Tag Archives: Westchester NY Homes for Sale

Westchester NY Homes for Sale

Improved Equity Empowers Trade-up Buyers | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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Housing demand by trade-up buyers is rising as the home equity available to these prospective buyers is improving as foreclosures sales decline nationwide and are in high demand in many fast-rising markets

According to FNC’s Foreclosure Market Report, the foreclosure market has rapidly improved in recent months with foreclosure rates approaching pre-crisis levels – an indication of strengthening supply-side conditions. On the demand side, steadily rising home prices and an expectation of continued recovery have stimulated housing turnover by prospective buyers who are in a position to take advantage of low home prices. In the meantime, higher home prices are bringing out trade-up demand from existing homeowners who are experiencing rising home equity, which supports a down payment on their next bigger house.

“We’ve seen hard data from the past 18 months that shows rising home prices and a foreclosure market with diminished impact due to decreasing foreclosure inventories and fewer new foreclosure filings,” said FNC Director of Research Yanling Mayer. “Meanwhile, a very encouraging trend that has been developing is the rising participation of trade-up buyers who are seeing improving home equity position and positive capital appreciation on existing homes.

“An important sign of a healthy and sustainable recovery is increased housing turnover driven by trade-up buying, which is more or less discretionary spending,” Mayer said. “These buyers are typically more responsive to market conditions and financial incentives.”

FNC’s report shows that foreclosure price discounts, which compare a foreclosed home’s estimated market value to the price paid by investors or home buyers, have dropped to a 10-year low at about 8.1% in Q2 2013, down from 12.5% a year ago. At the height of the mortgage crisis in 2008 and 2009, foreclosed homes were typically sold at close to 25% below their estimated market value. In many fast-rising markets, such as Phoenix, Las Vegas, and California, investor activity and low foreclosure inventory drove foreclosure prices up, frequently resulting in a price premium relative to estimated market value.

FNC publishes the mortgage industry’s first market-value based foreclosure price discount to gauge the degree of market distress. For more information about the foreclosure price discount, please refer to FNC’s March 2011 report located here.

According to the FNC report, investing in foreclosed property continues to be profitable with gross capital appreciation – the annualized percentage difference between a foreclosed property’s sales price and subsequent resale price – averaged at 7.8% on sales of homes previously purchased at foreclosure sales. In the meantime, ownership duration on distressed investment is up, along with the average ownership duration of all existing home sales.

More highlights from FNC’s Foreclosure Market Report:

  • Single-family REO and foreclosure sales are 12.2% of total home sales as of July, down from 17.3% a year ago.
  • The median foreclosure price is $98,000 or $67 per square foot, up 6.8% since the housing recovery began 18 months ago. In comparison, the median price on non-foreclosure sales is $205,000 or $118 per square foot, up 21.7% during the same 18-month period.
  • Foreclosure price discounts are typically larger for low-tier properties, averaging 13.7% in Q2 2013. One in four homes continues to be discounted heavily. High-end properties, on the other hand, are typically sold close to their market value.
  • At 86% of total foreclosure sales, low-tier properties continue to account for the bulk of foreclosure sales. Prior to the housing bubble, low-tier homes contributed more than 90% to foreclosure sales.
  • Collateral depreciation on foreclosure sales – the difference between a property’s prior purchase price and foreclosure sale price – continues to decelerate, down to 3.8% in Q2 2013 from 6.4% a year earlier. Among the re-sales of non-distressed homes, for 16 consecutive months the median home is sold at a price above its prior purchase price – enabling potential trade-up buyers to capture a small capital appreciation.

 

http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2013/09/improved-equity-empowers-trade-up-buyers/

Ostentatious Mansion in the Los Angeles ‘Burbs Wants $12M | Chappaqua Real Estate

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Location: Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. Price: $12,000,000 The Skinny: Back in 2011, Donald Trump sold his ridiculous golf estate in the affluent Los Angeles suburb of Rancho Palos Verdes for just over $7M. Perhaps you looked at that mansion and thought, This is nice, but it just doesn’t contain enough vulgar displays of wealth. Is there a gaudier place somewhere around here? Cue 3300 Palos Verdes Drive West, which just hit the market for $12M with, coincidentally, the same exact asking price that The Donald’s place started with. Some of the over-12,000-square-foot home’s, uh, flashier details include a “hand painted ceiling mural of the Allegory of the Winds, a mosaic of over 15,000 pieces of stone and an exquisite angel statue over the fireplace” and, in the dining room, “ceiling molds from Caesars Palace”—the casino, maybe? Apparently the person who commissioned architects Edward Carson Beall and Associates to build the place in 1997 had spent 25 years traveling around the world and acquired “a collage of architectural ideas.”

Brokerages Step up to One-Stop Shopping | Katonah NY Real Estate

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Despite six years of a depressed housing economy that reduced Realtor ranks by one-third, real estate brokerages are closer than ever to achieving the long-sought dream of becoming one-stop shops  providing their customers all the services they need to buy or sell a house.

A new survey Imprev, Inc. found that 75 percent of top real estate executives responding said their brokerage firms offer at least one major ancillary service and mortgages are the No. 1 additional offering.  Some 89 percent of the real estate firms that offer at least one ancillary service offer home loans.

Nearly three-quarters (71 percent) offer title services and nearly half (49 percent) offer home-warranty services.

“For decades, the National Association of REALTORS® has tracked growing consumer interest in a one-stop shop through its surveys,” said Renwick Congdon, chief executive officer of Imprev, a real estate marketing software firm that works with 150,000 agents and brokers nationwide.

“Clearly, the industry’s thought leaders are making it happen in their firms,” he added.

According to a 2011 NAR and Harris Interactive study, the number of consumers interested in using a service provider affiliated with a brokerage firm increased 34 percent from the first survey completed in 2008.

In the NAR/Harris study, 78 percent of homebuyers said that one-stop shopping would save them money; 75 percent said it would make the process more manageable and efficient; and 73 percent said that a one-stop real estate shop would prevent the details relevant to their transactions from “falling through the cracks” — as well as make the entire process “more convenient.”

When real estate executives were asked to select the top benefits from offering ancillary services, 79 percent said “higher profits”; 70 percent said “one-stop marketing opportunities”; 62 percent said “increased customer satisfaction”; and 60 percent said “better quality control.”

The survey was conducted in late May. Poll respondents included top executives at leading franchises and independent brokerage firms responsible for more than one-third of all U.S. residential real estate transactions last year.

 

http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2013/08/

5 September Home Improvement Projects From Bob Vila | North Salem Homes

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As another summer slips away, the days seem to straddle the seasons, alternating between warm breezes and brisk winds. So, too, do home improvement tasks. This month, the focus is primarily on the peripheries — clearing clutter in the garage, brightening a lackluster entry, gathering valuable seeds from the garden, replacing tired bathroom fixtures and closing up that vacation home.

Source: Carney Logan Burke Architects

Source: Carney Logan Burke Architects

No. 1: Close up the vacation house

For homeowners fortunate enough to have a vacation retreat, Labor Day weekend signals the start of the annual ritual of closing up the seasonal getaway. Although best practices vary by region, if you have an unwinterized rural cottage, beach retreat or mountain cabin, there are a few basic things you can do to help safeguard your house through the cold months ahead:

  • A few weeks before you leave, begin evaluating the condition of your home top to bottom, inside and out. Find out what broke over the summer (or what’s about to) and arrange to have repairs made. Tradesmen in towns with seasonal occupants are usually inclined to negotiate when the population ebbs.
  • On the exterior, check the foundation, siding and trim for cracks and crevices that could let in moisture or provide an entry point for unwelcome creatures. Closely examine where the roof overhang meets the house. Pests as teeny as wasps and as large as squirrels often seek to nest in the solar-warmed space of house attics.
  • Clear the gutters so that rain and snowmelt run freely away from the base of the house and, using a ladder or binoculars, inspect the roof for raised shingles, making repairs if necessary. Another prudent defense is to trim back any tree branches near the house that could cause damage in a strong storm.
  • Electricity should be shut off at the main, but leave on circuits that control such essentials as the alarm system. Also be sure to unplug appliances, especially the large and expensive ones, just in case lightning strikes. Gas can be turned off at the main, but for many homeowners, it’s probably safer and easier to call the utility and temporarily suspend service.
  • All water pipes should be drained. Accomplish this by turning off the main water supply, opening all faucets and leaving them open. Remember also to drain the supply hoses into indoor outlets like the dishwasher and outdoor outlets like the sprinkler system. If winter conditions are brutal in your area, take the precaution of hiring a professional plumber to do the work.
  • Inside, clean out closets and cabinets, leaving them open to ventilate. Remove and store all bedding in plastic (throw in moth balls if you have them) and, for protection against burrowing mice, cover all mattresses.
  • The kitchen deserves time and attention because food can attract animals and canned goods can explode if they freeze. Store nonperishable food in metal containers and relocate cans to the basement if possible, or take them back to your primary residence.

Go easy on yourself and get started with the close-down process sooner rather than later. Shutting the house properly in the fall helps ensure that your summer abode is healthy and sound upon your return in the spring.

Source: kohler.com

Source: kohler.com

No. 2: Update the bath

If you have a dated bath in need of new fixtures, you’ll have no trouble finding attractive replacements that suit both your taste and budget. But if you’re planning to replace the faucet yourself, be sure to take into consideration the configuration of your sink or vanity. Single-hole sinks fit either single-handled or smaller two-handled faucets. Center-set sinks feature three holes drilled within 4 inches and accommodate single-handled designs or two-handled faucets mounted on a plate or escutcheon. Widespread sinks, which have three separate holes at least 8 inches apart, accept larger two-handled designs. Knowing which configuration you have will make the replacement an easy DIY endeavor.

No. 3: Take advantage of the garden

Many veteran gardeners save seeds almost compulsively. Why? Because if you harvest the seeds from your own garden, you not only save money but also ensure that you have the varieties you love. And, saving seeds is simple enough for even novice gardeners. For flowers, cut heads once their seed pods have dried (or shortly before), then hang them upside down in a paper bag to dry. After allowing enough time for drying, remove the seeds, separating them as much as possible from the chaff and other plant material. For fruits and vegetables, harvest fruit seeds once the fruit has become fully ripe or overripe. Before setting the seeds out to dry, give them a thorough wash. Adjust your approach with podded vegetables like beans and peas. Let these seeds dry in their pods on the plants before you gather them. With a little time and preparation, you will have the makings for a successful planting season come spring.

 

 

http://www.zillowblog.com/2013-09-09

 

Housing Inventories Rose in August | Bedford NY Real Estate

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Housing inventories increased in August and stood just 2.5% below their levels of a year ago, offering the latest sign that more sellers are testing the market after swift home-price gains over the past year.

Nationally, there were 1.98 million homeslisted for sale in August, according to a report released Thursday by Realtor.com. That was up by more than 24% from the low point in February and up 1% from July. Inventories have increased for six straight months.

While the overall level of homes for sale remains relatively depressed, the report suggests that inventory may have hit a bottom earlier this year after an extended two-year decline.

The report also suggests that home-buyer traffic has eased following a period in which mortgage rates have jumped by more than one percentage point.

Inventories in nine of the nation’s top 30 housing markets were above their levels of last August, led by Los Angeles, where inventory was up by 17.4% from a year ago to its highest level since April 2012. Inventories in Atlanta were 13.9% above last year’s level. Other gains were reported in Orlando, Fla. (up 7.1%); Orange County, Calif. (6.9%); Miami (5.1%); Philadelphia (4.2%); and Phoenix (2.8%).

Listings stood 23.3% below last year’s levels in Detroit and were down by 20.1% in Boston, 17.9% in Denver and San Diego, and 14.8% in Dallas.

Median asking prices nationally were unchanged from July at $199,900, which represented a 6% increase from a year earlier. Asking prices were below last year’s level in Cleveland, but they were unchanged or up from a year ago in every other major market.

Half of all homes listed in August had been on the market for less than 92 days, up from 85 in July and 79 in May, but still below the median market time of 100 days last year.

The Realtor.com figures include sale listings from more than 800 multiple-listing services across the country. They don’t cover all homes for sale, including those that are “for sale by owner” and newly constructed homes that aren’t always listed by the services.

 

 

Housing Inventories Rose in August – Developments – WSJ.

RFK’s sex diary: His secret journal of affairs | Bedford Corners Real Estate

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. grappled with what he called his biggest defect — “my lust demons” — while keeping a scorecard of more than two dozen conquests, according to his secret diary.

The thick, red journal was found in their home by his wife, Mary Richardson Kennedy, who, distraught over their impending divorce and Kennedy’s serial philandering, committed suicide last year.

A copy of the 398 pages, reviewed by The Post, details RFK Jr.’s daily activities, speeches, political activism and the lives of his six children in the year 2001. But they also record the names of women — with numbers from 1 to 10 next to each entry.

Modal Trigger

RFK’s dirty diary

The codes corresponded to sexual acts, with 10 meaning intercourse, Mary told a confidant. There are 37 women named in the ledger, 16 of whom get 10s, since sexual activities are really popular and that’s why men look for sexual satisfaction in women or even in toys, like the new range of sex robots which are made specifically for this.

On Nov. 13, 2001, RFK Jr. records a triple play. The separate encounters — coded 10, 3 and 2 — occur the same day he attended a black-tie fund-raiser at the Waldorf-Astoria for Christopher Reeve’s charity, where he sat next to the paralyzed “Superman” star, magician David Blaine and comic Richard Belzer.

It was a hectic month for Kennedy, who traveled to ­Toronto, Louisiana and Washington, DC — and listed at least one woman’s name on 22 different dates, including 13 consecutive days.

Most women are identified only by first name in the ledger. They include a lawyer, an environmental activist, a doctor and at least one woman married to a famous actor. He also found out that there are also so many horny contacts online looking for naughty fun.

A Post reporter who questioned Kennedy Friday about the diary was first met with six seconds of stunned silence.

“I don’t think there is any way you could have a diary or journal of mine from 2001,” Kennedy then said. “I don’t have any comment on it. I have no diary from 2001.”

The diary is laced with Kennedy’s Catholic guilt over his infidelities, which follow the same pattern of affairs pursued by his uncles, John F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy, as well as his own father.

On days without a woman’s name, Kennedy would often write “victory.” This meant he’d triumphantly resisted sexual temptation, according to a source close to Richardson. But for those days when he couldn’t resist such temptation, he would do everything to quench that. If you’re like him who thirsts for earthly desires and if you want some real fun, you need to find a Kinky Bitch as they are the ones that will do literally anything!

“Despite the terrible things happening in the world, my life is . . . great,” he wrote on Nov. 5, 2001. “So I’ve been looking for ways to screw it up. I’m like Adam and live in Eden, and I can have everything but the fruit. But the fruit is all I want.”

The 59-year-old son of the assassinated US senator was so tortured by his desire that spending a month in jail in Puerto Rico was a welcome respite.

“I’m so content here,” he writes during his July 2001 incarceration for taking part in protests of the US Navy’s bombing exercises in Vieques. “I have to say it. There’s no women. I’m happy! Everybody here seems happy. It’s not ­misogyny. It’s the opposite! I love them too much.”

Yet Kennedy adds, “I love my wife and I tell it to her every day, and I never tire of it and write her tender letters.”

Nine years later, Kennedy and his wife separated when he filed for divorce. And on May 16, 2012, Richardson, 52, committed suicide by hanging herself in an outbuilding on the couple’s Bedford ­estate.

Kennedy’s cheating had become a huge issue in the marriage.

Richardson told a friend that her husband noted the names of his romantic conquests on pages in the back of his journal under the preprinted heading “cash accounts.”

The journal begins with word that Richardson is pregnant with the couple’s fourth child.

The couple had known each other since Richardson was 14 and a boarding-school roommate of Kennedy’s younger sister, Kerry. They married in 1994, weeks after Kennedy divorced his first wife, Emily Black, with whom he had two children.

Richardson was pregnant with their first child, Conor, when they married. They moved into the 1920 clapboard house in Westchester County.

Modal TriggerKennedy, an environmental lawyer and board president of the nonprofit Waterkeeper Alliance, spent much of his time traveling to give speeches, according to his diary.

He had recently been weighing a possible Senate run for New York, before Hillary Rodham Clinton stepped into the race. Richardson stayed home with the children.

The beautiful brunette struggled with depression and alcoholism. Her husband described her at her funeral as “fighting demons.”

The couple was not yet divorced when she died and were bitterly arguing over issues involving custody and finances. Kennedy had temporary custody of the four children and was dating actress Cheryl Hines.

A sealed document in which Kennedy portrayed his wife as an abusive alcoholic who beat him up and threatened suicide in front of the children was leaked to the press.

Kennedy said in the affidavit that by 2001 he had “lost hope” in his marriage and was “committing numerous infidelities to keep my sanity,” according to a published report.

RFK’s sex diary: His secret journal of affairs | New York Post.

What $3,300/Month Can Rent You Around New York City | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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Welcome back to Curbed Comparisons, a column that explores what one can rent for a set dollar amount in various New York City neighborhoods. Is one man’s studio another man’s townhouse? Let’s find out! Today’s price: $3,300/month.

↑ In Park Slope, a 1,050-square-foot full-floor apartment is available for $3,300/month. The unit is divided into a living room, a bedroom, an office, a dressing room, and there appear to be a number of closets. The kitchen is not pictured, but presumably exists since there’s a dishwasher. Charming original details abound.

↑ On the Lower East Side, a 2BR + office with a windowed kitchen (the window appears to face a wall, but still) is going for $3,200/month. One of the bedrooms looks like it gets a lot of light.

↑ This renovated 1BR in the West Village is asking $3,200/month. It features french doors and a fireplace (unclear if it’s usable or not).

↑ In Astoria, a 1,000-square-foot 2BR/2BA in a luxury building is going for $3,200/month. It includes a privat 600-square-foot terrace and the building has a shared roof deck and a gym with a jacuzzi.

 

 

 

 

http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2013/09/06/what_3300month_can_rent_you_around_new_york_city.php

8 Fabulous Faucets for All Kinds of Bathrooms | Bedford Corners Real Estate

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Bathroom sink faucet options are limitless, and choosing one can be overwhelming. There are lot of different factors to consider, and every house has different needs. Do you need a faucet that’s easy to use for all ages? Is space an issue? Or perhaps budget?
Check out these eight types of faucets to get an idea of what to look for when you’re shopping for your bathroom.

modern bathroom by maestrobath

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1. Waterfall faucet. With its clean lines and minimalist approach, this faucet lends itself to a more modern style. It’s most commonly constructed out of metal and glass.
Some waterfall faucets have beautiful colored designs throughout the glass, which give the bathroom a cheery feel. Others have LED lights, creating a colorful display when the water is flowing.
2. Four-inch-spread faucet. A great budget option, 4-inch-spread faucets (measured from the center of one handle to the center of the other) offer value and functionality. Not only do they come in almost every shape, size and color, but they are also a good space-saving option for smaller vanity areas and can be used in almost any application.
mediterranean bathroom Mediterranean Bathroom

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3. Eight-inch-spread faucet. One of the most popular styles today, the 8-inch-spread faucet (also measured from one handle center to the other) comes in many styles and materials. From metal to marble to crystal, the options are almost endless.
You can find an 8-inch-spread faucet in popular finishes (such as brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze and the ever-popular gold)  and some not-so-popular ones (such as polished nickel and matte black).
eclectic kids Eclectic Kids

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4. Single-lever faucet. Single-lever faucets are very easy to use and are a great option for all styles of bathrooms. They come in a variety of designs from traditional to contemporary.
Single-lever faucets are a popular option because of their simple design and the multitude of colors and styles available.
rustic bathroom by Peace Design

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5. Wall-mounted faucet. Wall-mounted faucets offer the same functionality as countertop-mounted faucets without taking up any counter space. They  also provide a great focal point whether you are mounting them on a sink or a backsplash.
Wall faucet styles range from minimalist to traditional, and many different colors and finishes are available

Wisconsin foreclosure filings drop 31% | Chappaqua NY Homes

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According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, mortgage foreclosure filings in Wisconsin dropped 31% in August as court actions against delinquent borrowers continued to fall back to pre-housing crisis levels.

Court records show there were 539 foreclosure filings last month in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha counties, down from 783 in August 2012.

Although the city of Milwaukee continues to struggle with foreclosed properties that are a blight on neighborhoods, statistics show the number of new foreclosed homes is slowing. Milwaukee County had 296 filings in August, its fourth consecutive month with fewer than 300.

                    Source: Journal Sentinel

Report: Neil Patrick Harris Buys Harlem Brownstone for $3.6 Million | Katonah Real Estate

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When Neil Patrick Harris started his real estate search, the actor wasn’t shy about it and went straight to Twitter, asking his more than 6.5 million followers if they knew of a brownstone in Harlem for sale.

neil patrick harris tweet

Someone from Twitter — or perhaps a real estate agent — helped him out. The New York Post reports that Harris recently found his new brownstone, an 8,000-square-foot one backing up to Marcus Garvey Park in Central Harlem, for $3.6 million.

Five bedrooms and 5 baths are spread over the 5-story residence, which includes 2 terraces, a backyard, chef’s kitchen and plenty of space for Harris, his fiance and their twins, Harper and Gideon.

Harris got his start playing a teenage physician on “Doogie Howser, M.D.” He currently stars on the long-running sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” and is one of the highest paid actors on television. He will be hosting the upcoming Emmy Awards on Sept. 22.

Harris also owns a home in Studio City, CA and previously lived in another apartment in Harlem.

 

 

http://www.zillowblog.com/2013-09-05/neil-patrick-harris-buys-harlem-brownstone-for-3-6-million/