Daily Archives: October 30, 2013

Homes near cemeteries: Do they sell? | Mount Kisco Homes

Leave a reply

With Halloween quickly approaching, Redfin was dying to know: Do homes near cemeteries sell for more or less than homes farther away from cemeteries? Would a drop-dead-gorgeous home take longer to sell if the view includes tombstones? Would a home shopper have grave concerns about a home near a cemetery, or would the quiet neighbors be a selling point? We dug into the data to find out.

 

Redfin analyzed the price of homes less than 50 feet from a cemetery and compared those to the price of homes less than 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 yards away. The numbers indicate that on average, homes near cemeteries are slightly smaller, but they sell for more per square foot. On average, homes closest to cemeteries sold for $162 dollars per square foot, whereas the homes located more than 500 yards away sold for $145 per square foot.

 

Redfin

“I have a current listing that backs up to a cemetery, and 10 to 15 people have toured the home. One potential buyer provided feedback that it was a deal breaker, but that is just one of many. In my opinion, cemeteries make very quiet neighbors,” said Blakely Minton, a Redfin real estate agent in Philadelphia.

 

“Like everything with homebuying, there are pros and cons to living near a cemetery. The pros are that most likely there would be no chance of future development on the site of a cemetery, there is usually well-maintained open space, it’s quiet and many cemeteries are picturesque. The cons would be that cemeteries give some people an uneasy feeling, as it represents mortality, and it might not be an area they want to ‘live’ next to everyday,” said Lynn Ikle, a Redfin real estate agent in Baltimore.

The analysis also reveals that homes adjacent to cemeteries take longer to sell on average. Those located less than 50 feet away took 48 days to sell, whereas those located more than 500 yards away took 39 days to sell. Based on the analysis, homes near cemeteries sell for more money, but it may take longer to find the right buyer.

 

“Having a home right next door to a cemetery may make it more difficult to sell. There will always be a group of people who might love all of the specifications of the house, but the ‘creepy’ factor may prevent them from even touring the home. Having fewer folks tour a home could lead to a home staying on the market longer,” said John Malandrino, a Redfin real estate agent in Chicago.

Not all cities are the same when it comes to the number of cemeteries located within city limits and the number of homes built around them. Redfin evaluated 90 metropolitan areas across the nation to find the five cities with the most homes for sale near cemeteries. The analysis looked at homes for sale as of Oct. 15 that were less than 100 yards from a cemetery. Some of the nation’s oldest cities topped the list:

 

1. Baltimore

Homes for sale near cemeteries: 172 Median list price of those homes: $101,950

“It doesn’t surprise me that Baltimore tops the list, because it was founded back in the early 1700s,” Ikle said. “Our neighborhoods here are very well-established, and cemeteries were part of the landscape during their development.”

 

2. Philadelphia

Homes for sale near cemeteries: 157 Median list price of those homes: $134,900

“Since Philadelphia was one of the first major settlements in the U.S., there are cemeteries scattered throughout the city,” Minton said. “I had one friend who moved into a home with a cemetery right behind it. One day, she came home with her hands full of groceries and nearly hit the floor with food flying when she heard a gun shot outside. It turns out that the cemetery was for veterans, and it was a military salute.

 

“The type and size of cemetery is something to consider when deciding on a home by a cemetery, but in my opinion, the reminder of how precious life can be is a positive, not a negative.”

3. Chicago

Homes for sale near cemeteries: 115 Median list price of those homes: $229,900

“With buildable land at a premium, especially in and around the downtown Chicago area, builders have built and will continue to build in close proximity to cemeteries,” Malandrino said.

 

4. Boston

Homes for sale near cemeteries: 50 Median list price of those homes: $711,809

“The main reason Boston has so many cemeteries is because it has so many churches. Nearly all of the older churches in the greater Boston area have large cemeteries attached to them. These churches are frequently located in residential neighborhoods, so people could walk to church events,” said Peter Phinney, a Redfin real estate agent in Boston. “Churches were not only the center of worship, as they continue to be, but also the center of cultural events and social gatherings. It was only natural for people to want to be buried in their neighborhood next to the church, so homebuyers in the Boston area have made their peace with having a cemetery nearby. In fact, many welcome having the green space.”

 

 

http://realestate.msn.com/blogs/listed-buy.aspx?post=5c37386d-9625-4935-974f-33ed9e917554

Why Home Sales Fell Last Month | South Salem NY Real Estate

Leave a reply

Home sales fell significantly from August to September, and real estate industry experts are pointing to higher interest rates and skittish consumer sentiment for the decline.

The National Association of Realtors is out with data this week showing its benchmark Pending Home Sales Index fell from 107.6 in August to 101.6 in September.

The NAR says that “higher mortgage rate and higher mortgage prices curbed buying power” in September, and the lead-up to the federal government debt standoff Oct. 1 didn’t help matters, either.

“Declining housing affordability conditions are likely responsible for the bulk of reduced contract activity,” says Lawrence Yun, the NAR’s chief economist. “In addition, government and contract workers were on the sidelines with growing insecurity over lawmakers’ inability to agree on a budget. A broader hit on consumer confidence from general uncertainty also curbs major expenditures such as home purchases.”

Yun is fairly bearish on sales of existing homes, although residential home prices should weather the storm – at least for the next 60 to 90 days or so.

Overall, he says, pending home sales are at a 2.5 year low on a year-to-year basis. And that’s a troubling sign for the near-term future on home sales.

“This tells us to expect lower home sales for the fourth quarter, with a flat trend going into 2014,” Yun says. “Even so, ongoing inventory shortages will continue to lift home prices, though at a slower single-digit growth rate next year.”

One factor that could derail that prediction are U.S. mortgage rates, which fell last week. According to the BankingMyWay Weekly Mortgage Rate Tracker, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell from 4.37% to 4.26%. Those numbers are roughly supported by Freddie Mac, which has 30-year rates falling from 4.57% in early September to 4.13% in late October.

Historically, lower mortgage rates lead to stronger home sales, not weaker home sales.

But in a residential home sales market with myriad moving parts, lower interest rates alone — if they remain low, which is no guarantee — may not be enough to propel the housing market forward. A stronger jobs picture, more robust consumer sentiment and some stabilization among warring political factions in Washington, D.C., would all also have to round into form to keep home sales churning.

That may still happen, but after some solid numbers coming out of the real estate market (see here and here), the NAR report is a sobering one for the real estate market.

 

 

http://www.thestreet.com/story/12087307/1/why-home-sales-fell-last-month.html?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO

Dreaming in Color: 8 Eye-Opening Yellow Bedrooms | Waccabuc Real Estate

Leave a reply

I tend to associate the color yellow with the sweet corn my hometown, just outside the reach of suburban Chicago, is famous for. It’s also the color of one of the first flowers of spring in that part of the country, daffodils, which my mother planted in beds around the house to herald the end of our long, cold winters. To me yellow represents the color of sunshine, sustenance and rejuvenation. It reminds me of happy, idyllic days and makes me feel optimistic for the future. If you have similar positive associations with yellow, try using it in your bedroom to help you get revved up each morning for the day ahead.
Below you’ll find several sunny yellow bedrooms as well as tips for working the happy hue into your sleeping space.

If you have tall ceilings in your bedroom and lots of natural light, you can go super bold and intense with yellow. This particular shade of yellow packs a wallop, so I’d recommend limiting it to an accent wall. A room that gets this much natural light can handle a bold yellow on an entire wall, but be aware that if your bedroom has low ceilings and little natural light streaming in, then a yellow as bright and bold as this one could leave you feeling anxious.
Get a similar look with Babouche from Farrow & Ball.
Those seeking a mellower yellow should look at softer sandy and golden hues, such as this green-tinged gold. There’s quite a bit of brown and white in it, so it reads as a neutral hue — a pumped-up beige, if you will. This is a good color choice if you plan to paint all or most of your walls yellow, as it offers a nice wash of color without going overboard.
Add oodles of warmth to your bedroom with a generous dose of wood tones and a yellow hue such as this one that veers more toward warmer orange than cooler green. This is an ideal palette for getting a cozy bedroom vibe in even the coldest of climates.
If you’re a fan of wall coverings, choose one that really makes a statement. An interesting print on a bold yellow background is a great choice for an accent wall. Wall coverings can also provide protection from dents and dings, and many are scrubbable and therefore easy to clean, making them a smart choice in a kids’ room.

Mighty Bal Harbour Luxury Tower Bankrupt, Selling Itself Cheap | Cross River Real Estate

Leave a reply

one-bal-harbour-building%2A600.jpg[Photo via SFBJ]

Another one bites the dust! The luxury beachfront condo/hotel building known as One Bal Harbour in (duh) Bal Harbour has officially filed a motion in U.S. Bankruptcy Court to schedule an auction and begin bidding procedures to sell off itself. The debtor, Elcom Hotel and Spa, owns 51 condo-hotel units and 41,047 square feet of the hotel portion of the building at 10295 Collins Ave, and is apparently over $20 million in debt. Oh, and the building’s practically falling apart.

The 300 room, $225 million luxury resort was all the rage back in 2004, when developer WCI Communities claimed to have sold 87% of the building’s units to high-profile buyers.  The high didn’t last long.  In May 2006, three construction workers died when a concrete wall collapsed, and allegations of structural problems and massive flooding have been plaguing the building ever since.  WCI filed for bankruptcy in 2008, and an unlikely duo (a Virginia lumber mogul and a Colombian businessman) Tom Sullivan and Jorge Arevalo swooped in to save the day.  Or so they thought. Long story short, problems arose between Arevalo and both the residential and the hotel associations, then came a seriously detailed and damaging audit report, followed by a hell of a lot of construction defect lawsuits. And here we are!

Opening price is set at $13 million, with Stoneleigh Capital acting as stalking-horse bidder.  Elcom is hoping for an auction before the end of the year, and we’re all hoping someone can get this mess in order before the building starts to look dated. Oh wait, too late. —Margina Demmer · One Bal Harbour trustee seeks bankruptcy auction [SFBJ] · One Bal Harbour: Swanky high-rise address or big condo hotel mess [SFBJ] · One Bal Harbour coverage [Curbed Miami]

Abandoned Buildings, Red Tape Mark a Year on Staten Island | Katonah NY Real Estate

Leave a reply

This three-part photo essay traces the recovery efforts in the year since Hurricane Sandy, as documented by photographer Nathan Kensinger. Throughout the year, his Hurricane Sandy photo essays have appeared in Curbed’s Camera Obscura column. His photographs are also included in exhibits opening this week at the Museum of the City of New York and the Brooklyn Historical Society, which are dedicated to the one-year anniversary of the storm.

01_kensinger_staten_island_DSC_3102.jpg [In the year since Hurricane Sandy, Staten Island neighborhoods like Ocean Breeze have seen little progress in their recovery efforts. All photos by Nathan Kensinger.]

It has been one year since Hurricane Sandy landed on Staten Island, destroying many of its waterfront neighborhoods. Despite an outpouring of volunteer support and a huge cleanup effort, these communities are still visibly suffering from the impact of the storm. In neighborhoods like Ocean Breeze, Midland Beach, and New Dorp, ruined buildings, abandoned homes, empty lots and overgrown foundations remain a common sight. A host of government programs have assisted residents during their recovery, but many homeowners are frustrated by the lack of progress and are not planning to return.

“It’s been hell,” said Jean Laurie, the president of the Ocean Breeze Civic Association, whose neighborhood and house were badly damaged by the storm surge. “We still don’t have a home,” she said. “Before you know it, it’s going to be two years. And then what?” After demolishing their storm-damaged residence in April, Jean and her husband Burt hoped they would be able to rebuild quickly. But, like several of their neighbors, their lot remains empty. “I don’t know anyone on Staten who has built a new house,” said Burt. “There is too much red tape.”

“We still don’t have a home. Before you know it, it’s going to be two years. And then what?” —Jean Laurie, president, Ocean Breeze Civic Association

Most residents in Ocean Breeze have given up on the idea of rebuilding, and now hope to sell their entire neighborhood to the state to be demolished, much like the buyout planned for nearby Oakwood Beach, where 400 homes will be torn down and the land returned to nature. “They should never have houses here, never,” said Joe Herrnkind, a 15-year resident of Ocean Breeze whose home was destroyed by flooding. “The buyout is the only way,” said Herrnkind. “I’m looking for a buyout from the government only. No one else. Knowing what I know, I don’t want anyone else to suffer this way.” In sharp contrast to the headway made in the Rockaways, Staten Island’s storm recovery seems far from complete.

02_kensinger_staten_island_DSC_3066.jpg

October 2013: In the empty lot where their home once stood, Jean and Burt Laurie display a handmade protest sign. Like 5,500 Staten Island residents, they registered for the city’s Build It Back program. They are still waiting to receive a phone call from the government.

03_kensinger_staten_island_DSC_3081.jpg

October 2013: Their collection of photos documents the damage in Ocean Breeze, where 20 houses were destroyed. About 30 of the remaining 109 homes are occupied, according to the Staten Island Advance.

04_kensinger_staten_island_DSC_3965.jpg

November 2012: In the days after the storm, Jean Laurie and her husband helped coordinate with volunteers to distribute supplies from in front of their flood-damaged home.

05_kensinger_staten_island_DSC_2183.jpg

April 2013: When her home was demolished in April, Jean planned to rebuild quickly. “We want to revitalize the area,” she told Curbed at the time. “We don’t want to leave it in shambles.”

06_kensinger_staten_island_DSC_2171.jpg

April 2013: Jean still hopes to rebuild, but “almost every single home owner that is here has signed up for the buyout,” according to her neighbor Joe Herrnkind. “You’d have to be crazy to stay.”

07_kensinger_staten_island_DSC_3176.jpg

October 2013: One year after the storm, empty homes in Ocean Breeze are still being gutted by city workers. Roughly 400 people are waiting to rebuild their homes in Staten Island, according to the Staten Island Advance.

08_kensinger_staten_island_DSC_3297.jpg

October 2013: Progress has come to a standstill in several Staten Island neighborhoods. In Midland Beach, this pile of debris from a ruined building has sat next to a local home for the entire year. Abandoned and empty homes can be found throughout the area.

 

 

http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2013/10/29/abandoned_buildings_red_tape_mark_a_year_on_staten_island.php

 

Tale of two recoveries’ emerges in Sandy’s wake | Bedford Hills Real Estate

Leave a reply

An analysis by StreetEasy of sales and price changes in New York City neighborhoods following Hurricane Sandy tells a “tale of two recoveries.”

Contract volume in flood zones in Manhattan quickly rebounded after Sandy initially dented them, while prices and rents remained stable, StreetEasy reported.

But some housing markets in flood zones of other boroughs were not nearly as resilient as those in Manhattan, and they are continuing to feel the effects of the super storm, according to StreetEasy.

 

 

Source: StreetEasy – See more at: http://www.inman.com/wire/tale-of-two-recoveries-emerges-in-sandys-wake/#sthash.8BpR8rMs.dpuf

Home prices lose momentum in August, but post strongest annual gains in 7 years | Bedford NY Real Estate

Leave a reply

Home prices posted their biggest annual gains in seven years in August, but the pace of month-over-month gains slowed in most markets tracked by the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Composite index.

The S&P/Case Shiller 20-City Composite showed home prices rising by 12.8 percent from a year ago, and by 1.3 percent from July to August. All 20 cities reported annual gains, with 13 showing double-digit price appreciation. The 20-city composite posted the strongest year-over-year growth since February, 2006.

If no adjustment is made for seasonal factors, month-over-month gains for the 20-city composite peaked in April.“Since then home prices continued to rise, but at a slower pace each month,” said David M. Blitzer, Chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices.

“This month 16 cities reported smaller gains in August compared to July.”Blitzer cited recent increases in mortgage rates and fewer mortgage applications as two factors in these shifts. When adjusted for seasonal factors, the 20-city composite index showed stronger month-over-month growth in August (0.9 percent) than in July (0.6 percent).

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/wire/home-price-gains-slow-for-4th-straight-month/#sthash.c2ZG0O5M.dpuf

How does Google’s Hummingbird Update Impact Social Media Marketers? | Pound Ridge Realtor

Leave a reply

Google recently launched a new algorithm, code-named Hummingbird, that was  designed to answer more complex queries and present more in-depth knowledge to  users.   Launched over a month ago, Google’s Hummingbird is its  largest algorithm overhaul in 10 years.

At a press conference announcing the change, Google explained that the new  algorithm is smarter, able to understand complex queries and return more  relevant answers.  They are preparing for a future of phone concierges,  where you ask your phone for information and it talks back to you, understanding  the meaning behind your questions and giving you semantically relevant  answers.

According to the  NY Times:

“The company made the changes  because Google users are asking  increasingly long and complex questions and are searching Google more often on  mobile phones with voice search.”

So how does Google’s Hummingbird update impact social media marketers?

What can you do to make sure your blog’s visibility improves in the wake of  Hummingbird?

#1. Improve your mobile’s web search experience

On InsideSearch, Amit Singhal, Google’s chief technologist, explained:

“The world has changed so much: billions of people have come online, the  Web has grown exponentially, and now you can ask any question on the powerful  little device in your pocket.”

Obviously mobile is a major focus for Google, and Hummingbird presents a way  for Google to serve better results for mobile users.  Given the massive  amounts of data Google has at their fingertips, they can anticipate trends  better than any other company…and if they are focusing on mobile and overhauling  their entire algorithm to serve better mobile results, then this is something  social media marketers must pay attention to.  Just this week, Google  changed their User Interface for tablet and mobile users.

What can you do to get your website mobile ready?

Do you need more information?  Check out Google’s extensive guide on how  to build Mobile-Optimized  Websites.

#2. Connect your blog to your Google+ profile using Authorship

Authorship is a way of identifying categorical influencers and featuring  their content in Google.

According to Google:

“Using authorship helps  searchers discover great information by highlighting content from authors who  they might find interesting. If you’re an author, signing up for authorship will  help users recognize content that you’ve written. Additionally, searchers can  click the byline to see more articles you’ve authored or to follow you on  Google+”.

It’s that simple!

 

 

 

Read more at http://www.jeffbullas.com/2013/10/30/how-does-googles-hummingbird-update-impact-social-media-marketers/#7RxDdcHq6wjBLmZV.99

Legislators Race to Buy Time as Flood Insurance Rate Spike Threatens Homeowners | Bedford Corners Homes

Leave a reply

A bipartisan group of Senate and House members have proposed a deal to delay flood insurance premium increases taking effect as a result of last year’s Biggert-Waters Act. The rate increases will greatly increase costs for homeowners living in flood-prone areas and could also impact the nation’s housing market.

The legislation has four principal goals: it would delay most flood insurance increases for four years; compel the Federal Emergency Management Agency to complete an affordability study mandated by Biggert-Waters; address issues found within the study; and allow Congress time to review those findings and revisions.

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), one of the namesakes of the Biggert-Waters Act, announced the deal today. On Friday, eight Senators appealed to fellow senators for support for the bill, which would delay flood insurance rate increases for thousands of homeowners set to take effect as part of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act.

As of Friday, eight senators—Mary Landrieu (D-La.), David Vitter (R-La.), John Isakson (R-Ga.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.)—had signed on as cosponsors. There has been no announcement as to of or when there might be a vote on the proposed legislation.

 

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/legislation/legislators-race-to-buy-time-as-flood-insurance-rate-spike-threatens-homeowners.aspx?utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=jump&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=RDU_102913&day=2013-10-29

 

6 Ways to Grow Your LinkedIn Connections | Chappaqua Realtor

Leave a reply

Are you looking to grow your LinkedIn network?

Do you want to improve your chances of connecting with people via LinkedIn?

In this article, you’ll find six tips for successful networking that will help you avoid common mistakes that can damage your professional reputation on LinkedIn.

What’s Different About LinkedIn?

Unlike social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter that accommodate both personal and business uses, LinkedIn is a social network built strictly for business.

From the appearance of your profile to how you manage relationships, the people on LinkedIn expect professional behavior from you at all times.

As you build your network, it’s important to know what’s appropriate and what’s considered bad LinkedIn etiquette.

Here are six tips:

#1: Show People Your Business Side

You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make it count. If you use an unprofessional image for your profile photo, you may never get a chance to recover your reputation.

Your LinkedIn profile image should show you in your best professional light. Use a head shot with a clean background, a smile and a clear view of your eyes. Think of how you would present yourself at an event thronging with prospects and use an image that does the same, online.

Always use an appropriate profile image.

 

#2: Skip the Keyword-Stuffing

The first thing many people do when they receive your connection request is look at your profile. And if your profile is stuffed with repetitive or irrelevant keywords, there’s a pretty good chance that they won’t connect with you.

Too many keywords make your profile look suspect.

Yes, you must optimize your LinkedIn profile with relevant keywords so you’re found in search results, but there is a big difference between keyword-optimizing and keyword-stuffing.

Instead of using a large number of vaguely relevant words to show up in hundreds of search results, choose three or four top keywords you want to be associated with to make sure you show up in search results when people are looking for exactly what you offer.

 

 

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/successful-linkedin-networking/