Tag Archives: Westchester Luxury Real Estate

For Only $15M, Be a ‘Pearl Within a Life-Size Abalone Shell’ | Bedford NY Real Estate

Location: Laguna Beach, Calif. Price: $15,000,000 The Skinny: The brokerbabble for The Rockhouse, as it’s called, surreally claims that living in this beachfront home “evokes the feeling of being a pearl within a life-size abalone shell”, but an equally apt analogy might be that it evokes the feeling of being trapped in Ursula’s lair in a scene from The Little Mermaid. The listing wisely avoids drawing that connection, though, instead laying the responsibility for inspiring this “synergistic marriage of architecture and art” at the unwitting feet of Antoni Gaudi and the city of Barcelona. Besides the clamshell décor, the most notable aspect of this Brion Jeanette design is its location inside Aliso Rock, a gigantic stone that sat peacefully on this beach for eons, watching a million gentle tides come and go, before being split asunder to make room for this house. The two-bedroom, three-bathroom home—which does have nice ocean views!—is asking $15M.

· 31107 Coast Highway [Surterre Properties] · 31107 Coast Highway [Zillow]

Renovation Do No. 1: Upgrade your kitchen | Armonk Real Estate

All of our experts agree that a kitchen renovation should be at the top of your list, since it’s the heart of a home and the room where families spend most of their time. But where to start? A couple of givens include upgrading to stainless steel appliances and installing countertops made from engineered stone or granite, because these fairly easy changes will improve the aesthetic appeal of the space. Details can also make a difference, like putting shiny knobs on cabinets and purchasing a sparkling new faucet for the sink.

Modern innovations and technology have been so good to everyday life. Having the ability to cook on an electric stove and use electricity for many other things in life is something that many people take for granted. However, when your electricity isn’t working right or you need electric oven repair, you might be a little more than overwhelmed with all of the things that you have to consider in order to make the most of your repair services. Take the time to Check This Out all of your options. If the winter was bitterly cold and the heat cost were unspeakably high, then you certainly need to think about insulation for your home. If it is formulated as simply as possible, then insulation serves ultimately to prevent or slow down heat exchange between two areas. Ideally, the heat stays in the house and the cold outside or vice versa for the summer months when you want to keep to cold air inside and heat outside. Many building materials can be a source of insulation, but only a few do this effectively. Even a simple stone wall holds heat to a certain extent in the walls. However, if considerable savings are to be made in terms of heating costs, there is no way around special insulation materials. But it does not always have to be “packed” within the whole house to save money. It is often enough to simply insulate the top floor, which will considerably reduce fuel consumption. Click here for more information https://www.insulation4us.com/blogs/what-insulation-should-i-use-when-insulating-my-home-in-brooklyn-ny/

Another wise kitchen upgrade? Knocking down a full or half wall, so you can connect the kitchen to the den or living room. “It makes the kitchen feel more spacious,” says Phyllis Rockower, the owner of the Real Estate Investors Club of Los Angeles. “If you’re cooking, you can still hear what people are saying during a party, or keep an eye on your kids while they’re playing.” http://money.msn.com/home-loans/good-and-bad-renovations-for-your-homes-value

Home prices cooling, but double-digit gains remain common | South Salem NY Real Estate

Home prices in Southwest Florida continue to post double-digit gains, despite some predictions that those hefty increases that have been a hallmark of 2013 will begin to taper off.

Prices of single-family homes in the Sarasota-Manatee region climbed 11 percent in October over last year, according to the latest report from real estate data provider CoreLogic.

That fell short of the 12.5 percent increase reported nationwide, which marked the 20th straight monthly boost in homes prices in the U.S.

But prices outpaced the U.S. in Charlotte County, where they jumped 14.7 percent in October over the same period in 2012.

Both regions, however, topped the national average for month-to-month price gains.

Home prices from September to October rose 0.4 percent in Sarasota-Manatee and 0.5 percent in Charlotte, compared with a 0.2 percent average hike throughout the country.

That small nationwide gain, experts suggest, indicates prices may be starting to level off.

“In October, the year-over-year appreciation rate remained strong, but the month-over-month appreciation rate was barely positive, indicating that house price appreciation has slowed as expected for the winter,” said Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic.

 

 

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20131216/ARTICLE/131219721/-1/sports03?Title=Home-prices-cooling-but-double-digit-gains-remain-common

Maintain market relevance by writing ‘timeless,’ hyperlocal posts | Pound Ridge NY Realtor

We all know that having posts that are timeless is important. You know the ones that people will find year after year and are still relevant, regardless of the topic.

You do know that, right? Well, now you do, if you didn’t already.

There are a number of reasons for doing timeless posts. Here are a few:

  1. They are relevant and informative for years if written appropriately.
  2. They continue to get views over the years and potentially drive more traffic to your website.
  3. They show you are a knowledgeable real estate professional in the area and on that topic.
  4. You can use them in lots of ways.

Timeless posts can be about a variety of topics: the larger community (Carlsbad); neighborhoods (La Costa); subdivisions or master-planned communities (Bressi Ranch); condo communities (Sanderling); and community amenities including parks, tourist attractions and recreation, and to some extent shopping and dining. Those places do go out of business on occasion, so they may not truly be timeless.

Community and similar localism posts tend to get a lot of traffic. I have a bunch with more than 15,000 clicks since they were first written

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/next/maintain-market-relevance-by-writing-timeless-hyperlocal-posts/?utm_source=20131213&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailyheadlinesam#sthash.BdrHAetU.dpuf

Foreclosure filings plummet in November | Cross River Homes

U.S. foreclosure filings plummeted 37 percent in November from a year ago and 15 percent from October, according to the latest report from foreclosure data aggregator RealtyTrac.

The 113,454 properties that were served with a default notice, scheduled for auction or repossessed by a bank in November represented the biggest month-over-month drop in foreclosure activity since November 2010, when foreclosure activity dropped 21 percent after the robo-signing scandal broke.

“While some of the decrease in November can be attributed to seasonality, the depth and breadth of the decrease provides strong evidence that we are entering the ninth inning of this foreclosure crisis with the outcome all but guaranteed,” said Daren Blomquist, vice president of RealtyTrac, in a statement.

Only three of the 20 largest U.S. metros posted annual increases in foreclosure activity: Baltimore (up 46 percent), Philadelphia (up 34 percent), and Washington, D.C. (up 6 percent).

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/12/11/foreclosure-filings-plummet-in-november/?utm_source=20131212&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailyheadlinesam#sthash.xJyMjjbG.dpuf

Manhattan Rents Dip Again, But Brooklyn’s Won’t Stop Rising | Waccbuc Real Estate

Elliman%20-%20Manhattan%20Rents%20November%202013.png [Chart via The Elliman Report.]

An NYC newbie might look at the data from Elliman’s monthly rental market report for November and say, “Hey, the rents in Manhattan have declined for three straight months now. Yippee!” The median rental price did, once again, drop year-over-year, down 3 percent to $3,100/month. Hold up: report guru and general market whiz Jonathan Miller cautions that Manhattan renters should contain their glee. “We are seeing rents top out, but the market is still strong,” he says, adding that the rental market saw much of its number exit in order to buy this summer in a flurry of record sales activity. Vacancy rates rose to a relatively high 2.8 percent, and so in order to appease renters, landlords were more willing than usual to offer concessions (say, a free month’s rent). Yet, concludes JMillz, “I don’t think we should expect a long downward trend in rents. The key drivers—rising NYC employment and tight credit—remain in place. I see rents bouncing up and down going forward on some sort of plateau and remaining at a high level.”

MNS%20-%20Manhattan%20YoY%20Rent%20Changes.png [Infographic via MNS.]

Meanwhile, brokerage MNS breaks down its extensive monthly report by neighborhood and type of apartment. Taking all the data together, though, Midtown West, Battery Park City, and the East Village saw the most intense rent hikes, while rents dropped for the Upper East Side, Chelsea, and the Lower East Side.

Elliman%20-%20Brooklyn%20Rents%20November%202013.png [Chart via The Elliman Report.]

Let’s turn our attention to Brooklyn, once seen as a bastion of affordability. Not anymore, folks, given that Elliman found median rents in the booming north and northwest parts of the borough rose yet again, this time by 3.8 percent to $2,800/month. And as rents are climbing, the availability of rentable apartments is decreasing: the number of new rentals slipped 6.5 percent from November of last year. The gap between Brooklyn and Manhattan median rents continues to narrow, with only $300/month between them now. “I see Brooklyn as about a year behind the Manhattan cycle,” Miller says. “I think they have more upside, whereas Manhattan more stable.” But, fear not, there’s relief ahead, in the form of increased supply: “Much of the new development in Brooklyn is rental, so that will temper growth next year, whereas most of the new development in Manhattan is condo.”

 

 

http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2013/12/11/manhattan_rents_dip_again_but_brooklyns_wont_stop_rising.php

Toll Brothers earnings fall in 4Q, drop year-over-year | Cross River Real Estate

Toll Brothers (TOL), the nation’s largest luxury homebuilder, reported a 65% drop in its net income for fiscal year 2013 versus fiscal year 2012, following a fourth quarter that beat estimates, but was still down from last year.

The firm’s fiscal-year 2013 earnings declined to $170.6 million, or $0.97 per share diluted, compared to earnings of $487.1 million, or $2.86 per share diluted, for fiscal year 2012.

Fourth-quarter earnings for 2013 were $94.9 million, or $0.54 per share diluted, compared to $411.4 million, or $2.35 per share, in fiscal year 2012.

A tax benefit in the fourth quarter of last year could account for some of the disparity.

Toll Brothers’ deferred-tax asset valuation allowance reversal was $394.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2012, versus $4.6 million for their fourth quarter in 2013.

Douglas Yearley, chief executive officer for Toll Brothers, focused on the positive growth the company saw in 2013.

“With revenues and contracts up over 40%, backlog up over 50% and operating income up over 200%, fiscal year 2013 was an excellent year for Toll Brothers,” Yearling said.

Fourth quarter 2013 revenues rose 65% to $1.04 billion compared to the fourth quarter of 2012, with a 36% increase in units to 1,485 deliveries.

The average price of homes delivered rose to $703,000 in the fourth quarter, topping $651,000 in the third quarter of 2013 and $582,000 in the fourth quarter last year.

 

 

http://www.housingwire.com/articles/28253-toll-brothers-earnings-down-for-fourth-quarter-and-fiscal-year-2013

Design Details In New Batch of Hyde Midtown Renderings | Mt Kisco Realtor

now.jpg The folks at exMiami have procured more renderings of the Related Group’s Hyde Midtown condo tower project, which they say show the “Arquitectonica touch” (more renderings at exMiami, this way).  A sales center is currently under construction at the 3 Midtown site.

The more detailed renderings show that the ground floor, if not exactly a head-turner, is at least well-designed. · New Hyde Midtown Renderings Show Arquitectonica Touch [exMiami] · Previous Hyde Midtown coverage [Curbed Miami]

NJ’s priciest listing comes with 2 barns and a silo | Cross River NY Homes

If it’s not clear what you might do with a 20,000-square-foot home that sits on 127 acres and comes with two barns and a 50-foot silo, the address should clue you in that the answer is not “farm.”7 Yearling Path, in Colts Neck, N.J., is being marketed as an “exquisite equestrian estate” that, in addition to all the amenities for horses, comes with some nice perks for humans, too — like marble showers in the 10 bathrooms, a kitchen that can serve 250 people, a gym, and a theater with platform seating.

At the moment, it’s the priciest single-family listing in New Jersey, Marlboro-ColtsNeckPatch reports. The property taxes alone set the current owner back $67,634 in 2012, according to details about the listing, represented by Pamela “Pam” Molloy of Coldwell Banker Holmdel, published by the brokerage. Source: coldwellbankermoves.com

 

 

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/wire/priciest-nj-listing-9-bedroom-equestrian-estate-on-127-acres-for-34-999m/#sthash.83wN5XHW.dpuf