Tag Archives: Westchester Luxury Real Estate

FHA Lenders Operate Through the Federal Shutdown | Bedford Corners Real Estate

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Federal direct and guaranteed housing loan programs funded by the Federal Housing Administration are operating at a level after the federal government closed its doors and the US Department of Agriculture housing programs have shut down altogether

Some 350 of the 9,300 employees at HUD remain on the job and the Office of Single Family Housing is  maintaining the minimum level of operations necessary to support FHA’s existing portfolio of loans, however most support services for the program, such as prequalification, approving lender applications and re-certifications, will cease.

Larger lenders who have been delegated authority to process FHA applications are unaffected by the shutdown, said Mike Copley, head of Retail Money-Out Products for TD Bank.  Hre said borrowers who are in process of getting a loan as well as those who are getting ready to apply should have no hold-up due to the government shutdown.   “Delegated lenders can make decisions and approve loans.  The only problem borrowers might have is if they are working with a smaller lender who has not been delegated authority by FHA.

Jumbo loans might face a greater problem, he said.  TD Bank requests a copy of applicants’ tax returns directly from the IRS to verify income.  “We will go as far as we can go with jumbo applications in hopes that by the time we need to verify income the government will be up and running again.” said Copley, noting that the last government shutdown lasted only 21 days.

 

 

 

http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2013/09/federal-shutdown-to-cripple-fha-close-usda-housing-programs/

Mortgage rates drop for second straight week | Waccabuc Real Estate

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Amid data that has lowered expectations for the performance of the housing market in the fourth quarter of this year, mortgage rates dropped for the second straight week.

Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 4.1 percent with an average point of 0.7 percent for the week ending Oct. 31, down from 4.13 percent last week but up from 3.39 percent a year ago, according to Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

Rates on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages and five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) loans also decreased, while rates on one-year Treasury-indexed ARMs increased.

“Fixed mortgage rates eased further leading up to the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) Oct. 30th monetary policy announcement,” said Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist at Freddie Mac. “The Fed saw improvement in economic activity and labor market conditions since it began its asset purchase program, but noted the recovery in the housing market slowed somewhat in recent months and unemployment remains elevated.”

“As a result, there was no policy change which should help sustain low mortgage rates in the near future.”

Source: Freddie Mac

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/wire/mortgage-rates-drop-for-2nd-straight-week/#sthash.Yi9iOhYW.dpuf

Doctor Gives End Of Daylight Saving Time Tips | Katonah Real Estate

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We’ll all be “Fall”-ing back this weekend. You can get ready for it now.

Changing the clocks back at the end of Daylight Saving Time can throw your body for a loop, but there are ways to help you ease into that one-hour change.

Dr. Praveen Rudraraju at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco has five tips to help adjust to the end of Daylight Saving Time.

  • Try to change one of the clocks on Friday and start following that clock to eat meals, sleep and wake according to that clock. When Monday comes, you will be better adjusted.
  • Exercise early in the day not too close to the bedtime.
  • Give ample time to digest your dinner before you go to bed.
  • Try to spend time outside during the daytime if weather permits, Dim the lights in the evening, so that your body understands that it’s time to wind down.

 

 

http://mtkisco.dailyvoice.com/lifestyle/nwh-doctor-gives-end-daylight-saving-time-tips

3 Facebook Survey Tools You Will Love | Chappaqua NY Realtor

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Facebook, Facebook, Facebook. It’s hard to get through any internet focused  blog without reading something about Facebook. It has become so common that  refraining from using the company in articles has become a challenge and at the  same time, a breath of fresh air.

We all have started to try to find other examples of sites and options for  marketing that don’t include the social media giant. However, for surveys and  understanding your customer base, nothing can beat Facebook.

We’re going to go through why Facebook is so necessary for a quality survey.  We will also look at some interesting apps that will help you to reach your goal  of a loyal audience and build your customer base.

The three major advantages of Facebook polling

1. Comprehensive metrics

Facebook is an undeniably huge database of information collected from  millions of people, including your audience and potential customers. At times,  people share much more about themselves than they probably should, and this is  all stored on Facebook’s servers. Why does this matter?

It matters because this data can help you analyze your responses much better  and with more detail than a classic poll. Many Facebook survey tools allow you  to use the already available information to narrow down your respondents by:

  • Age
  • Location
  • Gender

They then use a scale to mix and match these demographics.

2. Easy to obtain a large number of respondents

I bet just about everyone you know has a Facebook profile. It is so  integrated into our lives that the average smartphone user checks their Facebook  14 times a day. This means that there is already a large amount of active people  who are readily available to take your survey. Facebook allows you to gain much  more respondents in a much shorter amount of time than if you used classic  survey methods.

3. Low cost

Small businesses, new businesses, and even large businesses need to cut costs  where it makes sense. Traditional polling can be very expensive which often  mitigates the final outcome of a survey. However, most Facebook polling  solutions are very cheap and can offer more than enough information to make  smart changes and to help generate more effective content.

3 Facebook survey tools

Facebook used to offer its own polling service but it has since been shut  down as it was quite honestly useless. Sure, if you needed to make a painless  poll to get an answer quick without having to analyze it, it worked.

However, most users needed to gather real data to achieve real goals, and so  3rd party applications started taking the lead. These three applications are  some of the most popular and affordable ways for just about anyone to get  actionable results from their survey.

 

 

 

Read more at http://www.jeffbullas.com/2013/10/17/3-facebook-survey-tools-you-will-love/#frGGDeJmrXMlmolk.99

Dreaming in Color: 8 Eye-Opening Yellow Bedrooms | Waccabuc Real Estate

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I tend to associate the color yellow with the sweet corn my hometown, just outside the reach of suburban Chicago, is famous for. It’s also the color of one of the first flowers of spring in that part of the country, daffodils, which my mother planted in beds around the house to herald the end of our long, cold winters. To me yellow represents the color of sunshine, sustenance and rejuvenation. It reminds me of happy, idyllic days and makes me feel optimistic for the future. If you have similar positive associations with yellow, try using it in your bedroom to help you get revved up each morning for the day ahead.
Below you’ll find several sunny yellow bedrooms as well as tips for working the happy hue into your sleeping space.

If you have tall ceilings in your bedroom and lots of natural light, you can go super bold and intense with yellow. This particular shade of yellow packs a wallop, so I’d recommend limiting it to an accent wall. A room that gets this much natural light can handle a bold yellow on an entire wall, but be aware that if your bedroom has low ceilings and little natural light streaming in, then a yellow as bright and bold as this one could leave you feeling anxious.
Get a similar look with Babouche from Farrow & Ball.
Those seeking a mellower yellow should look at softer sandy and golden hues, such as this green-tinged gold. There’s quite a bit of brown and white in it, so it reads as a neutral hue — a pumped-up beige, if you will. This is a good color choice if you plan to paint all or most of your walls yellow, as it offers a nice wash of color without going overboard.
Add oodles of warmth to your bedroom with a generous dose of wood tones and a yellow hue such as this one that veers more toward warmer orange than cooler green. This is an ideal palette for getting a cozy bedroom vibe in even the coldest of climates.
If you’re a fan of wall coverings, choose one that really makes a statement. An interesting print on a bold yellow background is a great choice for an accent wall. Wall coverings can also provide protection from dents and dings, and many are scrubbable and therefore easy to clean, making them a smart choice in a kids’ room.

Tale of two recoveries’ emerges in Sandy’s wake | Bedford Hills Real Estate

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An analysis by StreetEasy of sales and price changes in New York City neighborhoods following Hurricane Sandy tells a “tale of two recoveries.”

Contract volume in flood zones in Manhattan quickly rebounded after Sandy initially dented them, while prices and rents remained stable, StreetEasy reported.

But some housing markets in flood zones of other boroughs were not nearly as resilient as those in Manhattan, and they are continuing to feel the effects of the super storm, according to StreetEasy.

 

 

Source: StreetEasy – See more at: http://www.inman.com/wire/tale-of-two-recoveries-emerges-in-sandys-wake/#sthash.8BpR8rMs.dpuf

Home prices lose momentum in August, but post strongest annual gains in 7 years | Bedford NY Real Estate

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Home prices posted their biggest annual gains in seven years in August, but the pace of month-over-month gains slowed in most markets tracked by the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Composite index.

The S&P/Case Shiller 20-City Composite showed home prices rising by 12.8 percent from a year ago, and by 1.3 percent from July to August. All 20 cities reported annual gains, with 13 showing double-digit price appreciation. The 20-city composite posted the strongest year-over-year growth since February, 2006.

If no adjustment is made for seasonal factors, month-over-month gains for the 20-city composite peaked in April.“Since then home prices continued to rise, but at a slower pace each month,” said David M. Blitzer, Chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices.

“This month 16 cities reported smaller gains in August compared to July.”Blitzer cited recent increases in mortgage rates and fewer mortgage applications as two factors in these shifts. When adjusted for seasonal factors, the 20-city composite index showed stronger month-over-month growth in August (0.9 percent) than in July (0.6 percent).

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/wire/home-price-gains-slow-for-4th-straight-month/#sthash.c2ZG0O5M.dpuf

Legislators Race to Buy Time as Flood Insurance Rate Spike Threatens Homeowners | Bedford Corners Homes

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A bipartisan group of Senate and House members have proposed a deal to delay flood insurance premium increases taking effect as a result of last year’s Biggert-Waters Act. The rate increases will greatly increase costs for homeowners living in flood-prone areas and could also impact the nation’s housing market.

The legislation has four principal goals: it would delay most flood insurance increases for four years; compel the Federal Emergency Management Agency to complete an affordability study mandated by Biggert-Waters; address issues found within the study; and allow Congress time to review those findings and revisions.

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), one of the namesakes of the Biggert-Waters Act, announced the deal today. On Friday, eight Senators appealed to fellow senators for support for the bill, which would delay flood insurance rate increases for thousands of homeowners set to take effect as part of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act.

As of Friday, eight senators—Mary Landrieu (D-La.), David Vitter (R-La.), John Isakson (R-Ga.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.)—had signed on as cosponsors. There has been no announcement as to of or when there might be a vote on the proposed legislation.

 

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/legislation/legislators-race-to-buy-time-as-flood-insurance-rate-spike-threatens-homeowners.aspx?utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=jump&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=RDU_102913&day=2013-10-29

 

$65M In Housing Aid Brings Sandy Recovery Funds In Connecticut To $500M | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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Connecticut will receive an additional $65 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to bolster its Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts, bringing the total aid from the federal government over the last year to an unprecedented $500 million.

The aid was announced by Gov. Dannel Malloy in a statement Monday, the eve of the first anniversary of the hurricane. The $500 million will support recovery and relief efforts for residents, local education systems, small businesses, nonprofits and municipalities.

“Families across the state are still coping with the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy last year,” said U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. “With the winter months again approaching, we need to ensure these families have the tools they need to fully recover and prepare for future severe weather.”

HUD had previously provided $71.82 million to help residents, businesses and communities recover and rebuild after the storm. The first allocation of funding was made based on unmet needs and applications for individual assistance from FEMA; this new funding allocation was distributed based on a formula driven by federal data and statistics detailing unmet need and public assistance, including damage to transportation infrastructure, in Sandy-affected states.

The state Department of Housing will develop an action plan to disburse the new funding, which will require approval from both the state legislature and HUD.

“One year later, it’s clear these communities continue to be challenged by the sheer scale of this devastating storm, requiring further investment to make certain these needs are met,” HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said. “These resources are making a difference helping individuals, families, and businesses to get back on their feet and come back stronger and more resilient than ever.”

Projects in Fairfield, New London, New Haven, and Middlesex counties and the Mashantucket Pequot tribal area are eligible for assistance. Eligible expenses are those not covered by insurance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or any other sources of funding. Specific work that is eligible includes:

  • Structural repair or replacement of damaged property;
  • Mitigation assistance to elevate homes and/or reduce the damage from future disasters; and
  • Rehabilitation, modification and/or improvements to infrastructure and public facilities to address damage from the storm and to reduce the damage from future disasters.

“We continue to plan—and meet—aggressive timetables in order get these funds out to homeowners and businesses as fast as possible,” said Evonne Klein, housing commissioner. “We continue to accept applications and encourage those impacted by the storm to visit one of our intake centers or visit the Web site to learn about the many ways we can help.”

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said: “I commend the efforts over the past year to restore and repair our shoreline communities, but much work remains to ensure homeowners, businesses and municipalities have the resources they need to fully recover from the devastation of Superstorm Sandy.

“As storms like Sandy become the new normal, it is vital that we continue to invest in mitigation efforts to reduce future damages, emergency costs, injuries and hardships. Further, we must work to improve our systems and processes so that those in need receive the assistance they need when they need it most.”

The state recently opened four intake centers in East Haven, Fairfield, Milford and Norwalk to provide one-on-one assistance to homeowners. (Read more about the centers here.) The state’s official CT Recovers website provides information on assistance available to homeowners and businesses impacted by Superstorm Sandy from all state agencies.

 

 

http://greenwich.dailyvoice.com/politics/65m-housing-aid-brings-sandy-recovery-funds-connecticut-500m

 

Smart Shopper: How to Choose a Dining Chair | Pound Ridge Homes

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In Grandma’s day, newlyweds started out their marriages with a matching dining table and chairs. You never had to wonder if the pieces worked together. But the results were so predictable, they induced drowsiness faster than the tryptophan in a turkey dinner.
Today mix-and-match dining sets are in vogue. They’re more interesting, but also more challenging to put together. So before you invest in a set of dining chairs, make sure they’re going to work with the table, the room — and even the size of your guests.

Design
Although it can be chic to pair traditional chairs with a contemporary table, and vice versa, try to find pieces that share a common design element. If the table has a sinuous leg, look for a chair with the same line in the leg or back, or choose upholstery with swirls on it.
If the table is square or rectangular, consider chairs with a square or rectangular seat.
Dimensions
Twenty-two inches is a good standard width for an armless dining chair, but you can go larger than that if your dining table or dining room is especially big and would dwarf a normal-size chair.
Avoid chairs that are narrower than 17 inches; they just don’t provide enough support for the derriere. For maximum comfort, choose chairs that are 20 to 24 inches deep.