Category Archives: Westchester NY

New homes selling at slowest pace in seven months | Chappaqua Real Estate

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Sales of new single-family homes dropped in June to the slowest pace in seven months, according to data released Friday that signaled a hiccup for the market.

The annual sales pace for new single-family homes in the U.S. fell 6.8% last month to 482,000, with drops in three of four regions, the U.S. Commerce Department. Only the Northeast saw the sales pace rise.

Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected a June sales rate of 550,000, compared with an original May estimate of 546,000. On Friday the government revised May’s rate to 517,000.
While June’s result is disappointing, economists caution over reading too much into a single monthly report. A confidence interval of plus-or-minus 12.5% for June’s drop of 6.8% shows that the government isn’t sure whether the sales pace rose or fell last month.

Trends signal improvement, with June’s sales pace up 18.1% from a year earlier.

“Even the disappointing June reading still represents progress over a longer time horizon,” said Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Amherst Pierpont Securities. “I view today’s reading for the typically volatile new home sales data as statistical noise.”

The median price of new homes fell to $281,800 in June, down 1.8% from a year earlier.

Recent new-home sales and building rates remain far below long-term averages. But a strong jobs market is expected to support rising home sales by helping more families afford ownership. Earlier this week, mortgage-finance giant Fannie Mae raised its 2015 expectations for U.S. home sales, upping its forecast for new and used homes. A mortgage-industry group also cranked up its forecast this week, raising its expectations for mortgage originations.

Elsewhere in the housing market, a recent report on existing homes, which make up the bulk of the residential-sales market, showed strong growth for June. However, economists warned about getting too excited over that flurry of activity, noting that some of the recent buying growth may reflect buyers rushing to lock in mortgage rates before they rise further.

 

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http://www.marketwatch.com/story/new-homes-selling-at-slowest-pace-in-seven-months-2015-07-24

Housing Construction Trends Heat Up in June | North Salem Real Estate

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Total housing starts expanded 9.8% month over month in June, reaching a 1.174 million annual starts pace, which was led by a surge in multifamily development.

Single-family starts were effectively flat, recording a 0.9% monthly decline to a 685,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate but were up 14.7% year over year. As measured on a three-month moving average, the pace of single-family starts hit a post-recession high in June. Looking forward, single-family permits were up 0.9% for June and 6% year-over-year, reaching a 687,000 annual rate. Regionally, single-family starts were up 6.8% for the month in the South, but down 27.3% in the Northeast, 7.1% in the West, and 4% in the Midwest.

Pointing to future growth, the July NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index reached 60 in July, which is the highest level since November 2005. Two of its three components also rose to levels last seen in late 2005. The index of current sales rose one point from the June level to 66, the highest in 10 years. The index for expected sales rose two points from June’s 69 to 71, also the highest in almost 10 years. The index for traffic fell one point to 43 from the six-month high in June of 44.

And more good news from June: The National Association of Realtors measure of existing home salesexisting home sales increased 3.2%, reaching the highest level since February 2007. Given that most new home sales are to move-up buyers, a rise in the volume of existing sales bodes well for additional single-family construction. Inventory of resale homes continues to be limited, falling to a five-month supply in June as the current sales rate.

However, the standout of the June housing starts report was multifamily construction, which for units in buildings with five or more units climbed to a 476,000 annual rate with a 28.6% monthly growth rate. Permits also expanded greatly, jumping 16.1% to a 621,000 annual rate. NAHB expects this level of apartment development to cool in the coming months.

On the supply side of the market, the most recent Producer Price Index data from the BLS revealed a small increase for wood products in June after trending down for the start of 2015. Softwood lumber prices rose 1% for the month but are down 9.1% from a recent high in September 2014. Prices for OSB rose 2.4% in June after a 20.4% slide that followed the collapse in prices that ended in July 2013. Gypsum prices slipped 1.5% in June after being flat in May, increasing to 5.3% the retreat from a February peak.

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http://eyeonhousing.org/2015/07/eye-on-the-economy-housing-construction-trends-heat-up-in-june/

Mortgage Rates at 4.04% survey says | Armonk Real Estate

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Freddie Mac  today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing fixed mortgage rates reversing course once again and moving lower amid mixed economic and housing data.

News Facts

  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.04 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending July 23, 2015, down from last week when it averaged 4.09 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.13 percent.
  • 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.21 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.25 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.26 percent.
  • 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.54 percent this week with an average 0.3 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.50 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.39 percent.

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following links for theRegional and National Mortgage Rate Details and Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.

Quote
Attributed to Sean Becketti, chief economist, Freddie Mac.

“U.S. Treasury yields dropped following announcements that many blue chip companies’ earnings failed to meet expectations. This drove the 30-year fixed rate mortgage down 5 basis points to 4.04 percent this week. Housing continues to be the bright spot in the economic recovery. Existing home sales beat market expectations coming in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.49 million homes. This is up 9.6 percent from a year ago and the fastest pace since 2007. Also, housing starts jumped 9.8 percent responding to strong demand in the multifamily market.”

Sales of used homes rose 3.2% in June | Waccabuc Real Estate

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Existing homes sold in June at the fastest pace in more than eight years, and the median sales price hit a record, according to data released Wednesday.

Sales of existing homes rose 3.2% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.49 million, the fastest pace since February 2007, the National Association of Realtors reported. Meanwhile, the median sales price rose 6.5% over the past year to a record of $236,400.

Some buyers may be rushing to lock in mortgage rates before they rise further, according to NAR. There’s also a “solid foundation” for more home sales, given healthy jobs growth, said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.
Economists polled by MarketWatch had forecast a sales rate of 5.42 million for June, compared with an original May estimate of 5.35 million. On Wednesday NAR revised May’s pace to 5.32 million.

Wednesday’s report gives markets a look at how buying activity is faring during this year’s hot home-selling season. The sales pace is down about 24% from a bubble peak.

While the growing economy and jobs market, as well as still-relatively-low mortgage rates, are supporting sales, there are also challenges facing the housing sector. Lenders have strict credit standards, erected in the wake in the financial meltdown, looking to protect themselves from the financial and legal risks attached to making loans that end up going bad. Also, while the U.S. housing market as a whole is growing stronger, there are still pools of deeply distress borrowers in the country.

Elsewhere in the housing market, there are signs of uneven improvement. Recent government data showed that new home building sprang higher last month, but the gains were lopsided, led by apartment building. Construction starts in buildings with at least five units made up 41% of total new home construction in June — the largest share in 42 years.

 

 

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http://www.marketwatch.com/story/existing-homes-sell-at-fastest-pace-in-more-than-eight-years-2015-07-22

1910-1963 The destruction of Penn Station | Bedford Hills Real Estate

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C. 1910

IMAGE: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Penn Station did not make you feel comfortable; it made you feel important.
HILARY BALLON, ART HISTORIAN

In 1910, when New York City transportation terminal Pennsylvania Station opened, it was widely praised for its majestic architecture. Designed in the Beaux-Arts style, it featured pink granite construction and a stately colonnade on the exterior.

The main waiting room, inspired by the Roman Baths of Caracalla, was the largest indoor space in the city — a block and a half long with vaulted glass windows soaring 150 feet over a sun-drenched chamber. Beyond that, trains emerged from bedrock to deposit passengers on a concourse lit by an arching glass and steel greenhouse roof.

This may sound unfamiliar for present-day residents of New York City, who know Penn Station as a miserable subterranean labyrinth.

Though the original Penn Station served 100 million passengers a year at its peak in 1945, by the late 1950s the advent of affordable air travel and the Interstate Highway System had cut into train use. The Pennsylvania Railroad could not even afford to keep the station clean.

1911

IMAGE: GEO. P. HALL & SON/THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY/GETTY IMAGES

1911

IMAGE: GEO. P. HALL & SON/THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY/GETTY IMAGES

In 1962 plans were revealed to demolish the terminal and build entertainment venue Madison Square Garden on top of it. The new train station would be entirely underground and boast amenities such as air-conditioning and fluorescent lighting.

Vocal backlash and protests ensued, but the plan moved forward and Penn Station was demolished.

The outrage was a major catalyst for the architectural preservation movement in the United States. In 1965, the New York Landmarks Law was passed, which helped save the iconic Grand Central Terminal and more than 30,000 other buildings from similar fates. 2015 marks its 50th anniversary.

Since the demolition of the old Penn Station, train ridership has grown tenfold. The new station, a tangle of subway lines and commuter rail, is the busiest terminal in the country and bursting at the seams. Plans are currently underway to renovate and expand the station, and restore a modicum of its original glory.

1911

IMAGE: GEO. P. HALL & SON/THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY/GETTY IMAGES

1910

IMAGE: DETROIT PUBLISHING COMPANY/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

It is a poor society indeed that has no money for anything except expressways to rush people out of our dull and deteriorating cities
ADA LOUISE HUXTABLE, NEW YORK TIMES ARCHITECTURE CRITIC

1911

IMAGE: GEO. P. HALL & SON/THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY/GETTY IMAGES

1911

IMAGE: GEO. P. HALL & SON/THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY/GETTY IMAGES

c. 1925

IMAGE: EWING GALLOWAY/GENERAL PHOTOGRAPHIC AGENCY/GETTY IMAGES

c. 1950

IMAGE: HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES

1942

IMAGE: MARJORY COLLINS/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

1942

IMAGE: MARJORY COLLINS/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

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http://mashable.com/2015/07/20/original-penn-station/

America’s Most Violent (and Most Peaceful) States | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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While violent crime rates in the country have fallen steadily over the past several decades, the United States is still one of the less peaceful nations in the world. According to the Global Peace Index 2015 report, the United States ranked 94th out of 162 countries. However, the peacefulness of American communities varies considerably within states.
Following the example of the Peace Index, 24/7 Wall St. generated an index to rank the peacefulness of each state in the nation. States with high violent crime and homicide rates, as well as high estimated small arms ownership and high incarceration rates were identified as less peaceful, while states with lower incidence of these factors were more peaceful. According to our index, Maine is the most peaceful state, while Louisiana is the least peaceful.

Click here to see the least peaceful states in America.

Click here to see the most peaceful states in America.

In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., Aubrey Fox, executive director of the U.S. office at the Institute of Economics and Peace, said, “A perfectly peaceful place would be a place where there is no violence and no fear of violence.” He explained this would be a place with no crime, no police spending, a strong government, and a healthy economy.

According to Fox, one of the largest drags on peacefulness in the country and in individual states has been the high levels of homicide and incarceration. Only three of the 10 least peaceful states had incarceration rates that did not exceed the national rate of 498.1 per 100,000 Americans. In all of the most peaceful states, incarceration rates were well below the national figure.

5 Drivers of Peace

Less peaceful states needed to have relatively large police forces. The ratio of law enforcement employees to state residents exceeded the national proportion of 285.5 law enforcement workers per 100,000 Americans in eight of the 10 least peaceful states, while all of the most peaceful states had proportionately small police forces.

There are two ways to look at the relationship between peace and enforcement, Fox explained. While the perfectly peaceful community would have zero police officers, communities need to invest in policing to deal with local threats and lower crime. However, “There is typically a point at which you get less return on your investment,” Fox said.

Fox gave an example of a community with crime at a 50-year low, but where police are spending seven times as much to keep it that way. “We really need to ask how much of a lost opportunity cost is that?” Fox argued. In fact, U.S. crime levels are at their lowest level since 1972. Police spending was far lower at that time, however, according to Fox.

The connection is far from well-understood, however. Crime continued to drop in the U.S. during the most recent economic downturn, for example. During the downturn, police spending fell dramatically.

Still, economic costs add up the less peaceful a community becomes, and poor socioeconomic climates can lead to less peacefulness. “Being poor or having less access to resources does put you on a path that is less peaceful,” Fox said.

The manner in which these factors lead to violence, however, is very difficult to establish empirically. John Roman, senior fellow at the Urban Institute, an economic and social policy think tank, said, “The biggest predictor of whether there’s violence is dense clusters of unskilled young men.” He went on to explain that poor socioeconomic factors such as low educational attainment, high poverty rates, and high unemployment all lead to more violence by contributing to higher numbers of unskilled young males.

Read more: America’s Most Violent (and Most Peaceful) States – 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/special-report/2015/07/15/americas-most-violent-and-most-peaceful-states/#ixzz3gRvMfKQT

Peek Inside the Rembrandt’s Former House | Bedford Corners Homes

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As far as famous artists go, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, born July 15, 1606, has to be among the most celebrated and well-known. He’s most revered for his oil-on-canvas paintings and his etchings completed during the Dutch golden age of painting in the 17th century. This period saw several Dutch artists practicing in a style of detailed realism.

A big chunk of Rembrandt’s work, including several famous self-portraits and arguably his most famous painting ever, The Night Watch (1642), was created over two decades while he lived in a central Amsterdam house. In celebration of the renowned master’s birthday, more than four centuries ago today, here’s a look at his former home.

Rembrandt's House
In 1639, Rembrandt and his wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh, moved into a remodeled house in Amsterdam for which they paid 13,000 guilders, about $7,200 in today’s money, a huge sum at the time.

The home, which is now the Rembrandt House Museum, seen here, had been drastically remodeled in 1627 and 1628. During the remodel, the home gained a story, a new facade and a triangular corniced pediment — a feature that was the height of modernity at the time, according to the Rembrandt House Museum website. The museum says the remodel was probably spearheaded by Jacob van Campen, who later was the architect for Amsterdam’s town hall, now the Royal Palace, on Dam Square.

Rembrandt's House
But the homeowner experience wasn’t kind to Rembrandt. Despite his sizable income, he couldn’t keep up with his mortgage payments, which eventually led to his bankruptcy, according to the museum. And it wasn’t just the mortgage payments. Rembrandt had fine tastes and reportedly spent more than he was bringing in.

During this time, he had a habit of buying old-master paintings and drawings, busts of Roman emperors and suits of Japanese armor, and built up a large collection of antiquities.

Rembrandt's House
In 1656 the home was basically foreclosed on, and it and Rembrandt’s possessions, including his art collection, were sold off by his creditors. He then rented a small house until his death in 1669.
Rembrandt's House
Between 1658 and 1911 the house was split in two and altered, according to the museum. The city of Amsterdam bought the dilapidated house, which would have been torn down had Rembrandt not famously lived there. A foundation took control in 1907.
Celebrate Rembrandt's Birthday With a Peek Inside HIs Former House
One has to wonder, amid all the stress of owning a house and getting behind on payments, what this home meant to Rembrandt as a place of creativity, safety and nourishment, and how it might have influenced his work, for better or worse.

In the self-portrait shown here, which Rembrandt painted in 1640 shortly after moving into the house, he looks rather calm and confident, with perhaps just a hint of worry on his brow.

Celebrate Rembrandt's Birthday With a Peek Inside HIs Former House
Just a few years after going bankrupt and losing his house, now living in a small rental home, he painted this self-portrait in 1659. To me he looks considerably aged, not just by time but by stress and perhaps even considerable loss.
Rembrandt's House
A restoration of Rembrandt’s home was completed in 1911, though it looked nothing like when the Dutch painter lived there. In 1998 and ’99, the home was restored to look as it did during Rembrandt’s time there. The result of this meticulous restoration — headed by building historian Henk Zantkuijl, an expert in 17th-century houses — is seen in these photos. Ironically, Rembrandt’s bankruptcy inventory played a big role in aiding Zantkuijl’s restoration.
read more….
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/51495260?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u1519&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery7

Message from Bedford Town Supervisor | Bedford NY Real Estate

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Public Hearings on July 7, 2015
The following public hearings have been scheduled for July 7, 2015 at the Court Room in the Town House at 321 Bedford Road
Time
Topic
7:20 PM
Amendment to Zoning Code related to hamlet business districts
7:50 PM
Amendment to the sign ordinance
7:10 PM
Local law to implement Community Choice Aggregation
State Roads – Good News on Route 172
I heard back from the Executive Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation that DOT state funds have been re-allocated to provide for the 172 project. It would entail both drainage work and paving of Route 172 the entire distance from the Village Green through Route 137 in Pound Ridge. The DOT might begin the drainage work in the fall with the milling and paving to be done in Spring 2016 – otherwise the entire job would be 2016. We wish to thank the community for its patience and its support with many calling the DOT to emphasize on the need for the work. In the interim DOT promises to repair potholes and make safe Route 172 and Route 22 (we’re still working on getting it paved).
Working on Securing Paving for I-684
Literally thousands of Bedford residents are affected by the road noise from I-684 which has increased over the years with heavier traffic. Residents are petitioning the Governor, the DOT, our Congressman and our State Legislators. Our thanks to Bedford resident Mara Glassel, who has been organizing residents, and bringing new energy to the effort (which goes back literally
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for 20 years or more). Her petition, which you can access at www.change.org, then enter into search field “684” reads as follows:
1.
Efforts have been made all over Westchester County and NY State to reduce noise pollution, while Bedford and Katonah have been ignored.
2.
Increasing the speed limit to 65 mph and ever increasing truck traffic has increased the road noise substantially over the last few years.
3.
Neighbors are measuring noise levels as high as 85 dBs – which has been medically proven harmful – both physically and mentally.
4.
I684 has been neglected for decades and needs to be repaved for safety reasons.
5.
Funds are being appropriated to neighboring towns (i.e. exit 8) – while residents off of exits 4 – 6 continue to be treated unfairly.
Assemblyman David Buchwald is working with Ms. Glassel, the Town and DOT to try to advance these efforts.
Update on Bedford Village Parking
The Town Board of the Town of Bedford is moving forward with its plans to provide additional municipal parking in Bedford Village. Evans Associates, a consultancy firm for the Town for over 25 years, will present at the Town Board’s July 7 meeting a proposal to conduct an engineering/wetlands study to determine how best to maximize parking on property to be leased from the Presbyterian Church. There also may be the possibility of additional spaces at the rear of the Bedford Playhouse building. Both the Church and the owners of the Bedford Playhouse building have advised the Town of its support for these efforts. Assuming Town Board approval, the Town would pay the cost of the Evan Associates’ work as well as for the construction of the parking. In developing the plans and implementing them, the Town will seek the input of the community and obtain all approvals, which at the town level would include the Bedford Village Historic District Review Commission and the Wetlands Control Commission. The intention is to ensure that parking is in place in 2016 for use by patrons of existing stores and businesses as well as the Bedford Playhouse (renovation work is anticipated to be completed mid 2016).
Update on Parking – Town Wide
We are working with the community to improve parking enforcement (and therefore turnover of parking spaces), maximize parking availability and otherwise relieve insufficient parking in our hamlets. Police Chief Melvin Padilla and Comptroller Ed Ritter (who heads the Parking Bureau) will be discussing plans with the Town Board at the Board’s July 7 meeting.
Local Law Implementing Community Choice Aggregation
The Town Board has scheduled a public hearing on a proposed local law to enable the Town to participate in a community choice aggregation (CCA) program offered by Sustainable Westchester, Inc., (SW) a not-for-profit organization now comprised of over forty municipalities in Westchester County, including the Town of Bedford. Simply put, CCA enables Bedford to offer for its residents and small business lower energy costs – all on a voluntary basis. The Town would enter into an agreement to participate in SW’s program for its residents and business consumers who are not currently purchasing electricity from an energy service
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company, but only if the prices are lower. The Town also will undertake to inform residents about the CCA program; and that any customer at any time may “opt out” of the program. CCA has been a success in other states and Bedford is among several Westchester communities going forward with the program.
Community Organizations Take Note – Town Co-Sponsorship of Community Events
Following Town Board action at its June 16 meeting, Town Clerk Boo Fumagalli has prepared an application form, at the Town Board’s request, for community organizations requesting Town co-sponsorship of community events. This means that there may be the possibility of the Town Board relieving the organization from a portion of overtime expenses for Town personnel (e.g., police and public works) assisting with the event. Please note that funds are limited and Town co-sponsorship is subject to Town Board approval. The application form and the guidelines which the Board adopted are available from the Clerk’s office. The Clerk will review applications as received for completeness and compliance with the guidelines and forward them to the Town Board for action. You can contact the Clerk at 666-4534 or by e-mail at clerk at townclerk@bedfordny.gov.
Internship Opportunity
For all rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors as well as college level students: I am currently scheduling interviews for an unpaid summer intern position. The duties of the intern include preparing and managing the weekly community calendar and writing, proofing, and researching various topics. There may be a couple of weeknights to help with our Supervisor and Town Board events in the Parks. Hours are flexible. If interested in this opportunity, please email the Supervisor at Supervisor@BedfordNY.gov or call 914-666-6350. Please submit your resume and hours of availability.
Comptroller’s Report
Comptroller Ed Ritter reported on June 16 as follows:
We will be running the June 15th payroll in both the KVS and Springbrook payroll systems for a parallel view and reconciliation. If this goes well we will be live in Springbrook for the July 6th payroll. Once the payroll portion is running well the Finance office will begin the conversion of the financial data from KVS to the Springbrook product.
Summer employees have started to arrive and are being added into payroll. As summer approaches our payroll increases to over 400 people.
More data has become available as to what we are required to do to be in compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). I have scheduled a presentation on June 22nd by CPI-HR Inc. who will discuss and demonstrate all the requirements we must be aware of. This will be held in the court room at 321 Bedford Road at 1:00 pm.
REVENUE AREAS OF NOTE
Mortgage Tax has actual data from October through May 2015. The actual percentage over 2014 is a 11.59% decrease. This amount has been used as a basis for projecting the remainder of the year (through September). Mortgage tax is projected to be $1,011,445, which is $14,445 over budget.
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Sales Tax has actual data from January through April 2015. County sales tax shows a 2.44% decrease over 2014. This revenue is projected to be $2,462,546 which is $62,546 over our budget of $2,400,000.
Parking has actual data from January through April 2015. The actual percentage over 2014 is a 3.32% increase. Revenue to date is $99,857 which is an increase of $3,212 from last year at this time. The revenue for the year is projected to be $931,923 which is $1,923 over budget.
Fines and forfeited bail has actual data for January through April 2015. Revenue is $208,000 which is $27,768 under last year’s revenue at this time. The revenue is projected to be $770,850 which is $120,850 over budget.
Safety Inspection Fees has actual data for January through May 2015. Revenue is $366,278 which is 14,419 over last year’s revenue at this time. This revenue is projected to be $754,236 which is $14,236 over budget.
EXPENDITURES: 2015 expenditures are within budget limits at this time
Please note that more information, including analysis, is available through the Comptroller’s office – 666-8283
Proposed Septic System Repair & Replacement Fund Advances
Bedford’s proposal to create a $3.5 million septic system repair and replacement fund for Bedford properties within the New York City watershed is wending its way through the approval process, which we are hopeful will be concluded in the next couple of months. If established, the program would provide up to 50% of approved eligible expenses for construction of repair remediation or replacement of a septic system, as well as design engineering costs not to exceed 20% of total construction costs. An enhanced treatment unit (utilizing more advanced technology) would be permitted, provided the County Board of Health and, if applicable, DEC and DEP, approves it. As mentioned previously, two of the Town’s hamlet centers, Bedford Hills and Katonah, are located in the Croton Watershed, with Katonah’s commercial district immediately adjoining the reservoir. We believe that it is important to balance continued protection of the reservoir system with the economic vitality of these central business areas and their surrounding residential neighborhoods.
The Westchester County Planning Department has been working on a legislative proposal, including an Intermunicipal Agreement between the County and the Town, for submission to the Westchester County Board of Legislators to consider, as the BOL must approve the funding request.
Filling Vacancies in Town Elected Positions
At our June 16 meeting, the Town Board adopted a local law to provide for a special election to fill vacancies in the position of Supervisor, Councilman or Town Clerk which would provide that if the Town Board does not fill the vacancy by appointment within 45 days of the vacancy, then a special election must be held within 60 to 90 days. Summer elections or an election within a short time before a general election would be avoided.
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Other Town Board Action Taken
Also at the June 16 meeting, the Town Board appointed Mel Padilla to the position of Chief (it previously was provisional subject to his passing the Chief’s examination – which he did); accepted the proposal of Lothrup Associates for architectural services and construction management for renovations and additions to the police station; enacted an amendment to the Historic Building Preservation Law to allow the Historic Building Preservation Commission to waive public hearing requirements under certain circumstances so as to expedite action on applications; and scheduled the July 7 public hearings mentioned above. The Board also appointed Matthew A. Iacona as a police officer filling a vacancy. I also provided an update on plans for increasing public parking in Bedford Village (Evans Associates will present a consultancy proposal at the July 7 meeting).
Reminder: Emergency Information from NYSEG and Con Edison
Con Edison notified us that you now can text Con Edison about power outages. Here’s the message they sent us:
“Prefer texting? No problem. Sign up by texting REG to OUTAGE (688243) and we’ll text instead of calling.
But don’t wait for us to contact you. The sooner we know about a power problem, the sooner we can respond. Reach us at conEd.com, by texting OUT to OUTAGE after you sign up for texting, with our My conEdison app for Droid and Apple devices, or by calling 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633).”
Both NYSEG and Con Edison encourage customers with special needs to enroll in special services for them.
“NYSEG is committed to providing their customers with safe, reliable energy delivery. They also offer many services for special need customers, including:

Special Identification for households where everyone is elderly, blind or disabled

Large print, sight-saver Bills for visually-impaired customers

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) grants

NYSEG’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP)

Project SHARE emergency energy assistance program
If you or someone in your household relies on life-sustaining equipment, you should contact NYSEG immediately!
How to call NYSEG:
Electricity interruptions or emergencies: 1.800.572.1131 (24 hours a day, every day)
Customer relations center: 1.800.572.1111
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Payment arrangements: 1.888.315.1755
Hearing and speech-impaired: Dial 711 (New York Relay Service)”
“Message from Con Edison: Customer Central Special Services
Safety for Special Customers:
It is important that we have a record of everyone who uses electrically operated life-support equipment or has medical hardships so we can contact them in an emergency. To learn more and complete the survey, please visit the link below. You can also let us know by calling 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). Con Edison customers can enroll for this service by visiting www.conEd.com, clicking on Customer Central, and then the “special services” link. You will need your account number. To keep our records current, each year we send a letter asking you to recertify.
http://www.coned.com/customercentral/specialservices.asp
Customers with Special Needs:
We recognize that senior citizens and people with disabilities need special attention. That’s why we offer a variety of services and billing and payment options that make life a little bit easier for the elderly, visually or hearing-impaired, or customers with permanent disabilities. Please visit the link below to view the Customers With Special Needs brochure.
http://www.coned.com/customercentral/specialservices.asp”
I ask you to please send me an e-mail at supervisor@bedfordny.gov should you have any questions or comments on this report or any of our work on the Town Board.
Chris Burdick
Town Supervisor

Single-family housing starts down in June | Chappaqua Real Estate

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Privately-owned housing starts in June were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,174,000, up 9.8% (±19.9%) above the revised May estimate of 1,069,000 and is 26.6% (±19.6%) above the June 2014 rate of 927,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Most of the gains in starts and permits were in multifamily, not single-family contruction.

But the problem is single-family housing starts in June were at a rate of 685,000, 0.9% (±11.5%) below the revised May figure of 691,000. The June rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 476,000.

“While the rise in housing starts was driven by an uptick in multifamily housing, there are positive signs looming for the single-family housing market,” said Bill Banfield, vice president at Quicken Loans. “Homebuilder confidence is at its highest level in almost a decade and the number of first-time homebuyers looking to enter the market is increasing – making programs like FHA even more vital to support continued growth.”

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in June were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,343,000. This is 7.4 % (±1.2%) above the revised May rate of 1,250,000 and is 30.0 % (±2.3%) above the June 2014 estimate of 1,033,000.

“Housing construction has nearly returned to pre-recessionary levels, as builders ramped up activity on multi-family projects including condos and co-ops,” saidStifel Chief Economist Lindsey Piegza. “While builders and lenders benefit regardless of the type of construction, the economic benefit, however, is significantly greater from single family construction as opposed to multi-family units, particularly rental properties; single family housing activity results in additional spending and borrowing power as a result of equity building which is not necessarily present in multi-family properties.

“The housing market continues to take steps in the right direction, however, growth remains far from robust; as we have seen in the recent decline in retail sales, consumers continue to struggle to afford purchases – particularly large ticket items – amid stagnant income growth,” she said. “Still, with the threat of rising rates on the near horizon, some homeowners are jumping in to lock in low rates. As we saw during the taper tantrum of 2013, despite a still-sluggish ability to finance a home purchase, many potential homeowners are willing to jump into the market sooner than later if it means avoiding a significantly higher mortgage rate.”

Single-family authorizations in June were at a rate of 687,000; this is 0.9 % (±1.1%) above the revised May figure of 681,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 621,000 in June.

 

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Single-family housing starts down in June

Bidding wars return to home market | Armonk Real Estate

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Christina and Kevin Dirks have been searching for a house in the Denver area for four months at prices up to $275,000. They made offers on six homes—and were outbid on each one.

“When we first started looking, you had to pay $10,000 over” list price to win the bidding, Ms. Dirks said. “Then, as the weeks went by, it went up to $20,000. And now it’s up to $30,000 and $40,000.”

Ms. Dirks, a 28-year-old office coordinator, said she and her husband, a 30-year-old merchandiser, hope that as the market slows down this winter, “people will put a halt on being so crazy.”

Bidding wars, a hallmark of last decade’s housing boom, are making a comeback in a number of metro areas across the U.S. But while the earlier wars reflected enthusiasm fueled by easy-money mortgages, the current froth stems from a market short of homes for sale.

The reasons for the scant supply are myriad, including a much-slower-than-expected recovery in home construction. Yet an equally significant problem is that millions of people aren’t listing their homes for sale because they suspect they can’t qualify for a new mortgage, can’t afford the costs associated with a sale or fear that they won’t prevail in the scrum for the few houses available.

At the end of May, there were 2.3 million existing U.S. homes for sale, enough supply to last 5.1 months at the current sales pace. That is below the six to seven months of supply that the National Association of Realtors says is needed for a balanced market.

But in more than one-third of the 300 largest metropolitan areas tracked by Realtor.com, homes listed for sale in June had been on the market for a median of less than two months. A low median figure indicates rapid turnover in inventory as demand for homes exceeds supply.

Those include big markets like San Francisco, with a median time on market of 27 days, and Dallas at 38 days, as well as smaller markets like Vallejo, Calif., at 26 days and Kennewick, Wash., at 36 days.

The tightest market in June was Santa Rosa, Calif., a relatively affordable Bay Area suburb, where the median time a home was on the market was 24 days.

In those markets with limited supply, bidding wars tend to push prices higher, creating price bubbles. According to Realtor.com, the $580,000 median listing price in Santa Rosa is up nearly 10% from a year ago. That handily outpaces the national average increase in resale prices, which the National Association of Realtors calculates at 7.9%. Realtor.com is operated by Move Inc., which like The Wall Street Journal is owned by News Corp.

The low supply of homes reflects a reluctance or inability of owners to sell their current house or apartment and trade up to their next, often larger, one. Some remain skittish about the economy, their own finances or their ability to qualify for a mortgage. Others can’t sell because they are underwater, meaning they owe more on their mortgages than the homes are worth.

Even though U.S. home prices are up 31% in the past five years, 15.4% of homes—an estimated 7.9 million—remained underwater in the first quarter, according to real estate website Zillow. The long term average is 3% to 5%, Zillow says. These owners can’t sell unless they have thousands, sometimes tens of thousands, of dollars on hand to pay the shortfall on their old mortgage and finance costs of selling and moving.

Another pressure on housing inventories is growth in U.S. household formation. The U.S. added roughly 1.5 million households in the first quarter from a year earlier, though almost all were formed by renters.

 

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http://finance.yahoo.com/news/bidding-wars-return-home-market-000700177.html