Summer is all about the outdoors and taking time to appreciate Mother Nature’s natural splendor. For some lucky homeowners that natural splendor is only steps away. Whether you are an aspiring gardener or simply looking to improve your home’s curb appeal, here are a few examples of beautifully-designed landscapes that are sure to spark envy.
This elegant European Manor in Purchase
is surrounded by a remarkable array of specimen plantings, all artfully
placed to create both a pleasing landscape
and great privacy.
Fragrant with honeysuckle and lavendar, the spirit of Provence enlivens the
landscape at La Lanterne in Chappaqua
featuring vibrant perennial gardens,
topiary-shaped pear trees
and a whimsical potting shed.
The hilltop setting at Stone Court in Armonk
was designed by celebrated landscape
architect Armand Benedek who created
a sense of seclusion with a myriad of colorful plantings and lush grasses.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that New York state has among the highest closing costs in the country. Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) calls for the Good Faith Estimate of closing costs to be accurate and avoid higher, unanticipated costs at closing.
This is good news for the buyer.
Thoroughbred Title Services, LLC, and affiliate of Houlihan Lawrence, recently announced more good news for the home buyer. Namely that Thoroughbred’s title insurance rates are 10% lower than the industry standard.
Title insurance is a one-time purchase at closing that protects new home buyers from financial loss on a property that might occur as a result of previous faults on a deed such as liens, clerical errors, misrepresentation, etc. Typically, a buyer’s real estate attorney arranges for title insurance and uses vendors with whom they have a long-standing relationship. Premiums are calculated based on the purchase price and mortgage amount of the home and rates are comparable regardless of insurer, meaning the homebuyer does not have the ability to shop for competitive rates.
Homebuyers typically glaze over the cost of title insurance. But they are starting to pay attention now that there is the opportunity to save money. For example, a person buying an $800,000 home with a $600,000 mortgage would be charged a total of $4,291 for title insurance and related research services by Thoroughbred Title, about $1,000 below the typical cost from competitors.
Houlihan Lawrence is proud to be affiliated with a company that pro-actively offers our clients a cost savings without a compromise in quality or coverage. It aligns with Houlihan Lawrence’s mission to make the real estate process transparent, simple and embedded with value in every facet of the home buying experience.
The New York Times recently ran a cover story headlined “Housing Fades as a Means to Build Wealth, Analysts Says”. The article states that amassing your nest egg based on the appreciation of your home may become a distant memory.
Time will tell whether that prediction is accurate. What the article fails to mention is that prior to the real estate boom and double digit appreciation, a house was purchased to be a home, not an asset class.
A home provided a safe haven for the family and a place where memories were created. Holidays and birthdays were celebrated in the home and terms such as yield, appreciation and return on investment were confined to stocks and bonds.
The new reality is that homeownership may no longer be the ticket to easy money, but it remains the gateway to security and stability, the backdrop of family photographs, and the venue of your lifestyle.
As a trusted real estate advisor to thousands Houlihan Lawrence provides transparent information and a network of experienced agents with insight that help homeowners and buyers ultimately make informed decisions.
Ownership of a home represents different things to different people. Do you think of your house as an investment vehicle or a home for you and your family?
Let the fundraising begin! Houlihan Lawrence once again committed to being a flagship sponsor of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Last week, to kick off the fundraising, Making Strides held an inspirational breakfast at the Westchester Marriott. The audience heard from breast cancer survivors, corporate sponsors and people within the medical community. This year Congresswoman Nita Lowey also spoke about the successes in getting government funding for research that could one day eradicate the disease.
Liz Nunan representing Houlihan Lawrence
I had the pleasure of speaking about why this cause is so important to Houlihan Lawrence. It all stems from two of our core values: community and passion. We want to help the communities in which we serve and live in as well. And we do it because we’re passionate about it. Breast cancer is a devastating disease that knows no boundaries – young and old, female and male. We’re all touched by it in some way during our lifetime. I dream of a day that there will be a cure. We all do. In fact, we’re so passionate about the fight against breast cancer we actually sponsor 3 local events. Over the next month, you’ll be hearing more about those organizations and fundraising efforts as well.
You too can help. To donate, visit our Houlihan Lawrence team page.
Additionally, please plan on joining us for the walk on Sunday, October 17that Manhattanville College. The college and surrounding neighborhood of Purchase, NY provides the perfect backdrop for an inspirational walk! I hope to see YOU there!
A few of our Houlihan Lawrence attendees
Last year I vowed I would get to the Dutchess County Fair to see what it was all about. To be truthful, I was mostly interested in having funnel cake. I picked up my niece and nephews, stopped at an ATM machine and we headed north to Rhinebeck, NY. It was everything I expected from a State fair – rides, food, games, animals, a parade, music and more!
The parade - lots of animals!
Though my wallet was drained (twice since I had to find an ATM on the fairgrounds as well) it was worth it. The kids and I had a great time. They played the carnival games, rode all the rides, visited the wildlife exhibit, ate funnel cake and burgers, drank fresh lemonade and milkshakes, and had their caricatures done. They even got to see Senator Charles Schumer, who walked right by us, shaking hands and kissing babies. We got a great picture of his back as he turned away from us a little too fast. Oh well.
My shot of Chuck Schumers back (white shirt)!
When I told my husband I was taking them again this year, he asked if I needed to take out a loan for it. Yes – it’s not an inexpensive day but it’s a fun one just the same. To me, worth every penny! I often recommend attending the fair to families that are considering relocating to the area and are in town touring or house hunting during the week of the fair. It’s a wonderful way to experience Dutchess County. This year the fair runs from August 24th to the 29th. Will you be there?
The Wall Street Journal recently featured an overview of the Village of Scarsdale.
If you’d like more information on Scarsdale, you can take advantage of the multiple resources we have available.
You can visit one of our market experts in our Scarsdale Brokerage.
Visit our website and read hard facts about Scarsdale Real Estate in our Scarsdale Market Report.
And best of all, to experience Scarsdale “in real life” you can visit this Open House on Sunday 8/22 from 1pm to 3pm.
Lovely four bedroom Cape offering charm, space and style. Highlights include an entertainment sized deck, sparkling hardwood floors and central air. Living room with fireplace and high ceilings, large bright kitchen with breakfast area opening to deck and yard plus dining room. Inviting lower level family room, laundry and gym. [More..]
The health of the real estate market continues to be a hotly debated subject. Quantitative data, such as months of inventory, is a useful metric to determine supply and demand.
Conventional real estate wisdom equates the following with months of inventory:
- 1-4 months inventory means there are more buyers then sellers.
- 5-6 months inventory means the market is balanced with a healthy number of buyers and seller
- 7+ months inventory means there is an oversupply of product, with more sellers than buyers.
The following chart lists the schools districts in Westchester County that showed the greatest decrease in months of inventory from July 2009 – this is a positive indicator and a sign of a more robust market when compared to the same period last year.
| |
Westchester County School Districts |
| |
School District |
Months of Inventory |
Change from |
| |
July, 2010 |
July, 2009 |
| |
Ardsley |
11.1 |
-55.9 |
| |
Dobbs Ferry |
10.4 |
-29.6 |
| |
Edgemont |
6.6 |
-25.9 |
| |
Bronxville |
5.8 |
-22.2 |
| |
Irvington |
11.8 |
-22.2 |
| Source: WPMLS; Single Family Homes |
|
|
|
What a difference a year makes. At this time last year, Ardsley had 67 months – or 5 ½ years worth of inventory.
Our Market Report for Westchester County single-family homes is now available with July 2010 sales figures. To see the market activity for other school districts in Westchester County, visit HoulihanLawrence.com and go to the Local Market Reports at the bottom of the page.
To thrive in times of great change, successful companies challenge old assumptions, debate new strategies, and sharpen their thinking about all aspects of their business. The best companies have a dynamic business strategy, and are capable of innovating and growing regardless of market conditions.
Few industries have experienced as much change, both cyclical and structural, in the past 5 years as real estate. At Houlihan Lawrence, our strategy for the new market reality has been a simple one: 1) increase the transparency of market information to our buyers and sellers; and 2) empower our agents to develop true advisory relationships with their clients, helping to make informed decisions about real estate.
While the strategy is not complicated, executing it has required a lot of work from everybody in the organization – our management team, our staff, and of course our agents, who must deliver on our client commitments every day. In the past year alone, through one of the worst real estate markets in our lifetime, we have rolled out a brand new “Web 2.0” version of houlihanlawrence.com; an advanced technology platform, Client Connect, that enables our agents to deliver real-time market information to their clients; and created dozens of new ways for our agents and the public to tap into the wealth of market data that we collect daily.
It is very gratifying to see the market rewarding our efforts in 2010 with substantial increases in market share across virtually all the communities we serve. Consider these numbers:
- Houlihan Lawrence now has a 39% market share in dollar volume for Westchester single-family homes, up 7 share points from 2009.
- In the luxury market segment, Houlihan Lawrence now has a 50% market share of homes with a sold price of $1 Million and above, an increase of 7 share points over last year, and a 60% market share of homes sold for $2.5 Million and above, an increase of 11 share points over last year.
- In Putnam and Dutchess counties, our market share has grown by 3 share points over last year to 27% and 14%, respectively.
Source: WPMLS and MHMLS; January1 through July 31, 2010
While it is encouraging that we seem to be heading in the right direction, holding on to these market gains will require that we continue to innovate and respond to our clients’ changing needs.
Tell us what you expect from a real estate broker. What could your agent do to help you better navigate today’s real estate market?
NBC New York News recently reported on rumblings that Playland may close. Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino sees the amusement park as a drain on the county’s finances and is seeking more fiscally responsible alternatives.
Playland is a national historic landmark and a well-known an example of Art Deco architecture. Playland in the past tense brings a tear to many a Westchester resident. It is the venue of memories and evokes a simpler, easier time when a family outing was just that – the entire family going to one place at the same time to go on the same rides.
It is anyone’s guess what will happen to Playland, but its questionable status provides the perfect excuse to pay a visit to Playland, indulge in cotton candy and ride one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in America.
What do parents of the bride – who happen to be a former President and current Secretary of State – give their only daughter and soon-to-be son-in-law as a wedding gift?
A home near mom and dad would be lovely.
This stone and shingle residence in Conyers Farm is set on 10 acres and exudes the beauty and spirit of a grand turn-of-the-century manor in its classical architecture and irresistible country setting. Three levels of light-filled space showcasing a wealth of classical details throughout all the principal rooms, many opening to the wrap-around stone terrace and pristine surroundings that frame the home. Conyers Farm is a gated community, providing security that is a must-have when Mom and Dad visit the young couple.
Wingtree Farm is a treasured historical Bedford Colonial, circa 1800, is set on 8 magnificent private acres with a long driveway approach that runs past a fishing and skating pond, wood bridge, bird nesting island, an orchard and an abundance of white lilacs. It also features original stone walls, a pool and pool house, a tennis court, a two bedroom guest cottage and a separate artist studio with it’s own greenhouse. This spectacular antique with wonderful seamless renovations by O’Brien Architecture features six bedrooms, five and a half baths, five fireplaces, a state-of-the-art kitchen, and a wrap-around rocking chair porch.
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