Flat Screens Included! Bedford NY

Marketing your home has gotten more competitive than ever. The smart seller who wants to stand out from the crowd is including buyer incentives as inclusions. A  list price that shows value and enticing inclusions attract buyers.

Take a look at this home in Bedford and call me for a preview! http://www.postlets.com/res/3186173

What’s a Home Finder? Armonk NY

Houlihan Lawrence unveiled it’s new website in January 2010. www.houlihanlawrence.com  Comparing January 2010 to January 2009 we are up over almost 50,000 more visitors in January 2010 than 2009.  That’s not a typo, an increase of 50,000 visitors over last year in January! We had visitors from each one of the fifty states as well as high international traffic. 

In addition to other market statistics and reports, I am able to set up my clients on a  Home Finder automatic MLS search.  This is an autogenerated e-mail report that my clients will receive when a new listing or sold property meets the criteria I have saved on their behalf.

It’s a great way to see every new change in the communities that you want to learn about.  Buyers will feel that they are informed to ask questions on properties that could interest them. Sellers can learn about competing properties that come on the market that buyers are looking at.

My passion for e-marketing only benefits my clients! Houlihan Lawrence has given me outstanding tools to give my buyers and sellers up to the minute changes in the market place. E-mail me with your parameters and let’s get a Home Finder set up for you asap! Then we’ll get started interpreting the numbers in the communities I know best!

Harriet is the sponsor of www.armonkhomepage.com

Happy Valentine’s Day 2010 in Armonk!

 

Just in time for Valentine’s Day,  Westchester Magazine  introduces their new blog, “We Heart This”. Each week there is one irresistible, fabulous object  that the editors love with all their hearts. http://www.westchestermagazine.com/Blogs/We-Heart-This/  Mark it as your “favorite”.

Beginning January 18th through Valentine’s Day, you can find an offering of a 20% discount on all fine jewelry at Table D’Hote http://www.tabledhoteny.com/  or visit our local La Gravinese Jewelers http://www.lagravinesearmonk.com/

Special Valentine’s Day menus are available at Marc Charles Steakhouse in Armonk http://bit.ly/99gVcA, and nearby Antipasti in White Plains. http://www.antipastiny.com    How about a gift of cooking classes? http://fabbistro.com/chef.asp  A beautiful gift basket from http://www.tastefultreats.com/

Wishing you and loved ones a Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

  

The Perfect Storm in Real Estate/Armonk NY

New York’s real estate experts are calling the first and second quarter of 2010, “The Perfect Storm”. The key components being prices that are realistic, a variety of properties to choose from and low interest rates.

“The only sales taking place are where the seller recognizes the realities of the market, and where the buyer therefore perceives great value,” says Hall F. Willkie, president of Brown Harris Stevens. Dottie Herman, president and CEO of Prudential Douglas Elliman, agrees, saying that in this market “when you find something with value then it goes. I haven’t seen too much that’s priced well that doesn’t move.”

“Looking ahead to the new year, NYC experts are generally optimistic, citing the spike in activity over the summer and continuing into this past fall after the market was essentially frozen; the overall desirability of living in New York City; and what seems to be an upward trend in the economy. But with unemployment still high and credit tight, most are also cautious. It could take a while, even several years, according to Jonathan Miller, President and CEO of Miller Samuel Inc. for the market to come back.”

For more NYC real estate reports, http://npaper-wehaa.com/nyf/2009/12/#?article=697941

Westchester’s offering of excellent public schools, commute, and overall lifestyle desirability should bring us the momentum in sales as well.

Time will tell. What’s your take?

Who Bought Real Estate in 2009?

NAR has recently released the 2009 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. The report compiles the results of 9,138 surveys returned by buyers and sellers who sold or purchased a home between July 2008 and June 2009. The surveys were sent to buyers and sellers based on deed transfers and other public records. The complete report is available for purchase at www.realtor.org . Here are some highlights I found interesting and notable for both buyers and sellers in our area.

• 47% of all buyers were first time buyers.

• 62% of first time buyers reported that the primary reason for buying a home was the desire to be a homeowner, 35% of all buyers reported that as the number 1 reason.

• The median age of all buyers was 39, same as last year.

• 62% of all buyers are under age 44.

• 63% of all buyers had no children under the age of 18 residing at home.

• Buyers in the Northeast moved an average of 10 miles from where they currently lived.

• 90% of all buyers used the internet to search.

• 84% of buyers reported the photos to be the most useful information.

• The number one action taken after viewing a home online was to drive by or visit the home.

87% of buyers viewed real estate as a good investment.

So what does it all mean to buyers and sellers?

First time home buyers require an education before they purchase. They need to be working with an agent that will take the time to help them discover the tradeoffs they are willing to make in the purchase of their home…square footage, location, condition, etc. There are tradeoffs in every price range. 

The online marketing that agents are doing for their sellers is crucial to get  buyers in the door and to receive offers.

And most importantly, even in the current economic environment, most buyers still see the long term value of real estate as an investment.

Mid Century Modern in Armonk, New York

Wikipedia defines Mid Century Modern as “An architectural, interior and product design form that generally describes mid-20th century developments in modern design, architecture, and urban development from roughly 1933 to 1965. The term was coined in 1983 by Cara Greenberg for the title of her ground-breaking book, _Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s_ (Random House), celebrating the style which is now recognized by scholars and museums worldwide as a significant design movement. Mid-century architecture was a further development of Frank Lloyd Wright’s principles of organic architecture combined with many elements reflected in the International and Bauhaus movements. Mid-century modernism, however, was much more organic in form and less formal than the International Style. Scandinavian designers and architects were very influential at this time, with a style characterized by simplicity, democratic design and natural shapes.  This style emphasized creating structures with ample windows and open floor-plans with the intention of opening up interior spaces and bringing the outdoors in. 

Homeowners who live in modern homes are passionate about the design period and the integrity of the architecture. Aside from Usonia in Mount Pleasant , there are quite a few of these custom built homes throughout the Armonk area.

Currently on the market now is 5 Hunter Drive in Armonk .http://www.postlets.com/res/3242410

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For more information, email Harriet Libov at hlibov@houlihanlawrence.com

Luxury Homes Sales in 2009 in Westchester County

Anthony Cutugno, the lead specialist of luxury properties at Houlihan Lawrence globally writes in the Houlihan Lawrence Blog and noted the following sales statistics in Westchester County. 

 ”There’s no denying that 2009 has been a challenging year in real estate especially for luxury properties. Many luxury properties – defined as properties selling for $2.5Million or more – languished on the market with few showings to prospective buyers. Regionally, sales were dramatically down vs. 2008 but recently we’ve seen renewed interest in many high-end properties.  In fact, a number of top-tier properties have either sold or gone into contract since September.  While the record luxury sales seen in 2005- 2007 are not likely to return soon, this recent activity points towards a more stable luxury marketplace for 1st Quarter 2010.”
 
•77 Properties sold throughout Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties for $2.5 Million or more, a 47% decrease vs. 2008 unit sales.
•The highest reported sales price was for a newly constructed estate in Purchase, which sold for $9.2 million.
•Southern Westchester markets were most popular among luxury buyers.
Rye Reigns… With 18 sales for the year, Rye ranks #1 in Westchester County luxury sales. Always a favorite community among luxury buyers, Rye’s combination of a vibrant town center, well-established neighborhoods, Long Island Sound shoreline and close proximity to Manhattan have been particularly alluring this year.   Additional top luxury markets in Westchester County included Bedford (7 sales), Bronxville (6 sales), Larchmont/Mamaroneck (6 sales), Purchase (6 sales ) and Armonk (5 sales).”

Tag Sales in and Around Armonk

Do you like shopping at tag sales? On my neighborhood website, http://www.armonkhomepage.com , you can directly go to this week’s tag sales by following this link http://www.armonkhomepage.com/free-classifieds/
Have fun and happy holidays!

Armonk/Byram Hills Sold Homes 2009

Eighty two homes have sold in the Byram Hills School District from January 1,2009  through December 31, 2009. The economy gave us a late start but buyers picked up their pace at the end of the year and  made their purchases.  There are currently 11 homes  in contract.

Breakdown of price range of Sold properties                                           Under Contract

$475,000-$749,000   21  homes sold                                                         3  homes in contract

$750,000-$999,000  19 homes sold                                                           2  homes in contract 

$1,000,000-$1,249,999  12 homes sold                                                    3  homes in contract

$1,250,000-$1,499,000   3 homes sold                                                     2  homes in contract

$1,500,000-$1,749,000   7  homes sold                                                   0  homes in contract   

$1,750,000-$1,999,000   6 homes sold                                                     0  homes in contract 

$2,000,000-$3,000,000  11 homes sold                                                  3  homes in contract                                              

$3,250,000-$3,499,000   1 home sold                                                       0  homes in contract

$4,750,000-$5,999,000  2 homes sold                                                      0 homes in contract

Average Sale Price in the Byram Hills District for the above sales is $1,326,105  for 3943 square feet at $333  average price per square feet and 182 Days on Market.  Sale prices for above properties was 92.4% of list price.  The Luxury Home Market  made its move at the end of the year as buyers perceived opportunities to get in at a better price .

For more specifics on properties sold,  e-mail me at hlibov@houlihanlawrence.com

Data from 2009 Westchester-Putnam MLS, Inc.- Data believed accurate but not warranted. All data subject to verification

For more information about Armonk and the Byram Hills School District visit www.armonkhomepage.com

Top Do It Yourself Home Improvements

HomeGain’s recent survey shows the top do-it-yourself home improvements that Realtors recommend to home sellers
1. Cleaning and de-cluttering ($200 cost / $1,700 price increase / 872% ROI)
2. Home staging ($300 cost / $1,780 price increase / 586% ROI)
3. Lightening and brightening ($230 cost / $1,300 price increase / 572% ROI)
4. Landscaping ($320 cost / $1,500 price increase / 473% ROI)
5. Repairing plumbing ($385 cost / $1,250 price increase / 327% ROI) 

Read morehttp://rismedia.com/2009-11-09/home-sellers-top-5-home-improvement-projects-based-on-cost-and-return-on-investment/#more-41701