Category Archives: Bedford

Rates fall on prospect of US intervention in Syria | Bedford Real Estate

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In the last 24 hours long-term rates have pulled back from the brink of panic. The first leg down came as thinking replaced short-selling: The Fed does not want to abort the mini-maybe-recovery under way. The second leg came overnight with safety buying after the U.S. announced it will intervene in Syria.

Somebody today with perfect credit and 40 percent down might get a no-point mortgage below 4 percent, but the 10-year T-note still sits at 2.11 percent, halfway between max-panic 2.27 percent and the 1.95 percent when Fed Chair Ben Bernanke scared everyone to death on May 22.

This interest rate volatility has little to do with economic data. Maybe nothing.

May retail sales crept up 0.6 percent, and industrial production was flat after two-straight monthly declines. The NFIB survey of small business had one of its best readings during the Great Recession, but not a breakout. For the time being, assume that all confidence surveys are boosted by better housing markets, although those are still not remotely sufficient to pull the economy into a normal recovery.

A lot is going on under the surface of Bernanke’s “taper.”

A term common to Fed-watching prior to the Bernanke era — “jawbone” — had been lost in his faculty-club collegial cacophony.

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/06/14/rates-fall-on-prospect-of-us-intervention-in-syria/#sthash.JfZEXG1W.dpuf

 

Rates fall on prospect of US intervention in Syria | Inman News.

Bank Crack Down Bolsters Foreclosure Inventory | Bedford NY Real Estate

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nvestors desperate for foreclosures to buy got a break in May as banks cracked down on overdue defaulters, increasing starts and repossessing homes occupied by defaulters.

The monthly increase in overall foreclosure activity was caused largely by an 11 percent month-over-month increase in bank repossessions (REOs), although REO activity was still down 29 percent from a year ago.

REO activity increased from the previous month in 33 states — including North Carolina (up 60 percent), Oregon (up 57 percent), Wisconsin (up 44 percent), Illinois (up 44 percent), Colorado (up 23 percent), and Michigan (up 19 percent). REO activity increased 9 percent from the previous month in non-judicial states and was up 13 percent from the previous month in judicial states.

Among the five lenders involved in last year’s national mortgage settlement, all but one (Citi) posted monthly increases in REO activity, indicating that temporary stoppages of foreclosure sales announced during the month by some of the lenders involved in the settlement had little lasting impact on the number of completed foreclosures for the month.

U.S. foreclosure starts increased 4 percent from the previous month but were still down 33 percent from a year ago. Foreclosure starts increased from the previous month in 26 states and were up from a year ago in 14 states, including Maryland (up 229 percent), Connecticut (up 122 percent), Hawaii (up 108 percent), Arkansas (up 84 percent), New Jersey (up 82 percent), Nevada (up 81 percent), Washington (up 53 percent), Pennsylvania (up 26 percent) and New York (up 13 percent).

 

Bank Crack Down Bolsters Foreclosure Inventory | RealEstateEconomyWatch.com.

Housing Prices Are Up, Up, Up in Southern California | Bedford Real Estate

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Housing prices nationwide are up, but in most areas we haven’t seen scary kinds of increases. It’s a different story here in Southern California, though, where home prices have risen 25 percent in the past year:

“We’re deep into uncharted territory,” DataQuick President John Walsh said, citing “razor-thin” inventory, pent-up demand, low interest rates and all-cash purchases by investors and wealthy individuals. “How this all plays out is educated guesswork at this point.”

….Extremely low inventory and mortgage rates have ignited those bidding wars and helped turn the housing market into an economic bright spot — both in the Southland and nationwide. Investors have also played a major role in the recovery that began last year, buying run-down, lower-cost properties to fix up and rent out.

Is this a bellwether for the future—and for the rest of the country? Maybe not. Richard Green, director of USC’s Lusk Center for Real Estate, thinks prices will ease later in the year for a simple reason: “Ultimately, people don’t have the income,” he says. That’s cheery news, isn’t it?

 

Housing Prices Are Up, Up, Up in Southern California | Mother Jones.

Police Seize Cache Of Fireworks From Valhalla Home, Evacuate Area | Bedford Real Estate

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A Valhalla man was arrested early Tuesday after Westchester County Police said they discovered a large cache of commercial-grade fireworks stacked floor-to-ceiling in his basement on Saldi Lane.

Police evacuated the area around the home Tuesday and closed the streets to traffic until the explosive material was removed.

Stephen Surace, 53, has been charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, first-degree reckless endangerment, a felony, and unlawfully dealing in fireworks, a misdemeanor. Surace will be arraigned in Mount Pleasant Town Court on Tuesday.

Police arrested Surace after an undercover officer bought $1,000 worth of fireworks and noticed the large cache in the basement.

“Based on the volume of material and the potential explosive hazard, the decision was made to move immediately to arrest Mr. Surace and secure the home,” Public Safety Commissioner George N. Longworth said.

Many of the fireworks were the type used in commercial fireworks displays. Officers from the Westchester County Police Hazardous Devices Unit and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were removing the fireworks from the house.

 

Police Seize Cache Of Fireworks From Valhalla Home, Evacuate Area | The White Plains Daily Voice.

Homeowner equity reaches highest level since 2008 | Bedford NY Real Estate

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Data from the Obama Administration’s May scorecard revealed continued improvement in housing, yet officials warn that a full recovery will still take more time. 

“As the May housing scorecard indicates, the Obama Administration’s policies and actions over the last four years to speed housing recovery are continuing to show important signs of progress,” said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs Kurt Usowski. 

He added, “In the first quarter of 2013, homeowners’ equity grew by more than $815 billion, reaching its highest level since the first quarter of 2008.” 

Annual home prices increased to the highest level since the housing bubble burst in mid-2006, with the S&P Case-Shillerhome price index up from 146.6 in March to 148.7 in April. Year-over-year the index is up from 134.1 in April 2012.

 

 

Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor » Blog Archive » Homeowner equity reaches highest level since 2008 | Bedford NY Real Estate.

Homeowner equity reaches highest level since 2008 | Bedford NY Real Estate

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Data from the Obama Administration’s May scorecard revealed continued improvement in housing, yet officials warn that a full recovery will still take more time. 

“As the May housing scorecard indicates, the Obama Administration’s policies and actions over the last four years to speed housing recovery are continuing to show important signs of progress,” said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs Kurt Usowski. 

He added, “In the first quarter of 2013, homeowners’ equity grew by more than $815 billion, reaching its highest level since the first quarter of 2008.” 

Annual home prices increased to the highest level since the housing bubble burst in mid-2006, with the S&P Case-Shillerhome price index up from 146.6 in March to 148.7 in April. Year-over-year the index is up from 134.1 in April 2012.

 

Homeowner equity reaches highest level since 2008 | HousingWire.

Rise in interest rates hard to square with data | Bedford NY Real Estate

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Early this week a spate of poor data started a bond and mortgage rally, but stopped cold today on a very ordinary employment report for May. Ten-year Treasury notes have traded back up to the 2.15 percent high of 2013, mortgages solidly above 4 percent. If the credit markets are going to read news this way, rates are still vulnerable on the upside.

On Monday, the Institute for Supply Management reported that the May manufacturing index tanked to 49 versus the tepid 51 expected, and a drop below 50 has been good for bonds every time since these surveys began in the early 1970s. The ISM has weakened steadily since January 2011. Today’s employment data: 175,000 net-new jobs in May, but hourly earnings and hours at work were flat.

The rise in rates is hard to square with the data. The Fed will pull back from bond buying at some point, but not now, and not soon in a meaningful way. It may reduce its purchases, but they are rising relative to bonds in the market: Treasury borrowing has fallen in half in 18 months, and mortgages outstanding have fallen for six years.

During any Fed exit, a QE-castaway market may be unwilling to buy at today’s yields. Or it may be unable — overregulated and capital-crimped, still trying to shrink.

We have other data on the state of the recovery: the Fed’s Z-1 (renamed now “Financial Accounts”) and FHFA home prices for the first quarter.

Z-1 shows a remarkable rebound in U.S. household net worth, up $3 trillion in 90 days and at $70 trillion surpassing the 2007 peak. A stock market run will do that, puffing pension and life reserves, nonprofits, and retirement funds included in “households,” but not felt in wallets, not necessarily permanent, and just back where net worth had been.

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/06/07/rise-in-interest-rates-hard-to-square-with-data/#sthash.p6ADRjLu.dpuf

 

 

Rise in interest rates hard to square with data | Inman News.

What To Do This Weekend In And Around Bedford | Bedford Real Estate

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CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. – Wondering what’s going on this weekend in and around Chappaqua, Mt. Kisco, Bedford or Armonk? The Daily Voice has your back! Here are some events set to take place this weekend around your town. For a more extensive listing, please visit our Events page.

Friday, June 7

Art Exhibit: Photographs from Robert Pincus will be shown all day in the Mount Kisco Public Library. 100 East Main Street, Mount Kisco.

Game Club: 3 p.m. Middle and high school students are welcome to play board games. North Castle Public Library, 19 Whippoorwill Road East, Armonk.

Movies in Millwood Park: 8:30 p.m. The first annual Movies in Millwood Park will begin with “Happy Feet” under the stars next to Rocky’s deli. 235 Saw Mill River Road.

Katonah Fire Department Carnival: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets: $1.25 each; 22 tickets for $25; 36 tickets for $40 Kiddie rides 2 tickets, all other rides 3 tickets. Sat. June 8th ride all afternoon for $22 from 1-5 pm.

Chappaqua Library Fabulous Used Book Sale: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friends of the Chappaqua Library will hold its annual used book sale in the Chappaqua Library Theater. 195 South Greeley Avenue.

Saturday, June 8

Art Exhibit: Photographs from Robert Pincus will be shown all day in the Mount Kisco Public Library. 100 East Main Street, Mount Kisco.

Learn Tai Chi in 2013: 10:30 a.m. Make tai chi your new hobby in 2013 at the North Castle Public Library with certified Feldenkrais movement and tai chi instructor Lawrence Attile. 19 Whippoorwill Road East, Armonk.

Chappaqua Farmers Market Outdoor Season: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  The Chappaqua Farmers Market welcomes shoppers for their third season with new offerings.  The market’s spring/summer season takes place outdoors at the Chappaqua train station.

Chappaqua Library Fabulous Used Book Sale: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friends of the Chappaqua Library will hold its annual used book sale in the Chappaqua Library Theater. 195 South Greeley Avenue.

Katonah Fire Department Carnival: 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets: $1.25 each; 22 tickets for $25; 36 tickets for $40 Kiddie rides 2 tickets, all other rides 3 tickets. Sat. June 8th ride all afternoon for $22 from 1-5 pm.

Sunday, June 9

Learn and Play Mah Jongg: 1 to 2:30 p.m. For those who don’t know how to play Mah Jongg – or don’t even know what it is – this is your chance to find out. Downstairs Children’s Room in the North Castle Public Library, 19 Whippoorwill Road E., Armonk.

Chappaqua Library Fabulous Used Book Sale: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friends of the Chappaqua Library will hold its annual used book sale in the Chappaqua Library Theater. All remaining books on Sunday are FREE. 195 South Greeley Avenue.

 

What To Do This Weekend In And Around Bedford | The Bedford Daily Voice.

Social Media is Key to B2B Content Marketing | Bedford Realtor

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91% of B2B marketers now use social media as a content marketing tool.

social media is key to b2b content marketing Social Media is Key to B2B Content Marketing [Report]B2B marketers are distributing their content on social networks more than ever before. A recent study conducted by the Content Marketing Institute and Marketing Profs confirms that content marketing remains a top priority for  B2B marketers, with the vast majority leveraging the practice as part of their marketing strategy. But many are uncertain about how to successfully employ the many tactics available to them.

Content marketing is the art of communicating with your customers and prospects without selling. It is non-interruptive — instead of directly advertising your products or services, you are communicating with your target audience by sharing valuable, free information. The core of this content strategy is the belief that buyers will be driven to do business with you if you provide valuable information to them on an ongoing basis.

If you have a website, a blog, or maintain a presence on Facebook, Twitter, or other social networks, you are a publisher. You need to think like one, and build a digital content marketing strategy that leverages what you create — blog posts, website articles, images, and multimedia like videos, slideshows, and infographics — to enhance consumer engagement and conversion rates.

This is the first in a series of posts about how to use content to market online and via social media. As an introduction to this topic, here are some interesting statistics from the 2013 B2B Content Marketing Benchmarks, Budgets and Trends – North America:

 

 

Social Media is Key to B2B Content Marketing [Report] | Pamorama | Social Media Marketing Blog.

How homeowner insurance rates have spiked | Bedford NY Real Estate

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Nationwide, an average homeowner paid $909 for homeowner insurance coverage in 2010, up 36 percent from 2003. Inflation rose 19 percent during the same period. Here’s a look at what homeowners in states bordering the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico paid, ranked by percentage change since 2003. The totals do not include flood insurance, which is sold separately under a federal program.

1. Florida: $1,544, up 90.6 percent(asterisk).

2. Rhode Island: $1,092, up 62.3 percent.

3. Louisiana: $1,546, up 58.6 percent.

4. Massachusetts: $1,050, up 56.5 percent.

5. Alabama: $1,050, up 54.2 percent.

6. Mississippi: $1,217, up 53.5 percent.

7. South Carolina: $997, up 48.4 percent.

8. New Jersey: $867, up 48.2 percent.

9. Connecticut: $1,052, up 47.3 percent.

10. New Hampshire: $791, up 46.8 percent.

11. Maine: $676, up 46.3 percent.

12. Georgia: $833, up 46.1 percent.

13. New York: $1,044, up 44.8 percent.

14. Delaware: $636, up 43.9 percent.

15. Virginia: $753, up 34.5 percent.

16. Maryland: $784, up 34.3 percent.

17. North Carolina: $757, up 31.4 percent.

18. Texas: $1,560, up 17.5 percent(asterisk).

 

How homeowner insurance rates have spiked – Yahoo! News.