The temperatures are supposed to be unseasonably warm this Sunday... all the way up in the 30s! Why not get out there and have some winter fun? I've never been to this event, but it sounds like great old-fashioned fun for the whole family!  View the full-sized flyer here. Take a look at the complete schedule here!   I am proud to help buyers and sellers in the Greater Rochester, New York area find the homes of their dreams. If you are considering purchasing or selling a home in the Rochester area, don't hesitate to contact me. I pride myself in providing the best possible service for my clients! When you work with me... Visit my website at www.YourNYDreamHome.com to learn more about the services I offer! Sellers: Find out how much your home is worth by requesting a FREE Home Evaluation!... 02/05/2009

Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York State, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. The Rochester metropolitan area is the second largest economy in New York State, behind the New York City metropolitan area.  Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City. Rochester is a great place to live, with something for everybody. The greater metropolitan Rochester area is home to many people with an eclectic mix of ethnic backgrounds and religions. And it seems that no matter how far away you get, you're still just 20 minutes away from any place else. Rochester's city population is approximately 207,000, making it New York's third largest city. Rochester has 19 suburbs with an additional 800,000 people.  The mayor ... 02/02/2009

The annual Polar Bear Plunge will take place Sunday, February 8, 2009 to raise money for Special Olympics NY.  it will be held at Ontario Beach Park in Charlotte. The lake is currently 34 degrees, but people are going to be freezin for a reason! Rochester's Polar Bear Plunge has become one of Rochester, New York's Most Exciting Fundraising Events.  And since the Polar Bear Plunge will be a part of the Lakeside Winter Celebration at Ontario Beach park, Charlotte, you can make a day of it and enjoy all the festival has to offer. There are many ways to become involved with the Polar Plunge this year and years to come. There are opportunities for Sponsoring, Volunteering, and of course Plunging!  There will be ice sculptures, the Chilly Chili Challenge, sleigh rides and more.  01/31/2009

It's hard to believe it, but February is almost here. That means it's almost time for the next issue of my monthly e-newsletter. If you're interested in staying up-to-date on the Rochester real estate market and receiving some of my favorite tips about home improvements, buying and selling, staying healthy, and more, just e-mail me with the word "Newsletter" in the subject line! You'll receive it via e-mail on the first of every month, and I promise to keep your information confidential. Enjoy the rest of January, and stay warm!   I am proud to help buyers and sellers in the Greater Rochester, New York area find the homes of their dreams. If you are considering purchasing or selling a home in the Rochester area, don't hesitate to contact me. I pride myself in providing the best possible... 01/27/2009

Finally! The Greater Rochester Association of Realtors posted their County Home Sales Statistics for December, 2008. I know this isn't the most interesting post in the world, but I want to keep my readers up to date. Let's take a look at each section individually and examine exactly what the numbers are telling us about our local market. This section looks at how our sales compare to last month AND to this time last year. Our inventory has come down significantly since November, with under 1,000 homes listed in December. That's a good sign that we're heading toward a seller's market! The median sale price did go down by $5,000 in that month's time, but that's not unusual at this time of year. Compared to December, 2007, the market was not as vibrant this past December. More homes were o... 01/27/2009

If you watch the news, you know most of the country is in the midst of a buyer's market. Inventories are high, homes are staying on the market longer, and sellers are becoming more and more willing to negotiate in order to get their homes sold and move on. Things have been no different in Rochester, although we have experienced it to a lesser degree. What you may not know is how this affects the rental market. The Wall Street Journal recently published an article describing how an increasing number of renters are seeking price reductions when looking into new rentals. Rather than simply accepting the monthly rent as advertised, they are negotiating much more than they did in past years. Many landlords are choosing to accept a lesser rent to avoid being stuck with vacancies in this weak ... 01/25/2009

They say real estate is local.  Meaning it depends on where you live.  I am fortunate to live in Upstate NY.  Even Forbes seems to think so.  Rochester NY was rated as one of the strongest housing markets on their list.  You can see the full article here: America's 25 Strongest Housing Markets - Forbes.com We didn't have huge gains, therefore we are not seeing the huge drop like other areas are.  The negative publicity may have slowed things down a bit but our market is generally a stable one. Home values have increased an average of 3% here in the last five years.  The 25 Strongest Housing Markets Are: McAllen, Texas Syracuse, New York Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Buffalo, New York El Paso, Texas Tulsa, Oklahoma Houston, Texas Charleston, South Carolina Little Rock, Arkansas Birmingham, Al... 01/20/2009

Interesting Facts from Rochester, NY Actors & ActressesBuffalo Bill Cody lived in Rochester in the 1870s and buried three of his children at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Silent movie vamp Theda Bara attended high school here in the 1900s. The 1920s were a very active time for film stars in Rochester--Mickey Rooney began his career here, Bette Davis was fired from a theatre stock group, and Bud Abbott managed a theatre here before being paired with Lou Costello. In the 1930s, Jay Silverheels, best known as "Tonto," attended high school in Rochester while Kirk Douglas worked in a steel mill here. Later, Foster Brooks, Robert Forester, and Mimi Kennedy all began their careers in shows for Rochester Community Players the oldest community theatre group in New York State.CarouselsOntario Beach Park is ... 01/20/2009

Recently, Forbes magazine published an article entitled, "America's 25 Strongest Housing Markets". Knowing the steadiness of our local market, I was not surprised to find that Rochester was included. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to see that the upstate New York cities of Buffalo, Syracuse, and Albany were, too! That's 4 out of 25 spots taken by upstate New York! So, what sets us apart from so many of the nation's cities? The article focused on the fact that Rochester avoided the "boom and bust" experienced by much of the nation, as did the other 24 cities. Our prices never soared, so we never had to take the plunge. That's great for local homeowners who haven't had to face the constant worry about their homes losing value. Speaking of which, the article also highlighted our stro... 01/20/2009

Moving day is a confusing time. If you're selling your home, you have to schedule the moving truck, make sure all your belongings get on their way safely, and take the time to get the home "broom clean" for the new inhabitants. The last thing on your mind is transferring your utilities, but it's actually a critical step in the process. Here in Rochester, Winters can be brutal. The freezing weather is tough on our homes, and none more than those without heat. That's why it's imperative to make sure your home is never left without power. When calling the utility company in preparation for the day of closing, you may be tempted to simply ask them to shut off the utilities, but that's a bad idea. Make sure the person on the other end of the conversation understands that you want the utiliti... 01/11/2009

Here in the Rochester area, it's been a snowy and cold Winter already, and according to the news it's only going to get worse. I don't know about you, but at times like this I appreciate comfort food more than ever. I especially love my Crockpot. To be able to walk in after a long, chilly day and sit down to a warm dinner is heavenly. That's why I decided to share one of my favorite Crockpot recipes. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, and I hope it warms your body and your spirit! Crock Pot Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken Ingredients 1 large chicken, cut into serving pieces 1 cup packed brown sugar 2/3 cup vinegar 1/4 cup Sprite or 7-Up soda 2-3 tablespoons minced garlic 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 teaspoon pepper (regular black or cayenne) Directions Place chicken in crock pot. Mix all rema... 01/08/2009

Rochester, NY's proximity to Lake Ontario and its being on the Genesee River and the New York State Canal System makes it ideal for boating.  Rochester, NY is also close to the Finger Lakes of Upstate New York.   01/07/2009

Have you ever seen the 1986 movie The Money Pit? In it, a young couple, Walter and Anna (played by Tom Hanks and Shelley Long), purchase a seemingly gorgeous house that ends up wreaking havoc on their finances, their relationship, and their sanity. I had seen the movie years ago, but just watched it again for the first time since starting my career in real estate. It was certainly interesting to see this movie through a Realtor's eyes! While I found it absolutely hilarious, I also couldn't resist writing down some lessons that can be learned from the couple's experiences in the wonderful world of home buying. Get a home inspection. If Walter and Anna had only had a licensed home inspector look at the house before they purchased it, they would have avoided a world of grief by discovering... 01/05/2009

This is the time of year for resolutions. It's the time of year I like to take a look at both my life and my business and see what's working and what isn't. When I look back at my first few months as a blogger on Active Rain, I think it's been a great learning experience. I used my blog posts as a way of reaching others, but also as a way of reflecting on my own practices. I'm looking forward to another year as part of this supportive Active Rain community. One thing I noticed about my blog, however, is that my "Weekly Market Report" posts seem to be getting a little redundant. There doesn't seem to be enough activity in the Western Wayne County area to warrant my reporting it every single week. It's just a lot of the same trends. So, as the New Year begins, I'm going to back off on my ... 01/05/2009

I took this picture in the summer of 2008 while we were waiting to be seated at The Bayside resteraunt on Irondequoit Bay in Rochester NY.  There are many swans that make the bay their home.  I have read that swans have the same mate for life.  They are usually seen in pairs.  I am looking forward to seeing them again when the snow clears.  01/03/2009

You've decided that you'd like to buy your first house or purchase a new one.  Where do you start?  Credit Well, the first thing you need to do is find out how your credit is and how much you can get pre-qualified for.  There is no point in looking at houses above your price range.  This will only lead to disappointment when you have to start looking for a home that you can afford.  The most important thing these days is your credit score.  I can't stress enough how important this score is for many things in life.  From a mortgage loan, to a car loan, employers, or a landlord check before renting, your ability to be trusted is tied to this number.  It is very important to pay your bills on time.  It's even more important not to be late on an existing mortgage payment.  A lender may turn... 12/30/2008

I would like to wish all my friends and family a Happy New Year!    I know some have had a tough time in 2008, but soon that will be behind us.  The economy is not as good as we would like it to be.  My wish for you is that you find a way to hold on to hope.  Hope for a better future.  Hope for a better tomorrow.  With hope and a little bit of work we can make 2009 a great year.  One person at a time.  One step at a time.  Lets look within and find out what we would like to change, and what steps we are going to take to make change happen.  My wish is that we can find compassion when we deal with people in our daily lives.  They may be struggling with more than we know.  Let's hope they hold on to hope also, and make it through.  I hope you stay safe this holiday season and enjoy your f... 12/29/2008

COUNTY HOME SALES FOR NOVEMBER With the holidays, and the weather this time of year, a seasonal slowdown in the market is to be expected. However, I remain optimistic.   We have a more stable market here in Rochester.  We may not experience the housing booms that have occurred elsewhere, we are also fortunate that we do not experience the dramatic decreases in sales prices either, as other parts of the country currently are. In November there was a 29 percent decrease in monthly closings and a 6.9 percent decrease in homes listed for sale as compared to November of 2007 according to statistics released by the Genesee Region Real Estate Information Service (GENRIS)  The median sale price for our area is up 0.4 percent at $118,000 year-to-date. Locally, the town of Chili saw a 22 percent... 12/28/2008

Last week I mentioned that we received a snow storm like many other areas in the country.    Today I'm happy to say that we've had weather in the high 50's and most of the snow has melted.  Our city is well prepared to handle anything that may come our way.  They did a great job clearing the roads, and we all had a picture perfect white Christmas.  Yesterday many of us got out and enjoyed the spring like weather.  It was great to feel the warm air, and go shopping for those after Christmas sales.    12/28/2008

So many people complain...I am tired of it. Stop Slamming Rochester! You live here....be the person who steps up and DOES something. Maybe start with your atttitude? Now, everyone can not be happy all the time, but lets look at what WE can do. As a real estate professional, I can help more people to be homeowners. Homeownership is a good thing. If we collectively make steps, make progress to move forward TOGETHER as people, as neighbors, as business owners, then how can we not make this a better, safe and more enjoyable place to live?  So, for the New Year, lets ask ourselves, what can we do to IMPROVE ourselves and our city?  It's a good question. 12/26/2008