Buyers 
There are currently 11 blog entries related to this category.
New grant available for military first-time homebuyers!
Wednesday, August 10th, 2011 at 9:45am. 28591 Views, 0 Comments.
8/10/11
A new program is offering financial assistance to first-time homebuyers who are veterans or active-duty military members. The Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation, a nonprofit national organization, is offering the assistance through its Dream Makers program.
Active duty personnel, veterans, retired members of the military and employees of the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security may be eligible for a grant up to $5,000 to use on down payments and closing costs when buying their first home. The grants can be applied to a mortgage from any financial institution.
For more information on the Dream Makers program, click here.
New York...Support the Tax Cap!
Wednesday, May 25th, 2011 at 10:11am. 252 Views, 0 Comments.
A record number of REALTORS come to Albany to advocate for tax cap; Governor announces cap deal
More than 320 REALTORS traveled from across the state to participate in NYSAR's annual Lobby Day on Tuesday, May 24. These REALTORS spent the day urging their legislators to approve a two-percent property tax cap, along with directing their attention to other REALTOR legislative priorities. REALTORS were encouraged by Lt. Governor Robert Duffy and Assemblyman Joe Morrelle to continue their support of a 2-percent property tax cap. Later in the afternoon, NYSAR President Nick Gigante and NYSAR CEO Duncan MacKenzie participated in a press conference where Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he and legislative leaders had reached a deal on the tax cap.
But our work is…
Heading to Albany for Lobby Day
Monday, May 23rd, 2011 at 12:31pm. 266 Views, 1 Comments.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Westchester County, NY
OUR A G E N D A
1. Support a property tax cap (A.3982 / S.2706) now. We also endorse mandate
relief to accompany a cap, but with Westchester and Putnam Counties having
among the highest property taxes in the nation, we don’t have the luxury of waiting
for mandate relief to be enacted. (John Kope)
2. Do not fund State budget deficits – or allow local governments to fund local
deficits - with new or increased real estate transfer taxes (S.1447) or mortgage
recording taxes (A.3307). It makes no sense to increase closing costs in the midst
of a persistent real estate recession, and especially not when New York already has
Downsizing...Its not just for Corporate America anymore.
Sunday, November 14th, 2010 at 6:50pm. 425 Views, 0 Comments.
According to housing data from the U.S. Census Bureau, there has been a downward trend in the size of newly built single-family homes in the United States. The median size of single-family homes peaked in 2006 at 2,268 square feet and has been steadily declining down to 2,100 square feet through last year. Experts expect the downsizing trend to last for a while.
Factors attributed to this trend are the growing presence of first-time buyers, fewer people are buying homes as an investment, tighter credit standards are now in place, amount of equity available in current homes available to roll over in the new ones, and the desire to keep energy costs down. But there is another more important reason. Simplicity. More then ever, people looking to simplify…
10 Safety Tips for todays Sellers
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 4:56pm. 447 Views, 0 Comments.
As if selling your home in today’s market did not pose enough challenges on you, scams targeting the Real Estate market are growing.
Selling For Sale by Owner? You better be vigilant!
The summer started off with a local couple robbing Rent Rolls from Real Estate offices. In some cases they also took laptops 
and ID's right out from the Real Estate office. Then we saw an uptick in scams. People pretending to be NYS Licensed Real Estate Agents trying to book showings for homes. In some cases they were successful.. n old Rental scam reemerged where a person pretends to be the owner of a home, rents it out to an unknowing person. The scamer makes off with the Security Deposit and at least, the first months rent. Some of these targeted homes were never…
Just Listed in Red Hook, NY
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010 at 11:09am. 321 Views, 0 Comments.
Are you thinking of moving to the Northern Dutchess County Region? If so, you have to check out this 3 bedroom 3 bath home at 40 Spencer Dr, Red Hook, NY
Welcome to 40 Spencer Dr in Red Hook, NY.
Just Minutes to the Village of Red Hook, Bard College and Rhinebeck. Just an hour from Albany and 40 minutes to Poughkeepsie or Newburgh.
This Beautifully Renovated 1984 Ranch sits on 1.43 Acres and has seasonal Catskill Mtn Views. Very Private Back Yard w/Additional Views. This 3 bedroom home features a Master Bedroom w/Master Bath, 2 additional baths plus an Office and large family room with walk outs to patio.
Nothing to do, but move in! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
Schedule your Private Showing today by calling: 888-757-6928
How much is too much? Do buyers have a limit on the amount of homes they see?
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010 at 10:06pm. 258 Views, 1 Comments.
This past weekend I spent 5 hours showing one client 13 homes. Any agents initial reaction to this, as would mine, would be that this is simply too many homes to see in one day.
Today I showed another client one home for which they are submitting an offer. Is this too few?
There is no set number for a buyer, though many agents will try to set a limit. I remember back when I first started in real estate an old as in "long time in the business" agent tell me that she will only show buyers three homes and they have to choose one of those. She will not waste her time showing them any more than that. And this was at a time when the internet listings were just starting to launch so it was not like you could see more on-line.
Her point was well taken,…
New York Carbon Monoxide Detector law to take effect Monday, February 22
Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 8:31pm. 28884 Views, 0 Comments.
On February 22, 2010, "Amanda's Law" will take effect. The law requires carbon monoxide detectors in every 1-2 family property; apartments in a multiple dwelling; and all condominium and cooperative apartments where the dwelling unit has appliances, devices or systems that may emit carbon monoxide or has an attached garage. Real estate licensees must be aware of the new law and advise clients and customers of the same.
I am all for this law, in fact I still do not understand why all New Construction buildings, residential, commercial or industrial are not required to have Sprinkler Systems, but that's another story. So how different "Amanda's Law" is from the Law that went into effect way back on March 6, 2003? Well that law pertained to any one or…
Does anyone really know what is happening?
Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 8:29pm. 266 Views, 0 Comments.
As a Real Estate Broker, I believe it is my job to keep track of the industry, try to make some sense of it and inform my agents and clients what is happening locally.
One way I do this is by keeping tract of Real Estate reports. I have over a hundred news feeds I scan through every day. Looking at each headline today, something really stands out....Confusion!
Let's take a look at a few headlines that cam in this morning:
- Mortgage Rates edge up
- Some see hints of a bottom
- Sales of new homes sink.
- Lennar readies for New Home surge
- US Real Estate Confidence drops
Each headline seem to contradict the next. SO what is happening...Uncertanity!
We have always had a saying in Real Estate, It's Local. And that is what we are seeing here. When we…
Waiting to Purchase a Home until the Spring? It will cost you!
Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 8:28pm. 294 Views, 0 Comments.
Waiting to purchase a home this spring could cost you thousands of extra dollars. No, we are not expecting home prices to shoot up. This has everything to do with financing your purchase.
The office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is getting ready to implements several changes for loans guaranteed by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA). Coming just weeks before the April 30 deadline for the Home Buyer Tax Credit and just days after the March 31 expiration of the Federal Reserve Board's mortgage backed securities purchase program (which has kept home loan rates artificially low for over a year), So what is happening?- On April 5th, the cost of required up-front mortgage insurance for loans guaranteed by the FHA will increase from 1.75% to…
Realtors® Applaud Congress for Reinstating FHA Loan Limits
Washington, DC, November 18, 2011 WASHINGTON (November 17, 2011) – The National Association of Realtors... 4Comments Read MoreBuyer SCAM
There doesn’t seem to be a day that goes by where another SCAM does not rear its ugly head. A few days a... Add Comment Read MoreCraigslist SCAM strikes again in the Hudson Valley
Dutchess County Brokers and Agents have once again been put on notice that a SCAM Artist is attacking out listings. This... 1Comments Read MoreWe're always on the lookout for talented full time real estate agents to join our growing team. For a confidential interview click on Contact Us
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