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College grads face high hurdles to buying first homes | Armonk Homes
Recent graduates who are saddled with student debt and want to get on the property ladder will have to earn roughly one-third more annually (or $8,969 more, on average) than those who are debt-free, according to new research from real-estate website RealtyTrac.
To reach that figure, RealtyTrac took the median home price for each state and county, and calculated the minimum amount of income that would be needed to qualify for a loan to buy a house at that price. (RealtyTrac assumed a 20% down payment and a 4.13% 30-year fixed loan with a maximum debt-to-income ratio of 43%, which is the maximum ratio for a “qualified mortgage” under Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules).
“To overcome the additional debt from student loans, indebted college graduates need to make more income than college graduates without student loans to be able to afford a home,” says Daren Blomquist, vice-president at RealtyTrac.
Of course, this also depends on where the student lives. “The average student loan debt varies from state to state and, somewhat counterintuitively, some of the most expensive states for housing also have the lowest average student loan debt,” Blomquist explains. California has one of the lowest levels of student loan debt, for example, but also some of the highest house prices in the country.
read more….
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/college-grads-face-high-hurdles-100506237.html
Vital insurance questions answered | Armonk Real Estate
Winston Churchill once described the Soviet Union as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” The same might be said of insurance in its varied forms.
You know you should have a comprehensive, cost-effective network of coverage, but what you need and how much can be confusing. Here are answers to 15 of the most commonly asked questions about insurance:
1. What sorts of insurance do I need?
Most people need to be concerned with insuring four areas: their possessions, their life, their health and their finances.
2. When you’re talking about possessions, does that mean homeowners insurance is the most important?
Probably, because a house is likely to be the single biggest investment most of us make. The rule of thumb with homeowners insurance is not to skimp. If you can, pay extra for guaranteed-replacement coverage, which mandates that the insurer will replace your home if it is destroyed, regardless of the cost. If you instead specify a dollar amount of coverage, and it’s not enough, you could end up paying the difference.
3. Once I have guaranteed-replacement coverage for my home, I’m all set, right?
Well, it’s important to know what your homeowners insurance covers and what it doesn’t. For example, particularly pricey items such as big-screen televisions and fancy stereo equipment are often excluded from policies or, at the least, inadequately covered. The same goes for antiques, collectibles, expensive jewelry and furs. Ask for riders that specifically cover those items.
read more….
http://money.msn.com/insurance/vital-insurance-questions-answered-wuorio.aspx
Local Farmers Markets | Armonk NY Homes
Fresh Fish & Bread Return Full-time at Tarrytown Farmers Market;
Recycle Sack Program Begins in Ossining;
Chef Maria Reina Hosts Cooking Demo in Croton-on-Hudson + MORE
August 7-13th, 2014
DowntoEarthMarkets.com
What’s New, In Season, and On Sale This Week $1 OFF Round Soaps
Regularly $4 each; now $3!
Sisters Wicked Good Soap$2 OFF purchase of 5 products Select from chuneys & frozen
kofta, saag, samosa, & rajama
Bombay Emerald Chutney Co.
Arugula
Taliaferro FarmBlueberry Honey
Honeybrook FarmsCantaloupe
Gajeski Produce
Mead Orchards
Croissants
Almond, Chocolate, & Traditional
Wave Hill BreadsEggs
Fishkill FarmEggplant
Taliaferro FarmFlowers
Fishkill FarmGooseberries
Fishkill FarmHoney in the Rough
Honeybrook FarmsJust Crust Chips and
Rustic Croutons
Garlic, Naked & With a Kick
$0.50 OFF/bag this weekend!
Wave Hill BreadsKabuchi Squash
Gajeski ProduceMonkey Bread
Wave Hill BreadsPeaches
Alex’s Tomato Farm
Mead Orchards
Migliorelli FarmPears
Mead Orchards
Peppers
Taliaferro FarmTomatoes
Fishkill Farm
John D. Madura Farm
Migliorelli Farm
Rexcroft Farm
Wright Family FarmShawungunk Honey
Honeybrook FarmsSpring Meadow Honey
Honeybrook FarmsSummer Squash Ravioli
Made w green & yellow squash, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, &
onions – all from Newgate Farm
Trotta PastaString Beans
Gajeski ProduceWatermelon
Alex’s Tomato Farm
Click on a Market to see all vendor and event details…Westchester
County
Rockland
County
Ossining
Saturdays
8:30 am-1:00 pm
LarchmontSaturdays
8:30 am-1:00 pm
Piermont Sundays
9:30 am-3:00 pmCroton-on-Hudson Sundays
9:00 am-2:00 pm
RyeSundays
8:30 am-2:00 pmSpring Valley Wednesdays
8:30 am-3:00 pm
Tarrytown/Sleepy HollowSaturdays
8:30 am-1:00 pm
New Rochelle Fridays
8:30 am-2:30 pm
Headed to the city soon?Announcements New Rochelle – Friday, August 8thOnly TWO chances left to meet a Rockstar (under age 9, that is…)! The Beth El Day Camp Rockstars, girls ages 7 and 8, will serve as Food Ambassadors to New Rochelle’s Down to Earth Farmers Market tomorrow and Friday, August 15th. Between the hours of 11 am and 1 pm, you can find the girls with their latest recipe made from fresh market ingredients. Tomorrow they’ll feature FRUIT KABOBS. They make the recipe and offer free samples – and free recipe cards – for everyone to recreate it at home. See you there! Ossining – Saturday, August 9th
Recycle Sack: With the goal to eliminate plastic bags from the farmers market, this Saturday, the market manager in Ossining will begin accepting donations of clean, reusable shopping bags that people would like to drop-off. The donated bags will be offered to customers as an alternative to plastic bags for their market purchases. For each bag donated, customers can enter to win a $25 gift certificate for the market, and a winner will be drawn every 2 weeks!Croton-on-Hudson: Sunday, August 10th
Chef Maria Reina of Bella Cucina Maria will host a free cooking demo from 11:30 am-1:30 pm. She creates healthy, seasonal dishes with fresh ingredients from the market. She has a wonderful recipe for this week that features pasture-raised eggs and peppers, but that’s the only hint we’ll give for now. Stop by to sample her dish and gain new ideas for cooking from the market!For additional events, visit our Down to Earth Markets Event Calendar.
Stay tuned to all market happenings via our Down to Earth Markets Facebook page
and follow us on Instagram and on Twitter @DowntoEarthMkts.Feed Your River: How Riverkeeper and Down to Earth Markets Are Teaming Up
to Support Local Food and Clean Water
by Jeremy Cherson of Riverkeeper
Hudson River sunset as seen by the
Ossining waterfrontRiverkeeper, New York’s clean water advocate, and Down to Earth Markets are teaming up this summer and fall to present the Feed Your River Series, a partnership between neighbors to promote local food and the importance of clean water. The first event takes place this Saturday, August 9th, when Riverkeeper will appear at the Ossining Farmers Market to discuss our latest initiatives with market customers.
Did you know that over 100,000 New Yorkers get their drinking water directly from the Hudson River? Another 8 million New Yorkers depend on the good health of the Catskills for their drinking water supply.
Come visit Riverkeeper at these Down to Earth Farmers Markets:
8/9: Ossining Farmers Market
8/16: Tarrytown Farmers Market
8/31: Piermont Farmers Market
9/7: McGolrick Park Farmers Market (Brooklyn)
9/7: Park Slope Farmers Market (Brooklyn)
10/11: Morningside Park Farmers Market (Manhattan)The connection between clean water and healthful food is readily apparent for our friends at Down to Earth Markets. Their farmers markets bring the finest produce of the Hudson Valley and surrounding area to the people of the metro region.
Farmers in the Catskills and Hudson Valley rely on clean, plentiful water to provide us with nutritious food. Supporting farmers at a Down to Earth Market helps farms within the NYC watershed stay in business and thrive. Ultimately, stewardship of farmland is an important component of maintaining water quality on the Hudson and its tributaries.
Riverkeeper will be featured at select Down to Earth Markets throughout the estuary to engage communities about the importance of protecting the Hudson River and our drinking supply. Stop by the learn about our ongoing campaigns to stop dangerous oil shipments down the Hudson, prevent the raid of clean water funds to finance the Tappan Zee Bridge, and keep fracking waste off New York roads. Everyone can make an impact. Find out how by visiting Riverkeeper at your favorite Down to Earth Farmers Market.Riverkeeper relies on extraordinary heroes like you to raise the red flag and educate the public on threats to our river. We need you to join our volunteer team to help the Feed Your River Series thrive and grow. Click here to join our outreach and education volunteer team. See you at the markets!
Rotating* Vendors This Week
*Vendors who rotate through various markets during the season.
They enjoy getting to know many communities, and here’s where to find them this week:
New Rochelle – Friday, August 8th
Trotta Foods (Locally sourced Italian specialties)Larchmont – Saturday, August 9th
Bombay Emerald Chutney Company
Calcutta Kitchens
Flourish Baking Company
Trotta Foods (Locally sourced Italian specialties)Ossining – Saturday, August 9th
Bombay Emerald Chutney Company
Hudson River Apiaries
Sisters Wicked Good SoapTarrytown – Saturday, August 9th
Tuthilltown Spirits Farm DistilleryPiermont – Sunday, August 10th
Simple Eats with Chef T
#Freedom Craft BreweryRye – Sunday, August 10th
Bombay Emerald Chutney Company
Kontoulis Family Olive Oil
Trotta Foods (Locally sourced Italian specialties)
Tuthilltown Spirits Farm DistilleryArmonk NY Farmers Markets | Armonk NY Real Estate
A Toast to Local Spirits; Tuthilltown Spirits Farm Distillery Comes to Piermont
SIX Day Vendors in Larchmont on Saturday + MORE
May 29th – June 4th, 2014
DowntoEarthMarkets.com
What’s New, In Season, and On Sale This Week
10% OFF Full Cases!
Tuthilltown Spirits Farm DistilleryAsparagus & Crab Ravioli
Beef Sirloin Tips: $2 OFF per pound
With asparagus from Newgate Farms
Trotta Foods
(Reg $17.25/lb; now $15.25/lb)
Kiernan Farm
Beets
Migliorelli Farm
Broccoli Rabe
Gajeski ProduceCinnamon Buns
Elodies Bakery
Eggs
Just gathered from the farm’s hens, turkeys, and geese
Stone & Thistle Farm
Fresh Whole Chickens &
Chicken Parts
Stone & Thistle Farm
Frozen Kofta, Rajma, Saag,
Samosa and Roti Roll
Bombay Emerald Chutney CompanyGluten Free Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
Bearsville Bakers
Indian Chutneys – SALE
Buy 4 jars & get $2 OFF purchase
Bombay Emerald Chutney Company
Pate de champagne
Stone & Thistle FarmPork Sausages: Buy any 5 packages,
get $10 OFF total purchase!
Choose from Andouille, Breakfast,
Chorizo, Hot Italian, and Sweet Italian
Kiernan Farm
Rhubarb
Migliorelli FarmSausages
Breakfast, Chorizo, Sweet Italian
and “The Ronald Reagan”
Stone & Thistle FarmSpicy Rhubarb Compote
Great for pork belly
Stone & Thistle FarmTuna
American Pride SeafoodTuscan Kale
Migliorelli FarmSwordfish
American Pride Seafood
Click on a Market to see all vendor and event details…
Westchester
County
Rockland
County
Ossining
Saturdays
8:30 am-1:00 pm
Larchmont
Saturdays
8:30 am-1:00 pm
Piermont
Sundays
9:30 am-3:00 pm
L
Croton-on-Hudson
Sundays
9:00 am-2:00 pm
Rye
Sundays
8:30 am-2:00 pmSpring Valley
Coming in July
Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow
Saturdays
8:30 am-1:00 pm
New Rochelle
OPENING DAY: JUNE 20th
Fridays
8:30 am-2:30 pm
Headed to the city soon?Announcements OssiningNow that the spring is here, the Ossining farmers market opens at 8:30 am!
World’s most expensive billionaire homes | Armonk Real Estate
Owner: Bill Gates, net worth $77.5 billion
Market value: $120.5 million, 2014 tax assessment
The high-tech Lake Washington complex owned by the world’s second-richest man boasts a pool with an underwater music system, a 2,500-square-foot gym and a library with a domed reading room.
read more…
http://realestate.msn.com/worlds-most-expensive-billionaire-homes#2
12 tiny, tricked-out homes | Armonk NY Homes
Fueled by backlash from the financial and housing crisis, these homes — typically sized 500 square feet or smaller — are having a moment. In April, the first Tiny House Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, sold out, attracting some 170 attendees.
Tiny-house pioneer Dee Williams, who has spent the last decade in an 84-square-foot home in a friend’s backyard, has toured touring the nation to promote her memoir “The Big Tiny.” Even students at the Savannah College of Art and Design are getting into the game, building an entire floor of 135-square-foot homes inside an old school parking lot.
These home may be environmentally friendly — they force owners to reduce their possessions and, often, to use less power — but they’re not exactly cheap. Tiny houses typically cost between $200 to $400 per square foot. On a square-foot basis, that’s far pricier than the average American home-and tiny homes don’t include land.
read more…
http://realestate.msn.com/12-tiny-tricked-out-homes
Ogle the Woolworth Building’s Stunning, Rarely Open Lobby | Armonk Homes
[All photos by Bob Estremera.]
The Woolworth Building‘s opulent lobby is 101 years old, and while it’s not a nice, pretty centennial, it’s still pretty darn old, immaculately preserved, and positively beautiful. While it used to be open to the public, it’s not anymore due to security concerns, so it’s only ogle-able to the folks who work in the building—we’re looking at you, SHoP Architects. Meanwhile, there are occasional tours of the neo-Gothic, gilded-to-the-nines space. Architectural photographer extraordinaire Bob Estremera went on one last week hosted by Landmark Branding, and though he’d try something different from his last glimpse inside, taking a slew of shots in both color and sepia-infused black-and-white. Compare and contrast two views of the same scene, and marvel at how the architectural details pop in the bi-chrome version and how dazzling the full-on color ones are. It’s positively grotesque! No, really, there are tons of those carved faces and figures, all of which are unique—the workers had a lot of fun, apparently. And, FYI, whoever ends up living in the 34 condos amazing condos being constructed on the landmark’s upper floors will have a separate lobby, which just goes to show that even money can’t buy this kind of beauty… but working for a cool company can
Cute Clinton Hill Townhouse Asks $2.6 Million, and More | Armonk Homes
9 images↑ First up on the Roundup is this cute little townhouse in Clinton Hill. Built in the 1860s, it has carved marble mantels, ceiling plasterwork, oak flooring, 10-foot ceilings, and exposed beams. There’s also a planted garden. Asking price is $2.599 million.
15 images↑ Up next is this two-building property in Boerum Hill. The lot includes a brick townhouse, a contemporary carriage house, and a very nice landscaped garden. The 1800s townhouse has original wide plank floors, tin ceilings, and marble mantles, while the carriage house has a huge kitchen and three floors of living space. It’s asking $3.3 million.
read more….
http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/05/11/cute_clinton_hill_townhouse_asks_26_million_and_more.php
Inside Gentrification Pundit Spike Lee’s UES Home, Now $28.5M | Armonk Real Estate
19 imagesHot on the heels of reports that he might be moving out, director/self-appointed gentrification analyzer Spike Lee has switched brokers and chopped the price on his ridiculously fancy Upper East Side townhouse. Once asking $32 million with Sotheby’s, 153 East 63rd Street just re-entered the market with Brown Harris Stevens’ townhouse expert Paula Del Nunzio for a mere $28.5 million. The 7,000-square-foot house has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a glorious central courtyard. But perhaps more impressive is its celeb-studded provenance: he bought it from Jasper Johns in 1998 for $16.6 million, and the history extends back to the heiress for whom it was built.
read more…
