As fall begins, a lot of us are starting to think about the holidays. Thanksgiving will be here soon, as will Christmas, and then New Years.  For a lot of people, these holidays equal one thing—stress. According to a recent survey, Christmas is actually rated 6th on the list of ‘most stressful life events’, being right up there beneath moving, divorce, changing jobs, and other equally stressful situations. 86% of people also said that they found buying presents difficult, and 65% said that shopping for Christmas presents was, in itself, a stress-filled experience. But why are the holidays associated with so much negativity? A big part of it is probably the expectation of ‘holiday magic’. Many mothers feel pressured to cook the ‘perfect’ Thanksgiving dinner and to wrap the ‘perfect’ pres... 10/19/2015

There has been a lot of talk about how difficult it is to get a home mortgage in today’s lending environment. However, three recent reports have revealed that lending standards are beginning to ease. This is great news for both first time buyers and current homeowners looking to move or buy a second vacation/retirement home. Let’s look at the three reports: The MBA’s Mortgage Credit Availability Index This index, issued by the Mortgage Bankers’ Association, measures the availability of credit available in the home mortgage market. A decline in the MCAI indicates that lending standards are tightening, while increases in the index are indicative of a loosening of credit. We can see that the index has been increasing nicely this year: Fannie Mae’s latest Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey Th... 09/24/2015

Some make success look easy but the truth is that when a person who has reached the brass ring is noticed it’s only after the most difficult steps have been traversed, and not when they are struggling, which all people who have worked hard have done. Luckily for those who want to follow in their footsteps, the secrets to success are not secrets at all. In fact, there are five things that all successful people do in order to achieve their dreams. 1. Successful people take responsibility for their actions and inaction Have you ever wished for success but never put forth the hard work? If you can admit it, then you are on your way to becoming successful, because a person looking to become something bigger than he or she is will be honest enough to say ‘I made a mistake,’ or even ‘I was not... 09/21/2015

As the temperature continues to rise, buyers are coming out ready to purchase their dream home. Here are five reasons that you should list your house for sale now.1. Strong Buyer DemandFoot traffic refers to the number of people out actually physically looking at homes right now. The latest foot traffic numbers show that there are significantly more prospective purchasers currently looking at homes than at any point in the last two years! These buyers are ready, willing and able to purchase… and are in the market right now! Take advantage of the buyer activity currently in the market.2. There Is Less Competition NowThe National Association of Realtors reported last week that housing supply as slipped to a 5.0-month supply. This is still under the 6-month supply that is needed for a norm... 07/27/2015

 Kitchen trends may come and go, but one thing never changes: Whether you’re whipping up a four-course gourmet meal for 12 or reheating a slice of pizza, this room is the heart of the home. In fact, the kitchen’s multipurpose role as a place to entertain friends, tackle homework and school projects, answer emails, or just hang out with the family is on the upswing, according to local kitchen experts like Jason Landau, a professional interior designer with a master’s in architecture and owner of Amazing Spaces in Briarcliff Manor. Perhaps the strongest trend in kitchen design is the open floor plan, in part because the kitchen “is the most social room of house” and “all family life revolves around food,” says Landau. “The cook or hostess wants to be part of the party without everybody pi... 07/17/2015

 www.NYREEX.com   07/09/2015

That moment when we have to deal with the customer service department because of a screw up, we almost always question whether or not we really need these “wonderful” amenities.  What’s worse is when we do everything right and we still get caught in the never-ending cycle of on-line payment processing, automated customer service emails and pre-recorded hold messages. Though some people still find humor in these kind of situations, just like the letter written below where he got caught in a digital crunch.Dear Sir: I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I endeavored to pay my plumber last month. By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting the check and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honor it. I refer, of course, to ... 06/22/2015

Some Highlights:According to NAR's Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers:§ 88% of buyers look for their new home online§ Using a real estate agent can net you 13% more than FSBO'ing§ There is a long list of people that you will have to negotiate with when you decide to sell your home, using an experienced professional can help ease the process. www.NYREEX.com     06/12/2015

Jonathan J. Miller, the president of the appraisal firm Miller Samuel shared his sentiments on selling at this time of the year: "Based on the number of contracts signed each month, the spring is still the ‘Super Bowl’ of annual real estate sales,” June is annually the top month for the number of contracts signed, which means the properties themselves were likely listed in May. Overall, June yields 90 percent more sales than December. Here are five good reasons to make the decision to Sell: 1. Beautiful weather makes everyone a little happier. "May weather is ideal for selling a home because gardens are in bloom. In the fall, home seekers are reminded of the leaves they'll need to rake, and in the winter they'll often see how much snow needs to be shoveled. In the spring they'll be imag... 06/01/2015

Every house on the market has to be sold twice; once to a prospective buyer and then to the bank (through the bank’s appraisal). In a housing market where supply is very low and demand is very high, home values increase rapidly. One major challenge in such a market is that bank appraisal. If prices are jumping, it is difficult for appraisers to find adequate comparable sales (similar houses in the neighborhood that closed recently) to defend the price when doing the appraisal for the bank. With escalating prices, the second sale might be even more difficult than the first. And now, there may be a second issue further complicating the appraisal issue. The Mortgage News Daily (MND) recently published an article titled Conservative Appraisals Increasingly Mentioned in 2015; Did Something C... 05/05/2015

Recently, Freddie Mac published a blog post titled Mortgage Rates: Still the Deal of the Century. They explained that, if you are planning to purchase a home, now may be the time:“If you are in the market to buy a home, today's average mortgage rates are something to celebrate compared to almost any year since 1971.”And they let their readers know that there is no guarantee that rates will remain this low:“Over the past few years, we've enjoyed a long run of historically low mortgage rates. While no one expects them to change dramatically overnight, they are expected to head up. Most experts agree that mortgage rates will drift up in the coming months to end the year approaching 4.50%... Buying a home is a big investment – perhaps the biggest one you'll make in your life. So, it's impor... 04/29/2015

The good news is that there are some things you can do to not only make the job easier, but also to speed up the process so you can make it go faster.1. Add a lazy Susan to your fridgeIf you’re already taking everything out to give the fridge a good scrub, add a lazy Susan to each shelf before you restock. Being able to spin it to access things in the back will cut down on spills and make your next spring cleaning that much easier. 2. Disinfect your spongeIf you’ve got a big job to do and only one sponge to do it with (the horror!), freshen things up halfway through by squeezing it out and microwaving it on high for a minute. 3. Don’t forget to clean the garbage disposalIf you’re lucky enough to have a garbage disposal, don’t neglect it during spring cleaning. Drop in a cut-up lemon, so... 04/20/2015

Every seller wants to get the best price for their house. We learned in high school that the best price for any item will be determined by the demand for that item relative to the supply of that item. We have reported that the inventory of houses for sale is well below normal numbers. There is historical evidence that the demand for housing is about to increase dramatically. Each year, more homes sell in May, June, July and August than any other four months of the year. Here is a graph of homes sales last year by month: Bottom LineYou want to make sure your house is available for sale during peak selling season. If you are thinking of selling this year, contact a local real estate professional today. Every seller wants to get the best price for their house. We learned in high school tha... 04/15/2015

Yonkers, NY Named One of Livability.com’s Top 10 Healthiest Cities, 2015 Inaugural list identifies and ranks America’s healthiest cities        There are two parts to every great healthy city. The first is access to quality and affordable health care. The second is promoting and enabling a healthy lifestyle for its residents through infrastructure and amenities. With this in mind, Livability.com has named Yonkers a Top 10 Healthiest City, 2015. Yonkers provides residents with exercise opportunities, good food choices and strong support networks to help live healthy lives. Our editors looked at data compiled by the County Healthcare Rankings as well as spending data from Esri to find places with quality and affordable health care. They analyzed several measures of healthy communities suc... 04/08/2015

If you are planning on becoming a homeowner, or moving up to the home of your dreams in 2015, here are four great reasons to consider buying a home now, instead of waiting until spring. 1. Prices Will Continue to Rise The Home Price Expectation Survey polls a distinguished panel of over 100 economists, investment strategists, and housing market analysts. Their most recent report projects appreciation in home values over the next five years to be between 11.7% (most pessimistic) and 27.5% (most optimistic). The bottom in home prices has come and gone. Home values will continue to appreciate for years. Waiting no longer makes sense. 2. Mortgage Interest Rates Are Projected to Increase Although Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows that interest rates for a 30-year mortgage h... 02/23/2015

Many believed that when the housing market crashed, so too would the desire of American’s to own a home again. Many reports have shown that, especially among younger generations, the American Dream of homeownership is still very much alive. Julián Castro, Secretary for HUD, recently summed up what it means to own a home in a speech at the National Press Club. "Homeownership is still the cornerstone of the American Dream — a fact you can see in the lives of everyday folks. It’s a source of pride. It’s a source of wealth, providing both a nest and a nest egg. And it strengthens communities and fuels growth in the overall economy." Castro appropriately named his speech, “2015: A Year of Housing Opportunity”, a theme that rang true throughout. “Opportunity is not an abstract concept - it's... 02/17/2015

  While a six-figure inheritance or high-paying job can land you in the top 1% of earners, it’s the little things — your money habits — that often make the difference between a life of prosperity and one of constant financial stress. Just ask CFP® David Blaylock, who doesn’t simply advise his clients on the merits of good money habits — he practices what he preaches. For example, “I do a periodic review of all the subscriptions I have — the ones that hit my credit cards each month,” says Blaylock. “You’d be surprised at how many subscriptions we all have and how many go unused. You could create some significant savings each month just by looking at those things.” Taking inventory of your recurring subscriptions and services is just one habit that can get you on the road to better fortu... 02/16/2015

YONKERS, N.Y. – Yonkers is a city on the move. The unemployment rate is at its lowest point since 2008, home sales and sale prices are up, new businesses are opening and more people are shopping and supporting the local economy. It’s great news for Yonkers, but as the city’s economy starts to rev up, we’ve got to remain focused on ensuring that Yonkers remains affordable for our seniors. Years ago in the State Legislature, I helped create the STAR property tax relief program and Enhanced STAR program for seniors, which saved Yonkers seniors up to $2,200 on last year’s tax bill. As Mayor, I’m proud that we’ve passed three consecutive bi-partisan budgets that kept property taxes under the 2 percent cap. And last year, Yonkers became the first big city in the state to provide veterans wit... 02/08/2015

Now that the housing market has stabilized, more and more homeowners are considering moving up to the home they have always dreamed of. In most areas, prices are still below those of a few years ago. Also, interest rates are still near 4%. However, sellers should realize that waiting to make the move while mortgage rates are increasing probably doesn’t make sense. As rates increase, the price of the house you can buy will decrease. Here is a chart detailing this point:   www.NYREEX.com 01/19/2015

Way back in 2007 there was an article in, "Business 2.0" about Kevin Ham a guy who reportedly ran the Internet. He was able to acquire $300 Million dollars worth of domain names and control them for certain industries while shutting other people out. Then he would take these domain names and resell them or put them in an auction and get the highest bids. Ham was well known for grabbing wedding domain names such as "WeddingCatering.com" as well as Christian domain names, "ChristianRock.com". According to the article he controlled the strings on certain industries. The idea of this article was kind of fascinating. The media made a big deal out of this guy and rightly so. Back in 2007 this was kind of an unheard of play. Ham also did things with his domains like make landing pages and then... 01/13/2015