Westchester County New York Real Estate Blog

       Last month the overpass of the Philipse Manor train station in Westchester County, New York was open to the public to reveal the completed permanent 6 panel glass design of New York glass artist Joseph Cavalieri.  The MTA Arts for Transit along with community members selected this design to reflect the history of the Philipse Manor station.  

   For more information:  http://www.mta.info/mta/aft/permanentart/permart.html?agency=mnr&line=hudsonline&artist=1&station=5

   When searching for a home a “good” location is subjective to the buyers needs. What’s good for one person may not be ideal for someone else.  The basic important factors to consider are the house specifications, the most recent sales statistics in the neighborhood, and the estimated taxes.    

In additions here are some there other questions you might ask yourself or your real estate agent.   

• What school district do you pay taxes to and where are the schools located? 
• How close are the stores? Do you want to be near a mall, supermarket, or a walking-distance grocery store?
• Is public transportation available? How close is it to this home and where does it go?
• Are there good roads leading to work? Distance from work and roadways to get there can make a difference.
• How about parks and sports facilities? Driving time is an issue for people who go to the park often. Others don’t care.
• Is there a hospital, medical or urgent care center in the area? This is becoming a consideration for many people.

  This year the Rotary Club of Pleasantville NY will hold it’s annual pancake breakfast on Saturday, September 26 at the Pleasantville Middle School from 7:00 am to 11:00 am.  The pancake breakfast is a Home Coming Tradition and benefits the Pleasantville Community Scholarship fund.

Remembering the innocent and the heroes of 911

No matter how much of hurry you’re in please use caution and drive carefully.

The Westchester County offices of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage have partnered with the local Lions Club (district 20RI) to collect used prescription and nonprescription  eyeglasses, including sunglasses, for the Lions Recycle for Sight program.  Donations can be made at any Westchester County Coldwell Banker office from August 1 through September 30.  The Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Pleasantville NY is located at 1 Washington Avenue and in Briarcliff Manor NY at 127 Woodside Avenue.

The Lions Recycle for Sight program collects, cleans and repackages all donated glasses, then distributes them free of charge to children and adults in need in developing countries.

Recessions always end, though it’s difficult to realize that when you’re in the middle of one. Having a positive outlook, in spite of current conditions, will take you much farther than being driven by fear of the future. That can lead you to poor, shortsighted decisions.

In order for our $14 trillion dollar economy to recover worthy and affordable purchases or investments such as buying a home should no longer be put on hold.

  Unrealistic home sellers wake up and accept the economic reality of today.  Time and time again I meet home sellers who are unrealistic about the market value of their property.  In any market the highest and best price is set by the buyers.  In a sellers market it’s not uncommon for the highest and best to be 100% or more of the asking price. But this is a buyers market and in order to achieve this in the current market the asking price needs to start at 10% or less below the market value.  Like it or not the buyers drive the market and they set the prices.  Why are there so many houses for sale and why are so many not selling?  The answer is simple many sellers are simply not willing to accept the current market value of thier property.  Despite the state of the economy and the high inventory home seller still want to believe they will get their 2006 price. 

They will not.   But the home sellers who accept the reality of the market will sell and move on with their lives. 

   A bill making its way through Congress would raise home buyer tax credit up to $15,000 and make the credit available to all home buyers, not just those who have not owned a home in three years. It would replace the current first-time buyer tax credit, which offers an $8,000 credit to first-timers and go into effect when the first-timer credit offer expires on December 1, 2009. The bill was introduced by Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and co-sponsored by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.). 

Isakson’s bill, which has wide support in real estate and banking circles, offers a tax credit for all buyers, regardless of income and regardless of whether they own a house now. Buyers wouldn’t have to repay the credit if they kept the home for three years or more.