Mother's Day can bring joy to our mom's and maternal friends or sometimes just memories in Bronxville, NY 10708For most, Mother's Day is a time to celebrate our biggest fan and maternal guide...our Mom.   Other dear friends of mine in Westchester County and beyond have lost their mothers, years ago or just in recent years. Some of us may have that dreaded mother / daughter dynamic in play or just live far away from each other.   While others may have been raised in part by a grandmother, who is no longer on the planet, in my case.  Grandma Jean passed in 2011 at 93 years old from Alzheimers.  Her daughter and my aunt was also a huge motherly influence on me.  She was my "big sister" from birth really, but from the age of 16 up when I moved in with them.  Carol is gone as well -- at only... 05/07/2015

SalesThere were 13 unit sales in March. This is down 23.5% from 17 in March of 2014. Sales/list price ratio in March moved up to 96.1% from 93.5% in February.  PricesMedian price in March was $175,000. This is down 8.9% from $192,000 in March of 2014. This is the lowest median price has been since August, 2014. 3-month median price of $192,500 in March was down slightly from $220,000 in February but up a little from $180,500 in March of 2014. Price per square foot in March was $235. This is down from $259 in February and down from $261 in March of 2014.  InventoryInventory of 130 in March was up 4.8% from 124 in February but down 16.7% from 156 in March of 2014. New listings of 38 in March were up modestly from 33 in February and way up from 23 in March of 2014. Months of supply of 8 in... 04/16/2015

SalesThere were 9 unit sales in March. This is up 28.6% from 7 in March of 2014. Sales/list price ratio in March moved down to 94.9% from 99.5% in February.  PricesMedian price in March was $865,000. This is down 24.8% from $1,150,000 in March of 2014. 3-month median price of $1,005,000 in March was up slightly from $950,000 in February but down moderately from $1,412,500 in March of 2014. Price per square foot in March was $506. This is down from $519 in February but up from $483 in March of 2014.  InventoryInventory of 95 in March was up 11.8% from 85 in February and up 8.0% from 88 in March of 2014. New listings of 35 in March were very slightly up from 34 in February but down slightly from 39 in March of 2014. Months of supply of 6.7 in March was up modestly from 6.1 in February and... 04/13/2015

RAIN & CLOUDY SKIES, FOG AND ALL AFTER THE SNOWIEST WINTER IN RECORDED HISTORY -- IS IT ALL BAD, IN BRONXVILLE, NY 10708?  Sorry to be cliche' Rainmakers, but April Showers bring May flowers.  We have a VERY old colonial home near Bronxville, NY and I long for our perrenial lilies and wild roses to begin blooming.  That's my internal memo after days of rain and cloudy skies.  By this weekend, I hope to be up and on my horse, Krystol, if the mud dries a bit and our footing is safer, in NY State.  Krys and I have been on a snow, ice and mud hiaitus since December.  It's time to get back in the saddle on a warm weekend to come.    Hang in there for spring flowers, after these gloomy rainy days and as Forrest and I help Bronxville home and business owners with their flooded basements. Only ... 04/09/2015

How to prevent & thaw Frozen Pipes that could flood your home or business in Bronxville, NY 10583               With crazy low temps that I'm calling "Bi-polar weather" -- heck with Polar Vortexes -- some of us may have the messy and often expensive issue of frozen pipes.  If it could just be normal in the mid-Atlantic without Climate Change -- extreme high and low temps --and get above freezing for days, right?!       We are now national partners with The American Red Cross (ARC), who's teams were so helpful to New Yorkers after Superstorm Sandy.  Along with the many local floods and fires that our Servpro of Scarsdale... responds to annually, we are partners in helping local home and business owners avoid the damages and trauma of a flood or fire.   Below are some of ours and the ARC'... 02/13/2015

  Single family home sales in Bronxville NY were up 14.3% in December compared to this time last year and the sales/list price ratio inched down to 93.5% from 95.2% in November.  The median price was $875,000, down 25.8% from $1,180,000 in December 2013.  Inventory levels were unchanged from last year and new listings of 6 in December were down considerably from November.  The average days on market of 86 was down slightly from 115 in Novemnber and down substanitally from 161 in December 2013.   The Bronxville coop sector surpised us all with 26 sales in December, up 44.4% from last December. This is also the highest unit sales have been since 33 in June 2010!  The median price was $209,000, up from $174,000.  Inventory levels of 108 are down considerably from 175 in December 2013, due... 01/17/2015

Bronxville and Scarsdale residents may experience flooded basements from a slow moving Winter Storm that will dump heavy rain ~ 10708   ** Most parkways in the area are now flooded and closed, including the Bronx River Parkway from Scarsdale to the Sprain Parkway.  Check your radio and local traffic for accidents.  An accident on I-95 this afternoon is making travel tough, too.   Believe it or not, this is our 4th major Winter Storm in the states and it's Westchester County's 2nd big storm so far.   It IS a Nor'easter, as you'll notice by the driving winds from the direction of Maine, pelting us with freezing rain today and tonight.       It may change to snow off and on through tomorrow and Thursday.  But, the big problem is ground water and our high water table from rain and snow in t... 12/09/2014

DON'T LET AMERICA'S ENDANGERED WOLVES GET DELISTED AS ENDANGERED ~ BRONXVILLE, NY 10708   Forrest and I try to support our local wolf rescue community in our area.  Whatever your fav organization, including our local NPR broadcasters, we hope that you can reach out to them today.  For wolf and canine / dog lovers, the Wolf Conservancy in Westchester, NY has a matching grant, for anything you can give to support this endangered species...see Nikai below for details. ~ Hillary & Forrest Sheperd   Give Greater Today All Donations Will Be Matched Until Midnight Tonight (PST)!     Why is Nikai Smiling? Because it's Giving Tuesday! Today only your donation to the Wolf Conservation Center will have double the impact thanks to a generous matching grant of $15,000 from the Toscano family! Please... 12/02/2014

Bronxville is one of my favorite villages in all of Westchester County.  Not only because I was born in Lawrence Hospital or that my parents were born and raised here but because it has a special charm that doesn't exist in many of the other towns.  The architecture is warm, historic, charming, and valuable!  Many don't realize that buying a home that is actually within the Bronxville school district can be quite a feat under a million dollars.     One section of the area surrounding Bronxville village is part of Yonkers and even though you can spend a million there, you will have Yonkers schools.  Along with that, you will pay the City of Yonkers surcharge income tax.  I can explain that in full detail if you need, please message me directly.  If you are considering buying a home in B... 11/21/2014

  GET READY FOR WINTER, COLD TEMPS AND SNOW OR RAIN AT YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS IN BRONXVILLE, NY 10708 ~   We are enjoying an Indian Summer week with temps in the 60s and it's great. But, now it may be time to prep for the cold season to come.     The Farmer's Almanac is saying that we need to prep for the "shivery and shovelry" with hot cocoa and firewood, especially in late January and early February next year -- lot's o' snow predicted!  This is the Almanac's great graphic for our upcoming winter season and more info. can be found on this age-old, accurate site!:     Some tips are below to do a fairly quick sweep through your property and make it safe and ready for winter 2014/2015.  Let's hope for no more polar vortexes....right, even though it's always there, but we don't always feel... 11/04/2014

Bronxville Single Family Homes Sales Unit sales in July were 25, unchanged from the same month last year. On a year-over-year basis, unit sales have been rising or even for 4 months. This is the highest unit sales have been since 26 in June, 2013. Sales/list price ratio in July moved down to 96.5% from 97.9% in June.   Prices Median price in July was $1,210,000. This is down 3.2% from $1,250,000 in July of 2013. 3-month median price of $1,155,000 in July was up marginally from $1,147,500 in June and up a little from $1,078,750 in July of 2013.   Inventory Inventory of 93 in July was down 8.8% from 102 in June and down 18.4% from 114 in July of 2013. New listings of 16 in July were down considerably from 26 in June and down modestly from 17 in July of 2013. Months of supply of 7.3 in Jul... 08/18/2014

  Heavy rain this week could flood Bronxville basements and cause water damage ~ NY 10708      Courtesy:  Accuweather...my fav, download their severe weather app!   Bronxville may be on the "Highest Risk" line above, but we know it was named Pondfield Road for a reason!   Forecasters are predicting severe rainy weather tonight through tomorrow morning -- with 1 - 2 inches per hour falling on Westchester.  There is a flash flood watch for Bronxville and the whole County through Wednesday afternoon.  I have some tips below for you or anyone you know who finds water on a lower level or in their basement...hope it helps!   This storm coming in tonight is the remnants from that damaging storm that flooded the midwest and caused cars to float away.  The storm is coming East, but looks like a ... 08/12/2014

    Summer Safety tips for fires, fireworks, campfires & grilling ~ Bronxville, NY 10708       Here are Helpful Home & Campfire Safety Hints from Hill...with a fireworks "chaser" for Summer 2013:     Summer is a time to enjoy the great outdoors, even if it's on a postage stamp patio like our house in NY, a tent in your lush, grassy backyard or around a campfire in relatively cool(er) woods.   But, it's also important to keep safety in mind -- like with those sparklers and fireworks on the 4th of July.  Consider the following tips, thanks to our research at Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon (NY) and to the National Fire Protection Association.   Use the tips below, to help keep you and your family safe all summer long ~ now that our June 21st Soltice made Summer 2013 official.  Remembe... 06/30/2014

    Single Family Homes   Sales There were 18 unit sales in May. This is up 5.9% from 17 in May of 2013. This is the highest unit sales have been since 25 in July, 2013. Sales/list price ratio in May moved down to 95.4% from 100.9% in April. Prices Median price in May was $1,105,000. This is up 16.9% from $945,000 in May of 2013. This is the lowest median price has been since November, 2013. 3-month median price of $1,140,000 in May was down somewhat from $1,525,000 in April but very slightly up from $1,095,000 in May of 2013. Inventory Inventory of 113 in May was up 15.3% from 98 in April but down 9.6% from 125 in May of 2013. New listings of 40 in May were up a little from 34 in April and up substantially from 27 in May of 2013. Months of supply of 8.6 in May was up slightly from 7.5 ... 06/17/2014

Hello Rainmakers:     This is Part 2 of my "Hurricane Season is here" series (of 3, so don't get too excited).  Watch for Part 3 and my Safety Kit list for homes and businesses.   Safety Tips for Businesses    Many of us still remember the damage Sandy caused and trying to prepare for her winds and storm surge.  Most businesses, in fact more than 50% of us, do not survive a fire, water or storm disaster.     So, even with forecasters predicting a mild hurricane season, we still may get thunder and other storms this summer.  Preparation is key.  NOTE:  Last June's microburst flooded homes and businesses all over Westchester.    Here are some tips on how to prepare your business during hurricane season, which runs from June through November.    First, know if your company is in a hurrican... 06/02/2014

Overnight storm could could flood home and business owners' basements in bronxville 10708   One favorite show -- long ago in college -- was "Hill Street Blues."  Am I dating myself here, or what?  So, if you are about my age or like reruns, you may remember the Sergeant or Captain saying, "Be careful out there!" as daily police precinct briefings ended.     That's my message tonight with Heavy rain starting at dark, when visibility gets bad anyway and it will not let up until about 1am.  That's 1 inch and up to 3 inches in some parts of Westchester County -- rain that's already falling on water soaked lawns and trees.     In the early morning, dense fog is going to making driving and travel even worse.  There's a slow, cold front that is stretching up from Florida to our area and looked... 05/16/2014

Our blast of overnight frost in Scarsdale NY 10583 could harm some spring blooms   Another frost is in the running throughout the area until mid-morning on Thursday and sensitive plants or posies may suffer, according to the national weather service.  Our Tri-state NY temps are expected to drop into the 20s along the New England coast, when we should be coasting along to the 40s by now.   The frost warnings are in effect throughout the area around Scarsdale, NY as of midnight on Tax Day.  Our gusty winds are on the way out and clear, cold nights are on their way, paving the path for frost to crop up on plants and flowers.     So take some steps to protect your early blooms and bring any plants or flowers that are portable in, if possible. I have even thrown old sheets and towels over my... 04/16/2014

  This is what you should NOT do in a historic home in Bronxville, NY 10708!   We responded to an emergency call for the owners of this 1898 colonial home with four stories in Westchester County, NY.  When we found wet walls from a two story pipe leak and water damage, our crews had to open the wall up behind a stove.   WOW! You or a business or homeowner never want a plumber or contractor to cut the studs on an exterior wall.  This was a load bearing wall holding up two stories.  The owners admitted that the top floor -- an artists garret / studio now has floors tilting toward the back yard.     Houses and buildings do SETTLE, but some of the homes we see have odd "fixes" from eons ago.  Looking at the cast iron pipe show in the pic here, it looks like a plumber or owner cut the vertic... 04/09/2014

Westchester County 10708 has a flood watch Saturday night into Sunday evening, so check safety tips for a wet basement for wet carpet, flooring or a flood!    Hey all: The entire region is pretty much on a flood "watch," with a "Warning" expected tomorrow. First we have polor vortex's and a snowy arctic winter that would not quit! Now, our April showers may come early. I'd say the flowers and trees are about to bloom and need the water, but all that ice and snow would have kept them happy until summer!* FLOOD WATCH FOR WESTCHESTER....all the way up to Janice in Newburgh and even Dutchess. Here's what's going on, so you can plan the wet weekend: There's a low pressure system (RAIN) coming north with lots of moisture from the Gulf. It's going to push all this late March cold out, so that'... 03/28/2014

Our office dog and newest hire, Atlas, is on the "executive power couch" at our office.  Atlas says he's glad this week is over...yaaawwwnn!  Guess we need to deal with our own pet dander, odor etc. on the work couch now!  Oh, and Atlas is glad that it's getting warmer, too.       02/21/2014