Archive for Dutchess


A Very ‘Giant’ Weekend Here in the Hudson Valley

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Tags: , , , , , , ,      Categories: Dutchess, Events, Houlihan Lawrence News, Out and About, Putnam, Westchester

Residents across Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties (and all of New York and New Jersey, for that matter) have a lot to smile about this weekend, and it’s not just because of the mild temperatures and beautiful sunshine. Staten Island Chuck, our own version of Punxsutawney Phil, predicted an early spring—but do you know that he also foresaw a Giants’ Super Bowl win, too?

According to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Chuck is right about 80 percent of the time. Sure it’s just a prediction, but you shouldn’t take an animal’s inner intuition for granted. Remember Paul the Octopus, who was 8-for-8 in predicting the 2010 World Cup’s final rounds, including the championship match? And don’t forget about Princess, the camel from Popcorn Park Zoo in New Jersey, who’s correctly predicted five of the last six Super Bowls (and has selected the Giants for a big championship win this weekend, too.)

Animal ESP aside, it’s been a painstaking two weeks for most of the Hudson Valley as media fanfare and talk of a 2008 Super Bowl replay have weighed heavily on the minds of Giants fans far and wide. Even some Jets fans have been forced to take sides when faced with the challenge of choosing between their stadium-sharing rivals or Tom Brady and his flowing locks of quarterback supremacy. In a LoHud story written by Richard Liebson, White Plains lawyer and loyal Jets fan Dave Mayeri says it’s an awful dilemma, but at the end of the day, decides he’s better off sticking with a fellow New York team.

While some Westchester residents are cringing at the thought of this year’s Super Bowl, others are ready to celebrate this Giant occasion. Yorktown Patch recently posted a story with the best spots and Super Bowl deals across Northern Westchester. What better way to wrap up the 2011—2012 NFL season with a $70 all-you-can-eat-and-drink at Brodie’s Pub in Mohegan Lake, or by dropping just 30 cents for boneless wings at South Side Grille in Yorktown. Be sure to read Liz Giegerich and Plamena Pesheva’s article to get the inside scoop.

And then there’s the power of a little friendly competition. The Poughkeepsie Journal reports that public officials across New York and Massachusetts have engaged in a football war, putting their respective states’ most famous goods on the line. According to Joseph Spector and the Journal Albany Bureau, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will send Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick 46 cases of the state’s Greek yogurt, 46 dozen bagels from Ess-a-Bagel in Manhattan, and 46 cheesecakes from Junior’s in Brooklyn if the Pats win. And if the Giants prevail, Patrick will send Cuomo 46 Centerville Pies from The Pie Ladies, Legal Sea Foods clam chowder, and six cases of Food Should Taste Good chips.

Whether you’re a diehard fan putting everything on the line this Sunday, a sidelined aficionado whose team just didn’t cut it this year or a fair-weather football-watcher, we’ve got just one question for you: Who do YOU think will reign supreme in Indy this Sunday?

Houlihan Lawrence’s Gallery of Homes Early Spring 2012 Is Here

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Tags: , ,      Categories: Buying, Dutchess, Houlihan Lawrence News, Putnam, Westchester

Houlihan Lawrence’s Early Spring 2012 Edition of the Gallery of Homes magazine has arrived. Browse over 1600 homes for sale in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties and beyond.

The print edition is available to pick up from any of our Offices and at street boxes located in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties as well as select Manhattan locations.

Click the cover to view the digital edition.

Houlihan Lawrence Early Spring 2012 Gallery Of Homes 230x300 Houlihan Lawrences Gallery of Homes Early Spring 2012 Is Here

Luxury Real Estate Market 2011 Report for Westchester Putnam and Dutchess Counties

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Tags: , ,      Categories: Dutchess, Luxury Country Properties, Luxury market, Putnam, Westchester

2011 luxury sales for properties selling for $2 Million and higher remained relatively flat vs. year ago with a reported 227 home sales, down slightly from the 237 sales reported for 2010.

Nearly 70% of these sales were in the $2 Million – $3 Million price range, which traditionally represents the bulk of luxury sales in our region. While the luxury real estate market continues to be complex, we were encouraged to see a return of the ultra high-end luxury buyer to the marketplace this year.  There were 17 homes selling for $5 Million or more, up from 12 sales reported in 2010 for this price range. Houlihan Lawrence was pleased to have participated in 13 of these high-end sales.

As the leading luxury brokerage in the area, representing approximately 47% of dollar volume for the $2 Million + category in Westchester, Houlihan Lawrence agents were involved in the top sales for many of our key luxury markets. Ranging from a $5 Million+  sale in Bronxville for a 1930s Colonial to the sale of the late Brooke Astor’s estate in Briarcliff for $6.45 Million to a record-setting sale of a 276-acre equestrian farm in Millbrook, these sales heralded the return of buyer confidence.  As a result, our Luxury Country Properties Division reported one of the strongest sales years in our history.  In fact, 3 listings from our Luxury Country Properties inventory achieved the highest sales prices for single-family homes in their respective counties in 2011.

Overlook 150x100 Luxury Real Estate Market 2011 Report for Westchester Putnam and Dutchess CountiesThe highest sale in Millbrook and the entire 3-county region of Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties.
Overlook, Millbrook – Dutchess County – Sold for $18,375,000 – Listed and Sold by Adam Hade and John Friend, Houlihan Lawrence Millbrook Brokerage

view ba copy low res 150x100 Luxury Real Estate Market 2011 Report for Westchester Putnam and Dutchess CountiesThe highest single-family home sale in Westchester and a record sale for Rye waterfront.
Milton Point Waterfront, Rye – Westchester County – Sold for $11,600,000 – Listed by Diana Plunkett, Houlihan Lawrence Rye Brokerage

Whipporwill Front 150x112 Luxury Real Estate Market 2011 Report for Westchester Putnam and Dutchess CountiesThis historic home represented the highest reported sale for Putnam County.
Whippoorwill Farm, Garrison – Putnam County – Sold for $5,650,000 – Listed by James Egan, Houlihan Lawrence Cold Spring Brokerage
 

Hot Luxury Markets
We haven’t seen any shifts in the most popular luxury markets over the years. Southern Westchester towns continue to be prized for their lifestyle amenities and proximity to Manhattan while Bedford and points north attract many buyers who are looking for a weekend retreat with larger acreage and greater privacy. Here’s a look at the top luxury markets in 2011.

2011 Westchester County Sales
$2 million and higher
Top School Districts # of Sales Highest Sale
Scarsdale 43 $10.8M
Rye City 38 $11.6M
Larchmont / Mamaroneck 25 $5.2M
Bedford 23 $8.4M
Bronxville 23 $5.15M
Harrison 21 $7.9M

 

2011 Putnam / Dutchess County Sales
$1 million and higher
Top Towns # of Sales Highest Sale
Garrison / Cold Spring 8 $5.3M
Washington / Millbrook 7 $18.3M

2012 Outlook
Forecasts predict a flat market for luxury properties in the coming year with demand expected to essentially equal 2011 activity. However, inventory levels of luxury properties remain quite high region wide so proper pricing will continue to be critical. The reported lowering of Wall Street bonuses, the continuing uncertainty in the major economies globally and our upcoming presidential election may all have some impact on our local real estate market. Despite these unsettling factors, we were pleased to see a small upswing in the number of showings and new deals for our luxury properties in late December. This level of activity is a good sign for the start of a new year and we expect that the uniqueness and beauty of the many special luxury properties we represent will continue to attract buyers throughout 2012.

For more information on the market or to view any of our luxury homes for sale, please visit us at www.houlihanlawrence.com

 

Houlihan Lawrence 4th Quarter 2011 Market Report

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Tags:      Categories: Buying, Dutchess, Houlihan Lawrence News, Market Area, Market Conditions, Putnam, Westchester

Houlihan Lawrence 4th Quarter Market Report 231x300 Houlihan Lawrence 4th Quarter 2011 Market ReportHoulihan Lawrence has just released our 4th Quarter 2011 Market Report for New York’s Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties. Here is an excerpt from the report:

2011 marked a year of relative stability in the residential real estate market north of New York City, in contrast to the volatility seen in global financial markets.

Following the big bounce in home sales in 2010, we experienced modest declines in both units and median prices in 2011 across most of the region.

In Westchester, the median single-family home sold for $600,000, down 4.7% from 2010. In Putnam, median prices were up 3% to $320,000, breaking a 5-year downtrend during which prices declined a total of 25%. In Dutchess County, single-family home values were down 5% to an average of $246,000.

Although closed sales in the 4th Quarter showed the largest declines of the year compared to 2010, this reflects a lull in contracts signed during the August-October period. By November, buyer confidence had returned, and a notable number of deals were put together over the final 6-8 weeks of the year. Based on listings in contract at year-end – which typically close within 45-60 days – the stage is set for a relatively strong start to 2012, with the highest and lowest price ranges outperforming everything in between. [MORE]

Houlihan Lawrence Helps Form Tri-State Alliance

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Top New York Metro Real Estate Firms Join Forces to Launch Tri-State Alliance To Better Serve Consumers. Four Brokerages share listings and data to create unique online experience

In an initiative aimed at streamlining the home buying and selling experience in the New York metro area, four top residential brokerage firms have joined forces to create the Tri-State Alliance, a partnership launched today to share exclusive property listings online. The brokerage firms include: Houlihan Lawrence serving Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties in New York; Halstead Property serving New York City, the Hamptons, Fairfield County in Connecticut, Hudson and Essex Counties in New Jersey and Columbia County in New York; Coach Realtors serving Nassau and Suffolk Counties of Long Island; and Turpin Realtors serving Somerset, Morris, Hunterdon, Essex and Union Counties in New Jersey. Each firm’s exclusive listings will be searchable across all four brokerage websites, which collectively receive millions of visitors annually. The Tri-State Alliance brings together 68 office locations, more than 2,900 sales agents and nearly 8,000 exclusive listings.

“By combining our considerable resources, we are increasing the visibility of our exclusive listings which will help both our sellers and buyers,” said Chris Meyers, a Principal of Houlihan Lawrence. “In addition, we are increasing the brand awareness of our individual firms in markets where we might not have a bricks and mortar presence. It’s an extremely smart, efficient and effective way to further promote our companies and showcase our talented agents.”

“This move is unprecedented in our industry, and we are extremely proud of all of our efforts to develop this alliance that will better benefit consumers in a one-stop experience. This unique sharing and collaboration among independently owned and non-franchised brokerages developed from the mutual friendship and respect each brokerage has for one another,” stated Diane Ramirez, President of Halstead Property.

The four owner/brokers of each firm began discussing this unique and forward-thinking collaboration in early 2011. Last August, the four company owners met in the New York City offices of Halstead Property to formally begin the process. “Months of planning and collaboration went into making this happen, each brokerage, technical and marketing departments worked closely towards a single goal,” stated Georgianna Finn, owner of Coach Realtors.

“We are excited to be a part of this wonderfully collaborative effort, the result of which is a comprehensive search tool that will prove invaluable to consumers in the tri-state region. In addition to providing high quality listing data from the various regions we cover, each of our websites offers valuable resources like community profiles, property videos and helpful tips for navigating today’s real estate market,” John Turpin, President of Turpin Realtors.

tristate 199x300 Houlihan Lawrence Helps Form Tri State Alliance

Front Row: Chris Meyers, Principal – Houlihan Lawrence, Georgianna Finn – Owner, Coach Realtors Back Row: John Turpin –President, Turpin Realtors, Diane Ramirez –President, Halstead Property

The Art of Staying Warm

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Tags: , , ,      Categories: Dutchess, Luxury Country Properties, Luxury market, Westchester

Nothing says the holidays better than a roaring fire.  The warmth and glow are the perfect antidote to the chilling temperatures and make for cozy winter nights at home. Many fireplaces transcend mere functionality to become an important architectural element of the house.

Here are a few of our favorites featured in a selection of our luxury homes for sale:

Maison Normande Fireplace 150x100 The Art of Staying Warm Francophiles will appreciate the Renaissance-style fireplace in the Great Room of Maison Normande 123 N Salem Rd Cross River, NY  - just one of the spectacular architectural appointments in this converted Barn that has been stunningly transformed into a charming French country house.

Troutbeck Fireplace 150x100 The Art of Staying Warm

If these walls could talk! Host to many illustrious guests over the years including Sinclair Lewis and Ernest Hemingway, we know that many stimulating conversations have taken place in front of the fireplaces of renowned Troutbeck Inn and Conference Center 1 Troutbeck Ln Amenia, NY . In fact, W.E.B. Dubois is believed to have launched his plans to create the NAACP right here and his friend Colonel Spingarn, the former owner of Troutbeck, went on to become the second president of that organization.

Sassafras Farm fireplace 150x100 The Art of Staying Warm

No matter what the season, the oak-paneled living room at Sassafras Farm 44 Boway Rd South Salem, NY displays an elegant ambiance thanks to its stately fireplace, one of the impressive enhancements made to this historic residence, once the homestead of Clark Mead, a member of South Salem’s founding family.

Mill House Fireplace 150x118 The Art of Staying Warm

What could be more relaxing than sitting by the fire while listening to the gentle music of a waterfall. It’s easy to do at the Mill House 665 Titicus Rd North Salem, NY, a magnificently restored 1840s mill house set aside the Titicus River.

For more information on these and other luxury homes for sale, please visit us at www.houlihanlawrence.com

Benefits to Listing Your Home During the Winter Season

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Red House Winter med1 150x112 Benefits to Listing Your Home During the Winter SeasonThe clocks have turned back, the sun sets earlier now and a Halloween weekend snow storm reminded all of us that winter is fast approaching. A widely accepted perception is that home sales drop off dramatically during the winter months and it is generally not a great time to list your home. Is this actually the case? If you are thinking of taking your home off the market to ride out the winter, or if you are considering waiting until spring, there are a few things to consider before making that decision.

There are benefits to listing your property throughout the winter:

1.     Interest rates are still at historic lows. Lenders can determine what interest rates are currently available to individual customers. Armed with that information, potential homebuyers can search for homes at HoulihanLawrence.com. Each listing features a detail page that includes a mortgage calculator that illustrates what the monthly payment will be. The current lower rates give buyers more spending power, which also may help to sell your home.

2.     It is true that there are fewer homes on the market in the winter months than in the summer. This can work to your advantage because less inventory can create more competition and potentially more buyers for your home. An analysis of the number of homes on the market in Westchester in winter versus summer showed that on average, there were 16% less homes on the market winter 2010 versus summer 2010, and 25% less homes on the market winter 2011 versus summer 2011.*

3.     It is interesting to note that while the number of listings on the market is lower in the winter months, the percentage of listings on the market vs. sales average 7% for both summer and winter seasons.*

4.     Whether you’re in Westchester, Putnam or Dutchess Counties, people need to buy homes all year long, not just in favorable weather. However, the winter months also bring out the most motivated and serious buyers.

An accurately priced property will sell at any time in any season, so here are some tips to consider when your property is listed during the winter season:

  • Keep sidewalks and driveways free of ice and snow.
  • Make sure rugs are near doorways to catch and snow and salt brought in from outside.
  • Curb appeal is still important, but with a snow-covered landscape the emphasis should be on the exterior front door. Make your entry look inviting by keeping it welcoming and clean.
  • Raise the thermostat to a comfortable level before buyers come to visit your home. They will spend more time looking around when they are warm than if they are uncomfortably chilled.
  • If you have a fireplace, show it off by keeping it clutter free. Consider lighting a fire as long as you plan to be around.
  • If you have a fabulous landscape, show it off by supplying photos of your exterior to prospective buyers so they can see what your property looks like during the growing seasons.

It can’t hurt to present a warm and inviting atmosphere when showing potential buyers your home in the winter. Providing them with a positive experience can only help you gain an advantage in any season of the year.

Read about a co-worker’s experience in selling her home during the Holidays here.

* Source: EAMLS, all properties on the market and sold, Winter 2010 vs. Summer 2010 and Winter 2011 vs. Summer 2011, Westchester County.

Starchitects of the Early 20th Century

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Dating back to the turn of the last century, many of the nation’s social and business elite commissioned the era’s celebrated architects to create their country homes in the Hudson Valley.  Less well known than Newport and its opulent “summer cottages”, the Hudson River Region nonetheless attracted many prominent New York families including the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Astors, Morgans and Harrimans who came to the area to establish their grand country estates.

Luckily,  many of these properties remained in private hands and the beauty of the original architecture has been preserved. Following is a sampling of our luxury homes for sale that were created by these legendary architects, whose artistry clearly demonstrates that good design never goes out of style.

Astor Courts1 150x92 Starchitects of the Early 20th Century

On the Hudson River, Astor Courts in Rhinebeck was designed by the great Stanford White in 1906. Part of John Jacob Astor’s vast estate, Ferncliff, the structure was originally designed as a sporting pavilion and boasts a stunning indoor pool and tennis court.

Edgewood 150x100 Starchitects of the Early 20th Century

Edgewood in Purchase was designed by Mott Schmidt, the father of American Georgian Classicism, who was also responsible for some of the region’s most distinguished residences. This grand brick Georgian sits on a rarely available 22 acres, only 35 minutes from Manhattan.

 La Paz 150x100 Starchitects of the Early 20th Century Overlooking the Hudson River, this circa 1917 stone manor in Scarborough was designed by Bertram Goodhue, known for many important buildings including St. Bart’s Church in New York City and the Chapel at West Point. The residence is set within a historic Hudson River enclave designed by renowned landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted.

For more information on these special offerings or any of our other luxury properties, please visit us at www.houlihanlawrence.com

 

Houlihan Lawrence’s Winter 2011 Gallery of Homes Magazines Has Arrived

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Houlihan Lawrence’s Winter 2011 Gallery of Homes Magazine has arrived in our offices and street box locations.
Click the cover to browse the latest edition of over 2,000 listings in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties.

Winter Gallery of Homes 231x300 Houlihan Lawrences Winter 2011 Gallery of Homes Magazines Has Arrived

Decorate your home for Halloween

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HL pumpkin 300x207 Decorate your home for Halloween

Halloween has grown to become a favorite holiday giving Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess homeowners an opportunity to show their creativity and have fun with family and friends.

There are many Internet destinations that you can visit to help make your home the scariest Halloween house in town. Here are a few that I found:

• Decorate with pumpkins…. Call ahead to be sure of what’s available!
For all of Southeast New York’s Pumpkin Patches and seasonal events visit pumpkinpatchesandmore.org. This is a fabulous directory provided by PickYourOwn.org-–a great resource for finding “pick-your-own” farms near you.

• Find inspiration for Indoor-halloween-decorations at Westchester resident Martha Stewart’s website for her latest Halloween crafts and creative baking ideas.

• If you’re handy and know how to use power tools, check out DIY’s webpage to see their 92 Top Halloween Projects for all kinds of creepy and spooky ideas and how-to videos

•  “Trick” out your front yard by making handmade tombstones. Directions can be found at found at HGTV’s Halloween Ideas

• Many area stores carry everything you need to decorate your home. If you have a Target near you, they have a dedicated Halloween department where you’ll find a lot of outdoor as well as indoor Halloween decorations for your home. Use their locator to find a store near you.

• YouTube has some great videos that can inspire any of your Halloween decorating fantasies. Go to their Halloween Outdoor Decorating Tips  web page for a wide variety of Halloween decorating videos that range from gory to cutesy.

• No outdoor Halloween display  is complete without some scary music. Visit your local Halloween headquarters for scary music CDs or order online. Social Media website, Mashable.comhas a list of five Halloween music playlists you can sign-up for. You can also go to iTunes. All kinds of Scary Halloween Music is available there to sample and purchase.

• On Facebook you can get fiendish recipes, decorations and craft ideas from friends at Facebook’s Happy Halloween Mag or go directly to the source by visiting Happy Halloween at Squidoo.com, where you’ll find information and videos of amazing inflatables and decorating ideas for your Halloween yard.

This is a very short, incomplete list. There are many places to go for ideas and inspiration to create the perfect “front yard” Halloween atmosphere. If you have any other great tips and resources you like to offer or any other good examples you know of in your town or online, please share them with us by leaving a reply below.  Have a happy and safe Halloween!