -0.93 index points in Lynchburg, Va.

“As we end the third quarter, both large and small markets that previously achieved full price recovery from the housing depression consolidated their gains reached during the home buying season.  One in four surpassed their pre-recession peak values,” said Brock MacLean, executive vice president of Homes.com.  “These price gains are restoring millions of homeowners to positive equity and are reviving local real estate markets across the country.”

 

http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2013/11/

How to Find Home Buying Credits | Bedford Hills Homes

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Buying your first home is an exciting process, but it can also be a nerve-racking experience. You invest a lot of time and energy seeking out the right home in the right neighborhood. Then the real challenge begins: financing it.

Getting a mortgage loan requires you to have enough money in the bank to pay all of the costs associated with closing the loan, plus enough left over to convince the lender that you can actually afford to pay a monthly mortgage payment.

One strategy some home buyers employ is to seek out home buying credits that provide funds to help people get into their dream homes. Here’s a look at some of the most common, along with information about how to find them.

Mortgage Credit Certificate

The Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) is available to first-time home buyers in certain states. It provides up to $8,000 in tax credits to people who have not owned a home in the previous three years, meet certain income criteria and use their new home as their primary residence.

Each state has its own rules about when it offers the MCC and who can qualify. Check with your local housing authority to see if it’s available to you.

Good Neighbor Next Door Program

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers significant credits to law enforcement officers, school teachers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians who purchase single-family homes in areas targeted for revitalization.

The Good Neighbor Next Door Program makes homes (usually in urban areas) available for up to 50 percent off the list prices. Buyers must agree to live in the home for at least three years. Learn more at HUD’s website.

 

 

http://www.zillow.com/blog/2013-12-05/how-to-find-home-buying-credits/

How to Assess Your Own Site for Solar Potential | Cross River Homes

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With  the current federal tax credits and some local utilities offering incentives,  tapping into solar power is more affordable and pays off sooner than it did four  years ago. Before you bring a solar energy expert out to your house, take some  time to check your site yourself. Evaluating your home for solar is simple: Just  follow these four easy steps.

Check  your paperwork. To be eligible for the solar  incentives from the government and/or utility companies, the person who owns the  system (you) must own the property where the solar array will be installed. The  utility account for the property must be in your name as well.

Check  the orientation. Southern-facing roofs are optimal; west-facing is  the next best. Do none of your roofs face the best directions? Fear not. There  are solutions. Many people use pole mounts and racked panels to maximize their  solar production.

Check  your view. Even a little shading can create a big problem. There are  systems designed to deal effectively with some shading but there is a limit.  There are ways to deal with shading challenges. Obvious solutions are mounting  panels to poles or racks. For one Olympia, Wash., family the best place for  their system was in their backyard. So, they built a pergola and used the  photovoltaic panels as shading.

More  dramatic (and often less desirable) solutions to shading would be removing trees  that cause shading. A good solar installer will be able to give you a reasonable  estimate of how effective tree removal would be before you  break out the chainsaw.

Check  your structure. Outside: If solar panels will be installed  on your roof, you need to take a good look at the roof itself. If the roofing is  due to be replaced in the next 10 years, get it replaced before you have solar  installed. To save money, roofers can replace just the area where solar panels  are being installed. The rest of the roof can be replaced down the line.

 

Your  roof and its supporting structure needs to be in good condition. Solar panels’ additional weight is minimal, but damaged and/or aging roofs require a different  approach. If your roof is sagging, bowing or crumbling, getting your home safe  and solid should be the highest priority.

Inside:  Your home’s wiring needs to be up-to-date. The panels’ electric requirements are  pretty low, but it’s best to make sure your home’s system is able to handle the  additional needs.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/renewable-energy/how-to-assess-your-own-site-for-solar-potentialzb0z1311zacai.aspx#ixzz2mhvS0TmT

How to Use Facebook Voice Messages for Your Business | Bedford Hills Realtor

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Do you use your Facebook personal profile to build business relationships?

Have you considered using Facebook voice messages to connect with your customers?

If you connect with customers on your personal profile, you can use Facebook voice messages with great success.

In this article, I’ll show you four ways Facebook voice messages can benefit your business.

What are Facebook Voice Messages?

Facebook voice messages are 60-second audio messages you record from an iOS or Android smartphone/tablet and send to friends and followers whom you’ve followed back.

To send Facebook voice messages, simply open a new message using the Facebook mobile app or the Facebook Messenger app.

mari smith message

Recording a Facebook voice message to Mari Smith.

 

From an Android phone, press the paperclip to open a blank voice message. From an iOS device, press the microphone.

When your blank message is opened, press and hold the red button to record. When you’re done recording, let go of the button and click Done to send your recording.

When a voice message is received, a playback box appears in the recipient’s Chat or Message window. They just click the arrow to listen!

facebook voice message

Example of a sent Facebook voice message.

Now that you have a better understanding of what Facebook voice messages are and how you access them, let’s see how you can use them to benefit your business.

#1: Build Relationships When You Welcome New Followers Personally

When you’ve hit the magic 5,000-friend limit, the only way to connect with more people from your profile is to allow them to follow you.

One way to leverage personal connections with Facebook voice messages is to follow your followers.

To find your followers, go to the About tab on your profile. Scroll down to your Friends box and click on Followers.

Follow a few of your newest followers, then thank each of them for connecting with you with a short voice message. You might also use the opportunity to let them know about your website, Facebook page or any of your other social media channels.

mari smith followers

Find your followers on the About tab of your profile.

Sending a personalized voice message to new followers will let them know you notice them and help you develop a deeper relationship with them.

#2: Become a Recognized Information Resource

If you receive a lot of questions, it can be difficult to keep up with the volume that comes through.

When you receive the same question from several people, use Facebook voice messages to record the answer once and deliver it to each person at the same time. Not only is this faster than typing individual text-based replies, it makes things more personal and you solve their problem with one effort!

If someone posts a question about something you answered in your ebook, send a Facebook voice message with a link to a free version of the ebook and mention where the answer is located.

It’s easy to become a go-to resource when you use personal voice messages to answer questions from your community.

#3: Create Brand Ambassadors

If you’re a public figure, most of your fans rarely get the opportunity to connect with or meet you in person. Facebook might be the closest they get to interacting with you.

Use voice messages to surprise a few of your business connections with a free product and a personalized recording from the CEO.

istock microphone

Personal voice messages have greater impact than generic emails or posts. Image source: iStockphoto

A series of surprise voice messages to share free products with people helps you create enthusiastic brand ambassadors.

#4: Reward Loyalty With Targeted Deals

Nobody feels special when they receive a discount that’s offered to everyone, but they do feel special when they receive a personal offer that’s created just for them.

Send targeted Facebook voice messages to promote exclusive deals to your community members.

When you notice a particular customer has longstanding loyalty to a product or service you offer, send a voice message and offer a truly exclusive discount on that product. Or a sneak preview of a new product!

Not only does this keep your customer excited about your products, but it also empowers him or her to tell friends about your business as well.

istock exclusive seal

Personalize exclusive offers for specific voice message recipients. Image source: iStockphoto

Targeted deals are a great way to reward your loyal customers and drive awareness for your business at the same time.

Use Facebook Voice Messages Wisely

Remember, just because you can send Facebook voice messages to all your connections doesn’t mean you should go overboard. Send out too many and you risk being viewed as a spammer and that bad reputation will reflect negatively on your business and the services you provide.

Instead, use Facebook voice messages strategically to make a good impression with individual members of your community, become a valuable resource and build loyalty with your fans.

 

 

 

 

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/facebook-voice-messages/

Watch an Entire Kitchen Remodel in 3½ Minutes | Bedford NY Real Estate

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ver wonder what remodeling a kitchen looks like? So did this homeowner. Only he put his tech-savvy skills to work. For his new kitchen, designed by Main Line Kitchen Design, he recorded the entire three-month-long construction process, then edited the footage down into a three-and-a-half-minute time-lapse video that makes the whole thing look like an organized dance routine.

Workers tear down the old kitchen in a matter of seconds. Oak floors swiftly drop into place board by board like in a smooth game of Tetris. Contractors gracefully slide cabinets and appliances into place as if they were floating from their fingertips. If only the actual process were so flawless and quick.

Check out the video, then see the cost breakdown:

 

 

 

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/20361449

NYC’s 10013 zip code is country’s second-priciest | Bedford Hills Homes

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New York City zip code 10013 – which includes posh neighborhoods such as Tribeca and Soho — saw 45 sales of $5 million or more in the year ending June 30, making it the second-priciest zip code in the country. Six of those sales were for $10 million or more, according to new data from Trulia.

Beverly Hills, which has the iconic 90210 zip code, took the top spot, with 80 sales of $5 million or more.

But 10013 was the only New York City zip code that made the top 10 list, according to CNNMoney. Indeed, Florida and California, with swanky neighborhoods such as Newport Coast (92657) and Miami Beach (33139) dominated the top 10.

Tribeca is also one of the city’s priciest rental markets, with one-bedrooms in the neighborhood ringing in at just shy of a median of $4,000 per month, according to Zumper. The nabe is closely followed by the West Village at $3,600 and Chelsea at $3,575.

 

 

[CNNMoney]