May we all remember, cherish, understand and appreciate the sacrifices made by all those who defended our freedoms and Democracy. 05/26/2025

So, today’s question is where is the best and safest place to park your investment dollars?  I firmly believe it is rental real estate.  It’s a long-term play.  Your tenants over the years will continue to pay down your mortgage and potentially providing some positive cash flow monthly.  However, there is some effort that you will have to provide or hire someone to assist you to simplify the process.  In my professional opinion, there is much less uncertainty with the right real estate investment, than playing the stock market. The stock market has been so volatile and unpredictable that one never really knows where it will be heading going forward.  Now the tariffs against China have been reduced from 145% to 30%, paused for a period of 90 days, things might look very rosy indeed.  How... 05/17/2025

All Things Real Estate  By Phil Raices Posted on April 30, 2025   Over the years, a defining real estate factor for the majority of home purchasers has been location, location, and the school district. This was understandable, especially if you already had or planned on having children in the future Today’s high prices of homes, condos and coops dictate who has the wherewithal to afford to move to a highly rated school system. Moreover, the availability and diversification of Special Education programs is another asset to consider when choosing a town. This is a dilemma for many who want the best education for their children but may be limited due to the high interest rates and prices as well as their defined budgets and qualifications to be approved for a mortgage. Paying high rents a... 05/01/2025

  Phil's Home News   Philip A. Raices Turn Key Real Estate 516-647-4289 Cell 516-829-2205 Office Fax eFax Coming Soon! www.Li-RealEstate.Com   Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate.ComNYS License # 31RA0874656 NYS Corporate License # 109909392 Quick Quiz Each month I'll give you a new question.Just reply to this email for the answer.How many people were in the line for the world’s longest conga line on skates? Reply to this email Ask the Agent What is a Breach of Covenant? A covenant is a binding contractual agreement between two parties to do or not to do a specified act. Covenants are usually enforceable by the courts if they are reasonable, clear, definite and lawful. A breach of covenant is the failure to obey a previously agreed-upon legal arrangement that was created honestly and in good faith. ... 04/01/2025

  Phil's Home News The purpose of this uplifting newsletter is to provide you with a change of scenery through heartwarming stories, and insightful advice as well as give you a smile for a few minutes. I hope you enjoy!If you know of any local families or organizations that are especially in need at this time, please give me a call or reply to this email. I will do my best to spread the word!   Philip A. Raices Turn Key Real Estate 516-647-4289 Cell 516-829-2205 Office Fax eFax Coming Soon! www.Li-RealEstate.Com   Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate.ComNYS License # 31RA0874656 NYS Corporate License # 109909392 Links You Can Use Now Earth Day falls this month, and many of us are considering how we can do our bit for the planet. One of the best starting points is to begin living by the “Reduce, Reuse... 04/01/2025

Hope you enjoy my regular monthly digital newsletter.  If you want a "FREE" subscription, just send me your 1st/last name, email, and cell.  Looking forward to the SPRING SEASON, BUT I AM STILL GOING SKIING OUT WEST OR TO WHISTLER BLACKCOMB IN CANADA.P.S.  The photo is back in 2018 when my son got married at Tuxedo Park, NY.  I love this photo and thought I would share it with everyone.  Obviously we are 7 years older and boy have the grandchildren grown.  Chloe 11 with my daughter Kim and her husband Jason, Charlie 9, Dillion (not born yet) 5 and 3/26/25 1 year old Teddy Austin Raices, (not show as he wasn't born yet, lol)  In laws, Larry, Nancy and daughter Lindsey.  Phil's Home News   Philip A. Raices Turn Key Real Estate 516-647-4289 Cell 516-829-2205 Office Fax eFax Coming Soon! ww... 03/19/2025

It's great to be back. My battery is fully charged, and I am raring to go to enjoy the Real Estate business once again. I hope you enjoy my uplifting newsletter (you can get this to your mailbox monthly for "FREE.") that I publish monthly and my digital bi-monthly "American LifeStyle" magazine (if you want a "FREE, NO OBLIGATION/NO STRINGS ATTACHED" SUBSCRIPTION, SEND ME YOUR EMAIL AND CELL.  Phil's Home News The purpose of this uplifting newsletter is to provide you with a change of scenery through heartwarming stories and insightful advice and to give you a smile for a few minutes. I hope you enjoy it!If you know of any local families or organizations that are especially in need at this time, please give me a call or reply to this email. I will do my best to spread the word!   Philip ... 03/19/2025

I took a much-needed Sabbatical the last few months, hanging out with my kids and grandkids.  For the most part, I haven't made any posts because I was and am having way too much fun with them. and wasn't really concerned or worried about business.  However, I actually had the best Dec, Jan, and Feb in 32 years of doing real estate full-time.  I guess my referral branding and consistent advertising enabled me to accomplish those very lucrative 3 months.  I guess luck is equal to timing, and mine was perfectly spot on.Had tons of fun with the kids while earning what I thought would have been a slower winter period, but never imagined it would have been this good.  So I benefited on the family end as well as in my bank account.  Double whammy.Taking time off for me was a fantastic way to ... 03/17/2025

     Phil's Home News The purpose of this uplifting newsletter is to provide you with a change of scenery through heartwarming stories, and insightful advice as well as give you a smile for a few minutes. I hope you enjoy!If you know of any local families or organizations that are especially in need at this time, please give me a call or reply to this email. I will do my best to spread the word!   Philip A. Raices Turn Key Real Estate 516-647-4289 Cell 516-829-2205 Office Fax eFax Coming Soon! www.Li-RealEstate.Com   Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate.ComNYS License # 31RA0874656 NYS Corporate License # 109909392 Links You Can Use Now Gratitude Inspired by Thanksgiving, we thought it would be worth tailoring this month’s links towards… giving thanks! Alongside showing your appreciation to others, p... 11/11/2024

  Phil's Home News The purpose of this uplifting newsletter is to provide you with a change of scenery through heartwarming stories, and insightful advice as well as give you a smile for a few minutes. I hope you enjoy!If you know of any local families or organizations that are especially in need at this time, please give me a call or reply to this email. I will do my best to spread the word!   Philip A. Raices Turn Key Real Estate 516-647-4289 Cell 516-829-2205 Office Fax eFax Coming Soon! www.Li-RealEstate.Com   Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate.ComNYS License # 31RA0874656 NYS Corporate License # 109909392 Links You Can Use Now Gratitude Inspired by Thanksgiving, we thought it would be worth tailoring this month’s links towards… giving thanks! Alongside showing your appreciation to others, prac... 11/11/2024

Sold median prices for residential property from August through September saw a modest increase of 1.2% month over month from $760,800 to $770,000.  However, year over year prices are up 10%.  It appears that the demand is still insatiable for those who still have the need or as some call it fomo (fear of missing out) in purchasing a home. However, the number of homes sold decreased from 8915 to 8,254, a 7.4% decrease.  The lack of inventory can be directly attributed to these statistics. Although interest rates are lower than last year, the decrease in the Fed rate by ½% (overnight lending rate between banks) did not affect mortgage rates.  The week after this decrease, rates increased to 6.9% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. The chart below provides a clear picture of the residentia... 11/11/2024

        Great Neck News Manhasset Times NHP Herald Courier Port Washington Times Roslyn Times Williston Times Promoted       Business All Things Real Estate: How has the Nassau County real estate market... Business All Things Real Estate: How has the Nassau County real estate market been doing? By theisland360.com- July 12, 2024 Phil Raices   Year over year the real estate market has done fairly well considering the average selling price, which as of June 2024 was $1,042,353. The average median selling price was $801,000, which means half of the homes sold above and half sold below the median sale price. The average original listing price was $1,053,617. The median original listing price was $799,000. We had 2.6 months of residential inventory as of June 2024 (the number of months it wo... 07/13/2024

    All Things Real Estate: Verifying permits can save you from buying a money pit By Philip A Raices- June 30, 2024   Phil Raices   You’ve looked at 30-plus homes and are getting a bit concerned, tired, and depressed that you have not found one to meet your needs. You think you have a deal and then get outbid. Worst of all, suddenly right before you sign your contract, another offer is provided that is not subject to an inspection and is waving the mortgage contingency. Your offer is subject to mortgage approval and an inspection. It’s disappointing and challenging that you aren’t in a position to waive those important items. You are now experiencing what many purchasers lately are experiencing over the last few years; many are losing their deals for the former and latter reasons and t... 07/05/2024

Phil's Home NewsQuick Quiz Each month I'll give you a new question. Just reply to this email for the answer. How long is the biggest swimming pool in the world? Reply to this emailAsk the Agent What Is a Buyer Agency Agreement? When a buyer and an agent agree for the agent to represent the buyer in the purchase of a home, that agreement is called a buyer agency agreement. The buyer has no obligation to continue working with the agent if the agent is not performing per the agreement.The buyer needs to make sure the right conditions are outlined in the agreement. A buyer agency agreement usually spells out the duties the agent has towards the buyer in finding and closing a home. The buyer can participate in negotiating the terms of the agreement. Buyer agency agreements have typical term ... 06/24/2024

Turn Key Real Estate Phil's Home News The purpose of this uplifting newsletter is to provide you with a change of scenery through heartwarming stories, and insightful advice as well as give you a smile for a few minutes. I hope you enjoy it! If you know of any local families or organizations that are especially in need at this time, please give me a call or reply to this email. I will do my best to spread the word!Moments Links You Can Use Now Summer Vacations As we enter the summer season, it’s probably high time you began making sunny plans! Whatever your vacation preferences, if a vacation is top on your agenda this year, perhaps we can help with a few ideas. First up, if you’re looking to go green and save on air miles, here are some of the best places in the US for a dream domestic... 06/24/2024

All Things Real Estate: A pre-inspection can save you money and your sale By theisland360.com- June 17, 2024 0 Phil Raices   However, I remember when my daughter gave me a mug when I was 60, 12 years ago, that said, “You’re not 60; you’re 18 with 42 years of experience.” I am older now, but I still feel like I am 18 and in the best condition of my life! No one likes to spend money foolishly. However, spending wisely on a pre-inspection can save you thousands of dollars and minimize the stress when selling if your home is 20 years or older. Hiring a certified home inspector or professional engineer will be a prudent and smart activity. This will ascertain what is right, but more importantly, what is wrong with your home. Knowing this before putting your home on the market will educate yo... 06/18/2024

Renovate and expand, buy another, or build new? By theisland360.com - June 9, 2024 0 Phil Raices  Share  Tweet  Pin  Email  Share You’ve been in your current home for longer than you anticipated.  Your family is growing and you need more space and potentially more tax deductions to reduce your taxable income. You need to decide whether to expand the footprint of your home and increase the living space, find another home to renovate or buy a piece of land to build a new home. Staying put and doing the necessary expansion and upgrade to increase the size of your home is possible, but at what cost? Finding a piece of land in your local area just might be feasible if you reside in Suffolk County, but it is somewhat doubtful within Nassau County. Lastly, finding a reasonably priced house in ... 06/11/2024

The $64,000 question is what are you willing to do to make that goal come to fruition? How can you save more money regularly to make your dream of homeownership come true?  The name of the game is called “Sacrifice.”Think of whatever other activities you can do to squirrel away your money for your down payment.  So many of us are spoiled with conspicuous consumption as this is, unfortunately, what our economy is based on and dependent upon.Games on a hand-held device or computer for the children will go a long way toward keeping them occupied.  However, the games my children played way back when they were growing up were Candyland, Battle Ship, Monopoly, and Scrabble.Before computers and computer games, having fun with Hide and Seek, tag, duck, goose, hopscotch, baseball, football and s... 06/01/2024

Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen X are struggling to be first-time homeowners.  However due to steep student loans, credit card debt, and salary levels, they are unable to save enough for a down payment, let alone pay back the money they owe.This has become particularly challenging over the last 10 years as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a paradigm shift not ever seen before. People were leaving large populated and crowded cities to escape being near other humans to reduce the possibility of becoming infected.Those who could exit probably were in much better financial shape than most.  They began gobbling up the available housing stock, on Long Island and across the U.S., causing prices to spike and escalate at an abnormal rate.So as inventory was reduced year over year during the last fou... 06/01/2024

Not being able to pay your mortgage is an experience that 95,349 families and individuals throughout the U.S. have been dealing with in the foreclosure filings during the first quarter of 2024 according to ATTOM.COM, a leading curator of land, property, and real estate data.This is a 3% increase from the previous quarter, but down less than 1% from a year ago.  However, March 2024 showed 32,878 U.S. foreclosure filings up 3% from the previous month but down less than 1% from the previous month and 10% less from a year ago.Those major metro areas with populations of 200,000 or more that had the largest numbers of foreclosure starts in the first quarter including NYC, NY (with 4,404 starts),  Houston, Texas, (with 2,977 starts), Chicago, Illinois(2,867 starts), Los Angeles, Ca.(2398 forec... 05/30/2024